From the Pastor:

Today when I opened the morning paper the headline read “Profound Regret.” The article addressed a resolution of the Maryland General Assembly that spoke of the State’s “profound regret for the role that Maryland played in instituting and maintaining slavery and for the discrimination that was slavery’s legacy.” The resolution passed without debate by a vote of 130 to 6. After the vote some Delegate said: “It was long overdue.” Another said “I don’t think apologies solve anything… They’re just feel-good superficial measures.” Other Delegates said: “Enslavement requires much more than a simple ‘I’m sorry.’” One Delegate who voted against the resolution said: “My family was in Ireland fighting the British against their oppression… I don’t believe I should be in a position to apologize for something that other people did.”

While all of these Delegates’ positions have merit, the sad truth is that the deeply ingrained mentality that allowed us to enslave people of color for 400 years has created in our country a tradition of marginalization for black people. The evidence of this ongoing mindset is reflected in the disproportionate number of African American people among the ranks of the poor, or in minimum wage jobs, or imprisoned, or in shelters. For me it extends to my experience of the almost exclusively white leadership I saw in the Navy, and also a haunting fear that our Baptist congregation might not seriously consider an African American to be its Pastor. While the Irish and other immigrants have faced persecution in our land, we at least have had at least ten Presidents who claim Irish heritage.

I agree that words of apology can be “just feel-good superficial measures,” which is interesting, especially as the Church calendar is moving toward Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Certainly these are not to be feel-good superficial days but days of sincere repentance and apology for Christians. I hear people say, and join them in saying, “He died for my sin,” but I am not Roman or Jewish. How can I possibly be expected to “apologize for something other people did”?

Was John the Baptist right in confronting those who came to him for baptism with the words “Bear fruits that befit repentance…”? Which should come first the apology or the fruit of repentance? Do we need to earn God’s grace? If grace is earned, is it grace at all?

There are times when all of us need to say we are sorry… and times when each one of us needs to apologize. In those times I hope that we, one and all, might experience the grace of being forgiven, and may the forgiveness and grace, experienced in this season, produce the fruits of grace in our living.

Wednesday Evening Programs as usual except there is no dinner April 4th.

April 1^st Palm Sunday

9:00 Blessing of the Palms at the fountain

9:45 Sunday School

11:00 Worship with Communion

April 5^th 7:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Service

April 6^th Good Friday: Sanctuary will be open from 12:00-3:00p.m for private prayer.

April 8^th Easter Sunday. No Coffee Hour

April 9th

12 Noon – Annie Armstrong Circle meeting

in the Church Social Room, Mary Frantz hostess, 410-252-0560. Please bring a sandwich.

6:30 p.m. Needles & News are celebrating Spring with an evening out at Towson’s Best. Please join us. We will meet at the Church at 6:15 p.m. and walk to the Restaurant together. Phone Church Office on or before April 5^th if you are able to attend.

410-825-3360.

April 11th

8:00 p.m. Board of Deacons meeting.

April 12^th 4:00-7:00 p.m. Shelter Meal

April 22nd Teachers Appreciation Sunday.

April 23^rd 9:00 – 5:00 Sarah’s Hope.

April 29^th

Pick-up cakes for Our Daily Bread and return by Saturday, May 5th.

3:00 p.m. Service at Pickersgill Retirement Home.

April 27-30 ABCOTS Annual Session,

Raleigh, N. C. See the schedule on the bulletin board for meetings, and speak with the pastor if you would like to attend any of the events. Arrangements will need to be made to make you a delegate or visitor.

MIGRANT WORKER and DISASTER HEALTH KITS Beginning Mid-April through May

The Annie Armstrong Circle is collecting items for the migrant worker kits through the middle of May. There is a revised list of the most needed items: Bath towel, Wash cloth, Soap, Shampoo, Comb, Tooth brush, & Tooth paste.

We are accepting money if you would prefer that we make the purchases. Thank you for all of your contributions.

Dear Church Family;

Your support and prayers have helped so much before and since Bob went to be with the Lord. Thank you and God bless.

Elizabeth and Amos Children

Dear Members of Calvary Baptist Church;

On behalf of Dave and myself we wish to thank you for your cards and prayers during his two months stay in the hospital. Your thoughtfulness helped us get through those difficult days. It is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Nancy and Dave Clark

Baseball Hall of Fame Family Weekend:

I mentioned in worship that Pathfinder Lodge, a camp in Cooperstown, NY, which Judy Weimert attended as a child, is offering a Hall of Fame weekend this summer during Cal Ripkin’s induction into the Hall. These are their rates for the weekend, for 1-4 people… from Friday night, July 27^th, at 7:00 pm – noon on Monday, July 30^th… including breakfast and hourly shuttle transportation, swimming & boating:

Cabin with bath $400

Cabin with shared bathhouse $350

Campsites with water & elect. $200

Let me know if you would like to go.