Tottenham Baptist Church - Focus Magazine - August

Focus

Tottenham Baptist Church Magazine

August/September 2005

Dear Friends,

What is there about July? It is Saturday evening, the 23rd July. I have been putting off writing this letter because I am trying to unravel in my mind the momentous events that have happened in London in the last few weeks. The events are momentous, not because of the numbers killed, nor because of the disruption to ordinary people’s lives; they are momentous because they have been planned and executed by people born and bred in this country. The “enemy” is within!

On 7th July 2005 on the Underground and a London Bus, 56 people were killed and 700 injured.

On 22nd July 1946 Zionist detonated bombs in the King David Hotel, Jerusalem. That was the headquarters of the British troops in Palestine at the time. 91 people were killed and 45 injured.

On 20th July 1982 two IRA “Nail bombs” killed 8 British Soldiers. The final death toll was 11, with 50 people needing hospital treatment.

Now, this morning, 23rd July at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt at least 75 people have been killed and hundreds injured by more terrorist bombs.

Four very different events, three different countries, but all undertaken by people who disagreed with the government and wanted to initiate change.

The numbers of Iraqi civilians killed since the beginning of the war is hard to find, but the LOWEST estimate is 16,000. Maybe it should be ten times as many, but tens of thousands of people have been killed by those “who disagreed with the government and wanted to initiate change!”

What a mixed up world we live in!

“And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace!’” Luke 19:41.

Peace, shalom, salam.

Christian love,

Roger Collins

What a pleasure to see people in our church developing their gifts, as Mr Junior Deane, one of our deacons, was able to conduct two services for us for the first time. Surely we thank God for the fellowship He is leading here and that people’s preaching and worship gifts are being developed: children were given a chance to read the Holy Scriptures (a psalm) to the congregation, and prayers led by a member of the congregation thanks to Junior’s prompts. Another first is our children’s music group, The Chapel Pebbles, singing outside our church at the Christians Together in Tottenham Open Air Service in July. Let’s pray for good growth in their group – and thanks for their leader, Miss Janette Whitehead!

Congratulations to Miss Rachel Clarke, a long-time young friend of TBC, who has announced her wedding to Mr Pete James on Friday, 12th August in Portsmouth! The wedding will be conducted by Malcolm.

Mrs Ivy Legore says, “Thank you for the support that members and friends gave to me in my time of sorrow, when my brother and his son were killed. I am very grateful.” She adds: “I am happy to announce the birth of Rochelle’s brother, Andre, on 10th June to Andrea and Glen!” Congratulations also to a young leader working in our Girl Brigade Company, Miss Kelly Plunkett, who turns eighteen on 1st September!

We will be rejoicing for our neighbour church, Woodberry Down Baptist, following the induction of their South African pastor, Rev Dr Dumile Matshiga, on Sunday, July 17th and pray that the Holy Spirit continue richly to conduct and inspire all there. Also, anyone looking out for the address of our former choirmasters, here it is! Jaap & Louise van der Weerd have written from Holland saying, “Everything’s fine here, having a great time in our big new house” and have included a beautiful poster with Martijn and their postal address: Faculty W&N, ss NMR, Post Box 9502, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands. Our church website also gets various kinds of correspondence from time to time. In July, we received the following: “Just to let you know I visited your site from Lagos, Nigeria, Africa. A church-planter in French-speaking Africa searching for supporters worldwide. Thanks a lot.” Signed: Dr Poupo Elie. There were also e-mails that month from Derek Keiff: “Hi, this a voice from the past. 1953-1956 would be about my era, with the 3rd Tottenham Company of the Boys' Brigade. I was sitting here thinking about holidays and the good times that I spent at camp down on The Isle of Wight many years ago and thought that it must be that time of year again when the boys would be getting ready for camp. That is of course if they still go to camp. My last contact with the 3rd Tottenham Company would have been some time in the 1960s when the then Captain (Peter Skerrat) held an anniversary celebration/reunion. I would be most interested to hear how the Company is progressing. You will be able to see from my address that this is coming to you from Australia, where it is mid-winter. Hope to hear from you, Derek Keiff.” He later sent another e-mail, adding: “The captain at the time of my membership of 3rd Tottenham Co. was Jack Mansell. From memory, I think the bandmaster was Don Shepherd (although I am not quite sure).” A long time member of our church and current Deacon, Les Paskell, was able to clarify: “The Band Master was Don Canham (Not Shepherd). The memory is not too good when the years go by!”

Many can agree that the happiness we have in following Jesus comes in part from the joy of fellowship with others, including praying for each other, brothers and sisters in Christ, in our times of need such as for Mrs Evette Griffiths, who is not well and has also had an operation on her hand; Mrs Kath Hatchett, who has recently had a fall; Miss Vi Maddison and Mrs Hazel Whitehead, who have just had cataract operations; Mr Melvin Priam, recently fallen ill; and Steve Cook, who has had a hard fall also. Also, those who due to a disability or impairment find it difficult to join us regularly are closely remembered, including Mrs Ward, Mrs Johnson, and Miss Olive Perssons.

Our Pastoral Care Team is available to help and any member of the Team would be glad to know of anyone in the fellowship who needs a visit or prayer or spiritual encouragement. They are:

Thornton & Leola Reid
Estella Goudge
Grace Tyzack
Joseph 'Kobe' Appiah Danquah
Clare Lee
Margaret McGlynn
Gloria Bipta

Open Air Service – August 7th

To reach out to the community and to enjoy this beautiful, sunny weather, our morning service is to be held outside in front of our building if possible – at least in part – by our moderator, Rev Roger Collins. People with a heart for mission plan to hand out flyers outside our gates at some point this morning to direct passers to Christ or to invite them to join us for our services and activities.

