Keeping you in with LUTON See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19 FEBRUARY 2015 1
Articles for them March Contact should be given to Gwyneth Gapp - by Sunday February 8th. They can be handwritten, placed in the box in the front vestibule or emailed to gwyneth.gapp@ntlworld.com February 2015 M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2
From your Pastor Andrew Gale 24/7 Church Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Acts 2:46 Church is for life not just for Sunday. The early church met together every day, they lived as a community in contact and in fellowship with each other. How can we recreate that in the busy 21 st century? This is not an article about more meetings, nor is the intention to guilt trip you into being in our building more of the time. Our attitude to attendance is this, we will provide those things we believe will be helpful in the development of spiritual life and invite you to attend those that are of benefit to you. We don t want to make that which should be a blessing a burden. It should be a blessing to hear God s word, meet with his people, break bread together, worship in unity and minister to each other. Instead, when I grew up we were under so much pressure to be in church at every meeting that which should have been a blessing became an extra thing to fit in, a pressure, people felt guilty that they didn t spend time with their families there was so 3
much pressure to be at things. When we speak of 24/7 church this is not what we mean. Our vision is this that all the time there is a community of supportive brothers and sisters around you. Every person will know that there is someone they can turn to. Every person will be available to help, pray for or be with others whenever possible. I dream of a community where church members know that they can call a friend and receive prayer or practical help. In these days there are technologies that help this process, Facebook, for example, or our own church app launching soon. However this is not about technology, technology may help, but this is about human contact real deep fellowship, love for each other. This is not something led by one person, as the church grows this is not possible for all needs to be carried by a single person or a small team. This is about every member caring for each other. By this will all people know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. Maybe I m dreaming, maybe putting too great an expectation on you, but everyone committed to being available for others will make us the church God desires. 4
CHURCH DIARY - FEBRUARY 2015 SUNDAY WORSHIP Morning 10.45 am 1st 8th 15th 22nd Stefan McNally from Compassion UK Andrew Gale Breaking of Bread, Andrew Gale Elders Service 1st 8th Evening 6.00 pm Breaking of Bread Discussion: What translation of the Bible do you like? Why? 15th Prayer Meeting 22nd Quiet Service 5
WOMEN S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER (INTERDENOMINATIONAL) MARCH 6TH 2015 PREPARED BY CHRISTIAN WOMEN OF THE BAHAMAS (JESUS SAID TO THEM: ) DO YOU KNOW WHAT I HAVE DONE TO YOU? PREPARATION DAY MONDAY 26 TH JANUARY 2015 AT CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH. PARK ST. LUTON. 10.00 am TO 3.00 pm COFFEE AND REGISTRATION 9.30 am COST OF THE DAY 3 BRING A PACKED LUNCH/TEA,COFFEE PROVIDED. 6
Perry Green Services At 6.00 pm * On the first Sunday of the Month there will be a Prayer meeting at 5.15 pm. 1 st Mr. Michael Adams 8 th Mr. Ian Benjamin ( C ) 15 th Miss. Pam Greener 22 nd Mr. Roger Barton Tuesday Fellowship at 2.30 pm 3 rd Fireside meeting at Michaelmas 17 th Miss. P. Greener 7
The Notice Board Contacts are posted to you each month by Andrew Tomblin 8 Winslow Close Luton, LU3 1QA Donations for postage for Contact from: Mr. And Mrs. O Dell Thank You PRAYER CHAIN We are in desperate need of Church Members to join our CHURCH PRAYER CHAIN. If you are interested please contact me Gwyneth Gapp (Prayer Chain Co-ordinator) on 01582 523617 or by email gwyneth.gapp@ntlworld.com 8
BMS Birthday Scheme February 2 nd Elizabeth Wright 15 th Frank Smith 16 th Roger Lake 21 st Pat Slough LITTLE THINGS A sympathetic friendly face When we are feeling down, A cheery smile that warms the heart And smoothes away the frown. The unexpected gesture, A soft and gentle touch, The tender tone of well meant words Are things that mean so much. Kindliness that can't be bought, Concern that is sincere. The understanding of a friend With ready listening ear. These are only little things And yet they play a part, Refreshment for the spirit And healing for the heart. 9
Flowers for the Sanctuary 1 st Mr. and Mrs. M. Page; Hazel and Frank Smith In memory of loving parents. 8 th Mrs. Jean Wright In memory of Ron and our loved ones; In loving memory of Mrs. Maria Abebi Akinola from the Akinola family; Mrs. Joyce Clarke In loving memory of my mum. 15 th Mr. and Mrs. Ron Lee and family; The Gordon Family In loving memory of a dear Mother, Father and Brother; Birthday memories of Clive, a loving husband, dad and grandad from Rita and family. 22 nd In loving memory of Violet Plummer, a very dear mother from Audrey Malcolm, Michael and Gillian; In loving memory of Peter from Margaret Lockwood and family. 10
