Daily Bread

November 2012

PEEBLES BAPTIST CHURCH

Magazine

I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.
Matthew 25:35f

As a church, were really quite big on food. It doesnt take much of an excuse for us to have a bunfight after (or even before) the service. Ive spoken before about how eating together is an important part of our life as a community - and its a great opportunity to invite people along! But as we eat, we do so with an increasing awareness of Gods grace that we are able to. Look through this months magazine and you will find several articles and references to poverty, not in Ethiopia or the Sudan, but in Scotland - even in Peebles. The fact that 13 million people in the UK live below the poverty line is shocking enough - and the practical implications of that are set to get dramatically harder next year when the Welfare Reform Act comes into force. So for those of us who do have bread on the table, just having an awareness of our own good fortune isnt enough. We need to do something. And we have several opportunities to do so coming up with the Peeblesshire Youth Trust organising Christmas hampers, the Preschal Trust providing food parcels, and the hopefully imminent launch of an all-year-round foodbank here in Peebles. Let me urge you to get involved with these initiatives. But lets be clear about why were doing so. This is about Jesus. This is about the Kingdom of God. This is about the fact that, as Christine points out in her Foodbank article overleaf, Jesus gave us a command to feed the hungry - and we spiritualise that command at our peril.

Ian

If youd like to know more about what our friends in the other Peebles churches are doing, you can find some of their own magazines online: Old Parish Church: topcopmag.wordpress.com St Peters: www.stpeterspeebles.org.uk/netmagazine.php St Josephs: www.stjosephschurch.org.uk/?Home%3A:Current_Newsletter Others are on their way...

magine what it must be like to have absolutely no idea where your next meal is coming from. Or, during bitter winter weather, to have to choose between heating and eating. Frightening and worrying as these scenarios must be, imagine how much worse it must be to have dependent children, and not have enough money to feed them. Its a shocking fact that requests for food parcels in Scotland have doubled over the last year. Perhaps even more shocking is that (according to a report published in September 2012 by the widely-respected organisation, Citizens Advice Scotland) 50% of people needing these food parcels were in low-paid work. Others needed the help because of delays in getting benefit payments, or because of changes to their entitlement. Hawick and Galashiels now have well-established food bank arrangements (in which the Salvation Army and the Baptist Churches have been key players). Local individuals, churches, businesses and schools donate non-perishable items, and parcels or bags containing about three days supply of food are assembled and given out by volunteers. People needing help dont normally approach the Food Banks directly, but are referred by health, social work or education staff, or by agencies such as Citizens Advice, the Borders Community Addictions Team, or mental health charity Penumbra. Peebles isnt immune from the problems outlined above. Already this church has had several requests for parcels. Discussions about the setting up of a Food Bank in the town have been taking place for some time, at Churches Together meetings and elsewhere. Jim Benton-Evans, the Rector of St Peters, has had first hand experience of a Trussell Trust Food Bank in his previous parish in Cornwall, and it seems likely that it's the Trussell Trust model (www.trusselltrust.org) which will be adopted in Peebles. There will be an open meeting about Food Banks at 7.30pm on Wednesday 28 November at St Peters Church. Please come if you possibly can! Remember Matthew 25:35 ". I was hungry and you gave me something to eat."

On the first day of Christmas

Well, actually on the first Thursday of December (6th), the Peebles Christmas lights will be switched on. Shops will be open late, a strange bearded man all in red will doubtless be making the rounds, and the High Street will be closed to traffic with stalls running up the centre. One of those stalls is run by Peebles Churches Together, and gives us a chance to spread the word amongst busy shoppers and excited children about what this whole celebration is really about - Jesus. We need people to help staff the stall, and hand out goodies. Please mark the date in your diaries, and spare an hour to help if you can! If you dont know what Operation Chrismas Child is, read last months magazine! Margaret Cowan collected 51 shoeboxes for OCC, and donations (cash with the boxes and online) amounted to 45. She thanks everyone who helped fill a box, and especially Margaret Johnstone for all the lovely jumpers she knitted.

