EACH SUNDAY……….. 8:30 am Breakfast in Gordon Hall 9:00 am Bible and Bagels in the Lee Room 9:30 - after the service: Nursery Care for infants & toddlers 9:00 - 9:45 am Grades 5 - 12 in Youth Lounge with Tom Ward 9:45 am Pre-K and K in Caboose with Courtney Stevens 10:00 am Worship Service ( Church School after Children’s Time with Bill and Nancy ) 11:00 am Coffee and fellowship in Gordon Hall 11:20 am Adult Forum and other activities A welcoming and affirming church community May Newsletter 2015
Transcript
!EACH SUNDAY……….. 8:30 am Breakfast in Gordon Hall9:00 am Bible and Bagels in the Lee Room9:30 - after the service: Nursery Care for infants & toddlers 9:00 - 9:45 am Grades 5 - 12 in Youth Lounge with Tom Ward 9:45 am Pre-K and K in Caboose with Courtney Stevens 10:00 am Worship Service ( Church School after Children’s Time with Bill and Nancy ) 11:00 am Coffee and fellowship in Gordon Hall 11:20 am Adult Forum and other activities
A welcoming and
affirming church
community
!May Newsletter 2015
!Most of us have been anticipating the arrival of May, for some time, now. In our region, the first week in May usually makes manifest the full grandeur of Spring. By then, earth has sloughed off the drab, and the flowering shrubs have become resplendent; most years. Even if delayed this year, that beauty will surely become evident and will delight the soul. !Reflecting on the delighted soul, calls to mind an observation of the phenomenal William Blake (1757-1827) artist, writer and philosopher. Blake wrote that he did not see with the eye, but, rather, through it: like he would a window. What the soul sees is, I think, what is known as insight. This is a characteristic of the person of faith. !The person of faith, witnessing something like the glory of Spring, is not an “objective”, observer; whatever that is. We see much more than an accumulation of molecules arranged in a particular pattern. This sensibility would be reinforced were we to be able to take a stroll on one or other of the myriad barren planets within or beyond the galaxy that hosts earth. !The wonder of the grandeur that is Spring is a helpful environment for the contemplation of the event of Pentecost in our Christian tradition. (We will celebrate Pentecost on May 24, this year.) At Pentecost we recall the phenomenal outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God, recorded in the biblical book of the Acts of the Apostles. That event transformed those first followers of the way of our Lord Jesus. !As the spirit (holy) of life transforms nature’s realm, so the Holy Spirit transforms the believer. The metaphor can be pushed a little further. Nature’s realm cannot not bear witness to the spirit of life within. This, I think, is what Gustav Mahler was proclaiming in the second movement of his third symphony; “What the wildflowers tell me.” What about us? Have we acquired the desire to stifle or mask the Holy Spirit in our living? !The season of Pentecost is an invitation to permit the Holy Spirit of God to be manifest
through us in our living, day by day. If nature’s realm teaches us anything, it teaches us growth is natural - and beautiful.
! Faithfully, Brian
Bible and Bagels Each Sunday at 9 am. Exactly what it says! Discuss the Word of God as it relates to our everyday life over coffee and bagels! ( tea is also available!) Women’s Prayer Fellowship meets every Wed at 9:30 am. Come and join them, or let your prayer requests be known to them, by completing a prayer card from the pew racks, or putting a note in the prayer boxes located in the Narthex and the OfGice lobby.
VOLLEYBALL Come join us on Monday nights from 7-‐9 p.m. in the basement of Trinity Lutheran Church (opposite the Worcester Art
Museum at the corner of Salisbury and Lancaster Streets).
Great fun, fellowship and exercise, and we'd love to have you!
See Anne Goff or Landy Johnson if you wish more information.
Sue Gelinas and John Minott have announced their wedding date as
June 14th, 2015 at 3pm in the Sanctuary of FBC.
The congregation is invited to attend the wedding and a reception immediately
following in Gordon Hall. Your attendance is most warmly
encouraged! !
! Women’sBreakfast
Please join the merry throng at the Nu Cafe on Chandler Street
on May 2nd at 8:30 am Men’s Breakfast
Please join the merry men at the 122 Diner in Holden on
Saturday May 2nd at 8:00 am
Music and Arts Weekend Choral Festival
4pm May 3rd in the Sanctuary
FBC choir along with several other local Church choirs will be performing
sacred music, conducted by Dr Felicia Barber, with William Ness at the organ.
Music by Finzi, Durante, Stanford and Lutkin to name a few, plus a reprise of the FBC anthem
competition winning composition “Beloved” by Jonathan Stinson
Come along, support this vibrant choral music, which is so much a part of worship
in all Christian congregations.
