News From Calvary

From the Pastor:
I hope that you will take the time to visit the updated Calvary Baptist Church web site at http://www.calvarybaptist-towson.org. We have, as I have told you, a new "web-master" named Kara Kladky, and contrary to what I have been announcing, Kara is 15. She, along with her father, has been working hard to bring Calvary into the Internet age, and the work has been made especially hard because I have to help (although that is not what Kara and her father probably call what I do.)
The other day Bill, Kara's father, asked me what the congregation did in the area of missions. Apparently he was working on a section of the new web site, and I responded we don't really do all that much… But then I began to list off some of the things that I could remember off the top of my head: 100+ bags for migrant workers in the spring, food for Canton's food pantry in the spring, and food for ACTC in the summer, Thanksgiving baskets for ACTC, Christmas Toys for Baptist Children and Families, a week of shelter meals, the February missions offerings for Thailand Baptist Seminary, 30+ cakes every month for Our Daily Bread, and then there are those little things that come up from time to time… Helping each other in the congregation when help is needed, helping people who happen to drop by the church… the Polish kids, and more regular visitors. Suddenly I realized this little congregation does a lot with missions, and I am constantly making you do more, sorry about that.
Last month a friend asked if I knew how he might get a dinner prepared for 200 handicapped people who were on a march to Washington. I said no problem… thinking I could get some area Churches to take this on as a community service. I am so naïve, and I also never write what I am doing on my calendar. I had forgotten I was going to be out of town that day. So I got Bruce Edwards, Samir Agic, and Andrew Weimert to handle this little matter, and they did beautifully. I also asked a couple of other congregations to help. Bill Kladky and Towson Presbyterian helped with salad, and Trinity Episcopal and Ascension Lutheran helped with 7 cakes each. When I stopped over to pick up the cakes from Ascension, their Assistant Pastor, Lisa Arrington, remarked as we carried the cakes out "When I saw all these cakes it seemed like a miracle." I thanked Lisa, but said to her, "Calvary, which is about 5 times smaller than Ascension, makes 30+ cakes every month."
Sometimes I am not as cognizant of the miraculous as I should be. I thank God for making them happen through you in my presence. I apologize for acting as if they were every day events. Come to the missions breakfast to celebrate and give thanks for what God has and can do through us.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Wednesday Evening Programs as usual.

October 5th
Communion.
DS1 Youth Meeting at 6:00 p.m.

October 8th
8:00 p.m. Deacons’ Meeting

October 12th
Coffee Hour following Church Service.

October 13th
12 Noon Annie Armstrong Circle meeting at the home of Leah Holland, 102 Kennilworth Park Dr., Apt. 3A. Please bring a sandwich.
Melissa Morris-Hillman, Psy.D. will be the guest speaker.

7:30 p.m. Needles and News at the home of Helen Ross, 18311 Harn Lane, 410-343-1849.

October 18th Progressive Dinner for Adults of the Church. Locations are: home of
Appetizer Course: Libby & Charles Field
Main Course: Ann & Fred Ray
Dessert: Diana and Don Romano
There are sign-up sheets at the front and back doors for you to choose which course you would like to contribute to. This is always and enjoyable event, so please try to join us.

October 19th
12 Noon Ann Judson Circle meeting at Edenwald Garden Room for lunch. Everyone is invited.

October 25th Pumpkin Carving Party at the home of the Morris’, 107 St. John’s Rd. Bring your pumpkins and learn to carve. Extra pumpkins will be available to be carved for shut-ins, and crafts for those who would prefer not to carve pumpkins. There will be hot dogs to roast and bobbing for apples. All are invited. Please RSVP to Deb or Glenn, or sign up on the back of your cards, and call Deb to see if you can be of any help. at 410-323-3558.

October 26th
Set your clocks back.

October 26th, 9:00 a.m. Missions Breakfast.. John Sciavone, Director of St. Vincent Depaul Society, will be our speaker. Sign up on the cards and let us know if you would like to help with the preparation of the mea.

Pick-up cakes for Our Daily Bread and return by Saturday November 1st.

OCTOBER 27th -The Assistance Center is planning for its annual Thanksgiving Basket Project. Last year, the supporting Churches and Towson Community contributed 1700 baskets to be distributed throughout the area. This broke all previous records and they hope to exceed these efforts this coming season. They must be notified as to the number of baskets we will provide by October 27th so that a specific number can be pledged to the Dept. of Social Services and this also determines how many gift certificates they will need to purchase. A list of items, needs, and instructions are in the Church office. It is important these instructions be followed to keep the baskets consistent. All who are interested in participating by contributing items of food or cash, please contact the office for this information.

Yoga Classes – Fall 2003 – for all ages and abilities, including Gentle, Beginners, Kids Yoga, and Parent & Child Yoga. Melissa Morris-Hillman, Psy. D. is a registered Yoga Teacher, and certified Integrative Yoga Therapy Instructor. Contact Melissa at 410-961-8701 or melissa@relink.net for any information and reservations. Classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays continuing for 11 weeks.

Remember to keep your giving up to date.
We are about $17,000 behind what we had estimated for the year.