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Growing Faith, Friends & Families to Serve
In this issue:
1 – Magee House Gift Card Ministry
2 – Praying in These Days
3 – Mums for Mom
4 – The Cupboards Could Use Your Help
5 – “40 Hours in the Wilderness” Fundraiser - UPDATE
6 – Dear Muffin Makers
7 – Celebrating Our University Grads
8 – Financial Update
9 – This Sunday’s Services
10 – KidzTown Reopening
11 – Wednesday Library Openings
12 – May Birthdays
13 – This Week @ BSBC
1. Magee House Gift Card Ministry
The lockdown that has taken place at our local universities came quickly, leaving many stranded as far as food goes. We’ve been in conversation with UNB’s leadership to see how we might help address a pressing need.
We're asking you to join us in bringing blessing into some of these lives by making a financial gift to underwrite the cost of gifts cards that can be used to order groceries online and have them delivered.
2. A Message from Pastor Greg: Praying in These Days
Encountering the Third Wave in Fredericton
This past Monday at our monthly Deacon’s meeting, one of our deacons needed to be excused from our meeting as his family had just received the call informing them that all students, staff and teachers at George Street Middle School needed to isolate…and with them, their family members.
In one moment, a large cohort of those on the “front line” of contact, in this case, the ‘inhabitants’ of George Street Middle School, grew exponentially as their families became part of the equation. These residents of our fair city had their lives changed in the blink of an eye. It seems, that Frederictonians are experiencing what has been a constant reality for many in our country and around the world.
The first time I addressed the BSBC congregation, in that first recorded sermon of the initial ‘lockdown’ in March, 2020, I reminded us to embrace the truth shared a year before by Dr. Steve McMullin – GOD IS NOT IN CHAOS. The world may, no, IS in chaos but God is not in chaos. This is the bedrock of our confidence as we live into this pandemic, and specifically, this third wave. God is NOT in chaos and so, in the midst of the chaos, it would behoove us to turn to him.
Many in our church family are feeling the fear, frustration and fractiousness of these days — we need to pray for them. Many in our church family and our city are on the front lines in a myriad of ways, serving our community in the midst of the Third Wave — we need to pray for them. Brothers and sisters in Christ, around the globe, are suffering and, at the same time, seeking to be salt and light — we can’t forget them. Just outside our doors, and maybe inside our homes, there are those who don’t know Christ, and they, too, need our prayers. In these days, we need to fight the human temptation of hopelessness and despair and do what God’s people have done through the centuries, we need to pray.
Therefore, I’m asking each of you to join me in making a commitment to pray, twice a day, at least 15 minutes each time, for God’s Spirit to move in a mighty way, through this pandemic:
To refine and renew his people,
To make all heart’s sensitive to his love and power,
To restore to believers the “joy of our salvation” though an increased confidence in His power to redeem all things,
To foster in us a zeal to sacrificially love others with our words, actions and resources,
For grace to persevere when the going is tough and
To empower us to share our stories of God’s faithfulness as a way to encourage trust in Him, even in challenging times.
Will you pray protection over those who serve in any way on the front lines, but really, in these days, it appears we are all, in one who or another, are on the front line, BUT NOT ALONE.
Prayer changes things. And we, God’s people, have a radical opportunity to be the ‘things’ that are spiritually changed in this specific “crucible of challenge.” Will you pray, twice a day, for at least 15 minutes, that in “these days” we will find grace to live as those who believe that God is not in chaos and that his will would be done on earth, as it is in heaven, starting in you and me?
Will you join me? Will you be part of the BSBC Covid Prayer Team? 30 minutes a day coveting radical spiritual growth in the Church as a result of this pandemic? If you will, please let me know by clicking the link below and filling in your name — your response will only be known to me — and will be an encouragement that the BSBC family is praying expecting spiritual growth as we make our way through this Third Wave.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
II Timothy 1:7
Pastor Greg
3. Mums for Mom
One of our Mother’s Day (May 9) traditions is to decorate our worship spaces with mum plants placed in honour or in loving memory of mothers.
How to purchase a mum plant
Please contact the church office at bsbc@bsbc.nb.ca or 458-8348 to provide the details of your dedication and indicate how you will make your $15 donation (e-transfer, through your offering envelope, or paying at the office).
How will dedications be acknowledged?
This year, dedications will be acknowledged in two ways: (1) in the pre-service announcement loop so those in the service and online can see the dedications AND (2) in the e-newsletter on Wednesday, May 12.
What happens to my mum plant after the service?
