Calvary Baptist Church 120 W. Pennsylvania Avenue Towson, Maryland Telephone 410-825-3360
	Visit Calvary on the Web, point your browser to: http://www.calvarybaptist-towson.org

From the Pastor:

A phrase which has become popular over the last few years is “phone it in.” When I hear someone say: “I’ll just phone it in” or “I may just as well have phoned it in,” I believe them to be saying that their presence didn’t really matter… just their input. In a way our new technology has made us a “phone it in society.” More and more we are freed up to be present while not really being present at all. We work from home on our computers. We teleconference in business. From a pollution standpoint this may be a good thing, but from the standpoint of human interaction I am not quite so sure. We communicate so much better when we see each other face to face. There are physical cues, subtle inflections which can be missed or overlooked no matter how sophisticated the technology or well digitized the signal.

Our theology as Christians is strongly interpersonal—incarnational. When God wanted to send God’s very best, we didn’t receive a card, or an email, or a text message, or an instant message, we weren’t face booked—our theology says God took on human flesh and came to dwell among us. Years ago I was talking with Rabbi Jacob Agus about oral tradition in Judaism. Rabbi Agus said “Jewish people initially didn’t write down scripture, because words on a page can be open to interpretation…the words might mean this or maybe that, but when your Rabbi told you something you knew what he meant.” As Christians we believe that God’s most clear revelation came in the person of Jesus… when God and humanity stood face to face.

I worry about the world today, because we don’t have time to stand face to face. We are so busy… so anxious. We believe that multitasking is the key to success. Years ago Cat Stephens sang a song ‘The Cats in the Cradle” about a father too busy to relate to his son, and a son who grew up to be just like his dad. I worry about our society because we find face to face relationships to be such a bother. It is hard to relate to people you know, because you know them… You know all of their flaws and imperfections, which as Robin Williams said (as best I remember) in Good Will Hunting “those are the things that only I knew, the things that made her special.”

Don’t just phone life in. Don’t miss the chance of having meaningful face to face encounters with others… In your family, with your spouse, with your friends, even in the Body of Christ. “Do not neglect to meet together as the custom of some is…” (Heb. 10: 25a)

While you’re thinking about it come to the planning breakfast on May 6^th at 9:00 a.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday Evening Programs as usual.

May 6th We will not be having Sunday School due to the Towson Town Festival. Worship will begin at 10:00 a.m. Communion.

The deacons are hosting a breakfast for Calvary Church members in the garden at 9:00 a.m. Included at breakfast will be a time for brainstorming about the future of the congregation.

May 9^th 8:00 p.m. Deacons’ Meeting

May 13^th Mothers’ Day.

May14^th

12 Noon Annie Armstrong Circle meeting in the Church Social Room, Eleanor Bondurant as hostess 410-823-1556. Please bring a sandwich.

7:30 p.m. Needles and News at the home of Judy Weimert, 944 Radcliffe Road, 410-825-5366.

May 27^th Pick-up cakes for Our Daily Bread and return by Saturday June 2nd.

May 28

Sarah’s Hope 9:00-5:00. Come when you can.

Make plans to come to the Church Picnic on

Saturday June 9^th.

Easter Offerings from the congregation for Missions:

Thai Seminary $20,807

ABC World Missions 114

Annie Armstrong 150

PRAYER FROM THE PEOPLE: If you are willing to say or share a prayer on Sunday morning in worship, please call Don or Dianna Romano 410-377-6505. A number of books of prayers have been placed in the foyer of the church to help give you ideas for prayers.

Following is a list of our elected Deacons who will begin July 1^st.

Chairman of the Board of Deacons

Fred Ray

Deacon for Communication/Vice Chairman

Kathy Wright

Deacon of Finance/Treasurer

Randy Lott

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 Childrens’ & Youth Education

Susan Edwards

Deacon for Church & Family Life

Deacon for Missions & Outreach

Doug Thomas

Deacon for Ministry & Pastoral Care

Wendy Wallace

Deacon for Worship

Diana and Don Romano

HEALTH KITS

Annie Armstrong Circle is collecting Health kit items for the migrant workers and other health care needs. The items which are currently needed are Bath towel, Wash cloth, Soap, Shampoo, Comb, Tooth brush, Tooth paste, and/or cash.

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.