Clean up day 2009

Every year we put out a call to the congregation to come and help us get ready for the Opening of Sunday School and the changing season at church. This year our brothers and sisters from Buenas Nuevas came out to help and we did a bang up job.

From our church we had Rosie Main, Nancy Allen, Nancy Schuster, Randy Sargent, George Strouse, Bob Walker, Michelle and Taylor Chaffee, Nick Vaillancourt and his friend, Katelin. We washed windows, polished pews, cleaned carpets and washed floors. The ladies from Buenas Nuevas cleaned the kitchen. One of the ladies took apart our stove and cleaned and polished it from top to bottom. She did an unbelievable job. A few of the men stripped the floor in fellowship hall and then applied a couple of coats of wax. It looked stunning when we arrived in the morning.

It was pouring outside but that didn't stop us from doing a super job inside. Rosie and Nancy went to work in the nursery and Bob and Nancy Schuster cleaned up the parlor. By the time everyone was done, the place looked wonderful. I can't thank everyone enough. It is true that many hands make light the work.

Cal

Choir is back

The Fall Schedule at church is in full swing and that is my only excuse for falling down on the blog reporting. Hopefully I can begin to catch up tonight and in the coming days.

The first official gathering of the season came on Tuesday, September 8 as choir rehearsals began again. We met at the usual time of 7:00 p.m. and returned to business as usual. Adele and Cynthia had picked out an assortment of anthems that we were familiar with and could be picked up and sung pretty quickly.

We didn't have any new members join us this Fall but the people who came back make the commitment of one night out a week worth it. Rosie Main, Patricia Ohlund, Gwyn Green, and Cynthia Costa and Susie Rothholz sing soprano. Cynitha Strouse, Lori Lord, Nancy Allen and Helen Walker sing alto. Shawn Rucker and I sing tenor. Fred Green, Oliver Bray and Cliff Vanase sing bass.

George Rezendes was the only one not to return this Fall but that's understandable. He got married last month and is in the process of moving to Lincoln Rhode Island. We will miss him.

If you are wondering, it is not too late to join. Maybe we will see you next Tuesday. You don't have to be a member of the church. The only requirement is that you are sixteen years old, you like to sing and you can make a regular commitment to rehearse with us and sing on Sundays.

Cal

You are my inspiration

Yesterday I went to an inspirational conference which featured Laura Bush, Joe Montana, Zig Ziglar, Colin Powell, Rudy Giuliani and several others. It was held at the XL center in Hartford before a sellout crowd. In many ways it was a lot like a youth rally. The speakers came on stage one after the other and tried to get the crowd excited. It was promoted as a motivational seminar and it was just that.

Laura Bush shared some personal reflections on life in the White House. She talked about her belief that education was the key to unlock a child's potential and her work in that area as first lady. Then she got into her experiences during the attack on September 11, 2001 and later living in the White House in the midst of war. She gave us a peek at things we don't often see. For example she told how she was sick with worry in October of 2001 when President Bush stood all alone on the pitching mound of Yankee Stadium in game three of the World Series. With heightened security and all kinds of threats she felt he was a prime target. She couldn't watch until he was safely back beside her. Afterwards she asked him how he did and he told her he threw a perfect strike.

Joe Montana spoke about the lessons he learned from his father. He noted it was the little things that mattered. He shared several stories to emphasize his point. He pointed out that practice and hard work lead to success and told how Jerry Rice was a great example of that. He practiced hard and it showed in the games.

One after another the speakers came to the stage and told stories from their lives that emphasized the power of potential. I came home pretty fired up. I also realized that these kinds of stories were not the sole domain of big stars. We all have stories to tell that can inspire others. Sometimes we just don't realize it. We think our lives are pretty mundane.

Over the years I have listened to lots of people tell their stories and I have been pretty impressed with the things they have done and the obstacles they have overcome. The truth is that there are people sitting in the pews beside us who are every bit as inspirational as Zig Ziglar and Colin Powell and we know them personally. That is one of the joys we share in being part of a church family. I wouldn't give it up for the world. So thank you for inspiring me week after week.

Cal

Choir is back

Choir rehearsals resume this week on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. I have to confess that of all the meetings we have at church, these are the most fun. We get together to work on the anthems for worship but the weekly rehearsals are also times for checking in with each other. We get to hear the latest church news and sometimes get to work out the plans for some upcoming event. Adele DiBiagio, our director, keeps the rehearsals moving. Even though we work hard, we have also have those moments where the giggles overcome us.

Membership in the choir is not limited to members of the church. Anyone who likes to sing and make the commitment to practice regularly and sing each week in worship is welcome. Do you like to sing? Then come join us on Tuesday. You will be glad you did.

Communion Sunday at FBC

We came together for the last official worship service of the summer this morning. The message reflected the fact that we are in the midst of hurricane season. You wouldn't know it from the weather though. It was gorgeous outside and beautiful inside. Adele opened the service with a variation on the old hymn Morning has Broken. The Praise Team used it as a refrain later in the service with Steve Contois singing lead, Gwyn Green doing back up vocals, Fred Green on the bass guitar and Adele DiBiagio playing a wonderful piano accompaniment.



It was Communion Sunday and my message spoke being prepared for the storms of life. The scripture was from Romans 8 which reads that nothing can separate us from the love of God. We sang "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" and "Rock of Ages." We closed the service with a circle of fellowship. It was a good day at FBC.

