I was on the run today so Sandy Stone, our Administrative Assistant, put together a mailing for our young people. We are inviting all the kids from the basketball program to join us for a parents/coaches vs kids basketball game this coming Friday at 6:00 p.m. We are going to have fun and celebrate the end of the season. Come on out and watch if you are free.
We also are inviting the kids to play laser tag on Sunday afternoon down in Mystic. The kids can come and blow off some steam with their friends. We are hoping to get a group of 20 or more to go so we can have more fun.
While Sandy was doing that, I was visiting with Bruce Thorton and Rebecca Ruiz. After they left I got ready for a funeral service for a man named Robert E Murphy. He was the last survivor in his family and he wanted to be buried by a Baptist minister.
I left the church at 11:00 a.m. to go to a clergy meeting where we are discussing ministry in the 21st century. It's a great group and we are all energized by the discussions.
After the funeral I went stopped by the Otis Library for a committee meeting. I am on the Board of Trustees and this has been a good opportunity for me to do some community service. What better place than in an environment that promotes literacy. After all the first books printed were Bibles and the church was the one who encouraged everyone to read.
Tonight when I got home I received a call from Muriel Roderick. Her brother, Donald Schoepfer, died this evening. Donald was a retired pastor. He was inspired to go into the ministry by his father, Rev. Walter Schoepfer, who served our church from 1957 - 1967. He was battling cancer but his death came much too quickly. So say a prayer for his wife, Jessie, and his sister, Muriel.
Well it is getting late. Tomorrow is April 1st and Spring will soon be here. so enjoy the night and I'll check in again in the morning.
Cal
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Today was a very good day. Of course every Sunday is a good day. I just love being at church and seeing all the people in our family of faith. The day began with Sunday School. George Rezendes greeted everyone and led the opening exercises. The kids are great. They love to sing and play. Cynthia Strouse has developed a list of songs for the kids to learn and each week we sing a few different ones. We have also been learning the books of the New Testament by using a song. On Children's Day, May 18th, the kids are going to sing that song as part of the program. Mark the date and join us for worship.
Worship was a lot of fun. Rev. Judy Allbee, our Executive Minister from the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut, was with us and she brought greetings and thanked the congregation for allowing me to serve as an officer of ABCCONN for the last three years.
Nancy Allen talked about mission and the America for Christ Offering and I had a little help from my daughter, Rachel, as I did a magic act for the Children's moment.
My sermon was about doubts. I used the Apostle Thomas as an example of a man of faith who had doubts. If you are interested in hearing the sermon, you can get an audio tape by calling the church.
After church the members of our Mexican Mission team met for lunch to talk about last minute details of the trip. We leave on Wednesday, April 9. We received good news as Rev. Michelle Madsen-Bibeau reported that Central Baptist had approved $1,ooo for the trip. Please pray for us and ask God to use us to share his love.
Fred Green and Sandy Stone took our Youth Group down to Groton to Galaxy Roller Rink for the afternoon. The kids had a blast. Check out the pictures below.
I left the Roller Rink and headed over to the Niantic Baptist Church where Jill Harvey was being installed as the new Pastor. Rev. Sheldon Keller gave the sermon and members of the Central Baptist Church choir sang in the service. It was a beautiful service and it was really nice to see Sheldon again.
As the sun set it proved to be a day to remember. Of course lately every Sunday has been memorable for us. Enjoy the pictures and we will see you next week.
Cal
Worship was a lot of fun. Rev. Judy Allbee, our Executive Minister from the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut, was with us and she brought greetings and thanked the congregation for allowing me to serve as an officer of ABCCONN for the last three years.
Nancy Allen talked about mission and the America for Christ Offering and I had a little help from my daughter, Rachel, as I did a magic act for the Children's moment.
My sermon was about doubts. I used the Apostle Thomas as an example of a man of faith who had doubts. If you are interested in hearing the sermon, you can get an audio tape by calling the church.
After church the members of our Mexican Mission team met for lunch to talk about last minute details of the trip. We leave on Wednesday, April 9. We received good news as Rev. Michelle Madsen-Bibeau reported that Central Baptist had approved $1,ooo for the trip. Please pray for us and ask God to use us to share his love.
Fred Green and Sandy Stone took our Youth Group down to Groton to Galaxy Roller Rink for the afternoon. The kids had a blast. Check out the pictures below.
I left the Roller Rink and headed over to the Niantic Baptist Church where Jill Harvey was being installed as the new Pastor. Rev. Sheldon Keller gave the sermon and members of the Central Baptist Church choir sang in the service. It was a beautiful service and it was really nice to see Sheldon again.
As the sun set it proved to be a day to remember. Of course lately every Sunday has been memorable for us. Enjoy the pictures and we will see you next week.
Cal
Saturday, March 29, 2008
A welcoming place
Tonight our Fellowship Hall was alive with the sound of music. The dancers from Luis Pabon's Style Extraordinaire held a Spaghetti Supper Fund Raiser. They raised close to $800 and gave their guests a good dinner and some first class entertainment.
Over the years we have hosted many different groups in our Fellowship Hall. Earlier in the week I had a woman stop by who told me she used to come here for Boy Scout events when she was a girl. We have always been very community minded. Our church has been like a community center on the West Side. From DAR dinners, to Rotary Club meetings, to Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, to AA groups and Parents Groups, we have opened our doors to meet the needs of those outside the church.
Why do we do this? Because it is part of our mission. We are to be a place of hope and inspiration for the community. Our welcome says we care about the neighborhood and the people who live in our city. That's why we hosted the Americares Mobile Clinic for three years in the 90's. This clinic offered free healthcare to the working poor. That's why we opened our doors to the Hispanic and Korean Congregations. We saw God moving and bringing people together and we were right in the middle of God's path.
A church is more than a building. It is a community of people who believe that God is alive and working in the world. It is a community of people who step up and make sure that God's will is done in their neighborhood. That us and I saw it again tonight even though only a few of us who gather on Sunday mornings were actually present.
