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Our Mission for 2022
Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
Psalm 96:2-3
In this issue:
Check out what's coming up at BSBC from March 16 to 23.
Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter? (In One Sentence)
Holy Week/Easter @ BSBC
NextGen Ministries @ BSBC (Latest Opportunities for Children and Youth)
Ministry Opportunity: Preschool Coordinator
Sunday Morning, March 20
An Expanded Ministry Role
Library Opening on Tuesdays
Easter Mailing
An Expression of Thanks
NB Government Covid Protocol Changes
Ukraine: What You Can Purchase/How to Give
Single Beds Needed
Adult Bible Study Available for You (In-Person)
Lenten Talks
This Week @ BSBC
1. Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter (In One Sentence)
Why do Christians celebrate Easter? Many people think it’s all about baskets of candy, fancy hats, bunnies, and eggs. But that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about who we celebrate on Easter (Jesus) and why we celebrate Him (He died and was raised from the dead). You came for one sentence. Here it goes.
We celebrate Easter to worship our eternally perfect God who separated Himself from every other deity by choosing to give up His own rights and life to restore and save the rights and lives of His creation.
Read that again. There is only one God who gives up what He deserves to give His creation what they don’t. That’s our God. He’s why we celebrate Easter. Maybe you’re not a one-sentence type of person.
Jesus took on the darkest evils of the world through the worst death, just in case you’d decide to believe in Him over 2,000 years later.
Here are 15 more reasons why we celebrate Easter.
Because Easter represents the moment God’s only Son, Jesus, took on your death sentence, served the term, and called it finished! (John 17:4, John 19:30)
Jesus took on the darkest evils of the world through the worst death, just in case you’d decide to believe in Him over 2,000 years later. (1 Peter 2:24)
Because I thought I was smart enough, good enough, caring enough, and strong enough to be a father, son, husband, employee, brother, and caretaker of our planet—but I (and you) constantly fall short. (Romans 3:23)
Because the sting of our failure to perfectly follow God’s laws was swallowed up by the victory of Christ’s empty tomb. (Isaiah 25:8, 1 Corinthians 15:54-56)
Because our God carried out His plan to give up what He deserved to give us back what we never earned—and deserved to lose. (John 3:16)
Because without Easter our savior is dead in a grave, but with Him, our human failings are dead in His grave. (1 Corinthians 15:17)
Because Jesus Himself said it was the day He’d be glorified. (John 12:23-25)
Because when we find our lives at a dark, dead end, Jesus has already been there, and He’s gone ahead of us to make another way. (Mark 16:6)
Because we killed our God who came to Earth as a perfect man three days before His perfect Father, our creator, raised Him back to life. (Luke 24:7)
Because the same power (the Holy Spirit) that quaked the earth, that stole death from hell and made it life, that rolled away the stone, that pushed back darkness, is alive to do God’s work in our hearts today. (Acts 4:33)
Because we need to remember that nothing amazing happens without sacrifice. (Romans 5:8)
Because this one day sums up the reason God left heaven to enter His immeasurable creation as a tiny, crying human. (Romans 14:9)
Because Jesus is the hope of the world, but He’s also the hope of my world. (Matthew 12:20-21)
Because we killed the author of life, but God used Jesus’ death to give our story a happy ending. (Acts 3:15)
Why do Christians celebrate Easter? Because Jesus. (1 John 4:19)
Won’t you celebrate Easter, too?
Jason Inman
(Copyright 2022 LifeChurch)
2. Holy Week/Easter at BSBC
We're making our way through the season of Lent, a time to consider our spiritual vitality as we approach the annual focus on Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This central event, recognized on Good Friday, is preceded and followed by events that help magnify the wonder of God’s plan to open the door to Him.
There are lots of events planned to allow as many as possible to mark the steps of Jesus from Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday. Please mark your calendar and attend any of these offerings, which we trust will enrich your Easter.
