The Newsletter
Our Mission
Experience the Love of Jesus. Live it Out Everywhere.
Making a submission to our weekly Newsletter?
Submissions for our weekly newsletter should be sent to
sam.essel@bsbc.nb.ca
The deadline for inclusion in Wednesday’s edition is 11:00 am the Monday prior.
In this issue:
Check out what’s happening the week of August 5 to August 12, 2026!
1. Special Business Meeting: August 23
2. New Service Structure Changes: September 6
3. BSBC Family, Fellowship, and Fun: August 30
4. BSBC Missions Partners: The Ritchie Family
5. Myles on a Mission: The Myles Family Departure!
6. BSBC Summer Soccer Ministry
8. NextGen Ministry (Children/Youth)
9. Fresh Start Young Adults: Tuesdays
10. Adult Bible Studies and Prayer Groups
11. This Sunday’s Worship Gatherings: August 9
12. Welcome, Reverend Mark Archibald!
13. Service Structure Pilot Update
1. Special Business Meeting: August 23
At the request of the board of management, the moderator is calling a special business meeting for Sunday, August 23rd immediately following the Sunday church service in the sanctuary. The purpose of this meeting is to deal with two motions from the board of management regarding refurbishment of the stained-glass windows.
The proposed two motions are:
Motion 1: To approve the board of management to commence a stained-glass refurbishment project.
Motion 2: To approve the treasurer and board of management to increase our mortgage by up to $850,000 from the Atlantic Baptist foundation to spend on correcting the stained-glass windows.
The full details for the Stained Glass Window Refurbishment Project is at the link below.
2. New Service Structure Changes: September 6
Coming up this fall, we are introducing our Stacked Services Structure. This is our Pilot Project that will start in September 6th. Take a quick look at the diagram to see how it works!
For more information and details on what, how, and why, check out article 13.
3. BSBC Family, Fellowship, and Fun | August 30 | 1:00 PM
This summer, we invite you to join us for some BSBC family, fellowship, and fun! We love creating community with our church family.
On Sunday, August 30, we will gather again! Join us after the services at Wilmot Park Splash Pad at 1 pm! Bring your swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, sporting shoes, and a picnic lunch. We will have some lawn games like spike ball and frisbee but please feel free to bring a game of your choice as well.
The Ritchie Family are serving in Canada with Pathfinders Fellowship Canada with a focus on training church planting worldwide. Please keep Charlie Ritchie, Lydia Le, Ayleen Pham, and Tracy Pham in your prayers.
Their prayer request as they embark on their journey are as follows:
Praying for inroads into the Vietnamese communities to allow for an investigative Bible Study to happen
To donate to their efforts, please mark your offering “Ritchie Missions”. If you would like to receive updates on the Missions Ministry, please contact Charlie Ritchie at ritchiecharlie@gmail.com.
4. BSBC Missions Partners: The Ritchie Family
5. Myles on a Mission: The Myles Family Departure!
The Myles Family will be departing for their mission’s trip to Chiba, Japan. We are grateful for all they contributed and for the ways they served during their time with us.
Please pray for a safe journey for them as they travel, transition to a new environment, and spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
6. BSBC Summer Soccer Ministry | Wednesday | 6:30 to 8 pm
The grass is green, we had just enjoyed the FIFA World Cup, and most importantly, young people and their parents will be out and about playing soccer at Wilmot Park and Morrell Park!
Let’s join them! We offer two weekly youth soccer programs. The group at Wilmot Park is open to boys and girls ages 6 to 8. The group at the soccer field at Morrell Park on Waterloo Row is open to boys and girls ages 11 to 13.
Sessions are held every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at both locations. Whether they have played soccer before or are trying it for the first time, they are welcome to take part. Players should come dressed in athletic clothing with running shoes or soccer cleats and bring a water bottle. For more information, please contact Coach Charles at charles.globetrotter@gmail.com or 581‑232‑4284.
