Pastoral News: 14 December 08

We continue to pray for Hilda Meadows who is very poorly in MK Hospital, and remember her family as they are concerned for her.

We pray for Marvin Chilton, son of Joy and Mick Chilton, who is in MK Hospital with severe heart problems. We pray that Marvin will know God's peace as he awaits further tests and consultations.

The Food Bank in Milton Keynes

Hunger is not just a Third World problem. Even in our prosperous new city of Milton Keynes there are many people living on the edge of poverty. All it takes is an unexpected event to throw people into a genuine crisis. You can help through the Food Bank.

The Food Bank provides people with the essentials at a time when they need them most. Referrals come from registered professionals including doctors, health visitors and social workers. The Food Bank collects donated dried and tinned goods which are made available to local families and individuals who have been referred.

As a church we supported the work with the donation of our Harvest goods. The winter months can also be a difficult time. We have made available in the foyer a collecting box for donated food items to be left. Perhaps, when out shopping you might be able to purchase an extra tin or packet of dried goods and donate them to this worthy local charity. Details of suggested food items can be found on the flyer inside your J14.

Fellowship News

Please remember Paul in your prayers this week:

Monday 15th am Christmas Cracked with Portfields School
pm Christmas Cracked with Cedars School

Tuesday 16th am Working with the Parent and Toddler Group for Christmas
pm Working with the toddler group & parent & baby club for Christmas

Tuesday Evening Speaking at the Ousedale School Carol Concert

Wednesday 17th am Bethany Centre Christmas lunch
pm North Bucks Baptist Ministers meeting

Friday 19th am Speaking at MOPS group Christmas meeting
pm Officiating at a private interment of ashes

Collecting Stamps For BMS

Please don’t forget to give your used postage stamps to Christine Ransome who uses them to raise funds for the Baptist Missionary Society. Stamps must have a plain border around them; if in doubt please check with Christine.

African Drumming

If you have already indicated an interest in the African drumming workshop to be held on Sunday 18th January, please see Bev Wright as soon as possible to confirm your place. The cost will be £3.

New Year’s Eve Party

As announced last week, on New Year’s Eve we are going on a ‘Grand Tour of Britain’. Starting and finishing in Newport Pagnell we will be taking various forms of transport and visiting many places on this great island of ours.

Any ideas for a good time in Scotland? What should we do when we visit the seaside? How do we get to the Liverpool? If you have any ideas for a game, quiz, song, act etc. then please let Steve Greenfield or Roy Taylor know. It will be a great party if we can get as many taking part as possible. Don’t forget the cost is just £3 per adult and £1.50 per child.

Alternative Christmas Card

We are again supporting the work of World Vision this year by using their ‘Alternative Christmas Card’. This is a fun way of giving each other greetings without the hassle of sending individual Christmas cards. There is one big card where there is room for lots of personal greetings. We then ask everyone who signs the card to donate what they would save in not purchasing cards to help with World Visions work around the world.

Just sign the card and leave your donation in the tin (or hand into the church office clearly marked World Vision). If you are a taxpayer, please fill in your details on the form so that World Vision can claim back tax – about 30p in every pound.

Service Details 14/12/08

A warm welcome to our time of worship which is led by Bev Wright. Our minister Paul Rosier will be speaking from the series “Christmas Letters” from Philippians 2 on “Jesus the Serving Lord”.

Preaching Elsewhere 14/12/08

We remember in prayer our member Keith Bedford as he leads the service at Litchborough.

Service Details 21/12/08

On Sunday 21st December at 10.30am our worship is led by Paul Rosier, who will be speaking from the “Christmas Letters” series from Colossians 1 on “Jesus the Reigning Lord”.

In the evening at 7.00pm we have our Community Carol Service, to include the musical “There's something amazing...”. Suitable for all ages, the musical includes cameo appearances by town and borough councillors, and an appearance by the town mayor! Admission is free - there will be a collection for the work of Spurgeon's Child Care.

CHURCH DIARY

SUNDAY 14 December
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship led by Bev Wright and Paul Rosier.
4.00pm Drama Rehearsal for Community Carol Service
7.00 – 8.00pm Singing Rehearsal in the Chapel for Community Carol Service
7.30 – 9:30pm yPod at the home of Steve and Natasha Wood.

MONDAY 15 December
6.15pm Boys’ Brigade Anchor Boys & Junior Sections. See Roger.
7.45pm Amicus – Contact Sam Downton or Mark Nicholls
8.00pm HomeGroup B. The subject is Bethlehem – a place of dedication 1 Samuel 16.

TUESDAY 16 December
8.45am Team Prayer Meeting in the chapel.
9.45am HomeGroup meeting at Wendy and Andrew’s.
10.00am Parent & Toddler Group (24 Months+). See Yvonne Wilkinson
1.30 – 3.00pm Parent & Baby Group in the Tickford Room Contact Sue Garnham
1.30 – 3.00pm Parent & Toddler Group (12-24 months) contact Janet Rosier.
7.45pm HomeGroup A .

WEDNESDAY 17 December
11.00am Bethany Christmas Lunch for Senior Citizens. Contact Peter Faulkner for bookings and Elsie Smith for transport.

THURSDAY 18 December
7.45pm Boys’ Brigade Company Section Contact David Wright

FRIDAY 19 December
9.45 – 11:30am MOPS Group. See Wendy Turner or Elaine Hope

SATURDAY 20 December
11.00am CTNP Christmas Worship at Market Hill outside Boots.

SUNDAY 21 December
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship led by Paul Rosier.
7.00pm Community Carol Service, to include the musical “There’s Something Amazing”