6 • local news

gazetteer

DEATHS SAVORY, Lilian Rebecca, dearly loved widow of Ernest Savory, mother of Margaret and John, grandmother and greatgrandmother, passed away peacefully on November 26 2008 at Queen Mary House, Chislehurst, aged 101 years. Service of thanksgiving on Friday December 12 at 2 pm at Perry Rise Baptist Church, Forest Hill. Donations in lieu of flowers to Cancer Research UK or Arthritis Research Campaign, c/o Uden & Sons, 186 Main Road, Biggin Hill, TN16 3BB

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The deadline for all announcements is Tuesday, noon .

baptisms

Picture: H ooe Baptist Church

Hannah Wilson, who is 10 years old, stands alongside Lucy Miller as she watches her mother, Helen Wilson, being baptised by the Revd Stu Clarke

Picture: H olly Lodge Baptist Church

Caleb Bond was baptised by his dad, the Revd Steve Bond, minister of Holly Lodge Baptist Church, assisted by Alan Scurrell

Belvedere: John & Brenda Wilson and Gary Church . . . . . . . . . . 3 Caton: Rachel Duncan, Karen Felstead and Chris Burn . . . . . . . . 3 Coalville (Greenhill Community): Phil Storrs, Dom Shilton, Elan Ingall and Ernie, Cynth, Rob & Dawn Payne . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Coleford: Sally Li, Aili He, and Shaun & Hazel Freke . . . . . . . . . . 4 Dronfield: Rachel Simpkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Erdington (Six Ways): Diane Scrannage, Dorinda Lawrence and Karen Evans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Hooe: Helen & Hannah Wilson and Lucy Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Ipswich (Holly Lodge): Sylvie Wells, David Kennedy and Caleb Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Margate (Cecil Square): Emma Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 London (Croydon Road): Hannah Bonam and Nathan Walker . . . 2 Stocksfield: Hilary Barrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Worcester (St Peters): Brian & Dorothy Hadley and Mel & Hugh Knaggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Total from January 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1085 Comparative figure for 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1381

Don’t forget to send your local news and baptisms to: Local News, baptist times, pO box 54, 129 broadway, Didcot, Oxon OX11 8Xb e-mail: subeditor@baptisttimes.co.uk

THE BapTisT TimEs Thursday, December 4, 2008

Writers combine for creative fund raising

By BILL FRANCIS

A GROUP of creative writers at Heaton Baptist Church in Newcastle have pooled their talents to produce an anthology of thought-provoking poetry, stories and reflections to help raise money for their church building fund. The group, which calls itself Write Life, has been meeting together once a month since attending a Writing as Worship and Witness course, run by professional writing tutor and church member Fiona Veitch Smith. ‘Writing as witness and worship is about using words in a creative way to enhance our relationship with God and to speak truth to others. Whether these “others” are churchgoers or not, God-inspired writing can help readers experience or understand an aspect of faith through someone else’s gift,’ says Fiona. ‘Although I am a professional writing tutor, this was my first workshop specifically for Christians. ‘As I expected, they needed the same technical guidance as other writers and had the same level of self-doubt as anyone contemplating that enormous step of publicly sharing creative work. ‘But what was different was the members of this group felt ‘called’ in some way, or were wondering if they’d been called, to use their writing as a means of expressing their faith in God.’ The fruit of the group’s creative endeavours is a collection called Twelve based on the church’s ‘core DNA’ members refer to as the Big 12. These are: Passion; Grace; Truth; Welcome; Unity and Diversity; Gathered and Dispersed; Life; Society; Dependent; Giving; Balance; and Excellence. ‘I love innovation and creativity. To discover that at HBC we have home-grown talent on the poetry and prose front is terrific,’ says Mark Elder, senior pastor. ‘Some pieces are deeply devotional, some have an everyday, nitty gritty feel to them; some touch the little grey cells and some stir the

emotions; some embrace truth already cherished, and some may encourage you to consider new ways of seeing truth.’ The writing group has started to have an impact on worship services too, with members spontaneously sharing creative thoughts with the congregation. Creative writing is now regularly featured on the church website (www.heatonbaptist. org) and members have written poems on the theme of Hope to be read out at the upcoming Advent Service. All profits from the book will go towards the church building fund. The 250-strong congregation has raised £1.2 million and moved out of its charming but faded Victorian building in May this year, to allow the bulldozers to move in. ‘I think it’s amazing that a church of our size has raised so much money – I’m very proud of everyone involved. Ordinary people achieving extraordinary exploits is one of the most beautiful things in the world,’ says Mark. Members hope the newly renovated church will be a gift to the local community and a base from which they can continue their outreach to families, asylum seekers and anyone in need of the hope found in God. In the meantime they are using a school hall and a neighbouring Methodist church’s facilities for their

Growth - ‘Twelve’ an anthology of creative writing from Heaton Baptist Church is raising funds towards a £1 .2 million building project

testimonies

‘Write Life offers me both encouragement and

‘Write Life has given me time and space to write to God and about God . I have listened to the amazing work of the other members and I am in awe of their gifts – Karen Richardson, Write Life member .

Heaton Baptist Church has left the building

morning and evening services. Despite being ‘homeless’ the church is continuing to grow, with 27 people being welcomed into membership in the last year.

inspiration to write and gives me the tools to improve and craft my writing’ – Helen Fairmaner, Write Life member and book designer .

‘The best thing about Write Life is hosting a bunch of cool people with cakes and coffee! It’s a chance to write in ways I wouldn’t normally think of – it really challenges me’ – Tim Hardy, regular Write Life host .

