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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Once Again, Our Doors Are Open
2. Youth Ministry in the Yellow Phase
3. Church Christmas Party This Saturday
4. Candlelight Services – Dec. 19 & 20
5. Worship Details for This Coming Sunday
6. Starting Local/Going Global – Financial Progress Update
7. Starting Local Additional Initiative
8. “‘Twas the Fall of the COVID at BSBC” – A Poem by Brian McEwing
9. The New Life Cupboard is Bare
10. We’re Live on Instagram
11. This Week @ BSBC
1. Once Again, Our Doors Are Open
I never thought that I’d be singing, “I’m Dreaming of a Yellow Christmas,” but, I have (with a really bad adjusted text!). And now, here we are, at least at this juncture, Fredericton returned to the Yellow Phase.
Make your reservation for Sunday
And, being back in the Yellow Phase of Recovery, allows us to return to in-person services and events. So, we welcome you to make your reservations to attend THIS Sunday’s Contemporary and Traditional services. We’ll look forward to seeing you!
When we gather, we will continue:
Screening at the door
Hand sanitizing on entrance
Masking at all times
Maintaining physical distancing between ‘bubbles’ when entering, exiting, and moving about the building
Being seated with 2 metre distance between ‘bubbles’ which, with masks, allows us to sing together (and have permission for you to take communion by simply lifting and lowering your mask)
Maintaining attendance records for the purpose of contact tracing
Thank you for noting these important aspects of sharing life together on the campus of Brunswick Street Baptist Church.
For those not able to join us for in-person services and events, we will continue our online presence. So, continue to visit www.thestreetonline.ca to connect with us!
2. Youth Ministry Back in the Yellow Phase
This week, we will continue to gather online for the Bible study on Wednesday, Dec. 9 and the youth group event on Friday, Dec. 11.
However, we will hold our second Youth Worship Service, this Sunday, Dec. 13, 10:30 am in-person, on the 3rd floor of the Family Life Center. It will be great to come together again to worship our Lord and learn how we can participate according to our gifts and abilities!
We look forward to gathering together, bringing red and green forward as the main colours of this marvellous season of the year where we get to reflect on Jesus, infant and Saviour!
Email me at charles@bsbc.nb.ca to register, for the ZOOM link and/or for more info.
Pastor Charles
3. BSBC Christmas Party - This Saturday
We invite the BSBC church family to gather together, in-person or on Facebook Live, for our Church Christmas Party, in the sanctuary, this Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m.
What can you expect?
Well, both in-person and online guests can expect a fun sing-along, some awesome Christmas worship song videos, presentations by members of our Friends Are Us Puppeteers, jokes, games and fun, fun, fun! Our party will last for about 40 minutes.
Then, those who come in-person, will have the folks in their “bubble” move to another location in the building for their ‘bubble’ to enjoy Christmas snacks and a craft to complete on your own schedule, after which you will leave.
All COVID protocols will be observed (screening, sanitizing, physical-distancing, masking at all times (expect for your personal “bubble time”).
To make your reservation for in-person attendance, please click below. On Saturday, please enter the building using the main sanctuary doors on York Street.
4. Two Candlelight Services
Due to our limited sanctuary seating in observance of COVID protocols, this year we're offering two Candlelight Services.
Saturday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
The services will be identical with participation from our instrumental/vocal soloists, small vocal ensembles, and the Adult Handbell Choir – all offered with COVID protocols engaged and under the guidance from the Department of Health.
Make your reservation
Again, please make reservations in advance, plan on screening at the door, hand sanitizing, masking at all times and physical distancing while waiting to enter the building, in the building, and while exiting.
Offering to support Fredericton Community Kitchen
We will also observe a BSBC Candlelight Service tradition by taking an entering offering in support of Fredericton Community Kitchen. In this way, our celebration of Jesus’ coming is touching lives with Jesus’ love.
5. Worship this Sunday, Dec. 13
We gather this Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent, to consider the implications of Jesus’ coming and to worship Him. We continue with our advent theme: Comforting Christmas Traditions with this week’s focus on the gifts of Christmas.
Dr. Bodner will be bringing a message entitled “Anna’s Gift” based on Luke 2:36-28. Of this sermon he writes:
Although the story of Anna (Greek for “Hannah”) unfolds in much less than 84 words (that is, rather less than her age), there is a certain potency in the short biography of a widow who invests all of her days in praying and fasting in the temple. But much more than a pillar of self-control in a culture of indulgence, Anna’s story provides the reader with a rich gift and an important chapter in the drama of Advent. This short message will discuss her actions (“she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem”) and underscore the surprising significance of her tribal affiliation.
In the sanctuary, a vocal ensemble of Talia Kennedy, Illyanna Vermeersch, and David Steeves will sing, and we’ll find blessing in a handbell ensemble.
There are a few ways you can worship with us this Sunday:
Contemporary online worshippers: Tune in to Facebook Live just before 10:30 a.m.
