Tract Council to gather

The annual meeting of the American Sabbath Tract and Communication Council (TCC) starts this Sabbath night, November 1, and will finish up on Sunday afternoon, November 2. Elected members and committee chairpersons from around the country will meet at the SDB Center in Janesville, Wis., to discuss communication work of the SDB Conference.

We would appreciate your prayers for safe travel and for God’s wisdom and grace to inspire great things for His Kingdom.

BJC Essay Contest set for 2009

The Baptist Joint Committee has released details of its annual Religious Liberty Essay Contest, which is open this year to all high school students in the 2009 and 2010 graduating classes.

The contest offers a grand prize of $1,000 and airfare and lodging for two to Washington, D.C. Second prize is $500, and third prize is $100.

The topic for the 2009 contest and all of the requirements are available from the BJC Web site. All entries must be postmarked by March 2, 2009.

Completed essays and required forms should be mailed to:
Baptist Joint Committee Essay Contest
200 Maryland Avenue, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit the BJC Web site to download registration materials and for more information. If you have questions, contact Jeff Huett at 202-544-4226 or by e-mail at jhuett@bjconline.org

Response to Financial Crisis

Combining her hymn singing and prayer time last week, Barbara LaFrance came across a hymn written by Erastus Johnson and William Fischer, "The Rock That Is Higher than I." It was written in response to America's financial panic of 1871. Due to our current-day financial news, Barbara offers this hymn as a prayer offering for all of us.

Here is more about the hymn from The Cyberhymnal, taken from the autobiography of Erastus Johnson:

There was a convention of the Y.M.C.A. at Carlisle, Pa., which I attended as a delegate, and John Wanamaker was president of the convention. About the second day there came a telegram from Philadelphia that the banking house of Jay Cook & Co. had failed, in which Mr. Wanamaker had $70,000 which to him at that time in life was a great amount to lose. Soon followed reports of other firms throughout the country, indicating a general panic.
As a matter of course, it threw a pall of gloom over the convention, for nearly all its members were men of business. As an expression of the common feeling I wrote "The Rock That Is Higher Than I."…
Mr. Wm. Fischer of Philadelphia, the composer of many tunes for gospel hymns, was at the convention, and in conjunction with Brother William, led the singing. I gave the words to him and he set them to music, sang them, and they with the music immediately became popular in the convention, especially with Mr. Wanamaker, who several times called for it. And soon it found its way into many publications.

Lyrics to "The Rock That Is Higher than I":
Oh! sometimes the shadows are deep,
And rough seems the path to the goal,
And sorrows, sometimes how they sweep
Like tempests down over the soul.

Refrain:
O then to the Rock let me fly
To the Rock that is higher than I
O then to the Rock let me fly
To the Rock that is higher than I!

Oh! sometimes how long seems the day,
And sometimes how weary my feet!
But toiling in life’s dusty way,
The Rock’s blessed shadow, how sweet!

Refrain

Then near to the Rock let me keep
If blessings or sorrows prevail,
Or climbing the mountain way steep,
Or walking the shadowy vale.

Refrain

Article @ Daytona Beach Church

October 22, 2008

Another downtown Daytona church faces hard choices By ANNE GEGGIS Staff Writer

DAYTONA BEACH -- Its founders are the same people who started the city.
Its history is a tale of triumph over adversity -- such as when the church building was lost in a deed dispute -- and a testament to certain progressive ideals, such as the election of a female church leader soon after women won the right to vote.

But the future of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Daytona Beach is not so clear.
The majority of the church members are over 70. And except for a set of 15-month-old triplets, who are grandchildren of the former pastor and direct descendants of the church's founders, the church nursery is empty.

So the third baptism at the church in three years last Saturday was a reason for rejoicing within its white walls trimmed with gleaming dark wood. "I think one of the joys of a pastor's life is when there are those who want to surrender their lives to Christ and become part of the church community," the Rev. Wray Winborne declared just before immersing Tom Henderson, 59, into baptismal waters Saturday.

Unless the roster of supporters fattens in the coming months, this downtown church will be facing some stark choices. With about 40 to 60 people -- about half of its peak membership -- in its weekly core to support a $107,000 annual budget, the church, in the short term, could face having to decide whether it can afford a full-time pastor or the church building's upkeep.
"We are down to that critical mass," Winborne said.

In the long term, church members are hoping next month's membership drive -- a Bible study on its beliefs -- will draw in new members to stave off the fate that befell First United Methodist Church of Daytona Beach, another downtown church. In 2001, that once-thriving church held its final service.

