lenten small group contemplative vision: seeing the … · feruary february 4 isaiah 40:21–31...
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Dedicated to bringing
Christian faith and Life
together through
Worship, Outreach,
Education, and
A Caring Community
First Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107 February 2018
The First Baptist Church,
West Hartford, Connecticut An American Baptist Church
FBC CHURCH STAFF
Reverend Stacy Emerson, Senior Minister
Melinda Shilansky, Music Director
Neil Shilansky, Accompanist
Elizabeth Miller, Children’s Music Director
Bill Albert, Facilities Manager
Michael Deak, Custodian
Kris Hanko, Administrative Secretary
90 North Main Street
West Hartford, CT 06107-1924
Church Office Hours
Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Phone 860-521-9460
Email [email protected]
www.http://fbcwesthartford.org
Follow First Baptist Church West Hartford on
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The Focus is a monthly newsletter
of First Baptist Church
Editor Faith Geist
Lenten Small Group
Contemplative Vision:
Seeing the Divine in the Ordinary
God is everywhere. Today you saw God and God looked back you, wondering, did you notice? Some-
times we do notice, and the experience is powerful. A lot of times, however, we just can’t seem to see
God because God is…elusive and surprising, and our lives are…busy and full. In this four-week small
group, we will spend some time together learning about and fostering “Contemplative Vision: Seeing the
Divine in the Ordinary.” We will be introduced to the spiritual practice of Visio Divina using classic art
and study the accompanying scripture each week. A new twist on Bible Study! No experience neces-
sary, nothing to bring but yourself and your lunch, alongside a willingness to try something new and to
enjoy the great company you will be in!
Tuesdays at Noon in Gilbert Hall
February 27: Christ in the Wilderness, Moretto da Brescia
Mark 1:9-13, Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13
March 6: Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee, Rembrandt
Mark 4:35-41
March 13: Procession to Calvary, Ridolfo Ghirlandaio
John 19:16-18, Luke 23: 26-32
March 20: The Supper at Emmaus, Caravaggio
Luke 24:13-35
On February 3, we will view the acclaimed film, “Collateral
Beauty.” Retreating from life after a tragedy, a man questions
the universe by writing to Love, Time and Death. Receiving
unexpected answers, he begins to see how these things inter-
lock and how even loss can reveal moments of meaning and
beauty. This 2016 movie has an MPAA rating of “PG-13.”
Come and join us on February 3rd!
Things to be Desired” The New Year is here! As 2018 unfolds, what intention do we bring? What hopes? What expectations of ourselves? To help us wonder and reflect, I share with you a poem entitled, “Desiderata,” which is Latin for “things to be desired.” I discovered that the poem has a dubious history, having been found in an old church in Baltimore, Maryland by the Rector there in 1959. He published it in a collection of devotional ma-terials for his congregation with the notation under it: “Old St. Paul’s Church, Baltimore A.C. 1692.” The church was founded in that year. As it traveled from friend to friend, the authorship became clouded such that it was interpreted that the poem was from 1692. It was eventually discovered, however, that the poem was written in 1927, nearing the Great Depression, by a lawyer and poet from Terre Haute, Indiana, by the name of Max Ehrmann, who lived from 1872-1945. He wrote in his journal that “I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift—a bit of chaste prose that had caught up some noble moods.” As we begin another year, and hope to reflect on humble goals and gains for it, I share with you the gift of this poem and hope for deep “things to be desired.”
See next page
Cinema and the Sacred
Exploring faith and culture, through the art of film and community conversation
6:00 pm January 6th
Stacy
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Peace to you in 2018,
Our heartfelt sympathy to David Crockett upon the unexpected passing of his brother, Donald on De-
cember 14th.
A reminder from the
Congregational Care Committee Our love and caring and prayers for each of the
members of our congregation as well as their
friends and families is vital to the health and
well being of all of us here at First Baptist
Church. Not often, however at times, our Pas-
tor, church office or our Care committee does
not receive the information of an illness or
need of a member or relative. Please, if you or
someone you care about or hear about is in
need of prayers, a visit, food or any other need
please let Kris in the church office know, or
contact Pastor Stacy, Linda Greca, Patty Roones
or Sherry Seeley.
In common love,
Your Congregational Care Committee
Dear Stacy and FBC,
Thank you for your cards and notes over these
past months. I am recuperating again from yet
another major surgery. But thus far my recovery
is much better than last year's time. Thank you
for all your prayers. Please know it has made a
significant difference in my recovery.
Shalom & in gratitude.
