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Central Baptist Church of Westerly, 16 Elm Street, Westerly, RI 02891

THE GOOD WORD

Carrying News of God’s Work into the Community and World

January 2012 Volume 5 Issue 1

Worship With Us At Central Baptist ACTIVITES

Sunday School 9:00AM Worship Service 10::30AM Fellowship Hour 11:30AM

HOW TO CONTACT US Church Office : e-mail Lighting the candle on the first [email protected] White Gift Service Telephone : [401] 596-4929 Sunday of Advent -- The Bertsch family Newsletter: e-mail [email protected] Gert and Linda Pastor : e-mail At [email protected] Website : Luncheon and http://www.cbcwesterly.org Bazaar

Christmas Caroling Church Meetings 4 5:30 PM Church Pot Luck Supper 6:45 PM Gathering Choosing a gift tag from the Giving Tree January 10 Marty, Bob and Sara 7:00 PM Board of Deacons January 11 7:00 PM Board of Trustees January 18 6:45 PM Prayer Gathering January 24

7:00 PM Church Council January 29 11:30 AM Church Business Making an Meeting Santa visits the Nursery School Walter, Judy and Rita Page 2 Central Baptist Church of Westerly

CHURCH STAFF NEWSLETTER TEAM

Rev. Dr. Cal Lord, Jr., Pastor Tiffani Kaminski—Editor Lynn Dowding, Music Director Linda Engler Cindy Capizzano, Administrator Dot Marra Paul Arnold & Walter Dugas, Custodians Cindy Capizzano

and Church Office Hours Mon—Friday 9AM—1 PM A host of other contributors

Men’s Breakfast All Church Pot Luck Supper January 7- 8:00 AM Bring a dish to share Fellowship Hall A Men’s Study is held each

Tuesday morning in the Parlor All men and starting at 7:30 boys welcome. Bring your Dr. David Reid leads this study. All men are welcome to buddies. join this group. Wednesday, January 4 - 5:30PM Last Name A - F Dessert Friendship Circle See the G - L Vegetable M - S Salad January 16 The Good Word in T - Z Main Dish Fellowship Hall - 7:00 PM Color Wednesday, February 1- 5:30PM Last Name A - F Main Dish Circle 2 visit our website at G - L Dessert www.cbcwesterly.org M - S Vegetable Meetings are held monthly T - Z Salad On the third Tuesday of the month at 9:00 AM JONAH In the Church Parlor. Once again we will be visiting Lancaster, PA and the Sight and Sound Newsletter Theater to see Jonah. This 3-day trip , scheduled for May 17, 18, and 19, will include the play, plenty of food, some good fun, shopping, and sightseeing. Deadline The cost of the trip will be $335 pp for those sharing a room and $435 for Articles for the newsletter, those in a single room. The Good Word , are due We have secured meals at our favorites - Milers, Stoltzfus’ and Bird in Hand, and a new restaurant the 15th of the month. - Fireside. The bus has been chartered and down payments on the hotel and play have been made. Electronic submission via Join us! e-mail is preferred. We have 49 people signed up to go on our trip. We have room for four more. If you haven’t signed Please submit articles up and are having second thoughts, please give Linda a call. as a WORD document if To secure your seat, a deposit of $100 is required. Full payment must be made by April 15th. possible. e-mail all articles to Contact Linda Engler at [email protected] [401] 596-3310, to sign up or for further information.

NEEDLEWORKERS First and Third Monday A DOLLAR MAKES A DIFFERENCE 9:30 AM Nancy Balentine’s home During the winter months, you will see an envelope in your 35 Spruce St., Westerly weekly bulletin. This envelope is where we will place our donations to the Come join the fellowship while WARM Shelter’s Dollar Makes a Difference Campaign which provides heating we work on projects. assistance to those in need in the community. Instructions available . Central Baptist Church of Westerly Page 3 Pastor Cal’s Corner

Dear friends, I can hardly believe that a new year is dawning. Last year at this time I was meeting everyone for the very first time. During the first week of 2011, I came down from Nor- wich for five straight days so that we could get to know one another. After some good food at a pot-luck supper, a hearty men’s breakfast, some ice cream, several impromptu meetings and a moving worship service, the time came for a vote.

