Our Annual Meeting is on Thursday. Every year we pause and look at what God has done. 2009 was a wonderful year in the life of our church family. It was filled with great worship services, numerous mission opportunities and educational experiences. Here are a few of the highlights;
Mission trips to Mexico and Appalachia:
In February we took a team of 21 people to Mexicali, Mexico to work with our Missionary partners, Rick and Mercy Barnes. We split up into three teams and did some work at Primera Iglesia de Mexicali. We did some yard work there and helped pour the foundation for what will be their nursery. We also helped them install a new air conditioning unit. A second group went to El Buen Samaritano to work on installing sheet rock and sanding walls. A third group went to an outreach venue to paint the hosts host and do some electrical work. That group also split time doing some repairs in and around the seminary where we were staying.
Each night we hosted a vacation Bible school and gave support to the teachers and staff. It was interesting to see how they do outreach into their neighborhoods without fear of rejection. They were gracious and friendly and we were glad to be a part of it.
In July we went to West Virginia with a group called Mustard Seeds and Mountains. We worked on a gentleman's house. This group does ministry through hands on labor and quiet witness to the rural poor. We brought a group of eleven down and were joined by Michelle and Clayton Lord Sr. and their grandson, Christopher. The Lord, former members of our church, came over from their home in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. (They are also the pastor's parents.
In September we started up our Wednesday night services:
With an average attendance of 19 or 20, this worship experience has been firmly established as part of our weekly offering again. Led by the Praise team and the Pastor the service features a time of prayer and a short message. It has been very well received.
The Missional Church Emphasis goes year round:
We began with our Winter survival kit give away in January and then filtered in some kind of community outreach event nearly every month during 2009. Highlights include the July 4th hospitality event on our front lawn and the coat give away in October. We've also regularly continued to host the monthly interfaith luncheons on the third Sunday of each month at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The Fill Our Cup Sunday:
Special services happened all year but we kicked off our Stewardship Campaign by inviting everyone to come forward with their favorite cup to receive their communion elements. At the end of the campaign we asked everyone to come up again and put their pledge cards and their praise of thanksgiving cards in the wishing well. It offered two meaningful opportunities to express our faith.
Softball Team wins record number of games:
Our softball team matched its career win total this season and there was good feeling all around. We celebrated their success in worship this summer.
Despite Financial woes in the world around us, our people remained faithful:
Although pledges fell behind for a time, everyone caught up by the end of the year and we finished in the black. That was noteworthy because of the poor economic climate. Our people have continued to show their faith through giving and that has been a blessing to our ministry.
Weddings and more weddings:
Several prominent couples from families within our congregation were wed this year. They included Rod & Debra (Atkins) Allen, Carl & Melody (Johnson) Soderberg, Allison (Walberg) & Jason Beit, Al & Wendy Dart, George & Mary Ann (Canning) Rezendes, Ashley (West) & Daniel Moriarty, Stacia (Green) & Nicholas Grange, Jonathan & Katherine (Kirchner) Vanase.
These are just the highlights. for a full report, check out the annual report booklet at church.
Cal
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
A worship filled day at FBC
Sundays are fun days at First Baptist. The church is hopping from first thing in the morning until late at night.Adele is usually there by 6:30 a.m. and I follower her in by 6:45 a.m. She runs through the hymns and her special music and I check the heat, tune up the sermon, tie up loose ends and pray for the people who will gathering there that morning.
Lori Lord and Oliver Bray usually show up by 8:45 a.m. to get things ready for Sunday School. The place comes alive shortly afterward. Kids and teachers come and Sunday School begins. For the next hour there is a buzz as six classes take place. at 10:10 a.m. the choir begins to arrive and they start gathering down in Fellowship Hall. At 10:25 a.m., with people streaming up the stairs, the choir moves into place and it is just about time for worship to begin. Adele is playing the prelude and I walk down the aisle with the worship assistant and at 10:30 a.m the worship service begins.
Most weeks we celebrate God's presence right up to 11:35 - 11:40 a.m. and then for the next half hour or more we greet one another, have a cup of coffee and slowly begin to clear out. As we do, Pastor Daniel Song of the Korean Methodist Church comes in and begins to set up for his service. At 12:15 p.m. the members of the Korean Church begin to arrive. They often begin with a time of prayer and at 12:30 p.m. their worship service begins.
