E-News Wednesday 1st May 2024

On the first Wednesday of each month our weekly reflection is being shared by one of our deacons. This month Neal reflects upon what it means for the Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

In our village there’s a bungalow which has been continuously unoccupied for the last 10 years.  It is a sorry sight: weeds have invaded the driveway, and boundary fences are rotting away. As I walk by, it looks dark and vulnerable.  

It’s a timely reminder of how a property can quickly go to wrack and ruin, when no one lives or dwells there.

Ephesians 2 reminds us that God has chosen us, as Christians, to be His dwelling place. From the beginning, God’s intention was to dwell with His people. Even after all of man’s shortcomings and sins, this plan did not change. Today, God lives in us by His Holy Spirit.

Because God dwells in us, we are like a glorious building. Instead of darkness, we have light within; instead of being vulnerable, we are divinely protected. 

The Holy Spirit is not busy somewhere on the edges of our daily experience; he has set up home in our heart, in the centre of our personality.

Maybe as a newly elected Deacon, you are feeling apprehensive, either about the role or the assumed expectations. Maybe, as a mature Christian, you are feeling powerless to resist some old or stubborn sin. Maybe you have just lost the joy you once had when you first came to faith.  

Whatever the challenge, it is a comfort to know that God Himself has come to dwell in each one of us, reassuring us of His forgiveness and offering us His confidence. 

May this be our experience, as we continue to be built up together in Him.
Neal
 

Church News

First Thursday - No May Meeting

A reminder that on Thursday 2nd May (tomorrow), the Church Hall will be used as a polling station. 
This means that there will be no First Thursday meeting this month. The next First Thursday will be 6th June.

Men’s Breakfast 4th May
Calling all men!

Please join us for a lovely Spring walk in the direction of Donnington Castle on Saturday 4th May 8.00am. We will be meeting at the Pineapple Cafe (20 Rowan Dr, Newbury RG14 1LY). There is ample parking nearby, and we have asked the cafe to open especially early so we can have breakfast there at about 9.00am.

No formal booking is required but it would be helpful to tell us you're coming so we know to expect you and to give the Cafe an idea of numbers. You can email mensbreakfast@newburybaptistchurch.org

As always, do feel free to join us at about 9.00am at the cafe if the walk is not for you.

Ladies Breakfast
Calling all women! 

Our next Ladies Breakfast is taking place at NBC on Saturday 11th May at 9:00am. Please let us know you are coming by registering here

All are welcome.

Notice for parents/guardians of all Children & Young People at NBC

Our new registration process for all Sunday morning youth and children’s activities is now live. 

If you were not at church on Sunday, this involves your child/young person being registered by you on arrival to church using a tablet provided. The group leaders will then check registered children/young people in and out at the beginning and end of their sessions.

The first step in this is for you to ensure that all information held in our church database (through the website) is accurate and up to date. 

Please log on, go to "My Area", "My Profile" and then check if all information is correct. 

If your child is Chattabox age (age 3 - 11) and you would like to give them permission to leave chattabox without being collected by you, please add "Permitted to leave at end of Chattabox" into the "Child Allergy Information" box alongside any allergy information. 

A reminder that we have implemented this new system to ensure that we are following the very best practice in safeguarding and data protection.

If you have any questions please speak to any of the group leaders or email children@newburybaptistchurch.org or youth@newburybaptistchurch.org.

Christmas in a shoebag update

Good news! Hope Now has the documentation and permission from the Ukraine Government to send boxes to Ukraine, which means we can go ahead with our Shoe Bag initiative starting September this year. 
CALLING ALL SEWERS - fabric has been bought and cut for sewing and we are looking for machine sewers to get us ahead and ready for distribution beginning September. 

If you can help, please get in touch with Judith either at church or email/phone.

We have 100 bags that need completion! 
Hand knitted hats, gloves, scarves and soft toys are also appreciated, so get out the knitting needles! 
Thank you all for your generous support of the vulnerable children in Ukraine. 

Let’s make their Christmas a happy one in difficult circumstances.