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Quote of the Week 


    "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
-Francis of Assisi

From the Desk of the Executive Minister 

 

CHURCH PLANS ON RE-OPENING? 
You'll want to read this.

Many of you have plans to begin a process of reopening your building and coming back to in-person worship. I have heard from several of you with the same question – what should be the protocols and who gets to choose what those protocols will be?

I would begin by saying that we are Baptist, and our polity gives your congregation the responsibility to wrestle with that question.
However, I will point you to an ABCUSA
document created to help with the decision-making process. The document was written in May of 2020 and still has some good ideas. Also, the CDC has made some recommendations based on the availability of vaccines that will be very helpful for Church decision-makers. 

Another helpful document is your church's bylaws. While your bylaws probably were not written with a pandemic in mind, they are written so that the guesswork, brought on by crisis and anxiety, is removed. Look at your bylaws for the areas that will give hints and shed light on finding your way best forward. 

The bylaws can only take you so far. The Bible is another resource that can help. The Bible will have much to say about how to care for one another. It will also have a lot to say about what care for one another will look like. 

We have all felt the untimely effects of the virus. Still, in a state like Connecticut, we can take pride in the statewide effort to overcome this deadly adversary by adhering to the sound guidelines of the CDC and the State of Connecticut. All of you should be so proud of the way you and your sister churches have handled this challenging situation. I know I am and continue to be impressed with your creative ingenuity. Therefore, I have every confidence that you will find your way through.   



Reminder: Please remember the threat of cyber-hacking and digital scamming is real. I will not send any correspondence asking for your personal information.  Please contact the office immediately if you receive a suspicious email purportedly from me. Should you choose to email me, please use my work email address. You may also call my direct line 860.519.2217. Otherwise, please use the ABCCONN email to leave prayer requests, or church news you want to share with the ABCCONN Community.





 

Announcements from ABCCONN
  

Summer Wrap Around Newsletter
Please email any submissions for materials for the Summer Wrap Around 
(June/July/August) Newsletter to Jasmine by TOMORROW, Friday, June 4, 2021.






Upcoming Meetings and Events


June 1st-June 30th-Monthly Giving Match 

July 16th-2021 Lay Ministry Institute Registration Deadline




 Partnership 

We are happy to announce the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut Mission and Stewardship Department is bringing the next  team of 8 volunteers to help sort food on Thursday, June 10th from 8:30AM to 11:30AM  at the Foodshare warehouse (450 Woodland Ave., in Bloomfield 06002). Please contact Jasmine Hernandez (860-521-5421) for further details and to register for this event.



SUMMER IS COMING!
Register for Camp (opportunities for ALL AGES), apply for summer staff, or volunteer at campwightman.org. You can read more from their campership appeal letter here.

Swimming, boating, paddleboarding, crafts, singing, fellowship and so much more! Enjoy the great outdoors as a camper, family or group retreat! Visit campwightman.org to register and for details including descriptions of each of the programs and the COVID-19 protocols. Below are  the dates of the programs. In addition to these programs there are also opportunities for families, groups and volunteers! If you have questions please reach out to campwightman@outlook.com .

Summer Camp Programs:

●  Junior Counselor Training (Ages 15-18) June 27- July 2 $470

●  Campelodeon (Ages 6-9) June 27-July 2 *$650/550

●  New Friends (All Ages) June 29-30 $115(adult)/65(child)

●  Adults as Special Campers-ASC I - (Retreat Housing) (Ages 21 and up) July 4-9

*$695/595

●  Chaos (Ages 6-9) July 4-9 *$650/550

●  Sportopia (Ages 10-17) July 25-30 * $695/595

●  All Things Aquatic (Ages 6-14) August 8-13 *$695/595

●  Family Fusion (All Ages) August 8-13 $470(12 and up)/225 (under 12)

●  Grandparents Camp (All Ages) August 8-13 $470(12 and up)/225 (under 12)

●  Summer’s Last Blast (Ages 8-12) August 15-20 *$650/550

●  Senior High Event (Ages 13-18) August 15-20 *$695/595

●  Adults as Special Campers-ASC II - (Village Housing) (Ages 21 and up) August 22-27

*$695/595

●  Wild Women (Ages 21 and up) August 22-27 $470
 

2021 Lay Ministry Institute 
You are cordially invited to participate in the 2021 Lay Ministry Institute held in Farmington, CT!
Click here to learn more. The dates for the three sessions are below: 
Session 1: September 10th-15th- 5 overnights 
Session 2: October 22nd-23rd- 1 overnight 
Session 3:  November 13th -full day session



Save the Date!
The Annual Gathering Meeting is scheduled for September 25, 2021. This year's theme is John 17: 23:
"I in them, and You in Me...complete unity."


