Celebrating Community

July 2012

PEEBLES BAPTIST CHURCH

Magazine

Ever console or scold people hurt in human relationships that satisfaction comes from God alone? Stop. Adam's fellowship with God was perfect, and God Himself declared Adam needed other humans.
John Ortberg, Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them

We have just enjoyed our first Beltane week here in Peebles. As I write this, Queen Niamh will doubtless be collapsing exhausted but jubilant into her bed, after a fine performance from her (and her court) at the crowning ceremony. The whole week has been a hugely enjoyable spectacle, and a great demonstration of the importance of community both in Peebles and throughout the rest of the Borders. A celebration like Beltane fits in nicely with the national mood at the moment - weve had the Queens Diamond Jubilee at the beginning of June, and the Olympics are coming up at the end of this month, which will doubtless generate huge excitement. Any form of celebration serves to strengthen the communities that we are part of. Sometimes the most powerful ways of growing and celebrating community are the simplest. Within families, within groups of friends or colleagues, within our church, the basic act of eating together has an importance that we often underestimate. Eating together allows time for relaxed talk, laughter, stories, tears, dreams. Eating together is one of the most ancient and widespread ways of showing acceptance and welcome. Thats why Jesus did it. Thats one of the reasons why were having barbecues after church every few weeks through the summer - its a chance both to get to know each other a bit better, and to invite people in from all around us. But you dont need to wait for a barbecue - why not invite someone you dont know very well for a simple meal this week? Grow some community around your own dining table.

Ian

If youd like to know more about what our friends in the other Peebles churches are doing, you can find some of their own magazines online: Old Parish Church: topcopmag.wordpress.com St Peters: www.stpeterspeebles.org.uk/netmagazine.php St Josephs: www.stjosephschurch.org.uk/?Home%3A:Current_Newsletter Were still trying to get online details of the others...

MISSION POSSIBLE!
BMS update exciting new developments
BMS World Mission has been undergoing some exciting changes that will impact on how they communicate news of their mission work around the world with local UK churches. Firstly, the magazines have undergone a makeover with Engage magazine being given a new look and feel. It is still being produced quarterly, but now has a wider spread of features and articles. The current summer edition, for example, features mission news from Tunisia, Burma, Bangladesh and Japan, but further on in the magazine there is an interview with Anna Wafula Strike, a Paralympics athlete, a Scripture reflection to help daily devotions, a focus on science and Christianity and an interview with the Christian rock band Switchfoot titled do rock and mission really mix? BMS has sent us 5 sample copies to try out. Please see Lindsey Gray if you would like one. You can sign up to be put on the mailing list for Engage, which also comes with a copy of the quarterly prayer guide, by visiting the BMS website. The second big change is in the way BMS links mission workers with local churches. PBC are currently linked with the Macfarlanes in Italy, and we were blessed and encouraged recently to have them visit the Borders last month when they shared with us about their work. From January 2013, we will have the opportunity to stay linked to the Macfarlanes, but we can also access other mission workers having greater access to BMS speakers, the opportunity to link with mission in new and different ways, and the ability to link as an individual church with a specific mission worker. Please continue to pray for the work of BMS World Mission as they go through these exciting changes and for the Macfarlanes as they faithfully work with disadvantaged groups in Italy. The new Engage magazine is an easy way for us to become better informed of mission work in the world.

Congratulations and love to

Rev. Dr. Bill Speirs

who recently celebrated his 95th birthday. This acrostic was composed by his niece, Muriel (a member of Kirkwall Baptist Church).

In the News..
Well done Gail Stewart, who
recently completed the four-day Breast Way Round motorbike run through the West coast of Scotland to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Leaving from Kilmarnock on 1 June, the bikers route took them through Gourock, Dunoon, Inverary, Oban, Fort William, Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, Inverness, Aviemore, Tindrum, finishing with a VIP police escort at Loch Lomond Shores on 4th June. Gails new hair colour coordinated perfectly with the pink high visibility jackets and Mohawktopped helmets sported by all the bikers! Also featured in this weeks Peeblesshire News was Matthew Wight, who through admirable dedication and disciplined training, as well as natural flair - has achieved his black belt in karate, whilst still at primary school. Matthew was judged worthy of this award after his performance throughout a series of karate techniques had been subjected to rigorous scrutiny by a panel of three judges. Congratulations Matthew, from all your friends at PBC!

