Church Family News, April 2026
Welcome to Hobart Baptist Church
DON’T FORGET!
Daylight Savings ends on Easter Sunday, 5 April.
Put your clocks back one hour!
10AM SUNDAYS – Doors open from around 9:30am
GOOD FRIDAY – THE SERVICE WILL BEGIN AT 9:30AM SHARP
There will be a retiring offering for Crossover on Good Friday. Read more below.
WATCH: LIVE on YouTube at 10am Sunday
MORNING TEA: Join the throng after the 10am service in the Soundy Lounge for tea, coffee and buscuits. It’s a great time to catch up. Esteem will also be open for us to purchase capuccinos, lattes and other hot drinks.
HBC YOUNG PEOPLE Kids’ Church will not take place on Easter Sunday, 5 April. There will also be a break for the school holidays from Sunday 19 April. Resuming on Sunday 10 May.
Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade Term One end on Friday 10 April. Resume for Term Two on Friday 8 May
Youth and Young Adults are currently in recess.
SUNDAY SERMONS DURING APRIL 2026
The With Jesus series ends on Good Friday 3 April 2026 and transitions to the With You series commences on Easter Sunday, 5 April. Find out more >
5 April 🍷 New Creation, Joel Ortiz; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; John 19-20
12 April Doubt to Faith, David Knox; John 20:24-31
19 April 🍷 On the Journey, Hyland Smith; Luke 24:13-35
26 March, In Mission, Ryan Conway; Matthew 28:16-20
🍷 Communion service
HBC ROOM USE OR HIRE: For enquiries regarding room use/hire, please email Connie Sim (connie@hobartbaptist.org.au).
| Crossover Easter Retiring Offering Good Friday and Easter Sunday services |
| Will you join in the Australian Baptist Easter Offering this year? The Easter offering funds Crossover, our national Baptist ministry dedicated to helping churches share Christ more effectively. Through practical resources, evangelism training, research, and encouragement, Crossover supports local congregations to confidently and clearly proclaim the good news. This is a powerful way to express gratitude for Jesus and invest in gospel impact across Australia. Let’s unite with Baptist churches nationwide in sharing him with others. FIND OUT more or give online here > WATCH the video, below. |
CONNECTER DISTRIBUTION
The monthly HBC Connecter is available from the first Sunday of each month
All items for May are due by 5pm Monday 27 April to:
connecter@hobartbaptist.org.au
If you have any updates or adjustments, please also email the same address.
Jenny will retire from creating the Connecter from after preparing the July 2026 issue, but can train her successor. Email her using the above address, or have a chat to Matt or Heather, to enquire about encouraging our church family in this important way.
TASMANIAN BAPTISTS’ RECHARGE
You can catch up with the recent March issues, below. Or SUBSCRIBE > to receive the fortnightly email.
READ reCharge HERE: 12 March 2026 > | 26 March 2026 >
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY, APRIL 2026
- Fri 3 Apr 9:30am Good Friday, retiring offering for Crossover
- Sun 5 Apr 10am Resurrection Sunday service, retiring offering for Crossover (No Kids’ Church)
- Tue 7 Apr 10am Les Petits Wombats, Playgroup for French speakers, Gibson Hall
- Thu 9 Apr 10:30am Ladies’ Coffee Morning, Esteem Cafe
2pm Bob Bye’s funeral, Livesteam available: Turnbull Funerals Letitia St Nth Hobart - Sat 11 Apr 9am-3pm Kamara’s Heart Cafe
- Sun 12 Apr 10am service (Kids’ Church is on)
- Sun 19 Apr 10am service (Kids’ Church begins school holiday recess)
- Mon 20 Apr 10am Men’s Discussion Group
- Tue 21 Apr 10am Les Petits Wombats, Playgroup for French speakers, Gibson Hall
- Sat 25 Apr ANZAC Day, 8am-3pm, Filipino Pop-Up Cafe
- Sun 26 Apr 10am service (Kids’ Church continues school holiday recess)
THANK YOU PAUL TURNER
Paul concludes five decades of organ-playing at HBC!
5 January 1975 – who remembers what happened that day?
That was the day the bulk carrier Lake Illawarra collided with the Tasman Bridge, separating Hobart’s Eastern and Western shores for a while.
At that time, Paul and Ruth Turner were members at New Town Methodist Church, but they lived across the river in Howrah. After the bridge collapsed, HBC started a worship service on the Eastern Shore at Rosny College, the precursor to what has become Citywide Baptist Church, and Paul and Ruth started worshipping there.
Once the bridge was re-opened, the Turners began worshipping with us at the Tab. They were baptised and became church members on 22 August 1976. So Paul’s membership will soon click over to 50 years! Paul has served as organist over that entire time.
