Pastoral Thoughts

A few weeks ago our sister church, United Baptist in Ellsworth, hosted a one day conference.  Speakers addressed a number of topics.  Among the topics were: “9 Marks of a Healthy Church,” “Church Life Cycle,” and “10 Common traits of the Dead and Dying Church.”

While terms like “healthy church” and “dying church” are quite off the mark – true, these terms are catchy, but they are also far from the images Scripture uses to speak of God’s gathered people – many good points were made during the conference.  One speaker, a seasoned pastor in the area, said  ”Typically, the last expenditures to go from church budgets are the ones that make the members feel comfortable.”

As a church, as God’s gathered people here in Lamoine, we must not be found in such a backwards error.  In the two years I’ve been pastoring at LBS, I’ve seen an awareness of this error.  More importantly, I’ve noticed many have the sense that gathering together in Jesus name is fundamentally different than all other organized gatherings.  Nevertheless, such awareness and devotional understanding need to develop and grow at LBC.  This, too, I have noticed.

The Gospel calls to our (plural) imagination (singular).  May 24 was Pentecost.  Pentecost comes after Easter and is the day that God gave his Spirit to his followers, creating the church, a holy people who walk in the way of righteousness.

Yours, Pastor Brooks

Spring Planning Meeting

Spring Clean up May 2nd  8 am - noon

Mother's Day May 10

Yard sale at barn May 23  8 am - noon

Church picnic and recipe advice June 7

Change in service time June 14

Graduation day June 14

Father's Day June 21

Camp Cuff cookout - TBA
Lank's cookout - TBA
Harris' cookout June 20 @ 5 pm

Summer Fair July 25   @ 9 am - 1 pm

Carriere's cookout August 14 @ 5 pm

Potluck concert  August 16

Time change for fall service  Sept. 13

Pastoral Thoughts

Recently, I was asked to give a reading from the Koran at an upcoming public prayer breakfast.  The breakfast will have, of course, times of prayer.  It will also have scripture readings from Jewish scripture (the Tanak), Islamic scripture (the Koran), and Christian scripture (the New Testament).

If the U.S. was once a Christian nation, it has changed.  This prayer breakfast displays that reality.  Religious pluralism is here.  We now have:  bumper stickers using the symbols of the major world religions to spell "co-exist";  news anchors hosting pictures of people laughing, stating, "An hour of Laughter Yoga ... was just the thing for body and soul";  a Christian pastor being asked to read from the Koran at a public prayer event.

This is a confused and challenging time.  But it is also a time for Christian hope and witness.  I will not be reading from the Koran at the prayer breakfast.  Yes, I plan on attending it.  And, in this case, I think to do so is the right path.

The culture wars are concerned with demarcating the battle lines.  The care and energy of the Christian is not to be on marking lines, but mercy and peace (Matt 5:7, 9).  And yet, that is mercy and peace rightly understood.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ draws us toward something other than (supposed) polite and civil co-existence (Mattt 5:13; see 5:1-12).

Yours,
Pastor Brooks

"do you remember..."

Memory is important.  Gathering together and remembering together are vital ingredients in loving relationships  From family reunions to funeral receptions we often hear those words spoken:  "Do you remember..."

The other day I read an article about the recently built 9/11 museum at Ground Zero.  Central to the purpose of this museum is remembrance.  But, in recounting her journey through the museum, the author laments the complete lack of an underlying hope or even message.  Simple documentation displayed with grandiose style takes the place of a message and hope.. The author wonders if we have lost our ability to remember.

The Advent season is about remembrance.  Christians, during this season, are not just recounting once again that old story from the past  We are not just reading an ancient document because of a yearly tradition.  Rather, as we read prophetic Advent passages, we hear the deep hope of God's people as they await his coming - a hope which profoundly resounds in us.  We sing songs of such significance and beauty that they fit no other season.  We decorate the church, not with grandiosity of glamour - for Jesus was born in a manger - but for that special time, Christmas Eve, when we gather together to remember in joyful song, in prayer and in hearing again - and anew - the very Word of God, words of hope.

