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Seeking to minister in new ways in challenging days!
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
Can you spare an idea?
We had a beautiful long weekend and all around, the harbingers of spring. I’ve seen more robins in the last week than all of last spring. The shrubs at the front of our building are beginning to show signs of life. And over the weekend on drives through the countryside beyond Fredericton I marvelled at the beauty of the forsythia in full bloom. I think it’s clear, spring is here.
As New Brunswickers, the weeks to come may bring new life under the COVID-19 pandemic as we anticipate a move from the orange to the yellow stage, which will allow indoor gatherings of up to 50 people — with appropriate social distancing.
So, let me invite YOU to put on your thinking cap. Groups of 50 will not allow for a return to our normal practices…but how might we use this possibility to strengthen our bonds in the family of Christ at BSBC AND to reach out to our community? I can’t guarantee every idea can be put into action but I can guarantee that every idea will be considered.
Yesterday, Tuesday, May 19, Dr. Keith, Pastor Steve, Jon Wilton and I met for our quarterly Pastor’s Retreat. Part of our time included Alyse Wilton, our Church Family Life Coordinator, as we began discussing possibilities for how to “be” the Church in 2020. We’d very much like to add your ideas to the mix. Please email me at greg@bsbc.nb.ca and I’ll share your ideas with the team.
As you consider opportunities that might be ours, let me provide you a spiritual framework for our life together:
“For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love”
Pastor Greg
Worship: Gathering online Sunday, May 24
This Sunday, May 24, we look forward to Pastor Steve, Lauren and Taylor offering contemporary worship leadership. Traditional worship will be led by Beth Snow and David Steeves. We look forward to Mike Ross leading in Scripture, Deacon Adam Savard leading in prayer and Elizabeth Kearns offering our children’s time. In addition, our own Jessica Savard, now a respiratory specialist in Cape Breton, will share some of her front line experiences and requests for prayer.
This penultimate Sunday in the series “ACTS: 30 Years That Changed the World” sermon series takes us deeper into chapter 15, lines 13-35 in a sermon entitled Some Conditions Apply. Dr. Keith writes: At the halfway point of the book of Acts, the apostles gather to discuss whether a person saved through a combination of divine initiative and human effort, or by grace through faith.
Tidings Magazine
Tidings Magazine, the UBWMU/Atlantic Baptist Women’s magazine, is published ten times per year in full colour. It’s a great resource for those interested in local and global mission. Each issue contains information on the ministries and projects supported by Atlantic Baptist Women and Canadian Baptist Ministries, as well as many general articles. Each issue has a mission-related children’s story and activities — enough for an entire program.
The annual subscription rate in Canada is $15, tax included. Paid subscribers to the print edition of Tidings Magazine can read the current issue online. The password to access the online issue is printed in Tidings Magazine twice yearly (June and December issues) or is given to new subscribers once payment is received.
Carol Bray writes: Interesting, informative, inspirational, Tidings, the colourful mission magazine is mailed to you 10 times per year. Arrange for your subscription by writing Sharon Elliott, 356 Lower Mountain Road, Boundary Creek, NB, E1G 4C2. Cheques made payable to Tidings Magazine. Email: tidingsbusm@gmail.com. For more information and details about e-transfer please visit: www.atlanticbaptistwomen.ca/tidings.
Post-Secondary Graduate Recognition
In next week’s e-newsletter and in our online service on Sunday, May 31 we’ll be acknowledging our post-secondary graduates. But we need your help! Please email the church office with:
The name of post-secondary graduates,
The institution from which they will graduate,
The title of their certificate or degree;
AND with a photo.
As a church family we want to do something special for them and this is the first step in that process. Thank you for your cooperation. On Sunday, June 14 we will be celebrating our high school grads BUT you can send those details in now!
Thank you!
Your Education Committee
Zoom Bible Study
Pastor Steve will is beginning a weekly Wednesday Zoom Bible Study on May 20 at 6:30 p.m. Together, you will go through the entire book of Philippians over the course of 6 weeks. All you need to join is a Bible! Please send Pastor Steve an email if you wish to join this study and he’ll be sure to send you a Zoom invite!
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Please pray for Pastor Steve as he enjoys some vacation time from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 31!
Ministry Transition
Your Board of Deacons expresses sincere thanks to God and to Jon Wilton for his ministry with us as Youth and Young Adult Coordinator beginning in August of 2018. During this time Jon has provided exceptional support for our youth and young adults, strengthened our ministry reach and programming and been a valuable members of our pastoral team. He has discerned a call to a new chapter in his life which will begin this summer as he transitions out of paid ministry to ministry in the public square.
