On Sunday we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent and the church looked beautiful. Rosie Main did the call to worship and we went right into the singing of the advent carol, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." We ran out of bulletins and although that is a problem for the ushers, it is always a good thing for attendance. We had 108 people present and the church had a kind of glow. The choir sang "Rejoice, Rejoice Emmanuel" and it fit right in with the theme of hope that was struck in the lighting of the advent candle.
My message was a reminder that no matter what is happening in the world around us, God is always in charge. I pointed out how Jesus was born in Bethlehem because a pagan ruler had come to power in a pagan nation and decided to have a census. This forced Joseph and Mary to travel from home to the city of their ancestor David's birth. You couldn't have planned it if you tried but in these coincidental acts God made sure that the prophet's predictions were fulfilled. So if God could maneuver those events, he certainly can work miracles and blessing in our lives.
We finished the day by singing a hymn of expectation and closed the service b pointing to the hope that is embodied in the manger that carried the prince of peace.
Cal
Monday, November 30, 2009
Advent decorating
On Saturday we decorated the church for Advent. We were small in number but we got a lot done. Jamime Todd and I pulled all the decorations down from the tower room and then Patricia Ohlund began sorting through them and directing us as to where everything went. Oliver Bray went to work putting up the candelabras and Mark Rogers began hanging the large wreathes.
Steve Ohlund tackled the large Christmas tree. He hung the garland and placed the ornaments with care. Zelda Fellows hung the greens around the sanctuary. Doris Adams set up our various nativity sets and Patricia went around giving suggestions and making everything look nice.
We had one problem. The candles I bought had too much of a waxy coating on them and we had to scrap them. They would not stand up in our holders without falling. We could not place them safely so I'll be heading out looking for more candles this week.
It was a nice morning and you will be blessed when you come to worship this week.
Cal
Steve Ohlund tackled the large Christmas tree. He hung the garland and placed the ornaments with care. Zelda Fellows hung the greens around the sanctuary. Doris Adams set up our various nativity sets and Patricia went around giving suggestions and making everything look nice.
We had one problem. The candles I bought had too much of a waxy coating on them and we had to scrap them. They would not stand up in our holders without falling. We could not place them safely so I'll be heading out looking for more candles this week.
It was a nice morning and you will be blessed when you come to worship this week.
Cal
Friday, November 27, 2009
A day of giving on your behlaf
It's Friday morning and I feel a little bit like Santa Claus. On Wednesday night Mark Kane, our Treasurer, and I met to talk about our mission giving. We had quite a bit of money that has been collected over the last few months that needed to be disbursed before the end of the year.
All of the checks were going to organizations that we voted to support at our Annual Meeting last year when we adopted the mission budget. We give to the United Mission Program of the American Baptist churches USA for the support of our worldwide mission outreach ministry. But we also give to a number of local ministries that support people and projects within our own communities. I wrote little notes to go with the checks we gave out to the following organizations this morning.
St Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen: This is a ministry established and support by the Catholic Diocese of Norwich but it is really the largest hunger ministry in the area. Every day over a hundred people are served with breakfast and lunch programs, a food pantry, laundry and shower service and so much more. The kitchen works with social service agencies and partners with the Homeless shelter and several other agencies to care for the "least of these" in our city. Currently they have lots of volunteer opportunities available too. Cynthia Strouse volunteers as a cook on Monday and Tuesday mornings.
Madonna Place is a ministry that serves mostly young mothers and their children. It hooks them up with resources and classes that will help them grow as parents. They also have classes for dads who are trying to deal with stress and good parenting skills. It is a drop in center, a resource place and a safe haven for many of our most vulnerable citizens.
We also support Habitat for Humanity as they seek to make dreams come true. Amanda Duntz is currently the volunteer coordinator for the local area and we are looking to get more involved in some of the house builds. We also support them with a small gift each year. They have been a blessing to so many families in the region over the years.
The Norwich Clergy Fuel Fund helps folks with energy assistance by providing up to $200 in oil, gas or electrical heating needs. The Association treasurer works with agencies and through referrals from the clergy to provide emergency help to those who are left out in the cold. We make an annual gift to the fund.
The Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center ministers to young ladies who are in distress over an unwanted pregnancy. Unlike Planned Parenthood, which helps young girls receive abortions, Care Net helps supports these girls as they as they deal with the pregnancy. They assist in adoption proceedings. They help by providing resources and support throughout the pregnancy and provide an alternative to abortion. This is one ministry that all of us who are pro-lifers should support whole heartedly because it walks the walk with those in need.
Other institutions we support include Eastern College in St. David's PA, Pierce Memorial Baptist Home, Andover Newton Theological Seminary and the ministries of our SUNL Association.
We can do this because of your faithful giving to mission through our church. So thank you for making me feel so benevolent this morning as I act on your behalf.
cal
All of the checks were going to organizations that we voted to support at our Annual Meeting last year when we adopted the mission budget. We give to the United Mission Program of the American Baptist churches USA for the support of our worldwide mission outreach ministry. But we also give to a number of local ministries that support people and projects within our own communities. I wrote little notes to go with the checks we gave out to the following organizations this morning.
St Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen: This is a ministry established and support by the Catholic Diocese of Norwich but it is really the largest hunger ministry in the area. Every day over a hundred people are served with breakfast and lunch programs, a food pantry, laundry and shower service and so much more. The kitchen works with social service agencies and partners with the Homeless shelter and several other agencies to care for the "least of these" in our city. Currently they have lots of volunteer opportunities available too. Cynthia Strouse volunteers as a cook on Monday and Tuesday mornings.
Madonna Place is a ministry that serves mostly young mothers and their children. It hooks them up with resources and classes that will help them grow as parents. They also have classes for dads who are trying to deal with stress and good parenting skills. It is a drop in center, a resource place and a safe haven for many of our most vulnerable citizens.
We also support Habitat for Humanity as they seek to make dreams come true. Amanda Duntz is currently the volunteer coordinator for the local area and we are looking to get more involved in some of the house builds. We also support them with a small gift each year. They have been a blessing to so many families in the region over the years.
The Norwich Clergy Fuel Fund helps folks with energy assistance by providing up to $200 in oil, gas or electrical heating needs. The Association treasurer works with agencies and through referrals from the clergy to provide emergency help to those who are left out in the cold. We make an annual gift to the fund.
The Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center ministers to young ladies who are in distress over an unwanted pregnancy. Unlike Planned Parenthood, which helps young girls receive abortions, Care Net helps supports these girls as they as they deal with the pregnancy. They assist in adoption proceedings. They help by providing resources and support throughout the pregnancy and provide an alternative to abortion. This is one ministry that all of us who are pro-lifers should support whole heartedly because it walks the walk with those in need.
