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Experience the Love of Jesus. Live it Out Everywhere.
Making a submission to our weekly newsletter?
Submissions for our weekly newsletter should be sent to
naomi.phillips@bsbc.nb.ca.
The deadline for inclusion in Wednesday’s edition is noon the Monday prior.
In this issue:
Check out what's coming up at BSBC from Jan 10 - 17, 2024!
1. Let’s Celebrate Our Ministries
2. Annual Report 2023 Call for Submissions
3. Fredericton Christian Men’s Retreat: Feb 9-11, 2024
4. Ladies Afternoon Bible Study: Jan 11
5. A Time to Pray: Jan 15
6. 55+ Luncheon: Jan 15
7. Ladies Thursday Evening Bible Study: Jan 18
8. GriefShare: Jan 18
9. New Books in the Library
10. Muffin Ministry
11. Third Sunday Supper
12. Partner In Mission: Andre Sibomana, CBM
13. GospelOnWeb Project Update
14. 2024 Offering Envelopes
15. Pastoral Care
16. NextGen Ministry @ BSBC (Children/Youth)
17. Fresh Start Young Adults Ministry: Jan 16
18. This Sunday’s Worship Gatherings: Jan 14
19. Community Events
20. This Week @ BSBC
1. Let’s Celebrate Our Ministries
From January 1, 1814, to present day, from our origins in the Fredericton Baptist Church (the only Baptist Church in the Fredericton area) to our current Brunswick Street Baptist Church, we praise God for His faithfulness through these last 210 years!
We also thank you for your continued attendance, generosity and support. To God be the glory!
In 2024, we would like to start celebrating all of the good things that have happened or are happening or will be happening at Brunswick Street Baptist Church (BSBC).
We invite you to submit a paragraph (or two!) of the good things that are being accomplished (please include a photograph if you have one!) through each of the programs and events that happen at BSBC.
Please email the information on your group, ministry, or event to the church office, along with a couple of photos, to naomi.phillips@bsbc.nb.ca. We would like to start sharing this good news with each other.
2. Annual Report 2023 Call for Submissions
We are thankful for 2023 and are looking forward to 2024. Specifically, we are looking for reports from all Boards, Committees, and Teams for the Annual Report 2023. We need to have the Annual Report compiled, edited, revised, (and edited again!) printed and ready to send for binding by February 1, 2024.
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted their report. If you have not yet done so, please submitted your report to the church office, via email, to naomi.phillips@bsbc.nb.ca. If your report has not been received by Monday, January 15 at 9:00 am, it will not be included in the 2023 Annual Report.
Thank you for participating in this way. If you have any questions or concerns, or for more information, please contact the church office.
3. Fredericton Christian Men’s Retreat: Feb 9 - 11, 2024
The Fredericton Christian Men’s Retreat is back! After a four-year hiatus, we are excited to be holding the 38th Annual Fredericton Christian Men’s Retreat. Our theme speaker this year is Gordon Cook. He will challenge and inspire us in the area of practicing our Christian faith in today’s world.
When: Feb 9-11, 2024
Where: Snider Mountain Ranch
Theme: Hearts and Hands of Holiness
All men are encouraged to attend. The cost is $265.00 (plus $10 for the optional Friday night dinner). If cost is of concern, sponsorships are available. Please do not miss this opportunity. It is always a wonderful time of fellowship, learning and encouragement.
Registration forms are available at the Connection Centre or electronically by contacting Graeme Powell. To register, please contact Graeme Powell by telephone at 506-663-5436 or by email at g.m.graeme.powell@gmail.com.
For more information, please speak to Doug Ashfield, Charlie Colwell, Adam Fowler, David McMath, Graeme Powell, Ron Smith, or Roddy Thompson.
4. Ladies Afternoon Bible Study: January 11
On Thursday, January 11 at 1:30 pm, Carol Bray will be starting a new ladies Bible study, The Armor of God, by Priscilla Shirer. All day, every day, an invisible war rages around you. A devoted, devilish enemy seeks to wreak havoc on everything that matters to you. The enemy always fails miserably when he meets a woman dressed for the occasion. The Armor of God, more than merely a biblical description of the believer’s inventory, is an action plan for putting it on and developing a personalized strategy to secure victory. All ladies are welcome!