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Through the BMS Church Team Programme, a team of eight of us from Leven Baptist Church are going out from 16 30 July 2012 to work with Hadath Baptist Church in Beirut. Hadath Baptist Church is a fascinating church with a heart for mission and a heart for its community (www.hadathbaptistchurch.org). The main focus for the work of our team will be assisting them in the construction of their new Community Centre. This has arisen out of a Community Survey that they have done assessing how best they could serve their community. The first stage of their response is to reach out to youth in response to drug and unemployment issues and also to offer provisions for marginalised migrant workers. Their heart is that the church will be available for, and will reach out to the different faith communities in Beirut. This seems a daunting prospect to those of us who are going, in a climate like Beirut, but we admire them hugely for their conviction. Therefore, as they have requested help from BMS, asking for assistance in the building and development of their Community Centre Project, we are keen to respond. There will also be other opportunities to engage with the church ministries that go on at Hadath and this will include a childrens club that we have been asked to take a lead in, but the main focus of our time there will be assisting in the construction of this Community Centre. As far as we are aware, we are the only Scottish Baptist Church going overseas in 2012 as a BMS Church Team. We are writing to you, therefore, to ask whether you, as a fellow Scottish Baptist Church, might be willing to support us in this venture. The cost of sending our team is going to be 11,200 and clearly this is a formidable prospect for us as one church. We recognise that there are many competing demands on all churches, but we are simply writing to ask if you would be willing to consider making a contribution to our costs. We would be more than willing to come and speak at churches on our return and share our experience of Christian life in Beirut, if you want to get in touch and make arrangements. Warmest regards

Rev. Mark Pexton

Opposite is the letter we received earlier this year, from Leven Baptist Church So that's why we are having a coffee morning next Saturday 30th June from 10 - 12 in the Leckie Memorial Church Hall. This is also a great chance for us to work together, so as many hands on deck as possible would be great. We need your home baking, bric a brac, books and plants, also your presence on the day. Please take some tickets to sell. If you've not yet been approached about this event please speak to Linda Bell.

As well as the cut-off date for discount on BUS Assembly registration, 30 June is also the deadline for earlybird bookings for this years Willow Creek Summit videocast meeting in Edinburgh (2 & 3 November). Mind- and soulstretching stuff, highly recommended! For more information speak to Frank or Christine Drummond BY WEDNESDAY 27 June.

Newly retired from Wycliffe Bible Translators!

Dear all,
I've just checked my travel details. I leave Chicago with Aer Lingus at 6:45pm on Tues 17th July. I arrive in Dublin at 8:15am on the 18th. I leave Dublin with Aer Arann EI 3252 at 10:00am and arrive in Auld Reekie at 11:15 God willing. Judy is off to Philadelphia on Friday to pick up a fridge, dining room table & chairs etc and then she goes to her sister Carol in upstate New York as she's giving her some more furniture. She's renting a 16 ft truck to pick up all this stuff so pray for her as she drives it from there to here. It'll take her two days. Her sister Mary will be with her on the journey back and will help with the driving. The carpeting for the three bedrooms should arrive next week so Judy's house should soon be able to be properly lived in. I'll be staying here in Rapids City, Illinois and looking after Mary's cat, Judy's cat & dog and my cat and also overseeing further work on Judy's house. Thanks so much for your prayers for us.

In Him, Cathie

Our thoughts and prayers are with Cathie and Judy, as they enter this new phase of life and service.

Prayer Points for July

Give thanks to our Father that we can come to Him at any time of the day or night with our prayers. Pray for Leven Baptist Church as they send a team of eight of their members overseas to Beirut. The team will work alongside the members of Hadath Baptist Church to adapt their building to meet the needs of their local community; pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be at the centre of all that they do. Pray for the coffee morning on Sat.30th in support of this Mission Continue to pray for the small groups soon to start, that God will help us grow and form solid relationships with each other and with Him. Pray that the service at Dunwhinny will bring comfort peace and joy to the residents. Continue to pray for CafChurch, the Barbecues, Vickys Tearoom, Ladies who Lunch and the Mens Group, that they will form new and lasting relationships. Pray for all we know and love who are ill, who are awaiting surgery, or who have been ill, that they be very aware of the presence of God.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Please pass prayer requests to Wilma Wintour, 723023

