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Our Mission for 2022
Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
Psalm 96:2-3
In this issue:
Check out what's coming up at BSBC from April 27 to May 4.
Sunday's Special Guests: Can You Provide a Helpful Item?
Mums for Moms
Welcoming Our New Custodian
Do You Like to Make Muffins?
Choir Calling! Will You Answer?
Sunday Morning, May 1
Upcoming Memorial Services
Greetings from Fredericton’s L’Arche Community
Next Gen Ministries @ BSBC (Latest Opportunities for Children and Youth)
This Week @ BSBC
1. Introducing Our May 1 Special Guests
On Sunday morning, May 1, both services will feature guests from The Village of Hope in Tracy, New Brunswick. The Village of Hope is a drug and alcohol regeneration facility and ten-month Christian-based program dedicated to helping men of all ages overcome life-controlling drug and alcohol problems. It was founded in 2008 by Pastors Andrew and Märt Vähi.
The facility is located in an inspiring wilderness setting in Upper Tracy, on the North Branch of the Oromocto River in picturesque Central New Brunswick. The program is funded by donations and accepts students from throughout Canada. Please take a few minutes and tour their website.
As mentioned above, the Village of Hope operates on donations. On Sunday, May 1, please consider coming prepared to purchase a bottle of Village of Hope Maple Syrup. Otherwise, if you would like to support this work you may do so by visiting the website or marking “Village of Hope” on your offering.
I asked our friends at Village of Hope if there are practical things that they need that people might purchase to support the work. Below is a list of helpful items that they would be grateful to receive. A box marked Village of Hope can be found in the Connection Center where you may leave your gifts. We’ll deliver what we gather to Village of Hope after the long weekend in May.
Helpful items (new or gently used) include:
Work gloves
Safety glasses
Rubber gloves for cleaning
Gardening gloves (men and women)
Food prep gloves
Aprons
Dish clothes and towels
Bath towels
2. Mums for Moms
It’s a BSBC tradition, to decorate our worship spaces with mum plants on Mother’s Day, May 8. If you would like to place a mum plant ($15) in honour or in memory of a mother you know, please click below and provide us the information. We’ll do the shopping for you. And you can pick up your mom plant after the services on May 8.
When making your donation, please be sure to mark your gift “Mums for Moms.”
Thank you!
3. Welcoming A New Member To Our Team
Your Board of Management is pleased to introduce the church family to Floyd Johnston, our new part-time custodian. Floyd hails from Fredericton, born and brought up in Islandview and now living on a farm (a horse, chickens and a couple of cats) in Durham Bridge.
In addition to his “hobby farm”, Floyd loves to garden. You might hit him up for a cucumber when the time is right! He and his wife, Cindy, have been married for 35 years. He has experience in custodial work and is a pewter smith.
Floyd is with us Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. WELCOME FLOYD!
We also express thanks to Mike Finnegan, our previous cleaner through Crystal Clean, who completed his time with us in mid-April. We wish Mike well in his future endeavours.
4. Do You Like To Make Muffins?
4. Do You Like to Make Muffins?
Muffins are distributed every Sunday night by our Street Ministry team. We are seeking two dozen muffins for each week’s ministry.
Here are the details:
To avoid an over-stocking of the freezer we're looking for just 2 dozen muffins delivered to the standing freezer in the main kitchen by Sunday of each week
Please wrap each muffin individually in clingwrap or placed it in a baggie before bringing them to the church (it’s so much easier to access the frozen muffins and more sanitary to serve them when individually wrapped)
Please put (1) your name, (2) the date and (3) STREET MINISTRY on the bag in which you put the wrapped muffins to bring them to the freezer
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.
5. Choir Calling! Will You Answer?
Wednesday 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
There will be a Choir Rehearsal in the church Sanctuary each week from April 27 to June 8. Young people age 13 through adult who enjoy singing for the Lord are encouraged to attend.
It has been two full years since a choir has been possible due to the pandemic. We're starting to rebuild this ministry in our church by offering one-hour rehearsals in the Sanctuary - socially distanced. David Steeves will serve as director and Gloria Tranquilla as accompanist. If you have been feeling called to take part in this music ministry and would like to learn more about singing in harmony — this is a great time to begin.
