Patricia Vanette Dodge Memorial Service

Attended a beautiful memorial service today for Pat Dodge. She was a good friend and a wonderful person. The service here at her Central Baptist Church was well-attended and the speakers were all very thoughtful. The hymns and music were especially poignant. She will be remembered by all.

CELEBRATING OUR MINISTERS of MUSIC

Wonderful program today at church: Celebrating Our Ministers of Music. Kari Miller, Director of Music, gave an overview of the history of music at Central Baptist Church. Then three former music directors/organists spoke and played for us. Such a powerful program in the sanctuary. After the musical portion of the program, there was an unveiling of the pictures of all nine former organists. Then a wonderful reception in the church parlor where everyone got a chance to renew old acquaintances.

Four of the Music Directors/Organists that were present:

William R Gable
1953-1974

Lois Jungas
1974-1975

Bruce Henley
1983-1995

Richard Matteson
1996-2006

Karen 5th Anniversary Celebration

Wonderful celebration today at Central Baptist Church in honor of the arrival of the first Karen families five years ago. This was a blended service in English, Vietnamese, French, Spanish and Karen. Many visitors were present. A large contingent of Karen brothers and sisters from Albany, NY sang for us. This was truly a joyful day!

Church Clean-up Day

Getting Central Baptist Church ready for the Lenten Season and Easter, a small group this morning cleaning up the church. This is an annual event and very well organized.

cleaning supplies are ready

Ten Things to Know about American Baptists

Ten Things to Know...

Click on the hyperlink above to read an ABC webpage.

Ordination of Mr. Doan Ngoc Son

The ordination of Doan Ngoc Son [Sonny] was held today at the end of the service. Pastors John and Ich officiated and presented Sonny to the congregation. After answering to the questions presented he was officially named a pastor and received his robe. Members of the Vietnamese community sang 'Amazing Grace'. After the service the congregation was invited to a reception.

a request to the church community...

Holocaust Memorial in Berlin

I have just returned from the area of the world we call Eastern Europe. I was there to continue my prayer odyssey: Pray for Peace. In what was once Nazi-occupied Poland I visited two concentration camps/extermination centers. In Auschwitz I prayed at the 'Wall of Death' where political prisoners were shot. In Birkenau, twenty times larger than Auschwitz, I stood in a gas chamber...where millions were murdered. I ask you to pray for peace, not only today and not only in church but every day and everywhere so that this cycle of hate is obliterated. Maybe not in our generation but in that of our children and grandchildren.

Prisoner Arrival Depot at Birkenau

blognote: for more info see my website pray75.blogspot.com