Dear Friends,
 
Most Baptists would agree that it is a good thing for a church to have a minister, provided he/she is the right minister for the church at that time. But there are also disadvantages in having a minister. If the minister is stayed in his ways, then it is unlikely that the church will be open to new insights, and more modern ways of doing things. This is especially so with worship. The minister may want to control all that goes on during a Service of Worship.
 
When the church is without a minister it has all manner of preachers, some good and some not so good! The worship is conducted in different ways, some inspiring and some not so inspiring.
 
One thing we are able to do while we do not have a Pastor is to involve some of our members in leading the worship and in leading the prayers. Some already have indicated that they would like to share in this way. Obviously not everyone wants to, and no one will be asked to do what they do not want to do. But it is not enough just to be willing or enthusiastic. There are good players of the piano, and there are poor players of the piano. Enthusiasm does not replace skill and technique.
 
So that everyone may appreciate what is required from someone leading worship we are giving over the midweek meeting on Wednesday 9th June to deal with the subject. Everyone is welcome to attend. Attendance does not mean you wish to become a worship leader, but after that meeting we will arrange a more practical and systematic course for those who wish to be involved. We hope to have a number of worship leaders trained and ready to lead morning worship from the Autumn onwards. God has given many gifts to His people, this is a time to explore and develop the talents for which one day we shall have to give account!
 
In Christian love,
 
Roger Collins
 
 
 
 

Thank the Lord that His Spirit has been moving among our congregation as our long-time sister in Christ, Mrs Samuels, has expressed the conviction that she should join the fellowship in baptism! We look forward to that happy day!
 
Let’s also support Bianca Toni-Ann Banton and parents Mr Banton & Ms Annmarie Cargill in prayer as Bianca was dedicated on 4th April, during the same service where the Sunday School and Youth Group gave us another successful pageant of the Easter story. Likewise for Josephine Appiah Danquah, daughter of Cecilia and Joseph ‘Kobe’ Appiah Danquah, dedicated during the morning service of May 2nd. Many blessings to you, Bianca, Josephine and families!
 
Please give thanks for a good recovery of Mrs Kathleen Hatchett following a successful yet painful toe operation, as well as for Captain Belinda Plunkett after her 24th operation for kidney stones. Your prayers of support would also be especially appreciated by Mrs Pamela Thorpe, who has been with us for some time and has expressed desire to formally become a member. Thanks for being with us, Pam! We should bear in mind our ever sharp and witty Miss Olive Persson, who has improved recently and sends her greetings to everyone, and Mrs Ward and Miss Mabel Johnson.
 
Let’s also be thankful and pray for the safety of Louise & Jaap van der Weerd, our music group leaders, with baby Martijn, as the parents have each been on trips to such familiar(?) territories as Russia and Japan and are off on a visit to Saudi Arabia. Dear brother and sister in Christ, where next?
 
The plans for the building work to modernise our hall, conveniences and kitchen are now posted in the lobby. Building approval is still needed. May every move we do be made to honour the Lord fulfilling His will, so please pray for this, to guide and support the members of the Building Committee, who are generously giving a lot of their time towards it!
 
 
The Pastoral Care Team prays, visits, encourages and does what it can for anyone in our fellowship who may need it. Care for the congregation is shared by different Care Team members but anyone on the Team would be happy to help. If you have been ill or if anything is troubling you, they would be eager to hear from you. Just call!
 
            Thornton & Leola Reid
            George Wheeler
            Grace Tyzack
            Joseph ‘Kobe’ Appiah Danquah
            Clare Lee
            Margaret McGlynn
            Gloria Bipta  

 
This magazine is your magazine! Help shape TBC whichever way the Lord leads you. Write, tell, e-mail or dictate to the editor any articles, news about new arrivals, graduations, anniversaries – with pictures if you wish! – prayers, poems, quips, etc. that you want to share, or speak to him about any issues you would want in these pages!
 
Jose Jurado Aranda
E-mail: tbceditor@hotmail.com
 
You can also read Focus online at:
http://freespace.virgin.net/jamesimac.mcglynn/tbc.htm
Webmaster: Jim McGlynn

 
"When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for duty."

From Trinity United Church newsletter, Grimsby, Ontario
Submitted by Lena Starling

Girls Brigade Weekend Camp
Juniors and Seniors, this is a great chance to find out what the River Stort is like, on a boat with other GBs! On June 4-6th, join Captain Belinda Plunkett, Tony, Janette and others going up towards Hertford. But you better be quick because the places are very limited! See your GB leader for more info.

