Beginning on Sunday April 12th our evening service time will change to 5:00 (from 6:00). The reason for this change is to mark a new service style that will focus on interaction and relationships. We are planning to trial this new style throughout Term 2.
There are three motivations behind this trial. 
First, we believe that an investment in the identity of the evening service is overdue. For a long time, the evening service has been a smaller, slightly less formal version of the morning service. We value being “one” church, but there are many ways to demonstrate our unity. 
Second, we believe that there is an opportunity to deepen discipleship. Greater interaction and stronger relationships are key ingredients for anyone following Jesus (which is one reason we encourage people to join a Life Group) and integrating some of these principles in the evening service will be beneficial for all who attend. At the same time, we also believe that this style of service might be particularly useful for those who are exploring faith - regardless of age. The early start will also hopefully make it easier for people to stick around for dinner (something we have been doing over the last six months) and the investment in friendships.
Third, we believe that a more accessible service with a strong relational emphasis has growth potential. We do want to see our community of faith grow but would love if most of that growth were through people making first-time commitments to follow Jesus or recommitting themselves to follow him. 
While we are still working out the details, we are excited about the possibilities this trial holds and would encourage to you to join us in praying for it. And watch this space for more information about the trial as it gets closer.

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor

This Weekend:

Join us for church this Sunday as we continue in our sermon series in Romans titled Good News For All Of Us! 

In my quiet times recently I’ve been drawn back to a practical, memorable and reliable prayer practice I have used since I was a young Christian.

Mentioning it in passing to a friend, as we were chatting about our prayer lives. I was surprised to hear they hadn’t heard it before. 

So I wanted to share. If you’ve heard it before, hopefully you can find refreshment in its simplicity. How it can give structure and purpose to the quickest of prayer times.

It’s this simple acronym. ACTS. Acknowledgement. Confession. Thanks. Supplication. 

We Acknowledge our creator, who has given us life. Starting with a posture of reverence and humility. Worshipping and reflecting on his power. 

Confessing our sins can be tough, however I’ve always found it cathartic. I can sort through guilt and confusion or anger. Saying sorry for what I’ve done—or not done—acknowledges his power over them. 

Thanksgiving is where we remember everything we receive. Our daily bread. How good is it to meditate on what we have, rather than what we don’t?

Supplication. Space where we can pour out our needs, challenges and hopes. One of my favourite ways to pray in this moment is with silence. Letting my mind drift and meditate, as God knows what I need in ways I can’t express.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.  – Romans 8:26

Lincoln Grice | Elder

This past week work was very noisy but that is drawing to an end. That work included demolition of the redundant stairs and breakout and excavation beneath the concrete floor in preparation for plumbing work.

There has been work of a quieter nature in preparing to fit new office doors, painting the first floor walls and ceilings. The first floor air conditioning ducting is well advanced and some light fittings are in place.

Next week will see the contractor move focus onto the ground floor spaces with wall framing and plaster work that should finally enclose the renovation site. Leading from this weeks excavation, plumbing for the kids room toilet and wash space will be joined into the existing sewer line. There is some concern around this as it's an old pipeline and the camera probe shows that there are some blockages to be cleared.

On the first floor they'll continue with outfit including final coatings, suspended ceiling panels, lighting and floor levelling of the first floor office spaces.

GBC Building Committee

Come along to the Embrace Ladies Morning Tea on Wednesday 18th March from 10.00am til 11.30am at Blackfish Cafe, Como. Invite a friend and catch up with the ladies from GBC. Whilst Janine is away register with Sonia at the book nook after the service to reserve a spot.

On Monday, 2 March, an evacuation order in Lebanon, and airstrikes over certain areas of the country, forced civilians from around 50 villages to flee their homes. The country is still rebuilding after the devastating impact of recent conflicts, and many people in the southern region were already displaced and living in temporary shelters. 

These families urgently need food and other supplies. Can help meet their needs with a gift today? Your donation will help Baptist World Aid’s local Baptist Partner provide essentials like ready-to-eat foods, mattresses and blankets, and hygiene kits to help displaced people survive. 

One family of 14 members contacted one of our partners on Wednesday. During the 2024 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, this family was supported by MERATH and hosted at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary - ABTS' guesthouse for shelter. Remembering the care and dignity with which they were received, they did not hesitate to reach out again.

The family woke up to explosions shaking their home in southern Lebanon. They fled at 2:30 a.m. and arrived at a MERATH partner center at around noon, a journey that normally takes 30 minutes but took nine hours due to heavy traffic caused by mass displacement.

"People are in shock. They are broken and scared," shared one of our partners. Urgent needs are expected to increase daily, including food, clothing, milk for children, and medication.

To give today, or for more information, visit bwaa.co/lebanon. Please also join us in praying to our loving God for the unfolding situation in the Middle East.

Pray for: 

God's protection and provision for families that have been displaced. 
A peaceful resolution that promotes justice and upholds the rights of the vulnerable. 
Strength and encouragement for churches across the Middle East. 
God’s protection and care over our Baptist Partner’s staff and volunteers.

During term 2, GBC will be hosting an Alpha course.  Alpha is a great opportunity to explore faith for yourself or with a friend or relative who might be interested in asking some questions.

My invitation to you today is to start wondering… do you have questions about faith you’d like to explore, or is there someone in your world that might?  

All men are invited to our Men’s Breakfast on Saturday 14 March, from 7:30–9:00am at Gymea Baptist Church. Join us for breakfast, connection, and a message from Adam Stewart, our Associate Pastor

Hopefield are looking for a washing machine for a client in need. If you have one please contact our offices on 9545 0299 or email details/photos to admin@hopefield.org.au

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

Wednesday 25th March at Donald Robinson Village (DRV), meeting at 12-15 for a 12-30pm start. All men are invited to attend. Cost is $20 for lunch which includes sweets and tea/coffee.

Guest Speaker this month is local man, Clint Beattie, who has suffered serious, life-threatening illness. Clint will tell us his inspiring story of Faith, Healing and Transformation.Please book by contacting the DRV Café, either in person or by phone (8543 7273, 9am to 2pm), by Thursday 19th March. Payment can be made by credit card or cash up to Wednesday, 25th March.

Any enquiries please phone Ian Scarfe on 0439 914 957.