Newsletter page

Blog update:

On the left of this blog you'll find a heading of  'Pages', under it will be 'newsletter'. If you click on that this months newsletter will appear (that is a blog-friendly version of it will).

Keith

COMING SOON

 

 

Tickets are available from Eric Gurney at HRBC or from 'JEWELS' in Bedford Square.  Advertising leaflets are available at church and will be given out at the Houghton Regis carnival on July 9th.

for more info on John Archer who is both a brilliant magician and a side-splitting comic visit his web site on this link :   john-archer.com

This coming Sunday - 3rd July

This coming Sunday whatever the weather some folk are bound to get wet !!

The morning service will be an 11:00am start as usual but bring your swimming togs and a picnic lunch.  We have exclusively booked the local swimming pool (Houghton Regis Leisure Centre) for 2-3pm. So, after morning service we'll stay around for a picnic and then toddle off for a swim.  Everyone is welcome but ALL children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

It would be really helpful (though not essential) if you could confirm you are coming to Penny Geraghty by e-mail at penny.geraghty@hotmail.co.uk

Sunday evening

Sunday evening service has been rescheduled and relocated !!

It will be at Houghton Regis Baptist Church and at the usual time of 6:00pm.

Speaker will be Kevin Price.

Thorn Service 2011

Thorn Service 2011

 This year the Thorn service will be at

8:00pm on 30th June. 

As usual it will be open air so come in whatever clothing the weather might dictate. Bring something to sit on if you don't want to stand for 3/4 hour, and remember that apart from not having a roof there are no toilets.

The site is where the earliest Houghton Regis Baptist church stood. Currently the site is within farm land on the right hand side of the link road between the road to Toddington and the A5. 

We hold an open air service every year at the Thorn site - the parent church of Houghton Regis Baptist.  The history reads like this:-

In 1694 William Brittan (of Houghton) played a large part in the development of the Baptist movement in this area. He led meetings in members' homes in both Dunstable and Houghton.  This laid the foundation of the first Baptist church in Dunstable.  However, brother Marsom of Luton donated a piece of ground in Park Street, Luton, built a chapel on it, and appointed a pastor of his own choice.  A small group of Houghton & Dunstable Baptists joined him and they attended meetings in Luton for many years.  The represented communities within that Park Street church grew and eventually it was decided that the various groups should have meeting places closer to home.  Among the Houghton group in attendance at this time was Thomas Bunker of Thorn.  It was decided that the new "Houghton" site should be in Thorn (near the village green), on land owned by Thomas Bunker.  A meeting house was erected on this site in 1738 and used for worship for half a century.  Along with churches at Markyate, Bendish, and Breachwood Green, the Thorn church was administered by a group of "associate pastors" under the wing of Park Street.

In 1751 the Thorn Church became autonomous from Park Street. Its first minister being Thomas Bunker (thought to be the son of the Thomas Bunker who originally provided the land), who had been one of the associate pastors of the Park Street group of churches. 

Houghton Regis folk grew in number and so the church moved into the village. Originally they used a pair of cottages which were then extended using the actual bricks from the Thorn chapel.  This is why there is only the site and no building at Thorn.

THORN 1738 - 2011  (keith wallis)

This quiet spot,

this quiet evening,

an echo of

“Be still”.

Written on grassy parchment

the resonance of God’s house

from ‘once upon a time’

generations ago.

The only markings left: timeworn gravestones,

foundation indentations,

and a new generation

who worship

occasionally

on this quiet spot

and remember those

whose tears and laughter

lead them to the house of God.

This quiet spot

speaking again:

‘with my mouth I will make

Your faithfulness known

through all generations’.*

                                                                                 

 *Psalm 89 v1b

 

Sunday 26th

Morning service on Sunday 26th will be 11:00am as usual.

This week the evening service will be at Stanton Road at 6:30pm.  The speaker will be Kevin Price, paying us a home visit from Ringstead Baptist and Regent's College.

Sunday 19th June

The day is different to that shown in the church newsletter.

In view of a busy schedule we're postponing the church picnic.

Morning service at 11:00am will include 'all-age' communion.

There will be an afternoon service at 4:30pm followed by tea 

(instead of the 6:00pm service).

Dennis & Leann's Wedding

Many thanks to all who contributed in whatever way to Dennis & Leann's 'big day' on Saturday.
It is a day which will live for a long time in their hearts. They were overwhealmed by the opportunity to share it with so many people - new friends and old.  Keep them in your prayers as they come back to earth with the inevitable reality of everyday life.

Busy Weekend

It's 'not only but also' this weekend at HRBC.

Saturday 11.00am 

 the 

Wedding of Dennis & Leann

Sunday it's     Pentecost

11.00am Service David Skinner

6.00pm Service   'Is anyone thirsty ?' 

led by Keith with David preaching.

Opening Gambit

Welcome to the Houghton Regis Baptist Church blog

no matter how cold the world may be there will always be a warm welcome in here