Wow.. how the year flies past!  This Sunday (Nov 24th) we’ll wrap 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!

On Sunday November 17th we’ll be welcoming David and Lisa Pearce and family to our morning service at 10:30am before they journey over to Chad with MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) and APWM (Australian Presbyterian World Mission – see link below.)

For David and Lisa this is a new part of Africa to explore, having served in Uganda and Kenya in previous years.

There will be a retiring offering for their support. All are welcome!

Ladies! Don’t forget the our first ‘Ladies’ Brunch’ is being held in the Upper Room (our church hall’s meeting room) on Saturday November 9th from 9:30am. Good food, coffee, fellowship and something from God’s Word – all provided! (for a  small fee of $5 🙂 All ladies very welcome!

Paul’s letter to the believers in Colossae remains a vital one for so many reasons even after so many years!  We’ve just begun to tackle the letter in our Home Groups (you’ll see the times listed somewhere on this page). Why not join us at one of them?

Each year we welcome representatives of Bendigo’s Ex-Navalmen’s Club and the naval cadets of TS Bendigo to a special service with a distinct navy theme. This year our guest preacher will again be Commander Mike Oborn RAN, Executive Officer of HMAS Cerberus, who will preach on Psalm 107 and Mark 4. After the service Commander Oborn will inspect the naval cadets in formation, and then morning tea will follow in the hall. All are welcome!

Saturday October 12th, at the church, from 9am, skilled and unskilled workers to paint window frames, repoint stonework, general cleaning up inside and out and more! Other ways you can help – bring some morning tea or lunch to share, encourage the workers, pray for safety!

 

The Session of St John’s and ‘Reforming’ (SE Bendigo) are pleased to announce the arrival of our first ever Ministry Conference – for the purpose of encouraging God’s people to pursue the idea that ministry is for all of us!

In the postcard above you’ll find the details about the when and where of ‘SPUR’ – our first attempt at running something like this – and may it not be the last!

The keynote speaker for the morning will be Pete Orr from Melbourne School of Theology. Other speakers will include Rev. Philip Burns (Pastoral ministry), Steve Blyth (Work) and Russ Grinter (Church planting)

SPUR Conference is open to all! We would love to see you there!

As part of our regular commitment to prayer as a congregation, we’ll gather together on Saturday August 31st from 2pm (’til about 4:30 or 5pm) to spend time in prayer. You’re welcome to join us in the church foyer as we meet to pray for revival, national and world needs, missions and missionaries as well as local needs (our own church family and ministries).

‘The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is pray. It is not the only thing; but it is the chief thing. The great people of earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer, nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean those people who take time to pray.’ (S.D. Gordon)

 

APWM Missionary, Motor Isaac Yat will speak of his call to and subsequent ministry in South Sudan during our morning service on Sunday August 25th. Motor will also share during our 4th Sunday lunch and than again at ‘Reforming’s’ 5pm service. There will be opportunities to give towards Motor’s financial support during these events.

It was a happy/sad day for our church family as we farewelled Hugh, Hannah, Ken, Melody, Harmony, Joy, Lucy and Felicity Price on Sunday July 28. We were happy because Hugh has been appointed by the Presbyterian Church of Victoria’s Ministry Development Committee (formerly Home Missions Committee) to take up the responsibility of pastoring the Castlemaine/Carisbrook Presbyterian Churches as of Sunday August 4th – and this is good for the gospel in Central Victoria! But it was also sad because this means that we have had to ‘let go’ a dearly loved part of our church family. After commissioning them for the work in Castlemaine/Carisbrook during our morning  service, farewells were said during lunch at which the Price Family gave a wonderful rendition of the hymn, ‘He leadeth me’. We will continue to pray that God will richly bless the preaching of His Word and this new ministry in His name and for His glory!