Life January 2021

Life
January
2021
Be joyful in
hope,
patient in
affliction
and faithful
in prayer
Romans 12:12
• Three Little Words
• Christianity Explored
• Lansdowne Youth
• Building Update
... and more

Three little words...
2020 has been a year most of us will want to forget!
So as we turn the corner towards a New Year, we have
a “grunt” to help us.
The English word for motto comes from the Latin
mutum, which means to mutter or grunt. So a motto
is a short phrase with a big punch.
Hands, face and space was one of several
Government mottos which populated 2020.
In 2021 Lansdowne’s grunt motto is
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.”
(Romans 12:12)
It’s tucked away in a series of commands which Paul
issues to the Christians in Rome. He is writing at this
point to tell them how they are to live as Members of
the Church and as citizens of the State.
So as we pivot from one year to the next, what do
we need to have onboard if we are going to navigate
our circumstances, manage our lives and keep
moving forward. Three qualities- joy, patience and
faithfulness.
We are to pray with a consistency, so that whatever
happens we’ll be walking on our knees. We are
to embrace trials and afflictions with positive
acceptance. We are to operate as people of hope by
choosing joy.
In 2021, with the impact of Covid 19 still a significant
issue and the great prospect of our new Church
building opening in the summer, we have lots of
opportunities to exercise the Christian muscles of
joy, patience and faithfulness.
Here’s to grunting three little words!
Peter Baker | Senior Minister

Starts 20 January
Do you want to share the Good News with someone? Why not invite them to
Christianity Explored - a seven week ‘course which starts on Wednesday 20
January. Using stories from Mark’s gospel it looks at the claims that Jesus makes
and encourages participants to ask their questions about life and faith.
In normal times we would start with a shared meal at Woodbury Avenue before
watching a video and breaking into discussion groups. With the social distancing
requirements that we are still respecting, the course will be held as a video
conference on Zoom. Each session starts at 8.00 pm and will include short videos
and group times to discuss and ask questions. Although computers and remote
meetings don’t suit everyone, they do have the great benefit of enabling people
to stay in their own homes on cold dark winter evenings and have the opportunity
for social interaction with interesting discussion.
We encourage you to think of someone you know that would appreciate such an
opportunity to explore their big questions about life, in an informal and relaxed
environment where there are no ‘wrong answers’. You could offer to join them
on the course if it would help them to know that there would be friendly face on
the screen.
There is a form on the Lansdowne website for people to sign up for the course;
look under the ‘Join Us’ tab for ‘Explore Christianity’. Alternatively, just call the
Church office to sign up.
Keith Stevens | Christianity Explored Leader

BUILDING UPDATE
Ventilation plant on the roof
Glass in and first coat of paint on walls
Panel heaters being fitted in
multi-purpose/sports hall
Tiling in the toilets
By Christmas we will have reached
the halfway stage of our 48-week
construction programme with
completion targeted for 7 th June 2021.
Parsons & Joyce have made very good
progress with the upper roof now
being complete, most of the windows
glazed, internal partitions built,
mechanical and electrical installations
well advanced, toilets are being tiled
and the first coat of paint has been
applied to the walls on the upper
floors.
Hopefully, you will be able to see for
yourselves all that has been happening
over the last 6 months when we open
the site for tours on Saturday 23 rd
January.
At the beginning of December, we
had spent approximately £1.3m on
construction and remain within our
budget and our anticipated cashflow.
Thank you for your continued giving
which is supporting these works.
The fitting out has also commenced
with the wiring for the audio-visual
installation, so all the cables are
concealed within the walls and above
the ceilings. The funding for the fit
out is gaining momentum. We have
the opportunity to contribute to reach
the total of £360,000 over our gift
weekend on 29 th and 30 th January to
enable the completion of all that needs
to be done.
God has blessed us in many ways
throughout the last year. Let us give
him thanks for his faithfulness and
provision as we look forward to the
completion and opening on our new
church building next summer for his
glory and the growth of his kingdom.
Balcony tiered seating under construction
Keith MCKAY | Trustee

