Brooklyn Park Church of Christ

As COVID restrictions kicked in, we sensed a rare opportunity dig deeply into this question and why God has us at Brooklyn Park.

It was encouraging to recognize that our purpose – a Jesus-centred spiritual family who are passionate about seeing lives change – was still the core of who God was calling us to be. Even if we couldn’t meet in the same space, there were so many ways in which we could still live those values out together.

However, our Board wrestled with what we would do if we were starting a church from scratch in August 2020. We imagined a scenario where we were given our fantastic facility and a diverse group of 80-90 people to kick off our new church. We settled on 2 key priorities. We would have a simple but intentional time of gathering together, where we took time to be reminded about who God is, what Jesus has done for us, share family stories, unpack and apply Scripture together and gather around the Communion table to reflect, remember and celebrate. We would also invest heavily in small groups – 3-10 people connecting regularly to share their joys and struggles, learn from each other, talk about their next steps in their walk with Jesus, how to serve and support our neighbours and pray together.

Earth-shattering? Not really! But we have been very challenged about how much of our focus, energy and resourcing goes towards both of those key areas and whether the other things we’re doing are helping or holding back those priorities for us.

We’re excited about the journey ahead and the continued refining that we believe God is doing in and through us at BPCC.

Can you drink nothing but water for one month to transform lives through safe water?

Safe Water September is a challenge to drink nothing but water for the entire month of September, to raise funds for safe water projects in rural Zimbabwe and Vanuatu. Yes, you can still eat food, but no coffee, tea, soft drink or milkshakes! For every $20 you raise, one person gains access to life-changing safe water. This means kids will go to school, child and maternal deaths will drop, and communities will be transformed!

Globally, 1 in 10 people don't have clean water close to home – we want to change this.

Gather a team and join us! Sign up to take the challenge now at [www.safewaterseptember.org.au](http://www.safewaterseptember.org.au/) You’ll also find some great resources online to help you get started, including a video clip, blog and simulation game.

When you participate in the challenge, donate, or even spread the word, you are helping to make a difference in the lives of people living in Zimbabwe and Vanuatu. Thank you!

[#SafeWaterSeptember](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/safewaterseptember?__eep__=6&source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCa7L7393OLrw7y1735vuwB1fXZlZsTSPCOd4ZvpbU4-RYbOUiv-r4JjX7RBiI02tT33MEl9mEq8MPZA952f37pzcAqFeYmayNAiySpvHxdOLm9vk85JD0TFsea9b_Rq6cNYH6-Wou935fmaIDbhVQaT8ZgT0lgNkki4Bzk_1fccv8kv0p6rJ-RSLtV2v62wsfqrCmbvd5e0YIuThIbXtR4qciXccGnUYN-nkTMabKTVPpzbkt-SBut0zBHH1EmcoQHnVizqJQzRjUxPY4IWXfBbfwAQJ8OwGdZKXO4dvl19PucGIvAQY2nK-oXbvi-mw28FpQioYSQSfZtktVgElD24Q&__tn__=%2ANK-R)

[#DrinkWatertoGiveWater](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/drinkwatertogivewater?__eep__=6&source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCa7L7393OLrw7y1735vuwB1fXZlZsTSPCOd4ZvpbU4-RYbOUiv-r4JjX7RBiI02tT33MEl9mEq8MPZA952f37pzcAqFeYmayNAiySpvHxdOLm9vk85JD0TFsea9b_Rq6cNYH6-Wou935fmaIDbhVQaT8ZgT0lgNkki4Bzk_1fccv8kv0p6rJ-RSLtV2v62wsfqrCmbvd5e0YIuThIbXtR4qciXccGnUYN-nkTMabKTVPpzbkt-SBut0zBHH1EmcoQHnVizqJQzRjUxPY4IWXfBbfwAQJ8OwGdZKXO4dvl19PucGIvAQY2nK-oXbvi-mw28FpQioYSQSfZtktVgElD24Q&__tn__=%2ANK-R)

Stirling Theological College is seeking a Principal to lead the college in 2021 and beyond. Stirling is a Christian theological college affiliated with [Churches of Christ in Australia](https://www.cofcaustralia.org/). A college of the [University of Divinity](https://divinity.edu.au/), Stirling teaches undergraduate and postgraduate (coursework and research) degrees to PhD level. Innovative courses in leadership, counselling, ministry, theology, biblical studies, pastoral education, spirituality, supervision, and Christian discipleship are offered through flexible learning programs.

Stirling’s vision is to be a Christ-centred learning community that equips people to advance God’s shalom for the flourishing of the world. Leadership, ministry and mission formation is a key aspect of Stirling’s life. It is also committed to providing a stimulating learning centre for people to engage in theological education with practical application in diverse cultural contexts within the church and the wider community.

The campus is located at 44 – 60 Jacksons Road, Mulgrave 3170 Victoria. The campus is closed until 31st January 2021 due to the restrictions of COVID-19. All courses in 2020 are being delivered on-line.

A generous salary and benefits package will be negotiated with the successful applicant.

Stirling Theological College is partnering with UniRecruit to undertake a national and international search for high calibre candidates for this position. Detailed information about Stirling, selection criteria, the position description, and the application process is available on the UniRecruit website http://www.uni-recruit.com.au/current-roles/

Confidential enquiries should be made to:

Michael Toohey on +61 (0) 418 883 807 or michael.toohey@uni-recruit.com.au; or to,

Ann Newton on +61 (0) 412 358 234 or ann.newton@uni-recruit.com.au.

Applications are to be emailed to Michael Toohey by the closing date of Friday 21 August 2020.

Aldgate Church of Christ, The Village Well

What does it mean to find our unique story in God’s story and how do we hear it spoken through our interactions with others? While COVID-19 has certainly impacted us as a community it has reminded us of the story continuing to unfold in our liminal spaces, of creativity that is born in times of listening and contemplation. And, it has challenged us to be open to discerning how the Grand Storyteller finds creative ways to still reveal the Word.

The Studio continues to be a space of connection, relationship, mutual listening and evolvement. When we could not gather in groups or outside, chalk drawing appeared in the car park where neighbours would walk beside, a bare wooden cross among the gum trees became a place for anyone to leave a message, a prayer, a symbol of hope and we painted ‘au plein air’.

As The Studio recommences inside our building we begin connecting with members in the wider hills community to prepare for an exhibition, offering The Well as a place to share our stories through art. The Story continuing to move in all and through all.

Check out our new look state newsletter!

I hope you enjoy reading some of the wonderful stories from our churches that will begin to drop over the coming days and weeks. We are using a new format to communicate how we are participating in God's mission. I am looking forward to receiving more stories from our churches to share across our movement, along with stories from our ministry partners Life Care, GMP and CareWorks.

In addition to sharing some good news from our churches we were keen to tie the look of the Newsletter in with the theme of this year’s convention; Participate: in life: in Christ”.

Participating in the life of Christ through union with Christ (Christ in me, I in Christ) is a New Testament theme that emerges throughout the apostle Paul’s writings, John’s writings and the New Testament more broadly. (Col. 1:27) We are invited in these New Testament writings to align ourselves with Jesus. We are to follow the lead of Jesus as we live out our lives and to seek to be in relationship with Jesus as our primary response to the call of the Gospel.

Our lives are full of participation; in our families, our workplaces, friendship groups and in society as a whole. We are also called to participate in the movement of the Churches of Christ and for these many reasons we see this theme as relevant for us at this time. Our hope is that our reflections at Convention will help us to think about how we participate in the Churches of Christ movement. We also hope it will help us to participate in life as a response to our participation in Christ.

Peter Barney

State Minister