connect nov 12 pdf
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Connect
Published by the Baptist Union of Scotland, 48 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, [email protected]. Charity Registration No:SC004960
November 2012
Under sunny autumn skiesand in the shadow ofDundees famous statue of
Desperate Dan, the friendly and
ever-helpful staff of the Caird
Hall flung open the doors to
welcome delegates and friendsto this years Baptist Assembly
in Scotland. For some, there was
truly an anticipation of coming
Come Home AgainParticipating in the Mission of God
home again: seeing old friends,
meeting new ones and listening
to God together. Others were
less sure of what to expect,
many coming for the first time or
returning after a number of
years, wondering if they wouldreally feel at home. However,
concerns quickly dissipated as
Assembly opened in celebratory
worship and with the first of
three challenging Bible studies
on Luke 4. The presence of
Gods Spirits was evident from
the outset, as was commented
on by many who attended,
including special guest RevTony Peck, currently serving as
General Secretary to the
European Baptist Federation:
it was exciting for me to see
how Scottish Baptists are
undergoing a renewal of their
life and direction There was a
very positive spirit in the
Assembly and a real desire to
counter all the gloom about the
decline of the Christian faith in
the UK with a renewed
emphasis on recoveringaconfidence in the Gospel and
participating wholeheartedly in
the mission of God.
Throughout Assembly,
delegates were invited to explore
the missional theme from every
possible angle: quietly in the
prayer room, corporately in
preaching and story-telling,
personally in times of response,
creatively in drama and art,
globally with presentations from
BMS World Mission, practically
out on the streets of Dundee
giving away gifts, and so the list
goes on.
Assembly is a unique
opportunity for our Baptist
family to spend time together,
and the stories shared of howGod is working throughout our
churches were exciting and
inspiring, encouraging others
not only to praise God but also
to step out in faith themselves,
to do the new things he is
showing them to do in their
location. Parish Nursing,
Workplace Chaplaincy,
Community Money Advice and
Mainly Music for toddlers were
just some examples of projects
which have been taken up byScottish Baptist churches as
tools to engage with their
communities.
As an annual event,
Assembly naturally generates
analysis of the life of our Union
in Scotland over the preceding
year, for good or bad. It was a
delight for the National Team to
present such positive reports on
all aspects of ministry, and to
begin to gather encouraging
feedback and ideas: for example,how to further develop the
youth Step Out discipleship
programme, or the desire of
Assembly to express our
solidarity and prayerful support
to the churches in Lebanon and
Syria. Healthy signs of growth
are clear, and the welcoming of
four new churches into our
Union on Thursday evening
Martin Clarke and the Assembly
praise band set the scene
Rev Tony Peck
Puppets!
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Connect November 2012
Published by the Baptist Union of Scotland, 48 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, [email protected]. Charity Registration No:SC004960
Be sure to follow us on Facebook and at www.scottishbaptist.org.uk!
was indeed a cause for
celebration. But it didnt stopthere! The next day, delegates
agreed wholeheartedly to the
setting up of a Pioneering Fund,
allocating capital of around
240,000 released by re-location
of the BUS office to be used for
pioneering, cutting edge, church
planting in Scotland.
As Karl Martin said more
than once in his talks, God is
up to something: the Baptist
family seem to be in agreement
and have pledged their support.On the third day of
Assembly, there was a
noticeable drop in the average
age of those attending! Families
with young children, teenagers
and youth leaders, all made their
way to Dundee to join in the
specially extended Super
Saturday programme. In
Central Baptist, families spread
out their picnic mats, munching
on sandwiches as Lynn
Alexander and her team,
including Acting Up
puppeteers from East MainsBaptist, took them through two
hours of family fun around the
theme of Participating in the
Mission of God, followed by a
spell-binding performance of
Saltmine Theatre Company's
production, The Book of Hope.
It was amazing to see the
different generations, parents,
grandparents, carers, children,
discovering more of God
together: children smiling as
parents tried in vain tocoordinate their limbs for action
songs, parents crying as
children touched them and
prayed a blessing on them,
adults and young ones praying
for God to move in their
schools, churches and world.
