May2014

Encouragement
PEEBLES BAPTIST CHURCH
Therefore
encourage one
another and build
each other up.
1 Thessalonians 5:5
T
hose of you who were in church last week will
have heard me speaking about the story of the
Lost Coin in Luke 15, and how Jesus used it to
illustrate the extent to which God takes pleasure in our
coming back to him. When we give our lives to Jesus,
we tend to focus (quite naturally, I guess) on our own
sense of joy and relief and excitement, but the point
that Jesus is making is that Gods joy when this
happens is even greater than our own.
As Ive continued to reflect on that, my astonishment
has continued to grow at the implications of this. Ive been trying to think
of a word that can describe it; extraordinary, incongruous, even
amazing are frankly all too tame and understated. Maybe absurd
comes closer - the idea that the God of the universe can take that amount
of pleasure in a restored relationship with the likes of you and me really
does sound absurd, crazy, even irreverent.
But perhaps that just goes to show how little we grasp of the
overwhelming love of God for his children.
Well be continuing our series called Encourage Me during the
beginning of May - I hope that the rest of the series is a blessing and
encouragement to you as the first one has been for me. This coming
Sunday (as I write) was due to be me talking about the place of hope in
encouragement, but at short notice Im heading down to my parents in
Surrey and Barbara Edmondson has kindly agreed to speak. Barbara is
herself someone filled with hope and encouragement - enjoy what she has
to say!
Still on that theme of how much God loves us - on the
back page is one of my favourite poems, Performance for
an Audience of One, by Gerard Kelly. Be encouraged.
If youd like to know more about what our friends in the other
Peebles churches are doing, you can find some of their own
magazines online:
Old Parish Church: topcopmag.wordpress.com
St Peters: www.stpeterspeebles.org.uk/netmagazine.php
St Josephs: www.stjosephschurch.org.uk/?Home%3A:Current_Newsletter
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From the Editor

There are - Ive always known! - lots of wonderful things in Peebles and the
surrounding countryside. However, I never expected that Id so much
appreciate easy access to Edinburgh as one of the major benefits of living
here. Over the last few years Frank and I have realised that looking out for
whats happening in the capital can be very worthwhile. Weve been able to
get to many high-quality eventsoften entirely free.

Just last night, for example, we were able to attend a debate in the Assembly
Hall on The best years of our lives? Body, brain and well-being.
One of a British Academy series on aspects of ageing, this event was chaired
by broadcaster and author Sally Magnusson, with speakers Professors Ian
Deary and Catherine Ward Thompson (both of Edinburgh University).
Professor James Goodwin, Head of Research, Age UK, and Henry Simmons,
Chief Executive, Alzheimer Scotland, also participated.

If you ever get the chance to hear him, dont be put off by Ian Dearys rather
intimidating job titles (e.g., Director of the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and
Cognitive Epidemiology!) Hes always a fascinating speaker, able to distil
and explain research findings and to enthuse even the most non-specialist
audience. We hadnt heard Professor Ward Thompson beforeshe argued
very convincingly from research evidence that older peoples health and
quality of life are significantly improved by being able to get out and about -
and especially, by being able to access green spaces. Further
encouragement, if that were needed, for Vickys Tearoom and The Kings
Meadow volunteers! The debate will soon be available to view on the British
Academy webpage, www.britac.ac.uk/events/2014/debates.cfm

On 7 May, in Scotland's Religious Future , Mona Siddiqui, Professor of
Islamic and Interreligious Studies at the School of Divinity, University of
Edinburgh, will be in conversation with Mike Russell MSP, Scottish Cabinet
Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. The publicity states the
event will cover the changes Scottish Independence could bring,
constitutionally and to the church in Scotland, as well as covering the
position of faith communities, and religious and cultural identity. This is
another free event, this time in the George Square Lecture Theatre,
Edinburgh University. (Tickets through Eventbrite.)