Children's Easter Party – Saturday, April 9, 2 p.m. (in-person & online)
Palm Sunday Morning Worship Services – Sunday, April 10, 10:30 a.m. (in-person & online)
Palm Sunday Candlelight Concert: At the Cross – Sunday, April 10, 6:30 p.m. (in-person & online)
Maundy Thursday Communion/Foot Washing – Thursday, April 14, 6:30 p.m. (in-person only)
Good Friday: Worship at the Cross – Friday, April 15, 10:30 a.m. (in-person & online)
Easter Celebration with the East Coast Brass – Saturday, April 16, 6:30 p.m. (in-person only)
Easter Sonrise Service – Sunday, April 17, 7:30 a.m., Odell Park Lodge (in-person only)
Easter Sunday Morning Worship Services – Sunday, April 17, 10:30 a.m. (in-person & online)
3. NextGen Ministry Opportunities
We have quite a bit coming up now that March Break is over, and we are looking forward to Easter!
Children's Events at BSBC
“Hands In!” Girl’s Ministry
This is a new ministry group for elementary girls, held at KidzTown, one Saturday a month. The purpose is for girls to come together and strengthen their relationship with each other and with God. All are welcome out to this event!
Who: Girls Kindergarten to Grade 5
What: Hands In! Girl’s Ministry
Where: KidzTown
When: Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to noon
Why: To learn about God and connect with other girls
Note: Please bring a mask
Register for Hands In Girl's Ministry
Children’s Easter Party
Our annual Children’s Easter Party will be offered in-person and online on Saturday, April 9, at 2 p.m. This will be an hour-long party for children from kindergarten to grade 5 to celebrate Easter together! Lots of fun. Puppets. Games. Stories. Songs. Treats. And more.
Please register by Wednesday, April 6, so that we can be sure we have enough of “everything” for “everyone.” We would love for your family (parents, please accompany your children and join in the party) to be a part of this event! Please feel free to reach out to Pastor Nikki (nikki@bsbc.nb.ca) with any questions.
Youth at BSBC
Coming up this week, we have Bible Study tonight, Wednesday, 6:30 to 8 p.m., continuing through the book of Jonah! All youth are welcome to come, whether online or in-person, in the family room at BSBC! Youth are encouraged to come out and learn more about God’s Word together! Please email Pastor Nikki (nikki@bsbc.nb.ca) for the Zoom link.
Friday, we have Youth Group from 7 to 9 p.m.! Our event for this week is called “Fruit ER!” Come out ready to have a great time of fellowship, friends, and learning! Bring a friend out!
On Sunday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m., youth gather in the Barnabas Centre for our monthly Greenhouse Service (offered the last Sunday of each month)! Mark your calendars. This is a service run by youth grades 6 to 12 for those in grades 6 to 12. It's a wonderful time of fellowship, community, and worship alongside one another! All youth are welcome to this event! If you have any questions, please email pastor Nikki (nikki@bsbc.nb.ca).
Please be praying for those leading these ministries and those participating in them.
4. Ministry Opportunity: Preschool Coordinator
We are grateful for the growing number of preschoolers who join us on Sunday mornings during the worship hour. As our numbers are growing, we need an individual to fill the role of Preschool Coordinator. This position of 7-10 hours per week includes the following opportunities for ministry...
5. Sunday Morning: March 20
In the gym, we’re grateful for the musical leadership of the Dunfield/Akalusi worship team. Leading this week’s connecting time will be Deacon Denise Mersereau with participation by Pastors Ross and Nikki. In the sanctuary, we look forward to the ministry of a vocal ensemble, soloist Pascale Beaulieu and keyboard ministry of Gloria Tranquilla and David Steeves.
In the gym, Dr. Keith will be offering the 2nd in a 3-part series: “The Experience of Grace.” The texts considered will come from 2 Chronicles 28:5-15; Luke 10:25-37. Dr. Keith writes: In this short series on the parables we are aiming to experience afresh the words of the Lord Jesus, and recognize how these various stories invite us to rethink how we might live with wisdom and vitality rather than according to the values of our surrounding world. Our journey continues this week with a closer look at the “good Samaritan.”
