Retirement of WBC Pastoral Worker
On
Sunday 25th September the church marked the retirement of June Ashman,
after almost 20 years service in the role of Pastoral Worker.
June was presented with flowers and a gift from the church, reflecting warm appreciation for the care and sensitivity she has shown to so many while fulfilling the role over the years. In a tribute to June's ministry at WBC, mention was made of the many individuals and families she has drawn alongside to help and encourage - some with children who are now active members of the church, and who join in the appreciation of all she has contributed.
We wish June God's rich blessing, both in her retirement from work and in her ongoing fellowship and ministry among us.
June was presented with flowers and a gift from the church, reflecting warm appreciation for the care and sensitivity she has shown to so many while fulfilling the role over the years. In a tribute to June's ministry at WBC, mention was made of the many individuals and families she has drawn alongside to help and encourage - some with children who are now active members of the church, and who join in the appreciation of all she has contributed.
We wish June God's rich blessing, both in her retirement from work and in her ongoing fellowship and ministry among us.
WBC Quiz Team Challenge - a great night!
Over 100 contestants in
17 teams gathered in May for a great night at
the WBC Quiz Team Challenge.
It was a fast-moving, fun, competitive evening with a great atmosphere of friendly rivalry.
After much jostling for position on the leaderboard throughout the rounds, the honours finally went to the "Crispy Mint Sticks". Their strategic playing of the Joker in the final round gave them an overall score 11 points clear of their nearest rivals. Following them, just four points separated the next four teams.
The Quiz Team Challenge is an annual event in the WBC church calendar, and we look forward to the return match next year.
It was a fast-moving, fun, competitive evening with a great atmosphere of friendly rivalry.
After much jostling for position on the leaderboard throughout the rounds, the honours finally went to the "Crispy Mint Sticks". Their strategic playing of the Joker in the final round gave them an overall score 11 points clear of their nearest rivals. Following them, just four points separated the next four teams.
The Quiz Team Challenge is an annual event in the WBC church calendar, and we look forward to the return match next year.
Spring Fair raises £1000 for local charities
Hundreds of visitors
from the local community attended our recent Spring Fair
& Open Day.
The day was full of fun – with fancy dress “Chickens” welcoming all visitors, an outdoor bouncy castle for the children, and families and friends enjoying homemade refreshments in the bright sunshine.
Plants, flowers, cakes, crafts, art work, nearly new kids’ clothes and Fair Trade items were on sale inside the church – plus competitions and information displays about church activities. The Kids Fun Zone was packed with children – with face painting, Easter crafts and competitions, free balloons and an Easter Egg Hunt.
The Mayor, Cllr Alan Wells, local MP Damian Green and Cllr George Koowaree also dropped in to enjoy the Fair. They visited the displays and sampled the refreshments, while learning more about the wide variety of community activities taking place at Willesborough Baptist Church.
The Fair was held in support of 1st Willesborough Scouts and the Willesborough Windmill Trust. Each of these local charities will receive a cheque for £500 from the proceeds of this fun community event.
The day was full of fun – with fancy dress “Chickens” welcoming all visitors, an outdoor bouncy castle for the children, and families and friends enjoying homemade refreshments in the bright sunshine.
Plants, flowers, cakes, crafts, art work, nearly new kids’ clothes and Fair Trade items were on sale inside the church – plus competitions and information displays about church activities. The Kids Fun Zone was packed with children – with face painting, Easter crafts and competitions, free balloons and an Easter Egg Hunt.
The Mayor, Cllr Alan Wells, local MP Damian Green and Cllr George Koowaree also dropped in to enjoy the Fair. They visited the displays and sampled the refreshments, while learning more about the wide variety of community activities taking place at Willesborough Baptist Church.
The Fair was held in support of 1st Willesborough Scouts and the Willesborough Windmill Trust. Each of these local charities will receive a cheque for £500 from the proceeds of this fun community event.
