Connect. Warming hearts in Winter. How many school children can you fit into a baptismal pool?

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1 Connect How many school children can you fit into a baptismal pool? My question to the Primary school pupils was easy. Theirs to me were well thought out, well constructed and challenging! Warming hearts in Winter Winter has arrived! Wind, wet and snow. After the festive season, it s back to auld clathes and porridge. February 2017

2 Warming hearts in Winter Winter has arrived! Wind, wet and snow. After the festive season, it s back to auld clathes and porridge. And for many folk, it s a misery that brings few signs of spring coming. The gap between the richest and poorest increases, benefits are tightened and food banks grow. Heath services are strained and local councils face demands for the care of the elderly and the cure of broken lives. An increasingly secularised society where values for good behaviour are held captive to celebrity lifestyles. Never, since the 1950 s, has there been a better season for Christian witness! Believing and receiving the Promises of God, looking to be filled with the Holy Spirit, hoping on New Heaven and New Earth. We have something real and tangible to offer friends, family, colleagues and neighbours For what we offer, as Baptists, is something to warm and welcome the weary and care-worn. Churches built on Bible truths. Jesus at the Centre. A commitment to strong bonds of fellowship and mutual support. An invitation to step into the light and love of Jesus Christ, whose radiance can melt the coldest heart. Around us, there is no longer a clear expectation of prosperity, either with or without Brexit. In the middle of winter, let s warm our hearts before the God of grace, in prayer. Let s feed afresh on the Lord, in the Gospel. Let s reach out to folks, showing them love and support. What an opportunity such a winter brings. Rev Dr Jim Purves Mission and Ministry Advisor

3 We have been gathering in the local community centre for one year. It has been an exciting year filled with many wonderful opportunities and not a few challenges. Our Sunday gatherings see us continue to meet around the table. The table for us has become a place of welcome, worship and learning. In the past year we have done some street evangelism, we hand out bottles of water at a local walking area, we have given gifts to the elderly in our community at Christmas and continue to welcome friends and neighbours into our homes as we seek to build community throughout our neighbourhood. We had our first baptism on Easter Sunday, a real privilege to see the growth in that young woman s life be expressed in the sacrament of baptism. My favourite quote of the year from someone in our church was I came here thinking I was on a journey with the church but I ve discovered I m actually on a journey with Jesus. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the past 12 months is the way in which our church community has been able to make space for those of us who would otherwise struggle to be in church. These encouragements matter because we face the constant reality of trying to communicate the gospel to our friends, family and colleagues, in this there are more days of discouragement than encouragement. In that light our Christmas Carol Service was a real success in creating a welcoming space for those unused to attending church while still managing to present the gospel in a clear manner. We are excited for 2017 and in particular are looking forward to running Alpha in the first few months of the year.

4 How many school children can you fit into a baptismal pool? You ve got a swimming pool. This was one response to my question, Do you see anything in this church building that s different from the other churches you visited? My question to the Primary school pupils was easy. Theirs to me were well thought out, well constructed and challenging! In Gourock we ve established a charity, Gourock Schools and Churches Together (GSCT), which enables us with the other churches in the town, thanks to the support of fantastic head teachers, to input to the social and religious education of pupils of all ages and denominations. Primary pupils visit all of the churches during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity to find out what we all have in common, and where we differ. Our baptismal pool is a great attraction. Gourock Primary currently holds the record for the number of pupils you can fit into it, 33 crammed in like sardines (minus water of course!). We recently extended our work to adults by holding a pilgrimage. Starting at GBC each church was visited in turn with 15 minutes allocated to share some of the church s history, sing and pray together - again aimed to help participants learn where we differ and what we share in common folks from the different churches participated and enjoyed a BBQ together at the end. We had suspected that the town s children were learning more about our churches than perhaps some of the adults knew. From the positive feedback received it seems we were right. Rev Ian Millar, Gourock Baptist Church

5 The Pre-Accredited Years of Ministry I ve just returned from our annual conference for pre-accredited ministers in Pitlochry. It was a conference that almost didn t happen due to a major fire at the Fisher s Hotel on New Year s Day. Thankfully the hotel managed to accommodate us in the section unaffected by the fire, with just a background smell of smoke to remind us of the Hogmanay conflagration. There are about 30 pre-accredited ministers. These are men and women in the first three years of ministry. They have already been recognised by our Union s Board of Ministry and called to serve in a local church. During these early years of ministry we provide a high level of support and nurture good ministry habits which will help them to sustain a fruitful ministry over years and decades to come. With the support of their churches they are released to take part in the annual conference every January (hence we were in Pitlochry) as well as practical ministry workshops in June and an autumn spiritual retreat day. Supported by a mentor and by our National Team we look to see them complete the pre-accredited requirements set by our Board of Ministry and establish a mature, spiritual and visionary practice of ministry. We then recognise them as fully accredited ministers at our Baptist Assembly. Let s be mindful of those we know who are diligently working through the pre-accredited years and support them with our encouragement and our prayers. Rev Martin Hodson Ministry Development Coordinator

