The Lesters will be returning to BBC on Saturday, August 27, at 7:00 p.m.

Singing the gospel is a family tradition for the Lesters, who write:

“Simply put, we love music. . . and we love introducing others to Jesus Christ through our music and personal ministry. It’s a passion that began with our grandparents, Harvey and Opal Lester, in 1925. And it’s one that has endured to the third, fourth and fifth generations. In fact, this year our family is celebrating eighty-four wonderful years of sharing the Good News through Gospel music. And we’re more excited now than ever before.”

Love Your Neighbor, Who is my Neighbor?

September 23 and 24, 2011 in Fitchburg, MA

This year all American Baptist regions in New England are joining together in a MissionWorks that has some of the most influential and interesting American Baptist leaders involved.

The conference will be held in Fitchburg on September 23-24.

The theme is “Love your neighbor; who is my neighbor?” based on Luke 10:27.

You can come Friday evening and Saturday or just Saturday. Friday there is a Chinese buffet to begin the program which will end about 9pm. The program on Saturday will run from 9am to 3pm and there will be a Youth Program from 8am to 3pm, complete with an Indoor Water Park for Jr. and Snr. High youth, as well.

A special room price of $89 per night plus tax is available at the Courtyard by Marriott in Fitchburg, where the conference will be held. Deadline to take advantage of the special hotel rates is August 30.

The conference will feature several speakers and workshops that may be of interest to all, such as:

• Dr. Reid Trulson, the Executive Director of the Board of International Ministries (American Baptist Churches) will be one of the speakers and workshop leaders at MissionWorks. Dr. Reid will be preaching at BBC on Sunday, September 25. Prior to his present appointment Reid was International Ministry’s Area Director for Europe. In that position he was instrumental in getting American Baptists involved in Bulgaria.
• Dr. Dan Chetti is an ABC missionary who has served on a seminary faculty in Lebanon for a number of years. Dan’s subject in both a Friday evening presentation and Saturday workshops is about what it means to love our neighbors when our neighbors are Muslim. Insofar as his seminary prepares leaders for Protestant churches throughout the Middle East, Dan has a unique perspective and understanding of issues involving the Middle East that should be of interest to many.
• Dr. Dan Buttry, an American Baptist missionary who specializes in conflict resolution. He has been instrumental in bringing about and maintaining a cease fire between rebels and the government in North East India. In this MissionWorks his special assignment is to talk about the problem of bullying – in schools, in churches, in the world.

Anyone interested in attending is urged to register as soon as possible, because the whole of New England is involved and space is limited.

Brochures can be picked up in the Missions Core Ministry mail box (opposite to the office) at BBC, or downloaded directly from TABCOM.

Registration forms, Youth Permission Slips, and hotel information are online on the TABCOM web page.

Dear BBC Family,

With Vacation Bible School only 10 days away, we are reaching out to you for the following items that will help make this year’s VBS a great success!

If you have any of these items, please bring them to the church between now and Wednesday, Aug. 3^rd. There is a collection box under the PandaMania sign in the Narthex.

If you want any item returned to you, please put your name on it. All items to be returned will be placed in the church garage for pick up on Sunday August 14^th.

We truly appreciate the love you have for our kids!

Needed Donations

• Electric leaf blower
• 15 to 20 rolls of wrapping paper
• 10 rolls of gift wrapping tape
• 5 cardboard wrapping paper tubes
• 1 brightly colored bucket (with handle)
• Wrapping ribbon
• Bows
• Small light stuffed animals
• 30 one liter bottles with caps
• 12 old beach towels you don’t want back
• 2 Volley ball nets
• 12 large stuffed Pandas or other animals
• 1 Gas grill (for Friday Aug. 12^th for volunteer appreciation lunch, delivered and picked up, please!)
• Large flash light (with batteries, please!)
• 4 small flashlights (with batteries, please!)
• Artificial plants, flowers and fruit
• Fog machine
• Feather boa
• Megaphone (with electronic siren)
• Animal masks
• 12 medium size beach stones (about 3 to 5 pounds each)
• Sturdy child’s wading pool
• 4 gardening trowels
• Old newspapers
• Firefighter uniform
• Electronic fake “campfire”
• 8 shoe boxes (that will be painted to look like building block stones

BLAST Ministry: Belonging, Learning And Serving Together a ministry for individuals in their 20’s

Bible Studies and Fellowship

Bible Study:

Wednesday Nights 5:30 – 6:15p

Studying the book of Philippians

Wednesday Night Dinners

Wednesday Nights: 6:30 – 8:30p

We join together for a meal and fellowship

BLAST Fourth

July 22 and August 26:  7:00-10:00p

A time of fellowship in the Student Ministry Center, games, movies, etc.

Dinner at the Downs:

July 29: 6:00 – 8:00p

Fred and Mary Downs have generously offered to host an evening of  dinner and swimming in their pool.

