God is with us

Tonight I stopped in to the calling hours for Bob Sullivan's mother, Marion. The whole family was there and a steady line of friends and family paid their respects. To say good bye to one's mother is never easy.

As I left there I thought about the fact this has been a difficult week for several people within our church family.

The tragic news of a toddler who found a handgun and accidentally shot himself came close to home as I learned tonight that the family has connections within our congregation. As a parent and a Pastor, my heart aches for the family and there are no words to express the depth of their loss.

Bob Duntz was back in the hospital after a minor heart attack and I sat at his bedside this evening. His health has steadily gotten worse over the last few years.

As I think about these situations, where words cannot express our sorrow and alleviate the pain, it occurs to me that our job, my job, your job is to simply remind people that God hears our prayers and that He sits vigil with us in our time of greatest needs. We know thats true because we have all had our moments, our losses, our pain and God has carried us through. So we can know that we can be sure that He will always come through.

Cal

Choosing a project that will glorify God

The Missional Church is an authentic worshiping community that seeks to live out God's call to share the good news to the ends of the earth beginning with the community in which it lives. Since April a few of us have been working together to discern what this means for us here at First Baptist Church.

As part of the Missional Church project of the ABCUSA, we have made a commitment to live out this calling and to help everyone in our church family begin to understand the calling not only to "go" to church but to "be" the church.

You have already heard me speak about this in recent sermons. This Missional Church committee is now looking for a project that we can all get behind that will meet a real need in our community and allow us to share the love of Christ in a concrete way.

Over the last few months we have floated a number of ideas and thought about ways we can partner with various groups, business and agencies. Tonight everything came together as we chose our first project, the one we will present to the group from ABCUSA.

You will be hearing more about this in the coming weeks. Right now we are working out the details. So stay tuned. We a had a great meeting tonight that included prayer, exploration of the text from Matthew 25:31-40 and a brainstorming session led by Curt Brockway.

If you would like to get more involved with this group, speak to one of the members. The committee includes Curt Brockway, Amanda Duntz, Judy Dupont, Sue Ferguson, Phil Postler, Cynthia Strouse and me.

Cal

Monster golf in the afternoon.

On Sunday afternoon the FBC Youth Group met and traveled down to Groton for a session of MONSTER Golf. We had nine teens and four adults and a good time. After watching Jared outplay just everybody, we headed across the street to Pizza Hut for dinner. As they say, "A good time was had by all!"

Here are some photos that will give you better picture than words can tell.

Cal

Choir meets for fun and to look ahead

On Sunday afternoon several members of the FBC choir got together to have fun in the sun at Rosie Main's house. It was our annual summer picnic. We had burgers, chips, salad, soft drinks and lots of good conversation.

The choir is one of the mainstays of our life together as a congregation. Over the years we have had many different people join the group. It is a big commitment. It means rehearsing every Tuesday night and singing every Sunday from September to June. But the benefits are well worth it.

The choir actually has a crucial role in leading worship. They provide leadership in the singing and offer an inspirational anthem each week. In recent years we have tried to be more intentional in picking anthems that compliment the message or theme of the day. Many of the members also are tapped to provide special music during the holidays and at special celebrations.

Adele DiBiagio Cofer is our director and organist. She has been with us for 28 1/2 years. Like fine wine, she has gotten better over time. She works with Cynthia Strouse to choose the anthems to plan out the schedule. The big event outside of Sunday mornings that we look forward to every Fall has been the Annual Festival of Choirs. Time goes into preparing something special for that as well as lining up the music for each Sunday.

My favorite time of year is the Advent Season. The music seems to touch the hearts and prepare us for the joy of the Christmas Celebration. We will begin working on the music in mid-October so the choir gets and extended holiday season.

There is always room for new choir members. We have fifteen returning members as we start the 2008 season. They include Rosie Main, Patricia Ohlund, Mary Brockway, Gwyn Green and Susie Rothholz in the soprano section. Our altos are Cynthia Strouse, Nancy Allen, Lori Lord, Helen Walker and Melinda Brick. Cal Lord and George Rezendes are the tenors. Fred Green Sr, Oliver Bray and Cliff Vanase sing bass.

