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Our Mission
Experience the love of Jesus. Live it out everywhere.
In this issue:
Check out what's coming up at BSBC from March 1 to 8.
Check Out All That’s Going On in Our NextGen Ministry
Our Partners in Mission
New Roles for Valued Team Members
March/April Income Tax Clinics – Are You Able to Help?
2 New Adult Sunday School Classes – Not Too Late to Join
Bereavement
2023 Ladies’ Banquet
Calling All Men
Library Recommendations
March Senior’s Luncheon
Sunday’s Worship Gatherings
February AND Ways to Love Fredericton (Continuing to Mid-March)
Our Third Sunday Supper Needs You
Celebrating Everday Heroes
Community News
This Week @ BSBC
The Case for Faith Study
1. Check Out All That’s Going On in Our NextGen Ministry
Children @ BSBC
NO Sunday School March 5 – 12
Over the March break there will not be any Sunday school for children, preschool, youth or adults.
Elementary (K – Grade 5) Scouting Boys
Tonight, elementary-aged boys are welcome to join our other scouts and leaders for Quinzee making outside on church property. Our start time is 6:30 p.m. — see you then!
Hands-in Girls Ministry: March 18, 10 a.m. – noon
All of our elementary-aged girls are encouraged to join Allie Dunfield and her awesome gang of leaders for a Saturday morning of fun, friends, fellowship, activities, and music! If your daughter or granddaughter is wanting to attend this please register HERE.
Children’s Easter Party: March 25, 1 – 2 p.m.
Our annual children’s Easter Party is coming up later this month! Parents and children K – Grade 5 are welcome to come out for an hour-long party to celebrate. Please register to let us know you are coming, so we can prepare for you! If you have any questions please email nikki@bsbc.nb.ca for more information.
Youth @ BSBC
Youth Choir / Greenhouse Band: Wednesday, March 1, 6 – 6:30 p.m.
All youth who are interested in participating in the youth choir and/or Greenhouse Service band are welcome to come out Wednesday at 6 p.m.
For more information, contact Julianne at julianne.d.moore@gmail.com.
Please note that there will no Youth Choir during March break.
Bible Study: Wednesday, March 1, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Youth are welcome and encouraged to come out as we work through a series on the book of Mark. All are welcome, even those who haven’t been around for earlier Bible Studies! Join Kari Dunfield and Pastor Nikki tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Please note that there will be no Bible Study during March Break.
Board Game Night: Friday, March 3, 7 – 9 p.m.
Youth are invited to come out Friday for a night of games! We’ll have boardgames on hand, but you’re welcome to bring your favourites to play with friends! Snacks will be provided. Invite your friends, and enjoy some time to hangout, play games, snack, and chat about Jesus!
Tidal Impact Registration Date Approaching: March 23
Tidal Impact is a week-long missions trip happening July 22 – 28. All youth grades 6- 12 are welcome to come out! The goal of Tidal Impact is to bring Jesus' love into our community through acts of service. To do this, Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (CBAC) partners churches from across Atlantic Canada together. Tidal Impact provides youth with the opportunity to deepen their faith through acts of service, grow in teamwork and leadership skills, and embrace the Saint John area as a mission field!
Registration is required by March 23. For the registration document please contact Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca.
March Break: March 6 – 10
Sports Drop-In and Games: Thursday, March 9, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
This March Break we’re offering a sports drop-in (in the Gym) and games event (third floor) from 6:30- 8:30 pm. Our typical youth events are on hold until the following week, but our leaders still want to stay connected with those who are around during March Break, so come out next Thursday ready for either Sports OR Games!
Volunteer Opportunity: Children’s Easter Party
We’re looking for people to help lead in different ways during our Children’s Easter Party on March 26. If you would like to serve we would love to have you! We’ll need help with registration, crafts, prep, games, VBS song leading, etc. contact Pastor Nikki for more information.
For more information regarding our youth or children’s programs, please contact Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca.
2. Our Partners in Mission
Two Individuals….Two Missions Organizations….One Shared Passion….to reach out to those in need in God’s name.
This past January two of BSBC’s Partners in Mission, Rebekah Sears with the Mennonite Central Committee (working out of Ottawa) and Andre Sibomana with Canadian Baptist Ministries (working out of Kigali, Rwanda) met in person for the first time while Rebekah was visiting a number of her MCC colleagues and church partners in Africa.