I can tell you that I never prayed so hard in my life during that week as I sought God’s will for this congre- gation and for me and the family. I felt a little like Abraham. Like him, I was being called to leave a place I had called home and trust God enough to follow him.

I know many of you were praying too. I think that is the secret behind why things have gone so well over the last nine months. You listened to the spirit of God and began to believe that things could be good again. A lot of credit goes to Pastor Tom Hiltsley. He encouraged the congregation to turn to God and pray that God’s will be done. It helped you move beyond the discouragement of saying good bye to a dynamic, young pastor and opened you up to see God’s hand even in a time of transition.

That interim period was preparing both of us for the journey ahead. I am excited about 2012. We kick things off with a communion service on New Year’s Day. I can’t think of a better way to enter the year. On January 8 we will witness the baptism of five members of our community. Brian and Janet Gerbutavich, who joined the church by profession of faith under Pastor Ronnie, will express what is happening in their lives by undergoing believer’s baptism. They will be joined by Suzanne Vanaman and and Madison Harris.

The New Year will also see the launch of our new Central Nursery School Board of Directors. We are so pleased to announce that Susan Capalbo, Pat Rhodes and Helen Mochetti have already agreed to come on board as at-large members. They will join Stefanie Boegler (Director of CNS) and Lauren Sposato (Treasurer of CNS), Alan Caval (for the Trustees) and myself on the Board. We still need to choose one at large person and to name a representative from our Board of Christian Education to complete the process. Look for news from the Board in our February newsletter.

We will end the month with our January business meeting. George Champlin said that pledges are rolling in and the tally has been very encouraging. Thank you to all who have made a pledge and have made the commit- ment to serve God in and through the ministry of Central Baptist Church. Your , your presence and your faithful giving will go a long way in paving the road for a bright future for all of us here.

God bless! See you in church!

Cal

PS. December has been a great month here at Central Baptist. The Friendship Circle Bazaar was great. The turnout at our Open House was heart warming. The celebration on White Gift Sunday was moving and the worship each week has been fun and uplifting. I pray that your Christmas was everything you hoped for and more! I’ll see you next year.

Page 4 Central Baptist Church of Westerly

The Board of Deacons

I do not remember celebrating growing up. I hear it often now and it just doesn’t seem to sink in for me. This is the defini- tion I found online at Wikipedia:

Epiphany , (: ε , epiphaneia , "manifestation", "striking appearance",[1]) or Theophany , (Ancient Greek ( ) εε , Τheophaneia ,[2]) meaning "vision of God",[3] which falls on January 6, is a Chris- tian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in . Western Chris- tians commemorate principally (but not solely) the visitation of the Biblical to the Baby Jesus, and thus Je- sus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles. Eastern Christians commemorate the in the , seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.[4]

I pondered this definition for a while. What finally came to me is the Magi brought their precious gifts to lay at the feet of Jesus, God incarnate. Isn’t that what we are called to do as well? Give up all those things that stand in the way of our relationship with God. I am not one for making resolutions just because it is the start of a new year, but I think maybe at this Epiphany I will. I think I will do some prayerful soul searching to see what I need to lay at the feet of Jesus. Will you?

10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of , and . :10-11 In Christian Love Kathy Caval For the Board of Deacons

The Board of Trustees

Happy New Year!

Your Board of Trustees has been very busy bringing closure to a number of long standing issues. The installation of our burglar alarm and fire alarm systems has been completed. Eventually, we will bring it on to a full 24 hour service.

The Trustees have welcomed Michelle Hallamore on board as property manager for the parsonage. She has been working with our Men's Group to refurbish the apartments and get them all rented. The Men's Group has also been at work to help keep maintaining the many projects that keep our church home in A-1 shape.

As of December 15, 2011, our Stewardship Campaign has netted 87 pledges for a total of over $118,000 for our Gen- eral Fund. The Stewardship Committee is confident that we will arrive close to our goal of $125,000.

