From the Desk of the Superintendent
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BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY – COVID VERSION
As we draw closer to re-opening our church buildings and gathering once again to worship, here are a few things to consider that I have collected from various articles that I have read in recent weeks.
My first consideration is whether or not we should go back to church as usual? What are the ruts, traditions, and habits that were present in our Church families that need to be changed? Each one of us would admit that we personally get into routines that need to be altered. This is why we make resolutions each New Year. These ruts show up in the lives of our churches as well. Perhaps we should consider how we can improve:
· Our shepherding
· Our online presence
· Our small group ministry
· Our Family devotions
· Our outreach to those in need in our community
· Our prayer lives, including repentance
When we do reopen our buildings, we should work on the following:
· Cleaning our kids areas, toys, etc
· Wipe down surfaces with gloves and caviwipes or microkill wipes
· Rethink meals and your coffee station
· Cleaning instructions posted in bathrooms
· Taking out some chairs, or placing tape on seats for distance
· Providing masks & hand sanitizer at entrances
· Shortening your message
· How we will serve Communion
· How will you pass the offering plate
Here are a few questions for you to ponder as a leadership team before reopening:
· Will you continue to offer your online services, prayer meetings and Bible studies?
· Should you offer more than one service to spread people out?
· How will you reach out to those who have been connecting with your church through live and recorded streaming?
· Will you just stop your online presence, or will you find a way to continue, or invite them to join you at the building?
One of the big debates in our churches today is whether or not we should listen to the Government as they control how and when we meet. This is clearly an infringement on our Constitutional rights and may possibly be the first step in controlling the church more in the future. However, for the time being and for the good of our society in preventing the spread of this virus, I believe that we should cooperate for the safety of our families, and our Christian witness.
1 Peter 2:12
says,
“
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”
John Soucy points out in his letter that is attached in this newsletter, that:
1. The world is watching – our witness matters
2. We submit, “for the Lord’s sake”. It’s not about us, but about Him.
I would encourage you to
not rush back to doing church as usual
in your building as soon as the Governor gives the okay. I think that we should take our time, work through these questions, prep our buildings and our people for life after Covid. One Pastor I heard on a podcast said, “perhaps this is God at work in our lives, our churches, and our nation”. We have been praying for revival, talking about the lack of gospel presence in our communities, and how our churches are bound by tradition. Many of us in ministry have been trying to bring about change for decades with little success.
But God
, (I love those two words in scripture)
but God
changed everything in just a couple of months! If any of this is of God, let’s not rush back to where we were before God allowed this calamity into the world. Who knows, if the church decides to be a witness of the great HOPE we have in Christ that casts out all fear and draws men to himself, instead of being all about our own comfort and preferences, then perhaps we will see God work in amazing ways in these last days!
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EASTERN REGION ONLINE CHURCH SERVICES
AC Church of Haverhill (Haverhill, MA)
Ashland AC Church (Ashland, ME)
Auburn AC Church
YouTube
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Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Blessed Hope Church (Waterville, ME)
Calvary Bible Church (Meredith, NH)
Crossroads Church (West Ossipee, NH)
Dunntown AC Church (Washburn, ME)
Faith Bible AC Church (Plainville, CT)
Friendship AC Church (Friendship, ME)
Goodwins Mills AC Church (Dayton, ME)
N. Springfield AC Church (N. Springfield, VT)
Oak Hill Bible Church (Oxford, MA)
Rev. David Davis (Carmel, ME)
State Road Church (Mapleton, ME)
YouTube
– Sunday 9:30 a.m., Wed 6 p.m.
State Street Church (Portsmouth, NH)
Sunshine AC Church (Deer Isle, ME)
Torrington AC Church (Torrington, CT)
Vernon AC Church (Vernon, VT)
Westfield AC Church (Westfield, MA)
Whitefield Christian Church (Whitefield, NH)
Eastern Regional Association Prayer Gathering
ZOOM
– Fri. 12-1PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5143503559
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Above is a picture of the Maine State Conference from 1931. See anyone you know? This picture along with lots of other gems will/can be found in the Adventual Library.
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Berkshire Christian College's Adventual Library at the Center for Advent Christian Studies
The Adventual Library was established at the New England School of Theology, Brookline, MA. The School and the Adventual Library relocated to Lenox, MA in 1958. With the name change of the College in the fall of 1958, the Adventual Library became a part of the Linden J. Carter Library of Berkshire Christian College.
