THE SPIRE. From the Pastor. Camp Matters

Transcription

1 THE SPIRE Newsletter of the First Baptist Church in America September 2018, Volume 21, Issue 9 From the Pastor Camp Matters I ve been going to church camp since my elementary school days, camps in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. In my teens and early 20s, I volunteered as a camp counselor. Once I became ordained, I went back to camp in Wisconsin and Rhode Island, now as the camp pastor. Each camp has its own distinct culture, but all share a love of God, young people, and the outdoors. Time at camp allows friendships to form across social and geographical lines that would be unlikely in the course of the regular school year. At camp it is ok encouraged even to be goofy, to get messy, and to be freely and fully yourself. I love that at camp we can, in the span of an hour, go from deep, cosmic conversations, to playing a game whose object is drool. For many campers, it is one of the few places where they unplug from their devices, and tap into another kind of power. It is a safe space, away from home, to ask big questions about God, themselves, and their place in the world. This summer, at Camp Canonicus, one of the campers our church helped to send was struggling to adjust; this was his first experience of camping. He asked me why I was there, and I told him that adults did this for me when I was younger, and now it s my turn. He was shocked. You mean, no one makes you come here, and you keep coming back? He looked thoughtful. I suggested that he might be on the other end someday, himself. Church, when you send kids to camp, and drive them to and from Exeter, it matters. Many of the campers living outside Providence have never before met someone from another country, let alone someone who has experienced life as a refugee. Thank you for your faithfulness in nurturing all of our children, and for encouraging campers for generations to come.

2 The Spire ~ September 2018 Page 2 asked for. Starting on Sunday, September 16 th at 10 am the Sunday Forum returns. We will begin the year with two forums on immigration, a topic that has been much in the news and one which several of you have Sunday September 16 th : Changing paerns and aitudes to immigration in the 21 st century. Sunday September 23 rd : Current issues in immigration. I will be leading both discussions. All points of view are welcomed and will be heard. The focus will be on humanitarian and ethical issues as well as some economic ones. I have done extensive research on the topic this summer and will be providing statistics from reliable rather than political sources. The hope is that we, as a community of faith, can share and think about this important issue and see how, through our social justice programs, we can take small (and larger) steps to make our world a beer place. Forums on other topics are in the pipeline look for more information in the next edition of The Spire. See you on the 16th at 10:00 am! All my best Sunday Forum Ruth Marris-Macaulay, Christian Education Special Meeting Please mark your calendars! There will be a Special Meeting on Sunday, September 30th, following church, to hear an update on our Outreach Committee's progress. There will be time for discussion and questions. Lunch will be served. RALLY DAY September 9,2018 Sunday School 10:00 Worship 11:00 Picnic 12:00 Christian Ed will supply hamburgers, hotdogs, veggie burgers and condiments. Please bring a side dish or dessert and yard games, lawn chairs, friends and sunshine!

3 The Spire ~ August 2018 Page 3 Announcements Friday Seekers Join us for a Friday Seekers at the church on Friday, October 5. A potluck dinner will begin at.6 pm and the program will begin at 7 pm. The program will be led by Susan Lepore and explore a partnership with the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia in Tbilisii, Georgia. They are looking for financial partners to help them in three areas: providing a soup kitchen to those who are still suffering after the Russian incursion into Georgia 10 years ago; providing peace canp to youth to promote understanding between the Christian, Muslim and Yasiddi communities; and providing support to the LGBTQ community which is persecuted in Georgia. It should be a delicious meal and a lively conversation.

4 The Spire ~ September 2018 Page 4 Parking for First Baptist

5 Page 5 The Spire ~ September 2018 In and Around FBCIA Dr. Linda Bausserman was back in the pulpit for a previously scheduled appearance on August 5 while Pastor Jamie was away in Texas retrieving Jideobi. Two English organists braved the 90 degree heat at the Meeting House on Wednesday afternoon to present a concert of organ music. Alan Saggerson and Irene Clugston alternated playing various selections. They are on a tour of the U.S. to play many organs, our being the fifth one in the series. Saggerson is the organist at St. Mary with All Souls in West Hampton, and Clugston is the organist at St. John's High Path and Christ Church in Colliers Wood. After working in the garden and the flower beds, the "weeding machine" enjoyed a supper prepared by Susan Lepore from her garden. (L to R) Linda Bausserman, Matt Casey, Mark Hall, and Susan Lepore.

6 Page 6 The Spire ~ September 2018 Rev. Jennifer Hawks, the Associate General Council for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Freedom, was the guest preacher on August 19. She was in Rhode Island to receive an award on behalf of the BJC given by Touro Synagogue to persons or organizations that share their commitment to religious freedom. Each year Touro Synagogue reads the famous 1792 letter from President George Washington to the Touro Synagogue, which declared that the "Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance..." Gigi Mitchell-Velasco dramatically presented two spirituals in the service And then... sat down with Steven Martorella to provide the other two hands needed to play Mark Hayes "To God be the Glory," - a four-handed arrangement.

7 The Spire ~ August 2018 Page 7 Camp Canonicus Obstacle course race All camp games Bafuka Water balloon toss Sunset at camp

8 The Spire ~ September 2018 Page 8 The First Baptist Church in America Jamie Washam, Pastor 75 North Main Street Stephen Martorella, Minister of Music Providence, RI Holly Edwards, Administrative Assistant Phone: Anne Gagan, Bookkeeper fbcia1638@gmail.com Tony Zambarano, Sexton Web: Ivy Bermudez, Child Care Worker Haley Jamroz Baccaire, ASL Interpreter 2018 Sunday Calendar Sun. September 09 10:00 AM Children s Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship: Jamie Washam Worship Leader: Karin Coon Greeters: Jideobi Washam Unaka and NJ Unaka Ushers: John Manganda and Frank Nicholson 12:15 PM Tour Guide: Joanne Schneider Sun. September 16 10:00 AM Sunday Morning Forum/Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship: Jamie Washam Worship Leader: Greeters: Betsy, Ella, Jason, Will, Andrew David Shealy Ushers: Donna and Henry Campopiano 12:15 PM Tour Guide: Elsa Grieder Sun. September 23 10:00 AM Sunday Morning Forum/Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship: Rev. Janet Cooper-Nelson Worship Leader: Greeters: Linda Bausserman and Stan Lemons Ushers: Colleen and Larry Whelpley and Barley 12:15 PM Tour Guide: Richard Aubin Sun. September 30 10:00 AM Sunday Morning Forum/Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship: Jamie Washam Worship Leader: Greeters: Jack Wands and Vincent Tiemo Ushers: Eva and Ahuma Adodoadji 12:15 PM Tour Guide: Karen Marshall