Even in the language of popular culture the idea of an act of random kindness (ark) is often heard, and usually defined as helping someone in need or responding to an emergency. But there are a number of aspects in this parable that require some further attention. So, we will start by exploring the larger context: rather than out of the blue, this story about bitter enemies is shared in the context of a debate between Jesus and an expert in the law, and that makes a difference to how we hear the parable. Moreover, there is some background buried deep in the book of 2 Chronicles 28. The passage might be hard to find, but it is quite easy to understand: in the aftermath of battle, one group helps another with clothing, supplies, bandages, and rides on donkeys to Jericho. When Jesus is talking to the lawyer, this connection with 2 Chronicles 28 expands the boundaries of mercy and encourages us to read the parable through an exciting new lens, providing a shift in perspective to the lawyer’s opening question, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
In the sanctuary, Pastor Ross will offer the next installment of our continuing study in the book of Ephesians: “Releasing the Church.” This week, we’ll consider Ephesians 4:1-16. Under the heading “Unity in the Body”, this passage invites us to consider how disciples of Jesus are given a new identity and a new purpose – a corporate effort to grow together, each person playing an important role in the work of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Again, this Sunday, join us in-person OR online. The Contemporary Service will be available in the gym in our café setting OR join on Facebook Live. The Traditional Service will be available in the sanctuary OR join on YouTube. Attending on-line? Simply visit www.thestreetonline.ca and click “Worship Online” and then choose your service.
Online or in-person, we hope you’ll take time to connect with us this week!
6. An Expanded Ministry Role
The Board of Deacons is grateful to Doug McAllister who has accepted the invitation to engage in some weekly home visitation with our senior adult population. While our new pastors continue to settle into their ministry positions, the Board and Pastor Greg feel that our senior adults need more support at this time. Doug will be working from a list provided by Pastor Greg but either he or Pastor Greg would be grateful for any calls, indicating specific seniors who could benefit from a visit.
Here's an introduction to our brother Doug, who is also managing our Benevolent Ministry in concert with Pastor Greg.
Doug comes from Ripples NB where he was raised in a large family of 9 siblings. He has one daughter and three sons, and 11 grandchildren.
In his work life, he has been in the janitorial cleaning industry for over 46 years. Most of those years he has served in Management, Director and Business Development roles regionally and also nationally. Currently, Doug is semi-retired and involved part-time as an independent advisor to business owners, and as Benevolent Coordinator for BSBC.
For many years, Doug has been a volunteer in Christian Ministry as a choir member, elder, teacher, mentor, board member, and has served in ministry at Senior Residences. He has also been a volunteer for a number of charities including the C.N.I.B., Heart and Stroke Foundation, Circle Square Ranches, and for many years coached hockey under the leadership of the Fredericton Youth Hockey Association (FYHA). His hobbies include reading and writing.
One of Doug's lifelong mottos is found in Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might". He believes that every day should be an exciting fulfilling adventure, with the leading of the Lord of his life, Jesus.
Doug is a member of BSBC along with his wife Heather Topple McAllister.
7. Library Openings on Tuesdays
Our librarians would be happy to welcome you to come to the church Library on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month from 10 a.m. until noon. Take this opportunity to explore our extensive collection and have a visit with Sharon Gosselin and Shirley Graves.
8. Easter Mailing
On Friday, March 25, we’ll be sending out our Easter mailing. If you would rather have your seasonal mailings come to you electronically, please click below. Also, if you are not currently receiving our seasonal mailings, click the link to be added to the electronic or paper mailing lists.
9. Thank You
Thank you, ‘STREET’ friends, for your condolences, expressions of loving kindness, and sincere sympathies with respect to my dear mother’s passing into deep peace, rest, and the embrace of her loving God on Valentine’s Day. They were needed and deeply appreciated. With gratefulness, and on behalf of Janice, my daughters, their partners, and myself – Ross Simonds.
10. NB Government COVID-19 Mandated Changes & BSBC
Dear Church Family — I’m sure you are aware of the changes to Covid mandates that have been announced by the provincial government. In short, as of now, the requirement for proof of vaccination has been retracted. And, as of Monday, March 14, the Mandatory Order will be lifted, meaning that there will no longer be legally binding requirements for masks, distancing, limited seating or limited numbers at gatherings...
11. Ways We Can Help Ukraine
I’m sure that you are up to date on the news coming out of Ukraine. As a church family, we continue to pray for the parents and brother’s family of Sergiy Polyachenko, the mother of his wife, Julia, and for family members of Roz Thompson, who all live in Ukraine. Please don’t forget to pray for believers in Ukraine and its surrounding countries. The Church in this area is suffering, and we can stand with them.
It may feel that you wish you could do more.
