- NVBC
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
22nd Oct 2025
What a Weekend!
Wow! What an incredible weekend we had at The Gathering Conference. What a privilege to spend a whole weekend together as a church, hearing incredible talks and attending life-equipping workshops, eating together and fellowshipping together, having a lot of fun and also having some deep and powerful encounters with God.
Thank you to everyone who helped made it happen:
The Valley Youth leaders and the youth band, for hosting us all on Friday night.
Debbie and her catering team, for providing delicious food and a time to connect with one another as we ate and drank.
Dylan and Chloe and all the kids helpers, for giving our kids an amazing conference of their own on Saturday.
Josh and the singers and musicians for leading us in worship.
Everyone who helped drive the Pappas's around during the weekend and made them feel welcome.
The Pastors and Staff team for all their hard work behind the scenes for the month or two leading up to conference.
And most of all, praise God for His presence with us over the weekend, for the ways he is at work in our church and in each person's life - and pray that He would continue the things He started over the weekend as we continue meeting together Sunday by Sunday.
A Conference Reflection
from Travis
As I surface with a full and grateful heart post-Conference (and try to recover some energy!), I am very conscious of not moving us too quickly onto the next thing. Instead I know God would have me (and all of us) remain focused on stewarding the ongoing impact of Conference. I know that I'm asking the questions:
How we will keep pursuing what God began in us over the weekend?
What are the things God is calling us to coming out of the weekend?
What are our next steps with the faith that God has stirred afresh within us?
For me, it felt like Daniel and Elise's ministry and our weekend as a whole was God's gift to us as his church at NVBC. To me, it felt like a weekend of activation as a community.
Think on those messages: The new things God wants to do in us (Fri), the power of our YES to God (Sat AM), the transforming power of encounter with God (Sat PM) and the power of a little faith to stand (Sun). Each landing and layering up a consistent call.
What I am discerning and am convinced of is that we are ready and we are hungry as Jesus' church here at NVBC. We are ready and we are hungry for courageous faith-steps, for increased intimacy with God, for greater empowering as we seek to lead and love others towards Jesus. It is perhaps this above all, that is filling Kaye and I with an excited faith for what God is doing among us and where he is leading us as his people.
As we wrap on Conference, I'd love to invite you:
If have a testimony from the weekend, please share it with me here via email
If you haven't yet, I encourage you to spend some time reflecting, processing and writing down what you sense God would have you take from the weekend
If it would then be helpful, know that our pastoral team are so committed to helping you explore that further and take next steps towards it. Come and chat and share with us more about it when you are ready.
Contribute To Conference Costs
In an effort to keep Conference as accessible as possible, we set ticket prices to a minimum which has not covered the full costs of the Conference. If you would consider helping contribute to the overall costs of Conference (especially if you enjoyed the non-ticketed final Conference Session on Sunday), that would be wonderful. You can help do that through our regular church offering account using the reference 'Conference' in the description or at our Info Desk this Sunday. Thank you.
For our Young Adults
Starting tonight, over the next 4 Wednesday Nights at church, Young Adults are welcome to join for an All-In Connect Group. There will be dinner, a biblical talk about young adult life and small group discussions.
We truly believe in the value of small group community - just ask anyone in a connect group, I'm sure they'll agree! Our hope is that after these next 4 weeks our young adults can find a new connect group to join to reap the benefits of small group bible study, prayer, close relationships and fun in community.
If you're not a young adult, but you also want to join a connect group, you can fill in our connect group placement form here.
Thanks for you generosity!
Sue and Kimberly delivered 71 boxes to be processed and sent to children around the world. Thank you to everyone who filled a box, and a special thanks to those who made bags, teddy bears, etc.
This Sunday
Sunday AM: Adam Holland will begin our Term 4 teaching series, as we return to the story of the People of God as they journey out of Egypt towards the Promised Land.
A Boolarng Info Session will be held after the AM Service. Come find out more about our kids holiday program at Purfleet Aboriginal Community Church (running Jan 3rd-9th).
Sunday PM: Johnny Sharpe will begin our Term 4 PM teaching series, as we return to the life and teaching of Jesus in Mark's Gospel.
Next Week
ALL-IN: Young Adults Connect Group - all Young Adults are invited to join for an All-In connect group. There will be dinner, a biblical talk about young adult life and small group discussions.
Seniors Morning Tea (Thurs Oct 30) - meet at Waterfall Cafe in Mt Penang for a time of community and connection. RSVP to Wendy-Sue here.
In November
Flourish Women's Lawn Bowls (Sat Nov 8) - Ladies, come gather together for a fun community building night over a game of lawn bowls. Get your tickets here: WhatsOn
Young Adults Camping Trip (Nov 21-23) - if you are a young adult, join for a time of connect, community building and camping. YA Camping Rego
Seniors Christmas Picnic (Thurs Nov 27) - gather for an end of year celebration over a Christmas lunch together down at Gosford Waterfront.
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