E-News Wednesday 8th May 2024

Last week Baptists Together released the findings of a three-year research investigation called Project Violet.  

The purpose of the project was to explore women’s experiences in ministry, whilst developing women ministers. It is named after Violet Hedger, the first woman to be college trained for Baptist ordination in the early 1920s.

It has become widely accepted that God calls both women and men into ministry, but this has not ended many of the obstacles which women ministers continue to face in British Baptist life.

These obstacles can include theological objections, structural barriers that prevent women’s voices from being heard, and attitudes to mission which denigrate God’s heart for justice and fail to recognise sexism as a social justice issue.  

As a man I find it is too easy to overlook this area, and to fail to see hurdles which women around me may be facing, whether they are in ministry or not. It requires me to humbly (and sometimes repentantly) go to God and ask for fresh eyes, and a renewed and deeper sense of empathy. 

When we look around in our church we see God working through so many capable women. We have been blessed with the recent appointment of 5 women deacons, and we continue to be led by gifted women in so many areas of church life, such as worship, small groups, and in our youth and children’s work. 

However we are still called to look carefully around and ensure NBC is a positive place where women can minister; where women are encouraged to listen to God’s call just as much as men; and where the example we set inspires girls to break through the various barriers that continue to exist beyond the walls of the church. 

On Saturday we have our next Ladies Breakfast. As that group meets, I encourage you to pray for them and to give thanks for the contribution women make to our church, and the way in which God continues to work and speak through them. 

May God bless you this week.
Peter

If you are interested in learning more about Project Violet, the findings have been released as separate reports, including a general overview and a more specific report for local churches. There is also a series of podcasts to listen to. Visit www.projectviolet.org.uk 

Church News

Ladies Breakfast
Calling all women! Our next Ladies Breakfast is taking place at NBC on Saturday 11th May at 8.30am. Please let us know you are coming by registering here. All are welcome.

Exam Season
As we enter May, a number of our children, young people and students are also entering exam season. 
Please be mindful of this and pray for those revising and taking exams in the coming weeks. We have a number of people in the church preparing to sit SATs, GCSEs, A-Levels and university exams. 

A detailed timetable with dates of exams and the first names of those sitting them will be available shortly. If you would like a copy please speak to Sarah D or email youth@newburybaptistchurch.org

Christmas in a shoebag update

Good news! Hope Now has the documentation and permission from the Ukraine Government to send boxes to Ukraine, which means we can go ahead with our Shoe Bag initiative starting September this year.
 
CALLING ALL SEWERS - fabric has been bought and cut for sewing and we are looking for machine sewers to get us ahead and ready for distribution beginning September. If you can help, please get in touch with Judith either at church or email/phone.

We have 100 bags that need completion! 
Hand knitted hats, gloves, scarves and soft toys are also appreciated, so get out the knitting needles! 
Thank you all for your generous support of the vulnerable children in Ukraine. 

Let’s make their Christmas a happy one in difficult circumstances.