Our work continues in Mexicali.

It hasn't been easy to upload photos to the Internet here in Mexico. You have to find an Internet cafe and the connections are slow. Here are a few to give you a taste of what life has been like. On our third day here we added a third site to our work. We began working at Buen Samaritano, the church where we served last year. It has been great.

Up above you see the crew tilling the soil so the folks could plant grass at Primera Iglesia de Mexicali.



Chad and Stacy get their picture taken with our missionary, Mercy Gonzales Barnes.



Michelle uses a drill. She has become quite good at it.




A second story was added to Buen Samaratino and we did some sheet rocking in the classes.




Matt, Ann and Amber enjoyed the time getting to know each other in the vans.


Sarah and Amber helped us out with Spanish and did a lot of work.



George was covered in Sheetrock dust and Nancy had to clean him up.




The kids all love Amanda.



Sue had to make sure ev erything went on the walls as it was supposed to.




Alma and her friend were so excited to see us.



Michelle and Mercy planned the VBS schedule.



Ann and all of the rest of us helped at VBS.



The kids enjoyed talking Spanish with Sarah




Mark, Sue and Ann help with primary class crafts.


On Friday night we went for Ice Cream at.... Dairy Queen.

Mission Mexico Day 2

Day two was a busy one as the group split up and began working at the seminary and at Primera Iglesia de Mexicali. At the seminary George Rezendes and Rob Wagner took the lead and did some electrical work and helped organize some work to be done in a couple of the bathrooms. At Primera the group split up into two teams and one worked inside and the other outside. The inside group worked on putting together the air conditioning ducts and preparing the room to put in a false ceiling. Others worked outside to prepare the ground for a cement slab that would be the nursery area once walls were constructed.

We had lunch with the students at the seminary and then after a break, we headed to a neighborhood of one of the familyb members in the church to talk about Vacation Bible School and to distribute flyers to the kids in the area. It was a good first day of work.

Our journey to Mexicali as short term missionaries

Hello all,

I just wanted to share some pictures from our adventure down in Mexico. Twenty of us left on Tuesday and arrived in Mexicali at about 7:00 p.m. last night. We had a few snags along the way (The rental car company didn't have any vans for us!) Rick and Mercy told us to be flexible and we have been. Today everyone is working. One group is working at the seminary and the other group is at First Baptist Mexicali. Spirits are high and we are having fun!

Cal

Our journey to Mexicali as short term missionaries

Hello all,

I just wanted to share some pictures from our adventure down in Mexico. Twenty of us left on Tuesday and arrived in Mexicali at about 7:00 p.m. last night. We had a few snags along the way (The rental car company didn't have any vans for us!) Rick and Mercy told us to be flexible and we have been. Today everyone is working. One group is working at the seminary and the other group is at First Baptist Mexicali. Spirits are high and we are having fun!

Cal

A big send off in worship

This morning we made the final preparations for our mission trip to Mexico. During our worship service we prayed for and then commissioned our team as they head off to Mexico this week. Steve Contois and our praise team sang a song to set the tone titled, "Praise Him." Then member of last year's team, Carol Calkins, Sharon Fishkin and Connie Jensen, distributed gift bags to each of the members of this year's team. Pastor Michelle Madsen Bibeau prepared them for us and put in little goodies that we can use on the trip.

Curt Brockway led us in the prayer as the whole congregation gathered around the team members and laid hands on them. It was a moving moment that reminded us that we are all a part of God's mission. Then I distributed friendship bracelets to the children and talked about praying for our friends, old and new.



The choir sang "Fairest Lord Jesus" and I talked about mountaintop experiences in my sermon. I noted how many of us see worship as a mountaintop experience that helps us connect to God so we can get through the week. I noted that for those of us who have gone on previous mission trips, we had that same kind of exhilaration that Peter, James and John had on the mount of Transfiguration. Yet, Jesus stated that we weren't meant to stay on the mountain. Our job is to share the good news, the hop with the people in the valleys of life.





We had a number of family members and friends joining us for the service and it turned out to be a very good day.

