A Minute with Chris
Senior Pastor
Thursday 5 February, 2026
In Christ we are becoming a people defined by love: Love of God, love for others.
On “becoming”
You will be pleased to know that after the first week of the vision series I felt properly tested on the way into the office on Monday morning. It seemed that everybody was in the mood to drive badly (including me). I reckon the two echoes of our vision statement that have been sitting with me more than any other are the words are “becoming” and “defined”.
I am defined by a lot of things. My family of origin, my education and upbringing, my life experiences, and socio-economic background, just to name a few. The question I am asking myself regularly these days is “Am I defined by love?”
Whether it is my love of God or love for others that I am assessing, the challenge still seems to be significant. Whilst God's love for me is as consistent as the sun rising in the morning, unfortunately the same cannot be said about my love for him.
Have you ever noticed how quickly we default to blaming God when things don’t go our way? Or how quickly our love for God can cool in the weeks, days and even hours after a significant experience with him? One minute God feels so close you can almost touch him, the next it’s “God who?”
Then if we move on to the “others” part of our vision statement the analysis is probably even more troubling. Whether it is family, friends, work colleagues, associates (or in my case this morning, fellow road users),I think for most of us it depends what day you ask us as to how ready we are to love our neighbours as ourselves.
So at the end of the day we can just give up, or we can go back to the idea of becoming.
Rather than give up and throw our hands up in despair, I am hoping our vision statement invites you and I to keep pursuing God.
I am reminded of Romans 12:2 which tells us:
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
In other words we are not there yet.
Being transformed is a process.
When you have a bad day and find yourself feeling or acting less than loving, remember “In Christ, we are becoming…”
Not “by effort, or willpower, or anything else we can generate” In Christ we are becoming a people defined by love. Love of God; Love for others.
Blessings,
Chris
News this month
Next practice: Generosity
We are continuing our 3 year exploration of 9 practices of Jesus which we believe can help us in our discipleship to him. These practices are ways we can be with him, become like him and do as he did.
The Generosity series will be starting on Sunday 22nd February in all services, and with this series we will also be making available personal reflection guides to use each week as a way to help process the ideas with Jesus.
Life Groups will continue to track with the series, though groups may approach the content in different ways to best serve their members.
If you're not in a Life Group but would like to join a short term 'Practice Group' to explore the material together, you can register for one below.
If you'd like to check out any of the other resources or previous sermons associated with the practices, you can do so via sb.org.au/practices (linked below).
Join a practice group
Explore resources
Church at Prayer
Wednesday 18th February, 7.30pm
Praying together is one of the most important things we do as a church, and we hope that you'll join us for our first Church at Prayer of 2026.
We'll meet onsite, and it's a great opportunity to pray with others for each other, our church, our nation and our world.
It's also an opportunity to come along and receive personal prayer from our prayer team about whatever you might be facing at the moment.
What's coming up?
Registrations closing soon
6-8th March
Fuel Camp is an exciting weekend away with Syndal Baptist Church for young people who want to grow in their faith, deepen friendships, and have a whole lot of fun. From 6:30pm on Friday 6 March, we’ll head off together for a weekend packed with powerful worship, engaging sessions, epic games, and time at the beach. Fuel Camp is all about creating space to encounter Jesus, connect with each other, and make memories that last. We’ll wrap up the weekend on Sunday 8 March by returning to Syndal Baptist Church to attend the evening service together, celebrating all that God has been doing over the camp. Registrations close on the 15th of February. Speak to Way (wlim@sb.org.au) or Tom (tpostlethwaite@sb.org.au) if you want to find out more information!
Date/s 6 March - 8 March 2026
Time 6:30 PM Drop off, 6:15 PM Pick Up
Location Syndal Drop off/Pick up, Camp Manyung (Mt Eliza)
Cost $250
Registrations Close Sunday 15th February 2026
Find out more
Next Event Friday Feb 27
Our first Lounge Room women's event is coming up on Friday 27th February at 7pm with guest speaker Kim Smith.
Most of our events are held on Saturday afternoons, but we wanted to open up the Lounge Room to women who may be unable to attend those times - including our Fuel Youth girls.
In 2026 our theme is 'Building Stronger Relationships', and we'll be exploring how we can deeoend and strengthen our relationships with friends, family and others in our life.
