The Banner
Growing Faith, Friends & Families to Serve
In this issue:
Christmas Cookie Challenge
Children’s Christmas Party
Expression of Thanks
Atlantic Brass Concert
Annual Candlelight Service
Save the Date: Other Advent Events
Starting Local/Going Global Christmas Project
Financial Report Weekly Countdown
Call for Annual Reports for 2021
This Week’s Worship Services
Housing Need
This Week @ BSBC
1. Christmas Cookie Challenge
We are looking for bakers to contribute 21 dozen homemade cookies to add a delicious and personal touch to the Christmas care packages we will be giving our Third Sunday Supper guests this month. You can sign up for this ministry by clicking the link below — or by phoning the church office at 458-8348.
Please indicate "Third Sunday Supper" on the bag or package of cookies and drop them at the Church Office or leave them in the FAMILY ROOM on the morning of Dec. 19. We'll make up mixed bags of cookies for our guests. Thank you for loving in this practical and tasty way!
Correction: We originally published that only 3 dozen cookies were needed. We, in fact, need 21 dozen. Apologies for any confusion.
2. Children's Christmas Party (Last chance to register!)
When: Saturday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.
Where: BSBC Sanctuary or Facebook Live
What: Songs, stories, puppets, crafts & treats!
Come in-person: That’s right, come to the church and enjoy our time together in the main church auditorium and then enjoy cookies/juice and craft time in small groups spread over the buildings.
Join us online: You can also attend our Facebook Live event at the same time – or view it later. We’ll drop a party bag off at your door so you, too, can enjoy the craft and treat!
Invite your friends: We’d be happy to have you invite your friends to join us at the church or online. You do the inviting; we’ll do the planning! But make sure they pre-register.
Don't forget to register
In order to have enough supplies for everyone and to organize our home deliveries, we need you to register today.
3. Expression of Thanks
On behalf of the Savard family and my dad, Hugh McNeill, I would like to express our gratitude for the prayer support over these past number of months and for condolences sent following the death of my mom. Pastor Greg and the church family as a whole sent messages of encouragement and concern while Mom was ill and it was a comfort to her that Dad would be joining such a caring congregation when he moves to Fredericton.
Dad will be staying here with us until January when we return to Ottawa to continue making preparations to sell his house and move him to Fredericton. He will be looking for an apartment over these next few weeks so we ask for your prayers as he prepares to make this transition. Ottawa has been his home for over 55 years but as a former Saint Johner, he is looking forward to returning to NB and being closer to both ourselves and extended family throughout the Maritimes.
Thank-you once again to our wonderful church family.
Althea Savard
4. Atlantic Brass Concert
You're invited to join the dynamic ensemble, The Atlantic Brass, in concert on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m. at Brunswick Street Baptist Church. The concert entitled, "Christmas Is Here" will feature the well-loved melodies of Christmas arranged in dynamic settings for brass. From the gentle carols of the manger to blasts and flourishes of joy that bring classical melodies and Christmas standards to life. Also, included in the concert will be the church's Vocal Chorale offering four Christmas carols, directed by Pastor Greg.
This is a concert for all ages, guaranteed to raise your seasonal temperature and will be hosted by Jim Tranquilla! There is no admission charge, but a retiring offering will be received in support of these fantastic musicians, with anything above expenses divided between the group and Fredericton Community Kitchen. Please note that as is required by the province of New Brunswick, proof of double vaccination will be required for entry.
Gather your family and friends and come enjoy of feast of seasonal music that will certainly affirm, "Christmas Time is Here!"
5. Annual Candlelight Service
If you are looking for an oasis of beauty and peace during the rush of Christmas, plan on attending this BSBC Christmas tradition – the Annual Candlelight Service. Offered on Sunday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. we’ll engage in reading the Scriptures and in musical reflections which have been chosen to help us understand the marvelous mystery of God’s love expressed in sending Jesus to redeem humankind.
