Canterbury Baptist Church, Melbourne, Australia

15/03/2025

This weekend, 40 of us will be heading down to Anglesea for our annual church camp—a time to gather, connect, learn, laugh, and create lasting memories together. The theme this year is “Building Bridges Into Our Community,” where we’ll explore how God might be calling us to engage with those around us, especially as we settle into our new meeting space. Expect meaningful conversations, moments of reflection, and plenty of fun along the way!

Meanwhile, back home, our Strathcona space will still be alive with worship! Huge thanks to Rowena and Keith for leading the service, and a big shoutout to Ariel for stepping up to handle the tech setup—picking up the baton from Ben. If you’re not joining us at camp, we encourage you to gather together at 10:00 AM to worship, grow, and support one another.

Hebrews 10:25 reminds us: "Let us not neglect meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another.”

Whether we’re worshiping at camp or in Strathcona, we are one body, one family, and one church. The beauty of faith is that it flourishes in community—not just in Sunday services, but in shared meals, deep conversations, spontaneous prayers, and those everyday moments of kindness that remind us we’re never alone.

Building bridges isn’t just a theme for the weekend—it’s a calling for all of us, every day. Maybe it looks like reconnecting with someone who’s been on your heart, reaching out to a neighbour, or even offering a listening ear to a coworker who’s having a rough time. Sometimes, bridge-building is bold and obvious; other times, it’s as simple as showing up, being present, and loving people where they are.

God is always at work, creating opportunities for connection and restoration. The question is: where is He inviting you to step out, to reach across, to build something new? Maybe it’s a friendship that needs mending, a group that could use your encouragement, or a space where you can serve in a fresh way. Whatever it is, let’s be people who lean in, love well, and keep building—one bridge at a time

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13/03/2025

Please pray for Servants and the team from CBC who serve the residents and staff and particularly for he who heads up this team.

12/03/2025

Please Pray for Strathcona, the principal, and the staff and chaplains as they settle into the regular rhythm of school life.

11/03/2025

But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 1 Corinthians 14:3

I was encouraged by these words this week in another context, but as I went to write up the prayer notes, this verse was still open on my computer. As we spend time this week, waiting on God and praying for people, take some time to listen to how God might be prompting you. It might be to shape your prayer in a different way, it might be to send a message to someone to let them know you are praying for them, and care about their situation, or perhaps it might be that God wants to spend more time with you to encourage you too.

10/03/2025

You are invited to attend the Accessible Prophecy National Gathering, an event for anyone who desires to explore how to nurture prophecy in their own lives and in their churches regardless of denomination or worship style.
Cath Livesey the the global leader and founder of Accessible Prophecy will be the keynote speaker. The venue is New Hope Baptist Church, Blackburn.

We invite you to join us for the 2025 Accessible Prophecy National Gathering in Melbourne. Cath Livesey the the global leader and founder of...

09/03/2025

Today’s divide between Sunday worship and Monday work has deadly effects on the health and vibrancy of both. Using marketplace ministry experience and biblical research, Professor Matthew Kaemingk will offer biblical and practical steps to reconnect workplace Christians work and worship.

When: Saturday 15th March at 9am-1pm
Where: St. Alfred's Anglican Church, 107 Springfield Rd, Blackburn North
Cost: $50
Click to book

Today’s divide between Sunday worship and Monday work has deadly effects on the health and vibrancy of both. Using marketplace ministry experience...

08/03/2025

Sitting at the centre of the dinner table, I often find myself as the designated food-passer. Just as I’m about to take a glorious bite, someone inevitably asks for more rice or salad or something from the other end of the table. So I put my fork down and pass the dish—again. It’s a never-ending relay race of serving others while my own meal sits waiting.

And so, the great internal debate begins: Do I embrace my sacred duty as the table’s official middleman, honouring my family by ensuring everyone gets what they need? Or do I conveniently develop selective hearing, stare intently at my plate, and finally enjoy my meal in peace while everyone else fends for themselves?

