“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” —Luke 2:11

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” —2 Corinthians 9:15

Sunday 27 December:

10am SERVICE:  At the church, or Click https://zoom.us/j/5172232020

Preacher:   Grace Munro Philippians 2:1-11 “GOD’S GIFTS; OUR RESPONSE”

God continuously gives us gifts, following on from his greatest gift of Jesus. Our response is to submit ourselves to him, and to allow him to produce in us what he wants to see in us.

Care groups:   http://balwynbaptist.org.au/ministries/care-groups/

WE GIVE THANKS:

• For those who have been unemployed, but have now found work.
• For those who have been unwell, but are recovering; and the God-given strength shown by those whose health has not improved, or whose relatives are still unwell.
• For young people who have completed their secondary schooling despite the challenges of the year.
• For the life and energy we see in our Church, as so many people are involved in ensuring that people are encouraged and taught.
• For the way we coped during the lockdown with the help of Zoom – and the joy of getting back together again in the last few weeks.
• For the new people who are attending our church, and those who have come to faith during the year.
• For the maintenance work which has been carried out, recently including trimming the trees at the front of the church, and installing new stoves in the kitchen (paid for by two generous donations).
• For the generosity of people in the church, both to meet the church’s needs, and also for special appeals such as Baptist World Aid Australia.
• Above all, for the greatest gift of all, Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this week.

BALWYN BAPTIST GIVING TO BAPTIST WORLD AID (BWAA) IN DECEMBER

1. Transfer funds to church account, marked AID
2. Text 0425 707 386 or email balwynbaptistchurch@gmail.comgiving name(s), address, phone number, email address and choice of project (1. Vulnerable children 2. Hunger crisis East Africa)

12月20日主日崇拜

• 早上10点崇拜：到教会或点击网上链接https://zoom.us/j/5172232020
• 讲道Geoff Ryall   马太福音1:18-25​“不要只说不做”

上帝已经迈出了爱我们的第一步，虽然我们离他还很遥远。现在，在这个圣诞节，是否有人需要我们的爱，我们的抚摸，我们的宽恕？

12月25日星期五：

9:30-10:15圣诞日崇拜: 到教会或点击网上链接 https://zoom.us/j/5172232020

关怀小组：http://balwynbaptist.org.au/ministries/care-groups/

代祷：

• ·我们牵挂那些正在与慢性疾病和身体缺陷作斗争的弟兄姐妹。
• 为那些在圣诞节和中国新年期间分隔两地的家庭，对许多人来说，这是欢庆家庭团聚的重要节日。
• 祷告在这个圣诞节，在我们周围和世界各地的许多人会以一种新的、改变人生的方式来认识耶稣基督。

Balwyn浸信会在12月向浸信会世界援助组织(BWAA)捐款

1.将钱转入教会账户并在转账说明里标注AID。

2.发短信给0425 707 386，或发电子邮件给balwynbaptistChurch@gmail.com，提供姓名、地址、电话号码、电子邮件地址和项目选择(1.弱势儿童2.东非饥饿危机)。

如果未成年儿童的家庭贫困，并且没有得到工作机会、教育或其他实际援助，那么会发生什么情况？请参阅：

https://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Fund/UNVTF_brochure2013.pdf

Grace居住在尼日利亚，她在Edo州的一个有九个孩子的家庭长大。Grace中学毕业后，她的叔叔带她去了Lagos，承诺她可以继续学业。

但是，她的叔叔和婶婶让Grace在他们的啤酒厅工作，并让她穿着暴露的衣服。顾客经常付钱给她做爱，Grace的姑姑威胁说，如果她拒绝接受，就把她送回村子里。

她姑姑收下了所有的钱，她说这笔钱是用于Grace的教育。“我和几百个男人睡过觉，”Grace回忆道，“但我婶婶没有给我一分钱。”

另请参阅：

https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1161&context=gjicl

Sunday 20 December:

10am SERVICE:  At the church, or Click https://zoom.us/j/5172232020

Preacher:   Geoff Ryall Matthew 1:18-25 “NOT JUST WORDS”

God has taken the first step in loving us, even while we were still distant from him. Now, does someone need our love, our touch, our forgiveness this Christmas?

Friday 25 December:

9.30 – 10.15 CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE  At the church, or Click https://zoom.us/j/5172232020

Care groups:   http://balwynbaptist.org.au/ministries/care-groups/

FOR PRAYER:

• We think of those who are struggling with ongoing illness and physical limitation
• Remember those who are separated from their family members during the Christmas period and then the Chinese New Year, a very significant time of celebration for many.
• Pray that this Christmas season, many people here and around the world will come to know Christ in a new and life-changing way.

