Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet

Going back to Mum for Mothering Sunday 

Baptist church with rich church planting history gathers "offspring" as part of anniversary celebrations

Abbey Baptist Church in Reading, which was formerly known as Kings Road, was founded in 1640 and is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year with several special events. 

The first was held on Mothering Sunday. The church has a long and rich heritage of church planting having directly planted 21 other Baptist churches, and invited representatives of all its daughter and granddaughter churches to come for a tea followed by a service of thanksgiving and celebration.
 

Abbey Baptist Church
Each apple represents a different church descended from Abbey Baptist - all fruit from the same vine


The theme of the service was John 15: 5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” (NRSV). 

Within the service some of the other churches represented told what they were doing and how God was active in the lives of their fellowships as they seek to make Christ known in their communities.  After the sermon those in attendance were invited to place an apple, each representing a different church, on a large picture of a tree to emphasise that we are fruit of the same vine.

'We were very keen to acknowledge the amazing work that God has done through the Baptist Church in Reading and that would not be complete without celebrating with our family,' explained the Revd Paul Burnish, Minister of Abbey Baptist Church.

'It is amazing to think that through the faithful response of our forebears thousands of lives have been touched and thousands of people have come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. 

'However, we were very keen for this not to just be an event about history but to use it as an inspiration for the future. Our forebears were faithful and so must we be. 

'We cannot ‘drop the ball’ in our generation we must abide in Christ and do what he would have us do drawing on the deep roots of Christ and allowing the Spirit to flow in and through us so we will continue to bear fruit.'

The stories from the churches served as an inspiration, with Mrs Jean Sheppard, an elder at Abbey Baptist Church, remarking, 'It was encouraging to hear how enthusiastic the other churches were about all that they are faithfully doing to tell others about Jesus.'  




 

Baptist Times, 24/03/2015
    Post     Tweet
SCBA Home Mission Stories
Examples of how Home Mission funds are being used in the Southern Counties Baptist Association
SubArticleD2019
'An event everyone can afford'
Gemma Webb introduces the penny fayre at Lyndhurst Baptist Church - where as 'a gift and blessing to the community', everything costs a penny, from ice creams to books and everything in between
All aboard for Girls’ Brigade sleepover 
Girls’ Brigade members enjoyed a sleepover with a difference – spending the night on a Wightlink ferry
'We meet in a park, on the beach, even out on the water' - the story of Ocean Church
It began as a missional community hoping to bring together those looking to reconnect with nature, spirituality, and community. Now Ocean Church has joined the Southern Counties Baptist Association - John Good explains more
‘This is a good place’ 
Welcoming the growing numbers of people from Hong Kong in its town has changed the life of Wokingham Baptist Church
'The best school trip I have ever been on' 
Lyndhurst Baptist Church in Hampshire has given the local community a sense of awe and wonder through its evocative recreation of the nativity story
Leaving of minister from Central Baptist Church, Southampton 
It is with sadness that Central Baptist Church, Southampton, announces that our minister, the Revd David Masters, will be stepping down from ministry on Sunday 22 October, write the church's deacons
     Regional News 
    Posted: 10/10/2024
    Posted: 06/05/2024
    Posted: 25/06/2021
    Posted: 17/03/2021
    Posted: 23/11/2020
    Posted: 29/04/2020
    Posted: 09/05/2019
    Posted: 23/08/2018
    Posted: 25/07/2018