Instruction will be included as to how to read choral music and discover whether you should be a Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass. Upon arriving on Wednesday we will create a list of names and email addresses as weekly updates and announcements are sent out. Please contact David Steeves if you have further questions.
6. Sunday Morning, May 1
“Worship is more than singing. It’s more than just lyrics to a song. Worship is standing in the presence of God and declaring praises to His name.”
- Unknown
Online or in person, we hope you’ll take time to connect with us this week!
In both services, Dr. Keith will be leading us to the table with a message entitled, “Debt Ratio” based on Luke 7:36-50. To help orient us to the message Dr. Keith writes: On this first communion Sunday after Easter, it might be instructive for us at TheStreet to consider an episode at the end of Luke 7, one that begins with an unexpected invitation as a Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus over for a meal. But an unnamed woman arrives at the party, weeping at the Lord’s feet. Simon is deeply skeptical: If this fellow really was a prophet, Simon says to himself, he would know this woman is a sinner!
In response Jesus tells Simon a story about a moneylender who had two debtors, one who owed a small amount and the other a large amount. But the moneylender let them both off the hook, and Jesus asks Simon which of the two would be more grateful. “The one he let off the more, I suppose, replied Simon. Quite right, said Jesus in response.” Unique contours of God’s character can be perceived through this short parable at the end of Luke 7, as the listener discovers that God has vast qualities of mercy in reserve. Simon the Pharisee also witnesses what forgiveness looks like. In whatever ways it might be expressed, we will discover that those who genuinely receive divine grace will no doubt respond with extravagant gratitude, and gain a quite different view of themselves.
Both services will include a presentation by our special guests from The Village of Hope (see article).
7. Upcoming Memorial Services
The month of May will bring a number of Memorial Services for members of our church family who passed away in previous months. Thank you for praying for these families and, as able, coming to support them on the day.
Memorial Service for the Late Gerry Covey: Monday, May 2, 1 pm, BSBC Sanctuary
Memorial Service for the Late Eldon Maston: Saturday, May 14, 11 am, BSBC Sanctuary (Masks Requested)
Memorial Service for the Late Marie Roberts: Saturday, May 28, 2 pm, BSBC Sanctuary
8. Greetings From Fredericton's L'Arche Community
Before Christmas, your Social Action Team got to meet virtually with Alan and Mary from Fredericton’s L’Arche Community. It seemed to the SAT that we could be of help to this important agency for valuing and supporting Frederictonians with intellectual disabilities. We discerned this as a way for us to fulfill our denominational mandate to “join God in our community.” The actions of the L’Arche community express many Christian values. Last Sunday morning, we were pleased to welcome Dr. Alan Sears to both our services. Alan serves on the Board of L’Arche and introduced us to L’Arche and offered ways you can consider aiding L’Arche in its work.
Pastor Greg
An introduction to Fredericton L'Arche
L’Arche Fredericton is part of a global network of L’Arche communities and projects dedicated to creating community by sharing all aspects of life with people with intellectual disabilities. We have been a registered charity since 2013 and an official project of L’Arche Canada since 2018. As one of our members said recently, we do not exist to offer programs (although we do) or to solve problems (although we sometimes do that as well), but we are, or hope to be, a sign that all people are valuable, all have gifts to offer and needs to be met, and that it is in diverse communities where gifts flourish, and people find grace to meet their needs.
We currently run several day programs, including cooking with Chef Yves at Greener Village, visual and performing arts at Charlotte St. Arts Centre, and other events at church halls and local parks and green spaces. BSBC had recently partnered with us to offer a monthly celebration meeting for our members.
I have several purposes for this short note:
To Thank BSBC for joining us in partnership. We are deeply grateful.
To put L’Arche Fredericton on your radar for prayer and possible financial support.
To ask if you would like to receive our newsletter and other updates about our work.
To ask if you would consider volunteering with us. You might consider:
Joining the group offering the monthly celebration time at the church and get to know our members.
Volunteering with one or more of our other activities.
Joining our board for a two-year term. We particularly need people with expertise and experience in fundraising and in communications but are most interested in expanding our circle to include people from across the community.
If any of this interests you please click the button below to provide us with some information. You can also contact Alan Sears at amsears54@gmail.com or 292-3879 or L’Arche Fredericton at larchefredericton@gmail.com.
