Friday 24th February 2023 marks the 10th Anniversary of the merger of two churches into one church, which is now known as Burnside Family Church. The two were: Grace Community Church, meeting in a rented school hall in Kensington, and planted in 2001 by Pastor Alf and Alison Chehade and Nev and Bron Langman; and Burnside Christian Church, which had opened its doors on Christmas Day, 1864 in the old church opposite our present red brick building. 

The merger took place principally because the two churches were both operating in a limited capacity due to certain events that diminished their effectiveness. They were functioning reasonably well, but some felt both could have been doing better. In mid 2012, one of the Elders from Burnside, John Foley, made an appointment to see me at my house. There, he floated the idea that if the two churches merged, their effectiveness in the community might lift significantly. An interesting proposition. A bold idea.

There would be much to consider and pray about. Grace was a Pentecostal church, whereas Burnside was regarded as Evangelical. Could their doctrinal stances be aligned?

Constitutionally, each church had different forms of governance, and each form was dear to the heart of each congregation. A merger would mean Grace would have to close its doors and “move in” with Burnside. Both churches had significant Missionary Giving programs. What do we do with those programs? And most importantly, what was the mind of God on this merger issue? If we missed His will on this, it would mean the death of Grace Community Church and a backward step in the witness of Burnside Christian Church.

The idea was passed on to the leadership of both churches and it was agreed that we would meet and discuss the concept. The Elderships of both churches began to meet to explore these significant issues, where we would be looking for red lights. Both leaderships consulted respected colleagues and were advised that most church mergers notoriously “failed”. Would this one be any different?

Both Leaderships began to inform their respective congregations about the discussions and to keep them up to date on the various issues. One significant thing working in our favour was that we had been acting together for some time on combined events such as monthly prayer breakfasts, the annual Norwood Pageant, and school outreaches. These had given us an opportunity to observe each other playing out our Christian witness. We continued to meet as Elderships, looking for those red lights, and seeking the mind of God on this most important move. The lights seemed to be green rather than red. We began to feel increasingly, that any issues of doctrine and practice could be met and addressed by love and goodwill.

It was proposed that Grace personnel might conduct and take the lead on 7 Sunday services at Burnside, a fortnight apart, giving everyone an opportunity to see what the future might look like. Each congregation was looking for that red light. It did not come. We seemed to have received the message from God that the proposed merger was His will. Both church bodies sensed that we should go ahead.

Grace conducted its final service on what was its 12th Anniversary. We packed up our goods and equipment on a hot Sunday afternoon and moved it all up to storage in the old original Burnside church.

In a reasonably short time, we sensed that we were no longer two, but had become one. Grace, love, goodwill, and a sense of common purpose permeated the air. The issue of what to name the new church had been a small bump in the road, but in the end, was easily and smoothly resolved.

Since then, as one church ‘family’, Burnside Family Church has enjoyed many special times, made further positive impacts on its surrounding community, and developed many strong relationships. It has supported several local and overseas missions and partnered with other churches in regular prayer events. It has seen the launch of some specialty community activities, such as GoodGames, Burn’xercise, Conversation English, Korean, French and Tamil Services, and BFPlaygroup to name just a few. We have celebrated together, camped together, prayed together and been ‘socially distant’ together. It has been a wonderful place to come to church and as many have said in recent times, the best is yet to come.

Happy 10th Birthday to Burnside Family Church.

If you’re like me, you may find the difference between the tempestuous stormy sea of December and the still, quiet waters of January an interesting contrast. Maybe for some people, because of their professions, they’re not too different, but for most of us, January seems to be the calm after the storm. Or as I often call it, the dead month.

The end of the year and all the busy preparations that come with it mount up so fast, we barely have time to notice where we are and who we’re with. One weekend after the next of work dinners, kid’s breakups, school concerts, assemblies, Christmas lunches, and “hey it’s holidays now, we need to catch up with friends”, and “oh dear it’s Christmas in a week, I need to go shopping!”

Then after the festivities (and hopefully we’ve been able to remember Jesus in all of it), we come to a time of rest. Even for those whose jobs continue throughout the season, there is still the absence of school runs, through-the-week church events and other regular commitments. And I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s a huge sigh of relief!

