The Banner
Our Mission
Experience the love of Jesus. Live it out everywhere.
In this issue
Check out what's coming up at BSBC from Sept. 14 to 21.
Big Thanks
Pray
Gospel on the Web
An Update from Our Partner in Mission
Nationwide Prayer for Ukraine
Adult Sunday School Classes
Next Gen Ministries @ BSBC
Financial Stewardship Update
Anniversary Well Wishes
An Invitation from Our Choral Director
GriefShare
DivorceCare
Roast Beef Dinner Fundraiser
This Week @ BSBC
Remember Our Library
1. Big Thanks
I’m sure many of us know the maxim: It takes a village to raise a child. I’d like to introduce a variation: It takes a team to launch the fall at BSBC.
Last Sunday was a marvellous time in the house of the Lord. Sunday School got launched with nearly 60 students and 14 teachers in action. That’s a great start….but if you missed the launch — show up this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and we’ll find a class for you.
The worship services were vital. Most seats in the gym were filled, and there was record attendance in the sanctuary. Our number for worship for Sunday, Sept. 11, including the English and Mandarin congregations, KidzTown and Children’s Church was 319. This is a great start for the fall. In both services, we were pleased to see new faces and returning faces. Thanks to all our worship leaders (don’t forget our tech crew falls under this category!) for putting together and leading wonderful services. And thanks to Dr. Keith and Pastor Ross for engaging in the first Biblical unpacking of our new mission statement: Experience the love of Jesus. Live it out everywhere.
And if this wasn’t enough blessing, God gave us the perfect day for a BBQ lunch in the parking lot. Thanks to Pastor Nikki and the team for engaging with our children, and thanks to Deacon Denise Mersereau and a great group of volunteers who set up, prepared food for sharing, BBQ’ed (in considerable heat!), served us and helped wash up and clean up. I was so pleased to connect with many I knew, meet people I didn’t know (some from India!) and watch people engage with one another.
I think that last Sunday was a shining example of how our various gifts build the body of Christ. I fear, at times, that the ‘upfront Sunday’ gifts get all the attention. If our church is to grow, we need everyone’s gifts to be used. Last Sunday, the team behind the scenes was larger than the one up front. And both worked to make a special day in the life of our church family. Thanks to you all!
Pastor Greg
1 Peter 4:8-10
“Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
2. Pray
Last Sunday, if you were in the gym or sanctuary services, you might have noticed the posterboard on the walls of the worship spaces, each one with the word PRAY at the top.
As your Lead Pastor, I’m excited about the fall and anticipate that God has much for us as we seek deeper experiences of Jesus’ love and seek, in return, to live out of that life in the spaces where we each live and move and have our being.
Mixed with this excitement is an irrevocable “still small voice” that is affirming for me that both of the above goals (experiencing Jesus' love at new levels/sharing that love in our lives) requires a renewed commitment within our church family in each one of us, to connect with God in prayer.
What’s your relationship with prayer? I evaluate mine and recognize that there is room for improvement. But, left on my own, “moving the needle” on personal prayer has been disappointing. So, I selfishly want you to join me on a prayer journey. And I want you to engage in this journey online.
My vision is a weekly blog where your pastors will post our own beliefs, experiences and understanding of prayer, along with a testimony from a member of our church family. You can engage in this “class” at your leisure. In this way, we can form a prayer community at BSBC. On this blog, you’ll be able to (1) leave comments and (2) have access to your pastors to ask confidential questions.
If you have a sense of inadequacy in the area of prayer or you just don’t have a clue how to start – please sign up to join PRAY. If you are a mature believer who enjoys a rich prayer life – please sign up to join PRAY. Let’s create a new place for community – online. Let’s give this initiative to God and trust in the Spirit to lead us to new places. I have complete confidence that God will use PRAY to align us with his will and lead us as a church family.
I realize this might sound like a very namby-pamby (def: lacking in character or substance) approach and that the idea of a community online might seem strange. But let’s do it. Let’s not tell God what he will do for us through this…let’s find out what he has for us in this!