Cal
Over the years we have hosted many different groups in our Fellowship Hall. Earlier in the week I had a woman stop by who told me she used to come here for Boy Scout events when she was a girl. We have always been very community minded. Our church has been like a community center on the West Side. From DAR dinners, to Rotary Club meetings, to Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, to AA groups and Parents Groups, we have opened our doors to meet the needs of those outside the church.
Why do we do this? Because it is part of our mission. We are to be a place of hope and inspiration for the community. Our welcome says we care about the neighborhood and the people who live in our city. That's why we hosted the Americares Mobile Clinic for three years in the 90's. This clinic offered free healthcare to the working poor. That's why we opened our doors to the Hispanic and Korean Congregations. We saw God moving and bringing people together and we were right in the middle of God's path.
A church is more than a building. It is a community of people who believe that God is alive and working in the world. It is a community of people who step up and make sure that God's will is done in their neighborhood. That us and I saw it again tonight even though only a few of us who gather on Sunday mornings were actually present.
Cal
Friday, March 28, 2008
Resurrection images
I confess that I goofed off a bit this week and didn't post anything to the blog. I took Monday off and then did some visiting and attended some meetings this week. Except for yesterday, I came home early every day or at least took a break in the afternoon. I even had dinner at home with the family on Wednesday night.
Well today I am back at it and I thought I would give you a glimpse of the resurrection as it appears in 2008. You see Jesus is alive and in the world today. You may not recognize him at first, but he is in every photo in this slide show. Enjoy!
Cal
Well today I am back at it and I thought I would give you a glimpse of the resurrection as it appears in 2008. You see Jesus is alive and in the world today. You may not recognize him at first, but he is in every photo in this slide show. Enjoy!
Cal
Monday, March 24, 2008
He lives and He is in the world today
Yesterday was a great day at church. It began with sunrise at Howard Brown Park and extended into early afternoon as we said the benediction at our Easter service from the cozy confines of our historic sanctuary. Charles Tyree preached at the sunrise service and I got to do my favorite thing. I was the worship leader. I opened the service and helped the crowd raise their voices in praise. The Easter Band from Alliance Church accompanied us and kept us on key. Then Jerry Davis led us in prayer and shared the story from Scripture.
Special thanks to Khoi Ton and the Norwich Bulletin for these photos from the sunrise service. About 120 people were on hand as the sun came up over the city on a beautiful Easter morning.
We welcomed over two hundred and fifteen people on Easter morning as our own band accompanied Adele DiBiagio Cofer on the organ to start the service with "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." Bob Walker greeted everyone and our choir sang of God's victory with an Easter introit. Patricia Ohlund sang a powerful song titled, "They Could Not" that brought a hush to the congregation.
I talked to the kids about the love of God and then shared the fact that we have a savior who wants to be with us. We sang "Because He Lives" and then closed off our service by singing he great hymn of victory, "Up From The Grave." Everything came together to make for a wonderful worship experience on the best day of the year.
Special thanks to Karen Barber and the Flower Committee for setting up the beautiful display of memorial flowers. Thank you to Lori Lord and Adele Cofer for working with Kevin Mariano, Lindsey and Chris Adams, Fred Green and me to form the band. Next week we will get together again. It won't be Easter but praise God that every day is Easter now because He lives!
Cal
Special thanks to Khoi Ton and the Norwich Bulletin for these photos from the sunrise service. About 120 people were on hand as the sun came up over the city on a beautiful Easter morning.
We welcomed over two hundred and fifteen people on Easter morning as our own band accompanied Adele DiBiagio Cofer on the organ to start the service with "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." Bob Walker greeted everyone and our choir sang of God's victory with an Easter introit. Patricia Ohlund sang a powerful song titled, "They Could Not" that brought a hush to the congregation.
I talked to the kids about the love of God and then shared the fact that we have a savior who wants to be with us. We sang "Because He Lives" and then closed off our service by singing he great hymn of victory, "Up From The Grave." Everything came together to make for a wonderful worship experience on the best day of the year.
Special thanks to Karen Barber and the Flower Committee for setting up the beautiful display of memorial flowers. Thank you to Lori Lord and Adele Cofer for working with Kevin Mariano, Lindsey and Chris Adams, Fred Green and me to form the band. Next week we will get together again. It won't be Easter but praise God that every day is Easter now because He lives!
Cal
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Tips to strengthen your marriage
On April 4 & 5 we will be hosting a weekend getaway for married couples at Camp Wightman. Rev. Dwight Anderson will be walking through the Alpha Marriage Course with us and sharing some tips to building a better marriage. You can check out the brochure on-line at our church website (www.fbcnorwich.org)
As I was surfing the web tonight I came across this little video that speaks to building stronger marriages. Enjoy it. Then consider joining us next month at Camp Wightman. We have room for six more couples right now.
Cal
As I was surfing the web tonight I came across this little video that speaks to building stronger marriages. Enjoy it. Then consider joining us next month at Camp Wightman. We have room for six more couples right now.
Cal
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The day of preparation
It was a day of preparation at church today. The flower committee came in to arrange the memorial flowers. The Property Committee came in to replace an old door off the kitchen and the broken window above the stove. Bob Walker came by with the bulletins for Sunday. The Hispanic Church musicians came by to practice for their service. Don Walberg stopped by to do a little cleaning.
I caught a few of the participants on camera and thought I would give a look at all the action.
I caught a few of the participants on camera and thought I would give a look at all the action.
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Way of the Cross
The youth group walked the Way of the Cross tonight. Fred Green was the reader for our church and after I carried the cross he and I read the scripture and reflection for the third station. The Walk began at Chelsea Parade and went to the center of the city and ended at Central Baptist. Here are a few pictures from the event.
Afterwards we went to Dairy Queen and had hot chocolate.
Cal
Afterwards we went to Dairy Queen and had hot chocolate.
Cal
You are there.
When I look at the pictures from last night's Maundy Thursday service I get a sense that it was even more impressive than I thought. I snapped a few of the guys as they were getting ready for the service and it made me think of the conversations and mulling around the actual disciples did while they were waiting for Jesus to come and for the Passover Meal to begin. Enjoy these pictures. The first one is of the entire cast, including Bob Booth who played the Priest and Steve Contois who sang a great song. The disciples were Curt Brockway (Simon Peter), Bob Walker (John), Oliver Bray (James), Fred Green (Andrew), Steve Ohlund (Simon the Zealot), Cliff Vanase (Judas Iscariot), Mark Kane (Thomas), Mark Rogers (Nathaniel), George Strouse (Philip), Dick Strouse (James, son of Alphaeus), Harry Calkins (Judas Thaddeus) and George Rezendes (Matthew).
