In Proverbs 7:1-3 a father urges his son to keep his commands in order that he might live. “Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” There are clear allusions with Moses’ exhortation to the people of Israel to keep the commands of the LORD (Deuteronomy 6:1-9) where the Israelites are told to tie the laws as symbols on their hands and foreheads and to write them on the doorframes of their houses. There is something really important about external reminders about what we are meant to be doing; there’s a reason why phone notifications are helpful! When it comes to our commitment to following Jesus, these external reminders - everything from a set time to pray and read the Bible to attending a church service - are very useful things. What struck me, however, was the emphasis in Proverbs (echoed elsewhere in Scripture) of the need for internal reminders so to speak. What things are written on the tablet of your heart? One ancient near eastern translation of this imagery asked, “What is buried in the casket of your heart?” What lies at the very core of who you are? Too often, of course, what’s written there doesn’t lead to life! All of us need to give “over-write” authority to the Holy Spirit in order that he might write the things of God on our hearts as an internal motivator to the kinds of behaviours that we do externally. In many ways, this is the transformation we are undergoing as followers of Jesus and the source of the fruit we hope to see in our lives. This Sunday, as we continue our series looking at the fruit of love, let us consider what is being written on the tablet of our hearts by the Spirit of God. See you Sunday!

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor

This Weekend:

Join online or onsite at 9:30am and stick around after the service for tea and coffee and/or join at 6pm and stay for dinner afterwards!

Check out our lost property for belongings as we are aiming to clear it out by mid Nov! 

Save The Date:

9th November: Young Adults End of Year Picnic

17th November: Embrace Ladies Christmas Luncheon

22nd November: Men's Breakfast 

29th November: Christmas Festival Working Bee

6th December: Ladies Gingerbread Decorating Afternoon

19th, 20th, 21st December: Festival of Christmas 

Romans 4:3

“Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as Righteousness”

Abraham had faith in God alone and not his own actions

Paul's struggled with Jewish Christians over their insistence that Jewish law, particularly circumcision was necessary for Gentile converts.

Paul maintained that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not adherence to the Mosaic Law, while the Judaizers insisted that Gentiles must follow Jewish customs to be true followers of Christ.

Paul pointed out that Abraham came to faith before circumcision was introduced by God. He argues that faith in Christ alone is sufficient for salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. Jew and Gentile alike are invited into a new covenant with God through Jesus.

Both Abraham and Paul were strengthened by faith and in faith as they followed God.  My payer is that you and I likewise will be strengthened by faith and in faith

Barb Higgins | Elder 

Our Festival of Christmas is just around the corner and we need your help. GBC wants to throw the doors open and invite our community to come and experience the true meaning of Christmas in a non-threatening way.  We are only able to provide this opportunity with the help of the GBC family.

Prepare For Christmas Working Bee - Saturday 29 November 8am 

On Saturday, 29th November, we’re hosting a working bee to transform our space for the Festival of Christmas! We’ll be setting up inside and out, decorating, and preparing crafts. Sign Up NOW!

Festival of Christmas - 19, 20, 21 December 

Once prepared and the place is set, the Festival of Christmas comes alive through the participation of our community of faith. Your investment into a small but important role for a small moment in time will bring joy and energy to the event.  Each night needs 50 volunteers to bring this festival to life - so let's all jump in where we can to support each other as we bless our local community together. Sign Up NOW!

If you call yourself a young adult come hang out this Sunday, 9th November, 2:30–4:30pm at Como Pleasure Grounds. Bring some snacks to share and spend time connecting with the young adults of GBC! Everyone is welcome!

Vote for Hopefield to win a $10 000 Grant!

Hopefield is a finalist in the Southgate Shopping Centre Community Kickstart Grant! Winners are decided by community votes, so your support matters!

With this grant, Hopefield will launch HopeHaven — a new initiative designed to provide a coordinated and compassionate response to homelessness in the Sutherland Shire.

Voting closes Sunday 9 November 

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.

All women are invited to Embrace Ladies Christmas Luncheon to be held on Monday 17th November 11.30am to 2.00pm in GBC Atrium. Bring your friends to join in singing Christmas Carols lead by Shelley Harbour and hear Roxanne, our Associate Pastor give us a devotional about celebrating Christmas. Wear a Christmas embellishment to celebrate.
You can register HERE or with Janine after the service at the tall table and pay $20 for lunch. RSVP by Wednesday 12th November.

Our lost property collection is getting full again! From Ugg boots to air pods and a very large collection of water bottles, if you are missing something come and check out our lost property at GBC! We also have a large selection of single earrings, ranging from colour stones and pretty dangling earrings, to gold hoops! We hope to clear this by mid-November so get in early to find your missing belongings. 

Collect items on Sunday or during staffed hours throughout the week!

AN UPDATE FROM KAREN WATKINS 

PRAISE GOD!
God’s word (Isaiah 61:3) says “For a spirit of heaviness, put on the garment of praise” - I’ve learnt to fight my battles with God’s Power through Prayer and Praise, as well as meditating on God‘s Promises to bring me Peace. It hasn’t been an easy road, but God has been with me every step of the way from the emergency surgery on 4 May, to my time in ICU and at home. He has healed me of panic attacks (involuntary shaking for hours at night) and insomnia that lasted a few months. 

THANK YOU GBC FAMILY! 
God has brought many people into my life to be His hands and feet. 
To my friends at GBC: I am deeply thankful for your prayers and for your care -  home visits with coffee or to local cafes, delicious dinners via Meal Train, driving me places, hosting me in your home, and for all your encouraging words and hugs. I am forever grateful and deeply humbled when I think of all that has been done for me by God displayed through the love and strength of the community of GBC.

PRAYER REQUESTS
Considering the Fruits of the Spirit in our current sermon series, I’d love you to pray for patience for me as my body continues to heal, specifically for: 
a gradual return to work - my brain feels “squeezed” when I concentrate too hard; 
ceasing of anxiety symptoms - still present in tingling lips, hands and feet; 
over-stimulation from loud noises and enclosed spaces; and 
lowering my blood pressure to an acceptable rate

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

Thank you to everyone who helped distribute the Fairtrade signs around the Sutherland Shire! A few signs haven’t made their way back yet, so if you still have one, please return it to the office as soon as possible!