So, this Sunday and next, please be so bold as to sign your name on one of the prayer poster boards and leave your email address. We’ll get in touch with you before the October launch of PRAY. Why am I asking you to take this step? Well, I hope we’ll see many names added to those poster boards – helping to express that we are a church family who want to PRAY. I hope this will build some excitement within our congregation as you add your name to others.
Remember, PRAY doesn’t require you to engage in more than reading weekly posts. No one will put you on the spot! I think (HOPE!) this is the perfect way for people to put their toes in the water and…PRAY!
Pastor Greg
P.S. If you can’t come to the church to write your name on the poster board, you can signup for PRAY by clicking here and leaving your name and email. Each week you’ll get an email to let you know the newest edition of PRAY is available!
Pastor Greg
3. Gospel on Web
This past summer, BSBC offered a home to a team of summer students who worked to support the ministry of GospelOnWeb. GospelOnWeb is the brainchild of Ragnar Oborn, who many Frederictonians would know for his ministry with The Navigators and now, Frontiers.
God led Ragnar to invite churches to donate our free “Google credits” and use them to buy space to put the gospel message on the web in various languages. Especially languages for countries where gospel ministry is restricted. In addition, God led Ragnar to find a way to hire students of various nationalities and languages to enlarge the reach of GospelOnWeb. For the past two summers, it's been our privilege to host Ragnar and these students in the Family Life Center.
I think now would be a good time to thank our Technical Director, Anthony Brown, for making the needed connection with the “inter-web” possible.
This week I received the following note from Ragnar:
Dear Members of BSBC
On behalf of Baptist churches across the Maritimes who partner with GospelOnWeb through Google Ad Grants, and on behalf of Pathfinders Fellowships, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the use of the 3rd floor BSBC Family Life Center this summer for local students hired through government employment grants (NB SEED and Canada Summer Jobs) to work on GospelOnweb.
GospelOnWeb currently partners with 59 different churches on Google Ad Grants. Most of these churches are Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada sister churches across the Maritimes. Each church represents a website to deploy and maintain, as well as a Google Ads account to manage. To undertake all this work, we hired students through NB SEED and Canada Summer Jobs so that the work on GospelOnWeb could be done at negligible cost. Various churches partnered in these applications (including Brunswick St). The project was awarded 54 summer positions (but none through Brunswick St which, for reasons unknown to me, was not awarded any applications).
Thus we needed a base of operations which would provide a safe premises for youth to work from, which your facilities provided for us. We started using the youth room mid-May and we always had a contingent of students there weekdays right until September 2. Making your facilities available for us to use as an office increased the teamwork and coordination with our summer students. Several youth adherents/members of Brunswick St. were hired in this project including: Max Vinh-Doyle, Ruth Franca, and Rukeme Akalusi. They were hired through other church summer grants (ex. Skyline Acres Baptist, Jemseg Baptist etc.). We also hired students that had no church connections whatsoever, some from Islamic backgrounds, and the use of your facilities this summer has now become an introductory point of contact for them with respect to the gospel.
Thus in a very tangible way our churches operated inter-dependently in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 12: 12-26 since BSBC received no summer grants but offered their facilities while the smaller churches received summer grants but had no central facilities that could hold us all. In the end, everyone shared the ‘part’ that they had to give for the greater advance of the gospel.
A side benefit of the teamwork and camaraderie that developed over the summer through using your facilities is that several have expressed an interest in exploring the scriptures that they have been working on for themselves. To that end we are initiating a ZOOM-based Bible discovery discussion this coming Saturday with these students.
In summary, the GospelOnWeb team wish to thank BSBC Board of Management for the strategic partnership in the use of your facilities this summer to the glory of God.
I would be happy to share with your wider church family about GospelOnWeb and our partnership in it at times that are beneficial for you.
Sincerely,
Ragnar Oborn
GOW Project Coordinator
Isn’t it exciting to think that the space God has entrusted to us had such a multi-national impact this summer?! I want to add my thanks to our Board of Management for their willingness to embrace this partnership. We may never know of the harvest that will come from this summer, but we are assured and confident in the promise that God’s word is powerful!
…so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11
Finally, here is the card that the summer students made for YOU as their way of saying thanks.
