Looking Back at the Decade - 2009

2009

This was the year of mission. Not only did our Missional Church efforts begin in earnest, we also expanded our short term mission trip program. In January we met at the Martin Luther King Center for our Winter Survival Kit Giveaway. In February we sent a team of twenty to Mexico. In May we dropped in on the Fire Station and Police department with our greetings and lots of goodies. On the fourth of July we greeted the neighborhood with popcorn, cold drink and a nice place to view the fireworks. At the end of July we sent a team to West Virginia to help build up a community. In September we visited American Ambulance with goodies. In October we met the neighbors at Jenkins Park and gave away coats and sweaters. In November we gave out thirty Thanksgiving Baskets and in December we gave out Food bags and Christmas presents to six families. We co-hosted visits by missionaries Mercy & Rick Barnes and Kristy Engel during the year too. When you add twelve months of luncheons at St. Mark's and an ongoing supply of food to those who visit our pantry, it was quite a year of giving.

Our Choir took to the road in 2009. not only did they sing at the Annual Choir Festival, they also sang the National Anthem at a Connecticut Defenders game at Dodd Stadium and at Norwich's 350th Anniversary Service celebration of the faith community in Norwichtown. Our Praise team also traveled a bit this year. They participated in the annual Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Grace episcopal church in Yantic. We also celebrated Adele's retirement from the Post Office this year after many years of service there. Joshua Zimeski filled in for Adele for a couple of weeks in April and the 16 year old did very well.

We made a few modifications to the way we do business in 2009. To accommodate our visitors and our older members we changed our parking philosophy and encouraged people to leave the spacers along the back of the church for visitors and older members. We brought back the Tag sale but instead of doing all the work ourselves, we invited people to buy tables and sell their own stuff. It raised close to $500. We added a second adult Sunday School clas to our schedule. Cliff Vanase led an Alpha class on Christian basics.

We officially dedicated the Royce memorial grand piano and welcomed all four of Doris and Leonard's children and some of their grandchildren in the service. On Mother's Day we had a special duet as Helen Walker and her daughter, Cindy Costa, sang. On December 27 Lori, Sarah and Rachel Lord sang a family trio in worship. Paul Young, the author of "The Shack" gave a talk at the Quaker Hill Baptist Church. Sarah Matteau was dedicated by her mother and father, Jason and Rebecca. Glynis LaBarre was a guest speaker at FBC. We started our Wednesday Night worship services again in September with an average attendance of 18 -22 people each week. In December we celebrated the ministries of Rosie Main and George Rezendes. both of them were planning to move at the end of the year.

We said good bye to some longstanding, faithful members. Bob Booth, Edith Robinson and Al Damien passed away. On the good news side of the ledger Rebecca Matteau, Jared LaFlamme and Lisa Point were baptized and Cynthia Costa, Kaitlin Beavin, Cheryl Dimmock and Rachelle Weimer all joined the church. Rod Allen & Debbie Atkins, George Rezendes & Mary Anne Canning , Al & Wendy Dart, Allison Walberg & Jason Beit, Ashley West and Damiel Moriarty, Carl Soderberg & Melody Johnson, Jonathan Vanase and Katherine Kirchner, and Stacia Green & Nick Grange were all married.

That was how we ended the decade.

Cal