This is the first time that two of Brunswick Street’s Partners in Mission have actually met in person in the mission field….and in many ways it is a story and a meeting 16 years in the making.
The story starts back in 2007 and is a perfect example of how God does indeed work in strange and mysterious ways.
In the spring of 2007 Rebekah was just completing an extensive mission assignment with African Evangelistic Enterprises (AEE) involving peace and reconciliation work in Rwanda.
At the same time, BSBC was putting together a short term mission team that would be going to both Rwanda and Kenya with Canadian Baptist Ministries(CBM). Rebekah graciously assisted in the preparation of the BSBC team going to Rwanda with a crash course on the Kinyarwandan language and identifying some of the cultural sensitivities associated with the 1996 Genocide.
When the BSBC team arrived in Kigali they were introduced to a young Pastor in Training, Andre Sibomana who they soon learned would be their main CBM guide and interpreter throughout their two week mission tour and stay in Rwanda. An awesome relationship and bond was almost spontaneous and a strong friendship developed between Andre and the members of the BSBC team over the years.
Fast forward to 2023 and a mere 16 years later:
Rebekah Sears is our very own home grown and now seasoned Partner in Mission, currently serving with the Mennonite Central Committee in Ottawa and is still passionately involved in matters of peace, reconciliation, and justice.
Andre Sibomana is now a Reverend, married with a family of five, and has been our CBM Partner in Mission since 2017. Andre is currently serving as CBM’s Africa Team Leader, based out of Kigali, Rwanda.
In January 2023 Rebekah had the opportunity to return to a number of African nations where she has visited in the past with MCC and had the opportunity this time to actually meet Andre in person while she was in Rwanda. In a recent telephone conversation with Rebekah it was so neat to learn that both her and Andre share so many friendships and mutual colleagues, some going back to Rebekah’s earlier work with AEE.
We are indeed so blessed to have both Rebekah and Andre as Partners in Mission with our church family here at BSBC. Please keep them both in your prayers as they continue to faithfully serve God.
God is so good.
Next week we will be featuring Rebeka’s latest update and prayer requests from her recent mission trip to Africa and her meeting with Andre…..and then …stay tuned again the following week for the latest update and specific prayer requests from Andre.
Brian McEwing, Chair
BSBC Missions Committee
3. New Roles for Valued Team Members
Starting Monday, March 6, Janet Mitchell and Naomi Phillips will have new roles in a reorganization of our administrative plan to better meet the needs of the pastors and congregation in 2023. With an office switch, Janet will become our Office Administrator (40 hours/week) and Naomi our Ministry Administrator (20 hours/week) and Bookkeeper (20 hours/week). Our goal was to create positions that are built around the individual giftedness of each to enable them have the greatest measure of satisfaction in their ministry.
Janet will continue working directly with our church family and providing administrative support upon request as well as facilitating the work of our Benevolent, Counseling Center and Prayer Ministries.
Naomi will be attending pastoral staff meetings, to provide administrative support for ministry initiatives and events which will help relieve the pastors of such details and ensure that all church staff are working with a to-the-minute calendar schedule. She will also maintain our contact database and be responsible for seasonal publication distribution. She continues the other half of her weekly hours as our Bookkeeper.
We are so grateful to Janet and Naomi for their willingness to explore this new approach and work together to develop both roles within the overall staff team. In the next year, we will be sitting down every three months to evaluate, problem solve and continue to define these roles.
Please pray for Janet, Naomi, your pastors and the Personnel Committee of your Board of Management as we work toward this new paradigm.
Janet Trail, Personnel Committee
Ron Smith, Chair, Board of Management
Greg Geldart, Lead Pastor
4. March/April Income Tax Clinics Return to BSBC
Income Taxes – Still a growing Mission Field – Are you able to help?
Just over fourteen years ago, in 2009, thanks to her vision and passion to serve the downtown community, Pastor Nancy Murphy took the initiative to have Brunswick Street Baptist Church become involved in the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). The CVITP has become a staple at BSBC during the months of March and April and in-fact, we now do tax returns throughout the year. This is a free service to low- and modest-income earners, including students and newcomers to Canada.