Paul urges us in Romans 12 to offer our whole selves as a living sacrifice to God. Worship isn’t just about singing in church; it’s about how we live daily—sometimes even how we pass the rice.

Let us love with genuine affection and take delight in honouring one another. True worship is offering ourselves fully to God and one another in love. Let’s take delight in honouring one another—even if it interrupts our plans (or dinner).

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03/03/2025

You are invited to be part of World Day of Prayer for an hour long prayer session focusing on the Cook Islands.
10am, Friday 17th March
St. Dunstan's Anglican Church
163 Wattle Valley Road, Camberwell

01/03/2025

We will be singing a new song this Sunday and if you'd like to familiarise yourself with it beforehand, it's called Hymn of the Saviour. It's a song that speaks of the gospel as God’s gracious plan to save humanity through his Son and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

‘Hymn of the Saviour’, filmed live in Oxford, UK, from the album CREATION AWAITS by Emu Music. 📝 LYRICS - available below and on the video🎼 SHEET MUSIC - h...

28/02/2025

This Sunday we’re launching a new sermon series titled “Being a Christian Community.” This series was born from a sense of conviction that, as we journey toward Easter, it is good for us to take time to strengthen and encourage one another as the Body of Christ.

As followers of Christ, we are called to live in a way that reflects His love and grace. Colossians 3:12-17 reminds us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These virtues are not just abstract ideals but the fabric of a life devoted to one another in Christ. To be devoted means to actively commit to each other’s well-being, to love consistently even when it’s difficult, and to forgive as the Lord forgave us (Colossians 3:13).

Peter echoes this same call in 1 Peter 3:8-9, urging us to be like-minded, sympathetic, loving, and humble. He reminds us that our words and actions should bring blessing, not harm. Devotion to one another is more than mere obligation; it is a reflection of the very heart of God. When we choose to serve rather than demand, to listen rather than judge, and to encourage rather than criticise, we create a community where peace and love flourish.

This kind of devotion is not always easy. People will fail us, and we will fail them. But in those moments, grace becomes our guide. Paul reminds us that love binds everything together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:14), and Peter assures us that as we bless others, we ourselves receive blessing.

Today, let us ask God for the strength to be truly devoted to one another—to love, to forgive, and to walk in harmony. In doing so, we reflect Christ’s presence in our lives, drawing others closer to Him.

14/02/2025

Last Sunday, we took time during the sermon to name and honour the many people who serve in our Church. It was a long list! Reading through it was a powerful reminder of just how many people give their time, gifts, and resources so generously. It is because of the faithful service and care of so many that we are able to enter into the vibrant worship and deep fellowship we cherish. To all those who were named on Sunday—thank you. You are a blessing and a strength to us all.

This Sunday, we return to our Psalms series with Psalm 79, a raw and emotional cry for justice in the face of devastation. It takes us into the ruins of Jerusalem after its destruction and into the heart of a man who has witnessed terrible suffering—one who longs for God to even the score.

The words of this psalm are startling to find in a Holy Book. They mix a cry for vengeance with a plea for mercy, reflecting the deep turbulence of human emotion. But that is precisely why this psalm resonates. In moments of deep injustice, who among us has not longed for God to act swiftly against wrongdoing? That God gives us these words in Scripture is a reminder that He understands us fully—even in our most distressing moments.

Yet, after calling for judgment, the psalmist returns to trust. He does not end in bitterness but in faith. He finds hope not in retaliation, but in worship—a powerful reminder that, even in our most broken moments, turning to God is the path back to life.

May we, too, bring our raw and honest prayers before God, trusting that His justice is sure and His mercy is great.
Pastor S. Field
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08/02/2025

Thank you to those who have responded already and are willing to help with setting up our spaces on a Sunday morning. I am always keen to hear from others who would like to contribute their time/muscles to this. I am also keen to hear from people who would like to serve in other ways eg through being part of the Morning Tea crew, learning to operate the sound gear, media, Welcoming, Bible Reading...and many other exciting roles!!
Please let Pastor Cathy know if you are able to serve the church in any of these ways