Pastor’s Notes  July/August 2009

The Busy Summer

Dear congregation:

First Baptist is in the midst of a busy summer behind and in front of the scenes. I am providing you an overview to keep track of where various efforts are underway to help First Baptist in its ongoing and strategic planning:

Vacation Bible “Camp” 2009

This year, First Baptist marks its fourth consecutive Vacation Bible School program, evidencing change and growth alike. Using a “camp” theme this year, First Baptist joins together with Saint Peter’s Episcopal to enjoy two weekends of summer fun! Vacation Bible “Camp” planners hope to welcome upwards of three-dozen children, a significant growth in the vision and scope of what “VBS” means to First Baptist. In 2006, there was a tentative feeling, wondering if we would have the ability and interest to restart VBS. After the 2006 event, the adults confessed to having as much, if not more fun than the kids. Thanks to the CE Board and the VBCamp volunteers, First Baptist will be offering an ecumenical and expanded program this year. Tell your kids, grandkids, and neighborhood kids about the Vacation Bible Camp coming soon! (Please note: With growth comes paperwork: Please help us PRE-REGISTER kids via forms available in the office.)

Staff Transitions

On May 31, 2009, Teresa Stevens completed her time as our playroom supervisor. We thank Teresa for her kind and welcoming spirit. The children loved to spend time with her. The board of Christian education is in the process of searching for a new person to serve as the “lead” playroom supervisor and an additional person who can serve as an assistant. The CE board will be announcing a job description and search process in the coming weeks. If you know of a person (21 years or older), please refer their names to Alycia Post, our director of Christian education.

Since late April, we have been blessed by Charlotte Knighton’s service at the organ bench. The music committee (Byron Spafford, Josie Sheperd, and Sandy Williams) reviewed the results of the congregational worship survey conducted on May 17, 2009. Your responses are helpful to the committee as we look for a new “director of music” staff person. Please speak with committee members if you have additional questions or comments. Our hope is to staff this position by Fall 2009. In the meantime, we will enjoy Charlotte’s company and her accompaniment.

Community Involvement

One of the values of First Baptist is its community involvement. In July and August, the Mission Board invites you to get involved with buying school supplies for Molly Stark Elementary School. A list of needed items will be posted in the bulletins, and Jean Hoag will share weekly updates about “the best deals in town” to help you spend not much on a whole lot of school supplies!

Also this summer, Lisa Flynn is part of the leadership team bringing the “Empty Bowls” Dinner together to support the Interfaith Food and Fuel Fund. Mark “Sunday, October 11” on your calendar and ask Lisa how you can help with this exciting fundraiser.

This fall, I will be lecturing at Southern Vermont College. On Tuesdays this Fall, a course on “comparative religions” will be offered, and I will be part of the team of local instructors teaching on Tuesday evenings. SVC closed the class enrollment quite early on in their registration process, so it is already a popular class! I will share more later in the year about the experiences of teaching and interacting with local college students.

Also this autumn, our missional church projects will get underway. We learned in mid-June First Baptist will be receiving $1,500 of grant money from National Ministries to kick start our program helping persons learn skills for living healthy and economically alike. Want to get involved? Talk to Alycia Post about your interest.

Continuing Education for the Minister

From June 24-July 2, Kerry and I participated in the Summer Collegium, a Lilly-endowed program of the Virginia Theological Seminary of Alexandria, Virginia. The purpose of this event is to help small church clergy learn skills, particularly in the area of self-care and wholeness. I am grateful for the congregation’s support during this event, and I look forward to sharing my experiences on Sunday, July 12, 2009. When you see me, ask me what I learned!

Later in July, I travel to the 2009 Annual Gathering of the Baptist World Alliance in the Netherlands. I will be participating in the Emerging Leaders Network, a gathering of younger Baptists from around the world, and attending BWA meetings. This year, I am honored to be a panelist during the meeting of “The Church Health and Effectiveness Workgroup”. The panel discussion features six young church leaders from different global contexts to address the question “The Future of the Church through the eyes of emerging leaders”. We are asked to address the following questions: What is going to change about the Church? What do younger leaders think needs to change? What will need to happen around leadership and congregational life? Will Church look different from at present? What challenges will be made around our Baptist distinctive? Will there be any differences? What do we hope for in the future?

Baptists gather in Amsterdam this year to celebrate the big “4-0-0”. (I know, we only look like we’re 336, but I digress….). I look forward to sharing a hopeful word about the future of the Church, especially those of us in the Baptist tradition(s). I offer these words of hope thanks to the hopeful people called “First Baptist”. When I look around at things, I must say we have much to celebrate and a great story to tell!

Grace and peace,

The Rev. Jerrod H. Hugenot, Coordinating Minister