_______________ Worship Study – Wednesday, June 9th
Letting the Lord open our eyes to what He expects from us in worship and from those who lead worship is what we will seek when we meet on the above day at 8 pm for a special mid-week Bible Study and Prayer Meeting. See Mr Roger Collins’ newsletter on the first page (above).
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Church Outing – Saturday, June 26th
If you are seeking a fine getaway for your family and to fellowship with other members of the congregation, look no further! Hop on board for a day trip to Broadstairs, on the Kent coast, as we plan to leave at 9 am from our church gates and return at about 7pm. A 49-seater coach has again been booked with Jack, who has been guiding us about the countryside on a few outings already. Tickets are to be bought beforehand from Claire Lee. Get them soon as they often sell out well before the day of the outing! £10 for adults and £5 for children 14 and under.
_______________

Cricket Challenge
Let’s get set to take on our (ever friendly!) city rivals, Campsbourne Baptist Church, at Cricket again. Stay posted for the date in July/August. Your support will be appreciated as we make our team effort again this year – do join us at the gorgeous Grovelands Park to encourage TBC (and our rivals too, in Christian love!) To make the selection please have a word with Steve Turner.
_______________
Members Meeting – Tuesday July 20th
Is the Holy Spirit burning within you prompting you to begin a ministry, or to suggest improvements? There are always engaging issues on the agenda – all of us who are members are encouraged to come at 8 pm and air our views as we see fit to seek His will together.
_______________
Link Missionaries Visit – Sunday, August 3rd
Keep in touch with our Link missionaries, John and Maria Dyer, and son João Marcos, as they join us for fellowship tea at 6 pm followed by our evening service at 7 pm (see Family Tea article) on their UK church tour. Show your children how real missionaries live as they tell us what they have been up to in northern Brazil and beyond!
_______________
 
Family Gospel Festival – Praise Him with your Community!
Remember to mark your calendar for this festival, now in its fourth year, as we praise our Lord along with other local churches and musicians at Broadwater Community Centre! The event is free, with free buffet and refreshments and it is in support of the Haringey Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Project, so come with generous hearts as we help to alleviate suffering with donations! The event will be held on Saturday 25th September from 6 pm. See May Richards or e-mail Christopher.Joannou@haringey.gov.uk for details or to help out.

_______________

FAMILY TEA & EVENING SERVICES

We will be having fellowship tea on the first Sundays of each month from 6-7 pm followed by an informal service with communion from 7-7:45 pm as a trial until August, instead of our weekly evening services.

This is an effort to meet our church’s evolving needs more closely: there has been an expressed need for more fellowship meals and the weekly evening services have had limited attendance on the other hand. Let’s be thankful for our chance to have tea together more often! Everyone is most welcome – just bring some sandwiches or cakes for yourself and one other, only if you can!! _______________
 Money Matters...
     As you know (or perhaps you don’t know) we are getting near the time when we shall be going out to tender for the building refurbishment of our Hall Buildings and disability access for the whole premises.
     This will be the largest capital out lay the church has undertaken in recent memory (bearing in mind our last large building work received a 80% grant) and so we must all remind ourselves that it is our responsibility to make sure we back this with our prayers and our physical and financial support.
     We have a ‘Building Fund’ into which we shall put any gifts for this work; recently, besides the gifts from coupon and tea money, we have had two £100 gifts for which we give grateful thanks.
     The Building Committee is trying to find ways of raising or applying for any grants available so if you know of any possibilities please let them know.
     Gift Aid. There still seem to be some members who do not know about Gift Aid. This is the scheme introduced by the Government to refund tax paid on gifts given to registered charities, of which the church is one. So, if you pay any tax (even some retired folk do!!!), and give to the church all you have to do is give your offering through the envelope scheme or by cheque and complete a simple name and address form. – We can do the rest to reclaim the tax you paid on your gifts.

Les Paskell
_______________
Our Communion Wine

Have you wondered what our communion wine is made of? It is an undiluted fruit of the vine. The wine is unfermented and made to formulae developed in 1858 by a company for which the leading preacher C H Spurgeon wrote a letter of recommendation in March 1884 - Frank Wright Mundy. They were formed just to supply non-alcoholic communion wine to a number of different ecumenical bodies.
The company came into being by the efforts of Mr Frank Wright, a chemist by profession and also a devout Methodist and tee-totaller. The wines were introduced in 1858, have been supplied continuously ever since, and are entirely free from alcohol.
 