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri SatApril 26 !10 am Service 11:30 Rolling Cart
April 27!!Staff meeting
April 28!1 pm Salisbury Belles!4 pm Choristers
April 29!9:30 Women’s Prayer F’ship
April 30! May 1 May 2!Men & Women’s breakfasts!see notice p3!Margaret Torgerson”s Memorial Service 2 pm
3 Music and Arts Sunday Scrogin Book Forum!Choral Event 4pm
4!Staff meeting
5!am Salisbury Belles Concert!4 pm Choristers
6!9:30 Women’s Prayer F’ship
7!6pm 1st Handbells!7:30 pm Chancel Choir
8 9
10 10 am Service !2nd Sunday Service at Knollwood
11!!Staff meeting
12!1 pm Salisbury Belles!4 pm Choristers
13!9:30 Women’s Prayer F’ship!Deadline for newsletter items
14!6pm 1st Handbells!7:30 pm Chancel Choir
15!Organ Recital!see page XXX!7 - 9:30!Open Mic Night
16
17 10 am Service YOUTH SUNDAY !
18!Staff meeting!
19!!4 pm Choristers
20!9:30 Women’s Prayer F’ship
21!6pm 1st Handbells!7:30 pm Chancel Choir
22!Holiday Weekend
23
24 10 am Service
25!MEMORIAL DAY
26!4 pm Choristers
27!9:30 Women’s Prayer F’ship
28!6pm 1st Handbells!7:30 pm Chancel Choir
29 30
31 10 am Service
1 JUNE!Staff meeting
2 JUNE 3 JUNE!9:30 Women’s Prayer F’ship
4 JUNE!6pm 1st Handbells!7:30 pm Chancel Choir
5 JUNE 6 JUNE
There’s so much else to do this Spring and Summer …… Help with the Spring Work Weekend at Oceanwood May 29-31 see page 3 Book your Family Camping Trip this Summer email [email protected] William’s Recital May 15th at FBC ( see page 6) Baptist Outing to Red Sox Game June 15th……details coming soon!
This calendar is correct at time of printing, but please check with FBC office if you have doubts!
!THE SCROGIN BOOK FORUM MEETS ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EVERY
MONTH IN THE ROY ROOM AFTER THE SERVICE. May 3, 2015. COOKED by Michael Pollan. Led by Nancy Oaks. June 7, 2015. LOBBY DAY . Come with one great book for the group for the following year’s meetings and lobby for the inclusion of your book.
FBC will be offering a Bereavement Support Group to anyone in the FBC and Park Church congregations who is suffering a loss by death.
There is no cost to attend this group and registration is not required.
The group meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6 - 7:30 pm in the Witney Room beginning April 14th for 6 consecutive weeks. Some of the issues and concerns discussed will be those common
to newly bereaved folks Rev Sharron LaMothe will be the Facilitator for this support group.
If you have questions about this group please contact Sharron through the FBC office 508-755-6143 or
email [email protected] putting “Bereavement Group” in the subject line.
The Latest from your Pastoral Search Team……… The PST has developed a survey with questions that mirror those that will be present on the Pastor Profiles that will eventually be obtained from prospective candidates.Copies are being mailed, a hard copy can be picked up from the Church office and there is an online version, which can be completed by following the link bit.ly/FBCsurvey ( this is case sensitive) If you would like a copy mailed to you, please contact the PST by email [email protected] or by calling the church and leaving a message. Survey responses need to be back with the PST by May 14th. Make sure you are part of this process….complete a survey, email the Team talk to the members of the team. They are eager to hear from everyone.
Courtney Stevens, Stephanie Gaudette, Joe Oakley, Barbara Ward, Jim Hecox, Phyllis Whitten, Karl Bjork, Sue Gelinas and Rod Ferris. !
The Church Council has approved our new FBC logo, which you will now see on all our communications. It is very much home grown! Karen Brockney, photographer extraodinaire, noticed that in the steeple there is an oval window designed to be a symbol of the world. Karen has used colors to represent FBC’s welcoming and affirming nature. Our steeple logo was all about the building and this logo is all about people. We appreciate the thoughtful work that gone into designing this.
A memorial service for Margaret Torgersen, mother of Anne Goff, will be held in Gordon Hall on Saturday, May 2nd, at 2 p.m. In keeping with Margaret's life-long love of music, this service will be primarily a concert of musical selections meaningful to her and her family.