As a dyed in the wool Weegie, I never thought Id find so many reasons for
spending time in Edinburgh!
Christine

Vickys
Tearoom
Sunday 11 May
3 4:30 PM
Diversity
Thursday 29 May
Evening Walk around
Peeblesmeeting at gates
beside Hay Lodge Hospital at
7pm.
ALL WOMEN WELCOME!
Service of
Dedication and Blessing
for baby
Harris Bram
hall
Sunday 1 June
The Kings Meadow
Lots of work going on in the
Community Garden in May
on the shed and paths, as well
as more planting. Speak to Bill
for details of when and how you
can help.
The A
lpha
Course
continues on
Sunday evenings
at 6pm
in the VPC, with prayer
for Alpha on Tuesdays at 7.30
(watch for location).
Messy Church
No more Messy Church until
after the summer, but dont
forget Chattabox coming up
from August 11 - 15! If youre
interested in helping for part
or all of the time, please
speak to Ian

Prayer M
eeting
Saturday 10 M
ay
34:30pm

(no, not breakfast this time
- afternoon tea!)
Jacqueline W
ilsons home
S
in
gin
g T
o
geth
er a
t
D
o
veco
t C
o
u
rt
W
ednesday 7 M
ay
2.00 PM

See Linda or Christine for
m
ore inform
ation

M
en
s G
rou
p

T
hu
rs 8
/5
, 7
:3
0
pm

Franks house
O
pen Doors of another kind
- access for
people with disabilities
O
pen
D
oors
Praying for, and writing
to, Christians persecuted for
their faith.
N
o M
ay m
eeting.


Diversity
Thursday 29 May
Evening Walk around
Peeblesmeeting at gates
beside Hay Lodge Hospital at
7pm.
ALL WOMEN WELCOME!

C
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The Kings Meadow
Lots of work going on in the
Community Garden in May
on the shed and paths, as well
as more planting. Speak to Bill
for details of when and how you
can help.
A prayer for Christian Aid
Week
For journeys home;
for determined steps to peace;
for hope overcoming fear;
for kindness against violence;
for goodness and mercy.
Even through the horrors of war;
for the breaking of bread and for prayers;
for sharing what we have;
for all these things,
give us glad and generous hearts.

PBC Prayer Points
Thank God for peace, freedom and all the other blessings we have in
this countryincluding education and health services.
Please pray for those known to us who continue to have serious health
problems, that they, and those who care for them, will experience
Gods healing presence and the security of knowing that underneath
are the everlasting arms.
Pray that the young people sitting exams this month would find the
joy, as well as the peace, the Lord can give. Pray for Gods special
blessing and protection, for all our children and their teachers. In the
run-up to the European Election this month, and as the referendum
on Scottish independence draws closer, please pray that even amidst
heated discussion and debate, people of all opinions would value and
respect each other.
Acts 2:42-47
BUS Prayer Link Calendar:
May 2014
Sunday 5th January
Neil Allison (Army Chaplain)
Abbeyhill Baptist Church
Aberdeen Christian Fellowship
Adelaide Place Baptist Church
Sunday 12th January
Marylee Anderson (Chaplain, Aberdeen University)
Airdrie Baptist Church
Alexandria Baptist Church
Alloa Baptist Church
Sunday 19th January
Graham Bell (Chaplain, HMP Glenochil)
Alness Baptist Church
Alva Baptist Church
Ardbeg (Rothesay) Baptist Church
Sunday 26th January
Nick Blair (Chaplain, Merchiston Castle School)
Arran Baptist Church
Ayr Baptist Church
Barnton Baptist Church
In Britain today, 10 million adults (about 1 in 5 of
the population) have a recognised disability. A
further 700,000 children have one or more
disabilities. In fact, 95% of us will experience
disability at some time in our lives. Find out just
how important good access can be for everyone, at
the Mens Group on Thursday 8 May.

Peebles Baptist Church is now linked to four
sets of BMS mission workers:

Sarah McArthur, in Peru;
Rachel and Tim Eagle and their
family, based in Mozambique;
Andy & Jutta Cowie, based in Haiti;
Ann & David MacFarlane, in Italy.

