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
“WELCOME BACK” Sunday | Sept. 13
That’s right, we look forward to a resumption of simultaneous (sanctuary/gym) services on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, 10:30 a.m. A majority of your Deacon/Pastor leadership discern that the time is right for us to take a step back toward our normal iteration of worship @ BSBC.
A few things to consider:
We will continue to welcome reservations for Sunday services (these are so helpful to our planning and set up for services…please accept this as part of our new normal for Sunday worship @ BSBC)
If you didn’t make a reservation, please drop-in and we will do our best to seat you (the social distancing requirements cut down on available seating – the more we know the better we can anticipate your needs – thank you)
We will continue observing social-distancing in entering the buildings (enter the sanctuary only from the door on York Street with the wheelchair ramp/enter the gym only from the gym door at the end of the gym building by the main kitchen with the wheelchair ramp)
Masks are needed to enter the worship spaces (available when you enter either building) and must be worn until you are seated in the worship space – masks must be worn if leaving your seat for any reason and for singing in either worship space)
Hand sanitizer will be available upon entry to either worship space
At this point in our journey, children of all ages will stay in the care of their parents during the services – there will be no children’s programs during Sunday worship and the rooms for childcare will not be available as we won’t be able to supervise and disinfect space as it is used….stay tuned for more information on children’s ministry
An offering will not be taken up during the service but you can deposit your offering in the offering box on your way in to either worship space
At the end of the services you will be given direction on how to leave the worship spaces, maintaining social distancing on your way to the parking lot where you will be able to fellowship (at a distance!) with others who are masked
Two important considerations not to be missed:
Each member of our church family is encouraged to consider his/her individual vulnerabilities when deciding if a return to in-person worship is right for them. Please know that our online services will continue through the fall…although our online congregation will be one week behind the in-person congregation (i.e. The service for Sunday, Sept. 13 will be broadcast on Sunday, Sept. 20).
Leadership is prepared for a quick ‘pivot’ away from in-person services upon the advice of the provincial health authority. We will perpetually monitor updates and be willing and able to shut-down as quickly and efficiently as was the case in March of this year.
Now, while we are busily making preparations for this level of opening, we covet the daily prayer support of our church family for the Spirit of God to gift us with wisdom and discernment in these days.
An Exciting New ‘Arrival’
On Monday, Aug. 24, Charles Millette joined our pastoral staff as our full-time Missionary in Residence — with primary responsibility for facilitating worship, instruction, fellowship and service among our youth and young adult members! I am positively thrilled and thankful to God for His provision of this faithful and energetic servant whose charismatic personality will give us a real shot of vitality. I asked Charles to introduce himself, so please read on and add Charles and family (if you haven’t already) to your prayer time.
Greetings to all brothers and sisters, young and old!
What a joy for our family to have an opportunity to be and to serve at Brunswick Street this year. In the past decade or so, we have only passed by the church to make sporadic appearances, but all of that is about to change.
In a glimpse, we’ll tell you a little bit about ourselves, and share two reasons why I, Charles, am excited to be the new Youth Ministries Coordinator, and let you know how you can pray for us.
So here we go: we are a Montreal & Fredericton mix! Sarah even spent her first 20 years attending BSBC, but it’s been 17 years since she could call Fredericton home. Our kids; Lucie, the dynamite, Victoria, Mommy’s personal designer and Joseph, the quiet strength were all born in Québec, in three different cities. Together, we like to explore the outdoors, play board games and discover new food, scenery & books. If any of these activities are also one of your favorites, don’t hesitate to tell us so we can organize a little outing with you sometimes this year and get to know you better!
Back in March, we returned unexpectedly from Lima, Peru, which had been home to us since 2015. There we served as missionaries with Sports Friends through SIM Canada. Any language of Spanish, English or French can be heard within the walls of our home!
Looking at the year ahead, I’m thrilled to see how God will…
#1 reveal himself more and more to the youth through the study of his Word, prayer, sweet fellowship and good works.
And
#2 use the youth of Brunswick Street, their bountiful energy, their creative ideas and more, to proclaim the name of Jesus to many others (kids, youth and adults) in and around Fredericton, with words of life and deeds of love!