_______________
…If you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:3-5

 



BMS Birthday Scheme
JUNE
MRS A HATCHETT                              3rd
MR L PASKELL                                    4th
MR J HATCHETT                                  10th
MRS S HATCHETT                               12th
MR J JURADO ARANDA                     13th
MRS L REID                                         17th
MISS L STARLING                               23rd
MISS K HATCHETT                              29th

JULY
MRS H WHITEHEAD                             29th
 
_______________
 
Stuart Christine Going Beyond Brazil
 
BMS World Mission's strategy to extend work across Latin America is starting to take shape.
 
BMS Regional Secretary for Latin America Stuart Christine – on whom we reported in late December 2002 and February 2003 – has been visiting Baptist leaders in Latin America to identify and discuss possible new mission partnerships with them. “Since 1992 we have been focusing our time and energy to plant and help other local churches to plant churches in favela communities in the city of São Paulo. We recognised the need to add action to words together with my wife Georgie's teaching expertise. This led to the development of a pre-school educational programme (PEPE) that has since become an effective model for facilitating church planting in São Paulo, in the northeast of Brazil and, since 2001, in five other countries in Africa and South America. To support this, we developed a Brazilian-based charity called ABIAH, which is now a key partner with BMS and the Brazilian Baptist World Mission Board; it's also known as Abiah-Oasis in Brazil.”
 
Now BMS is developing a regional approach across countries which share similar language, history and culture. In practice, this means:
 
(1) strengthening and extending proven programmes (e.g. PEPE) with the Brazilian Baptist World Mission Board and Abiah-Oasis Brazil;
(2) extending BMS Brazil programmes where appropriate (e.g. church planting and lay leadership training);
(3) developing new Latin American partners and new programmes (e.g. a senior citizens' missions programme); and
(4) refocusing some existing BMS Brazil-based ministries in line with the new strategy.
 
What’s distintive to this new strategy, says Stuart, is that “It will aim at developing mission initiatives that can be reproduced and multiplied out across the region, rather than being limited to isolated projects in particular situations.”
 
It's a particularly busy – but potentially very fruitful – period for Stuart, as he begins making initial contact with groups. In February, he had productive trips to Paraguay and Peru with over 30 churches interested in PEPE in Peru and a further nine in Paraguay. In mid April he travelled to Ecuador to have first meetings with the General Secretary of the Convention there with a view to developing partnership links. From there, Stuart went on to Cali in Colombia for the annual meeting of the Union of Baptists of Latin America. Stuart aims to make a joint proposal, with the Brazilian Baptist World Mission Board, for a regional youth mission experience programme, called Extreme Latin America. Then, the last week in April saw the very first PEPE co-ordinators training conference for Spanish-speaking Latin America in Ascuncion, Paraguay with representatives from Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Venezuela and Bolivia. Trainers included Stuart's wife Georgie and BMS social worker Rosimar Deller.
 
In Stuart’s view, “The projects will become models and incentives to be reproduced by national churches across the region and the seed planted by the missionary input will begin to change lives on a macro scale. The development of the pre-school programme throughout the region will very likely become a model of this approach, demonstrating the way in which simple, local church based programmes can revolu-tionise the mission impact that ordinary churches can have – especially amongst the poor and marginalised communities of the region.”
Prayer points:
·      For Stuart in his travels; safety, good health and energy, and that he would be sensitive, yet bold, in his approach. Stuart asks, ‘Pray for sensitivity as we interact with church leaders from the national churches across the region and aim to build a consensus and shared conviction about what are the key mission opportunities that we can work to impact together.’ Pray for future follow-up meetings, especially in Peru and Paraguay.
·      That the PEPE programme would continue changing lives across the region.
·      That BMS would both strengthen existing partnerships and develop new ones in Latin America. In Stuart’s words, pray ‘for the calling of the key “door openers” and the path finders, both from our own churches in the UK and also from the other partnering churches and agencies.’

