A publication of The First Baptist Church of Westfield, NJ

Imagine the sight (and the freight!) of a hot air balloon making its land-ing in your backyard all of a sudden! I learned from a friend of mine, whose friend’s home was the subject of such a surprise, that it is tradition for balloonists to present those at the landing site with a bottle of cham-pagne. Along with the champagne, there is a toast to “soft winds and gentle landings”. We’ve landed in a new year, and for some folks, it indeed arrived with balloons and champagne, complete with a midnight kiss to ring in 2013! A new year brings with it new hopes and new resolutions; we’ll finish that best-selling novel, fall in love, or fi-nally begin a diet to shrink an im-mense waistline! Although, there are plenty of

ties, judgments, loving qualities and other attributes, and recog-nize ourselves, then we are rec-ognizing God’s blessings. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Co-rinthians 5:17) “Every good and perfect gift is from above,” (James 1:17) but we must keep our eyes wide open because blessings from God don’t drop in with balloons and cham-pagne. Jesus was found lying in a manger full of hay. Together as we seek Him, let’s look up, bow down, and may this be the year we toast to “soft winds and gentle landings”.

Katie McGuire

us with spirits so down, we can barely take flight, others feeling without purpose and not sure where they’re headed, and ever so many who patiently await the arrival of something exciting. God uplifts us and delivers all the promises we’ve been expecting! Let’s make an effort to attend church regularly and tune into some Christian music while we exclaim praise, allow prayer to be our compass, and make ourselves available for a visit to others! When you and I can look at man-kind with all its fears, insecuri-

January 2013

Choir Notes What wonderful music we heard in December!

THANK YOU! • to our Chancel Choir, our Song

Leaders, our Ringers, our Or-chestra, and our Children’s Choir for the somet imes triumphant, sometimes peaceful, but always inspiring Christmas music...

• to Matt, Tim, and Jeff Green-law, Scott Lind, Neil Pratt, Jim Redeker, Jon and Nikki Rede-ker, and Cristen Redeker Sing-er for singing with the Choir during “Carols’ weekend (Grandma Nan-cy Redeker was on child care du-ty)…

• to the members of our FBC Or-chestra who played in worship on Dec 16: Katie Engel, Carleen Morris, and Kelly Yang, flute; Johnny Klikushin, and Maggie McGuire, clarinet; Owen Martin, tenor sax; Tyler Martin and Paul Koslowski, trumpet; Joseph and Melanie Della Peruti and Bill Mathews , trombone; Kathy Briedis and Wilda Francois, vio-lin; Linda Battle and Beth Hans-com, cello; thanks to Steve Lind for conducting and Carl Della Peruti for assisting with rehears-als…

• to Devin Araujo for playing drums with the Ringers on Dec. 9, and to Glen Brown for filling in as Bass Ringer on Dec. 16 as Steve Lind was conducting the combined Or-chestra and Ringers…

• to Carleen Morris and Kelly Yang, flute, and Glen Brown, gui-tar, for playing the prelude music before the Christmas Eve service…

• to Paul Koslowski for playing ac-cordion during the worship service on Dec. 30…

• and CONGRATULATIONS to Melanie Della Peruti who per-formed in The Nutcracker in Decem-ber with the Broadway Dance The-atre in North Plainfield...

Music in January

Chancel Choir January 13, 20

Chancel Ringers

January 27

Song Leaders January 6, 13, 20, 27

"And so, as Tiny Tim observed...

God bless us, every one” was heard for the 15th year on Dec. 15th. The Westfield HS Con-cert Choir and Alumni along with Peter Horn, WHS Pro-ject ’79 Coordinator and member of the Chorale bass sect ion, added to our Christmas celebration with carols and the words of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” About 100 were in attendance and the free-will offering benefited Grace’s Kitchen in Plainfield. Peter announced at the program that the donations that have been given in the 15 years of this program have been enough to feed those at Grace’s Kitchen for an entire year. God bless us, every one, indeed!

