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Highlights View from the Interim True or False: We lose brain cells as we get older. That question caught my attention last week as I was listening to the Faith Middleton Show on WNPR. Her guest that day was Barbara Strauch, health editor of the New York Times. Ms. Strauch has written a book entitled The Secret Life of the Grown Up Brain and it explores what happens to our brains in middle age. (Apparently this age group is from age 40 to 65. I am relieved to know I still have a couple of years left.) I was glad to know that my regular daily forgetfulness was completely normal! As we age our brains just slow down and it takes a minute to find the information but we can do it. In fact, as we age we become better at sizing up situations and come up with great solutions to things. Can we lose brain cells? That old expression says it best: if you don’t use it, you lose it. So we need to take those trillion brain cell connections out for a walk, put them to use. We need to challenge our minds, use our imaginations and get out there and meet and greet people. As I heard that I became energized! Being a part of a church family is just the thing we need to keep our brains in top form!! Stretching our minds, confronting challenges sharpens our thinking and shakes up the edges. What could be better than being in a growing church, working on finding its direction? Plenty of challenging thinking there. And we want to avoid being in a rut, getting stalled in thinking the same things over and over. Worshiping in new ways, learning new things, engaging in dialogs with people who hold different theological ideas from us? Perfect! Talking to people you disagree with hones your reasoning skills! So, get yourself to church! You will be doing your brain a favor!! Blessings
PLEASE PRAY FOR: Edna Spooner, Joan Smith, Barbara and Harold Storrs, Oleta Erami, Mary DeFelippi, John Snow, Sam Bunn, Donald Norton, Dawn and Rick Poole, Eleanor Adams, Irene DeCarolis, Edward Daly, Phyllis Cole, Eveyln Murray, Michele Kuiawa, Craig Harger, John Doll, Jason Morneault, Jr., Betty Layton, Diane Hurd, Ruth Carros, Joslyn Arzuaga, Joan Sinkwich, Janet Elton, Eric Latko, Kayla Doucette, David Skomars, Mike Smith, Celine Dumond and Marie Babineau.
Daily Scripture Readings for June 1. Hebrews 3.1-19
Thank You We couldn’t have been happier than to have celebrated our Fiftieth Wedding anniversary in our Church. It truly was a pleasant surprise. Bristol Baptist Church is a big part of our lives in many ways. We were happy to see our families, Church members, and friends at that great celebration. God bless you Ruth & Steve Towne
Christian Outreach News Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, In his final moments with his disciples, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” “Yes,” Peter replies. Then, “Feed my lambs,” the Good Shepherd tells him. “Tend my sheep.” Three times, Jesus passionately repeats his instruction, pressing his followers: If you love me, take care of the people I love. Live your love for me by actively tending these for whom I have sacrificed everything. (John 21:15-19) Soon, you’ll have an opportunity to offer your gift to One Great Hour of Sharing, empowering our American Baptist ministries of disaster relief and refugee aid, meeting basic needs in Christ’s name throughout the world, and sharing resources that allow people to improve their own lives and communities. Soon, each of us will decide how to respond to Jesus’ question, “Do you love me?” The members of the family of God – from those we know to distant sisters, brothers, and cousins in parts of the world we may never visit – are God’s flock, the sheep of God’s pasture (Ezekiel 34:31). Yet, God’s flock is often forcefully scattered, as people are chased from their homes and livelihoods by brutal expressions of war, as communities and futures are shattered by natural disasters, as societies and countries are ground down by unrelenting hunger, disease, and poverty. Jesus calls us to tend his sheep caught in these situations of evil and nature run amok. And with love and energy, the Church responds! Through One Great Hour of Sharing, disaster victims quickly receive shelter, food, water, and medical supplies local communities develop secure sources of food and clean water minds and bodies grow stronger with new schools and medical clinics refugees receive housing and long-term help to construct new lives. In these challenging times, we often wonder how much we can afford to sacrifice to help feed Jesus’ beloved sheep, when our needs remain pressing. Perhaps only our prayerful conscience can answer that. But remember the feeding of the 5,000: when Jesus asked the disciples to feed the crowd, the disciples despaired (Mark 6:34-44). The five loaves and two fish seemed insignificant compared to the massive need. Yet when each gave sacrificially from what they had, through God’s blessing, their gifts turned into a miracle of compassion for all. Heed Jesus’ call to feed his sheep with a generous, even sacrificial, gift to One Great Hour of Sharing. Sharing your resources will change lives – including your own. Sincerely in Christ,
