In 1874 a piece of property was purchased on the northern end of Massena at the top of the hill on North Main Street (hence the nickname "Light on the Hill") and the church, which is still being used for services, was completely erected for $3600 and dedicated to the glory of God.  One year later a parsonage was built and dedicated with a church membership of 60 persons.  A baptistry was installed in 1924; prior to this time baptisms took place at the foot of George Street in the Grass River.  During the winter holes were chopped in the ice and it is recorded that no ill effects occurred during these river baptisms.  Sunday School rooms were built in the back of the church in 1926 and in 1929 eleven of the most beautiful stained glass windows were installed by the an Ogdensburg craftsman, Harry Harwood.  These windows were presented by various members of the congregation in loving memory of family members.  They survived the 1944 earthquake, a magnitude 5.8, while the plaster on the walls and ceiling of the church came crashing down.

In 1974 digging began for the foundation of the soon to be Fellowship Hall.  This basement would consist of 5 Sunday School classrooms.  Later that summer a pre-engineered unit, which would make up the Fellowship Hall over the Sunday School rooms, was put into place in one day.  The interior finishing and furnishings are the result of the entire congregation coming together, giving up their time, energies, money and support to accomplish this project. 

The church's creed was established and signed by the membership and is still being used to guide the present membership; "to maintain the public worship of God according to the example and teaching of the Bible; to promote living piety in experience and practice among its members; to emphasize the message of prophecy, the near coming of Christ, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting through Christ only; to labor for the salvation of the lost and the betterment of society."

Our church is best known for its love of God and for each other and the community; our covered dish dinners; our service in the local nursing homes, hospital, schools; our outreach along with the other churches of the area as we strive to make our community a better place to live and raise our families; the volunteerism of our members in local organizations, rescue squad, hospital, serving on agency's board of directors.

Window in Northside Community Church

As a congregation we strive to following the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ, study scriptures to better understand what God's will is for our lives, and follow Christ's command to love God with our whole being and our neighbors as ourselves.  Though we are small in numbers, our love for the Lord can be seen not only on Sundays but throughout the week as we live our lives as a witness to His calling.  We labor with the other evangelical congregations in the village to bring the love of God and Christ to the residents.  Our present pastor, Reverend George Middleton and his wife Leslie, have served with us since August 1994, George being the 29th pastor to lead the church.  During that time, the church has watched as their 2 sons grew, married, had their own children and are actively serving their churches in Virginia.

Fellowship is an important component of our congregation's lives.  We meet monthly for covered dish dinners, have an active Sunday School for all ages, Men's Discipleship Class, Women's Bible Study, Dart Baseball night, Saturday morning breakfast, in the spring and fall clean up our 2-mile stretch of highway along the St. Lawrence River, summer Bible classes for children during August, supply scholarships to send children to camp, Easter breakfast, Ice Cream Socials, Trunk or Treat, Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends, filling shoe boxes to send to Operation Christmas Child (this year we filled 56) just to name a few of these opportunities to come together in a Christian setting to encourage each other.  We also broadcast our services live during the months of January, May and September via WMSA 1340 Radio Station here in Massena (if you go to their website, you can hear our services live through their streaming feature).

George & Leslie Middleton

We shall get there some day

Rivers know this: there is no hurry.

We shall get there some day.

-    Winnie the Pooh

The field mouse zigged then zagged from one side of the snow-blown path to the other then from the dead end near the foundation of the house to the bend in the road that had become its prison. I thought it free when it scaled the snow cliff at the edge of the lane. But, instead of whistling a happy tune and strolling off to wherever field mice live in the winter, it tumbled back into a rodent's Grand Canyon.

I caught the unfolding drama from the bathroom window as I shaved. Though not a fan of the tiny creature, I didn't want it to die. I willed it to slow down. To stop on top of the snow line and think ahead to its next steps.

I missed the ending. I had places to go and people to see.

Later, in a pause-to-catch-my-breath moment, I heard God chuckle. OK, not so much heard as sensed. My over-active imagination kicked in as I "saw" God looking down on me running hither and yon as I tried to extricate myself from my dilemma of the moment.

The visual image reinforced something I read a decade earlier. "We string ourselves out, expending all our time and energy, adding our will to God's, trying to do extremely well at what he never intended us to do at all."[1] Read but not heeded, I might add.

Eugene Peterson refers to busyness as "an illness of the spirit, a rush from one thing to another because...there is no confidence in the primacy of grace."[2]

I grew up on a farm mentored by a dad who believed that if he could keep his five sons busy enough, he would hold trouble at bay. And his sons thought that if we could hurry and complete the jobs he laid out for us, we would have time to play. Years later, I continue to hear those whispers still in my ear.

 "Much harm comes of the impatience that outstrips guidance," George MacDonald wrote. "People are too ready to think something must be done and forget the time for action may not have arrived."

Unlike me, God never hurries. He works always, or at least most often, in quiet and stillness.

