GREEN STEEPLE MESSENGER
First Baptist Church
81 Saint Paul Street Ste. 1
Burlington, VT. 05401
VOLUME NO. 9 September 1, 2022
GREEN STEEPLE, GRATEFUL PEOPLE, GROWING IN FAITH, PROCLAIMING GOD’S LOVE
TIME FOR A CHANGE
September is a time of change. The leaves begin to turn and the nights begin to cool (although not yet!). Folks go back to school. Church programming gets up and running. We leave our summer schedules behind. It is a blessing that this September our plans include more to do together in person.
September 11 will be Ice Cream Sunday when we welcome the choir and everybody back for an All Ages Worship Service. After worship that day we will gather in Fellowship Hall for ice cream and to see a slideshow from this year’s Summer Camp.
On September 18 we will move the start of our worship service from 9:45am to 10:00am. This will make it easier for our Church School families, some of whom attend the Karen worship service at noon. It will give flexibility to our Choir and Instrumental Ensemble, and give all of us 15 extra minutes to start our day and prepare for worship. We will still start the Zoom link by 9:45am so that those at home can chat before the worship service starts.
In this newsletter are many opportunities to gather (in person or via Zoom) for worship, fellowship, or service. It is a blessing to be in ministry with you. I look forward to seeing you.
Yours in Christ,
~ Karen
Rev. Karen A. Mendes
Pastor
First Baptist Church Staff
Rev. Karen A. Mendes .…………………………… Pastor
……….. ………………… CE Director
Adam Chamberlain …………… Church Administrator
Steve Perkins ……….. Instrumental Group Director
Evan Allen ………………………………..Organist
Anna Roy…………………Chancel Choir Director
Julie Sweeney …….………………………… Sexton
Hto Lwee Wah ………………………Tech Support
Officers of First Baptist
Sarah Dopp.…………………………….Moderator
Mark Paulsen…………………Assistant Moderator
Cindy Little………………………….…………Clerk
Beth Gamache……. ………………Assistant Clerk
Chris Thompson…………………………Treasurer
Bill McCormick….……………Assistant Treasurer
Marilyn Siple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial Secretary
Marie Morton. . . . . . . . . . . . . Asst. Financial Sec’y
Sarah Dopp ……………………………..Historian
….……………….Parliamentarian
Sunday Morning Worship Service 9:45
Office Phone: (802) 864-6515
Conference/Kitchen Phone:
(802) 864-4721
Office Hours: M, W, F (9-1) T, Th (9-3)
Email address: welcome@fbcburlingtonvt.com
Web Site Address: www.fbcburlingtonvt.com
Visit us on Facebook
First Baptist Church, Burlington, VT.
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER IS SEPTEMBER 15th
GIFT OF TIME VISITATION
During this time of social distancing, we can still share our time and attention through phone calls, email, cards, and letters. In fact, these connections are more important now than ever! All of us are part of the First Baptist Visitation Team.
Please take some time to reach out to the church members and friends who live in your town. You can access the church directory through Instantchurchdirectory.com or through the Instant Church Directory App.
WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE that Adam Chamberlain is our new permanent Church Administrator. Adam was serving on an interim basis but, after meeting with a number of potential candidates, the Staff Relations Committee determined that Adam was the best person for the job. WELCOME ADAM!
Sunday Worship Services
Season of Creation
Sept. 04 – Ocean Sunday
Job 38:1-18
Questions from the Whirlwind
Sept. 11 – Fauna & Flora Sunday
Psalm 104:14-23
All Creation Praise the LORD
Sept. 18 – Storm Sunday
Psalm 29
The Voice of the LORD
Sept. 25 – Cosmos Sunday
Proverbs 8:22-31
Wisdom’s Joy
UPCOMING SECOND HOURS
Sept. 11- Ice Cream and Slide Show in Fellowship Hall.
Sept. 25 -World Mission Conf. Report by Bill Mason & Deb Holonitch
CHANGE TO OUR WORSHIP SERVICE TIME
Beginning on September 18, our Worship Service will start at 10am.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP AND LEARNING
THE SILENT VIGIL FOR RACIAL JUSTICE will be Sunday, Sept 4 at 11:30am on the front steps of the church. Please join us for this important and meaningful witness.
MONDAY BIBLE STUDY
Bible Study will resume on Sept. 19 in Fellowship Hall and on Zoom each Monday at 11:30am. We will be exploring the Acts of the Apostles.