Ords’ new horizons
 
BMS pastor Mark Ord launched a new theology course for African church leaders in Italy in late March.
Mark, who leads the Evangelical Baptist Church in Genoa with wife Claire, started the Certificate in the Theology of Preaching initially with five African pastors. The course has been three years in the making and is a collaboration between Spurgeon’s College, UK and the Italian Baptist Union (UCEBI). There are some 200 African ethnic churches in northern Italy but many leaders have no pastoral or theological training so the course aims to bridge that gap.
Mark and Claire have worked with BMS in Genoa, northern Italy, since 1995. They have two children, Beth (ten) and Naomi (seven). Mark is very much looking forward to being involved in teaching, although it will involve quite a lot of travel from the north west to the north east of Italy.
 
In Genoa, the Baptist church hosted a special service in March held jointly with the 14 evangelical churches of Genoa, as well as groups who work with immigrants and drug addicts. Over 200 people met to praise God, and share and eat together. The area is predominantly Catholic, with a general scepticism towards other denominations, such as Baptists.
 
Genoa Baptist Church is embarking on a new era having approved a building project to construct a balcony for extra space and a stage with a new baptistry. The front of the building will also get a new look to make the church more visible from the road.

Mark and Claire recently bade farewell to the BMS Action Team, who spent six months supporting their work in Genoa and Rapallo, 30 kilometres away, where Claire is pastor. Catherine, Hannah, Rebekah and Peter really got involved in helping with church services, especially with music and youth work, and working with children at the city’s Teen Challenge Centre. In their last month, they impressively took a whole Sunday service – entirely in Italian!
Prayer points:
·      That the theology course for African pastors would equip them to build up their churches in new ways.
·      For continued unity between evangelical Christians in Genoa – give thanks for the recent ecumenical gathering.
·      That the building work at Genoa Baptist Church would go to plan, and bring about new opportunities for the church to reach out in the community.
 
 
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

Heaven's Grocery Store

As I was walking down life's highway many years ago
I came upon a sign that read ‘Heaven's Grocery Store’.
When I got a little closer the doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself I was standing inside.

I saw a host of angels. They were standing everywhere
One handed me a basket and said, "My Child shop with care,"
Everything a human needed was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry you could come back for more.

First, I got some Patience. Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding.
You need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of Wisdom, and Faith, a bag or two.
And Charity, of course, I would need some of that too.
I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost,
It was all over the place.
 
And then some Strength and Courage to help me run this race.
My basket was getting full but I remembered I needed Grace,
And then I chose Salvation for Salvation was for free
So I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.
Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything to do the Master's will.
 
As I went up the aisle I saw Prayer and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside, I would run into sin.
Peace and Joy were plentiful; the last things on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near so I just helped myself.
 
Then I said to the angel, "Now how much do I owe?"
He smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go."
Again I asked, "Really now, How much do I owe?"
"My child,” he said, “God paid your bill a long, time ago."

Submitted by Kathleen Hatchett
Author unknown

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
 
Four rhymes of the animal kingdom
 
 
Three blind mice, three blind mice,
See how they run, see how they run,
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a thing in your life,
As three blind mice?
 
 
The origins of the 'tale'!
 
The origins of the lyrics to this nursery rhyme are in English history. The 'farmer's wife' refers to Queen Mary I, otherwise known as 'Bloody Mary' the reference to 'farmer's wife' alludes to the massive farming estates which she possessed and those of her husband, Philip of Spain. The 'three blind mice' were three noblemen who were plotting against the Queen - she did not have them dismembered and blinded as inferred in the rhyme - but she did have them burnt at the stake!
 
 
"Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?"
"I've been up to London to visit the Queen."
"Pussycat, pussycat, what did you dare?"*
"I frightened a little mouse under her chair"
[*The version I know says, 'what did you there?’]
 
 
The origins of the nursery rhyme!

The origins of this rhyme goes back to the history of 16th century Tudor England. One of the staff of Queen Elizabeth I had an old cat that tended to roam throughout one of her castles. On one occasion the cat went underneath the throne and the cat's tail brushed against the Queen's foot, startling her. But 'Good Queen Bess' had a sense of humour and declared that the cat may wander through the throne room on condition it kept it free of mice!
 
 
The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown
The lion beat the unicorn all around the town.
Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown;
Some gave them plum cake and drummed them out of town.
 