You don't need to be a member of the church to sing in the choir. So if you have a friend who likes to sing, mention our choir to them and invite them to come with you to a rehearsal so you can introduce them to Adele and some of the members.

Choir members also have an advantage over the rest of the congregation in a few ways. First they have a ready made group of friends. Second they have the best seats in the house. The choir sits up front and they get to see who is in worship. Third, they don't have to spend a lot on their Sunday church clothes. They get to wear a robe every week. Fourth, choir members always seem to have the inside scoop on everything that goes on at church, usually before the Pastor and everyone else knows.

So if you want to get involved and have some fun this fall, come join the choir. Our first rehearsal in on Tuesday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Cal

Sports Recognition Sunday

Sunday morning we celebrated our 2008 Sports Ministries during worship. The service was nice and it included recognition of all who played in our bowling league, our softball team or basketball teams over the years.

Steve Moon, Mike Staron, Ken Kreger, George Rezendes and I were present from this year's softball team that finished the year with a 6-15 record. Mike Staron was named the MVP of the 2008 team with .727 batting average. Chip Chaffee was the best defensive player, Sean Wilding the Most Improved player, Eric Poore was named the Eleventh Player and Eric Larsen was the Rookie of the Year.

We then recognized the 2008 class of Sports Ministry Hall of Fame Inductees. The class included Jeremiah Lee, Nancy Girardin and Mike Staron for their accomplishments on and off the field of play and James Brown and Brian Goldin for the contributions they made to our programs.

Our Praise Team added some special music and my message pointed out seven things we need to do to stand out in the crowd as Christians. Afterwards we were able to look at some of the historical displays and enjoy some refreshments that George Rezendes and Don Walberg prepared.

A night with new member candidates

On Thursday night we hosted a very special meeting of the Board of Deacons. We invited four individuals to join us as they expressed their desire to become members of the church family. Our format for these meetings is pretty informal. We take turns introducing ourselves and sharing a bit of our faith journey and how we came to First Baptist.

Everything began as it usually does as I shared a bit of my journey and then my call to ministry. We went around the room and before long even our prospective members joined in. The way God works in our lives always amazes me and you could see the hand of the Holy Spirit as each person spoke. I wish everyone of our members could have been present. It was truly an emotional time.

After the meeting we began making preliminary plans to welcome these four into membership. They are Luis Pabon and Ashley Stewart by baptism, Jim Smith by confession of faith and Pam Smith by reinstatement. Right now I am looking at the last week of September as a probable date for baptism and welcome into membership but I hope to firm up plans in the next week or so. I can't wait.

Cal

Best Wishes to a good friend of the ABCCONN family

Carol Freehan began working in the ABCCONN office in 1971. Over the years she has trained and worked with four Executive Ministers, countless associates and area ministers, a number of administrative staff and has seen hundreds of pastors come and go. She has been the one constant in an ever changing world of ministry in the state of Connecticut. She has been the repository of information and history.

A member of the ABCCONN Historical Committee, Carol has lived it over the last thirty seven years. She is, simply put, a legend in American Baptist life. This designation comes not as a result of her longevity, but rather because of her heart. She is a member of Community Baptist Church in Manchester and she loves our ABC family. As she worked, she put her heart into what she did and made it a big part of her life. Never one to work 9 - 5, Carol often spent late hours and weekend days at the office so that everything would run smoothly for those she served. She was often the friendly voice on the other end of the telephone when we called Hartford with a question. If she didn't answer the phone, we soon got her on the line and found our answer.

On Wednesday night our ABCCONN family threw her a little retirement party. It was like a "Who's Who" in ABCCONN life as former staff members, past Presidents, old friends and Pastors dropped in to wish her well. I had to have my picture taken with Carol. When I was a seventeen year old boy considering the call to ministry, my Pastor, the Rev. Dr. John Brooks was on staff as an area minister. One day he brought me up to Hartford and I met Carol. He told me then that she was a special lady and that I should get to know her.