BSBC will be holding tax clinics in again in the gym on Tuesday afternoons during the months of March and April, between 1 and 5 pm. We need people who can help ANY TIME between 12:30 pm and 5 pm on Tuesday afternoons. You do not have to be available every Tuesday.
We can use people who are willing to greet clients and help them fill out a simple form. NO TAX EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. If you are interested in learning how to help people with their taxes, there is training available, and we will help get you trained.
We have COVID safety protocols in place and we provide the necessary masks, etc. as needed.
If you can help, please call the office at 506-458-8348 or contact us directly.
Finally, if you or someone you know could benefit from this free service, we will be happy to help.
Sincerely,
Ron Smith
Tel: 506 440-2199
Email: varfor@gmail.com
Shelley Pronk
Tel: 506 451-1097
Email: pronk@nbnet.nb.ca
5. Two New Adult Sunday School Classes (It’s Not Too Late To Join!)
Adults! Great news! Two new adult Sunday School classes are available Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (5 Sundays)
Led by Scott Myles/Family Room (1st Floor, Family Life Center)
“As someone all too familiar with ‘hurry sickness,’ I desperately needed this study.”―Scott Harrison, New York Times best-selling author of Thirst
“Who am I becoming?”
That was the question nagging pastor and author John Mark Comer. Outwardly, he appeared successful. But inwardly, things weren’t pretty. So he turned to a trusted mentor for guidance and heard these words:
“Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life.”
It wasn’t the response he expected, but it was―and continues to be―the answer he needs. Too often we treat the symptoms of toxicity in our modern world instead of trying to pinpoint the cause. A growing number of voices are pointing at hurry, or busyness, as a root of much evil.
Within this 5-part video study, you’ll find a fascinating roadmap to staying emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.
Portraits of Jesus (Multi Week)
Led by Dwight Dunfield/The Under-the-Sea Room (Preschool Suite, 1st Floor, Family Life Center)
In order to be imitators of God, we need to know Him through Jesus. We will look at different characteristics of Jesus and work towards being more like Him.
6. Bereavement
Please be in prayer for Ron and Lillian Davidson given the loss of their son, Geoffrey Davidson of Toronto, Ontario on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. After graduating from UNB Law School, Geoffrey moved to Ontario and worked in marketing. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother, Peter Davidson of Fredericton; aunts, Anne Murphy (Ernest) of Summerside, Marianne Davidson of Calgary; several cousins. A Graveside Service will take place in Fredericton Rural Cemetery, Fredericton at a later date. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to Canadian Cancer Society. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4
Please be in prayer for Susan and Brian Saunders and family given the passing of Susan’s mother, Helen MacLean, at York Manor on February 22, 2023.
Helen was educated as a schoolteacher and taught school in Shemogue, NB, for a year. She returned to Black River Bridge to marry our father, Ernie, and begin a life of contribution to her community and service to others. She was a lifelong and active member of St. Stephen’s United Church and held the role of Church Treasurer for over 40 years. She was a member of the United Church Women and the Women’s Institute and held executive positions in these organizations. She was a fixture at the annual Harvest Home fund-raising dinner for the church, baking pies and squares, making crafts, cooking a turkey, heading up a table, and then going home to count the proceeds of the day.
Helen is survived by her children: Roberta Clark (Tom) of Saint John, Archie MacLean (Judy) of Fredericton, Ralph MacLean (Fred Johnston) of Saint John, Susan Saunders (Brian) of Fredericton and Dawn Webber (Fred) of Fredericton. She also has 9 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
The funeral service was held on Monday, Feb. 27 at St. Stephen’s United Church, Black River Bridge, NB.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31: 30-31
7. 2023 Ladies’ Banquet
Well, during the winter you can use a little ‘pick-me-up’ and that’s why on Saturday, March 18, we will be offering our 2023 Ladies’ Banquet: A Night at the Oscars. The men of the church will be having fun hosting the ladies in an evening of fine food and even finer fun.
Ladies, this is a great night to introduce your friends to our church family. Create your own ‘look’ for your arrival photo on our red carpet.
There are 160 tickets available for $10 per person. They’ll be on sale at the Connections Center Sundays following the services. More details to come.
