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Bread of Heaven – Peter Baker’s blog continues
How to unpack carefully!
Bishop’s Move- there was an irony in the name of the removal van which was entirely lost on the removal men!
Not that I see myself episcopally. Independency and my Free Church traditions find the cassock, mitre and purple an uncomfortable fit. Although my experience in South Wales has taught me that there are often more “Popes” in the valleys than the Vatican! And I suspect that this is not only a Welsh phenomenon. That said, I am deeply aware of and grateful for my theological and cultural roots.
Therefore adjusting to life in a different country, while not quite a cross- cultural experience in this instance, is always a demanding challenge, especially in the sixth decade of life.
Of course I’m not entirely a foreigner to the South Coast or indeed England. Spells in Bristol, Oxford, Southampton and Romford have shaped my anglo-welsh mind set. But it’s unpacking 18 and a half years of ministry in one place which is the significant difference this time around.
Moving into a new house is relatively easy compared to moving into a new chapter of life. That requires a careful emotional debrief which simply pulling things out of boxes and finding a place for them, does not. Memories are not boxed away like cutlery and crockery. They are fragile and must be handled with care.
As we spend the next few weeks enjoying our lovely home, registering with the local GP Practice, discovering the recycling centres, navigating the Wessex Way (!) and assembling flat packs, we are thankful for the God who equips those He calls, who collects all our tears in His bottle (Psalm 56:8) and who has promised to be the one constant in times of change.
We are looking forward to all that lies ahead for us in these exciting times at LBC and ask you to join us in prayer that God may grant His Spirit of peace and power in great measure.
Peter
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Welcome Weekend for Peter and Sian is now online
Get full details of the celebration weekend that we’re planning for Peter and Sian on the 8th June.
http://www.lansdownebaptistchurch.org.uk/invited/
READ260 – May
During May we move from the Gospels to the book of Acts.
Acts begins “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven” (Acts 1:1-2). This book is Luke’s sequel to his Gospel and his point is that, even though Jesus has ascended to the Father, he hasn’t finished building his kingdom; in fact he’s just getting started.
Acts 1:8 records a promise that unfolds throughout the rest of the book; Jesus will give his Spirit to his church and they will be his witnesses. With each successive chapter we see the church growing and the message spreading, beginning in Jerusalem and heading towards the furthest frontiers of the known world.
New to READ260? Find out what it’s all about. Now would be a great time to join with us as we start reading through the book of Acts.
Also, you can tweet your own experiences, thoughts and encouragements – remember to include the #READ260 hashtag in your tweet.
For the non-tweeters among you, we also have a Read260 Facebook Group.
Building Plans Now Online
Today we had our first formal consultation session where the proposed building plans were available to view and discuss with the members of the Lansdowne Group.
The plans are now available online and there is also an online response form that can be used to submit all comments. All questions on this form are optional (except for your name) so you can submit as many times as you like, as you think of new comments.
You can easily access the building section of the website using PLANS on the main menu.
Meals with Jesus – Sunday evenings 6:30pm
Now that we’ve reached the end of our Wholehearted series in James, our latest Sunday evening series will be starting on 14th April.
The series is called “Meals with Jesus” and it covers seven encounters from the book of Luke, where Jesus engages with people around the dinner table.
It starts with the call of Levi the tax collector and ends with the Last Supper and Jesus breaking bread with the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
We all can remember times of comfort and closeness with friends or loved ones over a meal and it’s at times such as these that Jesus chose to create a new community where everyone is welcome.
The series starts Sunday April 14th at 6:30pm. Meals with Jesus – You’re invited!
READ260 – April
This month we come to the fourth Gospel, John.
Within seconds, you’ll notice that it has a completely different feel to Matthew, Mark and Luke. They’re known as the Synoptic Gospels and share a lot of similar material, but, from the start, John is unlike the others.
With powerful allusions to the book of Genesis, we’re introduced to the creating “Word” who is with God and is God! Yet this “Word” became flesh and lived among us. Into our dark dying world, the Father sent his Son to bring light and life!
New to READ260? Find out what it’s all about. Now would be a great time to join with us as we start reading John’s Gospel.
Also, you can tweet your own experiences, thoughts and encouragements – remember to include the #READ260 hashtag in your tweet.
For the non-tweeters among you, we also have a Read260 Facebook Group.
London Men’s Convention
Masculinity. Sex. Marriage. Holiness. Love. Exciting gifts from God celebrated in His Word.
But so often misunderstood and distorted today: marriage redefined, promiscuity promoted, celibacy scorned, gender challenged, yet we’re still longing for love. So what did Jesus believe? What does the Bible teach about these explosive personal issues? What can Christians say to family and friends, at work and in public life? How does God want Christian men to conduct our Love Life?
The London Men’s Convention 2013 is devoted to hearing God’s voice in the Scriptures applied to some of the hottest topics we face in London and Britain today.
The politicians and media have had their say. We’re going to take the Bible off the top shelf and re-examine what Almighty God, our loving Creator and Saviour, is saying.
Combined with the heart-warming fellowship of a great crowd of men praising God and with the option of two repeated
Conventions at an affordable price, this year’s Convention promises to be both immensely enjoyable and personally significant for us all.
We’re delighted to welcome some gifted British Bible-teachers to the platform:
• John Tindall (Early) and Matt Fuller (Late), both crystal clear and compassionate pastors, will reexamine God’s design for masculinity amidst the clash between macho and metrosexual.
• Jonty Allcock, a pastor from North London known for his passionately practical approach, will present God’s challenge to be sexually holy: how to enjoy the purity that God designed for us, whether we’re single or married!
• Graham Beynon, a pastor and church-planter from Cambridge who is much in demand as both speaker and author, will help us understand what Jesus taught about sexuality and marriage for today.
Whatever condition you’re in – Christian or not, single or married, happy or hurting, join us and let God improve your Love Life at the London Men’s Convention 2013.
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Holiday Club – Heroes Unwrapped review
Exciting, exhilarating, exhausting….
Heroes Unwrapped sprang into life for February Half Term week as our 12th annual Holiday Bible Club took place. Eighty energetic children and an army of volunteers aged from early teens to eighty-something helped create an amazing atmosphere as the week unfolded.
The week focused on the life of David and as the title suggests we looked at him alongside more contemporary Superheroes.
David was the hidden hero, brought from obscurity to be chosen as God’s next king. He defeated the arch enemy Goliath with his sling, 5 smooth stones and God’s power. He built a solid friendship with his sidekick Jonathan and eventually was crowned King of Israel. Amongst others, he was one of the Heroes Unwrapped during the week.
On the final day we focused on the Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, born in the City of David, Bethlehem. We focused on his life, death and resurrection – the day when He Rose Unwrapped!
The children had a wonderful time (and so did the adults!). Some were in tears as they returned to school the following Monday!
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Easter Services
Our Easter Service times this year are as follows:
Good Friday – 29 March at 10:30am (note later time)
Easter Sunday – 31 March at 10:00am and 6:30pm
British Summer time begins on Easter Sunday morning (31st March). Clocks forward one hour.