"I will remember the deeds of the LORD;  yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago"  (Psalm 77:11)

April 21, 2014 Church Planning Meeting
The following dates for 2014 upcoming events were scheduled:
Spring Clean Up - May 10
Barn Sale - May 24 (8am-noon)
Church Picnic/Graduation Day - June 8
Time change for summer service/Father's Day - June 15
Carriere's cookout - June 27 (5 pm)
Camp Cuff cookout - July 19
Church summer fair - July 26
Harris' cookout - August 8
Service at East Lamoine church/Potluck concert - August 17
Time change for fall service - Sept.14

Pastoral Thoughts
Today I came across an article on eonlin.com entitled "What are you giving up for Lent?"  For the readers who do not know what Lent is, the author starts out by giving a summary:  "...during Lent, people usually give up something they like doing or eating (like junk food or coffee) or pledge to do something to better themselves or the lives of other for 40 days an 40 nights."  Right under the title of the article is a close-up picture of tasty doughnuts, each with its own colorful frosting and sprinkles.

It takes an effort of mind and will to catch and discard the childish perceptions and barren observations that are often presented to us by our broader culture.  Lent is not about skipping Dunkin' Donuts drive-through for a few weeks.  Nor is it a few weeks of any obligation for the sake of the greater good.  Rather, Lent is a time of preparation.  On Good Friday and Easter Sunday, in particular, we remember through community worship the amazing love and glory of our Lord.  Lent is about worshiping god;  it is about taking the time to prepare oneself and one's family for the yearly gathering of the community of God, who gather together to remember our Lord's last days with contrition and then with joy and peace.

Let us take time this Lenten season to read the Gospels with a heart and mind of devotion.  Let us be prayerful and prepare ourselves, so that when Good Friday and Easter Sunday come, we are not caught off guard, but rather are eager to gather with brothers and sisters in the house of the Lord and give him devotion and praise.

Yours,
Pastor Brooks

Pastoral Thoughts
In the month of December there is a certain feeling "in the air."  I'd say this feeling comes from a long history of December being a month where the usual business, tasks, and aspirations of the year are taken off  "center stage" and replaced for a short time with something else.  The things that take center stage are spending quality time with family and friends and partaking in traditions like drinking eggnog, giving gifts, and decorating the home.  The December tradition of focusing on these things brings real joy into our lives, for friendship - real friendship - is our heart's true desire.  This life is not about  making a lot of money.  It's not about fun parties.  It's not about being cooler or smarter than those around you.   It's definitely not about getting your way.  And it's not even about having great physical health.  Life has nothing to do with our January through November mentalities. Rather, this life is about friendship.  It's about quality time and good activities which nurture the joy that comes through being appreciated  and appreciating others.  For all of us, I hope, Decembers past have given us a taste of this.

In the Christian tradition we hold this conviction about the centrality of friendship in a particular way.  It is being part of the family of God and the friendships therein that bring joy in its natural form.  And not only joy, but also a deep, abiding and pure hope.  For while quality time and good activities we have, they are disturbed by the January through November" world that still has a hold on us.  And so our hope is in the One who has come and will come again, the One who will take the beauty of this season and bring it to maturity.  The certain feeling that comes with December then, we say, is just a distant sense of the future.  And as such it is a gift to be enjoyed.