To buy Twelve for £6 (+ £1 .50 P&P), contact the church at 0191 265 7044 or office@heatonbaptist . org If you would like Fiona to lead a writing workshop at your church, contact her through her website www . veitchsmith .com or www . thecraftywriter .com

baptist times gONe by

100 years ago THE CENTENARY of the Baptist church founded by Carey in Calcutta, and known as the Lal Bazar Church, is being celebrated this year, and the Calcutta friends propose to issue a memorial volume, which will be awaited with great interest, especially by those who have watched the progress of the Baptist Church in India . The members of this church still show to interested visitors Dr Carey’s pulpit, and the silver communion service presented to him by those who had learned to value his services as professor in the Government College .

50 years ago VETERAN Christians in Spain are saying that 1958 has been the worst for some years for its persecution of Protestants . An average of one church had been closed every month . In the past two months, three Baptist churches have been closed . In each case, the order came from authorities in Madrid . British Youth for Christ evangelist Dave Foster just returned from Spain, and reports that when churches are closed, police suddenly arrive, hustle out the people, close and officially seal the doors . ‘It is usually over in a matter of minutes,’ he said . More information is being sought .

25 years ago The British Council of Churches Conference for World Mission has backed a demand from the World Health Organisation for ‘health for all by the year 2000’ . And representatives from 60 religious bodies attending a consultation organised by the conference have urged Christians to help make the demand a reality . The conference issued a statement saying Christians have an essential contribution in bringing about health for all . ‘Christians have a God given charge not only to continue our Lord’s ministry but also to proclaim the Gospel of life, health, and salvation .’
THE BAPTIST TIMES Thursday, December 4, 2008

Church joy at bi-lingual baptisms

Pastor Jorge Damasceno (left) and Pastor Derrick Hill (right) with Flavio Pontes Picture: P ark Baptist Church

By PAUL HOBSON

FLOURISHING relations between a Baptist church in Great Yarmouth and its local Portuguese community have been strengthened following a bi-lingual baptism service. Park Baptist Church was filled to overflowing earlier this month with 120 worshippers as the English and Portuguesespeaking congregations came together for the joyful service, which included the baptisms of five believers. Those baptised were Carlos Moreno, Eunice Caixenha, David Minister, Flavio Pontes and Christiane Herlan. This was the highest number of baptisms in a single service in this growing Christian community for many years – and

the first to include Portuguesespeaking believers since the regular Portuguese language service began around two years ago. The service was led by Pastor Derrick Hill, supported by Pastor Jorge Damasceno, from Dereham Baptist Church and the Amigos Project, which is supported BMS World Mission and several regional Baptist associations. The service included musical contributions from both English and Portuguese musicians, and a buffet lunch from both cultures followed. Mr Hill explained that the church, on Crown Road, Great Yarmouth, is seeing increasing attendances at both its 10.45am (English) and 4.00pm (Portuguese) Sunday services.

Also popular is its Tuesday Friendship Centre, which is open to all every Tuesday from 9.30am to noon and from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. There are 300,000 Portuguese migrant workers in the UK, with strong concentrations in East Anglia. Church members at Park Baptist are working hard to demonstrate ‘the real unity that exists in the church across the wide range of cultures represented in the congregation,’ Mr Hill said. As a result of the increased activity the church is currently seeking to increase its staffing through the appointment of a bi-lingual associate pastor, a post partly supported by national funds from Baptist Home Mission.

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local news • 7

IAN BUNCE

Modern Mission

Come as you are HAVE you ever known what it is not to belong, or just to feel that you don’t fit in? In many churches there are people who feel excluded or do not feel they are a part. I could name many people who have felt forced to leave a church or have been asked to leave, because they were different. Their ministries have been refused and giftings ignored because it was different, or they made others feel insecure or challenged. Some do not get as far as even joining the church, because they feel that they are different, and not wanted. Whether you think this is true or not, there are some people who feel like this. On Saturday evenings at the moment there is a programme called Hole in the Wall. In this It’s a Knockout type game the competitors have to make the shape of the advancing hole to get through it or be knocked into the water. At times the postures needed to be adopted for success are incredible, and totally unsuited to the stature of the competitor. Sometimes it is impossible for the person to get through this wall. To many, Church is just the same and at times, feels equally impossible. I am thrilled to say that on September 27 2009 the Baptist Union of Great Britain will again be joining with Christians from many other traditions in Back to Church Sunday. This time it will be under the theme ‘Come as you are!’ I wonder what that will mean for those coming and the churches which they

are going to visit. Here are some thoughts. If people receive this invitation and return on a regular basis, then Some churches will look different. Their wardrobe may be challenging. They may be pierced more than we are comfortable with and their tattoos may also be colourful. Let alone the fact that they look sleepy and hung-over! Many will not be aware of Christian culture. They will not know when to stand or sit, and what’s this singing thing anyway? Many will be uncomfortable and lost because they have entered another world, and one that is really strange. Their behaviour will be different. Language will not necessarily be the authorised version, and being quiet during a sermon could cause a challenge. Stories of their lives may cause us to challenge them and appal our sensitivities They may be questioning in their search. They may question everything, and not take the Nicene creed as truth in one complete pill. They may look or have looked at other spiritualities in their journey, and committing to faith may be a long way off. Whatever our view of our church, and however inclusive we feel we are, if people come into any church, the church will be changed. What are we doing to prepare for this? Are we putting Christian-shaped holes in the walls, that only the ‘right’ people, who do not challenge us or change the church, can come in or are we going to knock down the walls, open up the church, and say to all the world, our community, our neighbours, ‘Come as you are’?

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