Other institutions we support include Eastern College in St. David's PA, Pierce Memorial Baptist Home, Andover Newton Theological Seminary and the ministries of our SUNL Association.
We can do this because of your faithful giving to mission through our church. So thank you for making me feel so benevolent this morning as I act on your behalf.
cal
Wednesday night thanksgiving service
On Wednesday night we met for our weekly mid-week service. The Praise team led us in singing and I told of a Thanksgiving miracle. I got a call that someone on Tuesday afternoon who had a large turkey to give but it couldn't be delivered until Wednesday night. I scrambled to think of someone who could use it. I made a call and the family I connected with wasn't planning on a turkey dinner because things were kind of tight this year. She was delighted to hear my voice and she gratefully accepted the turkey and all the fixings that went with it.
We had eighteen people present for our service as we sang and prayed. An old friend of mine was present and Jim asked us for prayer. He had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and he asked us to lay hands on him like it suggests in the book of James. We did and we prayed for his healing.
I then preached about deliverance and how God is always with us and ready to answer the call when we feel tempted or when we feel under fire or attack by the devil or simply when the world is too much for us. He will deliver us from evil.
Cal
We had eighteen people present for our service as we sang and prayed. An old friend of mine was present and Jim asked us for prayer. He had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer and he asked us to lay hands on him like it suggests in the book of James. We did and we prayed for his healing.
I then preached about deliverance and how God is always with us and ready to answer the call when we feel tempted or when we feel under fire or attack by the devil or simply when the world is too much for us. He will deliver us from evil.
Cal
It is time to sing of our coming Lord
On Tuesday night we had a great choir rehearsal. It was really great to be singing Christmas and advent anthems. I can't wait for Christmas this year. I know a lot of people are complaining about how early the sales gimmicks have started and how disgusted they are with the commercial nature of it all but I don't care. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It reminds us just how much God loves us.
With all the gloom and doom being broadcast over the airwaves and across the net, Christmas comes to bring a light into our dark world. So if you are feeling kind of blue, come to church this Sunday as we sing about the coming of our Lord and preach on the Hope Christ brings.
Cal
With all the gloom and doom being broadcast over the airwaves and across the net, Christmas comes to bring a light into our dark world. So if you are feeling kind of blue, come to church this Sunday as we sing about the coming of our Lord and preach on the Hope Christ brings.
Cal
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Youth group serves up Thanksgiving baskets
After church on Sunday, Cynthia Strouse and I went shopping. She and Cheryl Dimmock had organized everything that had been collected and then made a list of what was needed to complete the bags. We came back and at 3:00 p.m. the kids from our junior/ senior high classes came to put the bags together. We ended up making 25 bags on Sunday and then made up another four and had money for two gift certificates by the time Wednesday night rolled around. It was a great outreach effort by all.The kids had a good time putting the bags together. Then from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. they helped carry the bags out to the cars of the folks who picked them up.
Thanksgiving Sunday worship
On Sunday we had much to be thankful for. We celebrated our Thankfulness in a Church family thanksgiving service. We sang the traditional hymns and the choir sang "O Give Thanks." We also had the opportunity to witness Kristen Deptulski and Jason Desaulniers come forward with their son, Liam, in a service of family dedication. They had lots of family and friends present for the service.We also dedicated our pledge cards at the end of the service. People were invited to come forward with them and put them into the well. We also invited folks to write down the blessings they were thankful for and to bring them to the well too.
My message focused on being thankful no matter what our circumstances are and realizing that God is with us all the time. It was a great day!
Cal
Monday, November 23, 2009
Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
On Thursday night we met to celebrate Thanksgiving in Norwich. One week before the official holiday Norwich Churches Together, our ecumenical church council, organized an interfaith Thanksgiving service. It was held at Grace Episcopal Church in Yantic. Our Praise team got everything going as they shared several songs as a prelude. They did a great job. Bev Goulet was the guest speaker and several clergy participated including Father Bob Lynch from St. Mary's, Rev. Ho Soon Han from Lee Memorial, Rev. Trish Cunningham of Christ Episcopal, Rabbi Charles Arian of Beth Jacob Synagogue and Rev. Dennis Doyle from Sts Peter and Paul.Tom Hyland from Martin House also participated and told us about the ministry he is involved with to help the homeless. The proceeds from the offering was going to support his ministry. Afterwards the ladies of Grace Church hosted a fellowship hour and there were lots of goodies.
Here are a few photos of our praise team.
Cal
Friday, November 20, 2009
Plans being made for Annual Pageant
On Wednesday night our Sunday School teachers and staff members met to talk about our Annual Christmas Party and Pageant. We chose a contemporary pageant that looks pretty good. It begins with two girls talking about what they want for Christmas. One of them is a little disappointed and the other invites her to come to Christmas eve service. That's when the angel appears and begins sharing the Christmas story with them.
In this pageant there are shepherds, angels, wise men and Mary and Joseph. There are carols to sing too. It should be a great. Everything is planned for Sunday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. Dessert will follow the pageant and it will be followed up with a visit from Santa Claus. Everyone is invited so mark your calendar and plan to join us. We are encouraging the kids to bring a personal care item, such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo or soap that will be shared with our neighbors in need as part of our winter survival kit give away in January.
Cal
In this pageant there are shepherds, angels, wise men and Mary and Joseph. There are carols to sing too. It should be a great. Everything is planned for Sunday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. Dessert will follow the pageant and it will be followed up with a visit from Santa Claus. Everyone is invited so mark your calendar and plan to join us. We are encouraging the kids to bring a personal care item, such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo or soap that will be shared with our neighbors in need as part of our winter survival kit give away in January.
Cal
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Words for the Wednesday night crowd
On Wednesday night we met for worship and twenty eight people were in attendance. The praise team got us off and running. As usual they were great. In my message I shared the fact that when Jesus taught us to ask God not to lead us into temptation, he may have been suggesting we ask God not to let us face trials. The Hebrew word for both temptation and testing is the same. None of us want to face trials and Jesus knew we would want to ask God for that. But testing and trials come and I pointed out that what God promised is that he would be with us in our time of testing.
It seemed like a message that was timely for all of us who were present. Some of those who were there were facing pretty big challenges. Others were going through a valley of testing. I don't think there was one person present who couldn't say they weren't worried about something going on in their lives. It is funny how God works. I've been preaching on the Lord's prayer for six or seven weeks and this was the night, with our highest attendance, that we dealt with a subject that hit home for so many. The truth is that every one of us is either just coming out of a trial or will soon be facing one. That's life. But it did seem timely.