O Hear the Angel Voices… ...and we did as the Westfield Chorale celebrated their 25th year together by leading us through the 29th year of “Carols in the Round.” The designated 2012 charity is to assist those affected by Hurricane Sandy and the first donation will benefit the Ma-nasquan Food Pantry. This year’s donations pushed the grand total given since 1988 over the $64,000 mark. Thanks to all involved behind the music… •Tickets/Door: Wendy Engel, Nancy Lambros, Pam Greenlaw, Elaine Pratt •Ushers: Alan Greenlaw, Dean Pratt, Ken Wooster •Child Care: Linda Johnson, Colleen McGuire, Brian Mor-ris, and Terry Wooster •CD Orders: Mary Dobos, Cherie Parker, and Wendell and Trish Scott •Readers: Mayra Castañeda Elaine Pratt, Maurice Black-mon, Bobby Dyckman, Megan Dyckman, Susan Dyckman, Peter Horn, Jillian Mathews, Tim Mathews, and Lauren Mazzarese •Nativity set-up/candle replenish-ing: Steve & Donna Lind

Christmas With the Westfield Chorale The 25th Anniversary Edition

Recorded during “Carols in the Round” weekend, the double CD’s are $15 and will be available in February or March. Their first recording in 11 years includes

updated versions of the music from Carols in the Round that we have all come to know and love as well as some music sung in the early years of the Chorale. (There’s also an appearance by our own Chan-cel Ringers!) Order forms, found in the narthex and on our web site, are due by January 15.

page 2 The Messenger

The Messenger page 3

Kenneth C. Bachman March 1, 1922—

December 23, 2012

Ruth Lauritsen November 6, 1925—December 25, 2013

What will 2013 bring? I am looking forward to a new year filled with hope and promises of the new things that God is always do-ing. “Behold, I make all things new.” (Rev. 21:5).

I am looking forward to:

• Celebration of new life through baptisms and conversions onto the Lordship of Jesus

• A year dedicated to matters of the family because Family Matters

• A church gathered and a church scattered and on mission • Diverse opportunities to learn about our faith, the Bible

and where daily life intercedes through Sunday activities and through courses taught throughout the year

• Singing to the Lord a new song! 2012 brought us many joys as well as many sad goodbyes. We celebrated the baptisms of Evans Antoine, Luis Araujo, Carl Della Peruti, Jim and Lynda Lloyd, as well as extended to each the hand of fellowship as new members. We also rejoiced that Cheryl Ro-sario became a member transferring her membership from her for-mer church.

We rejoiced at the number of children participating in children’s moments and joyfully welcome their ready minds to learn all about God and Jesus and the Bible. Each child and their family is pre-cious in God’s sight!

Happily we welcomed the inclusion of guitar and drums as a steady accompaniment to the beautiful voices of the youth and adult songs leaders each Sunday which help us to worship our Lord together.

We said temporary goodbyes to long time members as they passed from this earthly home to their eternal home. We miss Ed Le-hecka, Phil Foster, Doris Titsworth, Ruth Lauritsen, and Kenneth Bachman. We will continue to support their families with our love and prayers and presence.

Others from our church family mourn the loss of a beloved family member and we embrace each and pray for God’s comfort and peace.

At the end of the year, we also accepted the resignation of our be-loved Associate Pastor for Student Ministries, Suleima Rosario-Diaz, as she needs to devote time to her studies towards a Nurse Practitioner degree. Rev. Suleima will continue to assist with the young adult ministries, as well offer her many gifts as a member of our church.

Baptism Sessions ---- Beginning Tuesday, January 8 at 6 pm.

“This I Believe” A 4 week, in- depth study on basic beliefs in the Christian faith so: God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Salva-tion through grace, Eternity (heaven-hell), Baptism, the Lord's Supper Course, begin-ning Thurs,, January 10 at 7 pm.

Bible Basics 4 week course --- Saturdays, starting in February at 9:00 am. Call the church office for more information and to sign up.

Coming January & February at FBC…

page 4 The Messenger

…all who purchased gifts in re-sponse to the Dove and Angel Tag requests; Weichert Realtors for donating new coats; ...Katie McGuire for preparing and organizing the Children’s Christmas Pageant, as well as to all the chil-dren/families that helped make it happen; and to Erin Klein, direct-ing Children’s Choir; and Linda Johnson, who dressed our little ones as angels. ...Lil Wheeler and Dot Waugh for helping with the Nov/Dec. Mes-senger. ...to everyone who helped with the Hygiene Kits and all those that do-nated! We made 40 that will be delivered to Bridges Outreach. ...Donna & Steve Lind and all our volunteers who helped to dec-orate the church for Christmas.

