Dear Church family and friends,
Often when churches refer to a family service, they usually mean that the content of the service will be suitable for all ages with a sermon or message presented in a way that everyone understands. At IBC Giessen this week, we are having a family service in a much more literal sense: it’s all about families and family events!
As it is the first Sunday of the month, as a family of believers, we will be sharing in the Lord’s Table; Christ brought us together through the outpouring of His blood, which is something that we should remember and commemorate often. In addition to this, we will be dedicating a baby to the Lord, as well as witnessing a couple from our congregation re-commit themselves to one another in the renewing of their wedding vows. It will be a busy service, but one which reminds us of His joy and the blessings that He pours on us. If you can’t be at the FTH for 11am on Sunday morning, you can watch what’s going on via our livestream.
To celebrate all that will happen this Sunday the congregation is invited to bring cake and (sweet/savoury) snacks to share after the service. If you would like to contribute something to eat for the time of fellowship after the service, please tell us what would you like to bring by writing to office@ibc-giessen.org. The same goes for any side dishes, desserts or other items for our BBQ after the service on the 9th July (next Sunday). The same e-mail address can also be used to ask for a livestream link.
Family occasions are best marked in large numbers – so we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday morning!
Update for Monday, June 26th
Dear Church family and friends,
Sharing is something that children are taught to do at a very young age, and it is also something that anyone who uses social media is encouraged to do with anything that has particularly caught their interest – like Pastor Buddy’s sermon from Sunday, which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fZ1dm4X6wY. Perhaps before social media became what we know it be, the concept of ‘sharing’ was instilled in our children with the understanding that in later life it would be a force of habit, a day-to-day occurrence that didn’t require much consideration.
In Church, we have many opportunities to meet and share both everyday life as well as special events. For the Young Adults, there’s Young Adult Bible Study (YABS) on Tuesday evening; and on Wednesday evening there’s Mid-Week Bible Study over zoom – you can get the link by writing to office@ibc-giessen.org. Both groups will be reading, discussing and learning from God’s Word – and both groups meet at 7pm on their respective days. To find out where YABS is meeting, please write to yabs@ibc-giessen.org.
While those two Bible Studies will also involve prayer, a dedicated Prayer Meeting takes place at 7:30am on Wednesday morning in the Prayer Room at the FTH. It’s a place to spend some time in God’s presence, sharing your praise or concerns with Him, as well as lifting each other up to Him.
Joy is also something that we can share! On Sunday (2nd) a couple at IBC Giessen will be celebrating their 10 year wedding anniversary by renewing their marriage vows, and a different family will be dedicating their new baby, and their roles as parents, to the Lord. These are both causes for celebration – so how about bringing some food to share after the service? The Church will provide the drinks, so we need some willing bakers to provide some cakes and sweet treats.
As we mentioned in Friday’s announcement, on the 9th we will be having a Church BBQ. On that Sunday we will require salads, sides and desserts. If you would like to contribute to either of these gatherings, then e-mailing office@ibc-giessen.org is the way to tell us.
Maybe sharing is special, then. It means that we can connect with others, encourage them and show an appreciation and respect for them as God’s beloved children. Not for clicks, likes or views, but to ‘do life’ as God intended together. Find ways to share your blessings with others this week – the likelihood is high that you will be blessed in return!
Update for Friday, June 23rd
Dear Church family and friends,
Here at the IBC Giessen, we have had exclusive access to this weekend’s Jerusalem Gazette. Its feature article is the second part of Reporter Pastor Buddy’s account of the unbelievable happenings at Bethany (John 11). In his first instalment on the 11th June (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrGXaroCewo), he concluded by asking “can God bring good out of evil people?”. All will be revealed in his follow-up report on Sunday (25th) at 11am… If you can’t make it to the FTH, be sure to get a Zoom link from office@ibc-giessen.org to catch all the details.
Tomorrow (Saturday) morning’s Men’s Breakfast at 9:30am is cutting it fine time-wise in the events section, but if you are at a loose end tomorrow morning and would like some company while you enjoy the most important meal of the day, and are a gentleman, then you are more than welcome.
After each of the first two Sunday services in July there’s a chance for everyone to bring and share food and fellowship together. On the 2nd, a couple from our Church family will be renewing their wedding vows during the service and would like to invite the congregation to drinks, cakes and snacks afterward. This is where you come in: without the Church family’s input there will be nothing to eat!
The same applies for the Church BBQ the week after (9th). There will be sausages, bread rolls and drinks – but the salads and sides are to come from those attending!
Your e-mail address to register to any of these events, as well as detail what you will be bringing is office@ibc-giessen.org
Those are the headlines for this weekend; for more information come along to Church on Sunday morning or keep your eyes on our website, facebook page and your e-mail inbox. Be blessed!