You can follow up with Jon on his new direction when you thank him for his faithfulness to God and to our young people and their families. Jon will complete his formal ministry with us on June 30, 2020. Thank you, Jon, we're praying for you as you seek to fulfill your calling as a disciple of Jesus. We will be sure to find a creative way to celebrate John's ministry before the end of June. Stay tuned.
Ministry Position
Your Board of Deacons seeks applications for the position of Youth and Young Adult Coordinator at BSBC, ideally starting mid-June, 2020.
Responsibilities
This position includes responsibility for ongoing connection with our youth and youth adults, largely online during the COVID crisis. This would include maintaining weekly online connections through the summer and into the fall. The vision for this position is 20 hours per week.
How to apply
Applications for the position will be accepted until Friday, June 5 at 5 p.m. either in person at the church office or by email to receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca. An application consists of (1) a cover letter with a brief testimony of personal Christian faith, why you feel you are an excellent candidate for the position and practical experience you would bring to the position and (2) your resume including three references, one of which may be from the BSBC church family. Interviews for successful candidates will be held the week of June 8.
Learn more
A full position outline, outlining duties ideally covered in "normal" times can be obtained by emailing receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca or by calling the church office (458-8348). Specific questions can be sent to Pastor Greg.
The congregation is encouraged to pray for this process as it unfolds and for God's provision of a new leader for this important ministry.
Update from our Partner in Mission: André Sibomana (Rwanda)
On Monday, May 11, Pastor Steve and I had the great privilege of sharing in a Zoom call with our Partner in Mission, André Sibomana. Here are some highlights from our conversation to give you a sense of Andre’s life and work in Rwanda:
He is well as are his family members
Work has all but halted for him in terms of supporting our African partners in mission
All the expected visiting short term mission trips have been cancelled
Many in the country will be without jobs due to the drop in tourism with hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions all closed
This will be a disaster for individual families and for the churches
No church gatherings mean that the solo pastors are without support – no financial gifts and no practical gifts that many depend on to feed their families
People are holding on to what they have for the sake of their own families/rationing is beginning
The work of churches in outreach has all but stopped due to the pandemic and Andre worries that valuable ground will be lost for the Kingdom
Their number one prayer request is for the virus to be stopped so lives will not be lost and Kingdom work can resume
He has been notified by CBM that all our partners should expect a significant drop in funding
The drop in funding will have a negative impact on the work CBM is doing through André with African partners who are depending on this support for their gospel work
Churches cannot survive if there are no gatherings, travel or jobs
The school year there should end in October but the whole year has been declared a loss and all students will start over again at the same grade level in September
He and his wife have their five children home with them and they are all doing well
Given the gravity of this report one might not expect him to be so joyful but such is the case with a person of faith
He earnestly sought prayer requests from us as he feels this is key to our partnership – this was extremely touching and a great blessing
André understands the power and presence of the global church like few others – both instructive and exciting
He LOVES our Kidz Klub videos – he’s watching them with his teenage children and they love the puppet (Chris Graves) and he laughed and laughed talking about this
Pastor Steve led in prayer and we look forward to talking with him again
He said this was a great encouragement to him…it was a total blessing for us
Please remember Andre and our brothers and sisters in Africa. Continue to pray for the stop of the virus and for the strengthening of the African and global Church
Pastor Greg
BSBC Kidz Klub
Today, we’ve posted the newest edition of our BSBC KIDZ KLUB and it will be up all week to be enjoyed by children of all ages! We’re studying The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and this week we focus on the fourth fruit – PATIENCE.
Community Need
We’ve been made aware of some furniture needs for a small family relocating to their own home. If you have any of the following items in good condition, please contact the church office (458-8348 OR receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca).
We can arrange transportation. Thank you for your consideration.
Bedroom: Dresser, end tables, lamps, little girl’s room dresser
Living room: Couch, chair, end tables and lamps
Kitchen: Utensils, dishes, etc.
YOUR INTERIM LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dr. Keith Bodner, Preaching Pastor
Pastor Greg Geldart, Lead Pastor
Pastor Jim McLellan, Pastor of Senior’s Visitation
Pastor Steve Patterson, Outreach Pastor
Jon Wilton, Youth & Young Adult Ministries