After worship the Korean congregation moved downstairs to have lunch together. That usually begins about 1:45 - 1:50 p.m. Sharing a meal together is not technically part of their worship experience but it is very important to the church community. We have coffee. They have lunch.
At 2:50 - 3:00 p.m. the Korean Church is leaving and the first members of Buena Nuevas begin arriving. The Praise team sets up and the Sunday School teachers unpack and prepare their class rooms. Sunday School begins at 3:30 p.m. and the Praise team practices.
At 4:30 p.m. the Hispanic worship service begins. People are in and out of the sanctuary and many things take place as the worship service continue until about 6:30 p.m.
Some nights we come back for youth group meetings or Bible studies and the day is extended a little longer.
I like to think that in this multi cultural center of Connecticut, where over thirty different languages are spoken, we are praising God like they did on the day of Pentecost. That is cool.
Cal
Lori Lord and Oliver Bray usually show up by 8:45 a.m. to get things ready for Sunday School. The place comes alive shortly afterward. Kids and teachers come and Sunday School begins. For the next hour there is a buzz as six classes take place. at 10:10 a.m. the choir begins to arrive and they start gathering down in Fellowship Hall. At 10:25 a.m., with people streaming up the stairs, the choir moves into place and it is just about time for worship to begin. Adele is playing the prelude and I walk down the aisle with the worship assistant and at 10:30 a.m the worship service begins.
Most weeks we celebrate God's presence right up to 11:35 - 11:40 a.m. and then for the next half hour or more we greet one another, have a cup of coffee and slowly begin to clear out. As we do, Pastor Daniel Song of the Korean Methodist Church comes in and begins to set up for his service. At 12:15 p.m. the members of the Korean Church begin to arrive. They often begin with a time of prayer and at 12:30 p.m. their worship service begins.
After worship the Korean congregation moved downstairs to have lunch together. That usually begins about 1:45 - 1:50 p.m. Sharing a meal together is not technically part of their worship experience but it is very important to the church community. We have coffee. They have lunch.
At 2:50 - 3:00 p.m. the Korean Church is leaving and the first members of Buena Nuevas begin arriving. The Praise team sets up and the Sunday School teachers unpack and prepare their class rooms. Sunday School begins at 3:30 p.m. and the Praise team practices.
At 4:30 p.m. the Hispanic worship service begins. People are in and out of the sanctuary and many things take place as the worship service continue until about 6:30 p.m.
Some nights we come back for youth group meetings or Bible studies and the day is extended a little longer.
I like to think that in this multi cultural center of Connecticut, where over thirty different languages are spoken, we are praising God like they did on the day of Pentecost. That is cool.
Cal
Monday, January 18, 2010
Fun nights at Church: Part 3
Thursday nights are typically meeting nights at church. A lot of what happens from week to week at Church is decided on Thursday nights. For example, last week the Property Committee met at 6:00 p.m. Only a few of the members were able to make it but we talked about things we hoped to accomplish. We are going to put together a work list which will highlight things that need to be done at the Church. Painting projects, areas that need to be fixed or cleaned up, landscaping or outside work will all be lifted up. A number of people have volunteered to do things and this will allow them to do it at a time that is convenient for them.
At 7:00 p.m. the Trustees met. They looked at the 2010 proposed budget and agreed to send it on to the Annual Meeting for approval. We also talked about the major projects that are on the back burner right now. The furnaces and heating system has presented some challenges. The kitchen was one step away from being a reality. The economy has put both of them on hold. WE discussed these things at length and decided that we will invite the rest of the congregation to discuss it further at the Annual Meeting.
Guess what? The Annual Meeting will be on a Thursday. A lot of people come to Church on Sunday and don't think about the "business" of the Church. It is done by volunteers who meet regularly to plan and provide for the future.
We don't always meet on Thursday. The By-laws Committee met last Wednesday night before Church. They finalized the recommendations that they will propose to the congregation at the Annual Meeting. Last Monday the Missional Church Committee met. They made some decisions on the upcoming "Because We Care Day" on February 20th at the Martin Luther King Center. We will be giving out Soap, shampoo, tooth paste and tooth brushes, laundry detergent and the no sew blankets. You will hear more in the coming weeks.
