Pastor @ mbc’s Weblog

Friday 29th August

Two years ago this week, Nicky and I were unpacking, and trying to make sense of the fact that we were now in Margate. We actually moved in on 31st August 06 , and the weather was great. John and Pat very kindly brought us round an evening meal, and we were glad to have finally transported all our stuff south of the Thames estuary. Moving is hard work – exhausting in fact!  We still have plenty of boxes that we have not yet unpacked, and they are likely to stay that way!  Having said that, two years have gone very quickly, and Margate feels more and more like “home”. Thank you all for helping us to become one of you. 

On September 14th, we will mark “Pastor’s Anniversary” – two years since my Induction as Minister at MBC. In the evening, there will be a Cafe Church Service at 6.30pm – please come and help to make it a special celebration.

This Sunday Morning (31st August), Nicky will be telling us about her trip to Tanzania – we might even sing in Swaheli again! In the evening at 6.30pm, there will be an informal service in the Church hall, entitled “Prayer and Share”. There will be a cup of tea, some songs, a chance to share what God has been doing in your life, and time to pray together – please come and enjoy this time for family fellowship and encouragement.

Have a great weekend – September is looming, and the busy season is just around the corner. Best wishes, Stephen.

“Doctor, I’m having trouble getting to sleep – what shall I do?  Why dont you try sleeping on the edge of the bed – you’ll soon drop off!”

Monday 25th August

Its Bank Holiday Monday already – the last Bank Holiday before Christmas! Doesnt time fly!

The day is not looking too bad, although you never know what its going to be like in two hours time.  I would like to mention one or two things that are coming up in September and beyond, so that you all put them in your diaries.

On Wednesday 3rd September, there will be a Day of Prayer at MBC – the Church will be open between 10 and 12, 3 and 5, and between 8 and 9 for you to come and spend time in prayer. Dont miss the opportunity.  Sunday 14th September will be Pastor’s Anniversary Sunday, and there will be a Cafe Church Service at 6.30pm – these are always great fun and well worth coming to. There will be a Youth Camp at Detling on the weekend of 19th – 21st September: please pray for our young people and the leaders who will be going. On Saturday 27th September, there will be a Barn Dance to celebrate Harvest – tickets will be available soon.  Then Sunday 28th will be Back to Church Sunday – a chance to welcome old friends back to our Church, and to re-establish lost contacts.   Mark’s Induction at Beltinge will be on Saturday 4th October at 2.30pm. They need to know how many will be attending from MBC, so please sign the list in the Church as soon as possible.  Finally, we now have 26 people booked to come to Eastbourne for our Church Weekend away in May next year, which is great. This is now your final chance to book a place, as we have to give the hotel our details at the beginning of September. Booking will close next Sunday (31st August) – so please book your place to come with us NOW!

September looks like being a very full and busy month – which is why our Day of Prayer is so important. Enjoy the last few days of the summer holidays, and lets get ready to pray…and work…for God’s glory. Every Blessing,  Stephen.

“Do you believe in free speech?    Yes?    Good, because I would like to borrow your phone.”

Friday 22nd August

This weekend, we have a Girls Brigade camp arriving to use our Church premises for the coming week. Welcome to Margate, and we hope you have good weather and a great time. Because of the camp, there will be no Coffee Mornings on Wednesday and Friday next week.

There will be a day of Prayer at MBC on Wednesday 3rd September. The Church will be open for prayer between 10am and 12 noon; between 3pm and 5pm; and between 8pm and 9pm. We need to pray before our activities and organizations restart for the autumn, that everything we do may be for the glory of God. Sunday 28th September will be “Back to Church” Sunday – and we need to pray about this too, that many people will find their way back to Church and to God.

Nicky is speaking at Hainault Baptist Church this Sunday – Hainault was my first pastorate. Nicky was in Clacton today, and she told me the Clacton Air Show was on. At about 4pm, I saw a loud jet overhead, flying north. I called Nicky to tell her to look out for it, just as it arrived at the Air Show – I could hear it over the phone. About 15 minutes later, it left Clacton, and I saw it pass overhead in Cliftonville a few minutes later.

On Sunday morning, we have the fourth of our Summer Special Family Services on “The Friends of God” – this week we look at Matthew the Money Man. In the evening we will continue to study the Sermon on the Mount. Do join us if you can; and have a great Bank Holiday Weekend.  Stephen.

“I flew on one of those budget airlines. Before we took off, the stewardess told us to fasten our sellotape.”

