Inside this Issue

JUNE 2019

1 Pastor's Word

2 Preaching Schedule

2 Worship Team

3 Discipleship Team

3 Coffee Fellowship

4 Missions Team

4 WABC Women

5 Celebrations

5 Mother’s Day

6 FBC Littleton

7 Fundraising

7 Father’s Day

BAPTIST

BULLETIN West Acton Baptist Church Newsletter

June 2019

West Acton Baptist Church

592 Massachusetts Ave.

Acton, MA 01720

978-263-5902

wabcadmin@verizon.net

www.westactonbaptistchurch.org

Dear Members and Friends of WABC,

Grief has surrounded me in recent days. A dear friend of mine died this week. She had been

struggling for years with metastasized cancer. Kate was a faithful member of my home church

and she was so full of life. Kate talked about wanting to “die living” and she took this goal

seriously. Just days before her death she had been on a Mediterranean cruise, determined to

continue to live life fully right up to the end. What’s unique about this particular grief is that I

am not filled with overwhelming sadness but instead I am full of gratitude and joy. Yes, of

course, I am sad that I will never be with Kate again in this life, that we will never again share

a laugh or a hug. Yet, I am mostly filled with gratitude for all that she gave to us while she

lived. Most profound for me was her bright, warm, joyful smile which she beamed at me from

a front pew as I stumbled through my first few sermons as a seminarian. Kate was filled with

grace.

The last verse of the last Chapter of the last Book of the Bible reads: “The grace of the Lord

Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.” Grace. Unearned favor. Unconditional love. God offers

grace to all. Everyone, with no exceptions. Kate knew this grace offered by God and she

extended that grace to all whom she met. I think this is what made her so capable of joy in

the midst of such pain and sorrow. Kate had a way of being defiant about her diagnosis. She

would not let the cancer slow her down. She understood that no matter how bad it got, God

was always with her, loving her and supporting her.

A colleague of mine recently wrote: “Joy is our act of resistance.” In the midst of various kinds

of grief, in the midst of losing cherished loved ones, in the midst of the declining membership

in North American churches, in the midst of violence and hatred in the world, joy is an act of

resistance. When we cultivate joy through practices of hope and gratitude, we find ourselves

resisting the forces of despair and fear. In reflecting on my gratitude for Kate’s life, I have

found more joy than despair. Where has gratitude shifted you from despair to hope? Where

has the Spirit worked through grief to bring you joy?

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Laura

June 2

Seventh Sunday of Easter

“Come, Lord Jesus!”

Revelation 22:12-13, 16-17, 20-21

June 9

Pentecost & Celebration Sunday

Guest Preacher – Rev. Dr. David Reynolds

Philippians 4:4-9

June 16

Father’s Day – Trinity Sunday

“God’s Many Names”

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

June 23

Guest Preacher – Kevin Vetiac

(Pastor Laura at ABC/USA Mission Summit)

June 30

Guest Preacher – Rev. Gregory Sakal

(Pastor Laura on vacation)

Communion Servers:

Ruth Thatcher, Phil MacPhee, Elise Erikson & Nancy Dodge

Scripture Readers:

June 2 Nancy Emerson Lombardo

June 9 Nancy Dodge

June 16 Linda O'Neil

June 23 Ruth Thatcher

June 30 OPEN

Flowers:

June 2 Nancy Emerson Lombardo

June 9 Discipleship Team

June 16 Kathi Gellar

June 23 OPEN

June 30 OPEN

2018-2019 Annual Program Reports will be available

following worship on June 2nd. If you are not here, one

can be emailed to you or pick it up from the church office.

Nursery Care for children ages 0-5 is available in the lower level during worship, Olivia Bruneau & Stephanie

Dodge are the providers.

The WAY will meet on Sunday June 9th at 9:00am to help assemble the hoagies and to setup for our meeting

after worship service. Thank you to all that ordered a “Heavenly Hoagie”.

Sunday School for the 2018-2019 year has ended. The last day was Sunday, May 19, we will resume in

September. We talked about what we think Heaven is like and all the children who attended drew pictures of

what they thought Heaven looked like.

We encourage all children grades 1-6 and the youth to attend worship service during the Summer months.

Thank you Pastor Laura for Prayer/Bible Study this past year. Prayer/Bible study will resume in the Fall.

