A publication of The First Baptist Church of Westfield

The Minister Reflects Love is a Gift.

It is truly a sweet sound to hear little voices shouting out “We’re painting pots today!” or “I need a smock!” The excitement our chil-dren express as they anticipate painting pots for their plant delivery to Genesis HealthCare in West-field is quite conta-gious.

Thanks to the help of Jen Gawronski, we started this project about three years ago, and it quickly became a core part of our children’s projects in the Spring months.

What makes this service project so special is the gift of LoVe our chil-dren offer to the Genesis residents. The smiles and excitement seen on the outside are accompanied by true, uninhibited, genuine feelings of LoVe toward others on the inside.

One of the beauties of childhood is the ability to LoVe freely and whole-heartedly without reservation. Kind of like, well actually, just like the LoVe we receive from God.

This is precisely why our Genesis

You see, LoVe grows and blossoms with time. It will take work on our behalf for LoVe to freely from us.

Spending time with God is key in knowing and truly experienc-ing this gift of LoVe. So, always remember devotion to prayer creates opportunity for God’s LoVe to flourish in you.

In the month of May, we will spend time exploring the meaning of LoVe. We’ll talk about how to abide in

LoVe, the transparency of LoVe as well as the protection and provision that stem from LoVe.

So, I invite you to come know LoVe in a new way. Open your heart to be a gift of LoVe to those around you.

For as an old hymn says, “And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. They will know we are Christians by our love…” (Lyrics from They’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love) May LoVe continually abound in you.

Peace and LoVe, Rev. Sully

project is such a wonderful example of LoVe in its purest form. Hearing that some residents were brought to

tears in receiving a plant from our children is a true testament to the power of LoVe. A reminder that when the LoVe of God abides in us it will freely exude from us unto others.

So then, how will we too openly ex-perience God’s LoVe in and for us? In his Gospel, John shares with us Jesus’ teachings on the best way to do this when he stated, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Choir Notes THANKS… to the

Children’s Choir and their director, Erin Klein, for singing Ho-Ho-Ho Hosanna for the 30th year on Palm Sunday… for the beautiful and inspi-rational music during Holy Week — the Chancel Choir on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter; the combined Youth and Chancel Song Leaders for adding their voices to the Maundy Thursday service; and the Chancel Song Leaders on Good Fri-day and Easter… Thanks also to Wendy Engel for singing with the Song Leaders on Good Friday; to Katie Engel and Dot Waugh for ringing handbells, and Paul Koslowski and Tyler Martin for playing trumpet on Easter... to Glen Brown for playing guitar during wor-ship in April… to Steve Lind, for rehearsing the Ringers after worship on April 15… and to the Youth Song Leaders and the Della Peruti Trom-bone Trio for leading the music dur-ing worship on April 29…

Children's Choir Parents:

A Reminder Our Children's Choir sings twice

more before their summer "vacation," so please try to have your children at as many rehearsals as possible. It’s important that they are comfortable as a music ensemble — in knowing the song and equally in working together as a group. We understand that they may need to miss from time to time, so if need be, please contact their director, Erin Klein, to let her know. Our Children’s Choir (age 4 through grade 5) rehearses with Erin at the end of Sunday School and a few minutes into reception time. They are presently working on songs for May 13 worship (Mother’s Day) and June 3 worship (Children’s Sunday). Any questions or concerns — please con-tact Erin, or Bill Mathews, Minister of Music. Thanks!

page 2 The Messenger

CHURCH COUNCIL

ANNOUNCE-MENT

May 6, 2012

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

AFTER WORSHIP SERVICE

AGENDA ♦ Approval of Officers and

Committee Members ♦ Committee Reports ♦ Treasurer’s Report ♦ Investment Report All are invited and encouraged to participate

RETREAT AT FBC

May 19, 2012, 9am-2pm (lunch served)

AGENDA •Baptist Principles and Thought •Celebration and Transition of New Officers and Committee Members RSVP to Nancy in the office, no later than May 11 (must plan lunch). All are invited and en-couraged to participate.

Music in May & June Chancel Choir May 6, 13, & 20

June 3

Chancel Ringers May 20

Children’s Choir

May 13 June 3

Youth Music

June 10

FBC Orchestra June 17

with rehearsals after worship

on June 3 and 10

Music will be available on May 20

DO YOU PLAY GUITAR?

If so, let us know! FBC would like to create a

guitar ensemble to play during worship one Sunday during July or August. See Glen Brown after worship or drop an e-mail to Bill Mathews.

Anyone wanting to submit pictures they have taken of our church family, please e-mail them to: firstbaptist.westfield@verizon.net Nancy can then upload them to our picture folder.