Remember to park beyond our forecourt this morning to make way for chairs!

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Supporting London Week of Peace

This annual event, on September 11-18th, celebrates and promotes initiatives and values that positively impact on community safety. Developed in Haringey in 2001, the event is now celebrated across London and at Tottenham Baptist we have concurred with other

Christians Together in Tottenham churches to mark the week by praying for peace through effective community safety work and other channels at our Wednesday Midweek Meeting, on September 14th. CTT is also encouraging people to attend prayer meetings at each other’s churches on different evenings this week for the same. The Week of Peace is described as “a hugely successful initiative with identified impact on crime in the local community.” This year, the theme of the Week of Peace is “Celebrating Families and Friendships,” promoting community cohesion, diversity and community safety.

Initiatives supported in the Peace Week include Inside Out, a project with a specific objective of deviating young people from crime and is delivered as a session to young people aged between 11 - 18 years. Young people hear real life experiences of ex-offenders in the aim to knock down the glamorisation portrayed in the media.

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Church Meeting - Tuesday, September 20th

You can improve the way we worship and serve the Lord, and try to transform Tottenham with the Gospel by speaking out at this meeting, which starts at 8pm, with your suggestions and recommendations (even if you think some may have different opinions – don’t be shy!) so that we may all be aware of what some consider to be a good project or thought! Let’s be prepared here to volunteer in mission also, at least for a while, and benefit from such times, as we seek to do activities that would please God.

If you haven’t yet been received as a formal member of Tottenham Baptist Church to attend these meetings, talk it over with Jesus to see whether this is whether He expects you to be and, if so, we would like you to ask any usher or anyone on the Pastoral Care Team for membership…

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Girls' Brigade & Boys' Brigade - New Season

These weekly events start up again in the fall season on Thursdays from 8th September at 6:30 pm for the girls, and on Fridays from 9th September at 7pm for the boys.

Girls aged 4½ to 21 and boys aged 6 to 17 can just show up on their respective evenings, and are encouraged to come weekly for loads of fun, games, crafts, challenges and new friends! A small charge is

made but no prior experience is necessary, and children of all faiths are welcome… After that age, they are encouraged to help and become officers!

Although the Boys Brigade works similarly to the Girls Brigade, Captain Belinda Plunkett says about the GB: “We work to a 4-squared programme (service, physical, educational and spiritual) and try to complete a badge within a year. You also have to have 75% attendance at GB and Sunday School or church to earn your attendance badges. We also have several events during the year: sports day, swimming gala, training days for girls and officers, and we also arrange camp weeks/weekend. We try to build friendship which hopefully will last a lifetime.”

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Giving Thanks for Harvest

Yet another year has passed and once again, on September 25th, we are thinking about our contributions. To those new to our fellowship, our Harvest Display is somewhat different to what some people expect.

Ever since the end of World War Two, we have supported the Mill

Grove Children’s Home and Mission at Woodford and at our Harvest Services we do our best to help restock their larders. So, as well as food tins, fruit and vegetables, we have soap powders, toilet rolls, toiletries, in fact anything that we would use in our own homes.

Financial help is also needed i.e. for school uniforms, books, etc. so there will be a retiring collection at the close of the Service.

Our young people will be on Parade.

V Maddison

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Building Bonds with Harvest Meal

We can share in our blessings by sitting down and sharing food brought specially for our Harvest lunch being held immediately following the above Harvest Festival Service on Sunday, September 25th in our main hall. Everyone welcome!

Just bring a couple of servings of a dish or dessert of your choice and we can break bread together in fellowship with the Master for His goodness this year.

Sunday Preachers to be announced

Christians Together in Tottenham Events

Choir practices : Sean Davis, Choir Leader for the CTT choir and CTT Chair, writes: “After a short discussion at our first meeting with choirs from various churches for the Christians Together in Tottenham choir, the rehearsals will be as from Monday 18th July 2005 and every Monday at the Community Church of God, St Ann's Road, Tottenham, London N15 at 7:30 pm. This will

be the venue for all rehearsals for the choir. If you know of anyone, groups, or choir in your congregation, who would like to be part of this ministry, they are welcome to join us every Monday.”

Peace Week : 11th-18th September. See our ‘Coming Events’ section and www.peacealliance.org.uk.

CTT Gospel Concert : Come listen to talented singers and dancers at this annual concert to be held on Saturday 1st October at the Community Church of God, St Ann’s Road, Tottenham N15, including the début of the newly formed CTT Mass Choir.

Broadwater Farm Family Gospel Concert : Mark your calendar for this event, supported by CTT and organised by our very own Mrs May Richards. It’s a fund raising event for Haringey Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia with free entrance on Saturday 22nd October 2005 from 6pm.

This magazine is your magazine! Help shape TBC whichever way the Lord leads you. Pass on any articles, prayers, poems, or news about new arrivals, graduations, anniversaries, and submit pictures also if you wish!

Jose Jurado Aranda E-mail: tbceditor@hotmail.com
Printer: Les Paskell
Webmaster: Jim McGlynn

You can also read Focus online at: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/voter/tbc.htm

"All the darkness in the world can´t put out
one small candle."

Anon
Submitted by Mrs Grace Tyzack

Our Building Work

On May 27th, our builders officially completed their work and handed back the keys to the building. They started on February 21st, so it took just over three months to complete.