Want to join me in caring for the youth of the church? Let me know! Trust me, you have much to share and in return, I’m convinced that you will be richly blessed and challenged as you give of your time, your spiritual gifts and your energy!
COVID-19 might have changed our ways of doing ministry but God’s desire to see us all continue to follow His ways hasn’t changed. One of his preferred ways of working in and through us is prayer and here’s how you can pray for us:
1. Pray for our kids’ entry to school. For the first time, they’ll study in French and enter a crowd they are not accustomed to walk with. Pray for good friends, patience with themselves and wisdom for us parents to encourage and accompany them well.
2. Praise God with us for the home He had in reserve for us. Its owners are fellow believers and the house really suits our needs. Pray for our testimony to the neighbors, that we may be quick to serve and show God’s love through kindness.
3. Pray for Charles as he also enters a new working environment and different ministry tasks. Pray for wisdom as he seeks to quickly bond with the youth, the pastoral team and the many volunteers.
4. Pray for Sarah who wants to discern God’s will for her life, now that homeschooling is behind us and that her schedule is freer than ever before.
We look forward to reconnecting with the ones we know and connecting with the many of you that we don’t!
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21)
Bye for now! Au revoir! Hasta Luego!
Pastor Charles
You can email Pastor Charles: charles@bsbc.nb.ca
5 Years of Incredible Witness & Growth
It’s important in life to mark milestones. On Sunday, Aug. 30, our Chinese congregation will be celebrating its 5th birthday! I can certainly say that over these five years the Chinese congregation has been a constant source of inspiration and exhortation to me. As I have been able to witness the building of this fellowship within our midst I have been constantly touched by the sincerity of these brothers and sisters in terms of their commitment to the gospel of Christ, to loving one another and to seeking to be active members of our overall BSBC family.
In Acts, chapter 2, lines 46-47, we read what characterized the early Church:
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
I can’t think of a more apt description of our Chinese sisters and brothers than these words. Indeed, through such sincere faith we have seen new converts and thrilled to their testimonies at their baptisms. Through these last years we have been grateful for God’s provision of Mandarin pastoral leadership through Pastor Kim Goh, Pastor David Wang and now, through full time pastor, Changbin Tian. So much has happened in 5 years that we can only give the credit and the glory to the Spirit of God working through our brothers and sisters.
Even in the age of COVID-19, the Chinese congregation has seen upward of 50 people tuning in for Sunday services, and in weekly Bible Studies, Prayer Meetings and fellowship activities.
Let’s renew our commitment to pray for the Chinese congregation as they continue to seek to fulfill the Great Commission and partner with the English congregation in serving the same living God as those early believers described in the book of Acts.
Pastor Greg
Final Wednesday Worship Services
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m.
Communion Service (This is the Only Service Not Recorded for Public Release)
Preacher – Pastor Greg Geldart
Traditional Worship Led by David Steeves, Gloria Tranquilla, Yvonne Kershaw, Pascale Beaulieu
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m.
(This service will be broadcast on Sunday, Sept. 13)
Preacher – Pastor Greg Geldart
Traditional Worship Led by Gloria Tranquilla & Chris Graves
How to make a reservation
In order to attend any of these services, please make a reservation with the church office (receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca/458-8348) — reservations are part of our new normal. However, if you are out and about, you can drop by and see if there is seating available, given that social distancing limits seating in the sanctuary.
Another Change | Communion
The ‘age’ of COVID-19 has brought many changes to our lives. Your leadership is seeking to follow the protocols from the provincial government for in-person events and this will impact our observance of the Lord’s Table on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Since serving from common sources like a plate, are considered highly dangerous, the way we receive and take the bread and the cup will be different.
Communion in the age of COVID-19
When you pass through screening, sanitizing and masking and before you go to your seat, from a gloved hand, you will be given the elements for communion in one professionally packaged unit that you will take with you to your seat. The pre-filled communion cup has two tabs for release. The first, clear tab (with the wheat motif) will, at the right time, be peeled off to reveal the bread for eating. A second tab, under the bread, can, at the right time, be peeled off to open the cup for drinking. Your used cup can then be placed in the communion cup rack on the back of the pew before you.