Birthdays and Anniversaries in

January

MMM issions at First Baptist Church is an evolving variety of projects that

reveal the love of Christ to people who need assistance. We do this

through making bag lunches, prepar-ing dinners for homeless families, giv-

ing Thanksgiving baskets, collecting presents for the Salvation Army An-

gel Tree program and keeping the Food Pantry stocked. This work is not

just done by members of the Missions Committee - there are many other

members of the congregation who help, even the Youth Group and

Young Adults were involved with mission projects. Christian Education

plans activities that will create mis-sion awareness for the little ones. Our

children gave some of the ornaments they made at the Advent Festival for

the Home First Christmas Party. Nova Spinner coordinated the craft

projects for the Home First Christmas party. She showed them how to make

marshmallow snowmen with gum-drop hats. She said she loves to watch

the excitement and joy in their little faces. Paul Koslowski provided ac-

cordion music and one little boy stood in front of him and observed every

move Paul made. Janet Winey en-joyed watching people choose the

Angel Tree tag. “I picked this child because she asked for books,” one

member commented. Sometimes children help their parent pick a

child and take an active participate in selecting the gifts. She saw how

excited they are when they bring the gift and put it under the tree. Mar-

yann Friscia welcomes the opportuni-ty to serve. In addition to being

Church Clerk and a member of Dea-cons Committee, she helps make bag

Jan 4 Judy Klein Jan 5 Brianna Virzi Jan 6 Lois Alpaugh Jan 9 Marlee Araujo Jillian Mathews Jan 10 Ike Alvarado Jan 12 Becca Hanscom Jan 14 Brittany Lambros Jan 20 Marcia Malcolm Jan 21 Johnny Klikushin Phyllis Shaunesey Jan 23 Megan Winey Ryan Siegel Darian Siegel Jan 26 Dwight Engel Maggie McGuire Jan 3 Bryan & Carleen Morris Jan 29 Jim & Lynda Lloyd

lunches and prepares part of a meal

for the FISH program. Maryann is also the person who takes the canned food

donations to the Food Pantry at First Baptist Church of Cranford/

Elizabeth. She doesn’t get to see the result of the work she does, but she

feels she gets to know her Church Family better. She said “We grow in

faith and love when we serve others.” The Mission Committee welcomes

your talents and ideas as we look for-ward to a new year of service.

Janet Winey Chair, Missions Committee

Stewardship Update #2 We have reached a pledge level of $183,000 as of De-cember 31, 2012 and are close to reaching our goal of $200,000. In addition to this amount, someone has gener-ously offered to match contri-butions up to $5,000 to help us meet our goal. Please make every effort to provide your pledge information to Ike Alvarado in the next cou-ple of weeks as we close out the 2013 Stewardship Cam-paign. Also, if you find some spare time, please also reflect on the joy our church minis-tries bring!

In Christ, Tyronne Singh

The Messenger page 5

…for children, ages 4yrs – 5th grades

Showtime: Friday, January 18th Drop-off: 6p.m. * Pickup: 8p.m.

Now Playing: Rio Pizza and Popcorn will be served!

Please bring a pillow and sleeping bag / blanket & wear comfy pj’s! Reserve your seat

by January 14th to Miss Katie!

Saturday, January 26 We will discuss “The Cat’s Table” by Michael Ondaatje. All are welcome.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 Baptism Ses-sion, 6pm; Facilities & Fi-nance, 7pm; Mis-sions, 7:30pm

9 Christian Ed, 7pm

10 “This I Be-lieve” course, 7pm

11 12

13 14 Deacons, 7pm

15 16 17 18 19

20 21 Council, 7:30pm

22 23 24 25 26

27 Cong. Mtg. 28 29 30 31

January 2013 Calendar (Ongoing Calendar on back page.)

Sunday, January 27 Following worship

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 Katie McGuire katiem218@aol.com Nancy Lambros firstbaptist.westfield@verizon.net

www.fbcwestfield.org

OO URUR PP URPOS EURPOS E 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.

ONGOING SONGOING S CHEDULCHEDUL EE (Weekly, unless otherwise noted.) Sundays: 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study, led by Pastor Mayra Singles Gathering Childcare available until 9-11:30 10:30 a.m. Worship Service (Lord’s Supper Jan 6) 10:30 a.m. Children’s Sunday School (pre-school-5th grades) 11:30 a.m. Children’s Choir rehearsal (pre-school to 5th gr) 5:00 p.m. Youth Ministry/Supper (6th-12th gr) Tuesdays: 7 a.m. GRUB w/ the Guys (Jan 8 this month) 10:30am Women’s Writing Group (monthly) Wednesdays: 12Noon Conversations w/God Prayer Time (sanctuary) 1-3pm Knitting/Craft Group - (2nd Wed, Jan 9) Thursdays: 10:30 a.m. The Hearing Society: Speech Reading Class 7:15/8 p.m. Chancel Choir & Ringers Saturdays: 10 :00 a.m. Women’s Book Club (monthly, Jan 26)

CC HURCHHURCH SS TAFFTAFF

Rev. Mayra Castañeda, Senior Pastor William R. Mathews, Minister of Music Katie McGuire, Director of Children’s Ministries Nancy Lambros, Church Administrator