After the services on Mother’s Day morning, you can (1) pick up a plant and take it home, (2) leave it to be used another Sunday, (3) come in during the week and pick it up OR (4) let us know where you would like to have it delivered on Monday, May 10.
Thanks for celebrating your favourite mother!
4. Can You Help Fill Up the Cupboards?
The New Life program is ministering to 10-15 women on a weekly basis. As part of our ministry, we gift the ladies a grocery bag at the end of the meeting. However, we are getting short of some supplies. If you would like to contribute to this ministry, please refer to the list below as to what can be donated.
How to drop off your donations
Your donations can be dropped off during office hours during the week OR on Sundays in the Care and Share barrels in the Gym and Sanctuary foyers
Another way to help, make a donation and we’ll do the shopping for you. Please be sure to mark your donation “New Life Groceries”
New Life is in need of the following:
FOOD
- canned tuna, salmon, ham, chicken, turkey
- granola bars
- canned beans
- canned vegetables
- apple sauce
- juice boxes
- puddings
- fruit cups
- soups
- muffin/cookie mixes
- canned tomatoes - crushed, whole, diced
- pasta sauce* (Please no pasta as we have overstock)
CLEANING/HYGIENE
- toilet paper
- dish detergent
- laundry detergent
5. 40 Hours in the Wilderness: GHLC Fundraiser Update
40 Hours in the Wilderness — A BSBC fundraiser
Sending campers where Christ is made known
Having left on Friday at 7 p.m., our own Moses and Aaron arrived at Green Hill Lake Camp, safe and tired, Sunday morning, right on the 40 hour mark, completing the 42km hike with a smile!
They were blessed to have travel companions along on Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Kudos to the students and families who joined in and provided joyful support (and even offered to carry their backpack for a little while).
All along, God was with them by day and by night and provided clement and pleasant weather, and most importantly, prompted many of you to give generously, because this is indeed all about the opportunity of providing financial support to families who would like to send their kid(s) to a Christian camp this summer but might be struggling to afford it.
Many, many thanks to those who have donated so far! Presently, we are sitting at an unofficial total of $1,118. Wow! How fantastic would it be to reach $3,202 no? If you haven't had the chance to bring in your donation, there is still time! To make sure it goes towards this BSBC-GHLC fundraiser, please be sure to designate your gift: “GHLC Exodus”.
May God continue to bless Green Hill Lake Camp in its relentless effort of making Christ known to many!
Pastor Charles & Neil Livingstone
(Moses & Aaron)
6. Dear Muffin Makers
Dear muffin making friends!
The folks living homeless have been so grateful for all the muffins you have been making for the breakfast program at the Phoenix Learning Centre in partnership with Victory Meat Market. Unfortunately, the Phoenix will be closing this Friday, so we are closing out this program.
However, Pastor Steve and others from our church have continued to visit our friends in the evenings (Sunday, Monday and Wednesday) and have been using all surplus muffins as an important source of food to offer. So, we hope to continue this ministry for the next several weeks which would mean approximately the same amount of muffins weekly, as we easily hand out about 24-30 muffins per night. Therefore, we will require 8 dozen muffins per week. These can be brought into the church kitchen and put in the freezer each Friday (starting this week).
Rather than re-contacting each contributor, we thought we’d open this up to others as well, in case there are new people who wish to help with making muffins. Of course we welcome those who have been faithful to this ministry these past few months to continue, but also understand if a break is needed!
To commit to being a muffin-making-marvel, please click below to register your gifts.
Thanks so much, in His grace, Pastor Steve
Please note: Signing up for 1 “ticket” is equivalent to signing up to make 1 dozen muffins.
7. Celebrating University Grads
It's that exciting time of the year again where we seek to honour and acknowledge the efforts of students who are soon graduating from University, College and High School. Undoubtedly, this academic year has been unique and will go down as a challenging one. These graduating students have pushed through and adapted as well as they could to online courses, dealing with limited peer and school staff interactions, grieving the loss of social events and having to create a whole life routine for themselves. We want to celebrate with all of them!
How you can help
In order for us not to forget any students connected to BSBC, please contact us (charles@bsbc.nb.ca) with:
the full name of the student,
the school,
the field of study (College/University), and
a graduation photo, if possible.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Pastor Charles
Interim Youth Ministries Coordinator
8. Our Financial Update
Thanks to Ken Reimer, our Treasurer, for this update of our financial stewardship to the end of March, 2021.
Financial Giving Update, Jan. 1 to March 31
Current Yr Previous Yr Budget to March 31, 2020
General $204,636 $209,634 $227,878
Building $34,387 $22,047 $33,750
General Fund giving is quite healthy for this time of year, just $23,242 behind budget, and nearly the same as this point last year. Building Fund giving is above our budget target, and significantly greater than this point last year.
