Missional Monday

On Monday night our Missional Church committee met and made some decisions about our winter survival kits. We decided on what was going into the kits and how many we were going to shoot for. We figure they are going to cost about $25 each and with the resources we have now, that would allow us to start with 50 of them.

The kits would include a blanket, some laundry detergent, some personal care items like toothpaste and shampoo, some white socks, coupons for energy efficient light bulbs, a recipe for a great vegetable soup and all the ingredients for the first batch and if possible some other reference materials on services that are available throughout the city.

Our target area is the West Side where we live. We hope to partner with the Martin Luther King Center to provide a lunch that includes the soup and to distribute the kits some time in January.

Cynthia Strouse is planning on organizing a few no sew parties to put together these "no sew" blankets. If you are interested in helping with this or any part of our program, let me or one of the committee members know. The committee consists of Curt Brockway, Amanda Dunz, Judy Dupont, Sue Ferguson, Phil Postler, Cynthia Strouse and Jodi Vara.

Prayers

Prayer time. I want to lift up a few people today.

Edith Robinson - I received word from her daughter Sharon that Edith fell and broke her hip this week. She had surgery today. Keep her in your prayers.

Nikki Stroud - Think of her and her two soon to be born children. WE need to pray for a healthy delivery for mom and the boys.

Doris Adams - We pray she can get her blood pressure and sugar under control.

Bob Booth - He has been very uncomfortable. Think him in your prayers.

We think of Yolanda Charles as she looks for a job, Lisa Lapointe as she considers getting a second job, and those seeking office and pray that whoever is elected will be open to hear God's voice.

Saying Good Bye to a beloved Camp Director

This afternoon our ABC family in Connecticut said good bye to Rev. Kevin Butler as he leaves his post as Director of Camping and Conferences for ABCCONN. Kevin has served in this position for the last nine years and he really did as great job of bringing Camp into the 21st Century with a strong Biblical base. He will be missed.

At the Farewell Celebration Kevin was honored by ABCCONN and Camp Staff, former campers, the Thursday work crew, pastors and leaders from area churches and his many friends. He was there with his two daughters and they received a memory book and a gift from those wishing him well. It was a beautiful day and a great celebration.

In a special moment, former Camp Director, Michael Crane, got up and shared a humorous moment with the top things you will not have to do when you become a former Camp Director. A nice dinner followed the program.

Cal

Ya Gotta Love Our Choir

We are blessed at church with a very good choir. Every week they gather to rehearse and prepare to lead us in worship. They do a great job. In a couple of weeks they will be participating in the Annual Choir Festival again. I hope you will mark it down in your calendar and plan to attend. The date is November 9 at the United Congregational Church at 7:00 p.m.

Cal

Fun facts at Sunday School

Lori Lord led the opening exercises at Sunday School this morning. We sang songs and took a few minutes to learn a few things about the Bible. Did you know that it is divided into two sections, the Old and New Testaments? How many knew that the name "Bible" actually means book. The first five books of the Old Testament are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The book of Genesis means "beginning" and Deuteronomy means "Second Law. Do you know where the names of the other three came from? You will have to aks someone who was there to get that answer. Or better yet, come next week and ask me and I'll tell you.

Cal

Lord Glory Congregation Hosts Tag Sale

On Saturday the Lord Glory Methodist Church held their first Tag Sale at church. They set up a display of clothing and a few other household goods and toys out in our parking lot. They also set up a lunch site and other goodies.

The weather cooperated and they ran the sale from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pastor Seung said they did well with their first attempt at a fund raiser.

The Lord Glory Church has been meeting here since October of 2005, Pastor Daniel Song was their founding pastor. Earlier this year Pastor Seung Mok Choi was called to take his place.

Cal

Our Ministry at Pierce Baptist Home

Tonight the Pierce Baptist Home Board of Trustees held their Annual Meeting. Fifty seven years ago Amasa and Edna Pierce, good Baptists, gave their home to the Convention as a home for elderly Baptist women. Since then, we have seen two additions, the creation of an elderly residential community and now the advent of independent living cottages.

For years our women had a close connection to the ministry of Pierce Home as members of the Women's Board. In July we went up to the Chicken Barbecues. Several of our members went there in their later years to live. Recently some of our members have been sering on the Board of Trustees

I was first elected Chairman of the Board in 2006. I was quite honored and also a bit intimidated. Some of the recent chairmen included Mrs. Lois Harmon, Rev. Ray Foster, Mr. Allen Fitzgerald, our own Curt Brockway, Joanne Forsom and Ken Harley. Tonight I was re-elected to a third year in the job.

It is an exciting time for Pierce. The new Cottages are up and being prepared for occupancy. Despite the difficult economic times, new residents are moving into Creamery Brook each month. Pierce Home has just come through another state inspection with flying colors.

At the meeting tonight we announced the creation of the Lund Apartment at Creamery Brook. Funded by the generous gift from the estate of Doris Lund, this furnished one bedroom apartment will be available for ABC Missionaries on home assignments as they reach out for support in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It was exciting to hear the news as Ken Harley (above) made the announcement.

We said good bye to Board members Bob Booth, Michael Caron (to the right) and Bruce Sandy. We welcomed newly elected Board members Rob Avena, Shirley DeFlaviis, Scot Rapoza, Bob Simons and Bill Smith. Rob Avena will begin his second term and Bob Simons is a veteran returning after a year off.

The officers elected for the coming year included myself, Cal Lord as chairman, Ken Harley as Vice-Chairman, Rob Avena as Treasurer, Beverly Duntz as Secretary and Leonard Goldberg as President - CEO. (All pictured below.)

Before and after the meeting, we enjoyed hors d'ouerves and hot cider. It was a great evening

Cal