This change may seem jarring to our sensibilities but will allow us to have a meaningful time at the Lord’s Table as we give thanks for His sacrifice for us and remember that, one day, we will share a meal of celebration in His presence. I’m confident that we will have a spiritually significant time when we gather on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Celebrating a New Member of Our Family 🥳
Congratulations to Randy and Mariana Mills who are the proud parents of Arthur Lloyd Mills born on Sunday, August 16 at 8:23 p.m.! WELCOME Arthur Lloyd, we can’t wait to meet you!
Birthday Greetings 🥳
Another congregational milestone – I invite the BSBC family to congratulate, my dad, Ralph Graves, who will celebrate his 80th birthday on Monday, August 31st. Covid means no big gathering celebration but a congregational shout-out seems appropriate.
Chris Graves
Worship This Coming Sunday | Aug. 30
This coming Sunday Dr. Bodner will be offering the second of his two part sermon series on the book of Ruth and entitled “The House That Ruth Built.” He writes: How can Ruth the foreigner find a physical and spiritual home among the people of Israel?
Worship music for our contemporary service will be led once again by guest musicians, Faith and Adam Moore. It’s a treat to have Faith and Adam back with us at BSBC. Songs for the traditional service will be led by Talia Kennedy and Ross & Janice Simonds. The service will be opened by Ufuoma, Rukeme and Rotimi Akalusi who will share their personal reflections on scripture and open the service with prayer. Who can you invite into YOUR Home Church Bubble for corporate worship and fellowship? Please do!
Last week’s mix up
We had a mix up last Sunday! If you watched the Contemporary Service before 3:30 p.m. last Sunday (Aug. 23) you likely watched this Sunday’s (Aug. 30) service. Our apologies for any confusion this may have caused.
Tiny bubbles
When I was a kid I remember hearing this song….Tiny bubbles in the slime (?), make me happy, make me feel fine. I am sure those were the words. J Whatever the ‘concoction’, these ‘bubbles’ were guaranteed to make you happy and fine!
I want to talk to you about another kind of ‘bubble’ that I’m confident will make you feel happy and fine and connected to your BSBC family — HOME CHURCH BUBBLES.
Finding new ways to ‘do’ church
As the pandemic continues, we must find new ways to ‘do’ church at BSBC. We will continue to offer online services and activities — even as we “open up” for in-person events. We’re confident that some of our church family will reengage with in-person events, while many, for a variety of reasons including personal vulnerabilities to the virus, will not be able to. So how do we ensure that we stay connected, which we know to be an important element of being part of the Body of Christ?
A HOME CHURCH BUBBLE allows our big family to begin to reconnect in safe and consistent ways.
Home Church Bubbles
Home Church Bubbles are a small group of individuals or families who commit to meeting together on a regular basis for fellowship and the weekly online worship service. In this way, you’ll be gathering for worship with your “home church” family. A Home Church Bubble is the intentional joining of individual ‘bubbles’ to create a slice of BSBC community. Bubbles can be an amalgamation of people of the same age or inter-generational groups. Be as creative as you can!
Will you prayerfully consider creating a Home Church Bubble? It’s as easy as inviting others to gather weekly or biweekly to watch the online service in your home or the homes of your bubble members. If you’d like help creating a HOME CHURCH BUBBLE, Alyse Wilton, our Church Family Life Coordinator, is happy to help.
What do you do first?
Prayerfully consider creating or joining a HOME CHURCH BUBBLE.
Talk to those you know and explore the option.
Register your HOME CHURCH BUBBLE with Alyse (churchfamilylife@bsbc.nb.ca).
Want to join a group but don’t know who to ask? Email Alyse and we’ll try to connect you.
HOME CHURCH BUBBLES don’t have to meet on Sunday mornings – they can meet anytime during the week – but at a consistent time. Each week we will make available online resources you can print off for the use of children in your group. And, discussion questions provided for the use of older members of your HOME CHURCH BUBBLE.
When do we want to start?
We want to prayerfully launch our HOME CHURCH BUBBLE ministry on Sunday, September 27 so we’d like you to register your HOME CHURCH BUBBLE prior to that.