Equally exciting and
surprising was what the
teenagers (and their leaders!)
learned and practised with Chris
Duffet, 2012 President of the
Baptist Union of Great Britain,
whose recent book "Big
Hearted" is full of simple yetastounding ways to love people
with the love of Jesus! Here are
some of his own reflections after
the event:
"One highlight for me in my
role at the Assembly was
taking young people 'out there'
amongst those who wouldn't
have a clue about Jesus, let
alone what it means to be a
Baptist!
We did the classic free fruit
(of the Spirit) giveaways.Teams also had freedom to be
creative. One of the teams I sent
out decided to give away
chocolates. I watched how they
got on and they soon attracted
a bunch of people around their
generous act. One guy got
talking to me and pulled out
beneath his jumper a cross he
had bought recently. He told
me how his friends had been
teasing him about having a
'stupid cross.' I asked him if be
had been thinking of becoming
a Christian. He shared that hehad been and wondered what
it meant to be one. A thought
crossed my mind that I should
offer him the New Testament I
had in my pocket He was so
chuffed. As we left he thanked
me for the gift of the Bible. He
looked so happy."
If you were with us for all or
part of Assembly, then hopefully
as you read this, you are
prompted again to go and take
that step which God's Spiritchallenged you about as your
participation in the mission of
God. If you were unable to join
us this year, why not listen to
the talks as they become
available online, chat to others
in your church about how God
spoke to them at Assembly, and
perhaps even plan now to Come
Home Again next year for
Assembly 2013.
Ruth Donaldson
Chris Duffett
Annie from Saltmine
TheatreCompany
Bible Study leader
Glen Marshall
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Published by the Baptist Union of Scotland, 48 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, [email protected]. Charity Registration No:SC004960
November 2012
An appreciative client!
Dave Bookless
PLEASE NOTE: The events metioned in our publications or on our website or social media can cover the wider Christian scene in Scotland and
do not necessarily reflect the involvement or endorsement of Baptist Union staff nor any specific knowledge about content.
The Son and The SunI have noticed several different
posters displayed in the notice
board at the side of the church and
upon noticing them, have thought to
myself how clever and eye-catching
they were. I made the assumption
that these posters were bought from
wherever posters are bought fromand found myself imagining this
huge warehouse full of clever,
thought provoking posters.
How wrong I was!
On Sunday 15th July, I was
relaxing at home in the afternoon
when a phone call came from the
reporter based in Aberdeen, for the
Scottish Sun. Stuart the reporters
name had been passing by CTBC
and noticed the current poster The
Born Supremacy. To say he was
excited about it would be a major
understatement. Stuart was amazed
at the cleverness and eye-catching
nature of this poster. He regaled me,
at length, about how clever it was
and what an unusual way to catch
peoples attention.
Stuart asked me for the
background on the poster and I
found myself on a journey of
discovery. I now know that Lindsay
Donald has all the ideas for the
posters that appear in this notice
board and her son Gavin designs and
produces the posters.I felt extremely humbled that
such a brilliant partnership is
providing an amazing means of
outreach to our local community
and nationally, since the Sun
reporter noticed them!
A few years ago, Mark Halliday
had an article in the Baptist Times
detailing what was necessary to
make newcomers to church feel
welcome. One of the main points he
made was the fact that we shouldnt
make any assumptions about the
way we relate to people who are
not used to being in a worshipservice. We should be careful not to
alienate visitors by speaking in a
secret language or behaving in a
churchy way.
The brilliant thing about The
Born Supremacy poster is that it is
instantly recognisable to anyone
passing by the church and will
attract their attention.
On returning from my summer
holiday and collecting books from
church, I observed two guys
walking down Windmill Lane and
having a laugh upon noticing the
poster. They spent a good few
minutes looking at it and
commenting upon it. Who knows
what that encounter may grow into
sometime in the future?
