Pastoral News: 30 May 10

We remember Joan Swain who has been in hospital, and pray for her in her need.

This weekend sees the BB Firm Foundations arts and music festival at Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead, and we pray for all who participate in this – especially that it will stay dry and warm for the whole weekend!

England v Algeria

World Cup fever will soon be upon us and here at NPBC we are screening the England v Algeria match on Friday June 18th from 7.00pm. Expect large screen action, a barbeque and some exciting prizes to be won. Tickets are just £2 and are available today from Jonathan Winship or Steve Greenfield. Also available, ‘Scorchio, your world cup magazine.

Service Details 30/05/10

This morning our service is led by our minister Paul Rosier and is a service of believers’ baptism. We are delighted that Gemma Bendall-Jones, Gail Salmon, Magdalene Tan and Michael Dillow are demonstrating their Christian faith in this way, and we welcome them and their families and friends.

Service Details 06/06/10

Next Sunday 6th June at 10.30am Paul Rosier leads our worship. Paul will be speaking from a new teaching series “Minders Keepers” on “The Stewardship of Life”.

In the afternoon at 4.00pm we have our monthly Food4Thought event and this month our hosts are Paul and Janet Rosier.

Statement to the Church Meeting by Paul Rosier – 18th. May 2010

At the Church Meeting on Tuesday 18th May a statement was received from Paul Rosier. Here is the statement in full:

It has been with some excitement and hope that we have been talking for some time now about the way ahead for us as a church, and especially in the matter of developing a second ministry for the church to help to cope with the demands of a church that is growing in numbers, members and ministries. It is right and proper that we have taken our time to consider these matters, and I am grateful to the elders and deacons for sharing this journey with me as we have sought to identify our tasks for the future and discover God’s mind and heart for us.

As we have been asking some serious questions of ourselves as a church and as your servant leaders, so I now need to tell you that you have not been alone in this, for Janet and I too have been asking serious questions about the future, recognising our responsibility to God and to you as fellow members and workers in this church. I need now to tell you that we have come to the decision that it is right for us to relinquish the ministry of this church at my next birthday next February, and I shall be retiring from full-time pastoral ministry as we seek to discover what God has in store for us for the future. This has not, of course, been an easy decision, since we have had the privilege of serving you for twenty-four years, and for many of you this has been the only ministry that you have known. You have not only served with us, but you have become our friends and family, and we shall miss you enormously. God has done some wonderful things here in those years, and we have been through some exciting times together! I hope it is true that we leave the church in good heart and in a very exciting sphere of its life, and we are sure that God will continue to bless you as you serve him in this community.

There are still nine months to go, and we pray that those nine months will be a time of blessing as we work together to determine the future ministry of the church. What is clear is that we have the opportunity to call and build a new team of ministers (not just one!) who will lead the church into the future, and I promise that I will do all I can to support and encourage the Deacons and Elders in their responsibilities in this matter. We recall the words of the Psalmist when he wrote “unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain” (Ps. 127). We’ve got a lot of building to do – let’s get on with it!

CHURCH DIARY

SUNDAY 30 May
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship & Believers Baptism led by Paul Rosier

TUESDAY 1 June
8.45am Team Prayer Meeting in the chapel.
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. “Proverbs” All welcome!
7.45pm HomeGroup A .
7.45pm HomeGroup B Daniel 10.1-11.

WEDNESDAY 2 June
11.00am Bethany Lunch Club for Senior Citizens. Contact Peter Faulkner.

THURSDAY 3 June
7.45pm Boys’ Brigade Company Section Contact David Huckle
7.45pm Pastoral Assistants Meeting

SATURDAY 5 June
8.00am Prayer Breakfast for Deacons & Elders in the chapel.
9.00 – 12.00pm Prayer in the Chapel. Come and go as you are able

SUNDAY 6 June
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship & Communion led by Paul Rosier