Thursday, March 20, 2008
You were there.
I didn't bring home my card reader so I can't show you the pictures from tonight's Maundy Thursday service. I'll post them here tomorrow. Take it from me that it was a nice service and seeing the thirteen men gathered at the table was impressive. It made me think about the fact that the disciples were real men, not fictional characters in a book. When Jesus spoke to them about his death and the mysteries of eternal life, they must have been confused. No wonder they ran and hid when he was arrested. What were they supposed to believe?
When you put real faces on the Biblical characters and bring them to life, suddenly the Scriptures make a little more sense. We are so used television shows with improbable stories that work out and movies with special effects that we tend to lump the Biblical stories into the same category as contemporary drama. But it isn't. The scriptures tell us about real people, with real problems that sometimes fail to do the right. thing. They are confused, unsure, filled with doubt but wanting to be faithful. Sound familiar? It sounds like you and me. That's the point. That's why tonight's service was nice. It brought it home.
Tomorrow night we have another kind of dramatic service as we participate in the Annual Way of the Cross. Join us at 6:00 p.m. at Chelsea Parade as we remember our Lord's walk to Golgotha. IT will be a special night.
When you put real faces on the Biblical characters and bring them to life, suddenly the Scriptures make a little more sense. We are so used television shows with improbable stories that work out and movies with special effects that we tend to lump the Biblical stories into the same category as contemporary drama. But it isn't. The scriptures tell us about real people, with real problems that sometimes fail to do the right. thing. They are confused, unsure, filled with doubt but wanting to be faithful. Sound familiar? It sounds like you and me. That's the point. That's why tonight's service was nice. It brought it home.
Tomorrow night we have another kind of dramatic service as we participate in the Annual Way of the Cross. Join us at 6:00 p.m. at Chelsea Parade as we remember our Lord's walk to Golgotha. IT will be a special night.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Last Supper
Tomorrow night we are going to host a special service. On Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday as some call it, we gather to remember Jesus' last supper with his disciples. At church we are going to have communion together. We are also planning to do a dramatic recreation of the last supper by bringing the twelve disciples to the table at the front of the sanctuary. The last time we did this was about ten years ago. Most folks thought it was very inspirational.
We are also going to sing some of the favorite hymns of this season and hear a very special song by Steve Contois entitled, "Our Saviour."
It is no secret that I like to add a bit of drama to worship. It takes time in order to do that and this week I have been able to spend time having fun with these scripts. I think that you will enjoy the service and it will help you prepare your hearts for Easter.
Cal
We are also going to sing some of the favorite hymns of this season and hear a very special song by Steve Contois entitled, "Our Saviour."
It is no secret that I like to add a bit of drama to worship. It takes time in order to do that and this week I have been able to spend time having fun with these scripts. I think that you will enjoy the service and it will help you prepare your hearts for Easter.
Cal
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A wedding story
She came into the office in tears. Her wedding is four months away and now her relatives are giving her grief for choosing to have a cake and punch reception at the church following her reception. One of her fiance's sisters said that it was inconsiderate of her to expect them to drive all the way in from Colchester to attend the wedding if they didn't get a meal out of it. Another relative criticized her for not having alcohol for the party. Someone even had the audacity to suggest that since they were going to be receiving gifts, they should make sure the meal was equal or greater to the price of the average gift.
As she shared these comments I actually got mad. I couldn't believe that family members could be so shallow and selfish, so thoughtless and rude. I recommended she go ahead with her plans and take notes on who it is who really care for them because most of these people giving her grief don't deserve her attention.
It is one thing to want to be helpful, to want more for your brother or sister. It is another thing to inflict your own selfish desires into another's plans for their wedding happiness. I told her to suggest these relatives help finance the big meal. If they really cared about them, then it would be a no brainer.
I don't know what is going to happen. I am praying for this couple. The truth is that when it comes to wedding planning, there is no right and wrong. Each of us has to look at our finances and determine the best use of them. The ceremony is the most important part and that is the least expensive part. That's where I would put my money. I told this young women, who even got grief from her mother, (who wasn't willing to pay for anything although that is the traditional role of the mother of the bride) that some of the best wedding receptions I have been to were at rented halls with pot luck food. The reason was simple the food was good and the people who came really loved the couple and wanted to make their day the best day ever.
So if you want to know which of your family and friends really care about you, try planning a wedding. You will find out in a hurry.
Cal
As she shared these comments I actually got mad. I couldn't believe that family members could be so shallow and selfish, so thoughtless and rude. I recommended she go ahead with her plans and take notes on who it is who really care for them because most of these people giving her grief don't deserve her attention.
It is one thing to want to be helpful, to want more for your brother or sister. It is another thing to inflict your own selfish desires into another's plans for their wedding happiness. I told her to suggest these relatives help finance the big meal. If they really cared about them, then it would be a no brainer.
I don't know what is going to happen. I am praying for this couple. The truth is that when it comes to wedding planning, there is no right and wrong. Each of us has to look at our finances and determine the best use of them. The ceremony is the most important part and that is the least expensive part. That's where I would put my money. I told this young women, who even got grief from her mother, (who wasn't willing to pay for anything although that is the traditional role of the mother of the bride) that some of the best wedding receptions I have been to were at rented halls with pot luck food. The reason was simple the food was good and the people who came really loved the couple and wanted to make their day the best day ever.
So if you want to know which of your family and friends really care about you, try planning a wedding. You will find out in a hurry.
Cal
Monday, March 17, 2008
A new kitchen in the works?
Tonight we had our first meeting of the new kitchen committee. Back in 1964 we had a state of the art kitchen installed at church. Back then Louise Strouse and the ladies of the Women's Guild often put on suppers. They even talked about catering banquets for outside groups.
