March 2016

Dear Friends,

Just what is it we celebrate on Easter? The reply to that seems obvious and in many ways it is. We celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord! That is good news. That is the story that forms the key message of the Gospels. That is what has brought Christians together over most 2000 years. That is what draws us to worship!

So it is obvious! But is it? What is it we celebrate when we celebrate the resurrection? Theologi-ans debate the form of the resurrection. Biblical scholars analyze what was written by some au-thors, and what was not said by others. Historians try to put together a time line of the events of what we now call Holy Week which culminated with the Resurrection. Worshippers sing words that call all to honor God for what happened.

If we look under what happened and search for its meaning it seems to me that what we are cele-brating is much more than an event even as central and as it is to our faith. We are celebrating God’s action because that action made it very clear that we are our Creator’s children and that though we have tried to break the connection, God is ever present and seeking to keep us connect-ed. We are celebrating that God made it clear in the faithfulness of Jesus that we are loved and for-given. We are celebrating that God not only loves us, but shows us the way we should live in Jesus who was obedient even unto death. We are celebrating that what may appear as being lost in our lives can be found for here is resurrection!

We pray that the Resurrection will take hold of our lives in such a way that where change is need-ed we will make it; that where hope is longed for we will find it; that where broken relationships need to be healed we will work to bring healing; that where values need to be examined and changed we will have the strength to change them

We hope and pray all of this because in the Resurrection we see that God has not only shown his love for, but has also made it clear that we are called to a Resurrection faith , a faith that will take us wherever we are led, and that will honor our Creator and His son.

May the celebration of this wonderful day so strengthen us that we will be empowered to move ahead with new energy, new commitment and a new understanding of what God has done for us as well as that to which we are being called.

With that I hope and pray that each one of us will have a happy and a blessed Easter. Come and join us for the services of Holy week that together we may be touched by God’s gracious Spirit.

Blessings to all,

George

George H. Sinclair, Jr. Interim Pastor

AMERICA FOR CHRIST OFFERING 2016 Please see the attached letter from the Mission Committee about this year’s offering. If you are interested in joining the com-

mittee or have projects you think may be of interest, contact Kathy Harlow: 781-662-2523 or kjh0212@comcast.net

UPDATES FROM COMMITTEEES

ANNUAL MEETING

Was held on Sunday, February 28th. If you would like an updated Mission Committee report, please email Florence.

SEARCH COMMITTEE by Ann Barr, Chairperson

The Search Committee continues to meet at least monthly in person and communicate several times per month via

email. Committee members have reviewed close to one hundred twenty-five potential candidate profiles and have invit-

ed many candidates to apply. While we anticipate applications from potential candidates, we continue to discuss the

most recent batch of pastoral profiles we have received through TABCOM’s Office of Pastoral Search and Pastoral

Placement. Sometime in March we will be meeting with interim director Marlene Gil, who will lend her support while

we go through the process of finding our next settled minister. Thank you for your continued prayers and patience as we

continue this very important task on behalf of our church family.

BOARD OF DEACONS by Ann Barr, Chairperson The Board of Deacons’ first scheduled meeting of February 8 was canceled due to inclement weather. We rescheduled for February 29. Agenda topics included Diaconate Duties, the need for volunteers to sign up for Children’s Stories, Sunday worship attendance, the upcoming spring cantata, baptism and the Lenten Series of special events.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE by Ann Barr Thank you to everyone who attended Carol Burnett Night! Special thanks to Steve Morrow for heading up the event. Please check the online calendar, bulletins and mid-week updates for additional news. If you have an idea for a fun, family-oriented event, please email nanabarr@aol.com or come and join us at our next meeting!

Upcoming Events:

* Saturday, April 9 at 6pm: Italian Buffet . A signup sheet will be available in mid-March and seating will be limited.

* Sunday, April 24: Luncheon & Concert by Leslie Lee and Steve Grertz, who have been well received at Green Street.

* Saturday, May 21 (note the date change from May 14) Progressive Supper! It’s been 10 years since we enjoyed this biennial event. Time to restart the tradition!

DOCKSIDE FUNDRAISERS IN MARCH

3rd Annual Dockside Fundraiser! Thursday, March 10 from 6-9PM It’s time for our 3rd Annual Dockside Fundraiser! Last year was a success thanks to great attendance, raffle donations and volunteers who manned the raffle table and sold 50/50 raffle tickets. Last year we made over $1,000. Great job!

In order for this upcoming event to be a success, we need two things: 1) Attendance—Come to Dockside in Wakefield (bring your family and friends!) be-

tween 6-9PM on March 10th, dine and present your voucher—Green Street receives 25%! Vouchers are in the Narthex as well as attached to this Evangel.

2) Volunteer or donate a raffle item (sign-up sheet in the Narthex) Thanks in advance! Questions? See Ann Barr.

Dine at Dockside any Monday in March 5-9pm. GS receives 10%! No voucher needed.

FUNDRAISER!

GREEN STREET LENTEN SERIES

March 6 at 12:15PM…..Luncheon & Discussion The Will of God

March 13 at 12:15PM….Luncheon & Discussion The Forgiveness of God

March 20 at 11:00AM…Palm Sunday Worship

6:00PM…..Night of Music

March 24 at 7:00PM…...Maundy Thursday Service

March 25……………….Good Friday

March 27 at 11:00AM….Easter Resurrection Worship

Please see 2016 Lenten brochure for details of these programs and other community event.

Carol Burnett Night

February 26th

Great times were had by all as

over 30 people gathered to

watch episodes of the “Carol

Burnett Show”. Fun time and

great snacks!

A big thanks to Steve Morrow for

making this evening happen.