5. A Time to Pray: January 15
Dear BSBC family,
I will host a prayer time in the sanctuary from 12:00 noon till 1:30 pm each weekday, Monday to Friday, starting on Monday, January 15. Please feel free to join me for any portion of that time. It has been an open time of prayer and ministry, as the Spirit leads. As I have often been by myself, I sometimes have worship music or hymns playing; please don’t let that keep you from entering the sanctuary. Any and all are welcome.
Thank you,
Debbie Kierstead
6. 55+ Luncheon: January 15
The Kitchen Krew will be hosting the 55+ Luncheon at noon on Monday, January 15 in the gym. This month’s menu includes Beef Noodle Soup, Corn Chowder or Green Pea Soup, served with Buttered Rolls and German Apple Cake with Caramel Crème Anglaise. To register, please contact the church office at 506-458-8348. See you there!
7. Thursday Evening Ladies Bible Study: January 18
The Thursday Evening Ladies Bible Study is starting a new study on Thursday, January 18 at 6:30pm (in the conference room above the gym).
We are starting a 14-week study on Elijah by Priscilla Shirer.
This study is open to all women in the church. We hope you will join us. Please contact Bo Vinh-Doyle with any questions.
8. GriefShare: January 18
If you are suffering the loss of a loved one, GriefShare, a Christian-based video-discussion support group, is being offered in the Family Room of the Family Life Center at Brunswick Street Baptist Church starting Thursday, January 18th, 2024, from 7-9 pm for 13 weeks. Please call 458-8348 for information and to register.
9. New Books in the Library
Adult Fiction:
Break of Day Colleen Coble
Critical Threat #3 Lynette Eason
Counter Attack Patricia Bradley
Countdown (Extreme Measures #4) Lynette Eason
Shadow at Dusk (Missing in Alaska #2) Elizabeth Goddard
Windswept Way (Hope Harbour #9) Irene Hannon
Engaging Deception (The Joplin Chronicles #3) Regina Jennings
Summer in the Spotlight (PEI Shores #3) Liz Johnson
Adult Non-fiction:
God Never Gives Up on You Max Lucado
Is God Real? Lee Strobel
Teens and Young Adults Non-fiction:
Winning the War in Your Mind for Teens Craig Groeschel
The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices Jonathan McKee
Wonderfully Made Allie Marie Smith
Beating the College Debt Trap Alex Chediak
Teens and Young Adults Fiction:
High Water Books (Book Set #1 & 2 & 3) Tim Shoemaker
Riverbend Friends (Books 1 - 4 set) Stephanie Coleman
The Italian Ballerina Kristy Cambron
Merlin’s Blade, Merlin’s Spiral Series (#1) Robert Treskillard
10. Muffin Ministry
On behalf of our brothers and sisters who make a weekly evening trek around the city to visit those sleeping rough, and the members of your Social Action Team, thank you ‘muffin makers’ for your faithfulness serving in this way.
Our schedule is now open for 2024. We still require 3 dozen muffins per week. Please place 12 muffins, individually wrapped, in a large zipper locked bag, and label the bag “Street Ministry”. Don’t forget to include your name and the delivery date for which you signed up. You can place the labeled muffins in the upright freezer in the main kitchen.
Please click the link below to sign up to serve in this way or call the church office (506-458-8348) and our admin team will be pleased to do the online registration for you. Jesus spoke of offering cups of cold water in his name. Muffins, we believe, offer the same opportunity to bless others for him.
11. Third Sunday Supper
Our Third Sunday Supper (TSS) ministry is going strong with up to 50 guests some Sundays. This is an incredible ministry where we can meet folks in a relaxing and loving atmosphere, while gently planting seeds of faith.
In order to continue with this important work, we are looking for anyone – friends, family, or group – that would volunteer to prepare a meal for our TSS guests from April 2024 onward. January, February, and March are covered. Our guests are not fussy and are so appreciative of every meal served. A $150.00 stipend is now being offered to help cover the cost of expenses.
If you have any questions or to volunteer your group, please contact Judy Thompson at 506-238-9903 or email judypaul1088@gmail.com.
12. Partner In Mission: Andre Sibomana, CBM
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Merry Christmas. Please find attached the link for the December Ministry updates:
Delighted in walking alongside you on this Journey of Mission.
Peace to you and your beloved ones.
Rev. Andre Sibomana
Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM)
Phone: +250 788486496
Email: asibomana@cbmin.org
Pobox 7479, Kigali, Rwanda
13. GospelOnWeb Project Update
Hello Churches,
I wanted to reach out with a special year-end 'Thank you' to all you churches that supported the GospelOnWeb project financially this year. Google Ad Grants, Canada Summer Jobs and the New Brunswick SEED programs together provided about 99% of the $6.5 Million in funding that GospelOnWeb received in 2023. But without your financial gifts for that crucial last 1%, none of the other potential funds could have been realized!
