Please note that Sunday 2nd May is the final date for nominating folk to the deacons' court. Anyone who is a member can be nominated by any other 2 members for 3 years of service as a deacon. Hand in nominations (with the nominee's permission!) on Sunday morning or evening, to be passed on to our secretary. As only Sam and Paul continue in office, please pray and think about who is suited for sharing in this responsibility in being a member of the group that, together with the pastor, coordinates what's needs to be attended to in the congregation's ongoing life and mission.
Thursday 29 April 2010
Monday 5 April 2010
FROM THE EDITOR
Recently on a Tuesday evening I had a nasty fall while walking to catch my bus home after work. Amazingly however I got off with just a few scratches and a sore right hand. The following evening was cell group and I got there early. Next to arrive were our relative newcomers David and Eunice. David shook my hand in welcome and because it was a very strong firm handshake I yelled in pain ! David was very apologetic and I apologised too because he wasn’t to know the hand had been injured the previous day.
However, God always works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8: 28). As the evening went on I realised that my previously sore right hand was sore no longer! God must have worked through David’s handshake to put right whatever had been hurt in the fall!
Whatever you are going through at the moment, no matter how difficult or painful, expect God to work in you through it with His refiner’s fire.
Robert Mill
FROM THE PASTOR
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose
Romans 8:28 NKJV.
Romans 8:28 NKJV.
Each year, Easter becomes more and more central to me, in my understanding of the Christian life. By ‘Easter’ I mean the whole season leading up to the recalling of Good Friday and the celebration of Easter Sunday. Why is this?
For one thing, it is the focus of the Gospels, described by one theologian as ‘extended passion stories with short introductions regarding the life of Christ’. The Gospels focus on Easter. When we see how nearly half of each of the Gospel accounts is given over to the last week of Jesus’ life on earth, we can see that from the very outset of the church, this period in the life of Jesus was focal.
This focus also tells us something about where the emphasis of early Christian teaching lay. As Richard Bauckham points out in his recent book, Jesus and the God of Israel, it is in the face of a struggling Jesus that the true divine identity is revealed. What does God feel? Look at Jesus. What does God do about suffering? Look at Jesus. What does the future hold for men and women? Look at Jesus.
It is when people are caught in the midst of adversity and difficulty that we begin to see what their character is really like. So it is with God. The New Testament message is that when we look at Jesus Christ, we meet with the full divine identity of God. There is no looking over the shoulder of Jesus to see what God is really like, hiding behind Him in some remote heaven. Jesus Christ is Immanuel: God with us.
And this is the immensity of what we are both called to participate in and also to celebrate in and through our living. To know God is to be drawn into a participative harmony and closeness with Jesus Christ. To receive the Spirit of God is to be energised for a deeper and truer participation and harmonisation with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. To enter salvation is to be drawn into oneness with Jesus Christ in the process of enduring the pain and suffering that comes with ownership of what He stands for, holding on to the hope that we will one day fully share in what He has become. Passing through the Cross into the victory of resurrection.
In declaring the revelation of God in the face of the suffering Christ, we acknowledge the revelation of this self-emptying God who comes to us and the whole world out of love. In celebrating His love for us we affirm the truthfulness of what He has for every man, woman and child in this world, worked out in the passion of Christ and met with in our own personal experience. Easter is the spectacle of God’s faithfulness worked out in the flesh and blood of a man who represents each and every one of us.
In His love,
Jim
TREASURER’S REPORT
It’s almost the end of another financial year at Bristo. The next four weeks are going to be busy. I have to make sure everything that needs to be paid this financial year is paid, and paid out from our accounts before the 31st March. I also need to keep a track of, confirm and record any monies due to us this financial year, but not yet paid, so that I can record it properly on our accounts ... Then finally - and this is no small task! - I have to prepare the first draft of the accounts to present to the Deacons, and to the inspector.