Until next summer, Ragnar!
Pastor Greg
4. An Update From Our Partner in Mission
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am pleased to forward you this Dropbox link to update you on the Canadian Baptist Ministries Africa work that you have been generously and faithfully supporting, both financially and in prayers.
"On behalf of the Africa Churches and the underprivileged people to whom you served and ministered through your support, we thank you!
As your Partner in Mission, I am sharing this with a sense of gratefulness. I am gladly keeping inviting you to support me, so that I can be able to reach out to the Africa local churches that serves on the frontlines. May God bless the work of your hands as you serve the Kingdom this way.
Appreciatively,
Rev Andre SIBOMANA
Canadian Baptist Ministries"
5. Nationwide Prayer for Ukraine
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada extends the following invitation. As we pray, let us remember the family of our brother and sisters, Sergiy and Julia Polyachenko.
NATIONWIDE PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Monday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m. EST
Dear Pastor Geldart,
Please join us and invite others for a one-hour nationwide Zoom prayer gathering for Ukraine as we enter the seventh month of its ongoing crisis. This will be co-sponsored by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, the Peace and Reconciliation Network of the World Evangelical Alliance, and Catch the Fire Partners.
Our purpose is to pray for an end to the war, peace and reconciliation, and wisdom for the complex humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine. Five Ukrainian leaders will join us, report on current conditions and challenges to help us pray strategically for Ukraine as well as for Russia.
Roger Helland
Prayer Ambassador, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
Topic: Prayer for Ukraine and Russia
Time: Sept. 19, 2022 11 a.m. – noon EST
Schedule
Welcome: Roger Helland, Prayer Ambassador, EFC
Reports and Corporate Prayer
- Phil Wagler, Global Director, PRN & EFC Global Liaison
- Andriy Zolotaryov & Luydmyla Zolotaryova, Humanitarian, Trauma & Healing
- Ruslan Maliuta, World Evangelical Alliance’s Ukraine Special Task Force
- Dan Slade, Apostolic Ambassador, Founder & Overseer of Catch the Fire Ukraine
- Volodya Khrapov, Coordinator for Eastern Europe, Catch the Fire Partners
- Dima Oleshko, Pastor, Father’s Blessing Church, Kyiv, Ukraine
Prayer in Breakout Rooms: All participate
Blessing: Roger Helland, Prayer Ambassador, EFC
Join Zoom Meeting
https://theefc.zoom.us/j/89918970888?pwd=THE1RFlJVURUMnpHRnVpMTlmdFFNZz09
Meeting ID: 899 1897 0888
Passcode: 506116
6. Adult Sunday School Classes: Not Too Late To Join
Please consider engaging in either of these adult gatherings offered on Sundays, 9:30 a.m. at BSBC.
12 Curious Verses
Led by David Clark
Meets in the Family Room (First Floor, Family Life Center)
This interactive class will be looking at Biblical verses that may look puzzling, awkward or unclear or seem hard to understand or incorporate into daily life. Join me on this voyage of discovery.
The End of the Age According to Jesus
Led by Manuel Brayley
Meets in the “Under the Sea” Room in the Preschool Area (First Floor, Family Life Center)
The end of this age as narrated by Jesus is fascinating, authoritative, instructive, and conclusive. I invite you to come to share your understanding as we look into what Jesus has given us. Looking forward to seeing you.
7. NextGen Ministries
The first week of school has gone, and hopefully, it went smoothly for you and your family. It is very exciting that the fall is here. This also means that all our youth gatherings are launching and beginning this week!
Children at BSBC
Sunday School Begins Sept. 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Children are invited to join us at 9:30 a.m. to dive deeper into the word, and parents are welcome to join their own Sunday school class as well! Sunday School is a great time for the whole family to dive deeper into your faith! For more information, email bsbc@bsbc.nb.ca.
NEW Children's Instagram Account
Brunswick Street has officially started an Instagram account for our Kids. Parents are encouraged to follow the account for news on upcoming events. We've kept it private, but please request to follow Kidz.BSBC for events and updates!