Hiking Adventures:

BLAST goes on regular hiking trips around the Cape.  Times TBD.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer at Family Pantry:

July 16, 9:30am – 12:30 pm

We will be harvesting food in the Family Pantry’s garden. The “crops” will then be used to provide food at the pantry which serves the Cape Cod area.

Springfield Tornado Relief:

July 18, 4:00pm – July 19, late evening We are partnering with Christian Ministries Tornado Relief in Springfield, MA to provide assistance and relief to those affected by the recent tornados.  We will most likely be doing outside yard work and cleanup so be sure to dress appropriately!

Project Playhouse to Benefit the NOAH Shelter:

July 30, Times TBD

We will be selling raffle tickets for Project Playhouse Cape Cod.  Raffle tickets are sold for 3 separate custom built playhouses made by 3 different Cape builders.  All proceeds go towards NOAH’s sheltered housing program and a large part of the funds will go towards at risk children on the Cape.

Vacation Bible School

August 8 – 12:  9:00 – 12:00

Help is always needed for crew leaders, games, crafts and lots more.

Bible Studies and Fellowship:

For Everyone:

Every Sunday – 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Middle and High School Ministry for fellowship, games and Bible Study called God Up Close.  Looking at encounters that people had with God throughout the Bible

For High School:

Sunday mornings:  9:30-10:30am in the Lounge:

For Middle School (including those entering the 9^th grade in the fall):

Monday afternoons: 4:00 – 5:00 pm

Boys in the High School Room and Girls at the Parsonage.

Middle School Girls Bible Study: Amy Staples will be leading a bible study for MS girls called “Becoming a Young Woman of God” about who God made them to be. (Girls entering the 9^th grade in the fall are also welcome) At the Parsonage Mondays from 4:00 – 5:00 starting July 11.

Middle School Boys Bible Study: MS boys will be doing the “Young Man” version of what Amy is doing with the girls.  (Boys entering the 9^th grade in the fall are also welcome).  In the high school room Mondays from 4:00 – 5:00 starting July 11.  It will be led by the son of our church organist, Jean & Bob Anderson, his name also happens to be Pastor David Anderson.  He’s here for the summer and has offered to help us out with Bible Studies and such while he’s here.

First and Thirds – 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
July 1 and 15, August 5 and 19.

Middle School and High School students and their friends meet for a time of fellowship in the Student Ministry Center

Family Night: – 5:00 – 8:00

July 9 and August 13

Our monthly family event of potluck, games and time to socialize with other BBC families.  Bring friends, everyone is welcome.

Youth Praise Team

Everyone welcome! Come sing with us!!

July 11: 6-7p

July 18: 6-7p

SING July 24: 7:45a

August 1: 6-7p

August 8: 6-7p

SING August 14: 7:45a

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer at Family Pantry:

July 9, 9:30am – 12:30 pm

We will be harvesting food in the Family Pantry’s garden. The “crops” will then be used to provide food at the pantry which serves the Cape Cod area.

Springfield Tornado Relief:

July 18, 4:00pm – July 19, late evening We are partnering with Christian Ministries Tornado Relief in Springfield, MA to provide assistance and relief to those affected by the recent tornados.  We will most likely be doing outside yard work and cleanup so be sure to dress appropriately!

Project Playhouse to Benefit the NOAH Shelter:

July 30, Times TBD

We will be selling raffle tickets for Project Playhouse Cape Cod.  Raffle tickets are sold for 3 separate custom built playhouses made by 3 different Cape builders.  All proceeds go towards NOAH’s sheltered housing program and a large part of the funds will go towards at risk children on the Cape.

Vacation Bible School

August 8 – 12:  9:00 – 12:00

Help is always needed for crew leaders, games, crafts and lots more.

Mission Trip Fundraisers

Car Wash – 10:00 – 2:00

July 23 and August 27

Brew Run Parking:

August 13: 3:00pm

Special Events

High School to the Museum of Science:

July 7:  Meeting at church at 7:30a

Amazing Race

July 31 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Teams race around the Lower Cape having to complete challenges and find surprise elements.

High School to Six Flags:

August 25:  Meeting at church at 7:30a

Coming Up in September

Sunday School Kick Off: September 10, 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Our second annual Family Olympics will be the September theme for Family Fun Night, a time for families to come together for food, fun and fellowship.

Sunday School begins: September 11, 9:45-10:45 am

Unite Cape: September 17, Times TBD

BBC will be hosting a large Youth Rally we are calling Unite Cape.  It will be represented by at least 8 different Cape churches to bring students together and promote See You At The Pole and an all-Cape Snow Camp weekend in February.  More information will be coming as the event draws closer.  This will hopefully be the just the beginning of growing Cape Wide partnership in strengthening, encouraging and equipping student’s faith in Jesus Christ.

See You At The Pole: September 28, times differ by schools

See You at the Pole is a student-initiated and student-led movement that started in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas, in 1990. SYATP brings students to their school flagpoles to intercede for their leaders, schools, and families, asking God to bring moral and spiritual awakening to their campuses and countries.