Church accounts are quite difficult to track and monitor. There is no guarantee week to week how much money will come in to the weekly offering. Expenditure is slightly easier to monitor. Each month there are bills we have to pay, minister’s stipend, tax/NI, bills, council tax etc. Then there are one-off bills, insurance, BU General Fund etc. The rest of the payments are for specific things done throughout the year to support the church work, including sundries (paper towels, loo-rolls etc), piano-tuning, licensing costs, office materials and all sorts of other things. The way I track this through the year is through the budget. We try to work out how much we need to spend each year, then I work out how much we need each week to meet this target, then I track each week how much we are spending and try to marry the two sets of figures together. It really only comes together at the end of each year when everything is in, and everything has been spent, but at least I can track how things are going and see if we are overspending on anything.
So how have we done this year? Income is a little down on last year, but not enormously so. What we haven’t done very well with is our special appeal to Lom. We send £3500 to Lom each year to support their winter soup kitchen. This year we raised £1100 for the Lom appeal, so the remainder of the money has been sent from church funds (there is still time to give to the appeal though!)
Expenditure wise we’ve kept pretty much to budget. The only significant overspend was £7500 on repairs and refurbishment when we budgeted to spend £5000. This year we had to spend a little more money on safety work in the church, and with the building being so old, it’s difficult to estimate the knock-on effects of having repairs made to the church. The refurbishment costs also include all the work done to refurbish the sanctuary.
The full and final accounts will hopefully be ready early in April, so if anyone wants further details please get in touch.
Election of Deacons
Our annual election of deacons is due to take place at the end of May. Appointment as a deacon lasts for three years with effect from the Annual General Meeting, unless foreshortened by decision of the members. Of the present deacons, Robert and Andrea Mill, Craig Smith and Barbara Toal complete their current 3-year term, while Paul Watson has completed two years and Sam Kawamura has completed one year. It is open to those in full membership of Bristo Baptist Church to consider prayerfully any addition to the diaconate.
This note outlines the responsibilities of members and deacons and sets out the procedures to be followed and the timetable for this year’s election.
Duties of Deacons
The deacons are responsible to the church for the day to day running of its affairs, seeking to guide the church as collectively we discern the Lord’s will as a congregation. They co-ordinate reports, bring recommendations to the church and implement its decisions. The deacons are also ex officio trustees of Bristo Baptist Church and so carry certain responsibilities under the charity laws. Above all, as the name (diakonos) suggests, deacons are servants of Jesus Christ and of this congregation, supporting the pastor in his spiritual leadership.
Qualities of Deacons
We read in Acts 6: 1-6 how the early church chose the first deacons. They were men of good report, full of faith, of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. In 1Timothy 3: 8-13 Paul advises Timothy of the qualities he should look for in deacons. They should be reverent, holding the mystery of faith with a clear conscience, tested and found blameless. In other words they should be mature in faith, ready to listen to God and to the people they serve, seeking to encourage and care for others in service, and leading lives honouring to God.
This note outlines the responsibilities of members and deacons and sets out the procedures to be followed and the timetable for this year’s election.
Duties of Deacons
The deacons are responsible to the church for the day to day running of its affairs, seeking to guide the church as collectively we discern the Lord’s will as a congregation. They co-ordinate reports, bring recommendations to the church and implement its decisions. The deacons are also ex officio trustees of Bristo Baptist Church and so carry certain responsibilities under the charity laws. Above all, as the name (diakonos) suggests, deacons are servants of Jesus Christ and of this congregation, supporting the pastor in his spiritual leadership.
Qualities of Deacons
We read in Acts 6: 1-6 how the early church chose the first deacons. They were men of good report, full of faith, of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. In 1Timothy 3: 8-13 Paul advises Timothy of the qualities he should look for in deacons. They should be reverent, holding the mystery of faith with a clear conscience, tested and found blameless. In other words they should be mature in faith, ready to listen to God and to the people they serve, seeking to encourage and care for others in service, and leading lives honouring to God.
Nominations
Nomination for election to the office of deacon should be submitted in writing to any of the present deacons, together with the names and signatures of two referees, the candidate’s express agreement having been obtained previously. Candidates, proposers and seconders should all be full members of Bristo Baptist Church. Nominations should be submitted not later than 6.30 p.m. on Sunday 2 May. Ballot papers will be distributed to members who participate in morning or evening worship on either Sunday 9 or Sunday 16 May. Arrangements will be made to issue ballot papers to the housebound or those prevented by illness from attending.