Most people that see the transformation for the first time are surprised at what has been achieved. It is nice to hear some complimentary remarks and there are those who liked it as it was and can only find some things that are not exactly perfect.

However, on the whole, the majority are pleased with the ‘new’ look.

The Deacons felt that before we have any sort of official dedication, the school hall should be decorated and the heating pipes ‘boxed in’. So this dedication has been postponed until next year so that everything is completed and with our trust in the Lord the debt will be well on the way to being cleared.

Les Paskell

Prayers Following London Bombings

In a circular to Baptist correspondents, David R Coffey, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, writes: “The events that that took place in London fill us with horror, and our prayers go out to the bereaved and the injured, together with all those who are seeking to offer help and comfort, including the emergency services, security forces and chaplains.

“In a world of violence, where there is too little respect for life, we want to stand alongside all those who are the victims of such brutality, sharing their pain and anger, and embracing them with compassion.

“This is a time when we are called to answer the evil of violence with an unswerving commitment to the ways that make for peace and justice. We join our Christian hope with all who seek the common good at this critical time.”

Advance Notice

Our next Magazine will be published on Harvest Festival Sunday – just two weeks before our Church Anniversary and on that day we

take up our Thank Offering. This year the Thank Offering will go
towards clearing the money we have borrowed from the London Baptist Property Board.

This is just to give an advance notice for your diary and chequebook!

Les Paskell

SHOULDN'T I HAVE THOUGHT TWICE? - PART II

“They're Back! NEW Church Bulletin Bloopers:”

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several
new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment
and gracious hostility ....

The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

Submitted by Anne Tarrier - from her daughter Jane Bisset in Toronto, Canada

Church Flowers

A reminder to the ladies who kindly buy and arrange the flowers each week. All the vases are now in the boiler room where we have a new sink and the flowers are to be arranged in there, not in the new kitchen.

When the Sunday Service is finished will you please take them from the pulpit and lounge and give them to someone who is at our service for the first time or who is unwell or to someone who is a bit low and could do with cheering up.

Please don’t leave them in the Church or boiler room to die.

A Concerned Contributor

Representing Girl Brigades at Buckingham Palace

On Tuesday, 19th July 2005, I was very honoured to be one of four GB officers asked to attend the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace to represent Girls' Brigades.

Two of us travelled together and outside the gates we met the other two officers who had come up from Devon that morning. The Gates were opened at 3pm and we were quickly led through these (having been checked by police first). You walked through part of the Ground Floor of the Palace and into a very large

garden. We decided to have a wander around the grounds, which are beautiful. Lots of people stopped and spoke to us as they recognised the uniform, asking where we came from. At 3.45, the National Anthem was played, which signalled that the Queen had arrived, and we went to a line to see her walk down. Other lines were formed to greet Prince Philip, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Andrew. Because we were in uniform we were pushed to the front, which was great!

After seeing the Queen go past, we made our way to the tea tent where a finger buffet was served. As we sat there, we also spotted Lady Thatcher with her daughter Carol. Two bands of guards were playing and it was such a peaceful time – time passed very quickly this afternoon!

At 5.50pm, the Queen and members of the Royal Family departed, so we made our way over to this, before the God Save the Queen was finally played at 6pm, which was time for us to depart.

I am very grateful to GB for allowing me to do this, and it’s something I shall remember for a very long time.

Yes, the Queen is very tiny and fair skinned, Prince Andrew is quite tall, and we saw the corgis being taken out for their walk!

Belinda Plunkett

“The Massacre in Bruce Castle Park”

On Saturday, 16th July, we had our annual rounders match-up in the park for all the children in the Brigades and Sunday School. The boys beat the girls 35 to 10½. One of the girls ran inside the post instead of on the outside, so we gave them ½ goal because we felt sorry for her.

It was a very pleasant afternoon to see boys and girls playing together. It was a wonderful witness to our Lord and to others who saw us. I thought the girls deserve special praise with carrying on with the game, as they did not complain! Overall, I believe everyone did enjoy the afternoon, though I was being wound up by two of our female staff – we shall mention no name – for over-enjoying myself.

We then had light refreshments back at the church. Well done to everyone!

God bless,

Stephen Cook, BB

The Lord is my programmer, I shall not crash.

He installed His software on the hard disk of my heart. All of His commands are user friendly.

His directory guides me to the right choices for His name's sake. Even though I scroll through the problems of life, I will fear no bugs, for He is my back-up.

His password protects me. He prepares a menu before me in the presence of my enemies.

His help is only a keystroke away.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and my file will be merged with His and saved forever.

Amen

From www.makeitclearnow.org

Painting on a Picture

I can feel a magic touch
Or was it simply just a brush.
Still alienated in a foreign land,
Lost in between where time had just begun.
Who’s goanna wake these people from their trance?
Who’s goanna make the final stance?

We need a revival, still fighting for survival. People awake, stand firm on your feet. Don’t ever submit to defeat. Who are you? And why are you here? Sometimes you feel you want to disappear. So many views, I still feel the blues. I an’ I* awoke to help revoke all who is still in a trance. But at a glance I realise, some have gone so deep, til they are even hypnotised in their sleep.

If only they knew how to light that spark that’s deep within their burning heart... We need a revival as we are fighting for survival. God’s messengers are here, but some people’s minds are elsewhere... Like strangers in a barren land, I pray for that day when we could hold God’s hands. Respect to all who have awoken, by listening to positive word sounds that have been spoken. Some have made it, but don’t even know how to appreciate it. Sending out the wrong signals is not the right way to do it.