Yours in Christ, George Champlin

Central Nursery School Treasurer’s Report November was an exciting month at Central Nursery School. We spent time talking about the Total 2011 Budget: season of autumn, observing changes that take Income $223,425.00 Expenses -266,859.00 place this time of year and preparing for Thanks- Expected deficit $ ( 43,434.00) giving by talking about what it means to be thankful. The children really enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast at school. As we entered the As of November 30, 2011 final month of 2011 we began preparing for the Income $174,495.08 wonderful season of Christmas. It has been an Expenses -266,531.54 exciting time of year both in and out of the class- Net $ (92,036.46) room! Page 5 Central Baptist Church of Westerly

Board of Christian Education

Once in a while I am asked what the kids do in junior church while the rest of the congregation gets to hear the sermon. The kids are getting a message upstairs also. This Fall we had the opportunity to learn about the parables Jesus taught. We started in the book of Matthew. The children learned about the parable of the workers in the vineyard, the two sons, the parable of the tenants, and the wedding banquet. A parable is a simple story used to illus- trate a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus used these parables to teach his disci- ples and us. The word parable comes from the Greek word, parable, meaning a comparison, il- lustration, or analogy. Jesus told these stories in a manner that was easily understood by the people of his day. But we too still learn from these and are applicable today. After learning sev- eral parables the children got to participate in a trivia contest. I was surprised how much detail the children remembered. Georgina came in first place. While Leah Hallamore and Max Bertsch came in second. The children had a lot of fun with this. We took a break from the parables during our advent season. But we will return to them in January. I look forward to learning more of these parables along with the children.

God Bless! Marie Bertsch

Sunday School Opportunities— Beginning in January The

Adult Bible Study January 8 th – February 19 th Sundays at 9:00AM in the Library

The class will explore some of the Parables told by Jesus, the master teacher. These stories had settings that were familiar to his listeners and involved everyday life situations – plant- ing seeds, employing workers, working with animals, and traveling along the roads. Jesus used the Par- ables to communicate truths about God and how people were to live in the kingdom of heaven. These truths were sometimes easily perceived in the story, and sometimes the truths were hidden or obscured. It required the listener to probe or to look deeper for the spiritual meaning. Jesus challenges us today to have “ears to hear” and “eyes to see.” That is our goal for this class!

Continuing through January - Adult Bible Study Roy Springer & Meredith Eckel Sundays at 9:00 AM in the Parlor When God's People Pray - Prayer can change lives and circumstances like nothing else can. What are the keys that unlock its power, that turn prayer from a mere activity into a vital link with God and all his re- sources? In this DVD, Jim Cymbala, pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, shows us truths about prayer that God has used to turn his own church from a tiny, struggling inner-city congregation into a vital thriving community of believers who pray with passion, focus, and faith. Featuring teachings by Jim Cymbala and video interviews of ordinary people who have received extraordi- nary answers to their prayers, these six sessions will help you pray with new confidence.

Page 6 Central Baptist Church of Westerly

The Board of Missions

As we enter a new calendar year, the Mission Board is truly thankful for the incredible love and support shown by our church family in the past year. The October World Mission Offering received totaled $949.80. The Thanksgiving offering divided equally between three local agencies, Jonnycake Center, Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center and WARM was $784. The Deacons prepared and served the November WARM meal. Evan Caval, a West Point Cadet, who was home for the Thanksgiving weekend from West Point, and Pastor Cal helped the Deacons. Their help was greatly appreciated! Our White Gift Christmas program was a tremendous success! The Christian Ed Board provided the and participants. Our church family provided the many gifts wrapped in white. We felt that the whole program was truly a bless- ing. We wish you all could have witnessed the joyful heartfelt thanks we received when we delivered the gifts to the agencies and church families who received the gifts. So many lives were touched and blessed. Brian and Janet Gerbutavich are preparing and serving the December 23 WARM meal. They will welcome any help you can give to them.

We wish each one a Blessed New Year! Kay Perrone, Mission Chairperson

The Seeds are Sown, A Rich Harvest Anticipated

Malachi 3:1 - "I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come" says the Lord almighty.