Rev. Brooks was right and I consider myself blessed to have worked and served with her the last twenty three years. May God bless Carol as she begins the next chapter of her life.

Cal

A Command Performance

On Wednesday night the Whiffenpoofs came to town and wowed a packed house at Central Baptist Church. This group, which will soon be celebrating their 100th birthday, shared a mixture of serious and zany tunes with us. The boys, all college seniors, were in top form as they blended their voices and sang a capella in four part harmony. Here are a few photos from the night.

Cal







The evening ended with an invitation to Yale alumni to come up and sing the alma mater with the group. Denny Gibbs and Art Lathrop were in that final chorus.

New Life

I experienced the best part of my job yesterday afternoon. I was up at Backus in the maternity ward and I got to hold a newborn little boy named Nathanial. Just short of his first full day, I was looking into his eyes and holding him in my arms. I had to catch my breath because I was overcome by the wonder of it all. Congratulations to Ray and Wendy. Nathanial was born on Tuesday, August 19 and weighed in at 8 lb, 10 oz and 21 inches long. He had a full head of hair and a beautiful smile.

Cal

Profiles of Faith at FBC Norwich

FBC Profiles of Faith - #2

Everyone knew Doris Sandberg Royce. She was the energetic white haired saint who greeted us all as we came into the sanctuary and took our seat. In her later years, Doris became our church historian. She had served as the Church Clerk for twenty years and she compiled lists and put together quite a collection of memorabilia. She organized and classified and prepared several folders and books for us that chronicled our history. Even more than that though, she was a living historical record. She knew everyone and could tell you how they were connected to the church and when they came in.

You see Doris grew up on the West Side and was coming to the church even before she could remember coming. Her mother, Amanda, was widowed and left to raise six girls and a boy on her own. The first priority for Amanda Sandberg was to see that all her children attended Sunday School and Church every week.

After Doris graduated from Norwich Free Academy she married her childhood sweetheart, Leonard Royce. Shortly thereafter they started a family. She stayed at home and raised the four children. Meanwhile she began teaching in the Sunday School at church and started volunteering as a Den Mother and visiting in the schools. This love for her family and involvement in their lives continued even after each had grown and started families of their own. She then invested her life in the grandchildren and their affairs.

At church Doris was involved in almost every aspect of Christian service. She worked in the Guild and at various suppers and programs. She served in the Executive Council and as I noted earlier, as church clerk. When there was a job to be done, Doris was always more than willing to fill the need. She was a friend to the homeless and the children, more generous to their plight than she should have been.

Doris never served as an official greeter on Sunday mornings, but she was probably the most well known and sought after person in the sanctuary. As people entered, they they looked for her. She was an adopted grandmother to many of the children, often bringing them little goodies and a hug.

Doris loved our church and we loved her. Today every time the piano in the sanctuary is played, we can think of her because it was given in memory of her and Leonard. Now the song of love that was in her heart continues to waft through our sanctuary in this living memorial.

Cal

Coming to a church near you - FBC

I got some great news today. We have been offered two of the Missionaries that will be attending the World Mission Conference here in Connecticut in September. They will be available to come and lead worship here at First Baptist Church on that weekend. I immediately accepted her offer.

So on September 21 Doris and Ricardo Mayol will be with us. They are professors at the Baptist Seminary of Mexico. Their primary task is to bring theological education to the poor in the remote villages in the southern tip of Mexico in conjunction with the Mayan Intercultural Seminary at Chiapas, Mexico. This is a regional center of the Seminario Bautista of Mexico, the headquarters of the Mayols’ ministry.

Here is a letter they wrote about one of the first trips they took when they started this ministry.

Cal

Ricardo travels a lot to reach the indigenous communities. Sometimes it takes four to seven hours to get to the places where our brothers and sisters live. Whenever we can, both, Mari­a and I go along with him but due to Maria's schooling it is difficult because she will miss too many classes.