Cal

A quick look back at the week just past

I need to make these blog posts in the morning when I am fresh. I get to seven or eight o'clock at night and I am just too tired to write too much. This has been a good week at church. On Tuesday night the choir met and continued working on a sing they are going to do with the Praise team. I think you will like it.

On Thursday night the Deacons met and talked about worship and made plans for the coming weeks. On March 1 we will have a service of song led by the Praise Team. They will lead the singing and share a few stories along the way in stead of having sermon. We also noted the fact that Communion will be observed on March 8th instead of on the first Sunday as usual.

On Friday night our kids played basketball at Teachers and continued their winning ways. Our team is undefeated and very good. Look for a big write up in the March newsletter. We hope to have all the kids and their families with us in worship at the end of March. Stay tuned.

Today we hosted the Miss Connecticut Organization for a meeting. All of the Executive Directors from local pageants across the state met in Fellowship Hall.

Tomorrow we will finish one week and begin another with a special worship service. I hope you can be with us.

Cal

A busy day of procrastinating

I began the day with the idea that I would finish cleaning my office. I got sidetracked by a couple of meetings that were on my schedule.

First I met with Greg Perry, the pastor of the Greenville Congregational Church. He and I volunteered to work on an interfaith worship celebration in conjunction with the 350th anniversary of Norwich. He shared some of his ideas and I got pretty excited. We will meet again early next month with a few others and flesh out the service in more detail.

After lunch I met Randy Sargent and Ray Deptulski at Home Depot. We picked up the materials for the suspended ceiling and lighting fixtures for the nursery and brought them back to church. The Property Committee has been working hard to brighten up the church nursery for Rosie and the kids. The walls have been painted, a television and dvd player were donated. In the next couple of weeks it will be finished and today's supply run makes it possible.

I came back before choir and jumped right back into cleaning. I started going through my old sermons and tossed about 95 % of them. Some of them are on the computer. I don't know why I keep them. I guess I just wanted them in case I needed to use them again. The problem is that they just don't preach well a second time. I also kept them in case I needed them at my next church. After twenty four years, that excuse just doesn't work anymore. So today I decided to toss them.

Anyway tomorrow I'll try to finish the cleaning. We'll see how far I get.

Cal

It was the third Sunday of the month so our luncheon crew was on the move. Sue Ferguson and Cindy Carchidi headed of to the Lutheran Church to cook lunch for the hungry. Amanda Duntz, Cliff Vanase, Kristen Deptulski and I served the crowd. Kielbasa, beans and salad was on the menu. After dinner we distributed cupcakes to everyone.






We do this on the third Sunday of every month. It's great fun. If you want to help speak to Cynthia Strouse of Amanda Duntz.

Cal

Love was in the air

Although I claimed that I didn't intentionally use the "love" theme in honor of Valentine's Day, everything had that loving flavor. My message reminded everyone that Jesus loves us not because of anything we have done, but because we are his. Our Weekly Bible Memory Verse was from I John 4:19 and it says it so simply, "We love him, because he first loved us." The choir sang a beautiful anthem that went along quite well with what Muriel Roderick said to the children in her time with them. She quoted the song, "Take My Life and Let It Be" and the choir sang "I Will Serve The Lord All My Days."

During the announcements we continued the theme of service as Moderator Curt Brockway called a very brief meeting to order and asked Oliver Bray for a report from the Nominating committee. We then quickly voted Mark Kane in as treasurer, Mark Rogers as his assistant, Mary Brockway as the Stewardship Committee chair and Fred Green Sr. as a member of the Property Committee. Then we installed all of our officers and prayed for them.

After church Jacob Kreger and his mom, Laura, had Cub Scout Cookbooks for sale and they shared 50% of the profit with our Mission team. We have been blessed by so many people who have stepped up to make donations or to help with fundraising to help send our team to Mexico.
When the group heads out, they will go with all of us along. Next week we will commission the team and send them off with our prayers. You will want to be in worship on that special day.

Cal

A very short special meeting

This morning we managed to have our special church meeting in under four minutes. Curt Brockway, called the meeting to order during the announcements in morning worship and oliver Bray presented the names of Mark Kane as treasurer, Mark Rogers as his assistant, Mary Brockway at chair of the stewardship committee and Fred Green as a member of the property committee. It was seconded and after it appeared there was no discussion it was voted unanimously to elect the four of them. A motion was made to adjourn and we continued with worship. Curt suggested that this was the shortest meeting in the 2009 year history of our congregation and I would guess he is right.