We closed our service with prayers for Dot Kreger, Joe Rodino and a young man named Casey who were all facing surgery in the near future. We lifted up Gwyn Green who fell and sprained her ankle. We lifted up Nikki Dufour. We prayed for two of Cliff Vanase's friends who were facing medical concerns. We prayed for Zelda Fellows and the Lucien family and their concerns. Then as we were getting ready to go, we paused to say thank you to God for the blessings in our lives. It was a good service.
Cal
It seemed like a message that was timely for all of us who were present. Some of those who were there were facing pretty big challenges. Others were going through a valley of testing. I don't think there was one person present who couldn't say they weren't worried about something going on in their lives. It is funny how God works. I've been preaching on the Lord's prayer for six or seven weeks and this was the night, with our highest attendance, that we dealt with a subject that hit home for so many. The truth is that every one of us is either just coming out of a trial or will soon be facing one. That's life. But it did seem timely.
We closed our service with prayers for Dot Kreger, Joe Rodino and a young man named Casey who were all facing surgery in the near future. We lifted up Gwyn Green who fell and sprained her ankle. We lifted up Nikki Dufour. We prayed for two of Cliff Vanase's friends who were facing medical concerns. We prayed for Zelda Fellows and the Lucien family and their concerns. Then as we were getting ready to go, we paused to say thank you to God for the blessings in our lives. It was a good service.
Cal
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Mission team meets to make plans
Our Mission Mexico team met last night and had a great time. We talked about a couple of housekeeping items (the need for passports and a few individual travel plans) and then worked on our plans for the Spaghetti Supper fund raiser on Saturday, January 9th. Erica Corbett is in charge of the dinner itself. Melanie Scheuermann is taking care of tickets and flyers and contacting the cable TV station. Michelle Chaffee will get announcements on the radio stations. Several others chipped in with things they could bring or get donated.
Michelle Chaffee will be in charge of the silent auction. Everyone is going to get information to her about what they are getting donated and the approximate value of the item. She will make up sheets with the information for them that will be used to take the bids.We also spoke briefly about our long range vision for the mission plan for the two churches. We hope to announce the destination and particulars of the summer mission trip shortly after the first of the year and make a decision on the International Mission trip for 2011 early next year.
Cal
Monday, November 16, 2009
November Community luncheon
We served lunch at St. Marks yesterday and fed a hot dinner to about 55 people. The meal featured American Chop Suey, salad and french bread. Ellie Eccleston, Roger and Doreen Mainville from Central Baptist did the cooking. Their sister-in-law and her daughter joined Michelle and Elsie Chaffee to do the serving. Erica Corbett and I helped out too. Here are a few photos from the day.
Cal
Cal
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Worship on the 15th of november
This morning we continued our worship with an eye to Thanksgiving. People brought in some of their items for the Thanksgiving baskets and we talked about the things we are thankful for. My message highlighted the fact that God loves each of us so much that he gave his only begotten son. Patricia Ohlund gave her testimony on how trusting God blessed her and Steve in their business this year.The choir followed up Patricia's testimony with the anthem "Let Us Serve Him." I also had some fun and removed my preaching robe for the children's moment to reveal my star trek uniform. I told the kids that God created each of us with unique gifts and talents and we are called to use them to share his love.
We also sang three of the most beloved hymns in Christendom today. We sang "Holy, Holy, Holy" to open the service and In the Garden and "How Great Thou Art" to close things out. It was a good day.
Saturday work party
On Saturday morning Randy Sargent, Mark Rogers and Ray Deptulski met at church to do the plumbing and to reinstall the Wayside pulpit. By the time they were done there was a new faucet in the kitchen, a new assembly on the urinal in the men's room and a number other plumbing jobs completed.
One of the jobs the guys are working on is turning the old men's room into pantry or storage area. They disconnected the sink and toilet in there and will soon be knocking down the partition and removing the urinal, toilet and sink. We hope to store pot, pans and other things in there once we get the new kitchen in place.
Tag Griffin completed the work on the wayside pulpit and now we just need to give it a final coat of paint and add the new letters and we will be up and running with that. The guys got a lot accomplished in a few hours. We'll let you know what else needs to be done. Maybe some others will want to help.
Cal
One of the jobs the guys are working on is turning the old men's room into pantry or storage area. They disconnected the sink and toilet in there and will soon be knocking down the partition and removing the urinal, toilet and sink. We hope to store pot, pans and other things in there once we get the new kitchen in place.
Tag Griffin completed the work on the wayside pulpit and now we just need to give it a final coat of paint and add the new letters and we will be up and running with that. The guys got a lot accomplished in a few hours. We'll let you know what else needs to be done. Maybe some others will want to help.
Cal
A super night of fun
Friday the 13th was good luck for us at church. A group of young people traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts for the Word of Life Super Bowl . We met at the church at 6:00 p.m. and made our way up through Hartford and on to the Springfield Civic Center. We watched as the Springfield Eagles beat the Bridgeport Tigers 3 -2 in overtime and then listened to a preacher talk about the difference Jesus can make in someone's life.
Over three hundred kids got a chance to get on the ice in a huge rally after the message. Elsie and Alana were among those to get a chance to capture prizes. At 12:45 a.m. we got in the van and drove to Chicoppee to go bowling. We had fun. They also provided Domino's pizza and cold soda for the group. The boys won both games but conceded the fact that it was all done in good fun and no one back home was to see the scores.
At 3:15 p.m. we left for the roller rink in northern Springfield. We arrived at they rink and the kids put on their skates and got right into it. The next two hours passed pretty quickly and by 5:15 p.m. we were packing up to return home. Everyone was tired but pretty happy that they had conquered the night and survived another Word of Life Super Bowl adventure. We arrived back in Norwich at 7:00 a.m. and most of us were happy to find our beds waiting for us.
Cal
Over three hundred kids got a chance to get on the ice in a huge rally after the message. Elsie and Alana were among those to get a chance to capture prizes. At 12:45 a.m. we got in the van and drove to Chicoppee to go bowling. We had fun. They also provided Domino's pizza and cold soda for the group. The boys won both games but conceded the fact that it was all done in good fun and no one back home was to see the scores.
At 3:15 p.m. we left for the roller rink in northern Springfield. We arrived at they rink and the kids put on their skates and got right into it. The next two hours passed pretty quickly and by 5:15 p.m. we were packing up to return home. Everyone was tired but pretty happy that they had conquered the night and survived another Word of Life Super Bowl adventure. We arrived back in Norwich at 7:00 a.m. and most of us were happy to find our beds waiting for us.