At the closing of the Lenox campus in 1987 arrangements were made with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary to place the holdings of the Adventual Library on the South Hamilton campus on the fourth floor of the Kerr Administration Building. Dr. David A. Dean with some volunteer help physically set up the room. There it remained until February of 2005 when, under the direction of Dr. Freeman Barton, the collection was moved into a basement room of the Goddard Library.
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The room is a 12 feet by 44 feet, windowless, well-lighted facility with almost twice the space of the former room. There are two workstations, one with a pc with internet access. The collection consists of a core collection of Millerite/Adventist periodicals; a collection of prophetic charts; a book library of 2,500 volumes pertaining to all phases of the Advent movement and its particular doctrines: the Second Advent, Conditional Immortality, the intermediate state, etc.; six legal size file cabinets containing material on all phases of the Adventist movement as well as an extensive collection of biographical material; a card catalog index of the World's Crisis/Advent Christian Witness, which continues in electronic format. On loan, we have an every name index of A.C. Johnson's Advent Christian history plus extensive indices of World's Crisis and other Adventist materials with an illustration index as well. The Collection includes the records of many Advent Christian churches and institutions as well as the Berkshire Christian College archives. Since the opening of the Library in South Hamilton in 1991, 920 volumes have been cataloged and added.
The current staff consists of Duane E. Crabtree, Curator of the Adventual Library. Dr. Gordon L. Isaac is the Berkshire Assistant Professor of Advent Christian Studies.
Library Access:
The Collection is available during Goddard Library's open hours (as posted online) - with permission of the Curator. The Collection is generally staffed by the Curator on Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Please write, email, or call 339-203-8662 cell, or 781-321-3728 home in advance to ensure access to and assistance with the Collection.
At this time, until further notice, the entire Goddard Library is closed including The Adventual Library. The catalog is still available online, and some information is available by emailing Duane.
The Collection is available for on-site use and may not leave the Goddard Library premises.
Duane E. Crabtree
Curator of the Adventual Library
DuaneCrabtree@gmail.com
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The Eastern Region's Family of Families
When I grew up in Oxford, Maine as part of the youth group, we had a lot of teens come and go. One of the guys who came occasionally was Patrick McInnis. We played basketball together, went on trips, and got to know one another pretty well. Pat was a great guy, but never really committed is life to Christ. After many years of being away at college and other things, I was surprised one day to meet a young man at Mechanic Falls camp named MacKenzie McInnis. I asked him if he knew Patrick and sure enough, Patrick was MacKenzie's dad. I got to know Mackenzie and his brothers through camp, Summer Ministry Team, and his girlfriend (now wife) Abby. From an early age he had a desire to understand scripture and was full of theological questions and had a huge desire to serve God full time in ministry. He spoke of it every time I saw him from an early age on. I am pleased now to introduce him to you as Pastor McInnis of the Auburn AC Church. I conducted this phone interview so I could introduce him to you.
~Greg
Q. Tell me about your testimony of beginning a relationship with Christ.
A. I grew up in Rumford, ME. My mom was a believer and would take us to church, but my dad didn't want to have anything to do with God or the Church. I came to Christ through the Mechanic Falls AC Camp. I got baptized there when I was 16. Matt Larkin was supposed to do the baptism on Sunday afternoon, but was so sick, he could hardly get up. So he asked to go and find Pastor Greg. On my way to find him, I was intercepted by Heath Keniston who said he would do the baptism. I think you guys ended up doing it together. When I was in High School, I attended the Mexico, ME First Baptist Church and continued to grow in my faith there.
Q. Can you name some people who were spiritually significant as mentors in your life?
A. Matt Larkin, Heath Keniston, and Josh Brown. They had significant conversations with me that had a huge influence on my life. I learned a lot from their advice and wish I had taken more of it. Many of our conversations I took as just discussions and didn't realize the value of what they were trying to tell me until I encountered these things in my life.
