Pastor's Notes March 2009 (March 2009 church newsletter)

Sharing the ministry

This month marks the beginning of my fourth year serving as the ordained minister of First Baptist. I note with gratitude the past three years and the opportunity to serve the congregation during a time of intentional transition, seeking a way forward and addressing the long-term health of the congregation’s ministry in Bennington. I appreciate the dedication of the lay leadership to move the church along some new pathways, and the prayers and earnest faith of the congregants as we have moved along this journey together.

As I look ahead to this next year of service, I want to stress again a value I hold and continue to encourage in service to First Baptist: ministry is meant to be shared! As Baptists, we value ordaining persons to ministry to recognize the needs for setting aside some of our members for ministry as a way of life and a calling from God to preach, teach, care, and serve. At the same time, we affirm that all baptized Christians minister in their own ways, and in fact, we Baptists support strong lay ministry. Envisioning less of a separation between ordained and lay persons, Baptist congregational life has been historically the work of all God’s gathered people. Ministry is not merely the ordained minister’s work to serve the needs of Christ’s church. It is a shared ministry, carried out with the premise that all of us, God’s diverse and different, are called to serve. May it be so: First Baptist affirms that discerning the ministry of the Church is not just up to one person or a handful. It is an “all church” effort, listening to God together and carrying out ministry and mission as the many called to be one in Christ.

As we work toward a shared ministry, here are some opportunities for helping us along the way:

On March 7-8, 2009, Dr. Ron Carlson will return for a weekend with our congregation to talk about the Missional way of being “church”. How can we work with one another and others in the community to meet critical needs and fulfill our gospel calling to tend our neighbors in need? Attending this weekend of events is helpful, as the more voices and hearts and minds we have together in the same room multiply the possibilities for what we can do. You have to admit Ron’s two visits in 2007 gave us the springboard for much good to take place over the past year and a half. Make time for this weekend of events! First Baptist will flourish with your willingness to take part.

First Baptist offers opportunities for lay members to get involved in ministry beyond the walls of our congregation. In the coming weeks, we are sending hopefully a number of congregants to New Orleans, Louisiana, to participate in the 2009 Baptist Building Blitz. You can go to New Orleans and help persons still living with the destructive aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, performing house repairs with other Baptists from across the United States. (Note: If you would like to do this closer to home, take note that the local Bennington County Habitat for Humanity chapter will be starting a new home construction project in North Bennington. Call the office if you would like to offer your volunteerism to these local and national projects, or send a check to help underwrite the expenses of sending congregants to New Orleans.)

As we move forward in the ministries of First Baptist, know that everyone is able to make the life of the church come alive! Together, we experience the joy of ministry, sharing together as God’s people.

Thanks be to God! Jerrod Hugenot