MESSAGE FROM THE SENIOR PASTOR
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As restrictions continue to lift we are accelerating our discussions as a leadership about what church will look like in the future.
This goes far beyond the limitations of physical distancing in our auditorium or how we worship together in light of the recommendations against corporate singing, but goes to the heart of what it means for us to be the church.
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These are much bigger questions and are much more important to answer going forward. The seating arrangement will sort itself out and there’s more to corporate worship than singing (though it’ll be nice when we are able to do so again!). The question about what it means for us to be the church is a fundamental one that will sit behind many of our decisions moving forward. In this sense the restrictions from COVID-19 has been a blessing as it has given us a compelling reason to stop what we have “always” done and ask these questions.
As a leadership we are beginning, in earnest, the discernment process and, to that end, have released a short survey to start the conversation. It asks a few questions about your experience of church during the restrictions and then moves to some questions about how effective we have been as a church at achieving our purpose and what we might do to be more effective in the future. Thanks to those of you who have already taken the time to give some feedback (at the time of writing we’ve received exactly 100 responses) and thanks to those who have indicated a willingness to be part of a focus group moving forward. I am hopeful that we will have a clear sense of direction by the time we hold our church meeting (which was scheduled for June 21, but which we are postponing until July – more details to come!). If you haven’t yet taken a few minutes to give feedback or have not received the email link it can be found below, under the GBC Updates video.
I’m looking forward to responding together to the invitation of God in these times.
Marc Rader
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SUNDAY 14th JUNE 2020
Marc Rader: Senior Pastor
Anchored: The Anchor of Perfect Forgiveness
Services: 8.30am|10.30am|6.00pm
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SUNDAY 21st JUNE 2020
Marc Rader: Senior Pastor
Anchored: Therefore ... PERSEVERE!
Services: 8.30am|10.30am|6.00pm
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Announcements and Upcoming Events
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Don't miss this week's GBC Update from Marc Rader - click on the video image below for the latest update of what's happening at GBC.
This week: MMM; Partnership Newsletter; Church Survey; COVID-19 Restrictions; Reflections on Racism.
To be notified of GBC Updates and all GBC content (including Marc's Reflections on Racism video to be released this weekend) - subscribe to our YouTube channel
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Link to the GBC COVID-19 Survey
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In this week's Senior Pastor's Message above, Marc refers to the GBC COVID-19 Survey that was sent out by email last Wednesday. If you did not receive that email you can access the link to the Survey here. It's a short 9-questions survey and your anonymous response will help the GBC Leadership as they consider what opportunities God might have for us moving forward. The Survey closes at 11:59pm Sunday 14th June.
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Reflection on Racism in Light of Recent Events
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There has been a global response to the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis resulting in demonstrations against systemic racism and injustice. In light of these events our Senior Pastor, Marc Rader, will be releasing a reflection on racism and our response to it through a biblical and theological framework this weekend on our YouTube channel.
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Donations for May Mission Month closed earlier this week. Our target this year was $190,000 and this Sunday during our services at GBC Online we will announce our MMM 2020 total that our GBC faith community have raised! So tune in this Sunday at 8:30am | 10:30am | 6:00pm - you won't want to miss it!
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Partnership Newsletter #14
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GBC's Partnership Newsletter #14 "The Church UnGathered" is hot off the press today - check it out here.
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Mid-Year Meeting - Postponed to July (Date To be Confirmed)
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As Marc Rader mentioned in last week's GBC Update due to the Government restrictions on meetings for Places of Worship the Mid-Year Meeting, previously scheduled for 21 June, is now expected to take place on either 19 OR 26 July 2020. The meeting will be held remotely (via Zoom). More information to follow in the weeks ahead - stay tuned!
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Missionary Prayer Request
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Joan Eley, now retired missionary from GBC, who went to Venezuela in 1960, is 88 years old and facing serious health challenges. Joan's heart is enlarged and her medications are not working. We ask that you pray for comfort, support, healing and peace with God through this difficult time.
You can see additional Prayer Updates on all our GBC supported workers here
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ACTIVITY SHEETS - We love for our kids to participate during the service at GBC Online. Each week in the Notes section we provide an activity sheet to download and print. Roxane, our Children's Ministry Coodinator, also emails the Activity Sheets to allow you to print it out ready for the Sunday service. If you'd like to be included in this email list please send Roxane an email. Make sure you send in the amazing craft activities we hear your kids are creating during GBC Online - email Roxane photos of your kids' artworks to be featured via social media pages.
MEMORY VERSE MONDAY - Check out GBC's website for this week's Memory Verse Challenge. Our Kidzone leaders are taking turns to teach a new verse each week in very creative ways. One of our values at GBC is to be Whole-Life Learners; everyone, kids and adults, can benefit from taking up this challenge - so why not give it a go and get God's word into your hearts and minds!
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This Tuesday at 8:00pm AEST we'll be led by a member of our Prayer Team in Prayer Reflection.
Join us via instagram @gymeabaptist or at our Gymea Baptist Church Facebook page
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GBC YOUTH (Online) - tonight and every Friday night during school term (Yrs 7 - 12).
This week:
- Devotions: Switch "Who is the Holy Spirit?" (Download from YouVersion)
- _gbcyouth Insta Chopstick Challenge
- GBC Youth (Online) Friday 7pm.
GBC Youth - Boom! Love ya work!!
To find out more contact Matt, The Youth Guy (aka GBC Youth Coordinator).
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Congregational Care: Elders & GBC Cares
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If you need support from any of these teams please call or email us anytime:
Elders: 0410 156 396 or 8515 1999 or email
GBC Cares: 0400 535 637 or email
The Elders are supporting us through prayer. They are praying specifically for the prayer requests we receive each week. You can ask for prayer by calling/emailing the Elders (see above) or submit it online via GBC Links and/or the Prayer Requests tab at GBC Online. Your prayer request will be prayed for by our Staff, Elders and Prayer Team.
GBC Cares teams assist with practical support, food (pantry and fresh) and ready-made meals; they even deliver to your front door! Our Care Callers continue to check in with people in our congregation.
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HOPEFIELD SESSIONS - Join us to watch our very first Hopefield Sessions via our GBC YouTube channel and share this video with friends and family. Two of the Hopefield staff (Robert Boardman, Clinical Director, and Linda Salem, Psychologist) have a conversation with Jodene about stress and anxiety which can be an outcome of the change we're experiencing through these unprecedented times. We also look at how it affects different generations (kids, youth, adults and the elderly) and what are the invitations and possibilities that change offers to us.
SHOW US YOUR CANS - Hopefield have recently been involved with some other organisations in setting up a local food co-op called “show us your cans” and has been set up to support individuals and families that are struggling in our local area.
The co-op has now been running for four weeks and we are servicing 13 organisations in the area with over 300 hampers which equates to about 900 meals a week. If you would like to support this initiative through provision of non-perishable items for hampers or to volunteer please call the Hopefield office on 9545 0299 Monday-Friday 9.30am-4.30pm.
For any enquiries or bookings please contact Hopefield on 9545 0299, by email or via our website.
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Playtime@Home is learning about "numbers" this term through craft, song and activities via a fun and interactive video presented by one of our Playtime Leaders. This week's video is from Jackie Martin.
If you know anyone who would like to receive the Playtime@Home resources including the weekly Playtime Leader's video with ideas for engaging young children, please email our Playtime Coordinator - Meddwyn and/or request to join Gymea Baptist Church Playtime on Facebook.
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Family and friends who do not have access to the internet can now listen to our GBC Online service this Sunday by phone - call 02 5925 4015 - from 8:30am. Share this number with them and invite them to join you on Sunday!
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