It’s the last week of the school holidays and we’re gearing up for a big fourth term as a community of faith with the Fair Trade Market Day coming up next week followed by Baptism Sunday. In November we will be acknowledging the ministries of Gary and Jan Speckman and Shane and Ruth Sparks. Both couples have been long-term supported missionaries and are moving into new stages. We’ll be recognising and celebrating their ministries and our partnership over a couple of Sundays. And of course, before you know it, we’ll be lighting the tree out front and preparing for the second annual Festival of Christmas. And those are just some of the events, activities, and ministries that will be taking place in the term. It’s an exciting time of year and I hope you are encouraged by what is happening in our community of faith.

See you Sunday!

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor

This Sunday:

9:30am Service: Join us for church and then stick around afterwards for tea and coffee

6:00pm Service: Come back in the evening and stay afterwards for dinner together

Save The Date:

18th October: Fair Trade Market (volunteers still needed)

19th October: Baptism Sunday

6th December: Ladies Gingerbread Decorating Afternoon

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col 3:1–2).

This week, I found some encouraging words in the Transforming Southern Sydney newsletter:

By the time we reach term 4, the final stretch for the year, many of us may feel overwhelmed and drained. The calendar is overflowing, energy is low, and the pressures of ministry and family pull us in every direction so it’s really easy to get off course. Term 4 is a great time to recalibrate ourselves before God, kind of like resetting our direction to align again to our true north. So maybe as we head to the end of 2025 we pull out our “God” compasses and realign ourselves to Jesus and His purposes for our leadership, for our churches and for our ministries.

A compass doesn’t clear the path in front of you. It simply ensures you’re heading the right way. Sailors, hikers, and explorers trusted that little needle pointing north to keep them from drifting

In ministry it works the same. Urgent needs, expectations, and even good things can push us off course. The last stretch of a year is the moment to stop, look down, and make sure the compass is still aligned.

This is helpful advice for each of us individually, as well as the ministries in which we are involved.

Derek Mullins, Elder

We are planning to hold a baptism service on Sunday October 19. Baptist churches across Australia are doing the same as part of Baptism Week. If you would like to be baptised or would like to learn more about what baptism means fill in the expression of interest form and we’ll be in touch. We’re looking forward to celebrating lives changed by Jesus!

The Fair Trade Team are still in need of volunteers to help make the day happen. This could include packing up or down, helping on the BBQ, welcoming people, supervising the kids’ jumping castle and much more! 

The Fair Trade Market is a wonderful way to engage with our community! 

You’ll find the Fair Trade Team at the tall black tables after church, ready to chat and sign you up. Alternatively, you can email fairtrade@gymeabaptist.org.au

The leadership is now accepting nominations from the members of GBC for the roles of Church Council member and Elder. The Position Descriptions can be found bellow. Essentially, the Church Council have oversight of the vision, strategy, and risk management for GBC and Elders are primarily involved in congregational care. Nominations are open until Friday, October 17. If you would like to nominate someone for one of these roles send an email to Marc.Rader@gymeabaptist.org.au. It is not strictly necessary to gain permission from the individual you would like to nominate. All names received will be considered by the Nominating Committee in preparation for our AGM I in November.

CLICK HERE FOR ELDER POSITION DESCRIPTION

CLICK HERE FOR CHURCH COUNCIL POSITION DESCRIPTION

* Please continue to pray for the Drury family and for Karen Watkins as they each recover from major neurosurgery.

If you have something for Family News, contact office@gymeabaptist.org.au or call on 9521 4611. 

Come along to the Embrace Ladies Morning Tea on Wednesday 15th October from 10.00am til 11.30am at Jack Gray’s Café, Grays Point. Invite a friend and catch up with the ladies from GBC. Register with Janine at the tall table after the service to reserve a spot or contact her on 0405 629 790.

The majority of the restoration works are now complete.  That new carpet smell has filled the church. With the work, there has been an update to our Hearing Loop.  We have adjusted the area that the hearing loop covers in order to provide a better quality sound.  Please see the updated posters in the auditorium if you use the Hearing Loop.

Christmas Trees Wanted!

Can you belive Christmas is coming up again?!

We are hoping to 'grow' a forest of Christmas trees for our Festival of Christmas this year, 21st-23rd December.

If you have a tree you could donate for the weekend of the festival, or if your thinking of purchasing a new tree this year and are needing to offload your old Christmas tree please contact Jackie Martin [HERE]

You are invited to join us for a short but effective time of “zoom” prayer Thursday at 7:30pm. A 30 minute guided prayer led by one of our wonderful GBC Elders. You can join in using this link JOIN PRAYER ZOOM or using the Meeting ID: 919 1693 5880 Passcode: f603j2. We look forward to spending this time together in prayer.

Gymea Baptist Church has been made aware that someone is impersonating our senior pastor, Marc Rader, by creating false gmail accounts and sending phishing emails to current and past attendees of GBC. We are in the process of investigating how email addresses were accessed by working with Elvanto. We can confirm that our main database with confidential information, financial information, child/youth details, visitor details, and external group details has not been breached.  While we are investigating, the GBC Member Directory access via GBCLinks has been removed. GBC has posted onto our social media and sent an email from the office to all currently list in our main database who have allowed general emails to alert people of the scam. GBC has reported the scam to ScamWatch.

If you receive an email from what appears to be Marc, please check the email address closely.  If it is from a gmail account, please block the sender and delete. If your email platform has a way for you to report the scam, please do so via your email's platform. You can also report directly to ScamWatch: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam.

MEN’S LUNCH, Wednesday 29th October at Donald Robinson Village (DRV), meeting at 12-15 for a 12-30 start. All men are invited to attend.

Guest Speaker will be a representative from Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Cost is $20 for a light lunch

Please book by contacting the DRV Café, either in person or by phone (8543 7273, 9am to 2pm), by Thursday 23rd October. Payment can be made by credit card or cash up to Wednesday, 29th October.

Any enquiries please ring Ian Scarfe on 0439 914 957