If you would like to support any of our link
workers by prayer and committed regular
giving, visit
bmsworldmission.org/partners
or call 01235 517617 for a
24:7 Partners leaflet.


Ward Rounds in Mozambique by Rachel Eagle

Over the past few months I have been fortunate to have met a few
doctors here in Beira. I have been attending the city hospital most
weeks after language classes to watch and learn from the medical
students and the doctors there.
In general, I enjoy being in hospitals but find this one hard. It is very
full, very basic and it seems to have very few medical staff. I am struck
by the numbers of patients lying in the corridors and the small wards
seem overcrowded. There is very limited facilities and
very few drugs in the pharmacy. On the general
medical wards most of the patients are young (majority
under 30 years old), very thin and very sick. It strikes
me how different this is from UK hospitals were the
majority of the patients are elderly and less sick.
I have also had the opportunity to attend a church run health centre
with a Brazilian doctor, in a city close by. It has been a wonderful
experience and one in which I have learnt lots. I am beginning to find
my Portuguese is sufficient to speak to patients, which I have found
encouraging.
I have also had the opportunity to play doctor at home after Tim
managed to split his head requiring stitches. He has healed well!
As we finish our language studies and move into our work we are
aware our skills can be so useful here. We continue to pray that we will
make the wisest choices of where to live and how to use our skills. we
would be grateful as always for your prayers, especially now, for
guidance and clarity on the next steps for us as we transition from our
language learning to work.
Love
Rachel
Remember to keep your used stamps (leaving a maximum of
5mm [1/4 inch] of the envelope showing all round, and being
careful not to damage any part of the stamp including the
perforations).
Bring them to church and drop them in the box in the foyer for
sending on to the BMS Stamp Bureau, where they will be
collated and sold on to collectors and
dealers. The income raised is passed on to
BMS to support its work of transforming
lives around the world.





for women of all ages

Looking for your input
During the last year, Diversity has had a range of
meetings pottery painting, curry and a film, batik
painting, Kolkata Freeset information evening with craft
stall. It would be really good to get your feedback and
ideas for going ahead and planning the next few
meetings.
On Thursday 29
th
May we have planned an evening walk
around Peebles meet at the gates beside Haylodge
Hospital at 7pm and walk round the park. We can end up
back at the manse for a cup of tea and a cake, and we can
do some planning for future sessions.
If you have any other ideas for Diversity evenings, please
pass them to Morag or to Lindsey. Helen recently
passed us the name of a lady who does a Chinese cookery
evening which sounds really good fun. Ideas for
crafting, cookery, other hobbies or interesting talks would
be gratefully received. We could even plan for a ladies
weekend away if you fancy it!
The idea of Diversity is two fold - to build relationships
within the women of the church and give us an ideal
opportunity for friendship evangelism so we can invite
friends, family or neighbours to come along.
God provides armour for his soldiers, not for the unsaved. It doesnt work
for them. The gospel is the power of God for our salvation, but its foolish-
ness to those who dont know Jesus. The natural man doesnt accept the
things of God, they are foolishness to him and he cant understand them.
The armour of God is uniquely for us. In Matthew 13 Jesus said, To you it
has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to
them it has not been granted. This armour is only for Gods soldiers.
Meaningful truth
We might think, We do a good Christian course on helping our young
couples to prepare for marriage. Maybe we could invite some unsaved
people too. Certainly, we can share common sense values. We could tell
the guys, It might be nice if you washed occasionally, communicated with
your wife and had occasional date nights together. But anyone could say
that. We have special armour that has to do with Jesus. Gods word tells
the husband, Love your wife and cherish her as Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her. Such truth is meaningless to the outsider.
If you want to be in the battle but protect your marriage, you must have
Gods armour. Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Wives
submit to your husbands. As Christ is the head of the man, so a husband
is the head of the wife as Christ is head of the church. Such thinking is not
embraced in the world because its a gospel secret which works only for
us. Why? Because we understand who Christ is, what man is and what
marriage is. Actually, the fact that two become one is a great mystery. Its
Part 7:
GODS Armour for His Soldiers
Christ and the church. Its sublime, amazing, glorious. Sure, we can wash,
communicate and have evenings out, but we have that unique extra spe-
cial something that they dont have. Its not old fashioned. Its Gods
truth, his armour and we disregard it at our peril.
Similarly, common sense doesnt help believers. We hear the words,
Dont cry over spilt milk and Things are bound to get better. These en-
couragements may keep unbelievers going, but they have no place in our
battle. Little ditties wont defend us. Only when we wear Gods armour
can we win his war. So dont regard carelessly the things that God has
said. His word comes to us with all power, authority, and ability to defend
us and make us conquerors. God has given us unique armour.

