Looking back on 2002
Nancy Allen became the new moderator this year and Debbie Muyres became the church clerk. It was a year of transition and change. Buffy McFalls became the treasurer and Mary Brockway took over as Sunday School Superintendent. Rosie Main was the Property Committee Chair and Amy Rezendes served as Flower Committee Chair.
Ray and June Deptulski donated a van to the church and we put it right to use by taking 28 kids on a ski trip to Ski Sundown. Then on July 20th we set off for Daytona Beach on a youth mission trip with 13 kids and four adults. We used our new van and a second one donated by Charles Toyota to make the journey. Along the way we stopped in Washington, D.C. to see the Viet Nam War Memorial and a few of the other monuments. We also went to Six Flags again and took 73 people with us. In 2002 Roland Widstrom earned his Eagle Scout Award and we were so proud of him. We also gave out our first college scholarship. The recipient was Adam Barber. He received $300. In December we had a youth retreat at Camp Wightman and Timothy Rezendes and Jonathan Vanase led the music and devotionals.
We installed new windows in the sanctuary and the parlor and raised money with a "Let the Light In" campaign. We made some real progress in making our church parlor a more inviting place by reupholstering the chairs and coaches and giving the room a fresh coat of paint. Money for the project came from the Paul and Esther Lorraine Memorial funds. Gwyn Green organized a group of people to cook up meals for folks coming out of the hospital and Jill Haelsen and Diane Nesslrode helped out with the youth groups. Karen Murray offered a coupon class and Debbie Muyres and Fran Rogers helped Gwyn Green put together some "College Care Packages" for our college kids.
We met for prayer and worship on Wednesday nights and this year Steve Contois accepted the call and began playing guitar for us. Before long we had the beginning of a "praise team." Cliff Vanase, Brian Goldin, Oliver Bray and Fred and Gwyn Green played guitar and sang vocals. We also had a Men's Group meeting once a month for breakfast and Bible Study.
Carol Calkins, Sharon Fishkin, Sandy Stone, Nick Muyres, Mark A. Kane, Ashley West, Randy Sargent, Michael Capps and Elizabeth Parker were baptized. Cheryl Dutrumble, Mark, Pam and Cassie Kane, Greg Maxim, Penny Sargent, and Fred Stone joined them by becoming church members. Amber Diehl, Mick Mehlinger, Adam Dutrumble, Nicole Maxim, Preston Lavalle, Madison Pestey and Lukas Poore were all dedicated at church. Regina Grillo and Robert Mynes were married and Harry and Dot Calkins renewed their wedding vows after 50 year of marriage and Randy and Penny Sargent did the sam after 25 years. It was a tough year in terms of losing members. Cliff Oat, Henry Pendleton, Louise Blair, Nancy Kimble and Elsie Hamblen passed away. We also lost friends of the church in James Whitely, Ruby Merriman and Jacob Shutski.
I was in community theater productions and groups from the church came out to both of them. In the Spring I played Linus in "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown." In the Fall Brian Goldin and Rachel Lord joined me on the stage in the play "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." We closed the year with our own production. The kids put on the annual pageant and we had about 170 people on hand. There were twenty angels in the show alone. It was great.
It was a very good year.
Cal
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Looking back at the last decade at FBC - 2001
2001
Looking back at 2001 in the life of FBC
We built on the success of our Anniversary year by planning some very special events in 2001. The result of one such effort was the establishment of our college scholarship fund. We held an art auction in April and hosted illusionist David Reed Brown in the fall and raised over $6,000 for the cause. We established a Sports Ministry Hall of Fame and inducted Barbara Bray, Bob Duntz and Terry Dunn in as the first class along with sports ministry founders Paul Lorraine, Mark Damien and Cliff Vanase. We also bought a keyboard for the choir and Sunday School to use in their ministry.
On June 25th we canceled services at our church and moved them to Providence, Rhode Island and invited everyone to attend worship at the Biennial Meeting of the American Baptist Churches USA. We had twenty five us make the trip. We also took an active role in bringing evangelist Luis Palau to speak at a Festival at Dodd Stadium. Over 120,000 attended the event before it was over and 8,200 people gave their lives to Christ. When the events of September 11th occurred, we joined in the services and vigils held in the city as we prayed for the victims of the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil. At Thanksgiving we joined with the community in a special service at Beth Jacob Synagogue. We also participated in a series of rotating Lenten services with our sister churches in the city for a second year in a row. We also became charter members of the ecumenical church council called Norwich Churches Together.
Fred Green Sr. cooked up a roast beef dinner for the Mother- Daughter Banquet. Members of the Rose City Barbershoppers performed for the ladies. We had a pot luck supper that featured an international flavor as we hosted missionaries John and Rosemary Kane. Our youth group traveled to Providence for the Biennial meetings and also took their traditional field trips to Ski Sundown, Six Flags and the Word of Life Super Bowl. We had a good year but were sad to see Kay Lautzenheiser leave us as our youth consultant in September.