Questions?
Email Alyse at churchfamilylife@bsbc.nb.ca. As the pandemic continues, we must find new ways to ‘do’ church at BSBC. A HOME CHURCH BUBBLE is one way for our big family to begin to reconnect in safe and consistent ways.
Thank you for considering a new iteration of ministry at BSBC! Help us stay connected! Experience the Body of Christ in a new way!
Pastor Greg & Your Deacons
Ministry Startup
Two important caring ministries will be starting in the coming weeks.
GriefShare, a support group for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one who has died will begin its 13 week session on Thursday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m. with Cheryl Gibson leading the group.
DivorceCare, a support group for those going through marital separation or divorce will begin its 13 week session on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. with Gloria Tranquilla, Pauline Harvey and Bryan McWilliam as leaders.
Learn more
Brochures for both programs are available from the church office (we can mail them to you) or for more information on either program please contact the church office at 458-8348 OR receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca.
BSBC BODcasts
Dr. B will be taking a wee break from BODcasts, which we can understand as he engages in preparations and engagement in a new term at Crandall University. So don’t miss this week’s edition on the book of Ruth.
Thanks, Dr. B., for your enriching teaching!
Further Update on Green Hill Lake Camp Needs
Below you’ll find last week’s information about the serious circumstances faced by our own Green Hill Lake Camp. If you didn’t read it last week – I invite you to do so.
Your Board of Deacons want you to know that, on behalf of the church family, the Board voted $1,000 from our Children’s Ministry budget (which has not been used due to the COVID-19 shut down) to go to GHLC this week. A first move to help our camp in this time of need. Stay tuned for more information and feel free to designate through your offering a special gift to GHLC.
Pastor Greg
Last Week’s Post
While we rejoice that Green Hill Lake Camp has been open this Sunday, sharing the gospel of Jesus with children of all ages, the following letter from the Chairperson of the GHLC Board shares the difficult decisions that have been taken for the long term stability of the ministry. I share the whole letter knowing how precious GHLC is to the BSBC family. This will aid you in praying and in considering how the BSBC family can come to our camp’s aid. Your ideas are welcome (greg@bsbc.nb.ca)!
Pastor Greg
August 1, 2020
Dear Member Church
In many ways summer at The Lake is exactly as it has been for the past 59 summers. Lovely weather, children’s laughter, busy summer staff and everyone enjoying God’s creation at Green Hill Lake Camp. In other ways things were totally new – masks, hand sanitizer everywhere, cabin bubbles and X marks the spot to maintain social distancing.
COVID 19 has left its mark on your camp. All of our spring 2020 bookings were cancelled and over 95% of our events for fall 2020 and spring 2021 have been cancelled. We are so grateful to God and you that with a lot of hard work and the donations from our April 25 Kitchen Party we were able to open this summer. Kids are hearing the good news that Jesus loves them and getting a little “normal” back in a world that has been anything but normal.
We write to you to say God is good and we are so thankful we were able to open when many Christian camps remained closed. As thankful as we are the board has had to make some very, very tough decisions. We need to significantly reduce expenses so that is will be possible for us to be ready and financially sound to have summer camp in 2021. We will be closing the facilities in the fall of 2020 with plans to reopen in spring 2021. This means a staggered layoff of our 5 year round staff. This includes Cindy and Ashley Arbeau, Tim Carruthers, Janette Curtis Alward and Stephen Alward. We are so thankful for their hard work and love of the ministry here at GHLC and this decision was not made lightly. We know that God has touched lives here at Green Hill Lake Camp Inc for almost 6 decades and we know He knows what the future holds.
Even with these drastic measures we need over $ 90,000 to cover costs like insurance, Work Safe, utilities and mortgage payments to see us through to spring 2021. The board will be taking on additional responsibilities for the next several months as we close up and prepare to re-open in spring 2021. We realize this may be a shock to some and for that we apologize. We have been in contact with all those impacted by the layoffs, spoken with our summer staff and are now reaching out to you, our member churches.
We ask for your continued prayer and financial support.
