FAQs
Q: What is the history of Church by the Bridge?
Church by the Bridge (CBTB) launched in February 2005, meeting in the building of St John the Baptist Anglican Church in Kirribilli. 42 people from St Thomas’ Anglican Church in North Sydney formed the core of this new church.
The aim of Church by the Bridge since the beginning has been to reach the people of Kirribilli with the good news of Jesus Christ. From day one we sought to do this by:
- being a ‘Christ-centred church that’s real & relevant’
- using music that engages mind & emotions key!
- weekly clear, passionate, faithful Bible teaching
In our first year we held a number of key events (i) Getaway – building relationships ii) Outreach week iii) Carols Under the Bridge iv) Introducing Jesus course in the Kirribilli Hotel. We also shared in dinner each week after church.
We experienced rapid growth - by the end of the year the church building was full each Sunday night. In May 2006 we launched a 5pm service (with a creche) - and moved the original 6.15 service to 6.30.
In January 2007, Paul Dale became the ‘Curate-in-charge’ of St John’s Kirirbilli as CBTB ended its formal ties with St Thomas’.
In May 2007 the 9.30am Sunday service was relaunched with Kids Church, a crèche and family focus.
On 13 September 2008 ‘Saturday Night by the Bridge’ will be launched.
Q: What does it mean to belong to Church by the Bridge?
At CBTB, we want people to know Christ, serve Christ & proclaim Christ. Belonging to the family at Church by the Bridge means you will be:
Grounded in Christ – have a personal relationship with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Growing in Christ – both in knowledge & personal godliness, through Bible reading, prayer and accountable relationships.
Sharing your faith – seeking every opportunity to proclaim Christ, through word & behaviour.
Committed to Church
– Regularly attending a Sunday gathering
– Member of a Connect Group
– Serving – using your gift/s to build up others
– Giving – time, talents and money
– Relationships – seeking to build up others in Christ, committing to accountable relationships
– Submitting to church leadership – in areas of vision & strategy, and discipline
Q: What can I expect when I visit Church by the Bridge?
When you visit Church by the Bridge we’ll do our best to make you feel comfortable and welcome. We realise you might be exploring Christianity, new to Sydney, or just looking for a new church. We want your visit to Church by the Bridge to be a relaxed and worthwhile experience as you join with us to learn more about our great God and all he has done for us.
On Sundays we have three gatherings:
9.30am - this is a family service, with kids church (for children up to 12 years) and a video hook-up for feeding mums. This service usually goes for no more than 75 minutes and involves a 20 minute Bible talk, singing and a time to chat over morning tea after church.
5pm - this is the smaller of our two evening services, and usually goes for no more than 75 minutes. During the service we’ll hear a 20 minute Bible talk, spend time singing, occasionally watch a video or hear from one of our regulars, and share dinner together after church. If you find you need to get to bed early on a Sunday night to get ready for work, this service might be for you!
6.30pm - this service is very similar to the 5pm service with a 20 minute Bible talk (usually the same as that given at 5pm), singing, occasionally watch a video or hear from one of our regulars, and share dinner together after church. The 6.30 service will also run for usually no more than 75 minutes.
Coming soon - Saturday Night by the Bridge (commencing 5.30pm on 13 September).
Q: What is a Christian?
A Christian is someone who puts their trust in Jesus. It’s that simple.
Knowing they need forgiveness for all they have done wrong, a Christian trusts that Jesus’ death is adequate to cover the punishment they deserve (2 Corinthians 5:21) Trusting in Jesus’ death means that we can come freely before God, accepted as his child and confident of his welcome and his willingness to help us (Romans 8:15; Hebrews 4:15,16).
For more information on what it means to be a Christian and answers to some common questions, check out christianity.net.au.
Q: Are kids welcome at Church by the Bridge?
Jesus loves kids and so do we! At our 9.30am Sunday service kids can attend kids church - including singing, dancing, playing, activities, craft and great Bible stories. Kids join the adults for the start of the service, and go to the hall about 15 minutes into the service until the end of the service. Parents are most welcome to join their children at kids church. Learn more about Kids Church.
We also provide a playgroup each Thursday morning during the school term called Playtime by the Bridge, and will be starting a Holiday Club from 16 - 18 July during the school holidays.
Q: What does Church by the Bridge believe about…?
You can read a summary of our beliefs on a range of topics in the ‘Our Beliefs‘ section. If your question isn’t answered there, please get in touch.
Q: How can I serve at Church by the Bridge?
Lots happens at our church each week - and not just on Sundays! If you would like to serve the people at church and in the Kirribilli community, there are many ways to get involved.
As a first step, check out the Beyond Sunday section - this lists a range of activities that take place within the church - for people here and beyond. You can then contact us if you’d like to serve in one of these areas, or if you have an idea of your own.
On a Sunday there are lots of different ways you can get involved, including welcoming, preparing supper, handing out Bibles at the front door, operating the sound desk, singing, playing music as part of the band, clean-up after church, and much more. Again, we encourage you to contact us if you’d like to serve in one of these areas.
Do you have a question that we haven’t answered here? Please contact us.