Today the kitchen is in tough shape. The dishwasher, the stove and the refrigerators are all serviceable but dated and in need of work. The floor is rotting out and the cabinets are in need of an upgrade. We have been talking about remodeling the kitchen for the last twelve years and now we are ready to make our move.
Mary Brockway, Sue Ferguson, George Rezendes, Fred Stone and Cynthia Strouse make up the committee. They talked about the new kitchen conceptionally tonight and came to some conclusions. Now they are going to call in a consultant and her what she suggests based upon our needs.
We don't have a definitive timeline, but we could be looking at doing some construction as early as next fall or certainly by next winter. Stay tuned. This could be exciting.
Cal
Today the kitchen is in tough shape. The dishwasher, the stove and the refrigerators are all serviceable but dated and in need of work. The floor is rotting out and the cabinets are in need of an upgrade. We have been talking about remodeling the kitchen for the last twelve years and now we are ready to make our move.
Mary Brockway, Sue Ferguson, George Rezendes, Fred Stone and Cynthia Strouse make up the committee. They talked about the new kitchen conceptionally tonight and came to some conclusions. Now they are going to call in a consultant and her what she suggests based upon our needs.
We don't have a definitive timeline, but we could be looking at doing some construction as early as next fall or certainly by next winter. Stay tuned. This could be exciting.
Cal
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sundays are fun days
It was a great day for First Baptist Life today. It all began with the Palm Sunday Men's Communion Breakfast at Central Baptist Church. Thirteen of our men were up early for the service. Bob Zarnetske was the guest speaker and after the service we enjoyed a big breakfast cooked up by the men of the church.
At our morning worship service we witnessed the baptism of Andrew Higgins and welcomed him, Debbie Bray and Kelly Bolin into membership. There were palm branches everywhere and the sermon reminded us that Jesus was the light of the world. Brian Goldin sang and the choir was right on today.
We hosted the interfaith luncheon at St. Mark's and Judy Vickers, Janet Laflamme, Jarod Laflamme joined Jack Greenwood and his son Jack and his friend serving up the meal that was prepared by the cooks from Central Baptist. Roger and Doreen Mainville, Ellie Eccleston and Shirley cooked up some American Chop Suey, corn and salad. It was a crowd favorite.
At 2:00 p.m. our JV team played in the championship game of a tournament in Waterford. I managed to get there at halftime and watch the kids hold on to win and take the crown. There were high fives all around.
I stopped back at the church and the Buenas Nuevas service was in full swing. They are averaging over eighty people each week now and praising God. Pastor Jorge is really touching people's hearts.
As I headed home at dinner time I was able to say it was a good day. Here are some pictures from today's activities. Enjoy!
Cal
At our morning worship service we witnessed the baptism of Andrew Higgins and welcomed him, Debbie Bray and Kelly Bolin into membership. There were palm branches everywhere and the sermon reminded us that Jesus was the light of the world. Brian Goldin sang and the choir was right on today.
We hosted the interfaith luncheon at St. Mark's and Judy Vickers, Janet Laflamme, Jarod Laflamme joined Jack Greenwood and his son Jack and his friend serving up the meal that was prepared by the cooks from Central Baptist. Roger and Doreen Mainville, Ellie Eccleston and Shirley cooked up some American Chop Suey, corn and salad. It was a crowd favorite.
At 2:00 p.m. our JV team played in the championship game of a tournament in Waterford. I managed to get there at halftime and watch the kids hold on to win and take the crown. There were high fives all around.
I stopped back at the church and the Buenas Nuevas service was in full swing. They are averaging over eighty people each week now and praising God. Pastor Jorge is really touching people's hearts.
As I headed home at dinner time I was able to say it was a good day. Here are some pictures from today's activities. Enjoy!
Cal
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Our last Lenten service
Tonight we hosted the community Lenten Service at our church. It was a really nice affair. We had close to 100 people. All of the ministers participated and I preached on Luke 10:38-42, the story of Martha and Mary. My point was simply this: We often rush through Lent and are too busy to stop and spend time with Jesus in prayer and reflection. There is plenty of time to do the work of transforming the kingdon. Jesus wasn't condemning Martha's work effort, just reminding her that sometimes there was something better or more important to do.
Our choir sang and Tom Jeffers from Lee Memorial United Methodist accompanied us with his cello. It was a real nice piece. Afterwards almost everyone stayed to have a snack and share some conversation. Mark and Pam Kane took charge in setting everything up and they had some help from Dick and Cynthia Strouse and a few others.
Cal
Our choir sang and Tom Jeffers from Lee Memorial United Methodist accompanied us with his cello. It was a real nice piece. Afterwards almost everyone stayed to have a snack and share some conversation. Mark and Pam Kane took charge in setting everything up and they had some help from Dick and Cynthia Strouse and a few others.
Cal
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Creativity rules when we have free time in the office
I love it when I have time to be creative. This morning I got to the office and began creating a brochure for our upcoming Marriage Seminar at Camp Wightman on April 4 & 5. I think in another life I would have been a graphic designer. When I was working on my Doctorate I read several books on design and I like it a lot. The problem with doing anything creative is that it takes time.
In order to do this brochure I had to review the materials for the seminar and then go on-line and look for graphics. Then I had to do the lay-out and make it fit. I want the brochure to be attractive enough to get people to look at it and then decide if they will sign up for the course or not.
This seminar is something I have been wanting to do for a while. Over the last six or seven years we have had several couples in church break up. I know there are all kinds of reasons for this but I feel that we are called to do more in the church to help strengthen marriages before they come to the critical breaking point. This seminar is the first step. It has been in the works for a while. I believe God is going to bless those who attend.
Right now we have four couples signed up and we have space for six more. I hope to have the brochure available on line in the next day or two. It will give you a better idea of what is going to happen.
I also have several other projects that are in the works this week, including putting together bulletins for our upcoming holiday services and putting together the little drama for Maundy Thursday. So it should be fun the next couple of days.
Tonight we had choir rehearsal and the group was working on the anthem for our Community Lenten Service tomorrow night. We are hosting the service t 7:00 p.m. and I will be preaching on Mary and Martha. Come join us if you are free and bring snack to share at the coffee hour following the service.
