E-News Wednesday 17th April 2024

In two Sundays’ time we will be holding our next Church Members Meeting and our AGM. As part of this we will be holding deacons elections. 

The role of deacon is one we find mentioned several times in the New Testament, notably in Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3. The word ‘deacon’ comes from the ancient Greek word for ‘servant’, and those elected to the role form part of the leadership team of the church. 

As we continue to pray for the people nominated, it might be helpful to be reminded of how we understand the role of a deacon in a Baptist church.

Deacons work alongside the minister to offer leadership to the church. They are accountable to the Church Meeting and meet together to pray, discuss and make plans related to the various areas of church life. They are there to support our group leaders and to ensure that the church adheres to its obligations as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). 

The role requires each individual to hold good relationships across the church, and to work together like a body, with each person playing their part for the good of the whole (Ephesians 4:16).

As we seek the Lord’s guidance ahead of the deacons' elections, let us pray that each nominee has a sense of peace and assurance that God’s will be done.

May God bless you this week,
Peter

Church News

Deacons Elections
Please pray for the five people who have been nominated to stand as deacons at our Church Members Meeting on Sunday 28th April. 

• Helen Andrews
• Julie Bell
• Sian Cutts
• Jo Isherwood 
• Sarah Masters

Peter Annual Leave
Please note that Peter is currently on annual leave until April 20th. 
If you have any issues that need a response during that time please contact either the Church Office or the Pastoral Care Support Team. 

Church Day of Prayer - Thursday 25th April
As a church we are currently discerning whether to proceed with a set of building works which were proposed at the last Church Members Meeting. 
In seeking to help us hear from God, and as part of our commitment to discern the will of God together, everyone is encouraged to participate in a day of prayer on 25th April. 
Resources will be distributed nearer the time to help us pray wherever we might be in the morning and around lunchtime, before prayer meetings are held in the Church and online at 7.30pm.  Please use this link, if you wish to join us online.

Welcome Lunch - Sunday 5th May
If you are new to Newbury Baptist Church and have been worshipping with us over the last few months, we would like to invite you to lunch at the home of Judith and Kelvin following the service on Sunday 5th May. 

This is an opportunity to get to know a few more people in a relaxed atmosphere, and to find out more about the church and the various groups and activities we run. 
If you are interested in attending and would like to find out more, please contact the Church Office

Ladies Breakfast is happening this Saturday at NBC. Please let us know you will be joining us, by registering your attendance here.

Notice for parents/guardians of all Children & Young People at NBC
At NBC we are always looking at ways to improve our safeguarding and data protection procedures and as part of that we are close to launching our new registration process for all Sunday youth & children's activities. This will involve your child/young person being registered by you on arrival to church using a tablet provided. The group leaders can then check registered children/young people in & out at the beginning and end of their sessions.

The first step in this is for you to ensure that all information held in our church database (through the website) is accurate and up to date. Please log on, go to "My Area", "My Profile" and then check if all information is correct. 

If your child is Chattabox age (age 3 - 11) and you would like to give them permission to leave chattabox without being collected by you, please add "Permitted to leave at end of Chattabox" into the "Child Allergy Information" box alongside any allergy information. 

From Sunday you will start to see the tablets in church and we will guide on how and when we need you to start registering on arrival as we progress through final testing and implementation.If you have any questions please speak to any of the group leaders or email the Childrens Team  or  Youth Team.