Pastoral Thoughts:
     Recently I have been thinking about mission statements.  Like many groups, Christian-based organizations often have mission statements.  For example, ABCUSA's is "Serving as the hands and feet of Christ."  The seminary I graduaed form, with boldness has the mission statement, "To advance Christ's Kingdom in every sphere of life by equippin Church leaders to think theologically, engage globally and live biblically."  LBC has something like a mission statement.  Our constitution states that the "purpose of this organization" is to "(a) win people to a personal allegiance to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, (b) train them in Christian living and develop Christian character, (c) help spread the gospel of Christ."
     I like all of these statements.  They speak well to our convictions and remind us why we are here.  But the broad picture they paint is not only a strength, but also a weakness.  How do we today "win people to a personal allegiance to Jesus Christ,"  "train in Christian living,"  "spread the gospel?"  This is not a question that has a simple, singular, and time-proven answer.  For we today live in a world that is not what is was a generation or two ago.  And as Americans, the majority of our culture is "post-Christian."  This can be seen very clearly.  One illustration:  go to a bookstore and look for the Bibles.  You will not only find the Holy Bible but many other kinds.  Let's naarrrow our eamples to the so-called "food bibles."  You will find:  The Cook's Bible, Paula Deen's Southern Cooking Bible, The Cake Bible, The Healthy Juicer's Bible, just to name a few. 
     These titles may first strike us as funny but they also point to a very serious matter.  We are part of a society which no longer treats the word "Bible" as distinct (let alone as a designator of what is holy.) The word "Bible" is publicly (ab)used for financial profit and the exultation of the culinary arts.  And our society is fine with it.  One thinks of the Apostle Paul's words to the Philippians, "their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things."  (3:19)
     How are we to carry out our mission/purpose statement in such a world?  First, as God's people, we have to know the Bible as well.  And second, but just as important, we have to be "wise as serpents" (Matthew 10:16).  It is our duty and privilege to be keen toward the newness and difference of the present times.  In a post-Christian society, God's Word sits right next to The Cake Bible on the bookshelf.  What is it that we can do to help people bypass grabbing the book with all he pretty pictures and, instead, grasp the Word of Truth?
    
Yours, Brooks

In high school, I watched the clock which sat high upon the wall at the front of the classroom.  During the last class period of the day, I  was especially attentive to its movements.  When the  fastest(and therefore, clearly, the wisest) hand made its last lap around and consequently, the minute hand jerked and settled over the 9, Father Time's daily miracle was complete.  It was 1:45 pm.  The school bell burst forth, its loud ring declaring my freedom and giving my formless and empty mind shape and purpose. We students streamed from those classrooms, the clocks fading away behind us, and upon breaking through the last door, there was light and it was good.

During the sermons these past two months we have been looking at the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians.  One thing that stands out to me is the apostle's call to rejoice.  Christians are to be joyful people.  The Philippians are urged to see that being joyful is not only a future hope, but to be a present personal experience.  And so Paul exhorts them:  "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!"   (Philippians 4:4)

It took time, but the Lord eventually showed me (and still has to remind me now and then) that joy is not dependent upon the position of the clock's hands.  We can spend our whole lives looking at the clock and calendar, putting our hope in the power of the school bell and its equivalents, but for those who are in Christ, no amount of time is to be wished away.  It is not an accident that we are where we are.  With this in mind, it might serve many (or all) of us to remember that old Sunday School song:  "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made."  Today is the day.  The Lord is powerful and good.  Let us rejoice.

Yours, Brooks

June, 2013

Stephen Fowl, a professor of theology at Loyola College in Maryland, writes that as Christians have to "shift our notions of love away from the overly romantic and sentimentalized versions of love so common in our current culture.  Instead we should see love as a 'habit.'  Love needs to become an established disposition within us."  I think this is good guidance from Professor Fowl.  A prevalent assumption in our day is that love is a matter of the heart.  But, all the more, love is a matter of the will;  love is first and foremost about active commitment.  Only secondarily is it about passive feelings.

Colleen and I are grateful to LBC for making our arrival and welcome a warm and joyful experience.  When we pulled into the parsonage driveway for the first time with our U-Haul, we found ourselves stepping out into the unfamiliar.  But the unfamiliar began to be driven out when many from the church soon pulled in behind us and with smiles and greetings helped us unpack the whole truck.  Throughout our first month here the unfamiliar has continued to recede with our involvement in the church community and by meeting others in the Lamoine community.  We are thankful for the love of God we have found here, a love which is active, which is caring; a love that causes us now to pull into the parsonage driveway and say, "We're home"

Yours,
Brooks and Colleen Linde

56 New padded folding chairs are here .  If you would like to contribute, please mark your check or envelope.  Cost is $30 per chair.

