9th April 2025

9th April 2025

Pursuing God in 2025

As our first term and series through Philippians draws to a close, now is a great time to check in on how we have been pursuing God. Below are some questions from this week's Connect Group study to help you reflect:

What have you been inspired to go after or grow into?

What have you decided to cast aside or leave behind?

What has challenged you or slowed you down on the journey?

What has helped you or who has encouraged you?

What new habits or patterns of life have you started?

What sermons or bible studies have stuck in your mind, and why?

What are you celebrating that God has already done as you pursue him?

Make some time this week to think, reflect, and pray into these questions. You could even write your answers down somewhere so that you can revisit them later in the year. We want to encourage you to continue to Pursue God this year, in your own personal walk with Him and also together with one another.

Recap: what a great weekend!

Friday night at youth perfectly fit the theme of connection, as 7 youth groups from around the Central Coast came together to connect. A huge thank you to everyone who helped to make the event run smoothly.

Across the weekend we also saw our church connecting on runs, around food, over frisbee, in homes and in local businesses. Even better than the fun, food and activities were the conversations and deepening connections that the events facilitated. A big thank you to our hosts and to all who invested the time into our community. You can check out a few of the photos snapped across the weekend below:

Mission Update - Nita Finger

In Uganda, the dry season brings challenges, not only for rural livelihoods but also for baptisms! There was some concern they would need to wait for the next wet season, but after a search, they found enough water for members of a local church plant to be baptised – 7 ladies, 1 man & 1 young boy. Praise God! Nita's new vehicle (that we at NVBC helped to purchase) did service taking a full load of passengers to attend the baptism service.

Nita, who was part of the NVBC family for several years, is now part of Africa Inland Mission (Australasia) team working with the Karamojong people group. You can learn more about Nita’s work here. Or talk to Dianne Wicks. And watch for her prayer points in The Harvest.

Church Family News

A big congratulations to Nathan and Dani Hocking on the birth of their firstborn Izayah; and to Hephzibah and James on the birth of their firstborn George. We rejoice with both families and pray God's blessing over Izayah and George.

And a big congratulations to Doug and Beccy on their wedding! We celebrate with you (and Adam), and pray for a wonderful, loving life together.

This Sunday

Join us this Sunday as we begin our Easter week celebration with Palm Sunday. Johnny will speak on Mark 11:1-11 and kids packs will be available during the services.

Easter Weekend

We are looking forward to celebrating Easter together across three special Easter services:

Thursday night at 7:30pm
Good Friday morning at 9:30am (with kids program)
Easter Sunday morning at 9:30am (with kids packs)

Working Bee

Even an hour or two would be a great help.

Alpha

Begins May 4

It's only a month to go until our Alpha course begins, so we encourage you to think about signing up and/or inviting a friend who is open to exploring the Christian faith.