December 2019 January 2020 - Lansdowne Church

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December 2019 January 2020 - Lansdowne Church
Life
December 2019
January 2020
December 2019 January 2020 - Lansdowne Church
There’s part of me that wants to hide for the
next month! To find a deserted island in the
Pacific where I can feel the sand beneath my
feet until the noise of Christmas and the New
Year is well and truly over.

I doubt I’m the only one who has such escapist
dreams. I reckon that Brexit fatigue has turned
more of us than ever into those who wish we
were somewhere else in December and January.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not Scrooge.
Christmas is not humbug. Certainly not
if you believe in Christ.

Christian faith turns the clichés of the season
into a wonderful time of the year.
It speaks real hope into all that commercially
manufactured joy.

The message of the manger is that in Jesus,
God has taken our humanity to himself.
The Creator became our Saviour!

That’s good news worth celebrating and
inviting others to find out about through the
excellent Lansdowne Christmas Programme
that has been organised.

And those January resolutions can be triggers
for trusting God in new and exciting ways as we
look forward.

So the other part of me definitely wants to be
here over the next month to sing carols, open
presents, eat too much and see the New Year in.

I do like the sound and look of 2020, and we
have a great Church Motto to go with it. 2020
is to be a year of Mission in which we grow in
confidence as we share how our story has been
folded into the story of God.

Peter Baker | Senior Minister
December 2019 January 2020 - Lansdowne Church
“
Flames dance from the fire,
the wood crackles, the smell
of candles permeates the air
and my mind drifts towards

             ”
Christmas.                It is that time of year when I start
                                   compiling lists; my card list, gift list
                                   and list of the people to invite around.
                                   You want to wish Seasons Greetings; to
                                   neighbours, work colleagues, friends and
                                   family. I mustn’t miss anyone out!

                                   I suddenly have a thought… I worry about
                                   not sending a card or giving a gift, but
                                   have I ever told them about the greatest
                                   gift or even invited them to a carol
                                   service? Am I too caught up in the secular
                                   Christmas traditions? I tell all, well,
                                   all my church friends, that Christmas
                                   revolves around the birth of Jesus.

                                   Christmas is the easiest time to let people
                                   know about Jesus. Most enjoy a good
                                   carol and are open to being invited to
                                   a carol service and wouldn’t think I’m
                                   weird if I ask them. In fact, a lot of my
                                   friends would probably welcome the
                                   invitation. I can let the preacher do the
                                   hard part and I can pray whilst he speaks
                                   and then be open to any questions that
                                   they may have.

                                   For those who are not able to make it, I
                                   can let them know what I have been up
                                   to at Christmas and let them know why I
                                   want to celebrate Jesus’ birth as we chat
                                   about what we have been doing in the
                                   holidays.

                                   As I look at my lists again, I view them
                                   in a different light. Who haven’t I told or
                                   invited? This is now going to be my main
                                   priority. I would love them all to accept
                                   the greatest gift that they can receive.

                                   I sit, stop and pray!

                                   Gaynor Brown | Member
December 2019 January 2020 - Lansdowne Church
g a n d
                             at Lansdowne Church

Si n
    e b ra t e
cel
 w  i th u s
                            5 December:
                Advent Prayer Central 7:30pm

                            8 December:
     Students and Internationals Carol Service
                             6:30pm (at LCC)

                           15 December:
     Carols by Candlelight 5:00pm and 7:30pm

                          22 December:
           All Age Service 9:15am and 11:15am
                          (no evening service)

                          25 December:
                    Reflective Service 9:00am,
                  Celebration Service 10:30am

                          29 December:
                            10:30am service
            6:30pm Prayer and Praise evening
December 2019 January 2020 - Lansdowne Church
When Rev Dr Chris Wright was with us for a Mission
                                           Sunday some years ago, he helpfully pointed out that
                                              there were five Biblical aspects to global mission –
                                                evangelism, teaching, caring for creation, justice
                                                 and compassion. There is no doubt that Dennis
                                                 and Sheila’s ministry in Malawi encompasses
                                                  all these aspects. Evangelism – explaining
                                                  the Gospel to children, individuals and groups;
                                                 teaching – Sunday ministry and conferences for
                                                 men and women, not to mention the audio Bibles;
                                                caring for creation – setting up irrigation systems
                                              so that much needed food can be made available and
                                            water more readily accessible; justice – seeking to
                                         help the vulnerable and marginalised; and compassion
                                      which is expressed in everything they do from a programme
                              of re-building homes destroyed in the cyclone, taking people to
            Sheila Eaton
An evening with
            Dennis and

                           hospital, comforting the sick, the dying and the bereaved.