However, I want to tell you about our first trip to El Jardi­n (Garden), a town in Simojovel which is around six to seven hours from our place. To get there you wake up early (around 6:00am) and take four vehicles. If you delay you will miss the truck from Simojovel to El Jardin that usually leaves around 11:00am! Some brothers came to Simojovel to meet us and escort us. We will have our first session on a Liturgy course at El Jardi­n. The last vehicle is the most interesting one as it is an '˜adapted' old cow-carrying truck with pipes over your head, so that you may be able to '˜hang onto something' and not fall during the traveling. It took us three and a half hours to get to El Jardi­n on a road literally paved with rocks! Imagine the jumping! We were 27 souls bumping into each other, but basically we were able to keep our places. We passed corn fields (milpas) ready to harvest and rivers. The sun scorched us pretty good and the bottle of water lasted until half the way.

Finally, around 3:30pm we arrived. They received us with pozol, a watery crushed corn mixture slightly fermented. It was cool and sweet and we gave thanks in Tseltal and Tzotsil, Wokolawal! As you know we work with the Baptist Seminary of Mexico that serves around 40 indigenous churches throughout Mexico. In Chiapas there are 26 churches speaking two Mayan languages '“ Tseltal and Tzotsil. The community of El Jardin speaks Tzotsil.

During the afternoon other pastors came. They walked for over nine hours to get to El Jardin because they didn't have the money (around $5 dollars) to cover their trip. We spent the next four days with the pastors and leaders giving the course and in the afternoons and nights with the brothers and sisters of the hosting church. We had activities for the children, bible studies and of course we preached. Mari­a our daughter helped us with the children showing them how the creation story called us to be caretakers of creation through songs and dramas.

It was beautiful to share with the women in the kitchen. I learned to 'tortear' (to do almost perfectly rounded tortillas '“ and I emphasize 'almost perfect') with my bare hands! While I did one, they did three!!! We shared about our children using corporal language but once in a while I had the help of one of the young men that translated for me. We laughed a great deal (more they than me, I guess I was funny in my attempts to communicate!), but we did understand many things about each other in spite of the language barrier. To be a missionary you do have to relax, make fun of yourself once in a while and enjoy the moment!

It always impresses me the way our brothers and sisters give themselves to us, sharing the little they have in gracious giving of love. Our brothers are coffee growers and you know that the prices have sunk so much that it is not even worth to pick the beans. For every pound of coffee beans they receive 40 cents! Intermediaries will sell each pound for 2 dollars getting 4 times what they paid to the growers! These families do not have enough to eat, and life is difficult. Yet, there is always a plate of fried beans and tortillas. There is always a space to sleep, be it the soil floor, the hammock or the church's bench. There is always a genuine prayer that embraces you and makes you deeply feel the presence of God. The children have a loveliness, an innocence far more beautiful (far more sad) when you realized how small they are because of malnutrition or why they run to embrace you barefoot due to their precarious life. They caress you, tenderly striking your hair, inviting you to play or to sing endlessly, and above all they truly make you feel part of the community. For Antonio, Pascuala and the rest of the church at El Jardi­n, living is the greatest gift, not possessions, nor investments, nor fashions. These barefoot children are testimony of both, our lack of justice to the world and the people's resilience in spite of the need, of illness, or war, to live, to dream and to share the joy with those who dare to come closer.

In the midst of a world shaking with birth's pains the look in the eyes of those who are different, and who suffer because the links we have built greatly benefits us, clearly reflects the eyes of Jesus. We hope that in this Christmas, we could be able to build new links of hope. We count on you to do this with us.

Rios sko'tayat! God bless you!

Will is on the job

Will is back on days at the church. Will Calderon is one of our custodians at church. He does the heavy lifting and works with Don Walberg to keep things looking good. Will, works full time for the Groton Board of Education as a custodian. A year ago he began working with us part time. He sweeps, mops, sets up tables and chairs, washes windows, polishes pews and cleans bathrooms. He does an excellent job.

During the summer he moves to days at the school as they clean everything from top to bottom in preparation for another year. That means he works a few nights here at church. It hasn't been bad though because traffic is lighter here at church .We don't have as many groups meeting and we don't need as many hours from him.

