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In This Issue:
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Orange, Not a Traditional Colour of Christmas
2. Worship Details for This Coming Sunday
3. Hanging of the Greens Recording
4. Advent BODcast
5. Advent Activities Update
6. Starting Local/Going Global – Financial Progress Update
7. Update on Youth Events
8. The New Life Cupboard is Bare
9. Exciting News from Myles on a Mission
10. We’re Live on Instagram
11. Library Hours Change
12. Bed Needed
13. This Week @ BSBC
1. Another Orange Phase at BSBC
Orange is not a traditional Christmas colour, but that doesn’t change the reality we share since midnight on Thursday of last week. I’m grateful for the cooperation of church leaders and staff, as we engaged in quite a quick “pivot” to ministry in the orange phase. We celebrate God’s leading deacons and staff to consider, on Monday, Nov. 23, how we would address such an eventuality. We see this as another confirmation that God is going ahead of us in these days.
So, what does this mean for ministry at BSBC?
Our Sunday worship services, while in the orange phase, will be offered online. Go to the church website, click on “online worship” and you’ll find the service. It will be shown live. Tune in before 10:30 a.m. to enjoy a bit of pre-service music and the announcements. OR, go to the website any time after and you can view the recording.
All pastoral studies have moved online and will remain online until the end of the orange phase.
In-person groups, up to 25, are allowed to meet at the church with masks being worn at all times (never removed), attention to physical-distancing at 2 meters, screening before entry conducted by the group leader, record taken of those who attend with their contact information, hand sanitizing and no food or beverage service…all of this while we remain in the orange phase. Groups are asked to consider if meeting in person is wise given the vulnerabilities of individual group members.
Youth Bible Study, Youth Group, Sunday Young Adult Meeting and the new Greenhouse Youth Worship Services have all moved online.
We continue to offer our weekly children’s videos, available each Wednesday at www.thestreetonline.ca/children – this month they're Christmas-themed.
Thank you for your attention to these adjustments and for your continued interest and involvement in our life together. Please continue to pray for gospel engagement in our city and beyond and for your church leaders as we seek to discern God’s leading beyond the orange phase.
Every blessing,
Pastor Greg
2. Worship Details for Sunday, Dec. 6
Join us online at thestreetonline.ca/worship-online as we gather for the second Sunday in Advent. We’ll find blessing in a second “centering video,” advent candle lighting and seasonal worship music led by Jon & Alyse Wilton and the Kennedys. Joy and Jisu Shin have prepared the children’s moment which we’re sure will be enjoyed by all ages.
Comforting Christmas Traditions: Carols
We continue with our Advent 2020 theme, Comforting Christmas Traditions, this week considering carols of the season. Dr. Keith is back by video, since he lives in another orange zone, with a message from Luke 2:25-35 which focuses on the song of Simeon. Of this text he writes:
Later tradition asserts that Simeon was a well-connected high priest, but it is much more likely that he was not a high profile figure in first century Jerusalem. Instead, he is commended for his piety, and moved by the Holy Spirit to enter the temple precincts where he encounters our Lord as an infant. With prophetic insight and bold proclamation, while Simeon holds our only hope he intones the lyrics of a powerful Advent song that provide a glimpse of foreshadowing, unveiling both the purpose for the Messiah and the possibility of a new day for humanity.
How to watch
You can join us live on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. by simply visiting www.thestreetonline.ca and clicking on the online worship tab! Not up that early? No problem, follow the same actions anytime of the day or night.
3. Hanging of the Greens Recording
I confess, I was really looking forward to our Hanging of the Greens Service – even with the restrictions of COVID-19.
By Wednesday night of last week, all the participants were confirmed and all the plans made and then I had to send out cancellation emails. BUT, do you know what? All of those participants have happily agreed to come to the church this Saturday to record their individual components which our church ‘Master of Recordings’, Anthony Brown, will stitch together into one recording you can enjoy later, Sunday evening, Dec. 6!
So, plan to tune in at thestreetonline.ca/worship-online and enjoy this gift of love, created by over 50 members of your church family.
Pastor Greg
4. Advent BODcast
Tune in for Doc. B’s latest BODcast – a fun and seasonal look at seven somewhat unusual passages that underscore some aspect of the Advent season. Advent, is a time that we set aside for the celebration of the first coming of the Lord Jesus AND for his second coming. Just click below and off you’ll go!
5. Christmas Service Plans
When you visit our homepage, you can click on the “Christmas” link and see all the plans that have been made for the Advent/Christmas season.
So, what about those plans?
Well, let’s consider them, tentative. You are certainly welcome to make reservations “in faith” that we’ll be back to yellow in time. If not, the office will email a cancellation notice. We're looking at online options for all events, so, stay tuned as we wait to see what the future holds.
6. Starting Local Going Global
This is an exciting season as we engage in this annual BSBC fundraiser.
If you are not aware of the Starting Local/Going Global project, please read on. As of Friday, Nov. 27, here is an update on your giving:
Staring Local Campaign: Just under $2,900 (Goal: $6,100)
Going Global Campaign: Just under (Naomi can you fill in the amount) (Last year we raised just under: $9,000)
Thank you for considering this year’s campaign!
What is Starting Local Going Global?