                           On Saturday 18 January 7.30 pm Dennis and Sheila will be sharing
                           something of how the Lord has been working during their last two
                           periods of ministry. Refreshments served from 7.00 pm.

                           Linda Fox | Mission Council

 Mark Barrell lives in Maputo, Mozambique where he, his wife
 Susanna and youngest child Lizzie moved to in January
 2018 with BMS World Mission, whom they also served
 with in Uganda between 2001 and 2006. He assists
 the ministry of the Association of Mozambican
 Christian Lawyers (AMAC) helping local Christian
 lawyers develop access to justice programmes,
 whilst encouraging their witness to Christ in the
 legal profession. Susanna’s ministry provides
 opportunities for vulnerable, abused and disabled
 women through a sewing initiative called “Capaz”
 (“Able”).

 Mark, a qualified solicitor, was involved in the practice
 of family law for twelve years. From 2010, and prior to
 moving to Mozambique, he was the Executive Director of
                                                                                                      Mark Barrell
                                                                                           A Sunday with

 the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship in the UK. Their son Jacob works
 for BMS World Mission as their Events Producer and Film Designer and
 other daughter Annie is in her final year reading History at Sheffield
 University. Mark has appeared in an Oscar winning film and still believes
 Wolves will one day win the Premier league.

 Mark will be speaking at all our services on Sunday 12 January 2020.
December 2019 January 2020 - Lansdowne Church
For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
    because it is the power of God
  that brings salvation to everyone
            who believes.
                                 Romans 1:16

“Unashamed”!                                     This gospel of a handful of nails and a
                                                broken body was a message of such glory
Presumably, when Paul the apostle told          that Paul would give everything he had to
the Christians in Rome that he wasn’t           proclaim it, whatever the consequences.
ashamed of the gospel, he had experienced
in some way and at some point exactly that      So as we embrace this text as our Motto
temptation!                                     for 2020, in what will be a year of Mission,
                                                perhaps it's no bad thing to begin by
We know for example, that in his pre            acknowledging that we too are not immune
Christian life Saul had hated the gospel.       to being ashamed of the gospel.
He had concluded that Jesus of Nazareth ,
a crucified man, was an embarrassment to         Our silence or nervousness can be an
good Jews like him.                             admission that in work, home and
                                                neighbourhood, we don't always find it
But such was the transformation in Saul,        easy to live with confidence as disciples of
that not only did he change his name but        Christ. Our society with its secular agenda
also the direction of his entire life. All      can appear to be a very powerful voice which
because what once he believed to be a weak      drowns out the message of the cross. It is
message was in fact strong.                     tempting to keep quiet and not rock the
                                                boat.
Perhaps even as a follower of Jesus, Paul had
not been entirely without those times when
                                                But Paul would encourage us to speak up.
he felt the awkwardness of faith in Christ.
                                                For there is nothing in science, history or
On numerous occasions the Lord has to
                                                literature which has anything like the kind
reassure him in the middle of a mission,
                                                of power which the good news of Jesus
“don't be afraid.... keep on speaking .”
                                                possesses. In the gospel is freedom and
                                                forgiveness, hope and love, unmatched and
And here he was addressing people
                                                unrivalled.
who lived in the capital of an Empire
synonymous with power, about a message
                                                Let this year of 2020 be one in which we
of a Saviour whom Roman power had killed.
                                                know and tell the gospel with unashamed
                                                confidence. It has saved us and it can save
Yet in this gospel, Paul claimed, was the       others.
power of God to save anyone and everyone.
                                                Peter Baker | Senior Minister
Something for Everyone
(check website for latest information)

Stepping Stones (for children under 2), Footsteps (for 2-4 Year Olds), Ground Breakers
(for School Years Reception – Year 6) Sunday mornings at Woodbury Avenue, 9:15am
and 11:15am. Children stay in for the first 15 minutes of the service.

Jelly Tots (Toddler group for pre-school children and their parents/carers)
Woodbury Avenue, 10.00am – 11:30am on Wednesdays (Term-time)
St Augustin’s Church Hall, 10:00 – 11:45am on Thursdays (Term-time)

Hi5 (school years 2-6)
Kids club, Friday evenings, Term-time, 6:30pm -7:45pm

Mum’s Bible Study (For mums with young children)
Alternate Mondays, Term-time, 10 – 12pm, Woodbury Avenue.

