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TABCOM NOTES

AUGUST 1, 2024

VIEW SERVICES FOR ED GUERARD

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILIES OF

WENDY ANN MAXFIELD

We are sad to announce that on July 3, 2024, at the age of 62, Wendy Ann Maxfield (Littleton, MA) passed away. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.


Services were held for Wendy at the West Acton Baptist Church on Saturday, July 20th.


Donations can be made to the West Acton Baptist Church either via Tithely online at https://westactonbaptistchurch.org/online-giving/ or by check to WABC or West Acton Baptist Church, or send to WABC Admin, West Acton Baptist Church, 592 Massachusetts Avenue, Acton, MA 01720.

CLERGY ETHICS & HEALTHY BOUNDARIES

WHERE'S MARY

August 3 -

August 17


August 25


August 28

Teaching at the Christian Youth Conference at Oceanwood (working remotely in the afternoons)


First Nepali Baptist Church

 

Administration and Finance Meeting

TELL US WHAT YOUR CHURCH IS DOING!

We would love to hear about the wonderful programs and initiatives happening in our TABCOM family of churches!


Sharing your stories not only inspires others but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among us. Whether it's a new outreach program, a successful event, or an ongoing ministry making a difference, your experiences can encourage and guide other congregations.


Please take a moment to share what your church is doing, so we can celebrate together and learn from each other's efforts. Your contributions will help us build a stronger, more united community in Christ.


Please send your information to robyn.mars@tabcom.org.


Don't forget to send photos!

NEW PASTOR'S DAY AT TABCOM

If you are a new pastor, new ordained or new to our region, please join us on Saturday October 5th at the TABCOM offices located at Grotonwood. I know that date seems in the distant future, but as we begin planning for fall, get this date on your calendar. At this gathering, led by Rev. Dr. Mary Day Hamel, our Executive Minister, we will introduce to our staff who will tell you about TABCOM and their jobs in helping to support your ministry. Representatives from our partner ministries; the Conference of Baptist Ministers, MABIT, North Baptist Education Society, Massachusetts Baptist Charitable Society will also be present to give you an overview of how they partner with us and our churches. Save the date!  The day begins at 9:30 a.m. and concludes by 2 PM. Lunch is included. If you have new staff at your church, encourage them to attend too. For further information you can contact Rev. Diane L. Badger at diane.badger@comcast.net.

MISSIONWORKS 2024

Go here to read about our speakers.

Registration will be open soon!

TABCOM ANNUAL GATHERING 2025

SAVE THE DATE


May 2-3, 2025


Grotonwood Camps and Conference Center

189 Prescott Street, Groton, MA

OCEANWOOD WORK WEEKEND

OUR GROWING ARCHIVES

Did you know that we have a sizeable Baptist Archives at the TABCOM office in Groton? This is where we store all the historic records of our churches going back to the 1700s. We also have a small library and history room where we keep books related to Baptist history and theology. We are accumulating a collection of church histories, books by Baptist Authors in Massachusetts and biographies of Baptist ministers. It is a great place to come and browse through our history. Our archives are kept under lock and key. Documents are being kept in archival boxes or acid-free folders. We are slowly working through the archives, organizing and cataloguing everything that is there. It is slow tedious work, but also a lot of fun as we read through old files and find great old photographs and fascinating notes.


As churches have merged or disbanded, we are becoming the repository of those records. Massachusetts law states that all records of a church if it existed more than 2 years before disbanding must be turned over to either the town where the church was located or to the denomination upon closing. This is to prevent important historic records from going missing. We were finally able to locate records for the Ayer Baptist Church (Federated Church of Ayer) which closed in December 2021. It took a few months of searching, emailing, etc. but those records are now in our office ready to be organized, catalogued and placed in our archives. We are trying to be diligent in following up on church records. There are some churches that do not have space for their historic records and turn some of the oldest over to us for safekeeping. 


We welcome you to arrange a visit to our history room/archives so you can browse our rich Baptist heritage. Bring a small group from your church and we can conduct a small workshop on how your church can protect their records. We are also willing to come to association meetings and the like to do a presentation on our archives and Baptist history in MA.


Help is always needed to work in our archives. Labelling, cataloguing and organizing in the archives so that we know what records we have, are all needed. We hold monthly workdays in our archives one Saturday a month from about 10 am to 2 pm. We also come to the office during the week (usually Tuesdays) if you would like to visit. Watch the TABCOM notes for the fall work dates. For further information please free to contact Rev. Diane L. Badger, diane.badger@comcast.net.

