Announcements, etc. for Barss Corner Baptist, April 13

Here is info for Barss Corner church for this week, April 13…

Announcements:

• Tomorrow is “Bring a friend” Sunday for our Sunday School and church. We will also have a lunch together after church, so bring some food and a good appetite.
• on Good Friday there will be a combined area worship service at the United Church in New Germany at 11 AM. Prior to that there will also be a walk in New Germany, with people carrying a big cross, starting at 9:30 at the Anglican church.
• Good Friday at 6 PM there will be a family movie night at the Anglican Hall in New Germany, featuring The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
• Wednesday, April 17 at 10 AM, there will be a session at the Union Square Hall about how to protect yourself from “Frauds and Scams.” No charge, tea and coffee available.
• April 28, our Lunenburg-Queens Baptist Association is hosting our annual spring rally, this year at Bridgewater Baptist Church. Pot-luck supper at 5 pm, then music and teaching from 6 – 8 pm. The speaker is Bob Knowles from Crandall University.
• There is a women’s retreat at Open Bible church in Bridgewater, May 4. Phone Donna Strickland for details. 523-2485. RSVP by April 24.
• There is a women’s retreat at Liverpool Baptist Church, May 4, 9:00 – 12:30.
• If you happen to run into Hartley Frank tomorrow (Sunday), you should wish him a happy 93rd birthday.
• Congratulations to Franklyn and Sylvia Hawkesworth on their son David’s very successful defense of his Master’s thesis at Acadia Divinity College recently.
• Congratulations to Melanie Mader on her recent retirement.

On the web:

I spoke this week with a local social worker. I enjoy picking people’s brains, like hers. I asked about some of the biggest problems she sees people face. She said, by far, the biggest issue she sees people face in the broader New Germany area is …. LONELINESS. She’s not alone, and our area is not unique. Here is one of the many articles on the web on the topic of how big of a problem loneliness is becoming in our society… https://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-the-loneliness-epidemic.html

Also, I listened this week to a podcast episode that didn’t feel very worthwhile at first. But certain stories stuck with me for several days. It is an interview with the director of ALPHA USA. Alpha is a program we have done here before. Around the world it has been one of our generation’s most effective evangelism programs. Hear it at https://soundcloud.com/christianitytoday/february-13-2019

Recordings:

• This past Sunday’s sermon is on Crosspreach here, on Soundcloud here, and on Dropbox here.
• If you missed Angela Stewart’s sermon on March 24, you can here it here.
• This first part of the worship service is on Dropbox here.
• You can read sermon notes here.
• You can read bulletins here.

Announcements, Recordings, etc. for Barss Corner church

Here is info for Barss Corner church as of April 5…

Announcements:

• This Sunday, April 7 at 7 PM we are having a movie night at the Barss Corner church, the story of Richard Wurmbrand’s imprisonment for his faith, in a Romanian jail. See the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIeKSrVdET0
• There is a breakfast at the Maplewood hall next Saturday, April 13, 7:00 – 10:30 AM. Raises funds for the hall and gives us a chance to meet our neighbours.
• April 13th, Roxeen and Dalrymple in Concert, at the Newcombville Fire Hall, 3785 Hwy 325. Free will offering – proceeds go to the Tompkin family who recently lost their home to fire. For info contact Al White at 902-685-2222. Bluegrass – Gospel – Classic Country music. Everyone welcome.
• April 14 is “Bring a Friend” day. Invite a friend to Sunday School and/or church. Pot-luck social time will follow the church service.
• April 28, our Lunenburg-Queens Baptist Association is hosting our annual spring rally, this year at Bridgewater Baptist Church. Pot-luck supper at 5 pm, then music and teaching from 6 – 8 pm. The speaker is Bob Knowles from Crandall University.
• There is a women’s retreat at Open Bible church in Bridgewater, May 4. Phone Donna Strickland for details. 523-2485. RSVP by April 24.
• There is a women’s retreat at Liverpool Baptist Church, May 4, 9:00 – 12:30.

On the web:

I’ve found time recently to update my blog of “book reports”… my reflections and notes from books that I’ve read. See it at https://whatpastorsamisreading.wordpress.com/

Recordings:

• This past Sunday’s sermon is on Crosspreach here, on Soundcloud here, and on Dropbox here.
• This first part of the worship service is on Dropbox here.
• You can read sermon notes here.
• You can read bulletins here.

