What To Expect
We invite you to visit either of our services on Sundays. For information about what to expect on our services, scroll down.
2-4 Lum Road, Wheelers Hill
Our two Sunday gatherings present opportunities for you and us to connect with God as well as others in a casual, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
Each service, while slightly different in feel, will provide music, a life-giving message from the Bible and an opportunity to talk with members of the church before or after the service. We hope and strive to provide a welcoming atmosphere for everyone to come and experience the love of God.
All sermons are available shortly after each service here.
Morning Service - 10:00 am
Every service is lead by our excellent worship team and features a mix of contemporary music, prayers, stories and a message. Each message is usually brought by one of our pastoral team, and occasionally a visiting speaker brings a message from their mission field and an application for daily life.
We also share in communion on the first Sunday of every month.
Streamed weekly at https://livestream.waverleybaptist.org.au/
Evening Service 6:30pm
All ages are welcome to this service, with more opportunities for youth, young adults and young at heart to serve and meet together.
On the third Sunday of every month (exceptions may be present around Christmas and Easter), we share in a dinner and communion. Starting at 6:30pm, a dinner is brought and put together by various members of the congregation. There is no obligation to bring any food, and allergies and intolerances are catered for.
We also aim to cover a wider variety of missions from our Global Ministries, so come along to hear how we are supporting spreading the Word to the world.
What to expect on a Sunday?
Click or tap below to find answers to some questions you may have.
Am I Welcome?
Of course! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us, and we encourage and welcome visitors to all of our services.
There is no dress code, so wear what you are comfortable in.
There is no expectation to participate in aspects of the service if you feel uncomfortable doing so.
COVID-safe Practices
Communion: We currently do not hand out elements during the service; on Communion Sundays, a two-in-one pack is available at or near the front door, or on a table between the auditorium entrances.
In the Evening service, wafers and glass cups are used, please allow our helpful volunteers to pass you the wafer with tongs.Offerings: As we attempt to reduce the handling of items by mutiple people, offering bowls are not be passed around in services. A retiring box (blue) is available in the foyer, or you can give online here. On Communion Sundays in the Morning service, two wooden welfare offering bowls is available as well; this goes to supporting various needs within and without our church.
Morning Tea: After the morning service, tea, coffee and biscuits are available. Feel free to stay and have a hot drink and chat with some of our members - gluten-free options are available.
If you are displaying symptoms of illness, we respectfully ask that you refrain from attending our services; live-streaming is available if you are unable to join us in person.
Parking
We have two main carparks available, one accessible via Waverley Road, the other from Lum Road.
The Morning Service at 10:00 am often fills both carparks, so additional parking is available on Waverley and Lum Roads. Please be resepectful of our neighbours and their driveways.
The main entrance is up the stairs or ramp from Waverley Road carpark, with disabled parking next to the ramp. From there, the main auditorium is straight across the foyer.
Image Credit: Google Maps
Disability Access
Mobility Issues: Accessing the building can be done via the ramp outside our front door, or using the glass door near Waverley Road and the lift on the left to access the top floor.
Audio Sensitivity: Our creche room is available to those that would like a softer experience than the main auditorium.
Hard of Hearing: We currently use the Audio Everywhere App for a direct feed into your ear. Download the app and open, using the WBCLive internet connection and the "Live Feed" should be available.
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.exxothermic.streamCatcher&hl=en_AU&gl=US&pli=1
Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/audio-everywhere/id646388002
Children and Youth Programs
Our morning service has a creche available for those that need this, which can be found by going past the toilets, walking straight to the door ahead of you. If it is locked, please let one of the sound/data crew know.
A stream of the audio is fed into this room, adjustible by the knob near the light switch.
Both kids programs start a little while into the service, after the first bracket of songs; with the worship MC praying for the children before they leave.
School Grades 1-6
Every Sunday, during the morning service, we gather to dive deeper into the Word of God. Looking at bible stories through games, puzzles and other activities, opens the door for God to work in the lives of our children. Come along to learn more about God’s word in a fun and engaging environment!
Please note that for all our kids progams, including those not held on Sundays, signing your children in and out is a requirement in order to maintain a safe environment for all children and youth leaders.
School Holidays
During school holidays children are encouraged to join in the service with their families; our kids and youth programs do not run in the holidays.
Live-Streaming
If you are unable to join us in-person, or would like to check out our services from home, live-streaming is available each Sunday.
All Morning Services are livestreamed via our website here. Streams start five minutes with a countdown clock and background music, before the service starts, and sermons are available later.
Evening Services are streamed on request due to lesser demand. Sermons are available afterwards. Communion services, on the third Sunday of the month, due to the nature of being a dinner and shorter-style message, are not livestreamed or recorded.
Please note some sermons cannot be made available to protect our supported missions.
During the Service
You may wonder what you can expect from a typical service. Our morning service tends to be a more "traditional" service, while our evening service is led more by our young adults and families with pastoral oversight.
AM Service - 10:00 am
Countdown to service start will be displayed on the projector; this is more for those streaming at home.
The Service MC will usually give a short introduction, then invite the congregation to stand if able, followed by 2-3 songs.
The Service MC will pray for the kids church as they depart for their programs; then share relevant announcements; then a time of prayer will be led by the Service MC or another member.
Another song or two will be sung.
A Bible reading will be shared, then one of the pastors or guest speakers will speak for around 25-30 minutes. These are usually part of a series. Past Sermons can be found here.
On the first Sunday of the month, we share in communion. This is a special practice for followers of Jesus, involving a small piece of cracker and juice as symbols of acknowledgement of his death for us. We currently use disposable communion packs, available as you enter the main worship area. You are most welcome to not partake, and we encourage this if you do not share faith in Jesus.
The music team will then close the service with a song.
Tea and coffee, along with various biscuits and cakes, are available after the service. Please let the volunteers know if you need a gluten-free option.
PM Service - 6:30 pm
Services follow a similar format to the morning service, but the order of things are more subject to change on a weekly basis. Evening services tend to see more speakers from the membership rather than the pastors.
On the third Sunday of the month, we share in communion. We meet in order to share a dinner together. We currently have members bring food for collective sharing, so don't feel obliged to bring food along. Food intolerances and allergies are catered for. The dinner service is usually finished between 7:30-7:45pm; following which we move into the foyer for a communion address and conversations afterward.
Independant Churches
These churches use Waverley's facilities but are not otherwise associated with, or under the governance of, Waverley Baptist Church.
Sinhalese Service - 6:30pm, every second Saturday
Pastor Denzil Vethamanikam - 0431 159 615
See our calendar for dates.