Church
office. Local
Mission.
Pastoral, ministry & teaching.
Worship.
Global Mission.
Group Ministries.
Youth Ministry.
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Publications –
newsletter, magazine |
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Stewarding –
coffee, communion, door |
Publications
Newsletter – produced weekly.
Magazine – produced monthly.
The newsletter and magazine keeps people up to date with
the latest information about church activities and pastoral care. We are
providing a service passing information regarding the church family and
wider afield.
Stewarding
Coffee
Rota
Aim
To serve drinks after the morning
service, so that the congregation can spend some
time together and have the opportunity to greet new people.
Communion
Stewarding
Frequency
Twice monthly, 1st Sunday in the evening,
3rd Sunday in the morning.
Aim
To prepare the Communion table in order to relinquish our sins, and
receive forgiveness.
To accept the body of Christ in the form of bread broken for us as Christ
did with his disciples and for us, and the blood
of Christ which he shed for us on the
cross.
Objective
To lay out the communion table, prepare the communion wine and bread,
before the service.
Door Stewarding
Aims & Objectives
The main aim is to provide the welcome to people that God would give.
The second aim is to ensure that in welcoming people we show no fear or
favour but gently and kindly help them to feel
at home in what to them could be a strange or
intimidating situation. If anyone has any need
during the service it is our responsibility to be aware and deal with the
problem in a sympathetic and kindly way.
The objective of the above aims is to ensure that the welcome enhances the
worship and fellowship that they will receive which will deepen their
relationship with the Lord.
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Alpha |
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Fellowship of
Churches |
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Great Notley
Garden Village Church |
The Alpha Course
What is it?
The Alpha Course consists of a series of
talks addressing key issues relating to the
Christian Faith.
Who is it for?
Alpha is for everyone, especially:
Supper: There is a light meal together at the
beginning of each session which gives people a chance to get to know each
other.
Talk: After each talk we divide into small groups to discuss the
topic of the evening, ask questions and express opinions.
Coffee & Small groups: Listen,
learn, discuss and discover. And ask anything. Alpha is a place where no
question is too simple or too hostile.
Examples of the Talk titles
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Christianity: Boring,
Untrue and Irrelevant?
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Who Is Jesus?
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Why Did Jesus Die?
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How Can I Be Sure of My
Faith?
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How Does God Guide Us?
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Who Is the Holy Spirit?
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What Does the Holy Spirit
Do?
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How Can I Be Filled With
the Spirit?
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How Can I Resist Evil?
Fellowship
of Churches
Frequency
There are three meetings a year to attend.
Aim
To find out about and participate in what the Fellowship of Churches are
planning in Braintree and surrounding area, e.g. Easter events in George
Yard, Joint Carol Service at Christmas and bring the
information back to
the church meeting for the members to support.
Great
Notley Garden Village Church
Aim
To represent both the local Baptist Church, and the wider
Baptist Union family at their meetings. The council reps are to sit and listen, not vote, but to be a
support by bringing back to our church meetings the progress and prayer needs of that
church without repeating anything that would not concern us.
The Local Advisory Group includes clergy from various national
denominations who support and advise as appropriate on longer term
strategic issues.
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Small Group -
Bible study |
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Pastoral Care |
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Sunday Services |
Small groups for
Bible study and fellowship
Frequency
Meeting - weekly, Tuesday lunchtime and
evening, Wednesday evening.
Aim
These groups provide a vital
place for the church to operate in the purposes of fellowship and
discipleship at the closer level of friendship facilitated by small
numbers. Focussed Bible study provides the basis for learning together in
an atmosphere of sharing and getting to know,
support and pray for one
another.
It is strongly hoped to further develop this ministry, particularly
following the 40 Days Purpose
Driven Life Campaign. This means both increasing the number of groups and
participants, and enabling groups to continue growing in helping one
another live out the five purposes of the Christian life.
Pastoral Care
Aim
Our aim is to assist the Pastor in the general pastoral care of the
spiritual, physical, emotional, social and practical needs of the church family, including
members, adherents and fringe contacts. This is done both through the specific
ministry of those with pastoral gifts and through the promotion of the
general role of the whole church family in Christian care and friendship.