There is a summer sign up sheet at the front of the church for "coffee hour" refreshments after church.  Volunteer alone or with a friend if you would like this chance to socialize.

Reminder -- Sunday morning worship starts at 10:30 AM with our new pastor Brooks Linde through June 9.  Summer worship time of 9:30 will take effect June 16.

LOST

By: Stephen Hills

I went years thinking my good works

were sending me to that place.

I didn’t know that it meant nothing

without having faith.

I thought I was wise enough

to know who was evil and who was going to hell.

I didn’t realize I was one of them

until that day I fell.

I believed God was our Creator

and I knew He was there.

I just didn’t do anything with it -

I didn’t really care.

I didn’t need God back then.

I was doing just fine all on my own.

But life can change in a split second

and everything can be gone.

He could have let me go that day,

but I wouldn’t have been with Him.

Instead He gave me a second chance

and for that I will be grateful until the end.

Back then the Bible meant nothing to me.

It was just a book that religious people read.

Now that my eyes have been opened,

I know it is the only way my soul can be fed.

I can do nothing on my own.

I am just an ordinary man.

But with the power of God

I can do anything He says I can.

Someday I will be in Heaven

and I will learn the rest of the story.

But until then I will remain here on earth

sharing God’s glory

--------------------------------------------------------------------

GOD IS THERE

By: Stephen Hills

God is there

morning, noon, and night.

God is there with us

When we do wrong or when we do right.

God was there during our birth

And throughout all of our life,

God made man

to be a husband and for woman to be his wife.

God is there when times are tough

and when things are going good.

God is there always

Like He promised He would.

God is there waiting patiently

for us to hear His voice.

God is there watching

over all of His girls and boys.

God is there when we are happy

And He is there when we are sad.

God is there for us to worship

whole heartedly -He is not a temporary fad.

God was there

when they crucified the Son of Man.

God was there

on the third day

when Jesus rose just as He planned.

God is there

when we are jealous, angry, or when we complain.

God is there

for us always and that will never change.

God is there

to forgive us if we have faith in His one and only Son,

God makes this wonderful gift available

to each and everyone.

God will not be with those who fail to believe

that Jesus died for our sins.

God will have tears in his eyes

for all the lost souls Satan wins.

 

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Free Will

By: Stephen Hills

Free will is a gift from God,

that we will never lose.

He desperately wants us to love Him

and He allows us to choose.

If we didn’t have the choice,

we would never know that He

is so good.

It wouldn’t be real any other way

and this

God understood.

Not everyone chooses Him

and that saddens God very much.

Some people deny Him

because God can’t be seen or touched.

God has the power

to make us do what He wants.

He can make us obey

Instead

He decided to earn our love -

to Him there was no other way.

He was willing to sacrifice many

when He gave us that power.

God so loves us,

He will save us even -

on our last hour.

Don’t take what God gave us for granted.

You may find yourself on the other side,

I’m going to follow Jesus

and when I die,

Heaven is where I will reside.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Temptation

By: Stephen Hills

Satin makes it easy,

He tempts us day and night.

God will not let him have us,

without a Spiritual fight.

Many material things on earth

can easily be earned.

Those things mean nothing

and someday will be burned.

What is of value

we cannot see.

It is the Spirit of God

that lives inside you and me.

Don’t be a fool and give in to

the wants of your flesh.

Denying yourself from those things

is part of the test.

Your pride here on earth

can keep you from the Lord,

being humble and faithful is what He adores.

The answer is simple

and is available to all -

Follow Jesus

and don’t let yourself fall.

COMING SOON - POEMS FROM STEVE HILL ...

There are two items we would like to share with you in our final "epistle" as your Interim Ministry Team:  Invitation and Appreciation.