This is the true story of a young boy from a large middle class Cambodian family. Most Cambodians lived a peaceful life cultivating paddy rice in the countryside. In the early 1970s this beautiful country went through a destructive civil war, turning it into the The Land of the Killing Fields. This book was written by Reaksa himself. Reaksa survived the killing fields, and describes how his family, all thirteen of them, were slaughtered by the Khmer Rouge regime. He describes his journey from unbelievable horror, suffering and loss, into freedom, faith and a new purpose in life. This book makes harrowing reading but it is also uplifting to see how God turned all this evil into his good. I had the privilege of hearing Reaksa give his powerful testimony and he did not differ in any way from his book. I also spoke with him and gave him a wee hug. His story is now available for borrowing from The BookCase. Wilma Wintour Editors note: The Bookcase wont be available on 24 June as Christine and Frank are away that Sunday. Normal service should resume on 1 July!

Only a few days left to register at the early bird rate for the Baptist Union of Scotland Assembly in Dundee, 2527 October. PBC members, please prayerfully consider whether you could attend as one of the three delegates the church is entitled to send this yearand, if you feel you could do so, let Ian or one of the deacons know BEFORE WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE.

Whats on when.
"As is the business of tailors to make clothes and cobblers to make shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray." (Martin Luther)

Vickys Tearoom
Sunday 8 July

CHURCH PRAYER MEETING

SATURDAY 7 July, 9am @ Margaret Cowans
Please pray for the enjoyment and well-being of everyone involved

Thursday 12th July @Cocoa Black Open from 7.30 discussion starts at 8pm This month: Dealing with Debt

Letter writing, and prayer for persecuted Christians, at Willie and Wilmas home, on Tuesday 10 July at 10am.

Mens Group
Christians in Iraq presentation by Dr Esther Wilson Thursday 5 July, 7.30pm, at Franks house.

Services, July 2012

Sunday 1 July
FAMILY SERVICE (followed by Barbecue) Stewards: Stan Henderson, Christine Drummond Flowers: Margaret McLennan Teas: Audrey Craig Transport: Fergus Brown, Margaret Cowan, Christine Drummond

Sunday 8 July
Secretary: Christine Drummond,,, tel 722062 Secretary: Christine Drummond tel 722062 Secretary: Christine Drummond, tel 722062 Secretary: Christine Drummond tel 722062 Pastor: Ian Gray, tel 07881 518854, email pastor@peeblesbaptistchurch.org Pastor: Ian Gray, tel 07881 518854, email pastor@peeblesbaptistchurch.org Pastor: Ian Gray, tel 07881 518854, email pastor@peeblesbaptistchurch.org
Communion Servers: Linda Bell, Lindsey Gray Stewards: Gordon Craig, Hazel Hoggan Flowers: Wilma Wintour Teas: Janlyn Townley Transport: Lindsey Gray, Margaret Cowan, Douglas McCall Under 5s: Christine Drummond, Carlyn McCall

Services in Victoria Park Centre, unless otherwise indicated

Website: http://peeblesbaptistchurch.org/ http://peeblesbaptistchurch.org/ http://peeblesbaptistchurch.org/ http://peeblesbaptistchurch.org/

Sunday 15 July
Stewards: Vi Brown, Margaret Cowan Flowers: Margaret Johnstone Teas: Helen Craig Transport: Fergus Brown, Margaret Cowan, Christine Drummond Under 5s: Christine Drummond, Kirstin Gray

Sunday 22 July
Communion Servers: Fergus Brown, Christine Drummond Stewards: Pat Hamilton, Willie & Wilma Wintour Flowers: Janet Smith Teas: Helen Henderson Transport: Lindsey Gray, Margaret Cowan, Douglas McCall Under 5s: Lindsey Gray, Kirstin Gray

Treasurer: Liz Keiro, tel 730217 Treasurer: Liz Keiro, tel 730217 Treasurer: Liz Keiro, tel 730217 Treasurer: Liz Keiro, tel 730217

Sunday 29 July
FAMILY SERVICE (followed by Barbecue) Stewards: Janet Smith, Carlyn McCall Flowers: Linda Bell Teas: Pat Hamilton Transport: Fergus Brown, Margaret Cowan, Christine Drummond COMMUNION TABLE SETTING in July Pat Hamilton