Click on the image above
for more pictures. (827k)
Community Clean-up
A team of 40 community volunteers took to the streets and recreation spaces of Willesborough on 26th March for a Spring Clean-up.
Six teams were in action in different areas. They were made up of members of Willesborough Baptist Church plus others from the local community.
As well as being beneficial to Willesborough, the clean-up was also a great social occasion for all age groups. Another event is planned for the Autumn.
New role in the Church Office
On Sunday 2nd January the church marked the retirement of Linda Golding, after nine years of much-valued service as Church Administrator. Linda was presented with flowers and a gift from the church, reflecting the warm appreciation of the administrative skills and organisational efficiency she has demonstrated so capably over the years.
At the same service, the church strongly affirmed Sara Horn into the new role of Church Co-ordinator. This embraces the administrative tasks performed by Linda and extends the role with high-level co-ordination of the various events, activities, people and resources that contribute to the diversity of church life at WBC. As the church continues to grow, this is an area that increasingly needs specific focus. Sara will work from the church office for five mornings a week in the fulfilment of this new role, which forms part of the wider church leadership structure.
Visit of Joel Edwards
Our visiting speaker on
Sunday morning 14th November was Rev. Dr. Joel Edwards, the
International Director for Micah Challenge. He travels the globe
inspiring the Church to get involved in advocacy with and for the poor,
as part of their core mission.
Joel was for over 10 years General Director of the Evangelical Alliance UK and now serves as an Advisory Member of Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation, He is a regular broadcaster and is often asked to bring a Christian perspective to current issues.
Listen to the two messages delivered by Joel during his visit to WBC in the morning and during the United Celebration at the North School in Ashford that evening.
Click here to listen or download.
Joel was for over 10 years General Director of the Evangelical Alliance UK and now serves as an Advisory Member of Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation, He is a regular broadcaster and is often asked to bring a Christian perspective to current issues.
Listen to the two messages delivered by Joel during his visit to WBC in the morning and during the United Celebration at the North School in Ashford that evening.
Click here to listen or download.
The Big Tidy-Up
A group of around 30 people spent a Saturday morning in September taking part in a WBC Community Clean-Up event in the Willesborough area. Equipped with black sacks, gloves, grabbers and hi-visibility vests, they descended on the woods, recreation grounds and open spaces in the community to collect litter and other discarded rubbish.
During the morning a total of 44 sacks were collected and transferred to the local household waste recycling centre.
A mixed group of adults, teenagers and children took part - all with an interest in demonstrating care for the local community in a practical way, and helping others to better enjoy God's creation. A further clean-up event is planned for the Spring of 2011.
WOW! Ladies' Breakfast
On a Saturday morning in
May,
about 40 ladies met together at WBC to enjoy each other’s company – and
a full English breakfast! Plenty of warm toast, fresh fruit and a
limitless supply of hot and cold drinks all contributed to our
delicious weekend feast as we chatted together and celebrated the love
of God.
After breakfast, a few ladies shared personal stories of how God has been a faithful presence and guide in their own lives, how he has graciously answered their prayers, and has provided for them in many specific ways during the highs and lows of life. These testimonies encouraged us to end our breakfast celebration by saying “Thank you, God” for the many different things that we are grateful for as part of the church family of WBC - for his love and goodness, shown to us in so many ways.
After breakfast, a few ladies shared personal stories of how God has been a faithful presence and guide in their own lives, how he has graciously answered their prayers, and has provided for them in many specific ways during the highs and lows of life. These testimonies encouraged us to end our breakfast celebration by saying “Thank you, God” for the many different things that we are grateful for as part of the church family of WBC - for his love and goodness, shown to us in so many ways.
Jamaican visitor
We were pleased to
welcome recently Rev. Dr. Stephen Jennings, immediate
past President of the Jamaica Baptist Union and
current pastor of the Mona circuit of Baptist churches in Kingston,
Jamaica.