Pastor Greg
8. Calling All Men
Men, if you’ve read the article above….you’ll know that I’ve invited a crew of ladies to come out to be fed and entertained on Saturday, March 18. In fact, after the services on Sunday, Feb. 26, 117 tickets were sold. We are upping our preparations to host 160. And, I’d like NOT to do that alone. So, will you sign on to lend a hand to make this evening happen.
Click on the link to let me know you’re interested. Specific details will come out in a week or so.
Thanks for your help!
Pastor Greg
9. Library Suggestions
10. March Senior’s Luncheon
Due to the Ladies’ Banquet being on the third weekend in March, we’re moving the March Senior’s Luncheon to Monday, March 27, Noon in the gym. Thanks for noting this change in your calendar. Stay tuned for registration.
11. Sunday’s Worship Gatherings
The gym worship service will be under the musical leadership of Jon and Alyse Wilton and friends. In the sanctuary the service will feature musical leadership by the Sanctuary Choir and our special musical guests – iTromboni. Our connection with this trombone ensemble is Gloria Tranquilla’s son, Jim and he and his compatriots are in town this weekend and offered to come join us for worship.
In both services we’ll welcome our own Rev. Kevin Culberson, who is the Baptist Chaplain for both the Dr. Everett Chalmer’s Hospital and the Oromocto Public Hospital. Kevin will share about his ministry including how we can help him AND how he can help us. The old days of patient information being available to pastors are gone. So, to provide spiritual support to those we know, Kevin will give us the ‘key’ to unlocking spiritual support.
In both services we’ll also be gathering at the Lord’s Table. In the gym, Pastor Ross and in the sanctuary, Pastor Greg, will offer a Communion Meditation at the Table.
Whether in-person or online, we hope that you will join us for our worship services this coming Sunday morning, March 5.
12. February AND Ways to Love Fredericton (Continuing to Mid-March)
Long before February arrives on our doorstep, Valentine cards and decorations are appearing all around us. Bringing the theme of LOVE into focus once again.
The Bible says a lot about love. For sure, many go to John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. When we consider God’s love, we can’t separate it from His giving. And, when we think of the role believers are to play in sharing God’s love – we often think of giving.
So, this February, your Social Action Team is suggesting some ways you can love/give in support of our church family who minister on a weekly basis to the homeless in our city. We invite you to be partners in their work by loving/giving to provide practical relief in the coldest part of the year.
If you are someone who likes to provide practical help with supplies, here’s what we’d suggest:
Bottled Water: We are wanting to build up our stock of bottled water which is a regular part of this ministry all through the year. We welcome you to purchase personal sized bottled water and bring it to the Connections Center and we’ll move it to our stock room for use as the weeks go on.
Socks: This is a real need for folks who are not housed. A clean, dry pair of socks helps overall wellbeing. We would be grateful for new socks for both men and for women. Warm and thick socks that pull up on the leg (not athletic socks). Should you be able to help in this way, please leave your gifts in the white laundry baskets in the Connections Center.
Financial Gifts are always welcome. As this ministry goes forward there are times when specific items need to be purchased. Some of these items we are happy to purchase based on the experience of our Street Level Team. If you are able to help in this way, please be sure to identify your gift for “Street Ministry”.
Thank you for considering if one of these options may be your way of partnering with our Street Level ministry team and be an expression of love in the name of our God who gives.
Your Social Action Team
13. Third Sunday Supper Needs You
Third Sunday Supper is a monthly ministry focusing on our downtown friends. What a great way to show the love of Jesus, with a home cooked meal, some good conversation — including the Word brought by Pastor Ross, music and a safe and comfortable atmosphere.
My prayer is that we will have enough volunteers to prepare a meal, to fill in the months of April to December. Would you consider helping? There is a $100 stipend available, you just have to turn your receipts into the office.
Please call or email me if you have any questions or your heart leads you to want to help with this ministry.
