Message from the Senior Pastor

One of the events that I look forward to each year is the GBC Annual Dinner. There are several things that make this evening so enjoyable for me.

It begins with the fact that it is such a different kind of gathering. It’s not a worship service, or a member’s meeting, or a regular ministry event. It’s a church dinner.

I look forward to greeting people at the door and to seeing the fascinating mix of people who attend and to watching new relationships begin – sometimes between people who have been attending GBC for years but haven’t met before!

The evening always has a wonderful feel to it; a community feel. And in this warm context I deeply appreciate the opportunity to briefly address those who are gathered. Like the event, the presentation is different from others. It’s not teaching or preaching or informing or persuading, but a chance to pull back the curtain and to speak openly.

This somewhat unique combination makes the GBC Annual Dinner something that I look forward. And this year is no different!

If you have not yet registered, you can still do so by clicking HERE.

I’d love to see you there.

Marc Rader | Senior Pastor

This Sunday: 16 February

9:30am (Onsite and Online) | 6:00pm (Onsite only)

9:30am - 2025 Theme & New Sermon Series - "Lives Changed by Jesus" - An expanding generosity.
(Bible passage: Psalm 112) Preacher: Marc Rader

GBC Serve - Opportunity for Volunteer sign up (after the service)

6:00pm - Same Message as in AM.

Coming up ...

23 Feb - HopeDrive

Weekly Sermon Resources

The Big 3 | LifeGroup Resources

THE BIG 3 PODCAST

Marc Rader answers the Top 3 Questions raised from Sunday's sermon:

1) Join in The Big 3 - ask your own question from the Sermon or upvote other people's - Click on Slido via LinkTree.

2) Every Wednesday - Listen to The Big 3 podcast here or subscribe/download whereever you get your podcasts - Join Marc as he answers the top three questions raised from Sunday's Sermon.

LIFEGROUP RESOURCES

Produced each Monday as a companion to the sermon series and includes a brief overview of the sermon with a series of activities to do together as a LifeGroup: Questions to ask, Prayers to pray, Practices to try, Biblical passages to read.

Every Monday you can access that week's LifeGroup Resource on LinkTree and also on GBC Links/LifeGroups/Resource Library.

GBC Church Calendar 2025

Upcoming events - Add to your Diary

SAT 15 FEB 10am: K4J Kick'n For Jesus - CANCELLED

WED 19 FEB 6:30PM: GBC Annual Dinner (See info below to register/pay)

SUN 23 FEB: HopeDrive

FRI 28/2-SUN 2/3: GBC Youth Camp (See link below to register/pay)

SUN 2 MAR: Q&A for Prospective LifeGroup Leaders (More info to come next week)

SUN 16 MAR: Baptism Sunday (Click HERE for EOI )

SAT 22 MAR: Men's Breakfast

SUN 30 MAR: GBC Annual General Meeting Two

You can access GBC Calendar on GBC Links - Go to the "Calendar" tab on the drop down menu in GBC Links or click here and log in.

HopeDrive

SUN 23 FEB 1:30pm

HopeDrive is on Sunday 23 February - GBC driveway drive-thru drop-off 1:30pm-3:30pm.

Alternatively, you can bring your pre-packaged grocery donations to Sunday's Service.

Click to view this month's shopping list of required items.

There are so many people in our community needing basic food items; please consider adding 1-2 items from the shopping list into your trolley this weekend to help us fill the Hopefield pantry to cover the Christmas holiday period. (It will be two-months before the next HopeDrive at end of January).

Alternatively, if you would like to give financially to allow Hopefield to purchase fresh meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables on your behalf, click here to go to Hopefield's website

Thank you for being big-hearted and others-focused in partnering with Hopefield in this wonderful ministry.

From little things, big things grow!

GBC Serve Opportunity: This Wed 10am

Annual Dinner Set Up Team

The GBC Annual Dinner facilitates the opportunity for relationship building and connections within our faith community. If you have a passion for community engagement and hospitality, we'd love your help this Wednesday 19 February at 10:00am to help set up.

Please contact Marjy to let her know you will be able to assist.

GBC ANNUAL DINNER - Registration Closes: 16/2

WED 19 FEB 6:30PM

Register today to secure your seat to this not-to-be-missed event on GBC's calendar. Registration closes this Sunday.
Get in quick as we need to finalise the numbers for catering this weekend.

Get to know GBC folk over a two-course buffet-style meal professionally prepared by Helen's Catering. Our Senior Pastor Marc Rader will be speaking on one of the characteristics of a life changed by Jesus. Cost is subsidised by GBC.

An Exceptional price of $30 per person.

To register CLICK HERE.

When registering let us know if you have special seating requests.

