Day of Prayer observance

Pastor Chuck Tyree, of the Norwich Alliance Church, and I organized Norwich's observance of the National Day of Prayer today. We met at City Hall where about seventeen people gathered to pray for our city, our nation, the men and women who serve in government, and those who are sworn to serve and protect.

We took turns praying for the various groups who were mentioned. Rev. Jeff Sharp of the Norwich Worship Center prayed for the police and fire departments and those who watch over the city and its residents. He prayed for the medical personnel in our hospitals and in the emergency vehicles. Pastor Michelle Madsen Bibeau of Central Baptist Church prayed for our nation, our President and the members of congress as they seek to lead us in these challenging times.

Ron Ward, the Director of Children's First Initiative prayed for our children and asked that they might have teachers who nurture and mentor them with love. He prayed for the educatoors and the parents who are called to shape the next generation. Rev. Gary Poorman prayed for the local government, our Mayor and the City Council and asked that they might be given the gifts of wisdom and discernment as they lead our city. Sister Mary Anne Guertin from Catholic Charities prayed for the social service agencies and those who work with the poor and those in need. Rev. Greg Perry prayed for those in the military and those who have been called to protect our freedoms across the world. Mayor Ben Lathrop joined the group and he asked for continued prayers for the city and the decisions that need to be made.

We prayed for those affected by the downturn in the economy. We prayed for the YMCA and thanked God for the good work that had been done through the years. We even asked for a little miracle on its behalf.

It was a good time of prayer where people came together in the name of God to simply ask His blessing on our world. I was proud to be a part of it.

Cal

PS You can check out the photos in the Norwich Bulletin at http://ow.ly/5DHk

As we move deeper into 2009, the lens through which every ministry we engage in is being focused, is that of the missional church. Tonight, for the second time in a month, our choir has taken center stage.

On April 19th the group left the comfort of our church sanctuary and headed out to the ballpark to lead the charge as the congregation spent the afternoon at Dodd Stadium. The choir sang the National Anthem and the rest of us enjoyed the American past time.

Tonight our choir was on the road again. This time they provided a blessing to the residents of ST. Jude's Commons in Norwich. A lot of church choirs wouldn't take the risk of practicing in front of strangers. That's what our group did. They held an open rehearsal for the residents of the assisted living facility and then invited them to sing a couple of hymns with them.

We were reminded again that church is not a building and worship doesn't always follow a format. God's spirit follows whenever God's people gather. Tonight that spirit was very much present. We broke out of the box and spent a little time with some of God's children tonight.

I can't express how blessed we are to have such a group of talented, flexible and generous members in our choir. I know a lot of groups would never even think about do the kind of things that we have done. Yet our choir is always willing to go where the spirit leads. Tonight the spirit shined brightly.

Here are a few photos from our rehearsal at St. Jude's.

Cal

Rport from our SUNL Meetinge

On Sunday afternoon I traveled down to the Old Mystic Baptist Church for the SUNL Association Annual Meeting. The guest speaker was Rev. Glynis LaBarre from National Ministries of ABCUSA. She spoke about the future hope of the world. She talked about today's missional minded church.

Several of us have heard Glynis speak before and she was here to talk to the wider body. As Cynthia Strouse mentioned in our morning worship service, there are over 80 American Baptist Churches across the nation participating in the "official" missional church project. They are reaching out to their communities in new ways. We are one of them. Missional is a mind set that says that the mission field is changing and it is right outside our front door. In order to reach it we must get outside the church, bringing our authentic faith into the world.

I think Jesus was the first to suggest this when he told us to be like salt in the world. Somewhere along the way we started thinking that people needed to come to us. The missional church is turning this around and sending us back out in to the world.

So on Sunday afternoon Glynis came to speak to representatives of the 26 churches in our association. The SUNL (Stonington Union - New London) Association is a merger of the tow associations that were founded nearly two hundred years ago. We were a charter member of one of them. Over the years the churches met for fellowship, mission, and various other reasons. Whenever a new minister was installed or a man or women ordained into the ministry, the churches would gather to do the job. They also assisted each other when difficult times came. Sometimes they hosted revival meetings. Even as recently as twenty years ago large crowds would come together for at least one inspirational meeting each year.

On Sunday 12 churches were represented and they passed a budget of $21,000.Most of the money comes from voluntary contributions from the churches and is spent to assist churches and provide programs. At the meeting yesterday they also voted $1000 to help defray costs of bringing in Paul Young to speak at the Quaker Hill Baptist Church. He is the author of the current best seller, "The Shack." So you see, the Association is still doing great work.

Here are a few photos from yesterday.


Rev. Horation DeValle, pastor of Old Mystic Baptist Church, offered prayer as the program began.


Rev. Greg Hamby, the moderator of the SUNL Association, welcomed everyone and introduced our speaker.


Rev. Glynis Labarre speaks to the group.


Rev. Hopeton Scott, our representative to the General Board of the ABCUSA, came to speak with us about the changes that will be voted on at the Biennial Meeting of the denomination in Pasadena, CA in June.


Rev. Linda Lea Snyder, our Associate Executive Minister here in ABCCONN, shares news from the Connecticut Baptist family.

Cal

Love in action Sunday

We had a nice day at church. It began with Sunday School. Lori Lord filled in for George Rezendes and did opening exercises. She invited the Henry girls to help lead and take up the offering. The kids also practiced their songs for Children's Day.