Camp Wightman Happenings Dear Bristol Baptist, While some of our Camp weeks are filled to capacity others still have room. If you've already registered for this season, thank-you and we would encourage you to consider enrolling your Camper for another week. If you haven't registered your Camper yet for a week at Camp ... there is no time like the present. There are 3 ways to register: 1. Online by visiting our website: www.campwightman.org click on "Summer Camp" --- at the bottom of the page you can click on "ON-LINE REGISTRATION" 3. You can respond to this e-mail, simply asking that we send you a brochure with a registration form. To do this, please include your name and postal address in the e-mail. Or, give us a call -- 860-376-2159 X10 and we'll have the form sent out to you. We do ask that you take time this summer and pray for our Campers, our Program Coordinators, Counselors, Junior Counselors and Counselors-in-Training. Also, pray for our staff - from the kitchen to the office, the waterfront and the maintenence crew. We ask you to also pray for us as the Ministers of Camping and Conferences. We look forward to meeting you and your child this summer! Grace and Peace to you Also….. Save the DATE! First Annual Bar-B-Q starts at 11:30 a.m. Open House – FREE! Noon to 4pm
BBC Women’s Meeting The Women’s Group Picnic will be at Kathy Fekete’s house on Friday, June 11th, at 6 pm. Bring a dish to share – dessert and beverage will be supplied. Ann Bove is hostess and devotions will be done by Kathy Fekete. All women are welcome!
Church Tag Sale Bristol Baptist Church will be having a Community Tag Sale on
The Bristol Baptist Church Women’s Group will be having a Bake Sale, together with the Community Tag Sale on Saturday, June 5th. BYF will be selling Hot dogs, soda and chips at the Community Tag Sale on Saturday, June 5th.
Stewardship STEWARDSHIP what is it? STEWARDSHIP IS – TIME – TALENT - & TREASURE. Early this year the Church noted that one of the main things that the Church had to do was improve the sound system in the sanctuary. The Church got a rough estimate of five thousand dollars ($5000) to up grade the sound system. Tim Harkey went to work on our present system. He moved some speakers, added two of his own speakers in the balcony, and then find tuned the whole system. We can now HEAR fine. Thanks Tim for your time and talent!! That is stewardship at its best. Youth News In June, BYF will be joining others on the Walk Now for Autism Speaks in Hartford, drawing awareness in the Community about Autism and the need for increased funding for this complex disorder. You can make a difference! During the Month of May you can help by sponsoring a member of BYF who will be walking for this cause. Contact Alison Croce thru the church office at 860-583-8352, for more information. Please help us as we walk to change the future for all who struggle with autism!
Graduates If you or anyone you know will be graduating this year,
Music Notes The annual Bell and Adult Choir Picnic will be at the home of The Degan’s in Bristol, on Sunday, June 27th, at 12 noon. Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Iced Tea and Lemonade will be provided. Bring a dish to share, chairs to sit on, and expectations of fun!
Just a reminder, If you would like to contribute to the Bristol Baptist Church Organ Fund, all donations should be sent to the church office or put into the collection plate, clearly marked “BBC Organ Fund”. We hope to have a dedication of our new organ some time this Fall. If you’d like to sing a solo or play a solo on a musical instrument as an offering for a summer worship service, you certainly may! Or maybe you’d like to form a quartet or other ensemble. Talk to Bill Degan about your idea and sign up for a Sunday!
Church Office News Beginning of July through Labor Day Cathy will be in the office Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Pastor Lisa will be in the office Monday through Friday 9am until 2 p.m. Messages will be checked regularly. If you would like your e-mail address to be added to our BBC Friends and Family Contact List, please contact the church office by phone 860-583-8352, or by e-mail at thebristolbaptistchurch1@juno.com and let us know. We would love to add you on.
MINISTRY THROUGH OUR CHURCH BUILDING Groups & Community Organizations that use our facilities SUNDAYS: 6:00 pm Nar-Anon & 6:00 pm N-A(women’s mtg) TUESDAYS: 6:00 pm TOPS, Inc. & 7:30 pm Al-Anon WEDNESDAYS: 7:30 pm N-A THURSDAYS: 7:30 pm Nar-Anon
NEXT HIGHLIGHTS: The deadline for the Highlights is the 15th of each month. Articles may be left on the desk in the church office, or on the answering machine or can be e-mailed to thebristolbaptistchurch1@juno.com. Thank you, Cathy. |
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