. . . Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.            

Colossians 2:6-7

Tabernacle Baptist Church of Fiskeville

PASTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT

JANUARY 2006

As we grow together in grace we become more rooted in Jesus Christ. As I reflect back over this past year I am, indeed, overflowing with thankfulness. I am thankful for the faithful witness and service of so many in our church family. I am thankful for the new faces in worship. I am thankful for the three new members we welcomed in November. I am thankful for the myriad of ways in which I see members of our church family reaching out to one another.

Our church is greatly enriched by the willingness of so many to share their gifts in ministry through our worship services, our children’s ministries, and our community outreach. Prayer cards, care baskets, and words of love and cheer are all parts of living out the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We mourn the loss of member Ruth Battey who died in April. We give thanks for the generosity of so many who provided the means to install the wheelchair lift thus making it possible for Ruth to access the sanctuary. I will long remember the look of joy on her face as she participated in worship. In addition to her memorial service, services were also conducted for Francis Brayton and Robert F. Parker, Sr.

We rejoice with the parents of Amanda Parker who was dedicated on June 12 and Megan Brown who was dedicated on December 18. We also rejoice with Joe and Kerri Sylvia Nakopinski who were married in the church sanctuary on July 9.

Visits were made to parishioners at Cedar Crest, Riverview, and Shady Acres Nursing Homes as well as at Kent and Rhode Island Hospitals. Home visits or other personal contacts were made with two-thirds of our church constituency. A special focus is on visitation with our frail and elderly people. Approximately twenty percent of those listed in our church directory live outside our local geographical area or we have no known address thus restricting personal contact.

In addition to pastoral care visits, communication is extended through the church website, PrayerNET, Tabernacle Chimes, monthly calendar inserts, Advent and Lent church wide mailings, as well as by personal notes and phone calls.

You were represented by your pastor at the ABCORI annual gathering and the installation of the new Mount Vernon pastor. A Leadership Training Session was conducted for the American Baptist Women Ministries at their annual spring conference at Canonicus. During this year I concluded my term on the ABCORI Board of Mission and fulfilled my responsibilities as a member of the Search Committee for the Director of Administration for Canonicus and ABCORI. I also coordinated and participated in the Coach Training Program for Natural Church Development.

Beyond our region, I have continued to serve as a Mentor in the ABC Nehemiah Leadership Network program and as President of the Andover Newton Alumni/ae Association. I served as Supervisor for an area pastor participating in an Intentional Interim Ministries Training Program and serve as In-Care Pastor for an Andover Newton Seminarian. I also continue to represent the Rhode Island Ministers Council on the National Ministers Council Senate.

Participation in a weekly Bible Study with the Westerly Area Clergy, the monthly Clergy Covenant group sessions at Phenix Baptist Church, and regular sessions with my Spiritual Director all continue to nurture me spiritually. I rejoice in and am enriched by these opportunities for ecumenical fellowship.

I rejoice in the privilege of serving as your pastor. Now in our eleventh year of shared ministry, I look forward to this coming year together as we seek to become more Centered in Christ. May God’s blessings continue to abound as together we allow the love of Jesus the Christ to take shape in each believer and in the believing community.

Joyously,

Joyce B. Duerr, Pastor