Pastor @ mbc’s Weblog

Monday 30th June

Now that the longest day has passed, I cant help thinking that we are on our way back to winter. Sorry, I dont mean to depress you, but its true – our summers are all too brief, and no sooner do we realise that summer is here….. and its almost gone! It makes me determined to enjoy July and August – I hope you feel the same. We are going to have a Church picnic one Sunday soon – its impossible to say exactly when because the weather is so crucial; but be on picnic alert for the next few weeks! It will be announced on a Sunday morning, and we will just meet at Botany Bay for fun and fellowship in the afternoon. It went really well last year, so lets do it again!

We had a good weekend. On Sunday Morning, we looked at “Listening to God” again, and saw how we can test ideas and thoughts to see if they really are from the Lord. In the evening, we tried a new kind of service, which I have called “Prayer and Share”. It seemed to go well, and I have had various positive comments, so it is definitely something that we will do again, from time to time. Its good to have the opportunity to share what God has been doing in our lives.

This is a busy week, with our monthly Prayer Meeting on Wednesday; and a Deacons Meeting on Thursday. Nicky and I will have a full house, with James and Sarah coming to visit, along with some of their friends. I may not have time to post on Wednesday – but I hope you all have a good week.  Can I encourage you to come to the prayer meeting on Wednesday if at all possible?   Every blessing,   Stephen.

“What do you call a fly with no wings?  Is it a walk?”

Friday, 27th June

This coming Sunday evening, we will be trying out a new kind of worship format – at least new for us, but I suspect that it is probably closer to the very oldest kind of Christian worship of all!  It will be very informal, with lots of singing, lots of praying, and an opportunity for anyone to share a thought or an insight that God may have given to them, for the benefit of all. We will meet in the Church hall (at 6.30pm), and begin with a cup of tea; then go on with our worship time together. I do hope that you will join us – even for the traditionalists, it will not be too “way out”!   The New Testament suggests that this kind of worship is probably close to the way that the first Christians conducted their times of praise. I am calling it “Prayer and Share”, with the emphasis very much on sharing time and encouragement together, which can only be a good thing.

At the morning service this Sunday, we will be concluding our short series on “Listening to God”, and asking “How can I know its God?”  Thats at 11am – dont miss it!   Every blessing, Stephen.

“How can you tell when your pen runs out of invisible ink?”

Wednesday 25th June

A few years ago, Blur had a hit with a song called “Parklife”. Today, some of us are off to sample the local park life at Quex. Its the day of our “Senior Care” outing, and we will be taking 20 or so of our older folk for a visit to the park, and for a nice tea together, on what looks like being a lovely day. For those who may not know, a fund was started some years ago at MBC to set up some kind of day care facility at the Church. This never became a reality, and the money stayed in the bank, waiting for a replacement scheme. Last year we agreed to call it the “Senior Care Fund”, and the money will now be used to provide a new year party and a summer outing for the elderly or housebound folk from our Church family. Lets hope everyone enjoys the day, and has a great time of fellowship. Now where is my sun-tan lotion?  Stephen.

“They said on the news that it is going to be hot today – 100 degrees in the shade! But that doesnt bother me – I’ll just stay in the sun!”

Monday 23rd June

Well, that was a fun weekend! Friday was particularly busy, as I had to fit in three home visits, finish off my Sunday peparation, and then go to Brigade to help out with games on the beach (this week we made boats in the sand – some very good sand-artists in our midst!) On Saturday, the Young Peoples’ Car Wash went very well, and they raised well over £100 towards their youth camp in September. In the evening, they all came back to our house for a barbeque, which is where the smoke got in my eyes…  It was a good day, and its always nice to have a noisy, boisterous bunch of teenagers in your garden!

Sunday was also good, if a little tricky at times. In the morning, we looked at “Listening to God”, and talked about some of the main ways that God speaks to us. In the evening, continuing our studies in the Sermon on the Mount, we looked at Jesus’ teaching about adultery and lust.  I apologise if anyone was uncomfortable with the subject matter – its not easy to talk about sex and temptation from the pulpit – but dont blame me, blame Jesus, as it was his words we were studying!   It was good to have the first part of the service led by the Worship Group – many thanks to them for helping me out.

Today (Monday) I have my first physiotherapy session for my back. Hopefully it will begin to help my ongoing problem. This evening (Monday again) I will be attending a meeting for Margate residents and traders, which is being held in our Church hall. It could be an important meeting, as it will be an opportunity for local people to air their views about Margate regeneration. On Wednesday, we are taking a group of our Church’s elderly and housebound friends out for the afternoon to Quex Park. There they will have a chance to meet old friends and look at the lovely gardens, as well as having a cream tea. Please pray for a lovely warm and dry day!

Finally, can I urge you to book your place at the Church Weekend away at Eastbourne (May 8th – 10th 2009), as soon as possible? The hotel have asked me to call them at the end of June to confirm our booking, and I need to have a clear indication by then of numbers going. The cost of the weekend will be £130 per adult, full board, all inclusive. We need a £20 deposit to book your place, and you can then pay by monthly installments, if you wish. £10 per month is within most people’s reach. Please make up your mind to come and make it a fantastic weekend together of fun and fellowship!  Every blessing, Stephen.

