Pastoral News: 20 December 09

We’ve received many Christmas greetings from people who have been part of our church family in years gone by: From Jean Mooney in Canada, Elaine Cox in Australia, Alan and Anne Penn in Nepal, as well as from Stephen and Kathryn Packham (Lichfield), James and Lynn Howitt (Isle of Man), Michael and Joy North (Minehead), and Roger and Erica Hutchby (Sussex).

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.

Trevor and Keith's Great North/South Run Double

After pounding the roads of Tyneside and Portsmouth totalling 46.2 miles between them, the total raised for Willen Hospice was £372 plus gift aid. Trevor and Keith would like to say thank you to all their sponsors for their support.

Christmas Stall

Barbara thanks everyone who supported the Christmas stall this year. An amazing £248 was spent on the merchandise supplied by St Andrew's Bookshop, which means that we will be able to send 10 Bibles to persecuted Christians.

Paul and Hilary

Paul, Hilary and the family would like to say a big thank you for all the sympathy, good wishes and love from all members of the church who have been supportive and understanding at the loss of Hilary’s father Harold. The funeral was a real blessing and celebration of Harold’s life. Harold wanted you all to know of his love and appreciation of the church fellowship, and the sure knowledge that he is now with his Lord Jesus. John 14, vs 1-4 were some of the last words we shared with Harold before he went to Glory.’

New Year’s Eve Party

It’s been a busy and difficult time for many people recently, including Steve Greenfield who helps with the planning for our New Year’s Eve party. We’re pleased to report however that the New Year’s Eve party will go ahead as planned. What better way to end, what for many has been a challenging year, than with NPBC coming together, relaxing and having some fun. It’s going to be a great evening and the cost will be just £3.00 per adult and £1.50 per child. Please give your name to either Steve or Roy or email them at Junction14@npbc.org,uk.

Alternative Christmas Card

The congregation is invited to send their Christmas message to others within the fellowship by signing the ‘Alternative Christmas Card’ and by giving a donation to World Vision in lieu of the purchase of Christmas cards. If you are a UK taxpayer and willing to Gift Aid your donation please complete the Gift Aid form. Thank you.

Thank You

A very big thank you to all who supported our six Christmas Cracked sessions in the past two weeks. CC is the two-hour interactive presentation we run for year 6 children to help them unwrap the true meaning of Christmas. Thanks to those who helped in the sessions, who helped to set up and put away all the equipment, and to those who helped resolve the technical problems! City wide some 1250 children participated in CC this year.

Thank You For Your Gifts

Safer MK would like to thank you for your overwhelming generosity in donating Christmas gifts to the campaign for women and children in local domestic violence refuges. There has been a huge response, with children’s toys, clothes, books and toiletries being donated at the drop off points. Irene Chittenden, Head of Services at MK-ACT said: “On behalf of women in our domestic abuse refuges, I would like to say an enormous thank you to people in Milton Keynes for their amazing generosity. Women and their children in our refuges will each have a gift to unwrap on Christmas morning.

Service Details 20/12/09

Good morning and a warm welcome to our worship which is led by Eric Eyre. Eric will be speaking from “The Six Days of Christmas” series with “The Day of Service” from Luke 1.

This evening at 7.00pm we have our Community Carol Evening, featuring the premiere of the musical event “The Xcelsis Factor 2009”. Suitable for all ages, it promises to be a really enjoyable evening. There will be a special collection for the work of Willen Hospice, and coffee and mince pies to conclude.

Christmas Day Service Details

On Christmas Day at 10.30am (concluding by 11.15am) we have worship for all ages with carols, children, chat…and a surprise or two!!

Service Details 27/12/09

On Sunday 27th December at 10.30am Paul Rosier will lead our worship. Paul will be speaking from “The Six Days of Christmas” series with “The Day of Recognition” from Luke 2. It will be a shortened worship for Christmastime, with the usual groups for the children

Service Details for Sunday 3rd January

On Sunday 3rd January at 10.30am our minister Paul Rosier leads our worship for the new year. Paul will be speaking from Revelation 21 on “What’s New?” The service will also include the sharing of communion.

CHURCH DIARY

SUNDAY 20 December
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship led by Eric Eyre
7.00pm Community Carol Event including ‘The Xcelsis Factor 2009’
yPod for both groups at Steve and Natasha’s.

WEDNESDAY 23 December
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

CHRISTMAS DAY 25 December
10.30am Service of Worship for Christmas Day led by Paul Rosier.

SUNDAY 27 December
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship led by Paul Rosier

THURSDAY 31 December
7.30pm New Year’s Eve Party here at Lovat Hall.

NEW YEAR’S DAY
10.00am CTNP New Year’s Day Walk calling at all the churches in the town for a short time of worship. The service at NPBC is at 10.40am. Please refer to poster on the noticeboard for further details.

SUNDAY 3 January
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship and Communion led by Paul Rosier
4.00pm Food4Thought hosted by Jenny and Peter Turner