Cal
In order to do this brochure I had to review the materials for the seminar and then go on-line and look for graphics. Then I had to do the lay-out and make it fit. I want the brochure to be attractive enough to get people to look at it and then decide if they will sign up for the course or not.
This seminar is something I have been wanting to do for a while. Over the last six or seven years we have had several couples in church break up. I know there are all kinds of reasons for this but I feel that we are called to do more in the church to help strengthen marriages before they come to the critical breaking point. This seminar is the first step. It has been in the works for a while. I believe God is going to bless those who attend.
Right now we have four couples signed up and we have space for six more. I hope to have the brochure available on line in the next day or two. It will give you a better idea of what is going to happen.
I also have several other projects that are in the works this week, including putting together bulletins for our upcoming holiday services and putting together the little drama for Maundy Thursday. So it should be fun the next couple of days.
Tonight we had choir rehearsal and the group was working on the anthem for our Community Lenten Service tomorrow night. We are hosting the service t 7:00 p.m. and I will be preaching on Mary and Martha. Come join us if you are free and bring snack to share at the coffee hour following the service.
Cal
An inside look at Monday's activities
Mondays are funny days at church. This week I was off and running very early. I came into the office at 8:00 a.m. and got a few things ready for the day and then was off to an appointment across town at 8:30 a.m. I am a member of the Norwich Rotary club and we had some work to do in preparation for our Charity Auction this coming week-end.
I joined the Norwich Rotary club in the spring of 1991. Three of our members Len Royce, Ed Regets & Dick Strouse) belonged at the time and Len Royce asked me if I would like to come to lunch with him. I didn't know very much about Rotary back then but I had been asked to speak at a meeting in the Rose Garden in June of 1990 and enjoyed the experience. They seemed like a great group of people. I would later come to find out that the Rotary club is made up of professional men and women from across the community. Many of the leading citizens of the city belong to the club. Many prominent business men and women have had their associations with the club over the years.
Now Rotary isn't just a social club or a prestige society. It is an organization that tries to make a difference in the community by working with different agencies in the city and at times by raising money for the groups and their programs. For example, we hope to raise between $10,000 -25,000 to support the Mahan Coat Fund, The Dictionary Project, and the Friendly Neighbor program for Schwartz Manor at this weekend's auction. Every year we provide close to 500 winter coats for children in the city. It costs over $10,000 to do this. We also provide dictionaries for every fifth grader in the city schools. This is part of Rotary International's Literacy program. We also provide a few groceries to the resident's of one of the city's poorest housing complex.
Now joining Rotary for their philanthropic or social connections should be reason enough for me to get involved. But I have another reason to do it as pastor of the church. I do it so I can be grounded in the world outside the church. Too often we pastors become insulated in the church and lose touch with the world. It becomes harder and harder to relate to every day life. Our sermons become intellectual fodder or pie in the sky rhetoric that doesn't touch the hearts of the people in our pews. I have always believed that to be a good pastor you need to be in the world, but not of the world, as Paul says in his epistles. The people I sit with each week at Rotary are good people. Some go to church or synagogue. Some don't.
The Rotary Club also gives me a community I can reach out to with the gospel and practice the type of relational evangelism that I encourage everyone else to do. The idea is to make friends outside the church and let Christ's light shine through you. I've always felt that the pastor has to model what he preaches. I'm not an evangelist like Billy Graham, but I love Jesus and I let it show when I go out into the community. I have met some wonderful people through Rotary and a few of them, including Matt Isenburg, have ended up coming to be a part of our church community. I have also been able to minister to several folks in the club and pray with them in difficult times. It is an extension of our ministry in that way.
Anyway, that's why I was off to the Rotary meeting. At 10:00 a.m. I was off to a meeting with the chaplains at Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut. I have been a hospice chaplain off and on since 1988. I got involved when Russell Furbush, one of our members, was taken on the program. I was immediately impressed by the dedication and care that the nurses and health care team provided. When then asked me to join them, I readily agreed.
Over the years I have ministered to many of our people as well as to others in the community. I have networked with other pastors, led seminars on grief and pastoral care, ministry to the elderly and hospice chaplaincy. In order to do that I needed to read up and learn more about the issues and I think it has made me a better pastor.
I always look at my involvements in the wider community from two different points of view. The first is whether or not the commitment will enhance what I am doing for the church and make me a better pastor. The second is whether or not what I am doing will make a difference in the community or the lives of the people I meet. Both Rotary and Hospice meet those criteria.
At noon I dropped in the office and my administrative assistant, Sandy had updated the web page, outlined the Sunday bulletin, made changes in the mailing list and cleaned up my mess from over the weekend. I checked in with her and we made plans for the rest of the week.
After lunch I came back to the office and did some catching up on office work from last week. I always seem to be about a week behind, if not more. I am a classic hurdle jumper and the more immediate the need for a project, the more likely it is to get done. So last weekend I was working frantically on the booklets and slide show for Basketball Sunday. This week I am paying the price for it.
After a break to go to the gym and work out at 3:00 p.m. on the exercise machines with Scot Rapoza (He is making me do it! He challenged me to a "get healthy" contest) I came back to the office to clean up and prepare for a meeting with a family who had recently lost a loved one. I have a memorial service for Herbert Lawton on Saturday and the family came in to talk about Herb and the service.
Someone once asked me if I did weddings and funerals for anyone. The simple answer is that I will consider a service for anyone. I believe that if someone is reaching out to God, then I need to hear them out.
I do weddings for folks who want God's blessing on their marriage. They don't need to belong to the church. I always encourage them to get involved with a church and to seek God if they want their marriage to be all that it can be. The same is true for funerals. I usually try to only do services for people I know. I don't solicit funerals. I also don't promise anything I can't guarantee. All I do is lift up the hope that we all have is that God will be merciful and point people to the promises that if we believe in Christ we will be saved. Most of my funerals come from referrals from family and friends of the person who passed away. That was the case for Mr. Lawton.