Weve been asked to do a late swap with another church, to run the service at the Dunwhinny Lodge Care Home on Wednesday 14th November at 2pm. Please come to lend a hand and swell the singing! This service is greatly appreciated by the residents please see Christine if you would like to know more. Please note that this means we wont be doing the service at Dunwhinny on Boxing Day.

Peeblesshire Youth Trust is a local charity which works in partnership with local schools and parents to offer support to children and their families. This is either through their Achieve Your Potential programme, 1:1 mentoring or group work. Each Christmas for the past 4 years, PYT has delivered around 40 hampers to families across Peeblesshire. Numbers are expected to rise as times becoming increasingly difficult for people to make ends meet. How much goes into the hampers is totally dependent on what donations are received. In the past churches, individuals and local businesses have donated non-perishable goods or cash to PYT, so that they can fill and deliver the hampers the week before Christmas. This year, packing and delivery will take place on Sunday 16th December at St Josephs Neighbourhood Centre. Packing is at 2.30pm, followed by delivery between 4 and 5pm, with a welcome drink to follow and the opportunity to share any stories. PYT would love help with this, and if you would be available please speak to Ian. PYTs co-ordinator Angie Preston writes: January is usually a very humbling time for me walking along the high street. Adults hug me, thank me, tell me what a difference it made to them and their family. Out of all of the support I received last year, the hamper made the most difference to my family I just cant tell you what a difference it made to my Christmas are some of the comments I have received in the past. Thank you cards also arrive My family and I would like to thank you for the hampers and butchers voucher. We are extremely grateful and would like to say it is very much appreciated. Thank you so much PBC will be giving a cash gift towards the cost of the hampers if you would like to contribute, please see Ian by Sunday 18 th.

Ladies craft morning

Come and make a rag tied Christmas wreath for your door, or for the perfect handmade present. Laura Jacobs will teach us this festive craft, with all materials supplied. Saturday 1st December 3.00 - 4.30pm Victoria Park Centre Ticket price 4.00 which will pay for your wreath and coffee and cake. Tickets from Morag Bramhall (01896 831928) or Lindsey Gray (01721 729101) Booking essentialbring your friends Usborne Books stall on the day too!

LunchnChatour turn again!

As Linda explained in last months Magazine, LunchnChat is a community lunch held on Mondays throughout the winter, organised by St. Andrews-Leckie Church and held in their church hall. We Bappies provide a team every five weeks, when we make 4 big pots of soup and fill about 60 rolls. We set up, serve, chat to the customers - then clear up, and send off the proceeds to a chosen charity. (Last month we raised approximately 100 for Operation Mobilisations Logos Shipm and this months proceeds of 80 are going to the Preshal Trust together with Helen and Gordon's collection of nonperishable foods.) Helpers are always very welcomeas Linda says, Its hard work for a couple of hours, but good fun!

Our next dates are: 10 December, 28 January , and 4 March.

If all a visiting alien had was the evidence of your church, how would they answer the question, "For whom did Jesus come?" Glen Marshall, at the BUS Assembly last week. More Assembly feedback very soon..

Prayer Points for November

Lets give thanks to our God for His grace and His mercy toward us. Continue to pray for CafChurch, that people in the community will show an interest and come alongeven if only out of curiosityand will sense Gods presence. Continue to pray for our pastor and his family. Pray for family members, friends and people we love, who are unwell, at home or in hospital. Pray too for the National Health Service Lets pray for home carers working in our community; for everyone who is caring for a family member at home; for people who suffer loneliness, fear, discrimination, addiction, grief or poverty. Pray for the American presidential election, and for all those in North America affected by Hurricane Sandy. Pray too for Haiti, where Sandy has tipped the scale of an already fragile situation (Tearfund)

But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious. Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Psalm 86:15 (NKJV)

Please pass prayer requests to Wilma Wintour, 723023

Whats on when.
Letter-writing, and prayer for persecuted Christians, at Willie and Wilmas, Tues 13 November, 11am

VICKYS TEAROOM next opens Sunday 11 November.

