Priory Street (Corsham)

9.15am             Tim Stephenson (Luke 1)

11.15am           Tim Stephenson (Luke 1)

6:00pm            Gathering to Pray

Church on the Green (Rudloe)

10:00am           Rob Durant

Prayer for Missions and the Persecuted Church

This will take place tomorrow night at Priory Street at 7:45pm.  Please speak to Vanessa Naish or Wendy Rowe if you would like more details.

Baptism Service

Next Sunday at the 11:15am service we will be having a baptismal service for Lydia Pillinger.  We look forward to welcoming her friends and family to this special occasion.

Nativity Service

It’s that time of year again! Calling all thespians! If you are interested in taking part in the nativity service on Saturday December 14 at 4pm at Priory Street, please speak to Rhiannon. There are flyers at the back of church so please take some and invite family and friends. There will be refreshments afterwards so come and join in the fun and fellowship. The nativity isn’t just for children!  Come even if you are an adult and be reminded of the reason that we celebrate Christmas.

Carols by Candlelight Helpers Needed

Helpers are needed to serve refreshments after the Carol Service on Sunday 15^th December at 6pm. This will involve serving tea and coffee and distributing warm mince pies. Please speak to Rhiannon if you are available.  Thank you.

Craft Group

The final Craft Group meeting of the year will take place on Saturday, 7^th December at 10am.  Please speak to Pam Mitchell or Hazel Hammett if you would like to know more about this monthly ministry.

Women’s Christmas Meal

This will take place on Monday 9th December at 7:30pm in the church hall.  Women from all the services (and their friends) are invited to the now traditional “Christmas Curry and Cocoa” evening where we gather together to celebrate Jesus and have great fellowship and food (from Moonlight).  Cost is £10 per person.  There is a sign-up sheet at the back of Church; alternatively mention to Anne Holmes, Christine Coltman, or Vicky Kelly and you will be added to the list.  If you have any dietary needs, please indicate. Look forward to seeing you!

Christmas Carol Service

Our Christmas carols by candlelight service this year is being held on Sunday 15th December at 6pm at Priory Street.  If you would like to be involved in this service by way of singing/playing, please contact Nancy.

Bryant Newsletter

The latest newsletter from Steve and Gill Bryant has been released!  Please take a copy from the table at the back to catch up on all that the Bryants have been involved with.

Message from the Lancasters!

“Greetings from Tanzania! We arrived safely in Dar last Sunday night after a long day in the air – this time, with all of our luggage!! We then travelled on to Morogoro on the Monday and arrived in a downpour – albeit a very warm downpour! We found our house in good order – but had to spend two days car-cleaning due to a thick layer of fungus & mould growing on the seats! Oh the joys! It’s been great to have been back with the church family over the last seven months, and we’ve appreciated your hospitality and support – many thanks, and see you in two years”.

Scratch Choir

Calling anyone who would like to get together to form a choir and learn one song to sing at the Christmas carol service on Sunday 15th December. We would only have one rehearsal on the day at 2.30pm. All welcome – please see/email Sara Taylor for any more info and to sign up.

Christmas Cards for the Persecuted Church

Christmas Cards for persecuted believers are available on the table at the back with relevant information.  Please take a card and sign it with a verse of encouragement and prayer; once signed, please place back in Open Doors’ envelope in the tray.  Thank you.

“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner.” Heb. 13:3.

Sponsored Compassion Child – Monthly Rate Increase.

With effect from April 2020 the monthly rate to sponsor a child will increase from £25 to £28pm.  If you already sponsor a child, you will receive a letter to inform you of the changes. If the increase will cause any financial difficulties for you, there is the option of continuing to sponsor your child at £25 and Compassion will make up the difference.  Please speak to Wendy Rowe (Mission Ministry Leader) if you would like to discuss this matter further.  Thank you.

