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Growing Faith, Friends & Families to Serve
In this issue:
Canada’s First “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”
The Watters ARE Coming TONIGHT!
Special Business Meeting Update
Harvest for the Hungry
Thanksgiving Sunday Combined Service
Current Covid Protocols @ BSBC
A Word from Our Social Action Team
Financial Giving Update
An Invitation to Join Our Youth Leadership Team
Youth Bible Study Wednesday Evening – TONIGHT ON ZOOM
Parents of Grade 6 Students
“Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting” Prayer Meeting – TONIGHT ON ZOOM
“Walking With Jesus” Bible Study - Postponed
“Covid 19, Religious Freedoms and a Christian Response”
This Sunday’s Services – September 26
Where have all the Library Books Gone
October Birthdays
This Week @ BSBC
1. A Message from Pastor Greg: Canada’s First “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”
Dear Church Family,
This Thursday, Sept. 30, Canadians are invited to participate in our nation’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. To help understand the import of this day, let me share the following from the Government of Canada website:
The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. The creation of this federal statutory holiday was through legislative amendments made by Parliament. On June 3, 2021, Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act, the Interpretation Act and the Canada Labour Code (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation) received Royal Assent.
Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.
Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived Indian Residential Schools and remembers those who did not. This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwpemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, on her first day of school, where she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was taken from her. It is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.
On September 30, we encourage all Canadians to wear orange to raise awareness of the very tragic legacy of residential schools, and to honour the thousands of Survivors.
September 30 invites us to consider the complicated issues within Canadian culture and to examine these through the lens of Christian faith. Our denomination, Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada, formed the Indigenous Working Group to provide our church families with resources available for consideration, education and especially prayer and action. “Walking in a Good Way with Our Indigenous Neighbours” is a personal study course available online. The webpage offers the following introduction:
This online course is designed for Canadian Baptists to help them learn from Indigenous voices and begin to walk as good neighbours and treaty people. In engaging in this learning, we as a Baptist family take seriously the calls of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The course consists of reading, video, and audio curated from the vast amount of quality resources available online. This work has been done by the Indigenous Working Group of the CBAC. One of our priorities was to work on an education piece for churches. It will take a person approximately 20 hours to do, but as it is hosted on the website you are free to do this at a pace that is reasonable for you. Along with each component there is additional suggested readings and videos for you to dive into further, and we certainly encourage you to do that.
I commend this resource for your consideration. September 30 comes tomorrow and I hope that, at the very least, it will call our BSBC family to pray for healing in relationships with all who make up our Canadian family and for Christ’s disciples to find ways, individually and corporately, live a Micah 6:8 lifestyle.
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Pastor Greg
P.S. Please note that recognition of The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, your Board of Management has voted to close the church office on Sept. 30.
2. The Watters ARE arriving TONIGHT
Well, the day has finally come! We’ve received word that the Watters family have taken off, beginning what will be a 24 hour journey to Fredericton. The family will fly from Edinburgh to London; from London to Toronto and from Toronto to Fredericton with arrival expected tonight at 11:40 p.m. You are welcome to come to the airport and clap, stomp and shout a special welcome to our newest pastoral family.
As a church family we can be grateful to Bruce and Anna Marie Colpitts who, travelling across Canada, have made their home available as an initial home base. Julianne Moore has coordinated the stocking of the fridge and cupboards to get them started — anticipating that it will take a couple of day for them to recover from such a lengthy trip…with three children 7 and under!
Be sure to cover them in prayer as they come to begin ministry with us. Pastor Ross will begin his ministry in the gym service this coming Sunday morning and then in the sanctuary on Thanksgiving Sunday.
3. Special Business Meeting Update
Thanks to all who were able to join us (in-person and on Zoom) for the Special Business Meeting last Thursday. We're pleased to report that Pastor Nikki Leftley received a vote of 91% in support of BSBC extending her a call to serve as our NextGen Pastor (Elementary, Middle and High School) with a start date of Monday, Oct. 18.
If you have suggestions for apartment rental, please contact the church office and pass on the details. Tentatively, she has a place to ‘land’ when she comes mid-October, but will be seeking a place of her own.
Thank you for praying for Nikki and her family and friends as she prepares for the move from Barrie, Ontario to Fredericton.
4. Harvest for the Hungry
If it feels like Thanksgiving is coming quickly, you're right! So this means that we need to get you in gear for our annual “Harvest for the Hungry”.
“Harvest for the Hungry” invites members of our church family to bring non-perishable food and household items to the church. These items will be divided between our New Life Ministry (supporting families who struggle to ‘make ends meet’) and the Greener Village Fredericton Food Bank. The food collected makes a positive impact on families with great need and is a sign, we pray, of God’s love and His provision through His Church.
5. Thanksgiving Sunday: Combined Service
On Sunday, Oct. 10, we're coming together in the sanctuary for a combined service and look forward to welcoming back Hollie Weaver as our worship leader. Hollie was with us for two summer services and many expressed blessing through her ministry.
