Church Family News – January 2025
This Sunday, 19 January
ALL WELCOME this Sunday, either in person or online, to worship, to give praise to our Lord and Saviour and to share Communion together.
This week in the Sermon Series: How Jesus Has Changed My Story we will hear from Joanna Sinclair.
SERMON: How Jesus Has Changed My Story – Joanna Sinclair
BIBLE READING: Luke 10:38-42
You are welcome to join us for MORNING TEA following the service.
YOUNG PEOPLE: All activities are in recess for the Christmas holidays. Kids packs available during the service.
WATCH: LIVE on YouTube at 10.00am Sunday
HBC ROOM USE OR HIRE: For enquiries regarding room use/hire, please email Connie Sim (connie@citynetworks.org.au).
PLEASE NOTE: To contribute to Connecter and Church Family News for any Sunday, please email connecter@hobartbaptist.org.au no later than 9am the Wednesday prior.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
JANUARY
THURSDAY 16th 6-7pm. The Battery: Prayer together at HBC
SATURDAY 18th 6-7:30pm Youth and Young Adults group resumes
SUNDAY 19th 10:00am. How Jesus Has Changed My Story – Joanna Sinclair
MONDAY 20th 10:00-11:30am. Men’s Discussion group at HBC
SUNDAY 26th 10:00am. How Jesus Has Changed My Story – Stephen Baxter
FEBRUARY
SUNDAY 2nd 10:00am. Hearing God: Listening Prayer Sermon Series begins.
HOW JESUS HAS CHANGED MY STORY
29 Dec 2024 to 26 Jan 2025
Everyone has a story to tell. Life is full of threshold moments, where we go through experiences that change us and form us into different people moving forward.
In How Jesus Has Changed My Story we are inviting people to share about how their experience of meeting and following Jesus has impacted on and changed their lives. Where has Jesus changed the course of our personal story?
For more information click here>>>
Paw Nay and Kelvin in Thailand
Paw Nay and Kelvin Smith left Hobart on Monday morning (6 January) to fly to Thailand. They headed to Ban Don Yang refugee camp. This is the camp Paw Nay lived in, in the northwest of Thailand, near the Thai/Myanmar border. It is the closest camp to Jan Yawan’s home.
The purpose of the trip is twofold.
Firstly, it is the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of a Bible School in the camp. It was established in 2000 as a means of sharing the gospel with the next generation. There were 11 students in the first year.
Secondly, as it is 50 Years since Thailand began accepting refugees from Myanmar, Paw Nay and Kelvin will attend a number of thanksgiving services. Gay Nay was 3-months old when her family began their 4-month escape to relative safety in Thailand. Our Karen friends showed such courage and faith.
Please uphold Paw Nay and Kelvin in your prayers for their time in Thailand and for their participation in these celebrations. Give thanks for the vision of those who established the Bible School, for the impact it has had in the lives of so many since its inception.
Just as we have been blessed by the Karen community who have made their home here in Hobart and at HBC, many other churches around Australia and in many other countries are similarly blessed.
IS ESTEEM OPEN?
Esteem is open on Sunday mornings thanks to our lovely volunteers, Paula, Connie, Adiba and Kelvin. THANK YOU!
Esteem is currently not able to open during the week. This is, of course, disappointing for a number of reasons.
The Esteem working party has had its second meeting and is looking at options for both the short term and long term.
Perhaps God is calling you to assist in this space? If you would like to be part of the future, or know someone who can help, please talk to Ben, Connie, Heather or Matt.
SMALL GROUPS AT HBC
Youth & Young Adults
The Youth & Young Adults group (aged 16-25) will recommence for 2025 on Saturday night, 18 January at HBC, 6-7:30pm.
Speak to Jeremiah Ambrose 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. For further information contact Geoffrey Clarke 03 6244 8838.
Weekly Prayer at HBC
Thursday night prayer time at HBC weekly from 6-7pm at HBC, will recommence for 2025 this Thursday, 9 January.
This is an opportunity to come together, in prayer, as we seek to discern God’s will for the church in the months and years ahead.
Hope to see you there.
EmpowHer Day of Wonder
Saturday 29 March 2025 I 9:30 for 10am – 3:30pm
at Riverlands, 159 Wellington Street, Longford TAS.
All Women Welcome!
BE ENCOURAGED towards your God-given potential at this special one-day gathering. Treat yourself to enjoy the company of other women, eat some delicious food, hear some great teaching, and go away inspired and refreshed.
This is a statewide event. Invite your girlfriends, co-workers, family-members and even your next-door-neighbour!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER Melissa Lipsett, CEO Baptist World Aid
EARLYBIRD Registration ($50), has been extended to 31 January 2025!
Regular Registration ($60), until 28 Feb 2025 and Late Registration ($70) until 29 March 2025.
The COST Covers morning tea, lunch and materials
IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE PAYING TO REGISTER, PLEASE LET US KNOW. WE CAN HELP: empowher@tasbaptists.org.au
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.