The character of the Rochester Genesee Region has from its beginning been characterized by the distinctives of soul freedom and local church autonomy.
February 2017
       ~       
He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. 
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Daniel 2:21
~
From the Executive Minister
Dear Friends,

The current political conversation in our country has placed the question of relationships with Muslim neighbors into the center stage.  For many Christians there are often questions and false perceptions because most have not had the opportunity to be in face-to-face relationship.
 
In the next two months there are opportunities where this can be rectified.   For a number of years I have been a member of the Commission on Christian Muslim Relations.  During the past two years I have had the privilege to serve as co-chair of the commission.
 
The Commission invites all interested in joining a dialogue to a simple lunch on February 1, the beginning of World Interfaith Harmony Week.  It will be held at The Clover Center for the Arts and Spirituality, 1101 Clover Street, 14610 at 12 noon on that day.  Please call  585-473-3200 or email  officeabcrgr@gmail.com by Tuesday, January 31 at noon to reserve a space.  The program is titled: "ISLAM-CHRISTIANITY, SEPARATE OR ONE GOD?"  The speakers will be Imam Ismet Akcin and Rev. Alan Newton.
 
The second opportunity will be held on Sunday, March 19 evening, at 5:30 pm, held at the Islamic Center, 727 Westfall Road, 14620.  The speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Roy Medley, former General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA.  Dr. Medley has participated extensively in Christian Muslim Dialogue in the US and in many places of the world.  The topic for the night will be "KEEPING VIGILANT ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY."  The program will begin with light refreshments followed by Dr. Medley's presentation and closing with a Q and A session.

       
Articles in This Issue
prayers
         February Prayer List

Week of
Church and Staff
Feb.5
First Baptist Church, Fairport
Feb. 12
First Baptist Church, Chili
Feb. 19
East Penfield Baptist Church
Feb. 26
Cameron Community Ministries:
  Jennifer Muniga, Director
  Staff and Participants
Other Prayer Requests:
     Please keep Rev. Susan Maybeck and her husband Ed in prayer as he will soon be moving to a memory care facility in Rochester, NY.

Violence
Protecting the Greater Good from Violence
Webinar Series
This informative, three-part webinar series takes you through a violent attack and shows you how to keep your organization safe in an emergency.

Feb. 7 - Before an Incident : 
Armed intruder situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. You need to have an emergency plan in place with goals, objectives and a course of action.

Feb. 14-  During an Incident:
Should an armed intruder enter your organization, you'll feel fear and anxiety. You can run, hide or fight. This training will help you keep your composure and commit to the plan.

Feb. 21 -  After an Incident:
Once the intruder is no longer a threat, be ready to engage with first responders, assist in post-event assessments and perhaps even speak to the media.

To register, click here.
Pancakes
Fund-Raising Breakfast
Proceeds to Fairport Baptist Homes


CommunityDinner
Free Community Dinner
Sun., Feb. 29 / 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Brockport First Baptist Church
124 South Main Street, Brockport, NY


Teen Closet and Study Hour
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

ChangeAddress
Please Make a Change in Your Records


Since April 2015, the address for our office has been:

Rochester Genesee Region
American Baptist Churches USA
1101 Clover Street
Rochester, NY 14610

Please check your paper and electronic vendor lists to ensure that the address change has been made., as we sometimes receive delayed mail that is delivered to our old address.  Thank you!

Donations
Thank You!
For the Generous Donations to  Friends of the Region
January Donations


JL MORTON FUND FOR MINISTERIAL EXCELLENCE
Alan and Gail Newton

FRIEND - $100 - 149
John and Miriam Ganze, Dave and Tonia Hunt,
Alan and Gail Newton, Paul and Joyce Vick

COMPANION - $150 - 399
Charles and Nancy Christiansen, Glenn Loafmann and Kathie Linehan, 
Robert  and Linda Morgan

ParishPaper
                    How Do Congregations Respond to Interfaith Couples? 

Beth Parab is an Episcopal priest. Her husband, Sameer, is an observant Hindu. Their first date lasted eight hours, stretching from coffee to dinner to a walk on the beach. And very soon afterward, she had to start thinking seriously about whether interfaith marriage was a possibility for her. As the world becomes more interconnected and more people's religious identities are in flux, couples who hold different beliefs are becoming common in the pews of almost every religious institution. And pastors and members need to adjust to those realities. "The issue now is for churches to acknowledge that there are interfaith couples in their midst," said Susan Katz Miller, author of Being Both.1 "You want to be as welcoming as possible if you want families to stay." Miller has seen an institutional shift toward understanding that interfaith marriage is happening, with or without the participation of churches, and she asserts "it's not a problem to be overcome."

To read more, click here.


Church Finance Seminar
Sat., Feb. 4 / 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
(Opening for 1 -2 more churches)
To register, email kris.lutton@abc-usa.org

Fund Raising Concert
Sun., Jan. 29 / 3 p.m. /  $15
The Baptist Temple
1101 Clover Street, Rochester
Call (585) 473-3200

Health Grant Workshops
Feb. 4 / Feb. 15 / Feb. 24
150 State Street, Suite 100
Rochester, NY
Call (585) 258-1701 by Feb. 2

Intimate Partner Violence Workshop
Feb., 9 / 12 - 2 p.m.
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
1100 South Goodman Street, Rochester

Cameron's 14th Annual Bowl-a-thon
Sun., Mar. 5 / 1:30 - 4 p.m.
Bowl-a-Roll Bowling Alley
1560 Jefferson Road, Rochester
Call: (585) 254-2697

Lenten Activity for Congregations
Lent begins March 1
Visit heifer.org/faith to download free resources.
Or call 888-5HUNGER

African American Heritage Series
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School
Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
 Feb. 8,  15, 22
Sat., Feb. 25
Lunch and Symposium
(585) 340-9651

To learn more about us, visit us online!


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Rochester Genesee Region | American Baptist Churches
585-473-3200 | officeabcrgr@gmail.com | www.abcrgr.org
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