The end of an old year brings about a time of reflection on the year ending. For Central Baptist, 2011 began under the spiritual leadership of interim pastor, Tom Hiltsley. As the first sentence of Malachi 3:1 points out, he was here as the messenger of God to prepare the way for the arrival of our new Pastor. The remainder of Malachi 3:1 then indicates "suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come" says the Lord almighty. In March of 2011 this prophecy of Malachi came to Central Baptist as we welcomed our new pastor, Rev. Dr. Clayton "Cal" Lord to assume the role of senior pastor. As a new year begins, we look to 2012 and beyond, with hope and confidence in the future of our church. We know that Pastor Hiltsley worked diligently to prepare the soil of Central Baptist for future crops. We also know that Pastor "Cal" Lord is busy sowing the seeds to produce that crop. But that is not the end of the story. For the rest of the story, you should famil- iarize yourself again with the parable of the sower found in :3-23. Jesus describes four kinds of soil on which the seed may fall. The first of three - shallow, rocky or thorny did not produce a crop. But the fourth, good fertile soil did produce a crop - a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. It will be the responsibility of all at Central Baptist to be the good soil on which a seed can fall, and then to nurture it and grow it into a rich harvest as described in this parable. Once you achieve this rich harvest you will find an abundance of crops to share with others as the word of God spreads beyond the walls of Central Baptist. I read a commentary recently on the parable of the sower. It went like this, "Do not become discouraged when we see seed fall on bad soil and be tempted to quit - there are many who hear the message and give their lives to God and take the message and share it with others - they are making a difference in the world, and are bearing fruit. We learn through this parable that our responsibility is to sow anyway, leaving the result to God. "As we embark on the new year, we should praise and thank God of his many blessings of the past - and pray for His peace and grace in the years to come. John Macomber Central Baptist Church of Westerly Page 7

Library News New Additions To The Library January 2012 Reference The Battlefield Trip Collection: Gettysburg: Stories Of Men And Monuments – Frederick Hawthorne Harper’s Ferry: Postcard History Collection – James Beckman Battlefield Images (Unedited CD of Pictures Taken On Trip)

Central Baptist members and friends visited the Civil War historical sites of Harper’s Ferry (Virginia), Antietam (Sharpsburg, Md.), and Gettysburg (Pa.), September 29 through October 1, 2011. Battlefield Images (CD) is an unedited collection of pictures contributed by individuals from the trip. A copy of this CD can be obtained by contacting the Church Office. Gettysburg is a presentation of the inspiring stories of the men who fought there and the monuments erected in their honor by the various States. Of interest are those monuments identified as being sculptured from West- erly granite, many of those crafted in Westerly! Harper’s Ferry tells the story in picture form of the origin and role this historic town played in the Civil War years.

Biography Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy – Eric Metaxas A New York Times Best Seller! This book “is the story of a life framed by a passion for truth and a commitment to jus- tice on behalf of those who face implacable evil.” The author details Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life in an intellectual, caring, religious family, his academic and professional life, his role as a pastor in congregations inside and outside of Germany, his quest to be a of Christ, and his involvement in resisting Hitler and the Reich State Church that led to his martyr- dom in a German concentration camp just days before the German surrender in WWII. There is something for every reader in his story. The development of Bonhoeffer as a Christian that led to martyrdom, the rise of Nazism in Germany, the state of the Lutheran Church during these troubling times, and his love for Maria Von Wedemeyer expressed in many prison letters exchanged during the last year of his life. This is a book that is difficult to put down!

Thanksgiving Service at Avondale Chapel

Seventy-five people attended the Community Thanksgiving Ser- vice at Avondale Chapel on Thanksgiving eve sponsored by the Westerly-Pawcatuck Clergy Association. Those who attended brought food donations that were shared by the Westerly Jonny- cake Center and the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. During the worship service on November 20 Gary Engler, Chairman of the Deacons, formally Pastor Lord was chosen to give this year’s message which was welcomed into membership Pastor Cal Lord, his entitled ’50 Reasons to Say Thank You Lord’. The Lord Family wife, Lori and daughters Sarah and Rachael . Singers along with Central Baptist’s Choir brought a message in music. Other participants in the service were Rev. James Boc- IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER CHURCH SERVICE chino, Rev. Steve Crino, Linda Evans, Rev. Dr. Joyce Duerr, Lynn CANCELLATION INFORMATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON: Murray, and Rev Clark Rumfelt. The evening’s offering went to RADIO STATIONS The Living Supply Closet of Christ Church and WARM’s Dollar Makes a Difference assistance program. FM AM TV STATIONS 92.3 WPRO 1590 WARV WLNE-TV/ABC 6 93.3 WSNE 630 WPRO WJAR-TV/NBC 10 94.1 WHJY 790 WSKO CW 28 95.5 WBRU 920 WHJJ RI PBS/Channel 36 98.1 WCTK 1110 WPMZ WNAC-FOX 99.7 WSKO 1180 WCNX 100.3 WKKB 1240 WOON 101.5 WBB 1290 WRNI 102.7 JAZZ 1540 WADK 105.1 WWLI 1590 WARV