God’s words are our weapons, to get rid of all this division. He will guide us, as he continues to unite us.

Though fighting for justice often seems so bleak, because people are not given the chance to even speak, Love, peace and unity is all the message I bring. So don’t be discouraged, but try and live and learn to encourage. All of Jah children are full of ambition. So who are goanna awake these people from their misconception?

It is a big decision, while we continue on our mission. But I am here to employ... That

what I am saying is not fiction but positive word sounds that’s full of good vibration. When you hear it, try and share it, as we continuously direct your attention to serious word sounds that is yet to mention. I hope you have heard the word without sounding absurd. I can feel a magic touch, or was it simply just a brush...

By Jacinth Francis
© Jacinth Francis 2004

*’I an I’ in Jamaican Patois = ‘We’ - Ed.

Bible Society News

New Bible Society Centre for the United Arab Emirates

The new Bible Resource Centre which opened in Al Ain, in the United Arab Emirates,

represents a major development in the work of the Bible Society in the Gulf. The Centre provides Bibles, Christian resources and a forum for discussion to help the local community explore the Bible’s perspectives. For years, the Society has struggled with only a tiny book-cupboard to respond to all the local Scripture needs. Now, it has a facility that will offer Christians and the wider community a variety of ways of engaging with the Bible and its message.

The Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in the Gulf, Mr Hrayr Jebejian (right), officially opened the Centre. He told assembled guests and people from the local community, “The Bible Society staff are just catalysts. This Resource Centre belongs to you. It is up to you how you will use it.” The Centre is located within a church in Al Ain, which is used by 18 different congregations for worship services every week.

The rapid economic expansion of the Gulf region over recent years has seen a massive influx

of migrant workers. Arriving from countries like China, the Philippines, India and Sri Lanka, the workers have mainly found employment on construction sites and in the households of wealthy families. As many are unable to read or write, the Bible Society must be flexible and innovative to meet their needs and help them encounter the Bible’s message. An example of this

approach occurred earlier this year when the local Bible Society presented a Just for Kids tour visiting Al Ain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi: 2,000 children attended and watched the Bible come to life through drama, song and dance.

Bible Society in Egypt Reports Big Increase In Bible Demand

A 26% increase in Bible and Christian literature sales has prompted the Bible Society of Egypt to hail this year as “one of its best years ever” at the Cairo International Bookfair. The Bible Society is delighted by the big increase in demand for Bibles and other Christian resources such as audio cassettes, videos and CDs. Already this year, 40,000 Bibles and 215,600 audio

cassettes have been sold through the Bible Society’s bookshops and at the Bookfair. Many of the customers return regularly to purchase the latest resources and to speak to the staff about the Christian faith. Church leaders from all Christian denominations also celebrated the dedication of the Bible Society of Egypt's new outlet last March (left), in the heart of

downtown Al Minya.

Ramez Atallah, General Secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt says, “One man came to the Bookfair stand asking, ‘Who is Jesus?’. Another asked, ‘I want to know God, where do I start?’” A medical student actually came back to the stand to ‘complain’ that the Bible he had bought a few days before was taking up all his time and he was unable to study! The Bible Society staff put him in touch with a local church and he and his fiancée have become Christian.

Mr Atallah stresses that the results are “just a drop in a bucket”. He says, “we need your continued prayers and support to think of more and more creative ways to penetrate society, making the Word of God available and accessible to all.”

For example, the Bible Society of Egypt has set up a brand new quick-dial telephone service. The special number will connect callers anywhere in Egypt directly to their nearest Bible Society bookshop. In Egypt, dialling 19000 anywhere in the country connects the caller to the nearest Pizza Hut. Thanks to some generous donors, the Bible Society has echoed this quick-dial service. The Society has set up its very own special phone number, 19250, which connects callers in Egypt directly to their nearest Bible Society bookshop. The easy-to-remember phone number is now being publicised across the country to make Christian resources even more accessible.

Hope for displaced Zimbabweans

The Bible Society of Zimbabwe is working to distribute scriptures to Zimbabweans displaced by Operation Restore Order. The UN estimates that 275,000 Zimbabweans have been made homeless by the government’s policy to demolish illegal buildings. Many of these people are facing despair having lost their homes and belongings. The presence of Scripture offers hope and comfort alongside the relief aid programmes. Bible Society is working with the international missionary radio station, Feba, on this vital distribution programme.

At the first area to be covered, the Caledonia Farm Transit Camp, many of the people have been forced to flee their homes and are living in small tents. Scripture distribution was planned to continue in more areas, with security clearance.

Zimbabwe continues to be at risk of economic collapse and suffers from one of the world’s highest rates of HIV/Aids infection. Concern has grown over alleged human rights violations. Here, the British Home Office decision to send 116 asylum seekers back to Zimbabwe has provoked widespread outrage from MPs and the media.

During the recent elections in March, the Bible Society of Zimbabwe distributed hundreds of

thousands of copies of Scriptures and leaflets entitled Choosing Leaders God’s Way. At the Bible Society of Zimbabwe (right) a woman and a security guard read this selection. The leaflet was also given to President Robert Mugabe, the Vice Presidents and the 120 Members of parliament. The Bible Society General Secretary, Edward Mutema, said, “We are pleased that God’s Word was placed in the hands of those leaders who

can make a difference. Our prayer is that they will lead in accordance with the Bible.” The Bible Society of Zimbabwe also works closely with chaplains from the army, police and prisons, as well as running workshops for HIV and Aids sufferers. A recent event for army chaplains was so successful that a programme is now being implemented to distribute Scriptures to soldiers in 2006. The Scriptures will address the particular spiritual needs of the soldiers. Mr Mutema said, “We estimate that there are at least 40,000 serving soldiers. What a difference it would make if we were to reach all of them and their families.”

