Pastoral News: 07 February 10

We’re delighted to hear the good news that Ben Ruston is being baptised at Hockliffe Street Baptist Church, Leighton Buzzard, on Sunday 14th February. The service commences at 11.00am.

Believers’ Baptism

We are planning a service of believers’ baptism before Easter, and it may be that you have been thinking about expressing your Christian faith in this way. You will not be on your own! Do please speak to Paul if you would like to talk this over further.

Annual Church Meeting

Our Church’s Annual Meeting this year is on Tuesday the 9th March at 8.00pm, and includes all the usual items of business including election of Deacons and Elders. Your Vine Group leader has a letter for you today outlining the responsibilities of both Deacons and Elders and listing those who are eligible for nomination. Do please make sure you get your copy of the letter as soon as possible. The meeting will also include items of ordinary business since we are combining our routine March Church Members meeting with this Annual Meeting.

Lent House groups 2010 – ‘‘Jesus’ Final Week’’

Today is the closing date for returning your Lent Group form should you want to participate in the CTNP Lent Groups. Please return the completed form to Catherine Hall.

Tearfund Haiti Emergency Appeal

A payment of £1,064.40 has been sent to the Tearfund Haiti Appeal. This was made up of

Individual Gifts £791.50
Gift Aid Reclaimable £172.90
From Parent & Toddlers £100.00

40 Days of Purpose: the Purpose Driven Life

We have announced that for the weeks leading up to Easter we are encouraging each other to take forty days to read “The Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. When we last did this in 2003 there was much growth and blessing in the church as a result, and because the church has grown and changed in those intervening years, we feel it right to share this project again. With this copy of J14 you will receive a bookmark, and a separate letter outlining the project and containing a personal invitation to share in this is available if you have not already received the e-mail from Paul this week.

If you already have a copy of the Purpose Driven Life, then please be prepared to dig it out ready to use it from the start date of the 14th February (next Sunday). If you have a spare copy that you may be willing to lend to someone, do please let Paul or Catherine know. We do have a stock of new copies available, and the letter outlines the details of these.

Men’s Social Evening

Gentlemen, a few of us are going to the cinema on Wednesday to see “Invictus”. It’s a movie directed by Clint Eastwood about the South African rugby team and the 1995 Rugby World Cup. We’re going to the 8.50pm showing at Cineworld and the cost will be £7.90. If you’re interested in joining us then please let Jonathan Winship know.

Women’s World Day of Prayer 2010

We are hosting this year's Women’s World day of Prayer on Friday 5th March at 7.30pm. This service has been planned by the Christian women of Cameroon. Do come along and support this service. If you have any questions then please see either Barbara Bedford or Jenny Turner

Bookstall Bibles

Following this year's stocktake, Barbara Bedford has 'purchased' a new batch of Bibles. Do take the opportunity to see the range we have available. The stock of Bibles at St. Andrews Bookshop has been somewhat decimated!

Free to a Good Home

Hilary Manning is left with a couple of items from her father’s flat and wonders if anybody would be interested in them. There is a mahogany wall unit in excellent condition. It is six foot wide and about 6 foot tall. It ships in two pieces. They could probably deliver it in March sometime when they have a hire van.

There is also a 4 foot wide bed with dark oak wooden headboard and footboard and an iron frame. It comes with a mattress that is ok but doesn’t have fire labels. It could be either a small double or a big single! This could be delivered now as it is disassembled.

Hilary is reluctant to take these items to the tip but doesn’t know what else to do with them as the charities won’t take them (because they say there is no demand). If you’re interested please contact Hilary

World Mission Link Missionaries – Alan & Anne Penn

Alan & Anne have now been in Nepal 3 years and have enjoyed the Nepali experience, both culturally and in the work they are involved in with the United Mission of Nepal – an organisation with which the Baptist Missionary Society is in partnership. They intended to commit themselves for the first 3 years of their retirement, but are now feeling they may stay longer. We shall be meeting them again in person in the Autumn, but for now please take a copy of their latest newsletter which updates us on all they are doing and gives pointers for praise and prayer.

Pancakes 2010

It’s that time of year again; time for our annual Pancake Party. This year, Shrove Tuesday is on February 16th and pancakes are available between 18.30 and 20.00. Choose from toffee and marshmallow, cherry, lemon, banana, syrup, cream and ice cream! Also, the ‘Valletta’ returns for a second year.

The cost is still 60p per pancake. Any proceeds will once again go to Willen Hospice in memory of David Buckell. Last year with proceeds and donations we were able to send them £210.00

Admin Worker

Is there someone out there looking for an admin and driving job (in MK, Luton, Beds and Herts)? It’s approximately 15 hours a week, but will vary from week to week, pay £6 per hour. You will need to be flexible, but I can work round you sometimes, too. May be some evening work. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks, John Richards.

Service Details 07/02/10

Good morning and a warm welcome to our worship which is led by our minister Paul Rosier. Paul will be speaking from Ecclesiastes 1 and Philippians 1 on “What’s The Point?”. Our service will also include the sharing of communion and the welcome of new church members.

At 4.00pm this afternoon we have our monthly Food4Thought event for the elderly and especially those who live alone. This month our hosts are Roger and Catherine Hall.

Service Details 14/02/10

Next Sunday 14th February at 10.30am Paul Rosier and Claire Scott lead our worship. Paul will be speaking from the first of the “Purpose Driven Life” series with “What on earth…?”

CHURCH DIARY

SUNDAY 7 February
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship and Communion led by Paul Rosier
4.00pm Food4Thought hosted by Roger and Catherine Hall
7.30pm yPod 2nd Generation (Years 8 & 9).

MONDAY 8 February
1.30 – 2.30pm HomeGroup meeting at Mary & Roy Freestone’s.
6.15pm Boys’ Brigade Anchor Boys & Junior Sections. See Roger.

TUESDAY 9 February
8.45am Team Prayer Meeting in the chapel.
9.30 – 9.45 am TOFTS Bible Time for Toddlers.
9.45 – 11.15am Parent & Toddler Group (24 Months+). See Yvonne Wilkinson
1.30 – 3.00pm Parent & Baby Group in the Tickford Room. See Yvonne Wilkinson
1.30 – 3.00pm Parent & Toddler Group (12-24 months). See Yvonne Wilkinson
2.00pm Bible Study Group in the chapel studying 2 Timothy. All welcome!
7.45pm HomeGroup A. Acts 9
7.45pm HomeGroup B. Acts 4:1-31

WEDNESDAY 10 February
11.00am Bethany Lunch Club for Senior Citizens. Contact Peter Faulkner for bookings and Elsie Smith for transport.
8.00pm HomeGroup meeting at Newport Pagnell

THURSDAY 11 February
6.15pm Girls’ Brigade Explorers For all sections see Sue Garnham
6.45pm Girls’ Brigade Junior Section
8.00pm Boys’ Brigade Company Section Contact David Huckle
8.00pm Girls’ Brigade Senior and Brigader Section

SUNDAY 14 February
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship led by Paul Rosier and Claire Scott.
7.00pm Cross Purposes at Newport Pagnell URC