Cal
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Stewardship in action
On Thursday night our Property Committee met and planned a number of small projects they wanted to tackle this weekend. Many of the issues involved plumbing. We have had water issues at church over the last year and a half and some of them can be addressed fairly easily.
The faucets in the kitchen are loose and they don't always stay off when you shut them off. I have come in on many-a- Monday to find the water dribbling out. The same is true of the urinal in the Men's room. As a matter of fact we had a problem the other day. The toilet upstairs wouldn't flush and the sink didn't have any pressure. Don Walberg, our custodian, knew what the problem was right away. He headed down stairs to check on the Men's room. He told me it's happened before.
The guys decided to meet on Saturday to tackle these problems. They also made it a point to reinstall the wayside pulpit out front. Tag Griffin restored the sign board and gave it a new look. They'll put it up on Saturday and then get new letters for it. It will be cool to be able to announce upcoming programs and post interesting sermon titles.
The Trustees met after the Property Committee and they approved the proposed 2010 budget. It is a dream budget based upon our hopes at church .The final budget that gets sent to the Annual Meeting in January will be determined by the pledges and gifts we receive from now to the end of our stewardship campaign. So prayerfully consider how you can support the ministry of our church in 2010 when you get your pledge card next week! You can make our dreams come true.
Cal
The faucets in the kitchen are loose and they don't always stay off when you shut them off. I have come in on many-a- Monday to find the water dribbling out. The same is true of the urinal in the Men's room. As a matter of fact we had a problem the other day. The toilet upstairs wouldn't flush and the sink didn't have any pressure. Don Walberg, our custodian, knew what the problem was right away. He headed down stairs to check on the Men's room. He told me it's happened before.
The guys decided to meet on Saturday to tackle these problems. They also made it a point to reinstall the wayside pulpit out front. Tag Griffin restored the sign board and gave it a new look. They'll put it up on Saturday and then get new letters for it. It will be cool to be able to announce upcoming programs and post interesting sermon titles.
The Trustees met after the Property Committee and they approved the proposed 2010 budget. It is a dream budget based upon our hopes at church .The final budget that gets sent to the Annual Meeting in January will be determined by the pledges and gifts we receive from now to the end of our stewardship campaign. So prayerfully consider how you can support the ministry of our church in 2010 when you get your pledge card next week! You can make our dreams come true.
Cal
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday nights
Wednesday nights have been great this Fall. Each week the Praise team kicks off the service with some singing. This past week people arrived early and got to enjoy their practice session. Then I spend twenty minutes or so preaching. this Fall I've been focusing on the Lord's Prayer. Last night I talked about forgiveness, one of the hardest planks in the prayer. It is easy to ask for forgiveness but much harder to give it. Then we spend a little time in prayer as we close out the service.
We've been averaging about sixteen people a week since we began the end of September. Most of the folks are regular. Some come because they can't make church on Sunday morning because of weork or other scheduling conflicts. Some like the intimate nature of the services. I am pleasxed with what has been happening so far. I hope it continues for quite a while.
Cal
We've been averaging about sixteen people a week since we began the end of September. Most of the folks are regular. Some come because they can't make church on Sunday morning because of weork or other scheduling conflicts. Some like the intimate nature of the services. I am pleasxed with what has been happening so far. I hope it continues for quite a while.
Cal
Pastoral visiting in its many forms
On Wednesday Nicki Dufour was in the office helping her mom, Sandy Stone, do some sorting through of old photographs. She is doing a little community service for us. It works well for us right now because we have a lot of little projects going on. We are in the middle of stewardship season, we are working on Thanksgiving, Advent and a farewell celebration and that means lots of loose ends to tie up.
We also have a wedding in the church on Friday night and i met with the photographer and the bride for a few minutes to show them the sanctuary. The bride is Danyelle White. Her grandfather, Pastor Henry Barry, is going to perform the service. I needed to go over some of the logistics with them.
At noon I traveled down to Essex for a meeting of the SUNL Association clergy. We talked about upcoming events in the region like the Habitat Build in Jewett City. We had lunch and then shared stories about our experiences with weddings and funerals. It was filled a more than a few laughs. (Watch out funniest home videos!)
I cam home along the shore and tried to stop in to visit a few church members but no one was home. Visiting in the homes today is much more difficult than it was when I began twenty seven years ago. No one is home and today it is always best to make an appointment. Of course a lot of people simply do not want a home visit. They are too busy and it disrupts their schedule. I will always stop in though, if someone asks me to make a visit.
I've heard it said a couple of times that people know I am busy and they don't want to bother me. I try to tell them that it is never a bother. If you need a visit, let's make an appointment and I'll be there. The same thing is true with the hospital. Years ago I used to stop in at Backus four or more times a week to check and see if anyone was on the list. We don't have a large congregation so most of the time I would check in and we had no one in the hospital. Some times I would stop in and because of the shorter hospital stays, the person would have already gone home. So now I try to let everyone know to call me if you are going into the hospital and I will visit you. Call if you want prayer before an operation or a test or a procedure. I'll flip my schedule around to make a visit.
Years ago my mother was going through a difficult time and I just happened to call her. Her father was terribly sick and she was worried. When I called her she noted that our pastor hadn't come by to visit. She told me he always seemed to show up when she needed him. Being in seminary at the time, I asked the question: "Did you call him?" She replied, "No. He just seems to know and shows up." That scared the death out of me.
It is a tremendous expectation that many of us in the clergy have to live up to. People expect us to know when they are sick, worried, afraid, about to lose their job, on the brink of a break up and to be there when they need a prayer or a little time with Jesus. The truth is that sometimes, and I hate to admit it, but those of us in the ministry are a little self consumed or busy with our own stuff and we need prodding. We get caught up in sermon preparation or community ministries or our own pet projects. The only person I would suspect that never fell into that pit was Mother Theresa. The rest of us are only human.
So whether you belong to First Baptist or some other church, make sure you call the pastor or priest if you need prayer or if you need a visit. I'm sure they will make time for you. The truth is that after making two stops where people weren't home, I ended up visiting a man who had called yesterday morning and wanted a visit. Then I headed back to church to get ready for our Wednesday evening service.
We also have a wedding in the church on Friday night and i met with the photographer and the bride for a few minutes to show them the sanctuary. The bride is Danyelle White. Her grandfather, Pastor Henry Barry, is going to perform the service. I needed to go over some of the logistics with them.
