BUNYAN BAPTIST CHURCH

Stevenage

Here's the link to this week's Bible study building on the of 'Unity' from last Sunday's service:

http://drive.google.com/file/d/1HJABA2Wt2GZeRQJ4vv5MS4o61YftB8qo/view?usp=sharing

This weeks theme is KINDNESS. Take 5 minutes to listen to this week's devotional!

Lister hospital has a team of volunteers who help support dying patients and their families, they are called the butterfly team. Our Bunyan friend Margaret Gribbon is one of their trained volunteers. The group recently received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service-the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Butterfly volunteers have spent more than 40 hours with dying patients during April and May, Covid presented extra pressures on the team due to some volunteers shielding, however the service is still in operation 5 days a week.

Let’s hold this team and all whom they support in our prayers at this time.

Join us for our Sunday service at 10.30 followed by our after church catch up on Zoom - hope you can join us!

youtube.com/watch?v=Epj8Baz6cYE

Hello all serivce attenders! 

Following the change in government earlier this week, you will probably have heard the news that churches are able to hold services again from Saturday 4th July. Whilst Bunyan and the Baptist Union are keeping a close eye on the evolving situation, our view at the moment is that we’ll not be re-starting services on site just yet.

We’d obviously love to all get together again, but the social distancing requirements that’d limit the number of attenders to 30 people or fewer, the complications for children’s and youth provision, our not being allowed to sing or share refreshments, means that our online services feel closer to the way we’d like to gather than anything we’d be able to do in the building. So rather than trying to create a rota of which 30 people can come on what week, to an all-age service with no singing, no hugs or handshakes and no coffee afterwards, while still producing online content for everyone else who can’t join in on site on any given week, it’s felt we’d be best concentrate our efforts on the online services for a little while longer: a sense that was corroborated by feedback in the recent questionnaire.

That said, we really love and miss the fellowship of being together as church… so there are some new things we can explore, if you wanted to find ways of being a bit closer together:

• If you’re not already part of a small group that regularly meets over zoom or similar to chat, pray and check in with each other, and you’d like to be, then get in touch via minister@bunyan.org.uk: we’ll find a spot for you!

• Within the guidelines and the broad definition of ‘services’ it appears that it might be possible for small groups to meet at the church in person! Naturally, there’ll be plenty of considerations to manage, but if you wanted to explore using the facilities in that way, please do get in touch with minister@bunyan.org.uk, and we can share our thinking on risk assessments, and the necessary processes and procedures, as well as talking about what’s permissible and beneficial!

• Also, from next month, there could be the chance for 1-2-1 pastoral meetings on site. If you wanted someone to meet and pray with in person (even if at a slight distance!), then we’re exploring ways to enable such meetings. If that’s something you’d value, please do get in touch with the pastoral team via prayer@bunyan.org.uk.

• Quite separate to using the site, some people are finding “socially distanced walks” a lovely and safe way to catch up, chat and pray with one other person – and to take advantage of this sunny weather!

Of course, you might have other ideas about how we can keep growing in our fellowship even while slightly apart, which we’d love to hear… and as above, we’re keeping a close eye on the changing regulations, so that as soon as we can gather in a way that’s safe and conducive to us being a gathered, worship body of church, we’ll be right on it!

In the meantime, stay safe, stay well, and stay in touch,

With every blessing,

Andrew, Ali and the team

Take 5 minutes to listen to this week's theme of RESILIENCE!

'5 Minutes Devotional on the theme of this week's #Familyat4 'RESILIENCE'. What does it mean to be resilient when it comes to the adventure of faith? Take a moment to 'Stop and Be Filled' again with God's perspective, power and purpose. John 5 with Nick Drake.'

Enjoy a day in the life of one of our youth and worship team, Fraser. Thank you to him for taking time out of his studies to produce this for us!

https://www.facebook.com/BunyanBaptistChurch/videos/1728167717360437/

Lemmings are excited to announce Summer Lemmings Live! There will be craft activities, crazy games, worship and much more, all from the comfort of your own home!.

Please go to the Lemmings website here for more details and to register.

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for our service - do have some bread and juice/wine ready as we share communion together as part of the service.

youtube.com/channel/UCBstlcy26nN4XXj76N0miJw

Get your snacks and drinks ready and join the fun at Saturday Church in 10 minutes!

Click here to join in! 

Join us at Saturday Church tommorrow at 10am on our YouTube channel! Bring a blanket and a picnic and join in the fun!

As Fathers' Day approaches let us pray of for all our fathers and father figures in our lives!

During our Sunday service we looked at Galatians 1. Here's a Bible study if you want to take your thinking during this week

http://drive.google.com/file/d/1F8cZ664ljV3l9YdIJ-I8VmJbVWJjUc59/view?usp=sharing

Worship for Everyone: Stop and be filled 

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A 5 Minutes Devotional on the theme of this week's #Familyat4 'PATIENCE'. Patience isn't easy, isn't glamorous but it is very powerful and important in God's Kingdom. Take a moment to 'Stop and Be Filled' again with God's perspective, power and purpose. Galatians 5 with Becky Drake.

Let's join in prayer today for all the children in our town. For those going back to school with all the anxiety and unfamiliarity that holds. For those continuing to home school, for those unable to access learning at home. Lord we lift to you all the children and families for whom this time is filled with highs and lows, bless those who are finding this difficult. Help families find opportunities to become more connected and surround them with your love we pray.

Bunyan's Sunday Service goes live from 10:30, exploring Galatians 1 with a focus on grace. followed by our Zoom Catch-Up 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPbXccB3-IM

A 5 minute devotional as you crash on the sofa or watch with a cup of tea amidst the busyness of your day - exploring deeper the theme from #FamilyAt4 of LOVE. Becky draws from Jesus' words in Luke 6. 

Like many public events Stevenage Day has had to be cancelled this year. It was due to be on Sunday 14 June. Instead the Stevenage Day Team are encouraging residents and exhibitors to mark the day by sharing stories, images and videos from previous Stevenage Day events, and any ideas people have to mark the day in a virtual way this year. They will post any messages/short clips produced by you or local community organisations. Please email the Stevenage Day Team on stevenageday@stevenage.gov.uk if you have any memories, images or suggestions.

The Team hope to make some further announcements on 14th June of some celebratory virtual activities hosted by the Mayor over the coming weeks. We will keep you posted as these ideas develop!

During the Sunday Service just gone, we spent some time thinking about the shape of life and church post-lockdown, wondering if the Early Church could give us some pointers on how to be...

there are few more thoughts and questions here, if you fancy it a bit more thinking space: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GBskN8mCwBf4OK_I6i4vfeTN-styOPB6/view

What have you missed about Bunyan during lockdown?

What have we learnt or started in lockdown that we should carry on?

We’d love to know your views so that when we can gather again, our “new normal” will catch all the growth opportunities of this crazy time! 

Please take a moment to think and pray, then have a look throught this short questionniare: 

https://forms.gle/4ZPxPfCt3aDvHAhk9 ;