This Thanksgiving we’ll be giving thanks for God’s provision of the Watters family as we commission them for ministry at BSBC and Denise Mersereau will be with us for another instalment of our “His Name is Power” series. So much to give thanks for. Be sure to be with us!
6. Current COVID-19 Protocols at BSBC
I remain grateful for the grace and cooperation of our church family as we navigate changing directives from the province of New Brunswick that impact our life together. I’m sure many of you have come to expect a Saturday missive from me, explaining what’s changed since my previous communication.
On Friday, Sept. 24, the Minister of Health issued new directives for churches that required a return of all previous Covid protocols (contact tracing/reservations, 50% capacity, social distancing, no congregational singing) for churches who did NOT screen for double vaccination.
I found this a difficult position since, just the Wednesday before, I had assured you that, given our 91% vaccination status, we would not need to screen for worship services. However, we've made the decision to move to screening at the Sunday worship services, primarily to continue allowing congregational participation. Please note: There is no option NOT to screen for any other church activity.
While it may not be the feeling of all unvaccinated members of our church family, I found great blessing in an email I received from the mom and dad of one of our non-vaccinated families, sent after the new directives were issued. Neither of us want to see the majority of our members have to endure the No Proof of Vaccination option and so we will be worshiping at home for now.
So, for Sunday worship, please be prepared to show proof of double vaccination to gain entry to any worship space. Masks are now mandatory for ALL church activities — unless offered outside the buildings. Ministry, group, board, committee and team leaders are reminded that they are responsible for screening at their activity. Notebooks for each group have been provided for recording purposes, allowing you to maintain a list of those who have already been screened. Participants only need to show proof of vaccination once at each activity.
To our unvaccinated family members, I encourage you to reach out to me if you have suggestions about how we could meet your needs during this time. We are offering some ministry options on Zoom and looking to leverage the outdoors while the good weather lasts.
My thanks to all in leadership as you continue in ministry.
Pastor Greg
7. A Message from Our Social Action Team: 12 Neighbours
Back in June, Marcel Lebrun met with our Social Action Team to explain the 12 Neighbours community concept and they have been eagerly waiting to share the news with you ever since.
8. Financial Giving Update (Jan. 1 to Aug. 31)
Current Yr Prev Year Budget
General $543,948 $559,497 $604,828
Building $90,605 $77,035 $90,000
General fund giving is $60,880 below budget target, which is low for this time of year. We are hoping for increased giving this fall to close the gap.
Building fund giving is nearly exactly on budget target and is significantly greater than this point last year.
Any amounts above the budget will be applied to reduce the mortgage principle.
Thank You for Your Faithfulness,
Ken Reimer, Treasurer
9. An invitation to join our Youth Leadership Team
Dear Church,
I need you! With the fall startup, this means that things are changing, and programs are starting back up. And we are in need of more volunteers to help keep this program running at capacity.
“What does it mean to be a youth leader?” Well, you would be responsible for being at the Church Friday 7-9 pm to help with youth group activities, whether that is by running around playing games, helping set up, chatting with the youth or helping with youth devotions!
Please email me at Youth.bsbc.nb@gmail.com for more information.
Thank you!
Emily Perrin-Colpitts, Youth Coordinator
10. Youth Bible Study
Middle and High School youth are invited to join leader, Kari Dunfield, Wednesday evenings for weekly Youth Bible Study.
Tonight, Kari will be meeting with youth on Zoom.
To access the Zoom link, please contact the church office (receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca). For more information youth or parents can contact Kari at Kari Dunfield at kari.dunfield@verusconsulting.ca and we all can pray for Kari and our youth as they dig in to the Word of God.
11. Hello Parents of Grade 6 Youth
Attention parents of children entering middle school!! We are updating our middle school list for events and programming this fall and would love to include your middle schoolers! Please contact the church office via email (bsbc@bsbc.nb.ca) if you have a child in your house entering middle school (grade 6) this fall. Thank you!
12. Not Your Usual Prayer Meeting Tonight on Zoom
Tonight, Deacon Charlie Ritchie looks forward to gathering with you Zoom for the first meeting for prayer.
To access the Zoom link, please contact the church office (receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca).
Of this evening Charlie writes:
“The purpose of this prayer group is to pray for the ministry of the church, for the pastors and for the congregation using various forms of prayer. So, as we are praying, we will also broaden the ways in which we pray. Let’s depart from what can become a gathering to offer God a ‘grocery list’ of concerns. I hope we will worship in prayer, practice thanksgiving, pray for healing, pray for the world scene, pray for the lost, pray for our nation, pray for our leaders and more. This will be a time for us to seek the presence of God…together.”