Youth Music Upcoming Rehearsals

Youth Song Leaders

May 6 May 20 June 3

Youth Instrumentalists

May 20 June 3

All rehearsals are immediately after worship

The Messenger page 3

BUILDING UPDATES FROM OUR FACILITIES & FINANCE COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR, PAUL CLARK For the past 4 years on F&F, our present, and even some of our past committee members are involved, providing a vital ser-vice to our Church. These committee members (past and present) are as follows: Barron Cashdollar, Alan Greenlaw, Harry Keen, Nancy Lambros, Steve Lind, Ike Alvarado, Caroline Siess, and myself. Below are most of the Church projects that Fa-cilities & Finance has been involved with, and I must say each and everyone has helped in a different capacity. • boiler repairs and heating system • 4 new AC units in the sanctuary and lounge • Fire escape off of the lounge • Lounge lighting • Dungeon sump pump electrical supply • Lower entrance yard sump pump • Painting the lounge and upstairs classrooms • Slate roof repair • Narthex roof rebuilding • YMCA, office and a programmable thermostat installation • New natural gas pressure regulator upgrades for our 3 boilers • YMCA drain cleaning & drain repair • New lounge carpet • Ongoing building and grounds work • Cleaning up of the basement area • Misc electrical work throughout the bldg

Help is needed on Saturday, May 5, beginning around 9am through Noon, with cleaning and sprucing up around the church. Hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch! C’mon by!!!

Genesis Project Our children were so excited to paint pots in preparation for our third visit to the Genesis HealthCare facility in West-field. While at Genesis, children deliver potted plants and sang songs for the residents. It is truly a wonderful way for our children to be missionaries in our community.

What a wonderful example of God’s love flowing through all generations!

Pictured below: 1) Kaleigh Spinner & 2) Olivia Morris handing giving their plants to residents; and 3) Joe Gawronski with sons Will & Connor, along with Melissa Winey and Olivia Ro-sario, visiting with a resident.

...Dot Waugh, Lil Wheeler, Caroline Siess and Lee Roma-no for helping to mail out the April Messenger. ...Jean Kellogg, Pam Greenlaw, and Cherie Parker for preparing the wonderful Easter breakfast. ...A belated thank you to Lil Wheeler, who helped out with our COAL event in March. ...Terry & Ken Wooster, who coordinated our Easter Flower ordering and distribution, and to those who helped on Easter Sunday: Dwight, Wendy, Katie & Molly Engel, Cherie Parker, Allison Johnson, Lil Wheeler, & Dot Bachman. ...all those who contributed to our ongoing food drive. Canned foods are always needed, particularly meats & milk. Box outside office.

5/10 Norman Yang & Jane Tsai 5/11 Don & Dee Dee Turlington 5/19 Charles & Wanda McCloud

5/1 Luis Araujo 5/3 Michelene Lambros Bob Rainey 5/6 Tim Greenlaw Jeff Greenlaw Tyler Martin 5/11 Cheryl Rosario 5/12 Louise Russell 5/16 Barron Cashdollar 5/18 Elliott Johnson Ruthanne Swartz Donnie Turlington Adriana Rodriguez 5/19 Lou Ruprecht 5/20 Melanie Della Peruti 5/22 Jean Kellogg 5/24 David Virzi 5/25 Barry Hinman 5/28 Stephanie McCloud Doris Painter

News, Note s , Up co mi ng E vent s . . .

page 4 The Messenger

MAY 13

Grace Lee Thomp-son Scholarship Applications due

May 15!

WOMENS BOOK CLUB

SAT, MAY 12,

10AM CHURCH LOUNGE

Book for discussion is “Lottery” by Patricia

Wood. Please bring items for “Women in Crisis” to this

meeting. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

There’s still time to register for the

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE &

RETREAT Thurs. - Sat., May 31—June 2

AT HARVEY CEDARS CONFERENCE CENTER, Long Beach Island

Sometimes we owe ourselves a “time

out”—-at time to reflect on God’s beautiful world and on his Word. To register or to make a donation,

contact Bette Savage or Jean Kellogg.

MAY 28 Remembering all who served and continue to serve

our Country.

RUMMAGE SALE / BAKE SALE WHEN? SAT, MAY 5 TIME? 9am—4pm

WHERE? HARVEY HALL

FUNDRAISER FOR SUMMER MISSION TRIP

Items should be delivered this week and labeled "Rummage

Sale" . They can be dropped in the Reading Room of Harvey Hall (just as you enter from Elm St).

Anyone interested in baking should deliver by 8 o’clock on the

day of the sale. If it is easier, you may drop off on Friday, 5/4, and leave in the upstairs kitchen labeled "Bake Sale". Baked goods

should be packaged for sale in portions to be sold for $1, with the exception of cupcakes. A list of ingredients

should accompany the treats.

You may contact Katie McGuire @732-762-2657 or katiem218@aol.com with any questions,

or the church office.

The Messenger page 5

The spinach seedlings planted and tended by Jessy Brown and Melissa Winey have been returned to HomeFirst for re-planting in the Community Garden. It will provide nutritious food for their clients.

Generous donations to the Easter offering provided over $1,600 to be given to The Food Pantry of First Baptist Church of Cranford/Elizabeth, The North Jersey Community Food Bank and Grace’s Kitchen in Plainfield.