“I just invented a new kind of parachute. It opens on impact.”

Friday 20th June

This week I was able to go to the Area Ministers’ Conference, at Ashburnham near Battle in Sussex. This was for Baptist Ministers in our South-Eastern Association, covering Kent, Sussex and parts of Surrey – and there were about 50 of us present. Apart from our two regional Ministers (Norman Tharby and Stuart Davison), I only knew one other person at the conference – an old friend who is now the minister at Littlehampton Baptist Church. This gave me a chance to meet and get to know new friends, and I enjoyed the experience. Ashburnham is an amazing place – a very old stately home, which was inherited by a young theological student in the 60’s. He decided that the only way to cope with this enormous place was to set up a trust, and to use it as a conference and retreat centre, with a focus on prayer. It really is both a beautiful and prayer-filled place.  For me, going to such a conference is a rare space in which to allow God to speak to me. I often find that God speaks at such times, wheras I am normally much too busy and pre-occupied to listen. So I go ready to think “God thoughts”, and to try to discern what He is saying. I was not disappointed either, and I came away with at least three ideas which I believe may have been planted by God. I will explore these further in the coming days. Watch this space!

On Wednesday evening, at our Open Forum Church Meeting, we talked about the time of our morning service. It was interesting to discover that about half of those present like the 11 o’clock start, and want things to stay as they are; while about half would prefer an earlier start. Various issues emerged, such as times of public transport, the problems of those bringing children, and the views of those who rarely come. It was suggested that we do a survey one Sunday, to see what most church-goers think, and we may do this soon. It struck me that our Baptist system of consulting everyone about everything has its drawbacks – a dictator would just make the decision, and that would be the end of the debate! We live with differences of opinion, and the need to listen to every view – which can be frustrating! {I also believe it is the best way to discern God’s will!}

Dont forget to bring your car to be washed by the young people on Saturday from 2pm. On Sunday we continue to think about “Listening to God” at the 11am service; and in the evening we go on with the Sermon on the Mount (I have chosen the provocative title “Sex and the City….of God” this week!)  We hope to see you with us at both services.

Have a great weekend, Stephen

” Computers aren’t intelligent. They just think they are.”

Monday 16th June

It was a quiet day at Church yesterday. Maybe it was the lovely weather – maybe it was the Air Show – maybe it was the fact that it was Father’s Day – but our numbers were quite low, and it was good to see a few visitors in Church to boost our attendance at the Morning Service. We looked at “Listening to God”, and saw that if we really want to hear God speak, we must be open to the possibility in the first place, we must make time to listen, we must avoid distractions, and we must be obedient. This theme will continue next week.

I will be away at the Area Minister’s Conference this week, but I will be back in time for the Church Meeting on Wednesday evening. This will include our AGM business, but there will also be a discussion about the time of our Morning Services – is 11am still the best time, or should we consider changing to an earlier time? Please come and share with us – your views are important to us!

On Thursday afternoon, the Afternoon Fellowship is having a speaker from the Kent Air Ambulance Service. The meeting starts with tea at 2pm, and everyone is very welcome to join us for what should be a very good meeting.

On Saturday, there will be a Car Wash at MBC! The young people are washing cars to raise money for a youth weekend in the autumn – bring your car along from 2pm, and enjoy a coffee and a cake while you wait!

Have a good week! I will post again on Friday – visit again then to see how I got on at Ashburnham.

God bless,  Stephen.

“My dad was so happy when I was born that he rushed out to tell all his friends. We are expecting him back any day now.”

Friday 13th June

As some of you know, I’m a big Neighbours fan. Cant get through the day without my fix of Harold and Lou, Karl and Susan, Toady and Steph etc etc. {If you dont know what I’m talking about, dont worry!}  One recent storyline involved saintly Susan Kennedy learning to cope with recently diagnosed MS, as well as troublesome teenaged kids (her second brood!), and a well meaning but annoying husband. Amongst all this going on, she still finds time to comfort her grown up daughter (whose relationship has just broken up), and to help and support various friends and neighbours in Ramsey Street. What a woman!  Of course, its nonsense – but there is a grain of truth in the appeal to us all to be better neighbours. Do you know your neighbours? Would you do whatever you needed to do to help them, in times of trouble? Do you rejoice when they rejoice, and weep when they weep?

On the subject of neighbours – great news from Beltinge Baptist Church this week, as they have called Mark F-R to be their next pastor. I was priveleged to chair a great Church Meeting there on Wednesday – full of joy, and with a real sense of God at work. Congratulations to Mark and Susan – may God richly bless your ministry. Another neighbour is Birchington Baptist Church, where Bob Goode is being inducted on Saturday. Pray for our friends at BBC, and for Bob and Shirley as they settle into a new home and a new challenge.

On Wednesday, I wrote about having breakfast in the garden, and I also mentioned the fact that it was 9 o’clock. Nicky interpreted this to mean that I was having breakfast in the garden at 9 o’clock! No no no! I had breakfast in the garden (at about 8 o’clock), then sat down to write my piece for the Blog at about 9 o’clock. No chance of that today though – its cloudy and cool, with rain on the way.

