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Growing Faith, Friends & Families to Serve
Happy New Year BSBC Family!
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
In this issue:
Check out what's coming up at BSBC from Jan. 5 to 12.
Sunday Mornings @ BSBC
Service for Sunday, Jan. 9
Youth Group/Youth Bible Study
New Members of the BSBC Family
Financial Stewardship for 2021
Vacation
Call for Annual Reports for 2021
Your Offering Envelopes Are Ready
Muffin Support for Our Street Ministry
This Week @ BSBC
1. Sunday Mornings at BSBC
As was shared at the Combined Service on Sunday past, our plan, at this point is to continue to offer both the Traditional Sanctuary and Contemporary Gym services each Sunday going forward.
Many things remain the same: proof of vaccination is required for entry, masks must be worn fully on the face (covering nose and mouth at all times) at all times, seating has been adapted to ensure physically-distancing, there will be no congregational singing and you are asked as you enter and leave the worship space to maintain a 2 m distance between those in your Steady 10 and others.
Now, other than that, you may come and share in a modified worship experience in both the sanctuary and gym. But, in the gym, we’re reverting to our summer ‘café format’ for seating (individual tables and chairs) — this will provide space for any accompanying children to have a place to enjoy quiet activities (packets can be picked up on entry) at the tables.
Each Sunday morning, KidzTown for grades Kindergarten to Grade 5 will be offered on the second floor — following all regulations for masking, physical-distancing, etc. However, the Preschool Suite, will not be staffed for the next few weeks — watch for more details and to volunteer in preschool, please click the link below and we will follow up with you.
As you consider the question of attending in-person services, let me encourage you to consider your personal vulnerabilities when making that decision. It is certainly wonderful to see faces in the pews — but, thanks to our wonderful technical team, there is an online offering for every service.
Finally, each day, please make the Covid situation a matter of prayer, as it relates to BSBC, our province, country and world. In our congregation we continue to have a lot of people in education, health care, first responders and other essential services who are on the ‘front-line’ of the pandemic. Prayer for wisdom and divine protection is something each of us can do to address the current reality. We’ve just finished a season focus on “Hope Rekindled” and I trust that standing on Jesus we can look into 2022 with holy hope.
Every blessing,
Pastor Greg
2. Services for Sunday, Jan. 9
Our worship gatherings for this Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. can be engaged in-person or online. The gym contemporary service continues on Facebook Live and the sanctuary traditional service on YouTube. BUT, just go to our website, click on the “worship online” tab and choose the service you wish to ‘attend’. With one more click, you’re there!
Sunday Morning’s Gym Café
A different ambiance with table and chair seating for those attending the service. Children are welcome to stay in if that is the parent’s wish, and we’ll have activity packets that can be picked up on entry. There will be worship music offered and many of the elements of worship — some with a twist which we hope you will find a blessing and refreshing.
Sermon Series
Dr. Keith offers the next three weeks of the “Turning a New Leaf” series — this week with a message entitled “TWEETING WISDOM FROM JAMES” based on James 1:1-27.
"There are many prominent younger brothers in the pages of Scripture: Joseph in Genesis, who rises to become prime minister of Egypt and rescues his family from famine; David is the youngest of eight sons, yet is named king of Israel; or Jacob, who supplants his older brother Esau and manages to finagle the blessing of his father. Notably, the Greek name for Jacob is James, and James could be among the prominent younger brothers in the entire New Testament.
The story of James is intriguing because even though he was the younger brother of Jesus, for the longest time he was not a believer! But James has an encounter with the risen Savior after the resurrection, and in due course is transformed into an influential leader of the early church. By all account, the letter of James is written by this very individual, and it is dripping with wisdom for our present cultural moment. Dealing with a host of practical issues that range from celebrity culture and temptation to self-control and using words in beautiful and creative ways, this message will explore some of the wisest tweets of the first century (in 147 characters or less!)."
Sunday Morning’s Traditional Gathering
Again, a service with familiar elements with a bit of a twist. Our soloists this week are Alexandra (Allie) Dunfield and Pascale Beaulieu. David Steeves and Gloria Tranquilla are in their familiar places and we’ll have a Spoken Word offering from, and interview with Zammie Igwe.
Sermon series
Pastor Greg offers the first of the next three Unleashing the Church series with a focus on the opening of chapter three of the book of Ephesians. We’ll explore what it means through belief in Christ for us to be (1) citizens of God’s kingdom, (2) members of the family of faith and (3) a temple to His glory. Ephesians 3 invites us to consider that once we were outside of each of these expressions of discipleship. Perhaps a call to ponder with life-re-focusing gratitude the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
3. Youth News: We're Gathering Again
Youth Group will be on Friday, Jan. 7 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the Third Floor. This week's theme is Table Olympics, a fun night of competitive mini-challenges! We look forward to having youth out to this event which will be physically-distanced, and both masks and vaccines are required.
Tonight, there will no Youth Bible Study meeting. BUT, next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., Youth Bible Study will reconvene online via zoom. Please email youth.bsbc.nb@gmail.com for the Zoom link if you are not already on our email list!
Please be praying for our youth and young people (and their leaders) as they navigate their unique challenges during these days.
