We’re back in Sulovska, but following the strict Covid-19 restrictions. If you are not feeling well it’s best to stay at home. For all attending, please respect the hygiene and seating restrictions. Services will continue to be available online (YouTube) at this link:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC0j7m5zFpHrl07OvCo-N9lQ
Preaching for September
Please pray for Pastor Nick as he brings God’s Word to us:
5 September: Pastor Nick
12 September: Pastor Nick (Communion)
19 September: Pastor Nick
26 September: Pastor Nick
Dates for the Diary: September
September 1 Public Holiday – Constitution Day
September 15 Public Holiday – 7 Sorrows of Mary
September 26 Potluck Lunch
Tuesday Bible Study
We appreciate all who have taken the time to fill out the questionnaire about Bible study. Once we have collated all the responses we will communicate any changes. For now we are meeting online on Tuesday at 7pm.
Women Connect
The next meeting will be on Saturday, 11th September 2021.
For more information contact Nikki at niksseiler@gmail.com
Finances
The church is financed by the tithes and offerings of members & those who attend – members receive monthly reports of income and expenses. (See below for the church’s banking details)
Church Retreat
We hope that you are planning on joining us for the church retreat, 15 – 17 October at Berea campsite in Modra. You can fill in a form in the foyer or complete the online application form. There is no cost for this weekend and we encourage all to attend.
Future Events
(Subject to the Corona Virus restrictions)
Oct 15 – 17 Church Weekend – Berea
Oct 26 – 28 IBC Annual Mtg., Kaiserslautern, Germany
Kids Club
- Zuzka and a team of leaders will provide an Online English Summer “Camp” for children, 5th – 8th August. Please promote this event and outreach as we seek to strengthen children in their faith and reaching out to new ones. See website or contact Zuzka for more information.
- Children’s ministry in Summer. For the months of July and August there will be no separate Sunday School during the worship services. There will be a Bible lesson and some activity sheets for children (and parents) in the Sunday School room.
News & Prayer Requests
- Pray for the missionaries supported by us:
- Lenka Slobodova (in South Africa) with Operation Mobilization
- Eva and Martin Horton with Wycliffe Bible Translators in the UK.
- Jarka Panchuchova / Zuzka Magdoskova, both at CEF (Slovakia).
If you have any prayer needs, please speak to one of the Council members to make it known.
From the Pastors Desk
Joy in the Storm
Where do you go when the unexpected happens? Do you hide, argue, or run? Do you blame others or blame yourself? We rarely expect the unexpected so we often have to process pain and trauma in real time. We usually do not get the opportunity to mentally prepare for the many challenges we face, and unfortunately, trials often bring out the worst in us. In the midst of the unexpected, we often say and do things that we regret. As Christians, how are we to respond when trials and tribulations come?
James offers us a very clear reminder of how to respond when the unexpected happens. James 1:1-4 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” It is easy to understand what James is saying here, but this passage is drastically harder to put into practice. What does James mean when he says to “consider it all joy” when we face trials? Does this mean that we should always smile and never experience sadness? I think not. Jesus wept, and Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Joy does not always mean we are filled with happy emotions. Joy is a gift from God. Joy is not always an emotion or a feeling. Instead, we choose to find joy in the object of our faith, Jesus Christ. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Though we may not understand the unexpected, I pray we run to and find joy in Jesus Christ, our source of hope.
Due to the pandemic, the past two years have been a bit unexpected. In addition to the pandemic, each of us have faced other unexpected circumstances. Many of us have not stopped long enough to think about how Christians should respond to such unusual times. I encourage you to find some time this month to process the past two years. Think about your response to the unexpected. Repent if you have responded incorrectly at different points. Apologize to people that you may have hurt. Turn to Jesus and find joy in the storm.
Jesus is the one that calmed the storm, woke the dead, and opened the eyes of the blind. Jesus is no stranger to difficulties and challenges, but where we failed, Jesus was blameless and perfect. Jesus did not tell us that we will not face the unexpected in this world. Instead Jesus says in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” May we find hope, joy, and courage in Jesus today. He has overcome the sin, brokenness, and death of this world. Jesus has promised Christians an eternal hope in Him. When the unexpected comes, may we find our joy in Him!
In Christ,
Nick, Amanda, and Julia
Church Finances
The church is financed by the tithes and offerings of members & those who attend.
Account Name: Medzinárodný baptistický zbor Bratislava
IBAN: SK65 3100 0000 0040 4026 2118
BIC: KOMASK2X
Bank Name: Prima banka Slovensko, a. s.