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

In the sermon last week I mentioned an article entitled “Toward a Post-Christian Spirituality,” in Weavings magazine, which was written by W. Paul Jones. On Sunday I mentioned it because of his words about Mother Teresa’s “dark night of the soul,” but in the article Mr. Jones also warns of the insidious ways in which our very scientific secular society is busily at work displacing all things deemed not scientifically verifiable: “The sacred is being lost in the secular. The world has lost its mystery and the universe its awe, with the earth sectioned off as real estate to be bought, sold, and exploited for personal and corporate gain. Skies once filled with stars as dancing eyes are now a cold and infinite emptiness where dust and ice go about their distant busyness, blotted out by urban glare.” (Weavings, January February 2009, pg. 8)

Throughout my life I have wondered what the weather was on Friday October 25, 1929… Was the sunset or sunrise breathtaking on that day, which has for American History become infamous as “Black Friday?” I have always wondered if the fall foliage was as beautiful as it can be, in Baltimore, on that day as many people, who had “lost everything,” decided to end their lives.

Our modern world has placed such a high premium on “our knowing.” We are the children of the “Enlightenment,” but where do we turn, and what do we have to turn to… when worldly wisdom fails us… and the economic world turns bleak or black? Do we observe a sunny day as a chimera? Is this God’s way of laughing at smug, worldly wise, us?

I don’t think God finds joy in human suffering, although there are scripture passages and theologies which might lead one to believe God to be retributive. However, as Christians, as ones who see God through the person of Jesus, who suffered death at the hands of very rational state leaders, I can’t help but believe that God is saddened by any human suffering, and that God is present with us in the midst of our suffering.

I believe that God’s presence whispers to us in the repetitive motion of our world… sunrise/sunset, high/low tides, seasons of the year, and instinctual behaviors of animal life. Through nature it is possible for us to hear that Spirit which moved over the face of the deep in the beginning, bringing order from chaos, and equally possible for us to find anew, hope… that the same Spirit, still moving, can bring new order in our chaotic times.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday Evening Programs as usua.l

March 08^th: Daylight Saving Time begins. Set your clocks forward.

March 08^th - Coffee Hour immediately following Church Service.

March 9^th 12 Noon – Annie Armstrong Circle meeting, at the Church Social Room. Eleanor Bondurant is the hostess. Call her 410-823-1556 for any information. Please bring a sandwich.

7 30 p.m. Needles & News meeting at the home of Libby Field 410-666-3127.

March 11^th 8:00 - Deacons’ meeting

Following is a list of the Deacons Those who are in bold print will need to be approved in a special Congregational Meeting on March 29t

Chairman of the Board of Deacons

Fred Ray

Deacon for Communication/Vice Chairman

Kathy Wright

Deacon of Finance/Treasurer

George Burton

Deacon of Records/Church Clerk

Mary Frantz

Deacon for Stewardship/Financial Secretary

Ann Ray

Deacon for Building & Grounds

Susan Byrne

Deacon for Adult Education

Ruth Kulkarni

Deacon for Children & Youth Education

Susan Edwards

Deacon for Church & Family Life

Melissa Hillman

Deacon for Missions & Outreach

Doug Thomas

Deacon for Ministry & Pastoral Care

Wendy Wallace

Deacon for Worship

Diana and Don Romano

Notice from the United States Postal Service.

Our postage is being increased to $0.44.

May we have your email address in order to send you the newsletter and other mail electronically to save some of our postage expense? You may write you email address on the attendance cards on Sunday or send it to us. We know not everyone has this address; your Newsletter will continue to be mailed.

On the first Sunday of the month, our congregation contributes cakes for Our Daily Bread. On the morning before (Saturday), we need volunteers to frost the cakes which have been delivered as well as to secure them for transportation. If you would like to help, please call the church office.

The Christmas Caroling Church Group sang so wonderfully and I was so happy. Keep it up.

Betty Herron

Annie Armstrong Circle wishes to thank everyone for the contributions of paper goods for Our Daily Bread. Thanks to everyone.

Thank you, Susan Edwards, for your creativity and thoughtfulness in making the Valentine Baskets. The work of the committee, Diana Romano, the youth and children, is greatly appreciated by the women of the church.