Frequency
We meet once a month for a few
hours to help each other and the church fellowship in any need that
arises. Every thing is confidential and we do try to see everyone at least
once a year. As we now have many people joining our fellowship we are
finding we are not meeting our target of visiting everyone as regularly as
we would like. So if you feel you have a gift in this area please see one
of the team.
Sunday Services
Our Sunday worship services
are held at 10.30am and 6.30pm and are overseen by the
Pastor who usually leads them, and preaches at
least once per Sunday.
We are also developing a preaching team and we welcome other preachers
occasionally. Others also help at times in leading the services, and we are keen to
continue to develop this, and to involve as many as possible in aspects
like prayer, Bible reading, giving testimony, drama etc.
We are continually aware of the need to celebrate the unchanging truth of
the Bible but this must also be done in varied and creative ways, as the
Holy Spirit inspires. This is to facilitate the deepening, natural and
genuine expression of the love for God of the wide range of folks in our
church family, living in the contemporary world. So fresh ideas and
suggestions are always welcome. The distinct
roles of preaching and leading worship are clearly both highly important.
Preaching in particular requires a good grasp of
the Bible and a gift to communicate it.
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Flowers |
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Music in worship |
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Prayer |
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Technical / PA |
Flowers
The flower rota is organised
in December for the January for the following year. Those on the rota pay for the flowers for their designated Sunday and if
they do not wish to arrange the flowers
themselves they are arranged by the our
flower arrangers.
At Easter, Harvest and Christmas special displays are arranged. Easter
flowers are paid for by anyone wishing to have flowers in memory of loved ones. After
the services
the flowers are given to any sick or housebound
people we know of.
Music
Frequency
Every Thursday from 7.30 - 9.00
We are a small but enthusiastic group.
Aim
We aim to help with leading the singing at church services, to learn
new songs so that we can then bring them to the congregation.
Prayer Meetings
Frequency
2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the
month, 10am - 11am, at the church.
1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month, 9am – 10am at the church.
Every Sunday, 9.30 – 10am at the church.
Aim
We try and inspire others to come and pray
with lists from all organisations monthly with up to date prayer
needs. Two or three people regularly pray for an organisation of your choice using the
updated prayer needs lists for you to take home.
We attempt to have all of the church activities
covered in prayer.
Audio
Visual
Aims
To enhance the
worship experience by enabling worshippers
to hear the services and
meetings more easily and to assist the preacher by both audio
and visual
means to bring across the message being preached and also,
in facilitating and monitoring our church’s cyberspace communication via our website and
email address.
How?
By the use of sound amplification, hearing aid loops
and the projected image from computers and videos.
What do
we use?
Voice
amplification and hearing aid loops in the church and large hall, using
radio and fixed microphones. We have (or use) two of each of the
following: laptop computers, data projectors, overhead projectors, flip
charts, TVs & videos. Cassette recorder and high speed duplicator for
producing copies of the service.
Where?
The church is equipped with a hearing aid loop and
voice amplification, controlled from the "a/v" corner. A data projector
coupled to a laptop computer projects the words of the hymns and songs,
plus notices and video clips. Another laptop projects the main points of
the sermon.
The large hall is also equipped with a hearing aid
loop and voice amplification. The projection equipment is portable and
can also be used elsewhere in the building.
GLOBAL MISSION
(National and International level)
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BMS (Baptist
Missionary Society)
Birthday Scheme
Prayer Tapes
Link
Missionaries
World
Mission
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BU (Baptist
Union of Great Britain)
Home
Mission
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CSW Christian
Solidarity Worldwide |
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Tearfund |
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See below for
other organisations that have received our help in recent months. |
Operation Christmas Child Samaritans Purse
London City Mission
Missionary Aviation Fellowship
Christian Aid
Smile
International
Friends of Essex Churches
On
the Move
Chances
Homestart
Spurgeons Childcare
Kids
Alive for Burma
BMS (Baptist Missionary Society)
World
Mission
BMS World Mission - is a leading Christian
organisation, aiming to share life in all its fullness
with the world's
people. They do this by teaching them about Christ, help to alleviate
suffering and injustice, improving the quality of life. The BMS
concentrates on six areas of work: church planting, development, disaster
relief, education, health and media.
Link
Missionaries
Continued support is encouraged for the valuable work
carried out by the BMS through prayers for our Link missionary family
based in Italy; Mark and Claire Ord with their daughters Beth and Naomi.
