Howlands Baptist Church News

Howland’s Baptist Church

“Loving God Loving People”

Fellowship News December 2021

Our Dear Brothers, Sisters, and Friends,

Christmas Greetings and welcome to the December edition of the Howland’s Baptist Church Fellowship News. Thank you for the feedback on the church activities including the Online & Recorded Sunday Church Services and the Face to Face Service we are now pleased to be having.

The last Online Service was the 21st November a copy of the sermon is attached to this edition. The next Face to Face Sunday Services will be on the 5th December and then on the 19th December, both starting at 10.30. The service on the 19th will be primarily a Carol Concert with Brian Evers on the keyboard and anyone else we can press into playing an instrument too.

Following the service on the 5th December we will be holding a long overdue Church Members Meeting, so remember to bring your sandwiches. Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting to make comments; however, only official members will be able to vote on any issues proposed.

It has been decided to move forward with two Face to Face Sunday Services each month and one Online & Recorded Sunday Service with immediate effect. This may well change if it is felt necessary.

As we have said before, we appreciate your assistance with the services, and are keen to do things a little differently. Rather than being tied to a rota or a number of rotas we will seek your help service by service. This should prevent people feeling tied to a specific task, with no way out. Please look out for our email, and reply with any offer of help for the 5th December.

The collection box will be available at these services should you wish to make a contribution to church funds.

God bless and keep praying

Stuart and Elaine x

HBC Deacons

ACCESS TO SUNDAY SERVICES

To access the fortnightly Sunday Services the information is needed:

howlandsbc.online.church
howlandsbaptist.org.uk follow the link to Sunday Service.
After service Zoom Home Café (I/D 845-025-6358 PW 873022).
The Howland’s Baptist Church Facebook page can be easily accessed.

FOOD BANK CONTRIBUTIONS

Jan Hedley, is coordinating our contribution to the food bank located at New Zion church. Never has the need been greater to make a contribution to the local food bank, with increasing prices for food, and in particular, fuel and energy costs starting to hit the family budget. Please give generously any items such as tins, and packets, and any food items that have a good shelf life and are hanging around in your cupboard.

The Green plastic receptacle labelled ‘food bank’, situated just by the doors as you go into the hall is starting to fill up with tins, and any new food items can be deposited here for distribution via New Zion. Jan will liaise with New Zion to ensure we have a regular delivery.

THE PRAYER CHAIN

Pray for our church leadership and the way ahead and to always seek the Lord’s guidance, to have courage to follow His path, whatever that may be.
Kath Wheeler and her ongoing health issues.
All those in the fellowship who are suffering from health issues.
The Sunday Face to Face service.
The Online and Recorded Sunday Service.
All activities within and without the church building.

If you feel the need for us to pray as a fellowship for something in your life, a family member or neighbour’s life, please send a message requesting The Prayer Chain by email or a phone call to Stuart on 07572871447 or stuartsoper57@gmail.com. On the Online Sunday Service if needed press the “I need a prayer button!”, and we will get back to you.

ONLINE & RECORDED SUNDAY SERVICES

The 21st November was the anniversary of starting these services, it was the twenty -second such service. To move forward we need others to take a hand in learning to compile the recordings for the services, a task which Tayo has been doing so well and which we appreciate greatly. It is intended to hold some sessions of training in this, the first being on Saturday 27th November at 18:00. Those who have these skills or the desire to learn please do step up and let us know.

FUTURE EVENTS

29th April - 2nd May Eastbourne. Bible by the Beach - A bible centred weekend conference for all ages! info@biblebythebeach.org.
Franklin Graham God loves you tour for more information go to : GodLovesyouTour.org.uk

PRAYER MEETINGS

Our prayer meetings are held on Wednesday’s at 8:00 P.M on Zoom. and on Saturday’s at 10:45 A.M also on Zoom. Please do try to attend these, to spend time lifting each other up in prayer, for the big and little situations.

To join these Zoom Meetings or any other Howland’s Zoom meeting: These are the passcode and ID for all prayer meetings: ID:845-025-6358 Passcode: 873022.

BIRTHDAY CARDS

Claire Plank is coordinating birthday cards within the fellowship on behalf of us all. If you haven’t done so already, give her your birthday details to be included. This includes church members, attendees, and children.

MENS MEETING

We are exploring holding a regular meeting for the men in the fellowship, this could be fortnightly or monthly and be varied in its activities which might include food, music, films and maybe some Christian orientated talks. All this is up for discussion and could be face to face or on Zoom (in a limited format)

JOIN US IN MEMBERSHIP

If you are part of our fellowship family, but have not become an “official member” you may not understand the difference. Being an official member gives you voting rights on the decisions made in the fellowship and if you wish to discuss this further please speak to the Deacons.

DEACONS

Election of additional Deacon’s are an important part of church business. We ask that you pray about this important leadership role. Is it something you feel you could do for a three year term? If so then please mention your interest to either Stuart or Elaine.

