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.

11月22日主日崇拜

• 早上10点网上崇拜：点击链接https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172
• 讲道谭军 牧师   路加福音16：1-13​“如何善用过期作废的人生?”

我要按天国的思维善用人生,活出上帝慈爱的形像和样式。忠实于主在我里面的形象，为福音而广交朋友。

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/

回到教堂聚会：敬拜团队本周将继续在教堂工作。到12月，我们希望一部分人能在教堂聚会。细节很快就会公布。

感恩：我们收到了一笔1500元的匿名捐款，用于安装新炉灶，感谢奉献者。炉灶将于12月投入使用。如果有感动的弟兄姐妹愿意为炉灶的费用(5487美元)做特别奉献，那就太好了！

会计团队提供了10月份的报表，收入比支出多478元。这包括政府给的Job Keeper补贴，这笔钱抵消了我们在租金收入方面的损失。从7月到10月的总收益是8,364元，我们感谢您，感谢上帝。

小组：你想参加一个为期三周的小组活动吗？Grace带领的小组(周二下午1点15分，周三上午10点)和Geoff的小组(周四下午3点)有一个为期3周的“欢迎陌生人”系列活动，其中包括关注澳大利亚难民的情况。

SBI：周日下午在教堂聚会的SBI将很快恢复在教堂活动。他们宣布任命了一位新的牧师，Rev Ignatius Bagos Seta。

乒乓球：很高兴在周三晚上又听到乒乓球拍的声音！请为刘洋和他的助手Tim重新开始这项事工祷告，并为参加的年轻人祷告。我们希望看到更多的人参与进来。

如果你认识一些想学乒乓球的年轻人，请联系刘洋。

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点到9点在Whitehorse路南侧和4：30-6：30在白马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 22 November:

• 10am ONLINE SERVICE: Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172

Preacher:  Jun Tan Luke 16:1-13   “How to invest your one and only life?”

We must invest our lives in a Kingdom way, showing the image of a generous God, and making friends for the sake of the Gospel as a faithful bearer of a generous God

During the week:  All groups continue to meet online.

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

MEETING AT THE CHURCH: The music team will work from the church again this week. By December we hope some members of the congregation can meet in the church. Details to come soon.

THANK YOU: We have received an anonymous donation of $1500 for the installation of the new stoves, and are grateful to the person who gave this gift. The stoves will be available in December. If anyone else would like to help cover part of the cost of purchasing them ($5487) it would be good.

Accounting team have prepared the figures for October, and the amount received was $478 above expenditure. This includes a job-keeper payment, which balances out the losses we have faced with the loss of income from rental of rooms in the church. The total gain from July to October is $8,364, and we give thanks to you, and to God.

SMALL GROUPS: Do you want to join a group for just three weeks? Grace’s groups (1.15pm Tuesday and 10am Wednesday) and Geoff’s group (3pm Thursday) have a 3 week series on “Welcoming Strangers”, including looking at the situation of refugees to Australia.

SBI: The SBI group who meet in the church on Sunday afternoon will resume meeting in the church soon. They have also announced that they have appointed a new pastor, Rev Ignatius Bagoes Seta.

TABLE TENNIS:  It was good to hear the table tennis bats moving again on Wednesday evening! Please pray for Yang and his assistant Tim as they re-start this ministry of the church, and for the young people who attend.  We would like to see more people involved.

If you know some young people who would like to learn Table Tennis, contact Yang.

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.