"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith,
so that you will have a full understanding of
every good thing we have in Christ."

Philemon v4

For really young ones - Jesus shows us right way

MountWhat are the kinds of things that would make you happy? Going to the movies with mum and dad? Getting a nice present? Seeing a good friend?

These are all good things, but there are eight things that Jesus taught on a hill that can make us REALLY happy! He taught these after he had been healing lots of people in the Land of Galilee, in Israel. He healed them of “every disease and sickness” of seizures, demons, severe pain, and the paralyzed, it says in the Bible in Matthew 4:23-24. Immediately after doing these healings, He taught the things that can make us really happy, during what’s called “the Sermon on the Mount” (you can read it yourself in Matthew Chapter 5)!

Many people heard about Jesus and wanted to listen to all that He had to say. They followed Him to a hillside where they sat down to hear Him talk.

Some people call these things which make people really happy the “Beatitudes,” which is an old word that means “happy” or “blessed.” Another way to remember it is that the beatitudes are the attitudes that we should be (“be-attitudes”).

Here are the 8 things Jesus said:

You are REALLY happy when you:

1. Want to learn more and more about God.

2. When you are sad, don’t take revenge. Let God help you show others that you really care about them.

3. Don’t show off or attract attention to yourself.

4. Do right, instead of wrong.

5. Show mercy and forgive others.

6. Stay pure in all your thoughts and actions.

7. Make peace with others.

8. Stand up for what you believe, even when people may laugh at you.

He helped the people see that loving God means doing what He wants and not protecting ourselves or getting revenge. The Bible says that he will provide for us anyway: “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Look at Jesus. They arrested Him and beat Him up even though He did nothing wrong. They even killed Jesus. BUT that was not the end... Jesus rose from the grave and was alive again! Why would Jesus do this? Jesus died and rose again so that we can go to Heaven one day if we believe and trust Jesus in our hearts. He did this for you and for me! Let’s ask God the Father to give us the attitudes that Jesus taught. We can have that happen when we let Jesus come into our hearts!

Pair up groups of words
-one from each column-
to make up expressions that will REALLY make us happy. When you’ve finished, you will have one pair left over, which isn’t in the list of attitudes above. Rearrange the letters of the leftover group of words to find an expression that fits below! (some of the letters have been entered for you)

Do	mind and actions
Learn	to what you believe
Be pure in	about God
Don't	others
Forgive	off
Don't show	take vengeance
If	peace with others
Be true	uses jeans
Be at	right

a n s

Go to last page for solution – you can make it without peeking!
Adapted from www.missionarlington.org

For 11 year olds and up - King Hezekiah Relying on God

The Bible tells us the true story about King Hezekiah who lived long ago. You can read about him in 2 Kings 19 in the Old Testament. King Hezekiah was a Oslmn004.jpg (101431 bytes)good man. He loved God, and tried to do God’s will.

One day a wicked king came to make war against him. He had a very strong army. He said he would take everything that Hezekiah had. He wanted to take even God’s city, Jerusalem, and say it was his.

Hezekiah trusted God, but the wicked king sent a letter to him and said, “Do not trust your God. Your God cannot save you. My big army has made war with many other nations. Their gods couldn’t save them. Your God cannot save you.” But Hezekiah believed God and prayed something like this:

O LORD God of Israel ... You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib (the enemy) ... Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone.

It looked bad for King Hezekiah, but Hezekiah would not look at the situation. Hezekiah was outnumbered by the Assyrian army, but Hezekiah would not look at armies. Trouble surrounded Hezekiah, but Hezekiah would not look at troubles. Hezekiah set His eyes to look to God Whom He knew was able to do anything.

When problems and difficulties surround you, what do you do? Do you worry and fear and cry? Learn a lesson from Hezekiah. Look to Almighty God. Pray to Him. He is able.

To find out what happened to King Hezekiah read 2 Kings 19:15-19, 35-36.

Adapted from www.bibleline.org

Wondering where to go next on the internet? Check out
www.sloppynoodle.com for testimonies by young people,
or www.waytolive.org. Way-to-Live challenges visitors
to think about the environment, relationships, and other
topics. Click on the teen characters again and again for
different issues! Well, it’s got accents, but it can beat watching TV!

Seeking the Answers - Part VI

Not fit to hold a candle

A menial household task for a servant was holding a candle for someone while they completed some type of activity. Some people were not held in much esteem, therefore they were "not fit to hold a candle."

Why are elegant people known as ‘posh’?

This is supposed to be the legend printed on tickets of passengers on P&O (Peninsula and Orient)

passenger vessels when travelling between UK and India in the days of the Raj. Britain and India are both in the northern hemisphere so the port (left-hand side) berths were mostly in the shade when travelling out (easterly) and the starboard ones when coming back. So tickets for the best and most expensive berths were marked POSH (Port Out Starboard Home), hence the

term. However, P&O say they have never issued such tickets and, although many tickets from that era still exist, no 'POSH' ones have been found. The term was used from the mid 19th century to mean an upper-class person and that is the more likely derivation for the current meaning.

No room to swing a cat

It is not thought that this has anything to do with animal cruelty! The ‘cat’ in question is thought to be a ‘cat o’ nine tails’ a nine-lash whip used in the Royal navy in Victorian times as a form of punishment. Obviously to make the punishment effective the Officer handing out the punishment had to have sufficient room to swing his arm properly, thus room to ‘swing a cat’.