CBC Christmas Services 2019

@ Priory Street

14th Dec – nativity service, 4pm

15th Dec – Carols by Candlelight, 6pm

17th Dec – Corsham Town Carol Service, 6:45pm

18th Dec – Midweek Carol & Readings Service, 2pm

24th Dec – Christmas eve communion service, 6pm

25th Dec – Christmas day family service, 10am

29th Dec – no evening service

@ Church on the Green, Rudloe

22nd Dec – nativity, 10am

24th Dec – carolling around Rudloe community, 6pm

25th Dec – Christmas day family service, 10am

…This week @ CBC…

Monday: Prayer for missions and the persecuted church, 7:45pm

Thursday: Toddler Group, 10am; DAC, 7:30pm

Friday: DAC, 9:30am; Encounter, 3.45pm; Engage, 4:30pm; Energize, 5:30pm

Saturday: Craft Group, 10am

Church Meetings 2020

20th January, 8pm

20th April, ACM, 8pm

20th July, 8pm

We’re received news via WEBA of two partner churches in Albania affected by the recent severe earthquake. Please read this report from an Albanian pastor currently ministering at Cairns Road Baptist Church in Bristol, pray for him as he goes to visit and for those from two of the churches in the worst affected areas, Durres and Lezhe as they seek to care for people made homeless.

As part of our ongoing partnership with a group of churches in the Albanian Baptist Union, we have collected almost 5000 filled WEBoxes, which are currently being processed and will soon be on their way to Albania. It would be a wonderful expression of our oneness in Christ if we could add a significant gift towards the food parcels already planned to be distributed through our partner churches at that time.

WEBA have a facility to transfer funds via the Albanian Baptist Union. Nigel Coles, regional team leader writes,

“If you would like to add a gift to express our love in Christ, I have no doubt it will be used wisely and reach those considered to be in the greatest need.”

Please make any gifts with the reference ‘Albania earthquake’ either:
Via the Virgin Moneygiving link on our WEBox page or via bank transfer to WEBA at CAF Bank sort code: 40-52-40 account: 00006162.

December is coming fast, and I feel I have lost some time somewhere…..maybe the month in Germany? Can you relate?  Well the reality is it IS that time of year which is very special if you are a follower of Christ. As ever, we need to prepare our hearts, don’t we? There is so much cultural noise and societal and even church events, that it is imperative to quiet our hearts to focus on what really matters at Christmas. Linus got it right with Charlie Brown.

I want to suggest to you some great resources for advent reading which Eddie and I have found to be so helpful in the Lord  preparing, nurturing, reminding and encouraging our hearts to celebrate and praise God for our Saviour coming into the world to save us.

LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS – SINCLAIR FERGUSON

“Love is at the heart of Christmas—it’s the reason behind all our gathering and gift-giving at this time of year. In this Advent devotional, Dr Sinclair B Ferguson refreshes our hearts as we reflect on the source of it all—love incarnate, Jesus Christ.”

THE ONE TRUE STORY – TIM CHESTER

“The book has 24 short meditative readings working through Bible stories from Genesis to Jesus. Each day ideas for reflection, prayer and application, designed to excite you about the Gospel message in the run up to Christmas day.”

You can purchase these on 10ofthose, The Good Book Company or Amazon.

Here we go! Thank you Lord!

Warm greetings to all of our friends. It’s time to share our news again, and we do want to thank you for your prayers and support over the last few months.

Imagine

Imagine living in a place where….

…earth tremors are commonplace, and you may often need to wear a mask to protect yourself from pollution………your daughter may be at risk from bride kidnap………the mountains are beautiful but your apartment is infested with cockroaches………your activities are under surveillance constantly and bureaucracy is an ongoing challenge.

Imagine living there not just for a week or a month, but long term, through all seasons, coping with sickness, ethnic uprisings and the ongoing stress of being a foreigner.

Recently we had the privilege of hosting a family who live in just such a situation. It was so good to have the opportunity to spend time with them doing some training, eating together, sharing and praying. It is crucial to pray for those who live and work in difficult places – it is costly to see areas like this reached with the Gospel.

Training and travel

The last few months – as with the earlier part of the year – have been characterised by training and travel. At the end of July we ran the MK (Missionary Kids) Staff Training course at our church in Corsham. There were 8 participants from 8 different countries (well, two from Germany but one person from two cultures!). Most of them went to BCS in Senegal but one lady from a Swedish mission agency has gone to Ethiopia to
teach children at home in a remote area of the country. In addition we did one day of training with a local primary teacher, at the end of June – she is now serving in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In August we arranged for alternative training for a couple who applied very late to go to BCS. Thanks to some of our WEC colleagues, we were able to ensure that they got the input that they needed, as well as spending a day ourselves talking with them over Skype.