K4J (Kick'n for Jesus) - Cancelled due to Inclement Weather

SAT 15 FEB 10AM-1:30PM

We’ve made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow's soccer gala day due to heavy rain and storms expected tonight and tomorrow.

We know our team were really looking forward to this; both leaders and kids are equally disappointed.

An email has been sent to everyone who had registered and tickets have been refunded.

We'll be planning something similar later in the year - so stay tuned.

GBC Youth Camp - Register Now (Closes: This Sun 16/2)

Friday 28 Feb - Sunday 2 Mar

Cost $180pp.

There is a two-step process to register for camp.

1) You can pay for camp here.
2) Fill in the Registration form / Permission slip using the link on our website.

GBC LifeGroups

Join Now or Invite a friend

LifeGroups are a wonderful way to connect in with your GBC family.

As Marc suggested last Sunday we encourage you to invite someone to join your LifeGroup or ask someone to join their's.

Complete an Expression of Interest - CLICK HERE.

What happens next? Nicole Jones, LifeGroup Coordinator will get in contact you.

GBC Serve: Volunteer Next Step

This Sunday - Tall Table - After Service

Thinking of volunteering at GBC in 2025 but not sure where or how?

For your next step - See Marjy after Sunday's service to discover where God wants you to serve and join with God in His grand plan to renew and restore all things.

You can always complete an Expression of Interest by clicking here and Marjy will be in contact.

Maintenance Team Request: Donate Today

Tools for Garden Beds

The maintenance team are gradually replanting the garden beds that have been disturbed due to our drainage works. The team would love to receive some more gardening tools to assist in the refurbishment of the gardens. If you have any gardening tools that are in good working order that you no longer use, please email Marjy.

Thursday Night Prayer Zoom

Thursday 7:30pm-8pm

We'd love you to join us for a short but effective time of “zoom” prayer Thursday night at 7:30pm.

A 30-minute guided prayer led by one of our wonderful Elders. It's always an encouragement spending this short time together with Jesus.

You can join in using this link: THURSDAY NIGHT PRAYER ZOOM or using the Meeting ID: 919 1693 5880 Passcode: f603j2

Add it to your diary now and we look forward to seeing you online on Thursday.

Senior Men's Lunch @ DRV

WED 26 Feb 12:15pm

SENIOR MEN’S LUNCH, Wednesday 26 February at Donald Robinson Village (DRV), meeting at 12:15 for a 12:30 start.

Two DRV residents will share their faith journey, and Stephen Hatton will talk briefly about his life and the book he has written entitled, “MS, God and Me - a Christian’s journey.” There will be a time for feedback and future planning.

Cost for lunch is $19.

Booking Deadline: Tues 18/2 - Call Arthur Watterson 8539 7990, Ian Scarfe 0439 914 957.
(Please note: early booking deadline AND Last minute cancellations must be paid for).

Engagement Congratulations

Bronte and Matias

Such exciting and wonderful news. Please join us in praying for this beautiful couple as they begin to prepare and plan for their wedding day and step into this new chapter in their lives together.

Bronte and Matias are part of our PM congregation and Bronte is one of our key volunteers in the KidZone Team.

An Encouraging Elder Editorial from Derek Mullins

Lives Changed By Jesus

In Galatians 6:2, Paul wrote: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 reminds us that life’s challenges—whether loss, sickness, or hidden struggles—are not meant to be borne alone. As followers of Christ, we are called to support one another with compassion, reflecting His love.

Carrying someone’s burden doesn’t mean solving their problems; it can be as simple as offering prayer, encouragement, or quiet presence. Likewise, allowing others to help us in our struggles requires vulnerability but fulfils Christ’s law of love.

In both giving and receiving support, we draw closer to God and live out His call to care for one another as a family of faith.

A Prayer to Pray (from this Week's LifeGroup Resource)

Pray for each other that the Holy Spirit would identify an area of our lives that He wants to align more closely over the course of 2025. (An increasing commitment to God’s mission is essentially an increasing alignment of our values, priorities, and activities to God’s plans in the world).

Congregational Prayer Requests

Please pray for GBC folk who are in hospital, undergoing medical tests and/or treatment.

Pray for children who are starting kindy, Year 7 or a new school, for any anxiety they may have, that they make good friends and be brave to be themselves - loved and created perfectly by God - fearfully and wonderfully made.

Isaiah 43:1-3a

But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.

Family News to share? | Join the Care Team?

If you would like an item included in GBC Family News please fill in this form. For any questions regarding submitting this form, contact Karen Watkins, Congregational Care Coordinator, GBC Office – 9521 4611.

Join the Care Team - be God's hands and His feet as we care for those in our community. To join one of our three Care Teams (Food, Practical, Visitation & Prayer) contact Marjy Robertson, Serve Team Coordinator.

GBC News | 14 February 2025