At noon I traveled down to Essex for a meeting of the SUNL Association clergy. We talked about upcoming events in the region like the Habitat Build in Jewett City. We had lunch and then shared stories about our experiences with weddings and funerals. It was filled a more than a few laughs. (Watch out funniest home videos!)
I cam home along the shore and tried to stop in to visit a few church members but no one was home. Visiting in the homes today is much more difficult than it was when I began twenty seven years ago. No one is home and today it is always best to make an appointment. Of course a lot of people simply do not want a home visit. They are too busy and it disrupts their schedule. I will always stop in though, if someone asks me to make a visit.
I've heard it said a couple of times that people know I am busy and they don't want to bother me. I try to tell them that it is never a bother. If you need a visit, let's make an appointment and I'll be there. The same thing is true with the hospital. Years ago I used to stop in at Backus four or more times a week to check and see if anyone was on the list. We don't have a large congregation so most of the time I would check in and we had no one in the hospital. Some times I would stop in and because of the shorter hospital stays, the person would have already gone home. So now I try to let everyone know to call me if you are going into the hospital and I will visit you. Call if you want prayer before an operation or a test or a procedure. I'll flip my schedule around to make a visit.
Years ago my mother was going through a difficult time and I just happened to call her. Her father was terribly sick and she was worried. When I called her she noted that our pastor hadn't come by to visit. She told me he always seemed to show up when she needed him. Being in seminary at the time, I asked the question: "Did you call him?" She replied, "No. He just seems to know and shows up." That scared the death out of me.
It is a tremendous expectation that many of us in the clergy have to live up to. People expect us to know when they are sick, worried, afraid, about to lose their job, on the brink of a break up and to be there when they need a prayer or a little time with Jesus. The truth is that sometimes, and I hate to admit it, but those of us in the ministry are a little self consumed or busy with our own stuff and we need prodding. We get caught up in sermon preparation or community ministries or our own pet projects. The only person I would suspect that never fell into that pit was Mother Theresa. The rest of us are only human.
So whether you belong to First Baptist or some other church, make sure you call the pastor or priest if you need prayer or if you need a visit. I'm sure they will make time for you. The truth is that after making two stops where people weren't home, I ended up visiting a man who had called yesterday morning and wanted a visit. Then I headed back to church to get ready for our Wednesday evening service.
Music was in the air
We met in the afterglow of the Annual Choir Festival. Choir rehearsal this week was fun and we spent a little time taking about the event and the nice compliments we received. It was a good night but we missed having both Central Baptist and St Pats there. Both of those choirs add a lot to the mix.
Someone noted that United Congregational's choir did a great job with only four members. I think they would get the Spirit Award if we had one. They always remind us what this event is all about. It isn't about size or even how well practiced an anthem is. We joke about it being a competition sometimes but at the root of the event is a simple truth. We all sing praises to God and lead our churches in worship.
I always come away from the event giving thanks for all the choir directors and members that sing each week in our churches. But I also come away with a realization of how fortunate we are a First Baptist to have such a dedicated group of singers who come with talent and enthusiasm for this ministry. My admiration for Adele continues to grow as well. She has a unique ability to bring the best out of our group week after week.
In January Adele will celebrate her thirtieth anniversary with us. We will certainly have to do something special.
Cal
Someone noted that United Congregational's choir did a great job with only four members. I think they would get the Spirit Award if we had one. They always remind us what this event is all about. It isn't about size or even how well practiced an anthem is. We joke about it being a competition sometimes but at the root of the event is a simple truth. We all sing praises to God and lead our churches in worship.
I always come away from the event giving thanks for all the choir directors and members that sing each week in our churches. But I also come away with a realization of how fortunate we are a First Baptist to have such a dedicated group of singers who come with talent and enthusiasm for this ministry. My admiration for Adele continues to grow as well. She has a unique ability to bring the best out of our group week after week.
In January Adele will celebrate her thirtieth anniversary with us. We will certainly have to do something special.
Cal
Monday, November 9, 2009
Happy birthday to a former pastor
Happy 89th birthday to our former Pastor Orice Gracey. Orey served our church from 1952 - 1956. He came here from a small church in Grafton, Massachusetts. He left here and went on to serve in the Navy for several years and then went on to serve in the Red Cross until he retired. He currently live in South Carolina with his wife Machon. Orey was last seen by our congregation in 2000 when he attended our 200th anniversary celebration and shred remembrances from his years with us. God bless you Orey! Hope you had a great day.
Cal
Cal
A day of meetings and get togethers
Today I had breakfast with Pastor Greg Thomas of the Cornerstone Baptist Church. He is getting involved in the area and I wanted to catch up with him and welcome him. Greg grew up in the Central Baptist Church and was once a member of thew Lebanon Baptist Church. While in seminary he pastored the Moosup Baptist Church. A few months back he began his ministry at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Danielson and I attended his installation service a few weeks ago.
I came back to Norwich and met with Sue Kenyon. Sue is going to cook the lunch for us at the interfaith luncheon in December. Say a prayer for her. She is going to have surgery the end of this month but she plans to be back on her feet in time for the December 20th event.
Back at church Sandy was working on things that were needed for meetings of the Mission Committee on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. and the Property Committee and Trustees on Thursday night. She also fielded several phone calls with questions from a number of people about events at church.
This afternoon I went up to Pierce Baptist Home for a meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee. It turned out to be a very productive meeting. Then I came back to Norwich and met with a young woman getting married on Friday at our church. She had a number of logistical questions. Her grandfather will be performing the wedding.
With a half hour to go before our missional church meeting, I ran over to Sue Damien's house to check in and drop off copies of her husband Al's funeral service. It just happened to be his birthday and she was having a tough day.
I finished the day with Curt Brockway and Judy Dupont. We were the only ones who made it to the missional church meeting. We forgot to remind everyone else. We had a good talk though and set the next meeting for the second Monday in December. And here I am finishing the day by writing about it.
Cal
I came back to Norwich and met with Sue Kenyon. Sue is going to cook the lunch for us at the interfaith luncheon in December. Say a prayer for her. She is going to have surgery the end of this month but she plans to be back on her feet in time for the December 20th event.
Back at church Sandy was working on things that were needed for meetings of the Mission Committee on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. and the Property Committee and Trustees on Thursday night. She also fielded several phone calls with questions from a number of people about events at church.
This afternoon I went up to Pierce Baptist Home for a meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee. It turned out to be a very productive meeting. Then I came back to Norwich and met with a young woman getting married on Friday at our church. She had a number of logistical questions. Her grandfather will be performing the wedding.
