The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts

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THE LANTERN January 2016

Mission&&&Stewardship&Newsle3erIssue No. Nine WWW.TABCOM.ORG

We welcome the stranger. We extend a hand to the needy. We shelter the marginalized. Where will our feet take us next?

Rev. %Sandra%Dorsainvi l %Associate %Execut ive%Minister %for %Miss ion%&%Stewardship

T E L E P H O N E 508-975-4695

S K Y P E SDNATICK

Pastor%Gary%Chapman%says%that%Love%is%not%wrapped%up%in%a%pronoun%but%is%lived.%Love%is%a%verb.%

How%do%we%show%love%as%American%BapEsts%called%by%God%"to%go%and%serve"%(%Luke%10:1M2)throughout%the%world?%A%recent%Christmas%Eve%sermon%delivered%by%Pastor%Ian%Mevorach%in%NaEck%sparked%some%thoughts,%which%I%will%briefly%share%with%you.%Scripture%tells%us%"There%was%no%room%for%them%in%the%inn."%(Luke%2:7).%The%"them"%were%Mary,%Joseph%and%Baby%Jesus;%the%Holy%Family.%The%"them"%were%all%the%other%unnamed%poor,%light%or%dark%skin,%too%short%or%too%tall,%not%from%downtown%Bethlehem,%etc..coming%to%be%registered,%per%Augustus’%decree.%%

In%2016,%for%many%around%the%world,%these%same%challenges%sEll%exist.%They%are%the%"them"%of%our%Emes%for%whom%doors%are%shut%in%their%faces,%applicaEons%are%denied,%borders%are%closed,%empty%seats%are%not%available,%lunch%counters%are%occupied,%church%pews%and%pulpits%are%denied.%They%are%our%mission%field.%%

Let%us%reclaim%our%"missionalMfaith%in%acEon"%idenEty,%and%be%generous%with%how%we%spread%God's%good%news.%Let%us%reMlearn%to%see%Jesus%in%the%stranger,%the%loud%neighbor,%the%seasonal%coMworker,%the%annoying%team%member,%the%disgruntled%supervisor,%the%smiling%toothless%pan%handler.%We%show%love%by%being%Christ's%hands%and%feet,%and%we%delight%in%our%expressions%of%generosity.%Let%us%not%"merely%listen%to%the%word%but%let%us%do%what%it%says"%(James%1:22M25).% % Rev. Sandra Dorsainvil

WHAT%IS%HAPPENING%LOCALLY,%NATIONALLY%&%INTERNATIONALLY

IN%THIS%ISSUE

Words%to%Reflect%On%% % % Page%1%

Your%UM%Support%at%Work% % Page%2%

Thank%You% % % % % % Page%3%

What's%Happening%with%Missions%

Farm%to%Table%Ministry% % % Page%4%Immersion%at%the%Border% % Page%4%Bethany%Hill%Place%Highlight% Page%5%Space%For%Grace%Conference% Page%5%

Upcoming%Events% % % % Page%6%Mission%OpportuniEes%Volunteer%OpportuniEes%

Training%&%Grant%OpportuniEes

F o l l o w u s @

MSTheLantern

"Now&you&are&the&body&of&Christ,&&and&each&one&of&you&is&a&part&of&it.”&&

(1&Corinthians&12:27)

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The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts

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Tote%Bag%Ministry%The%28%tote%bags%%

created%at%the%2015%MissionWorks%

Conference%were%packed%with%assistance%of%

members%of%Worcester%

Fellowship.%%%The%bags%will%be%

distributed%to%women%escaping%domesEc%violence%in%Boston%and%Tijuana,%Mexico.

Rovaughna%&%the%Horses%

In%early%December%2015,%recently%endorsed%

Missionary%to%Ghana,%Rovaughna%Richardson%was%able%to%enjoy%the%

Horse%Ministry%at%Oceanwood,%our%

local%Home%Mission%Site.

Rev%Sandra%Dorsainvil%&%Rev%Nat%Burnes%provide%

pastoral%support%at%Lincoln%Park%BapEst%Church.

Oasis%of%Faith%sharing%Christmas%blessings%of%grocery%gih%cards%

purchased%w/%Majhew%25%grant.

