New Road Baptist Church The Church in Bonn Square

praying and working for the peace of the city

CHURCH MAGAZINE

JULY-SEPT 2017

PEACE to the CITY

is

The vision and prayer of New Road Baptist Church, Oxford

Located in the centre of the city, in Bonn Square, this congregation is committed to

praying and working for the peace and well-being of the city through worship, witness and service .

This vision and mission is based on the Good News that "Christ is our Peace".

In Christ

a new relationship has been opened up between humanity and God breaking down the wall of contempt between people and all things in heaven and on earth are being reconciled into God - who is the source and end of all life.

Practically this means that in this place, where a congregation has met for over 350 years:

The peace of God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, is explored and experienced in worship is celebrated and deepened through life together in community and is lived out in costly acts of compassion and hospitality

All are welcome. May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you

Wherever he may send you.

May he guide you through the wilderness

protect you through the storm.

May he bring you home rejoicing

at the wonders he has shown you.

May he bring you home rejoicing

once again into our doors.

(Celtic Blessing copyright:

Northumbrian community Trust)

From Paul Hernandez

Dear Friends, welcome to the latest

edition of the church magazine,

for the summer of 2017.

Most of the articles in it are

devoted to our former Minister

Revd Kat Bracewell whose last

service was on 23rd July 2017. We

want to say how grateful we are for

the last 10 years of her leading us

in worship at New Road. We pray

God’s blessing on her as she takes

up the pastorate in Windsor.

We begin the newsletter with the

ordination of Jeryl Bayona. Jeryl

was a former church member now

minister at Littlemore Baptist

church. There is a piece from

Richard our Administrator on

saints as well as updates on the

church website as well as photos.

Enjoy this edition.

This issue

Peace To The City

Message from Paul, Editor 3

Ordination of Jeryl Bayona 4

A Welcome Poem 5

Farewell Party for Kat 6

The Communion of Saints 7

Pictures from the Party 8

Kat’s last Sunday 9-10

Communication Team 11

Photo of the ordination 12

Photo of Kat B with plate 12

Photo of Kat B and James G 13

Photo of thank you cake 13

*

Ordination of Jeryl Bayona on 22nd

June 2017. By Paul Hernandez

On 22nd

June 2017, we had an enjoyable evening where we celebrated the

ordination of one of our former church members Jeryl Bayona. Jeryl has been

associated with New Road Baptist Church since 2009 with his wife Alma along

with his two sons Judd and Kirk. The family came into membership of our

church where he stayed at the church flat whilst studying for his theology

degree at Regents Park College. He was our student minister where the

congregation supported him throughout his time. Jeryl has been helpful in his

ministry in reaching out to university students from the Filipino community in

Oxford.

A number of visitors witnessed his ordination including members of various

congregations such as Summertown United Reformed Church and Northway

Evangelical Church. The service began with a welcome from Kat

Bracewell followed by the call to worship by Revd Andrew Bevan, Jeryl's co-

minister at Littlemore Baptist Church. Jeryl told of us the story of how God

inspired him on his road to becoming a church pastor with some good

humour. I still remember reading in the Oxford Times in December 2015 about

Jeryl putting together a CD for elderly residents at the Brookfield Christian

Care home. He helped play some songs for these dementia sufferers with Roll

Out The Barrel, We'll Meet Again among those chosen. As chaplain, Jeryl

bought so many smiles on the faces of these folks.

Some friends sent messages via video link from the Philippines. His journey

has taken him over seven years of studying as well as leading worship. After

further contributions by Dr Deb Rooke, and Mrs Caroline Gale (secretary at Lit-

tlemore Baptist Church) Jeryl then took his vows. These were conducted by

Revd Dr Myra Blyth, Chaplain and tutorial fellow at Regent's Park College. We

had refreshments afterwards along with photos of this special evening. We

want to congratulate Jeryl on becoming ordained as a Baptist minister at

Littlemore Baptist Church. It is our hope that Jeryl will continue to experience

God's blessing with his ministry/outreach in the coming years.

A Welcome

In July, Junior Church looked at how Jesus welcomed others and how we can provide a welcome. They creat-

ed an acrostic ‘Welcome Poem’ about how they see New Road offering a welcome to others and thought it

was worth sharing.

Welcoming Smile

Enthusiastic Handshakes

Loving Hearts

Caring Prayers

Open Arms

Marvellous Mindfulness

Endless amounts of refreshments for all

Junior Church and Youth Group

Goodbye to Kat party!

On Saturday 15th July 2017

Fun and Games as Kat moves her ministry to Windsor

A great time was had by all connected with Junior Church and Youth Group as

we held a party to say goodbye to Kat.

