Dedicated to bringing Christian faith and Life together through Worship, Outreach, Education, and A Caring Community First Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut May 2018 SAVE THE DATE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING SUNDAY, MAY 20 11:30 AM FELLOWSHIP HALL
Renewing and Resiliency Did you know that on average, children laugh hundreds of times a day, whereas the average adult laughs only in the low teens? Laughter is one of the key components to a healthy, resilient life. When things are tough and we feel overwhelmed, outnumbered, stretched beyond measure, our lives are in jeopardy seriously, it is that dire (ask the experts on diabetes, obesity, and heart disease). But we can find ways to successfully frame and re-frame our experiences and renew our spirits. Emotional Intelligence experts say that resiliency is a key factor to our contentment and overall health. And we are being resilient when we do certain things. Studies in one aspect of Emotional Intelligence called Hardiness and Resiliency in people reveal 3 common characteristics, 3 C s: The person has a sense of Commitment or purpose or meaning in their life. Their existence on this earth means something. Control resilient people believe I can influence or control most of my life, if not all circumstances, at least my perspective. And if not, they think, why worry about it? Challenge resilient people see the stress of life as a challenge rather than as a destructive force in life. Challenges are possibilities, not dead ends. Resiliency is key to navigating the constant changes life brings and I would add a fourth quality the resilient people I know carry very well: humor. They laugh. It s not a laugh of denial or escapism but a way that frames the insanity life can take on and says, look, there s lots of ways to respond to this, and I choose to laugh. It s better than crying, it s more helpful than a pity party. They say things like I woke up on the right side of the grass today life is good! They have a clever remark ready in their pocket and can bring you back from the edge in an instant. This May, I invite you to join me in pursuing renewal and resiliency and to give thanks for the wise people in our lives that help us laugh. I am grateful for two, aged 12 and 13, who have a unique way of looking at things with help from their grandmother. Every day they share jokes with each other like this: what do you call a bunch of rabbits hopping backwards? (A receding hare-line!). Sometimes you just have to laugh. Peace to you and Happy Mother s Day, Pastor Stacy
Announcement from Financial Vision Team ANNUAL REPORTS DUE TO KRIS MONDAY, MAY 7TH Email to: whfbc@yahoo.com On May 6 th during the Second Hour, the Financial Vision Team w ill m ake a pr esentation on their proposal to adopt a unified budget beginning in 2019. The General Board approved this idea at the March meeting and recommended the congregation be involved in a discussion before the May Business meeting on May 20 th. We believe that a unified budget is a way to bring the whole congregation together to take responsibility for the funding of all operations and ministries. The tradition of FBC s commitment to missions and social action will be maintained by having the congregation determine the percentage of our income that will be allocated for those ministries. We hope that everyone will be present to participate in this discussion on the FVT s proposal. Financial Vision Team: Joy Adams, Frank Amazeen, John Eickel, Bob MacGregor, Mike Wu Abigail Baker May 3 Lorna Young May 6 Sheila MacGregor May 6 Lily Guglietta May 10 June Rowland May 18 William LeConey May 18 Bert Sweeney May 20 Warene Testerman May 22 Billie Lanz May 22 Charlotte Massie May 24 Hazel Hiltabidel May 29 John Eickel May 29 David & Pat Dunnells May 29 42 years Bruce & Cynthia Albertelly May 25 33 years Ed & Kris Hanko May 3 15 years
Easter at FBC Fancy Easter hats Packing hundreds of eggs for the neighborhood Easter Egg hunt
Lunch Bunch May 10 at 11:30 in the kitchen It s May, spring is finally here, and the gardens are springing to life. Share a pot luck lunch and some good conversation. Then there will be some time to share gardening stories or hints, or get some advice from all the experienced gardeners in our midst. Invite a friend or neighbor Questions, Call Edie Castagno Out and About Town Join Pastor Stacy out and about town as we get to know our neighbors in West Hartford. Our consultant, Paul Nickerson, reminds us that being out in our community is essential as we reach new people. So, join Pastor Stacy for lunch on any or all of the dates below. Time and location is 12 Noon @ Effie s Place. Please remember to RSVP to 860521-9460. Friday, May 18 Please RSVP to 860-521-9460. See you out and about town! The First Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut An American Baptist Church FBC CHURCH STAFF Reverend Stacy Emerson, Senior Minister Melinda Shilansky, Music Director Neil Shilansky, Accompanist Elizabeth Miller, Children s Music Director Bill Albert, Facilities Manager Kris Hanko, Administrative Secretary 90 North Main Street West Hartford, CT 06107-1924 Church Office Hours Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 am - 2:30 pm Friday 9:00 am 12:00 pm Phone 860-521-9460 Email whfbc@yahoo.com www.http://fbcwesthartford.org Follow First Baptist Church West Hartford on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram The Focus is a monthly newsletter of First Baptist Church Editor Faith Geist
Adult Education Sundays at 11:30 May 6 Presentation by the Financial Vision Team on our proposed unified budget. May 13 Mother s Day. No second hour. May 20 Annual Business Meeting. No second hour class. May 27 The First Christians, a DVD about the Early Church, focusing on the ministry of St. Paul.