11月15日主日崇拜

• 早上10点网上崇拜：点击链接https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172
• 讲道谭军 牧师   路加福音15：11–32​“以神的眼光论尊贵”

我要在基督里找到自己的尊贵，他爱我，住在我里面。我要以神之眼光尊贵他人，在交往中注重基督的救赎价值。

• 11：25圆桌会议：我们将继续讨论基督里的自由。上一次我们讨论了我们在那些方面得到自由。这一次，我们将讨论为什么我们得自由。

周间活动：所有小组继续在网上聚会。星期四，19日有执事会议

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

回到教堂聚会：敬拜团队本周将在教堂工作。到12月，我们希望一部分人能在教堂聚会。细节很快就会公布。

一个比我们肉眼所见的更广阔的教会：我们习惯于按所能看到的人统计出席人数–但人数远不止于此！布道被翻译成中文(如果是谭牧师讲道，由他翻译；如果是非中文传教士，则由翻译团队翻译)。每周六放到网上。

• 熟悉的听众：很多参加我们周日上午崇拜的中国人都会在周六晚上或周日早上听中文布道。这有助于他们更好地理解星期天的英语布道。
• 广泛的听众：每周有50多人听中文布道–我们不知道他们都是谁，但这显然比那些参加我们周日礼拜的人更多。这很可能包括相当多无法听懂英语讲道的人。
• 不知名的听众：有些听过布道的人不计算在以上的50人中，他们从他们的“家乡”收听。

有些是以前来过澳大利亚的人，还有一些我们不认识，也不知道有多少。他们可能有朋友居住在澳大利亚，也可能是以前住在这里的人的朋友。他们在网站上的点击量不包括在50+的数字中。

这些人需要付出一些努力才能听到讲道，因为讲道的链接在他们那里无法正常工作。不过，只要多试几次，他们通常都能听到。

所以，当你为BBC会众祈祷时，所包括的人比我们周日看到的要多得多。

Sunday 15 November:

• 10am ONLINE SERVICE:Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172

Preacher:  Jun Tan Luke 15:11-32   “Measuring your worth in God’s eye?”

I must find my worth in Jesus, who loves me and lives in me. I must recognize the worth of others in God’s eyes, and my own redemptive value in Christ in my dealings with others.

• 11:25AM Table Talk: We will continue our discussion on Freedom in Christ.  Last time we looked at what we are freed from.  This time we will look at what we are freed for.

During the week:  All groups continue to meet online.

Thursday 19: Deacons’ Meeting.

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

MEETING AT THE CHURCH: The music team will work from the church this week. By December we hope some members of the congregation can meet in the church. Details to come soon.

A WIDER CHURCH THAN WE CAN SEE: We tend to count attendances by the people we can see – but it is many more than that! The Sermon is translated into Chinese (by Jun if he is preaching, or by the translation team when it is a non-Chinese speaking preacher). It is put online by Saturday.

• A well-known audience: Many Chinese people who attend our Sunday morning service listen to the sermon in Chinese Saturday night or Sunday morning. This helps them to understand better the English when it is preached on Sunday.
• A wider audience: 50+ peoplelisten to the Chinese sermon each week – we don’t know who they all are, but it is clearly wider than just those who also attend our Sunday services. It could well include quite a few who have very little knowledge of English.
• An unknown audience: Some people who hear the sermon are not includedin the 50+ number.  The extras are those who listen in from their “home” country.

Some are people who have been in Australia previously – and the others we don’t know, nor do we know how many. They may be friends of people living in Australia, or friends of people who have previously lived here. Their ‘hits’ on the website are not included in the 50+ figure.

It takes some effort for these people to hear the broadcast. However, if they try a few times, they are often able to hear it.

So, when you pray for the BBC congregation, there are a lot more people than we see on Sundays.

11月8日主日崇拜

• 早上10点网上崇拜：点击链接https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172
• 讲道谭军 牧师   路加福音15：1-10​“神在乎什么？”

我会受到重视吗？我说的话管用吗？我对世界有影响吗？我为什么会受到重视？神在乎什么？耶稣说的「悔改」是什么意思?

