FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WESTFIELD CELEBRATES 150 YEARS OF MINISTRY! Rooted in Faith, Honoring our Heritage, Celebrating our Future

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1 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WESTFIELD CELEBRATES 150 YEARS OF MINISTRY! Rooted in Faith, Honoring our Heritage, Celebrating our Future I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the L. P 122:1 ~~BE PART OF THE CELEBRATION AND SAVE THE DATES!~~ Jubilee Square Dance Saturday, April 16 7:00-9:30 p.m. Chili and cornbread contest Fellowship Hall (a free will offering taken) Health Fair Saturday, May 14 10:00 a.m. 3 p.m. Fellowship Hall Church Picnic Sunday, June 26 After our 10:30 worship service Fun games from circa 1866! Fellowship Hall Get to Know First Baptist Church Open House Sunday, September 11 After a 9/11 Commemorative Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. 150 th Jubilee Concert and Reception Sunday, November 6 6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Worship Service and Jubilee Lunch with Special Program December 4 10:30 a.m. Opening of Cornerstone!

2 page 2 The Messenger Keeping things fresh. That's why you've probably noticed that we've been changing things up during worship service. We've changed the order of the service to reflect a more logical way of interacting with God. We've moved the choir around to try to give you a better sound and to encourage more participation in the music. The choir has been, over the past year, in the center of the sanctuary, embedded in the congregation, in one specific section of seats, and, of course, in the choir loft. Some of these ideas have worked well. But for certain Sundays, the new logistics haven't been as appropriate because of trying to meet other, sometimes conflicting, needs. So, we'll keep trying to give you a better worship experience, and to make sure it's better for everyone, from the children right up through the adults of all ages. If you've got constructive suggestions, please let us know. It's always helpful to know what's not working for you; it's even better to know what specifically we can do to fix it. Lastly, I want to thank all of you who volunteer to make the worship services run so smoothly and assist our congregants in feeling so welcome. From head ushers, who makes sure everyone has a bulletin and oversees the collection and prayer of dedication, while monitoring traffic in the narthex. From welcomers at the front (Elm Street) and back (Orchard Street) entrances to greet you with a smile and a friendly "good morning." From sound system operators who do their best to make sure you can hear what's being said and minimizing any annoying feedback. From hosts/hostesses for the after-church receptions who provide us with delicious snacks and ensure that we have coffee, tea and other assorted beverages. From greeters at the sanctuary door and those that organize them. And there's probably more that even I overlook from time to time. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Wishing you all blessings of peace and love, Steve From the Music Corner Within the past three months, we've been through what many would consider the liturgical and musical high points of the church calendar. So one would probably expect to coast through the next eight or so months until Advent rolls around again. For those of us whose lives are immersed in the love of music, we know the vast richness of expression that is available in the repertoire. In fact, I can literally get lost in time, thoughts and emotions just by perusing the library of music that belongs to First Baptist and that lives in the Mathews Choir Room. Just browsing titles, pulling out a familiar box and and holding a sheet of music in my hands, humming a tune or singing the words to an anthem can bring back a flood of memories and emotions. We can use music in our lives to express so many things: perhaps it is the depths of despair in Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen that can be lifted when we trust in God or the recognition of Christ's sacrifice for us and our undeserved grace in Debt of Love that was sung by the choir at the Good Friday service. We can get lost in the emotions that the words express so delicately or the harmonies that are woven so precisely by the composer. So what is in store for April. The bells will be "ringing" on April 17th one of our many favorite pieces, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. There are no spoilers here, but you will really enjoy the playfulness of this arrangement; it is not to be missed. The choir anthems will celebrate the coming of spring and God's faithful caring for us. Beyond that, I intend to use our hymns this month to prayerfully solicit God's interjection for more peace in our lives and the world. We are in the midst of a very troubling political season where we are hearing more about fear and hate than ever before. And we have experienced a month of terrorist attacks around the world, only some of which have made it into our consciousness through the news media. While I personally am not a big apocalyptic person, I fear that we could be headed in that direction with our current slate of very shallow political candidates at both the national and state levels. We continue to marginalize entire segments of our society that have either lost their voice or are being drowned our voices of fear and ignorance. Let's raise our voices in song and prayer so the weak can truly say they are strong and the poor can truly say they are rich. Your humble and lame duck Kappel Meister, Steve Lind