Have an idea for a fun family

friendly gather? Join the Social

Activities Committee :)

MOGS March Breakfast Meeting—Saturday, March 12th at 8AM in Church Kitchen. Craig and Marty will be serving steak and eggs along with biscuits and country gravy. Steve Morrow will be showing a movie following breakfast in the Starr Parlor.

Bread of Life —Wednesday, March 30 Please mark your calendars. Sign-up sheet along with the shepherd’s pie recipe will be available midmonth. Thank you.

Women’s Retreat -April 29—May 1 at Oceanwood, Maine Reverend Adienne Berry-Burton will lead the retreat. Sign up in the Narthex or contact Vera if you have any question.

COMING SOON to Green Street… the movie RISEN Risen is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Stay tuned for our an-nouncement of this special event in May. risen-movie.com

Food Pantry Requests for March A Servant’s Heart— Cereal, Cookies, Instant Rice, Spam Pantry of Hope— Cereal, Chunky Campbell’s Soups with Meat, Peanut Butter

Upcoming Social Events

Saturday, April 9 at 6PM

Italian Dinner

Sunday, April 24

Luncheon & Concert by Leslie Lee

and Steve Grertz

Saturday, May 21

Progressive Supper!

Summer 2016

Canobie Lake Park trip and other

excursions!

Church Office Contact: Florence Lee Email: secretarygsbc@comcast.net Phone: 781-665-7331

Please submit any entry for April 2016 Evangel by March 23.

Night of Music - Palm Sunday at 6PM

Night of Music is a wonderful opportunity to gather and celebrate Holy Week in song. If you have a musical selection

that you would like to share that evening, please contact Ann Barr. We look forward to hearing from you!

March 1, 2016

Dear Green Street Baptist Church Members and Friends,

God’s desire for all who know Him is for us to become more like Christ. We become more

like Christ by first growing in our knowledge of Him. It stands to reason that we cannot grow

to be like someone we don’t know. The deeper our knowledge of Christ, the deeper our

understanding of Him, and the more like Him we become. Among other reasons, we are to

know and understand Christ so that we will be secure in the faith. The America for Christ

Offering 2016 theme “Discipleship: Becoming More Like Christ” reminds us that, as

American Baptists, we embody the love of our Lord in word and deed.

The Apostle Paul reiterates this truth in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are what he has made us,

created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of

life.” It is refreshing to read that God is continuously working on us, bringing us up in

maturity, shaping our hearts and growing our faith. We see that pointed out in Samuel, who

“continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with the people” (1

Samuel 2:26). And we hear it in the exhortation of Peter, who concluded, “But grow in the

grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). The writer to the

Hebrews, likewise, commands, “Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the

basic teaching about Christ” (Hebrews 6:1).

The natural consequence of knowing and obeying God is that He becomes greater and

greater, while we become less and less, as we yield control of our lives to Him. Just as John

the Baptist knew that “He [Jesus] must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30), so the

Christian grows to reflect more of Christ. Luke sums it up best when he describes what Jesus

told His disciples: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take

up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and

those who lose their life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

The America for Christ Offering 2016 reminds us that service is a way of life for Christ’s

church. Extending the hope, love and compassion of our Lord to our neighbors and

communities is a powerful demonstration that we have been transformed. We are

reinvigorated by this year’s theme to come alongside people as they journey through life. I

am asking you to join me in giving generously to this year’s America for Christ Offering

2016 and in doing so, help us to reach our goal as a church in support of home mission.

Your Mission Committee

Kathy Harlow, Kathy Dixon, Susan Hamilton

1 2

7:00 Bible Study

3

12:30 Open Hearts 7:00 Search Committee

4

6:30AM Men’s Discipleship Group

5

6

9:00 Choir Rehearsal 10:00 Today’s Scripture 11:00 Worship 12:00 Lenten Luncheon / Discussion 12:30 Cantata Rehearsal

7

5:00PM-9:00PM Dockside Fundraiser- No Coupon required.

GSBC earns 10%

8

7:00 Christian Ed

9

7:00 Bible Study

10

12:30 Open Hearts

6:00PM-9:00PM Dockside Fundraiser

11

6:30AM Men’s Discipleship Group

7:00 Search Committee

12 8:00AM MOGS Annual Deluxe

Breakfast Church Kitchen

13 SPRING AHEAD

9:00 Choir Rehearsal 10:00 Today’s Scripture 11:00 Worship 12:00 Lenten Luncheon / Discussion 12:30 Cantata Rehearsal

14

5:00PM-9:00PM Dockside Fundraiser- No Coupon required.

GSBC earns 10%

15

16

7:00 Bible Study

17

12:30 Open Hearts

7:00 Trustees

18

6:30AM Men’s Discipleship Group

19

20 Palm Sunday

9:00 Choir Rehearsal 11:00 Worship 12:30 Cantata Rehearsal 6:00PM Night of Music

21

5:00PM-9:00PM Dockside Fundraiser- No Coupon required.

GSBC earns 10%

22 23

7:00 Bible Study

24

12:30 Open Hearts

7:00PM Maundy Thursday

25 Good Friday

6:30AM Men’s Discipleship Group

26

27 Easter Sunday 6:15 Sunrise Service 9:00 Choir Rehearsal 11:00 Worship

28

5:00PM-9:00PM Dockside Fundraiser- No Coupon required.

GSBC earns 10%

29 30

7:00 Bible Study

31

Birthdays 2—Russ Barr 3—Donna Swales 8—Bill Lang 13—Ann Barr 16—Nora Robinson

17—Alexandra Riccardi 26—Roberta Johnson 28—David Henry 30—Carol Johnson Anniversaries 12—Susan & David Hamilton

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

March 2016