FBC COFFEE HOUR MEETS ON THURSDAYS
at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom. All are welcome for informal chatting! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89855564406?pwd=R2FtbC9tRnoyU1R1cXJTRmRsY1VIdz09
Meeting ID: 898 5556 4406 Passcode: 993539
To Dial in +1 646 558 8656
THE FALL BOOK GROUP WILL READ THE COLOR OF COMPROMISE; THE TRUTH ABOUT THE AMERICAN CHURCH’S COMPLICITY WITH RACISM by Jemar Tisby. We have copies of the book available for purchase for $11.00. We will meet via Zoom on Monday evenings beginning on September 26. If interested please email welcome@fbcburlingtonvt.com.
THE 1619 PROJECT is an exciting and important antiracism resource that is in Burlington until September 12. An Exhibit from the 1619 Project is available at the Richard Kemp Center (in the former Sam’s Unfinished Furniture in the Old North End). We are planning a FBC field trip to see the exhibit on Sept. 7 at 5pm. Please contact Rev. Mendes for more information.
DID YOU KNOW…that slavery has never been made utterly illegal in the Vermont Constitution? Weren’t we the first state to abolish slavery? Yes, up to a point, but the Constitution still allows for slavery or indenture prior to age 21, or by the individual’s own consent, or as a punishment for debt, after age 21!
The Legislature has been moving through the steps necessary to amend the Constitution and remove this provision. Vermont Interfaith Action and VT Racial Justice Alliance have been spearheading efforts to bring the matter to voters. We all have a chance to vote on “Proposal 2” this November.
-Sarah Dopp, Historian
TWO UPCOMING ORGAN RECITALS ON OUR HOOK ORGAN
Please mark your calendars for Sept. 16th and Oct. 30th. On Sept. 16th(Friday) at 7 PM, Lynnette Combs, our previous organist, will be back to play the Hook. This is part of a series, wherein she will revisit the four organs she has played in Vermont during her 40 years in the State. The concert will also be available on Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82032507645?pwd=K0hlZTVjUTVLcVV3WnpNWGVKbUc2dz09
The Katharine Dopp Organ Recital will be played by Mark Howe, organist and choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, on Sun. Oct 30th at 3 PM. Both are free, but donations will be received at both, for good causes.
CHURCH SCHOOL STARTS SEPTEMBER 18 10:30-11:30am
The team has chosen a curriculum from Seasons of the Spirit and plan to have a younger and older class starting on September 18. Lois Lynch has volunteered to be one of the teachers. The team will need at least one additional teacher and helpers who could substitute. If you are interested in being a part of FBC’s ministry to children, please contact Pastor Karen, Lois Lynch, or Cindy Little. It is exciting to think we will be getting together again in person.
BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES
The Board of Christian Education had our annual “Back To School Supplies” drive in August. We received over $700 and provided backpacks and supplies to more than 14 young people. Thank you so much for your support of this important ministry.
PLANNED GIVING BROCHURE
The Trustees of the Permanent Funds have completed a new version of the brochure entitled, “Bequests and Special Gifts.” It is now available in the church office, the narthex information table, or from one of the Trustees. The church has recently received several generous bequests. If this option interests you, pick up a copy of the brochure.
MAKING YOUR FINANCIAL DONATION
If you are unable to attend worship in person, you may mail a check to the church office or give electronically through the donate button on our church website: http://www.fbcburlingtonvt.com or through the smartphone app called Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement.
Our ministries depend on the generous gifts of our members and friends. Thank you for your participation in sharing the love of God in our community and our world.
COOPERATIVE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AT UVM (CCM at UVM)
(Check out CCM at UVM spring 2022 newsletter on our Mission Bulletin Board in Fellowship Hall.)
CCM at UVM is collaborating with various campus partners in presenting a progressive Christian voice for inclusivity and justice. Through a grant from the Episcopal Church’s office of Young Adult and Campus Ministries, CCM hosted the Rev. Darrell Goodwin, an openly LGBTQ black person and Executive Conference Minister in the United Church of Christ and also arranged for Debbie Ingram from Vermont Interfaith Action to speak on the proposal to amend Vermont’s constitution to prohibit slavery that will appear on November’s ballot. Rev. Joe Cotner, Campus Minister says “CCM is now part of a new national network of progressive Christian campus ministries that is in the process of forming.”
Beth Gamache is First Baptist’s representative to the CCM board. CCM is in our mission budget to receive $566 in 2022.