With a half hour to go before our missional church meeting, I ran over to Sue Damien's house to check in and drop off copies of her husband Al's funeral service. It just happened to be his birthday and she was having a tough day.
I finished the day with Curt Brockway and Judy Dupont. We were the only ones who made it to the missional church meeting. We forgot to remind everyone else. We had a good talk though and set the next meeting for the second Monday in December. And here I am finishing the day by writing about it.
Cal
Making room for Jesus in our lives
This marks the 500th post of First Baptist life. I have to be honest with you. It will be just as memorable as any of the other 499 that preceded it. Life at church always is interesting. There is something to talk about every day. For example on Sunday we continued our celebration of the stewardship season.
Mary Brockway gave a testimony to how God worked to provide for their family the two times Curt was out of work and in between jobs. They had tough decisions to make and they decided to trust God and move ahead. Both times God provided and they were able to get by and then some.
The choir anthem was a powerful one that spoke about putting or trust "In Christ Alone" and the sermon picked up on that theme and talked about making room for Jesus in the throne room of your heart. We pulled out Bob Walker's beautiful wishing well and displayed it by the Communion table. We all sang "Fill My Cup Lord" this week and closed the service with Crown Him With Many Crowns.It was a great day of celebration and worship.
Worship is an opportunity for us to slow down and give God the glory he deserves. By making time for worship, we express how important God is to us. When I was growing up I used to think that spontaneous prayer was all I needed. I felt I could talk to God anytime. The problem is that life gets busy and unless we set aside time for prayer, we often push it to the back burner. The same is true for worship. I've had so many people tell me that they missed one week and then another and it was so easy to begin to make excuses for not coming to church. That's life.
When we are purposeful and make a conscious decision to make time for regular worship, it happens. We are making room for Jesus. The truth is that we feel better too. Spending an hour or so in the presence of God and in the fellowship of the church family goes a long way in brightening our spirits. So if you missed church yesterday, make it a point to join us next week. You will be glad you did, and so will God.
Cal
Mary Brockway gave a testimony to how God worked to provide for their family the two times Curt was out of work and in between jobs. They had tough decisions to make and they decided to trust God and move ahead. Both times God provided and they were able to get by and then some.
The choir anthem was a powerful one that spoke about putting or trust "In Christ Alone" and the sermon picked up on that theme and talked about making room for Jesus in the throne room of your heart. We pulled out Bob Walker's beautiful wishing well and displayed it by the Communion table. We all sang "Fill My Cup Lord" this week and closed the service with Crown Him With Many Crowns.It was a great day of celebration and worship.
Worship is an opportunity for us to slow down and give God the glory he deserves. By making time for worship, we express how important God is to us. When I was growing up I used to think that spontaneous prayer was all I needed. I felt I could talk to God anytime. The problem is that life gets busy and unless we set aside time for prayer, we often push it to the back burner. The same is true for worship. I've had so many people tell me that they missed one week and then another and it was so easy to begin to make excuses for not coming to church. That's life.
When we are purposeful and make a conscious decision to make time for regular worship, it happens. We are making room for Jesus. The truth is that we feel better too. Spending an hour or so in the presence of God and in the fellowship of the church family goes a long way in brightening our spirits. So if you missed church yesterday, make it a point to join us next week. You will be glad you did, and so will God.
Cal
The choir festival
The Eighteenth Annual Festical of Choirs featured seven church choirs and some special music written by Mary Webber Hall. Our choir was one of the groups that performed at this enjoyable evening of song at the United Congregational Church last night. We shared the anthem "In Christ Alone" and it was well received by the congregation.
Mary Webber Hall was a long time organist in the area. She served both the United Congregational and Lee Memomorial United Methodist churches. She was also an accomplished teacher and song writer. She passed away last month after a battle with cancer. We sang three of her hymns in her honor last night.
The closing moments of the service featured a combined choir of over eighty voices from the assembled choirs. Directed by Barry Asch, the group sang John Rutter's arrangement of "For the Beauty of the Earth."
Our choir always has a good time. We enjoy the music, the fellowship and the opportunity to share our music with a wider audience. Last night was no different. Here are a few photos from last night's event.
Cal
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Saturdays at FBC
Saturdays at church usually bring a number of mixed events together. The Praise team of Buenas Nuevas usually comes in to practice for Sunday afternoon. Bob Walker drops by to fold the bulletins and set up for Sunday. He adds pew cards and changes the number board and does any other set up that is needed. Adele usually comes in to practice on Saturday mornings. She goes over the order of service and makes sure everything flow right. Our Praise team comes in to practice too.
I usually use Saturday to get my head ready for Sunday. I try to lay low, work on my sermon and pull together anything special that is going to happen the next day. Of course weddings, memorial services and youth group events often take priority. This time of year we have a lot of things going on. That means that every Saturday will have something. For example next Friday night the youth group will be participating in an all night event called the Super Bowl. That means I'll be home and sleeping in next Saturday.
The great thing about ministry is that it is fluid and that defines Saturdays. We do a lot of the same things at church but each one is always different. Why? Because the events always involve different people. The Super Bowl is a perfect example. Over the years nearly every teen in the church has gone at least once. Some have loved it and others never want to do it again. The kids make it what it is though. Their enthusiasm, excitement and energy feed into the night and make it unique every time. I remember the years when we went on a school bus because we had so many kids. That was a trip. I remember the first time we went. We actually stopped at a Denny's on the way home. There was the year that we celebrated Amy Rezendes' birthday. Like I said, every year is different.
Saturdays are like that too. You just never know what you'll find if you drop in.
I usually use Saturday to get my head ready for Sunday. I try to lay low, work on my sermon and pull together anything special that is going to happen the next day. Of course weddings, memorial services and youth group events often take priority. This time of year we have a lot of things going on. That means that every Saturday will have something. For example next Friday night the youth group will be participating in an all night event called the Super Bowl. That means I'll be home and sleeping in next Saturday.
The great thing about ministry is that it is fluid and that defines Saturdays. We do a lot of the same things at church but each one is always different. Why? Because the events always involve different people. The Super Bowl is a perfect example. Over the years nearly every teen in the church has gone at least once. Some have loved it and others never want to do it again. The kids make it what it is though. Their enthusiasm, excitement and energy feed into the night and make it unique every time. I remember the years when we went on a school bus because we had so many kids. That was a trip. I remember the first time we went. We actually stopped at a Denny's on the way home. There was the year that we celebrated Amy Rezendes' birthday. Like I said, every year is different.
