Preacher: Jun Tan Acts 2:37-47. “Healing is a community project”
God engages, connects with and transforms His people in Christ, in the church.
During the week:
Monday: The funeral service for Marj Higginswill be held at the church on Monday, 10 August, at 10.00 am. The video-link for the service is https://www.studio45.live/fs-mjh/ . This link is available now. The link also provides a tribute wall where family/friends can write personal tribute of expressions of sympathy to the family. This can be done before or after the service. The video will be available for viewing for 30 days after the service.
Normal activities: The usual Bible Studies and Care Groups will continue to meet online. If you would like to join a group, contact gracemunro8@gmail.com, 0425 707 386.
Sermons may not be the best avenue for communication: usually a monologue, with little interaction with the listeners (especially now when we are operating online). Here are some helpful clues about how to make the most of hearing a sermon:
Pray for the preacherduring the week, and for the message he/she will bring.
Pray for yourselfthat you will hear what God is saying, and respond appropriately.
Have your Bible openas you listen, and look up any verses to which the preacher refers.
Look for the key themes, ideas, points as the preacher presents the word. When there is a seriesof messages, such as the present one which Pastor Jun is preaching, it is worth looking at the previous Handouts to follow the series more closely.
Taking notescan be helpful in enhancing your listening. It is helpful also for looking back during the week to reinforce what has been said.
Allow the Holy Spiritto apply the Biblical text to you, rather than reading our own ideas into the text.
Intentional listeningis essential. Dietrich Bonhoeffer told us to avoid “a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say.”
Asking perceptive questionsas you listen enhances your listening – and you can always follow up with the preacher after the event if you cannot work out the answer.
Talking about the sermon with friends or in your small group is also helpful.
Our Pastor: Jun Tan, jun.tan.balwynbaptist@gmail.com, 0413 015 709, working Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evenings and Sunday.
Preacher: Gayle Hill. Psalm 139. “Emotional Healing” – We need to gain an understanding of how God views us, and to live in the light of that.
During the week:
Normal activities: The usual Bible Studies and Care Groups will continue to meet online. If you would like to join a group, contact gracemunro8@gmail.com, 0425 707 386.
The situation being experienced by some of our own church members highlights the difficulties which are currently being faced in our Aged Care Homes throughout Victoria. Thankfully, the particular homes in which these people live have had little direct impact from Covid-19, but are impacted by the restrictions. And there is always a risk of infection entering a home.
For those residents who are living in Aged Care Homes, the limits on usual activities means that it is harder for them to maintain their physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual health. We give thanks for those who have faith in God, and ask that their faith will be strengthened through the current circumstances.
We give thanks also for all staff working in Aged Care Homes, and ask that you continue to pray for them as they do all they can to support the residents and their relatives and protect themselves.
The relatives and friends of people living in Aged Care homes find it particularly difficult, being unable to visit as would normally have been the case. If and when the residents die, whether from Covid-19 or for other reasons, they then face the prospect of a funeral where very few can attend, and all of the normal interaction between grieving relatives is restricted.
In addition to those who live in Aged Care homes, many members of our congregation have elderly parents living with them, and they too are at significant risk of contracting Covid-19, so please pray for them.
Our Pastor: Jun Tan, jun.tan.balwynbaptist@gmail.com, 0413 015 709, working Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evenings and Sunday.
Preacher: Janet Washington Mark 5:21-36 “Reaching out in Faith”
We need to reach out in faith to God for healing, for cleansing, claim his promises and encourage each other.
During the week:
Normal activities: The usual Bible Studies and Care Groups will continue to meet online. If you would like to join a group, contact gracemunro8@gmail.com, 0425 707 386
Prayer and Praise: Please pray about the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic globally, and also that the Victorian leadership and people will be able to control the number of infections. In particular, pray for the Aged Care homes where there are infections among very vulnerable people
Finances and maintenance
Having reached the end of the Financial Year, we are thankful that income outstripped expenditure by $43,406. A special gift of $30,000 from one member was extremely helpful, and a practical gift from another member saved us $787. We also received a payment of $8,595 from the tax office.
Wages for the year were higher than anticipated in the budget as we increased Jun Tan’s payment from 4 days to 5 days a week. General repairs/ Maintenance was $13,583 above budget expectations as we replaced the floor of the children’s room. However we saved $7,710 under Equipment purchase and $2,455 under Manse Maintenance. The net impact of these three accounts was $3,415 over budget. $1715 was forwarded to Global Interaction for our May Appeal.
Further maintenance and equipment purchase expenses are continuing during July. New stoves have been purchased at a cost of $5,487. Repairs to the roof and downpipes are also being undertaken by Reza Esrafilian Soltani, and we thank him for that. If anyone would like to make a donation towards these expenses, that would be welcome.
Thank you to all who have continued to contribute by giving online during these times.
Romans 15:13. “Being hope-filled people” – Let’s unfold together what it means to be people filled with hope during uncertain times.
During the week:
A change of plans: The deacons felt it was not helpful for Pastor Jun to be on leave when he is unable to travel. They consulted with him and Xu Ping. He has taken a week off, but will now return to work. He will take the remainder of his holidays when travel is again possible.
We are grateful that we have a small part to play in helping Kate Pocklington in her work with Pioneers, training local leaders in the Pacific area, and Gayle Hill, nurturing a small faith community in Carlton. Gayle also works with the Baptist Union of Victoria as Head of the Mission Catalyst Team.
Both Gayle and Kate have faced major adjustments to their work routines recently. Gayle would normally visit churches and church-planting initiatives on Sundays, and during the week be at BUV or visiting people in the high-rise flats. Kate would normally be spending much of her time traveling interstate and overseas, meeting with church leaders and engaging in training activities.
Both have now been working from home for several months. (One of the rare advantages of the Covid-19 pandemic is that we are seeing more of them at Balwyn Baptist than is usually possible.)
Modern technology enables them to keep in touch with many people, which is excellent. However, there is no substitute for face-to-face contact. We encourage you to be in prayer for both of them.
Pray also for the people whom they are serving. Church leaders in the Pacific region are doing their best to nurture faith communities during difficult times. Residents of the high-rise communities in Carlton who attend the faith community there face increased risk, with one of the buildings where they live having positive Covid-19 infections reported during this week.
Prayer: We are
all disappointed that there has been a spike in Covid-19 infections in
Melbourne and a re-introduction of restrictions.
Please
be in prayer for those who are most affected by this:
Those who have lost work, or have been without work for a longer period, or have limited work opportunities.
Those who are particularly vulnerable to the disease due to illness or age. (Those sick and in the vulnerable age group. Many other families have elderly relatives living with them.)
Those in aged care facilities, their families, and the staff who care for them. ( It has been reported that a staff member at Templestowe has been diagnosed with Covid-19 so patients are in quarantine).
Families who are again facing the prospect of home schooling, and teachers adjusting their teaching skills for online learning.
Children who cannot spend time with their friends, even during school holidays.
People who find the isolation particularly stressful and emotionally difficult.
The financial impact of the pandemic on the whole community.
Small businesses which will struggle to survive following this period.
We pray also for the many countries around the world who continue to experience significant levels of infection. In many developing countries, medical services are very limited, and people often live in very cramped conditions where they must share basic facilities. Consider people living in major cities of India, Bangladesh, Africa, South America and similar areas.
2. Who to contact: During Jun’s absence, please contact the deacons if you have any questions.