 
Origins in British history
 
The lion and the unicorn lyrics date from 1603 when King James VI of Scotland became James I of England
unifying the Scottish and English crowns. The virgin Queen Elizabeth 1 named the son of Mary Queen of Scots, James, as her heir. The new union of the two countries required a new royal coat of arms combining those of England, which featured two lions, and Scotland, whose coat of arms featured two Unicorns. A compromise was made thus the British coat of arms has one Lion and one Unicorn.
 
 
Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey*,
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away
 
 
Origins and history of the Nursery Rhyme

Little Miss Muffet was a small girl whose first name was Patience. Her father, Dr. Muffet (or maybe Moffatt) was an entomologist (someone who studies insects). Whilst eating her breakfast one day she was frightened by one of his spiders and ran away! This particular Nursery Rhyme reputedly dates back to the late 16th century!
It's up to you if you believe this one or not!!
 
 
*Note for the curious - "What is curds and whey?"
 
Curds and whey are the lumps and the liquid of cottage cheese.  Cottage cheese is made from skim milk. 
In spite of its simple appearance, skim milk is chemically quite complex, but all the proteins in milk can be separated into two basic groups, simply by adding a chemical called rennin. Rennin makes some of the proteins in milk clump together. These clumping proteins are called "curd proteins," while the milk proteins that refuse to clump are called "whey proteins." These proteins are the curds and whey of Miss Muffet's lunch.  Yummy!!
 
Allan Bennett

 

 
Keep your Eyes on What Awaits
 
Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!


Submitted by Janette Whitehead 


Meeting Nicodemuses today
 
To share the happiness of our testimonies is an opportunity we all have, and our Sunday School Head, Miss Janette Whitehead, witnesses how someone like you or me knew how to influence her life for the better:
 
A friend of mine called Cath – whom I met whilst at Middlesex Polytechnic Trent Park whilst undertaking a teacher training course – helped to bring me back to Christ in a very significant way.
 
At the beginning of my studies there, I was not going to church at all and had not been baptised or given my life publicly to Christ as an adult. However, I knew that there was something missing from my life and increasingly came to believe that Jesus was the answer. Cath was a practising Christian and regularly told me about was she doing at her church and about her faith and experience of God in her life.
 
She never, ever put pressure upon me to go to church, to ask Jesus into my heart or make a commitment to be a “Christian.” This was a major factor in my seeking out Jesus again and finding a church where I felt welcomed and at home. Had Cath been over forceful in her approach to me, I would have backed off immediately and put up my defences as if scared of being pushed into something against my will. Instead, she gently let me into her world where Jesus was the most important part until I, too, wanted to seek Him out (although, in fact, He had already sought me!).
 
Eventually, my Mum and I visited several churches until God called us quite clearly back to Tottenham Baptist (where I had attended Sunday School for a short amount of time many years before!!). We will never forget the warm, intimate and extremely friendly welcome we received from everybody – including Mr Norgate, who was the minister at that time. We were so impressed when, on our return the following week, he remembered our names after only a brief meeting the week before!
 
I was baptised in November 1987, a couple of years later, and it wasn’t long afterwards that I began teaching in the Sunday School, taking over from dear Nellie LeGood.
 
I have not got a “Damascus Road” experience of coming to Christ in an amazing or spectacular way (and I recall that Hilda Gosling had said the same about herself when we were speaking about this topic). However, my story shows what a great and remarkable difference anyone of us can make in a quiet, unassuming way by gently leading another back to Jesus through our words and deeds.
 
Janette
 
Let’s help each other to witness about the Lord and encourage each other by writing about any mission inspirations, thoughts or testimony, or by telling some of the witnessing you have done in your community or beyond on these pages. Please write or tell your witness stories or thoughts on evangelism to the Focus editor.


_______________  

TRADE JUSTICE CAMPAIGN
 
The Baptist Union of Great Britain is a member of the Trade Justice Movement, which is supporting a mass gathering for 26 September in Brighton to launch the latest stage in the trade justice campaign. The movement highlights how trade institutions are pitting people in so-called ‘developing’ nations against skewed trade rules.
This event will coincide with the Labour Party Conference, and is to be entitled 'Vote for Trade Justice'. A recent Baptist Union e-mail circular indicates that further news and how to prepare will soon be available. For more information on the campaign, you can also look up www.tjm.org.uk or call Christian Aid on Tel (020) 7523 2225.
 