People were encouraged to come in their choice of fancy dress to represent

Kat in some way! As you can see from the pictures her move to be near Royal-

ty in Windsor prompted many of the Royal Family to appear (That pleased

Kat!) as well as Jasper the Rabbit, a corgi, a lego man as she is moving to be

near Legoland, Kats idol – Daniel Craig (yes it wasn’t the real one!), Wonder

Woman and a man from a water company saying he was a Baptist hence the

water link!!

We played many games which Kat has introduced us to over the years. From

pegging people with pegs, to doughnut dangling from the balcony to apple

bobbing which Kat demonstrated with great exuberance! We had a challenge

to build a model of Windsor Castle out of spaghetti and marshmallows, had a

sweet hunt around the church and shared food together.

We gave Kat some small humorous gifts from the children and young people

– including a crown to be Queen for the day!

A lovely time of fellowship was had together as we remembered the fun times

we have had with Kat and we wished her well with her move to Windsor.

Becky Raven on behalf of The Junior Church and Youth Group

The Communion of Saints

“The definition of a Saint is someone whose private life has been under-researched” so

said a former colleague, a church historian.

Since coming to work and worship with you at New Road, I’ve been teasing the deacons

and others in the “hierarchy that isn’t” by noting the saint’s day on my endless emails. I

know full well that keeping saints’ days isn’t a reformed-church thing, but it’s something

that appeals to the genealogist in me.

As with children, and cats, we’re not meant to have favourites, but we can’t help it, we

do. Mine include John the Baptist, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, and Seraphim of Sa-

rov. They all make God either surprising, or warm, or both, and it’s the example of their

intimate relationship with God that can help to draw us closer too.

And it’s not just the ones who made it into the official calendar. There was Grace, anoth-

er mystic, from my first congregation in Romford, who had visions and said at the church

door one morning “you know that bit in the service” with angels and archangels and all

the company of heaven?” Well, I looked up, and there they all were! Wasn’t that nice

dear?”

The “communion of Saints” is something Christians affirm in the Apostles’ Creed (BWP

424) and by it we celebrate our fellowship not only with one another, here and now but

with brothers and sisters unseen and unknown all over the world, and with all those who

have gone before us in the faith, ever since the time of the Apostles. (the Orthodox go

further, and include the Patriarchs and Prophets of the Old Testament). In the Baptist tra-

dition too, those who lived the Gospel and cared for the people are remembered– think

of John Bunyan Church in Cowley, or the way that Richard Tidmarsh, James Hinton, and

Ronald Hobling are honoured in the rooms here – not forgetting George’s Cupboard.

Most of us would be uncomfortable claiming to be a saint right now, preferring perhaps

to be seen as a work in progress, but there are saints among us all the same, and here’s

an interesting test. It is from a sermon by Dr Rowan Williams based on the novel

“Brideshead Revisited”. He contrasted Lady Marchmain, full of good works, endlessly con-

cerned for the welfare of others most of all her children, and doing her best with some

force; to direct them in the right way. Her younger son Sebastian, who is dissolute, lazy,

decadent, gay before it was legal and yet blessed with a sense of wonder that brightens

the lives of all those who know him.

“What’s the difference between a good person and a saint?” Good people make you feel

worse. Saints make you feel better.” So you’re bound to know a saint or two. And from

time to time you might even be one yourself.

Rev Richard Haggis, Administrator at New Road Baptist Church.

Pictures from the Farewell Party

Kat’s last Sunday– reflections by Miss Tamsin Wright

After ten years of being blessed by Kat’s ministry, we met on 23rd

July 2017 to

celebrate it and to release her from her ministry to us before she is being in-

ducted at Windsor Baptist Church in early September. The large turn out that

day in the congregation was a testament to the number of people whom Kat’s

ministry touched.

Kat shared with us ten high points from the past ten years, and what they in-

dicated about the church. I’m sure many will agree with me that they could

also be words used to describe Kat. Let’s aim to continue being all these

things as we are without a minister, and beyond.

The ten points were:

10. Orthello being performed by Creation Theatre. This moving, very human

tragedy was performed in the sanctuary at New Road – a suitable place, un-

derneath the great cross. Kat said that the church’s decision to allow the

space to be used in this way – for about six weeks – was an example of the

church being brave.

9. Members of the church acting out the original covenant for its anniversary

– in costume! The church is well rooted in its tradition and purpose.

8. Welcoming James home. Kat and Jacob were with Grace at Heathrow Air-

port to greet James after his wrongful deportation. The church had actively

campaigned in support of James, including attending the hearing after which

the Judge overturned the original court ruling. Kat said this was a demonstra-

tion that the church was not afraid to be political.

7. Jonny’s pole-dancing…! In one memorable service Kat played Mary Mary’s

Shackles from CD and encouraged us to sing, move and dance to the music.

Jonny was probably most enthusiastic and Kat remarked that the church was

accepting enough to let that happen.

