Weekly News 27/11/22

Welcome to our weekly news update for the week beginning 27th November 2022.

To receive this and other updates direct to your inbox via email, please click here.

For the full calendar of services and other activities going on in our church, please click here.

For safety reasons we don't publish the Zoom details for our services or meetings online. If you'd like to join us on Zoom, please get in touch for the details.

Advent is the season of waiting. We remind ourselves of the promises made to Gd's people long ago, and the way those promises were fulfilled in the events of the first Christmas. At the same time we remember the promises God has made for the future, and look ahead in hopeful anticipation to the day when Jesus will return and establish his kingdom in its fullness.

Our focus for Advent this year will be Mary's song (the Magnificat) in Luke 1:46-55. Each week we'll be lighting the Advent candles and reflecting on Mary's words through prayer reflection and songs.

We're also excited that from now all our services will be livestreamed from the chapel via Zoom (please get in touch for the details). Because of this, we'll now be starting at 10.30am each week. Do join us if you can!

Don't forget that all shoeboxes for Moldova need to be brought to the chapel tomorrow. We'll be praying for them in the service, before delivering them to CR2EE on Monday morning.

Rev Jean Hughes, from Temple Methodist Church, has recently returned from the West Bank. On Wednesday 30th November she'll be giving a talk sharing something of the situation there. She'll also be helping local craftsmen by selling carving and other items.

The talk will start at 2.30pm at Temple Methodist Church. Tea and mince pies will be served.

The updated details and menu for the church Christmas lunch are now available on the website, which you can see by clicking here. The lunch will now be at the Venture Hall and a hot and cold seasonal buffet, with a delicious sounding selection of dishes!

If you have already signed up to come, we are assuming that you are still coming. If you want to change your mind, please let Liz Cottingham know as soon as possible.

Laura Lee Lovering has written a new blog post reflecting on climate change, some of the key news headlines emerging from the COP27 conference, and our own personal responsibility.

You can read it by clicking here.

Thank you for your ongoing financial support for the church. There's lots of information about online giving, standing orders and how your money will be used by clicking here.

Alternatively, you can now give by text message:

• To donate £5, text BSBC to 70970
• To donate £10, text BSBC to 70191

Please join us this week as we pray for BMS-supported relief ministries across the world.

- The Covid-19 pandemic will have a long-lasting impact on people’s lives. Pray for those who have lost family members and whose lives have changed forever because of this crisis, that God will bring them peace and comfort.

- Pray for the Ukrainian Baptist churches across the country who have opened their doors to refugees, responding despite the risks. Pray that God will keep them safe.

- Pray for Sri Lanka, whose economy has crashed and where food and medicine are scarce and expensive. Pray for BMS’ partner, Asia Pacific Baptist Aid, co-ordinating the local response.

For more news, stories and prayers from BMS, please visit their website by clicking here.