The character of the Rochester Genesee Region has from its beginning been characterized by the distinctives of soul freedom and local church autonomy.
January 2017
       ~       
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.    
Jeremiah 29:11
~
From the Executive Minister
Dear Friends,

In days, we move into a new year, one that is filled with many challenges and opportunities.  In the secular world, there is a lot of talk about resolutions.  There is especially a lot of skepticism about their value, as most resolutions are quickly forgotten about in a manner of months if not weeks. 

As a year-round "gym rat" I have grown accustomed to the January surge in new memberships and attendance, making access to equipment and the pool more difficult.  As much as I appreciate the multitude's desire for a healthier lifestyle, I find myself yearning for March to roll around when there is a sudden drop in enthusiasm and gym attendance returns to "normal" numbers.

The reason I believe that most resolutions lack staying power is that there is no sound plan behind the resolution. I find the same is true about resolutions we make in the church.  However, in the church we have a different name for them.  In the church, we call them goals.

        January Prayer List

       Week                                  Church                                  
       Jan. 1                  Mt. Olivet Church
       Jan. 8                  First United  Church, Bloomington, IN
       Jan. 15                Hilton Baptist Church
       Jan. 22                The Baptist Temple
       Jan. 29                First Baptist Church of Brockport

                Free Community Concert Series
Sun., Jan. 22 @ 7:00 p.m. 
Chris Wilson
Singer /Songwriter/International Recording Artist
Admission to these concerts is free, but we encourage those who attend to donate non-perishable food items and/or cash for the work of the Greece Ecumenical Food Shelf. 

                Missions Fund Raising Dinner
Sat., Jan. 21 @ 5:00 p.m.
$10 per person
Please join us to support our missions trip (in conjunction with First Baptist Church of Morrestown, NJ).
If you'd like to donate towards this dinner, we are collecting the following: 
Dry pasta and noodles, pasta sauce-plain (no meat, mushrooms, etc.), s alad dressings, gift cards to Wegmans, Tops, Aldi, Walmart, or Sam's (to purchase salad, meatballs, garlic bread)        
                                             
Greece Baptist Church, 1230 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14626                  
(585) 225-6160 / greecebaptistchurch.org / greecebaptist@yahoo.com

Job Fair
Fri., Jan. 13 / 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

NOW HIRING RN / LPN / CNA                                       FAIRPORT BAPTIST HOME
Full or part time                                                                  4646 Nine Mile Point Road 
$500 - $1000 Signing Bonus!!!                                         Fairport, NY 14450
(Must be present for bonus.)
Clergy, Tax & Law Conference

Did you know that there are 45 new IRS changes? At the conference, you will learn about all of them, plus many more! Examples of topics :
  • Big new benefits for ministers' housing allowance
  • How to set up auxiliary accounts (ie. youth ministry) legally
  • New bylaws changes
  • Forms the IRS requires for musicians, children's church workers, guest speakers
  • Large federal grants for youth centers, child care, and many more
  • New forms for love offerings to your pastor

Syracuse, NY                                                   Buffalo, NY

Thu., Jan. 26                                                       Fri., Jan. 27

Crown Plaza Syracuse                                      Embassy Suites Buffalo 

 

To register online: Click here

Or call (800) 344-0076, or email: cmtc@cmtc.org

2017 Biennial Mission Summit
June 30-July 2, 2017
Portland, Oregon

Don't miss the March 15 deadline for Church Sponsorship, which offers $100 or more off the regular registration rate for church members.  The church will also be listed on the event website and the event program book. Sponsoring churches will help to support the Biennial Mission Summit and make it a success.  Register your church as a Sponsor today!

Final 2016 Gifts
For your individual contributions to be credited to the 2016 tax year, it must be received at the region or postmarked no later than midnight on December 31, 2016. The IRS makes it  very clear  that a "late-received" check with a December 31 date on the check does not qualify for 2016 tax returns.
Mileage Rates
Beginning on Jan. 12017, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, vans, pickups or panel trucks will be: 53.5 ¢ per  mile for business miles driven, down from  54¢ for 2016.

Thank You!
For the Generous Donations to
Friends of the Region

PAL - Up to $100
Young-At-Hearts Club (Hilton Baptist Church), Archie Cureton, Alfred & Esther Fiege, Karl & Cheryl Fishbaugh, David Fisher, JoAnn Trolley, Winifred Turcott, Luise Forseth
FRIEND - $100 - 149
David & Linda Caughey, Kenneth & Sally Dodgson, Craig Epperson, Trevor & Elizabeth Ewell, Steven Gretz & Leslie Lee, Betty Heisig, Walter & Cynthia Lage, Dianne Newhouse, Alan & Gail Newton, William & Doris Perkett, Barbara Sherwood, Sue Sparnecht, Mattie Thurman
COMPANION - $150 - 399
East Rochester First Baptist Church, Donald & Lisa Fox, Steve & Betty Hartman, Ruth Hazen, Gail and Thomas Hill
Invest in a Strong 2017 for Creation Justice

Creation Justice Ministries theme for 2017 will be "Environmental Justice for Indigenous Peoples".  

We are planning a series of round tables to lift up Indigenous leaders' ideas about just energy transition away from fossil fuels, a leadership retreat, and a Christian education resource on environmental justice to emphasize dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery.  But, we can't do it without your help. With just a few days left in 2016, please help us raise the last $2,000 we need to reach our budget goals. 
Summer Conference
When Did We See You Naked?
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
July 17 - 22

We are especially thrilled to let you know about our first-ever conference outside of the US and Canada -- we'll be at Misión Mazahua near Toluca, Mexico. We hope you'll join us! 
  Click here for more information.

                      Conquering the Cutback Syndrome

"We simply have too many churches in this small town," declared a respected lay leader, Tom McClain, in a long-range planning meeting. "And three are from the same denomination as our church! It makes perfect sense to merge our congregation with the West Main Street Church. And if our other two denominational churches merge, our community would then have two strong congregations. I think two healthy churches better represents our denomination than four struggling congregations."

Although Tom's conclusion seems logical, his approach reveals a textbook example of the cutback syndrome. Across the United States, church leaders use this common planning strategy to "fix" perceived problems and challenges.

To read more of the January Parish Paper, click here .


2017 Religious Liberty Essay Scholarship Contest
Sponsored by the Religious Liberty Council

   To enter, students (there is no religious requirement) must write an essay on the following topic and submit it to the Baptist Joint Committee by March 10, 2017:

   The United States, along with many other countries, gives safe haven to refugees of war-torn countries. Many factors are taken into account when determining who is allowed to enter our borders. During the 2016 presidential campaign, there was discussion around the idea of denying entrance to some immigrants and refugees based on their religion.  Discuss whether a religious test should be conducted as a part of the United States' immigration and refugee policies. Explore the intersection, if any, between the proposed test and the two religion clauses in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Be sure to identify the implications for religious liberty of all citizens in your answer.

Click here for rules, details and entry forms.

Inaugurating Hope
Fri., Jan. 20 -  7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
First Unitarian Church of Rochester,
220 Winton Road South, Rochester 14610

Music and dancing will follow for those who wish to stay.  The event is free, but please register . N ominal donations will be gratefully accepted to help defray costs.

To learn more about us, visit us online!


Interested in supporting the work of American Baptist Churches?
Rochester Genesee Region | American Baptist Churches
585-473-3200 | officeabcrgr@gmail.com | www.abcrgr.org
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