Our ministry to the elederly

One of our ministries that is mentioned from time to time is a ministry to the elderly. In Connecticut, our Baptist Churches founded two Convalescent Homes and continue to support them. In Brooklyn Connecticut we have the Pierce Memorial Baptist Home and in Meriden we have Connecticut Baptist Homes. Both of Boards are filled with members of local Baptist Churches. At Pierce, I currently serve as the chairman of the Board and June Deptulski and Scot Ropoza are members. Curt Brockway is a former chairman and Bob Sullivan, Bob Booth and a few others have served on the board.

Years ago Louise Strouse and Edith Robinson, active ladies in our congregation, were very active members of the Women's Board. They did volunteer ministry at the home. They provided a link between us and all of the activities up in Brooklyn. Years ago I led a Bible study up at the Home and took a few turns leading weekly worship on Sunday afternoons.

Merving Leffingwell, Sallie Pierce and a few of our members have been residents of the Home over the years. It has been rated one of the top ten homes in Connecticut and one of the premier homes in New England. It something we can be very proud of.

Over the fifteen years both of the Homes have become Continuing Care facilities in that they added a housing component. At Pierce we have Creamery Brook as an independent living facility. Residents have their own apartments and can enjoy all kinds of services. They even have one communal meal in a very nice dining hall each day. If a resident gets sick and needs more care, hey get first priority into the Pierce Home. It is a great deal.

Connecticut Baptist Homes has also added housing and their units are beautiful and set up as duplexes. I recently got to take a tour and was very impressed.

The ministry to the elderly is changing rapidly and dollars from Medicare an medicaid are shrinking. In the next twenty years things may be very different. Many homes today are closing because they can't make ends meet. Pierce and CBH have had a history of good management and that has allowed them to stay competitive.

Recently Pierce has become an advocate for the industry as they look to fight for those who need nursing home care. Here is a news report which features Pierce Home and its staff and residents. Enjoy.


http://www.wfsb.com/video/20386951/index.html

Sunday School opens next weeko

Sunday School opens with our Rally Day Celebration one week from tomorrow on Sunday, September 13 at 9:15 a.m. Come see what we have planned for the coming year. You’ll discover that Sunday School is not just for kids. It is for the whole family. We will open the year with a reception featuring punch, coffee and goodies, Registration tables will be set up so we can get all
the vital information and tell everyone who their teachers are and where they will be meeting.
After everyone has grabbed a treat, we will assemble for a brief welcome by Lori lord and our opening ceremony. Then we will head off to classes.

We are delighted to announce this year’s Sunday School Staff and
welcome some new faces who will be helping us this year.

The Nursery Class - Rosie Main and Sandra Lucien
Grades K - 2 Rachelle Weimer, Janet LaFlamme and Zelda Earle
Grades 3 - 5 Pam Kane & Kelly Bolin
Middle School/High School Cal Lord and Sarah Lord
Adult Bible Study - Curt Brockway
Alpha Study Course - Cliff Vanase

Regular attendance at Sunday School is important but it is not mandatory. We would like all of our people, young and older, to join us when it is possible. If your family situation or work schedule will not allow you to be present every week, we still want you to feel welcome to join us when you are able to attend. Sunday School provides all of us with a basic understanding of
what the Bible says and teaches us the stories that help us grow in our faith. There is no greater
gift a parent can give a child, than a basic Christian education. Our teachers work hard at making the classes interesting and fun. Most kids look forward to coming back week after week.

We also want to encourage our kids to invite their friends to Sunday School this year. Our Sunday School is not limited to the members of the church. It is here for everyone to enjoy as part of our witness to the community. If your kids have a friend who would like to come, why not offer to pick them up and bring them? They will thank you later.

Lori Lord has agreed to do opening exercises this year. She will greet everyone at 9:15 a.m. each week with singing and a Bible Quiz. At about 9:30 a.m., after all the introductions of newcomers and the celebration of birthdays and other happy events, we will break up into classes. Most weeks the classes will last about 45 minutes. We are hoping that once a month each of the classes can take a break and work on some kind of craft project. If anyone feels called to help us with crafts, please speak to Pam Kane or the Pastor. At 10:15 a.m. each week the classes will be dismissed and the children will be sent to the chapel or Fellowship Hall to find their parents.

We have two options for the adults this year. Curt Brockway will meet in the parlor with those who want to study the Gospel of Luke. This is a great Bible study with lively discussion.

We will also offer a course for those who want to get their feet wet in a Bible study. You might call it Bible Study for beginners. Cliff Vanase will teach this course using some materials from the Alpha Course. Have you ever thought, “I come to church but I don’t really understand what it is all about?” If so, this class is for you. It will answer questions like:

* Is there more to life than this?
(previously Christianity: Boring, Untrue and Irrelevant?)
* Who is Jesus?
* Why did Jesus die?
* How can we have faith?
* Why and how do I pray?
* Why and how should I read the Bible?
* How does God guide us?
* Who is the Holy Spirit?
* What does the Holy Spirit do?
* How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?
* How can I resist evil?
* Why and how should I tell others?
* Does God heal today?
* What about the church?
* How can I make the most of the
rest of my Life?

So let's start the year off right and come together for Sunday School.