Amanda Brown was baptized and Karen and Guy Brown, Cheryl and Wayne LaMothe and Peter Kolasa all joined the church. Paige Briggs, Cody and Michael Jones and Madayln Fishkin were all dedicated in church services. I performed the wedding of Kate Strouse and Chris Canada, Don Shogren and Claire Kornatz and Bill Maynard and Pam Walberg. We also lost our oldest member, Mary Mehrholz, along with Will Willey and Bernice Rogoff to death.
We purchased a new software program to help us keep track of membership and finances at church. Two fairly new computers were donated to help with the transition. The AmeriCares Mobile Clinic continued to serve the working poor in our community by meeting in our parking lot and using our facilities.
Our average attendance in 2001 was 109 people each week. Our budget recorded $80,000 in pledges and we had commitment for $83,500 for 2002.
It was quite a year in the life of our FBC family.
Looking back at 2001 in the life of FBC
We built on the success of our Anniversary year by planning some very special events in 2001. The result of one such effort was the establishment of our college scholarship fund. We held an art auction in April and hosted illusionist David Reed Brown in the fall and raised over $6,000 for the cause. We established a Sports Ministry Hall of Fame and inducted Barbara Bray, Bob Duntz and Terry Dunn in as the first class along with sports ministry founders Paul Lorraine, Mark Damien and Cliff Vanase. We also bought a keyboard for the choir and Sunday School to use in their ministry.
On June 25th we canceled services at our church and moved them to Providence, Rhode Island and invited everyone to attend worship at the Biennial Meeting of the American Baptist Churches USA. We had twenty five us make the trip. We also took an active role in bringing evangelist Luis Palau to speak at a Festival at Dodd Stadium. Over 120,000 attended the event before it was over and 8,200 people gave their lives to Christ. When the events of September 11th occurred, we joined in the services and vigils held in the city as we prayed for the victims of the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil. At Thanksgiving we joined with the community in a special service at Beth Jacob Synagogue. We also participated in a series of rotating Lenten services with our sister churches in the city for a second year in a row. We also became charter members of the ecumenical church council called Norwich Churches Together.
Fred Green Sr. cooked up a roast beef dinner for the Mother- Daughter Banquet. Members of the Rose City Barbershoppers performed for the ladies. We had a pot luck supper that featured an international flavor as we hosted missionaries John and Rosemary Kane. Our youth group traveled to Providence for the Biennial meetings and also took their traditional field trips to Ski Sundown, Six Flags and the Word of Life Super Bowl. We had a good year but were sad to see Kay Lautzenheiser leave us as our youth consultant in September.
Amanda Brown was baptized and Karen and Guy Brown, Cheryl and Wayne LaMothe and Peter Kolasa all joined the church. Paige Briggs, Cody and Michael Jones and Madayln Fishkin were all dedicated in church services. I performed the wedding of Kate Strouse and Chris Canada, Don Shogren and Claire Kornatz and Bill Maynard and Pam Walberg. We also lost our oldest member, Mary Mehrholz, along with Will Willey and Bernice Rogoff to death.
We purchased a new software program to help us keep track of membership and finances at church. Two fairly new computers were donated to help with the transition. The AmeriCares Mobile Clinic continued to serve the working poor in our community by meeting in our parking lot and using our facilities.
Our average attendance in 2001 was 109 people each week. Our budget recorded $80,000 in pledges and we had commitment for $83,500 for 2002.
It was quite a year in the life of our FBC family.
Looking back at the last decade at FBC - 2000
Looking Back at 2000
We began the decade in the midst of our 200th Anniversary celebration. It began in September 1999 with an all church banquet at the Ramada. At that dinner George W. Strouse announced that our Capital Campaign had been a success and that we had raised more than enough money to go ahead with the addition to the church. The addition at the front of the church and the McNeely Organ were to be the lasting pieces of the Anniversary. George H. Strouse Jr. gave a donation to cover the cost of the organ and the campaign raised over $150,000 for the construction which would include accessibility into Fellowship Hall on ground level, two bathrooms downstairs and one upstairs, and a pastoral study. In October 1999 we held a Gospel Festival with the Shiloh Baptist Gospel Choir and the Morgan sisters from Boston. We hosted the Annual Choir Festival in November and in December we closed the year with a very special pageant which featured Brian Goldin and our children. The play was called "The Late, Great Potentate and was directed by Kay Lautzenheiser.
All this set the stage for our entry into the first year of a new millennium and the start of our third century of ministry in the city of Norwich. Curt Brockway was the Moderator. Lee McFalls was the treasurer and George Rezendes was the Collector. Lori Lord was the Sunday School Superintendant. Cliff Vanase was chair of the Deacons. Oliver Bray was chair of the Reception Committee and Kathy Duntz chaired the Flower Committee and Buffy McFalls was the Clerk.