Update for Monday, June 19th
Dear Church family and friends,
At IBC Giessen we benefit from a large number of students who bring their musical talents, as well as their readiness to teach the children, operate the tech system or stand at the front on the stage and guide us through a service on Sunday morning. In fact, we even have some (former) students preach, like our Associate Pastor Johannes, who studied and graduated from the FTH. You can hear what he had to say on Philippians 2: 19-24 this last Sunday, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtM6ssVbyvw
Students have a unique opportunity in their lives to spread the gospel at their places of study to those who perhaps have never heard the Good News, or have never had it presented in a way that engages them. Out of the childhood home for the first time, most are open to listening and considering new ideas and ways of living – and the Hochschultage are designed to give those looking for orientation the roadmap to Jesus. Organised by the Hochschule SMD Giessen (Studenten Mission Deutschland), there are 4 days left of their week of talks, lunch bars and prayer meetings. To find out what’s going on or how you may help, please click here: https://hochschul-smd.org/giessen/ (German only). Otherwise, would you join us in prayer for listening ears and receptive hearts?
A large number of those who attend Young Adult’s Bible Study (YABS) are students, but, as the name suggests, that isn’t the group’s sole demographic. There is quite a broad definition of ‘Young Adult’ and in the group there is a good mix of those who have found a workplace in Giessen having finished their studies, as well as those still working on different qualifications from a variety of higher education institutes. As there are many who attend YABS, they meet in smaller groups dotted around Giessen – but there is always room for new people! If you would like to meet up with them tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 7pm, then yabs@ibc-giessen.org is the address you need to write to for more information.
On Wednesday at 7pm we will have our Mid-Week Bible Study for everyone. All you need is a Bible and the link to the Zoom meeting, which can be given to you if you write to office@ibc-giessen.org.
For the morning people out there, there will be a Prayer Meeting in the Prayer Room at the FTH at 7:30am on the same day.
The more civilized time of 9:30am is when the Men’s Breakfast will start on Saturday morning – and there’s still enough time to send an e-mail to office@ibc-giessen.org if you will be there! They do seem to enjoy rather a lot of eggs, so choose wisely when considering what to bring with you and don’t forget to include it in your message.
Perhaps the students pose the rest of us a challenge this week: how can we reach the people at our places of work, school, hobby or other activity and tell them of the life-changing power of Jesus’ death and resurrection? How can we meet people where they are and show them that we, and they, are God’s beloved children? How can we bless others this week?
Update for Friday, June 16th
Dear Church family and friends,
Our summer preview from the other week seems to have undergone a few changes, so we hope that you haven’t packed your diaries and calendars too far away!
Before we start listing the changes though, let’s focus on what remains the same:
Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 17th, 3pm) there will be a macramé (Makramee) afternoon for the ladies in the student kitchen at the FTH. Whether you have experience in this craft or are a complete beginner, the afternoon is designed to be a fun get-together to do some crafting! It’s not too late to register an interest in attending – just write to office@ibc-giessen.org – and while the event is free, if you are able to make a contribution toward the cost of the materials, we would be very grateful.
The Saturday after (24th) at 9:30am, it’s the men’s turn again with their monthly breakfast. Again, the gentlemen who wish to join should write an e-mail to office@ibc-giessen.org, but rather than a monetary contribution they should bring some food to share with the rest of the group.
Originally, the plan was to have a Worship Night next Friday, between the Women’s Craft Afternoon and Men’s Breakfast. This has now been moved to Friday 11th August. The Baptism service which was initially announced as taking place on the Sunday of that weekend has now been brought forward by a week to Sunday 6th August. The date of the Adonia-Juniors musical remains the same (5th August), and we would like to remind anyone who wishes to support that project financially to do so before 30th June, so that the concert may take place. For more information, please visit their website (German only) https://www.adonia.de/konzerte/david-wird-koenig.
Confused? Just keep an eye on these updates and we will keep you informed on all the things you need to know, including our main service which is consistently on the same day at the same time and in the same place: Sunday morning at 11am in the Chapel Room at the FTH. Should you not be able to attend for whatever reason, we invite you to our zoom livestream. If you’d like to join, you can get a link by writing to office@ibc-giessen.org.
Getting appointments and dates settled seems to have become more complicated in recent times. Perhaps we are all trying to do too many things after a few years of not being able to organise anything at all! We hope that your summer plans are taking shape nicely and that we will see you at some of our events! Be blessed!
Update for Monday, June 12th
Dear Church family and friends,
It’s mid-June and things are beginning to hot up – and we’re not just talking about the temperatures!
Tomorrow evening’s YABS will be a ‘Big YABS’ event in the student kitchen at the FTH. Here, all the groups will meet together for a pot-luck style buffet, fellowship, worship and reading His Word. If you’ve been sitting on the fence about joining YABS, this is the perfect opportunity to get to know the group. In case you are wondering, YABS stands for Young Adults’ Bible Study, so if you feel that you fit into that description, you are warmly invited to introduce yourself at 7pm on Tuesday! For further question, please get in touch with yabs@ibc-giessen.org
7:30am on Wednesday morning, our Prayer Meeting will take place in the Prayer Room at the FTH – and in the evening, at 7pm, our Mid-Week Bible Study will resume via Zoom. While they are nearing the end of the book of Philippians, it still isn’t too late to join, so grab your Bible and get the link by e-mailing office@ibc-giessen.org.