Suffice to say that Lindsay and
Gavin are doing a fantastic job in
their month by month commitment
to keeping the notice board relevant
and eye-catching. I think we, as a
church, should make clear our
gratitude to them for this excellent
work and support them by takingnote of each poster as it appears
and letting them know that this
small job is of huge importance.
Nobody told me that my duties
as joint Church Secretary would
include an appearance in The Sun!Donna Minto
Crown Terrace Baptist Church finds outthat their notice board is getting noticed...
Westray Baptists - Doing it Themselves!
Having got a new roof seven
years ago and a new mansefour years ago, the folks of
Westray Baptist Church
decided to overhaul the main
sanctuary of their building.
They decided to do the bulk
of the work themselves to
keep costs down, using thelocal builder from time to
time. Then, when underway,
they decided to continue and
completely renovate the
entire building. Now its got a
new sanctuary, quiet room,
kitchen, church hall, Sunday
school rooms and toilets!
During the 20 months of the
refurbishment the church met
in the local school for morning
services and with their friends
at the Church of Scotland for
the united evening services.
Sunday, 16th September
saw the official opening of the
new building, with over 160
folks there to celebrate
together. Pastor Gavin Hunter
led the service of thanksgiving,at which John Greenshields
preached on the words of
Jesus I will build my
church.
A thank-offering at the morning
service realised the sum
required to pay the final bills
for all the work done, so all
costs have now been met.
- Praise be to God!
Pastor Gavin Hunter
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Published by the Baptist Union of Scotland, 48 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, [email protected]. Charity Registration No:SC004960
Notice
BoardFestive DecorationsThis mid-week holiday, with a time
of worship and reflection built into
the programme, has been organised
by the Atholl Centre in Pitlochry.
It will run from 13th to 15th
November and be led by Maggie
Robertson, who has a BA in
Education and Design and has a
craft company teaching a range of
craft skills, especially textiles.
These days are for beginner and
intermediate crafters. Project packs
will be available to buy or you can
bring your own materials.
For more info contact Iain at theAtholl Centre on 01796 473044 or
see www.athollcentre.org.uk
Lewis Misselbrook Many of us remember Rev LewisMisselbrook who, along with his
late wife Molly, worked among our
churches, preaching, speaking and
assisting with consultancies, as part
of ourScotreach mission
programme in the early 1980s.
After a long and activeretirement, Lewis died on 1st
October at the age of 91. A service
of celebration and thanksgiving was
held on 10th October. His sons
Kris, Peter and David encourage
anyone wishing to mark his passing
to make a donation in his memory
to Crisis Centre Ministries,
Carpenter House, 32 Stapleton
Road, Bristol, BS5 0QY.
BMS Womens Link
Winter Programme
November 7th:
Jean Somerville on her return visit
to Nigeria.
December 5th:
Christmas Celebration.
2013 - February 3rd:
Scottish Baptist Womens
Fellowship Presidential Memories,
with Andrea Voysey
March 6th:
Bangladesh Update with Bill Baxter.
April 4th:
BMS Update with Rev Judy White
and AGM
BMS West of Scotland Women's
Link meets from 10.15am in
Adelaide Place Baptist Church,Glasgow. Further details from Mrs
Jan Watson on 01294 822594.
Wanted : Mission PraiseMull Baptist Church would be grateful for offers of Complete Mission
Praise hymn books which are now surplus to requirements. If you can
help, please contact Elvyn Blomfield on 01681 700398.
Fifteen months ago, after fouryears as BUS Mission Advisor,Andy Scarcliffe was called topastor the small church atPortobello. Sunday morningssaw around 15-20, mostly retiredpeople attending, with a handfulat the midweek Bible study. Thefaithful core of people weretrusting that God would turnthings around. Within the firstyear, attendance doubled on aSunday morning.
The format of the midweek
SomeSomeSomeSomeSomething is Happening in Pthing is Happening in Pthing is Happening in Pthing is Happening in Pthing is Happening in Pororororortttttobello...obello...obello...obello...obello...
meeting, held in the church cafe,changed. The buzz of excitementattracted new people, sometimesseeing 16 to 18 people getting togrips with what it means tofollow Christ. You would findthem drinking coffee, watchingvideo clips, and breaking into
small groups for discussion andprayer. There are also now, thebeginnings of a Sunday School.