This Sunday is Father’s Day (15th June) – and I hope we will have a great day at Church. At 11am we are looking at “Listening to God”, and at 6.30pm we continue our studies in the Sermon on the Mount. Come and join us if you can!  My next post will be on Monday.    Stephen.

“I’m just about to go on a really strict diet. You are not allowed to eat between snacks.”

Wednesday 11th June

There are not too many days when you can have breakfast in the garden, but today is one of them. Its sunny right now (9am) – but it probably wont last, with cloud and rain on the forecast. I wanted to say a little more about the Church Houseparty, which has been planned for 8th-10th May next year (2009). We are going to a very nice hotel in Eastbourne for that weekend, and booking forms will be available from this coming Sunday. The cost of the weekend will be £130 for adults – £65 for children aged 5-16 (under 4’s go free). That price is for full board in an en-suite room, and includes all our conference facilities too. The hotel has an indoor pool, and is right on the seafront – the food is great.  You can book your place with a £20 deposit from this Sunday onwards. If you want to, you can pay in monthly installments of £10 per month – Averell will sort that out for you. Its a really easy way to cover the costs. We are planning a really fun weekend, with time for worship, time for relaxation, time for reflection and time for laughter. Please do consider coming, and lets make it a really memorable time together.

Nicky and I went to a very interesting meeting on Monday evening – which included an illustrated talk on the changes in Margate in recent years. Much has been lost – but I came away feeling that there is still much to be gained. Margate has had a difficult time in the past 20 or 30 years, but it still has great features, and great potential. Its up to all of us local residents to make sure that our town now starts to make the most of its opportunities.

Best wishes everyone – I will post again on Friday.  Stephen.

“What do you put on your ruhubarb?    Manure?   Oh, I put custard on mine!”

Bob Geldorf once sang a song called “I dont like Mondays”. Sorry Bob – I couldnt disagree with you more. Mondays are great – especially for Ministers, who often have Mondays as their day off. Today is bright and sunny, and summer seems to have returned at last, so here’s to Mondays! [Incidentally, Bob was also quoted as saying that Margate is a dump - so I will have to disagree again...]

Yesterday’s services went well (8th June).  It was very good to see such a good number at the Parade service, which was on the theme of “making choices”. We talked about how we all have to make choices in life, and sometimes we choose badly. If we ask him, God will help us to make good choices – but when we do make a bad choice, he is aways ready to forgive us, & help us to start again (as Jesus did with Peter).  In the evening, we looked at a very difficult passage from the Sermon on the Mount – Jesus talking about “the Law”. I dont think I did this section justice, really, but hopefully I helped to open up some of the background to what Jesus was saying. The rest of Matthew 5 expands on this in more detail, as we shall see in future weeks.

A busy week ahead. Thanet Bible week starts at St James’ Church on Tuesday – meetings every day-time and evening. On Wednesday, I will be attending an East Kent Network lunch, which is being held at Newington Free Church – Baptist ministers eating and talking at the same time! On Wednesday evening, there is an important Special Church Meeting at Beltinge, where I am Moderator.  On Thusday, I am conducting a funeral, and visiting a couple who are planning their wedding at MBC in July. On Friday, I shall be serving at Lunch Club, and helping out at Brigade in the evening; and on Saturday I will be going to the Induction service at Birchington Baptist Church, and bringing a greeting to the new Minister, Bob Goode, on behalf of local Baptists. Should keep me busy…

Next Sunday Morning (15th June), we will be starting a new series on the subject “Listening to God “. We are going to be asking why we need to listen to God, and how best to hear God’s voice in this busy noisy world. Hope you can join us for that. In the evening, we will be studying Matthew 5. v 21-26 – “Dealing with conflict”.

I am planning to post here on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – so come back and visit often to catch up with my latest news and updates. Have a good week. Stephen.

“The salesman told me that buying a new computer would halve my workload. So I bought two of them!”

Its Saturday lunchtime, and I am home alone! 

Nicky arrived safely in Glasgow yesterday – she called me while I was out visiting to say that she had not been met off her flight, but by the time I had got home all was well. She is doing preparation for her long visit to Tanzania in July, when she will be doing (amongst other things) “airstrip ministry” – ie clearing stones. Not sure if she is clearing stones in Glasgow. People have been very generous and supportive, and she has received all that she needed in donations towards the cost of the trip – many thanks to all!

Sunday’s Parade Service is now prepared, and the sermon for the evening is safely written. Hopefully we will have a good day tomorrow, and the weather will improve.

I had several texts from members of our Brigade Band last evening, to say that they were on the way to Stoke. Hopefully they slept well on the Methodist Church hall floor! I’m sure we will hear and see how they get on today – lets pray that they all have fun, and enjoy the experience.

There will be some news soon about our Church Weekend away in Eastbourne next year. It will be on the second weekend in May 2009 (8th – 10th May) – full details and booking forms will be out soon. Book the dates in your diary, and plan to be there, all you MBC people. Be there or be square!

All for now. Check back here often. Stephen

“People who dont go to Church any more are Seventh day Absentists”.