Musician%Kimball%Gallagher%visited%and%performed%for%70,%supported%by%CMM%&%

UM%at%Wilson%Chapel.Rev%Sandra%Dorsainvil%speaks%at%the%Space%for%Grace%Conference%in%LA

Rev%Glynis%LaBarre%teaches%about%MCLE%at%FBC/West%Springfield

Faith%In%AcEon%at%FBC/New%Bedford Teaching%moments…

The%Young%Adults%Ministry%at%FBC%Somerville%is%alive%and%thriving,%led%by%Rev%David%Lee.

Your&United&Mission&Support&at&Work

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The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts

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All%Saints%Episcopal%Church%in%Worcester%Common%Street%Spiritual%Center%in%NaEck%

Federated%Church%in%Sturbridge%First%Churches%in%Northampton%

FBC%/%Abington%FBC%/%Ajleboro%FBC%/%Bedford%FBC%/%Needham%

FBC%/%West%Springfield%FBC%/%Tewksbury%FBC%/%Worcester%

First%United%Church%in%Lowell%Greater%New%Life%Church%in%Springfield%Messiah%BapEst%Church%in%Brockton%

Oceanwood%Camp%in%Maine%People's%BapEst%Church%in%Boston

The%Mission%&%Stewardship%department%thanks%the%following%places%for%having%provided%free%meeEng%and%workshop%presentaEon%space%in%2015:

THANK&YOU!

121&out&of&250+&Churches&supported&United&Mission&in&2015

Thank%you%to%ou

r%new%volunteer,

%

Kate%Smith,%for%h

er%work%pumng%

together%this%ed

iEon%of%The%

Lantern.%%She%is%

available%to%

churches%for%pho

tography%and%

markeEng%needs.%

photoscreatedb

yk8@gmail.com THANK&YOU!

Thank%you%to%the%30%churches%who%supported%Massachusejs%Mission%Fund%in%2015

4 10

14

11

28

16

19

19

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The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts

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What’s&Happening&in&the&Mission&Arena?

Farm&To&Table&Ministry&at&First&Churches&in&Northampton&&In%2014,%Rev.%Sarah%Buteux%felt%God%calling%her%to%“do%church%in%a%new%way.”%She%leh%

tradiEonal%parish%ministry%and%began%to%pursue%a%vision%that%developed%into%Common%Ground,%a%farmMto%table%dinner%ministry.%%%

At%Common%Ground%people%make%a%simple%dinner%together%of%soup%and%bread%from%food%they%have%grown%or%sourced%as%locally%as%possible.%The%bread%for%dinner%is%consecrated%at%the%beginning%as%communion%bread.%The%cup%is%blessed.%And%then%as%parEcipants%enjoy%their%soup,%Sarah%reads%scripture,%says%a%few%words%about%the%theme%for%the%evening,%and%then%“curates%a%sacred%conversaEon.”%“At%Common%Ground%we%make%church%together,”%she%says.%“It’s%not%just%about%what%the%pastor%thinks%about%God,%it’s%about%creaEng%a%space%for%all%of%God’s%people%to%encounter%God%and%work%out%our%faith%together."%CreaEng%a%space%for%grace%to%be%lived.%%

First%Churches%is%generaEng%a%lot%of%buzz%that%is%drawing%in%people%of%all%ages,%and%Common%Ground%has%established%its%own%rhythm%and%roots%in%the%community.%The%farmMtoMtable%ministry%is%very%ajracEve%to%people%in%the%Northampton%area%where%only%6%%of%people%go%to%church%on%a%Sunday%morning,%but%a%whopping%96%%idenEfy%care%for%the%earth%as%their%primary%social%value.%%

Through%Common%Ground%people%connect%more%deeply%to%the%earth,%one%another,%and%the%God%whose%good%gihs%we%freely%share.%Church%is%lived%and%human%connectedness%is%strengthened.%%First%Churches%hosted%a%SHOW%workshop%sponsored%by%CreaEon%Care%Ministries%and%MILP%in%2015.%

For%more%informaEon%contact%Rev.%Buteux%@%revsarahb@mac.com%hjp://firstchurches.org/commonMground/