 
 

For really young ones – Charlie is happy loving boys who stole from him
When Charlie got home from school he was nearly in tears. He opened the door and ran into Grandma’s arms.
‘Why are some kids so cruel sometimes, Grandma?’
‘Come now, what’s happened?’ asked Grandma Lee looking down, frowning.
‘I was sharing my ball with two classmates at recess, but they wouldn’t give it back to me. And they still have it!’ said Charlie.
‘Well now, did you ask them politely to return what’s not theirs?’
‘I did, and they still wouldn’t return it!’
‘Have you thought to tell them they can have it? ‘You should be prepared to be loving to people, even with your enemies, Charlie! That way, they could be really be startled and amazed at your generosity, so they wouldn’t even want to try to abuse you anymore because they could end up feeling pretty horrible about themselves!’
‘You mean, just tell them they can keep the ball if they think it’s theirs?’
‘That sounds fine to me, what do you think?’
The next day, Charlie was eating his salad at dinner table and was very quiet.
‘How did it go, Charlie?’ asked Grandma Lee.
‘They couldn’t believe I was telling them to keep the ball! They just looked at each other and said, “Are you alright?”. They kept the ball for a while, and taunted me a lot but, after a while, they bounced the ball right back to me, saying: “You can have your ball back, Charlie!”’
‘Next time they might think you can handle yourself quite well, Charlie. I’m glad it worked out well for you, sweetie. It’s in the Bible in Luke Chapter 6 verses 27 to 30: Jesus said, “…Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. … Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back…”
‘Are you sure that’s what the Bible says, Grandma?’
‘It does, Charlie. It says, “Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great…”
Charlie got up from the table and came straight over to her.
‘Thanks Grandma, you’re great!” he said, and gave her the biggest hug he had given in a long time.
 
For 11 year olds and up – Where to store your treasures?
“Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on Earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But store your treasures in Heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your treasure is.” (Matthew 6 v 19-21)
So how do we store up treasures in heaven? It's not like we can go down to our local HSBC (Heavenly Storage Banking Co-op) and put in a bag of denarii. The clue is in the last sentence: “Your heart will be where your treasure is.” If your treasure is in heaven then that is where your heart will be. If you want to make sure that you are storing heavenly treasure then pay attention to what you are giving your heart to - what you are treasuring.
In the Jewish-Christian tradition, the heart "refers to the source of all physical, emotional, intellectual, volitional and moral energies" (from the book “Way of the Heart” by Henri Nouwen). So if we are giving our energies (our heart) to the goodies of consumer culture then we are not storing up heavenly treasures. If we are giving our heart-energies to God and to the things that Christ calls us to then we are treasuring the things of God, we are storing up treasures in heaven. Go figure....
From www.word-on-the-web.co.uk
 

Funnies…
Just a Thought A few years after the flood Noah heard God calling him again. “What can I do for you?” he said. “Noah,” said God, “I want you to build another ark.” “Right,” said Noah, “Just the same as before?” “No,” said God, “I’d like one with lots of different floors, say about ten of them.” “OK,” said Noah, “and you would like me to fill all the different floors with lots of different animals, right?” “No,” said God, “I want you to fill the floors with lots of fish.” “OK,” said Noah, “As many different fish as I can find, right?” “No,” said God, “I want you to fill them just with carp.” “OK,” said Noah, “Let me check this out with you. You want me to build an ark with ten floors and cram if full of carp, is that right?” “You got it,” said God. “Why?” shouted Noah.” “Oh,” said God, “I just fancied a multi-storey carp ark.”
 
From Civil Service Magazine
Submitted by Miss Vi Maddison
_______________
Who Knows the Song in Your Heart

Best friends listen to what you don’t say.

The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches but to reveal to them their own.

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you’ve forgotten the words.

