Calvary Baptist Church 120 W. Pennsylvania Avenue Towson, Maryland Telephone: 410-825-3360
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From the Pastor:

Since February is fast approaching I thought it might be good to talk about lore, legends and our life on earth; an alternative title for this article might be ‘of groundhogs and ostriches.’ I thought I might write about animals which come out of their burrows and those who ‘stick their heads into the sand.’ On the Discovery channel or somewhere I seem to remember seeing a program which indicated that groundhogs actually did interrupt their hibernation to come out of their lairs in midwinter to find a mate, so that in the spring they could begin their family as soon as it was warm. This appeared to be such a happy rational understanding of Groundhog’s Day; however, Wikipedia doesn’t appear to know anything about this midwinter foray into the cold.

Wikipedia, the internet free encyclopedia, says Groundhog’s Day was an ancient Germanic celebration on the day mid-way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Christians came to celebrate this day as Candlemas. Wikipedia also informed me that the legend that ostriches stuck their heads in the sand was started by something written by Pliny the Elder about ostriches putting their heads in bushes. Ostriches do rub their heads in the sand to get stones in their stomach to help them digest food. So maybe this article should be entitled ‘midwinter and other myths shattered.’

Today in the paper there was an article from the Boston Globe about a middle school science teacher, in Seattle, Washington, who was prevented from showing Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth as an introduction to the subject of global warming. I saw most of the movie when I was in balmy Buffalo the week after Christmas. Certainly the movie and its predictions of Polar icecaps melting and costal cities flooding is frightening, so is the idea of the interruption of ocean currents and a possible ice age in Europe. The reason the teacher was prevented from showing the movie was that a father, while agreeing that the earth was warming, “said it is caused by God, not man, and is a sign that Judgment Day is approaching.”

It was at this point I probably wanted to talk about ‘heads up and heads in the sand,’ but I think it would be better to say our faith is often defined with paradoxical beliefs. We believe that certainly if God is just, there will come a day of judgment. We also believe that God is graceful and all of us have sinned, and if God were to count iniquities, none of us could stand. We also have paradoxical beliefs about creation and our place in it. We believe that God is above all things and in all things, but we also believe that God brought humanity into being as stewards, caretakers, of this garden we call earth. Certainly there are things which are beyond our control, but aren’t we called to control ourselves—to walk in harmony with both creation and Creator? Maybe in this mid-winter we should celebrate Groundhog’s Day or Candlemas by remembering that Jesus said we were to be the light of the world.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday Evening Programs as usual.

Youth Skiing Trip: Saturday February 3rd we will go skiing at White Tail Ski Area. Attempts will be made to keep the cost around $62 per person. If you are interested in going as a skier or chaperone speak with Doug Thomas (410-825-1460), or the Church Office (410-825-3360. Friends are welcome. If you need financial help in going, talk to the pastor.

February 4 Communion

February 8^th 3:30 - 7:00 p.m. Shelter meal

Let the pastor know if you would like to help with preparation or delivery.

February 11^th

Coffee Hour following worship service.

12: 00 - 2:30 Youth Program

3:00 Candace Geelhaar in “Lend Me a Tenor” at Parkville High School. A $5.00 donation is payable at the door.

February 12^th

12 Noon – Annie Armstrong Circle meeting

in the Church Social Room; Evaline Norton

is hostess. Please bring a sandwich.

7:30 p.m. Needles & News at the home of Ann Ray, 8 Theo Lane, 410-321-0202.

February 14^th 8:00 p.m. Deacons’ Meeting

February 21^st

6:15 p.m. Supper

7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service

We welcome members from Mount Olive Baptist Church to dinner and Bible Study

February 25th

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

February 26^th

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sarah’s Hope

Come any time you can.

On March 11^th at 9:45a.m. Dr. Arthur Abramson and Lynn Katzen from The Baltimore Jewish Council will be coming to speak on the current and historic situation of Israel and the Palestinians.

SANCTUARY FLOWERS

Mary Lou Doty will take care of your flowers at Church for dedication, or in honor of birthdays and anniversaries. Please phone Mary Lou at 410-252-1862.

New Members:

Sarah Nicole Stockdale was baptized and joined our church Sunday, January 28^th. This is also her birthday. We congratulate Sarah on her 9^th birthday and she is welcomed as our new member. Her parents are Marie and David Stockdale.

Carolyn and Sam Jackson have moved their membership to Calvary Baptist Church. Sam and Carolyn had been members at First Baptist Church, and have had a long friendship with Ellen Gniazdowski, Henry Yeager, and Bill and Adah Edwards, who had also attended that congregation

Christian Kirby joined the congregation in December. Chris is the Chaplain and Religion instructor at the Gillman School. Chris is also seeking the congregation’s assistance in the ordination process.

Nancy Dively joined our church January 21^st. Nancy (Windy) has MS and her illness necessitated her moving from Cockeysville to TABCO Towers. She is looking for people to walk with her in the MS Walk in the Inner Harbor on April 19^th.

We welcome Sarah, Nancy, Christian, Carolyn and Sam into our church fellowship.

Sunday Morning Class on the Parables: The pastor will be leading a six week Lenten course on the teachings of Jesus, from February 25 – April 1. The class will meet from 9:45-10:45 on Sunday mornings.