Saturdays are like that too. You just never know what you'll find if you drop in.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Walking with God through Friday
Fridays are not usually busy days at church. Unless we are trying to get the newsletter out or we are working on some project, Sandy doesn't work and the office is closed. I use it as my "overflow" day and if nothing is pending, I often take the day off.
Today we wanted to get the last of the stewardship letters out. Sandy came in with her daughter, Nicky and they did that as well as a couple of other small jobs. I had a light day planned and was going to help but the phone began ringing as soon as I walked in the door.
As it turned out I ended up meeting several people during the course of the morning. It was almost as if I was meant to be at church. I met with Cynthia Strouse to talk about our missional church emphasis. I caught up with Bobbie Adams who brought some books by the church. I met a friend who was going through a tough time. I ran into Rabbi Charles Arian at Subway and we had lunch and conversation together. Then I stopped in to see Marge Booth and we had a nice visit.
I always say a little prayer as I start the day. I ask God to guide my steps and lead me to the places where I can do the most good. That certainly happened today. I walked with him all day and I was blessed.
Cal
PS The stewardship newsletter went out and all of our members and friends should receive it over the weekend. It includes the Narrative budget, the proposed 2010 budget, a copy of last week's sermon and a letter from the stewardship committee.
Today we wanted to get the last of the stewardship letters out. Sandy came in with her daughter, Nicky and they did that as well as a couple of other small jobs. I had a light day planned and was going to help but the phone began ringing as soon as I walked in the door.
As it turned out I ended up meeting several people during the course of the morning. It was almost as if I was meant to be at church. I met with Cynthia Strouse to talk about our missional church emphasis. I caught up with Bobbie Adams who brought some books by the church. I met a friend who was going through a tough time. I ran into Rabbi Charles Arian at Subway and we had lunch and conversation together. Then I stopped in to see Marge Booth and we had a nice visit.
I always say a little prayer as I start the day. I ask God to guide my steps and lead me to the places where I can do the most good. That certainly happened today. I walked with him all day and I was blessed.
Cal
PS The stewardship newsletter went out and all of our members and friends should receive it over the weekend. It includes the Narrative budget, the proposed 2010 budget, a copy of last week's sermon and a letter from the stewardship committee.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Meeting Mitch Albom
Today I had the opportunity to hear Mitch Albom speak at St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen in downtown Norwich. He was there to meet with the clergy and give a word of hope to the downcast. It was great.
Mitch spoke about the story behind his latest book, "Have A Little Faith." In it there are two real people whose stories are inspirational. One is an aged Rabbi. The other is a Protestant minister. At the Soup Kitchen Mitch focused on the minister. He told how he went from a drug dealer and convict to a man of God. He talked about the pastor's change of heart and how that opened the door for him to become a beacon of light to the homeless community in Detroit. He closed his remarks by sharing a conversation he had with the rabbi shortly before he died. Mitch was asked to give the eulogy at his funeral and felt woefully inadequate. He said, "You're the man of God. Who am I?" To which the rabbi responded, "You are a man of God too. We are all children of God. Remember that." It was a powerful message that we all needed to hear.
Cal
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
A FBC Wednesday
What a day. It began early with work on a mailing for the stewardship committee that is going out this week. I got to the church about 6:30 a.m. because I had to finish up the narrative budget before Sandy came in. We were hoping to send it out today but of course everything takes much longer than you expect. I was still working on it when she got there. That was good because i needed her opinion on a couple of things.
Just before eleven a.m. I met a couple who owned a cleaning service. They wanted to give me a price on cleaning the church. We are pretty happy with the job Will and Don are doing but I felt it was important to at least check them out to make sure we are being responsible with our budget. They were nice and they said they'd get back to me.
That left me forty five minutes to finish up my weekly epistle. I was making good time on it when my computer started acting up so I decided to leave it and go to Rotary.
After lunch I came home and finished the epistle here and then I got to work on the message for Wednesday night church. This week I was going to talk about the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread." I actually enjoyed this week's message because it was so practical. The point was that God cares about our life and about the mundane ordinary things. I used the feeding of the 4000 as my text and pointed out how Jesus couldn't let the crowd go away hungry. He not only healed their souls and their bodies but he healed their hunger as well.
Then I hunted down the forms I needed for our mission Mexico team meeting. I hurried down to church for the six o'clock meeting. It was great. We met for an hour and talked about a fund raiser we are planning in January. Then we set the date of our next meeting, which just happens to be Tuesday, November 16th.
We finished just in time for church. The Praise team played, I preached and we prayed. It was a perfect ending to a good day at First Baptist Church.
Just before eleven a.m. I met a couple who owned a cleaning service. They wanted to give me a price on cleaning the church. We are pretty happy with the job Will and Don are doing but I felt it was important to at least check them out to make sure we are being responsible with our budget. They were nice and they said they'd get back to me.
That left me forty five minutes to finish up my weekly epistle. I was making good time on it when my computer started acting up so I decided to leave it and go to Rotary.
After lunch I came home and finished the epistle here and then I got to work on the message for Wednesday night church. This week I was going to talk about the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread." I actually enjoyed this week's message because it was so practical. The point was that God cares about our life and about the mundane ordinary things. I used the feeding of the 4000 as my text and pointed out how Jesus couldn't let the crowd go away hungry. He not only healed their souls and their bodies but he healed their hunger as well.
Then I hunted down the forms I needed for our mission Mexico team meeting. I hurried down to church for the six o'clock meeting. It was great. We met for an hour and talked about a fund raiser we are planning in January. Then we set the date of our next meeting, which just happens to be Tuesday, November 16th.
We finished just in time for church. The Praise team played, I preached and we prayed. It was a perfect ending to a good day at First Baptist Church.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Our Barnes missionary partnership team meets
Today I met with Michelle Madsen-Bibeau and Ellen Jones in West Hartford. We are three members of the Missionary Partnership team for Mercy and Rick Barnes. We called Rick and Mercy to celebrate the fact that they had achieved 111% of their fund raising goal this year. Of course that also meant that it is now time to begin reaching out for their support for 2010 and beyond. We had a great conference call and heard about some of the new ministries that they are engaged in.
During the call we also got an update about their daughter Aida and her reports from the University of Virginia. She is a freshman there and enjoying life very much. She's made friends and today is working to help people get out to the polls. Rick and Mercy were also very excited that a group from California was coming out to paint their house this weekend. The group wanted to find a way to say "thank you" to the Barnes for all they do.