7. Volunteering Opportunities
A. Sunday Streets Muffin Ministry: August 16
On behalf of our brothers and sisters who make a weekly evening trek around the city to visit those sleeping rough, and the members of your Social Action Team, thank you ‘muffin makers’ for your faithfulness serving in this way. Your sweet generosity is more than just baked goods; it’s an expression of care and hope in Jesus’ name.
Our Street Ministry team need muffins as soon as August 16 for our Sunday night outreach program. As we prepare for the busy summer months, we aim to have 4 dozen muffins each week to ensure we’re well-stocked and ready to bless those we serve. If you are able to help in this way, please place 12 muffins, individually wrapped, in a large zipper locked bag, and label the bag “Street Ministry”. Don’t forget to include your name and the delivery date for which you signed up. You can place the labeled muffins in the upright freezer in the main kitchen.
Please click the link below or call the church office (506-458-8348) and our admin team will be pleased to do the online registration for you. Jesus spoke of offering cups of cold water in his name. Muffins, we believe, offer the same opportunity to bless others for Him.
B. Security Volunteers Needed
We’re seeking dedicated volunteers to help keep our church safe and welcoming on weekday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Your presence makes a real difference — creating a warm, secure space where everyone feels at home. If you’re ready to step up and be part of this vital ministry, reach out to Mike Bech or call the church office at 506-458-8348 to learn more or sign up.
C. Third Sunday Supper: Thank you!
All the months have been filled with volunteers willing to prepare a meal for our Third Sunday Supper guests! If you still wish to volunteer, we are always looking for extra hands at any of our Third Sunday Suppers – simply join us! Thank you to all who have volunteered to help keep this important ministry going. You are appreciated more than you know!
8. NextGen Ministry (Children & Youth)
Children @ BSBC
KidzTown and Preschool | Sundays | 10:45 to 11:30 am
Kids! Join us Sunday morning in the worship services. Be sure to sign in before the service starts. At 10:45 am, our KidzTown and Preschool leaders will collect children from the gym, stop at the Connections Centre to collect children from the sanctuary and take them to their designated program areas. Preschool children will be taken to the nursery and children from Kindergarten to Grade 5 will be taken to the second floor for KidzTown Ministries during the church service (10:45 to 11:30 am). Our children will enjoy a time of teaching, games, worship, and crafts. For more information, please reach out to Sam Essel at sam.essel@bsbc.nb.ca.
Little Lambs Play Group | Wednesday | 10:00 am
For the summer, we will be meeting in homes, for backyard play. Please email Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca for the location of playgroup, or to be added to the group chat.
Parents, caregivers, and little ones are invited to join us for a drop-in play group on Wednesday mornings for a relaxed time of play and connection. Babies and toddlers can enjoy free play while adults build community, slow down, and share life together. Snacks, coffee, and tea are provided.
Whether you’re looking for community, conversation, or introducing your child to community play, we would love to welcome you. Contact Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca for more information.
BSBC Family, Fellowship, and Fun! | After Services at 1:00pm, Sunday, August 30 | Wilmot Park
Our church family and friends are invited to join together at Wilmot Park after services on Sunday, August 30, at 1:00 pm. We invite you to bring a picnic lunch with your family and join us for fellowship. We will be enjoying a picnic together and enjoy the splash pad! Feel free to bring a game of your choice as well. If you have any questions please reach out to Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca.
Youth @ BSBC
To keep up to date with what’s happen for BSBC’s youth, email Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.cato be included in our weekly parent email!
Wilmot Park Youth Group | Thursday August 6th, 6:30 to 8:30 pm | Meet at BSBC
Join us Thursday, as the youth gather at BSBC then walk over to Wilmot Park, where we will be playing some games, and enjoying the splash pad to cool off, weather permitting. All are welcome. If you have any questions reach out to Pastor Nikki at nikki@bsbc.nb.ca
Thursday August 13th, 6:30 to 8:30 | Killarney Lake | Meet at Killarney
Next Thursday we are inviting all of our youth to meet together at Killarney Lake, at 6:30 to 8:30 pm for swimming, hanging out, snacks, and spending time together. We look forward to seeing our youth grades 6 to 12 with us! More information please contact Pastor Nikki.