Page 8 Central Baptist Church of Westerly

In The Spotlight By Nancy Balentine

Scott and Michelle Hallamore Michelle and Scott Hallamore grew up in the same city, Brockton, Massachusetts, and went to the same high school but did not meet until both had completed college and were out working their first jobs. Wanting to supplement their incomes and being go- getters, each took a job working nights at a Greek restaurant in Brockton. The attraction took hold on the first work night and the rest is a romance with a 27 year marriage. The wedding was conducted at Stonehill College Chapel by a Catholic chaplain and a Baptist minister at a time when such a clergy combination was a rarity. Both speak with great pride of the families in which they grew up and feel that the similarities in their upbringing are a plus for their marriage. Michelle's sister Gina is a teacher in Quincy, brother John is a businessman who has just moved to Shang'hai, and a younger sister Denise works in real estate in New Jersey. Scott's siblings are all teachers: Beth, a special ed teacher in Brockton, Kent an IT specialist who teaches college students at night, and Tracy, a second grade teacher in Brockton. The compatibility and closeness that Michelle and Scott feel for their extended family is obvious and enviable. After graduation from Brockton High, Michelle enrolled in Bridgewater State College and obtained a bachelor's degree in social work. She worked in drug and alcohol rehabilitation as an assistant therapist in a New Hampshire hospital and in group homes for South Shore Mental Health assisting mentally retarded and mentally ill clients to succeed in independent living facilities. The time came when this work became more burdensome than rewarding, and at Scott's suggestion in 1986 she obtained a real estate license. She is a certified relocation specialist dealing with people who must relocate and have no knowledge of this area. She enjoys matching people to homes and uses some of her social work skills dealing with stressed home buyers and sellers. She says that home sales are often driven by divorce, job loss, and death leading at times to two stressed parties to the sale. Scott says she drives herself crazy finding the perfect home for clients. Scott is a businessman. Following in his dad's footsteps, he represents his own company ProMerge Sales,Inc. in the sale of elec- tronic parts to companies in New England. He also is involved in a start-up company called Power Metrics which seeks to lower electricity costs for companies. His office is in Westerly and he makes sales calls personally. Actually he feels he is on call 24 hours a day since some of his business is done with firms in China making no hour of the day entirely his own. He and Michelle also manage properties they own. The Hallamores have two children - Scott Jr. and Leah. Scott is a freshman at Wake Forest University. He has joined a college Republican club, is checking out a possible medical career by volunteering at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, and plays intramural volleyball and tennis. Scott was baptized at Central Baptist in August and is attending church at college and helping with a Young Life club.(Young Life is an international Christian organization aimed at bringing the to teens, particularly in cities.) Leah is a 7th grader at Mystic Middle School. Athletics are important to Leah; she plays on her school's basketball and lacrosse teams. She also loves to knit and make art. She is active in church youth activities and often serves punch after services. Michelle and Scott have a history of athletic pursuits. They have enjoyed single track mountain biking and kick boxing classes to- gether. At present Michelle gets her exercise in the YMCA pool and Scott does a lot of walking. Neither has much time for hob- bies. Michelle would like to pursue photography. She likes to take her reading (upbeat philosophical books like The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and health and nutrition books) to Barn Island to have a quiet lunch. Scott reads Clive Cussler type novels, po- litical books, and electronics magazines. They cite a 2008 cruise with friends to Jamaica and Mexico as a highlight of their travel. Their very large, shiny, friendly, black and white cat, Norman, is a character. Scott thinks Norman believes himself to be a dog, explaining some of Norman's uncatlike behavior. It was a treat for me to interview Michelle and Scott because I, too, grew up in Brockton. It was fun sharing memories of our city. I knew both the First Baptist Church where Scott attended and Our Lady of Lourdes, Michelle's church - which is on the street where I lived. It was also great to hear that they are energized and joyful about a sense of expectation and enthusiasm and spiritu- ality and communion they are observing and feeling at Central Baptist .

