We are happy to host this Training Day on Saturday from 10am -3:30pm (9:30am registration and tea/coffee). See the program below, but contact us asap if you want to come along! Cost is $30 (includes morning tea, lunch and take-home resources)

Program:

Getting Started: Practical tips and ideas for starting or getting involved in an English ministry in your church or community.

Being inspired: Hear from those with experience in teaching English as ministry in Australia and overseas, Observe some mini lessons, Learn about relating well cross culturally.

 Keeping Going: Using the Bible in English learning, Stimulating activities to reduce teacher talk and maximize student conversations, Caring for beginners, Sharing practical ESL resources.

Home Groups are such an integral part of our church life at Bendigo (St John’s) Presbyterian. For a couple of years now we’ve met together for dinner at the start of the ‘Home Group year’ to decide upon groups and venues and leaders, as well as meet together for a meal and pray together in our Home Groups.

This year’s launch will be on Thursday night Feb 18th at the Church Hall in Forest Street from 6pm. (Bring a mains/sweet!)

This year’s ‘Scots’ Day Out’ in Bendigo will be held in Rosalind Park on February 13th.  We’ll be there so look out for us and come and say ‘hi!’ 🙂 (What are we doing there?…oh…well… our denomination has a rich Scottish heritage… but that doesn’t mean you have to be Scottish to come to our church!)

Join with us each Sunday in January (which will also continue into February) at our 10:30am services as we explore the first eight chapters of the Old Testament book of Joshua. By this, it is our hope and prayer that God will direct us in His ways to serve Him well, just as Joshua was enabled to do in his time.

On Sunday December 13 at 8pm we will hold our annual ‘Carols by Torchlight’ in St John’s followed by supper in the hall.  This is always a great time of singing Christmas hymns, reflecting upon the Christmas story and hearing God’s Word explained to us in a shorter format which Philip will bring. All are welcome and don’t forget your torch!

On Christmas Eve we will join in with our friends at Eaglehawk Presbyterian Church for their 7pm service followed by supper and then on Christmas Day we will meet together at 9:30am in St John’s. Philip will be preaching again from God’s Word and there will be more Christmas hymns. There will also be an offering for PresAID (Presbyterians Assisting in Development) projects among our partner churches in Zambia, Uganda, Vanuatu and Meekatharra (WA).  Morning tea will follow in the hall if you can stay. Everyone is very welcome!

Well, it happened! Our annual Playgroup and Sunday School Celebration was a great event today. Children participating in Christmas-themed costumes, lots of singing, short and sharp videos of the Sunday School children acting out and talking about some of Jesus’ parables, and of course ‘Hot Dog’ came along to help us to understand God’s ‘big story’ and how the birth and death of Jesus fits into it all. Lunch was great too! Bring on next year!

Wow.. how quickly the year flies past! On Sunday November 29th  at 10:30am we’ll be wrapping up our Playgroup and Sunday School year once again! Even ‘Hot Dog’ is promising to be there! A shared lunch will follow in the hall…come and join with us!

Leading Seaman Patrick Daniels, Russell Pettis Lieutenant RANR Rtd and Rev Philip Burns at morning tea

Our Annual Naval Service (held this morning) was attended by members of the ex-Navalmen’s Club of Bendigo and District, along with their special guest, Russell Pettis, Lieutenant RANR Rtd, National President of the Naval Association of Australia, and Naval Cadets of the TS Bendigo. Rev Philip Burns preached on Jonah 1:1-17 (you can listen to or download the message, just to the right of this post) and a yummy morning tea in the hall was enjoyed by all!