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/

来自PAUL和NOMES的消息：签证已经发放，他们很兴奋，将于11月19日飞回中亚。在返回他们居住的城市之前，他们将接受两周的隔离。

奉献中的信心与敬拜

马可福音12：41耶稣…看着大家怎样把钱投入库中。许多有钱的人投入很多的钱。42后来，有一个穷寡妇来投入了两个小钱，就是一个铜钱。43耶稣把门徒叫过来，对他们说：“我实在告诉你们，这穷寡妇投入库里的，比众人投的更多。44因为他们都是把自己剩余的投入，这寡妇是自己不足，却把她一切所有的，就是全部养生的，都投进去了。

对一些人来说，仅仅捐出几分钱就是信心的一大进步和深深的敬拜。对于其他拥有更多资源的人来说，情况可能也是如此。以下原则需要我们思考：

奉献是为了上帝的荣耀，而不是为了让我们看起来更好：马太福音6：2“因此你施舍的时候，不可到处张扬，好象伪君子在会堂和街上所作的一样，以博取众人的称赞。

上帝给你的礼物更大更多：哥林多前书8：9，基督，“…他虽然富足，却因你们的缘故变穷，叫你们因他的贫穷而富足。”

上帝奖励慷慨施舍的人：哥林多后书9：6“…还有，少种的少收，多种的多收。7各人要照着心里所决定的捐输，不要为难，不必勉强，因为捐得乐意的人，是神所喜爱的。”这并不一定意味着接受经济上的报酬。最大的回报就是看到其他人开始信主，以及弱势群体得到祝福并开始兴旺。

慷慨的奉献需要信心：捐了几分钱的女人有很大的信心-因为这是她赖以生存的全部。她相信不管怎样，上帝都会为她提供食物。

当我们任命谭军牧师为我们的牧师时，我们满怀信心地向他支付每周四天的工资，这样教会才能从“维持”模式转向“增长”模式。2020年2月，我们再次满怀信心地迈出下一步，支付谭牧师每周五天的工资。上帝对教会的祝福超出了我们的预期，即使是在新冠肺炎疫情肆虐的情况下也是如此。

感谢您的慷慨。如果您还没有养成奉献的习惯，现在开始的好时机。

Sunday 8 November:

• 10am ONLINE SERVICE:Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172

Preacher:  Jun Tan Luke 15:1-10  “What matters to God?”

Do I matter? Does my voice matter? Does my place in the world really matter? Why do I matter? What matters to God? What does repentance mean according to Jesus?

During the week:  All groups continue to meet online.

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

NEWS FROM PETE AND NOMES: Visas are issued, flying back to Central Asia on 19 November – and with great excitement. They will have two weeks in quarantine before heading to their home city.

FAITH AND WORSHIP IN GIVING

Mark 12: ⁴¹ Jesus …watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. ⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

For some, giving just a few cents is a huge step of faith and is an act of deep worship. For others who have more resources, this can still be the case. There are a few principles to think about:

Giving is to God and for his glory, not so that we might look good: Matthew 6:2, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do… to be honoured by others.”

God’s gifts to you are so much greater: 1 Corinthians 8:9, Christ, “…though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”

God rewards those who give generously: 2 Corinthians 9:6 “…he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” This does not necessarily mean receiving personal financial bounty. The great reward is in seeing the results when other people come to faith and the disadvantaged are blessed and flourish.

It takes faith to give generously: The woman who gave a few cents had great faith – because it was all she had to live on. She was confident that God would provide for her anyway.

When we appointed Pastor Jun Tan to be our Pastor, we stepped out in faith in paying him for four days a week, so that the church could move from “sustainability” mode to “growth” mode. In February 2020, we stepped out in faith again in paying Jun 5 days a week. And God has blessed the church beyond our expectations, even in the midst of a Covid-19 pandemic.

Thank you for your generosity.  If you have not been in the habit of giving, this could be a good time to begin.

11月1日主日崇拜

• 早上10点网上崇拜：点击链接https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172
• 讲道谭军 牧师   路加福音 14:15-24 “那么,你该做点什么呢?”