Ken Reimer, Treasurer
9. This Sunday's Worship Services
This Sunday morning, we gather at the Lord’s table to remember the greatest gift ever given, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Sermon notes
Dr. Keith will be leading us to consider the nature of the “new covenant” God made with us.
On a Thursday evening in Luke chapter 22, Jesus gathers with his disciples to celebrate the Passover meal. At a momentous point in the evening, he turns to them and declares: “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Is there any background for this declaration that might help us to further appreciate our own Communion celebration this week?
In a short meditation to prepare our hearts, we will discover that Jesus’ potent phrase the new covenant comes from the book of Jeremiah, just after the halfway point in this scroll that details the prophet’s long and stressful career. Indeed, the life and times of Jeremiah take place during one of the worst seasons in the history of God’s people, as the Babylonian army was threatening to destroy the city and march the citizens into exile. Even worse, the prophet is imprisoned by his own people while the city is under siege.
Yet, at this bleakest of moments the word of God comes to Jeremiah with a startling announcement: “the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,” and our reflections on this passage will prepare us to receive the bread and the cup with fresh gratitude and a sense of wonder.
Worship leaders
We’re grateful to Jon and Alyse Wilton and friends who will be leading in the gym. In the sanctuary, Gloria Tranquilla and David Steeves will be supported by soloist Margaret Geldart and a Sanctuary Ensemble. Jisu and Joy Shin will be bringing the children’s moment.
10. KidzTown Reopening
We’re happy to announce that KidzTown is open to a maximum of 15 children from Kindergarten to Grade 5. Our Elementary Coordinator, Tina Franca and Sarah Williams will be there to greet children each Sunday morning.
There is a COVID protocol plan that will be used, seeking to ensure that safety for all. This plan explains how to access the KidzTown area, protocols during the children’s time together and how to leave KidzTown – so that everyone can be safe.
Over the month of March, KidzTown has been open to a number of families that regularly attend the gym service — a test run for opening wider. Capacity in March was 7 children — now we are opening to 15.
How to take part
You must make a reservation for your child(ren) using the online reservation system which will allow a total of 15 children to register. You’ll do this weekly. In addition, we are asking that one parent from each family taking part in the KidzTown ministry be willing to take a rotation of assisting in KidzTown. Our coordinator will be in touch to get you on the schedule every 5-6 weeks.
Please pray for our KidzTown ministry, another step in engagement in ministry to children.
11. Wednesday Library Openings
Your librarians invite you to visit the library the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 10 a.m. until noon.
Come and engage with our huge collection of books – there’s something for everyone!
12. May Birthdays
We wish a Very Happy Birthday to all of our May babies this year! Click the link below for the full list.
13. This Week at BSBC: April 28 to May 5
Wednesday, April 28
9:30 Senior Exercise (Gym)
10:00 Library Opens
12:00 Prayer Time with Pastor Charles (Sanctuary/Facebook Live)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (3rd Floor Assembly/Zoom)
6:30 Book of James Bible Study with Daniel Savard (Team Meetings)
Thursday, April 29
9:30 New Life (3rd Floor Board Room)
1:30 Ladies Bible Study with Carol Bray (Family Room)
1:30 Bible Study with Mary McMulkin (3rd Floor Boardroom)
6:30 Handbell Choir (Sanctuary)
7:00 Chinese Hymn Practice (Choir Room)
Friday, April 30
9:30 Senior Exercise (Gym)
6:00 Friends Are Us Puppets (2nd Floor Kidztown)
7:00 Youth Group (3rd Floor Assembly)
Saturday, May 1
1:00 Contemporary Worship Team Practice (Gym)
Sunday, May 2
10:15 KidzTown
10:30 Traditional Worship Service (Sanctuary/thestreetonline.ca)
10:30 Contemporary Worship Service (Gym/Facebook Live)
2:00 Chinese Worship Service (Sanctuary)
Monday, May 3
7:00 Social Action Team (Zoom)
7:00 Chinese Bible Study (3rd Floor Assembly Area)
Tuesday, May 4
12:00 Chinese Prayer Meeting (2nd Floor Boardroom)
1:30 Full Staff Meeting (Family Room)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room)
2:45 Pastoral Staff Meeting (Family Room)
6:30 DivorceCare (3rd Floor)
Wednesday, May 5
9:30 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Prayer Time with Pastor Charles (Sanctuary/Facebook Live)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (3rd Floor Assembly/Zoom)
6:30 Book of James Bible Study with Daniel Savard (Team Meetings)