Congratulations to our new officers. I'll print a complete list of those who were elected at the annual Meeting back on January 27th here tomorrow.

Cal

This morning I went up to Josie's Country Store in Canterbury. Two of our mission team members, Julie and Rob Wagner, own the quaint little shop on Buttsbridge Road. I picked up a little something for my "Valentine" and picked up a couple of goodies at the bake sale they were hosting for our mission team. I met Michelle Chaffee and the girls up there too. Michelle, another mission team member knows the Wagners through her work with the WICH/WCTY radio stations. I didn't realize that until last night.

We were introduced to the Wagners through a member of Buenas Nuevas, Sarah Rodriguez, who also planned on joining us in Mexico. Sarah and Julie were talking about it and Julie expressed interest and asked how team members were picked. Sarah told her to call me. The Wagners own a construction company and have been on mission trips before. They were a natural fit.

We have just over a week to go before we leave for Mexico. We have a team of twenty and we will be working at two different sites. Some will be working at the Seminary where we will be staying. Some will be heading to Primera Mexicali to work alongside members of the church who will be doing some major repairs at the church and on the parsonage.

Each night we will be helping with Vacation Bible School too. That means crafts, and snacks and games at the end of the week. I can't wait. I think the feeling is the same with all of our team members.

On Sunday, September 22 the team members will join us at either Central Baptist or First Baptist for a commissioning service. Your prayers will insure that we go with the holy spirit in the lead. So mark it down and plan to be there when we leave and then look for the announcement of our return celebration when we praise God for the ministry we were a part of through our ministry her in Norwich.

Cal

Friday night basketball.

We had a game tonight at Samuel Huntington School tonight. The kids played very hard and won the game. We only have one team this year and Coaches Leonard Miller and Tom Outlow are doing a nice job with the kids. Coach Fred Green has been working with them too, offering prayers and devotional moments this season. We only have a few more games left on the schedule so come on down and join the fun. We have an excellent shot at taking the league championship again. Enjoy the pictures from tonight's game.

Cal

Meeting night at church.

We had two meetings at church last night. The Property committee met at 6:00 p.m. and spent a great deal of time talking about our heating system at church. Ray Deptulski, our chair, has been working with NPU, Norwich Tech and a couple of contractors trying to get an idea of what needs to be done and how much it will cost. GThe furnaces are all oil fired systems right now. They are also very old. The one that heats the main part of the building is at least thirty years old and needs some work. The larger one that heats the sanctaury is in good shape but it is very old and not especially efficient.

When the oil prices went over $4.00 a gallon last year, the Property committee began looking to the future. They considered changing over to natural gas. Next month Ray is going to get some figures and prices and we c an make some plans that can be presented to the trustees and then the congregation if they give the go ahead. Right now there are 0% loans and all kinds of incentives to become more energy efficient.

At our second meeting, the Trustees discussed this and also talked about getting rid of the abstesos in the basement. Ray got a couple of bids to have it removed. It has gotten worse over the last few years and really needs to be removed before we do any work down there.

We also talked about our Trust and Memorial Funds. Steve from UBS will be with us next month to share the gloom. Dick Strouse, our chair of the Trustees was away having fun on vacation so we didn't really decided anything. That including electing new officers for the year. We postponed that til next month.

I also shared the news that Mark Kane had agreed to be the new treasurer and Mark Rogers would become the assistant treasurer. Mary Brockway agreed to chair the Stewardship Committee and serve on the Trustees. Fred Green also agreed to be on the Property Committee and although he told Brian Goldin, word never got to me in time for the annual meeting. On Sunday we will have a short meeting to elect all four of them.

We adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. and headed home.