Procedure
Ballot papers should be returned no later than the evening service on Sunday 23 May. For appointment as a deacon of Bristo Baptist Church not less than 2/3 of the total votes cast must be in the candidate’s favour. Two of the continuing deacons will act as scrutineers and Dr Purves will give private confidential intimation to the candidates before the result of the election is announced at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 26 May.
Ballot papers should be returned no later than the evening service on Sunday 23 May. For appointment as a deacon of Bristo Baptist Church not less than 2/3 of the total votes cast must be in the candidate’s favour. Two of the continuing deacons will act as scrutineers and Dr Purves will give private confidential intimation to the candidates before the result of the election is announced at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 26 May.
The election of deacons is one of the most important responsibilities we have as church members and we each have a role to play. During the next few weeks may we all prayerfully consider the following questions:
- Is God calling me to this task?
- Whom has the Lord laid on my heart to nominate for this service?
- Let us all in humility draw near to God and seek His will as together we go forward in the power of the Holy Spirit that we may through love serve one another. (Galatians 5: 13).
Diary dates
Some events happening in our church and in our area over coming weeks:
Sunday 18 April - church meeting to update on redevelopment plans, together with church lunch, after morning service
Monday 19th April - Deacons' meeting
Sunday 2 May 6.30 p.m. - last day for nominations to the diaconate (for more details see pp. 6-7 this issue)
Saturday 8 May - Expression Workshop for women (see p. 9)
Wednesday 26 May 7.30 p.m. - Church Annual General Meeting
Sunday 30 May - Baptismal service
Friday 23 - Sunday 25 April
Mini CLAN Gathering for Lothian Region: Dalkeith High School. Speakers include Andrea Wigglesworth and Nigel di Castiglione. Details on CLAN web site www.new-wine-scotland.org
Saturday 8 May
CLAN Day Conference with Bob Johnson at Holy Trinity Church, Wester Hailes, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. Theme: “Courageous Faith”. Cost £10 (includes lunch). Booking form available on CLAN web site.
Sunday 18 April - church meeting to update on redevelopment plans, together with church lunch, after morning service
Monday 19th April - Deacons' meeting
Sunday 2 May 6.30 p.m. - last day for nominations to the diaconate (for more details see pp. 6-7 this issue)
Saturday 8 May - Expression Workshop for women (see p. 9)
Wednesday 26 May 7.30 p.m. - Church Annual General Meeting
Sunday 30 May - Baptismal service
Friday 23 - Sunday 25 April
Mini CLAN Gathering for Lothian Region: Dalkeith High School. Speakers include Andrea Wigglesworth and Nigel di Castiglione. Details on CLAN web site www.new-wine-scotland.org
Saturday 8 May
CLAN Day Conference with Bob Johnson at Holy Trinity Church, Wester Hailes, 10 a.m.—4 p.m. Theme: “Courageous Faith”. Cost £10 (includes lunch). Booking form available on CLAN web site.
EXPRESSION WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN
There will be a workshop for women on Saturday 8 May to explore emotions, how we express or suppress them, what the Bible says about them and to look at how we can learn to express feelings in a healthy way. This is a good opportunity to invite non-Christian friends along. No charge but an offering will be taken for the Dalit women in India. Offers of help greatly appreciated. To reserve a place e-mail andrea.mill@blueyonder.co.uk 07974 824236.
Congratulations
Our oldest member, Arthur Brown, was 96 in January. Your editor Dr Robert Mill celebrated his 60th birthday with a ceilidh in the Bristo upper hall on Friday 5 February, and his wife Andrea graduated with Merit from her Certificate of Christian Counselling at Waverley Abbey (Farnham, Surrey) in January.
Births & Deaths
Congratulations to Daniela Benjamin and Jason Sutherland on the birth of their second daughter, Kaitlyn, on Friday 22 January. A sister to Johanna and half-sister to Lennox.
We express our sympathy to Brian Barclay, Sveta and Lena on the recent loss of Brian's father; Tom Ponton on the death of his brother Jeffrey on February 16th; Tanya Alekseeva whose aunt and grandmother were killed in a car accident on 28 March; Daniel Onifade and family, on the sudden death of Daniel’s mum on 30th March. To these folk we extend our love and prayers at this time.