Will is an interesting guy. He grew up in Puerto Rico and came to the states as a young man. He has worked in New York City, Chicago and a few other places. He has a lot of funny stories to tell from his experiences. He is married and has three children and all of them are involved in Buenas Nuevas. Right now Will is leading their praise team.

Feel free to stop in and say hello to him if you come by and see his little gray Kia in the lot.

Cal.

Lunch for a few friends

Yesterday we hosted the monthly interfaith luncheon. Cindy Carchidi and Sue Ferguson cooked up kielbasa and baked beans for the crowd. Shirley mixed up the salad and cut up the Italian bread. Judy Vickers, Janet Laflamme and her boys and Muriel Roderick served it up to the guests. We had over sixty people come and eat lunch. Here are a few photos from the luncheon.

Cal











We are always looking for volunteers to help cook or serve on the third Sunday of the month. Just speak to Cynthia Strouse of me.

What you do is important

As I mentioned previously, Sandy is away on vacation. As I come to the end of the week I have to confess that I am rapidly becoming aware of just how much I depend on her. I can't find anything. I can't put anything away. I even had to do the whole Sunday Bulletin and believe me, I forgot how much work it takes.

Sandy works about twelve hours a week and then some. We don't pay her very much and we expect her not only to work during the week but to be available on Sunday mornings too, when she is here as just another member.

We sure notice when things don't get done. It's funny but the same can be said about so many people at church. A number of you volunteer to do little jobs that turn out to be so important in the life of the church.

For example we have done away with the nursery list for the summer. That means every week we are depending on someone to volunteer to do it at a moment's notice. so far we have been fortunate. But it only goes to show how important those people are who volunteer to take a regular turn from September to June.

The same is true for the obvious jobs that people take as Sunday School teachers and helpers, praise team and choir members, property committee members and officers. But we also depend on ushers, counters, cooks and bakers, our landscapers and plant waterers, as well as those who drop in and do impromptu clean ups in the kitchens, bathrooms and common areas. We are blessed with people who help with the sound, bring in food for the pantry, help send out the newsletter and volunteer at the Interfaith luncheon or CROP Walk.

I know I've only hit the surface but my point is this: What you do at church is important. Your volunteering makes life a blessing for someone else. So think about it. When you volunteer or help out at church, it is your gift to God and your whole church family.

For those of us who benefit from it, let's remember to say "thank you." Those two words will be a gift that will warm their hearts and encourage them.

Cal

I make hospital calls

Bob Booth came home today. He has been at Gaylord Hospital in Wallingford for the last few weeks to do some rehabilitation. Last week he came home to have some cancer treatments and that really took some wind out of his sails. This week he was just worn out. I was up to visit him on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. When I told someone that I went up there they were surprised that I traveled out of town to visit people.

The truth is that I try to get to the out of town hospitals for at least one visit if someone from church is in and if I know about it. I've traveled to Yale-New Haven and St. Rafael's Hospitals in New Haven, Hartford Hospital, The Children's Hospital and St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Westerly Hospital, UCONN Medical Center in Farmington, Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, Women & Infants in Boston and a few others over the years.

The church gives me an auto allowance to cover my expenses when I have to visit like this. I consider it part of my job. If you have to go in for surgery or if you are in an accident, please call and let me know. I'll try to visit you before you go in and while you are there.

If you go into Backus or L & M please be sure to call the church as well. I don't always stop in the hospital so I won't know you are there unless I am alerted by you or a family member. Don't think of it as a bother. I heard someone say, "He's so busy I hate to bother him." The truth is that my main job is to walk with you as your pastor and that means praying with you in times of trial. So call if you need me.

For now I will continue to pray for your good health.

Cal

Profiles of Faith at FBC Norwich

FBC Profiles of Faith - #1

Paul Lorraine married into the First Baptist family when he and Esther Leighton were married here in the 1940's. They actually met during World War II and went out on a blind date when they were both in Washington D.C. People who knew them both figured it wouldn't work out. Both of them were strong willed. How wrong they were. They began life together in White Plains, New York where Paul worked in the school system. As the 1950's came Paul decided to move the family to Norwich where Esther grew up and where her family still lived.