One of the new people hadthe idea of using the church'spurpose-built cafe one Saturday
to raise money for Christian Aid.From 6am, a team made soup,baked cakes, and brewed coffee.Over lunch they were packedout, giving the homemade fareon a donation basis to theintrigued people of Portobello."What's going on here?"one
said, "I thought this place wasderelict!" They raised 300 forChristian Aid and subsequentcafe days raised 400 for theBMS "Thirsty" appeal, and 200for TEAR Fund.
The cafe sits right next to thePortobello Bar, where the churchhas a good relationship with thestaff. At last year's carol service,one of the barmaids led somecustomers in to see the displayof candles and hear the bandrehearsing for the event. One or
two have even stumbled in tothe midweek discussion, joinedin, and even been prayed for! Carols by Candlelight itselfwas a great success. Andy said,"We weren't quite sure howmany to expect, but we packed
the place out with over 150 folksinging praise to God, stayingfor mulled wine and mince pies".
He continued, "Most whocame were invited by peoplefrom the church. Some werefamily members who had notbeen there since they were inSunday School. The localcouncillor was invited andjoined in enthusiastically.
One major landmark is therecent refurbishment of the cafe& church frontage which sits inthe centre of Portobello HighStreet. There is a buzz in thewider community as people seethe signs of new life, hope andconfidence. The sanctuaryitself in a previous life has beenthe Town Hall, a dance hall, anda cinema. When the old signabove the cafe was pulleddown, it was just possible tosee on one side "Music
Saloon", and on the other,"Adolph's Bar". Who knowswhat the premises were used forin the past...and God knowswhat they will be used for in thefuture. Please pray!
The Cafe in Action
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Published by the Baptist Union of Scotland, 48 Speirs Wharf, Glasgow, G4 9TH, [email protected]. Charity Registration No:SC004960
November 2012
Engagement Diaryfor November
2 Alan Donaldson is at the pre-launch ofMore
Than Gold. Judy White is at the Forfar church.
3 Our Public Issues and Social Action Group
meets today.8 The National Team have their Strategy Day.
10 Those on the joint BUS/SBCInitiate
training course meet today.
11 John Greenshields preaches in Pitlochry
Baptist Church.
12 Until 14th, Alan Donaldson attends the
BUGB Council. The Board of Ministry meets
over today and tomorrow. The Scottish
Baptist Womens Fellowship leaders meet.
15 Scottish Baptist College Committee.
16 This is the Step OutReunion Weekend.
18 John Greenshields preaches in Easterhouse
Baptist Church, Glasgow. Forfar Community
Church opens (see below).20 John Greenshields attends the National
Settlement Team in Didcot. Our Union
Trustees meet today.
22 The National Team meets. The Mission
Forum meets today and tomorrow.
23 Judy White spends the weekend with our
Shetland churches.
25 Alan Donaldson preaches in Portobello
27 The National Strategy Group meets..
28 John Greenshields speaks at Auchlochan
Retirement Village.
29 Alan Donaldson attends a meeting of
Church leaders. The Joint Assembly Planning
Group meets.
Q:Q:Q:Q:Q: What do you get if you mix
washing-up liquid, bicarbonate of soda,
vinegar, ketchup and brown sauce with
a few drops of red food colouring?
A:A:A:A:A: Excited shrieks from a group of
small boys ignoring our risk
assessments and trying to stand onchairs to get a better view!
It's not just the paint and the glue and
the glitter and the icing sugar that
gives Messy Church its name - Messy
Church is about the "messy" edges of
our church communities - families for
whom a Sunday church service is not
always practical or relevant.
For us in Lochgilphead, Messy
Church started at Easter 2011 when
we had been searching for a way to
develop our engagement with the
families who regularly attended our
weekly parent and toddler group and
sent their primary-age children to our
annual Holiday Clubs.