We all need to rest at some stage. And we know that God created the world this way and set up the system – working hard and being productive… and then resting. He did this by setting out the pattern of a week in His creation project, and commanding that we keep one day holy – the Sabbath, for rest, reflection and worship.

For many of us, January can feel like a big, long Sabbath. Sure, we still have responsibilities, and we have to get things done, but there is a feeling of release from running around the little hamster wheel all year. So praise the Lord for January!

It strikes me that in Psalm 23 (as we heard all about at our recent ‘Kid’s Club Sunday’), David the Psalmist says that God makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. The word “makes” there is what stands out to me. Sometimes we must be made to rest. When being productive, it’s hard to know when to stop, (or we don’t want to). When we get on a roll with our work, we want to accomplish and accomplish until there’s nothing left – except there’s never nothing left, there is always work to be done, so in our foolishness, we could just go and go and go, but…

God makes use lie down. The shepherd knows when the sheep require green pastures. However, sheep will not lie down if they are afraid or anxious, if they’re hungry, or if there’s a problem among them.  And just like sheep, it’s hard for us to rest when we have pressures or difficulties, or when we’re worried about something. But God leads us to a place where we can rest. He guides us as well as making us lie down. Jesus said in John 14:27, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Not only does God make us rest, but He gives us the means to be able to rest, through His supernatural peace that transcends all understanding (Phil 4:7) He knows what we need, when we need it.

So if this is a quieter-than-usual month for you, consider January your green pasture. Your still waters. Use it as a time to reflect, to breathe in God’s peace, and to grow closer to Him. Ask Him to show you His love and care, and use the quietness to listen to His reply. Let the green pastures and still waters restore you and revive you. Verse 3 of the Psalm says He restores my soul. Now, this doesn’t only have to happen in January of course! But I feel like this is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of Who our shepherd is, and that He comforts us, provides for us, cares for us and restores us.

Perhaps I will stop calling January the dead month, and start calling it the alive month. The living month! As God restores life and energy where it had before been dwindling.

Praise God for January, and for the coming year.

What now for Burnside Family Church?

Isaiah 40:31 states "They that WAIT upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”

This verse speaks to us. Sometimes we will fly like eagles, other times we will be running, and no doubt, much of the time walking, but the promise of God is that He has enlisted the highest authority so that we might not crash-land whilst flying, not grow weary and faint as we walk the future together. The Hebrew word "wait" in the context of this verse means to "hope in sure anticipation and expectation" for what is to come. “Wait” does not mean sitting down and staring about the place. Whilst we wait in anticipation, we all put our hand to the plough.

Thankfully, I played a team sport. If things were not going so well, I could look to others, perhaps the star player to retrieve the situation. Fancy being a Boxer, just you and your opponent in the ring, and you are losing badly; left with nobody but yourself and your personal resources. In the Kingdom of God, BFC is playing the team game. We invite you all to play the game, choosing to participate while we "wait" rather than spectate.

Our Church is full of good people doing good works. Our roots run deep in the love of God and His people. In the last two weeks, without being asked, we have seen many people volunteer themselves where they perceive a gap. (Let's face it, Ben and Bec and family have left some big gaps as they wore big shoes.)

Romans 12 Series has delivered 12 messages based on the text of the chapter, but topically sent us all over the Bible as many folk delivered encouragement and teaching from the text.  It has been a very practical series, offering ways to not only live, but ideas of what to think about when we consider the both the way we live, and our attitude and values that undergird our decision making.

The passage commences with the idea of a living sacrifice, and finishes with doing good to overcome evil.  In other words, to be a living sacrifice means to good.  And by doing good, evil is pushed back from the areas we influence in our lives.

Romans 12 reads:

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A simple google search will deliver plenty of studies and sermons and thoughts on Romans 12.

There are plenty of Youtube videos on Romans 12.

And there are plenty of books on Romans 12

While the Romans 12 Series completes on 23 October, the truth received now continues its work, so our prayer is that you would hold the truths contained in Romans 12, apply them to your lives, and make a difference in the name of Jesus, and for the sake of the glory of the Lord.

There are some select resources below just to provide a few options to review.

This is a new dynamic translation of Romans 12.

This is an audio reading in NIV of the Book of Romans - however positioned to the commencement of Chapter 12.

These are videos providing an overview of the Book of Romans by the Bible Project Team.