WORKING PARTIES

We are now in a position to initiate working parties to complete jobs inside and outside of the church. It is good to work together on all manner of projects to the glory of God. We will need your support in this. Whatever you feel able to do from the list of jobs we will be producing, it would be appreciated so please do volunteer. It will be fun working together. We may even put some lunch on to feed the willing workers. The list of tasks within the church are:

Move Piano to rear hall
Clean exterior window frames, door and shutters
Tidy and weed church garden.
Remove marks on church floor main hall and foyer
Paint men's toilets.
Install backdrops and hanging in church.
Re-stick trim in kitchen by oven.
Hang the baptismal record.
Reorganise vestry.
Padlocks replaced on shutters.
Walk around to dispose of any unnecessary things.
Clear the store by the kitchen of unnecessary things.
Reorganise the Vestry.
Pictographic Plan of Church activities on rear wall.

BAPTISM

Among our fellowship there will be people who have not been baptised. They may have been Christened as a child, that for clarity is not what I am referring to. Christening is a decision made for the child by their parents. As a baptist church we generally do baptism by full immersion of the brother or sisters who have made this decision for themselves after careful reflection and prayer. There is no age restriction, only that the church leaders are content that the person understands the commitment they are making. If you are concerned for any reason about being immersed we can baptise in other ways, by trickling the waters. But baptism by immersion is a wonderful experience that we would encourage. If you would like to know more, please speak to the deacons.

REACH OUT (CHAIR BASED EXERCISE)

Nina Rowley, has been supporting this group since its inception. She is now seeking support as her voluntary role has developed. This involves being at the church building on Friday at 14:00 to book people in, take their money. Once this is done the person can go home or stay. It is up to them. If you feel you can help, to be of service please let Stuart know.

HOUSE GROUP

Fang’s House Group:

This is a group meeting fortnightly on Zoom. Meeting fortnightly on Thursday evenings at 8:00 P.M, the next scheduled Zoom meeting is on 2nd December. Any enquiries contact Fang.

COMMUNION

We take communion regularly at the online services, but what about you? We could do communion or pray with you over the phone if you like, just let Stuart know in order that we can arrange a time.

BOOK REVIEW & ONLINE MATERIAL

If any other members have read something of interest or a specific part of the Bible that they feel is worth a deeper dive into or comment, please let us know. It’s great to get feedback on what people are reading to supplement their learning of the Christian message. If something has sparked your interest online it may appeal to others, therefore let us have the reference for others to investigate. We have a wealth of books in the library in the Church which are available to anyone at any time.

HOWLAND’S B.C WEBSITE

(howlandsbaptist.org.uk) Go online and take a look.

HOWLAND’S B.C FACEBOOK PAGE

Go online and take a look.

HBC FELLOWSHIP NEWSLETTER

Alex Gray is producing this Newsletter to keep all our church community informed and engaged. Please let us know if you have anything you would like to add to the newsletter for the next monthly edition (October). You can send material for inclusion by email to alexgraywgc4@gmail.com or call him on tel: 07305 837272 .

Alex Gray

Fellowship Newsletter Coordinator.

Stuart Soper Howland’s Baptist Church Coordinator

stuartsoper57@gmail.com 07572871447

Howland’s Baptist Church

Sermon for Online & Recorded Service

By Stuart A Soper HBC Coordinator

Sunday 21st November 2021

PRAYER

Father God, Lord Jesus and the blessed Holy Spirit be with us as we seek your wisdom and guidance in our lives. We praise and worship you our loving Father, we ask a blessing on all of us in your name Amen

It is Thursday evening at a little after 9:00 P.M and it has been a busy day preparing for this service and other church business. Everything is completed and transferred for compilation except this message which I still need to write. What is it to be about? I am praying on this!

A few months back I spoke on the subject of avoiding distractions, distractions that take our eyes from God and the work and plans He has in store for us. I have been a victim of distraction from the beginning of this week, for reasons that have been and continue to be most challenging. I have been in danger of allowing myself to be distracted from planning and writing the message, the word at the centre of this service.

There is so much more involved on a daily basis in the management and leadership of our church and fellowship. More than organising and developing Sunday Services, be they Face to Face or Online and Recorded ones. Hours are suddenly devoured when dealing with other issues and requirements, things and stuff that are administrative, pastoral, of a more practical nature like creepy crawlies and “All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small!”

I have felt pressured this week like never before, fortunately I do feel supported and lifted up by you, my brothers and sisters. I am not alone in this; I feel sure you have all experienced similar weeks! It was then that I was reminded, I came to understand I had to remind myself to trust in our loving Lord. The following verses helped me:

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your path.

Psalm 37:4-5 Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.

Psalm 33:20 Our soul waits for the lord; He is our help and our shield.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Psalm 23:1-6 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

So as we go about our daily lives, confronting challenges of many kinds we can all do better, this I have learned and relearned this week. If I had come to the Lord in prayer before starting work, not waiting until the problems had surfaced before praying, things would have been so much better. We can rely on God to be with us in all things, at all times, he is a loving God who wants to help us.