The Anniversary Celebration continued with the dedication of the new addition in January, a performance by the Amazing Earl in February, hosting the West Virginians from Alderson Broaddus and Turning Point from Eastern College in March, "Oh What a Morning" an Easter Cantata in April, some historical vignettes in May and June and the final three day weekend celebration in July. City Council President Richard Abele, State Senator Edith Prague, State Reps Peter Nystrom and Jack Malone were among the special guests at the final celebration. former pastor, Orey Gracey was also on hand and he shared some memories on Sunday morning. Other guests include Rev. & Mrs. George Lang, Mrs. Jane Price, Mrs. Marilyn Gracey Robblee, and Dr. Lowell Fewster the Executive Minister of ABCCONN.
The closing weekend celebration included a public baptism service at Spaulding Pond. The candidates included Amanda Calkins, Stacia Green (now Grange), Jacqueline Jones, Sarah Lord, Emily McFalls, Casey Rezendes, and Jonathan Vanase. Sean Jones, Bob and Helen Walker joined them in being welcomed into church membership on Homecoming Sunday, July 16, 2000. Other new members that joined in 2000 were Karen Barber, Fran Rogers, Jill Haelsen, Wanda Nickell, Elizabeth and Rev. Richard Strong,
New "Sing Joyfully" hymnals were given by Lois Lopez and new pew Bibles were given by Helen and Bob Walker in memory of loved ones. We chose the New International Version for our Bibles to replace the Revised Standard Version we had used for over thirty years. We celebrated Adele DiBiagio's twentieth anniversary with the church and my fifteenth year with special days.
The softball team won the B Division Championship in 2000 and we sent a team of youth out to the ASBCUSA National Youth Gathering ID2K in Estes Park, Colorado. Fred Green and Don Fuller coached our youth basketball teams. Ken & Laura Kreger, Nancy Sederquest (Schuster now) and Will Willey won the League Championship for the Baptist Bowlers. Rosie Main and Geri Diehl ran our annual Tag sale.
We had pledges of $77, 516 for 2000 and the budget for 2001 called for an increase to $80,000. Our average attendance at morning worship for the year was 116. We lost one member, Anna Bjorn to death and Gary Teczar, Sarah Hensley and Vicky French were removed at their request.
All in all it was quite a year. 2000 the first year of the last decade.
Cal
We began the decade in the midst of our 200th Anniversary celebration. It began in September 1999 with an all church banquet at the Ramada. At that dinner George W. Strouse announced that our Capital Campaign had been a success and that we had raised more than enough money to go ahead with the addition to the church. The addition at the front of the church and the McNeely Organ were to be the lasting pieces of the Anniversary. George H. Strouse Jr. gave a donation to cover the cost of the organ and the campaign raised over $150,000 for the construction which would include accessibility into Fellowship Hall on ground level, two bathrooms downstairs and one upstairs, and a pastoral study. In October 1999 we held a Gospel Festival with the Shiloh Baptist Gospel Choir and the Morgan sisters from Boston. We hosted the Annual Choir Festival in November and in December we closed the year with a very special pageant which featured Brian Goldin and our children. The play was called "The Late, Great Potentate and was directed by Kay Lautzenheiser.
All this set the stage for our entry into the first year of a new millennium and the start of our third century of ministry in the city of Norwich. Curt Brockway was the Moderator. Lee McFalls was the treasurer and George Rezendes was the Collector. Lori Lord was the Sunday School Superintendant. Cliff Vanase was chair of the Deacons. Oliver Bray was chair of the Reception Committee and Kathy Duntz chaired the Flower Committee and Buffy McFalls was the Clerk.
The Anniversary Celebration continued with the dedication of the new addition in January, a performance by the Amazing Earl in February, hosting the West Virginians from Alderson Broaddus and Turning Point from Eastern College in March, "Oh What a Morning" an Easter Cantata in April, some historical vignettes in May and June and the final three day weekend celebration in July. City Council President Richard Abele, State Senator Edith Prague, State Reps Peter Nystrom and Jack Malone were among the special guests at the final celebration. former pastor, Orey Gracey was also on hand and he shared some memories on Sunday morning. Other guests include Rev. & Mrs. George Lang, Mrs. Jane Price, Mrs. Marilyn Gracey Robblee, and Dr. Lowell Fewster the Executive Minister of ABCCONN.
