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
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
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