So Thank You!
When we started hiring students at scale through Canada Summer Jobs and NB SEED 3 years ago we did so primarily because I saw no other way to get all the work done across all the IT platforms that GospelOnWeb uses to send content around the planet. But having students work on gospel material is also becoming an outreach/discipleship opportunity in its own right. At a Pathfinders Board meeting earlier this month, two alumni of the Summer Collective (as we call our summer work) who are still working with me in the 'off-season', presented to the Board. Their presentation was recorded. Scott starts out by explaining our pilot project for online follow-up with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and then Brianna continues with the work of the Summer Collective. The link to their presentation is here:
When I transitioned from student ministry to GospelOnWeb I exchanged lots of interacting and vibrant face-to-face conversations with interactions and keystrokes on my laptop. And some days it does feel like work. So, it encouraged me to hear (and I see it in several student that I work with) how GospelOnWeb is bringing other fruit that was not directly in my thinking when I started this.
This all reminds me of the phrase from Jesus "... yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Thanks for sowing into lives like Scott, Brianna and the dozens of others across Canada who work with us.
We are percolating some other discipleship ideas as we look ahead to 2024 that we hope to provide some concrete updates for later in the year. In the meantime may God bless your church in the upcoming year.
Happy New Year.
Ragnar Oborn
Pathfinders Ventures
14. 2024 Offering Envelopes Are Ready
This message is applicable to all those who give their offering by envelope. It does not apply to those who give electronically.
If you wish to pick up your envelopes during the week from the church office, please contact Deborah VanSlyke by email at vanslyke@nbnet.nb.ca to make arrangements.
Thank you,
Deborah VanSlyke
BSBC Financial Secretary
15. Pastoral Care
Your Deacons want to affirm that BSBC is equipped to provide Pastoral Care. We are grateful for the engagement of Rev. Ross and Pastor Nikki, and we are blessed to have additional support from Rev. Kevin Culberson, the Baptist Chaplin at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital.
Here are some suggested approaches:
Hospitalizations
• Your pastors will only know of hospitalizations if the church office or individual pastors are contacted directly
• We’d appreciate you notifying the office if you know of the hospitalization of a member of the BSBC family
Critical Incident
• If a pastor is needed in an emergency situation, between Monday to Friday, 8:30 am and 4 pm, please contact the church office
• Outside of office hours, please contact a pastor directly
Bereavement
• Rev. Ross and Rev. Kevin will be available to support families at a time of loss, to conduct funeral and committal services
• Contact the church office during office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4 pm
• Outside of office hours, please contact a pastor directly
• We have provided McAdams, Bishops, and York Funeral Homes with the contact information for both Rev. Ross and Rev. Kevin
• If you are not a member of a bereaved family but know of a death within the BSBC family, please contact the church office to make sure your pastors are aware of the need
Contact Details
Church Office
506-458-8348
naomi.phillips@bsbc.nb.ca
bsbc@bsbc.nb.ca
Rev. Ross Watters
506-282-3443
ross@bsbc.nb.ca
Pastor Nikki Leftley
506-282-1075
nikki@bsbc.nb.ca
Rev. Kevin Culberson
506-260-6240
culberson.kevin@gmail.com
Denise Mersereau, Chair of Deacons
506-262-0197
ddmersereau@gmail.com
Please pray for our pastoral care team as they seek to partner with you in caring for the BSBC family.
Your Board of Deacons
16. NextGen Ministry (Children & Youth)
Children @ BSBC
Scouting Boys Elementary, Aged 5-10 years: Wednesday, January 10, 6:30 – 8:00 pm (Gym)
BSBC offers a scouting program for boys from kindergarten to Grade 5 full of outdoor adventures, fun activities, and community service projects are used to teach boys how to live the great commission and to love God and our neighbours. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, January 10. For more information, please contact the church office at 458-8348 or bsbc@bsbc.nb.ca.
Sunday School: Sunday, January 14, 9:30 – 10:15 am
We welcome all of our children and youth back to our first Sunday School classes for 2024 on Sunday, January 14 at 9:30 am. Please bring your children to their respective areas. There will be someone in the Connections Center to help direct you to the correct locations. Please remember to pick up your children from their classrooms at 10:15 am. Our children will be joining us in the worship services until 10:45 am. For more information, reach out to Pastor Nikki @ nikki@bsbc.nb.ca.
