The Banner
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8
In this issue:
Check out what's coming up at BSBC from Jan. 19 to 26.
Church is Online Only Jan. 23 & 30
Groups Meeting at the Church Facility
How Can We Help?
How Can You Help?
New: Online Community Spaces
Jan. 30 Special Guest from Teen Challenge
A Peak Behind the Scenes
Pastoral Review for Pastor Greg Geldart
Third Sunday Supper: Invitation to Partner
Third Sunday Supper: Report for January
Services for Jan. 23
Vacation
Muffin Support for Our Street Ministry
This Week @ BSBC
1. Church is Online Only for Jan. 23 & 30
Church family, we hope to "see" you at church online over the next two Sunday mornings. We hope in-person services will return in February.
How to watch
At 10:30 a.m. each Sunday morning you can ‘tune in’ to the gym Contemporary Service or the sanctuary Traditional Service at thestreetonline.ca by clicking on the "Worship Online" button and then clicking the service you would like.
The services continue to be available for your viewing on both platforms after the Sunday morning broadcast. Keep in contact with your church family by joining us each week for worship.
2. Groups Meeting at the Church
From now until the end of the month, no groups will be meeting in-person at the church facility. Contact your group leader or chairman to find out how to connect with your group.
For youth ministry info please contact Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca
3. How Can We Help?
While we can’t promise that we'll be able to meet every need, I'm confident that as a church family, we want to try.
Do you need groceries picked up? Would you like a call each week to check in with you? Do you have a specific prayer request that is relevant to your family, friends or your personal experience?
How can we help ‘bear’ your ‘burden’ in these days? I invite you to contact the church office (458-8348 or receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca) and we’ll do what we can to stand with you
4. How Can You Help?
Are you looking for a way to help? We can help you help others. Please contact the church office at receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca
and we’ll put you on the list.
What else can you do? Practice patience. Look for ways to be a blessing in another life. Share your ideas of how you think our church can be a means of blessing and witness in these days. Love, love, love… Pray.
“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.”
— Max Lucado
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
–Romans 8:26-27
5. Online Community Spaces
Creating space for community and wellbeing in a time of isolation
Let's do life together (online!) we're offering two opportunities next week to come together in community over Zoom.
Cardio Workout with Pastor Ross
Have you ever worked out with a pastor? Do a 20-minute cardio workout with Pastor Ross on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Join him on Zoom at 7 p.m.
Meeting ID: 878 1589 9762 | Passcode: 772999
Cook Supper with Anna Marie
Anna Marie Colpitts welcomes you to join her in the kitchen on Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. to make supper together. Just click on the link below for the recipe and ingredient list. Then join us on this zoom link for some fun! We are going to start with an easy one pot meal.
Meeting ID: 875 4144 6372 | Passcode: 001910
6. Special Guest from Teen Challenge
On Sunday morning, Jan. 30, we will welcome a team from “Teen Challenge” to share stories of victory through faith in Christ. In past years, when teams have visited, I know many of us have been encouraged in our faith and level of trust in God.
These are always powerful mornings and I encourage you to consider who you should invite to tune in. You can learn more about “Teen Challenge” by visiting the Atlantic men’s site. You’ll be provided with information on how you can support “Teen Challenge” in their important work.
7. A Peak Behind the Scenes
Definition of behind-the-scenes
1 : being or working out of public view or in secret
Many people say, “I’m so grateful for the online services.” And I try to always respond, “we have an amazing team working behind the scenes.” And we do! The folks who appear on your screen would not be on your screen without the folks working behind the scenes…week in and week out. Do you know who they are?
I though that it might be time to tell you so that you can pray prayers of blessing over them — thanking God for their faithfulness and their skill. I can assure you that what they do, they do with love to serve the Lord and you.
Pastor Greg
Gym Service
Camera & Screen Ministry: Bryan McWilliam, Dan Lutes, Alyse Wilton
Sound Ministry: Eric Lange, Jon Wilton, Margaret Andow
Facebook Live Hosts: Denise Mersereau, Sarah Millette, Alyse Wilton, Grace McAllister
Online Video Production: Grace McAllister, Abby Bright, Margaret Andow, Erik Dunfield, Rotimi Akalusi
Traditional Service
Camera Ministry: Kellie Brown, Ron Smith
Screen Ministry: Julia Polyachenko, Elaine Pond, Mary Tingley, Martina Verboom
Sound Ministry: Bruce Colpitts, Sergiy Polyachenko, Adrian Verboom
Youtube Host: Claire Geldart
Online Video Production: Anthony Brown
Overall
Technical Director: Anthony Brown
Audio/Visual Working Groups: Erik Lange and Joel Tingley from the Board of Management; Mark McAllister and Jon Wilton from the Board of Deacons
8. Pastoral Review of Pastor Greg
As per our Constitution, the Board of Deacons are conducting a review of the ministry of Pastor Greg Geldart. Part of this process is to invite confidential written submissions from the congregation at large. Your submissions may be shared with the Board but not with Pastor Geldart.
How to submit your review
To make a submission, please present your signed remarks in a sealed envelope addressed to “Pastoral Review Committee for Greg Geldart” and drop them off at the church office before Monday, Jan. 24. If the office is not open, you can safely slip your envelope through the mail slot in the Receptionist’s office door in the gym foyer.
