How is National Church Life Survey Week going? Have you taken 15-20 minutes to fill in one of the forms?
This week – Sunday, 13th Feb to Sunday, 20th Feb – we are participating in the National Church Life Survey. This survey has been carried out for the last 30 years and is the largest longitudinal church survey in the world! It will help us identify the ministries and activities that are important for us as a church, understand our strengths and build directions for the future. It is also a tool our denomination will use to understand where as are as Baptists in 2022 and help guide all Christian denomination across Australia. It is fairly significant!
To participate all you need to do is go to – https://attendersurvey.ncls.org.au/ and enter our church’s code – BA102100. Anyone 16 years and over is encouraged to fill in the survey. (If you are aged 8 to 15 go to https://childsurvey.ncls.org.au/ and use the same code to enter – BA102100.) It should only take 15-20 minutes as I mentioned. Not every survey is the same, but all the survey results are anonymous and confidential. And more than one person can also use the same device to complete the survey. Just click ‘finish’ before you share the device with someone else.
There’ll be another reminder on Sunday – if you haven’t had a chance to finish the survey yet!
Speaking of Sunday, next Sunday is our 93rd Church Anniversary! Woo-hoo!
Very appropriately – we be continuing our series on Baptist values examining the legacy of mission – and the future of mission – in our movement. I thought of inviting a special speaker and realised we have (right here in our own congregation) someone who has thought and researched deeply on the role of mission in our Australian Baptist history. So, this Sunday, Rebecca Hilton will be speaking to us about some of her research, and Lisa Churcher will also be sharing with us, by video, about her role in Uganda.
Following Sunday’s service, please join us in Telopea Park (from 11:15am) for a picnic. You need to bring your own picnic gear and fare – but there will be birthday cake and games! (If you have a favourite traditional Sunday School picnic style game – please be in touch!) The weather is looking like perfect picnic weather so far!
Gathering together for an anniversary and a picnic might feel just like a social event, but knowing how important community is for us as Baptists (go and listen to last Sunday’s sermon!) we realise that our identity as a company of believers feeds into how effective we can be as a church together and how effective we can be in mission together. We need to spend time together in order to know each other! And we need to know each other in order to love and serve each other – and speak God’s words – to each other – and to others! Discipleship inspires community and community inspires mission. So, come on Sunday and make some new friends in our company of believers here at Canberra Baptist!
Or listen to this wonderful benediction from 1 Peter 4:8-11:
Above all, maintain constant love for one another (remember those Valentine Day hearts!) for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen
Amen!
Belinda