Hands In Girls Ministry: Wednesday, January 17, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Kindergarten to Grade 5 girls – join us for Hands In! This is a time just for you to meet other girls and have fun learning about God with games, crafts, songs, activities and more! We meet one Wednesday each month. Come join us in KidzTown on Wednesday, January 17 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm to get your hands in the fun. Contact Allie Dunfield or the church office for more details.
Youth @ BSBC
Read the New Testament in a Year Bible Plan:
Youth are invited to join the NT in a Year Bible reading plan. We read a chapter a day for 5 days a week - typically Monday to Friday. This week, we are working on Mark chapters 6 to 10. Get your friends involved in reading the Bible with you! If you have any questions about the readings, reach out to Pastor Nikki or any of our youth leaders, we would love to chat about the Bible with you.
Sports Friends Ages 11 - 13: Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Youth ages 11-13 are invited to join Charles Millette and play basketball on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. All are welcome, and inviting friends is encouraged! All you need is indoor shoes and a water bottle. Come out and join us this Tuesday.
Youth Bible Study: Wednesday, January 10, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Coming up on January 10, the youth Bible study is back for our first Bible study of 2024. All youth between grade 6 – 12 are welcome to join Pastor Nikki & Alyse Wilton for Bible Study! For more information reach out to Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca.
Greenhouse Band Practice: Wednesday, January 10, 6:00 – 6:30 pm
Practice is back! Join us this Wednesday for Greenhouse bank practice to prepare for the Greenhouse service on January 28. For more information on how to get involved, please contact Julianne at julianne.d.moore@gmail.com or text (506) 261-0876.
Youth Group Boardgames & Sports Night: Sunday, January 14, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Our first youth group of the year is this Sunday, January 14. Youth grades 6 – 12 are invited to join us for a night of boardgames and sports. Come dressed and ready to do either sports, boardgames, or both! Our leaders are excited to be back and to see all of our youth. Friends are welcome! If you want to know more about Youth Group, please contact Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca.
Greenhouse Youth Worship Service: Sunday, January 28, 10:30 – 11:30 am
Youth are invited to serve and join us on Sunday, January 28 for our first Greenhouse service of 2024! If your youth would like to get involved in serving, please reach out to Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca.
Friends Are Us Puppets: Friday, January 19, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Have you ever wondered how a puppet show gets made? All middle and high school youth are invited to join Chris Graves for an hour of fun and fellowship while using our puppets on Friday, January 12 at 6:00 pm for our first practice of 2024. For more information, please contact Chris Graves.
Youth Retreat Encounter NBBI: February 23-25
In February, the New Brunswick Bible Institute (NBBI) is hosting one of their Encounter 2024 Youth Retreats. Life is filled with encounters… Some are good and some are bad; some are planned while others are unplanned; some are trivial, and others are of vast importance; some change nothing while others change everything. Join us at one of our teen retreats and we promise you can experience one of the greatest encounters of all; an encounter with the Living God and that encounter could change your life forever!
For information and to register, click below. We are encouraging our youth to sign up for the February 23 – 25 retreat and will be providing leaders and drivers. The registration fee is $54.00, paid directly to NBBI. If you have any questions or a financial concern, please reach out to Pastor Nikki @ nikki@bsbc.nb.ca. We do not want financial concerns to stop anyone from attending.
17. Fresh Start Young Adults Ministry: January 16
Our Young Adults ministry, Fresh Start, meets on Tuesday evenings from 7pm - 9pm on the 3rd floor of the Family Life Center. Come along for some fun, snacks and social time followed by a Bible study. We would love to see you there!
Please contact Pastor Ross ross@bsbc.nb.ca for details.
18. This Sunday’s Worship Gatherings: January 14
The gym worship service will be under the musical leadership of Greg Keezer and friends. In the sanctuary, the worship service will under the musical leadership of Gloria Tranquilla, pianist, and David Steeves, organist with special music from Chloe Robert, soloist.
This Sunday, Pastor Keith will be speaking in the both the sanctuary and the gym.
Of his sermon, titled “Death and Taxes”, he writes, “In the aftermath of the holiday season, many of us probably have some extra bills to pay. And so, as this new year gets underway, it might be wise to think about the whole matter of debts and obligations. This week we will begin with a reflection on the character of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 17:22-27. It would seem that this episode—where Jesus first talks about his death with the disciples, and then involves some discussion with tax collectors—draws on the ideas in Exodus 30 about annual maintenance of the sanctuary. As we put these two Scripture passages together this week, we discover that Jesus moves us toward an entirely fresh way of understanding how we can live this week in light of his actions toward each of us”.
