Adoniram Judson Ordination Council for John DeNardo September 30 at 3:00 pm.
At First Baptist, Beverly
(221 Cabot St. 01915)
Old Colony Ordination Council for Michael Dickerson September 8 at 10:00 am.
At First Baptist, Hingham
(221 Cabot St. 01915)
Tea with Lauran Bethell and our Open House
Sunday, September 9 at 3:00 pm
Trinity Baptist Church
115 Mass. Avenue, Arlington
RSVP via Facebook or email at info@allhandsinma.org.
Take My Hand Social Enterprise
Artisan Soap, whipped body butter, lotion, lip balms, liquid hand soap and candles are now in our product line made locally with women connected with All Hands In and volunteers. Products Empowering Women. We are looking for craft fairs, church fairs and events to bring our products into the community and tell our story. Join hands with us by inviting us to your event.
Looking for a fun event for your group?
Have a Soap Making Party
to support the work of All Hands In. While making two bars of soap, let us tell our story and have a fun evening with your colleagues, friends, women’s group…
$20 per person and includes all the supplies. Contact Barbara at barbara@allhandsinma.org to schedule your soap party today.
Sanctuary By the Sea Retreat
Our 5th annual Sanctuary by the Sea Retreat for Survivors and mentors is coming up Sept. 14-16. We will be a full house of 20 attending the weekend led by Rev. Sandra Dorsainvil and Judy Mackenzie. Please keep us in your prayers. This event is fully funded by grants and your donations.
Alden Baptist Church in Springfield is hosting a City-Wide Revival October 3rd-4th-5th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Details at www.aldenbaptistchurch.org
Old Colony Association Fall Meeting
THe OCBA Fall meeting/Fall Mission Day will be held Saturday, Oct, 20th at 9:00 a.m. at the First Baptist in Abington. This is when OCBA churches meet at one a sister church and undertake projects that need doing.
ABC Day at Gordon Conwell
Our General Secretary Dr. Lee Spitzer is facing open heart surgery later this week. Please lift him and his family in prayer during his surgery and recovery.
Plans are in still process for “American Baptist Day” at Gordon-Conwell on September 19th. (Dr. Spitzer was scheduled to be chapel speaker that day). Be listening for updates.
Rhythms of the Spirit: Nurturing a Transformed Life
October 29-November 2
Camp Wightman
Do you struggle for balance between prayer and activity? Do you long for a more quiet center; time for reflection? This conference hosted by the ABC of Connecticut, offered in a retreat style, is a unique opportunity to explore and practice the transformed life together.
Find depth and renewal at the Rhythms of the Spirit retreat at Camp Wightman in Griswold, CT.
MA DOC Seeks Volunteer for Art Program
James Harrington, Volunteer Services Coordinator at the MA Department of Correction, is seeking a volunteer to help facilitate an Art Program at MCI-Norfolk. If you have some skills and a background in Art, please be in touch with Mr. Harrison, by email at James.P.Harrington@doc.state.ma.us or call 508-422-3405.
From Rev. Mary Day Miller
Thank You for your support and prayers
Many of you know that my wonderful mother Rosemary Day ended her earthly journey last week. My summer has included caring for her in my home, with support from hospice, during her final weeks. How grateful I am for everyone who helped make it possible for me to have this precious time with her including the faithful support of our wonderful TABCOM staff.
I appreciate everyone who has understood when I needed to reschedule appointments, and was slow to return those emails. As many of you know, I also unexpectedly lost both my sister (my only sibling) and her husband earlier this year.
In these months I have discovered anew what it means to depend on the Lord. During times when grief threatens to overwhelm me, I remember the prayers that are lifted up for me, and I am sustained. Please continue to pray, and know how much it is appreciated. (My mother’s service will be in Virginia at the end of the month).
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:5)
Thank You, Wendy Maxfield!
In August we received the resignation of Wendy Maxfield as our Assistant to the Executive Minister, effective September 20th. Wendy will still be working “in the family” as the new Executive Secretary for the Massachusetts Baptist Charitable Society. She will continue with the TABCOM School of Ministry as its Coordinator for that program.
Wendy has served TABCOM faithfully in hher current position since 2005, and prior to that for 1 year in 2002 as the region’s Bicentennial Coordinator for its 200th annual gathering event. Who can count all of the phone calls and emails, meetings and files that have been in her care through the years? Amidst that mountain of detail we find her passion for the mission of our TABCOM family and her genuine concern for our people. She has blessed me as Executive Minister in more ways than I count. She will be missed. Be listening for our plans to honor Wendy’s service to TABCOM.
News from AB Women MInistries of MMA
Fall Women’s Day: October 6 ~ 9 am to 2:30 pm
At the First Baptist Church in Framingham
Join with other women around the state and worship, praise, pray and learn together! The speakers are Rev. Brenda Lammie & Rev. Paula Alexander, and Gina Grenier. Hear HERstories from Terry Miller, Teens Alive, and the Christian Youth Conference.
Download the flyer and registration for Fall AB Women’s Day.
Download the recent Summer/Fall edition of Women Alive!
