GREEN STEEPLE MESSENGER
First Baptist Church
81 Saint Paul Street Ste. 1
Burlington, VT. 05401
VOLUME NO. 7/8 July/August 1, 2022
GREEN STEEPLE, GRATEFUL PEOPLE, GROWING IN FAITH, PROCLAIMING GOD’S LOVE
Summer Contemplations
This programmatic year has been challenging as we dealt with the continuing strictures of pandemic life and slowly began to resume our in person activities. The state of the world has caused us grief and concern. We have worked hard and we are tired! We are ready for a summer breather!
Summer time provides an opportunity to be renewed and refreshed. The lengthened daylight and warmer weather gives us more time to be outside. The slower pace of our usual commitments allows us to rest and reflect. Summer is a time to pay attention to the blessings around us.
During the summer, we still gather for worship and fellowship. We will be blessed with guest worship leaders and special worship services. Our church school will gather for Summer Camp. We will have the opportunity to ponder big questions about how and where the Holy Spirit is leading us in a world rife with needs and crises.
So this summer, let us slow down and reflect on these big open questions. Where is the Spirit leading us, as individuals and as a community of faith? Who is God calling us to be in a rapidly changing world? Let us also give ourselves permission to take a bit of a break so that we can come back together in the fall energized and ready to serve. Enjoy the summer!
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 SEPT. IS AUG 19TH
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.
Sunday Worship Services
July 3 – Service of Prayer and Praise
July 10 – Judson Day Celebration
July 17 – Guest preacher Annie Field
July 24 – Guest preacher Annie Field
July 31 – Guest preacher Annie Field
Aug 7 – Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
What is Faith?
Aug 14 – Hebrews 11:29-12:2
A Cloud of Witnesses
Aug 21 – Hebrews 12:18-29
A Kingdom that Cannot be Shaken
Aug 28 – Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Entertaining Angels
SUMMER WORSHIP PLANS
A SERVICE OF PRAYER AND PRAISE – July 3
Our worship service on July 3 will be a Service of Prayer and Praise, otherwise known as a Hymn Sing, where we will sing favorite hymns and lift up prayers for our community and our world. Please join us for a fun and meaningful worship service
JUDSON DAY CELEBRATION
On July 10 we will celebrate Judson Day which commemorates Adoniram and Ann Judson’s arrival in Burma. The Judsons’ work led to the establishment of Baptist Churches in Burma and to the establishment of a Foreign Mission Society which was the beginning of our denomination now known as the American Baptist Churches, USA. It is a great gift of Providence that the work of the Judsons have brought our English speaking and our Karen speaking communities together here at First Baptist. Our service on July 10 will be combined worship with the Karen Baptist Community.
A SERMON SERIES – July 17, 24, 31– “Be Still and Know” by guest preacher – Annie Field, our representative to the ABCUSA Board of General Ministries.
REV. MENDES WILL BE ON VACATION from June 28- Aug. 1. Pastoral care concerns can be shared with the office or with Mark Paulsen. If need be, emergency pastoral care will be provided by local clergy.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP AND LEARNING
THE SILENT VIGIL FOR RACIAL JUSTICE will happen on July 3 and August 7 at 11:30am on the church front steps. Please join us for this important witness.
SUMMER BOOK GROUP – In August we will gather on one day to discuss “Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again” by Rachel Held Evans. A few copies are available from the church office. Childcare will be provided. Date to be determined. If interested please email welcome@fbcburlingtonvt.com.
FBC COFFEE HOUR ON THURSDAYS at 9:30am on Zoom will resume in August.
MONDAY BIBLE STUDY
Bible Study meets in Fellowship Hall and on Zoom each Monday at 11:30am. It will resume in September.
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 – NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ANew Place has a new executive director, effective on May 16. Joe Domko comes from Colorado “with many years of experience at Catholic Charities in Kansas and Colorado.” His wife has several family members residing in VT.
Kevin Pounds was executive director of ANew Place for eleven years. He and his family are moving to Atlanta to be closer to family.