He worked at various jobs and then took a position with Pfizer's where he really began to shine. Paul also settled in here at church. He started singing in the choir. He loved the Tuesday night rehearsals and enjoyed the fellowship. He was elected to serve on the Diaconate. He was a faithful member and eventually named Deacon Emeritus in 1992 in recognition of a lifetime of service. He also was active in Sunday School. He served for many years as either Superintendent or Assistant superintendent. His favorite part of that job was dressing up like Santa Claus every year for the Annual Party.

Paul will be remember for his work around the church after he retired. He was always down here fixing leaky pipes, broken windows and building shelves and painting walls. It was his second home. When he died he left his tools to our Property committee because he knew from first hand experience how much they were needed.

Paul was also active in the community. He was a Mason and a member of the East Great Plain Fire company. He was also a bowler and was the driving force behind the formation of our Baptist Bowlers back in 1992.

It was a sad day in church when he passed away in February of 1996. He was Mr. first baptist Church for many years.

Visiting

Sandy is on vacation this week and so I have the office to myself. Like a man whose wife has left to visit her mother for a few days, I have the freedom to do what I want. That translate into the office being a mess and me being in the office just long enough to drop a few more things into piles.

Actually I have been on the road a lot this week. I've been to Wallingford to visit Bob Booth and out visiting a few of our members. It has been nice because we haven't had any meetings or softball games this week so my nights have been free. I've used them to stop in and catch up with a few people.

I've enjoyed these visits. When I first came to Norwich I did a lot more visiting. In the last twenty years it has become harder though. Everyone's schedule is so full that a home visit usually is more of an imposition that a treat. But none-the-less, if you would ever like a visit, or if it is easier for you to stop by to chat, give me a call and we can make an appointment. I might even try to pick up before you get here :-)

Cal

Planning for next year's mission trip has begun

Last night we had a meeting to talk about our future mission trips. It was a good meeting and we began to set the parameters of what we expect in the coming months.

First we agreed we were going to return to Mexicali and set a prospective date for the next trip. We hope to go around February 17 or 18th.

We agreed that we will both ask our churches for about $3,000 in funding.

We maintained the suggested deposit of $100 per person and set a deadline for sign up on November 1, 2008.

We set aside twenty slots, ten per church, for the trip. There will be a waiting list and those from one church or the other, will be able to be added if one or the other church doesn't get its full compliment of participants at the deadline.

We will have two fundraisers to help raise the money needed to get to our $12,000 budget figure. We are looking at a Spaghetti supper in late September or early October and a potential Bluegrass musical festival in January.

Donations from individuals in the congregational will be accepted throughout the year.

Using your gifts

The church looked so nice for the weddings yesterday. Dave and Sue even decided to have pictures taken right outside. When was the last time that happened? Our little group of landscapers has done an incredible job with the front of the church and the rear entrance. It gives the church such a warm welcome and all it took was one person coming forward with an offer to help.

Sue Vanase took the first place award for the Norwich in Bloom contest at her own home on Wightman Ave this year. When asked about her gardening she shared the fact that she loved what she was doing.

I think that is the essence of what all of us are called to do in ministry. Make no mistake. We all have a ministry. If we have given our lives to Christ, then we are called to turn around and do something to bring glory to God. That was the gist of my message this morning.

We need to put our heart into our faith and live it out in the world. In Romans, chapter twelve Paul says to give our lives as living sacrifices and make that an act of worship. Then he goes on to tell us that we need to use the gifts we have been given. That is what Sue did. In a few weeks we will be celebrating Sports Recognition Sunday. We will remember Paul Lorraine, Mark Damien and several others who put their passion for bowling, softball and basketball in play and gave it to God to start outreach ministries here at church. James Brown, who we will recognize and remember as we indict him into our sports Ministry Hall of fame, told me many times that he got involved because of the kids. He wanted to give them an alternative to being on the streets.

So what's your gift? How you can use it as an offering to God. Let's talk.