The service will feature:
Vocal Ensembles & The Adult Handbell Choir
Vocalists Giselle Tranquilla & Claire Geldart, Greg & Rebecca Keezer, Beth Snow and The Steve Patterson Family Trio
Flautists Yvonne Kershaw & Yunlia Hu
Violinists Scott Kennedy & Vivian Ni
Pianists Gloria Tranquilla, Tara Kennedy, Julie Maston
Organist David Steeves
This is an excellent service to share with family and friends. In addition to the in-person offering the service will be live streamed on YouTube and you can connect to that by visiting our website www.thestreetonline.ca. A retiring offering will be taken in support of the Fredericton Community Shelters.
Please note: If you have already been screened for double vaccination, please enter through the Connections Center so that guests who need to be screened can be greeted at the main church doors on York Street.
6. Save the Date: Other upcoming Advent events
If you like to plan ahead…here’s a list of our other special advent events coming up this season!
Friday, Dec. 24, 6 p.m. (In-person and on Facebook Live)
Family Friendly Christmas Eve Service
Friday, Dec. 24, 8 p.m. (In-person and on Youtube)
Reflective Friends Christmas Eve Service
Sunday, Dec. 26, 10:30 a.m. (In-Person and on Youtube)
Combined Service of Christmas Praise and Testimony
Please note: Our KidzTown and Preschool workers will be taking the Sunday off. We’ll have crafts for children to enjoy in the pews with their parents.
Friday, Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. (In-Person)
Hogmanay New Year’s Eve Event (More Details Next Week/Limited Tickets)
7. 19th Annual Starting Local, Going Global Campaign
While the first Sunday of Advent isn’t until the last Sunday in November, it’s time for the BSBC church family to prepare to engage in our 19th annual “Starting Local/Going Global” Christmas campaign— providing practical help here in Fredericton and, this year, in Rwanda.
Starting Local: We need $9,000 to meet our goals. As of Tuesday, Dec. 7 giving stands at $6,486. To designate to this project, please mark your donation “Starting Local.”
Going Global: As of Tuesday, Dec. 7 giving stands at $6,320.08. To designate to this project, please mark your donation “Going Global”.
Click the button below to learn more about both campaigns and watch a video about Going Global.
8. Weekly End-of-Year Financial Report
As we move closer to the end of 2021, we’ll be providing you with a weekly financial COUNTDOWN. Thank you for doing what you can to help us meet our target for this year’s budget.
Financial Countdown
(Final 3 Sundays in 2021)
General Fund
Budget Target for 2021 $920,000
Giving to Dec. 5 -772,572
Required by Dec. 31 to Meet Target $147,428
Building Fund
Budget Target for 2021 $135,000
Giving to Dec. 5 -122,785
Required by Dec. 31 to Meet Target $12,215
9. Call For Annual Reports
Don’t forget that all Annual Reports are due before Friday, Jan. 7! Please be considerate of this deadline. Report information can be emailed directly to the church office at bsbc@bsbc.nb.ca or dropped off at the office in typewritten form, if possible. Thank you.
If you are the chairperson, secretary or leader in a specific ministry we count on you to make sure your submission is sent in. Now’s a good time to ‘talk among yourselves!’ Thanks so much!
10. This Week's Worship Services
Join us in-person or online as we gather around the Advent Wreath with a focus on Peace through the coming of Christ.
Contemporary service
This week in the gym, Jon and Alyse Wilton will be leading the vocal aspects of worship, we’ll welcome the Kelly family to light the Advent Candles and Pastor Greg will bring the message: “God With Us.” He’ll be inviting us to consider the implications of that powerful ‘hymn’ found embedded in Philippians 2: 1-11.
Traditional service
In the sanctuary, we’ll welcome Iva Gilks-Farkas and Harriett McNeill to lead us in the lighting of the Advent candles. Music contributions will be from soloist Laura McGuire, Peter and Maureen Steeves with flute duets provided by Yvonne Kershaw and Yunlai Dai, with Gloria Tranquilla ministering at the piano and David Steves at the organ.