Q. Each of these guys would have interacted with you at camp. Was that a big influence in your life?
A. My time at camp was huge. I looked forward to being there every summer. I even washed dishes so that I could be there more weeks. All of these guys helped me to grow a lot. Leading, teaching, and just hanging out was a huge part of my development. Through the Mechanic Falls camp, I was born again, baptized, mentored, I met my future wife, and I met Pastor Kilbreth who invited me to be Associate Pastor at Auburn where I eventually became the Pastor.
Q. Tell me about Abby.
A. Abby grew up attending the Mechanic Falls AC Church. She attended with her grandparents and extended family. Steve Kilbreth and Darrell Young were pastors there while she attended. She went to BICS. Before we could get married, I had to hold down a job and prove that I could provide for her. I worked like a crazy man, holding down several jobs until we were able to get married on September 1, 2018. She is a wonderful woman of God who works as my assistant in ministry with all the technology, emails, and someday with the children's ministry.
Q. Tell me about your education and work.
A. I went to Central Maine Community College to study Engineering. I soon left that to find a path toward ministry. I worked in various jobs to save money to get married to Abby. One of the jobs I was able to get was doing customer service at TD Bank. While there I found that I was really good with people, and I worked my way into a position as a loan officer. I now work there full time to support my ministry. Some day I would like to be able to leave the bank and be in ministry full-time.
Q. What are your future goals as a 24 year old Pastor?
A. My future goals would be to continue at the bank, grow the church in Auburn and see it thrive not just survive. I want to help my congregation to mature in Christ and do more outreach in the community. I believe that the church is called to make disciples, and not just show up for an hour on Sunday. We have started a young adult Bible study on Friday nights. I want to see the church do outreach to the community by doing a vbs in the summer, direct the camp at Mechanic Falls, reach out to the kids and their families, and do service projects for neighbors nearby.
I would also like to keep growing and learning about ministry. I have a long way to go and a lot to learn, and I try to spend time with older more mature pastors and ask a lot of questions so I can learn all I can. I am looking forward to attending the Maine State Conference and Regional Convention so I can meet a lot of new people.
The Auburn AC Church has been meeting at the Sarah Frye Nursing Home Center in Auburn, ME. They can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Auburn-Advent-Christian-Church-110408927034479, and on their youtube channel: https://youtu.be/d9Lr8SaHSIo
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BIBLICAL PLAGUES IN MODERN TIMES
A plague of locusts was reported in the April 6 edition of TIME magazine. In it they shared:
- There is a “Massive swarm of locusts, one of which occupied an area more than three times the size of New York City".
- It has “devoured crops across the Horn of Africa and the Middle East".
- It is “leaving an estimated 20 million people at risk of famine”.
- The first generation’s eggs are starting to hatch which means we may see even bigger swarms in the future.
This may not be that big of a deal in and of itself, but when you consider that it is another major natural disaster on top of all the others that are currently going on, it makes life hard on those being affected. Clint Taber writes in his book, Earth’s Final Dawn (p. 207) that there are 3 “Developmental signs”.
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1.
Concurrence
- These have all happened before but now they are all happening at one time.
2.
Clarity
- These are very clear signs that scholars are not debating.
3.
Cosmic Quality
- Things are basically the same everywhere. News, technology, and travel have made the world a much smaller place and we are on a much more level "playing field."
The one that has increased the most in the 10 years since Rev. Taber’s book was written seems to be the issue of
Concurrence
. All of the following things are happening on a grand scale and with regular frequency leading up to our current COVID-19 Virus. Now we are dealing with a pandemic that is affecting the whole world, fires in Australia, earthquakes in California, and locusts in North Africa and the Middle East. Along with the regular regimen of hurricanes, wars, and disasters.
I’m afraid that this is not the end. It will continue to get worse and worse until the day of Christ’s return. I believe that everyone on the earth will be affected in some way by these terrible afflictions as God tries to get people’s attention. It is the worst of times and it is the best of times. We have prayed for years to see Christ’s return, imagining all the glory that will come with his appearing. I long for that day as well, but most of us haven’t spent much time dealing with the reality of the challenges that will come first to announce his second advent.
While we endure all of the challenges, at the same time we also know from the scriptures that there will be a great “Gospel thrust” that will bring many to accept Jesus before his return. We are seeing this already as over the last few years, the number of born-again Christians has grown 1000%. 3 times faster than the world’s population. Many people will be drawn to him through hardship, evangelism, and the church being forced out of our comfortable traditional existence to be a public witness in our communities.