Most of the time the meetings are informative and productive. It's always nice to know you are accomplishing something that will bless others. That's what the meetings are all about. It is working hand in hand with one another and God.
Cal
At 7:00 p.m. the Trustees met. They looked at the 2010 proposed budget and agreed to send it on to the Annual Meeting for approval. We also talked about the major projects that are on the back burner right now. The furnaces and heating system has presented some challenges. The kitchen was one step away from being a reality. The economy has put both of them on hold. WE discussed these things at length and decided that we will invite the rest of the congregation to discuss it further at the Annual Meeting.
Guess what? The Annual Meeting will be on a Thursday. A lot of people come to Church on Sunday and don't think about the "business" of the Church. It is done by volunteers who meet regularly to plan and provide for the future.
We don't always meet on Thursday. The By-laws Committee met last Wednesday night before Church. They finalized the recommendations that they will propose to the congregation at the Annual Meeting. Last Monday the Missional Church Committee met. They made some decisions on the upcoming "Because We Care Day" on February 20th at the Martin Luther King Center. We will be giving out Soap, shampoo, tooth paste and tooth brushes, laundry detergent and the no sew blankets. You will hear more in the coming weeks.
Most of the time the meetings are informative and productive. It's always nice to know you are accomplishing something that will bless others. That's what the meetings are all about. It is working hand in hand with one another and God.
Cal
Fun nights at church: Part 2
I love Wednesday nights at Church. We've been having worship services since September. The Praise Team sings and gets us going. Then we spend a little time in prayer. We finish up with a message. Forty five or fifty minutes later we head home. The time seems to fly right by. It's cozy and friendly. It's a safe place to share your worries, concerns, fears and sorrows.
We've prayed for people who received bad news. We have rejoiced with people who are celebrating. We've laid hands on someone according to the command of James and later witnessed and answer to prayers. The truth is that life gets hard sometimes and on Wednesday nights we've created an oasis where people can find rest, hope, encouragement as they meet the challenges. The music is always good and the message, if I do say so myself, is usually on the mark.
I especially like it because of the intimate nature of the group. We've averaged close to twenty people each week, with a high of 29. Yet, it feels like God has set aside this time for each one of us individually.
Are you looking to spend a little time with Jesus. Then come join the fun on Wednesday nights. You will be glad you did. Right now I am preaching a series of sermons from the Book of James. The Series is called "Pack Up Your Troubles."
Cal
We've prayed for people who received bad news. We have rejoiced with people who are celebrating. We've laid hands on someone according to the command of James and later witnessed and answer to prayers. The truth is that life gets hard sometimes and on Wednesday nights we've created an oasis where people can find rest, hope, encouragement as they meet the challenges. The music is always good and the message, if I do say so myself, is usually on the mark.
I especially like it because of the intimate nature of the group. We've averaged close to twenty people each week, with a high of 29. Yet, it feels like God has set aside this time for each one of us individually.
Are you looking to spend a little time with Jesus. Then come join the fun on Wednesday nights. You will be glad you did. Right now I am preaching a series of sermons from the Book of James. The Series is called "Pack Up Your Troubles."
Cal
Fun nights at church: Part 1
I like Tuesday nights at Church. The choir gets together to rehearse. It is like getting together with good friends. You smile, you joke and then you do lots of hard work. You take a break, catch up with one another and then work hard again until you feel satisfied that you have a special offering for next Sunday.
I've always looked at the choir as my partner in leading worship. They lead the singing. They provide an inspirational word. They sit in the front row and encourage me when I am preaching. We used to joke about George Rezendes taking a nap during the service (I think that was more fun that fact) but seeing and hearing the choir is an important feature of worship. When you see their smiles and hear their voices, it lifts you up and brings you that much closer to God.
Every so often the group also puts together a special morning of music. They worked extra hard to present a cantata or musical Sunday. Instead of me preaching a sermon, they give us a sermon in song. We haven't done that in few years but I am hoping I can convince the group to do it again at Easter or Christmas this year.