Youth Gatherings Coming Up:
August 6: Wilmot Park, Water & Games (Meet @ BSBC)
August 13: Killarney Lake
August 20: Water Games @ BSBC
August 27: Pool Party, Final Summer Youth Group at the VanSlykes Residence
Sept 3, 10, 17: No Youth Group
September 24: First Youth Thursday of the School year
9. Fresh Start Young Adults | Tuesdays | 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Our Young Adults ministry, Fresh Start, meets on Tuesdays, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Come along for some fun, snacks, and social time followed by a Bible study. We would love to see you there!
For more information, please contact Rev. Ross at ross@bsbc.nb.ca.
10. Adult Bible Studies and Prayer Groups
There is so much going on at our Church that sometimes it is hard to keep track! To help ease your calendar preparation, here is a brief list of current Bible studies and prayer groups that we have on offer:
For more details on these or other programs, please visit our website at www.thestreetonline.ca.
11. This Sunday’s Worship Gathering | Sanctuary | August 9
The worship team will be led by Greg Keezer with special music from Christopher Graves.
Dr. Keith Bodner will be preaching in the sanctuary. The sermon theme is “Growing Pains” focusing on Acts 6 – 8. Of the sermon he says: “A special word of thanks to everyone who was able to attend in person or tune in online to Brunswick Street over the long weekend as August is now upon us, it was a good turnout, and we were grateful to welcome so many visitors and old friends. As we resumed our summer series on navigating transition in the book of Acts, we turned to chapters 3-4 in order to highlight a dramatic healing at the gate called ‘Beautiful’ in the Jerusalem temple. Although it takes place on a seemingly ordinary day at 3 in the afternoon, the implications are massive, and the apostles testify at a meeting of the ruling council that salvation is found ‘in no other name’ than the risen Lord Jesus. This week we will continue the series with a few highlights from Acts 6-8 and note a stunning paradox: there is aggressive persecution directed toward the early believers that causes a scattering, and yet this very scattering allows the message of grace and reconciliation with God to travel much further than it would have otherwise! Is it possible that God uses disruption to advance the mission of the Kingdom? We’ll continue to explore the possibilities that ministry opportunities can arise from unexpected change and discover a number of important applications for our own community in this particular season.”
Whether in-person or online, be sure to join us this Sunday morning at 10:30 am as we worship together.
12. Welcome, Reverend Mark Archibald!
Please keep Rev. Mark, Valerie, and Kayde in your prayers as they travel across Canada this summer. They plan to join us on the 24th of August 2026.
Prayers for travelling mercies, comfort and strength as they navigate this transition!
13. Service Structure Pilot Update
Please find below the information that was shared at the Spring Business Meeting on June 10, 2026. Scott Myles, Chair of the Board of Deacons, shared some slides during his presentation on the Sunday Service Transition Plan.
SLIDE 1
Sunday Service Transition Plan: A guiding framework for our Fall pilot project
Brunswick Street Baptist Church | Congregational Meeting | June 10
Purpose: share the structure, the heart behind the change, and how we will learn together during the pilot.
SLIDE 2 – The Why
Why We Are Making This Transition: The change is rooted in growth, stewardship, and mission.
- Accommodate growth: Make room for our church body while reducing pressure on a single Sunday morning service.
- Steward our sanctuary: Use our historic sanctuary well while giving each worship expression appropriate space and focus.
- Reach across generations: Protect both traditional and contemporary worship so each can thrive.
- Guiding principle: one church family, two worship expressions, one shared mission. Experience the Love of Jesus. Live it Out Everywhere.