When someone stops drinking why do they go “On the Wagon”?

On the morning of their execution, condemned prisoners were allowed one last visit to a public house before being transported on a wagon to the place of execution (Usually Tyburn Hill – near modern Marble Arch)

As they were being moved on from the pub, if a sympathetic member of the public offered them a further drink, the guards would prevent it saying, “They’re going on the wagon”.

Saved by the bell

Before the days of modern medicine it was not unusual for people to be buried before they were really

dead!! People who were fearful of being buried alive would arrange for a string to be run from the inside of their coffin to a bell. If they awoke inside the coffin they could ring the bell and be saved.

Now used in boxing if a boxer is knocked down and the round ends before the count is completed.

Allan Bennett

Take Time Today

Take time to work: it is the price of success;

Take time to think: it is the source of power;

Take time to play: it is the secret of perpetual youth;

Take time to read: it is the fountain of wisdom;

Take time to worship: it is the highway to reverence;

Take time to be friendly: it is the road to happiness;

Take time to dream: it is hitching our wagon to a star;

Take time to love and be loved: it is the privilege of the gods.

Unknown writer
Submitted by Bro Junior Deane

Meeting Nicodemuses today

Another person who can give a testimony about how good God has been is Clare Lee, one of our Pastoral Care Team workers:

“Transworld Radio played an important role in my accepting the Lord Jesus into my heart and life around the age of 11 yrs.

“I heard a loud voice (that of Billy Graham) stating that one could not save oneself. As a child growing up I tried to do what was right but I knew how much I failed. The Gospel in a Nutshell – John 3:16 – was quoted: ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ Praise the Lord! I was asked to kneel and pray and as I did this and asked for forgiveness and asked the Lord to come into my heart and life, the Peace and Joy I felt was absolutely wonderful.

“I remember as the important exam years loomed – sitting in the bus on the way to school having a one to one – as the exams and the lessons at school got more and more difficult each year, I asked the Lord to help me, and He always has.

“God is a faithful God. I admit it is not at all times I have asked for His leading and these are times when I have failed miserably but the Lord loves, forgives and has guided me back.

“The Lord has been faithful to me, and I pray that I will be ever obedient and faithful to His leading and calling as I continue on life’s journey.

“If God can use me to lead one individual or many to know the Lord Jesus as their Saviour and friend, 'then my living will not be in vain.'"

Clare

Let's help each other to witness about the Lord and encourage each other by writing about any mission inspirations or thoughts. Please write or tell your witness stories or thoughts on evangelism to the Focus editor.

RHAPSODY

      In my heart is a melody, one that plays a rhapsody

         Spirit of a thunderstorm keeps us safe and so warm…

            Laughter brings all that is new to the one whose love is true

      Waves of love caress the heart; where one ends another starts…

   Buried deep inside your soul, love’s embrace you long to hold.

      Simple is love’s melody and its gift is a rhapsody...

Lost in love's sweet embrace, time escapes without a trace,

            God create love’s melody and gives to us a rhapsody

In the heart of Anya

By Anya Ourahou, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
© Anya Ourahou 2003

(The poet likes signing off her poems 'In the heart of Anya' to celebrate that the Lord Jesus is found there - Ed.)

BMS
Birthday
Scheme

AUGUST

MR M PRYAM
MR T REID
MS RUTH KING-SPARKE
MR M HATCHETT

SEPTEMBER

MISS KELLY PLUNKETT
MASTER WILLIAM HATCHETT

4th
10th
21st
29th

1st
19th

Mrs Hazel Whitehead, our BMS Birthday Scheme coordinator, has announced that £100 pounds have recently been collected and forwarded as the sum from recent contributors to the Baptist Missionary Society for their medical work.

BMS Volunteer Restoring Hope

BMS volunteer Alistair Broadley is playing a crucial role in enabling Sri Lankans to recover and

rebuild following the tsunami disaster six months ago. A graduate civil engineer from Glasgow, Alistair is about two months into his year working with Sri Lankan non-government organisation (NGO) and BMS partner Lanka Evangelical Alliance Development Services (Leads) as it continues to help reconstruct homes and restore hope to people through redevelopment projects.

Alistair aims to help advance the current relief phase, which is re-housing families – and the work has been boosted by the news that Leads has just signed its first government contract to build 50 houses. He says, "It's a breakthrough for the organisation. Please pray that we can construct the houses in a timely manner and that the process moves smoothly. We hope to sign contracts for about another 2,000 houses over the course of the next few months, so please pray that Leads can fulfil its commitments to the re-housing projects."

Leads has been involved in community development and livelihood programmes for the last 20 years, but the tsunami's effect on communities across Sri Lanka led Leads to its biggest project yet. Just days after the tsunami struck, it provided emergency relief and has since moved on to become actively involved in constructing transitional and permanent homes for some of the affected families.

Leads is also able to offer micro-credit loans to families wanting to re-start businesses that were lost in the tsunami.

Alistair is the third BMS volunteer in Sri Lanka this year, following in the footsteps of development workers Brian Leitch and Nick Holloway, who both spent four months in Sri Lanka with Leads and another BMS partner, Farms Lanka. Experiencing life in Sri Lanka just months on after the tsunami has been quite an eye-opener for Nick: "My first visits to the areas hit by the tsunami were very moving. The scale of the destruction is unrelenting. Wherever you go on the east and south coasts, it's the same story of devastation. On the whole, progress is being made and NGOs, together with the government, are beginning to make a significant impact on what has been a truly horrific natural disaster for Sri Lanka."