The closing weekend celebration included a public baptism service at Spaulding Pond. The candidates included Amanda Calkins, Stacia Green (now Grange), Jacqueline Jones, Sarah Lord, Emily McFalls, Casey Rezendes, and Jonathan Vanase. Sean Jones, Bob and Helen Walker joined them in being welcomed into church membership on Homecoming Sunday, July 16, 2000. Other new members that joined in 2000 were Karen Barber, Fran Rogers, Jill Haelsen, Wanda Nickell, Elizabeth and Rev. Richard Strong,
New "Sing Joyfully" hymnals were given by Lois Lopez and new pew Bibles were given by Helen and Bob Walker in memory of loved ones. We chose the New International Version for our Bibles to replace the Revised Standard Version we had used for over thirty years. We celebrated Adele DiBiagio's twentieth anniversary with the church and my fifteenth year with special days.
The softball team won the B Division Championship in 2000 and we sent a team of youth out to the ASBCUSA National Youth Gathering ID2K in Estes Park, Colorado. Fred Green and Don Fuller coached our youth basketball teams. Ken & Laura Kreger, Nancy Sederquest (Schuster now) and Will Willey won the League Championship for the Baptist Bowlers. Rosie Main and Geri Diehl ran our annual Tag sale.
We had pledges of $77, 516 for 2000 and the budget for 2001 called for an increase to $80,000. Our average attendance at morning worship for the year was 116. We lost one member, Anna Bjorn to death and Gary Teczar, Sarah Hensley and Vicky French were removed at their request.
All in all it was quite a year. 2000 the first year of the last decade.
Cal
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Our last service of the year
This morning we replayed the service that was supposed to happen last Sunday at church. We canceled church due to the blizzard but decided to celebrate Christmas Sunday today. That meant adding our service of believer's baptism and welcome of new members to the order of worship but it seemed to fit. We not only celebrated Christmas but also closed off the year on a high note.
Our choir got things started with an introit that rocked the house. It was titled, "Celebrate." Lori Lord was the worship assistant and she greeted us all and invited us to welcome our neighbors. Then we moved into the baptism where Lisa Lapointe professed her faith.
Baptism is a beautiful way to express what god is doing in our lives. Over the years we have heard many stories from people who have seen God work miracles and seen people come forward in this service. After Lisa was baptized the congregation broke out in applause just as I am sure the angels were doing in heaven. We also got applause as we welcomed Cheryl Dimmock and Rachelle Weimer into membership along with Lisa. Curt Brockway extended the right hand of Christian Fellowship to them on behalf of the congregation.
There was lots of special music today. Rachel, Sarah and Rachel Lord sang their trio again and this time it was even better than the first time they did it on Christmas Eve. Our choir sang "Rejoice for Christ is Born" and it was great. Our Praise team sang "Blessed Be" and we even had a mini carol sing.
It was a great day.
Cal
Our choir got things started with an introit that rocked the house. It was titled, "Celebrate." Lori Lord was the worship assistant and she greeted us all and invited us to welcome our neighbors. Then we moved into the baptism where Lisa Lapointe professed her faith.
Baptism is a beautiful way to express what god is doing in our lives. Over the years we have heard many stories from people who have seen God work miracles and seen people come forward in this service. After Lisa was baptized the congregation broke out in applause just as I am sure the angels were doing in heaven. We also got applause as we welcomed Cheryl Dimmock and Rachelle Weimer into membership along with Lisa. Curt Brockway extended the right hand of Christian Fellowship to them on behalf of the congregation.
There was lots of special music today. Rachel, Sarah and Rachel Lord sang their trio again and this time it was even better than the first time they did it on Christmas Eve. Our choir sang "Rejoice for Christ is Born" and it was great. Our Praise team sang "Blessed Be" and we even had a mini carol sing.
It was a great day.
Cal
Christmas Eve at First Baptist
On Christmas Eve we gathered two times to celebrate the birth of our our Lord.
Our first service was at 7:00 p.m. Over the last twenty years we have made this a "family friendly service" We include drama, special music and always include a short homily. The hour long service moves right along and keeps even most of the young ones involved.
This year we brought the story to life by providing living snapshots of the characters in the Biblical story. As the scriptures were read, members of the congregation came forward in costume and were captured in photo like poses. Roy Bourque lent his lights and his talent to the project. On Tuesday he came down to the church and set up the light poles and spots. On Thursday night he put them to work.
The service began with the traditional lighting of the candles. About fifty years ago Gladys Johnson, the Flower Committee chair, had her husband Elmer make the poles and the candle holders which sit atop them. Each year since then we have lit the candles at the start of our Christmas Eve service. The candle lighters have varied over the years. There have been some nice traditions in this regard. For over twenty years Brent and Christ Weimer were among those called to do the job. Many other father-son teams have also had turns. This year Tim and Casey Rezendes did the honors along with Curt and Jeff Brockway. The Rezendes boys were back in town for the service and I thought it would be nice to call on them. Tim and his family live in Pennsylvania now. Casey lives in Maryland.
