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"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually
members of one another."
-Romans 12:5 For the past year a dedicated
group of volunteers has been meeting in Rhode Island making plans to host the
2004 Annual Meeting, which takes place at the Biltmore Hotel. These meetings
have taken place in West Warwick at Riverpoint Congregational Church, pastored
by the Rev. Larry Bernier and at Beneficent Congregational Church in Providence.
The Rev. Richard H. Taylor, senior minister at Beneficent, has graciously and
generously offered the use of the meeting house of this historic church as a
place for our Sunday morning worship. This service is being handled by the
Rev. Bill Fillebrown and the Mayflower Ministers of Massachusetts. Our
Tuesday evening communion service, coordinated by the Rev. Bobbie Chapman and
the Connecticut Fellowship, will also take place at Beneficent.
The Host Committee, ably chaired by Jim Hopkins of Riverpoint Congregational, is
made up of 30 lay people and clergy representing 15 churches in Connecticut and
Massachusetts. With each of the monthly meetings, the number of volunteers
has grown as has the enthusiasm of the group.
Plans for the meeting include a massed handbell
choir from area churches and a choir made up of volunteer singers
from member churches across the country. Helen Gierke of
Florence Congregational Church, Florence, Massachusetts, has
undertaken the task of pulling these musical elements together.
The program for our children is shaping up well under the capable
leadership of Kathy Fuller from First Congregational Church,
Hanson, Massachusetts. Proposed programs include trips to
the Roger Williams Park Zoo, Newport and Battleship Cove.
The programs for NAPF and HOPE will take place on the University
of Rhode Island Campus. Joanne Simpson, First Church of
Christ, Lynn, Massachusetts, is working on coordinating this
meeting. An intergenerational program will take place on
Sunday evening. As icing on the cake, the Connecticut
Fellowship, through their Executive Secretary, John Lancz, has
offered the use of their property on Fisher's Island for a group
traveling home after the meeting. This is available on a
first come/first served basis. For information, contact John
at 860-527-7001. Everyone is invited to our
yearly reunion - a time for worship, the sharing of new ideas and a little
business in Providence, Rhode Island, the "Renaissance City."
BIBLE LECTURE SPONSORSHIP
For the past two annual meetings we have appreciated
the Churches and individuals who have contributed funds as
sponsors of the bible lectures at the annual meeting, and have
recognized their contributions in the lecture program printed each
year. Dr. James Sanders, Professor of Intertestamental and
Biblical Studies at Claremont School of Theology, will be the
lecturer for the meeting in Providence. His scholarly work
in the areas of ancient biblical manuscripts (for instance, on the
Dead Sea Scrolls) is used by scholars around the world. If
you or your congregation would be interested in sponsoring this
lectureship, please get in touch with the NA office. |