Messy Church is a "fresh expression"
of church where folk of ALL ages are
welcomed, share in a variety of craft
activities all relating to a central theme,
come together in a simple act of
worship (usually a song, story and
Getting Messy at Lochgilphead Baptist
prayer) and share a meal together.
Each craft table is led by a volunteer
from our "regular" congregation and the
table leader encourages conversation
relating to the theme along with
expressing genuine interest in the lives
of the families attending and simply
getting to know people better anddemonstrating the love of Jesus.
Our experience of Messy Church has
been a blessing to both those who
attend and those who help. We have
had fun, we have learned the hard way
which activities are just TOO messy and
we have shared the excitement of
Bible stories with those who have
never heard them before.
On occasions, our Messy Church has
a congregation as large as the Sunday
congregation and the families who
come really do view it as church. We
sometimes struggle to accommodate
the seven or eight different craft
tables, the act of worship and the
meal without getting glue on the guitar
and sequins in the spaghetti, but we
are looking forward with anticipation to
our church extension which we hope
will give us even more space to be
even messier!
Alison Hay
If youd like more general information about Messy Church
see www.messychurch.org.uk
Please remember in your prayers
the formal opening of the
churchs building, and the start of
the Community Week, on
Saturday 10th November.Open days over the next week
will culminate in a Service of
Dedication, at which Rev Alan
Donaldson will preach and to
which all are invited.
For fuller information see
www.forfarcommunitychurch.org.uk
The Forfar Files...
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Prayer Linkfor November
Sunday 4th
Adam Plenderleith: Chaplain, Glasgow
Royal Infirmary. My prayer request is simply
that my walk with Christ would be so real that it
would be evident in all of my interactions.
Chaplaincy in a hospital setting is often
viewed as having become so affected by
syncretism with secular society that it has lost
its first love. On the contrary my calling to
Hospital Chaplaincy is totally dependent on my
having Christ in me. My preaching is in my
listening to, caring for and journeying with
individuals in an alien land. Please pray that I
have my gift of listening so enhanced that I hearwhat is being said, unhindered by my biases and
preconceived ideas of right and wrong.
For the wider ministry of Hospital
Chaplaincy please pray that it is recognised as
an equal partner in health care at a time when all
NHS employees need to be able to demonstrate
their cost effectiveness.
Jim Simpson: Royal Cornhill Hospital,
Aberdeen. Please pray for all chaplains working
for the NHS in Scotland. We are employed at an
exciting time of change when local issues
interface with a National agenda. The healthboard is dealing with financial constraints and
this puts pressure on the whole system and
especially the management of people resources.
For the past two years chaplains across the
country have experienced the joys and challenges
of value based reflective practice which causes
us to look at issues such as capacity and
identity.
Please pray for all the staff and patients in
mental health. We still have a long way to go in
tackling such things as stigma. When a person is
feeling unwell the last thing they need is added
pressure through a judgemental attitude. Please
pray for me as I seek to engage with patients,
carers and staff over spiritual and religious care.
The challenge is to be alongside individuals and
the institution enabling them to respond in a
creative way to difficult times.
Sunday 11th
Mull. Mull Baptist has only 6 members and no
minister. We would be glad of prayers for church
growth and God`s guidance on how to reach out
to our community. We need preachers to come,
and thank God for the church caravan which
enables preachers to have a cheap holiday and
lead worship, then relax and be refreshed. We are
blessed with many holiday visitors, some of
whom come every year. Our Church lunch
following the service is also a blessing, being a
great time of fellowship and link with the world-
wide church family.
Musselburgh: Please pray for the church and
its pastors Revs Andy Dalrymple and Graeme
Shearer.