你生来注定不平凡,你的创造主已经邀请你参加祂的天堂宴席。这恩典是白给的,但绝非廉价的。照你的本相来，毫不迟疑地接受神的邀请。

• 儿童谈话：请父母为孩子准备一把剪刀、一支笔、一根胶棒或胶带，以及一张预先裁剪成3厘米宽的长条的A4纸。

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/

来自PAUL和NOMES的消息：我们在五月的宣教奉献中支持他们。中亚政府宣布，任何在3月份边境关闭时持有有效居留证的人，即使他们的居留证已经过期，现在都可以申请签证返回。PAUL和NOMES目前正在办理签证手续以回到他们在海外的家乡。

为事工和使命奉献源于“圣经”

当约书亚带领以色列人进入应许之地，把应许之地分给各支派时，利未人不像其他支派得到属于他们的那一块地。以色列的宗教领袖是从利未人宗族中挑选出来的。利未人没有拥有属于自己部落的土地，而是被安排在整块土地上的48座城镇居住和服事(约书亚第20章)。送到会幕和当地礼拜中心的祭品和奉献，一部分是用来供养祭司和利未人(民数记18：21)，一部分是用来支持社会上最需要帮助的人(申命记14：28-29)。

在新约中，这种模式继续存在，教会里的人们有特权和使命感去供养宗教领袖和与贫困作斗争的人。这里有一些来自“新约”的例子：使徒行传28：10，哥林多前书16：3，哥林多后书8：12，哥林多后书8：1-5，腓立比书4：10-20。

从那时起，情况发生了变化。政府现在承担一些责任，照顾社会上最有需要的人-可是这远远不够。政府不负责照顾我们的宗教领袖，也不负责与其他人分享福音。因此，献上我们的奉献-主要是作为礼物献给上帝，用于他的事工，仍然是我们的特权和使命。当保罗收到腓立比教会的礼物时，他写道：“这些礼物就像是献给上帝的馨香祭品，是他所接受和喜爱的祭品。”

Sunday 1 November:

• 10am ONLINE SERVICE:Click https://us02web.zoom.us/j/480278172

Preacher:  Jun Tan Luke 14:15-24  “So what do you have to do?”

You are created for significance, for your creator has invited you to his heavenly banquet. It’s free but not cheap. Just come as you are, accepting God’s invitation without delay.

Kids Talk would like parents to prepare for their child a pair of scissors, a pen, a glue stick or a stick tape, and a piece of A4 paper pre-cut to 3 cm wide long strips

During the week:  All groups continue to meet online.

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

NEWS FROM PAUL AND NOMES whom we supported in the May Mission Appeal. The government in Central Asia has announced that anyone who had a valid resident permit when the borders closed in March can now apply for a visa to return, even if their residence permit has since expired. P&N are now working through the process of applying for a visa to return to their “home” overseas.

GIVING FOR MINISTRY AND MISSION IS BASED IN THE BIBLE

When Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land and divided it between the tribes, the Levites were not given their own tract of land as the other tribes received.  The religious leaders of Israel were chosen from the Levite clan.  Instead of having their own tribal lands, the Levites were allocated 48 towns across the whole land in which they could live and serve (Joshua 20). The offerings and tithes brought to the Tent of Meeting and to local worship centres were used in part to provide for the Priests and Levites (Number 18:21), and in part for the support of the most needy people in society (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

In the New Testament, the pattern continued, where people in the churches felt a sense of privilege and responsibility to provide for the religious leaders, and also to provide for people struggling with poverty.  Here are some examples from the New Testament:  Acts 28:10, 1 Corinthians 16:3, 2 Corinthians 8:12, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, Philippians 4:10-20.

Things have changed since that time. The Government now takes some responsibility for caring for the most needy people in our society – but of course it is no-where near enough.  And the Government takes no responsibility for care of our religious leaders, nor for sharing the Gospel with other people. So it continues to be our privilege and responsibility to bring our offerings – primarily as gifts to God to be used for his purposes. When Paul received gifts from the church in Philippi, he wrote about those gifts, “They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is .