Pastoral News: 31 May 09

John Richards has been in hospital again this week and the doctors have reactivated his shunt. He is back home again now and Sue advises that he is feeling the benefit. We pray that this will indeed represent a permanent improvement for John and continue to pray for John, Sue and Matt in these uncertain times.

One of our Bethany and Food4Thought ladies, Helen Austin, has suffered a right-side stroke and is in MK General Hospital. She has some limitation in movement of her arm. Please pray that her physio treatment will assist in providing full movement again

Jane Cole has recently had an operation for carpal tunnel syndrome and is making sound progress. We continue to pray for Jane as she copes with the effects of a difficult year.

Church Picnic

Please make a note of the following in your diary. On Sunday 14th June we are going to enjoy a church picnic together immediately after the morning service. Bring a picnic and share in the fun. Games and other entertainment will be provided. For further details contact Steve Greenfield.

Logos Hope Visits London

The new Operation Mobilisation ship the “Logos Hope” is visiting London from 11th to 28th June. You will find her at South Quay, Canary Wharf. Do try and go as it will be an excellent opportunity to see the latest in the OM fleet, and it will surely be very interesting, as Barbara and Keith can verify after a recent visit to her sister ship the Doulos. Times are Sunday 14.00 to 22.00, Monday is Closed, Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00 to 22.00.

Parent And Baby Group - Tuesday Afternoon

An extra pair of hands is needed to help Wendy run the afternoon session while Sue is away on holiday. The dates are Tuesday's 16th & 23rd June 2009. Please be available from 12.30 - 15.30 to include setting up and clearing away. If this is something that you can do, please speak to either Wendy Turner or Sue Garnham Thank you!

Churches Together in Newport Pagnell

It was decided at the CTNP Forum in January to not have a stall at this year’s carnival. Instead it was decided to have a planning meeting to discuss the 2010 carnival to decide what the aims are and what we can do. The Mission Group decided to have a meeting on Thursday June 11th at 7.45pm at the Methodist church to start our discussions off. We need plenty of people there to come up with ideas to hopefully present to the Forum on 18th June. If you are interested and able to attend you would be most welcome.

Women Need To Talk

Ladies, this is to give you early notice that Fiona Castle is speaking at a Ladies Breakfast at Frosts Garden centre on 19th September. Tickets are £5.50 and we would ask that you let Mary Buckell know TODAY if you would like to go. It starts at 8.45 and finishes by 10.30am.

Penn Update

There was a news update from the Penns a couple of weeks ago here in J14. We have just had a further email from them as there is lot going on in Nepal at the moment and they need our prayers.

Dear friends

We are concerned that you might have read about or seen on television the bomb explosion in Kathmandu yesterday that killed two and injured about 15 others; some seriously. It was in the Catholic Church about 1 mile from our house at the early mass. We didn't hear about it until a little later as Alan was at work and I was out looking at flats with our friends Marcus and Suzanne. It appears to have been a deliberate attack by a small group of fanatics who want Nepal to return to being a Hindu Kingdom. The Catholics have been working peacefully here for many years and have 2 large schools and a college in our area as well as working in other parts of the country. Many other church leaders went to the church to support them and comfort those who were at the service. Saturday is church day for Nepalis as Sunday is a working day. I think some churches cancelled services and had prayer meetings instead. We attended a local Nepali church's English service today and we spent most of the time in prayer. All is quiet and there was no sign of anything untoward yesterday or today and there is general condemnation of the attack.

Please pray for the families of those killed and for the injured among whom are children. Everyone is being more careful than usual about security but apart from some publicity I do not think the group's cause has been helped at all.

A new Prime Minister was elected yesterday so we are waiting to see if there are any changes and if the new opposition will continue to pledge themselves to the peace process.

Our new Executive Director officially begins work tomorrow so this is an occasion to celebrate.

Anyway we are safe and well. Power cuts are down to 8 hours a day and there is rain most days so water supply is improving. Lots to be thankful for!

Must finish and cook sausages, mash and baked beans for dinner, very Nepali! Back to dal bhat tarkari tomorrow

love form
Anne and Alan

Membership Pack

Please would all church members ensure they receive their membership pack from their Vine Group Leader today? This was designed for new members but the leadership felt that existing members would find the information useful.

Service Details 31/05/09

A very warm welcome to our service this morning which is led by our church member Keith Bedford and visiting preacher Rev John Layzell. John and his wife Judith were with us at NPBC for 3 years whilst John was a student pastor studying at Regents Park College. He is currently minister at Farnborough Baptist church and we warmly welcome John and Judith back with us today

Preaching Elsewhere

We remember in prayer Roy Freestone and Eric Eyre as they lead the worship at Olney Baptist Church today. Roy is leading this morning and Eric this evening.

You’re Never too Old!

They say you’re never too old to learn! With that in mind we shall all be going back to school on a Sunday morning. Commencing on June 7th a new series, “The James School of Excellence” will be an education from the inspired pen of the leader of the church in Jerusalem. ‘Learning to be Patient in Testing’, ‘Learning to be Prayerful in Trouble’ and what about ‘Learning to have Power in the Tongue’. Just some of the things we shall be learning as we further our spiritual education together.

Food4Thought

Donations of homemade cakes for F4T on Sunday 7th June would be appreciated. If you are able to help in this way please refer to the ‘Cake Bakers List’ in the Foyer. Thank you.

CHURCH DIARY

SUNDAY 31 May
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship led by John Layzell
7.30pm yPod at the home of Steve and Natasha Wood.

MONDAY 1 June
6.15pm Boys’ Brigade Anchor Boys & Junior Sections. See Roger.
7.45pm Amicus – Contact Sam Downton or Mark Nicholls

TUESDAY 2 June
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 in the chapel led by Linda Row. All Welcome.
7.45pm HomeGroup Meeting at Newport Pagnell

WEDNESDAY 3 June
11.00am Bethany Lunch Club for Senior Citizens. Contact Peter Faulkner for bookings and Elsie Smith for transport.
7.45pm Alpha Course meeting at Giffard Park.
8.00pm HomeGroup meeting at Newport Pagnell

THURSDAY 4 June
6.15pm Girls’ Brigade Explorers For all sections see Sue Garnham
6.45pm Girls’ Brigade Junior Section
7.45pm Pastoral Assistants Prayer Meeting
7.45pm Boys’ Brigade Company Section Contact David Wright
8.00pm Girls’ Brigade Senior and Brigader Section

FRIDAY 5 June
9.45 – 11:30am MOPS Group. See Wendy Turner or Elaine Hope

SATURDAY 6 June
8.00am Prayer Breakfast for Elders and Deacons

SUNDAY 7 June
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship & Communion led by Eric Eyre, Bev Wright & Steve Wood.
4.00pm Food4Thought hosted by Trevor & Christine Ransome.
7.30pm yPod at the home of Steve and Natasha Wood.