Invitation:  We invite you to attend some of the special Lenten season services:
Wed., March 13, 7 PM an East Area Assoc. mid-week lenten service at Lamoine Baptist Church.  Guest speaker Rev. Matt Burden, Pastor of 2nd Baptist Church in Calais.

During Lent, we have been looking at our Lord's autobiographical assertions contained in "I AM" statements.

We hope you will join us.

Palm Sunday, March 24, 10:30 AM worship "I am the King of the Jews"
Maundy Thursday, March 28, 7 PM service of Communion and Tenabrae

Easter Sunday, March 31
6 AM Sunrise Service at Lamoine Beach
7 AM Easter Breakfast at the Church
10:30 AM Morning worship
"I am the Resurrection and the Life"

Appreciation:  We are deeply grateful to the Lamoine Baptist Church family for the privilege of being part of this church's ministry for what will be eighteen months.
Thanks a million for all  your prayers, suupport, encouragement and faithfulness.
May God continue to bless this church family and ministry and your new pastor and his wife as they join you in May.

Cordiallly in Him,
Foster and Mary Jane Williams

Parson to Person
We are looking forward to spending our second Advent/Christmas season with you of the church family for several reasons:
the meaning and beauty of the season
the special events and activities
the manner in which you have made us feel such a part of the church family
the privilege we have of being part of your ministry.

We call your attention to two special services:
December 2 - Hanging of the Greens and introduction of the Christmas Tree
December 24 - Christmas Eve Service - a wonderful celebration of Christ's Birthday

We will be sharing a series of Advent sermons on The Promises of Christmas.  We will look at the promise of the prophet, an angel, the star and an angel choir.  We invite you to join with us at Advent Sunday Worship services.

Finally, we wish for you and your loved ones a blessed Advent/Christmas Season, because of the presence, in your heart and your home, of the One God sent that first Christmas, as His Love Gift to each of us.

Cordially in Him,
Foster and Mary Jane Williams, your Interim Ministry Team

Sermon information
Continuing series of sermons on the ten great principles contained in the Ten Commandments.

November 11
"A Matter of Respect"
Exodus 20.7
We will look at what this commandment has to say about respect and connect this with Veteran's Day.

November 18
"The Rhythm of Life"
Exodus 20.8-11
In this commandment,God talks to us about the principle of the rhythm of life built into us from creation.  We will tie this in with Thanksgiving Day.

November 25
"A Principle with a Promise"
Exodus 20.12
In this commandment, a promise is associated with the principle being taught.   This theme of promise will be the main theme of the Advent Season Series of sermons built around some of the great promises of Advent.  Promises that come from a prophet, an angel, a star and a choir.

Thoughts to share with our Lamoine Baptist Church family this season:
1.  Thanks to Carolyn and others who are involved in making the newsletter happen.
2.  We again express our appreciation for the privelege of being part of the Lamoine Baptist Church family for a time.
3.  It has been great seeing folks return from their winter residences and joining us in worship.  It is a pleasure for us to meet returning folks for the first time.
4. Beginning June 24 and through September 9 (except August 12 and September 2), we will share a series of sermons on the Psalms.  The list of titles"
June 24  "The Sheep's Psalm" - Psalm 23
July 1- "Our Declaration of Independence" - Psalm 34
July 8  "Speak, Lord!" - Psalm 19
July 15  "A Psalm for All Seasons, Part I" - Psalm 138:1-12
July 22  "A Psalm for All Seasons, Part II" - Psalm 138:13-24
July 29  "When You are Falsely Accused" - Psalm 109
August 5  Guest Preacher - Russ Thayer
August 19  "Facing the Future without Fear" - Psalm 20
August 26  "Dealing with Depression" - Psalms 42 and 43
September 2  "My Master was a Carpenter" - Mark 6:1-3
September 9  "How to Handle a Bad Conscience" - Psalm 51

We hope you have a great summer!  Whenever you are able, we invite you to join us for worship.