Monday 18th August

Its been a funny summer, weather-wise. We have had a couple of hot spells, and we have had some wet and windy spells too. Currently, as I write, it is raining outside – but it could easily change in an hour or two, and either turn into a lovely day, or a monsoon. Who knows? Its difficult to plan barbeques or outdoor activities, but I guess thats the beauty of an English summer – its like a box of Quality Street….. you never know what you’re going to get!

Nicky is home, safe and sound, after a long and tiring journey, and three nights with hardly any sleep. I suspect she will spend most of this week recovering (after all, she’s not so young any more…)

Rachel was leading up the childrens’ work at Leading Edge Christian Festival last week. She tells me they had a great week, with 55 kids, and some great times of blessing. She must be exhausted, because the weather was not good, and she was under canvas. Well done Rachel – enjoy the rest of your holiday!

I had a good time at St Peters Baptist Church yesterday – the folk there send their greetings to our fellowship. They have called a new Pastor, who will probably be moving to the area in the new year, and they are looking forward to the future with optimism and faith.

The month of August is a quiet period for our Church – we will soon be into September and all the busyness of the autumn – but in the meantime, lets make the most of the summer, and try to avoid the summer time blues!    Best wishes,   Stephen.

“For years, I thought I was a failure. Then I went to a self-help group, and I learned to be positive. It worked! Now I am positive  I’m a failure!”

Friday, 15th August

As I understand it, Margate Baptist Church has a twin.  We were born in the 1700’s, when the Church met in the Shallows area of town. Then, in about 1800, the Church split into two – one part came into Margate, and eventually built its home in New Street (Margate Baptist Church); the other part settled in St Peters, and is now St Peters Baptist Church. Both churches, then, can trace their origins back to the same roots – which makes us twins!

Earlier this year, I was asked if I might be able to go and preach at St Peters Baptist one Sunday, and the only free date I had in my diary was Sunday 17th August. I will therefore be visiting our twin Church this weekend, and will take our greetings with me. Our services at Margate will be led by our old friend Ewart Graham, and I hope there will be a goodly number at both morning and evening worship.

I was pleased to be able to get along to a couple of events at the Broadstairs Folk Week, despite the bad weather. There really is nothing like live music – it is so much better than any recording; and I am always impressed by the broad choice of musical styles on display at Broadstairs. Visitors seem to come from all over the country, which makes it a special festival; and judging by the crowded streets this week, it has also been good for local traders.

On Tuesday at 4pm, we will meet at the Church to give thanks for our dear friend Jack Bye – you are very welcome to come and join us, and stay for refreshments afterwards. A camp will be staying in our Church halls from 23rd August for a week, so there will be no coffee mornings on 27th or 29th. Lets hope they have good weather for their stay.

Finally, may I give advance notice of the next Cafe Church Service, which will be on Sunday 14th September at 6.30pm. These have so far been very well supported, and thoroughly enjoyable, so please note the date in your diary and plan to be there.  That date is also “Pastor’s Anniversary” – two years since Nicky and I arrived in Margate.

Nicky is, as I write, on the coach from Glasgow to London, and will be home tomorrow. Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. Have a good weekend; I will post again on Monday.  Stephen

“I went out with twins last night. Did you have a good time?  Yes and no.”

Monday 11th August

Its Folk Week at Broadstairs, and there are events and concerts every day. Last year, I really enjoyed Folk Week, and I am hoping that this year will be equally good, with nice sunny weather. I went over to the Torchlit procession on Saturday evening, which was great, and I am planning to go to one or two evening concerts. We are so lucky to have such a good event on our doorstep.

Speaking of good events, we had a really nice Church picnic on Sunday afternoon, although I was quite disappointed by the small turnout. It was warm and sunny on Botany Beach, with just a slight off-shore breeze to keep us cool. Thirteen of us spent the afternoon together, and it was great fun. I have to admit that eight of the thirteen were Williams’s and four were Jacques’s – which, if you are good at maths will tell you that I was the only other one there. Now I know that quite a few are way on holiday, but that is still a very poor show. It seems that many of us are too fond of our Sunday afternoon nap to venture out for fun and fellowship – what a shame.

The funniest moment of the day came when Adam announced “Stephen, I’ve buried your ball in the sand, and I cant remember where!”  A major hunt followed, and we had all but given up on ever seeing my tennis ball again, when it was finally found by Morgan.  We had paddles, chips, games, sandcastles, and all the usual fun in the sun – a really nice afternoon. Many thanks to those who did come (Williams’s and Jacques’s) – and yes, we WILL do it again.