You can find out more about L’Arche Fredericton on our website or by watching an introductory video about our work.
I look forward to being with you this Sunday morning.
Alan Sears
One last thing
To express your interest in L’Arche, click here to submit your contact details and the organization will follow up with you. Also, on Sunday morning, after the service you can visit with Alan and Mary during “Coffee Camaraderie” in the gym.
9. NextGen Ministries at BSBC
Coming up this week we have some very exciting things! This Week at BSBC Youth:
Youth Bible Study is Wednesday, April 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., it will be held in-person in the family room and online! If you would like the zoom link, please feel free to email me for the zoom link (nikki@bsbc.nb.ca)! All are welcome, we are finishing up our series leading up to our Jericho Walk Fundraiser!
Jericho Walk Fundraiser is Saturday, April 30, from 3 to 7 p.m. Youth will begin at BSBC and walk to Marysville Baptist Church, where we will have a BBQ for the celebration of the Israelites' victory! All are welcome to this event! Please if your youth would like to come, bring a half dozen cookies along for our ‘cookie exchange’ during the middle of our hike! If you would like more information, please reach out (nikki@bsbc.nb.ca)! This is our youth group event for this week. There will not be a youth group on Friday evening.
Coming up in the next couple of weeks
Fredericton High School Production, as a youth group we will be attending the production ANASTASIA on Wednesday, May 4! If your youth would like to take part, the cost for the event will be 20 dollars. If there are financial concerns, please reach out to Pastor Nikki (nikki@bsbc.nb.ca). We would love our youth to be able to attend this event as a group.
High School Youth Group – Starting Sunday, May 15 for 5 weeks we invite our high schoolers to come together for a group specifically for them! The time of the event will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome, and please feel free to reach out for more information (nikki@bsbc.nb.ca)! Invite friends and come for a time of fellowship and fun!
10. This Week at BSBC: April 27 to May 4
Please note: FLC stands for Family Life Centre.
Wednesday, April 27
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary and Choir Room)
6:30 BSBC Choir Rebuild Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
6:30 Youth Bible Study “Walls of Jericho” (Family Room, FLC) (Online and In-Person)
7:00 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (Charles Millette) (Zoom)
Thursday, April 28
9:00 Benevolent Ministry (By Appointment)
9:30 New Life (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
1:30 Ladies Bible Study (Carol Bray) (Family Room, FLC)
1:30 Small Group Bible Study (Mary McMulkin) (3rd Floor Conference Room, FLC)
7:00 Handbell Choir (Sanctuary)
7:00 GriefShare (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Hymn Practice (Choir Room)
Friday, April 29
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Friends Are Us Puppets (2nd Floor, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Zoom)
7:00 pm - No Youth Group Tonight
Saturday, April 30
9:00 Gym Set-Up (Gym)
1:00 Worship Team Practice (Gym)
3:00 Youth Group “Walls of Jericho Fund Raiser Walk”
Sunday, May 1
6:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
9:00 Asian Sunday School Class (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
10:15 Preschool/KidzTown (1st Floor/KidzTown, FLC)
10:30 Contemporary Worship Service (Gym/Facebook Live)
10:30 Mandarin Worship Service (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
10:30 Traditional Worship Service (Sanctuary/YouTube)
Monday, May 2
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
1:00 Funeral and Reception for the Late Gerry Covey (Sanctuary and Gym)
1:30 Right to Life Meeting (3rd Floor Boardroom, FLC)
2:00 WMS Bible Study (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
6:30 Social Action Team (Zoom)
Tuesday, May 3
12:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
1:00 Pastoral Staff Meeting (Family Room, FLC)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room)
2:15 Full Staff Meeting (Family Room, FLC)
5:30 Sports Friends (Charles Millette) (Gym)
6:30 DivorceCare (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Fresh Start (Gym/3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
7:00 “Walking with Jesus” Bible Study with Daniel Savard (Zoom)
Wednesday, May 4
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary and Choir Room)
6:30 BSBC Choir Rebuild Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
6:45 Youth Group meets at Fredericton High School for Anastasia Production
7:00 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (Charles Millette) (Zoom)