By the time I finished up with the family I headed out to do some personal errands (you know like grocery shopping!) I got home and wrote up an entry for the other blog and then called it a day. As you can tell from this entry, every day tends to be a little different. And most of them are good!
cal
I joined the Norwich Rotary club in the spring of 1991. Three of our members Len Royce, Ed Regets & Dick Strouse) belonged at the time and Len Royce asked me if I would like to come to lunch with him. I didn't know very much about Rotary back then but I had been asked to speak at a meeting in the Rose Garden in June of 1990 and enjoyed the experience. They seemed like a great group of people. I would later come to find out that the Rotary club is made up of professional men and women from across the community. Many of the leading citizens of the city belong to the club. Many prominent business men and women have had their associations with the club over the years.
Now Rotary isn't just a social club or a prestige society. It is an organization that tries to make a difference in the community by working with different agencies in the city and at times by raising money for the groups and their programs. For example, we hope to raise between $10,000 -25,000 to support the Mahan Coat Fund, The Dictionary Project, and the Friendly Neighbor program for Schwartz Manor at this weekend's auction. Every year we provide close to 500 winter coats for children in the city. It costs over $10,000 to do this. We also provide dictionaries for every fifth grader in the city schools. This is part of Rotary International's Literacy program. We also provide a few groceries to the resident's of one of the city's poorest housing complex.
Now joining Rotary for their philanthropic or social connections should be reason enough for me to get involved. But I have another reason to do it as pastor of the church. I do it so I can be grounded in the world outside the church. Too often we pastors become insulated in the church and lose touch with the world. It becomes harder and harder to relate to every day life. Our sermons become intellectual fodder or pie in the sky rhetoric that doesn't touch the hearts of the people in our pews. I have always believed that to be a good pastor you need to be in the world, but not of the world, as Paul says in his epistles. The people I sit with each week at Rotary are good people. Some go to church or synagogue. Some don't.
The Rotary Club also gives me a community I can reach out to with the gospel and practice the type of relational evangelism that I encourage everyone else to do. The idea is to make friends outside the church and let Christ's light shine through you. I've always felt that the pastor has to model what he preaches. I'm not an evangelist like Billy Graham, but I love Jesus and I let it show when I go out into the community. I have met some wonderful people through Rotary and a few of them, including Matt Isenburg, have ended up coming to be a part of our church community. I have also been able to minister to several folks in the club and pray with them in difficult times. It is an extension of our ministry in that way.
Anyway, that's why I was off to the Rotary meeting. At 10:00 a.m. I was off to a meeting with the chaplains at Hospice of Southeastern Connecticut. I have been a hospice chaplain off and on since 1988. I got involved when Russell Furbush, one of our members, was taken on the program. I was immediately impressed by the dedication and care that the nurses and health care team provided. When then asked me to join them, I readily agreed.
Over the years I have ministered to many of our people as well as to others in the community. I have networked with other pastors, led seminars on grief and pastoral care, ministry to the elderly and hospice chaplaincy. In order to do that I needed to read up and learn more about the issues and I think it has made me a better pastor.
I always look at my involvements in the wider community from two different points of view. The first is whether or not the commitment will enhance what I am doing for the church and make me a better pastor. The second is whether or not what I am doing will make a difference in the community or the lives of the people I meet. Both Rotary and Hospice meet those criteria.
At noon I dropped in the office and my administrative assistant, Sandy had updated the web page, outlined the Sunday bulletin, made changes in the mailing list and cleaned up my mess from over the weekend. I checked in with her and we made plans for the rest of the week.
After lunch I came back to the office and did some catching up on office work from last week. I always seem to be about a week behind, if not more. I am a classic hurdle jumper and the more immediate the need for a project, the more likely it is to get done. So last weekend I was working frantically on the booklets and slide show for Basketball Sunday. This week I am paying the price for it.
After a break to go to the gym and work out at 3:00 p.m. on the exercise machines with Scot Rapoza (He is making me do it! He challenged me to a "get healthy" contest) I came back to the office to clean up and prepare for a meeting with a family who had recently lost a loved one. I have a memorial service for Herbert Lawton on Saturday and the family came in to talk about Herb and the service.
Someone once asked me if I did weddings and funerals for anyone. The simple answer is that I will consider a service for anyone. I believe that if someone is reaching out to God, then I need to hear them out.
I do weddings for folks who want God's blessing on their marriage. They don't need to belong to the church. I always encourage them to get involved with a church and to seek God if they want their marriage to be all that it can be. The same is true for funerals. I usually try to only do services for people I know. I don't solicit funerals. I also don't promise anything I can't guarantee. All I do is lift up the hope that we all have is that God will be merciful and point people to the promises that if we believe in Christ we will be saved. Most of my funerals come from referrals from family and friends of the person who passed away. That was the case for Mr. Lawton.
By the time I finished up with the family I headed out to do some personal errands (you know like grocery shopping!) I got home and wrote up an entry for the other blog and then called it a day. As you can tell from this entry, every day tends to be a little different. And most of them are good!
cal
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Basketball Recognition Sunday
This morning we celebrated our basketball ministry during church. Cameron Barnhill, Jordan Souvenance, Bethany Stone, Brandon Favors, Jack Greenwood, Jordan and Jason Volpe were present and we gave thanks for the ministry that Fred and the coaches have had with them.
We didn't have a lot of the kids there this morning and over the years attendance at the service has been up and down. None-the-less it doesn't take away from the ministry we do with the kids all winter long. Fred is going to try and extend our time with them by doing some youth ministry in the coming months.
I do hope that going forward we might take the next step in this ministry and have more of a church presence at the games. It goes back to the idea of the missional church I have been talking about. We need to claim this ministry and start ministering to the kids and their families every week during the winter. The only way we can do that is by being present. I believe God has given us a tremendous opportunity to change lives. Many of the kids come from troubled homes. We can be a support to the families and offer them the love of God.
Several years ago we had a mom and two boys who entered our program. I talked with her every week. She had a bad experience with church and had turned away from God. In my one on one conversations with her that began to change. Imagine what can happen if ten or fifteen of us were present at the games every week, getting to know the families. What an impact we could make. Today was a beginning. Pray about it and let's see what God can do.
I want to thank Andy Higgins, George Strouse, Patricia Ohlund, George Rezendes, Cliff Vanase and the others who volunteered to spend a few minutes sharing their testimonies and stories with the kids this past season. Only God knows what seeds were planted.
