Winter has definitely arrived in Sydney! Shorter days, cold and flu doing the rounds, and the mid-year slump can make everyday life seem... well... rather everyday! While some are enjoying the school holidays and a break from the usual routine, for others life simply carries on.

It's worth remembering that God is often quietly at work behind the scenes—in the unseen and seemingly ordinary parts of life.

On Sunday morning, Miriam's story will remind us that God was at work long before anyone recognised it. Before Moses ever stood before Pharaoh, before the Red Sea parted, God was already weaving together a rescue through the courage of a watchful sister, a compassionate princess and a faithful family. Then, in our PM service, we'll see Jesus display God's power by calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee. Whether working quietly behind the scenes or powerfully in full view, God is always accomplishing his purposes.

Roxane Lawler | Associate Pastor 

This Weekend:

Coming Up:

19 July | YA Board Game Event

 26 July | Volunteer Half-time

"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?" - 1 Corinthians 3:16

In my daily devotions this morning, I found these encouraging words:

“From the very beginning, humanity was created for intimacy with God. God created mankind in his own image. We were designed to be a dwelling place for His presence. A living Temple. A place for encounter and communion between His Spirit and ours. A vessel that God's love could be poured out into. That's what your body was created for.

Romans calls us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). A living sacrifice - not a dead one. Full of life. What a powerful calling. You’re a vessel created to carry the presence of God into every room. Sit with the imagery of that for a moment. His healing, restoring, redeeming presence flows through surrendered people into a hurting world. So come to Him again. Offer yourselves fully to the One who made you. The temple was always meant to be filled with His glory.

Be encouraged today - your temple, your body is the vessel God chose long ago to carry His presence.”

Derek Mullins | Elder

The Celebration of Life Service for Brendan Drury will be held this Wednesday 15 July at 11:00am at Gymea Baptist Church.

Dress code: Black.

A livestream link will be available on our Linktree on Wednesday 

Please continue to keep Brendan's family and loved ones in your prayers during this time.

In our moving of kids spaces were having a clear out. This Sunday, 12 July the kids auditorium will have a range of books, toys and craft supplies ready for the taking. For those wishing to do so there will be an opportunity to donate in exchange for these goods and all money will be put towards needed new equipment in the kids spaces.

Congratulations to Norman Cantrell and Elena Merkulova on the birth of their second son, Alexander, on 22 May. A beautiful baby boy and little brother to Nicholas, with proud grandma Margaret Cantrell and proud aunt Natalie celebrating his arrival.

Have something to celebrate, share, or pray about? Whether it's a graduation, engagement, wedding, new baby, new job, house move, health concern, or praise point, we'd love to hear from you. Contact the church office at office@gymeabaptist.org.au or 9521 4611 so we can share in these moments as a church family.

If you are a person who desires to be on-purpose and others-focussed and prefers a behind the scene role, then I want to chat to you!  We have two opportunities for serving that are ‘behind the scenes’ but will make a HUGE impact for others.

Do you love seeing a welcoming space ready for people to meet with Jesus? Do you love seeing people engage in worship on a Sunday? We need help preparing the auditorium space to be welcoming and ready on a Sunday for both our morning and evening services.  We are looking for about 10 able bodied team members who could help set up and move chairs on a Sunday. We would love to have a team who could commit to arriving on Sunday morning by 8:30am to set up for the morning service, and a team who would be willing to set up for the evening service either after the morning service around 11:15am or before the evening service at 4:00pm. If you are interested in joining this team or finding out more information, then complete the Volunteer Expression of Interest or chat to Marjy, GBC Serve Team Leader.

Do you love seeing people come together and build community? After our PM Service, we share a meal together. We have an amazing team of cooks who prepare a simple meal each Sunday evening. To assist that team of cooks, we are looking for someone who would have the capacity to shop for the ingredients for those meals and have those ingredients in the GBC kitchen by 2:00pm each Sunday. All purchases are reimbursed by GBC and a shopping list is provided. If you are interested in finding out more about this role then then complete the Volunteer Expression of Interest or chat to Marjy, GBC Serve Team Leader.

All young adults are invited an arfternoon of board games, good conversation, prayer, and connection on Sunday 19 July, 2:30–4:30pm at GBC before the PM service!

All volunteers are invited to Volunteer Half-time on Sunday 26th July from 11:30am-1:00pm 

Come and meet together as part of the GBC Serve volunteer team to be:

1.  Inspired to continue to partner with God at GBC for 2026 "Working Out Our Salvation Together"

2.  Updated on our Safe Church Policies and Procedures and how this impacts you as the volunteer.

3.  Invest in your ministry skills

Morning tea will be provided! 

Wednesday 29th July at Donald Robinson Village (DRV), meeting at 12-15 for a 12-30 start. All men are invited to attend.
 
Guest Speaker this month will be Rev Andrew Hartman who is an Assistant Minister at Menai Anglican Church.
 
Cost for lunch is $20-00.  Please book with the DRV Café on 8543 7273 by Thursday 23rd July. Payment can be made to the Café anytime up to 29th July. For any enquiries please contact Ian Scarfe on 0439 914 957.