A Minute with Chris
Senior Pastor
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Thursday 7 October, 2021
Last week Jo-anne and I received a text from our son Laughlan that changed our status in the world forever. Earlier that day, Heidi Mae Danes entered the world and we were informed that both mum and baby were fine.
We are now grandparents!
The million-dollar question is what kind of grandparents will we be?
I feel that this is a question that can only be answered one day at a time.
We might want to be grandparents who are available, wise, encouraging, prayerful, fun, thoughtful, present, and attentive (but not too attentive), but it will take repeated choices on our part for this to eventuate.
It can be easy to forget that a life’s work needs a lifetime of investment to build.
Influence is something that only happens over time.
I love the words of Deuteronomy that encourage the older Israelites to pass on their faith…
6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
Lived-out faith is at every level the greatest gift we can give our next generation. To embody the love of Christ, and to live as a man or woman of God is by far and away the greatest gift we can give our family (or anyone for that matter).
As Jo-anne and I get to know our beautiful little granddaughter, our hope and prayer is that through us she will also get to know the very best of our Lord and Saviour.
Having said that, I guess that should be true of anyone who comes across our path shouldn’t it?
Blessings,
Chris Danes
Celebrating 67 years of SBC
This Sunday we will celebrate Syndal Baptist Church's 67th anniversary together.
Each of our different congregations will spend time reflecting on the way God has worked through and built his family at Syndal over the years.
We hope you can join us as we look back and look forward together this Sunday.
In the meantime, check out some of the photos from years past at SBC.
Williams Hall 1963
The building in which SBC originally gathered now houses Karinya Counselling Centre.
Sunday services together, mid 1960s
Life together has always been a gift
The church gathers, 1968
Syndal members chatting outside the Williams Hall
Construction begins, 1968
This building is now the East Auditorium, BFA and staff offices.
Work completed, 1968
So many great things happened in this building, and continue to happen.
Work begins on the Life Centre, 2006
The corner of High Street Rd and Blackburn Rd would never look the same!
And many were added to their number
It's been amazing to see new faces, generations and cultures join our community over the years.
New memories
SBC has grown from a few young couples who met together in homes, to a community of over a thousand.
One church, many homes
Even when we can't meet together onsite, we can worship together online.
News this Month
New Pastor for Seniors Appointed
For those who were unable to attend the special church meeting on Sunday, we are pleased to let you know that Tim Dyer was voted in as our new Pastor for Seniors.
We look forward to when Tim, his wife, Sonya, and their son, Sam, join our community early next year.
Looking for a way to show someone you care? Try a prayer quilt!
It can be hard to offer prayer to people who don't go to church or seem to have a faith. Why not offer a prayer quilt?
We've found that it's much easier to talk about prayer when you can offer a gift made especially for them.
Suggesting a prayer quilt is a gentle way to break the ice, and a lovely gesture! People are usually quite delighted by the idea.
In our experience, when people are unwell or going through a difficult time, whether they have a faith or not, they are quite receptive. This is usually a time when they are feeling vulnerable and searching for comfort and reassurance. Knowing that you can offer hope and support through prayer and a quilt can give a real lift.
If you'd like to know more please contact Rosie on rmerrigan@sb.org.au or 9803 9144
Support Foodbank as they support others
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:
Tinned Fruit (410g and 825g)
Biscuits (200g)
Bars of Soap
You can drop donations off at the front door of 1 Pimm Ct (Community Care Building) between 10 -11.30 am on Mondays or contact Steve to make other arrangements on 9803 9144.
We thankyou for your ongoing prayer and support of this vital ministry.
Karinya's new website
Karinya Counselling Centre has recently refreshed their website would love you to check it out! You might find some helpful information for yourself or which you could share with someone you know.
You can also make appointments via their website as well.
If you're on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkdIn, you might also like to follow their new accounts too (previous accounts have been shut down).
Visit Website
Job vacancy at OM: Partnership Co-ordinator 0.8FTE (Maternity contract)
An exciting opportunity exists for the right individual to join a collaborative team in OM's (Operation Mobilisation) Melbourne office and help them grow their donor relationships with incredible people. The successful candidate will help them dream bigger for their partnerships so that their work of mobilising people for mission will continue to grow.
The position is for a minimum of 6 months with possibility of extension as may be required.
Contact info.au@om.org to apply or to arrange for a confidential conversation.
You can view the full position description via the button below.
Position Description
Ritchies Community Benefits
Did you know that both Foodbank and Fuel Youth receive benefits from the Ritchie's Community Benefits program?
If you shop regularly at Ritchie's in Mt Waverley (or another location), you may want to sign up and select Foodbank or Fuel as your chosen organisation.
Also, Ritchie's are giving organisations double the benefit payments if over $2000 is spent collectively by those who support a specific organisation between October 4th-31st 2021.
For more information about how to register for the program, click below.
Find Out More
Join 'Thursday Friends'
Thursday Friends is an opportunity for people to gather and connect in a relaxed and fun way. At the moment, we're meeting via Zoom due to restrictions. Anyone is welcome!
At Thursday Friends on October 21st, our guest speaker is Steve Nicholas from Foodbank who will be sharing about what's been happening both before and during Covid-19.
