PBC News

Peebles Baptist Church Newsletter Summer 2013 www.peeblesbaptistchurch.org

We Plough the Fields and Scatter!

Community Garden yields its first crop of tatties
The Kings Meadow Community Garden, which was launched this Spring, has produced its first crop of new potatoes. The plan for the future is to pass some of our potatoes and other produce on to the Peeblesshire Foodbank, which launches later in August (see back page). However, this first crop of potatoes have been distributed to many of the houses surrounding the Kings Meadow. One resident has already cooked her share of the crop, and declared them to be delicious! The Kings Meadow can be found behind the Victoria Park Centre and in front of Cleland Avenue, on land owned by Peebles Baptist Church. The land was purchased several years ago with the intention of building a new church facility there, to replace the original Baptist Church building in the Old Town. In the meantime, however, the church wanted to do something with the land that would be of use to the surrounding community. The environmental benefits of community gardening are clear, but it's the benefits to the community as a whole that makes this project so exciting for us, said Ian Gray, pastor of the Baptist Church. As weve talked to people around the area about this idea, weve been encouraged by the positive response weve had people really want to get involved. Since the gardens inception in the Spring, people have been busy removing turf, cultivating the soil, spreading new topsoil, building several raised beds, and planting not just potatoes but also leeks, squashes and wild flowers (and of course watering them all through the hot summer weve enjoyed!) Theres lots more space still to be developed, and the planning team is keen to make the garden accessible to as many people in the community as possible. Meanwhile, our neighbouring garden projects (Peebles Community Action Network at the Victoria Park Centre, and further into town Tweed Green and New Horizons Borders in the Secret Garden) are also continuing to flourish, and the Kings Meadow team hope to share resources with them. If youd like to get involved, or if you have any old tools you no longer need that youd be willing to donate, please contact us - the garden needs your help! If youre on the Internet, you can read more about the latest developments by going to the Kings Meadows Blog:

peeblesbaptistchurch.org/garden

Last of the Summer... Sausages!

Whatever else we might do, theres one thing thats particularly close to the hearts of those at Peebles Baptist Church - and thats eating together! Once a month all through the summer, PBC has been enjoying a barbecue after its Sunday morning service. The barbecues are free and open to all - and even if its raining (as it did torrentially in July!) we still go ahead, eating indoors in the Victoria Park Centre if necessary. Theres just one more barbecue scheduled for this summer, on the day of the Big Welcome (see opposite) - Sunday August 25th. That also happens to be Back to School with God Sunday - the day when we (along with many of the churches around Peeblesshire) will be having a special all-age service to pray for and support the whole school community children, teachers and support staff. The theme this year is Dig Down Deep, taken from Jesus parable about two builders. So if you or your children are going back to school in August, or if you know someone who is, or even if you just fancy a sausage and a burger (or a vegetable kebab), why not join us on the 25th? The service starts at 11am, with the barbecue at about 12.30. We might be outside the Victoria Park Centre, or we might be on our ground at the Kings Meadow - just look out for the big red and white Gazebo and pitch in!

More than a sing-song

Dr Jane Bentleys work is all about making people feel better using music. Research evidence confirms that singing is good for emotional, psychological AND physical health. Jane has lots of experience on NHS wards, in nursing homes, day centres and in community groups; shes coming back to Peebles, to St. Josephs Neighbourhood Centre on 3rd September, to lead a workshop about how older adults especially those with dementia can benefit from music. If her previous visit here (to the Eastgate theatre in early July) is anything to go by, this workshop will be informative, practical and great fun! Jane is coming at the invitation of the Baptist Church, which already runs two community singing sessions for older people each month. For more information, or to book a place at the workshop, please contact Christine Drummond on 07958 084056 or cdrum65206@aol.com. We are very grateful to Alzheimer Scotland Borders Service, whose financial support from local fundraising has helped make it possible to provide the workshop free of charge to participants.

RUNNING OUT OF HOPE?

For most people today, hope is something that is by definition optimistic and uncertain. Many of the things people put their hope in turn out to be hopeless. But the the Bible talks about a hope that is steadfast and certain - what does that mean, in a society where change is the only certainty? On Sunday mornings through much of August and September we are running a teaching series called Hope, throughout which well be discovering how hope is central to the Christian faith, and exploring what Jesus being the hope of the world really means.

MAKING A SPLASH IN THE RIVER TWEED

Think of baptism, and the chances are you might be imagining a baby being sprinkled with water in a font. But Baptists do it slightly differently! On September 15th, we will be holding a service of believers baptism in the River Tweed! Believers baptism is, as the name suggests, for people who are old enough to decide for themselves that they want to follow Jesus Christ, and make a public declaration of that fact by being fully immersed in water. In many countries around the world, people risk being shunned by their families, sacked from their jobs, thrown into prison or even worse, by declaring their faith in Jesus in this way. Baptism in Scotland might not be quite so dangerous as that, but its still quite a bold thing to do! Of course its very exciting for the church family, and there will be food afterwards. If youd like to come along to see what its all about, youd be very welcome! If the weather is really bad we may have to hold the baptism indoors. The precise venue including any last minute changes will be posted on the church website (peeblesbaptistchurch.org) - please check there for the latest updates.