Announcements, Recordings, etc. for Barss Corner church

Hi Barss Corner church…

Announcements:

• • If you happen to be in Halifax this weekend, you might want to check out “Jesus to the Nations”, the annual conference of missionary agencies, happening at MSVU on the Bedford Hwy. See the info at https://www.jesustothenations.com/. Aside from the main speakers, there are booths where you can get to know various missionary agencies that are doing fantastic work around the world.
  • Sunday, March 31 there is a “community pot-luck supper” at the Barss Corner Hall at 4 PM. A good chance to meet some new people, reconnect with others etc. It is initiated and hosted by NGAPS. See https://www.facebook.com/pg/ngconnections/posts
    
  • Also Sunday, March 31 at 3:30 pm  Gospel Concert featuring “Katz Pyjamas” at the New Cornwall Baptist Church. Potluck supper will follow in the Church basement. Proceeds of free will offering to support the Waddell family serving in the Philippines.
  • Tuesday, April 2, I will be conducting the worship service at Rosedale home at 2 PM. All are welcome.
  • Friday, April 5 the Parkdale church is providing food and service at the Lenten Soup Kitchen, at the Anglican Hall in New Germany. Proceeds go to world hunger relief. Come for a $5 meal, from 11:30 to 1:15.
  • April 7, 7 pm, Movie at Barss Corner Church. Tortured for Christ. The cinematic retelling of the love and forgiveness lived out by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand during 14 years of imprisonment and torture for his faith.                 Not recommended for children under 14 years of age.
  • Saturday, April 13 there is a breakfast at the community hall in Maplewood, from 7 – 10:30 AM. Proceeds support the hall.
  • April 14 is Invite a Friend Sunday — to Sunday School and to Sunday worship. We will also have a “social” (that is, eat together) after church that Sunday.
  • April 28, our Lunenburg-Queens Baptist Association is hosting our annual spring rally, this year at Bridgewater Baptist Church. Pot-luck supper at 5 pm, then music and teaching from 6 – 8 pm. The speaker is Bob Knowles from Crandall University.
  • Someone was asking when Rural Life is this year. It is June 9, at the Parkdale church. Malcolm Beckett will be the special speaker.

On the web:

This week I listened to a very good podcast episode about retirement, aging, and how churches serve people and are served in the midst of those. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/march-web-only/retirement-christian-working-class-faith-work.html

Recordings:

• This past Sunday’s sermon  is on Crosspreach here, on Soundcloud here, and on Dropbox here.
• This first part of the worship service is on Dropbox here.
• You can read sermon notes here.
• You can read bulletins here.

Announcements, Recordings, etc. for Barss Corner church

Here is info for Barss Corner church for this week…

Announcements:

• Fridays until Easter, the Lenten soup kitchens are held at the Anglican Hall in New Germany, Fridays from 11:30 to 1:15. A simple lunch for $5, and the proceeds go to world hunger relief. Please see Helene if you are able to provide soup or to serve the week it is our church’s turn (sorry I don’t remember which week that is…)
• Sunday, March 17 at 7 PM, a documentary movie night at Barss Corner church, “Facing Darkness.” The incredible and miraculous story of Samaritan’s Purse doctor
  Kent Brantley in the face of the Ebola pandemic of 2014. See the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVVrRNXj9LQ
• March 18 to 25, I will be away on vacation. Text or phone my cell phone in case of an emergency, and leave a message.
• Sunday, April 7 at 7 PM, movie night at the Barss Corner church. “Tortured for Christ”, the cinematic retelling of the love and forgiveness lived out by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand during 14 years of imprisonment and torture for his faith.

On the web:

Our Baptist denomination office sent out an email asking us to pray for a presentation this Monday, before the Canadian Senate, regarding the value and rightness of charitable tax status for groups that “advance religion.” See https://mailchi.mp/baptist-atlantic.ca/cccc-promoting-advancing-religion-as-a-charitable-purpose

Recordings:

• This past Sunday’s sermon is on Crosspreach here, on Soundcloud here, and on Dropbox here.
• This first part of the worship service is on Dropbox here.
• You can read sermon notes here.
• You can read bulletins here.

Cold Water Baptism

This week one of our Chinese friends visited us in Barss Corner, along with his young family. He shared his story in our church service, of how he came to know and trust Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. He is part of a good church in the USA, where they are living, but he would have to wait a long time for the next baptism event there. So he asked if I could baptize him here. He was thankful for Gerald’s wet suit, and we were all thankful for a cozy wood-fire at Barb Ross’s house after the baptizing was done. Here are some photos. If you would like to hear the recording of his testimony, email me and I can send you the link or make you a disc.

 

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Looking back: Tidal Impact 2017

The following is a short article I wrote for New Germany Connections, following last summer’s Tidal Impact program…

Every 2 years, Baptist youth groups from across Atlantic Canada descend on a chosen region, ready to serve and to learn. This year they came Halifax, Lunenburg, and Queens counties.

