Pastoral News: 23 November 08

We continue to remember in prayer those who are in hospital - Elsie Smith, Peter Foster, Joan Swain and Bob Keech (Suzanne Church's father).

John Richards was taken to hospital again last weekend, but is now back at home. We pray that the problems John is experiencing will soon be resolved and that he will begin to regain his strength

From the Church Meeting

At the Church Meeting this week, the draft of the proposed new Constitution required for submission to and approval by the Charity Commissioners was presented and approved. We pray that this draft will be accepted by the CC. The meeting also received a proposed Vision Statement for the church, and this was agreed subject to an addition to be approved at a later meeting. Along with this the church received proposed Guiding Principles for the church, and with some minor amendments these were accepted. Both the Vision Statement and Guiding Principles will come back to a later Church Meeting for formal acceptance.

There was much discussion on the proposed Membership Covenant, and this was sent back to the Elders and Deacons for further consideration.

The meeting also received and approved the Church's budget for 2009

An Evening With ‘Hope Outreach UK’

A number of people have asked Roger and Catherine if they would give a presentation of the work they did during their two recent visits to Sri Lanka with the Milton Keynes based charity ‘Hope Outreach UK’. They’ve agreed and their presentation will take place on Tuesday 25th November in the Tickford Room. Both of the Tuesday evening HomeGroups have been invited. This event is open to all interested in practical Christian mission work abroad.

Extra Help on Saturday Evenings Required

If you would be willing to assist occasionally in helping to sweep the floor and clean tables on a Saturday during the day or in the evening after an event it would be greatly appreciated; especially as we come to the busy month of December. Please see Catherine if you could help in anyway.

African Drumming

The African Drumming workshop will take place on Sunday, 18th January at 4.00pm in the Tickford room. Please see Bev Wright to confirm your place and note that the fee of £3 should be paid as soon as possible.

Food4Thought

Sunday 7th December will be the Christmas Food4Thought and we are anticipating a full house. We would therefore appreciate donations of home made cakes for tea. If you would be willing to bake a cake for us it would be appreciated. Please refer to the leaflet in the foyer as to the type of cake you will be making. Thank you from Catherine

Bband

There will be a Bband practice on Thursday 4th December at 7.00pm in the Portfields room to practice Christmas Carols for the Brigades Carol service on the 8th December.

Christmas Cracked Request

Once again we are hosting “Christmas Cracked” and therefore need the cardboard tubes from kitchen rolls. Please pass them to Mary Buckell.

The next edition of Matrix will be the last ………….…..of this year.

Do you have a Christmas thought or story; a view on the year closing or a desire for the future? If there’s something you would like to report on, comment on, or express a view on, you have until next Sunday – 30th November to prepare it.

A small church congregation, about a quarter the size of NPBC, had 10 people contribute to their recent church magazine. We couldn’t cope with forty – but ten would be nice.

PART TIME EMPLOYMENT

The post of part-time cleaner has been vacant since the spring and we are now looking to appoint to this post from the start of 2009.

We are looking for someone to do 10 hours work each week. Ideally these hours will be at the beginning of the day. The exact composition of duties and the spread of hours will be negotiated with the applicants; however the hours must fit with the operational needs of the premises. In the first instance this will be a temporary one year appointment.

Anyone who is interested in taking up this post should, in the first instance, speak with me.

All expressions of interest should be made by Friday 5th December 2008.

Richard Beesley

Service Details 23/11/08

This morning our minister Paul Rosier leads our worship, and we are delighted to welcome Rachel Foster from the Bridgebuilder Trust to share in the service. As we focus on the work of the Bridgebuilder Trust, the chair of the Trust, Chris Holmwood, will also be taking part. Paul will speak from the series "What on earth are we doing...?" from Luke 4 "Telling Good News".

This afternoon at 4.00pm there is a drama rehearsal for our Christmas musical "There's Something Amazing..." and at 7.00pm in the chapel the chorus meet to rehearse.

Preaching Elsewhere

This morning we remember in prayer two of our members who are preaching elsewhere. We remember Trevor Ransome as he leads the service at Yardley Gobion URC and Roy Freestone as he leads at Stevington Baptist Church.

Service Details 30/11/08

Next Sunday 30th November at 10.30am our worship for Advent Sunday is led by Steve Greenfield, with Paul Rosier speaking on “What on earth are we doing...? Announcing the time”. The service also includes the dedication of Amy Hazell and Fiona and Stuart come to give thanks to God for her and to commit themselves to parenthood.

CHURCH DIARY

SUNDAY 23 November
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship on Bridgebuilder Sunday led by Paul Rosier.
4.00 Drama Rehearsals for Community Carol Service
7.00 – 8.00pm Singing Rehearsals in the Chapel for Community Carol Service
7.00 – 9.00pm Synergy Meeting at Loughton Baptist Church

MONDAY 24 November
6.15pm Boys’ Brigade Anchor Boys & Junior Sections. See Roger.
7.45pm Amicus – Contact Sam Downton or Mark Nicholls

TUESDAY 25 November
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.
2.00pm Bible Study Group Continuing the series “The Coming King”.
8.00pm Roger and Catherine give a presentation of their recent work in Sri Lanka with ‘Hope Outreach UK’. All are welcome. .

WEDNESDAY 26 November
11.00am Bethany Lunch Club Contact Peter Faulkner on for bookings and Elsie Smith on 610139 for transport.

THURSDAY 27 November
6.15pm Girls’ Brigade Explorers For all sections see Sue Garnham
6.45pm Girls’ Brigade Junior Section
7.30 – 9.30pm Music Group Meeting in the Portfields Room
7.45pm Boys’ Brigade Company Section Contact David Wright
8.00pm Girls’ Brigade Senior and Brigader Section

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