BOOKS AND MUSIC
Most of us have Christian books and many of us buy worship music. We probably have lots lying around the house that could bring blessing to others by offering it to the church to build up a library for people to borrow from. We already have some books but the existing library would benefit from updating.
So if you would like to organise books or set up a music library or both then please speak to one of the deacons.
FRIENDSHIP CLUB
Some folk are considering starting a group that will offer a couple of hours per week to reach out to those outside the church of any age, who would appreciate some company. Edinburgh has a reputation for being a lonely city and there is real need especially, but not exclusively, amongst older people. The group will probably meet during the afternoon on a weekday but it will depend on who is available to help before we decide which day of the week.
So if you could spare a few hours on a regular or casual basis then please get in touch with andrea.mill@blueyonder.co.uk 07974 824236.
So if you could spare a few hours on a regular or casual basis then please get in touch with andrea.mill@blueyonder.co.uk 07974 824236.
PUBLICITY GROUP AND MAGAZINE TEAM
We are taking a fresh look at how we communicate with people not in our church to let them know what we are about. So we are considering setting up a small group of people of mixed ages with ideas, creativity and technical ability to review the media we have and to design what we need to build the Bristo of the future. Everything from the website to the noticeboards outside and leaflets inside, social networking etc. No-one is too young or too old!
We also require additional people on the Magazine team, for planning and putting the magazine together, getting others to write contributions and also to occasionally contribute themselves..
If you feel led to offer help in one of these areas please contact robert.mill@blueyonder.co.uk
We also require additional people on the Magazine team, for planning and putting the magazine together, getting others to write contributions and also to occasionally contribute themselves..
If you feel led to offer help in one of these areas please contact robert.mill@blueyonder.co.uk
Baptist Assembly in Scotland 2010
This year’s Baptist Assembly will be held in Dunfermline at the Vine Venue from Thursday 28–Saturday 30 October. The theme will be ‘Communities of Conviction’ and will involve an exploration of the key convictions that shape our Baptist life and witness, both here in Scotland and globally. Our speakers include: Rev Dr Ian Randall, formerly Director of Research at Spurgeon’s College, a highly respected historian and author of a book entitled ‘Communities of Conviction’; Rev Dr Stuart Blythe, a lecturer at the Scottish Baptist College and Rev D. Marc Owen, the Church Life Secretary for the Baptist Union of Wales. Our new General Director, Rev Alan Donaldson, will also be giving a keynote address.
The theme will be explored through Bible Study, break out groups and through telling good stories of what God is doing both in our churches and in our global partnership with BMS. So please make a special effort to join us and book early.
Assembly is a wonderful opportunity for Baptists across Scotland to come together to discern and discuss, to be inspired and resourced, to worship and to fellowship. This year there will be some significant opportunities for us to discern the will of God in areas affecting our common life together. Please think about who the key people are in your church fellowship and encourage them to be delegates. Please come and join us, and encourage others to do the same.
Reflections from Andrea
Andrea Mill was recently asked by the Scottish Baptist Lay Preachers’ Association to write an entry for their blog exploring an aspect of the theme of “Worship”. This is her blog that was published on the SBLPA web site on February 12th.
What are your expectations when you come to church? A cosy social gathering? Healing? A powerful encounter with God? Prophecy? A good sing?
Previous generations would not have dreamt of coming to church late. The norm would have been to be present 15 to 20 minutes before the start of the service to sit with heads bowed as preparation for coming onto the Lord’s presence. But things have changed even in my life time. Now it is more the norm for most to arrive in the few minutes before the church service is about to start and there are always some who come in 5, 10, 15 minutes or more late (but perhaps that is just my church?!).
Before I start sounding like one of those “grumpy old women”, let me explain where I am coming from!
I understand that lives are busy and sometimes things happen to cause lateness, but something has happened in the hearts of many Christians to change the priority of coming to meet with God in the overall scheme of things, so that we tend to rush into His presence without taking time to prepare for our meeting with Him.
Anyone in business appreciates the importance of preparation to get the most out of a business meeting so why should a meeting with the King of Kings be different?
Look at the preparation laid down in the Old Testament for people to purify themselves before going to the tent of meeting and even more stringent rules for the priests.