Two hundred and five people were in attendance as we began the service. The lights were dimmed and the men began lighting the candles and Lori Lord and Steve Contois offered a flute- guitar duet of the Christmas classic, "O Holy Night." After welcoming everyone and offering a call to worship, we sang "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Then four ladies came forward to light the candles of the advent wreath. Betsey Adams, Nancy Allen, Patricia Ohlund and Zelda Fellows read portions of the scriptures from Psalm 46, Isaiah 35, Philippians 5 and Luke 1.
Mary Brockway, Cliff Vanase and I served as narrators for the program and each of us took turns reading the scriptures as the program progressed. After an opening prayer, Mary Brockway, Adele DiBiagio and Cynthia Strouse sang "Child of Light" in three part harmony. These ladies have become a Christmas Eve tradition at First Baptist. I'll have to research how many years in a row they have sung. We call them our Christmas Triette!
The spotlight went up on Mary, played by Pam Kane, as the scripture concerning her encounter with the angel was read. The choir sang the anthem, "All is Well" and then the spotlight came up on Joseph as his story was read. Steve Contois played Joseph in our production this year. After singing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" Joseph and Mary were together as we heard there was no room for them at the Inn.
As the spot light came up on the baby in the manger, Shawn Rucker sang "Sleep Little Baby." Then we were bedazzled by the angels. Helen Walker, Becky Lord and April Rezendes all bore angel wings for the snapshot. Hearing their song were Fred Green, Oliver Bray and Pete Adams who stood in as the shepherds. They were followed by the three wise men, Bob Walker, Curt Brockway and Mark Kane.
After the Magi shared their gifts, Patricia Ohlund sang "The Birthday of a King." Afterwards we all got into the act of giving by making our own offering. My message was titled, Unwrapping the Gift of Love" and I encouraged people to see Christmas for what it really was. It's not a nice story about a baby, shepherds, angels and wise men. It is a tale about the depth of God's love for us and what he was willing to do on our behalf. I encouraged everyone to unwrap this gift of love and carry it with them all year long.
We closed out the service by singing "Silent Night," accompanied by the Praise Team. As we sang we lit our candles and were told to share the light of God's love with everyone we met. With that, another Family service was in the books.
Here is a slide show with shots of the event.
We came back at 11:30 p.m. for our second service. This service is nice because it starts on Christmas eve and then breaks into the Christmas morn. We have been hosting this service just about every year since 1986. We usually get about 40 -50 people in attendance. This year we had 45 people on hand. We use a traditional service of scriptures and carols and it hasn't changed much over the years. We filter in one or two pieces of special music and add a short homily.
This year Rachel, Sarah and Lori Lord sang a beautiful trio. Lori and Steve Contois also gave us a reprise of their flute guitar duet of "O Holy Night." We finished up by lighting our candles and we were out the door and heading home on a beautiful Christmas morning at 12:15 a.m.
Our first service was at 7:00 p.m. Over the last twenty years we have made this a "family friendly service" We include drama, special music and always include a short homily. The hour long service moves right along and keeps even most of the young ones involved.
This year we brought the story to life by providing living snapshots of the characters in the Biblical story. As the scriptures were read, members of the congregation came forward in costume and were captured in photo like poses. Roy Bourque lent his lights and his talent to the project. On Tuesday he came down to the church and set up the light poles and spots. On Thursday night he put them to work.
The service began with the traditional lighting of the candles. About fifty years ago Gladys Johnson, the Flower Committee chair, had her husband Elmer make the poles and the candle holders which sit atop them. Each year since then we have lit the candles at the start of our Christmas Eve service. The candle lighters have varied over the years. There have been some nice traditions in this regard. For over twenty years Brent and Christ Weimer were among those called to do the job. Many other father-son teams have also had turns. This year Tim and Casey Rezendes did the honors along with Curt and Jeff Brockway. The Rezendes boys were back in town for the service and I thought it would be nice to call on them. Tim and his family live in Pennsylvania now. Casey lives in Maryland.
Two hundred and five people were in attendance as we began the service. The lights were dimmed and the men began lighting the candles and Lori Lord and Steve Contois offered a flute- guitar duet of the Christmas classic, "O Holy Night." After welcoming everyone and offering a call to worship, we sang "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Then four ladies came forward to light the candles of the advent wreath. Betsey Adams, Nancy Allen, Patricia Ohlund and Zelda Fellows read portions of the scriptures from Psalm 46, Isaiah 35, Philippians 5 and Luke 1.
Mary Brockway, Cliff Vanase and I served as narrators for the program and each of us took turns reading the scriptures as the program progressed. After an opening prayer, Mary Brockway, Adele DiBiagio and Cynthia Strouse sang "Child of Light" in three part harmony. These ladies have become a Christmas Eve tradition at First Baptist. I'll have to research how many years in a row they have sung. We call them our Christmas Triette!