Bag lunches for homeless individuals in New York City were made for a Bridges run on April 27th. The team consisted of Lil Wheeler, Maryann Friscia, Linda Johnson, Beth Frantz, Caroline Siess, Mary Chin and Dot Bachman. Thanks also to Wanda McCloud who handled the shopping detail at BJs and Carleen Morris who helped locate elusive condiment packets.

On May 16 we will partner with the Presby-terian Church of Westfield for the FISH program. Four volunteers from FBC will provide the evening meal for homeless families hosted by the Presbyterian Church. This is the first of what will be on on-going commitment. We need more volunteers so we can rotate helpers and schedule each one only three times a year. Speak to Janet Winey for more details. Check out the new Missions bulletin board just outside the Lounge. It will be updated regularly and keep you informed about our missionary partners, current projects, and other ways you can help. Thank you to Beth Frantz and Nova Spinner for getting it started!

P astor’s Corner

First things First ?

If you were to organize where you spend your �me and energy and mon-ey, what would be at the top of your list – what are the “real” priori�es in your life?

ü Self? ü Family? ü Friends? ü Work? ü Career? ü School? ü Kingdom of God?

From �me to �me, it is very good to stop and to look at our priority list and to determine if some re-ordering is mandated. It could mean the difference between living life and living life!

Remember the door of my office, my heart and my ears are always open for a good conversa�on on all things life. You don’t have to go at it alone! Regardless, know that your church family is praying for you.

Costa Rica Mission Trip

July 11-16!

FBC has partnered with the Lince Bap�st Church in Costa Rica to co-sponsor a Chris�an Camp for at-risk children, ages 7-12. Around 80-100 children are expected! On the last day, parents will be invited for a seminar on paren�ng.

Eleven (11) FBC Missionaries have signed up and are ready to go be the hands and feet of Jesus! We will help with games and sports, arts and cra� s, Biblical storytelling and drama, and some sprucing of the camp grounds.

How can you get involved?

1) Register! - May 7 is the deadline.

2) Sponsor a child to go to camp at $24.00 per child (make your dona�on care of FBC-Wes�ield, specify C.R. Child Sponsor). Thank you to those who have al-ready contributed.

3) Pray! Pray for the children and their parents; pray for the leadership of the camp; pray for those from our church par�cipa�ng. Pray!

OO URUR PP URPOSEURPOSE Coming together in joyful worship, we’re here…

• To share the reality of God’s love, • To connect our lifestyles to Christian

truth, • And to put our faith into action through

responding to needs in our community, nation, and world.

170 Elm Street Westfield, NJ 07090

“We’re Here For You!”

Ph: 908-233-2278/Fax: 908-233-0555 E-Mail Pastor Mayra Castañeda pastormayra@verizon.net Bill Mathews wrmaago@yahoo.com Rev. Suleima Rosario-Diaz srosariodiaz@verizon.net Nancy Lambros firstbaptist.westfield@verizon.net

CC HURCHHURCH SS TAFFTAFF

Rev. Mayra Castañeda, Senior Pastor William R. Mathews, Minister of Music Rev. Suleima Rosario-Diaz, Assoc. Pastor/Director of Children’s Ministries Nancy Lambros, Church Administrator Adriana Rodriguez, Custodian

ONGOING CALENDARONGOING CALENDAR Weekly, unless otherwise noted. Sundays: 9:00 a.m. Singles 9:00 Adult Bible Study/Youth Bible Study 10:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:45 a.m. Children’s Sunday School (pre-school-5th grades) 11:30 a.m. Children’s Choir & Youth Song Leaders rehearsals 4p.m. Youth Core 5 p.m. Youth Group (6th-12th grades) Tuesdays: 7 a.m. GRUB w/ the Guys (1st Tues, May 1) Wednesdays: 12Noon “Conversations with God” (prayer time) in our sanctuary 10:30am Women’s Writing Group (2nd Tues, May 8) 1-3 p.m. Knitting/Hobby Group (2nd Wed, May 9)

Thursdays: 10:30 a.m. The Hearing Society (a non-profit org): Speech Read-

ing Class: No class May 3; last class May 24 7:15/8 p.m. Chancel Ringers/Choir Rehearsal (last one, May 10)

Saturdays: 10 :00 a.m. Women’s Book Club (monthly, May 12)

May 2012 Calendar (ongoing church calendar on back page)

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5 9am-4pm R u m m a g e S a l e / 9 a m , C h u r c h S p r i n g Cleaning

6 Commun-ion Sunday/ Cong. Mtg. (after wor-ship)

7 8 7 : 1 5 p m —F&F Com-mittee; 7:30 Missions

9 8 p m —Musical Club Concert

10 11 12

13 14 15 16 6 : 3 0 p m —Agape Meal

17 18 19 9 a m - 2 p m Leader sh ip

20 21 7:30pm Council

22 23 24 25 June Mes-senger arti-cles due

26

27 28 Office closed

29 7pm Dea-cons

30 6 : 3 0 p m —Agape Meal

31

♦ June 3 Children’s Sunday ♦ June 10 Youth Sunday ♦ June 17 Baptism Sunday & Father’s Day