 

 



Get the latest COVID-19 Houses of Worship Information here.



 

PRAYERS & PRAISE 

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men."
-1 Timothy 2:1



Central Baptist Church is seeking a New Organist!

The Central Baptist Church of Hartford is seeking a part-time organist who, in partnership with the choir director, would provide music at the weekly Sunday worship service, and on other occasions in the life of the congregation. For more information, please contact Rev. John Endler  and he will be happy to share with you specifics about this position and their congregational life.

Central Christian Church of Danbury is seeking a Worship Leader!
The Worship Leader will be a Christian who loves a variety of music genres including but not limited to traditional hymns and contemporary praise and worship, enjoys performing individually as well as leading communal singing, and is able to create an atmosphere of celebration and reverence through musical expression. The Worship Leader will work closely with the Senior Minister to create the weekly Sunday worship experience. Along with leading worship, this individual will be responsible for selecting the music each week, organizing and communicating with other musicians, managing the musical budget, and finding ways to grow the music ministry within the church. This person must be available to work on Sunday mornings and on Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday. Learn more about the role here. If interested, please submit resume to rev.stephen@cccdanbury.org.
 
Prayers for the following churches in search of pastoral leadership: 
Putnam
Quaker Hill
First New Haven
Shiloh
First Baptist church Norwich
First Baptist Church Shelton
First Church Winsted
First Baptist Winthrop
Pilgrim Way Baptist Church
First Baptist Church Branford

 
Have prayer requests? Please e-mail Brittany Stephenson with your supplications for inclusion in the e-news. 


"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, REJOICE!"
-Philippians 4:4 

  • Congratulation to North Stonington Baptist Church in their calling Reverend Thomas Vance. To God be the glory!

ABCCONN wants to rejoice with you! Please send your celebratory and good news to Brittany Stephenson for inclusion in the e-news.





 

 

National Announcements 

Click here to visit the ABCUSA website for the most up-to-date information.







Saturday Night Fever Gala, Friday, June 11, 2021 - 8:00PM EDT

Join us as we celebrate the disco era in music, dance and message. We invite you to put on your dancing shoes and best disco swag as we relive those YMCA dancing days. Participants will participate in two dance lessons instructed by Diane Capurso and inspired by our keynote speaker, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Dudley. There will be prizes for best disco outfit, best disco hair, and Name that Tune. Click here for more information and to register. 

Women’s Day, Saturday, June 12, 2021 - 1:00 PM EDT
Join us for our biennial Women’s Day program for fellowship, inspirational speakers, community service, and music with B. Lauren Thomas-Moyett. Girls will engage in activities with peers, participate in a community service project, and be inspired from our AB GIRLS keynote speaker, Linnita Hosten. The women’s keynote speaker is Rev. Aracelis Vázquez Haye. Our theme is “Let the Walls Fall Down/Derribando Las Barreras,” based on Ephesians 2:14 NIV. Click here for more information and to register.  


Registration is now open for the American Baptist Churches' virtual Biennial Mission Summit! The meeting is scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 24th through Saturday, June 26th, 2021. Plan now to experience the vitality of our American Baptist family together with other American Baptists from all corners of the United States and the world during the first ever denomination-wide online Biennial Mission Summit!


2021 Charitable Contribution Opportunities: In early 2020, the economy saw a sharp decline as the coronavirus began to spread throughout the United States. Shortly thereafter, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted to aid the nation's economic recovery. In part, this bill set forth temporary changes to encourage charitable giving during this challenging period. A number of these changes were extended through 2021 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA). This article details the charitable deduction changes introduced by the CARES Act and extended through 2021 by the CAA. 
 

Dr. Riggs's YouTube Channel
(Lead Coach)

 

You can see Dr. Riggs’ most recent YouTube videos by going to the ABCCONN website. You will also find a tab that invites you to subscribe. In each video, Dr. Riggs shares announcements and a word of encouragement. Also, Dr. Riggs is available to meet with you to discuss all things ABCCONN. Reach out to Brittany Stephenson

 







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