3 The Messenger page 3 Christian Education Do you have a family member graduating from 5 th grade, High School or with a college degree? We would like to recognize your graduate! 5 th grade graduates will receive a study bible on Children s Sunday, June 12 th during worship. All other graduates will receive a gift at our Church picnic, June 26 th after worship in fellowship hall. Please Carleen Morris at carleen.morris@verizon.net with the information requested. For High School graduates, name, High School and plans for the future. For College graduates, name, school name, type of degree and plans for the future. We can t wait to celebrate their accomplishments! Children s Ministries Are you a VIP? During children s moments, Pastor Mayra asked the children if they knew what VIP meant. The children looked puzzled. She asked the congregation, and most answered: Very Important People. But Pastor Mayra suggested that we should also think of VIP as Very Inspirational People. When we come to Sunday school we learn about God and people. People who meet God through Jesus become VIP s! Come join us in April during Sunday school to learn about two VIP s from the bible. Paul and Timothy had a very special friendship. Paul was Timothy s mentor, teaching Timothy how to spread the gospel. God used them in the lives of others. We will also meet VIP s in our own congregation. You won t want to miss it! Ongoing calendar on back page Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Cong. Mtg. 4 5 ESL, 6:30pm 6 7 Facilities meet, 6:45pm Prayer Team 11 Deacons, 12 Finance, 13 Musical Club concert, 1:30pm Square Dance, 7pm 17 CE meets, 12Noon 18 Council, Agape, 6:30pm; Musical Club concert, Clean up Day, 9-12

4 page 4 The Messenger First Baptist Church Westfield Community Health Fair...to Judy Klein for ordering handicap signs for our parking lot. Saturday, May 14th, 10:00am 3:00 pm If you would like to volunteer, have a background in health and wellness, and interested in setting up a booth or just general questions, contact Cheryl Rosario at or cherylgrosario@hotmail.com Attention recent or upcoming graduates... First Baptist would love to know of your recent accomplishments. Would you kindly call or the office to let us know if you have completed your studies, whatever level of education you re at, so we may acknowledge them? Send name of school, degree, and date of graduation to the church. You can firstbaptist.westfield@verizon.net. Grace Lee Thompson Scholarship Applications are available on our website and in the narthex. Scholarship awards assist members of First Baptist Church in pursuit of higher education. Return the applications to the church office Attn: Grace Lee Thompson Scholarship Committee. Deadline is May 14, 2016 Camp Lebanon Scholarship Donations Needed We would love to hear that many of our FBC children will have a meaningful week at Camp Lebanon and other Christian camps this summer. However, sometimes families need some financial support to do so. We need your help! If you would like to make a donation of any amount, please leave a check in the church office with the memo "Camp Lebanon Scholarships". Your generosity is greatly appreciated! Our Shop Rite Gift Card Program is ongoing. No extra cost to you, but Shop Rite will give 5% back to FBC. This in turn goes towards our Annual Operating Budget! Spread the word and order yours today!! See Cherie Parker or the church office....to Ken and Terry Wooster and Wendy Engel for helping to hand out lilies on Easter Sunday....to Glen Brown and Youth Group (Marlin, David, Zach, Owen, Johnny, Michael, Parker, James, and Conor) for helping to hang banners at front of church and picking up branches on our front lawn....to Mary Dobos, Beth Frantz, Donna Lind, and Natasha Klochkova for the delicious Easter Sunday breakfast. to Lee Romano for helping to mail the March Messenger. To my wonderful church family: I wanted to thank you for the beautiful flowers you sent after moms passing. They brought sunlight into a dark room. I miss her presence so much as I know you do as well. She certainly knew how to put a smile on someone's face, didn't she? Thank you for all your kind words and expressions of comfort. It's these words that seem to get me through the day. Life is a bit overwhelming right now, but I know it will get better and easier as time passes. Again - thank you for everything. Warmly, Ann Hinman