NEXT Discipleship Team meeting is on Sunday, June 2nd following worship in the DEN.

Summer Camp - Both Grotonwood & Oceanwood have the programs on their website grotonwood.org &

oceanwood.org and there are brochures in the church office. Camperships are available to anyone wishing to

attend camp.

Fundraiser - On Sunday, June 2 the Discipleship Team will be taking donations in

honor of the Boston Bruins making it to the Stanley Cup Finals. If you wear your

Bruins gear $1 donation is suggested, $2 donation if you don't & $5 if you wear

gear for the opposing team.

Save the Dates:

June 9th Celebration Sunday

The WAY along with the Discipleship Team will be selling Hoagies for our Annual Meeting. A form for you to place

your order is available in fellowship hall or call the church office. Orders due by June 2nd.

Family Fun Day - On July 21st we will gather with FBC Littleton at NARA Park for

an afternoon of Fun, Food & Fellowship following worship. There is swimming,

boating, games, a playground and a walking path around the pond. RSVP Form

will be available next month.

This Month’s Schedule is:

June 2 Officers

June 9 Discipleship Team

Please note, after June 9th only coffee, tea & juice will be out for refreshments until Rally Sunday, September 8th

• This year's Picnic in the Park at the Acton

Arboretum is scheduled for Friday, June 14th

at noon. Please bring a sandwich & something

to share and a lawn chair if you don't want to

sit at the picnic table.

• All Women & Girls are invited for a Mystery

Ride for lunch following worship on July 14th

• We will go out to lunch following worship on

August 11th

• Bible/Book Study - In September, we will

begin a Women's Bible/Book Study on "Really

Bad Girls of the Bible" by Liz Curtis Higgs. We

have thoroughly enjoyed the other 2 we have

done by the same author so participants will

not be disappointed. A link is on the WABC

Women's web page of our church website for

you to purchase a book if you would like; it is

helpful to read with the study but not

necessary, we follow a DVD.

• WABC Women’s Calendar of Events is

available on the WABC Women’s page on the

church website.

• Acton Food Pantry - Thanks to all who have contributed May's

canned fruit & vegetable donations. For the month of June we

are asking for donations of condiments (mayo, mustard, ketchup

etc...)

• Father's Day - if you would like to give a gift in honor or memory

of a father or special "parent" figure this Father's Day, please fill

out the form provided.

• The Mission Team also is reminding us that our own "Loving

Hearts" outreach is a place where you can provide a donation in

honor of someone. Just make your check out to WABC , memo:

"Loving Hearts".

• One Great Hour of Sharing continues with all the terrible

weather disasters in the U.S. and the world.

• We will meet following the June 9 Annual Meeting at a date TBD

as we organize our outreaches in Jesus name

• Keep our IM Global Servants in prayer.

June Birthdays

Jared Richards June 5 Diana Parton June 7

Rev. Rob Branch June 9 Valerie Gramolini June 10

Bruce Dawes June 11 Andrew Long-Middleton June 11

Nancy Emerson-Lombardo June 12 Nancy Henry June 13

Ellen Long-Middleton June 14 Matthew Long-Middleton June 17

Pastor Laura Harris-Adam June 20 Sharon Armistead June 26

Carol Peabody June 26 Judy Branch June 29

Beverly Thatcher June 29

June Anniversaries

Pastor Laura & Josiah Harris-Adam June 6

Ingrid & Dan Eppelsheimer June 8

Connie & Bob Ingram June 11

Andrew Neff & Karen Switzer-Neff June 16

Bev & Bob Thatcher June 25

Jared & Alison Richards June 30

The following people have given a donation to

Church World Service

for Mother’s Day!

Elise Erikson

In honor of Ashley Erikson

In memory of Vera Cardin

In memory of Mildred Erikson

Ruth Thatcher

In honor of mothers in war-torn areas of our world

Lori Bruneau

In honor of Janice Ouellette

In honor of Barbette Bruneau

In honor of Valerie Cochrane

In memory of Emelda Ouellette

Bev Thatcher

In memory of Greta Jones & Esther

Thatcher

Devin and Philip MacPhee

In honor of Lisa MacPhee

Jim and Joan Richards

In memory of Gloria Hick Hansen

In memory of Dorothy Hansen

In memory of Thereas Richards

In memory of Linda Hansen Buehner

Phil MacPhee

In honor of Irene Egan

In honor of Mary MacPhee

In honor of Cheryl MacPhee

In memory of Arleen Egan

Please join us for these timely discussions this summer, and invite your friends too! Held in the Fellowship Hall,

First Baptist Littleton, 461 King St., Littleton, MA.