Immersion&Experience&at&the&Border&%by%Bonnie%SesEto%As%the%Coordinator%of%Mission%with%Women%and%Girls%for%AB%Women’s%Ministries%I%will%be%coM

facilitaEng%the%ImmigraEon%Immersion%Experience%from%February%28th%through%March%5th%in%Tijuana,%Mexico%with%Ray%Schellinger,%InternaEonal%Missionary%with%American%BapEst%Churches%USA.%%The%team%will%be%staying%at%Deborah’s%House,%which%is%a%safe%haven%for%abused%women%and%children.%%We%will%visit%the%border,%Border%Patrol,%migrant%houses,%and%camps%as%well%as%meeEng%and%communicaEng%with%people%who%are%involved%in%advocacy%and%are%engaged%in%ministries%serving%immigrants%and%deported%persons%on%both%sides%of%the%fence.%

The%issue%of%immigraEon%is%a%hot%topic%with%the%presidenEal%candidates.%%Personally,%I%am%on%the%fence%about%this%issue.%%But,%I’m%listening,%I’m%searching,%and%I’m%open%to%learning.%%Please%be%in%prayer%for%those%parEcipaEng%in%this%experience.% % ~ Bonnie Sestito

Click%here%to%find%out%more%about%the%experience% ImmigraEon%Mission%Trip

We%welcome%Minister%KrisEna%KeefeMPerry%as%the%new%Coordinator%for%CreaEon%Care%Ministries.%%Contact%her%to%learn%more%about%environmental%stewardship.%%

krisEna@commonstreet.org

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The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts

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Bethany&Hill&Place&—&www.bethanyhillschool.org&Conceived%in%1994%as%a%response%to%the%growing%problem%of%family%homelessness,%Bethany%Hill%Place%

has%a%dual%focus%on%basic%needs%(affordable%housing)%and%educaEon.%%It%is%a%nonMsectarian%501c3%sponsored%by%the%Sisters%of%St.%Joseph%of%Boston.%%%

Located%in%South%Framingham,%Bethany%Hill%Place%is%currently%home%to%102%residentsM%61%adults%and%41%children%in%41%apartment%units.%67%%of%current%residents%have%experienced%homelessness,%42%%are%in%recovery%from%substance%abuse,%30%%are%living%with%HIV/AIDS,%49%%have%mental%illness,%36%%have%inadequate%job%skills/educaEon,%19%%have%experienced%domesEc%or%sexual%violence.%

Their%mission%is%to%provide%affordable,%independent%housing%with%educaEonal%opportuniEes%within%a%climate%of%respect,%inclusion%and%acceptance,%so%that%residents%can%ajain%greater%self%sufficiency.%%Residents%are%empowered%to%progress%toward%their%goals%and%to%be%their%best%selves%in%a%safe,%supporEve%environment.%Families%are%encouraged%and%offered%opportuniEes%to%develop%foundaEonal%family/life%skills.%

OnZGoing&Needs&for&Families:%• Adult%educaEon%&%career%counseling,%%• Computer%instrucEon%with%onsite%lab%and%open%access%%• ParenEng%%• Life%Enrichment%and%Advancement%Program%(life%skills)%%• Community%&%Youth%Programs%%

Immediate&Needs&for&Children&&&Parents:&10&Backpacks&filled&with&basic&school&supplies.&Each&containing:&1&thermos,&1&lunch&box,&4&note&

books,&pens,&pencils,&erasers,&ruler,&folders,&1&calculator,&1&binder&with&line&paper&4&Welcome&Home&baskets&for&new&moms.&Each&containing:&2&packs&of&newborn&diapers,&1&baby&

blanket,&1&diaper&rash&cream,&2&receiving&blankets,&baby&oil,&A&D&ointment,&Tylenol,&feminine&products&If%you%would%like%to%help%with%this%special%project,%%

please%contact%Rev.%Sandra%@%508M975M4695%or%s_dorsainvil@yahoo.com

Space&For&Grace&Conference&American%BapEsts%flocked%to%Los%Angeles%November%4M7,%2015%for%Space%for%Grace,%a%conference%

sponsored%by%The%American%BapEst%Home%Missionary%SocieEes(ABHMS).%%The%event%was%rich%with%propheEc%preaching,%uplihing%worship,%and%dynamic%Bible%study%led%by%Brian%McLaren.%%He%focused%on%the%book%of%Acts,%in%“Restoring%Human%ConnecEon:%Race,%Sexuality%and%the%Bible.”%He%analyzed%ChrisEan%imperialism,%its%effect%on%our%lack%of%ability%to%clearly%understand%the%biblical%stories%of%faith%in%the%early%church.%There%were%mulEple%opportuniEes%each%day%to%hear%fine%preaching%from%a%diversity%of%preachers.%They%lihed%us%with%the%love%of%Christ%and%the%power%of%the%Holy%Spirit%while%calling%for%jusEce%and%naming%our%need%to%end%racism,%sexism%and%homophobia.%