Dr. Keith will be sharing an Advent message entitled, “Christmas in Chronicles” based on passages from the Old and New Testaments. Of this sermon he writes: The life and times of King David have some famous high and lows, but a key moment occurs when he is sitting in his house in Jerusalem: through the prophet Nathan, God announces that David will always have a descendant on the throne of Israel! This is a startling promise—no other king was ever given a promise of this magnitude—and some of the great prophetic texts celebrate and expand this astonishing word. Nonetheless, the promise is sorely tested during the tense days of the Israelite monarchy. One of the most intense moments takes place in 2 Chronicles, as the wicked queen Athaliah seizes control of the throne and unleashes a cycle of violence that nearly extinguishes that promise. At the last moment, a little baby is hidden in the precincts of the temple; this baby boy is a descendant of David, and the promise is hanging on by a thread. But the child survives and in due course Athaliah is deposed and replaced by the rightful king. As we see later in the Bible, the elements of a cruel tyrant and a vulnerable infant are replayed in the in the gospel narrative. When the heavenly host announce “today in the city of David a Savior is born,” that promise—once hanging by the slimmest of margins—comes to fulfillment with the arrival the Christmas story!
Join us online
To join our online congregation, check out Facebook Live for the Contemporary service and Youtube for the Traditional service. However, the easy-peasy way is to visit www.thestreetonline.ca and on the homepage click the WORSHIP ONLINE button and you’ll be taken directly to the service of your choice.
11. Housing Needed
In January 2022, a Christian university student from Kenya will be starting at UNB in the Engineering Faculty. He is in need of housing and I’m asking the church family if you know of any opportunities that might be available to a Christian young man coming to Canada for the first time.
It is likely that he would benefit from a room in a home, not being able to afford an apartment of his own.
Please pray for this young man and let me know if you have any leads we can follow up.
With thanks, Pastor Greg
12. This Week at BSBC: Dec. 8 to 15
Please note: FLC stands for Family Life Center & Z stands for Zoom Gathering
Wednesday, December 8
9:30 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
10:00 Library Open
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary/Choir Room)
6:30 Dream Big Bible Study (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
6:30 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (2nd Floor Counselling Centre Room)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Family Room, FLC)
Thursday, December 9
9:30 New Life Christmas Party (3rd Floor, FLC)
1:30 Ladies Bible Study (Family Room, FLC) (CB)
1:30 Bible Study (3rd Floor Boardroom, FLC) (MM)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Choir Room)
7:30 GriefShare (Final Get Together, Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Handbell Choir (Sanctuary)
7:00 Mandarin Choir Practice (Choir Room)
Friday, December 10
9:00 Benevolent Ministry (By Appointment)
9:30 Senior Exercise (Gym)
6:00 Friends Are Us (Puppet Room, KidzTown, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Z)
7:00 Youth Group – Carolling Night (Meet at BSBC)
Saturday, December 11
1:00 Worship Team Practice (Gym)
2:00 Children’s Christmas Party (Sanctuary)
Sunday, December 12
06:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
9:00 Asian Sunday School Class (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
10:15 Preschool Classes (1st Floor, FLC)
10:15 KidzTown (2nd Floor, FLC)
10:30 Traditional Worship Service (Sanctuary)
10:30 Contemporary Worship Service (Gym)
10:30 Mandarin Worship Service (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
12:00 Fresh Start (Barnabas Center)
2:00 Chorale Rehearsal (Choir Room)
Monday, December 13
9:30 Senior Exercise (Gym)
7:00 Combined BoM/BoD Meeting (Z)
7:00 BSBC WMS (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
Tuesday, December 14
12:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
1:30 Pastoral Staff Meeting (Family Room)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room)
2:15 Full Staff Meeting (Family Room)
6:30 DivorceCare (Final Meeting, Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Contemporary Leadership Team (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
Wednesday, December 15
9:30 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary/Choir Room)
6:30 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (2nd Floor Counselling Centre Room)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Family Room, FLC)