In September, both of us travelled to the USA to attend two conferences at a mission centre in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The first conference was a small gathering of people from all over the world, involved in supporting missionary families. Those who attended came from Korea, Brazil, Spain and India as well as the UK, USA and Australia. The vision for this gathering was to establish ways of working together globally to ensure that care for missionary kids is genuinely international. There are now many new sending countries, especially in parts of Africa and Asia that have traditionally received missionaries in the past. This is an exciting development, but there is a need for all of us to continue to work together to improve care for our families. The second conference was much bigger and provided good opportunities for networking with others.

While there we were able to take a day off to visit the Amish Farm Museum in Lancaster County. It was fascinating to learn more about their way of life, and we especially enjoyed chatting to the teacher at their one room school house.

Almost straight after the visit to the USA, Steve went to Spain to attend Eurocon, a WEC regional conference for all of our teams in Europe. As a result of his presentation on safeguarding, he has now been asked to do some safeguarding training for leaders in Europe, probably in the Netherlands in the spring.

Holiday time

At the end of September we were able to go away to Norfolk for a two week break, which was a wonderfully restful time. We enjoyed visiting nature reserves, windmills and beautiful deserted beaches with more seals than people. In November Gill was able to make a brief visit to Liverpool with her sister, to meet her cousin (not seen since our wedding day in 1982!) and see the area where her mum grew up. It has changed a lot!

Family news

Peter and Miriam continue to live in Nottingham and have just celebrated their first wedding anniversary. They managed a week’s holiday in Scotland with only half a day of rain. David has recently passed his driving test and is looking forward to having a car – this will make things a lot easier for him as he currently cycles many miles to work in all weathers. Michael and Bethany are busy at the ELWA hospital where they have recently introduced a nutrition programme for children under 5. Please pray for the success of this programme, as it is hard to get the supplies to the places where they need to be.

Praise and prayer

As it is only a few weeks till December 25th, we want to wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas season and God’s blessing and peace for the New Year. We look forward to hearing your news too.

Love from Steve and Gill

Priory Street (Corsham)

• 9.15am             Dan Ovens – Ps. 88
• 11.15am           Dan Ovens – Ps. 88
• 6:00pm             Gathering to Remember

Church on the Green (Rudloe)

• 10:00am           Rob Durant

Women’s November Bible Study

There will be another women’s bible study tomorrow night at 7:30pm.  The study sheets are on the table at the back so please make sure you take a copy in advance of the meeting.

Midweek Service

The next midweek service takes place this Wednesday, 27th Nov at 2pm, and the text is James 3: 13-18.  Eric S will be leading and preaching.

Scratch Choir

Calling anyone who would like to get together to form a choir and learn one song to sing at the Christmas carol service on Sunday 15th December. We would only have one rehearsal on the day at 2.30pm. All welcome – please see/email Sara T for any more info and to sign up.

Last Ark of 2019

Come along to Priory Street at 10am on the 30th November for the last Ark of the year!  The Ark is a children’s service aimed at 0-7 year olds and we’ll be celebrating Christmas early with lots of fun, puppets, songs, video and crafts.  It’s all topped off with drinks and cake served at 11.00am. 

Women’s Christmas Meal

This will take place on Monday 9th December at 7:30pm in the church hall.  Women from all the services (and their friends) are invited to the now traditional “Christmas Curry and Cocoa” evening where we gather together to celebrate Jesus and have great fellowship and food (from Moonlight).  Cost is £10 per person.  There is a sign-up sheet at the back of Church; alternatively mention to Anne H, Christine C, or Vicky K and you will be added to the list.  If you have any dietary needs, please indicate. Look forward to seeing you!

Christmas Carol Service

Our Christmas carols by candlelight service this year is being held on Sunday 15th December at 6pm at Priory Street.  If you would like to be involved in this service by way of singing or playing, please contact Nancy S, whose details can be obtained from the church office.

Sponsored  Compassion Child – Monthly Rate Increase.

We have been informed by Compassion UK that with effect from April 2020 the monthly rate to sponsor a child will be increasing from £25 to £28 per month.  If you already sponsor a child, you will be receiving a letter to inform you of the changes. If the increase will cause any financial difficulties for you, there is the option of continuing to sponsor your child at £25 and Compassion will make up the difference.  Please speak to Wendy R (Mission Ministry Leader) if you would like to discuss this matter further or if you would like to sponsor a Compassion Child.  Thank you.

Message from the Lancasters!

“Greetings from Tanzania! We arrived safely in Dar last Sunday night after a long day in the air – this time, with all of our luggage!! We then travelled on to Morogoro on the Monday and arrived in a downpour – albeit a very warm downpour! We found our house in good order – but had to spend two days car-cleaning due to a thick layer of fungus & mould growing on the seats! Oh the joys! It’s been great to have been back with the church family over the last seven months, and we’ve appreciated your hospitality and support – many thanks, and see you in two years”.