The spotlight went up on Mary, played by Pam Kane, as the scripture concerning her encounter with the angel was read. The choir sang the anthem, "All is Well" and then the spotlight came up on Joseph as his story was read. Steve Contois played Joseph in our production this year. After singing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" Joseph and Mary were together as we heard there was no room for them at the Inn.
As the spot light came up on the baby in the manger, Shawn Rucker sang "Sleep Little Baby." Then we were bedazzled by the angels. Helen Walker, Becky Lord and April Rezendes all bore angel wings for the snapshot. Hearing their song were Fred Green, Oliver Bray and Pete Adams who stood in as the shepherds. They were followed by the three wise men, Bob Walker, Curt Brockway and Mark Kane.
After the Magi shared their gifts, Patricia Ohlund sang "The Birthday of a King." Afterwards we all got into the act of giving by making our own offering. My message was titled, Unwrapping the Gift of Love" and I encouraged people to see Christmas for what it really was. It's not a nice story about a baby, shepherds, angels and wise men. It is a tale about the depth of God's love for us and what he was willing to do on our behalf. I encouraged everyone to unwrap this gift of love and carry it with them all year long.
We closed out the service by singing "Silent Night," accompanied by the Praise Team. As we sang we lit our candles and were told to share the light of God's love with everyone we met. With that, another Family service was in the books.
Here is a slide show with shots of the event.
We came back at 11:30 p.m. for our second service. This service is nice because it starts on Christmas eve and then breaks into the Christmas morn. We have been hosting this service just about every year since 1986. We usually get about 40 -50 people in attendance. This year we had 45 people on hand. We use a traditional service of scriptures and carols and it hasn't changed much over the years. We filter in one or two pieces of special music and add a short homily.
This year Rachel, Sarah and Lori Lord sang a beautiful trio. Lori and Steve Contois also gave us a reprise of their flute guitar duet of "O Holy Night." We finished up by lighting our candles and we were out the door and heading home on a beautiful Christmas morning at 12:15 a.m.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Preparations for Christmas Eve
On Monday morning I worked on pulling all the pieces of the Christmas Eve Family service together. I had all the basics laid out. Lori Lord had arranged special music. Adele DiBiagio and the choir had an anthem planned. The Praise Team had been working with Adele to close out the service with the singing of Silent Night. The Flower Committee had arranged the display on the platform to accommodate our nativity. Roy Bourque had agreed to come in and set up lighting to accent our program. The only thing left to do was adapt the Christmas Eve service I found on line to fit what we wanted to do.
I spent the first hour modifying the service and adding in our special music. By the time I finished, the service was looking pretty good. Roy came in this morning and we set up the lighting. It will feature two spots on the characters and one that will highlight the manger. Adele and I experimented with the sanctuary lighting and made some decisions on how to set the levels for the service. Then at choir rehearsal we worked out some more of the logistics with the music and participants. I also got some volunteers to take part on the service.
I can't wait until Christmas Eve. The service should be very inspirational as we gather to revisit the greatest story ever told. The best part of it all is that we get to do it twice on Christmas eve.
I spent the first hour modifying the service and adding in our special music. By the time I finished, the service was looking pretty good. Roy came in this morning and we set up the lighting. It will feature two spots on the characters and one that will highlight the manger. Adele and I experimented with the sanctuary lighting and made some decisions on how to set the levels for the service. Then at choir rehearsal we worked out some more of the logistics with the music and participants. I also got some volunteers to take part on the service.
I can't wait until Christmas Eve. The service should be very inspirational as we gather to revisit the greatest story ever told. The best part of it all is that we get to do it twice on Christmas eve.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
One on one service at lunch
Church services were canceled today. Youth Group was canceled too. But we still hosted the monthly interfaith luncheon at St. Marks. I was a little worried because their driveway hadn't been plowed when I went by at 11:30 a.m. When I stopped back at 12:30 p.m. the driveway was plowed and the driver was just plowing the parking lot.
Sue and Dave Kogut cooked the meal today. They made up a real nice ham dinner. We didn't know what to expect with the weather. Sue came prepared to feed up to sixty. As it turned out there were only 8 brave souls who came out. It was real nice though. We actually served them and then sat and ate with them. I sat with a couple who asked me about our Christmas eve services. We chatted and I learned a lot about them. Unlike most months where we are racing around trying to feed everyone, today we got to spend time with the folks we see month after month at these meals. It was real nice.
Erica Corbett, Michelle and Elsie Chaffee showed up to help serve. Sue's friend Jen and her daughter, Amy came to help in the kitchen. For a while we had as many helpers as we did diners. You can't get better service than that.