UKRAINE RESPONSE: A CHRIST LED GRASSROOTS BAPTIST MOVEMENT
This is an interview with Lisa Rothenberger-Winter, World Relief Officer, ABC USA. Check out our Mission Outreach bulletin board in Fellowship Hall or go online to www.internationalministries.org/catagory/journals on page 6.
ANEW PLACE MEALS 2022
Betty Capponi, our ANew Place team leader, has reserved the following Sunday to prepare a meal: Sept. 11. Thank you to Jamie Burke, Cindy Little, and Jill Soter for preparing the meal.
ANEW PLACE DONATIONS
ANew Place is currently in need of the following items. They can be new or gently used. If you can help, contact eregan@anewplacevt.org.
Portable ACs & Oscillating fans
Bath Towels
3-drawer dressers
TVs (27″ or smaller)
Pillows (preferably wipeable hospital-grade)
Twin mattresses (college or hospital grade)
Travel-sized shampoo & conditioner
Sunscreen
Men’s shorts (sizes medium, large, 3x) Gently used/new Men’s sandals/summer shoes (sizes 10-12) Gently used/new Belts (sizes 32-38)
Backpacks – Gently used
SUNDAY FELLOWSHIP TIME
We have resumed having refreshments outside following worship. Please look for the signup sheet in the narthex. You may bring beverages and treats (individually wrapped if preferred.) Once the cooler weather comes, we’ll resume inside fellowship and refreshments.
REPORT FROM THE UGB
The group resumed meeting, via Zoom, on Aug. 15th, having taken July off. We all began the meeting describing where we’d seen and heard God this summer. We reviewed upcoming events at several points during the meeting(Church Picnic on Aug 28th, Ice Cream Sunday Sept. 11th, ANew Place dinner Sept 11th, Church School resuming Sept. 18th, Bible Study resuming Sept. 19th, several adult forums, Anti-Racism Book Group resuming, 2 upcoming organ recitals on Sept. 16th and Oct. 30th). We discussed sponsoring a holiday fair , but probably will need more lead time, so we postponed the idea for planning in early 2023.
The Dinwiddie Proposal(how to protect the bequest and use it judiciously to serve needs) and also the new Bylaws Proposal will both be ready for congregational action in Sept. or Oct. Painting, we hope, will soon be completed in the classroom upstairs. The I-89 fundraiser will occur on Oct. 1st and many volunteers will be needed to bake and to staff the rest stops. The plans of the UVM campus Cooperative Ministry were shared. We plan to resume passing communion in Oct. and also being able to share refreshments indoors, starting in September.
Property items were discussed. As announced earlier, the brick work project will occur in Spring 2023. The front door repairs have been completed. We are continuing to explore solutions for the baptistry. Chuck Lambert, who grew up at FBC, came on Fri. Aug. 19th to discuss pool liner options. The lease for One Arts(Childcare) was signed on Aug 23rd. They hope to open in Oct. in our space, which they will customize for their needs. Other projects are graffiti removal, sidewalk repairs and treads on the back stairs. The financial reports were reviewed and the investments show a little recovery, but also have quite a way to go to approach Jan. levels. There’s always a lot of activity to oversee at the UGB meeting.
Sarah Dopp, Church Moderator
FLOWERS FOR WORSHIP
All are invited to provide flowers for a worship service. The flower chart is again posted in the Narthex. This can be a meaningful way to memorialize a loved one or commemorate an important event and bring God’s beautiful creations into the sanctuary to enhance our spirit of praise and joy in worship.
THE CHURCH OFFICE HOURS FOR SEPTEMBER ARE – Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9-1 and Tuesday/Thursday 9-3. However, Monday 9/5 the office will be closed in observance of Labor Day. Those with business in the building are asked to call or email ahead to make an appointment.
CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESSES
Karen Mendes – revkamendes@fbcburlingtonvt.com
Evan Allen – eallen@fbcburlingtonvt.com
Anna Roy – aroy@fbcburlingtonvt.com
Steve Perkins – sperkins@fbcburlingtonvt.com
Julie Sweeney – jsweeney@fbcburlingtonvt.com
The church office (Adam Chamberlain) – welcome@fbcburlingtonvt.com
Treasurer – treasurer@fbcburlingtonvt.com
Financial Secretary – financialsecretary@fbcburlingtonvt. com
Karen Baptist Community – KBC@fbcburlingtonvt.com