Authors unknown 
_______________
 
Bible Society News

‘Where does God keep his bread?’
The recorded Scriptures distributed by Hosanna in the form of Faith Comes by Hearing (FCBH) with the help of Bible societies is having impact in many parts of the world. The following is based on a story told by Morgan Jackson, International Director of Hosanna Ministries: “In India, when we do Faith Comes By Hearing in a church, the church will play the cassettes for the whole village to hear. What’s been exciting is that, in the Telegu area, the average church grows by 43 per cent in the first two months. The Word of God is having an amazing impact!
“The story that captured my attention was that of a small girl. She had been attending the FCBH listening sessions, and one day, as she was listening, faith burst into her heart. She was just so touched. After the listening session she ran home.
“Her home was a small area in an attic with her mother. Her mother was lying on the bed, very sick; the girl knelt beside her and began to pray. Now what she prayed was the Lord’s Prayer, but specifically, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’ Then she got up off her knees and wondered, ‘Where does God keep his bread?’ So she left the attic, went onto the street and looked up and down to see, ‘Where does God keep his bread?’ Down the street there was a bread shop, so she walked in and the owner looked at her and said, ‘What do you want?’ She replied, ‘I’ll take those two loaves of bread.’ So the owner got the bread down and placed it in a bag and handed it to her.
She thanked him and turned around and walked out! The owner was immediately angry and cried out, ‘What are you doing, you little thief?’ He grabbed her and shouted at her and scared her, so she began to cry. Through her tears she said, ‘I heard the Scripture where Jesus says we’re to pray and ask God for our daily bread. I prayed and asked God for bread, and I looked to see where he kept his bread and I thought that this was the place. So I came here looking for the bread that God promised me.’
“The owner was so deeply touched that he immediately calmed the girl and gave her those two loaves of bread; then he took another sack, filled it with bread and gave it to her. She took it home and had bread for her mother and herself. God had provided the bread she had prayed for.
“Those are the kinds of things God is doing for people as they hear his Word. What amazes me in India is that children and young adults enter the story and have so much faith in the Word of God that they immediately begin to act on it. What happens is that Jesus Christ comes through. His Word is true and he supports it.”

Making the Bible heard led to more of everything
When Tony Hall, former Faith Comes By Hearing promoter in Australia, arrived back in Sydney after his trip to Hosanna, the birthplace of FCBH, he started to listen to the New Testament on his Walkman: 35 minutes while he walked to the railway station and another 40 minutes on the train. On his way home from work he did the same. He did this for six months.
Tony related how his wife Margie commented that “she had seen more change in my life in the last six months than in the 32 years of our married life. So I knew the power of listening to the Word of God would change lives.” Tony said that one of the churches that had used Faith Comes By Hearing was the North Narrabeen Baptist Church, Australia. “Six months after they had finished the listening period, I phoned the Pastor and asked what impact had FCBH had on the people in the fellowship.” His response: more conversions to Christ in the last six months, than any other time in the history of the church; more baptisms; the small groups had doubled; The church's income had increased 12.5%; “we have enough income to pay for a second full-time pastor”; and within two years the debt on the church building will have been paid.”
The pastor concluded that 95% of this could be attributed to FCBH.

The Bible offers guidance to newly married prisoners
Full of hope for a better future, 27 inmates of the Penitentiary of the State of São Paulo married last year in a three-hour ceremony attended by around 250 guests. The Bible Society of Brazil has been offering spiritual and social help to prisoners throughout the country for more than 20 years and was also represented at this special event, supplying a specially bound Bible to the bridegrooms.
“The Bible is an inexhaustible source of spiritual support, wisdom and ethical principles. It is a valuable instrument for this new and important stage in the prisoners’ lives,” says Alice Giraldi, the Bible Society’s Social Welfare Secretary. “In addition to the Bible, the couples were given the booklet God Speaks to the Family. This is aimed at families and contains Bible teachings that strengthen and value family life.”
Spiritual values
The BSB`s Social Welfare in Jail project offers guided Bible reading to make inmates redeem ethical and spiritual values and thus the ability to rebuild their lives on a new basis. Projects of this kind are an important step in readying prisoners for their return to society,” states Oswaldo Martins Bueno, who is in charge of rehabilitation work at state penitentiaries.
It is the brides, shining examples of dedication, love and companionship, which will guide the prisoners through the process of transforming their lives. Brides like 21-year-old Vivian Cristina dos Santos Souza Lima (left). Vivian Cristina was one of the brides who married an inmate of the Penitentiary of the State of São Paulo last July. She met Wanderson Luiz de Souza Lima three years ago. “I came [to the prison] with a friend and met Wanderson,” she explains, her eyes shining with happiness. “It was love at first sight,” Wanderson agrees. “When I looked at her, I felt true love and proposed to her.”
Their wedding, along with more than 200 others, was organised by Antonia de Crocce Andriotto. She has dedicated herself for more than 18 years to bringing comfort and guidance to prisoners through the Scriptures.
“It is not just a question of preaching the Word of God, but rather of carrying out social welfare. I thank all those who have helped me, but above all God. Without him, we could do nothing.”
 