Cost is $15 to cover our dessert bar, you can pay online or at the door. But please register by Monday 23rd February.
Register now
Clean Up Australia Day
Sunday 1st March.
What a mess!!
As part of our respect and appreciation for God's creation and the area we worship in, The Creation Care team of Syndal Baptist Church invites you to participate in Clean Up Australia Day. Please join our friendly group to pick up litter in the neighbouring streets.
Time: Between 10am to 1pm - come for as long or short as you like
Meeting location: Syndal Baptist Church Carpark
BYO: Hat, gloves and Garbage bags provided (or BYO too)
Children must be supervised by an adult.
You will be surprised at what a difference you can make.
Enquiries : Miriam 0432 245 658
Would you like to be baptised?
In the next few months there will be opportunity to be baptised as part of one of our Sunday services.
If you’d like to find out more about Baptism you can let us know HERE and we’ll get in contact.
If you already know you’d like to get baptised, you can apply via the button below.
Apply now
Child Dedication Opportunity
In our Sunday services on March 15, we are planning to include child dedications.
If you are a parent who would like to dedicate their child as part of the service, you can express your interest to do so via the form linked below.
Register interest
Our Community Care Foodbank provides struggling locals with pantry items they need. Every month you are invited to purchase and donate certain items the Foodbank requires.
This month's items are:
Longlife milk 1L
Small tinned fruit - pears, peaches or two fruits 425g
Small cornflakes/cereals
Sweet biscuits
You can drop donations off in the shopping trolley near the High Street Road entrance to the West Auditorium lobby or in the tub in the East Fellowship Area.
Thanks so much for your support!
Find Out More
Training Coming Up February 15th and 19th
Safe Church Training is about creating safe spaces for children, young people and vulnerable adults, and also protecting our volunteers and staff by equipping them to identify and offer support to those who need it.
Volunteers who serve in Playgroup, Tribe, Fuel, Connect teams, Welcome teams, Café, Life Groups, Creative Arts, Conversation English, Photography teams, Morning tea and Communion teams, some Community Care areas, Prayer and Pastoral Care ministry, Seniors ministry, Production teams, Multimedia teams and all Ministry team leaders are required to have current Safe Church Training.
If you attended Safe Church Training before 2023, and have not already completed a refresher, you are due to complete the course again this year.
This training has multiple delivery options. You may choose either:
Fully in-person session (Sunday 15th February 12.45-3pm in the Activity Centre)
Online pre-learning AND in-person or zoom session (Zoom Thursday 19th Feb at 7.30pm, In-person Sunday 15th Feb 2-3pm Activity Centre).
For all the details, to register and to start pre-learning click below.
Find Out More
Office Closed 9-10 Feb
On Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th February, the church office will be closed due to all staff being away on the annual Staff Retreat.
Membership Applications
When someone applies to become an official member at Syndal Baptist Church, we communicate this to the church for two weeks. If there is any reason the membership should not be approved please contact Chris Danes via cdanes@sb.org.au with any concerns.
The following people have applied for membership:
Anne Wilson
Ashley Lam
Apply for membership
Saturday 28th February
Man Alive Breakfast (7.00 a.m. in the SBC cafe). Come and join other men from Syndal as we enjoy breakfast and hear from a guest speaker.
Speaker: TBA
Stay Tuned for more details.
Green Tip of the Month
This month's Green Tip comes from SBC member, Fiona Brown:
"Do you use Nespresso Coffee pods? Did you know that these can be recycled via a number of drop-off points at local nurseries, florists, Good Guys stores and other places? Visit the Nespresso website below, select 'Recycle Capsules', then type in your postcode and see where your local drop off points are."
Ministry Spotlight
Life Groups
With Mandy Stark
At Syndal, our Life Groups ministry exists to help fulfil our church's mission which is to Present Jesus, Provide Nurture and Produce Disciples. We do this by creating Life Group environments where people can pursue authentic community and spiritual growth.
What's been happening in the Life Groups ministry recently?
After a break over most of December and January, the majority of our Life Groups are in the process of reconnecting with some kind of social gathering, before getting ready to launch their first official group session, looking at The Generosity Practice. We’re really excited to welcome 3 new Life Groups (as well as their 8 leaders) into our Life Groups ministry here at Syndal. These groups are transitioning from Central’s young adult Life Group community into our church-wide Life Group community. We’re looking forward to all the encouragement and inspiration that will be both given and received as these younger leaders get to rub shoulders with our older ones, and vice-versa!!