Blessings,
Judy Thompson
TSS Meal Coordinator
506-238-9903
judypaul1088@gmail.com
14. OVATION: Celebrating Everday Heroes
OVATION: Celebrating Everyday Heroes is a Tutta Musica Orchestra project (comprised of the Teaching Artists of Sistema NB) that includes five special concerts in five New Brunswick communities. Through the themes of courage, resilience and community, the 50-piece orchestra will present a three-movement commissioned musical piece by Canadian composer Jaelem Bhate, a complementary video montage produced by Saint John’s own Hemmings House Pictures, and locally sourced writings, all giving voice to celebrating everyday heroes in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The one-hour FREE concert also features two exciting orchestral works written shortly after the last world pandemic -the Spanish Influenza - one by Ravel (Alborada del Graciosa) and another by deFalla (The Three-Cornered Hat – Final Dance). Come join us at the Fredericton Playhouse on March 10th at 8pm. To book your free tickets, visit the Playhouse website at www.theplayhouse.ca/en/schedule-and-tickets or www.ovation-nb.ca.
iTromboni will be in NB performing over 30 outreach concerts on behalf of Tutta Musica Orchestra and the Ovation project during the week of March 1-6. Be sure not to miss them in the traditional service at BSBC on Sunday, March 5.
15. Community News
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE – IN PERSON
World Day of Prayer Service will be held at St. Paul's United Church, 224 York Street, on Sunday, March 12th at 10.30am. The theme for this year is "I HAVE HEARD ABOUT YOUR FAITH" and was prepared by the women of Taiwan. We welcome one and all to join us for this very special service. A fellowship time will be held after the service. Covid protocols still in place are: hand sanitizing, sitting in marked pews, and social distancing and masking while moving around the church and while singing.
16. This Week at BSBC
Please note: FLC stands for Family Life Centre.
Wednesday, March 1
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
1:00 G. Tranquilla (Barnabas Center)
5:30 Community Potluck (Gym)
6:00 Youth Choir (Barnabas Center)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
6:30 Sanctuary Choir Practice (Choir Room)
6:30 GHLC Board Meeting (Boardroom, 2nd Floor Over Main Kitchen)
6:30 Scouting Boys Group (Gym, Fellowship Hall)
8:00 Jr. Handbells (Sanctuary)
Thursday, March 2
9:00 Benevolent Ministry (By Appointment)
9:00 Days For Girls (KidzTown, 2nd Floor, Room 219, FLC)
9:00 New Life Ministry (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
12:00 G. Tranquilla (Barnabas Center)
1:30 Ladies Bible Study (CB) (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
1:30 Gospel of John Bible Study (MM) (Boardroom, 3rd Floor, FLC)
6:30 Bible Study “Bad Girls of the Bible” (Boardroom, 3rd Floor, FLC)
7:00 GriefShare (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Choir Practice (Barnabas Center/Choir Room)
Friday, March 3
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Friends Are Us Puppets (KidzTown, 2nd Floor, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Barnabas Center and KidzTown, 2nd Floor, FLC)
7:00 Youth Group Board Games Night (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
Saturday, March 4
9:00 Gym Set-up (Gym)
1:00 Worship Team Practice (Gym)
Sunday, March 5
7:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom, 2nd Floor Over Main Kitchen)
9:00 Asian Sunday School (Boardroom, 2nd Floor Over Main Kitchen)
9:20 Sunday Morning Prayer (Counselling Room, 2nd Floor, Gym Building)
9:30 Sunday School for Children and Youth (Family Life Center)
9:30 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry Adult Class (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
9:30 Portraits of Jesus Adult Class (Under the Sea Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
10:15 KidzTown & Preschool Classes (2nd & 1st Floor, FLC)
10:30 Contemporary Worship (Gym)
10:30 Mandarin Worship (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
10:30 Traditional Worship (Sanctuary)
1:00 Mandarin Choir Practice (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
Monday, March 6
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
11:00 G. Tranquilla (Barnabas Center)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:30 Social Action Team (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Sister Choir Ministry (Barnabas Center)
Tuesday, March 7
10:00 G. Tranquilla (Barnabas Center)
12:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom, 2nd Floor Over Main Kitchen)
12:00 CVITP Tax Clinic 2023 (Gym)
1:00 Pastoral Staff Meeting (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room)
2:15 Full Staff Meeting (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
6:30 DivorceCare (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
Wednesday, March 8
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
11:00 G. Tranquilla (Barnabas Center)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:30 Sanctuary Choir Practice (Choir Room)
8:00 Jr. Handbell Choir (Sanctuary)
17. The Case for Faith Study 2023
This six-week study is back in 2023 for all people who have questions regarding their faith. Learn more and register by clicking the link below.