Youre invited to

Sunday 25th August, 11am - with free BBQ!

2013 KAOS PICNIC

KAOS stands for Kids Around On Sundays - PBCs group for younger children. On Saturday September 21st, KAOS will be going for a picnic to Biggar, and for a visit to the Purves Puppet Theatre to see Pips and Panda meet the Tooth-Fairy - a show for the under sevens. Each Sunday at church we have a KAOS group, plus a childrens talk as part of our lively, family-friendly worship. Why not come along and give us a try?

Messy Church is for families who want to meet Jesus but find it hard to go to church on a Sunday. Its a once-a-month time of creativity, worship and eating together. Its not just for kids, but for mums, dads, grandparents, friends and carers too. Messy Church is on Saturday afternoons towards the end of each month, from 3.30 5.30pm in the Victoria Park Centre, Kingsmeadows Road, Peebles. The focus of activities will be for families with primary aged children, but all are very welcome. Messy Church is organised by Peebles Churches Together. You can find out more, including dates of future Messy Church events, at the Messy Church Facebook page just do a search for Messy Church Peebles.

The next Messy Church is on Saturday August 31st, at 3.30pm

News from the

PBC is one of several churches and other organisations involved in the new Foodbank. Chair of the trustees, Jim Benton-Evans of St Peters Episcopal Church, writes:

The Foodbank officially opens its doors at 10am on August 20th, at the Leckie Bakehall. We have already been issuing emergency parcels, at the rate of about two a week, since Christmas. We have now secured a foodstore and a distribution point and are now, bar one or two loose ends, ready to open. We have been greatly encouraged by the level of interest in and support for the Foodbank. Our appeal for volunteers has been successful with many wishing to offer help within their community to those facing hardship. Volunteers have expressed interest in a range of areas including collecting food, helping to sort food, distributing food parcels and praying for those who use the service. Our first volunteer training event will take place on the evening of Monday 12th August in St Peter's Church (next to the Post Office). We welcome anybody else wishing to get involved to fill out a volunteer application form available from Katie Buckingham at buckingham@kittlegairy.co.uk. The recent food collection at Tesco on 4th & 5th July was a huge success. There Milk (UHT were teams of volunteers taking slots in groups of two, explaining to shoppers the or powder ed) Sugar (50 0g) purpose of the collection and asking if they would be willing to donate one or more Fruit Juic e (carton) items from a list displayed prominently (and also given out in the form of a Soup leaflet). The reaction of shoppers was overwhelmingly positive, with only a very Pasta Sauc es small number questioning either the need for a Foodbank in Peeblesshire or the Sponge Pu dding (Tin ned) Tomatoes collection itself. Many trolleys were filled with donated food for example on the (Tinned) C ereals Saturday afternoon alone 3 trolleys were filled in as many hours. Tesco staff were Rice Puddin very supportive and helpful, and Tesco themselves will match the food collected by g (Tinned) Tea Bags/ instant co 30%. Thanks are due to all who helped out, either by standing and speaking to ffee Insta shoppers or by donating food. Further regular food collections are planned and Ric nt Mash Potato e/Pasta there will be plenty of opportunity to get involved with these. Tinned If you have any questions about the Foodbank, or are interested in volunteering, please email Katie Buckingham as detailed above, or call Rev Jim Benton-Evans on 07702 842727 or Ian Gray on 07881 518854.
Meat/Fish Tinned Fru it Jam Biscuits or snack bars

YES, THERE ARE BAPTISTS IN PEEBLES!

Its amazing how often we hear people express surprise that theres a Baptist Church in Peebles - especially given that weve been here since 1889! Granted that we dont have a building of our own at the moment; we meet at the Victoria Park Centre, just along the Kingsmeadows Road on the south side of the river. Peebles Baptist Church is a group of people who love Jesus, and want to share his love with our community. We are a growing congregation, enjoying good relationships with the other churches in Peebles. Our meetings are informal, welcoming and family-friendly. We have activities for children, families, men and women - you can find out more by visiting our website at peeblesbaptistchurch.org, or call the pastor, Ian Gray, on 07881 518854. If you prefer, you can email Ian Peebles Churches at pastor@peeblesbaptistchurch.org. Peebles Baptist Church is a member of Peebles Churches Together, as well as the Baptist Union of Scotland, and is registered in Scotland as charity number SCO07561.
Together