Berkhamsted Baptist Church A Family following Jesus Weekly News for Sunday 3rd May 2015 Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians ch 9 v 6. Welcome to our Family Worship, with communion, led by our minister, Stephen Ashby. Please join us afterwards for tea and coffee in the lower hall. Crèche facilities are available for 0-3 year olds every week. This Week Pre-school meets Tuesday to Thursday at 9:15am. Tuesday 5th– 2.15pm, in the upper hall, starting with tea and cake. Stephen will be leading a course looking at Philip Yancey’s book ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace?’ This is the book that our house groups are looking at as part of our 375th anniversary year and the course is for those who do not already attend a house group. Wednesday 6th – 1:30 to 2:55pm, First Steps parent / carer and toddler group in lower hall. Wednesday 6th – 7:30pm, Men’s Evening: a relaxing walk with refreshment. Meet at the church at 7:30pm. For more details see Stephen. Thursday 7th – 10:00am to noon, Open Church for anyone who wants a quiet place to sit, pray, have a chat or ask questions – with free tea and coffee served. Friday 8th – 11:15am coffee, 12noon lunch, Open Door Lunch Club. Meals must be booked in advance with Gill Goss. Friday 8th – 6:30pm, Connect Youth Group in the upper hall. For more info please see Alun, Vicky or Stephen. Saturday 9th – 10:15am until 3:30pm, Church ‘Away Day’. The theme is ‘Being church in the 21st century’; speaker – Revd Colin Pye; location – WEC International, ‘Bulstrode’, Oxford Road, Gerrards Cross, SL9 8SZ. Our house groups run weekly and fortnightly. You are encouraged to attend one to share in mid-week fellowship and learn more about Jesus through his word. Please speak to Stephen Ashby if you wish to join or try a group. Next Sunday Christian Aid Sunday – which will include an update on the work of DENS by Martin Warner. The service will be led by our Minister, Stephen Ashby. All are invited and welcome to come and prepare for worship, with silent or open prayer, in the office from 10:15am onwards. Future Events Christian Aid week is fast approaching: 10th-16th May 2015. It's not too late to volunteer to collect for this year. On Saturday 16th May we have our stall on the market outside Tesco. We need cakes and plants to sell and buyers (of course). Collection can be arranged. Also if you could help man the stall I would be pleased to hear from you. Thanks. Margaret Pike Tuesday 19th May – 7:30pm, Whitsun Prayer and Praise Evening in the church sanctuary. An opportunity to pray together as a church for our Whitsunday celebrations and learn some new worship songs. Do come along! Saturday 16th May – 10:30am until 12noon, Preschool Sponsored Bounce and Fun Morning in the lower hall. Coffee and home-made cakes will be Minister: Stephen Ashby, tel: 01442 384099, e-mail: [email protected]. Church Secretary: Pat Ginger – tel: 01442 865817, e-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: John Ball – tel: 01442 863250. Visit our Church Website: www.berkhamstedbaptistchurch.org.uk Items for inclusion on weekly news sheets need to be given by Thursday (at the latest) to either John Beeley, tel: 01442 866304, e-mail: [email protected] or Stephen Ashby. available. A chance to meet the Pre-school parents; all are welcome to attend. 23rd & 24th May, Whitsunday Weekend Celebration. On the Saturday the church will be open from 11am to 3pm, with tea and coffee being served. On the Sunday John Hardwick will be our guest at our Whitsun AllAge Celebration. Wednesday 27th May – 7:30pm, Church Members’ meeting in the lower hall. Sunday 31st May; a visit by Matthew and Rachael Harley from Wycliffe, who are both working in Nigeria. Saturday 20th June - Central Baptist Association Assembly at Milton Keynes. The day will include worship and the speaker is the Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. If you would like to know more please ask Stephen, Ruth or Pat. Notices Items for the next news sheet to John Beeley by Thursday 7th May, please. For Your Prayers •The people of Nepal following the earthquake •Thanksgiving for 20 years of our church Lunch Club, remembering all those who have enjoyed and those who continue to enjoy fellowship and good food every Friday. For the many volunteers who serve at Lunch Club •The General Election; pray for integrity and justice for everyone •Church ‘Away Day’ on Saturday, that will we enjoy our time together and be aware of God’s presence. Colin Pye, as he leads the day •Members and friends anxious about their own health and that of their loved ones. 3 -9 May - A prayer for the General Election: Lord, we give thanks for the privileges and responsibilities of living in a democratic society. Give us wisdom to play our part at election time, that through the exercise of each vote, your Kingdom may come closer. Protect us from the sins of despair and cynicism, guard us against the idols of false utopias and strengthen us to make politics a noble calling that serves the common good of all. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. From the Church of England (www.baptist.org.uk) France - The sociologist Gérard Mermet writes: ‘The French are suffering from an anxiety, from a chronic frustration, from a fear, and from an insecurity that neither the politicians nor the other leaders in society know how to relieve.’ The emptiness of secularism and hyper-modernity often leads both to disillusionment and to a new interest in spirituality. Pray that the believers in France will know how to present Jesus to their compatriots. (www.bmsworldmission.org.uk) Prayers for Nepal •For all those affected by the earthquake, that they would receive quick and effective help and that those who mourn would be comforted. •For our partners and mission personnel at this time as they seek to respond practically, compassionately and appropriately. •For those responding to the destruction, that they would have wisdom, energy and resilience. •That all those affected would know the love of Christ and would be encouraged by the present and compassionate response of the local church. (www.bmsworldmission.org.uk) Resurrected Lord, We pray for all affected by the earthquake in Nepal: for those grieving the loss of loved ones, for those living in fear of aftershocks, for those trapped awaiting rescue, and for those who are searching. Comfort, protect, rescue and strengthen. We pray for all who are responding on the ground: for partner agencies coordinating the response, for those in need of shelter, clothing, food and water, for those in remote rural areas whose plight is yet unknown, and for those who are travelling to and within Nepal. Direct, provide, connect and guide. We pray for the world as it watches on: for the media as they tell the full story, for compassion to overcome despair, for unity to overcome distance, and for kindness to prevail. Inspire, move, unite and reveal. In your resurrection hope we pray, Amen (From www.christianaid.org.uk) And Finally Motto text 2015 “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1 : 3 (NIV) Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9 v 6- 8. Minister: Stephen Ashby, tel: 01442 384099, e-mail: [email protected]. Church Secretary: Pat Ginger – tel: 01442 865817, e-mail: [email protected] Treasurer: John Ball – tel: 01442 863250. Visit our Church Website: www.berkhamstedbaptistchurch.org.uk Items for inclusion on weekly news sheets need to be given by Thursday (at the latest) to either John Beeley, tel: 01442 866304, e-mail: [email protected] or Stephen Ashby.
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