Caroline Snyder, 49, who works as a concierge at Ocean Walk Resort, said she would do anything to help her 14-year church home thrive. She grew up attending church at The Basilica of Saint Paul -- located almost across the street -- but felt "convicted" to worship on Saturday, which was the original Sabbath until circa 364 A.D. "It's a wonderful church," she said. "The church is based on a covenant of love and spiritual support."

Seventh Day Baptist Church services -- first held in North America 27 years after the Mayflower landed -- feature Old and New Testament readings, along with hymns with piano accompaniment. Therein lies the reason the Rev. Donald Musser said he believes many mainline churches have seen their numbers dwindling while the more evangelical and charismatic churches have been enjoying a boost in their numbers.

"Many of the traditional churches do have a difficulty attracting young people and young families -- there's no doubt about that," said Musser, a Stetson University professor of religious studies and ordained Baptist minister. "The way that a lot of traditional churches have tried to negotiate that is to have different types of services, one with the pipe organ and the hymns, another with the band, the drums and the guitar."

Ironically, part of the budget crunch at the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Daytona Beach stems from its success. A group of Seventh Day Baptists in the New Smyrna Beach area decided to establish a church home in Edgewater, taking their support with them, said Al Hill, president of the Daytona Beach church. In fact, this church was the first of its kind in Florida, he said.
"Every single (Seventh Day Baptist church) in the state of Florida is seeded from this church," Hill said.

Daytona Beach's Seventh Day Baptist Church can boast that one of its founders, D.D. Rogers, is also credited as a founder of Daytona Beach. His daughter, Josie Rogers, also a member of the church, was the city's first woman doctor and became its first woman mayor in 1922.
At Saturday's service, Winbourne spoke of cultivating a trust that the world is unfolding as it should. "We must trust that God will direct our paths," he said. "He will give us grace to walk in his direction."

Baptism remains our symbol, but 'problems' must be answered

This story comes from Associated Baptist Press by Marv Knox.


WACO, Texas (ABP) -- After four centuries, believers' baptism remains the symbol of Baptist identity, historian Bill Leonard stressed during a lecture series at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

But in the 21st century, Baptists must respond to two pressing "problems" with baptism -- the widespread requirement that long-term Christians be immersed before joining a Baptist church and the rebaptism of church members, Leonard urged.

This year's Parchman Lectures contributed to the Texas Baptist school's ongoing celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Baptist movement. It began when John Smyth and Thomas Helwys led a group of English expatriates to start the first Baptist church in 1609 in Holland.

"Baptists were dissenters from the very beginning," noted Leonard, dean of Wake Forest University's Divinity School. The original Baptists first rebelled against what they saw as the corruption of the Anglican Church and its affiliation with the English government. Next, they split from the English Separatists for not distancing themselves far enough from the Anglicans.

And then they even dissented among themselves, he wryly observed. By 1610, that little Baptist church had split itself over the validity of its baptism.

"Baptists understood conscience and dissent in light of the need for sinners to be regenerated -- made new through conversion to Christ," Leonard said. "Yet in their assertion that conscience could not be compelled by either state-based or faith-based establishments, they flung the door wide for religious liberty and pluralism....

"Believers' baptism, ultimately by immersion, was thus a radical act of Christian commitment, covenantal relationships and anti-establishment dissent."

Their commitment drew from their identification with Christ, Leonard continued. Their relationships reflected the value they placed upon the gathered church. And their dissent against the establishment welled up from their insistence that God alone, not religious or government authorities, is Lord of the conscience.

(For the complete article, and a companion piece from the same lecture, go to Associated Baptist Press.)

World Day of Prayer coming up

All of our local women's groups should have received a letter about the "Baptist World Alliance Day of Prayer," scheduled for Monday, November 3. An enclosed pamphlet has suggestions on how to plan and promote the special time.

The BWA and the North American Baptist Women's Union (NABWU) are asking for contributions to be dispersed through their many women's ministries. Our SDB Women's Society has played a vital role in NABWU, and would love to see our local churches participate in this Day of Prayer. Gifts may be sent through our Women's Society. Send your check to Enid Nobles, Treasurer, 9 Little Pond Trail, Ormond Beach FL 32174. Please note "World Day of Prayer" on the memo line.

Please go to www.bwawd.org to find the World Day of Prayer program and prayer guides available in many languages. And remember to pray on November 3rd!

Worship Resources for Remote Sabbathkeepers

When I was growing up we spoke of those who lived far from their SDB Church and worshiped at home as "lone Sabbath keepers." They may have felt alone, or maybe were alone due to geographic location, but they were not alone before the throne of grace. They like all others who worship God on His Sabbath day were together in God's presence.

So, at the urging of Rob Appel we began using a different name. We now speak of "remote Sabbath keepers." This may speak of geographic distance but hopefully each is connected to a local church by friendship and maybe even covenant.