Mark and Claire lead the Baptist church in Genoa.
Birthday
Scheme
This scheme exists to support the medical work of the
BMS while sharing and celebrating Gods gift of life and love and wishing
you a Happy Birthday. More members to this scheme are vital to increase
the medical support for our overseas missionaries, some of whom are
working in extreme conditions and sensitive areas.
Prayer
Tapes
The bi monthly prayer tapes are now available direct
from the BMS. Contact the Didcot office on 01235 517700 or email
PrayerTape@bmsworldmission.org. This is a good way in which to keep up to
date with personnel working overseas by hearing their interviews, joys,
needs and concerns.
BU (Baptist Union of Great Britain)
Home
Mission
As a Church we support the Baptist Union of Great
Britain 'Home Mission'
Here is an extract from the BU website.
If you are in a Baptist Church you may well be asking
'what's Home Mission got to do with me?'. The answer is that all of us
have a have a part to play. Home Mission is the Baptist Family in action.
First and foremost, the Baptist Union of Great
Britain exists to share God's mission. The Baptist family funds and
supports mission both locally and nationally. The finance for this comes
through Home Mission.
All churches in membership of the Baptist Union of
Great Britain have the opportunity to be a recipient of the many and
varied materials and services provided by Home Mission.
Home Mission helps churches in strategic mission
situations, that could not have otherwise aafford a minister, to have one.
It funds chaplains working in education and industry. It supports
evangelists and missioners. Associations are financed by Home Mission. It
also provides materials, help and advice from the national resource in Didcot.
By sharing together, we enable the spread of the
Gospel and the growth of the Church. And by working together and pooling
our resources we can achieve so much more.
Your support can make a world of difference - it
enables the Baptist Union to help others across the country. As a member
of the Baptist family, Home Mission has got everything to do with you!
And with God's work.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
CSW exists to promote religious liberty
and to defend
Christians suffering persecution
throughout the world.
CSW also helps
those of other faiths who are suffering repression, and works for
victimised children in many parts of the world.
CSW tries to be a voice for those who have no voice, they raise awareness
of the plight of the persecuted and oppressed in many
arenas, including the parliament of the United Kingdom, and the United
Congress and senate, the United Nations and the European Union. This
advocacy is based on first hand evidence gathered from visits to those
suffering persecution and other violations of human rights. Evidence is
then presented to churches of all denominations and mobilise those
concerned to take action and to pray.
What can
we do?
We can learn - we can learn of the different
situations throughout the world where people are treated unjustly and
violated for their faith. We can pray - we can pray constantly for these
people and bring them before the Lord. We can campaign - we can write
letters to the appropriate government bodies on behalf of our Christian
brothers and sisters in Christ, which has helped to achieve the release of
some. We can encourage - we can write letters, send cards and words of
encouragement to those who are imprisoned for their faith.
"Not everyone can visit the persecuted church, but
countless ordinary people responding in love can make a difference - often
in extraordinary ways". (Baroness Caroline Cox - President of CSW.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide annual report 2001/2002).
Tearfund
Frequency
This job involves going to a prayer meeting once
every six weeks with other Tearfund representatives and finding out what
is going on.
Aim
To make the church aware of Tearcraft sales and
information and putting weekly prayer lists about worldwide issues on the
notice board.
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B geez |
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Catering
Committee |
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Channel 5 |
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Meeting Point |
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Womens Fellowship |
We are currently a small group of adults, however it
is hoped that others may join the group to increase numbers and diversity.
Frequency
The group meets on a monthly basis, either on a
Friday or a Saturday night (dependent upon venue and event). We also
endeavour to plan from time to time, a family evening where our families
may join together in fun and fellowship. Within the group we undertake a
range of activities including bowling, quiz nights, meals, biblical video/
discussion evenings and games nights. The group welcomes innovative
suggestions.
Aim
To bring Christians together and to encourage
non-Christians to participate and integrate with believers.
Catering Committee
The Braintree Baptist Catering Committee started
catering for the church and then decided to encourage coach parties.
An advertisement was placed into Age Concern and a very good response was
received. Coach parties have visited from areas such as Southend on
Sea
and Westcliff. Everyone has enjoyed coming
and said what a lovely friendly place the church is, some have been not
been Christians.