Pastor Nikki
4. Praise God for New Members of our BSBC Family
Praise God, we finished out 2021 by welcoming 8 new members to the our church family. None of them strangers to BSBC, but those who have chosen to identify with this fellowship as members who now have the privilege and responsibility for voting on ministry directions and in serving in unique offices which require membership.
The Chair of Deacons, Ron McMullin and I, along with our wives and the privilege of visiting at these homes to extend the ‘elbow of fellowship’ – what a treat to have outdoor fellowship and celebrate these sisters and brothers. We’re pleased to invite you to get to know them a bit. Please welcome them, yourselves, if the opportunity presents itself.
If you would like to know more about what it means to be a member of BSBC, please email me or express this to one of the other pastors and we’ll have a ‘no pressure’ meeting with you to share the ‘scoop’!
Pastor Greg
5. Financial Stewardship Report
God has given us two hands — one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for giving.
Billy Graham
Whatsoever I thankfully receive, as a token of God's love to me, I part with contentedly as a token of my love to Him.
Theophilus Gale
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Paul Through the Spirit of God – 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Dear Church Family,
Again, this year, I write to thank you for your faithfulness to the financial needs of God’s work through the ministry of Brunswick Street Baptist Church. In these days it would be easy to pull back from engaging with the goals we set under God at our Annual Meeting in February 2021. It is certainly a joy to share with you this report of your financial faithfulness in 2021. We cannot give equally, but I believe this report reveals that you have considered financial sacrifice as a way to honour the Lord. Through your giving, we are well positioned to expand our engagements in 2022.
Here is the encouraging report:
Budgeted Giving for 2021: $920,000
Actual Giving for 2021: $892,881
Percent of Goal Received: 97.1%
Budgeted for Building Fund: $135,000
Actual for Building Fund: $139,943
Exceeded Budgeted Giving: 3.7%
I’m sure we are all grateful to our Treasurer, Ken Reimer, who has faithfully encouraged us to remember this important part of discipleship and kept us meticulously up to date on the state of our finances. Thank you, Ken, for the countless hours (none of us will ever know) that you invest in your role as Treasurer.
Giving thanks to God for what He has done through you,
Pastor Greg
6. Vacation
The congregation is asked to pray for Pastor Greg and Margaret as they engaged in two weeks of vacation. Pastor Greg will be leaving on vacation after the morning service this Sunday, Jan. 9 and will return to ministry on Sunday morning, Jan. 23. We are pleased that the Geldarts are taking a break and grateful to Pastor Ross and Pastor Nikki who will be available and eager to engage with the congregation during Pastor Greg’s absence.
Your Board of Deacons
7. Call For Annual Reports
Don’t forget that all Annual Reports are due before THIS Friday, Jan. 7! Please be considerate of this deadline. Report information can be emailed directly to the church office at bsbc@bsbc.nb.ca or dropped off at the office in typewritten form, if possible. Thank you. If you are the chairperson, secretary or leader in a specific ministry we count on you to make sure your submission is sent in. Now’s a good time to ‘talk among yourselves’! Thanks so much!
Please remember Janet Mitchell in prayer as she prepares the Annual Report Booklet that will be available in February, 2022.
8. Your Offering Envelopes Are Ready
The usual boxes of envelopes for systematic giving can be found in your mailbox in the gym foyer. If you would like us to mail these to you, please contact the church office (458-8348). If you have not had a box of envelopes, dated Sunday by Sunday, we’d be happy to get these to you. Again, simply contact the church office.
9. Support The Street Ministry: Muffin Drive
Muffins are distributed every night and you can sign up to bake one of three dozen muffins that are needed each week. We ask “muffin makers” to individually wrap your muffins before bringing them to the church to place in the upright freezer in the main kitchen. On the bag of your muffins, please write your name, the date and STREET MINISTRY on the bag.
To ensure that we get a fresh supply each week, you are invited to click the link below and fill your name in by the week or weeks in which you will provide a dozen muffins. OR, for that person-to-person interaction, feel free to call the church office at 458-8348 and your information will be taken and added to the plan.
Your Social Action Team
10. This Week at BSBC: Jan. 5 to 12
Please note: FLC stands for Family Life Center & Z stands for Zoom Gathering
Wednesday, January 5
6:30 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (Z)
Thursday, January 6
9:00 Benevolent Ministry (By Appointment)
1:30 Bible Study Group (MM) (3rd Floor Boardroom, FLC)
Friday, January 7
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Z)
7:00 Youth Group (3rd Floor Assembly, FLC)
Saturday, January 8
1:00 Worship Team Practice (Gym)
Sunday, January 9
06:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
9:00 Asian Sunday School Class (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
10:15 KidzTown (2nd Floor, FLC)
10:30 Traditional Worship Service (Sanctuary)
10:30 Contemporary Worship Service (Gym)
10:30 Mandarin Worship Service (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
12:00 Fresh Start Lunch (Barnabas Centre)
Monday, January 10
10:00 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
6:30 Education Committee (Z)
Tuesday, January 11
12:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room, 2nd Floor Administration Building)
Wednesday January 12
10:00 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
6:30 Not Your Usual Bible Prayer Meeting (Z)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Z)
