12th March 2025

A mid-week encouragement

from Travis

Do you know the phrase 'coming to the end of your rope'? It is a colloquial saying capturing the idea of reaching a point where you can no longer cope with a difficult situation, feeling completely exhausted and unable to handle any further stress. It carries the idea of being at your limit, of needed to draw on inner reserves long depleted.

I suspect many of us, at times, have known exactly what it means to be coming to the end of our rope. In Ephesians ch3, Paul offers this prayer:

'When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit' - Eph. 3:14-16 (NLT, emphasis added)

What a verse! The Apostle Paul has just been reflecting on the amazing eternal plan of God to create the church. The plan to see all who trust in Jesus, regardless of their ethnicity and history, become reconciled as one - together sharing in the blessing of knowing Him.

As Paul thinks on them all, called to be the church together under Christ, he can't help but fall to his knees and pray for them. I suspect that Paul knew that there would be circumstances, seasons and some days where they would really, really need it.

Thankfully, God never comes to the end of his rope! He has glorious and unlimited resources, and so Paul prays that God would empower them with inner strength. An inner strength that they don't have to create or draw from within themselves, but an inner strength that comes through God's Holy Spirit dwelling within them.

If that is what you or a loved one find yourself needing today, "I pray that from God's glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit".

Pray with us for BAM Camp!

It's BAM Camp weekend: From this Friday to Sunday!

BAM Camp is our annual youth camp - a time to gather together as a youth group, to experience Christian community, to learn, grow and go deeper with God, and to just be together for a whole weekend. There's so much growth and discipleship that can take place when we go away together - much more than a couple of hours on a Friday night.

So we'd love you to pray for BAM Camp this week, and especially throughout the weekend.

• Please pray for all the youth coming along - that they would have an awesome joyful time together.

• Pray that the Holy Spirit would be at work in every heart, meeting the youth where they are and taking them deeper into what God has for them. Pray that lives would be changed this weekend.

• Pray for Zach and the leaders, for energy and wisdom to care for and be available for the youth throughout the weekend.

• Pray for protection - physically and spiritually - that God would be watching over everyone and keeping them safe.

• Pray for an ongoing and lasting work of God - that what happens this weekend would not be a flash-in-the-pan, but would bear fruit that lasts.

Alpha Course - Help Wanted

Alpha is running on Sunday nights in term 2. We're still looking for volunteers to help us with it - maybe you could help provide supervision for children for a few Sunday nights next term? Ps. Rachel is looking to put together a roster, so we can provide supervision for kids while their parents attend the course. Or maybe there's another way you'd like to serve - chat to Brad or Jenny Jones, or one of the NVBC staff team.

The course will be running on Sunday nights (after the PM service), beginning 4th of May.

To find out more about Alpha , check out alpha.org.au

Our Missions Team

Have you heard about our Intermission team? It looks after our relationships with the missionaries and missions we collectively support. Intermission are looking for new team members. Robyn & David Wolski recently stepped aside, after many years serving. David’s work you will have frequently seen; he edited The Harvest. Robyn was Intermission Chair and organised short-term mission trips. A very big THANK YOU to you both. And if you are interested in finding out more about joining the Intermission team, go to nvbc.info/moreaboutmission or talk to Pastor Johnny, who is currently our interim Chairperson.

This Sunday

Join us this Sunday as Johnny (AM) and Craig (PM) continue our series in Philippians, speaking about how living for Jesus is worth everything, from Philippians 3:1-11.

Jigsaw Weekend

This Friday & Saturday, 14-15th March

Beth Lane & Iain Skinner love to do jigsaws. On Friday 14th & Saturday 15th of March they will have 2 large puzzles (3000+ pieces) in the Hall to complete. Anyone wanting to join the challenge is welcome to drop in, have a chat, a cuppa, maybe even some cake! This in not competitive jigsawing. Simply a bit of fun. Connecting. 

Friday evening from 6.30 to 10-ish; Saturday morning from 9 am until finished!

Connect Weekend

Our next Connect Weekend will be on the first weekend in April. Save the date!

And if you'd like to host a group at your home, or at a park or cafe or activity, please sign up at the info desk, or send us an email!

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