Big Change for Parents: New Sign-In Location for Sunday mornings
When you come into the church with your children (infants to grade 5), please come through the Connection Centre doors to check in your children for KidzTown or preschool. A friendly face at the Connection Centre will help with this new sign-in process. Thank you, parents. We appreciate your cooperation!
Scouting Boys Ministry Registration: Sept. 14
BSBC offers a scouting program for boys from kindergarten to high school. Outdoor adventures, fun activities, and community service projects are used to teach boys how to live the great commission and to love God and our neighbours. Meetings will be held weekly in the church gym. This week, registration for all ages will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Following registration week, the kindergarten to Grade 5 group will meet on Wednesday evenings, and the Middle/High School group will meet on Thursday evenings. For more information, don't hesitate to get in touch with the church office at 458-8348 or bsbc@bsbc.nb.ca.
Hands-In Girls Ministry on Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. – noon
BSBC offers this ‘newer’ ministry for elementary girls, which is held in KidzTown one Saturday morning a month. “Hands-In” creates a place for girls to come together and strengthen their relationship with each other and with God. We want our young girls to come and be encouraged to bring friends. If you would like further information, please email kidz.bsbc@gmail.com.
Youth at BSBC
Youth Choir: Wednesday, 6 – 6:30 p.m.
Youth Choir is back on! We would love for our youth to come out and join this opportunity to grow in the gifts/ talents that God has given them. For more information on this, don't hesitate to get in touch with Julianne Moore at julianne.d.moore@gmail.com.
Bible Study Kick-Off: Wednesday 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Youth are encouraged to come out tomorrow for our first Bible study of the year. This will be a great time of connection, diving into the Word, and snacks! Kari Dunfield and pastor Nikki will lead the Bible study through the RightNow Media series called Shaken.
Fall Youth Group Kick-off: Sept. 16, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
As a youth group, we will be meeting at Anna Marie and Bruce Colpitts' home for an evening of boating/canoeing, lawn games, BBQ, and S'mores! This is a night jam-packed with a bunch of activities, and you will not want to miss it. Mark your calendars for this Friday, Sep 16, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Parents, please bring a lifejacket(s) for your youth, one-piece bathing suit(s) for boating, and a lawn chair. Please arrive early (6:20 p.m.) for this event as we will start eating at 6:30 p.m. The address is 70 Merrithew Avenue. We cannot wait to see you — and, bring a friend!
High School Youth Group Kick-off: Sept. 18, 7 – 9 p.m.
Those in high school are welcome to come to BSBC Sunday, Sept. 18, for our official first high school youth group of the year. This will be a great night of connection, fun, and games. Tell your friends! We are very excited to have our high schoolers back together. Spread the word to those who might not know already about the kick-off this Sunday.
Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions regarding our upcoming events. You can email Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca. It will be great to see all of our youth out!
Blessings,
Pastor Nikki
8. Financial Stewardship Update
At BSBC the summer months are not noted for robust financial stewardship. And the summer of 2022 proves that this is true.
I thank those whose giving has allowed us to be as financially strong as we are. And I encourage each member of our church family to prayerfully consider what you can do as we move toward the last quarter of the year.
We’re living in a time where the cost of living cannot be discounted as we make our financial decisions. So, be assured that I am made as uncomfortable as you might be by what the great Christian writer of a previous generation, C. S. Lewis says about stewardship: I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. Ouch.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
Pastor Greg
9. Anniversary Well Wishes
We congratulate Robert and Marion Ingraham on the celebration of their 64th wedding anniversary which took place on Tuesday, Sept. 13. God bless you both and thank you for your witness of faithful love.
10. An Invitation From Our Choral Director
Here at Brunswick Street, choral singing has been a significant part of our traditional worship services. We are excited to begin the Sanctuary Choir ministry this September after a two-year break. Former members and NEW singers (youth aged 12 to adult) are encouraged to join us in strengthening this ministry once again. Weekly rehearsals begin Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the Choir Room. Plan to come out and give it a try!
Please get in touch with David Steeves at gracemusic@rogers.com if you have further questions. We look forward to a great year together uplifting praise in song!