This being said, not having an SDB Church body close enough to be a part of physically each week is a challenge for many. So on the Conference website we have posted some resources that can help "remote Sabbath keepers" as they worship. By providing these we are in no way trying to discourage gathering together with other believers when at all possible.

If you are reading this at http://www.seventhdaybaptist.org/ go to the top of this page and click on the "community" button in the menu bar, and then click on "Worship Resources." Here you will find links to some SDB Churches which post their weekly sermon (a couple do the whole service) on a regular basis. Here you will find a couple links to help you find music to use as well as a link for the Sabbath School quarterly the Helping Hand in Bible Study. Yes currently there is a direct link on the front page, but when than goes away in 6-12 months, you need to know how to find this stuff anyway.

We do hope that these resources will be helpful for remote Sabbath keepers as well as others who can use some of these resources in their own personal devotional life.

Mystic Seaport featured in Yankee

The current issue of Yankee Magazine carries a story about Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut. The focus is on a wonderful scale model of the museum’s grounds. Click here to read the article, then go to the slideshow. The Greenmanville SDB Church model is fifth to the right on the top row.

The following introduces the slideshow:
Scale models rarely surpass their real life counterparts, but among the countless treasures of Mystic Seaport is an impressive diorama of the area as it was in the 19th century. The 1:128-scale model represents more than 50 years' work by one man, Arthur Payne.

A surprise to many who visit the seaport, the model is overwhelming, with minute details and carefully crafted land, architecture, and atmosphere. The detailed model represents one mile along the Mystic River as it appeared in the 1850s through the 1870s, when this little community produced a greater tonnage of ships and steamers than any place its size in America. Five working shipyards are shown. The photographs are by Julie Bidwell.

Beauty at the Local Level

Barbara La France is a faithful reader from Westerly, Rhode Island. After reflecting on Neville Callam's thoughts of inward and outward beauty (blog entry below), Barbara felt led to mention that the Mystic, Connecticut, Elm Grove Cemetery now has a completely restored chapel located on its grounds. Sitting above the Mystic River, the chapel seats 50 people and is open daily to the public. Barbara says it is a beautiful area any time of the year.

She goes on to say that the Mystic area is very rich in Seventh Day Baptist history. The Greenmanville Church, a former SDB meeting house, is located on the grounds of the Mystic Seaport Museum. Barbara would like to keep this area in prayer as the museum will be closing each Monday due to financial difficulties.

Thank you, Barbara, for reminding us of our North American roots.

Beauty - Inward and Outward

From the BWA General Secretary...Neville Callam

Beauty - Inward and Outward

Kenosha, Wisconsin - what a lovely place! It was there, on the campus of Carthage College, that conferees gathered. They had come from many countries and were celebrating what God was enabling among them. Three hundred and fifteen delegates represented fifty-four churches and, together with several hundred guests, they made the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference a profitable time.

Seventh Day Baptists describe themselves as “evangelical Baptists who hold to keeping the seventh day Sabbath of the Bible as sacred time.” Their churches can be found in several countries including the USA and Canada, Jamaica and Guyana, Australia and New Zealand, England, Brazil, and the Philippines.

It was my pleasure to gather with Baptist brothers and sisters in a beautiful place where followers of Christ were reviewing their faithfulness in ministry and planning for the future. The theme they chose was A Limitless God for a Hungry People. Rich and rewarding are some of the words I would use to characterize the fellowship. Inspiring was the leadership of the amiable Rob Appel, Executive Director, and of Andrew Samuels, President - himself an outstanding man of Jamaican descent - and the sense of togetherness in God's work experienced in Kenosha was compelling. What was also very encouraging was the presence of significant numbers of young people to ensure liveliness in the evening gatherings and creative approaches to communal celebration.

As I left Kenosha, I thought not only about the quality of the time spent together with our Seventh Day Baptist sisters and brothers. I also considered the subject of beauty - a subject inspired by the location of the conference, right on the shore of Lake Michigan, and the Siebert chapel that formed the physical context for the gathering.

Perhaps the Protestant Reformation has contributed to depreciation among some believers of appreciation for art and beauty in worship. The stout defense of controversial claims about what it means to employ the art of representation to stimulate worship of the unseen has adversely affected our corporate worship. It has helped strip our places of worship of art forms that inspire reverence and evoke an appropriate sense of mystery, which is a dimension of our faith. Renewed resort to a wayward iconoclasm has diverted us from the worship of God that involves the use of all the senses - including sight!

When outwardly, the places where we worship are marked by beauty without extravagance, we may be challenged to inwardly cultivate that beauty as well. Then, the old song that begins with the words, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me” may inspire us to give ourselves more fully to the spiritual disciplines in the service of the vocation to holiness.