  Prayer Calendar for June 2004
The Lord is my shepherd; I have every thing I need.Psalm 23 v.1
Pray for or about:

Tuesday	1st	Revd Roger Collins and Deacons as they meet tonight
Wednesday	2nd	People involved in Churches Together in Tottenham
Thursday	3rd	Ted Bentley in Frinton recovering from a broken hip.
Friday	4th	GB Officers and Girls going on a Canal boat trip
Saturday	5th	Family of policeman recently stabbed and all police keeping us safe
Sunday	6th	Come to the Lord's Table with thankful hearts
Monday	7th	Students and Tutors at Spurgeons College
Tuesday
8th	John Akerman now living in Swaffam
Wednesday	9th	Members and friends attending Mid-week meeting
Thursday	10th	People with birthdays who contribute to the BMS Birthday scheme
Friday
11th	BB Officers trying so hard to guide wayward boys
Saturday	12th	Thanks for after care treatment at local hospitals
Sunday
13th	Louise, Jaap and baby Martijn who is Dedicated today
Monday	14th	Members of the Pastoral Care Team
Tuesday	15th	Premature Baby Units in all districts
Wednesday	16th	Plans for the future development of our Church building
Thursday	17th	Miss Olive Persson and all she has done for the Church
Friday	18th	Our Queen and Family
Saturday	19th	Steve Turner and the young folk in the football team
Sunday	20th	Janette Whitehead and Sunday School Teachers
Monday	21st	The Music Group and their contribution to Worship
Tuesday	22nd	Past Ministers and families
Wednesday	23rd	Vi Maddison and Lena Starling on holiday in Exmouth
Thursday	24th	All arrangements for 'Soul in the City' in Haringey
Friday	25th	Fine weather for the Church Outing tomorrow
Saturday	26th	Journeying mercies for all on the Outing.
Sunday	27th	Boys and girls in Sunday School; may they know the love of Jesus
Monday	28th	All our elderly members who cannot attend the Services now
Tuesday	29th	Thanks for the love of your own family
Wednesday	30th	For those recently taken into membership

I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life; and your house will be my home as long as I live.
Psalm 23 v.6
 
  Prayer Calendar for July 2004
I waited patiently for the Lord's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry.Psalm 40 v.1
Pray for or about:

Thursday	1st	Mabel Johnson, Mrs Ward and those who cannot attend services now
Friday	2nd	All suffering through the war in Iraq
Saturday	3rd	Christian Jews and their families
Sunday	4th	Young people on Church Parade and the Preacher
Monday	5th	Anyone needing eye surgery
Tuesday	6th	Revd Collins and Deacons meeting to discuss Church matters
Wednesday	7th	Lay Preachers Association and all members
Thursday	8th	Give thanks for beautiful Summer flowers
Friday	9th	All BB Boys during the holiday season
Saturday	10th	Starving people in our world today
Sunday	11th	Teachers and boys and girls in our Sunday school
Monday	12th	Pastoral Care Team always being helpful
Tuesday	13th	New babies and families blessed recently
Wednesday	14th	The Bible Society and those distributing the Gospel
Thursday	15th	One-parent families and their various problems
Friday	16th	Those recently bereaved of a loved one
Saturday	17th	Christians in entertainment anywhere
Sunday	18th	Bring your petitions and thanks to the Lord's Table
Monday	19th	Family tea and Communion on the First Sunday pm will be successful
Tuesday	20th	Church Members meeting and all matters to be discussed
Wednesday	21st	Churches Together in Tottenham and their many projects
Thursday	22nd	GB Girls and Officers attending camps
Friday	23rd	BB Boys and the Summer programme
Saturday	24th	All youth groups everywhere
Sunday	25th	Our Preacher and any new folk attending the Service
Monday	26th	The Samaritans and all they do for those in need
Tuesday	27th	Andrew Kilby in Cambridgeshire and his parents in Frinton
Wednesday	28th	People needing Chemo or Radio Therapy treatment
Thursday	29th	Shirley Peart as she prepares for her next visit
Friday	30th	Thanks for your postman or milkman
Saturday	31st	The Gideons and their on going work

Lord, I know you will never stop being merciful to me. Your love and loyalty will always keep me safe.
Psalm 40 v.11


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