Have you heard that we are living in “unprecedented” times? Yes, it’s become the watchword of 2020. And so, this year’s Starting Local/Going Global Christmas Campaign will take a different shape as we continue our pattern of blessing others in Jesus’ name…at home…and abroad. Here’s the scoop:
Starting Local
We invite you to share "Christmas love" through this annual event at BSBC. Designating money to the "local" part of our project will help provide ‘gift cards’ for the families of our New Life Ministry AND to some of our benevolent families. This ‘gift card’ initiative replaces the past tradition of the congregation purchasing gifts as we face the new challenges of the pandemic. Such engagement would require gifts totalling $6,100. Thank you for considering engaging in this BSBC tradition.
You can give to this part of the project by marking your donation “Starting Local.” We thank you for considering this opportunity to be a blessing.
Going Global
Our “Going Global” initiative invites our church family to designate the gift of money to sharing the gospel with the Mising Tribe who are an unreached people in north eastern India. You can give to this project by marking your gift “Going Global.”
7. Update on Youth Events
Wednesday Evening Bible Study
Dear students of the Word, for the next three more weeks, we will follow Jesus as he continues to stun his disciples, the crowds, and us too, with wise words and never-seen-before power! Come prepared by reading ahead: Mark 4:35-5:20. Note that for this period of time, we now solely gather on ZOOM. Want the link? Write me at charles@bsbc.nb.ca.
Friday Youth Gathering
Spending my Friday evening with you guys has been a delight since September, and even though we are now switching gears and moving to virtual gatherings, I know that it will continue to be awesome! Different isn't necessarily bad! As a team of youth leaders, we are working hard at planning out a memorable Friday online for you! We will start our gathering at 7pm and end around 8pm! See you then! Want the ZOOM link? Write me at charles@bsbc.nb.ca.
8. The New Life Cupboards are Bare
In January, New Life had enough non-perishable food stipends to last the rest of the year. Then COVID-19 hit and the group shut down until this October.
Before we opened, we went through the dates on all the food and 3/4 of it was either past date or nearing. We made use of the near expired food but could not give away the majority. Thus, the cupboards are very, very bare at this time.
We need your help
To reopen in the new year we need to restock the shelves and your help will be invaluable. We will need:
Kraft Dinner
cookies
canned veggies
canned tomatoes
canned ham, chicken, turkey, tuna, fruit
spaghetti sauce
dry pasta
cereal
crackers
canned pasta
canned brown beans
Cheese Whiz
peanut butter
canned/bottled/cartoned fruit juices
toilet paper
kleenex
paper towel
boxed potatoes.
Thank you, in advance, as the small bag of groceries we give each week help our participants.
Rhonda MacLure-Perrin
9. Exciting News from Myles on a Mission
We're happy to share this exciting update from Reuben and Leah Myles on their upcoming move to the Philippines for missionary service. Please pray for them as God's plan for their lives continues to unfold.
How to donate
Click on the link below to find the donation form. To ensure your donation is going to Reuben and Leah, under the "Fund" field you'll find a drop down menu. Scroll down and select 01-Worker-Reuben & Leah Myles-Philippines.
10. Follow Us On Instagram
Brunswick Street Baptist Church is officially on Instagram. You can find us (and tag us!) @brunswickstreetbaptist. We hope you’ll stop by for the latest news from BSBC, regular encouragement — and most importantly to engage in community together.
11. Library Hours Change
Our library will be closed on Wednesdays in December. If you would like to take out a book, please call Sharon Gosselin (450-7878) and she will arrange a time to meet you at the library.
Also, anyone returning books can do so Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
12. Bed Needed
A BSBC family will have an adult family member coming to live with them and are in need of a single bed or a hide-a-bed. If you have an answer to this need, please contact the church office (458-8348). Thank you!
13. This Week at BSBC
Wednesday, Dec. 2
12:00 Prayer Time with Pastor Charles (Facebook Live)
6:30 Micah 6:8 Bible Study with Pastor Greg (Zoom)
6:30 Youth Bible Study with Pastor Charles (Zoom)
Thursday, Dec. 3
9:30 New Life Ministry (Pending)
6:30 Adult Handbell Choir (KidzTown)
7:00 GriefShare (3 rd Floor)
7:00 Personal Testimony Workshop with Pastor Charles (Facebook Live)
7:00 NextGen Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Friday, Dec. 4
7:00 Middle & High School Youth Groups (Zoom)
Saturday, Dec. 5
4:00 Hanging of the Greens Recording Sessions (Sanctuary)
Sunday, Dec. 6
10:30 Online Worship Service (Visit Church Website – Facebook Live)
Monday, Dec. 7
6:30 Education Committee Meeting (Zoom)
6:30 Social Action Team Meeting (Zoom)
Tuesday, Dec. 8
1:30 Pastoral Staff Meeting (Family Room)
2:15 Full Staff Meeting (Family Room)
6:30 Bible Study with Pastor Steve (Zoom)
6:30 DivorceCare (3rd Floor)
Wednesday, Dec. 9
12:00 Prayer Time with Pastor Charles (Facebook Live)
6:30 Youth Bible Study with Pastor Charles (Zoom)
YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dr. Keith Bodner, Preaching Pastor
Pastor Greg Geldart, Lead Pastor
Pastor Jim McLellan, Pastor of Senior’s Visitation
Pastor Charles Millette, Missionary in Residence
Pastor Steve Patterson, Outreach Pastor
Pastor Changbin Tian, Pastor to the Chinese Congregation
