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| Life at the Bay...for the ABCCC Family | May 18, 2010 |
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Back Bay this morning...80 degrees today! |
Things are a buzz up here at The Bay and we are enjoying the sounds of Spring and signs of new growth at this special place.
Let me introduce to you our "Life at the Bay" Family newsletter. In an attempt to to have better communications and more effective use of our funds, we have instituted this "electronic" way as a means to keep in touch with the ABCCC family. Please enjoy the various stories and updates as a way to keep in touch with what God is doing here. We will also be introducing our Facebook and Twitter platforms to you soon in an attempt to find as many ways to simplify our communications to you.
You can easily forward this newsletter to others that you want to receive it. The "forwarding" link can be found on the bottom of this communication. You can also update or change your email address as well as add others to the list that you think should receive our general communications (this includes your children). These additions and changes can also be found at the bottom of this newsletter.
We can still provide vital communications to those who want to receive snail mail. Please help us by letting us know who can't receive electronic news.This way really helps us reduce the costs for you and also allows us to communicate much more efficeintly and effectivley with you. Enjoy!
In Your Service,
Richard Smith
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The ABCCC Family |
A Place to...Love God and Love Others...
The awesome beauty of God's creation: the glimmer off the lake in the morning sun - the White Mountains off in the distance - the smell of pine following an afternoon rain. For so many of us, Alton Bay is our Oasis.
ABCCC has always been a place people traveled in order to connect with God. During the days of the Third Great Awakening, 20,000 people gathered on the grounds to hear the truth of God. This summer, people will come from all over to ABCCC to know God personally, to connect with family and friends, to grow spiritually, to rest and refuel, to serve and to give.
When Jesus was challenged to summarize God's plan for our lives, He responded, "Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. And love others as yourself." All the things that we think we have to do in order to please God, all the rules, all the tasks, and Jesus boiled it down to "Love God and Love Others." That is our theme and challenge for the summer, as individuals and as a community. Participating in worship, teaching and rest, we seek to grow in our love for God. And out of our growing love for God, we seek deeper relationships with each other.
The grace extended to us through the cross enables us to be reconciled to God (the vertical of the cross). God's grace also enables us to have reconciled relationships with each other (the horizontal of the cross).
As you come to ABCCC this summer, are you expecting to meet with God in a fresh, new way? What do you hope God has in store for you when you come to your Oasis? How will loving God change your life? Who will God ask you to love differently? God will meet you where you are.
It is our fervent prayer that folks will come to ABCCC this summer, encounter the love of Christ in you and as a result, be changed for eternity.
Come...to know God personally
Come...to connect with family and friends
Come...to grow spiritually
Come...to rest and refuel
Come...to serve
Come...to give
Then go...and be difference makers!
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 Our Children, Young People and the Next Generation...
As we discovered through the Envision and Enrich 2020 survey, we are unified as a community in our commitment to investing in our youth. Through the efforts of the Board, Staff and Youth Committee, there are a number of new programs and activities on the summer schedule specifically designed to attracting and ministering to the needs of the next generation. Some highlights will be: -
Friday Evening Worship starting in July headlined by Lincoln Brewster & The Dream Center Worship Team, Jonny Diaz, Shades of Skin, Run Kid Run and The Wrecking
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2 Weeks of VBS (one week coinciding with Youth and Family Week)
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Youth Week with Guest Teacher, Mike McGarry, Emmanuel Baptist Church
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Youth Commissioning Service, August 13th (Run Kid Run leading worship)
Leading the way this summer will be our new Summer Youth Director, Jason Hughen. Jason recently graduated and was ordained...Go ahead and meet him in pur next article below. |
 Meet Our New Youth Leader... Me: My name is Jason Hughen, but please... please...call me Jay. I was born in Newton, New Jersey. I grew up as a PK (Pastors Kid). My dad was a Baptist minister in New England (Most of which was in East Machias Maine). I'm Scottish on both sides. I enjoy making people laugh but also consider myself a good listener. I'm a big goof ball and don't mind embarrassing myself for your entertainment.
Interests: I have many different interests and enjoy trying new things. I love to sing, play the guitar and drums. Besides being creative with a pencil or brush, I've recently taken on a new hobby in designing cakes. I love to listen to music, travel, scuba dive, ski and snowboard. I've learned how to actually enjoy reading. I'm currently reading an amazing book called, Unchristian by David Kinnaman. I am a sponsored mountain bike rider for the Evomo factory racing team.
Family: I met my stunning and very intelligent wife Cheryl originally when I was approximately 13 yrears old. We started dating in 1987 and we've been married since 1993. My wife is a RN and currently works as an ICU nurse at Paoli hospital in PA. We have two boys Justyn (15) and Caleb (10). They are excited to join me permanently in June after the boys are done with school.
Education: With a passion for the arts at a young age, I attended Sussex Vocational Technical School for Commercial Art. After graduation I attended the Center for the Media Arts in New York, NY in the field of Advertising Art and Design. I am a '09 graduate of Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville PA with a BA in Christian Ministry. I have plans to attend Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton MA for a Masters of Divinity.
My Ministry Goals: To follow the leading and calling of the Holy Spirit to evangelize and disciple through relational ministry. I have a special sensitivity to disciple young adults who have had negative experiences with the church, who have come to believe the church is not relevant, and/or who have left consistent Christian fellowship and discipleship.
Next week: Jay's hopes for the summer with the youth ministry.... |
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Dates to Remember:
- Dick and Mel Tunney in concert, July 3rd
- Lincoln Brewster Worship Concert and Clinic, July 9th and 10th (tickets required)
- Children's VBS: July 19-23 and August 9-13
- Youth and Family Week, August 9-13
- Marriage Retreat with Michael and Amy Smalley, August 12-14th (retreat pass required)
- Many great teachers and speakers in the Tabernacle and for morning chapel services (see the ABCCC Program)
- Also...Labor Day Weekend Harvest Celebration, September 3-5 - highlighted by music with The Wrecking and Huntley Brown and Harvest Day activities
Visit www.abccc.org or contact the ABCCC office at 603-875-6161 for more information. |
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A Reminder...
Ministry Fees are due!
Please let me know when you will be able to pay your ministry fees for this year. We are doing our best to manage our cash flow and we hope you received our letter to try and help us manage the needed cash needs. I'll be calling those that I have not heard from to inquire about how we can look forward to your payment. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Richard Smith.
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Next Issue...
- Hopes and Dreams for the Youth Ministry for the summer
- Summer Program introduction
- Annual Members Fundraising Banquet
- Update: Cottage Rebuilding and Development
- Retreat Ministry Highlights
- Highlight: Marriage Retreat with Michael and Amy Smalley
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