Central Baptist Church of Westerly Page 9

Just For Kids

By Marcia Erskine

Page 10 Central Baptist Church of Westerly

. SMILES AND SO FORTH Humor, Wisdom, Poetry, Quizzes, and So Forth by Dorothy Marra

SOLVE THIS BIBLE VERSE CRYPTOGRAM The Christmas season tradition- ally continues for twelve days. RLAHP CABH LHPERBHPR GV DPEIPV... ZDPHP The shepherds were said to have visited Jesus on the day of LDPC ZGSS KP REXP XHAO LDGPIPR. his birth, but tradition has it that the wise men visited him twelve days later on the Feast of ZDPHPIPH CABH LHPERBHP GR, LDPHP CABH the Epiphany. An epiphany is “an appearance or manifes- tation of God.” This is what the Magi experienced, so the DPEHL EVQ LDABUDLR ZGSS ESRA KP. Feast of the Epiphany is sometimes called “Little Christ- mas”. This is the day when churches from the Eastern ---XHAO OELLDPZ RGT tradition celebrate Christmas. The Religion Book - Jim Willis

The Singing of Just One Request RING OUT, Dear Master for this coming year Auld Lang Syne WILD BELLS Just one request I bring: “Auld Lang Syne" is traditionally sung at I do not pray for happiness, the conclusion of New Year gatherings in Or any earthly thing— Scotland and around the world, especially Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, I do not ask to understand in English speaking countries. The way Thou leadest me, It is common practice that everyone joins The flying cloud, the frosty light: But this I ask: Teach me to do hands with the person next to them to The thing that pleaseth Thee. form a great circle around the dance floor. The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. At the beginning of the last verse, every- I want to know Thy guiding voice, one crosses their arms across their To walk with Thee each day. breast, so that the right hand reaches out Ring out the old, ring in the new, to the neighbor on the left and vice versa. Dear Master make me swift to hear When the tune ends, everyone rushes to Ring, happy bells, across the snow. And ready to obey. the middle, while still holding hands. When The year is going, let him go; And thus the year I now begin the circle is re-established, everyone turns A happy year will be— under the arms to end up facing outwards Ring out the false, ring in the true. If I am seeking just to do with hands still joined. Alfred, Lord Tennyson The thing that pleaseth Thee. Author unknown The Peace and Love of God! After a very long and boring sermon the parishioners filed out of the church saying nothing to the preacher. Towards the end of the line was a thoughtful person who always commented on the sermons."Pastor, today your sermon reminded me of the peace and love of God!" The pastor was thrilled. "No-one has ever said anything like that about my preaching before. Tell me why. "Well - it reminded me of the Peace of God because it passed all understand- ing and the Love of God because it endured forever!"

Central Baptist Church of Westerly Page 11

Christmas Miracles I recall vividly the day I sat on Dear Central Baptist Friends, Santa’s lap and gave him my list. I am now located in the Sunny South, but my heart will always be I told him I had been a good girl in New England - Westerly in particular. And had only one wish. I want to express my gratitude for the lovely reception when I I wanted that popular Shirley doll with left. I am also grateful to Cal for coming by and sharing a prayer Beautiful curls in her hair. with me. It was like a miracle on Christmas I have been ordered by my doctors to be relocated nearer to my Morning when I saw her sitting there. family, since my health concerns were increasing. Mary thought she saw a miracle I shall always cherish the twenty years I spent with Central. They On that first Christmas day are indelibly etched in my memory. I also know that Downing en- When she looked down to see joyed the years that he shared his life with Central. Baby Jesus asleep in the hay. With God’s blessings and the memorable years at Central, I shall We must be thankful for that special be in touch. Birth that taught us how to love; With Love and Sincerity, And we should count our many Doris Simmons blessings that come from our Lord above. Sylvia Pierce PRAYER REQUESTS