Cal
Sue and Dave Kogut cooked the meal today. They made up a real nice ham dinner. We didn't know what to expect with the weather. Sue came prepared to feed up to sixty. As it turned out there were only 8 brave souls who came out. It was real nice though. We actually served them and then sat and ate with them. I sat with a couple who asked me about our Christmas eve services. We chatted and I learned a lot about them. Unlike most months where we are racing around trying to feed everyone, today we got to spend time with the folks we see month after month at these meals. It was real nice.
Erica Corbett, Michelle and Elsie Chaffee showed up to help serve. Sue's friend Jen and her daughter, Amy came to help in the kitchen. For a while we had as many helpers as we did diners. You can't get better service than that.Cal
The church service that wasn't that was.
Worship services were canceled this morning after a Nor' easter blew in over seventeen inches of snow. I always hesitate to cancel service on Sunday. I tell people to stay home if they don't feel comfortable driving in hazardous conditions, but I like to keep the doors of the church open to those who feel compelled to gather for worship.Canceling church was never much of an option years ago. The churches all served local neighborhoods. So on snowy days people walked to church. The minister lived next door to the church so he or she could always get there. Not so today. Most people drive to church because they live so far away. With the increasing number of pastors owning their own homes, it isn't unusual for them to live in the next town too. That means the decision as to whether we cancel the service or not isn't as easy.
If the roads are fairly clear and it isn't snowing or dropping freezing rain, we go for it here at First Baptist. The only downside to having church on a day when it might be questionable is that it really affects our average attendance for the month. So much for statistics.
Whether we are open or closed, I come to the church on Sunday mornings. I've always lived in town so I'm close enough to make the trek in and hang out in case someone does show up. One year we had a family drive in all the way from Glastonbury. We held an abbreviated worship service in the parlor. We sang hymns, prayed, read the scripture and I even gave a short devotion. Another year a family was on the way to their church when they heard it was closed on the radio. They made three stops at other churches before they came to ours. So we chatted, sang a carol or two and they were on their way.
Today, as I was writing this note, I heard the door open and in walked Muriel and Frank Roderick. They had walked across the street to come to church. It had been a difficult couple of weeks for Frank as he had his surgery and then had some complications. So we sat and chatted for a while, then we had a cup of coffee and a time of prayer. It was very nice actually. It was a very cozy Christmas Sunday. At 11:30 a.m. we packed up and left for home.
So we didn't have church today... but we did. I guess I do like snow days after all.
Cal
Christmas display is ready
On Saturday morning Karen Barber, Zelda Fellows and Carol Calkins gathered to set up our annual poinsettia display. The flowers are given in honor or memory of loved ones and the committee always does something nice to showcase them.This year we purchased them from Stop and Shop and were able to offer them at a significant savings. As a result we increased the number of plants ordered by 33%. The display spreads out across the platform and wraps around the manger. I will be using this in our Christmas Eve service as we tell the story of the Savior's birth.
Cal
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
A busy day at FBC
It was a busy day on the third Sunday of Advent. In the morning worship service our choir sang an "Advent Alleluia" and I shared a message about the song of joy that was sung when Jesus was born. You can read the whole sermon by going to the worship page of the FBC web site at www.fbcnorwich.org
Later tht evening we held our annual Christmas Pageant and Party. We had abvout wighty five people present and the kids did a nice job. Dessert was served following the pageant and then Santa Claus paid a visit. The kids really enjoyed that.
Health and beauty aides were collected and they will be given away as part of our next Missional church event in February.
Here are some photos from the Party.
Cal
Later tht evening we held our annual Christmas Pageant and Party. We had abvout wighty five people present and the kids did a nice job. Dessert was served following the pageant and then Santa Claus paid a visit. The kids really enjoyed that.
Health and beauty aides were collected and they will be given away as part of our next Missional church event in February.
Here are some photos from the Party.
Cal
Thanks for the memories.
Here is the video we put together for worship on December 6th that paid tribute to the ministries of George Rezendes and Rosie Main. Watch it and you will see over 100 familiar faces from the past and present.
Cal
Cal
Monday, December 7, 2009
A special day of thanksgiving and tribute.
On the second Sunday of Advent we lifted up the joy we find in Christ. We had good reason to do that as we also celebrated the ministries of Rosie Main and George Rezendes. Both of them will be leaving us before long.
Rosie will be heading home to Oklahoma at the end of the year. She wants to spend more time with her parents, her daughter and friends from back home. George was married in August and he and Mary Anne are living in Lincoln, Rhode Island. He is still working in Norwich but on the weekends he is looking for a church home closer to where he lives so he can get involved there and share his gifts.
Yesterdays' service was filled with music and a tribute to both of them. At the same time we spoke about what it means to be part of a church family and to serve God there. We noted how every person has a role to play and how important our service is in making a church a home.