Sunday 18th
Nairn: Rev Tim Power. The language of `The
Wind of The Spirit is Blowing' abounds in Nairn
at the moment. For an age some mission fields
have been `off limits' to anyone, other than a
very few clerics. The stifling effect of moribund
ministries have held the evangelists at bay for a
long time and prevented access to places such as
primary schools. Recently, however, collegial
chaplaincy access has been granted to all three
Nairnshire Primary Schools with NBCs pastor
delivering first time ever assemblies to over 800
pupils across three schools in October alone.Please pray that these new connections with the
young people of our town will bear fruit,
similarly for the mission to young people via
the PWAMM Challenger bus which visits our
area for two weeks at the beginning of
November. The local high school is welcoming
more meaningful relationships with local
ministers and welcoming our pastor, in his role
as senior school chaplain, to bring lectures on
Christian ethics - such as the sanctity of life - to
Highers students.
The beginning of October saw the ladies of
Nairn Baptist Churchs Knitting and Craft grouphave a week long knitting session in the local
library. Many women from the community
talked to them and a good number joined in. The
local press even turned up to take pictures and
produce an article. The group meet in a local
caf, one week knitting, the next a gentle Bible
study and discussion group. Interest in joining
the group has been phenomenal. Please pray for
this seed sowing, or (is it sewing?) ministry.
There is much more, and we dont escape the
trials that come with such work - but no more
space here. Please pray for us that we do indeed
catch the wind of the Spirit and let God take usin the direction he would have our church go.
New Prestwick: Rev Kenneth Ross. New
Prestwick Baptist Church sits halfway between
Ayr and Prestwick and for almost 125 years has
had a Gospel witness within the immediate
community known as Heathfield. As a
worshipping congregation, our members and
adherents gather from the local area, and further
afield throughout Ayrshire; as a witnessing
people, we reach out to the homes and families
in the community round about us. Our outreach
to local families begins with a busy Mums andToddlers group, a Bible club called
Kidzone@192 for primary school age kids (the
largest primary school in South Ayrshire is just
round the corner), and a Youth Fellowship with
a good mix of kids from church families, and
others with no family church connection. In
September, we had an excellent childrens
mission, with Graeme Hewitson ofEikon Bible
Arts coming back to work with us once again.
Men and women are catered for too, with a
variety of meetings and Bible studies for ladies,
to some of which a number of unsaved come
along, and also a mens group.Recent years have seen a broad cross-section
of the congregation become involved in
ministries such as Wheels in Motion (a soup bus
ministry) andBroken Chains, a gathering for
singing, testimony, gospel message and food.
These missional opportunities reach out to
adults with chaotic lifestyles, including quite a
few who are trapped in various forms of
addiction. Many of these people now count us
as their friends, and a good number regularly
attend our evening service.
In Gods grace, we have seen folks believe
and be baptised - and it was a particular joy forour Pastor, Kenneth Ross, to recently baptise
his daughter Sarah. We have also recently
commenced a monthly afternoon service in a
large new local nursing home, with many
of the residents gathering for a time of singing
and a message from Gods word.
Please give thanks with us in the
opportunities we have to reach families
through their children, and also many adults at
their point of need.
Give thanks too for all the busy folks who
give freely of their time to serve within these
various activities and ministries. Regardless ofthe work, we need the Lords strength.
Pray with us for a real breakthrough in
reaching the 750 homes in the square mile that
has New Prestwick Baptist at its centre.
Sunday 25th
Newburgh. Please pray for this small church in
Fife which is currently without a pastor.
Newton Mearns, Glasgow: Rev Brian More.
We continue to be very grateful for numerous
opportunities to engage with the community. Inparticular we are partnering with local schools in
a number of initiatives across the Autumn to
raise funds for Glasgow City Mission and to do
so in ways that also encourage local children to
have a better awareness of the needs of others
less fortunate than themselves.
In discussions across the membership we are
currently exploring afresh God's vision for the
role of a local church and the implications for our
own life and ministry together. Please pray for a
clear awareness of God's leading and direction as
these discussions unfold. The church is also
actively seeking to appoint a second pastorwhose responsibilities would include a specific
focus on ministries involving children and
families. Please prayerfully support our Search
Group as they seek to discern God's guidance in
what we have sensed for some time is a key
appointment for our ongoing work and witness.