NEW EMAIL CHANGE FOR "SEVENTHDAYBAPTIST.ORG"

Over the New Year's holiday period the SDB Center will be changing email providers. During this "slow time" we will transition to our new provider. While I do not anticipate any disruption to service please be patient if an email comes back undeliverable or we do not respond immediately (check to see if we got your important email).

EMAIL ADDRESSES WILL NOT CHANGE!

This change will be transparent to those who send us email. The new provider provides for more mail box size and greater reliabiltiy.

Here's hoping you had a Blessed Christmas and wishing you a Happy New Year!

A Prayer for Charity at Christmas

The American Bible Society offers this prayer and Scripture passage for Christmas 2007. We, at the SDB Center, pray that you have a joyous and peaceful remembrance.

The Lord's Message of Charity:
Blessed are You God, our Father, King of the ages.
We pray that You may prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and that His message of charity and sacrifice inspire us all to do good works in His name. Let us share our abundance with those less fortunate and in need.

Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
- 1 Peter 5:14

E-Cards redesigned--Sign up!

Here's news of the latest change to our website from webmaster Linda Lawton:

We have launched a new, redesigned E-card site! Unlike previous sites, this one is totally under our control and ad-free (unless we choose to advertise our own General Conference happenings). We have "postcards" as well as some Shockwave Flash cards, and in addition to choosing the card, you may change the card "skin" (the area that surrounds the card and contains your message), the "stamp", add music, add special image effects, and choose a poem to add to your card.

All cards are free to send, and you do not need to join as a member to send cards. However, joining as a member allows you to set up your own address book, birthday or anniversary reminders, etc. We will be adding new cards and new categories to the site regularly, so keep checking back. Simply click on the "E-Cards" link in the left-hand margin or under "Community" to check out this new and exciting addition to our website!

LONG TERM DISABILITY PROGRAM CHANGE

The long term disability insurance provided by the General Conference to qualifiying pastors, executives and SDB Center staff and has changed . Genworth Life Health Insurance Company has changed its name to Sun Life and Health Insurance Company effective 01 December 2007.

In early 2008 the Committee On Support and Retirement (COSAR) will send out the annual salary survey. This information is needed to update the coverage on the long term disability coverage. If your pastor's salary has changed since 2006 please update; otherwise any claim for long term disability will be at the old salary.

If you have any questions please contact either Gordon Lawton or Morgan Shepard at the SDB Center.

Correction 20 Dec 07 -COSAR will send out the annual pastor's salary survey, not COM. Sorry for the confusion.

Memorial Fund 529 College Savings Plan Contributions

The Memorial Fund has contributed another $100 to every qualifiying 529 College Savings Plan for 2007, totaling $4,400!

To qualify for 2007 contributions pastors had to be . . .

• either Ordained & Accredited, Ordained, or SDB Licensed; and . . .
• actively serving a Seventh Day Baptist church, fellowship, or General Conference . . .
• children must be 19 or younger . . .
• at any time during calendar year 2007.

In 2003 the Memorial Fund established 529 Plans for the children of qualifying SDB Pastor’s. Check to see if your Pastor is participating in this plan or any 529 College Savings Plan.

Anyone can contribute to a 529 Plan and get federal tax deductions (some states also allowstate tax deductions). Does your Pastor have a new child? They can start a 529 Plan today! An education is a gift that keeps giving.

Contact Morgan Shepard for more information.

Newport Church getting facelift

We just got this news from Bertram Lippincott, librarian at the Newport, Rhode Island, Historical Society:

"Restoration has begun on the vaulted ceiling of the 1730 Seventh Day Baptist Meeting House. Details and photographs will be forthcoming."

Some of the funds for this restoration came from SDBs and the SDB Historical Society.

Newport's Historical Society purchased the old 1730 Meeting House years ago, and much of their structure actually surrounds the SDB sanctuary. The Newport SDB Church, our first in America, began in 1671.

Maybe we're doing something right

Lifelong SDBs Dale and Barb (Cruzan) Green got a nice surprise while snacking at a fast food place recently.

The Greens overheard two women discussing a new fudge shop here in Janesville, and one of the ladies remarked how odd it was that the shop would close at 4:00 on Fridays. The other woman said, "Yes, I think that the owner is either a Seventh Day Baptist, or a Seventh-day Adventist, and can't work on Saturdays."

The Greens wanted to turn around to say, "WE'RE Seventh Day Baptists!!"
But to have SDBs named before the SDAs was a treat enough for Dale and Barb. Barb said that it was the first time she'd ever heard it said that way.

As Pastor Wray Winborne would quip, "There's one for the 'B' team!"

SDBs on the Radio

Several members of the Milton, Wis., SDB Church hit the "big time" (at least locally) by appearing on a live, old-style radio broadcast of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

During yet another dumping of snow last night, Janet and I sat by a radio to hear our friends perform. Directing and co-producing the one-hour broadcast was Milton SDB Jim Lyke. Other SDB actors included James Lima, Corinne Lyke and Josh Matthews; Sarah Lima played the organ.

The production took place at the Janesville Performing Arts Center (JPAC), housed in the beautifully renovated auditorium of the old high school. JPAC and radio station WCLO sponsored the play, with all proceeds benefiting the local Good Samaritan Fund.

Great job, gang!!