Traditional online worshippers: Please note that the recording of the morning traditional service will be available on our website by 2 p.m. on Sunday. Thanks for noting this change.
In-person worshippers: Please make your reservation by clicking the button below.
6. Starting Local Going Global - Financial Update
This is an exciting season as we engage in this annual BSBC event. As of Monday, Dec. 6, we are excited to report on your giving:
Staring Local Campaign: $5,970 (Goal of $6,100)
Going Global Campaign: $6,010 (Last year’s total was just under $9,000)
Thank you for considering this year’s campaign!
Please see the next newsletter article for an update on Starting Local from our Social Action Team. To hear more about the Global project, please enjoy the following video offered by John Stewart, chair of our Missions Committee.
You can continue to give by simply identifying your gift as Starting Local or Going Global. Gifts that are identified Starting Local/Going Global will be equally divided between the funds.
7. Starting Local Additional Initiative
Thank you so much for your generous giving! We have almost reached our $6,100 goal to serve the Starting Local New Life and Benevolent family needs!
Gifts for our Third Sunday Supper friends
Now, if you have not given yet, we would love to invite you to help us expand the project and include our downtown friends. Due to Covid restrictions, we have not been able to engage with our friends at Third Sunday Suppers and so we would like to touch base with as many as we can and to bless them with the gift of giving this Christmas season.
We hope to purchase 80 Tim Hortons gift cards and include a small box of chocolates as well! This will cost approximately $1,170.
So, if there are any who wish to take this opportunity, we can make sure that more people will be blessed!
Thank you so much for helping us to reach our goal and, ideally, allow us to bless others connected with us through Third Sunday Supper in the Name of Jesus!
Pastor Steve
8. A Poem By Brian McEwing
I receive a lot of email. I’m grateful for the flexibility and efficiency email provides AND occasionally an email brings laughter.
Those of you who know the creative Brian McEwing will not be surprised by the following offering – his reflection on BSBC life in these “unprecedented” times.
Enjoy!
Pastor Greg
T’was the Fall of the Covid....and all through “The Street”
The Pastors were pondering....How now do we manage to meet and to greet?
3rd Sunday’s had long passed....on the corner of York
But not 1 meal had been served....no more need of a fork.
The big guns were not gathering....the ones on “The Boards”
Choosing now to virtually seek guidance and direction from the Lord.
Even Bodner was missing, some saying quietly....”He’s slipped into Orange”
Pastor Greg re-assured us.....”He’ll be back, he’ll return...all relaxed and adorned.”
Pastor Steve is still strumming benevolence to all those in great need
While Pastor Charles...regarding our young folk...is asking “How now do I feed?”
Naomi and Janet are still faithfully manning the phones
Dealing now with masked visitors....and feeling alone.
Yes, the Church appears a bit quiet....some murmuring of gloom
Why, even the Quilters....tho’ quilting....are now quilting by Zoom!
Then....from the new copper roof top, there came quite a clatter
Had Santa brought a new steeple….and installed it with a ladder?
The Family then paused for prayer....and came to their senses
There was no need for gloom..... T’was the new found consensus.
No need to worry or stress....about meetings or food
For our Lord always provides......and our God is so good!
Amen
9. The New Life Cupboard is 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/boxed fruit juices
toilet paper
Kleenex
paper towel
boxed potatoes.
Thank you, in advance, as the small bag of groceries we give each week helps our participants.
Rhonda MacLure-Perrin
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. This Week at BSBC
Wednesday, Dec. 9
10:00 - Library is open from 10 a.m. to noon
12:00 - Prayer Time with Pastor Charles (Facebook Live)
6:30 - Youth Bible Study with Pastor Charles (Zoom)
Thursday, Dec. 10
6:30 - Adult Handbell Choir (KidzTown)
Friday, Dec. 11
7:00 - Middle & High School Youth Groups (Zoom)
Saturday, Dec. 12
2:00 - Covid-sensitive Christmas Party (Sanctuary/Facebook Live)
7:00 - Just Church (Gym)
Sunday, Dec. 13
10:30 - Traditional Service (Sanctuary/Online)
10:30 - Contemporary Service (Gym/Facebook Live)
10:30 - Youth Greenhouse Service (3rd Floor)
12:00 - Young Adult Lunch (3rd Floor)
Monday, Dec. 14
6:30 - Combined Board of Deacons & Management Meeting (Zoom)
7:00 - BSBC WMS (3rd Floor)
7:15 - Board of Management (Zoom)
7:15 - Board of Deacons (Zoom)
Tuesday, December 15
11:30 - Staff Christmas Luncheon (at the Geldart’s)
6:30 - Bible Study with Pastor Steve (Zoom)
6:30 - DivorceCare (3rd Floor)
Wednesday, Dec. 16
12:00 - Prayer Time with Pastor Charles (Facebook Live)
6:00 - Vocal Ensemble (Choir Room)
6:30 - Youth Bible Study with Pastor Charles (Zoom)
