It’s been a big week for me! As I mentioned last week, spent this week co-teaching a unit on Preaching Hebrews at Morling College with Dr. David deSilva. He is an esteemed New Testament scholar who was in Australia to speak at our preaching conference and the intensive that followed. For my part, I emceed the conference (which had about 100 people in person and online) and co-taught the intensive, bringing homiletical reflections on preaching generally and Hebrews specifically. It was a real privilege to sit under his teaching and to co-teach the unit. Once again, thank you for the opportunity to participate with Morling.
In other news, I have also written to our community of faith to provide an update on our financial position as of the end of July. If you have not received that email, you can find it below.
Finally, this Sunday we wrap up our sermon series “A Great Cloud of Witnesses” looking at the lessons we can learn from Rebekah and Chelsea Gordon will be preaching. Chelsea is exploring ministry with us over the second part of the year and this is part of that wider discernment process. I’m excited to have Chelsea and her family with us and to be a part of her own journey to hear and respond to God’s invitation in her life.
See you Sunday!

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor 

This Weekend:

Coming up:

4 August | GBC Womens Dinner at Taren Point Hotel 

9 August | Melissa Lipsett the CEO of Baptist World Aid will be preaching next Sunday at both services

Today, well over 100 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes because of war, persecution, violence, and disaster. Today, Sudan and Syria represent two of the world's largest displacement crises, while millions more have been uprooted across Ukraine, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and other regions. Behind every number is a person created in God's image: a family longing for safety, peace, and hope. As followers of Christ, we are called to remember those who suffer (Hebrews 13:3), pray faithfully for all people (1 Timothy 2:1–2), and demonstrate God's love through generous hearts and practical care (1 John 3:17–18).

Prayer

Sovereign and gracious Father, we lift before You those who have been displaced from their homes, especially in Sudan and Syria, and in many other troubled places around the world. Comfort the grieving, protect the vulnerable, provide for those in need, and bring an end to violence and oppression. Strengthen churches and Christian workers as they serve with compassion and proclaim the hope of the Gospel. May many come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ and find lasting peace in Him. Help us to pray faithfully, give generously, welcome the stranger, and live as faithful witnesses to Your Kingdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Greg Williams | Elder

GBC YOUTH are heading to State Youth Camp again this year! 

Friday 25 Sept – Monday 28 Sept at Wyong Christian Community School

Early bird registration closes this Sunday 2 August at midnight, so don't wait, register online now via the link in our bio (linktree)! 

General registration closes 31 August

In case you missed it last week!... 'Greetings from Ron and Annette Clarke:
Some of you may have wondered why you haven’t seen us at church in the last little while. We are certainly still around!
A couple of years ago, we moved to Woolooware Shores, an independent living facility at Taren Point; a project of Anglicare. We didn’t expect to be worshipping anywhere other than our beloved GBC,  but as circumstances would have it, we have found ourselves so involved, that ‘church life’ here at Woolooware Shores, is almost as busy as ‘church life’ ever was! The Woolooware Shores Chapel ministry meets for both a morning and afternoon service each Sunday. The Chapel Ministry comes under the umbrella of St Phill’s at Caringbah. We are on a number of committees and are enthusiastically involved in a number of outreach activities; some of which are activities that we have brought from GBC. Our first ‘Men’s Breakfast’ will take place in a week or two, an idea which we saw work so effectively at Gymea. We have loved viewing a number of segments from the ‘Faith Runs Deep’ series which Karl and Jane have developed. Next year, we are hoping to run some of the ‘Encounter’ series. We are running children’s activities in the school holidays for the grandparents and their grandchildren and we seek out opportunities to deliver meals to those who are needing them. These are all things that GBC taught us to do! So please know at Gymea is our ‘spiritual home’ and we are greatly indebted to all of you who have influenced us in our journey of faith, and that our of kids, Nadine and Leana, and their families. We are just ‘on leave’ but there are so many opportunities to share Jesus that we just feel we need to worship here, at least for now. We continue to support Hopefield and MMM! Last week I (Annette) caught up with my Kids Hope girl. She is now in Year 8 and we still meet up. The family loves our association.  Bless you all - we love GBC!
Annette and Ron'

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.

Sutherland Board of Christian Education

You are invited on Thursday, 24 September at 7:00 pm for a fun Trivia Night in support of our Scripture teachers, Aaron and Joanne.

Gather your friends and make up a table for an entertaining evening hosted by Scott at Gymea Anglican Church Hall.

Cost: $10 per person

There will also be an auction on the night, with all proceeds helping to support the ministry.

Ladies, you're invited to our next GBC Women's Dinner!

Join us on Tuesday 4 August at 7:00 pm at Taren Point Hotel for a relaxed evening of good food and great company. It's a wonderful opportunity to connect with other women from our church community.

We'd love to see you there!

Today, a church-wide email titled "2026 Financial Update and Appeal" from Marc Rader was sent to our church family.

If you haven't had the chance to read it yet, you can view the email by clicking the link below. Thank you for taking the time to read this important update and prayerfully consider its message.