ANEW PLACE MEALS 2022
Betty Capponi, our ANew Place team leader, has reserved the following Sunday to prepare a meal: Sept. 11.
A big thank you to Cindy Little & Fern Sparks for providing the meal at ANew Place on Sunday June 6th, 2022.
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
NOODLES FOR BURMA FUNDRAISER
On June 11, we had another successful noodle fundraiser with donations totaling $1,975 to help people displaced by the military coup in Burma (Myanmar). A big thank you to all the volunteers, especially Marie Morton and Thai Lei Paw. Check out our Mission Bulletin Board for the spring edition of Friends of Burma newsletter to see how our donations are being used.
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES (IM) WORLD MISSION CONFERENCE (July 4-9)
The World Mission Conference 2022 at Green Lake, WI is an opportunity to reconnect with our global servants and is a beautiful vacation area for families. We are fortunate to have two of our number attending: Bill Mason and Deb Holonich. Go online to https://www.internationalministries.org/world-mission-conference to get more information. First Baptist is helping in a small way with covering the expense.
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.)
RESUMING SUNDAY SCHOOL
The team has chosen a curriculum from Seasons of the Spirit and plan to have a younger and older class starting in September. More information will be available later in the summer. 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 has an annual “Back To School Supplies” drive in August. We will be accepting donations throughout July and early August in order to make that happen for our students. We buy good quality backpacks as well as supplies that some schools do not hand out, such as pens, pencils, notebooks, etc. If you would like to contribute, please write a check made out to First Baptist Church and in the memo write “School Supplies”. Thank you so much!
Cindy Little, Lois Lynch and Bev Nichol
CHURCH PICNIC – SAVE THE DATE
August 28, following worship
Ethan Allen Homestead Picnic Shelter. Meat will be provided; please sign up to bring salads, desserts, beverages etc.
There will be a sign up sheet on the round table in August.
REPORT FROM THE UGB
The UGB met at Rev. Mendes’ home on June 13. After enjoying a potluck meal, we had our meeting. The education teams reported on all the details being put together for the Vacation Bible Camp, which will take place largely on the ground floor for more comfortable temperatures. There are 9 children signed up so far. College scholarship applications are also being received and considered. The Outreach Teams reported that they will be meeting with our two World Mission Conference attendees to consider missionary contacts they might make at the conference. The Fellowship Teams will be considering if and when to return to a regular communion service. The Bylaws Committee has met three times and continues their work next week. The draft will be finalized after Rev. Mendes’ vacation and will be shared with the congregation as soon as possible.
The Property Committee is still working on solutions for the baptistry leak. The brick work schedule has not been finalized due to the contractor’s 2 bouts with COVID. Other projects are moving along slowly. The Dinwiddie Committee has fine-tuned their proposal for the use of her bequest and it will be shared with the congregation and acted on when Rev. Mendes returns from vacation.
The Permanent Funds have recovered a little since the last meeting, but remain approximately $181k lower than Jan. 1st.
Pastor Mendes reported on the $1975 raised by the Noodles for Burma Fundraiser. The income will be shared between One Great Hour of Sharing and Friends of Burma, to support displaced persons in Burma and those affected by health issues since the military coup in Feb. 2021. She also reported that our lease with Next Generation Childcare has ended and soon we will solidify our new arrangement with One Arts Community School.
We are trying to plan a church picnic in late August. A new idea was introduced and will be discussed further at a later meeting. There is a statewide effort called the “Declaration of Inclusion Project.” Many towns and cities are creating statements addressing equality and avoidance of systemic racism and bias. Faith communities are beginning to join this effort as well.
Sarah Dopp, 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 OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED each monday in August. We will resume normal hours in Sept.
CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESSES
The church office (Adam Chamberlain) – welcome@fbcburlingtonvt.com
Treasurer – treasurer@fbcburlingtonvt.com
Financial Secretary – financialsecretary@fbcburlingtonvt. com
Karen Baptist Community – KBC@fbcburlingtonvt.com
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