EQUIPPING THE SAINTS

CONGRATULATIONS to all - especially the SEVEN who are part of our TABCOM family: Rev. Bernard Smith, Rev. Charles Hightower, Rev. Art Gordon, Rev. Willie Bodrick, Rev. David Wright, Rev. Jeremy Battle, and Rev. Darrell Hamilton and our own Rev. Kenneth Young is the Program Director.


“Equip the Saints” is asset-based program of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, designed to support preachers in preparing, preaching biblically, beautifully socially-engaged sermons, grounded in the traditions of Black churches and open to all.



The vision is a program that is unashamedly Black, unapologetically Christian, and unabashedly inclusive.

AMERICAN BAPTIST WOMEN'S MINISTRIES

ABWM CALLS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


The Rev. Dr. Christine A. Smith, National President of the American Baptist Women’s Ministries, made the following announcement:


“On behalf of the American Baptist Women’s Ministries Executive Committee and Official Board of Presidents, we joyfully and unanimously announce the calling of the Reverend LaThelma Yenn-Batah as our next Executive Director. Having previously served ABWM as the Associate Executive Director from 2019-2021, and most recently as the ABWM Interim Executive Director, March 2024-present, we believe that Rev. Yenn-Batah is a special gift from the Lord to ABWM. During this challenging time in the life of our organization, Rev. Yenn-Batah’s familiarity with our struggles, and our great potential, uniquely positions her to lead us into the future.


Read more here.

LATEST NEWS FROM AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES USA

ABCUSA ANNOUNCES OCTOBER WEBINAR SERIES WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS

This October, American Baptist Churches USA invites you to three separate webinars on Tuesday evenings at 7:00pm ET, focusing on the topics of domestic violence and mental health.


Plan now to join us for this series, including:

  • Faith in Action: Pastors and Faith Leaders Role in Addressing Domestic Violence | Tuesday, October 1, 7:00pm ET | with presenter Tara Aday, Senior Director of Programs at Safe Haven Ministries
  • MMBB Cares: Helping Clergy Address Their Mental Health and Vocational Wellbeing | Tuesday, October 15, 7:00pm ET | with presenter Rev. Dr. Earl Thorpe, Financial Wellness Director at MMBB Financial Services'
  • A Biblical Response to Domestic Abuse | Tuesday, October 22, 7:00pm ET | with presenter Charlene Quint, Family Law Attorney


For full presenter bios and to register, visit www.abc-usa.org/october-webinar-series.

REGISTER NOW FOR BEING BAPTIST ONLINE COURSE


Registration is now open for the ABHMS Center for Continuous Learning online course Being Baptist: History, Identity & Polity. Over six consecutive weeks beginning September 3, the new cohort will explore the roots of Baptist history, the relationships between different Baptist groups, and the distinctive convictions of Baptist identity...


The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Irwin-Diehl, director of the ABHMS Center for Continuous Learning, shared that the course is “specially designed for those seeking ordination in American Baptist Churches USA, but also offers a great learning experience for Baptist history buffs or learners curious about Baptist history and identity and what difference it makes in today’s world.”


Read more here.

SIGN-UP TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2025 BIENNIAL MISSION SUMMIT

OUR ASSOCIATIONS AND CHURCHES

Adoniram Judson Baptist Association

The Rev. Dr. David Kilpatrick, Coordinator

C- (617) 799-0705, E-Mail: dklpat@umich.edu | Rev. Dr. Kilpatrick is also the Pastor of West Medford Baptist Church – West Medford

Hi Everyone, 


Hope you're having a good summer and enjoying our nice weather!


We had a wonderful Judson Women's Annual Meeting in May at The First Baptist Church in Malden, and there were about 25 or more people in attendance. We had a delicious breakfast organized by the women of the Malden First Baptist Church and the Maplewood Baptist Church. Thank you for hosting this event!

 

We were very fortunate to have Gabriella Snyder, Executive Director, and Patty Kelly, Development Director from the Bread of Life present our May program. I have attached some photos from the event.  We received a lot of information about this faith-based food security organization based in Malden, MA and were made aware of many opportunities for volunteers. I just received an invitation from Bread of Life for the Grand Opening of their new building at 54 Eastern Avenue on Sunday, August 11th from 2-4 p.m. Everyone is invited for a tour of this state-of-the art facility. For more information, go to www.breadoflifemaldenma.

 

I also attached a photo of some young girls in Madagascar wearing some of the dresses (pillowcase style) that were on display at our meeting and were made by some Massachusetts women. One of my granddaughters serves in the Peace Corps in Madagascar, and she asked if I could send some dresses for some of the children in the neighborhood where she lives. I think the photo will bring a smile to everyone! 

