Announcements from ABCCONN





Upcoming Meetings and Events 

September 15th- October 15th- Hispanic Heritage Month

We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. Read more about this month's activities here.

September 24th- Got Style-Part II! 

 
Pre-Annual Meeting Evangelism Workshop by: Rev. Dr. Jeff Johnson

We live in a world today that resembles the world of the early church. Most churches want to go back in time. The problem is they want to go back to what they perceive to be their ‘glory days’. What they need to do is go back to the days when the glory of the Lord was touching countless lives. Back to the time when the first disciples were made, who had the capacity to turn their world upside down as was said of those first century followers of Christ (Acts 17:6).

ABCCONN is proud to announce Rev. Dr. Jeff Johnson, National Director of Faith Initiation (Evangelism) and Discipleship under the auspices of the American Baptist Churches Home Mission Societies, will be sharing with the leaders and laity of ABC Connecticut what the world was like then, what our world is like now, and how we can do what they did to have a similar impact.  Join us for a time of instruction, interaction, and inspiration, as we talk about sharing faith in comfortable and contextual ways, in the 21^ST century, with style, YOUR style!

Registration is required so be sure to register here and mark your calendars for event you truly do not want to miss.
 (After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.)


September 25th- 197th Annual Gathering

Registration is NOW OPEN for ABCCONN's 197th Annual Gathering and we want to "see" you there! Though we'd hoped to gather in-person, due to the ever-evolving pandemic concerns and out of the safety of everyone, we've pivoted to a mostly virtual experience you DO NOT want to miss*. 


The cost to attend is only $25.00. You can register here and remit payment here. (Indicate ANNUAL GATHERING in the special projects/missions line.)

IMPORTANT NOTE ON ANNUAL GATHERING BUSINESS MEETING: 
All ABCCONN family and friends are invited to attend the Annual Gathering for a time of worship, inspiration, fellowship and learning. The Business Meeting portion of the Annual Gathering, however, is limited to church delegates. ONLY delegates from each ABCCONN Church will be voting. 
 

Annual Gathering Mission Project

1. Purchase or order copies of your favorite children’s books.  Have them delivered directly to: Union Baptist Church of Hartford  (1921 Main St. Hartford, CT 06120)

2. Sponsor a Children’s book drive in your church, ministry or  Sunday school class, collect the books and deliver them to Union Baptist Church. 

3.  Order books to be delivered to Union Baptist Hartford. They are a non-profit that supports putting books in the hands  of children. 
 

October 2021 -Pastor Appreciation Month

October 4th-October 6th-Pastors' Retreat

 Pastors' Retreat (Registration Required)

Rev. Riggs has been hard at work preparing for the Inaugural Pastors’ Retreat and REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! This will be a two-day event held in-person at Camp Wightman and the cost to attend is only $20.

Please note SPACE IS LIMITED and COVID guidelines will be followed. To learn more, register, or pay, please visit our website! 


October 4th- New Executive Director of Camp Wightman

Camp Wightman welcomes Todd Garmer as its new Executive Director.


October 8th-October 9th- Annual Hear the Call
 International Ministries invites you to Hear the Call! Hear the Call is for any adult considering a call to global mission as a short-term volunteer or as a career. Participants will meet with IM staff and global personnel during our online sessions. Together they will explore their call, be able to ask questions, and banish misconceptions of what it means to be a missionary in today's world. There will be opportunities for worship and personal reflection. All of these elements will make Hear The Call a powerful discernment and preparation experience for those whom God may be calling. Click here for registration information!



November 6th- 2PM - 4PM- Celebration of Holly Blacker

Join us in the celebration of Holly Blacker, retiring Director of Camp Wightman. The Board is truly excited for Holly as she enters into a new chapter in life, and we look forward to celebrating her service.

Connecticut Baptist Homes - Pierce Memorial Baptist Home Job Openings are available!
 Click here for more information. 

MMBB Makes Disaster Recovery Emergency Grants Available to Members!
Click here for more information.


November 11th- 75th Annual Bazaar & Silent Auction Noank Baptist Church
Join this community wide event while you shop for wrapped baked goods and candy along with prepackaged cheeses Christmas decorations, fine gifts, jewelry, knitted items, personalized ornaments, pickles, preserves, live green arrangements and of course bags of greens! Click here for more information.


ABF Estate Planning

As a participant in our Strengthening Your Financial Future (SYFF) Program we would like to provide your ministry with planned giving resources to help grow your ministry endowment with the American Baptist Foundation (ABF). The Estate Planning  will educate donors on the benefits of this type of planned gift and the steps to take once they are INSPIRED to make a gift that EMPOWERS your ministry.


Shut the Back Door!
An Excerpt from Rev. Riggs
In the Church in which I grew up, it was customary after a passionate sermon on the goodness of God for the pastor to declare "the doors of the Church are open." I would hear this phrase in my very young ears and think, to myself, "duh, we got in here, didn't we? Of course, the doors of the Church are open". However, the physical doors of the Church were not what the pastor was referring to. I was too literal. He was offering an opportunity to join the body of Christ, the ecclesia. Nowadays, I do not hear that kind of declaration much anymore. However, the statement has never been more accurate. The doors of the Church are still open. Maybe a little bit too open? My intent here is not to talk about the invitation made to join a Church. Instead, I want to expose the mystery of how people come up missing from the fellowship after joining the Church. I want to talk about the Backdoor. Read more 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


The First Baptist Church of Mansfield is seeking a part-time Adult Choir Director. For more information, please contact Grace Riesen.


Prayers for the following churches in search of pastoral leadership:  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 

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