And Alistair is definitely making the most of the challenges. "I'm finding the whole experience deeply rewarding,” he says. "I'm finding good Christian fellowship, which is providing a great source of strength, encouragement and fun. I feel truly blessed to be here."

Prayer points: -
·        For Alistair as he plays a key part in helping Leads rebuild people's homes and restore their lives to some normality.
·        That Leads can fulfil its commitments to the re-housing projects with which it is involved.
·        That Alistair will enjoy good health and energy during his work, and that his faith will mature over this period in Sri Lanka.

Indonesian poor hit by second disaster

BMS World Mission is working closely with its partner in Indonesia to help bring aid to those

worst affected by the Easter Monday earthquake. The earthquake, which measured 8.7 on the Richter scale, came just three months after the south Asia tsunami. BMS supported partner worker Julianus Gulo (right), based on Nias Island off the coast of Sumatra, had his home destroyed; his niece killed, and his wife, daughter and son seriously injured.

BMS allocated an initial £10,000 from the Relief Fund – and sent an immediate grant of £1,000 – to local partner the Convention of Baptist Churches in Indonesia or Kerapatan Gereja Baptis Indonesia (KGBI). In June, BMS Manager for Mission Partnerships David McLellan met with partners to discuss immediate and longer-term needs, visiting both Nias and Aceh.

Julianus Gulo, a KGBI worker from Gunung Sitoli, has been supported by BMS since January 2001 and his house was used by local Christians as a meeting place for church services. BMS General Director Alistair Brown stayed in Julianus’ home just two years ago. He said, “Some call the island idyllic, but it’s not so for the poorest people, with most earning only a dollar a day. Many of the buildings in Gunung Sitoli have not stood up to this severe earthquake.” Nias Island was only 100km from the earthquake’s epicentre. The number of deaths there has exceeded 2,500 and around 80 per cent of the buildings on the island were seriously damaged. Landslides cut off roads, which were still under repair after the tsunami.

A KGBI team has been in Gunung Sitoli, the capital of Nias, since April, initially helping with rice distribution before moving on to assess ways in which they can help with rebuilding houses and reconstructing schools, bridges, roads and the water system. Ronny Welong, director of KGBI, visited Nias a few weeks after the earthquake and reported then: “Everyone I met said they needed the same things: rice and the basic daily needs, but it is hard to find a small shop which is selling things. They also need medical treatments and trauma counselling. Please pray for these needs.”

Prayer Calendar for August 2005

Answer a fool according to his folly

or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4

Pray for or about:

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Thursday

Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

1st
2nd
3rd

4th

5th
6th
7th

8th

9th

Action in communities as delegates return from the Baptist World Congress
For peace and worldwide understanding after bombings in London and beyond
For hope for the sufferers of torture, and may the Holy Spirit convict its
perpetrators to come to a sound mind and discover a new life in Christ
For larger attention to the environment and wildlife, that the work of Greenpeace,
the World Wildlife Fund and other NGOs be ever more effective
For truth in the media. May people be discerning & see through commercialism
Care for firemen, ambulances, and emergency services throughout the world
May we be ready to give a reason for our hope to anyone who enquires
as we hold an open air service
May God guide the Younger Leader's Forum, of 18-20 yr-olds, which feeds
recommendations into the Baptist Union, to be a discerning and prophetic voice
May all judges and statesmen worldwide appreciate the spiritual assets
to a nation that prisoners of consciousness bring and therefore release them

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
Friday

10th

11th

12th

13th
14th
15th
16th

17th

18th
19th

For healing of our members, including Mrs Ward, Miss Perssons, Mrs Thorpe
Miss Maddison, Mrs Tyzack, Mrs Griffiths, Mrs Whitehead Mr Priam & Mr Cook
For ministers and translators in remote lands who might consider themselves
forgotten by others, may Christ's riches be poured bountifully on them
For happiness and God's lordship over the wedding of Miss Rachel Clarke and
Pete James today in Portsmouth and same for all Christian marriages wordwide
Thanks to God and blessings to all new members
Inspiration & confidence of preachers and pastors in lands with scarce training
For national leaders to be held accountable for promises, and may they be fulfilled
May we all learn and apply Jesus' guidance: "Go and learn what this means,
'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.'" (Matthew 9:13, and see Hosea 6:6)
May all Christians discover the joy of serving Jesus even with simple ministries
in the church like cooking, serving refreshments, ushering, praying and visiting
May all people appreciate the beauty and rights of others and respect everybody
May we be ever prepared to receive the needy and strangers very well at TBC

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday
Thursday

Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

20th

21st

22nd

23rd

24th
25th

26th
27th
28th

29th
30th
31st

For defence of the vulnerable in wars such as children, the elderly, persecuted
minorities and the hapless
For all students taking catch-up exams, may they appreciate the joy of success
in their own education, and have insights & good understanding of their studies
For mission, evangelism, education and human rights work at the European
Baptist Federation in Prague: may there be deeper unity and protection
For people in authority in the right who are attempted to be intimidated, may they
seek to hide in Christ, the safe place
For anyone seeking new career plans
"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Luke 10:2)
For patience and understanding between new pastors and diaconates worldwide
May we appreciate God's riches and ways daily
"...let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit,
perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2 Cor 7:1)
Families of security forces worldwide who feel loved ones perished needlessly
May all be protected from false teachings
May governments and churches recognise the rights of other faiths & churches

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the HolyOne of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is yoursalvation,
in quietness and trust is yourstrength"
Isaiah 30:15

