September 2019
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Lime Rock Baptist Misses You!
As summer draws to a close, we hope you've had a relaxing one. With fall on the horizon, Sunday morning services are moving back into the sanctuary, and choir will be performing again soon. It's time to bring our church family back together for worship! Looking forward to seeing all of you soon!
Sunday School Rally Day - September 22
To allow folks time to get settled back into their fall routine, we're starting Sunday School on the 22nd this year. Our new curriculum comes to us from Better Bible Teachers, and we're excited to begin a new program year with memory verses, games, and music, focusing on core bible stories. Our team of teachers will have access to online resources, including videos, to help get the various messages across.
Our first lesson series, Walls and Waves, will spend 5 weeks on Joshua's adventures. At the end of October, we'll move on to The Promise Keeper, a 6 week program on the life of Abraham. Then in December, we'll learn about the Christmas story with the 4 week program Glow Tell It On the Mountain to close out 2019. We're going to follow the recommended curriculum schedule at the website, and there are so many great series available, I can't wait to see what 2020 will bring!
If you're interested in helping teach from time to time, see Amy Brown for scheduling. We have a great group of kids and the lesson materials provide everything you need to succeed!
Sunday School Superintendent,
Amy Brown
Pastor’s Comment
Summer is in its waining days, school is about to open, the choir is returning and the new program year is about to begin at Lime Rock Baptist Church. We did our best to avoid the heat as we gathered outside for Summer worship. We managed to struggle through the hottest July on record.
Callie Cranshaw enjoys the message given by Pastor Gene at the outdoor chapel on August 4th
Perhaps the highlight event of the Summer was the Baptism of Jack Armstrong in the lake at Lincoln Woods Park. It is not every Sunday a pastor gets to take a dip in the lake before worship. Jack enjoyed a swim back to shore. It is a blessing to formally welcome a young man into our Christian community and into the universe Church.
Meanwhile, the meditation group did not skip a beat. We met in air-conditioned comfort in a Summer venue. The meditation program will continue as the group returns to our sanctuary in September. The September 24th session will be Zen for Beginners. So, anyone curious about meditation or interested in starting a practice is welcome to join us.
While the days are getting shorter, we are still a long way from Autumn’s spectacle of color. Nonetheless, there is something innately exciting about a new beginning. When Sunday school starts, we will again enjoy the delightful presence and sounds of our children. Looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday.
Gene
Letter of Thanks from Christina Gosselin
Dear LRBC Community,
I have so much to thank this church for. First, I want to thank the church for the very generous scholarship. I feel honored to have received the Bertha Lawton Crompton Scholarship. I will come home to continue the collection for Love Gift in March. Second, I want to thank the choir. When I joined the choir when I was eleven, I had no idea the amount of kindness and love that would be shown to me. I am so lucky to have been surrounded by such an amazing group of people. I will always remember the words of wisdom from Jeri and Caitlin, the laughs from Rob Turner, and Alvin’s huge smile. I love every one of you and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be in your choir. Lastly, thank you to the rest of my church family for the love you have given me since I was a little girl. This letter is not a goodbye (I can guarantee I will be back often), but and indication of my gratitude for everyone at LRBC.
Love,
Christina
Social Justice Advocacy
Religious leaders from a variety of traditions have formed the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Freedom. While they do not speak for their denomination or congregation, they lend their own voice to the issue.
Lime Rock Zen
The meditation program enters a new program year at Lime Rock Baptist Church. The Zendo has been meeting at an air-conditioned Summer location in East Providence. We are returning to the Lime Rock sanctuary Tuesday, September 24 at 7:00 pm with a special session for beginners.
The meditation program has adopted an interfaith approach to contemplative prayer, synchronizing Christian Contemplative practice within a Zen Buddhist format. The program operates under the supervision and leadership of The Rev. Eugene Dyszlewski, a Baptist pastor trained in the Tibetan meditation tradition, as well as, two lineage holders from the Daystar Zendo, Sensei Cynthia Taberner and Fr. Kevin Hunt, Roshi, a Zen master and a Trappist Monk.
Zen contributes a format and viewpoint that emerges from Buddhism. It has deep roots going back 2,500 years to India. In itself it is not a religion but a “way,” an approach to the spiritual path. We take the view that the spiritual journey is more about being open to the world than belonging to a club. The contemplative traditions of Christianity and Buddhism recognize that various and different means are needed to assist as many people as possible on the common journey through life.
Meditation has been demonstrated to be effective for stress reduction. In addition, some concentration and mindfulness techniques are evidence based practices which allow us to become less reactive to negative life situations. Over time many participants develop habitual prosocial responses rather than engage in the habitual repetition of maladaptive behavior. Perhaps more importantly, meditation promotes spiritual health and well-being. It helps us appreciate life as a spiritual journey.
All are welcome! If you are interested in starting a practice or if you have an established practice and wish to join us, we would love to have you sit with us. We appreciate the the blessing of your presence. For more information about the program please consult our Web site lrbcri.org or contact Rev. Eugene Dyszlewski at or 401-345-7291.
“There is a voice that doesn’t use words, listen.”- Rumi
View the Full Zen Meeting Schedule Here
Children’s Sunday
A Wonderful Update
Photo submitted by bill Austin
Here is a picture of Rev. Mike Burch, enjoying some time with his baby girl, Vania Juliana Burch Aquino – May God bless Rev. Mike and his beautiful family!