Judy Allbee
Will & Jean Forristall February 2 72 years
Donald & Martha Taylor February 22 49 years
Scott & Rachel MacGregor February 16 5 years
Brad Wylie February 4
Wendy Girle February 5
Donald Taylor February 8
Amanda Banks February 9
Nathan Roones February 10
Geoffrey Carr February 16
Elsie Petersen February 17
Tom Gunn February 18
Bill Gaffin February 19
Carol Wylie February 20
Wade Hiltabidel February 24
Faith Geist February 24
Gabriel MacGregor February 28
Birthdays
Anniversaries
“Out and About Town”
Join Pastor Stacy “out and about town” as we get to know our neighbors in West Hartford. Our consultant, Paul Nickerson, re-minds us that being out in our community is essential as we reach new people. So, join Pastor Stacy for lunch on any or all of the dates below:
Tuesday, February 6
@ 12:00 PM
Max Burger/LaSalle Road
Wednesday, February 14
@ 12:00 PM
Panera Bread/Bishop’s Corner
Friday, February 23
@ 12:00 PM
The Elbow Room/986 Farmington Avenue
Please RSVP to 860-521-9460.
See you “out and about town
FBC Out and About at Effies
Good food and good company
Once again, FBC provided food for the Loaves and Fishes holiday dinners.
Here is an excerpt from the thank you that they sent.
A Valentines Party
February 8 at 11:30
In the Kitchen
Join with other women for a Lunch Bunch
Valentine party. We will enjoy our usual
potluck lunch and hopefully, some spe-
cial desserts.
For details, call Edie Castagno.
FEBRUARY
February 4
Isaiah 40:21–31
Psalm 147:1–11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16–23
Transfiguration of the Lord—February 11
2 Kings 2:1–12
Psalm 50:1–6
2 Corinthians 4:3–6
Mark 9:2–9
Ash Wednesday—February 14
Joel 2:1–2, 12–17 or Isa. 58:1–12
Psalm 51:1–17
2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10
Matt. 6:1–6, 16–21
First Sunday in Lent—February 18
Genesis 9:8–17
Psalm 25:1–10
1 Peter 3:18–22
Mark 1:9–15
February 25
Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16
Psalm 22:23–31
Romans 4:13–25
Mark 8:31–38
Adult Education
Sundays at 11
Parables from the Back Side
Jesus told stories when he wanted to make a point, and many
of these stories have become so familiar they lose their origi-
nal power. Throughout Lent, in sermons and second hour,
we will explore some of Jesus’ parables “from the back side,”
to use the term from J. Ellsworth Kalas whose book, Parables
from the Back Side: Bible Stories with a Twist, will guide our
learning. Kalas shares this in his introduction to Volume 1:
“P.G. Wodehouse, the British humorist, has one of his charac-
ters refer to a parable of Jesus’ as looking like a
“straightforward yarn when you begin to read it,” but then
you find that it has “something up its sleeve that pops out at
you and leaves you flat.”
Let us visit these familiar stories again and see what “pops
out” at us!
February 11 Sharing from an “Undoing Racism” work-
shop led by The People’s Institute with Rev. Emerson
What is race? What is racism? What is power? And what
does any of this have to do with us? In this second hour, we
will explore some of the historical background behind the
term “race” and define “racism.” We will also explore why
this conversation is so critical for our community, country,
and world. I hope you will join me as I share some of what I
learned at an “Undoing Racism” workshop last fall.
Sun Mon. Tue Wed Thu Fri. Sat
1
2 3
6:00 Cinema &
the Sacred
4
9:30 FBC Worship &
Communion
10:30 Fellowship Time
11:00 Christian Educa-
tion for all ages
8:00 AA
5
10:30 Missions
Committee
6
12:00 Out &
About Town @
Max Burger
7:00 Personnel
Committee
7:00 Vitality
Team
7
9:30 Staff Mtg
10:30 Loaves &
Fishes
1:00 Knitting
7:30 Chancel
Choir Rehearsal
7:30 Al-Anon
8
11:30 Lunch
Bunch
9 10
6:00-9:00 PM
Youth Game
Night @ the
Parsonage
11
9:30 FBC Worship
10:30 Fellowship Time
11:00 Christian Educa-
tion for all ages
8:00 AA
12
10:00 Service @
Cedar Mountain
Commons
7:00 Trustees
13
7:00 General
Board
14
9:30 Staff Mtg
12:00 Out & About
Town @ Panera’s/
Bishop Corner
1:00 Knitting
6:30 Ash Wednes-
day Service
7:30 Chancel Choir
Rehearsal
15
FOCUS
DEADLINE
16
17
18
9:30 FBC Worship
10:30 Fellowship Time
11:00 Christian Educa-
tion for all ages
12:00 Women’s Fellow-
ship Meeting
8:00 AA
19
20
6:00 Deacons
21
9:30 Staff Mtg
1:00 Knitting
7:30 Chancel Choir
Rehearsal
7:30 Al-Anon
22
23
12:00 PM Out
& About
Town @
Elbow Room
24
25
9:30 FBC Worship
10:30 Fellowship Time
11:00 Christian Educa-
tion for Children &
Youth
11:00 February Busi-
ness Meeting
12:00 Congregational
Care Comm Mtg
8:00 AA
26
7:00 Financial
Vision Team
27
12:00 Lenten
Small Group/
Gilbert Hall
28
9:30 Staff Mtg
1:00 Knitting
7:30 Chancel Choir
Rehearsal
7:30 Al-Anon