Space for Grace 2018
The deadline to register for ABHMS” Space for Grace at the early-bird discount rate of $229–which includes three evening receptions, two lunches and two breakfasts–has been extended to Sept. 7.
Orientation for New Pastors & Seminarians: Sept. 18New Pastors & Seminarians should save the date of Sept. 18 for TABCOM’s annual orientation for new pastors and seminarians scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the TABCOM Office at Grotonwood.We set aside an annual “welcome day” for those new to ministry in Massachusetts for a time of fellowship, information, networking and support — and lunch!In addition to meeting our staff and regional partners you will have the opportunity to meet other pastors who have recently begun new ministries in Massachusetts.Please RSVP to Wendy Maxfield at maxfield@tabcom.org or (978) 448-1445 (When RSVPing, indicate your vegetarian or allergy needs.)Also …..Sept. 15: TABCOM’s Board of Directors has an upcoming board development session with Dr. Jeff Woods.January 11-13: Conference for NE SeminariansAND those who are interested in the ABC as a family of faith. Share names of anyone you might know, etc.Our first offering of our American Baptist History & Polity class is full amd begins this upcoming weekend– thank you to Rev. Ashlee Wiest-Laird for coordinating this with many other facilitators, helpers and host churches. TABCOM will offer another session in the Spring. The Season of CreationIt’s September! Summer is over and soon the glorious colors of the fall season will be upon us. What a perfect time to celebrate God’s Creation: the abundance of harvest, the beauty of foliage, and temperatures conducive to outdoor walks in the woods.
Did you know that September marks the beginning of the Season of Creation? Just like the Seasons of Advent or Lent—The Season of Creation is celebrated annually by tens of thousands of Christians around the world. Local, volunteer event hosts on six continents organize celebrations in their communities. These range from prayer services to litter clean-ups to advocacy actions. And for church leaders there are liturgical resources and suggested scripture.
The season begins Sept. 1, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and runs through Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis, who is the patron saint of ecology in many traditions. The theme of this year’s celebration is “walking together.” As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are on a pilgrimage to better care of creation.
If you are interested in weaving Care for Creation into your church’s worship this fall—or anytime!—you can contact Kristina Keefe-Perry, TABCOM Creation Care Ministry Coordinator at Kristina@WhatLoveCanDo.org. You can also visit the following websites: https://seasonofcreation.org or https://seasonofcreation.com/ to get started. Blessings on your journey.News from the Charitable Society
The Massachusetts Baptist Charitable Society is pleased to announce that Ms. Wendy Maxfield will assume the position of Executive Secretary of the Society in September 2018. Wendy is well known in the TABCOM family and we are thrilled and blessed to have her on board.
Wendy is well suited for this position as she has over 12 years of administrative and publishing experience in regional and local church ministry. She has a BS in Journalism from Boston Universality and she completed the Nehemiah Leadership Network program in 2015. Wendy was raised in RI and is a lifelong American Baptist. She is an active leader at the West Acton Baptist Church and a Mission Advocate. Wendy is married and she loves crossword puzzles, reading a good mystery novel and looking for sea glass at the ocean.
Please join us in welcoming Wendy Maxfield as MBCS continues to fulfill its mission of providing aid to the vulnerable among American Baptist clergy and their families who have faithfully serviced ministries in Massachusetts. If you’d like to know more about the work of the Society, visit www.massbaptistcharitable.org.
Please keep the Charitable Society in your prayers as we move forward. 
In Our Thoughts and PrayersBernice P. Welch, the mother of Rev. Barbara Welch, died on August 15th. Bernice was 97, and “a vibrant servant of Jesus Christ”. Her service will be later in September. You may express your sympathy to Barbara at:Barbara Welch, 87 Cushing Road, Cohasset MA 02025 or email to pastorbbwelch@aol.com.
Bruce Rice, the brother of Rev. Thomas Rice, died unexpectedly on August 3rd.You may express your sympathy at:Kathleen and Thomas Rice, PO Box 811, Chicopee MA 01021 or email to tomnrice@verizon.net.For anyone wishing to correspond with Rev. Mary Miller and family on the recent loss of her mother, Rosemary Day, express your sympathy at:Rev. Mary Miller, 1 Pleasant Street, Unit 7-2, Westford, MA 01886.
September: Checking up on Clergy Health
October: Don’t Disagree, Deliberate!
Make your registrations now for MissionWorks, Oct. 11-13 at the DoubleTree in Leominster, MA. We have a special hotel rate available until SEPT. 20th. Please call the hotel directly at (978) 534-9000. Specify “TABCOM MissionWorks” when calling.
You may register online at:
www.mbmm.org/missionworks-2018/
or
download the paper registration form.
THE AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES OF MASSACHUSETTS
189 Prescott Street, Groton, MA 01450
tel: (978) 448-1445 fax: (978)448-0025 email: tabcom@tabcom.org web: www.tabcom.org
TABCOM exists by God’s grace and your contributions to the Massachusetts Ministries Fund, United Mission, the America for Christ offering and Friends of Regional Ministries.
Thank you for your support.