While on the line we also caught up with Mercy's sister Wanda, who is also part of our MPT. She has a new web site up and running that tells about their ministry. You can find it on the web at www.barnesbajamexico.org.
We also gave Rick and Mercy the dates that our team from Norwich was planning to be with them. It will be the week of February 23rd. I told Rick we would give them more information after our team meeting tomorrow night.
Cal
During the call we also got an update about their daughter Aida and her reports from the University of Virginia. She is a freshman there and enjoying life very much. She's made friends and today is working to help people get out to the polls. Rick and Mercy were also very excited that a group from California was coming out to paint their house this weekend. The group wanted to find a way to say "thank you" to the Barnes for all they do.
While on the line we also caught up with Mercy's sister Wanda, who is also part of our MPT. She has a new web site up and running that tells about their ministry. You can find it on the web at www.barnesbajamexico.org.
We also gave Rick and Mercy the dates that our team from Norwich was planning to be with them. It will be the week of February 23rd. I told Rick we would give them more information after our team meeting tomorrow night.
Cal
Monday, November 2, 2009
It is time for the youth superbowl
Tonight I signed up nine kids for the Word of Life Superbowl in Springfield, Massachusetts on Friday, November 13th. It's an all night event that begins with a hockey game and continues with an on ice rally, followed by an all night long spree of bowling and roller skating. Throw in a ton of pizza and soda and lots of fun and you've got the picture.
We've gone several times over the years. One year we even had one of the top ten largest groups. We brought sixty kids from the Norwich area on a school bus. It was great. The hardest part has always been trying to stay awake all night. The kids have an advantage because they are busy running around and having fun. Their adrenaline kicks in and they go like the energizer bunny.
Over the years we have had lots of different kids from the church go and several adult chaperons too. Among the adults are Curt Brockway, Fred Green, Kathy Duntz, Joel and Sharon Fishkin, Mark Ferguson, Bob Duntz, Amy Rezendes, and Buffy McFalls.
Just about every kid who has been active in our youth group has gone on the trip. The most memorable trip was back about 1999 or 2000. That was the year that Fannie Bray came with us and broke her ankle at the skating rink. She was a friend of Fred Green Jr.'s. The night was going great until Fannie fell over by the snack bar. We ended up getting her in the van and heading back to Norwich and the Backus Hospital where we spent the rest of the night.
Since then we have never had another similar incident, thank goodness. A few hurt rumps from the falls but nothing else.
We have room for a few more if you call by the end of this week. The cost is $39.00 per person.
Cal
We've gone several times over the years. One year we even had one of the top ten largest groups. We brought sixty kids from the Norwich area on a school bus. It was great. The hardest part has always been trying to stay awake all night. The kids have an advantage because they are busy running around and having fun. Their adrenaline kicks in and they go like the energizer bunny.
Over the years we have had lots of different kids from the church go and several adult chaperons too. Among the adults are Curt Brockway, Fred Green, Kathy Duntz, Joel and Sharon Fishkin, Mark Ferguson, Bob Duntz, Amy Rezendes, and Buffy McFalls.
Just about every kid who has been active in our youth group has gone on the trip. The most memorable trip was back about 1999 or 2000. That was the year that Fannie Bray came with us and broke her ankle at the skating rink. She was a friend of Fred Green Jr.'s. The night was going great until Fannie fell over by the snack bar. We ended up getting her in the van and heading back to Norwich and the Backus Hospital where we spent the rest of the night.
Since then we have never had another similar incident, thank goodness. A few hurt rumps from the falls but nothing else.
We have room for a few more if you call by the end of this week. The cost is $39.00 per person.
Cal
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Fill Our Cups, Lord
We asked everyone to bring in their favorite cup or mug today and we used them as part of our communion celebration. Today was also the start of our annual stewardship campaign. The theme is "Fill My Cup, Lord" and that happened to be the title of the sermon too. The scripture passage was from John 4, the story of the woman at the well.
If you don't know the story it is essentially about a chance encounter of Jesus and a Samaritan woman. He stops by a local watering spot and while he is there a gal comes to draw some water. He asks her for a drink and she is taken aback. Not only is she something of a scandalous woman, but Jesus is a Jewish rabbi. Those two things don't mix. The encounter turns into a spiritual discussion and Jesus offers her a gift that keeps on giving, living water.
I made a couple of points during the sermon. The first was that it was no coincidence that the two met. Jesus planned it that way. He does the same thing with us. He seeks us out and shows up when we least expect it. Second, he wants to fill our cup with that living water too. He wants us to have his blessings.
So when it came time to receive communion, I invited everyone to come forward and to have their cups filled. Usually we share a small cup during our service. Today I wanted us to recognize the fact that it is our cup he's filling and he wants to fill it to the brim. (We did that symbolically.) God wants to bless us and too often we are the one's who limit what he can do. So let's start asking him to fill our cup and see what happens. Then we can share what we have with others.
A quartet of Mary Brockway, Lori Lord Fred Green and I sang our stewardship theme song, "Fill Our Cup, Lord." Next week we will all sing it out of the hymn book.
After church Mark Kane, representing our Mission team, hosted the coffee hour. The Mission Team will be hosting the coffee hours this fall. They also put up a display of 2010 calendars that they are selling as a fund raiser for the trip.
Cal
If you don't know the story it is essentially about a chance encounter of Jesus and a Samaritan woman. He stops by a local watering spot and while he is there a gal comes to draw some water. He asks her for a drink and she is taken aback. Not only is she something of a scandalous woman, but Jesus is a Jewish rabbi. Those two things don't mix. The encounter turns into a spiritual discussion and Jesus offers her a gift that keeps on giving, living water.
I made a couple of points during the sermon. The first was that it was no coincidence that the two met. Jesus planned it that way. He does the same thing with us. He seeks us out and shows up when we least expect it. Second, he wants to fill our cup with that living water too. He wants us to have his blessings.
So when it came time to receive communion, I invited everyone to come forward and to have their cups filled. Usually we share a small cup during our service. Today I wanted us to recognize the fact that it is our cup he's filling and he wants to fill it to the brim. (We did that symbolically.) God wants to bless us and too often we are the one's who limit what he can do. So let's start asking him to fill our cup and see what happens. Then we can share what we have with others.
A quartet of Mary Brockway, Lori Lord Fred Green and I sang our stewardship theme song, "Fill Our Cup, Lord." Next week we will all sing it out of the hymn book.
After church Mark Kane, representing our Mission team, hosted the coffee hour. The Mission Team will be hosting the coffee hours this fall. They also put up a display of 2010 calendars that they are selling as a fund raiser for the trip.
Cal
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