TABCOM HALFNOTES
SEPTEMBER 15, 2023
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A note from Mary – I will be on Sabbatical from Nov. 21 – Feb. 21. Stay tuned for details! | |
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September 19 – Regional Executive Minister’s monthly meeting
September 22 - speaking to the MBMM Thriving Pastoral Ministry Program
September 23 – TABCOM Board of Directors
September 24 – Praise Fest at Concord Baptist Church in Milton
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This year MissionWorks will be held one day only, on Saturday, October 21.
Our theme is "Shine Your Light" Matthew 5:16.
The location is Rivers of Living Water International Ministry (MIRAV), 204 Main St, Marlborough, MA 01752.
We will have 3 workshops in the morning and 2 in the afternoon.
You can VIEW the schedule, workshops, keynote speaker and facilitators here. MissionWorks 2023 | Tabcom
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In the wake of laughter, lessons, and life-changing moments, we look back on the remarkable tapestry of experiences that defined the 2023 Christian Youth Conference (CYC) at Ocean Park. For so many teens and adults, it was an event that renewed hearts and encouraged spirits. We are grateful for all the worship, teaching, and fun..
Read more here
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TABCOM LEADERSHIP DAY
January 20, 2024
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TABCOM Leadership Day will be held at the Federated Church in Hudson on January 20, 2024.
Our main speaker will be Dr. Greg Mamula (see photo to the left).
Dr. Mamula is the youngest among regional ministers for American Baptist Churches-USA. He is the transitional minister for ABC of Nebraska.
Dr. Mamula did his undergraduate degree at Baylor and earned his MDiv at Truett Theological Seminary. He completed is DMin degree at Northern Baptist Seminary.
Dr. Mamula regularly speaks at conferences, retreats, and workshops on various topics relating to church life and discipleship. He is the author of “Table Life: An Invitation to Everyday Discipleship.”
He co-edited the book "Conflict Management and the Apostle Paul" with Dr. Scot McKnight, published 2018.
He is the creator and host of the podcast "Mission in 5". He writes occasional articles for online journals like Ethics Daily, Christian Citizen, and Word and Way.
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GRANTS FOR TABCOM CHURCHES
THROUGH THE GEORGE WRIGHT FUND
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DID YOU KNOW…
Funding is available to TABCOM churches through the George Wright Fund for the following projects:
- Student loan repayment for pastors and church staff
- New church ministries
- Grants for churches to have stipend positions that can assist growing their ministries
- Collaborative Ministries
- Church mortgages and building projects to improve accessibility or energy efficiency.
Churches requesting assistance from The George Wright Fund must be in “good standing” with The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts and their Association.
Want to learn more? Go to: https://tabcom.org/george-wright-fund/
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November 18th
TABCOM Conference Room from 10:00 AM til 4:00 PM
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After listening to several long-time pastors state that they have libraries full of books they no longer need and working with new pastors just beginning their journey as settled pastors, we felt it would be beneficial to hold a Book Swap. This is a chance to help your no longer needed books find a new home.
The process is very simple. Bring your books to the TABCOM offices. We will be There all day on November 17th to accept books and on the 18th to swap books.
You can also bring books on Saturday morning the 18th, but it must be early so we can prepare and organize them for swapping. You are welcome to remain and see if there are some books that could be beneficial to your church or personal library. No money changes hands; all books are given freely.
This swap is being held the same day as the School of Ministry graduation so there will be many students present who would love to receive these books and this event is open to anyone who has an interest in building up their library.
Any books left at the end of the day become the property of the archives who will dispose of them as they see fit; some may remain in our library, some may be sold on Ebay or passed on to other sources.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact diane.badger@comcast.net.
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PASTOR'S MONTHLY LUNCH
& DISCUSSION REMINDER
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The meeting begins at 12 noon and last for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Location and date is below:
September 21st Thursday at FBC Fall River, hosted by Rev. Jamie Spriggs (jspriggs@spamset.com)
- Bring your own lunch and join with other pastors for a time of lunch, discussion of a book and prayer.
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The book for discussion is Church on the Move: A Practical Guide for Ministry in the Community by G. Travis Norvell. The books will be available for you at the initial meeting. Norvell was one of the keynote speakers at the Biennial in Puerto Rico and was well received.
This is a great opportunity to get to know other pastors in your area and share your concerns, struggles, joys and ministry.
As time goes on, I expect each group will make its own decisions as to what books to discuss.
I would really like every pastor to make the effort to get to a monthly meeting. Having a colleague or two to lean on and confer with is always a great help to a pastor.
We hope to get a fourth monthly meeting on the Cape for our pastors and retirees who are on the other side of the bridge.
Rev. Diane Badger
for the Old Colony Baptist Association
45 Parker Terrace, N. Easton, MA 02356
diane.badger@comcast.net
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SAVE THE DATES!
Boundaries & Ethics Class
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November 3-4, 2023
Held via Zoom
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September is the Season of Creation!
Rev. Rebecca Driscoll, Minister for Creation Care
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What is the season of creation?
Season of Creation explains the origins of The Season of Creation and its importance both to the ecumenical community and to the liturgical calendar.
The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home.
Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I proclaimed September 1 as a day of prayer for creation for the Orthodox in 1989. In fact, the Orthodox church year starts on that day with a commemoration of how God created the world.
The World Council of Churches was instrumental in making the special time a season, extending the celebration from September 1 until October 4.
Following the leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I and the WCC, Christians worldwide have embraced the season as part of their annual calendar. Pope Francis made the Roman Catholic Church’s warm welcoming of the season official in 2015.