Paul also served on the Diaconate for at least two terms, was a member of the Finance committee for 20+ years, which included taking on the Treasurer’s position in 1990 for one+ year. Then he became Assistant Treasurer for four years.
Thank you to Paul for his long-running efforts to serve as here at Hobart Baptist church.
Paul’s highlights include:
- Playing for the baptismal service for the crew of the USS Enterprise – seven sailors off the ship were baptised by Rev Rex Glasby on 31 October 1976. There were meant to be 20 but they couldn’t all get off the ship! Those sailors presented us with the wooden cross, installed above the baptistry.
- Many weddings and funerals
- 2025 National Senior Ministers’ conference
MINISTRY REVIEW 2026 – UPDATE
As you will remember, the HBC leadership invited Tas Baptists to help us discern where we’re heading as a church. This has been an opportunity to highlight what we love about HBC, and speak into where we are going.
Thank you to all those who contributed to the review of HBC!
The review team is currently finalising the report, and once that is complete, it will be received by HBC’s leadership, and eventually passed on to the congregation.
QUARTERLY CHURCH MEMBERS’ MEETING
The meeting took place on Sunday 29 March
- The 141st Annual Report for 2025 was presented.
- Karen and Joseph Webster became members. Cogratulations!
KAMARA’S HEART CAFE
9am-3pm, only on Saturday 11 April
John Kamara and his family treat all comers to delicious home made treats just once during April using the Esteem Coffee Lounge facilities.
This Café is dedicated to supporting children and their families in Africa, and every cent of profits goes directly to this important cause.
You can also order meals in advance which can be collected when the Cafe is open. To browse and order meals, use this WhatsApp link: https://www.wa.me/c/61425474496. Or call/SMS to order: 0425 474 496
Your support truly makes a difference.
STEPHEN BAXTER, on the move …
1. Burnie Baptist Church
At the church members’ meeting at Burnie Baptist on Sunday 29 March, Stephen Baxter was confirmed as the interim pastor until the end of June. He and Jenny will be travelling up to Burnie at least every fortnight until then, and attending HBC in-between. Please pray for Stephen as he leads the Burnie congregation through some interesting transitions.
2. Mission Director Finale
All are welcome to attend the Tasmanian Baptists’ Mid-year Assembly to cheer for Stephen as he completes his state-wide position after nine years of service. He will give an address to those gathered (it’s sure to be inspiring!)
WHEN: 9:30am-3pm Saturday 16 May, 2026
WHERE: Riverlands 159 Wellington St, Longford
RSVP: Lunch will be served. Please talk to Jo Sinclair to register your interest.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
During 2026, Hobart Baptist Church will again collect goods and raise funds for the Operation Christmas Child program. Each month there will be a different focus.
APRIL – Something for personal hygiene. Soap, face washer, toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, scrunchies, hair clips etc.
Please drop your donations in the red tub by the kitchen door in the Soundy Lounge any Sunday.
Cash donations are also welcome to help cover distribution costs.
In October, the church will gather to pack the boxes and to pray for those who will receive them.
Questions or comments? Please catch up with Kylie Henderson.
MUST SEE: Mum I See War EXHIBITION
In the Soundy Lounge
The mission is to offer new perspectives on armed conflict worldwide through the eyes of children who endure it and provide opportunities for individuals to take action to change the future of those children living through war today.
See all the devastating artwork in the Soundy Lounge, and weep.
More artwork at misw.org
SMALL GROUPS AT HBC
Youth & Young Adults – in recess
The Youth & Young Adults group (aged 16-25) meets on Saturday nights at HBC, 6-7:30pm.
Speak to Matt Henderson for more info.
Men’s Discussion Group
You are welcome to join the very lively group of gentlemen who meet at the church on the third Monday of each month at 10.00am. The next opportunity will be on Monday 20 April.
For further information contact Geoffrey Clarke 03 6244 8838.
Ladies Coffee Morning
Ladies welcome to join the monthly Thursday morning coffee catch ups. These are held on the second Thursday of the month from 10:30am-12 midday at HBC. The next one is on Thursday, 9th April 2026.
The Battery ON HOLD
Thursday night prayer time at HBC is on hold, but please don’t stop praying!
TITHES, GIFTS AND OFFERINGS
‘Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’
2 Corinthians 9:7
We thank all who give faithfully on a regular basis, as without this support we would not be able to operate. Your offerings support our budget: and through that it enables the church to continue to be an important part of the North Hobart landscape and the place from where we can prophetically serve the City of Hobart.
It is where we can know the benefit of worshipping with others, where we hear the stories of Jesus and how they apply to us, where we are encouraged in our journey with Jesus, from where we can share God’s love with others and help them to know and trust in God themselves. Our influence can also be far reaching – there is no limit to God’s love through our deeds and actions. Thank you for your generosity.
EFT is a great way to ensure regular giving and as well there are offering boxes available for use as you leave the Sanctuary.