Those in Need of Prayers Our Shut Ins Dr. Carlo Antonino Ruth Brayman JANUARY Karen Barto Muriel Chambers 3 David Whipple Shirley Booker Elita Giorno 4 Kelsi Crockford Gladys Calhoon Cheryl Hunt 7 Georgette DeBernardo Doris Caswell Whewell 8 Kent Greene David DeAngelis Lisa Ann West Beverly Duntz 9 Jean Smith Marcia Erskine Those in the Military: 11 Dick Whitman Elita Giorno Maj. Eric Larkin 13 Shirley Lance Wayne Grills Lt. Commander Roy Wilson 14 Lynn Dowding Angela Hayden Audrey MacKenzie 16 Arnold Hall Donna Johnson Jonathan Macomber Edward Lowe Judy Karam Mark Stepanishen 24 Irene DeBernardo Kevin Leverault Col. Stephen Day 27 Laura Dowding Dawn Lilly Veronica Ramirez 28 Adrienne Hall-Thomsen Mary Limerick All those who serve in our armed forces. Richard Webb Michelle Lord 30 Marissa Bertsch Heidi Macomber Those in Nursing Homes Max Bertsch Jay Morgan FEBRUARY Charlie Nardone and Assisted Living 2 Corey Prachniak Suzanne Randall William Burdick - Westerly Nursing Home 4 Bruce Titterington Avis Riley Betty Eckel - The Elms Brian Cozzolino Rev. Clark Rumfelt Dorothy Gallagher - Academy Point, Mystic 6 Richard DeBernardo, Jr. Isaac Smith Virginia Higgins - Westerly Health Center 8 Brandon Greene Scott Smith Jane Lawson - Westerly Health Center 9 Doris Simmons Sara Stevens Diana Stedman - Westerly Health Center Ronald McNabb Arthur Tate Sara Stevens - Mystic Healthcare Center 10 Suzanne Vanaman Carol Tautenhan Lois Terranova - Westerly Health Center 11 Caylan Holland Lois Terranova 12 Marie Bertsch Wendy Dobson Walsh Lowe

Central Baptist Church 16 Elm Street Westerly, RI 02891 NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID Phone [401] 596-4929 WESTERLY, RI FAX [401]596-4244 PERMIT # 67 [email protected]

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We join together to nurture Christ-centered faith, foster Christ-like maturity, and share Christ’s ministry within our Family, community and world.

Avondale Bible Fellowship

The Avondale Bible Fellowship concluded its Fall 2011 Bible Study on Thursday, December 15 with a breakfast and an Advent Service at the Chapel. The Spring study will begin on Thursday, February 9 and will run through May 10. We will continue our study of the Gospel of John starting with the ninth chapter. No previous Bible study experience or special Biblical knowledge is required to attend these sessions - just a desire to come closer to the person of Jesus! Coffee at 8:00AM followed by Bible Study from 8:30 to 9:30 AM. Join us in February! All are invited to attend.

January 2012

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 New Year’s Day 9:30 AM Needleworkers at 7:30 AM Men’s Bible Study 5:30 PM Church Pot Luck 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal 8:00 AM Men’s Breakfast Communion Sunday Balentine home 6:45 PM Prayer Gathering CNS Back 9:00 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Worship Service 11:30 AM Fellowship Hour

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 9:00 AM Sunday School 7:30 AM Men’s Bible Study 7:00 PM Trustee Meeting 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal 5:00 PM Christian Educa- 10:30 AM Worship Service 7:00 PM Deacon Board tion Meeting with Baptism 6:00-- 8:00PM - 11:30 AM Fellowship Hour Truth Trackers (wear pajamas )

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 9:00 AM Sunday School Office & CNS Closed 7:30 AM Men’s Bible Study 6:45 PM Prayer Gathering 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal 10:30 AM Worship Service MLK, Jr. Birthday 9:00 AM Circle 2 11:30 AM Fellowship Hour 9:30 AM Needleworkers at Newsletter Deadline Balentine home 7:00 PM Friendship Circle

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 9:00 AM Sunday School 7:30 AM Men’s Bible Study 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal 6:00 -- 8:00PM 10:30 AM Worship Service 7:00 PM Church Council Truth Trackers 11:30 AM Fellowship Hour WARM Meal Prepared

29 30 31 9:00 AM Sunday School 7:30 AM Men’s Bible Study 10:30 AM Worship Service 11:30 AM Fellowship Hour 11:30 AM Annual Meeting Central Baptist Church of Westerly

TRUTH TRACKERS Christmas Celebration

JUDY AND NANCY

CHRISTMAS CANTATA Angus Dei