The Vocal Ensemble ministry will also continue periodically. If you would like to be put on the list of singers to engage in these smaller singing groups, please get in touch with David Steeves at gracemusic@rogers.com.
11. GriefShare
Beginning Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022 at 7 p.m., in the Family Room in the Family Life Center, on the first floor, Brunswick Street Baptist Church is pleased to offer GriefShare, a 13-week video series by Christian experts on grief and recovery, combined with support group discussions for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one.
Please call 458-8348 if you would like more information and to register.
12. DivorceCare
If you know someone who is going through marital separation or divorce, invite them to consider joining our 13-week DivorceCare program, a ministry which will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Room of Brunswick Street Baptist Church.
About the program
Each evening includes the presentation of videos with expert counsellors sharing insights on how to move from hurting to healing. In addition, supportive conversation provides encouragement to participants led by Gloria Tranquilla, Pauline Harvey and Bryan McWilliam. Each session stands on its own so participants can join any week.
More information
For more information, please contact facilitator, Gloria Tranquilla at momsplace70@hotmail.com or call the church office at 458-8348. You can also register online using the button below.
13. Roast Beef Dinner Fundraiser
New Brunswick Right to Life invite you to enjoy a Roast Beef Fundraising Dinner to be held on Monday, September 26,2022 at BSBC at 6pm. Doors open at 5:30 pm Learn about the new vision of NBrtL and hear updates on the Women’s Care Center! For tickets call Doris Ashfield at 472-7519 or 270-2124.
14. This Week at BSBC: Sept. 14 to 21
Please note: FLC stands for Family Life Centre.
Wednesday, September 14
10:00 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Youth Choir Practice (Sanctuary)
6:30 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
6:30 Scouts Boys Ministry Registration (Kindergarten-Grade 12) (Gym)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Third Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
Thursday, September 15
9:00 Benevolent Ministry (By Appointment)
9:30 New Life Ministry (Third Floor, FLC)
1:30 Bible Study “Gospel of John” with Mary McMulkin, Third Floor Boardroom, FLC)
7:00 Handbells (Sanctuary)
7:00 GriefShare (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Mandarin Choir Practice (Choir Room)
Friday, September 16
10:00 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:30 Youth Group Kick-off (Home of Bruce & Anna Marie Colpitts)
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Barnabas Center And KidzTown)
Saturday, September 17
10:00 Hands-In Girls Ministry (KidzTown, FLC)
1:00 Worship Team Practice (Gym)
Sunday, September 18
6:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
9:00 Asian Sunday School Class (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
9:30 12 Curious Verses Bible Study (Family Room, FLC)
9:30 Biblical Prophesy Bible Study (Under the Sea Classroom, First Floor, FLC)
9:30 Sunday School Classes (FLC)
10:15 Preschool/KidzTown (First Floor And KidzTown, FLC)
10:30 Contemporary Service (Gym)
10:30 Mandarin Worship Service (Third Floor Assembly, FLC)
10:30 Traditional Service (Sanctuary)
5:00 Third Sunday Supper (Gym)
7:00 High School Youth Group (Third Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
Monday, September 19
10:00 Senior Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Sports Friends Dinner (Barnabas Center)
7:00 Board of Management (Gym)
Tuesday, September 20
12:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
1:00 Pastoral Staff Meeting (Family Room, FLC)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room)
2:15 Full Staff Meeting (Family Room, FLC)
6:00 DivorceCare (Family Room, FLC)
7:00 Fresh Start (Gym And Third Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
Wednesday, September 21
10:00 Mandarin Bible Study (Barnabas Center)
10:00 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Youth Choir Practice (Sanctuary)
6:30 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room)
6:30 Scouts Boys Ministry (Kindergarten-Grade 5) (Gym)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Third Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
15. Remember Your Church Library
Our church is blessed with a great library! It has everything from children's books, Bible studies, all types of fiction, and large print. Stop in and take a look! We're open every Sunday after the services.
Please check for overdue books at home if you have used the library. Books can be returned to the locked box outside the library whenever the church is open. If you've borrowed books and cannot return them, please call Sharon at 450-7878.