13. Postponed: Walking With Jesus Study
Due to the pandemic situation in New Brunswick, “Walking With Jesus” will not be meeting in person. Daniel Savard is willing to lead it online, but we have not been able to find a Zoom ‘technician’ to provide that part of offering. If you, or someone you know, would be willing to take care of the Zoom needs or this study, please contact the church office. Daniel will be prepared to offer the study as soon as a technician is found. Thanks to Daniel for his willingness to serve in this way.
14. Free Webinar: COVID-19, Religious Freedoms & Christian Response
On Thursday, Oct. 7 Alan Sears will be giving a public online webinar sponsored by the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton with the title “Covid-19, Religious Freedoms, and Christian Response: Seeking the Peace and Prosperity of the City.” Click the button below for a description of the talk and a link to register.
15. This Sunday's Services: Oct. 3
Please note that the “Unleashing the Church” sermon series will be offered in the sanctuary in October and the “Turning a New Leaf” series will be offered in the gym in October.
Don’t worry about missing either series…it will be coming to you!
Contemporary Service
This Sunday morning we gather at the Lord’s Table with Sarah Hoyt and friends leading worship. Pastor Ross will be offering the third instalment of a three-week sermon series “Unleashing the Church” — a study in the book of Ephesians. This Sunday’s Scripture is Ephesians 2:1-10 with a focus on verse 10: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Traditional Service
This Sunday we gather at the Lord’s Table with worship in song including soloist, Pascale Beaulieu, a vocal ensemble with keyboard support provided by Gloria Tranquilla (piano) and David Steeves (organ).
Dr. Keith’s communion meditation, “Communion in Chaso” is rooted in Acts, chapter 27.
It is no great surprise that one of the climactic points in the book of Acts is a voyage at sea, given the many images of the sea in the Bible. The sea represents the forces of chaos in our lives, yet these forces are subdued by God who does not abandon us in the storms of life. In anticipation of our celebration of the Lord’s Table on this Sunday, we will focus on three aspects of this stressful event in Acts 27 that ends with a communion celebration.
First, we’ve all been lost at sea, as it were, either drifting aimlessly or driven about furiously by seemingly irrational forces. Second, we can receive the gift of peace in the midst of any storm, and this peace is not a feeling; rather, it is our status and identity as followers of the risen Lord Jesus. Third, this passage reminds that our journey is not over yet, but as we live our lives as disciples, there are places where we’ve yet to be sent as we are empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus we are invited celebrate communion like those on the ship in Acts 27 who likewise have not reached the end of their voyage
16. Where have all the library books gone?
Dear Avid Readers,
There are some gaping holes on our library shelves created by missing (and overdue!) library books. We encourage you to look under the bed, behind the couch, in that pile on the end table and see if you can help us fill in some of these holes. Because as a church we teach about grace, return the books and all will be forgiven and all will be forgotten.
Thank you for your help!
Sharon Gosselin, Librarian
P.S. Your librarians invite you to visit the library the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month from 10am until noon. Come and engage with our huge collection of books – there’s something for everyone!
17. October Birthdays
Find out who's celebrating a birthday in October!
18. This Week at BSBC (Sept. 29 to Oct. 6)
Please note, FLC stands for Family Life Centre.
Wednesday, September 29
9:30 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Choir Room/Sanctuary)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Zoom)
6:30 Not Your Usual Bible Study (Zoom)
11:40 Arrival of the Watters Family (Fredericton Airport)
Thursday, September 30
CHURCH OFFICES CLOSED – DAY of TRUTH & RECONCILIATION
1:30 Ladies Bible Study (Family Room, FLC)
4:00 Rehearsal for Lutes/Saunders Wedding (Sanctuary)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary)
7:00 Mandarin Choir Practice (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
7:00 GriefShare (Family Room, FLC)
Friday, October 1
9:30 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
7:00 Youth Group (At the Church)
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Family Room, FLC)
Saturday, October 2
1:00 Worship Team Practice (Gym)
3:00 Lutes/Saunders Wedding (Sanctuary)
Sunday, October 3
06:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
9:00 Asian Sunday School Class (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
10:15 Preschool Classes (1st Floor, FLC)
10:15 KidzTown (2nd Floor, FLC)
10:25 Sunday Prayer Ministry (2nd Floor Counselling Centre Room)
10:30 Traditional Service (Sanctuary)
10:30 Contemporary Service (Gym)
10:30 Mandarin Worship Service (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC)
12:00 Fresh Start Lunch (Gym)
Monday, October 4
9:30 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
7:00 Social Action Team (Zoom)
Tuesday, October 5
12:00 Mandarin Prayer Meeting (Boardroom Over Main Kitchen)
1:30 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room)
6:00 Fredericton Ladies Choir (3rd Floor Assembly Area, FLC; Kidztown; Sanctuary)
6:30 DivorceCare (Family Room, FLC)
Wednesday, October 6
9:30 Seniors Exercise (Gym)
6:00 Vocal Ensemble (Sanctuary)
6:30 Youth Bible Study (Zoom)
6:30 Not Your Usual Bible Study (Zoom)
