I once heard a preaching professor say that to really understand the Gospel, we need to use all the senses, we need to engage in touch and sight, sound and smell, so perhaps to understand the Good News, we need to ask ourselves: What does hope feel like? What does resurrection look like? What does […]
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Welcome to Rev. Brett Hertzog Betkoski the new pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Centerbrook! Brett was recently featured as the person of the week in the Valley Courier. You can find out more about him by reading the article (access article by clicking here). Neighboring churches and community members are invited to attend his installation, […]
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The days have warmed, the sun has peaked out it’s head and it seems like it is finally time to start making plans for the summer. Part of those plans here at First Baptist Church in Essex include a summer book group or Bible study. What would you like to read together? Possibilities have been […]
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On our faith journey, we often draw from a variety of spiritual practices. This week I invite you to consider embarking on the practice of meeting regularly with a spiritual director. In the words of Janna Larson, “Spiritual direction is essentially companioning someone in his or her spiritual life. Other ways of describing spiritual direction […]
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All God’s people, All God’s people, Welcome home, gather ‘round, The Holy is here. These lyrics from the song “All God’s People” by Rob Leveridge remind us that there is a holiness to all God’s people gathering ‘round. This is truth we are reminded of not just by the song, but also by Jesus’ words […]
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The voices of the world so often try to tell us who we are and what we are worth and, in the midst of that cacophony, Jesus bends down and washes the dust off our feet, reminding us that it is God’s love that defines us and enfolds every circumstance in our lives. In places […]
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Lent is a time when Jesus calls us to cultivate our relationship with God. Here are some resources to help cultivate that relationship. Comment below if you have anything to add! Lenten Resources: –Mercy Center by the Sea They have a Lenten retreat this Saturday, February 13th, and the Center is always available for day […]
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Whether you will be cheering for the Panthers, Broncos or just watching the Super Bowl for the advertisements, we invite you to kick-off Super Bowl weekend by joining us on Super Bowl Saturday to Stuff-a-Truck for the Shoreline Soup Kitchen and Pantries (SSKP)! As we prepare to cheer on our teams (or lament the fact that […]
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Worship has been cancelled on Sunday, January 24th, due to snow. You are encouraged to stay at home and stay safe and warm. If you would like to worship at home, the following resources have been provided so that you can do so. Prayer If you would like to share your prayers of joy and […]
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The tradition of STARwords (or Star Gifts) is practiced in some congregations in the Epiphany season. Each person in the congregation receives a star with a word on it – a word that perhaps will help guide each person in a special way during the year. In church this Sunday during coffee hour, people shared […]
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The First Baptist Church in Essex 