17th July 2025

NVBC
Jul 17
3 min read

17th July 2025

Gearing Up for Term 3

from Travis

Let me share something that will likely be completely unsurprising to anyone who calls NVBC home... I'm really excited to launch into Term 3 together!! God is so clearly at work among us and I'm eager to see what He has in store as we keep pursuing Him together.

As we each continue to follow Jesus, I believe there is always more for us to take hold of and grow towards. Yet I also know (all too well) that such forward movement is rarely gained automatically, nor is it something that comes from sitting back passively hoping for. Instead, God invites us to participate with his ongoing work in our lives, and to actively join with him in taking ground.

So we're going to get practical for our Term 3 teaching series, entitled 'Taking Ground'. Starting next week (27 July) we will explore some of the areas in our lives where we can go after the more that Jesus has for us, as well as naming some things that cause us to remain stuck or stagnant in our Christian life. We will explore how we can move beyond the things that hinder us from experiencing the ongoing growth and transformation God has for us in those aspects of our lives. We will also anticipate the ways that such transformation will be observable to others in our lives, including our not-yet-Christian friends and family, in ways that can help point them to Jesus.

From our thought life to our home life, from sustainable personal rhythms to spiritual opposition each week will help equip and empower us to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us. To take ground as we pursue Jesus.

Giving Thanks for Alpha

Throughout the last term, we've had a group doing the Alpha Course on Sunday nights. God has been at work in these sessions, and it has been so encouraging to see so many people explore questions of faith together. We had non-Christians with lots of questions, new Christians figuring out what they believe, and servant-hearted Christians willing to create a space for others and inviting their friends to come and explore faith.

We want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has worked so hard to make this Alpha course happen. First and foremost, thank you to Brad and Jenny Jones, who had Alpha on their heart and have organised, recruited and led the Alpha team. Thank you to Kay Murray, Jo Mackie, Debbie Cutugno and their families, for coordinating the dinners each week (and thanks to all the other cooks who cooked for us!). Thank you to Nathan Wood for MC-ing each night, and for Ross Lane for running the video and sound system. And thank you to all the table leaders and helpers, for making people feel welcome and safe to share what they think and explore together each week.

State Kids Camp

This week many of our NVBC family were a part of State Kids Camp down at Kiah Ridge. It was a fun and memorable time away, joining with other yr4-7s from across NSW and ACT churches. Over the camp we look at ways to stay connected to Jesus and ways to bear fruit, from our theme verse John 15:5.

Click the above photo to see a few of the pictures of our crew captured during our time away.

Family Movie Night

THIS Sat 19 July

Bring your friends and family on Saturday night for our Family Movie Night. Come at 5pm for a sausage sizzle dinner and stay for Dog Man!

This Sunday

This Sunday Travis is preaching an 'Exodus Overtime' message from Exodus ch31, sharing on the inspiring example of Bezalel and Oholiab.

Focus Meeting

Sun 27 July

Join us for our next Focus Meeting, where we will be bringing names for new board and elder members, giving a mid-year finance update, and sharing some ministry highlights from the year so far.

Young Adults Retreat

1-3 August

A group of young adults from NVBC are hearing to the Soul Survivor Young Adults Retreat together in early August. Rego closes this Friday, so now is your final chance to rego!