They are still at work supporting those in need, and he will have some photographs to show us as well.
So join in at 11.00am on Thursday 21st October via Zoom link below.
Meeting ID: 821 9147 0740
Passcode: 158372
If you have any questions, contact Neille Dixon on 0457 963 293.
Join Zoom meeting
Application for Membership
When someone applies to become an official member at Syndal Baptist Church, we communicate this to the church for two weeks. This gives people the opportunity to know we are welcoming a new member, and allows time for people to let our leadership know if there is any reason the membership should not be approved. Please contact Chris Danes via email with any concerns. cdanes@sb.org.au
David and Gillian Carne have applied for church membership.
Get to know our Church Council
Each month we'll get to know a little more about one of our awesome council members.
Mark Joy
Council Member (Treasurer)
Describe your ideal holiday. Tropical
What’s your ‘treat yourself’ food of choice? Chicken Parmigiana
If you were stranded on a desert island and could only bring 3 things, what would you choose? Wife, Esky full of Coke, Hammock
What’s a secret talent you have? Excel is off the chart
If you could download a skill directly into your brain and instantly be awesome at it, what would you choose? Playing drums in a rock band
Where did you grow up? Glen Waverley
What’s your ‘day job’? CFO Inter Flora
Favourite Bible verse: Philippians 3:14 – “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ”
What’s the best thing about serving on Church Council? Using my strength to serve God.
Refurbishment of the East Auditorium is almost complete
Check out the photos below to see the progress that's been made!
View from the stage
The stage
View from back of auditorium
Front lobby
Repainted lobby cupboards
View from stage
Member in Service Spotlight
Alan and Lucy Rogers
AuSIL - Australian Society for Indigenous Languages - Northern Territory, Australia
Alan works in the recording of Christian Indigenous music for local churches in remote areas.
Lucy works in encouraging the Indigenous Christians to use their own arts for God as the Holy Spirit leads in light of what the Bible says to them.
Alan & Lucy both work with the Garrwa people to support them in the sustainability of their language.
WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN YOUR MINISTRY RECENTLY?Alan has been the Director for AuSIL for the past 2.5 years and is excited to be able to now get back to audio recording and the Garrwa language work. There have been many requests for Alan to come and record as Indigenous Christians compose many new songs in their own languages.
Despite COVID the media course that Lucy is involved in teaching (music and audio recording and editing) was able to commence in late May, there were 9 students, 2 were singer-songwriters so it was great to have some original songs that they could learn to record and edit.
Right now Alan & Lucy are on home assignment in Tasmania and hoping to get to Victoria later in the year.
WHAT HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING?
It has been great to have one of the Garrwa teacher aides, Patsy-Anne, who is also a church leader at Robinson River, call regularly about the Garrwa literacy resources they are making in the school. Lovely too to see the church at Robinson River is meeting regularly and posting excerpts of their fellowship on Facebook.
The commissioning of the new Director for AuSIL in February brought great release for Alan to get back to his preferred workload.
WHAT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING?AuSIL needs more people. Lucy has had to manage the Darwin bookshop where the language resources are made and sold as well as her teaching role at Nungalinya. This has meant that she has had little time to document some of the things that are happening in the Christian Indigenous Arts area or run workshops to help develop this area.
There are so many language groups that would like to do Bible translation in their language we really need more linguists who can support new translation programs.
HOW HAVE YOU SEEN GOD AT WORK?Nungalinya College commenced an 'arts' course this year, it has been fabulous to see people learning to express their faith through visual arts.
The discovery of these new Christian songs from a shy desert man are a joy, so good to see God at work in people's lives. It is His work.
God has provided an amazing house at the beach for us to stay in for our home assignment - such a blessing
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST NEEDS AT THE MOMENT?More workers for AuSIL - linguists, administrators, bookshop managers (Alice Springs and Darwin)
A newer reliable vehicle and perhaps an off road caravan.
PRAY
That we would walk closely with God daily and know his will and direction clearly amidst all the needs.
GIVE
You can give to us through the Syndal giving, or directly through Wycliffe Australia.
CONNECT
We email a twice monthly update and try to send 3 newsletters a year.
We would love for more pray-ers
We would especially love to be part of a home group at Syndal.
Contact us at alan-lucy_rogers@wycliffe.org.au
A SPECIAL INVITATION!
Alan and Lucy would love to invite you to join in the celebrations for AuSIL's 60th anniversary (see flier below).
It's a great chance to hear about the work that's been done. They'll share for about an hour, then have time for questions and the option to chat to members.
Meeting ID: 927 7568 7732
Passcode: 6060606060
Want to get to know our other Members in Service?
Visit our missions page via the link below.
Get to know our staff
Each month we'll learn a little more about one of our fantastic staff team.
Rosie Merrigan
Coordinator of COACH and Prayers & Squares
Describe your job like you’re explaining it to a five year old.
My job has two parts - to find a friend for people when they need one who will stick around to get them through a tough time AND to get people to pray and make beautiful quilts for people who need a blanket of love
Which meal do you most like to go out for (to a café/restaurant) – breakfast, lunch or dinner?