I am not one to advocate getting stuck in the past, but as Christians we must be on our guard about being infected by the culture around us. We must make an effort to live lives that are different. Our lives must speak of where our priorities lie.
What is more important, an extra 20-30 minutes in bed or 20-30 minutes reading the Bible and opening our hearts towards the Lord? If we rush to church in a bad temper with those we live with because we have not allowed enough time to get everyone up and out, it can be half an hour or so before we have come to the place where we are ready to meet with God. By then half the service is gone and we have missed a golden opportunity to go deeper with Him.
Brothers and sisters, I challenge and encourage you to make it a priority in the coming weeks to take time either before you leave for church or by getting to church earlier to pray and prepare your heart to enter the holy of holies. If we rush from the things of the world it takes time to refocus our thoughts on the heavenly realms. So ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit BEFORE going to church. Ask God to give you something to give to someone else. Ask for Him to draw close to you and meet your deepest need.
Ask and you shall receive. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Enter his courts with thanksgiving and expect a powerful encounter. You won’t regret it!
Previous generations would not have dreamt of coming to church late. The norm would have been to be present 15 to 20 minutes before the start of the service to sit with heads bowed as preparation for coming onto the Lord’s presence. But things have changed even in my life time. Now it is more the norm for most to arrive in the few minutes before the church service is about to start and there are always some who come in 5, 10, 15 minutes or more late (but perhaps that is just my church?!).
Before I start sounding like one of those “grumpy old women”, let me explain where I am coming from!
I understand that lives are busy and sometimes things happen to cause lateness, but something has happened in the hearts of many Christians to change the priority of coming to meet with God in the overall scheme of things, so that we tend to rush into His presence without taking time to prepare for our meeting with Him.
Anyone in business appreciates the importance of preparation to get the most out of a business meeting so why should a meeting with the King of Kings be different?
Look at the preparation laid down in the Old Testament for people to purify themselves before going to the tent of meeting and even more stringent rules for the priests.
I am not one to advocate getting stuck in the past, but as Christians we must be on our guard about being infected by the culture around us. We must make an effort to live lives that are different. Our lives must speak of where our priorities lie.
What is more important, an extra 20-30 minutes in bed or 20-30 minutes reading the Bible and opening our hearts towards the Lord? If we rush to church in a bad temper with those we live with because we have not allowed enough time to get everyone up and out, it can be half an hour or so before we have come to the place where we are ready to meet with God. By then half the service is gone and we have missed a golden opportunity to go deeper with Him.
Brothers and sisters, I challenge and encourage you to make it a priority in the coming weeks to take time either before you leave for church or by getting to church earlier to pray and prepare your heart to enter the holy of holies. If we rush from the things of the world it takes time to refocus our thoughts on the heavenly realms. So ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit BEFORE going to church. Ask God to give you something to give to someone else. Ask for Him to draw close to you and meet your deepest need.
Ask and you shall receive. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Enter his courts with thanksgiving and expect a powerful encounter. You won’t regret it!
WOMEN WALKING WITH GOD CONFERENCE
Janis White and I met up with Lorraine Polland and about 1200 other women for this conference on the evening of 5th March and all day on Saturday 6th. There was great worship from Lou Fellingham and teaching from Proverbs about wisdom, but the most interesting part was a talk by Debra Greene about Redeeming our Communities. She has organised prayer meetings for thousands of people to come together to pray for a particular topic. For example, prayer for the police force brought hundreds of non-Christian police to the meeting as well as other local authority figures. She is from Manchester, which used to be called ‘Gun-chester’ until they got together to pray for a reduction in gun crime. Her message is that we (you and I) can make a difference to our local communities by asking what the needs are from different organisations involved with the community, social work, police, education, health etc and organising people to pray into action what needs to be done. She will come to Edinburgh if we want her to get involved. But we don’t need to wait. Never underestimate the power of prayer. All the infinite resources of heaven are at our disposal if we take the time to engage in partnership with God to bring about what is on His heart. The conference was inspiring and is on again next year but the real work starts with us, if we care about what God cares about. Let’s keep on praying ……..