BALWYN BAPTIST GIVING TO BAPTIST WORLD AID (BWAA) IN DECEMBER

1. Transfer funds to church account, marked AID
2. Text 0425 707 386 or email balwynbaptistchurch giving name(s), address, phone number, email address and choice of project (1. Vulnerable children 2. Hunger crisis East Africa)

What can happen to under-age children whose families experience poverty and are not well supported through work opportunities, education and other practical support? See https://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Fund/UNVTF_brochure2013.pdf

Grace, in Nigeria:  Grace grew up in a family of nine children in Edo State. After Grace finished secondary school, her uncle took her to Lagos, promising she could continue her education.

Instead, her uncle and aunt put Grace to work in their beer parlour and made her wear revealing clothes. Customers often offered her money for sex, and Grace’s aunt threatened to send her back to her village if she refused to accept.

Her aunt collected the money, which she said was for Grace’s education. “I slept with hundreds of men,” Grace recalls, “and never got a dime from my aunty.”

See also: https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1161&context=gjicl

12月13日主日崇拜

• 早上10点崇拜：到教会或网上链接https://zoom.us/j/5172232020
• 讲道Kate Pocklington   马太福音2：1-12​“充满喜悦”

博士和智者们满怀喜悦、惊奇并充满敬拜之心。我们也知道耶稣的真相。我们是否也充满了同样的喜悦？

规定进一步放宽：戴口罩现在是自愿的而非必须的；我们可以让更多的人进入教堂。然而，我们必须保持良好的社交距离和其他预防措施。

周间活动：一些小组已经结束聚会进入圣诞节假期

关怀小组：http://balwynbaptist.org.au/ministries/care-groups/

Balwyn浸信会在12月向浸信会世界援助组织(BWAA)捐款

如何奉献：

1.将钱转入教会银行账户。请在转账说明里标注“AID”。(或者把奉献放在信封里，写下以下细节)，并

2.发短信给Grace Munro(0425 707 386)，或发电子邮件balwynbaptistChurch@gmail.com，告知：

• 你的名字(注：当你说出你的名字时，请写出将出现在银行对账单上的名字和(如果不同)你在教会中所熟知的名字(例如Joyce Lin)
• 地址
• 电话
• 电子邮件
• 给予的金额
• 您想支持的项目(下面的1个或2个)。

执事们决定我们将在今年十二月支持以下两个项目：

1.支持弱势儿童，即那些面临被贩卖、剥削或结婚风险的儿童，确保他们的贫困家庭能够保证他们安全、健康和上学。

2.为东非饥饿危机提供清洁水、卫生培训和紧急食品。

10am SERVICE:  At the church, or Click https://zoom.us/j/5172232020

Preacher:   Grace Munro    2 Kings 4:8-37   “PEACE”

The woman of Shunem, and others who suffer long-term pain, have sometimes learned to say “it is well with my soul”, even though it is “not well with my world”. They are beacons of peace who have a positive impact on others.

During the week:  All groups continue to meet online.

Care groups:   http://balwynbaptist.org.au/ministries/care-groups/

BALWYN BAPTIST GIVING TO BAPTIST WORLD AID (BWAA) IN DECEMBER

Every month we support Gayle Hill at Rise@Carlton, and Kate Pocklington working in the Oceania region. Funds for this are drawn from our regular church offerings.

Every year, we support two Baptist Organisations: Gifts for these are “extra”, “over and above” gifts – just as gifts for our families at Christmas are “over and above” what we do during the year.

• In May: Global Interaction(GIA) who send PEOPLE to share the Gospel and help meet practical needs such as poverty, education, poor water supply, and so on. (This year we sent $1835 for a couple working in Central Asia.)
• In December: Baptist World Aid Australia (BWAA), who send FUNDS and give OVERSIGHT for various practical projects. This is the time for our special Christmas for BWAA.

WHAT DOES BWAA DO?

Here are some of the things BWAA do (these are just samples, there are more):

• Emergency relief and support in the Middle East (Syrian refugees living in Lebanon).
• Clean water, hygiene training, emergency food for the hunger crisis in East Africa.
• Protecting children at risk of being trafficked, exploited or married by ensuring their families are kept secure.
• Responding to disasters: providing water, shelter, food, medical goods.
• Research to produce an Ethical Fashion Guide which helps ensure that workers living in poor countries are treated well.