BUILDING UPDATE
update
We have now been experiencing the
impact of this COVID-19 for almost
10 months with various stages of
lockdown and restrictions. As we look
towards 2021 there is the real hope of
the Vaccine making an impact by late
spring, early summer.
However, until then we will have to
continue managing our events under
various levels of restrictions depending
on the infection rates in our area. In
the lead up to Christmas a decision
was made to conduct all main gathered
events on-line given the uncertain
environment we are presently
experiencing.
Nevertheless, in 2021 we will be
endeavouring to recommence gathered
events albeit cautiously taking account
of the latest restrictions that will be
in force after the Christmas break.
Consequently, it is proposed that the
service on 3 rd January will be gathered
event and you will be able to sign up
to attend from Sunday 20 th December
until 5pm on 30 th December. Should the
regulations after the Christmas prevent
such gathering then everyone who has
signed up will be advised.
It should be noted that the BCP area is
in Tier 2 level of local restriction. This
means that indoors we cannot mingle
with anyone outside our household
bubble. We have managed this with
regard to gathered services where
people when they arrived are shown
to their seats and then leave in an
ordered manner at the end. However,
in 2021, we would like to facilitate
Small Groups, which are experiencing
difficulty operating on Zoom, to
physically meet at Woodbury Avenue.
However, this may be very restrictive
in that only Leader of the group can
interact with the those attending and
discussions within the group are to be
discouraged. We will liaise directly with
each of the group leaders to understand
if a feasible approach is possible.
Finally, I appreciate your patience
and prayers whilst we endeavour to
organise gathered events, safely. The
real hope is that in 2021 we will be able
to meet without any restrictions as the
physical representation of the body of
Christ.
Doug McGINN | Director of Operations

CYFA (14-18)
I have really enjoyed
some of the opportunities
over the summer to meet
up in person for socials.
Especially the
paddleboarding.
Lansdowne
Youth
Here’s what some of our
young people are saying…
CYFA (14-18)
It has been helpful to
have some refocusing in
he week and actually look
at the bible
CYFA (14-18)
It was good to get to
know some parents and
different people from the
church as all they were
interviewed at the start
of our CYFA
zoom sessions
CYFA (14-18
We have missed
able to meet face to
have proper chats w
other and eat f
Focus (11-13)
It’s not like
school.
School is
boring.
Focus (11-13)
You get to relax
whilst learning
more about Bible
CYFA (14-18)
Even though we haven’t
been able to see each other
and it has been on zoom,
it is nice to see some people
from church other than
our families
Focus (11-13)
It’s the main
thing I look
forward
to in the week
Focus (11-13)
Very helpful

CYFA (14-18)
It’s been hard to
create a
proper social
online and
I miss the
individual chats
Focus (11-13)
It’s great to get together
with other people and
interact with them on
zoom and when we
meet for activities
)
being
face to
ith each
ood!
Focus (11-13)
Not to take things for
I don’t read my bible much,
so coming on zoom and
reading is good
Please pray that our
young people will grow
strong in the devotion
to the Lord Jesus and
their commitment to
sharing him.
Focus (11-13)
Not to take things for
granted and that God
is in control

Keep In Contact
Join us each Sunday for our 10:30am online service at
lansdowne.online.church
Website: lansdownechurch.uk
Church Online: lansdowne.churchonline.org
You Tube: lansdownebaptist
Instagram: lansdownechurch
Facebook: lansdownechurchbournemouth
Twitter: lbconline
Soundcloud: user-219596282
Lansdowne Church
Woodbury Avenue
Bournemouth
BH8 0HH
01202 297977
lansdownechurch.uk
office@lansdownechurch.uk
Registered Charity No 1158579
Lansdowne Church is a name of Lansdowne Baptist Church Bournemouth. CIO. Charity No. 1158579.