5 The Messenger page 5 April 1 April 2 April 5 April 6 April 7 April 8 April 11 April 13 April 16 April 20 April 25 April 28 April Carl DellaPeruti Liz Klezer Norm Lauritsen Natalia Lorena Diaz Pastor Mayra Evans Antoine Deirdre Clark Carleen Morris Wendy Engel MaryAnn Friscia Dave Housel Molly Engel Jay Kakileti Allison Johnson Anniversaries April 6 Warren & Beth Hanscom April 17 Tom & Norma Jean McGuire Wendell & Trish Scott If we missed a birthday or anniversary, please let the office know. Women s Book Club Saturday, April 16, 10am We will discuss Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson. Contact the church office or Bette Savage for more i n f o r m a t i o n, elzsvg@netscape.net Join us Wednesday, April for our Agape Potluck Supper! Please bring a dish to share. Note: Down in Fellowship Hall this month.. April 3 after worship Please plan to stay after worship on April 3 for a short congregational meeting. We will be announcing all the plans for our th Anniversary Jubilee Celebrations, and discussing which project(s) we will name for our 150 th Anniversary funding goals. We will also show all of the upcoming opportunities for service at FBC. Finally, bring any questions you may have for a brief town hall style Q&A session. I hope to see you there! Elaine Pratt Moderator Some general outside cleanup and a little mulching stay for as little or as long as you like. We appreciate your help in any way! In addition, below is a list of some other work the church needs your help with. If you or anyone you know can assist, at ANY time, please let the office know. Thank you! Some ceiling tiles replaced in Fellowship Hall A couch needs to be brought down from upstairs room to Nursery Assess paint chipping areas and advise Clean bottom of large dividers in Fellowship Hall Broken small wood fence in well area needs to be taken out Hang new handicap signs in parking lot Remove cobwebs in sanctuary Door holder in breezeway to Y area is broken Ongoing outdoor yardwork You're invited. Come downstairs to join in lively discussion every Sunday from 9:00 am to 10:15 am. Here is a sample of topics discussed at Sunday Morning Singles in March. Choices, chances and changes. Accepting yourself as you are today. How do you define classy? How many famous movie quotes do you remember? We meet in Harvey Hall. Come on down, have a second cup of coffee and join us in the lively discussion. Submitted by Maryann Friscia

6 170 Elm Street Westfield, NJ ph: /fax: Pastor Mayra Castañeda Debbie Parente-Rosin Glen Brown O N G O I N G C A L E N D A R Weekly, unless otherwise noted. Sundays: 9:00 a.m. Singles Fellowship 9:15 Adult Bible Study 9:30 Chancel Choir rehearsal 10:30 a.m. Worship Service Children s Sunday School (pre-school-5th grade; children join us for worship and leave for Sunday school after a children s message) 11:30 a.m. Children s Choir rehearsal 11:30a.m. Prayer Team meets (2nd Sunday ea month) 5 p.m. Youth Group (6th-12th grades) Wednesdays: 12Noon Prayer time in the sanctuary all are welcome! Thursdays: 7:15/8pm Choir/Bell Rehearsals Saturdays: 10 :00 a.m. Women s Book Club (monthly) Church Staff Rev. Mayra Castañeda, Senior Pastor Debbie Parente-Rosin, Interim Choir Director/Song Leader Linda Johnson, Childcare Coordinator Glen Brown, Youth Ministry Coordinator Nancy Lambros, Church Administrator O U R P U RP OSE Coming together in joyful worship, we re here To share the reality of God s love, To connect our lifestyles to Christian truth, And to put our faith into action through responding to needs in our community, nation, and world.