THE DEACONS HAVE CHOSEN TWO PROJECTS FOR US TO SUPPORT THIS DECEMBER

• Support for vulnerable children, that is, children who are at risk of being trafficked, exploited, or married, by ensuring that their poor families can keep them safe, healthy and in school.
• Clean water, hygiene training and emergency food for the hunger crisis in East Africa.

We will give details about how you can give soon.

11月29日主日崇拜

• 早上10点崇拜：到教会或网上链接https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172
• 讲道Gayle Hill   创世纪16:1-16，21:8-21​“希望”

夏甲虽然处境不利，但仍抱有希望，因为上帝在看顾她。同样的道理也适用于我们。让我们相信上帝，他给了我们希望。

周间活动：所有小组继续在网上聚会。

关怀小组：http://balwynbaptist.org.au/ministries/care-groups/

请为生病的肢体祷告：请为正在经历病痛，治疗和康复过程的弟兄姐妹祷告。愿主医治的大能临到他们。

一笔特别捐款：本周我们收到了一笔匿名的特别捐款用于支付购买新炉灶的全部费用，非常感谢奉献者。这意味着我们收到的特别捐款支付了购买炉灶以及安装的全部费用。我们感谢上帝通过他慷慨的子民向我们彰显他的荣耀！

我们将在周日回到教堂聚会，同时也继续开放网上崇拜。我们需要做到：

• 继续采取对Covid的预防措施：在室内戴口罩，保持社交距离，保持良好的卫生习惯，并使用消毒洗手液。
• 记录参加聚会的全部人名：我们会有一份名单以供现场登记，但节省时间的简单方法是带上一张写上你的名字和电话号码的纸条，然后把它放进盒子里。
• 需要几名志愿者在聚会结束时擦拭水龙头、桌子、马桶盖、门把手等。
• 敬拜团队和音频/视频操作员：用消毒湿巾消毒/擦拭钢琴、麦克风、键盘、桌面，以及你使用过的其他物体表面。
• 如果你感到不舒服，请你呆在家里。
• 禁止分享食物和餐具。
• 奉献：最好是继续通过银行转账。不过，我们会准备接受现金奉献的器皿。
• 12月6日的圣餐：圣餐的设立将配有防护新冠肺炎的相应措施，并为参与者设置分隔的场所。但如果你担心感染，你可以自备所需。

更改停车规定：自12月1日起，Whitehorse路上的Clearway（禁止停车区）将改成Tow-away（拖车区）。周一到周五早上7-9点在Whitehorse路南侧和4：30-6：30在Whitehorse路北侧停车的司机不仅会被罚款，而且车会被拖走并需要支付车辆放行罚款–这是非常昂贵的。

Sunday 29 November:

• 10am ONLINE SERVICE: At the church or Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172

Preacher:   Rev  Gayle Hill        Genesis 16:1-16, 21:8-21   “HOPE”

Hagar had hope, even though the circumstances were against her, for God was looking after her. The same applies to us. Let us trust God, who gives us hope.

During the week:  All groups continue to meet online.

Care groups:   http://balwynbaptist.org.au/ministries/care-groups/

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK:

Remember to pray for those who are unwell or going through medical procedures. May Lord’s healing power come upon them.

ANOTHER DONATION: We have received another anonymous donation for the purchase of the new stoves, so a big thank you to that person.  That means the cost of the stoves and the installation is now covered. We give thanks to God for his goodness through his generous people.

WE ARE BACK TO THE CHURCH ON SUNDAY (or online at the site mentioned above).  We need to:

• Have usual precautions for Covid: Wear masks inside, keep social distancing, maintain good hygiene, and use hand sanitiser.
• Know who was here: We will have a list, but the easiest way to save yourself some time is to bring a slip of paper with your name and phone number on it, and put it in a box.
• Have a couple of volunteers to wipe down taps, tables, toilet seats, door handles, etc. at the end of the service.
• Music team and Audio/Visual operators: Disinfect/wipe down with disinfectant wipes piano, microphones, keyboard, table top, any other surfaces you use.
• Stay home if you are at all unwell.
• No sharing of food, crockery.
• For offering: Preferably, continue to give online. However, we will have bowls available for cash gifts.
• For Communion 6 December: We will set up with appropriate Covid-19 care and have separate stations for participation. But if you are concerned about infection, bring your own elements.

CHANGE OF PARKING REGULATIONS:  From 1 December, the Clearway on Whitehorse Road will become a tow-away zone. Drivers parked weekdays 7-9am (on the south side of Whitehorse Road), and 4.30-6.30 (on the north side of Whitehorse Road) will receive not only a fine, but a vehicle release fine – which is expensive.