SLIDE 3 – Schedule
The New Sunday Morning Schedule: A sequential model with an intentional shared connection hour at the center.
9:30 Traditional Service: Sanctuary – choir, soloists, liturgical elements
10:30 Shared Connection Time: 45 minutes – coffee, fellowship, library, transitions
11:15 Contemporary Service: Sanctuary – full band, modern worship elements.
The 45-minute break is not “dead space” – it is the centerpiece for connection and unity.
SLIDE 4 – Core Values
Our Core Values for the Pilot: The schedule matters, but the culture we build matters even more.
- Unity: 'We' over 'Us vs. Them' – The connection hour is designed to keep us together as one church family across worship styles and generations.
- Grace-filled pilot mindset – We will begin, observe, learn, and adjust. We do not expect every operational detail to be perfect on day one.
- Protecting volunteers – We will not rely on the same few people to do double the work. Teams should generally serve within their preferred service time.
Measure success not only by logistics, but by whether people feel welcomed, connected, and called together.
SLIDE 5 – Connection
Connection Time: The Heart of the Morning – A planned ministry hour for hospitality, prayer, and cross-generational connection.
45 minutes: 10:30 to 11:15 am – A shared center point where traditional attendees can stay, contemporary attendees can arrive early, and families can transition smoothly. Hospitality makes the model work.
- Round tables and comfortable seating in the gym
- Coffee, refreshments, and a dedicated Hospitality Team
- Library access coordinated with children’s ministry flow
- Possible overflow or family-friendly viewing space
- Sunday School
- Baptisms
- Brunch instead of BBQ
- Other Events
SLIDE 6 – Worship
Supporting Both Worship Expressions
- Traditional Service at 9:30 am: Choir, soloists, handbells, liturgical elements and our rich musical heritage in the sanctuary
- Contemporary Service at 11:15 am: Modern worship architecture, full band instrumentation, and contemporary creative elements.
- Permanent sanctuary setup: Contemporary instruments remain positioned in a low-profile, safe, visually appropriate way to reduce Sunday setup strain.
- Operation boundaries:
- Traditional service must conclude by 10:30 am
- Contemporary service should conclude by 12:30 pm
- Clear stage plot and cable safety are essential
- Ensembles like Kids Sing may need restructured practice schedules
SLIDE 7 – Volunteers
Protecting and Equipping Volunteers: A sustainable Sunday model depends on clear roles and healthy rotations.
Volunteer commitments
- Serve within preferred service time when possible
- Cross-service support reserved for emergencies
- Simplify roles so new volunteers can be trained
- Use Planning Center to reduce Friday/Sunday stress
AV/IT production: separate the load
- Slides: lyrics & visuals
- Camera: livestream view
- Sanctuary sound: in-room mix
- Livestream audio: online mix
SLIDE 8 – Families
Children’s Ministry and Family Flow: The experience of young families will be a key indicator of pilot success.
Pragmatic care approach: Leadership will evaluate childcare needs for the 9:30 am service over time without over-engineering an unsustainable model.
Clear transitions: Parents, teachers, and directors will need clear pick-up/drop-off paths and clock-watching protocols during the 45-minute break.
Pastoral care for little ones: Because the second service ends at 12:30 pm, simple healthy snacks in KidzTown can help support lunch and nap rhythms.
Design question for the pilot: Are families able to worship, connect, and move through the morning with clarity and ease?
SLIDE 9 – Operations
Operational Support: Making Sundays Work: Behind-the-scenes systems must adapt so the morning remains welcoming and secure.
Tellers and offerings: Current immediate counting after the final service is not workable for traditional-service tellers. Leadership should choose a secure model, with Monday morning counting strongly recommended to reduce Sunday stress.
Ushers and sanctuary flow: Each service needs a minimum usher team. The 10:30 am transition requires gracious clearing, wayfinding, bulletins, and seating preparation.
Secure planning: A secure alternate counting space may be needed if the current teller room is used for Sunday School. The gym should be intentionally arranged so it feels welcoming, not empty.