Please be in prayer for the Board as we prayerfully conduct this regular review of pastoral ministry.
Your Board of Deacons
9. Third Sunday Supper: How You Can Get Involved
There is nothing quite like a nice hot, home cooked meal, especially when you don’t have one very often!
We are making plans to have a meal prepared for each month in 2022, to be served to our less fortunate, downtown friends. All of our guests are low income, living in subsidized housing, shelters or on the street. Our monthly Third Sunday Supper, gives them an opportunity to have a nice meal, prepared by loving hands and served by loving hearts. It gives us an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a very practical way.
10. Third Sunday Supper: January Report
Third Sunday Supper for January was to be held on Sunday, Jan. 16, but then the lockdown was announced, and we realized that our friends, who come each month for physical AND spiritual nourishment and fellowship could not gather. I had anticipated that was that.
Our team was not deterred
But a couple in our congregation who had volunteered to prepare the meal were not to be deterred. Being their own ‘bubble,' they prepared to serve meat lasagna, Caesar salad and garlic bread — packaged for take out. And one of our deacons made carrot cake at home which was also packaged to go. Many of our friends who had registered to come were contacted to say that they could come at the usual time and pick up their meals to take home.
How’d it go?
Here's the summary from a member of our Social Action Team who was there to help with distribution: By 5:15, most of the meals were gone! A few on our registered list didn't come, and a few others who weren't on the list did. 30 meals were prepared and all but 1 were given out or delivered.
Please join me in giving thanks for servant hearts who found a way to continue to ‘love on’ our Third Sunday Supper congregation!
Pastor Greg
PS – Covid, take that!!!!!
11. Services for Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022
Our worship gatherings for this Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. have moved online. Just go to www.thestreetonline.ca, click the “worship online” button and choose the service you wish to ‘attend’. With one more click – you’re there!
Sunday Morning’s Gym Service
Dr. Keith offers the third in his three-week series: “Turning a New Leaf.” This week with a message entitled “ROME SWEET ROME” based on Acts 28. Of this sermon he writes: Our extensive adventure in the book of Acts draws to a close with the arrival of the apostle Paul in the Imperial City, and his journey ends under Roman house arrest. This concluding message will have three parts based on this final chapter.
First, we will read vv. 1-10 and discover what happens after the shipwreck on the island of Malta, replete with survival, snakebites, and healings. Second, we arrive on the shores of Italy in vv. 11-22, where there is some amazingly warm fellowship with the believing community that for years Paul had longed to visit. He also meets with the leaders of the Jewish synagogue and explains some important matters of the gospel.
Finally, in vv. 23-31 the narrative draws to completion (“Paul lived there for two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed everyone who came to see him. He announced the kingdom of God, and taught the things about the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, with all boldness, and with no one stopping him”). Our message this week will focus some attention on this last paragraph of the book and discover several compelling points of application as we at BSBC seek to live the good news in this province and beyond.
Sunday Morning’s Traditional Service
Again, a service with familiar elements with a bit of a twist. Our soloist this week is Margaret Geldart accompanied by David Steeves at the organ. We’ll have a ministry moment from Dale Bray on the important work of the Community Kitchen. After a switch in preachers last Sunday, this week we will welcome Deacon Charlie Ritchie who will share a message from the opening verses of chapter 3 of the book of Ephesians.
12. Vacation
The congregation is asked to pray for Pastor Greg and Margaret as they engaged in two weeks of vacation. Pastor Greg will be leaving on vacation after the morning service this Sunday, Jan. 9 and will return to ministry on Sunday morning, Jan. 23. We are pleased that the Geldarts are taking a break and grateful to Pastor Ross and Pastor Nikki who will be available and eager to engage with the congregation during Pastor Greg’s absence.
Your Board of Deacons
13. Support The Street Ministry: Muffin Drive
Muffins are distributed every night and you can sign up to bake one of three dozen muffins that are needed each week. We ask “muffin makers” to individually wrap your muffins before bringing them to the church to place in the upright freezer in the main kitchen. On the bag of your muffins, please write your name, the date and STREET MINISTRY on the bag.
To ensure that we get a fresh supply each week, you are invited to click the link below and fill your name in by the week or weeks in which you will provide a dozen muffins. OR, for that person-to-person interaction, feel free to call the church office at 458-8348 and your information will be taken and added to the plan.
Your Social Action Team
14. This Week at BSBC: Jan. 19 to 26
Please note: FLC stands for Family Life Center & Z stands for Zoom Gathering
Wednesday January 19
6:30 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (Z)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Z)
Thursday, January 20
9:00 Benevolent Ministry (By Telephone Appointment)
4:30 Youth Connection Time (Z)
Friday, January 21
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Z)
7:00 Youth Group - Family Bubble Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, January 22
No Scheduled Activities
Sunday, January 23
10:30 Contemporary Worship Service (Facebook Live)
10:30 Traditional Worship Service (YouTube)
10:30 Mandarin Worship Service (Z)
Monday, January 24
7:00 Board of Deacons (Z)
Tuesday, January 25
1:00 Pastoral Staff (Family Room)
2:15 Full Staff Meeting (Family Room)
7:00 Workout with Pastor Ross (Z)
Wednesday, January 26
6:30 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (Z)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Z)