Cordially in Him,
Foster & Mary Jane Williams, your Interim Ministry Team
Home phone 223-4199       Fewmar@aol.com

From Pastor Williams: Parson to Person

On Wednesday, February 23, Ash Wednesday, we began the season of Lent. Lent is a forty day period of time, excluding Sundays, that ends, traditionally, at noon on the day before Easter. Based on the forty days of our Lord's time in the wilderness, following His baptism, a time of preparation for the three years of His public ministry, even so, the Christian church, for many centuries, has observed the forty day Lenten Season as a time for our own personal preparation for the greatest event in human history-the Day of Resurrection, Easter Sunday.

For our own "Lenten journey," we began on Sunday, February 26, a Lenten Season Series of Sermons, based on the personal testimonies of some of the people who were there that first Holy Week. The testimonies are being presented in the first person. We cordially invite you to join us for the 10:30 AM Worship Service each week in Lent. Following is the schedule of persons and scripture:

March 4-Judas Iscariot, Matthew 27:3-10 "Will I See His Face Again?"
March 11-Pontius Pilate, Matthew 27:15-26 "It Will Not Wash Off!"
March 18-Simon of Cyrene, Mark 15:16-23 "Bearing His Cross"
March 25-Mary Magdalene, John 19:25, 20:1-18 "He Called My Name"
April 1-Palm Sunday, Joseph of Arimathea, Luke 23:50-54 " An Act of Love and Affection"
April 8-Easter Sunday, Dr. Luke, Luke 24:13-32 "In the Breaking of the Bread"

We are grateful for the privilege of being with the Lamoine Baptist Church family for our first Lenten Season with you. For all the kindnesses, hospitality, encouragement and prayers you have extended to us, thanks a million!

Cordially in Him,
Foster and Mary Jane Williams, your Interim Ministry Team

Interim Pastor Change

We bid a fond farewell to our Interim Pastor Jim Robertson and his wife Pat with a time of fellowship after Pastor Jim's final service at Lamoine Baptist on October 30.  Jim and Pat served us faithfully for three years.
The Pulpit Committee continues to search for the next permanent leader of our congregation.  Meanwhile, Rev. Foster Williams has agreed to serve as our next interim pastor.  Pastor Williams and his wife Mary Jane live in Winterport.  He has served as pastor in churches in four different states and was our East Area Resource Minister for several years.  Dr. Williams has also sered as Director of the American Baptist Churches of Maine Institute for Ministry.

From Pastor Williams:  Person to Person

We are now entering that season many refer to as "the holdiay season" - the Thanksgiving/Advent/Christmas/New Year season.  It is a season filled with many special church and family actiities and traditions that we look forward to with anticipation and joy.  For Mary Jane and me, there is a dominant feeeling that we experience during this season:  a sense of gratitude and thanksgiving.  Let me share why this seems to be the case:

1.  November 24 is a national day of Thanksgiving.  While this is a time of economic challenge, there is much for which we can be grateful.  As the hymn says:  "Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your many blessings, see what God has done."

2.  November 27 is Advent Sunday, the beginning of a four week period when we prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of God's great Gift of Love - His Son, Jesus Christ.   In addition, this season contains church activities  and traditions for which we are deeply grateful.

3.  Christmas Day December 25 - the birthday of our Lord and Savior.  What a reason for rejoicing!

4.  Sunday, January 1, 2012 - As we begin a new calendar year, we have assurance that God Who was so faithful to us in 2011 will be faithful to us in 2012.

5.  For Mary Jane and me, we rejoice in the privilege of being part of the Lamoine Baptist Church family, for a time, and we look forward to spending this season with you.  For your warm welcome, for making us "feel at home," for your support, prayers and encouragement, we are deeply grateful.

Cordially in Him,
Foster and Mary Jane Williams, Interim Ministry Team
Home phone 223-4199, Fewmar@aol.com

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR EDNA BRIGGS

A memorial service will be held for Edna Briggs on Sunday, November 20 at 2 pm at the church.