Please pray for the well-being and enjoyment of everyone involved!

CHURCH PRAYER TIME

Saturday 1 December 9am, 8 Connor Ridge
transport - musicians - childrens work - leadership - PA - marketing Vickys Tearoom - stewarding - visiting - signs and banners - flowers tea and coffee - laying communion - setting out chairs - all-age talk
Were growing as a church! That means that theres more outreach we can do more responsibilities for care more cooking to be done more everything! So where do you fit in? Well be having a special meeting in the afternoon of Sunday 2nd December where you can find out. Whether youve been in the church for decades or days, this is for you please note the date in your diaries.

Messy what?
Messy Church is for families who want to meet Jesus but find it hard to go to church on a Sunday. Its a once-a -month time of creativity, worship and eating together. Its not just for kids, but S for mums, dads, grandparents, friends and carers TO Th too. eD PP C R e The first ever Messy Church Peebles will o hurc oneSaturday p be held c mb ESS stp the er M : st December 2012, from 3.30 5.30pm in h ev Victoria Park 1 det o en e a ls ne of activities will Centre, Kingsmeadows Road, Peebles. The ifocus d - w t has ssy of t atc bee h are h be for families with primary aged children, but all e n veryo n Jan ext ut f welcome. uar eve or nt i y n Our prayer is that Messy Church Peebles will provide an opportunity for people of all ages to worship together, have fun together and to encounter God through hospitality, friendship, stories and worship.

How do I get Messy?

Please pray for Messy Church Peebles for the practicalities and the people organising it. Pray that it would be Christ-centred and enable those on the fringe or outside church at the moment to encounter Jesus. If you can help, please get in touch with Barry Hughes (07747 565397 or gill_baz@hotmail.com) or your minister there will be lots of jobs for people of all ages and talents. Please invite families to come along to the Victoria Park Centre on 1 December at 3.30pm.

Basic First Aid

tuition by Neil Munro, for ALL church volunteers
Sunday 18 November

Margaret Johnstone has once again been making Christmas cards and gift tags, in aid of the church Building Fund. These will be on sale from 4 November. Thanks also to Margaret for contributing the following, which she found on one of last years Christmas cards: If our greatest need had been information, GOD WOULD HAVE SENT US AN EDUCATOR. If our greatest need had been technology, GOD WOULD HAVE SENT US A SCIENTIST. If our greatest need had been pleasure, GOD WOULD HAVE SENT US AN ENTERTAINER. But our greatest need was forgiveness, SO GOD SENT US A SAVIOUR. Roy Lessin

Services, November 2012

Sunday 4 November
Stewards: Vi Brown, Frank Drummond Flowers: Linda Bell Transport: Team Two

Secretary, Christine Drummond, tel 722062, Treasurer, Liz Keiro, tel 730217

(all-age service & believers baptism)

Teas: Kenny Hamilton

Pastor Ian Gray 07881 518854, pastor@peeblesbaptistchurch.org

Services in Victoria Park Centre, unless otherwise indicated

Sunday 11 November

Website: http://peeblesbaptistchurch.org

(Remembrance Day - 10:50 start)

Stewards: Kirstin Gray, Jacqueline Wilson Flowers: Margaret Johnstone Teas: Helen Henderson Transport: Team One 5s: to be confirmed

Sunday 18 November
Communion Servers: Fergus Brown, Jacqueline Wilson Stewards: Margaret Cowan, Stan Henderson Flowers: Pat Hamilton Teas: Wilma Wintour Transport: Team Two 5s: to be confirmed

Sunday 25 November
Stewards: Hazel Hoggan, Jenny Jacobs Flowers: Christine Drummond Teas: Douglas McCall Transport: Team One 5s: to be confirmed

TRANSPORT TEAMS:
Team OneChristine Drummond, Margaret Cowan, Frank Drummond Team TwoLindsey Gray, Douglas McCall, Margaret Cowan

Laying Communion Table in November: Hazel Hoggan