 

Our annual Judson Women's Toy Harvest will be held on either Nov. 10 or 17th (Saturdays) and we are looking for a host church for this event.  We generally begin at 9 a.m. and end by noon. This meeting is always well attended and a lot of fun. The Toy Harvest gives our Judson churches the opportunity to help many children and families during the holiday season. The program for the day and determining the recipients of the gifts are in the planning stage. Please let us know if your church is able to host this event and if so, which of the dates if better for you.  


Have a wonderful summer and we look forward to hearing from you. 


Blessings,

Pat Fish, FBC Melrose

Marilyn Glover, FBC Malden

Beverly Mattatall, FBC Medford

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURC IN WAKEFIELD HAS MOVED INTO THEIR NEW BUILDING.


Their phone lines are currently out of service due to the upcoming move. If you need to contact them, please email either 1stbaptistwakefield@gmail.com for the adminstrator, or dougd24@outlook.com for the pastor. You can also use the contact form on their website https://www.fbcwakefield.org/.


Save the dates:

Sept 8th - Grand opening of our new building at 8 Lafayette St.

Sept 14th - Community Open House 1 - 3 P

GRANT APPLICATIONS


Grant Cover letter 2024 Association grant application 2024-2025

Berkshire Baptist Association

The Rev. David Anderson, Moderator/Coordinator

C- (413) 652-4179, E-mail: d_anderson@mail.com

Rev. Anderson is also the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church – North Adams

Boston Southwest Association

The Rev. Dr. Moreen Hughes, Coordinator

C- (978) 430-5355, E-mail: mphug@msn.com

Rev. Dr. Hughes is also the Associate Pastor and Minister to Women and Families of Concord Baptist Church in Milton

Central Baptist Association

OPEN POSITION - Association Resource Coordinator

Merrimack Valley Baptist Association

OPEN POSITION - Association Resource Coordinator

Old Colony Baptist Association

The Rev. Diane Badger, Coordinator

C (508-369-6291 ), E-Mail: diane.badger@comcast.net

FALL MEETING

The Fall meeting of the Old Colony Baptist Association will be held on Saturday September 21st at Brewster Baptist Church in Brewster, MA.


More details will be shared as we get closer to that date, but be sure to save the date now! It looks to be a fun day.


Exciting news: we will have the privilege of welcoming a new church into our Old Colony family.

Pioneer Valley Baptist Association

OPEN POSITION - Association Resource Coordinator

Samuel Stillman Baptist Association

The Rev. Dr. Loretta St. Louis, Coordinator

C- (617) 835-6767, stillmanarc@gmail.com

Rev. Dr. St. Louis is also the Associate Pastor for Congregational Care of Union Baptist Church – Cambridge

TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH SEEKS A MUSIC DIRECTOR


Trinity Baptist Church, Arlington, MA, seeks a music director. The Music Director will be responsible for the planning, organization, conducting, and evaluation of music in Trinity’s worship. The music director will provide a variety of types of music presented, both traditional hymns and contemporary music. The music ministry will focus on the totality of our individual and corporate experience of God and create venues for and assist in expressions of praise and worship each Sunday morning.


The purpose of the music ministry is to facilitate an atmosphere in which God is worshipped and glorified.


We seek someone who can:

  • Play the piano or pipe organ and lead our choir for Sunday worship.
  • Provide music on the following mandatory holy days: Maundy Thursday, Easter, and Christmas Eve.
  • Coordinate and hold a weekly rehearsal for choir throughout the year, with a weekly anthem.
  • Choose hymns, by Thursday before worship, that align with the sermon topic and the church calendar and communicate with those who are preparing the order of worship.
  • Collaborate with the Pastor, music committee, and other ministries regarding music programs.
  • If chosen, provide music for weddings and funerals held at the church. Payment for such events is negotiated by the individual parties or funeral home directors. 


A candidate who is familiar with church music is preferred. A background check will be conducted. Please contact Nola Anderson, music committee chair, at naa529@gmail.com.

TABCOM VOICES BROADCAST

TABCOM Voices broadcasts air on the second Sunday each month 5-6 PM.

TABCOM Voices is looking for musical selections for the radio broadcast. Please send your selections to tabcom@tabcom.org

Boston Praise Radio broadcasts over 30 radio, tv, internet, and social media outlets, including 102.9 FM Radio and on Facebook Live!

 

https://www.bostonpraiseradiotv.co/ | www.bostonpraiseradio.tv | www.bostonpraiseradiotv.co/tv/ | Roku-TV | Apple-TV

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE SAINTS BORN IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST

AUGUST HAPPINESS CALENDAR