SLIDE 10 – Evaluation
How Will We Evaluate the Pilot: A defined pilot protects trust and gives us room to learn.
4–6 months – recommended pilot window with a predetermined evaluation date. Not open-ended. Not permanent without learning.
Key measures to monitor
- Volunteer health – sign-ups, absences, rotation frequency
- Attendance balance – sanctuary density and healthy participation
- Children’s ministry – teacher-to-child ratios and room usage
- Congregational feedback – monthly stakeholder check-ins plus digital and paper surveys
SLIDE 11 – Next Steps
Timeline and Next Steps: What happens between this meeting and the Fall launch?
June 10: Congregational business meeting and shared discussion
Summer: Finalize ministry team plans, volunteer structures, room use, and communications. Combined services.
Fall (*Sept 6): Launch sequential service model as a pilot project
Monthly: Review stakeholder feedback and operational data
4 – 6 months: Evaluate, adjust, and recommend longer-term direction.
Immediate priorities: communicate clearly, recruit sustainably, prepare rooms and workflows, and keep listening.
SLIDE 12
What We Are Asking of the Church Family
Pray – for unity, wisdom, and a spirit of hospitality
Participate – in the connection time and help it become a true ministry space
Serve – in sustainable ways that match your gifts and availability
Give Feedback – with grace as we learn and adjust during the pilot
One church family. Two worship expressions. One mission.
Thank you.
Feedback
To send your feedback to the Service Structure Planning and Consultation Subcommittee, please email:servicestructurefeedback@bsbc.nb.ca.
14. Pastoral Care 2026
Your Deacons want to affirm that BSBC is equipped to provide Pastoral Care. We are grateful for the engagement of Rev. Ross and Pastor Nikki. We are blessed to have additional support from Rev. Kevin Culberson, sanctuary Ministry Coordinator and the Baptist Chaplain at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital and Doug McAllister, our Benevolent Coordinator and Senior’s Visitation Pastor. We are equally blessed to have Cheryl Gibson and Roz Thompson, our Parish Nurses.
Rev. Ross Watters, Lead Pastor
506-282-3443
ross@bsbc.nb.ca
Rev. Kevin Culberson, Baptist Chaplain
506-260-6240
culberson.kevin@gmail.com
Pastor Nikki Kincaid, Next Generation Pastor
506-282-1075
nikki@bsbc.nb.ca
Pastor Changbin Tian, Pastor to the Chinese Congregation
506-897-5885
cbtian@gmail.com
Church Office
506-458-8348
naomi.phillips@bsbc.nb.ca or bsbc@bsbc.nb.ca
Doug McAllister, Benevolent Ministry Coordinator
506-440-4023
doug.mcallister@bsbc.nb.ca
Roz Thompson, Parish Nurse
506-457-2787
tawsky@gmail.com
Cheryl Gibson, Parish Nurse
506-454-6657
cheryl.gibson@unb.ca
Please pray for our pastoral care team as they seek to partner with you in caring for the BSBC family.
Your Board of Deacons
15. Invitation to the Church Center App
We’re excited to introduce the Church Center App, a new way to stay connected and engaged with our BSBC community. Our hope is that this tool strengthens communication, simplifies involvement, and helps every member feel even more at home in our church family.
What You Can Do in the Church Center App
With the Church Center App in Planning Center, you’ll have quick access to features designed to keep you informed and connected:
Weekly Newsletter – Read the latest updates, announcements, and upcoming opportunities.
Church Directory – Browse contact information for members who have chosen to share their details.
Profile Management – Update your personal information, household details, and privacy settings.
Event Calendar – Explore upcoming events and easily find locations.
Child Check-In – Pre-select your children for check-in before you arrive.
Special Events – Stay informed about major upcoming gatherings and celebrations.
Social Media Hub – Scroll to the bottom of the home page to find links to our YouTube services, Facebook community, and Instagram updates.
