Westbury Baptist Family Church is located in the beautiful and historic township of Westbury, about 25 minutes west of Launceston.
The Western Tiers including Quamby Bluff, provide a stunning backdrop to this rural township that services the local agricultural community.
Quamby Bluff
Westbury is increasingly a dormitory town for the city of Launceston. The demographic has traditionally been skewed towards the older age groups but that is changing.
Our Mission
Westbury Baptist Family Church is home to a friendly, Christ centred fellowship of believers. Our mission statement is ‘To Know Christ Better and to Make Him Better Known’. The primary focus of the church is the propagation of the Christian faith by active outreach into the Westbury community. The membership of the church consists of people who are personally committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and to the mission of the Church.
The congregation is characterised by a strong sense of purpose, fun and that old larrikin spirit, so typical of rural townships and locations.
Services
We meet each Sunday at 10.00am and any visitors to the township or region are warmly welcome to attend. Local residents are especially invited to attend. The format of the church service is traditional, as is the nature of worship. But there is a heart for change and a desire to see the church grow.
A member(s) of the congregation leads the service, followed by the speaker/pastor’s message. Services typically last for about one hour. On the first Sunday of each month, we take part in communion (The Lord’s Supper).
We are currently without a pastor (we are actively seeking one, most likely on a part-time basis) but we are blessed to have someone take our services each week. We have a number of visiting speakers who support the work of the church as well as some excellent speakers from within the congregation.
We alternate between using iSing Worship (a flexible modern music program which contains contemporary and traditional Christian songs/hymns) and congregation members playing the organ, both with lyrics projected onto the front wall.
At the moment we don’t run Sunday School classes as we don’t have enough regular young attenders, but when there is a small group of children one of the church members organises and conducts relevant activities in the foyer or Sunday School room during the main message/sermon.
There is a small table at the back of the church and another in the foyer where young children can do some colouring in/drawing during/after the service. Families with children are most welcome and we encourage you to attend – bring other families with you.
The after-service cuppa is a great time to make yourself known and to catch up with others.
Catching up before and after
the service.
Facilities
We have:
- a ‘cry room’ where parents can sit with their child/ren if they feel more comfortable there. The service is audible in the room, which has a large window overlooking the congregation.
- headsets for people with hearing loss.
- toilet facilities for people with disabilities.
- a changing table suitable for babies and young children.
- kitchen facilities suitable for catering for morning teas/lunches.
Organisation
The key groups and individuals who ensure the smooth running of the church include the:
- Leadership Group
- Worship Committee
- Catering Committee
- Finance Committee
- Call Committee (we’re currently seeking a pastor)
- Venue Hire Committee
- Westbury Agricultural Show Committee
- Pastoral Care Facilitator
- Mission Co-ordinator
- Prayer Chain Facilitator
- Media Person
Combined Churches of Westbury
We are actively involved with the Combined Churches of Westbury (Baptist, Uniting, Anglican and Catholic).
The main events where the different churches come together are:
- Potluck Teas (churches take it in turns to host the event)
and - Carols on the Green, in December, in conjunction with the Meander Valley Council.
Helping Out
When there’s a job to be done we are happy to get in and do it. Of course, we’re always happy to have extra volunteers when necessary. If you’re interested in being available sometimes call John, Doug or Mary.
Cutting up branches from the trimmed trees.
Keeping the grass in the adjacent paddocks under control.
There were plenty of large branches to be moved and
smaller ones to be raked up.
Unloading and levelling a load of sand for the sandpit.
Putting sand around the dinghy to stabilize it.
Helping to assemble the church directories, newsletters and prayer calendars.
Friday Evening Prayer
On Fridays, at 5:00pm, for about half an hour (or however long it takes), we hold a short prayer session at the church. Everyone is welcome to come along. It’s an informal gathering, usually of just a few people, who prayer about matters related to the church and about any personal matters that have come to their attention.
Prayer is essential for cultivating a relationship with God. It serves as a direct line of communication to express gratitude, seek divine guidance and find comfort during difficult times.
Hospitality
We love eating and take opportunities to share a meal fairly regularly…after a church meeting, combined fellowship groups, men’s breakfast…
Sometimes it’s sausages & salad followed by an ice cream cone and sometimes it’s casseroles & desserts. Usually we gather at the church though sometimes it’s in someone’s big shed or farm.
Men’s breakfast in the shed.
Fellowship tea in the shed.
Combined Fellowship Groups tea in the shed.
Casseroles after a church meeting.
A well deserved cuppa after a working bee.
