Dear Church Family,
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it really means to be blessed.
We often use that word when we talk about what God has given us — our family, our work, our homes, our opportunities, our resources, our church, our friendships. And we should be grateful for all of it. But the more I read Scripture, the more I’m reminded that God’s blessing was never meant to stop with us.
When God calls Abraham in Genesis 12, He says, “I will bless you… and you will be a blessing.” That little phrase says so much. God blesses us, but His blessing is always meant to move somewhere.
Through us. Into the lives of others, our homes, our neighbourhoods, our workplaces, our church and our city. That is the heart behind our new series, Blessed to Be. We are not blessed simply to have more. We are blessed to become a blessing.
Over four weeks, we are going to look at some of the things God has entrusted to us.
We’ll start with our resources.
Paul says that God enriches us so that we can be generous on every occasion. I love that picture. God provides, we receive, and then generosity flows through us. This is not really about fundraising; it is about discipleship.
It is about asking a different question. Not, “How much can I keep?” but, “What has God entrusted to me?”
Then we’ll talk about justice.
God sees people who are suffering. He hears the cry of the oppressed. And as we follow Jesus, He starts opening our eyes to things we may previously have walked past. One of the lines that has stayed with me while preparing this series is this:
You don’t have to cause the problem to become part of God’s solution.
In week three, on Child Dedication Sunday, we’ll talk about time; not productivity but presence.
Presence.
I think this may be one of the most important messages in the series. Many of us work incredibly hard to provide a good life for the people we love. But it is possible to be physically close and still miss each other. Deuteronomy 6 reminds us that faith is so often formed in ordinary moments — at home, on the road, in conversations, around meals, at bedtime, in prayer, in simply being there. Parents, grandparents, leaders, mentors, friends — the next generation needs quality time, not only what we can give them.
They need us.
And then we’ll finish by talking about our gifts.
Peter says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” Each of you. That means nobody gets to say, “I have nothing to offer.” God has placed something in you that He wants to give through you. And that isn’t limited to what happens on a Sunday.
Your work matters.
Your experience matters.
Your ability to listen matters.
Your leadership matters.
Your creativity matters.
Your compassion matters.
Your gift was given to you, but it wasn’t given only for you.
Church, my hope for this series is very simple. I don’t want us to listen to four messages and move on. I want us to become more aware of what God has already placed in our hands — and then become more willing to release it for His purposes.
Our resources.
Our influence.
Our time.
Our gifts.
So every week, we are going to ask:
“What will I do with this before next Sunday?”
Because this is what discipleship looks like. We Step In and receive His life. We Step Up and take responsibility for what He has entrusted to us. And we Step Out and give His life away. Can you imagine what could happen if hundreds of us started each week praying,
“Jesus, what have You put in my hands, and who can I bless with it today?”
That is the kind of church I want us to keep becoming.
Blessed to be His Presence in Every Place.
Love you, church.
Braam
Bring Christmas to Life for Local Families in Crisis
Christmas is such a special time of year. We look forward to laughter around the table, the joy of giving, and the warmth of being together with the people we love.
But for some families right here in our community, this season brings worry instead of wonder. Some lie awake at night, wondering whether there will be enough food on the table.
That's why we created Bringing Christmas to Life, and we'd love for you to be part of it.
A hamper full of hope
Each Christmas, we prepare food hampers for families connected with our Food Pantry who are doing it tough. These are parents stretching every dollar, single mums holding it all together, grandparents raising grandchildren, and neighbours facing hardship they never saw coming.
A hamper might look like a small thing. But to someone in crisis, it says: you matter, you're not forgotten, and people care. It brings relief, dignity, and hope.
This year, we need you
The need in our community is greater than ever. With your help, we can fill every hamper with some treats and a coles food voucher, so our Food Pantry families can enjoy a Christmas filled with smiles instead of stress.
Every family we reach will experience the true heart of Christmas: love, kindness, and hope.
Take your next step with us
Giving doesn't have to be complicated. Taking one small step can change someone's whole Christmas, and we'd be glad to help you take yours.
There are two easy ways to give:
At the Next Steps Desk: Sundays, 8:30am–1:00pm. Cash or EFTPOS.
At Reception: Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm. Cash or EFTPOS.
Online: Account name: Berwick Church of Christ Inc.
BSB: 033 609
Account number: 434168
Reference: BCTL
Thank you for stepping up with generosity and helping us share the joy of Christmas with those who need it most. Together, we get to be His presence in every place.
Check out what’s on!
Sunday Service is at 9am and 11am, and there's plenty more going on during the week. Find it all on our calendar here.