As time went by we ventured into providing
luncheons. Some of the team are disappointed that
they are no longer able
to cater for these coach parties. The catering committee now only concentrate on
providing church teas e.g. Christmas, special
services, suppers e.g. Agape,
Harvest. We are still providing lunches and suppers for local functions
e.g. ministers lunches.
Channel 5
Aim
To socialise, and provide a warm welcome
for non church members. We have talks many with accompanying
slides on a diversity of subjects, plus beetle drives and quizzes.
The evening concludes with refreshments.
Frequency
We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30
except for June and July, when, on the Saturday nearest there is a coach
outing and garden buffet respectively.
Meeting Point
Frequency
This group meets twice a month at the church.
This is a mid week group for men and women and we
have one toddler! We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month
throughout the year. All are welcome whether you go to this church,
another church or don't go to church at all. Our usual format is 11.00 -
11.25 am tea and coffee. 11.30am - 12.30pm meeting. 12.30 - 1.30pm stay
and have lunch or go as you wish.
We invite different speakers for a time of devotion.
We also have a lady speak from the Leprosy Mission every year and we
collect used stamps to pass on to her. Some of the speakers we had last
year were Miss Eileen Warner, local ministers, The Girls from Gt. Notley,
Andy Paine, Gary Baugh with his collection of war time
Bibles, Rev Ron Smy,
and a lady from Little Haven Children's Hospice. We had our Christmas dinner out
at a local venue and shared a Carol Service with the Women's Fellowship.
We have a few coach trips during the year when we can invite friends who
perhaps don't go to church to share a day with us.
Aim
Our aim is to be spiritually uplifted during the
week, to fellowship together, to care for each other within the small
group and exercise our gifts and talents and also to invite people along
who perhaps don't come on Sundays.
Women's Fellowship
Frequency
We meet on the last Thursday of every month at
2.30pm.
Our meeting takes the form of a service where
hymns
are sung and prayers are said. Each month we have a speaker who gives a
talk based on the scriptures. We are a fellowship of women who love Jesus
and we want to serve him in many different ways.
We would welcome others to join us.
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Children’s
Advocate |
Junior Church |
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11 – 17’s |
Parents and
Toddlers |
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Crèché |
Quest Club |
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Girls Brigade |
Youth Group -
Recharge |
Child Advocate
We take our responsibility to protect the
children and young people of our
church very seriously. For this
reason we have a Child Advocate who has the responsibility for obtaining
information from people who wish to work with our children and
young
people, including references and police checks if needed.
11-17's Youth Club
Frequency
We meet on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month
from 7.30pm until 10.00pm. One night we meet in the hall where we, play
football, other ball games, play station, N64 games, girlie things such as
make up and nails. We might cook or have sleepovers. The other night we
go out and about doing a variety of things, such as bowling, ice skating,
tramp suppers, cinema, beach, b.b.q's, camping, walks,
visit a park. This is just
a sample of what we do.
Who can come?
Anyone who is between the age of 11 and
17 and attends secondary school.
Aim
Why do we do it? Because we're mad!!!!!!! To have
fun and socialise with youngsters and show them that you can have fun
while going to church. A lot of youngsters look at church as some sort of
threat, or that we don't know how to have fun. We also want to show them
that we care and want to share God's word with them but not preach to them.
How do we do this? In the middle of the evening or just before the end we
have a 10 minute quiet time or as the kids call it the “God slot”.
Requirements
11-17's started up 3 years ago with a grand total of
8 kids coming off and on. This year we started back in September with
taking 27 kids to Thorpe Park for the day. We regularly have about 24/25
attending. They're a great bunch of kids and we hope to expand, so if you
know of anyone of the age group invite them along they will all be made
very welcome. Or if you feel you would like to help in some way please
speak to one of the leaders.
Crèche
The crèche is for babies and
toddlers 0 - 3 years and operates
during the morning service.
Girls Brigade
A Christian organisation run by those who believe in
the Lord Jesus Christ.
1ST BRAINTREE
the company attached to
Braintree Baptist Church
Aim
The aim of the Girls’ Brigade is; To help girls to
become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and through self control,
reverence and a sense of responsibility to find true
enrichment of life.