We celebrated communion during morning worship. My message was from I John 3 and I talked about putting love into action. Right after church a group of us did that. Pam Kane, George Strouse, Pete and Betsey Adams, and Karen Barber walked in the CROP walk for world hunger. Chelsey Calkins and I manned the rest stop at our church and greeted the walkers with water and apples. I'm not sure how much money was raised but it looked like the group had fun.

Here are a few photos from the CROP Walk.

Cal

A baby shower

This afternoon family and friends gathered for a baby shower for Kristen Deptulski and her fiance, Jason. It was held at the Pauchaug Outdoor Club in Plainfield and over sixty people showed up. They had a wonderful meal and then the happy couple opened all the presents and thanked the guest. Kristen was surprised and very grateful fro all who came. Here are a couple of pictures from the event.

Cal

Missional Church workshop

Today our Missional Church Team traveled to Montowese Baptist Church in North Haven for a workshop with Rev. Glynis Labarre from National Ministries of ABCUSA. This was the third workshop for the churches who signed on to the program last Winter. We were one of the churches that presented their project for the group.

Cynthia Strouse put together a power point presentation with photos from the Winter Survival Kit giveaway last January. Each of us shared a bit of the process with the group and talked about how it went. Several other churches presented their projects as well. In between the presentations Glynis talked about the goals of the missional church and how these projects were transformative by nature.

It was a good day. Here are a few photos.

By the way, Glynis is the speaker at the SUNL Meeting tomorrow afternoon at the Old Mystic Baptist Church at 3:00 p.m. Driving down there to hear her will be worth the effort if you are free.

Cal

I thought things would settle down after Easter but it has been an extremely busy two weeks. Not only have we been very busy at church, but I have had several obligations in my roles outside the immediate church setting.

For example I have been part of the Missionary Partnership Team to assist Rick and Mercy Barnes in getting the word out about their ministry as missionaries in Baja Mexico. Mercy was visiting the state as part of the effort and I worked with the team to set up appointments and gatherings across the state so that people could meet and talk with her.

She began with a dinner in Massachusetts and continued with meetings here in Norwich, Quaker Hill, West Hartford, Bridgeport, Brooklyn, Danielson, Waterbury and Meriden. She was also a featured speaker at two state wide meeting. Both of them fell into her lap as the key note speaker got sick on route and we took advantage of her being here and pressed her into service. Talk about exposure. So anyway I spent some time as a chauffeur and assistant at a couple of the meetings.


I also served as the Chairman of the ABCCONN Annual Program committee. On April 25 representatives from churches across the state gathered in Waterbury at Grace Baptist Church. This year we decided to be the church and go out into the city to do some ministry. My committee threw out this idea early in the planning stages. It fit right in with the "missional church" emphasis that several of our churches, including ours, have adopted this year. As a result we offered several mission opportunities for people to choose from in a two hour period during the morning. Rev. J P Morgan from Montowese Baptist Church got things rolling by charging the group to go out and serve as if they were doing it for Jesus. Rev. Michelle Madsen Bibeau then commissioned the group to go out on a mission for God.

The folks then went to serve in soup kitchens, food pantries, furniture and clothing banks, convalescent homes, senior residences and at a Habitat for Humanity project. We came back for lunch and then celebrated our accomplishments. We also recognize four chrches celebrating anniversaries and welcomed a new church into the family. That new church happened to be our very own Buenas Nuevas congregation from Norwich. Pastor Jorge Morales and 29 members of the church were present to mark the occasion. Rev. Joe Delahunt from Silliman Memorial Baptist Church was elected President of ABCCONN and we were sent home singing.

Two other groups I am working with also had meetings this week. I am part of the group organizing the Worship Celebration for the 350th Anniversary of Norwich. Rev. Greg Perry is the convener of the group and we have a great event planned for June 24th on the Norwichtown Green. You will be hearing more about it in the coming weeks. I am also the convener for the group that is organizing the National Day of Prayer next Thursday. We will be having an observance in font of City Hall on May 7th at Noon. It's funny but it seems like everything is coming together at the same time.

Tomorrow I head to North Haven with our missional church team to check in with Rev. Glynis Labarre from National Ministries of the ABCUSA. It is an all day event. Cynthia Strouse, Amanda Duntz, Curt Brockway,Sue Ferguson and I will be representing our congregation.
On Sunday every can hear Glynis speak at the SUNL meeting 3:00 p.m. at Old Mystic Baptist Church. If you are free, you should take the opportunity to go.

We also began our 23rd season in the church softball league. I have recruited three coaches (Ken Kreger, Brian Goldin & Chip Chaffee) to help me manage the team this season. It's a good thing because the schedule called for five games in the first two weeks. So far we are 2-1 and off to a decent start. I think we will do much better this year than last year.

Today we finished up the May newsletter and put it in the mail. I am so lucky to have Harry & Dot Calkins, Bob Walker, Sharon Fishkin and Carol Calkins coming in to help prepare it for the post office. Believe it or not, we have a good time, folding and addressing it for mailing. Hopefully you will get your copy tomorrow. If not, you can check it out online in full color at www.fbcnorwich.org.

Things settle down next week just in time for the memorial service for Bob Booth at our church. We will celebrate Bob's life on Saturday, May 9th, his birthday.

All this is just to give you a glimpse into my week and to let you know why I haven't made any posts. hopefully this will bring you up to speed.

Cal