From the Desk of the Superintendent |
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Dear Church Family,
We are nearing the end of another year and preparing to celebrate our network of churches at the Convention, Thanksgiving, and Second Advent. I hope that you are blessed by this newsletter. I have been diligently preparing for the Convention and hope you will be able to join us.
Christ Chapel in Raymond has voted to sell their property and prepare to make the move to a new location.
The Regional Convention will be online this year and you can register to attend on our website, www.aceasternregion.org.
Professor Dr. Freeman Barton and Missionary Floyd Powers each celebrated their rich lives in Christ with Memorial services.
May God bless you with opportunities to share His message with others in these last days.
Grace,
Greg
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Open Financial Secretary Position
Ed Burleigh's last day as financial secretary was July 31, 2021. For the past 13 years, he has demonstrated dedication and professionalism in working with the ERA. We are praying God's blessings upon his life as he pursues other opportunities. Superintendent Greg Twitchell has begun the search to replace Ed. If you know anyone interested in being hired as the next financial secretary, please contact Greg.
My participation in office operations will temporarily increase at this time. To minimize financial disruption until the new financial secretary is hired, Ed will begin training Missie Twitchell on bookkeeping functions under my supervision. Missie is not and will not be a candidate as the financial secretary but will assist in this transition period. We are blessed for her willingness to serve in this capacity until the Lord provides the next financial secretary.
~John Oliver Jones, ERA Treasurer
Email: pastorjoj@gmail.com
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Sunshine Church surpasses Penny Crusade Goal |
The Sunshine AC Church had a goal of $8,500 to raise for Penny Crusade. Going into week 4 they needed to raise $2,867.85 to reach that goal. On October 3rd, as people entered the worship center, they saw they raised a total of $10, 272.76! Praise the Lord!
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There was a wonderful gathering of many clergy (from Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts) on October 11, 2021 at the Haverhill Advent Christian Church as they held an installation service for Russell Giasson. |
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The Lord has blessed Goodwins Mills Advent Christian Church with eight baptisms so far this year. The church had 4 on Sept. 19. |
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The Highland Cliff Advent Christian Church unanimously voted to call Randy Mills (pictured with his wife Yvonne) as pastor. |
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On Monday October 11th, there was a memorial service for Floyd Powers. Floyd and his wife Musa served as missionaries to Japan from 1950-2002. |
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What's happening at your church? Send info and pictures to secretary@aceasternregion.org. |
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Penny Crusade
Advent Christian ministry partnerships now exist in more than 20 countries. Indian pastors, Filipino missionaries, African pastors, children’s homes, a Bible college, discipleship groups, feeding ministries, training events and new church plants are all strengthened by money raised through Penny Crusade.
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Please remember to send in your Donations. This month we are praying for the Isan People.
Only four of every 1000 Isan are Christians.
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Totals through October 13th.
88% of Goal Reached!
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Can you guess which church this is? The first person to email the office (secretary@aceasternregion.org) with the correct answer will receive a small prize. If this is your home church, we ask that you refrain from answering.
The September Church was Hope Community Church in Dover, NH. Dwight Dean guessed the correct answer.
Send an outside picture of your church, without the sign/name, to secretary@aceasternregion.org
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Reminder: October is Pastor Appreciation Month |
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Monthly Devotional Thought |
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Expectations. This is the word that came to mind as I asked the Lord what to share that would be encouraging. I recall writing an example of setting high expectations for myself in my exercise routine, in light of everything else we go through in life, this would seem of little importance. In truth, it isn’t the situation that is important; it is the belief system behind this example. This belief system can be destructive in all of our lives at the worst, at the least can hinder our growth. My head knows that running is hard on the joints, walking is better for that reason. My head knows that walking is the most recommended physical activity, I can cite all the benefits that walking has on the mind and body. But there is that thing in my head that says running is going to get me where I want to be – faster and better. Therefore, I must run. Some would call me an over-achiever, or maybe a Type A personality. Maybe this, too, is part of your personality. Many in our culture celebrate being the very best you can be. It is our national mantra: “Be all that you can be…” I don’t knock this, I agree that we are to be at our very best, but the question is: “By whose standards?” If I go by my own expectations or by other’s standards, I may not, ever, hit the mark. Then the guilt and shame set in. Or, if I do, it still isn’t good enough or it still doesn’t feel enough - then the bar gets raised. I am on the emotional rollercoaster of off and running at a forever moving target or feeling like a failure for not measuring up. As I contemplated where to go with this post today, a scripture came to mind from the book of Matthew. The words are an encouragement for all who are “weary and carry heavy burdens” to go to the Lord Himself, He promises: “and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28) I’m not sure there are many more encouraging scriptures than this one! Expectations from others, as well as those expectations of ourselves are heavy loads to carry, yet Jesus tells us to come to Him and He will provide rest for us. But how? The answer is in the very next verses: “Take my yoke upon you…my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light.” Now I don’t pretend to know a lot about yokes, they are those funky looking things that make work animals walk together. I recall my father-in-law talking about yoking a younger, headstrong horse with his well-trained, steady-as-she goes horse. (or was it oxen? Yikes! One of the two!) The well-trained horse helped the headstrong horse to stay in step and get the task done. For us, there is an added benefit of yoking with the Lord. He helps to carry the burden of the job AND walks in the muck with me as I journey. I am so grateful the Lord talks so gently to me and helps me readjust so that the burden is less… burdensome. I am even more grateful that He is right here beside me, helping to carry the load and not the one behind cracking the whip. How about you? Are you yoked with the loving Father or allowing others (or yourself) to crack the whip of high expectations? I invite you to take the Lord up on His offer, it extends to you as well! Blessings!