The
Badge
In the centre a
Cross, the symbol of Christ and his
church. Below it a Lamp, that our glory may shine out upon the world.
Above it is a Crown, that we may own Christ as our King. Behind it all a
Torch, the flame of Christ’s living Spirit and our devotion to Him.
Motto
Seek, Serve and Follow Christ.
Principles
The Brigade acknowledges Jesus Christ as Saviour and
Lord according to the scriptures and seeks to fulfil its Aim to the glory
of one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Brigade witnesses to the
standard set by Jesus Christ and gives positive teaching on the Christian
attitude to life. The Brigade promotes a just society where all people
are equally valued.
Law
A Girls Brigade member will do her best to be loyal
to Company and Church, to be honest, truthful, kind and helpful; and to
remember The Girls’ Brigade Motto.
Promise
I promise to do my best to keep the Girls’ Brigade
Law.
Frequency
Wednesday from 6pm until 9pm for girls' aged between
5yrs to 18yrs. We are a uniformed organisation and the girls work for
badges. Each badge is made up of 4 parts spiritual, physical, service and
educational.
The company consists of 4 sections:
Explorers 5 - 8 Year olds
Juniors 8 - 11Year olds
Seniors 11 - 14 Year olds
Brigaders 14 - 18 Year olds
We have 24 girls on the books at the moment with
about 20 attending each week regularly. We are part of the Chelmsford district and meet
throughout the year doing various activities with the other companies. We
hold a celebration service with the district yearly and this year we hope
to hold it here at Braintree.
As a company we hold regular parade service where we
try to encourage the parents of the girls and families and members of the
church to come and join with in worship.
Junior
Church
The groups are Creche, Beginners, Junior 8-12, Senior
13-17.
Aim
The aim for Junior Church
is to teach the children about our Lord and God, in a friendly but mildly
challenging environment, giving the children every opportunity to
interact, doing this by using and delivering God's works either in craft
form, or by discussion (Junior Alpha) in the older group, or occasionally
by music. Other methods can be by making videos, acting out plays.
This message is delivered in a way that is suitable to the age group
concerned. In the very young groups it's a time to spend with the
children, while the parents get an opportunity to stay in the church and
listen to the word of God.
Please pray for:
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the current team of
workers
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that more families
may come into church
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more helpers to back
up the current team
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the children who
attend regularly and for those children who only come occasionally.
There is also an ongoing need for more teachers and
sit in helpers, particularly men, to help meet our child protection policy
requirements. The more volunteers we have, these jobs can be done on a
rota to alleviate the pressure on any one worker.
Beginners
(3-5 years)
Aim
The aim at that age is to teach the children about
God. That God made all things and that God loves them and to tell them
the stories of Jesus. They play with the toys
if the lesson has finished
before the end of church.
Prayer needs: that the teaching will be true to God's
word and interesting and fun for the children. That the children will be
happy as they come each week to learn. That whoever is teaching will be
anointed by God for that work. Also pray for more children.
Parent
Toddlers:
Frequency
We meet in the large hall Tuesday mornings with lots
of toys out. Thirty children come with Mums, Dads, Childminders, Grandmas or Aunties. The children go
through to the small hall about 10.30 for
squash and a biscuit and then back to the large hall and
adults are served
with tea and coffee.
Aim
The purpose of the group is to make a link between
the church and the toddler group by chatting with the Mums, Dads etc and
also playing with the children providing a safe environment for the
children to play and mix with other children.
Quest
Club
The formation of the
Quest Club was back in November 2001,
this followed on from a Mega-quest
week in October of the same year.
Frequency
The Quest
Club is for ages 5-11 (before senior
school) the club is run on the 2nd and 4th
Saturday of each month between 5:30 and 7:00
pm.
Aim
The aim of the club is to bring children together for
fun and games in a friendly Christian environment, with a 10 minute
epilogue at the end.
Children's numbers range from 2 to 14 at any time. We have Sega megadrive games, table hockey, table
football, normal football with small balls, ten pin bowling, and many
other activities. A craft activity is prepared for each session so that
the children can contribute their particular skills to the tasks.
Please pray for this work to reach out to the
children, and for them to come to know the Lord
in their own time, and pray for them to reach out to their families and
encourage them to come to a youth service, or church activity.
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