In recent years, statements from religious leaders around the world have also encouraged the faithful to take time to care for creation during the month-long celebration.
The season starts 1 September, the Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
Throughout the month-long celebration, the world’s 2.2 billion Christians come together to care for our common home.
Click here to find out the 10 ways to mark the Season of Creation:
For questions or more information on the Season of Creation, email Rev. Rebecca at pastor@fbcattleboro.org
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LATEST NEWS FROM AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES USA | |
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ABHMS Hosts Inaugural Scholarship Recipient Meeting to Build Future Partnerships
The cost of higher education is soaring. Consequently, so too is student debt. Long recognizing these unsettling trends, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) has historically helped to support American Baptist students through its scholarship program. This year, ABHMS is redoubling its effort to not only grant scholarships but also build a vibrant network of scholarship recipients who will eventually partner with ABHMS in other ways. Read more here.
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AMERICAN BAPTIST WOMEN'S MINISTRIES | |
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CITY MISSIONS
While City Mission has closed, we are grateful to the organizations sustaining City Mission programs: Old South Church, Hancock Church and Nuestra Comunidad.
To sing with the Old South Gospel Choir, arrive for a rehearsal at 12:30pm.
PLEASE RSVP HERE BY SEPTEMBER 27TH
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THE PILGRIMAGE ONLINE WINTER SOLACE | |
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What if instead of New Year’s Resolutions, you could start your year in community with people who are longing to live whole-person lives and are taking steps in that direction?
THE PILGRIMAGE ONLINE has an annual, fully online retreat, Winter Solace, each January.
Register here and use this 20% discount code, EARLYPILGRIM, good until 9/19.
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OUR ASSOCIATIONS AND CHURCHES | |
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Adoniram Judson Baptist Association
The Rev. Dr. David Kilpatrick, Coordinator
C- (617) 799-0705, E-Mail: dklpat@umich.edu | Rev. Dr. Kilpatrick is also the Pastor of West Medford Baptist Church – West Medford
Rev. Dr. Esther Pearson, Association Liasion
epearson@tp-group.net and C- (978) 257-5725
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JUDSON FALL MEETING
The Judson Fall Meeting will take place on Sunday, October 22 from 3:30-5:30 PM at the First Baptist Church of Rockport. We are going to have a time of worship, present grant awards, have a discussion on our shared history and then finish with dinner.
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Berkshire Baptist Association
The Rev. David Anderson, Moderator/Coordinator
C- (413) 652-4179, E-mail: d_anderson@mail.com
Rev. Anderson is also the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church – North Adams
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Boston Southwest Association
The Rev. Dr. Moreen Hughes, Coordinator
C- (978) 430-5355, E-mail: mphug@msn.com
Rev. Dr. Hughes is also the Associate Pastor and Minister to Women and Families of Concord Baptist Church in Milton
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Central Baptist Association
The Rev. Yvonne Miloyevich, Coordinator
Rev. Yvonne Miloyevich | e-mail: 17desiree50@gmail.com | (978) 618-2526.
Central Association Clergy meets to share, support, and pray with each other on the third Tuesday of each month from 9:30 – 11. This is a Zoom meeting
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Merrimack Valley Baptist Association
The Rev. Jim Leavitt, Coordinator
C- (508) 954-8034, E-mail: pastorjimleavitt@gmail.com
The Merrimack Valley Baptist Association Clergy gather monthly. Please contact Rev. Jim Leavitt for more information.
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Merrimack Valley Annual Meeting
Please mark your calendars and save the date. The Merrimack Valley Baptist Association will be holding its annual meeting on Saturday October 28th at 10 AM.
At the meeting we will be voting on accepting two congregations to be a part of the association and TABCOM. Please watch for additional information on location.
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Fall Events
The Executive Board was feeling a need to regroup this year and meet again in January at our annual breakfast.
In the meantime we ask two things:
- We need to know what you would like to have the association do for you? What would be most beneficial to you and your church?
- Instead of an association wide meeting this fall, we are promoting these two events at member churches.
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Music that Makes Community
September 30 | 9:30AM-4:00PM
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First Baptist Church of Attleboro
Saturday October 7 | 10AM-12PM
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Pioneer Valley Baptist Association
OPEN POSITION
Pioneer Valley Baptist Association clergy meet on the 4th Monday of the month at 6:30 pm.
This is a Zoom gathering. Please contact PVBA Coordinator, Rev. Theresa Temple for the link, discussion topic and presentation information
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Samuel Stillman Baptist Association
The Rev. Dr. Loretta St. Louis, Coordinator
C- (617) 835-6767, stillmanarc@gmail.com
Rev. Dr. St. Louis is also the Associate Pastor for Congregational Care of Union Baptist Church – Cambridge
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TABCOM DIRECTORY 2023-2024 | |
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Thank you for the updates that have been sent so far.
There are still many updates needed and we are looking to all of you to help us with any incorrect information you notice.
Please email Robyn Mars (robyn.mars@tabcom.org) with your updates.
Thank you for your patience.
This will now be located in the "MEMBERS ONLY" page on the TABCOM website. For the password, email robyn.mars@tabcom.org.
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TABCOM Voices broadcasts air on the second Sunday each month 5-6 PM. | |
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TABCOM Voices is looking for musical selections for the radio broadcast. Please send your selections to tabcom@tabcom.org | |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE SAINTS BORN IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER | |
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The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6: 24-26
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SEPTEMBER HAPPINESS CALENDAR | | | | |