6 Buckhaven Baptist Church We give thanks for the recent baptism in the church and the increase in attendance in the past year. We thank God for our increased links with the community and the success of new ventures: Our Friday morning connections café, Saturday children s activity club and our monthly testimony evenings. We also thank God continued for existing ministries: messy church, care home outreach, WA and the Tuesday after-school club. Please pray for more workers for the harvest, for strength for the existing workers so that helps may come alongside those ever faithful people to lighten their load, and for musicians so that our monthly evening praise can take shape. In short we ask for your prayers for workers for the harvest, the fields are plentiful here in Buckhaven, but the workers are few. Broxburn Baptist Church We believe that God wants us to develop as a Christ-centred community reaching out to and drawing in those on the margins. We believe it will mean working hard and taking risks but with God all things are possible. Please pray for and with us as we continue to work out what this looks like in practice. In particular: Give thanks for: an openness to change, committed members, regular excellent pulpit supply, new challenges, assistance from Ladywell young folk Pray for those involved in: Parents and toddlers recently started, Christianity Explored courses running, Monthly Family Fellowship which is church for some. Pray for: energy for and an increase in the small Christian base and that lives will be changed in our community Prayer Link February February 5th Carol Campbell (Healthcare Lead Chaplain, Clyde Area) Bo ness Baptist Church Bourtreehill Baptist Church Brae Baptist Church February 12th John Craib (Chaplain, HMP Low Moss) Bridge Community Church, Aberdeen Bridge of Don Baptist Church Bristo Baptist Church February 19th Philip Craven (Chaplain, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock) Broughty Ferry Baptist Church Broxburn Baptist Church Buckhaven Baptist Church February 26th Leslie Edge (Chaplain, Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice) Buckie Baptist Church Burra Isle Baptist Church Calderwood Baptist Church Philip Craven Hospital chaplaincy is a privilege. Praise God that I have the honour to walk with those who struggle, talk with those who despair, and rejoice with those who recover. Please for the work of my chaplaincy colleagues, that we might be sustained emotionally, physically, and spiritually through the often difficult situations we find ourselves called to minister to.

7 Calderwood Baptist Church We give thanks for continued growth and the pressing need for a bigger building and pray for wisdom as we take this forward. Pray for our Families and Community Care ministries who continue to meet needs and bring transformation in the name of Jesus. Pray that our discipleship small groups will enable our people to deepen their walk with Jesus and find their perfect place for service. Pray for our Leaders who bring oversight, direction and example to all that we seek to do for God s Glory. Calderwood Baptist Church We give thanks for continued growth and the pressing need for a bigger building and pray for wisdom as we take this forward. Pray for our Families and Community Care ministries who continue to meet needs and bring transformation in the name of Jesus. Pray that our discipleship small groups will enable our people to deepen their walk with Jesus and find their perfect place for service. Pray for our Leaders who bring oversight, direction and example to all that we seek to do for God s Glory. Bristo Baptist Church We give thanks for a very successful Christmas outreach with all of our services, activities and events well attended. Many new relationships were established and previous contacts were strengthened. We have also had a number of people join the membership recently. Please pray that God will give us wisdom to know how to keep deepening relationships and that we will be given opportunities to share the Good News. Bridge Prayer Points - Give thanks to God for all he has done in our church in the past year. - Pray for our upcoming Alpha Course, in particular for the attendees. - Pray for wisdom as we examine new opportunities in the community. - Pray for the many in our neighbourhood who have lost jobs in the current oil downturn. Bo ness Give thanks for the growth of our Family Service and our ongoing ministries with children, families and the elderly. God has sustained us in these areas with strength, energy and encouragement. We look forward to seeing what God will do next! Please pray for the Christianity Explored course we will be running this year. Pray for those who will lead the course as they prepare for sharing the Gospel. Please pray that God will prepare those who will come to be open to this new message to them. Buckie Baptist Thank God for the faithful members and adherents of Buckie Baptist Church. Thank God for his faithfulness towards us a church. Please continue to pray for all our ministries but especially our new mothers and toddlers group called little fishes. Please pray God will use this group to demonstrate in word and deed the Love of God. Praise God for the number of non Christians attending our monthly cafe church. There are regularly non-christians hearing the gospel. Please pray for us as we launch a year of specific prayer for the church and town.

8 John Craib - Low Moss Prison Give thanks for the good team we have providing chaplaincy in Low Moss prison. We are good friends and work easily together despite the variety of backgrounds. Pray that we might be open to pray more together despite those differences. Please pray also for our interaction with prisoners that they would be meaningful, helpful and life changing, fitting within the Scottish Prison Service strapline Unlocking potential, transforming lives. Please pray for our CEO, Colin McConnell, who has a heart to see radical change in our prisons and a reduction in reoffending by embracing that principle that change is possible. He has come under fire in pursuing that approach from inside and out. Please pray for protection for him and his family. Carol Campbell Praise point - God s grace, kindness and faithfulness. Prayer point - Have recently been appointed as Interim Head of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care for Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board. This is a significant change. Please pray for wisdom, and that I might reflect something of the beauty of God as stated in the praise points; grace, kindness and faithfulness. Bourtreehill Give thanks for the prospect of baptisms in the first part of the year, for the encouragement of new people attending, for the ongoing work through our community café, and for the unity within the church. Please pray for financial provision as we face some challenges with ongoing ministry and work that needs to be done to the church building. Pray also that we will be able to engage with the young people who have been causing some damage to the church building. Broughty Ferry Baptist Church Praise: excellent attendances at Christmas outreach events with encouraging numbers of first-time attenders; growing connections with unchurched families in our area; dedicated service in ministries by many members. Prayer: for the building extension at our Panmurefield premises and wise use of the larger facilities when completed; for success in funding applications for our exciting new youth initiative Life to the Full ; for wisdom in planning for ongoing witness in the community together with prayer for healing of quite a number of members with health issues. Leslie Edge (Chaplain, Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice) Praise For the opportunities God has given me to all the patients and their families together with the 140 staff and 600 volunteers. For the many services I have the privilege of taking to both people of faith and no faith. For the opportunities of teaching Medical students, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists in various aspects of spirituality. For the progress in the building of a new 21 Million hospice in Bellahouston Park. Site work began in October Prayer For God s ongoing anointing and leading in all he gives me to do. Keep up to date with the Latest News and Events on our website scottishbaptist.com Registered Scottish Charity SCO04960