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Our prayer is that God will
not just
save us from pain, loss, death, and illness, but that we will be used in great ways to advance God’s Kingdom in the hearts of people who need Him. Isaiah 26:19-21 says, "But your dead will live;
their bodies will rise
. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning;
the earth will give birth to her dead
. Go my people,
enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you
; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the Lord is coming out of this dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins..." This verse speaks seemingly to our experience with COVID 19 as well as our doctrine as Advent Christians who look forward to the dead in Christ rising from the earth to meet the Lord in the air. What a great message we possess, and an incredible opportunity we have to proclaim the HOPE we have in Christ that erases all fear. This is our moment as Advent Christians to put forth our message that Christ is Coming! MARANATHA! Come quickly Lord!
~Rev. Greg Twitchell
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Monthly Devotional Thought
GOD MOST NIGH
"To this one I will look," God says through Isaiah, "to the one who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word" (Isa. 66:2). God most high is also God most nigh! In the flesh of Jesus of Nazareth he has joined our humanity. By the Spirit of the Risen Jesus Christ he has come to us again. God calls us to celebrate, to rejoice in his presence, to shout with thanksgiving and with delight!
Christian worship reflects the full spectrum of reverent reaction to the reality of God. Sometimes we bow or kneel in total silence, properly awed by God most high. At other times we make a loud noise to the Lord, celebrating and rejoicing in the mercies of God most nigh. Both expressions are appropriate at times but neither is exclusively so. People can go through the motions with either form of expression, copying others, repeating rote words or actions. There is no inherent virtue in either set of externals.
Genuine worship flows sincerely, from a humble and contrite heart - no matter what the details in the program. Particular style and forms vary from culture and place and generation. But the acceptable heart everywhere remains the same. The God who is so far above us also resides deep within us. The God most high is also the God most nigh. The transcendent God is also immanent. In every place and in every way, let all that breathes praise his holy name!
Edward Fudge
GRACeMAIL
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Visit our website to make a donation online
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Previous copies of the monthly newsletter and helpful articles on Covid-19 are now on our website.
Posting of Upcoming Events is on hold due to Covid-19.
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Online Prayer Meeting Fridays from 12-1 p.m.
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Your Annual Reports are valuable to the Region! If you or your church has not reported, please take the time to do so.
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49% of churches have reported.
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New Life - 7 out of 10
Nova Scotia - 2 out of 2
Heritage - 7 out of 11
Maine - 12 out of 23
Maranatha - 4 of 21
New York - 1 of 1
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64% of Ordained Ministers, and 50% of Credentialed Pastors have reported.
Thank you Pastors and Churches who have reported!
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Click the link below to visit the Advent Christian Voices blog. Where Advent Christians consider the past, examine the present, and define the future of the Advent Christian Church.
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The Eastern Regional Annual Convention is October 22-24, 2020 at Blessed Hope Church in Waterville, ME.
"The Church in Crisis"
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ERA Board of Directors
Rev. George Karl, President - sumkarl@yahoo.com
Rev. Frank Jewett, Vice President - frankrjewett@gmail.com
Rev. Allen Latimore, Clerk - aclatimore@netzero.net
Mr. Howie Munday, Treasurer - mundayhk77@gmail.com
Rev. Doug Tourgee, Heritage Conf. President - dougin401@aol.com
Mr. Kent Davis, Maine State Conf. Vice President - kdavis@pgagnon.com
Pastor Josh Rice, Maranatha Conf. Secretary - jrice.emmanuel@gmail.com
Rev. Derek Irvine, New Life Conf. President drick1221@gmail.com
Mr. Adam Facteau, New York Conf. President - afacteau@twcny.rr.com
Rev. Ken Perkins, Nova Scotia Conf. President - Ken.perkins@EastLink.ca
Mr. Charlie Merrill, ERA Representative to ACGC - cmerrill7967@gmail.com
Rev. Steve Lawson, ACGC Executive Director - slawson@acgc.us
The Eastern Regional Association Newsletter is published as a ministry of the Eastern Regional Association of the Advent Christian General Conference.
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Eastern Regional Association
32 Four Rod Road, Rochester, NH 03867
Phone: 603-332-1412 / Fax: 603-332-1648
www.aceasternregion.org
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