Programme of Events JUMP (Tuesdays) (10.00 am - 11.30 am Term Time) 3rd 10th 24th Ladies in Fellowship Together(L.I.F.T.) (Tuesdays At 8.00 pm) BOOK AND CARD STALL 10 th Tonight we welcome Jenny Jacquire who will be telling us about the work of The Gideon's. 24 th Tonight it is a pleasure to welcome of Minister Andrew Gale speaking about his work before coming as a minister to Central Baptist. BOOK AND CARD STALL Thursday Afternoon Fellowship (At 2.30 pm) 5 th Dawn Brown - Markyate Baptist 12 th Lee Page - Hitchin 19 th Mrs Jolly - Cornerstone Church 26 th Mrs. Jacquire - The Gideon's 11
FELLOWSHIP NEWS AS AT 11TH JANUARY 2015 CONGRATULATIONS TO: JOYCE CLARKE who will be 90 on 8th February. FRANK SMITH who will be 80 on 15th February. DAWN ADAMS and TOM on the birth of their son EDWARD born on 9th December and HELEN and NIGEL on becoming grandparents. ETHEL HARRISON (DI JONES Grandma) died on 31st December our love and sympathy to Di, Andy and family. We have heard of the death of BETTY SMYTH who died peacefully on 4th January aged 94. At the time of writing MARLENE MANTON is in ward 14 at the L &D Hospital having spent two weeks in The Collinson House, Dunstable Road. DAVID HOBBS is in Moorlands Garden Care Home for rehabilitation. TOM ALLEN has had a fall and is staying with a friend. DOT COOPER has ha a chest infection and several people have had or await hospital appointments including ITA EVANS, SUSAN TADIAR, SUE and NITISH UTHAYSEELAN. To all mentioned and others we may not know about we pray that they will soon be well, strengthened, comforted and upheld in their time of need. Ann M. Norman 12
Thank You Page ACTION FOR CHILDREN Thank you to all those with collection boxes for ACTION FOR CHILDREN. I was able to bank 60.33 for the year 2014. If there is anyone who would like a box, please have a word with me. Many thanks, Jean Corder. I would like to thank you all for cards, flowers, presents and good wishes sent to me on the occasion of my 70th. Birthday,with much appreciation and Christian love. ANGELA KNIGHT. 13
FEBRUARY 2015 In everything by prayer and petition let your requests be known to God. A monthly prayer calendar to help us remember different aspects of our Church life and beyond. 14
FEBRUARY 2015 Sun 1 Mon 2 Tues 3 Wed 4 Thur 5 Fri 6 Sat 7 Sun 8 Mon 9 Tues 10 Wed 11 Thur 12 TOPICS FOR PRAYER Give thanks for the past year, and pray for the new with all its hopes and fears. Pray for older people that they may be able to cope with the wintry dangers of snow and ice. Pray for Keith and Elizabeth Wright, and family, pray for Jean. Wright Pray for Michael Campbell and the Luton Town Centre Chaplaincy team. Pray for Mick and Janet Forsyth. Pray for Marsh, Lavita and family. Pray for Ina Bailey. Pray for Tim and Claire Newns and family. Pray for Nigel and Helen Adams and family. Pray for Alan Dudley. Praise God for the young people in our music group and their joy as they lead our worship. Pray for Joshua, Sue and the whole Uthayseelan family. 15
Fri 13 Praise God for the work of Azalea, and pray for the many new ladies with whom they have made contact. Sat 14 Pray for Daisy Coleman. Sun 15 Pray for Andy and Di Jones, and family. Mon 16 Pray that our lives may be worthy of our Saviour. Tues 17 Pray for Olive Brooks. Wed 18 Thur 19 Fri 20 Sat 21 Sun 22 Mon 23 Tue 24 Wed 25 Thur 26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Pray for Jim and Barbara Donaldson. May we pray for little children and for their parents needing to take extra care of them at this time of the year. Pray for Ian, Vickie, and the whole Benjamin family. Pray for Dennis Cousins. Pray for Jean Corder. Pray for Amor, Sabita, and the whole Albert family, both here and in Pakistan. Pray that we may be alert to the needs of any who are lonely. Pray for Julie Anderson. Pray for Andrew Goodman and the University chaplaincy team. Pray for Ida Conteiro. Pray for Phil and Maggy and the whole Archer family. 16
Lamentations Chapter 3:22-26 ------------------------------------------- Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him" The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 17
Weekly Church Activities Sunday 10.45 am Morning Service Communic8 and Crèche 6.00 pm Evening Service Monday 1.00-3.00 pm Watercolour Art Club 6.30-9.15 pm Girls Brigade (5-18 years) Tuesday 10.00-11.30 am JUMP (Join Us Mums & Pre-schoolers) 2.00-4.00 pm Short mat bowls 8.00 pm Ladies in Fellowship Together (LIFT) ( 2nd & 4th week) 10.00-12.00 pm Men s Prayer Meeting Wednesday 9.30 am Women's Prayer Time 12.00-1.30 pm Open Door - Lunch Time (food and friendly chat) Thursday 2.30 pm Thursday Afternoon Fellowship Friday 6.45-9.30 pm Boys Brigade Saturday 7.00-9.00 pm Youth Group -11 years plus 18
MINISTER Rev. Andrew Gale 59 Oakley Road Luton LU4 9PX Telephone mob. 07914853395 01582 724474 (Church) Secretary Erwin Tadiar Treasurer James Malcolm Church Office 01582 422635 Visit the Church web site at www.centralbaptist.org.uk E-mail: admin@centralbaptist.org.uk 19