We are planning a pizza party for the kids in a few weeks. I'll let you know when it is. Maybe some of you can join us.
Cal.
We didn't have a lot of the kids there this morning and over the years attendance at the service has been up and down. None-the-less it doesn't take away from the ministry we do with the kids all winter long. Fred is going to try and extend our time with them by doing some youth ministry in the coming months.
I do hope that going forward we might take the next step in this ministry and have more of a church presence at the games. It goes back to the idea of the missional church I have been talking about. We need to claim this ministry and start ministering to the kids and their families every week during the winter. The only way we can do that is by being present. I believe God has given us a tremendous opportunity to change lives. Many of the kids come from troubled homes. We can be a support to the families and offer them the love of God.
Several years ago we had a mom and two boys who entered our program. I talked with her every week. She had a bad experience with church and had turned away from God. In my one on one conversations with her that began to change. Imagine what can happen if ten or fifteen of us were present at the games every week, getting to know the families. What an impact we could make. Today was a beginning. Pray about it and let's see what God can do.
I want to thank Andy Higgins, George Strouse, Patricia Ohlund, George Rezendes, Cliff Vanase and the others who volunteered to spend a few minutes sharing their testimonies and stories with the kids this past season. Only God knows what seeds were planted.
We are planning a pizza party for the kids in a few weeks. I'll let you know when it is. Maybe some of you can join us.
Cal.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Rocking the church tonight
Our youth group hosted a concert tonight and about fifty people were on hand. Our Praise team kicked off the evening with some contemporary music. They were great. Then after some snacks and a bit of game playing, the group headed back upstairs to enjoy some Christian Rock music by Fireproof, a band from Rhode Island. Thanks to Fred, Gwyn, Steve, Cheryl and June for making it happen.
Here are a few photos from tonights concert.
Cal
Here are a few photos from tonights concert.
Cal
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The next five year mission
"Those who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it." ~ Anonymous
* Lunches for the poor.
* Food pantry
* Financial assistance for families in crisis.
* Hosting a Spanish and Korean congregation.
* Sports outreach through coaching and mentoring
* Mission team to Mexico
Last week in San Diego I went to a seminar with some of the top writers on the Missional church. I was excited as Tony Jones, Dan Kimball and Danyelle Schroyer began to define the missional church.
They began by asking "What does the Gospel calls us to do?" It doesn't compel us to be a bookstore or comfort station for a coffee club. The Gospel sends us out into the world to transform the world. We are the body of Christ in the world, sent out as salt and light to save it. We have a mission and it isn't confined to the walls of a sanctuary.
One of the speakers lifted up Abraham as an example of one whom God blessed. In Genesis God says to him "I am going to bless you so you can be a blessing." That's our calling today as the church. We come together to learn and to practice loving and taking care of each other. Then we go out and take that love into the world.
Another speaker described the church as "a worshiping community on a mission." I got excited because we are on that path with what we are doing. Our ministry continues to grow in its outward focus. Our people are beginning to see that they have a calling to share God's love at work, at home and at play. That has been the goal of our sports ministries and many of the other things we have done.
So I was extremely disappointed when someone asked the obvious question of the panel. In describing their experiences each of the speakers had mentioned that they left their home church to start a new ministry. The audience member asked if they felt a traditional church could become a missional church. They looked at each with a tinge of embarrassment and one after another they admitted that they didn't think it could be done.
Hence, my original quote. It is time for a new expert to arise. Someone, some church to prove them wrong. ABCCONN is inviting churches to participate in a study of the missional church. For the next sixteen months we are going to explore what it means and reach out with God's love in at least one new way. If you want to be a part of this, let me know. It is going to be exciting.
Cal
* Lunches for the poor.
* Food pantry
* Financial assistance for families in crisis.
* Hosting a Spanish and Korean congregation.
* Sports outreach through coaching and mentoring
* Mission team to Mexico
Last week in San Diego I went to a seminar with some of the top writers on the Missional church. I was excited as Tony Jones, Dan Kimball and Danyelle Schroyer began to define the missional church.
They began by asking "What does the Gospel calls us to do?" It doesn't compel us to be a bookstore or comfort station for a coffee club. The Gospel sends us out into the world to transform the world. We are the body of Christ in the world, sent out as salt and light to save it. We have a mission and it isn't confined to the walls of a sanctuary.
One of the speakers lifted up Abraham as an example of one whom God blessed. In Genesis God says to him "I am going to bless you so you can be a blessing." That's our calling today as the church. We come together to learn and to practice loving and taking care of each other. Then we go out and take that love into the world.
Another speaker described the church as "a worshiping community on a mission." I got excited because we are on that path with what we are doing. Our ministry continues to grow in its outward focus. Our people are beginning to see that they have a calling to share God's love at work, at home and at play. That has been the goal of our sports ministries and many of the other things we have done.
So I was extremely disappointed when someone asked the obvious question of the panel. In describing their experiences each of the speakers had mentioned that they left their home church to start a new ministry. The audience member asked if they felt a traditional church could become a missional church. They looked at each with a tinge of embarrassment and one after another they admitted that they didn't think it could be done.
Hence, my original quote. It is time for a new expert to arise. Someone, some church to prove them wrong. ABCCONN is inviting churches to participate in a study of the missional church. For the next sixteen months we are going to explore what it means and reach out with God's love in at least one new way. If you want to be a part of this, let me know. It is going to be exciting.
Cal
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Be present in time of trial
This was an emotional day at church. We celebrated the life of Jennifer Baruti Marcy with a funeral service that brought people into church from all over. It was a full house with standing room only. We sang hymns of faith, heard testimonies from her friends and heard the promises of scripture. With such a tragic death, the Gospel takes the forefront and speaks to people in a way that is often missed. Everyone gathered to ask why this young mother and wife was stricken with this terrible disease.
It was hard for me because there are no easy answers to give. But in the final analysis God reminds us that he loves us and no matter what happens to us nothing can separate us from his love. The best compliment I received today was from Jen's dad. When I extended my sympathy to him after the service he simply said, "Your words helped a great deal."