Our two little churches (Barss Corner Baptist and Emmanuel Baptist of Parkdale-Maplewood) were matched up with the youth groups from Grace Memorial Baptist Church and Greenwood Drive Baptist Church of Fredericton, and also from Woodstock Baptist Church. In total, 41 youth and leaders blessed us from July 22-29.

These youth crowded into talks, rallies, and fun events with a couple hundred others at Bridgewater Baptist Church and Long Lake Camp. They got challenged to know Jesus and to walk more deeply with him.

They slept in local homes. People in our churches jumped at the opportunity to host them. One man said to me at the end of the week, “It was so nice, it was like having family in my house again.”

Mornings and afternoons, the youth worked hard. They spent time with the residents at Rosedale Home and Lohnes Rest Home; they painted the end of a house; they processed about 12 cords of firewood; they wed gardens; they moved hay; they forked manure; they picked up garbage; they scrubbed things at the elementary school; they mowed lawns; they collected food for the NG food bank, etc. (And they found time to swim in two lakes and one ocean.)

All of that is hard work. I expected to hear complaining. I didn’t.

Except once, it came close. A girl named Taylor had spent the morning weeding a lady’s garden. She came back to the hall tired. She approached me. She sighed. I thought, “Here it comes.” She said, “Sam, can we please go back there tomorrow? That is such hard work, and ___ is elderly and shouldn’t have to do it all herself.”

And then there was the time when two girls didn’t do what they were told. They had spent a morning forking manure out of a chicken coop. Their host family told them, “Tomorrow, if someone asks you to fork manure again, just say no.” But then next day when we asked for volunteers to clean out a sheep barn, those two girls put their hands up. You see, young people just don’t do what they’re told. Ha!

Sneaky Giving: How to Bless People Locally

Do you remember a commercial that used to be on TV, about a father and his children sneaking groceries onto their poor neighbour’s doorstep? There’s something really beautiful about blessing the people who live around us. There are big, effective organizations that help us to give to people in other parts of the world (which we should do). But where do you turn to give locally?

To try to learn to do this has been a (small) part of my work as a pastor. Let me share some keys to what I’ve learned:

Use a middle-man. If you want to give to a friend or neighbour anonymously, the most effective way to do so is to use a middle-man. He or she can say, “this is from an anonymous person who cares.” It works better than leaving the gift on the doorstep because (a) the middle-man can make sure the gift arrives safely; (b) there’s less risk of “getting caught”; (c) the recipient will enjoy being able to pass along their thanks and any other specific feedback; etc.

Find grass-roots programs that are already running, and figure out how to support them. For example, our local elementary school (New Germany Elementary) has a free milk program that provides free milk every morning to any children who want it. By making the milk available to all the children, we are more confident that the children who really need it will take it without stigma. The program is often under-funded, and the school can issue tax receipts to donors. The program costs about $400 per month.

Find who the local professionals are who see real needs, and figure out how to resource them. For example, ask your doctor if he or she sees a lot of poverty. If yes, then ask whether, if you gave some gift cards for a grocery store, if he/she would be able to pass them along. Some professionals will be very keen to do that, others might not. But you don’t know until you ask. You won’t know who the recipients are, but you will probably be able to trust that this professional’s inside view will make for some very effective gift-placement.

I heard one story about a medical professional passing along $200 of gift cards to a young mother. That mother used those cards to fill her empty fridge. Soon after the fridge was filled, Child and Family Services showed up for an inspection. If the fridge had been empty, the child would have been taken into custody. But the fridge was full. That gift made a difference that day.

Ask local trades-people if there are significant needs that they know about. E.g., ask your mechanic if he knows a vulnerable person driving an unsafe car due to lack of funds, and whether a few hundred dollars would make a difference. Or suggest that you could put some credit on a vulnerable person’s tab, to make sure they get their car fixed the next time the brakes or tires wear out. Or sometimes your plumber might have clients whose water he got running but who haven’t been able to pay. Once again, you won’t know the identities of who the people are you’re helping, but you’ll have the joy of knowing your money is probably making a difference.

Some of these kinds of gifts won’t provide charitable tax receipts. If tax receipts will make a big difference for you at the end of the year, then you may want to approach a local charity (e.g., the Lions Club, or your church) and suggest that you could run the gift through them to your targeted recipient. They may be pleased to partner with you.

If your ambition is to give larger gifts, then ask around to the charitable organizations and churches in your local area, to learn if there are particular social workers etc. to whom you could give your contact info. There are people whose job it is to help vulnerable people figure out how to find funding for things that they need (medications, transitions, power, heat, etc.). It is good for those workers to be able to add contacts to their lists, to be able to call to ask for help on behalf of their clients when strategic needs arise.

All of that being said, the most important practical advice I can give is to pray: ask God to help you connect with just the right people in just the right moments, to make your local gift-giving effective and joyful.