Prayer Calendar for September 2005
Blessed are those who keep hisstatutes,
and seek him with all theirheart.
They do nothing wrong;they walk in hisways.
Psalm119:2-3

Pray for or about:

Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

Friday

1st
2nd
3rd
4th

5th

6th
7th
8th

9th

May people be sensitive to the Good News of being set free in Christ
Encouragement for volunteers visiting shut-ins and the hospitalised
For all streets in our communities - may they come alive to follow Christ
May we be united in mission, being able to articulate a common approach
and understand where to initiate mission ourselves even without a pastor
May all students, especially weak ones, ask for and receive grace to shine in their
studies as they return to school
For guidance and courage in decisions and action as our deacons meet tonight
For the mentally disabled and their volunteers, family members and workers
For thriving Girl Brigade and Boys Brigade Companies and plenty of helpers,
may many more girls and boys discover the fun and learning of these groups
That churches with poor leadership anywhere be prayed for by all, and may its
leaders and assistant leaders become responsive to the Head Shepherd, Jesus

Saturday

Sunday
Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Monday

10th

11th
12th

13th

14th
15th
16th
17th
18th

19th

"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Col 3:17)
May young people recognise it is best to live peacefully as Peace Week begins
For better cooperation in Christian councils throughout every country, recalling
1 Cor 1:12-13 to keep unity, and Jesus' request to the Father: "Make them One"
May Western governments act to protect Sudanese civilians and provide
urgent relief to Mauritania, Niger and wherever needed
That our young singers, the Chapel Pebbles, share their love of Christ boldly
For direction, faith and wisdom of all struggling through life
For fruitful plans with Home Missions, to try to reach lives of the unchurched
Support and appreciation of Sunday School teachers quietly preparing lessons
May Christians be stirred by the Holy Spirit to share their testimony with those
who haven't discovered the riches of Jesus
May people discover the greater satisfaction of choosing ethical products
like fair trade foods, which prevent workers from being exploited

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday
Saturday

Sunday
Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
Friday

20th

21st

22nd

23rd
24th

25th
26th

27th

28th

29th
30th

May our church as a whole and its members take on leadership roles boldly at
tonight's Church Meeting to spread Gospel well
For women and children spending hours daily travelling to fetch water due to
lack of help from both rich foreign nations and local governments to build wells
May multitudinous 'fall in love' with Jesus, even as Peter appreciated him deeply
and was crucified for Him as countless have laid down their lives for Him also
Protection for everyone from fraud and abuse
May "requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-
for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives
in all godliness and holiness." (1 Tim 2:1-2)
That we be ever mindful of God's grace in providing for us beyond Harvest
May all Christians continue to trust in Jesus, being aware that Jesus paid it all,
and that whatever we bring will be out of gratefulness and to please Him
May we remember that the Lord preached about the Kingdom of Heaven,
and recommended to store true wealth in Heaven
May people worldwide not accept proposed free trade as millions of poor farmers
and traders are squeezed out by large corporations and subsidised imports
May we be genuine in all we do in the Lord
For people lost for direction: may Christians give love and show them the Way

Better a dry crust with peace andquiet
than a house full of feasting, withstrife.
Proverbs17:1

'Coming events' Open Air Service clipart from:
http://members.tripod.com/~jagnow/galerias/gallery_clipart.htm

'Coming Events' Girls' Brigade photo:

www.ashfordbaptist.org.uk

'Coming Events' Boys' Brigade clipart from:

www.boys-brigade.org.uk/leaders/resources/gallery/jsclipart/Checking_noticeboard

'Coming Events' Giving Thanks for Harvest clipart from:

www.cc-art.com

'Coming Events' Harvest meal clipart from:
http://clipart.christiansunite.com/1122396060/Thanksgiving_Clipart/Dinner_Clipart/Dinner003.gif

'Christians Together in Tottenham Events' musical notes clipart from:

office.microsoft.com

'Christians Together in Tottenham Events' choir clipart from:

http://www.intcon.net/~songbird/artists/choir07.gif

'All the darkness in the world can't put out one small candle' clipart from:

www.cc-art.com

'Our Building Work' tools clipart from:

office.microsoft.com

'Advance Notice' flower clipart from'

www.1clipart.com

Church Flowers' flower clipart from:
www.gurney.co.uk/timo/clipart/flowers/flower105.gif

'Representing Girls' Brigade at Buckingham Palace' photo from:

www.freedigitalphotos.net

'The Massacre in Bruce Castle Park' football player clipart from:
'75,000 Clip Art Images' CD-ROM by Focus Multimedia

'Psalm 23 for Tech Heads' clipart from:

office.microsoft.com

'Painting on a Picture' woman and man clipart from:
'75,000 Clip Art Images' CD-ROM by Focus Multimedia

'Bible Society News' United Arab Emirates, Egyptian bookstore and Bible Society 0f Zimbabwe photos from:
www.biblesociety.org

'Specially for Young People' Jesus at Sermon on the Mount clipart from:

www.whatsaiththescripture.com

'Specially for Young People' teenage boy and girl clipart from:
www.100000freecliparts.com

'Specially for Young People' Assyrian King Sennacherib and King Hezekiah clipart from:

office.microsoft.com

'Specially for Young People' school children clipart from:

Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 CD-ROM

'Seeking the Answers' candle, cruiser, inmate and bell clipart from:

office.microsoft.com

'Take Time Today' reader clipart from:

Microsoft Works Suite 2001 disc 2 CD-ROM

'Rhapsody' couple clipart from:

Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 Setup, Designs, and Art CD-ROM