On the 14thof September 2019, Bessels Green Baptist Church will be 250 years old and we’d like to use this edition of Chevening News to invite you to our birthday party!
We’re celebrating on Saturday the 14thof September at 2pm with a free Anniversary Fun Day on Bessels Green(the green across the road from the church). There will be food, ice creams, bouncy castles, donkey rides, music, stalls, a display of our 250-year history and much more.
We hope the day will be a real community celebration and a taste of the generosity and love of God.
Jesus told a parable, a story, about a party – a wedding feast. In the story the well to do, the pious, the religious and successful were all invited to the party but none of them could or would come. They each made their excuses; they were too busy, too preoccupied.
So, in the story Jesus has the host of the party, who represents God, send his servants out to invite everyone else; the ordinary, the poor, all of those overlooked by the religious leaders of his day.
Jesus’ story is a picture of the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’. Those who think they deserve it, who spend their lives looking down on others less religious than themselves end up missing out. It is the ordinary people, both the good and the bad, who end up enjoying the feast, simply because they accepted the invitation.
Attendance at the party is not based on the status of the guests but based entirely on the generosity of God, the host. I think it’s my favourite of Jesus’ parables. God is throwing a party, and everyone’s invited!
Church should never be a private members’ club for the religious or pious amongst us. Rather, we should be a place where all are welcome, regardless of age, race, gender, or sexual orientation. The faithful or seeking, believing or doubting, celebrating or hurting, all are welcome.
The best birthdays are the ones we share with other people, so we really hope you’ll put the date in your diary and join us to celebrate our birthday. The sun is going to shine, Edenbridge Town band will be providing some music, there will be hook a duck, guess the number of sweets in the jar, a visit from a fire engine, a tug-o-war, and much more.
In addition to the fun day we’re holding a Service of celebration and thanksgiving on the Sunday at 10am, followed by a meal together; you are equally invited to join us for that.
I do hope we’ll see you there,
Grace and peace
Rev Charlie Ingram
Charlie is the senior minister at Bessels Green Baptist Church, services are at 10am and 4.30pm on Sundays at BGBC and 10am at the Pavilion in Dunton Green. Please check out bgbc.co.uk for more information about the church and all that goes on during the week. Get in touch via email, info@bgbc.co.uk
Photo: Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash
