Dedicated to bringing

Christian faith and Life

together through

Worship, Outreach,

Education, and

A Caring Community

First Baptist Church, West Hartford, Connecticut 06107 February 2018

The First Baptist Church,

West Hartford, Connecticut An American Baptist Church

FBC CHURCH STAFF

Reverend Stacy Emerson, Senior Minister

Melinda Shilansky, Music Director

Neil Shilansky, Accompanist

Elizabeth Miller, Children’s Music Director

Bill Albert, Facilities Manager

Michael Deak, Custodian

Kris Hanko, Administrative Secretary

90 North Main Street

West Hartford, CT 06107-1924

Church Office Hours

Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Phone 860-521-9460

Email whfbc@yahoo.com

www.http://fbcwesthartford.org

Follow First Baptist Church West Hartford on

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

The Focus is a monthly newsletter

of First Baptist Church

Editor Faith Geist

Lenten Small Group

Contemplative Vision:

Seeing the Divine in the Ordinary

God is everywhere. Today you saw God and God looked back you, wondering, did you notice? Some-

times we do notice, and the experience is powerful. A lot of times, however, we just can’t seem to see

God because God is…elusive and surprising, and our lives are…busy and full. In this four-week small

group, we will spend some time together learning about and fostering “Contemplative Vision: Seeing the

Divine in the Ordinary.” We will be introduced to the spiritual practice of Visio Divina using classic art

and study the accompanying scripture each week. A new twist on Bible Study! No experience neces-

sary, nothing to bring but yourself and your lunch, alongside a willingness to try something new and to

enjoy the great company you will be in!

Tuesdays at Noon in Gilbert Hall

February 27: Christ in the Wilderness, Moretto da Brescia

Mark 1:9-13, Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13

March 6: Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee, Rembrandt

Mark 4:35-41

March 13: Procession to Calvary, Ridolfo Ghirlandaio

John 19:16-18, Luke 23: 26-32

March 20: The Supper at Emmaus, Caravaggio

Luke 24:13-35

On February 3, we will view the acclaimed film, “Collateral

Beauty.” Retreating from life after a tragedy, a man questions

the universe by writing to Love, Time and Death. Receiving

unexpected answers, he begins to see how these things inter-

lock and how even loss can reveal moments of meaning and

beauty. This 2016 movie has an MPAA rating of “PG-13.”

Come and join us on February 3rd!

Things to be Desired” The New Year is here! As 2018 unfolds, what intention do we bring? What hopes? What expectations of ourselves? To help us wonder and reflect, I share with you a poem entitled, “Desiderata,” which is Latin for “things to be desired.” I discovered that the poem has a dubious history, having been found in an old church in Baltimore, Maryland by the Rector there in 1959. He published it in a collection of devotional ma-terials for his congregation with the notation under it: “Old St. Paul’s Church, Baltimore A.C. 1692.” The church was founded in that year. As it traveled from friend to friend, the authorship became clouded such that it was interpreted that the poem was from 1692. It was eventually discovered, however, that the poem was written in 1927, nearing the Great Depression, by a lawyer and poet from Terre Haute, Indiana, by the name of Max Ehrmann, who lived from 1872-1945. He wrote in his journal that “I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift—a bit of chaste prose that had caught up some noble moods.” As we begin another year, and hope to reflect on humble goals and gains for it, I share with you the gift of this poem and hope for deep “things to be desired.”

See next page

Cinema and the Sacred

Exploring faith and culture, through the art of film and community conversation

6:00 pm January 6th

Stacy

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,

even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Peace to you in 2018,

Our heartfelt sympathy to David Crockett upon the unexpected passing of his brother, Donald on De-

cember 14th.

A reminder from the

Congregational Care Committee Our love and caring and prayers for each of the

members of our congregation as well as their

friends and families is vital to the health and

well being of all of us here at First Baptist

Church. Not often, however at times, our Pas-

tor, church office or our Care committee does

not receive the information of an illness or

need of a member or relative. Please, if you or

someone you care about or hear about is in

need of prayers, a visit, food or any other need

please let Kris in the church office know, or

contact Pastor Stacy, Linda Greca, Patty Roones

or Sherry Seeley.

In common love,

Your Congregational Care Committee

Dear Stacy and FBC,

Thank you for your cards and notes over these

past months. I am recuperating again from yet

another major surgery. But thus far my recovery

is much better than last year's time. Thank you

for all your prayers. Please know it has made a

significant difference in my recovery.

Shalom & in gratitude.

Judy Allbee

Will & Jean Forristall February 2 72 years

Donald & Martha Taylor February 22 49 years

Scott & Rachel MacGregor February 16 5 years

Brad Wylie February 4

Wendy Girle February 5

Donald Taylor February 8

Amanda Banks February 9

Nathan Roones February 10

Geoffrey Carr February 16

Elsie Petersen February 17

Tom Gunn February 18

Bill Gaffin February 19

Carol Wylie February 20

Wade Hiltabidel February 24

Faith Geist February 24

Gabriel MacGregor February 28

Birthdays

Anniversaries

“Out and About Town”

Join Pastor Stacy “out and about town” as we get to know our neighbors in West Hartford. Our consultant, Paul Nickerson, re-minds us that being out in our community is essential as we reach new people. So, join Pastor Stacy for lunch on any or all of the dates below:

Tuesday, February 6

@ 12:00 PM

Max Burger/LaSalle Road

Wednesday, February 14

@ 12:00 PM

Panera Bread/Bishop’s Corner

Friday, February 23

@ 12:00 PM

The Elbow Room/986 Farmington Avenue

Please RSVP to 860-521-9460.

See you “out and about town

FBC Out and About at Effies

Good food and good company

Once again, FBC provided food for the Loaves and Fishes holiday dinners.

Here is an excerpt from the thank you that they sent.

A Valentines Party

February 8 at 11:30

In the Kitchen

Join with other women for a Lunch Bunch

Valentine party. We will enjoy our usual

potluck lunch and hopefully, some spe-

cial desserts.

For details, call Edie Castagno.

FEBRUARY

February 4

Isaiah 40:21–31

Psalm 147:1–11, 20c

1 Corinthians 9:16–23

Transfiguration of the Lord—February 11

2 Kings 2:1–12

Psalm 50:1–6

2 Corinthians 4:3–6

Mark 9:2–9

Ash Wednesday—February 14

Joel 2:1–2, 12–17 or Isa. 58:1–12

Psalm 51:1–17

2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10

Matt. 6:1–6, 16–21

First Sunday in Lent—February 18

Genesis 9:8–17

Psalm 25:1–10

1 Peter 3:18–22

Mark 1:9–15

February 25

Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16

Psalm 22:23–31

Romans 4:13–25

Mark 8:31–38

Adult Education

Sundays at 11

Parables from the Back Side

Jesus told stories when he wanted to make a point, and many

of these stories have become so familiar they lose their origi-

nal power. Throughout Lent, in sermons and second hour,

we will explore some of Jesus’ parables “from the back side,”

to use the term from J. Ellsworth Kalas whose book, Parables

from the Back Side: Bible Stories with a Twist, will guide our

learning. Kalas shares this in his introduction to Volume 1:

“P.G. Wodehouse, the British humorist, has one of his charac-

ters refer to a parable of Jesus’ as looking like a

“straightforward yarn when you begin to read it,” but then

you find that it has “something up its sleeve that pops out at

you and leaves you flat.”

Let us visit these familiar stories again and see what “pops

out” at us!

February 11 Sharing from an “Undoing Racism” work-

shop led by The People’s Institute with Rev. Emerson

What is race? What is racism? What is power? And what

does any of this have to do with us? In this second hour, we

will explore some of the historical background behind the

term “race” and define “racism.” We will also explore why

this conversation is so critical for our community, country,

and world. I hope you will join me as I share some of what I

learned at an “Undoing Racism” workshop last fall.

Sun Mon. Tue Wed Thu Fri. Sat

1

2 3

6:00 Cinema &

the Sacred

4

9:30 FBC Worship &

Communion

10:30 Fellowship Time

11:00 Christian Educa-

tion for all ages

8:00 AA

5

10:30 Missions

Committee

6

12:00 Out &

About Town @

Max Burger

7:00 Personnel

Committee

7:00 Vitality

Team

7

9:30 Staff Mtg

10:30 Loaves &

Fishes

1:00 Knitting

7:30 Chancel

Choir Rehearsal

7:30 Al-Anon

8

11:30 Lunch

Bunch

9 10

6:00-9:00 PM

Youth Game

Night @ the

Parsonage

11

9:30 FBC Worship

10:30 Fellowship Time

11:00 Christian Educa-

tion for all ages

8:00 AA

12

10:00 Service @

Cedar Mountain

Commons

7:00 Trustees

13

7:00 General

Board

14

9:30 Staff Mtg

12:00 Out & About

Town @ Panera’s/

Bishop Corner

1:00 Knitting

6:30 Ash Wednes-

day Service

7:30 Chancel Choir

Rehearsal

15

FOCUS

DEADLINE

16

17

18

9:30 FBC Worship

10:30 Fellowship Time

11:00 Christian Educa-

tion for all ages

12:00 Women’s Fellow-

ship Meeting

8:00 AA

19

20

6:00 Deacons

21

9:30 Staff Mtg

1:00 Knitting

7:30 Chancel Choir

Rehearsal

7:30 Al-Anon

22

23

12:00 PM Out

& About

Town @

Elbow Room

24

25

9:30 FBC Worship

10:30 Fellowship Time

11:00 Christian Educa-

tion for Children &

Youth

11:00 February Busi-

ness Meeting

12:00 Congregational

Care Comm Mtg

8:00 AA

26

7:00 Financial

Vision Team

27

12:00 Lenten

Small Group/

Gilbert Hall

28

9:30 Staff Mtg

1:00 Knitting

7:30 Chancel Choir

Rehearsal

7:30 Al-Anon