Mitch Albom wrote a book titled, "Tuesdays with Maurie" in which he chronicles his weekly visits with an old college professor. It was a special book. I think someone should write one for church and call it Tuesdays at choir. We could share stories of some of the special people who have sung with us over the years. It would be a great read.
You'd hear about Gladys Johnson and her operatic voice and Paul Lorraine, who always sang the tune - in bass. Donald Royce used to say that the one thing he told his wife when he got married was that he needed one night out a week. Why? You guessed it. He had choir rehearsal. You would hear of Annie Cowen who spent 47 years on the organ bench and the part time, fill in organist, Adele who will celebrate her 30th anniversary next month. Lots of fun and lots of stories.
Well if you like to sing and want to have a good time, why not join us in the new year. Spend your Tuesdays with the choir and you will be blessed.
Cal
I've always looked at the choir as my partner in leading worship. They lead the singing. They provide an inspirational word. They sit in the front row and encourage me when I am preaching. We used to joke about George Rezendes taking a nap during the service (I think that was more fun that fact) but seeing and hearing the choir is an important feature of worship. When you see their smiles and hear their voices, it lifts you up and brings you that much closer to God.
Every so often the group also puts together a special morning of music. They worked extra hard to present a cantata or musical Sunday. Instead of me preaching a sermon, they give us a sermon in song. We haven't done that in few years but I am hoping I can convince the group to do it again at Easter or Christmas this year.
Mitch Albom wrote a book titled, "Tuesdays with Maurie" in which he chronicles his weekly visits with an old college professor. It was a special book. I think someone should write one for church and call it Tuesdays at choir. We could share stories of some of the special people who have sung with us over the years. It would be a great read.
You'd hear about Gladys Johnson and her operatic voice and Paul Lorraine, who always sang the tune - in bass. Donald Royce used to say that the one thing he told his wife when he got married was that he needed one night out a week. Why? You guessed it. He had choir rehearsal. You would hear of Annie Cowen who spent 47 years on the organ bench and the part time, fill in organist, Adele who will celebrate her 30th anniversary next month. Lots of fun and lots of stories.
Well if you like to sing and want to have a good time, why not join us in the new year. Spend your Tuesdays with the choir and you will be blessed.
Cal
Monday, January 11, 2010
We are sharing our spoons
We are called to share our spoon
We had a meeting of our Missional Church Committee tonight and formalized our plans for our Winter Giveaway at the Martin Luther King Center next month. We'll be giving out a number of personal hygiene items. We wanted to concentrate on the things you need but can't buy with food stamps. So we are collecting shampoo, conditioner, tooth paste and tooth brushes, bar soap and laundry detergent. Our people have been so good at bringing in the supplies but we always welcome more from any source. We really want to bless the people in need who live around the Church. This is our tangible way to let our neighbors know that God cares about them. After all Jesus said the greatest commandment was "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself." We are doing that.
We have found that when you give in love, the blessing always comes back to you in unexpected ways.
I like the story that is told about a Holy man that was having a conversation with the Lord one day. The man said, ''Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.''
The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it impossible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, ''You have seen Hell." They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoon but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, ''I don't understand."
''It is simple,'' said the Lord. ''It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. When we learn to love one another, we receive a taste of heaven.
What we are doing is sharing our spoons with our neighbors.
Cal
We have found that when you give in love, the blessing always comes back to you in unexpected ways.
I like the story that is told about a Holy man that was having a conversation with the Lord one day. The man said, ''Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.''
The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.
In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it impossible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, ''You have seen Hell." They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoon but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, ''I don't understand."
''It is simple,'' said the Lord. ''It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. When we learn to love one another, we receive a taste of heaven.
What we are doing is sharing our spoons with our neighbors.
Cal
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Pasta Supper was huge success
Saturday night was a huge success. Our Mission Mexico team put on a Pasta Supper fundraiser at the Central Baptist Church. We hoped we would get 100 people and about twenty items for our silent auction. In the end we had over 150 people for dinner and over fifty auction items. It was a great time for those who did the cooking and serving as well as a good night out for those who had dinner. It was profitable too. We raised over $3200 for the team. Praise God.
Here are a few photos from the event.
Cal
Here are a few photos from the event.
Cal
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