The Banner
Seeking to minister in new ways in challenging days!
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
A Touching & Inspiring Message
We received the following email from our Partner in Mission, Andre Sibomana, in Rwanda. It was so touching we wanted to share it with you.
It is with deep sadness that we learned about the animosity and violence that took lives of innocent people in Nova Scotia.
We live in the world full of evil, that most of the time, is beyond what we can imagine. In this difficult time, when we feel threatened and overwhelmed, we look up to the loving God, Father, who only can give us hope, comfort and the peace of mind we need. We are mindful for those families that lost their beloved ones unjustly, unexpectedly. As they navigate that heartfelt shock and indefinite sorrow, we send this message from Africa, as a sign of solidarity with you in Prayers. Please accept our sincere sympathy. Rev. Andre Sibomana
Please continue to pray for those impacted by this tragedy and for our brothers and sisters in Christ that they might be comforted and showered with God’s grace and be a means of bringing that grace to those who need the Saviour.
Expressions of Thanks
Thank you to those who’ve written the church office and pastoral staff expressing their gratitude for the provision of “thestreetonline” worship services.
I’d like to add many thanks to the many participants who have accepted the invitation to share in leadership and invite you to express your thanks to Kellie and Anthony Brown who are recording the segments each week, and to Anthony who’s spending a good part of Saturday editing and creating the final product you’re enjoying.
As a church we’re blessed with willing servants who give sacrificially — and this proves to be the case in the days of COVID-19!
Pastor Greg
Worship This Week
The first Sunday in May is on our doorstep as we move further into spring 2020! While we miss the opportunity to gather, a recent review of the views for our online service shows that most of us are still gathering on Sundays to worship together! I guess we really are creatures of habit…which will make having to get out of our pajamas and exchanging that Lazyboy for being in our seats in our worship spaces a bit of a challenge.
But, until that happens, here’s what’s happening this week in our May 3 worship service:
Service
This Sunday, Greg & Rebecca Keezer will be leading Contemporary Worship, while Beth Snow and David Steeves lead the traditional hymns. Margaret Geldart will offer a reflection on the sacrifice of Jesus and we’ll welcome the Culberson family (Andrew, Katy, Annaclare, Myles and Malaki) to lead as well. You’ll also get to meet Mikey (Chris Graves), one of the favourite characters in our Kidz Klub, and will hear an update from the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic from Dr. Erin Tingley.
Sermon
“Dr. Keith” will take us further into the 13th chapter of Acts in a sermon he is calling “One for the Ages.” He writes: In a classic speech at a crowded synagogue, Paul announces the fulfillment of Israel’s history and the possibility of renewal and restoration.
Communion
In our normal pattern of worship we would gather at the Lord’s Table this Sunday. While recognizing that some churches have taken to holding a virtual communion which involves individual members providing the bread and cup in their own homes while the screen host leads through the service, your pastors and Board of Deacons, at least at this point in our journey, discern that we should wait until we gather again and on that first Sunday together, regardless of when it falls in the month, we will have the joy of sharing in the Meal of Remembrance in person. And, we pray that the day of regathering will be soon — but in the Lord's right time.
Thank you for covering our service preparations, release and ‘reception’ in your prayers. Who knows who will be watching? God does!
BSBC Kidz Klub
Today, we’ve posted the second edition of our BSBC KIDZ KLUB and it will be up all week to be enjoyed by children of all ages!
We’re studying The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and this week we focus on the first fruit – LOVE.
Each week we’ll be looking at another “fruit” as we seek to grow into the disciples God wants us to be.
Ask a Pastor
One of the features of KIDZ KLUB is “Ask a Pastor.” Children can have their questions emailed in to Pastor Greg and we’ll include the question on the weekly program. You can find the link on the children’s page of our website — as well as printable games, puzzles, colouring sheets and more!
Graduates
We invite the church family to be in prayer for our 2020 Post-Secondary and High School graduates.
It has to be a challenging thing to work for 12 years, anticipating all that can come with being a graduate and then not having any of it. The same must be true for our post-secondary crew.
So, this year, especially, we want to celebrate our graduates and we need your help.
Please email the church office with the names of graduates you know and the high school or institution from which they will graduate this year. As a church family we want to do something special for them and this is the first step in that process. Thank you for your cooperation. The first to be celebrated will be our post-secondary grads — who we’ll honour near the end of May.
Your Education Committee
Coffee with Pastor Steve
Hello Zoomers!
We're not going to let this Covid-19 thing keep us from getting together! Even though it's not quite the same as sitting together at Second Cup or Timmy's, it's still making connection to say hello!
I’d like to welcome you to come together on a Zoom call Tuesdays at 7pm OR Fridays at 10am.
We’ll meet online to visit with one another (who do you think will be there?) and I’ll end our call with a word from THE WORD and prayer.
If this is something you would like to participate in, please contact Naomi at the office to confirm your current email address, so she can help keep track of who I’ll be sending the Zoom invites out to! (receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca OR call 458-8348).
If it's too late for coffee, have an herbal tea instead!! See you next week.
With warmth and love,
Pastor Steve
YOUR INTERIM LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dr. Keith Bodner, Preaching Pastor
Pastor Greg Geldart, Lead Pastor
Pastor Jim McLellan, Pastor of Senior’s Visitation
Pastor Steve Patterson, Outreach Pastor
Jon Wilton, Youth & Young Adult Ministries