This post was adapted from the 1st of three sermons on the Armour of God preached at Together on a
Mission 2010; www.terryvirgo.org/Articles/264622/Terry_Virgo/Resources/Articles/Series/
Armour_of_God_Genuine_conflict.aspx
<<*&1?

The Bramhall family would like to thank
everyone for their support and prayers since
the birth of Harris (and before). We really
appreciated the weeks of delicious meals and
baking, and we are so thankful for the love and
encouragement you have given us.
Morag, Rab and family
Frank and Christine Drummond would also like to thank everyone for the
warm welcome given to our baby grand-daughter, Lucy, and her two
Mums, when they came to church on 13 April during their first visit to
Peebles from Horsham, Sussex.
Sunday 4 May
Childrens talk: Rab Bramhall
KAOS: C. Drummond, Carol Jones, Moira Dalrymple
Teens: Stay in service
Flowers: Wilma Wintour
Stewards: Jennie Jacobs, Vi Brown
Teas: Janlyn Townley
Setup: Frank Drummond, Janet Smith
Communion: Lindsey Gray, Janet Smith

Sunday 11 May
Childrens talk: Jacqueline Wilson
KAOS: Pat Hamilton, AN Other, Emma Dalrymple
Teens: Rab Bramhall
Flowers: Margaret Johnstone
Stewards: Christine Drummond, Stan Henderson
Teas: Vi Brown
Setup: Bill Jacobs, Jacqueline Wilson, Janet Smith

Sundays throughout May, at 6pmthe ALPHA Course





Services in Victoria Park Centre (unless otherwise indicated)
Pastor: Ian Gray
07881 518854
pastor@peeblesbaptistchurch.org
Secretary: Christine Drummond
01721 722062
Treasurer: Liz Keiro
01721 730217
Website: http://peeblesbaptistchurch.org
Sunday 18 May
Childrens talk: Linda Bell
KAOS: Jennie Jacobs, AN Other, Elaine Taylor
Teens: Rab Bramhall
Flowers: Janet Smith
Stewards: Carlyn McCall, Willie & Wilma Wintour
Teas: Carolyn Munro
Setup: David Tidder, Frank Drummond, Janet Smith
Communion: John & Moira Dalrymple


Sunday 25 May
Childrens talk: Charles Tulloch
KAOS: Bill Jacobs, Janlyn Townley, Carlyn McCall
Teens: Helping with KAOS
Flowers: Helen Craig
Stewards: Frank Drummond, Gordon Craig
Teas: Isobel Clifford
Setup: Bill Jacobs, Jacqueline Wilson, Janet Smith



Transport
Christine Drummond, Margaret Cowan, Jackie Tidder, Douglas
McCall
Laying Communion Table in MayChristine Drummond
Services in Victoria Park Centre (unless otherwise indicated)
Pastor: Ian Gray
07881 518854
pastor@peeblesbaptistchurch.org
Secretary: Christine Drummond
01721 722062
Treasurer: Liz Keiro
01721 730217
Website: http://peeblesbaptistchurch.org
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