…This week @ CBC…

• Monday: Women’s bible study,, 7:30pm
• Wednesday: Midweek service, 2pm
• Thursday: Toddler Group, 10am;  DAC, 7:30pm
• Friday: DAC, 9:30am;Encounter, 3.45pm; Engage, 4:30pm; Energize, 5:30pm
• Saturday: The Ark, 10am

CBC Christmas Services 2019

@ Priory Street

• 14th Dec – nativity service, 4pm
• 15th Dec – Carols by Candlelight, 6pm
• 17th Dec – Corsham Town Carol Service, 6:45pm
• 18th Dec – Midweek Carol & Readings Service, 2pm
• 24th Dec – Christmas eve communion service, 6pm
• 25th Dec – Christmas day family service, 10am
• 29th Dec – no evening service

@ Church on the Green, Rudloe

• 22nd Dec – nativity, 10am
• 24th Dec – carolling around Rudloe community, 6pm
• 25th Dec – Christmas day family service, 10am

THERE ARE SMALL CARDS ON THE BACK TABLE ADVERTISING OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICES…PLEASE TAKE SOME TO GIVE TO FRIENDS & FAMILY

“This is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory.” Colossians 1:27 

“Paul was writing to the Colossians to remind them that Jesus was all they needed- no more and no less. This is the ‘entire gospel’ (v25) Despite other teachers preaching the ‘mere Christianity’ was not enough, Paul describes the wonderful riches that are ours in Christ, and states that only through His complete work are we set free.”

The above quote is taken from Christine Coltman in our bible study for this month.  I pray that you have been blessed know God better and love Him more through this bible study with your study buddy. It is a great way to prepare ourselves for our time together as Women of the Word come together for our third study in the book of Colossians.

A gentle reminder, our next group study is: 
MONDAY, 25 November, 2019 7:30-9:00 

There will be a time of cake, a cuppa, and friendship at the beginning, followed by singing and then being led by Christine in Colossians 1:24-29.

So, see you there! You are loved and prayed for!

Thank you to all who have been in touch or planned to come to the work party next Saturday but this has been postponed and will now take place in the new year.

The third Colossians Study Buddy questions are available at the churches and also on the blog! Christine Coltman is bringing this study to us on 25 November.

So, please meet with your buddy! This short bible study will really enrich you!

BLESSINGS!

Welcome to our Remembrance Sunday Service

10th November, 2019

Priory Street (Corsham)

• 9.15am             Eddie Larkman (Ps.2)
• 11.15am           Eddie Larkman (Ps.2)
• 6:00pm            Gathering round the Word (Ron Durant)

Church on the Green (Rudloe)

• 10:00am           Rob Durant

Family Quiz Night

There will be a family quiz/pizza night for the 9:15 congregation next Saturday, 16th November from 5pm.  Chat to Tim S for details.

Evening Service 17^th November

As you may be aware, one of our mission partners at CBC is the neighbouring Melksham Baptist Church. On 17th Nov there will be a practical opportunity to show our support as we’ll be holding the monthly praise party there rather than at Priory Street. It would be lovely to have a really great turnout. Joey (from 9:15) will be leading and the start will be 6pm. So if you’re going why not talk to some friends and see if you can fill a car?   http://www.melkshambaptistchurch.org.uk/contacts/map/

Midweek Service

This will take place on Wednesday, 13^th November at 2pm.  The text is James 3.1-12. Eric will be leading and preaching and there will be communion.

Christmas Carols by Candlelight Service

Our Christmas carols by candlelight service this year is being held on Sunday 15th December at 6pm at Priory Street.  If you would like to be involved in this service by way of singing or playing, please contact Nancy S, whose details can be obtained from the church office.

Work Party

Martin S will be holding a work party at Priory Street on Saturday 23rd November from approx. 10am-12pm  Work to be undertaken will include cleaning of “hard to reach” areas of the building, decorating, general tidying up etc. before Christmas.  Please come along if you can help.  Bacon butties will be on offer too!!

Women’s November Bible Study

There will be another women’s bible study on Monday 25^th November at 7:30pm.  The study sheets are on the table at the back so please make sure you take a copy in advance of the meeting.