How have you seen God at work?In a variety of ways, but here’s a few snapshots
One LG going away on a weekend spiritual retreat together for the first time
Group members caring for other members who have been experiencing various health and personal challenges, through meal vouchers, flowers, visits and prayer
Life Groups with young families meeting for all-in get-togethers with all the kids loving the opportunity to join in & play together
A few of our groups meeting together for dinner before Life Group each week, deepening friendships and growing their sense of community
One group member providing temporary accommodation for a homeless person, and that person being welcomed into and participating in their Life Group gatherings
Stories of many group members committing to reading more of Scripture as well as memorising portions of it, as a result of the encouragement of The Scripture Practice
What's coming up in your ministry?
Here at Syndal, we really believe that life together is a gift, and that living life to the full, as Jesus called us to, is best experienced and accomplished as we live it out in community with others. If you’re a new face around Syndal, or you’ve been around a while but looking to get a bit more connected, we’d love to encourage you to join a Life Group. Syndal can feel like a pretty big church sometimes, but when you become part of a Life Group, it all feels a bit smaller and you’re able to get to know people in a way that isn’t really possible at a Sunday service. You can express your interest in joining one of our Life Groups by filling out a Life Group Enquiry form below.
If you’re not quite ready to join a regular life group, you might like to join a Practice Group, which is a short-term Life Group of people who will meet together for three blocks of 4 sessions each during the year, as we explore the practices of Generosity, Solitude and Service as a church. You can express your interest in joining a Practice Group by filling out a form below.
PRAY
Please pray that our life groups would increasingly become the kind of environments where people can pursue authentic community and spiritual growth, helping each other on our discipleship journeys of becoming more like Jesus.
SERVE
If you are interested in exploring the possibility of life group leadership, feel free to have a chat to Mandy Stark or contact her at mstark@sb.org.au
Sunday Service Information
This Sunday
Series: Becoming
Sermon: Loving Others
Preacher: Chris Danes
In this second week of our two-part church vision series, we return to some of the most important and foundational teaching from Jesus to guide us in who we are becoming as individuals and as a church. Last week we turned our attention to what we might become if we are a people who truly love God, and this week we consider what God might do through us as a people who truly love others.
Coming Up
Sunday 15th February
Sermon: Lent
Preacher: Mike Riddell
Lent is an ancient practice of reflection over the 40 days leading up to Easter. While it's not been a big part of Baptist tradition, is it something worth exploring? Is there an opportunity here for us to draw closer to Jesus as we approach Easter? This week, Mike Riddell will help us better understand Lent and consider how we might benefit from engaging with it.
Sunday 22nd February
Series: Practicing the Way: Generosity
Sermon: There is more joy in giving than receiving
Preacher: Fiona Brown
We throw the phrase ‘it’s better to give than receive’ around all the time. But do we actually believe it? Do we live like it’s true?
What if generosity is not only an incredible gift to others, but to us?
Join us as Fiona Brown kicks off our four-week series exploring the practice of generosity.
Sunday 1st March
Series: Practicing the Way: Generosity
Sermon: Watch out for greed
Preacher: Mike Riddell
One of the clearest warnings Jesus gave was to watch out for greed. But how many of us take that warning seriously? And what is so dangerous about greed anyway?
Join us as Mike Riddell helps us better understand Jesus’ warnings about greed and how the practice of generosity can help us resist its pull.
Calendar
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
Feb
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
{
"guid": "177cc56f-6833-4000-8718-64299e8c9000",
"operator": "and",
"filters": [
{
"operator": "and",
"guid": "177cc570-ccfb-4000-875c-de6cefe3f000",
"filters": [
{
"comparator": "in",
"guid": "177cc570-cda0-4000-8155-be24bb899000",
"title": "Tags",
"key": "tags",
"value": null,
"value2": null,
"values": [
"602cc3d14809fd4fc600e9a2"
],
"dataType": "reference"
}
]
}
]
}Giving this week
Week ending: 2/2/2026
Weekly target: $51,000
This week actual: $66,239 (130% of budget)
Year to date actual: $266,428 (104% of budget)