Cal

Planning for Sunday School Opening

On Thursday night we met and made plans for the upcoming Sunday School year. I thought I would fill you in this morning. Superintendent Sandy Stone will welcome everyone back on Sunday, September 7 at 9:15 a.m. with Juice, Coffee and Donut munchkins. We will register for classes, take our annual picture and meet our teachers.

All children are welcome to participate. You do not need to be a member of the church or Sunday School to come. There is no cost but we do take a weekly offering. The kids meet together in an inter-generational opening and then split up into age based classes. We offer classes for infants and toddlers, for parents who want to attend Sunday School, all the way up through High School.

We also offer an Adult Bible Study that meets each week. They will be studying the book of Acts this fall.

The Sunday School Year runs through mid May. We encourage everyone to attend regularly but we know schedules vary from week to week and season to season. The way our curriculum works you can miss several weeks and not feel behind when you return. But we all know it is harder to get back in the habit when you skip a week or two or three. Those children and adults with near perfect attendance will get an award at the end of the year.

In December the children put on a Christmas Program. In May we let the children take over our worship service and do skits, recitations and songs.

We have had some great teachers and most of them are coming back. They include Rosie Main, Sandra Lucien, Fran Rogers, Rachelle Weimer, Zelda Earle, Doris Calkins, Laura Kreger, Kristen Deptulski, Cal Lord and Curt Brockway. This year we have one newcomer so far. Janet Laflamme will be helping with the K- 2 class since Fran Rogers will be taking a sabbatical.

So think about bring your kids to Sunday School this year. It is going to be fun. Don't have kids? That's alright. Come to the adult class. They have a blast.

Cal

Our ministry is bigger than we think

In August I have five weddings and yesterday I had a funeral. It almost sounds like the plot of a B grade movie. The thing about these services is that they reflect the nature of our wider ministry in the community and our connection to several families.

Sometimes we think of church as that which happens on Sunday morning. We gather. We worship. We have Sunday School classes and Bible study. Then we go home. But most of us realize that our relationship to the church is much greater than that which takes place at 10:30 a.m. (9:30 a.m. July and August). When we host a series of weddings and funerals and talk about other life events like baptism and church membership, it jumps out into the open.

I met with Wayne Morse and Kimberly Perry on Wednesday night. They will be married on August 30. Wayne grew up in our church and I've known him since he was about five years old, maybe even longer. He attended Sunday School and was active in our youth group. I literally watched him grow up. His parents and grandparents have been active members of our church and this is just one of the special moments we have celebrated with the family. Wayne Sr and Cindy bowled with us and we've celebrate weddings and funerals with his grandparents, Harry and Dot Calkins and the rest of the family. Their wedding will be a happy day and it will demonstrate the outreach of our church. Many who will be there don't regularly attend on Sunday yet they have been touched by the ministry of our congregation and I dare say, several of them consider us as their church.

Today I am marrying Scott Royce and his fiance, Jessica Malinowsky at noon. Scott grew up in the church too. It seems like his dad, Bruce, and his grandparents Donald and Jean Royce go back to the founding of First Baptist. Well, they don't go back quite that long. Scott's grandparents were married here and his grandfather Donald sang in the choir and served as a Trustee of the Church for over fifty years. His dad, Bruce grew up in our Sunday School and after he and Alys were married, they made this their church home. They have been a blessed part of the church family ever since. Scott, himself, grew up in our Sunday School and has been part of our extended family in his adult life. I was there when his daughter Sarah was born and prayed with them in the hospital. Now she is a young woman in her own right. When Scott and Jessica get married today, we will be there to bless their union. There may not be a big crowd, but it will represent the way we have interacted with families down through the decades.

Yesterday I had the funeral service for Joseph Willhoit. I wasn't there when Joe and Marsha got married 25 years ago, but we have connected with the family many times over the years. Marsha and her sisters grew up in our church. They drifted away but when I came to the church in 1985 Marsha joined the choir and she and Joe would often attend services. I saw them frequently over those early years due to family commitments. Marsha's mom and brother were very active in community affairs and I would get invited along. Even though they didn't attend regularly, they considered us their family. Later I would conduct both of their funerals. I also had the service for Joe's son who died tragically. These moments of mourning and our reaching out to the family brought comfort and solidified our place in their lives. Marsh and Joe lived too far away to attend services regularly, but they supported us with their offerings and occasional notes of encouragement. At the funeral, it was noted how much Joe felt at home here and always knew he had friends at the First Baptist church.