Brian Goldin, Rosie's son, sang a solo. Brian sang in the choir for many years and grew up in our Sunday School. It was nice to have him back for a day. As the children came forward, I invited Rosie to stand up. almost all of the young people who are 25 years old or younger have had her for a teacher. A little later in the service we invited her up to show her the plaque that will be hanging in the nursery from now on. It says that the area will now be known as the Rosie Main Nursery.
I invited the children to look at the Nativity scene at the front of the sanctuary and told them how each figure was important in telling the story of Jesus' birth. Then I reminded them that they are just as important because each of us has a job to do in order to make God's plan work. As the children headed down to the Rosie Main Nursery Area, Fred Green and I invited George Rezendes to come forward to join the choir in singing one of his favorite anthems, "A New King is Coming." It was a special moment.
After the announcements and prayers, the choir sang "A Tiny Child Will Come" and Rosie sang the solo part as she had done in the past. I think one of the things that kept Rosie coming back over the years was the fact that she loved to sing and the choir gave her a place to share that gift. My sermon was short this week as I spoke about Mary and her willingness to answer God's call. She didn't count the costs. She simply trusted God and did what she needed to do. I pointed out that George and Rosie had done the same. They both came here as they traveled life's journey and then answered his call and never looked back. They both gave of themselves and blessed us.
I pointed out that blessings always come when we serve God. They flow to all those around us and then they come back to us. I pointed out how this ministry has been blessed by the willingness of so many to answer the call. From the Property Committee, to the ushers, to the Sunday School teachers, to the musicians: everyone makes a difference and the blessings flow. Then I noted that in giving of ourselves, we are also blessed. Mary sang of God's blessings in her prayer following God's call. The truth is that both George and Rosie and all of us know that when we give of ourselves, we always get back more than we give.
The Praise team followed up on that by singing "Above All" and pointed out that Jesus is the reason we are all here and have come together as family.
We watched a video presentation that looked back on Rosie and George's years among us and then shared with them a few gifts. They both got a copy of the video and a specially crafted book of memories. We closed out the service around the communion table, which seemed very appropriate on this very special day and then went down to Fellowship Hall for a reception in their honor.
It was a great day. Here are some photos from the event.
Cal
Rosie will be heading home to Oklahoma at the end of the year. She wants to spend more time with her parents, her daughter and friends from back home. George was married in August and he and Mary Anne are living in Lincoln, Rhode Island. He is still working in Norwich but on the weekends he is looking for a church home closer to where he lives so he can get involved there and share his gifts.
Yesterdays' service was filled with music and a tribute to both of them. At the same time we spoke about what it means to be part of a church family and to serve God there. We noted how every person has a role to play and how important our service is in making a church a home.
Brian Goldin, Rosie's son, sang a solo. Brian sang in the choir for many years and grew up in our Sunday School. It was nice to have him back for a day. As the children came forward, I invited Rosie to stand up. almost all of the young people who are 25 years old or younger have had her for a teacher. A little later in the service we invited her up to show her the plaque that will be hanging in the nursery from now on. It says that the area will now be known as the Rosie Main Nursery.
I invited the children to look at the Nativity scene at the front of the sanctuary and told them how each figure was important in telling the story of Jesus' birth. Then I reminded them that they are just as important because each of us has a job to do in order to make God's plan work. As the children headed down to the Rosie Main Nursery Area, Fred Green and I invited George Rezendes to come forward to join the choir in singing one of his favorite anthems, "A New King is Coming." It was a special moment.
After the announcements and prayers, the choir sang "A Tiny Child Will Come" and Rosie sang the solo part as she had done in the past. I think one of the things that kept Rosie coming back over the years was the fact that she loved to sing and the choir gave her a place to share that gift. My sermon was short this week as I spoke about Mary and her willingness to answer God's call. She didn't count the costs. She simply trusted God and did what she needed to do. I pointed out that George and Rosie had done the same. They both came here as they traveled life's journey and then answered his call and never looked back. They both gave of themselves and blessed us.
I pointed out that blessings always come when we serve God. They flow to all those around us and then they come back to us. I pointed out how this ministry has been blessed by the willingness of so many to answer the call. From the Property Committee, to the ushers, to the Sunday School teachers, to the musicians: everyone makes a difference and the blessings flow. Then I noted that in giving of ourselves, we are also blessed. Mary sang of God's blessings in her prayer following God's call. The truth is that both George and Rosie and all of us know that when we give of ourselves, we always get back more than we give.
The Praise team followed up on that by singing "Above All" and pointed out that Jesus is the reason we are all here and have come together as family.
We watched a video presentation that looked back on Rosie and George's years among us and then shared with them a few gifts. They both got a copy of the video and a specially crafted book of memories. We closed out the service around the communion table, which seemed very appropriate on this very special day and then went down to Fellowship Hall for a reception in their honor.
It was a great day. Here are some photos from the event.
Cal
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