Mission Adventures Team in New Orleans !We are thrilled that Ariel has been part of the Mission Trip to Haiti and
to New Orleans. Please ask her about her experiences in these places where so much
assistance is needed and which TABCOM is able to deliver. We are, through Ariel, part of a great inheritance of Christians
“helping their neighbors in need”
Farewell Organ Recital by William Ness, May 15, 2015 at 7:15
Including the following works… !Pageant of Sowerby is an iconic masterful bravura pedal work piece. Sowerby composed it specifically for Fernando Germani, an Italian organ virtuoso of the 1930's. It includes many pitfalls for any organist and remains to this day a staple of the organ recitalist. Two chorale preludes from the Great Eighteen Chorale Preludes of Bach.
These two works have the chorale tune played by the pedals while the manuals decorate the tune. In Herr Jesus Christ the tune doesn't appear until the last half of the work where it is obvious a melody is present rather than a simple bass line. The "Great" Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546 concludes my selection from Bach. !Scherzo,Op.2 of Maurice Duruflé is in rondo form with second and third themes interrupting the delightful charming melody. This early work of Duruflé readily expresses what his compositional style is about. !The Second Fantasy of Jehan Alain also briefly expresses what his compositional style of writing is about. The organ will "sound" differently in this work because the sanctuary has mutation stops, plus many more that can recreate some of his noted unusual registrations. !Grunenwald's Hymne aux Memoires Heroiques is dedicated to Jehan Alain. They were both born in 1911 and Grunenwald survived Alain by many years. This is a thrilling work to play and listen to. !Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition remains a staple of the symphonic repertoire even though it was composed for piano solo. But theorists and musicologists seem to see the piano version as a preliminary essay of this colorful work. The organ version takes most of its color inspiration from the orchestral versions, most notably that of Maurice Ravel. While some passages are completely rewritten others remain exactly as they are in the piano score. This is a rarely heard "organ" work and is a massive work for the organ, which I hope you will enjoy. !William Ness
Anyone want to help? Jeremiah's Inn - Opportunity
Jeremiah's Inn is looking for people to assist them in creating a warm and supportive environment through their Adopt-a-Room program. Through this program, volunteers adopt and maintain one of their sixteen bedrooms. For more information contact Janelle Wilson: [email protected]
Jeremiah's Inn Wishlist The house is currently in need of: carpet tiles, carpet cleaner, floor buffer and microwave. !
Abby’s House The Abby's House Thrift Shop accepts new and gently used women's clothing, shoes and accessories, including handbags and jewelry, as well as linens, bedding and household items. New children's clothing, accessories or toys, with tags, or in the box can also be donated. Donated items may be dropped off to the Abby's House Thrift Shop during its regular business hours, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The thrift shop is located on the first floor of the shelter at 21 - 23 Crown Street, Worcester, MA.
Baptist World Alliance The Baptist World Alliance is appealing to the global community to provide assistance to the Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu following the destruction and severe damage caused by Cyclone Pam during March 2015. If you would like to donate to this cause, please send your donations to Baptist World Aid, c/o Baptist World Alliance, 405 North Washington Street, Falls Church, VA 22046. Please mark "Cyclone Pam/Vanuatu" in the memo line.
!Conveniently located at the office entrance to the church, in the Narthex outside the
Sanctuary and at the foot of the stairs leading from the Sanctuary to Gordon Hall are 3 Prayer Mailboxes. Dropping a prayer request into any of these boxes is not dropping your
concern into a black hole, although they are black and do have holes! Requests made through these boxes are forwarded to the Prayer Fellowship and the pastor and
in both instances are taken very seriously. Over the years the Prayer Fellowship has received notes of thanks and appreciation from
folk who have benefited in some way from the prayers offered. Successful churches everywhere always say that their success begins with prayer.
Prayer has brought many people, most of us, through dark places in our lives. Perhaps you have neglected one of the strongest resources your church provides - for our own concerns
or your concerns for others, that would be the focused prayers of some dedicated and faithful folk who live at the other end of those “black holes”
Drop them a line!
I have been left only five lines this month for a few words. The series on “Embracing Spirituality” after Worship on Sundays has been eye opening for many. There are always little gems to be discovered. I found a tiny patch of blue flowers under one of my shrubs this week. I don’t remember planting them, but they were there nevertheless bringing a real glow of Spring to all around them. There’s no telling what we will discover about ourselves and others if we are just open to look around us with a keener eye! Lynne
This is your May 2015 Newsletter from First Baptist Church, Worcester
!Phone 508-‐755-‐6143 !Extensions: Brian Dixon 222, William 227, John C 224, Joan 247 !Andrea: Andreal@Gbc-‐worc.org ! website: www.Gbc-‐worc.org email: info@Gbc-‐worc.org !follow us on facebook: The First Baptist Church Worcester The FBC Worcester Youth Twitter: @FBCWorcester