I think that all any of us can do in the face of tragedy is to be with one another. To be present and to hold one another's hand is a tremendous blessing. We don't have to say much. We can be content to simply be.
I want to thank all those who cooked meals for Mark and the girls over the last month. They were very much appreciated. Our Deacons are planning to keep the list alive and make this ministry one that continues in the future for other families.
Well it has been a long day. Good night. God Bless!
Cal
It was hard for me because there are no easy answers to give. But in the final analysis God reminds us that he loves us and no matter what happens to us nothing can separate us from his love. The best compliment I received today was from Jen's dad. When I extended my sympathy to him after the service he simply said, "Your words helped a great deal."
I think that all any of us can do in the face of tragedy is to be with one another. To be present and to hold one another's hand is a tremendous blessing. We don't have to say much. We can be content to simply be.
I want to thank all those who cooked meals for Mark and the girls over the last month. They were very much appreciated. Our Deacons are planning to keep the list alive and make this ministry one that continues in the future for other families.
Well it has been a long day. Good night. God Bless!
Cal
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Together for a purpose
My day began today with a breakfast at Wildwood Christian School and an introduction to their program. Pastor Chuck Tyree and the administration of the school invited the clergy to come and see what they are doing.
I was impressed. They have a real commitment to providing quality education in a setting that allows for the children to grow and express their faith. We also got a chance to witness the kids as they performed a scene from the upcoming school production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
One of the teachers shared her experiences of working in the public schools for 8 1/2 years and contrasted that with what she experienced at Wildwood. She talked about the support she received from administration and parents as she worked with the children.
The chairman of the school's board was present and he lifted up his dream of having several churches come together to promote and build the school as a real alternative to the public school. If you would like more information on the school, I have a packet that I brought back to the office with me.
As Pastor I am very fortunate in that I get to talk with other pastors, priests and rabbis about what they are doing to build up families, and especially the children in our community. We also talk about our ministries to the community around us. Sometimes I bring these ideas back to the church and e end up getting involved in some way. Once in a while another pastor asks me about what we are doing and they take ideas back to their setting.
I am constantly reminded that we are not an island doing ministry alone. We are connected to the wider body of Christ. That's why I believe it is good for us to participate in Ecumenical Lenten Services, Interfaith Thanksgiving Services, and to attend ABCCONN's Spring Fling and Annual Meeting. A few years ago several of us attended the ABCUSA Biennial Meeting. These opportunities to get together with other people of faith outside ou church community help stretch our faith and open the door for God to speak to us in new ways.
Next Saturday Oliver Bray is going with me to ABCCONN's Spring fling in Wallingford. It is a day of workshops on evangelism. The primary speaker is Dr. Jeff Jones of National Ministries ABCUSA and he is going to talk about faith in the workplace.
On April 26 ABCCONN will have its Annual Meeting in Hartford and Dr. Molly Marshall will be the featured speaker. Dr. Marshall is the President of Central Baptist Seminary in Kansas and a gifted speaker. I hope some of you will think about attending.
On May 10 some of our men will be going to Worcester for a Men's Conference, Chuck Colson will be the primary speaker. It will bless those who can go.
Keep your eyes peeled for future opportunities and take advantage of them. You will be blessed.
I was impressed. They have a real commitment to providing quality education in a setting that allows for the children to grow and express their faith. We also got a chance to witness the kids as they performed a scene from the upcoming school production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
One of the teachers shared her experiences of working in the public schools for 8 1/2 years and contrasted that with what she experienced at Wildwood. She talked about the support she received from administration and parents as she worked with the children.
The chairman of the school's board was present and he lifted up his dream of having several churches come together to promote and build the school as a real alternative to the public school. If you would like more information on the school, I have a packet that I brought back to the office with me.
As Pastor I am very fortunate in that I get to talk with other pastors, priests and rabbis about what they are doing to build up families, and especially the children in our community. We also talk about our ministries to the community around us. Sometimes I bring these ideas back to the church and e end up getting involved in some way. Once in a while another pastor asks me about what we are doing and they take ideas back to their setting.
I am constantly reminded that we are not an island doing ministry alone. We are connected to the wider body of Christ. That's why I believe it is good for us to participate in Ecumenical Lenten Services, Interfaith Thanksgiving Services, and to attend ABCCONN's Spring Fling and Annual Meeting. A few years ago several of us attended the ABCUSA Biennial Meeting. These opportunities to get together with other people of faith outside ou church community help stretch our faith and open the door for God to speak to us in new ways.
Next Saturday Oliver Bray is going with me to ABCCONN's Spring fling in Wallingford. It is a day of workshops on evangelism. The primary speaker is Dr. Jeff Jones of National Ministries ABCUSA and he is going to talk about faith in the workplace.
On April 26 ABCCONN will have its Annual Meeting in Hartford and Dr. Molly Marshall will be the featured speaker. Dr. Marshall is the President of Central Baptist Seminary in Kansas and a gifted speaker. I hope some of you will think about attending.
On May 10 some of our men will be going to Worcester for a Men's Conference, Chuck Colson will be the primary speaker. It will bless those who can go.
Keep your eyes peeled for future opportunities and take advantage of them. You will be blessed.
Monday, March 3, 2008
A Day of Baptist fun
Yesterday was the big day. We celebrated our common Baptist roots in worship with our sisters and brothers from Central Baptist. We had a good turnout and a wonderful worship experience. We commissioned our short term mission team, heard the music of our Praise team and the combined choir. Michelle Madsen Bibeau preached and we came together around the communion table and then again in a circle of fellowship. Several of us then retired to Fellowship Hall for a pot luck luncheon.
The day began with Sunday School and it got off to a good start despite some icy steps out back. The coffee pot was flowing and so was the fellowship. I've included a few photos to let you see the action. Janet Jeffcoate took some pictures during worship and I hope to have them up for you in the next week or so. Stay tuned for more.
Cal
The day began with Sunday School and it got off to a good start despite some icy steps out back. The coffee pot was flowing and so was the fellowship. I've included a few photos to let you see the action. Janet Jeffcoate took some pictures during worship and I hope to have them up for you in the next week or so. Stay tuned for more.
Cal
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