Photo Credit: Woodley Wonderworks
James 5:1-6
Neighbor, O Neighbor,
This is a hard Scripture to hear,
But I’m going to do something about it.
This week Glens Falls made the list again. This time, Glens Falls managed to get on the list of the 50 places in the USA that have been hardest hit by the recession. I have to say that I knew things have been bad, but I was a little surprised about this. I knew things were bad, but I’ve been hearing news that unemployment rates in our area have been finally been falling off. Comparatively speaking, foreclosure rates in Glens Falls are nowhere near as high as other places. Once a month or so, I see an article somewhere saying that real estate analysts are positive about Glens Falls potential for development, and that home prices are making a recovery here. “What’s going on?” I wondered.
As it turns out, though, if the Post-Star’s reporting is correct, it’s this last bit, strangely enough, that home prices have not been as hard hit, that is largely responsible for us being on the list. It’s that home prices have remained high, compared to average income, which is not so high. Which translates into a higher cost of living for a mostly working-class city where people’s income just can’t keep up with the rent.
And as I was reflecting further on that this week, it kind of makes sense. Why else would I get two or three calls every week in the office, from people who are wanting to know, “Does the church have a program to help with people’s rent?” I’d say that it’s probably the number one most frequent call we get in the office these days, after telemarketers. Continue reading →
Posted in Sermons
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Tagged James 5, justice, labor
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Over the summer, a small group gathered weekly to read and discuss two books: Martin Luther King Jr’s Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community and Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together. Rev. Kathleen Davie participated in these discussions and shares the following reflections. — CJG
I have been attending two sessions a week, one on Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the other on Where do we go from here? – Chaos or Community by Martin Luther King. Both books emphasize the imperative that humanity was created for community and each book in its own way has as its organizing principle the words of Jesus about Community.
Martin Luther King’s whole philosophy was developed from the idea of the community of humanity’s need for each other – whether they are black or white, or red, or yellow – they are all human beings. Their differences are minor!
Life Together was written to help a group of people in Germany, mostly Pastors, during the years leading up to the Second World War, to become a Community of Believers and to realise how to live together. How their faith could be worked out through their individuality in the practice of certain behaviors – some behaviors being carried out with others: such as worship, work, study, prayer, silence, and all of them realizing God as their focus. Although Bonhoeffer’s work was geared towards the underground community of pastors during the war, it certainly has implications for our churches. Continue reading →
Photo Credit: Wendy Voorhis, Focus Photography
The Open Door continues to be in our hearts and minds during their time of transition from their South Street location.
The Madden Hotel building in which the feeding ministry now operates will be sold on October 1. The Open Door ministry is continuing its efforts to obtain a new permanent location, but as the deadline approaches there is still much uncertainty about a new location being ready in time.
Earlier this summer, following a meeting with the City officials and Chaplain Bruce Hersey, our Open Door team leaders along with Rev. Green and Deacon’s Chairman Kathie McCoy met with representatives from Christ Church United Methodist. Together we discussed what we could do cooperatively to provide a temporary location for the Open Door in case their new location is not ready by the October 1 deadline. Shortly after, Messiah Episcopal Church also joined the conversation.
Out of that dialogue, the Pastors of the three churches together drafted an open letter to City officials and Open Door outlining what we were able to offer as a temporary stop-gap measure, should need arise. Continue reading →
Photo Credit: Judy L. Crook
Neighbor, O Neighbor
I’m tired of fixing bricks
So now I’m gonna follow Jesus
And God’s gonna fix my life.
Two weeks ago (I know, it’s kind of a long time to remember), I mentioned that there is another church nearby that is spending a lot of money on advertising, trying to turn around the declining situation common to downtown churches. I asked, they have signs and slogans, but what do they stand for? I mentioned that there is another church in the area that has started worship services on Saturday nights to appeal to the Sunday morning sports crowd, but I asked, what do they stand for?
But what I asked of those other churches, to be fair, they could also ask of us. What does First Baptist stand for? Continue reading →
Photo Credit: ABWM
Justice Discipleship is for people who want to do something about their faith.
Starting in October, on Sunday evenings at 5:30, Rev. Green and Rev. Newell will be co-leading this new group. Each session will be a pot luck dinner followed by a 90 minute discussion.
Justice Discipleship in October, 2010
“Doing Something About Human Trafficking in Upstate NY.”
(Runs October 3, 10, 17 and 24)
Last year, the American Baptist Women’s Ministries theme was Break the Chains, learning about human trafficking. Now, this 4-week series concentrates on what Christians are called to do about it, right here in Glens Falls, right now. Continue reading →
So put it on your calendar now!
More than just the usual fellowship time, this is celebration of the First Baptist family coming together. It’s a chance to catch up with the folks who’ve been away on summer vacation and to celebrate the coming year of following Jesus together. The Fellowship Team will fix us up with lunch.
Also this Homecoming Sunday, the Christian Education Team will be launching the first of a new series of monthly all-church Sunday School Assemblies. We’ll be putting some things together in an activity based on a famous Food Network TV show, and we’ll be learning about putting together the community of Jesus. That’s all we’re saying. The rest is top secret. Just be there!
Oh, and welcome home!