Sincerely
Sonja Card
GHLC Board Chair
A New Missionary Update
I’ve just heard from our Canadian Baptist Ministries’ Partner in Mission, André Sibomana, in Rwanda. He writes:
Hello Pastor Greg. We are doing well as a family by God's Grace. Thanks for your encouragement. The situation is that things are opening up but churches and schools are still closed. There was a sense of opening churches but the government is so demanding that many churches decided to wait for the right time. Please pray that schools may open as it being so hard for both children and us as parents.
I thank André for this update and encourage you to include the situation in Rwanda in your praying.
Pastor Greg
Update From Your Board of Management
Hello Church Family!
As Chair of the Board of Management (BoM) this year, I’d like to fill you on in our recent activities during these strange days.
Our monthly meetings have still been taking place via Zoom, and it’s been a great blessing to me to see my team members’ faces and voices. So, even if you feel technically challenged, don’t hesitate to join into our church family functions via Zoom. If we can do it, everyone can!
Shannon and Buffett have reviewed our 2019 Financial Statements and found all in order. These will be passed along to our church family at an upcoming Business Meeting.
The BoM deals with many mundane matters on a day-to-day basis, but some changes are very visible to our church family. I am so grateful for our BoM members who have accomplished the following:
Naomi Phillips has been hired full-time to act as both receptionist and in-house bookkeeper. She is in the process of learning the ropes and makes the Treasurer‘s job much easier.
Much of the water damage to the interior of the Sanctuary is now repaired. The plaster has been repaired around the windows and walls and repainted, and it looks awesome.
The parts of the lawn that were damaged from the heavy equipment during the roof replacement were reseeded in late May. The new lawn survived the drought and is growing faster than it can be cut! Thank you to Louise Billings and Shirley Craft for planting flowers along our front walkway.
As promised in a previous business meeting, any further renovations to the facilities were held off pending roof project completion. The amount remaining on our loan after the roof project completion is $92, 661. The BoM will be identifying further facility issues that need addressing, especially in the gym/office area, obtaining quotes, and reporting back to the church family.
Finally, I want to thank you, the church family, for your faithful and generous giving. Through your efforts, we have not had to worry about how to pay staff salaries or the electricity bills!
Thank you!
Kellie Brown
Your Library is OPEN!
Our Librarian, Sharon Gosselin, doesn’t even require you to be quiet when you visit our church library which you can do any Wednesday between 10 a.m. and noon.
Bring your children for a great selection of faith-based children’s books! Enjoy reading fiction? We’ve got shelves full. Looking for something more serious – no problem, our library has LOTS to offer from discipleship to study materials.
Drop in next Wednesday and have a look around. If it’s your first visit, we doubt it will be your last! Oh, and if you’ve been in before…please have a look around your home for any books you might like to return – we’re a ‘fine free’ library!
You Asked For It
We’ve had numerous requests for a new edition of a printed/paper church directory (names, phone, email).
While we continue to encourage use of the online directory, which you can join by contacting the church office and providing your email address, we are preparing to respond to these requests. For this printed version, the office is contacting everyone with email addresses to verify your information. If you are without email, we encourage you to contact the church office to make sure your information is up to date.
If you have any questions, please contact Janet or Naomi in our office (458-8348 OR receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca) and they will be happy to help. Our plan is to print at the end of August with these available for early September.
How to Pre-Order
If you would like to pre-order a copy of the printed directory please contact the church office to place your order. Copies will be $5 each and we will arrange home delivery if required.
Please note that these directories are not published for business or other forms of solicitation but for helping with community building at BSBC.
Consider Those You Know
Just a reminder that we want to stay connected with those who might not have access to thestreetonline.ca.
Wednesday Afternoon Service Viewing
Each Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Family Room we offer a showing of the traditional service recording. You can encourage folks to call the church office (458-8348) to make a reservation to come any Wednesday afternoon and join Pastor Steve or Greg for the service.
Mailing DVDs
OR, we are happy to mail DVDs and paper copies of the e-newsletter directly to individuals each week. Simply contact the church office (458-8348) to request the mailing. Thank you for making these opportunities known to those who aren’t able to access our website.