Last Ark of 2019

Come along to Priory Street at 10am on the 30th November for the last Ark of the year!  The Ark is a children’s service aimed at 0-7 year olds and we’ll be celebrating Christmas early with lots of fun, puppets, songs, video and crafts.  It’s all topped off with drinks and cake served at 11.00am. Children are very welcome with an accompanying adult so come along and spread the word to family and friends.

International Bring & Share Lunch, 24th November

Revelation 7 tells us about that amazing moment where people from every tribe, nation, people and language gather together to worship Christ. On Sunday 24th November, we’re going to have a foretaste of that moment with an international bring and share lunch!

Bring some food you like, and we’ll enjoy eating it together after our 10am service at the MOD community centre in Rudloe (a.k.a Crumpets). See you there!

Church on the Green new congregational leader

COTG are looking for a new congregational leader. The timeline for what’s happening when is below:

Sunday, 10th November – Nominations close after the service today. Give them to Rob, Adrian, or Paul.

Sunday 24th November – Election takes place for COTG members after the church service. (Before we have our international lunch!)

If you’re not sure what the role of congregational leader might involve, get in touch with Rob D or chat to one of our other leaders – Adrian P and Paul G. 

If you would like to nominate someone, please talk to them first and check they are happy to be nominated. You will need someone to second your nomination.

…This week @ CBC…

• Monday: Fight Night, 8pm
• Wednesday: Midweek service, 2pm
• Thursday: Toddler Group, 10am;  DAC, 7:30pm
• Friday: DAC, 9:30am;Encounter, 3.45pm; Engage, 4:30pm; Energize, 5:30pm

Upcoming events:

• Family/quiz night for 9:15ers – 16th November, 5pm
• Gathering to Praise @ Melksham Baptist Church – 17th November, 6pm
• Mission and persecuted church prayer – 18th November, 7:45pm
• Church work party – 23rd November, 10am
• Women’s bible study – 25th November, 7:30pm
• Midweek service – 27th November, 2pm
• The Ark – 30th November, 10am
• Craft Group, 7^th December, 10am

CBC Christmas Services 2019

@ Priory Street

• 14th Dec – nativity service, 4pm
• 15th Dec – Carols by Candlelight, 6pm
• 18th Dec – Midweek Carol & Readings Service, 2pm
• 24th Dec – Christmas eve communion service, 6pm
• 25th Dec – Christmas day family service, 10am
• 29th Dec – no evening service

@ Church on the Green, Rudloe

• 22nd Dec – nativity, 10am
• 24th Dec – carolling around Rudloe community, 6pm
• 25th Dec – Christmas day family service, 10am

THERE ARE SMALL CARDS ON THE BACK TABLE ADVERTISING OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICES…PLEASE TAKE SOME TO GIVE TO FRIENDS & FAMILY.

I was on National Express coach coming home from Heathrow Airport after being in Germany as Esther King was leading our second women’s bible study- Colossians: Rooted. Although I missed being there, you were in my thoughts and prayers.

I received many reports of the love and blessing of God through His word! I am encouraged how God is maturing us as He reveals Himself to us through Scripture.

Paul prays over the Colossians with confidence because they ARE bearing fruit; not because they need to bear fruit. There are many times when I don’t know how to pray for us, especially with confidence,  but I am learning that a good place to start is Scripture. It seems so obvious, but after being a Christian for years, I have realized its importance and power.

This prayer in Colossians 1 is one wonderful example of many in the Bible which teaches us how we should pray for one another as believers in Christ and with confidence. His continual prayer has been full of requests that they might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. (v.9) This is not just a prayer about guidance in specific situations of life, but actually it’s bigger than that. It’s about grasping the big picture of how central Jesus Christ is in God’s plan for the world- to put everything under Jesus Christ.

The result of the knowledge of Christ is a changed life!(v.10) Knowing Christ always brings practical changes to how we live. The changed life is described as: a worthy life, pleasing Christ, bearing fruit and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Notice it is God who is the one doing everything in this prayer. He has ‘enabled us,’ ‘rescued us ’ and ‘transferred us,’ ‘purchased us,’ forgave us.’vv (12-14) It is all God’s work through Jesus Christ! (vv.13-14)

So, if we want to see our lives changed, we need to keep asking God to show us how important Jesus Christ is! As we get a better grasp of WHO HE IS, changes will inevitably result in our everyday, ordinary lives.

Let’s pray for each other with confidence! May we all grow as we learn to know God better and better!

Kathy x