Issue 2012.02, January 23, 2012

Comings, Goings, Celebrations, Concerns

Educational and Informational Webinars for Pastors and Lay Leaders

The American Baptist Churches of Michigan presents a series of free one-hour webinars led by Region pastors. You are welcome to attend any one or all four of the webinars from the convenience of your own PC. However you must register separately for each of the webinars you wish to attend. Each of the webinars consists of 30-45 minutes of presentation on the subject matter, followed by 15-20 minutes of “open mic” so that attendees can ask questions or share in the discussion. Click on button below for information and registration links. Contact Ron Cary for more information (rcary@abc-mi.org).

CWS Blankets

Blankets+ Sunday

What says love more than a nice, cuddly blanket when it is cold outside? As February approaches and Valentine cards and everything red and heart shaped appears on store shelves wouldn’t it be nice if you could multiply that love?

The good news is – you can! Plan a Church World Service Blankets+ Sunday in your church and you will be spreading the love around the globe and back again. Like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, your gifts to CWS Blankets+ multiply as they are joined with the contributions of other caring congregations, yielding a rich harvest of caring for those in need. With your $5 donation a blanket can be provided for one person and for $25 five refugee children can enjoy the warmth of a blanket.

The Sunday closest to Valentine’s Day (February 12) is a perfect day to reach out to your global neighbors with the gift of love – a CWS Blanket. Consider scheduling one in your church. For more information, or to order a free congregational kit and all of the materials you will need to host a Blankets+ Sunday in your church please contact Pam at the Michigan Regional CWS office, 888-297-2767 or pfolkers@churchworldservice.org.

Lael Winter Retreats

Camp Lael has scheduled four Winter Weekend retreats in February:

For brochure and registration form click here.

Central Area Annual Meeting

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" - Romans 10:15

The Annual Meeting of the Central Area Churches will be held on January 28, 2012, at the Federated Church of Grass Lake, 9:30 – noon.

Our worship time will be led by Lynne Punnett and Dolly Tittle from the First Baptist Church of Ypsilanti, who will also share their experiences as part of the 2011 Michigan Servants for Christ mission team to Haiti.

Later in the morning we will hear from several of our Central Area churches reporting on their participation in the Missional Church Learning Experience through ABC-USA. Each church was awarded a small grant as seed money for a specialized community project designed by the individual congregations as a way to reach out and to bring the Gospel into the community.

There will also be a short business meeting with the election of officers and approval of the budget. Nominations are being accepted for Secretary, one of three members of the Central Area Leadership Team. The Annual Report with the proposed budget will be available by January 20 and we will be happy to email it to you to review before the meeting.

There is no cost for this event but we do like to have registration ahead of time so we know how to plan. Please register by contacting Sue Ellen Glover (gloverse@hotmail.com or 734-663-9376). Of course, walk-ins are welcome on the day of the event!

Have You Considered the Retool Pathway for Your Church?

The Rev. Tom Roberts, pastor of the West Highland Baptist Church in Milford led his church to engage in Retool. They are now in the final stages of the journey. Reflecting on the benefits to his church, he says that with a high level of participation and the “superb job” of leadership provided by their Retool coach, Dr. David Nichols, significant positive results have been achieved including “…a sense of community that has enhanced our relationships (and increased) an excitement about God’s plan for the future. We have been able to increase our leadership pool (and to) target specific ministries in the community and the church. We are now deploying the people and resources needed to see those ministries become a reality.”

On February 23, Roberts and other Retool leaders will share some of the positive results and challenges of participation in the Retool Pathway, through a free webinar entitled “Retool Review.” Registration information can be found in this edition of E-Link or at the Region website where you can find more detailed information about Retool (www.abc-mi.org).

Program on Combatting Bullying

The 70th Annual Glazer Institute on Judaism will be held Friday morning, February 10, at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills. The Institute invites clergy of all faiths to attend this year's program on Combatting Bullying, Cruelty, Depression and Suicide Among Young People - A Religious Imperative. The program features Rabbi Daniel Syme of Temple Beth El and Heather Irish, founder and CEO of MINDS, a non-profit organization educating high school students about mental illness and suicide.

Presentations will be held at 9:30 and 10:45 with lunch provided. RSVP to Tina Crozier (248/865-0602 or tcrozier@tbeonline.org ) before February 3. Click here for brochure. For more information go to the Temple Bethel website.

Short Notices

Editor's Trips*

The Editor

*Every edition of E-Link Online features links to articles the Editor has tripped over while wasting time surfing the Web. Posting of these links does not imply that either the Editor or the American Baptist Churches of Michigan necessarily agrees with, endorses, or otherwise puts a stamp of approval on the views expressed in them. Their value comes from whatever further thought, discussion, debate, inquiry, discernment, fury, repentance, Damascus Road conversion experience, change of mind, concerted action, or occasional laugh they may provoke. Readers are invited to send their own suggestions to the Editor.