Janis White and I met up with Lorraine Polland and about 1200 other women for this conference on the evening of 5th March and all day on Saturday 6th. There was great worship from Lou Fellingham and teaching from Proverbs about wisdom, but the most interesting part was a talk by Debra Greene about Redeeming our Communities. She has organised prayer meetings for thousands of people to come together to pray for a particular topic. For example, prayer for the police force brought hundreds of non-Christian police to the meeting as well as other local authority figures. She is from Manchester, which used to be called ‘Gun-chester’ until they got together to pray for a reduction in gun crime. Her message is that we (you and I) can make a difference to our local communities by asking what the needs are from different organisations involved with the community, social work, police, education, health etc and organising people to pray into action what needs to be done. She will come to Edinburgh if we want her to get involved. But we don’t need to wait. Never underestimate the power of prayer. All the infinite resources of heaven are at our disposal if we take the time to engage in partnership with God to bring about what is on His heart. The conference was inspiring and is on again next year but the real work starts with us, if we care about what God cares about. Let’s keep on praying ……..
SBLPA conference 13 March 2010
This was my first attendance at the Scottish Baptist Lay Preachers’ Association conference and I left feeling energised and encouraged from having spent a day with fellow lay preachers and time with the Lord.
The day consisted of the AGM (a very small part!), two teaching sessions by Edwin Gunn either side of an excellent three-course lunch, finishing with communion. Edwin’s theme for the teaching was the Word and the Spirit; the first session focussing on the Word and the second on the Spirit. He quoted the following to emphasise the need for balance between both:
“The Word without the Spirit is wood and stubble, The Spirit without the Word is froth and bubble.”
The content of his presentations are available on the SLBPA web site so there is no need for me to reproduce the essence of the teaching, but it reminded me of how easy it can be to let things slip, how easy it is for the devil to get in little by little in our churches and in our own lives: a bit less Bible-reading here: a bit less prayer there: forgetting to ask for the Spirit to come: forgetting that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. And before we know it there are all sorts of problems that we are trying to sort out in our own strength. So it is important to maintain a healthy balance between the Word and the Spirit.
It was also good to network with other lay preachers and to hear what the Lord is doing in other parts of the country. When I put my name forward to be a lay preacher I had not bargained for becoming part of the whole organisation of SBLPA with an AGM etc. However, I now appreciate the benefits of coming together to encourage one another and to promote excellence in preaching the word of God. It is an awesome privilege and one that none of us should take lightly.
This was my second Saturday in a row at a conference having attended the Women Walking with God conference the weekend before (see opposite). It was interesting to note what a difference it made to my preaching and power in ministry both Sundays having spent the whole Saturday with the Lord. I’m sure there must be a sermon in that somewhere!!
This was my first attendance at the Scottish Baptist Lay Preachers’ Association conference and I left feeling energised and encouraged from having spent a day with fellow lay preachers and time with the Lord.
The day consisted of the AGM (a very small part!), two teaching sessions by Edwin Gunn either side of an excellent three-course lunch, finishing with communion. Edwin’s theme for the teaching was the Word and the Spirit; the first session focussing on the Word and the second on the Spirit. He quoted the following to emphasise the need for balance between both:
“The Word without the Spirit is wood and stubble, The Spirit without the Word is froth and bubble.”
The content of his presentations are available on the SLBPA web site so there is no need for me to reproduce the essence of the teaching, but it reminded me of how easy it can be to let things slip, how easy it is for the devil to get in little by little in our churches and in our own lives: a bit less Bible-reading here: a bit less prayer there: forgetting to ask for the Spirit to come: forgetting that we are engaged in spiritual warfare. And before we know it there are all sorts of problems that we are trying to sort out in our own strength. So it is important to maintain a healthy balance between the Word and the Spirit.
It was also good to network with other lay preachers and to hear what the Lord is doing in other parts of the country. When I put my name forward to be a lay preacher I had not bargained for becoming part of the whole organisation of SBLPA with an AGM etc. However, I now appreciate the benefits of coming together to encourage one another and to promote excellence in preaching the word of God. It is an awesome privilege and one that none of us should take lightly.
This was my second Saturday in a row at a conference having attended the Women Walking with God conference the weekend before (see opposite). It was interesting to note what a difference it made to my preaching and power in ministry both Sundays having spent the whole Saturday with the Lord. I’m sure there must be a sermon in that somewhere!!
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