Whether in-person or online, be sure to join us this Sunday morning. Both services start at 10:30 am.
19. Community Events
Women’s Inter-Church of Fredericton
The Week Of Prayer for Christian Unity is from January 18-25, 2024. The Theme is "You Shall Love the Lord Your God...and your neighbour as yourself." The Christian Unity Service for the Week of Prayer will be held on Monday, January 22, 2024, at St. Dunstan's Roman Catholic Church,120 Regent Street, Fredericton at 12:00 PM noon time.
20. This Week at BSBC
Please note: FLC stands for Family Life Centre
Wednesday, January 10
10:00 Ladies Exercise (Gym)
10:00 Mandarin New Life Bible Study (Family Room/Kitchenette, 1st Floor, FLC)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
5:30 Church Family Potluck (Gym/Main Kitchen)
6:00 Greenhouse Band Practice (Barnabas Center)
6:30 Scouting Boys K-Grade 6 (Gym/Fellowship Hall)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
6:30 Choir/Ensemble Rehearsal (Choir Room, 2nd Floor, Connections Center)
7:00 Mandarin Choir Rehearsal (Barnabas Center)
Thursday, January 11
7:00 Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Gym/Main Kitchen)
7:00 Women’s Prayer Breakfast (Family Room/Kitchenette, 1st Floor, FLC)
9:00 Benevolent Ministries (By Appointment)
9:30 New Life Ministry (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
1:30 Ladies Bible Study “Armor of God” (CB) (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
1:30 Book of John Bible Study (M. McMulkin’s Residence)
7:00 Mandarin Choir Practice (Choir Room, 2nd Floor, Connections Center)
Friday, January 12
10:00 Ladies Exercise
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Sports Friends/UNB Men’s Soccer (Gym)
7:00 Parent Supervised Youth Hang-Out (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Bible Study & Fellowship (Family Room/KidzTown, FLC)
Saturday, January 13
10:00 Gym Setup (Gym)
1:00 Worship Team Practice (Gym)
Sunday, January 14
7:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom, 2nd Floor, Gym Building)
9:00 Asian Sunday School Class (Boardroom, 2nd Floor, Gym Building)
9:30 Together in Prayer (Counselling Room 3, George St Side, Gym Building)
9:30 Adult Coffee Time (Family Room/Connections Center, 1st Floor, FLC)
9:30 Child & Youth Sunday School (Preschool/KidzTown/3rd Floor, FLC)
10:30 Gym Worship Service (Gym)
10:30 Mandarin Worship Service (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
10:30 Sanctuary Worship Service (Sanctuary)
10:50 Preschool & KidzTown Classes (1st & 2nd Floor, FLC)
11:30 Library Open After Services (Library, Connections Center)
12:00 Mandarin Choir Practice (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
12:00 Deacons Planning Session (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
6:30 Youth Groups Boardgames & Sports (Gym, Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
Monday, January 15
7:00 Daniel Plan - Friends (Admin Office)
10:00 Ladies Exercise (Gym)
12:00 55+ Luncheon
2:30 Sports Friends Video (Gym)
7:00 Board of Management (Board Room, 2nd Floor, FLC)
Tuesday, January 16
12:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom, 2nd Floor, Gym Building)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room)
5:30 Sports Friends Aged 8 – 10 Years (Gym)
6:30 Sports Friends Aged 11 – 13 Years (Gym)
6:00 L’Arche Board Meeting (Boardroom, 2nd Floor, Gym Building)
7:00 Mandarin Bible Study (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
7:00 Fresh Start Young Adults (Assembly Area/Café, 3rd Floor, FLC)
Wednesday, January 17
10:00 Ladies Exercise (Gym)
10:00 Mandarin New Life Bible Study (Family Room/Kitchenette, 1st Floor, FLC)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
5:30 Church Family Potluck (Gym/Main Kitchen)
6:00 Greenhouse Band Practice (Barnabas)
6:30 Scouting Boys K-Grade 5 (Gym/Fellowship Hall)
6:30 Hands-In Girls Ministry (KidzTown, 2nd Floor, FLC)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
6:30 Choir/Ensemble Rehearsal (Choir Room, 2nd Floor, Connections Center)
7:00 Mandarin Choir Rehearsal (Barnabas Center)