Aher%hours,%we%were%invited%to%view%artwork%by%local%ChrisEan%arEsts%and%to%enjoy%ChrisEan%entertainment%including%music,%video%and%mime.%%

The%final%evening’s%banquet%honored%the%ministry%of%ExecuEve%Director%of%ABHMS%Rev.%Dr.%Aidsand%WrightMRiggens%upon%his%reErement.%We%shared%a%glorious%evening%as%we%looked%back%over%the%past%several%decades%and%peeked%ahead%to%a%bright%future%filled%with%dynamic%diversity%and%faithMfilled%creaEvity%in%American%BapEst%life.%%Yes,%there%is%space%for%grace%as%we%faithfully%walk%into%the%future%together.%I%am%filled%with%hope%for%the%future%of%ChrisEanity.%% % % % % ~ Rev. Cindy Maybeck, Biblical Storyteller

What’s&Happening&in&the&Mission&Arena?

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The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts

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Upcoming&Events&&&Mission&TripsUpcoming&Mission&Trips&

Worship,%witness,%and%work%together%to%help%survivors%as%they%rebuild%their%community%and%lives%11%years%aher%hurricanes%

Katrina%and%Rita.%NOLA&Mission&Adventures&2016&

April&16&Z&23&*January(21st(deadline(for(applica5on(for(April(2016

Volunteers&Needed&Join%the%many%hands%volunteering%their%Eme%and%efforts%at%the%Habitat%for%Humanity%home%in%Lowell,%MA.%%ABC%congregaEons%in%Greater%

Lowell%received%an%OGHS%grant%to%help%with%fundraising.%%Trades%men%&%women%are%urgently%needed%to%

volunteer%their%Eme.%All%skill%levels%are%also%welcome!%%%

Contact%Rev.%Hazel%Roper%to%sign%up%for%Work%Days%(978)%459M9598%

haroper@aol.com%

Mathew&25&Grant&Deadline&%%%In%order%to%be%eligible%for%funds,%ministries%of%any%size%must%have%a%relaEonship%with%American%BapEst%Churches%USA.%The%maximum%amount%given%to%any%ministry%or%church%will%be%$5,000%per%year.%Due%to%the%limited%funds%available,%the%applicaEon%process%will%be%compeEEve,%with%grants%being%awarded%to%ministries%that%best%exemplify%the%goal%of%helping%end%poverty.%%Staff%posiEons%are%not%funded%through%this%grant.%%%Each%applicant%will%need%to%complete%a%oneMpage%form,%submit%a%budget%for%the%ministry,%and%add%a%oneMpage%explanaEon%about%the%need%for%and%uses%of%the%funds%by%March&1.%The%grants%are%distributed%on%April%15.%%

Download%the%applicaEon%at%hjp://www.abcMusa.org/majhew25/

Upcoming&Events&

January&26,&2016&Z&5:30Z8pm&BU%School%of%Theology%workshop:%The%Black%Church%Never%Leh%the%Outdoors:%EcoMJusEce%and%Environmentalism%(click%for%more)%

July&1Z3,&2016&InternaEonal%Ministries%will%offer%“%Hear%the%Call”%discernment%at%Green%Lake%Conference%Center,%WI%for%anyone%feeling%called%to%

the%mission%field.%%July&4Z9,&2016&

The%World%Mission%Conference%@%Green%Lake,%WI%October&14&Z&15,&2016&

MissionWorks&2016%@%DoubleTree%by%Hilton%in%Leominster,%MA

Mission&Advocate&Training&Z&Sign&up&by&January&26th&Sign%up%for%the%upMcoming%Mission%Advocate%training%scheduled%for%Feb.%6,%2106%from%9:30am%M%2pm%

at%Messiah%BapEst%Church.%Be%part%of%the%network%of%commijed,%informed,%strong%advocates%and%communicators%of%God’s%mission%and%stewardship/generosity%related%good%news%at%your%local%congregaEon.%RegistraEon%of%$10%covers%training%materials%and%lunch.%%

Send%an%email%to%Rev.%Sandra%@%s_dorsainvil@yahoo.com%to%sign%up.