~Cindy Ludwick
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Truth Told Blog
After the death of Moses the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them
Click on the picture to visit Larry Anderson's blog site.
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ADVENT CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE HISTORY
"DIVINE ORDER"
Excerpts from Advent Christian History
By Albert C. Johnson
Having given a sketch of the message and doctrines of the first and early leaders of this movement, truths the deep conviction of which was the vital, moving and uniting force of their labors, we pass to narrate the steps by which the work became organized and established.
Such was the opposition of the popular churches to the Adventual teaching, combined ofttimes with persecution and unjust exclusion, that many of those who received this faith in the early days, were, in the reaction, moved to the extreme of objecting to any and all church organization; and a few later on were thus minded, but it should be recorded that early in the progress of the cause there were able leaders who saw the futility of this lawless policy and who advocated church order.
The Maine Conference, held in Richmond in October of 1865 approved this action and hailed THE MOVEMENT FOR ORDER AND UNITY as an omen of better days for the entire cause.
Early in 1857 Eld. A. Ross wrote a series of articles in the World's Crisis, entitled "Divine Order," the same relating to local churches, their officers, their work, church discipline, unity, fellowship, and the ordinances, the influence of which must have tended strongly toward orderly and dignified worship.
A notice of the Minnesota-Iowa Reformed Conference was issued by Eld. P. S. W. Deyo in 1857, to which Eld. William Sheldon added a few words saying: "The object of this meeting is threefold; First, to proclaim the truths of God's Word, which have been cast into the shadows of the apostacy. Second, to revive practical godliness among the children of God. Third, to revive Gospel order in the churches."
The following brief but comprehensive covenant was quite generally accepted:
"We whose names are subjoined do hereby covenant and agree, by the help of the Lord, to walk together as a Church of Christ, faithfully maintaining its ordinances, taking the Bible as our only rule of faith and practice, the only test of fellowship and communion.
"We further agree, with Christian fidelity and meekness, to exercise mutual watchcare, to counsel, admonish or reprove, as duty may require, and to receive the same from each other, as becometh the household of faith."
Connected with this, usually, was a confession of faith, wholly set forth in the words of Holy Scripture. A more specific, detailed covenant was later adopted by some churches, and the same may be said regarding the confession of faith, and this latter custom is considerably followed now.
The work of church extension and the institution of conferences went on in the spirit of mutual co-operation, sometimes one leading and then the other. When a number of churches had been established in a section or State, they were soon grouped together into a conference; then in turn the conference sent forth evangelists, who, full of zeal, went forth raising up new interests and adding to the number of churches and thus enlarging the conference.
In the natural order the church has priority; it is the root of the tree of denominational growth, the foundation of all general activities and extension of work. But we pass to narrate, in a general way, the
ORGANIZATION OF CONFERENCES
Very early in the Adventist campaign General Conferences were held first in Boston and New York, then in several other localities and for a time in the principal cities. These conferences were held annually, but later as the number of believers increased and the work was too wide-spread to be duly represented in, and properly cared for through, these General Conferences, the brethren came to fell the necessity of local, State, or district conferences where the "bands" of worshippers and the churches that had been organized could be more fully represented. A State conference was organized in Maine in 1848 which held three annual sessions, when, because there was so much opposition to organized effort, the conference was disbanded.
The brethren in Maine becoming dissatisfied with the confused state of the work, felt again the need of system and order and accordingly having consulted every Adventist minister in the State, called a meeting in 1854, at which the Maine Advent Christian Conference was organized, a movement which proved fruitful in the advancement of the cause and of much benefit to the churches and the ministry of that State.
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Meetinghouse Village reminds active and retired AC pastors that they may stay free of charge on Sunday and Monday overnights at our Tower Memorial Suite. Other nights are available at the reduced rate of $25 per night. Availability is dependent on prior bookings and certain Covid-19 protocols. To inquire about a reservation, email info@meetinghousevillage.org.
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Click on Willie's picture to visit his website for upcoming events. |
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Casket Empty Fall Conference: Sat. Oct. 30, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary |
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Join us for an Old Testament Seminar with Dr. Carol Kaminski. Learn the storyline of the entire Old Testament through CasketEmpty!
Saturday October 30, 2021
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
130 Essex Street
Hamilton, MA 01982
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Seminary-level teaching brought to your local New England church in partnership with Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
We believe that as leaders and lay people in the local church are equipped (Ephesians 4), churches will thrive. These courses will be offered in area churches in two, two-day intensives starting in Sept. Visit their website to see course offerings and schedules.
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Eastern Regional Online Convention Oct. 22-23 |
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THEME: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament
VERSE: Genesis 22:16-18; John 5:28-29
COST: $20
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Previous copies of the monthly newsletter and reports for the 2021 Convention are on our website.
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Have a mobile phone? You can now give to the Region through Venmo!
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Online Prayer Meeting is moving to Tuesdays from 9-10 AM on Oct. 26th |
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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. John Jones, Treasurer - pastorjoj@gmail.com
Rev. Doug Tourgee, Heritage Conf. President - dougin401@aol.com
Rev. Alan Chamberlin, Maine State Conf. Vice President - polarpastor@roadrunner.com
Rev. Josh Rice, Maranatha Conf. President - jrice@emmanuelacc.net
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
Mrs. Deb Reed, ERA Representative to ACGC - deborahjoreed@yahoo.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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