IREJN S 2ND Annual EARTHKEEPER'S DINNER Date: WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 Time: 6:00 PM Pond House Cafe 155 Asylum Avenue West Hartford, CT Join us for hors d oeuvres at 6:00 PM, followed by an elegant, gourmet, vegetarian meal at 6:30 PM. Rabbi Joshua Hammerman will present a keynote speech and we will award our first ever IREJN John W. Spaeth, III Earthkeeper Award to Jen Siskind of Food and Water Watch in honor of her work to ban fracking waste in Connecticut. Tickets are $50 for IREJN members and $60 for non-members. https://irejnearthkeepers.eventbrite.com Tickets MUST be purchased by Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Contact Terri Eickel at terri@irejn.org for more info May 6 Acts 10:44 48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1 6 John 15:9 17 May 10 Acts 1:1 11 Psalm 47 Ephesians 1:15 23 Luke 24:44 53 May 13 Acts 1:15 17, 21 26 Psalm 1 1 John 5:9 13 John 17:6 19 Pentecost May 20 Acts 2:1 21 Psalm 104:24 34, 35b Romans 8:22 27 John 15:26 27; 16:4b 15 May 27 Isaiah 6:1 8 Psalm 29 Romans 8:12 17 Earthkeepers Corner May is here and it is time for us to plant gardens! IREJN is encouraging congregations to put in organic gardens of all kinds this Spring. Hartford Friends (Quaker) in West Hartford have a pollinator garden in the works, UU Society Manchester planted their "Peas and Love Garden", Immanuel Congregational and the Muhammad Islamic Center in Hartford have raised bed gardens started. Planting a garden, large or small, is great earth-friendly intergenerational fun. Plant a small patch of Milkweed and see if you can get our disappearing Monarchs to come lay some eggs. Seeds are available online or at your local gardening store. Be sure to go herbicide and pesticide free. Creation needs all the love and nurturing we can give right now! Ask questions or for a gardening consultation at terri@irejn.org.
For questions or to get a registration form, call Edie Castagno
7:00 Personnel 1 2 10:00 Pastor s Call w/paul Nickerson 10:30 Loaves & Fishes 3 4 5 6:00 Cinema & the Sacred 6 10:00 FBC Worship 11:00 Fellowship Time 11:30 Financial Vision Team Presentation 11:30 Christian Education for Children & Youth 8:00 AA 10:30 Missions 1:30 Adult Christian Ed Mtg 6:00 Vitality Team 7:00 Trustees 7 7:00 General Board 8 9:30 Staff Mtg 9 10 11:30 Lunch Bunch 7:00 Bible Study 11 12 13 10:00 FBC Worship 11:00 Fellowship Time 8:00 AA 14 10:00 Worship @ Cedar Mountain Commons FOCUS SUB- MISSION DEADLINE 4:00 Vision Team 15 9:30 Staff Mtg 16 17 18 12:00 Out & About Town @ Effie s Place 19 20 10:00 FBC Worship 11:00 Fellowship Time 11:30 Spring Business Meeting/Annual Mtg 11:30 Christian Education for Children & Youth 8:00 AA 21 22 6:00 Deacons Mtg 9:30 Staff Mtg 23 7:00 Bible Study 24 25 26 27 10:00 FBC Worship 11:00 Fellowship Time 11:30 Christian Education for all ages 12:30 Congregational Care Comm Mtg 8:00 A MEMORIAL DAY 28 29 30 9:30 Staff Mtg 31