6. The youth trip to Spring Harvest, which was supported financially by the

wider church. This showed how committed the church was to its young peo-

ple.

5. The Bonn Square events which were made possible by the church allowing

the space to be used in a creative way – if like me you were unaware of some

of these, Google ‘Granny Turismo’…

4. The Easter Sunday sunrise service in 2013, at which “we saw the sun at

last”. After years of attending sunrise services with no sun, Kat described the

appearance of the sun at this particular service as a spiritual experience.

3. Youth club initiation. The pictures said it best, but this involved the youth

having tights put over their head and face… and slowly pulled off. No doubt

just one of many crazy moments at New Road and at the manse!

2. The handbag – when builders discovered a handbag during refur-

bishments, its contents revealed that it must have been left there for

about fifteen years. Because there were identity cards in it, the hand-

bag could be returned to its owner in America. The woman wrote a

lovely letter to thank the church for reuniting her with it and included

a photo of her, her two children – and the handbag. Kat recognized in

this the restorative nature of the church.

1. Kat’s number one memory? The PEGS! If you are unaware of the

peg game, it’s simple: write an encouraging message on a peg,

then try and clip it to someone without them noticing. Later in this

service, the whole church participated… a great example of how

fun the church is.

Let’s thank God for how Kat has nurtured these Christ-like qualities in us.

Kat preached on Luke 19. 1-10, during her final sermon. This was the

same passage which she also chose when she came to preach with a view

at New Road. It’s the story of Zacchaeus ‘tumbling into salvation’! When

Zacchaeus hosts Jesus, he decides to pay back three times everyone he’s

defrauded. But we are not told that Jesus demanded he did this.

Zacchaeus did it of his own accord! So what did Jesus do that inspired

such generosity and change of heart in Zacchaeus? He simply treated

Zacchaeus with warmth, respect and liking; he spent time with him. Of

course, it did not seem so straightforward to those around Jesus, and it

was an action that caused ripples, murmurs of disapproval and maybe

disgust.

So it was not so much what Jesus did or told Zacchaeus, it was about how

he was with him. It’s often easier to know what to do than how to be –

but if we are able to be like Jesus with people, we will create the safe

space in which they can decide to change. We were reminded by Kat that

this is also how Jesus comes to us, when we’re up our own ‘trees’ –

accepting us , loving us until we desire to be more like him.

During the lunch that followed the service, Kat was presented with gifts

from the church - including a pass for Europe’s longest (and the world’s

fastest) zipwire!

Thank you to all who organized and helped with the lunch and the gifts.

May Kat be blessed with happy memories of this day and let’s continue to

pray for her over the coming months.

THE COMMUNICATION TEAM By Roger Tatton

Improving the Website

The Publicity and Communication Team got off to a flying start thanks to

Becky and Phil's leadership. Members are Sue G, Marion, Phil, Becky, Sophie,

Roger. It quickly realised the need to show the church and its work to others,

and improve how we communicate with one another about what we're doing.

First meeting, an enormous agenda emerged. So to get things started we be-

gan on the Church Website. (Our new site will be fully up and running in Sep-

tember).

We've incorporated existing material, edited some more and written extra

stuff. We are meeting our website manager Rob (Mary Hope's son) to stitch all

this together at the first of our two August meetings.

Church Calendar now live

Some things are already happening, thanks to Sue Grote who has taken on

the Church Calendar. This is live on the old site at the moment so

PLEASE TELL SUE about anything that's happening.

NOW!

The rules are: say what's happening, day and time; not who or where.

Then please look at the calendar yourself:

http://www.newroadbaptistchurchoxford.co.uk/calendar/

You might be surprised!

The new website

will be newroad.org.uk

Laying on of hands for Jeryl with Dr Myra Blyth, Rev Kat Bracewell,

Rev Andrew Bevan and two of Jeryl’s friends.

A bowl presented to Kat from the congregation with our

names and fingerprints using different colours.

Kat with James reading her pledges on her last

day of preaching before leaving for Windsor.

A leaving cake for Kat, celebrating her 10 years of

Ministry with us in New Road.

New Road Baptist Church Bonn Square

Oxford OX1 1LQ

www.newroad.org.uk

01865 798235

Sunday service: 10.30 am Crèche and Junior Church Tea and Coffee afterwards

Weekday Church: 11.00am—2.00pm Drop in for a cuppa, a chat or

quiet reflection

Minister: Vacancy

Church Administrator: Richard Haggis (Weekdays 0900-2pm) officenewroadbap-tist@yahoo.co.uk 01865 798235

Church secretary: Deborah Rooke

Church treasurer: John Chadwick john.chadwickofardington@hotmail.co.uk 01235 832619

Magazine editor: Paul Hernandez

Please let me have articles by 19th November 2017