While pondering this collusion of memories, I remembered a field mouse moment in the life of the people of Israel. They had been singing, "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty (we're) free at last" for a few days when they found themselves staring at the Red Sea through their windshield and the Egyptian army through their rear view mirror.

Moses answered the people's cry with, "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."[3]

Be still. Don't move or make a sound. Enter into deep silence and calm.

Easier said than done.

"Don't fret," David begins one of his psalms. "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; don't fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."[4]

Don't move or make a sound. Enter into deep silence and calm even then.

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."[5]

Don't move or make a sound. Enter into deep silence and calm.

"If you want to live life free;

"Take your time, go slowly,

"Do few things, but do them well,

"Heart felt joys are Holy."[6]

I wish I could have whispered those words to the field mouse that cold winter day in the same way God whispers them to me. Then again, I'm not certain it would have understood any better than I do. But I can hope - for both of us.

Clayton Blackstone

 _________________________________

February 26-28, 2013

Do you need to develop leaders? Are you interested in learning how to proclaim the gospel more effectively in today's world? Then, the 2013 AC Leaders' Conference is for you. 

Plan now to join us at the beautiful Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, NC on February 26-28th for the AC Leaders Conference. The theme of "Commending God's Works, One Generation to the Next" will be the focus of our gathering together. Join us as we hear from Dr. Tim Laniak (Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte, NC), Dr. J. Kent Edwards (Talbot School of Theology) and Dr. Thomas S. Warren (Advent Christian General Conference) as they speak to us on this important topic.

Hymnist's Pulpit Given to Marblehead Church

Marblehead, July 19-A pulpit formerly used by the author of the hymn, "Throw out the Life Line," was presented today to the Advent Christian Church by Dr. Guy Linwood Vannah, President of the New England School of Theology and former pastor of the church.

The pulpit is constructed to resemble the bow of a vessel.  Rev. Mr. Ufford, the hymnist, formerly used it in a mission at Rockland, Me.

The Boston Globe, 20 Jul 1934 (with slight corrections)

The Rev. Edwin Smith Ufford's mission (Galilee Temple) in Rockland, Me. closed at some point and the building became the property of the Advent Christian Church, which later closed and apparently the pulpit went to the Vannahs and from them to the Marblehead, Mass. Advent Christian Church.  More recently, according to the Rev. William A. Flewelling, it went to the Portland, Me. Advent Christian Church and then was given to what is now the Adventual Library.  According to my understanding it is now in storage in Northwood Narrows, NH

Rev. Edwin Smith Ufford, 1851-1929.

Throw out the life line across the dark wave;

There is a brother whom someone should save;

Somebody's brother! O who then will dare

To throw out the life line, his peril to share?

Refrain

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!

Someone is drifting away;

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!

Someone is sinking today.  1888.

These words were written during an earlier parish ministry (Hull, Mass.?) where having observed life saving drills at the Point Allerton Life Saving Station the words came to mind.

Berkshire Christian College's Adventual Library at the Center for Advent Christian Studies

Goddard Library

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

130 Essex Street

South Hamilton, MA  01982

978-468-7111

Remember The Adventual Library when you are looking for a new home for all types of Adventual related materials.

We are here to serve you.  How may we help?

Duane E. Crabtree, Volunteer Curator

255 Washington St.

Arlington, MA 02474-1501

dcrabtree@rcn.com

781-646-5288 (house)

781-646-5288 (fax)

617-417-9339 (cell)

 "From everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him."  - Psalm 103:17

I hope that you are enjoying this Newsletter from the Regional Office.  It is our goal to provide you with information on what is going on around the Region.  This month we are excited to bring you a new column by Rev. Clayton Blackstone from Bangor, Maine.  Clayton has been writing these devotional thoughts for several years now and has been sharing them with friends and has even collected many of them into a book called, "Meet Me For Breakfast."  We are pleased to be able to share them with this larger audience around the Region. I'm sure you will be blessed as you see Claytons creative writing style bring forth truths from God's word each month.

We have had several changes take place in recent weeks that I will try to recap for you.  Bill Chadwick has resigned as the Regional Representative to the Board of Berkshire Christian College after 5 years of service.  Andy Rice and Tom Peers have resigned as Regional Ministry Directors due to the amount of time it was requiring.   These guys are very sharp thinkers and their contributions will be greatly missed. 

Attleboro, MA. Advent Christian Church has announced the calling of Nathaniel Bickford as their new Pastor.  Nathaniel grew up in Waterville, ME. attended BICS, Lancaster Bible College, and Westminster Seminary.  He will begin his ministry there in February.

I am beginning two new Antioch classes this month, one on Acts, and one on Shepherding.  There are also courses being offered in Haverill, Lenox, State Road, Windham, and Charlton.  According to my records there are 21 Degree Students and 29 Certified Leaders in our Region.  I'd like to welcome Dustin Delano, and Jake Pickens as the newest students who have been admitted into the degree program.