After two years of topics, this summer’s topics dive to the root of the shame, fear, and disconnection that have

been present in our Asking the Hard Questions about racism, addiction, suicide, domestic violence, anxiety and

depression, Alzheimer’s, aging, chronic illness, etc.

June 13, 5:45 p.m.-7 p.m. Common Thursday, Asking the Hard Questions: How are we a part of the Loneliness

Epidemic? We'll be doing a summer salad buffet, not soup. Bring a contribution to the salad bar.

Suggested reading: Brené Brown's Braving the Wilderness

Or watch this interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9FopgKyAfI

July 11, 5:45 p.m.-7 p.m. Common Thursday, Asking the Hard Questions: Friendship and Belonging vs. Fitting

In—what do we ask of or give to others? Bring a contribution for the summer salad buffet.

Aug. 8, 5:45 p.m.-7 p.m. Common Thursday, Asking the Hard Questions: Intimacy: how are we intimate with

God and with others? Bring a contribution for the summer salad buffet.

Memory Cafe - On the Fourth Saturday every month from 10am-noon, all caregivers and their charges are invited

to attend Memory Cafe. There are discussions, activities & fellowship all geared towards those with memory

issues. Check out their Facebook page for the past activities to get an idea of all they do.

NOTE from Val Nolen: June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness month. As you may not know I lost my Sister

Vilenar Shorter who was a Geriatric Social worker to Alzheimer disease. I knew nothing about it. For over 15

years I have been working in partnership with the local and national Alzheimer's Association and Boston

University Alzheimer's disease center. I am passionately committed to support their mission to Educate and bring

Awareness to families and communities.

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A gift to the CHURCH WORLD SERVICE BLANKET & KITS program makes a great alternative gift for your special

someone for Father’s Day or any other occasion! Your gift of love helps families in the aftermath of disaster or

those struggling against poverty.

I would like to make a donation for Father's Day!

In honor of: ___________________________________________________________________________________

In memory of: _________________________________________________________________________________

Name: ______________________________________________________ Envelope # ______

# of blankets/tools ____ X $10.00 = $_________

# of School Kits ____ X $17.00 = $_________

# of Hygiene Kits ____ X $17.00 = $_________

Donation towards shipping $_________

Total Amount enclosed $_________

Make checks payable to WABC, memo: CWS Blankets & Kits We have donations/cards available for all occasions if you would like to honor someone for their birthday, anniversary or

just Thinking of You. Please contact the church office for other cards, Father’s Day cards are available to acknowledge your

donation in the church coatroom.

Coffee - We place an order for coffee the first Monday of every month. You may fill out an order form from the

back of the sanctuary or fill out the form on our website. The cost is $11/lb for Regular –

Whole/Ground/Medium/Dark and $12/lb for Decaf Whole/Ground/Medium/Dark. The coffee is Fair Trade &

Organic and is roasted & shipped within 24 hours. Our church gets $3/lb for every pound we sell. COFFEE makes a

great GIFT! Once you taste this coffee, you’ll never want anything else. In fact, this is what we served on Easter!

NEXT orders going in at 9am on Monday, June 3rd.

Amazon - Don't forget to click on the Amazon.com link on our website so that we earn 4-6% of everything you

purchase during that visit. Please spread the word to your friends and family by telling your them to click on the

Amazon.com clipart on our website! If you forget, Amazon may prompt you for AmazonSmile, here is our direct

link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/04-6067819 Your click does make a difference!! Last year, we took in almost

$350, keep clicking!

RADA Cutlery - We have a continuous internet Fundraiser through RADA Cutlery. Please use this link to purchase

items directly from RADA. Share the link with your friends, family & Facebook!! Rada Cutlery is 100% American

Made – raw materials and construction and has made & sold over 150,000,000 knives since 1948, earning the

reputation for remarkable cutlery, service, and value. https://radafundraising.com?rfsn=837262.422f8&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=influencers&utm_campaign=837262.422f8