Nachos Supreme followed by Death by Chocolate at Nachos Cantina in Mt Waverley… for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
If you could have a superpower, what power would you want and why?
Motivation Magic…. To get people to be their best
If you could spend a week holidaying in any country, which would you choose?
Japan
What’s the best gift someone can give you?
Loyalty
What’s been one good thing about lockdown life?Wearing tracksuit pants and runners
Can you tell us about a time God answered your prayers?
Perfect wife for my nephew at the perfect time
What characteristic of God do you most appreciate at the moment?
Dependability
What do you love most about Syndal Baptist Church?
Firm foundation of faith
Ministry Spotlight
Creative Arts
With Kerry Walmsley (Pastor for Creative Arts)
The Creative Arts ministry team serves throughout the life of SBC. As we've gathered together as church online, or in-person (yep ... those days are coming back!!!) and you've sung, listened to beautiful prose being delivered, been impacted by a set or installation on stage, watch the beauty of dance, had a story come to life through drama, been moved in joy or tears as a beautiful melody is sung or played over you, you will have been served by the Creative Arts team.
What's been happening in the Creative Arts ministry recently?
The team is masterful at pivoting, adapting, and finding the most effective way to serve the church! Whilst we're hanging out for the day when we're back together in the room with you, we are just as expectant for what God will do as we speak, sing and play to the camera. We've led the church in praise and worship solo, as family units in homes, and in two and three-piece ensembles in the auditoriums.
In various contexts, we've sung and played on Zoom (with our sound off to all but ourselves), and shared YouTube and Spotify playlists to encourage the church to worship God in song as we're scattered. We're deep in planning for Christmas, writing narrative, planning music, crafting spoken word, visualising movement, and pondering settings and sets as we seek the best way to communicate God's hope to the world through Jesus.
"We use a breadth of artistic forms to lead the church in the worship and praise of our God, to illuminate his beauty and glory, and to open our eyes and heart to a greater picture of who he is and how we can live fully for him."
- Kerry Walmsley, Creative Arts Pastor
What challenges have you been facing?
When restrictions hit recently that were as tight as we've experienced and we had to get tech gear from point to point, the team remained optimistic amidst the challenges, thoughtful as to how to move forward, and creative in what was filmed and how it was done. When plans for filming have been scuttled because of rule changes, illness, and unexpected glitches, the response has consistently been, 'Ok, Lord - what's next?', a reflex to pray and seek God's plan and move forward, knowing that God is with us.
PRAY
We'd love prayer for wisdom as we move forward in the planning for services, age and stage events, and large-scale Christmas celebrations. As I write this, so much is unknown concerning what is going to be permissible for both filming and for live gatherings, but we are excited and optimistic, seeking God's heart for the season ahead.
SERVE
Whether through House Church, or as we gather live, we call out to anyone who would like to explore how they can use their talent as a gift back to God in and through SBC. There are opportunities as we gather together in services and in and through age and stage ministries, but also as we seek to serve God as we scatter as church into our communities.
CONNECT
We're expectant of what God will do in the seasons ahead of us. It may be that he is prompting you to explore being involved in the CA team at SBC in some way. I'd love to have that conversation with you and look forward to your email! kwalmsley@sb.org.au
Giving this week
This week $23,319 (61% of budget)
Budget $38,100
YTD weekly average $32,839 (86% of budget)
Sunday Service Information
This Sunday
Series: Faithful - Character studies in Ruth
Sermon: Boaz
Preacher: Chris Danes
Sometimes life can catch you by surprise.
A new face enters the picture. A new opportunity presents itself.
Your future path could be shaped by the next few steps you take.
Join us this week as Chris Danes helps us step into the shoes of Boaz, one of the key players in the story of Ruth. There’s much to be learned from the choices he made in unexpected circumstances.
Coming Up
Sunday 17th October
Series: Faithful
Sermon: Naomi
Preacher: Kim Smith
What do you do when hope has turned to dust and it seems God has turned his back on you? When you think it’s time to let go because, apparently, God let go first.
Join us this week as Kim Smith helps us explore and learn from the complicated, heartbreaking and yet breathtakingly beautiful story of Naomi in the Book of Ruth.
Sunday 24th October
Series: Faithful
Sermon: God
Preacher: Chris Danes
Sometimes we’re so stuck in our stories, it’s hard to see anything else. It’s hard to consider what our lives and choices might look like from the outside-in.
The reality is that most of the time we have no idea what role we play in the bigger picture.
But there is someone who does.
Join us for the final week of our ‘Faithful’ series, as Chris Danes helps us consider the fourth person in the story of Ruth – the one who we barely see, but who sees everything.
Sunday 31st October
Series: Upside Down Kingdom
Sermon: Blessed are the poor in spirit
Preacher: Mike Riddell
Do you feel like you’ve got nothing left to give? Maybe that you’re at the end of yourself, and struggling to put one foot in front of the other?
While it might feel like you’ve reached the end, Jesus’ teaching suggests that you might have actually just discovered the beginning of something incredible.
Join us this Sunday as Mike Riddell helps us understand what Jesus means when he tells us, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’.
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