Lansdowne Youth (for school years 7-9).
Focus - Fridays: 7:30pm - 9:00pm (term-time).
Focus- Sundays: 11:00am - 12:30pm.

CYFA (school years 10-13)
Wednesdays: 7:30pm - 9:30pm (term-time).

‘Life’ for Students and 18- 30s
Mondays at 7:00pm at Naked Coffee (4 Christchurch Rd)/and other locations.

Women of Lansdowne
All meetings start at 10:00am with tea/coffee and brunch.

Men of Lansdowne
All meetings start at 8:00am with tea/coffee and breakfast.

Life Explored (check website for dates)
Join us on Monday evenings for dinner and the chance to explore the bigger picture of
life together. Evenings include dinner, a short film and chance to discuss informally.

Castle Coffee
Thursdays between 10:00am-12:00pm at Woodbury Avenue.
Join us for a coffee and a chat. Everyone welcome.

In Touch
Providing practical and spiritual help to the homeless.
Every Tuesday and Friday at 11:45am at St Augustin’s Church, Bournemouth.

International Cafe
Fridays at 8:00pm at Naked Coffee (4 Christchurch Rd).

Prime Time
Daytime group that meets on a monthly basis at Woodbury Avenue

Connect Groups – An informal introductory group for newcomers or those who don’t
yet feel connected to Lansdowne Church.

      www.lansdownechurch.uk
Key Dates
December 2019/January 2020
1 December  SUN      AM Peter Baker: Isaiah 9: 1-6 The Promise of a Divine Child
1 December  SUN      PM Peter Baker: Isaiah 11:1-9 The Promise of a New Creation
2 December  MON      Exploring Christianity 7:00pm | WA
5 December  THU      Advent Prayer Central/Forum 7:30pm | WA
7 December  SAT      Women of Lansdowne 10:00am | WA
8 December  SUN      AM Peter Baker: Isaiah 40 The Promise of Great comfort (Communion)
8 December  SUN      PM Mike Smailes: Luke 1: 26-38: The Promise of a Suprising word
W/C 9 December:      Small Groups meet at various times/locations
10 December TUE      Elders’ Meeting 7:00pm
11 December WED      Building Prayer 12:30pm | WA
14 December SAT      Men of Lansdowne 8:00am | WA
15 December SUN      AM Miles Tradewell: Luke 1: 39-56 The Promise of a Kingdom
15 December SUN      PM Carol Services 5pm/7:30pm | WA Peter Baker: Luke 2: 1-20
19 December THU      Members’ Meeting 7:30pm | WA
20 December FRI      In Touch Christmas Lunch 11:45am | SA
22 December SUN      AM Keith Jewell: All-Age Christmas Service (No evening service)
25 December WED      Reflective Service 9:00am/ All-Age Celebration 10:30am | WA
29 December SUN      AM (10:30am) Miles Tradewell: Luke 2:22-40 The Promise of a longing fulfilled
29 December SUN      PM Prayer and Praise 6:30pm | WA
5 January   SUN      AM Motto Sunday: Romans 1:1-17
5 January   SUN      PM (WA) Motto Sunday:
7 January    TUE     Members’ Meeting - provisional
11 January  SAT      Men of Lansdowne (8am) Women of Lansdowne (10am) WA
12 January  SUN      AM Guest Speaker: Mark Barrell (Communion)
12 January  SUN      PM Guest Speaker: Mark Barrell
15 January  WED      Prime Time 2:30pm | WA
16 January  THU      Mission Prayer Central 7:30pm | WA
18 January  SAT      Dennis and Sheila Eaton Evening 7:00pm | WA
19 January  SUN      AM Romans 1:18-32
19 January  SUN      PM 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11
25 January  SAT      Wedding Celebration for Michael and Rebecca Ots 3:30pm | WA
26 January  SUN      AM Romans 2:1-3:8
26 January  SUN      PM 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a (Communion)

           Lansdowne Church                 01202 297977
           Woodbury Avenue                  lansdownechurch.uk
           Bournemouth                      office@lansdownechurch.uk
           BH8 0HH                          Registered Charity No 1158579
           Lansdowne Church is a name of Lansdowne Baptist Church Bournemouth. CIO. Charity No. 1158579.
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