Sunday morning at FBC

The cold wave subsided for a day and the temper- atures outside rose to the low fifties. Inside the church there was plenty of warmth too. We welcomed back Stacia Green and got to meet her daughter, Alana. During the service Stacia and Gwyn sang "The Old Rugged Cross" as a duet for special music. The choir sang a new variation of an old tune, "Amazing Grace," and we asked for prayers for many friends and co-workers. My message today called on the congregation to think of themselves as tools that God could use to share his love.


After church we hosted a jewelry sale. Lyn Edwards brought in some of his inventory and offered us a percentage of the proceeds for the mission trip. Lisa Lapointe also offered her services and gave haircuts and trims to any who wanted one for a donation to the mission trip fund.








At 2:00 p.m. a group of us went to the Spirit of Broadway Theater to see Shawn Rucker and the cast of "How Can You Run With a Shell on Your Back." It was a great show and a good end to a morning/afternoon at church.

Cal

Friday night basketball

Our Basketball team won its game last night. The team remains undefeated this year and is on a run. The competition has grown stronger but the team continues to shine. The great thing is that everyone is playing. Last night we had just about everyone there and they all got plenty of playing time. There are four five or six games left this season. If you haven't sen them play, come down and treat yourself. Coach Leonard gets them to play with energy andc enthusiasm and they are fun to watch.

Cal

Our musicians lead in so many ways.

Last night we had choir rehearsal. We normally meet on Tuesdays but because of the snow we postponed it until Thursday. It was a good rehearsal. Choir is always fun. Maybe it is the music. Maybe it is Adele. Maybe it is the people. Maybe it is God singing with us. It is one of the best times we have to offer at church.

Adele mentioned that she is going to have surgery and will be away for a couple of weeks. The music committee and choir began making plans for the gap. Lori Lord and Cynthia Strouse agreed to fill in on the piano and work with the choir for those weeks. Adele's absence falls right when we are hosting the Lenten service and the Praise team offered to provide the special music for that service. We will be praying that everything goes well and that she will be back quickly.

The choir really is a vital institution within our church life. Not only does it include so many dedicated people within the congregation, it is also a group that helps me set the tone in leading worship. They lead the singing and help us focus on God. They provide inspiration. I always feel good because if my preaching falls a little short, I know people will still leave blessed because they have heard the choir praise God in song.

Our Praise team also plays a vital role in our worship life. If you hadn't noticed them before, on Sunday, March 1st they will take center stage. They will actually lead the worship service. In lieu of inviting in a guest preacher, we will have a special music and praise service led by Fred, Gwyn, Steve, June, and Penny. They have also invited Cheryl Dutumble and her dad, Paul Johnson to join them as they mix in four of five songs with stories about the goodness of god. It should be a good day. We have pushed our regular celebration of communion back a week until March 8th.

So now you have some thing special to look forward to. It should be a great day.

Cal

Three generations together

As I was putting the finishing touches on the February Newsletter, I sent a note to Timothy Rezendes and asked him for a picture of his dad with little Benjamin. Timothy sent me a photo featuring three generations of the Rezendes family. I put it in the newsletter and am including it here. George is all smiles as he holds the little guy. Congratulations! What a blessing.

Later this week we will get to meet a third generation of the Green family. Stacia and her daughter Alana will be with us on Sunday. Fred, Gwyn and George are all faring well with the idea of being grandparents. Then again, when you look at these precious children, who could blame them?

Cal

A Super night

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in a classic football game on Sunday night and sixteen of us were at the parsonage for a night of fellowship and good fun.

In one room a group was gathered around the television watching the game and enjoyed the kind of talk that goes on when sports are on center stage. In another room a group gathered around the table intent on putting together a massive puzzle. In a third room, the room with all the food, people wandered in and out to pick up a delicious snack and to chat about all kinds of things from interior designing to kids and grandkids to the weather.

The puzzle proved to be more of a challenge than we could handle on one night and by the third quarter, the ladies gave up on it. The game was a nail biter and went right down to the final seconds. Much to my dismay, the Steelers gave up sixteen points in the fourth quarter and almost blew the game. Only a miraculous catch saved it for them.

For the second year in a row, the game was determined in the waning moments in dramatic fashion. The Steelers win made me happy but the best part of the evening was being together with friends.

Even little Aiden had a good time playing with his toys and keeping his mom on the go.

Cal