On Saturday its craft time for the ladies! They will be meeting at 3pm to create macramé (Makramee) rings together. If you are a woman, and a couple of hours doing something creative piques your interest, then you can register a place by writing to office@ibc-giessen.org. Don’t worry if you’ve never worked macramé (Makramee) before: this is your chance to learn!
Progress is being made on our Sunday service livestreams and we would like to thank our viewers for their continued patience. Having now figured out what the technology is attempting to do, we now need to work out how to make it do what we want it to… In good news, this week we can offer you a recording of Sunday’s sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrGXaroCewo.
Stay cool, hydrated and blessed this week!
Update for Friday, June 9th
Dear Church family and friends,
Enjoying your last long weekend until October? What better way to finish it than worshipping our living, loving God on Sunday morning at 11am? If you can make it to the FTH in Giessen, we would love to see you among the congregation, but if you are visiting friends or family that’s not a problem – that’s why we have a livestream, and you can watch it by e-mailing office@ibc-giessen.org for a link.
Of course, weekends can be good or special for many reasons aside from its length. Next Saturday, for example, will be a highlight for the women meeting together for a creative afternoon in the student kitchen at the FTH. Starting at 3pm, all ladies are welcome to join in and make some macramé (Makrame) rings, even if you haven’t done it before! We ask that you register beforehand though, so that there is enough material for everyone – which you may make a financial contribution to if you are able. Tell us you’ll be there by writing to office@ibc-giessen.org.
However you are spending this weekend, we hope that it is a blessing to you, your family and friends. See you on Sunday!
Update for Monday, June 5th
Dear Church family and friends,
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try…”
So, our second attempt at using the new camera installed at the FTH wasn’t exactly an outstanding success either – although there was a slight improvement – and completely independently from that, something didn’t quite work out with the Zoom recording, which is why we are unable to provide you with Sunday’s sermon video this week. We’re not giving up though: we will try again next week!
Neither are we turning our backs on Zoom; this week’s Bible Study isn’t taking place due to the Bank Holiday on Thursday (Corpus Christi/Fronleichnam) and not because of our technology issues.
Something that was forgotten in our summer preview in Friday’s announcement is the Adonia-Juniors musical which takes place 5th August, at 4pm, in the Bürgerhalle Wieseck. Some may remember that, a few years ago, Adonia had prepared a musical on Isaac over the space of a week or so and then performed it. This time, it’s specifically children between the ages of 9 and 12 – and their musical is titled ‘David becomes King’ (‘David wird König’). While entry is free, they would greatly appreciate any donations that could be made before the 30th June as it takes 800€ to finance this project. For more information on how you can do that, please visit https://www.adonia.de/konzerte/david-wird-koenig (German only).
Two of our regular meet-ups are happening this week: Young Adult’s Bible Study at 7pm on Tuesday (yabs@ibc-giessen.org) and the Prayer Meeting on Wednesday morning at 7:30am in the Prayer Room at the FTH.
As always, if you have any other questions, suggestions or comments about Church life at IBC Giessen, office@ibc-giessen.org is the best way to get in touch.
We wish you a blessed week!
Update for Friday, June 2nd
Dear Church family and friends,
When does summer begin? The weather has been wonderful for over a couple of weeks now but is the end of May really summer? Perhaps it’s when the first barbecues of the year happen: well, our Church BBQ takes place after the service on the 9th July – and that, along with August when we will be having our Baptism service, is definitely summer! More information about the BBQ will come in the next weeks, but for now, if you are interested in being baptised or would like to find out more about baptism, please talk to Pastor Buddy after Church on Sunday, or write to him via office@ibc-giessen.org.
There are events happening at IBC Giessen during June too. On Saturday 17th, for example the ladies will be meeting at 3pm for a crafty afternoon together making macramé (Makrame) rings. If you would like to attend but don’t have any idea how macramé is created – or perhaps you’ve no idea what it is! – there’s no need to be worried as Priska will guide you through the process. All that she asks is that each woman brings some enthusiasm and a small donation to go toward the cost of the material. So that we have a rough idea of numbers, we would appreciate it if you could register your intention to participate by writing to office@ibc-giessen.org.
Men’s Breakfast will take place the week after, on the 24th – but not before our next Worship Night which is the evening before, on Friday 23rd. So there will be plenty of opportunities to meet up with others at the Church in the second half of June!
After the service this Sunday (4th) there will be a chance to learn more about the sound system in the Chapel Room of the FTH for those who wish to join the sound team at IBC and serve our Church in that way.
Starting at the usual time of 11am, this week we will be celebrating the Lord’s Table together as it is the first Sunday of the month. Those watching via the livestream may want to prepare some bread and juice beforehand, ready for this part of the service – you will also need a link, which you can attain by e-mailing office@ibc-giessen.org.
Whether you are looking forward to summer, or think that it’s already here, we hope that the weather remains kind to you – and that we see you at one or two of our events and services!