As we continue to grow, we look forward to adding even more helpful features. Moving toward the Church Center App also allows us to streamline our behind-the-scenes processes, making everything run more smoothly for everyone.
Getting Started
To download the app, you’ll need access to your Apple ID or Google Account information and password.
If you have any questions or need help getting set up, please reach out to Sam, Janet, or Naomi in the church office—we’re happy to help.
16. Church Center Directory
Hello BSBC Family,
We hope this message finds you well! We want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and patience as we work to improve how we stay connected as a church community.
We’re excited to share that BSBC is now using a new online congregational directory that we hope will be more user-friendly and accessible for everyone. This updated directory will serve as a combined contact list and include our official list of Members – both Resident and Non-Resident – as well as Adherents and Guests.
To join the directory, each family member must contact Naomi in the church office at Naomi.Phillips@bsbc.nb.ca to receive their welcome email and get started. Thank you for hanging in with us as we navigate this shift. We truly appreciate your grace and flexibility as we move toward a more connected future. Blessings from the BSBC Church Office.
17. Bereavement
James Thomas McGuire
It is with deep sadness that the family of Jim McGuire announces his passing on Saturday, August 1. Jim spent his entire career at Neill and Gunter Ltd. in Fredericton where he forged lifelong friendships.
Visitation will take place at York Funeral Home on Friday, August 7 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 8 at 3:00 pm at Brunswick Street Baptist Church in Fredericton with reception to follow. York Funeral Home will oversee arrangements.
For the full obituary, click the link below.
18. This Week at BSBC
Wednesday, August 5
9:00 Benevolent Ministries (Meeting Room, 1st Floor, Gym Building)
10:00 Little Lambs Play Group (Offsite)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:30 Morrell Park Soccer Ministry 11- to 13- years (Morrell Park)
6:30 Wilmot Park Soccer Ministry 6- to 8- years (Wilmot Park)
Thursday, August 6
7:00 Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Gym)
7:00 Women’s Prayer Breakfast (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
6:30 Summer Youth Group (Offsite: Wilmot Park)
Friday, August 7
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:00 Floor Refinishing in Gym (Gym)
7:00 Mandarin Fellowship (Barnabas Centre)
Saturday, August 8
3:00 James McGuire Funeral (Sanctuary, Gym, Main Gym Kitchen, Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
Sunday, August 9
9:00 Chinese Worship Practice (Barnabas Centre)
9:00 Learning English with the Bible (Boardroom, 2nd Floor, Gym Building)
9:30 Together in Prayer (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
10:30 Chinese Worship Service (Barnabas Centre)
10:30 Shared Summer Worship Service (Sanctuary)
10:45 KidzTown (2nd Floor, KidzTown, FLC)
10:45 Preschool (1st Floor, Nursery, FLC)
11:30 Library Open After Services (Connections Centre)
12:00 Chinese Sunday Lunch (Barnabas Centre)
6:30 Dance Ministry (Sanctuary)
Monday, August 10
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
1:30 WMS Monthly Meeting (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
Tuesday, August 11
10:00 Pastoral Staff Meeting (Boardroom, 3rd Floor, FLC)
10:00 Quilters for Missions (Quilting Room, 2nd Floor, Connection Centre)
6:30 DivorceCare Leaders Meeting (Board Room, 2nd Floor, Gym Building)
7:00 Mid-Week Fellowship (Family Room, 1st Floor, FLC)
7:00 Fresh Start (Assembly Area, 3rd Floor, FLC)
Wednesday, August 12
9:00 Benevolent Ministries (Meeting Room, 1st Floor, Gym Building)
10:00 Little Lambs Play Group (Offsite)
12:00 Men’s Basketball (Gym)
6:30 Morrell Park Soccer Ministry 11- to 13- years (Morrell Park)
6:30 Wilmot Park Soccer Ministry 6- to 8- years (Wilmot Park)