A quiet week coming up – not much on at Church in August. On Sunday, I will be preaching at St Peters Baptist Church (they invited me some time ago); and our services will be led by Ewart Graham at 11 and 6.30. Please dont try calling me on Friday, as it will be “house tidying day” – Nicky comes home on Saturday!

Best wishes,  Stephen.

“Did you steal that petticoat?”  “Yes, but it was my first slip.”

Friday 8th August 08

Yesterday looked like being a washout. At 10am, it was pouring down, and I really thought raindrops would be falling on my head at John & Pat’s Coffee Day. Amazingly, by noon, the sun was shining, and it turned out to be a lovely day. Well done to John and Pat for all their organizing, and it was a very successful and enjoyable day.

On Sunday morning at 11am, we will be looking at Joshua, as we have the third of our Summer Special Family Services. In the afternoon, weather permitting, we will have a Church picnic at Botany Bay (2.30pm). In the evening at 6.30pm, we will be looking at the next part of the Sermon on the Mount. You are very welcome to join us for any of these gatherings.

Nicky is having a good time in Tanzania – she comes home next week, and I will soon be looking for the vacuum cleaner. See her blog for the latest information.

The Beijing Olympics begin tonight, and I am sure we all wish our athletes and other competitors well. St Paul had a lot to say about “striving to win the prize”, and it is a good metaphor for how we must live as Christians. We need to keep on working, keep on going, and never give up as we run the race of faith.

Every blessing,  Stephen.

“I have lost my glasses, and I cant look for them until I have found them!”

Sunday 3rd August

Last week was very difficult for a lot of people. I spent much of the week in and out of the local hospital supporting one of our families as their loved one came towards the end of his life. He was greatly loved – not just by his family, but by the whole Church – including me – and it was a painful and draining few days. Jack passed away on Saturday morning, and now we can rejoice because we know he is not suffering any more, but is in glory. We will miss him greatly, and his family will miss him most of all – but we will get through these sad days, because we trust in Jesus’ words – “In my Father’s house are many rooms.. and I am going to prepare a place for you, that where I am, you may be also”. Sad for us – but wonderful for Jack. For him this was not an end, but a new beginning.

This week, we will meet on Wednesday evening for our monthly prayer meeting (8pm in the Coffee Lounge). Can anyone think of a better name for this than “prayer meeting”? It sounds so boring – wheras actually, it is potentially the most exciting time of the whole month. We need a new name that expresses this – any ideas?

Also this week – John & Pat’s Coffee day, on Thursday from 1-8pm. This is always great – and is not to be missed. See you there at some point during the day, I hope.

Finally, the Church picnic was postponed today, because of poor weather. If its nice next Sunday, we will go then – Botany Bay, 2.30m onwards, bring games and food for tea. Have a good week,   Stephen

“How many counsellors does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but the light bulb has got to really want to change.”

Friday, 1st August

When our daughter Sarah was visiting us a few weeks ago, she took some photos of her trip, and I later heard that she had put them on Facebook. I have always shied away from Facebook – which, as you may know, is an on-line forum for meeting up with your friends, and keeping in touch. It didnt appeal to me at all. But I wanted to see Sarah’s photos, so I went to Facebook and looked around. Maybe it was because Iwas bored, or maybe it was because Nicky was away – but I ended up signing up for Facebook, and I now find myself checking quite often to see if any of my “friends” have left me a message. Interesting how we can so quickly become engrossed in a new experience…. i expct I will soon lose interest, and move on to something new!

Facebook has millions of members, all over the world. Writing letters is a thing of the past; even sending e-mails is so yesterday. Now we can just log on and chat instantly with our friends, finding out what they have been up to, listening to their news and views – all without ever actually seeing them or speaking to them! Is this a good thing? Probably not – but then again, nor is television, nor is the internet, nor are mobile phones – but they exist, and they are here to stay. We will just have to get used to them! (People thought travel in cars was bad for you in the early days – they believed that the human body would not be able to survive moving at more than 10 miles per hour.)

This Sunday, we continue our Summer Family Services looking at some of the “Friends of God” – this week its David. In the evening, we will move on with the Sermon on the Mount. If it is a nice day, we will go for a picnic on Botany Beach – you are very welcome to join us from about 2.30pm onwards. Hope to see you at some point – have a great weekend.    Stephen.

” The seaside resort I stayed at on my holidays was so awful that one day the sea went out, and it never came back!”