He brought greetings from the Baptist congregations of Jamaica and explained the reason for his visit to the UK: to present a paper at an international conference in Oxford about the legacy of Sam Sharpe, a Baptist deacon in Jamaica whose stand in 1831 made a significant contribution to the abolition of slavery across the British Empire.
Rev. Dr. Jennings is pictured above (right), with his good friends Phillip & Rhona O'Connor who are WBC church members. Listen to the greetings he brought to the church by clicking here.
He brought greetings from the Baptist congregations of Jamaica and explained the reason for his visit to the UK: to present a paper at an international conference in Oxford about the legacy of Sam Sharpe, a Baptist deacon in Jamaica whose stand in 1831 made a significant contribution to the abolition of slavery across the British Empire.
Rev. Dr. Jennings is pictured above (right), with his good friends Phillip & Rhona O'Connor who are WBC church members. Listen to the greetings he brought to the church by clicking here.
Excited by all that God is doing among us ...
On Easter Sunday, the
church was
full to capacity to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Over 250 people gathered to unite in praise and worship, proclaiming
the truth of the resurrection and the hope we have in Christ.
Our minister, Rev. Alan Dinnie, brought a message on the theme of Easter celebration from 1 Corinthians 15, and we heard the testimony and witnessed the baptism by immersion of one of the members of our church family.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Our minister, Rev. Alan Dinnie, brought a message on the theme of Easter celebration from 1 Corinthians 15, and we heard the testimony and witnessed the baptism by immersion of one of the members of our church family.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
WOW! Ladies Evening
Around
30 "Women of Willesborough" (WOW!) met for an evening together at WBC
in March. They enjoyed a relaxing time of chat and discussion based on
the theme for the evening: "Give a little love".
A plentiful supply of chocolate brownies was consumed in the process.
The event was part of the regular Women of Willesborough activities programme.
The key topic revolved around the greatest commands we are given: to love God and to love others as we love ourselves. The simple outworking of this can be profound - and when this extends beyond our immediate contacts to the whole church, to Ashford and even further afield, we can begin a revolution that is fired by the practical demonstration of God's love.
"The command
we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've
got to love both." (1 John 4: 21 MSG)
Men's Breakfast
Around 40 men met for breakfast at WBC in February.
The event was part of the regular Men at Willesborough activities programme.
After enjoying a hearty "full English", they listened to a challenging talk by Andy Drake of CVM (Christian Vision for Men).
Andy spoke about being confident as a Christian man in today's world, and not holding back when given opportunities to talk about personal faith.
“Courage is
not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else
is more important than fear.” [Ambrose Redmoon]
A great night at the WBC Quiz Team Challenge
The church was packed
with 130 people for our Saturday evening
Quiz Team Challenge in February.
A total of 21 teams entered this popular event, with a great mix of ages and a great spirit of fun and enjoyment shared by all.
In a close finish that kept everyone guessing right up to the final round, the worthy winners were none other than a team named "The Willesborough Winners" - how did they know when they chose the name we ask ourselves?
The final leaderboard showed how closely fought the competition was, with only nine points separating the top five teams:
There was also much vying for position on the trailerboard, with it not being clear until the very end who would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Ultimately it was the "Team Furnace" youth contingent who achieved this by a convincing margin, as they skilfully deployed their cunning strategy of a loser's prize being better than no prize.
Overall, an evening enjoyed by all who came along. Definitely an event to be repeated.
A total of 21 teams entered this popular event, with a great mix of ages and a great spirit of fun and enjoyment shared by all.
In a close finish that kept everyone guessing right up to the final round, the worthy winners were none other than a team named "The Willesborough Winners" - how did they know when they chose the name we ask ourselves?
The final leaderboard showed how closely fought the competition was, with only nine points separating the top five teams:
There was also much vying for position on the trailerboard, with it not being clear until the very end who would snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Ultimately it was the "Team Furnace" youth contingent who achieved this by a convincing margin, as they skilfully deployed their cunning strategy of a loser's prize being better than no prize.
Overall, an evening enjoyed by all who came along. Definitely an event to be repeated.