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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 Message from Pastor Greg
Words that describe missions in the time of pandemic: complicated, vulnerability, challenge, opportunity!
Through the faithfulness of our Missions Committee I have come into possession of updates from all of our Partners in Mission. Their personal information and/or writing can be found by clicking on one of the names below and you’ll be taken to their entry in our Partner in Mission webpage.
In this season of global challenge I am blessed by the faithfulness of those we claim as our “partners” — people we love, support in prayer and, in most cases, with financial giving. I’m so happy to be able to connect you with them so that their stories of faith and commitment can be of blessing to you and so you can share your spiritual and practical resources with them.
Our Partners in Mission include: Tim and Diane Bannister – Tanzania; Charles & Sarah Millette – Quebec, Canada; Charlie & Betty Ritchie - Vietnam; Rebekah Sears – Ottawa, Canada; André Sibomana - Rwanda.
May God protect, inspire and use these brothers and sisters in these days.
Pastor Greg
Worship Online
“He is risen, indeed!” will be the message of this coming Sunday’s webcast!
We’ll be engaging in Easter worship in a new way, but with the same commitment to celebrating the victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death and hell.
This Sunday, April 12 Beth Snow and David Steeves will be leading the traditional worship elements with the Patterson Trio (welcome back, Pastor Steve!) leading the contemporary elements.
Special musical offerings will be presented by the Kennedy family. We also welcome the Hatchard family who will be leading various elements of the service. This Sunday it’s my privilege to offer the sermon which seeks to answer the question, “What’s the Big Deal About the Resurrection?”
As always, please pray for protection and liberty of the Spirit for those engaging in bringing these services to life and that our online platform will continue to allow us to broaden our reach with the gospel!
Yours in continued ministry, Pastor Greg
Update: Praying Church Initiative
As of Monday evening, April 6 we have 48 individual email addresses on our distribution list for the weekly Praying Church prayer bulletin (which represents more than 48 individuals involved in prayer).
Thank you to each and every one of you for standing with us in prayer. But, there’s STILL room to add your name.
To join our prayer team please register online and the church office will send you an introductory email to orient you to this ministry. OR, you can call the church office (458-8348) and provide your email address.
We are maintaining and updating a list of front line workers connected with our congregation. If you have a name to add please email the church office and we’ll be happy to add them and offer the protection that comes through intercessory prayer.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18
Update: Caring Church Initiative
Here is the latest update from Alyse Wilton, our Church Family Life Coordinator:
We have 28 helpers signed up now (Monday, April 6). Four of these are errand-runners and the rest are callers. We have only 10 people, of the nearly 100 on our list, waiting to be assigned contact although most have been contacted once by a Pastor at the beginning of this. Two of our newest helpers will be able to be the callers for most of these 10.
Alyse closes with: Again, I love reading the 'reports' from our callers. There are some lovely conversations happening, prayers over the phone, and demonstrations of God's love!
It is important that we don’t miss anyone who could use contact at this time. If you are concerned a person or persons could be missed, please email Alyse and we’ll check to make sure we have them covered!
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6: 9-10
Prayer Corner
PLEASE PRAY for Paul Rouse and family on the passing of his wife of 62 years, Marjorie Lottie Rouse. Paul is a resident at Shannex Brunswick Hall which is closed to visitors so please remember him in these days. Marjorie’s funeral service will be at BSBC at a time to be determined.
Ask A Nurse
Some of you may not be aware that BSBC has been blessed with two volunteer Parish Nurses who seek to bring their nursing knowledge to support our church family. Monthly, they have been offering a Blood Pressure Clinic for those who attend our Seniors Luncheons. I know they have been helpful to many of you on a personal level, answering your questions or discussing medical concerns with you.
Cheryl Gibson and Roz Thompson want the church family to know that they are available to take your questions or to discuss your concerns with you. Thank you, nurses, for your care of our church family!
Online Bible Study
Chad Ragsdale (New Testament faculty at Ozark Christian College) will walk through the book of Hebrews and talk about its relevance to Christians today. He will challenge you to divert your attention from the troubles in this world, turn to Jesus’ presence, and encourage you to persevere.
What: Bible Study on the book of Hebrews. Video from Right Now Media with material from Chad Ragsdale .
Why: In this very difficult time in our world with the COVID-19 pandemic all of us are looking for encouragement.
Who: This Bible study is free. Everyone who would like to attend this study on Encouragement may register with Jessica at jiyuanwujessica@gmail.com . You do not need to be a member of BSBC to attend.
When: Every Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Starting April 23 and finishing June 18, 2020.
BSBC KIDZ KLUB
I’m looking forward to a new endeavour for our children (K-Grade 5, but anyone can watch!) called the BSBC KIDZ KLUB. This will feature a children’s ministry program of about 20-25 minutes posted each week on our website where our kidz can worship and learn together. I’m so happy to have my partners in this ministry Yewande Akalusi and Alyse Wilton. We’re looking forward to a great study on the Fruit of the Spirit.
Stay tuned for launch date…coming…soon!
Stewardship
Dear Church Family,
Many of you have expressed concern about our financial stewardship in these days.
Thank you for thinking spiritually about the needs of our church family for ministry now and the days ahead.
I confess that I’m the last one you would want to look to for financial insights. BUT, as you review the figures above I wanted to provide a bit of context that I hope will be encouraging — not to cause an ease in our responsibility to give to the Lord’s work here, but to encourage you in what you are doing — our stewardship goals for the year are still attainable!
There were the same number of Sundays in 2019 and 2020 for the first quarter of the year.
Last year (2019) at this time our giving registered $209,251 to the general fund — meaning that in 2020 our giving for the same period is down by just under $5,000.
Please remember that in January we lost three services to storms and in March we lost 3 services to a State of Emergency in New Brunswick.
Colour me “optimistic” but I think it’s quite remarkable that, having missed six opportunities to gather tithes and offerings through services of worship, we are just shy of $5,000 to match last year’s giving. In my mind this affirms a maturity among believers in terms of exercising financial giving as an expression of worship.
Basically, I wanted to convey two messages. The first is of thanks to those who are giving regularly who have helped us reach the position we have, given the six services we have lost! The second is to encourage each of us to consider what we can give in the month of April to help us catch up to or exceed our normal giving patters for this time of the year– which is just under $5,000 behind last year.
In the same way, I note that in terms of the “building” (which really reflects our new combined “mortgage” fund), is $11,704 short of budget, and also behind where we were last year. This is another area where an additional gift or a new giving focus by some would be helpful.
Not unlike the flattening of the pandemic curve, this note is not meant to communicate that all is well and we can relax. However, I hope it does communicate thanks, an invitation to pause and consider our needs, and an invitation for those who don’t regularly give to contribute as you are able. I firmly believe that our fiscal targets are still in reach even with the changes we have seen in our ministries and in our world.
Pastor Greg
Please note that you can visit our Giving page for details on making “e-transfers” or other ways you can continue to financial support BSBC at this time.
BSBC Birthdays 🎉
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