This evening I will have my second wedding here at church. I first met Sue Kenyon before I came to serve the church in Norwich. She was a waitress at Town Donut in Norwichtown and I used to go there regularly. Years later we ran into each other again when we were looking for help cleaning at the church. She was good friends with Brian Goldin and we connected. Since then Sue has helped cook at several fundraisers here and at the Mother Daughter Banquet. You won't see her on Sunday morning because of her schedule, but she loves our church and considers it her church.

I could go on but I think you get the idea. Whether we are talking these special services, or thinking about our interaction with Scout troops over the years or the Rotary club which has met here on occasion or the Parent's Group, we have been touching people's lives. Our ministry is much larger that that which is measured by attendance on Sunday mornings. We are the light on the hill.

This is part of what it means to be a missional church. It is understanding that your mission is bigger than you think. It is being a presence in the community and letting Christ shine through you. Well, I'll write more later but right now I have to go to perform a wedding.

Cal

What is the missional church?

On Tuesday night we met to talk about the Missional Church project. We passed out various resources and agreed to meet again the end of the month after reading them. Our Missional Church team includes Curt Brockway, Cynthia Strouse, Amanda Duntz, Sue Ferguson, Phil Postler, Fred Green, Judy Dupont and the Pastor. We are also planning to add a few more members before long.

You have already heard us talk about the concept in sermons and in other venues. Now we are getting ready to take the next step and come up with a project that will bless our community. We will be looking for partners we can work with. We will be looking for sponsors to help fund it. We will be looking for input from the rest of our church family as well as our community neighbors.

Stay tuned. It is going to transform our ministry to the community.

Cal

Excitement in the wings

We had a little excitement in Church yesterday. A police officer stuck his head in the door of the sanctuary and looked around. He then returned to the chapel where Curt Brockway went out to see what he wanted. Afterwards I learned that there was a concern with about an erratic driver who pulled into the lot. With the news of church shootings still fresh in mind, the officer wanted to check things out and make sure everything was okay.

During the service we celebrate the Lord's supper and I continued my series on the Book of Romans with a message entitled, "It's a Mystery. Praise God!" Lori Lord sang a beautiful song as we came to the table and the service closed with us holding hands in a circle of fellowship.

Cal

Softball season comes to an abrupt end

Well the softball team lost its second game of the play-offs to St. Pat's. In the first inning we came out hitting and went ahead 5- 4. Chip Chaffee, Eric Larsen and Eric Poore all hit home runs over the fence. But it went down hill from there. We gave six runs in one inning and ten runs in another and eventually lost 24- 9 in five innings. Chip Chaffee put on one of our greatest play-off game performances ever. He had two homers and a triple and knocked in five runs but it wasn't enough to spark an upset victory over the number two seed in the tournament.

Sports Recognition Sunday will put an official wrap on the season. We will honor our sports players on Sunday, August 24 at 9:30 a.m. During that service we will also honor five of our members in the Sports Ministry Hall of Fame. Mike Staron, Nancy Girardin and Jeremiah Lee will be honored for their play and James Brown and Brian Goldin will be recognized for their leadership and contributions.

Cal

Softball play-offs.

Our softball team played valiantly in the first round of the play-offs last night. We were wrapped in a 3-3 tie through the first three innings and then hung close through four and a half. They were leading 5 -4 when they broke loose for six runs in the bottom of the fifth. They went on to win 13-5. Eric Poore and Ken Kreger led our attack with three hits each. Chris Adams and Mike Staron contributed a pair of hits each. We played good defense but they just hit the ball better than we did.

We get a chance to redeem ourselves tonight. We play the second game at T -1 at 6:00 p.m. Come on out and root us on. If we win tonight we get to play another game next week!

Cal