Items You Can Purchase That Will Be Sent to Ukraine
Ways to Give Financially in Support of Humanitarian Aid
12. Single Beds Needed
We have a family moving to a new apartment at the beginning of April. With growing children and leaving a very unsatisfactory living situation, they are in need of 3 single beds. If you have a single bed that you could give, please get in touch with the church office, and we’ll get it picked up and delivered.
13. Adult Bible Study
Wednesday Night Bible Study with Pastor Ross
Very rarely in the Bible does God command someone to “stay.” He opens a door, and then he invites us to walk through it—into the unknown. And how we choose to respond will ultimately determine the lives we will lead and the people we will become.
Pastor Ross is leading All The Places To Go, a six-session video study by bestselling author John Ortberg to open our eyes to the countless open doors God places before us every day, teach us how to recognize them, and give us the encouragement to step out in faith and embrace all of the extraordinary opportunities that await.
Join Pastor Ross Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Family Life Centre — starting March 16. Sign up using the link below.
14. Lenten Talks
Who: All are welcome
What: “Help! I Need Somebody! The Grace in Asking for Help!” speaker series
When: Wednesdays at Noon
Where: Christ Church Parish Church
Why: Lent is a time for personal reflection and spiritual engagement
Topics
March 9: You Don’t Have to Walk on Water to be a Christian
Speaker: The Rt. Rev Bill Hockin
March 16: The Freedom in Being Forgiven
Speaker: The Rt. Rev Bill Hockin
March 23: Faith; Pivoting from What is…to What Could Be
Speaker: The Rt. Rev Bill Hockin
March 30: Contented in Our Own Chair
Speaker: The. Rev. Canon Wandlyn Snelgrove
Please note: If you can’t attend in person, the talks will be recorded and available the following day on the CCPC YouTube Channel.
15. This Week at BSBC: March 16 to 23
Please note: FLC stands for Family Life Centre.
Wednesday, March 16
10:00 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (Sanctuary And Choir Room)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 “All The Places To Go” Bible Study (Ross Watters) (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
7:00 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (Charles Millette) (Zoom)
Thursday, March 17
9:00 Benevolent Ministry (By Appointment)
9:00 Prayer Meeting (Charles Millette) (Top Floor, Barnabas Center)
9:30 New Life (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
1:30 Ladies Bible Study (Carol Bray) (Family Room, FLC)
1:30 Small Group Bible Study (Mary McMulkin) (3rd Floor Conference Room, FLC)
5:30 Cooking Together (Zoom)
6:00 L’Arche Group (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
6:30 Pastoral Relations Committee Meeting (3rd Floor Boardroom, FLC)
6:30 Handbell Choir (Sanctuary)
7:00 GriefShare (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Choir Practice (Choir Room)
Friday, March 18
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
3:30 Pastoral Evaluation Committee (Geldart) Meeting (Family Room, FLC)
6:00 Puppets Are Us (Puppet Room, 2nd Floor, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Zoom)
7:00 Youth Group “Fruit ER” (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
Saturday, March 19
9:00 Gym Set-Up
1:00 Worship Team (Gym)
Sunday, March 20
6:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
9:00 Asian Sunday School Class (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
10:15 Preschool/KidzTown (1st Floor & 2nd Floor, FLC)
10:30 Contemporary Worship Service (Gym)
10:30 Mandarin Worship Service (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
10:30 Traditional Worship Service (Sanctuary)
5:00 Third Sunday Supper (Gym)
Monday, March 21
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:30 Camerata Singers (Choir Room)
7:00 Board of Management (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
Tuesday, March 22
10:00 Library Open
12:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
1:00 CVITP - Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (Gym)
1:00 Pastoral Staff (Family Room)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room)
2:15 Full Staff Meeting (Family Room)
5:30 Sports Friends Children’s Basketball Ministry (Charles Millette) (Gym)
6:30 “Why Easter Matters” Bible Study (Greg Geldart) (Zoom)
6:30 DivorceCare (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Fresh Start Young Adult Ministry (Gym/3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
Wednesday, March 23
10:00 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble Rehearsal (Sanctuary And Choir Room)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 “All The Places To Go” Bible Study (Ross Watters) (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
7:00 Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting (Charles Millette) (Zoom)
