Ogden Baptist Church 1819 — 2019

“200 Years of Faith and Devotion”

OGDEN BAPTIST CHURCH REV. NICOLE IAQUINTO, SENIOR PASTOR

721 Washington St, Spencerport, NY 14559 (585) 352-1077 http://www.obcny.org obcspencerport@gmail.com

From Pastor Nicole…

Dear OBC Friends and Family,

Happy New Year! I don’t know about you, but I’m excited for the year 2020. The past year was a tough one for many of us, I know. The New Year is a powerful symbol of renewal, second

chances, and rebirth (as is the still-very-new-born baby Jesus)! I know time is a theoretical construct and we can “start over” at any time — but if it’s helpful, we can embrace this symbol and use it to move forward on our journey. What no longer serves us can stay in 2019, and 2020 is a chance to move on and continue to follow God’s call.

Now is the time to reflect on the previous year, make some careful plans for the future, to seek a closer relationship with God, and trust the Lord’s timing. Things may not happen as quickly as we would like. They may not happen exactly how we envisioned them — but cultivating trust here is crucial to our overall well-being and progress.

In order to let the new in, we may need to let go of the old. I recently heard a sermon where the preacher said: “Sometimes God will move people and things out of your life to show you where Jesus Christ is not Lord.” Here’s a question to ponder in the New Year: Is Jesus Christ Lord of your heart? Or is it financial success? Maybe material wealth? An unhealthy relationship? Pride? Anger? It’s not easy to let these things go. It takes a conscious effort. But it’s worth it if we can stick with it, and constantly remind ourselves that Jesus is Lord of all.

As you make your way into 2020, be kind to yourself. Give yourself time to learn and space to heal. Allow God into your heart to give you strength to get through anything. Jesus is walking with us,

— continued on p.2 —

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

“The Hands & Feet” Monthly Newsletter Jan/Feb 2020

Pages 1-2:

Pastor’s Letter Mobile Office Hours Pastoral Visits Thanks from Pastor

Nicole

Page 3:

Forward Through the Ages: Faith and Devotion Continues

Christian Ed News Tree of Warmth Update Board Meeting Dates

Page 4:

Bible Study resumes January 15th

Trustees News KidzMin Update Third Friday Fitness Fellowship Group

Page 5:

January & February Birthdays

Thank You!!! Pastor Will Be Away Page 6: Happy New Year! All Things Become

New in Christ, Coloring Sheet

“The Hands & Feet” Monthly Newsletter January/February 2020 p.2

(continued from p.1)

all the way, on our journey to wellness. After all, he is Immanuel, “God with us.” May that give us the courage to dive into 2020 with confidence, no matter what life throws our way!

Blessings,

Pastor Nicole

Where in the World is Pastor Nicole???

“Mobile Office Hours” are held on Wednesdays, 10am—Noon (except second Wednesdays of the month).

Pastor Nicole will be frequenting coffee shops in Spencerport, Rochester, Churchville, Chili, and Brockport, bringing her into the neighborhoods our members live in.

Check Facebook or call/text Pastor Nicole at (810) 333-3298 to find out where she is any given week!

Home sick or in the Hospital? Just want a visit?

PLEASE, PLEASE call Pastor Nicole (or have a loved one call on your behalf) if you would like a visit.

If you don’t hear from her, she either: A) Doesn’t know of your need, or

B) Is assuming you want your privacy, and wants to respect that.

She can be reached on her cell phone (call/text) at (810) 333-3298 or on a local Google Voice number (calls only) at (585) 210-8233.

You will not incur any long distance charges with the Google Voice number. Unless it is an emergency, Pastor Nicole asks that you limit your calls or texts to be-

tween the hours of 8am and 9pm. Please leave her a message and she’ll get back ASAP. If you don’t hear from her in a couple days, give her a gentle reminder.

A Word of Thanks from Pastor Nicole— Hello, Beloveds! I wanted to take a moment to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all of the amazing Christmas cards, cookies (so many cookies), your prayers and words of encouragement, and for the collective gift you took up for me as a congregation. I went home, opened my card, and cried. Truly, your generosity knows no bounds. I will be using my gift to get new tires to keep me safe on the slippery winter roads! I am truly grateful for all you do for me. Sending my love, and wishing you all a very healthy, HAPPY NEW YEAR! -Pastor Nicole

“The Hands & Feet” Monthly Newsletter January/February 2020 p.3

UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS

Deacons & Trustees Tuesday, January 14th @ 6:30pm Tuesday, February 11th @ 6:30pm

Church Council Tuesday, January 14th @ 7:30pm Tuesday, February 11th @ 7:30pm

FORWARD THROUGH THE AGES:

Faith and Devotion Continues in the Years Ahead

It has been a wonderful year reviewing Ogden Baptist’s past 200 years and celebrating the present with former pastors, longtime members, and community neighbors. And we shared with local mission partners by collecting food items, hygiene supplies, school supplies, and much more.

As we move into Ogden Baptist Church’s future, we continue to thank God for all that he has given, and pray that we may continue in Faith and Devotion for many years to come. The committee thanks everyone for their participation in our 200th Anniversary celebrations. Your help or just your presence were truly blessings. May God bless each and every one as we seek to serve and love God and all those we meet.

Ogden Baptist Church 1819 — 2019

“200 Years of Faith and Devotion”

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION NEWS

Sunday School, Kid’s Faith Discovery, and the new Ecumenical Youth Program continue as we make our way into 2020. And we look forward to making subs for Super Bowl Sunday on February 2nd, and to bowling in Cameron’s Annual Bowl-a-Thon in March. We ask God’s blessings as we grow in the new year and thank everyone for their support and help in 2019!

TREE OF WARMTH UPDATE

Throughout the month of December our Tree of Warmth was adorned with 98 items of warmth! The items included hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, and socks for men, women, teens and children, and were delivered to Cameron Community Ministries. Cameron handed

out the items at their Annual Christmas Party on December 18th. Cameron greatly appreciates all that OBC does to support this vital ministry. Thank you all for bringing warmth to those in need this

winter.

“The Hands & Feet” Monthly Newsletter January/February 2020 p.4

TRUSTEES NEWS

The basement windows of the parsonage will be replaced, and Wonder Windows will do the work.

Some comparison shopping is being done for the compensation insurance and insurance on the church property.

The WiFi at church was not working, so a new router was purchased and installed. In this process the login to the WiFi was changed. So ask Linda or Pastor Nicole if you want to

know the new login. The volunteers in the office, as well as Dale, and the custodian,

were given a monetary Christmas gift. The question of whether or not to turn the Colby Street

cemetery over to the town was discussed. If you have thoughts about this, please let a Trustee know.

BIBLE STUDY

Please mark your calendars…

There will be NO BIBLE STUDY on January 1st & 8th. Studies will resume at the church parsonage on January 15th at 2pm.

KidzMin Update

Much of December OBC’s children’s ministry practiced for our annual Christmas play, but in our study time we prepared for Jesus’ birth. For Advent the children in our Sunday School rooms thought about how they could live out Advent by participating in acts that promoted hope, peace, love and joy in their lives and the lives of others. Elementary kiddos assembled their own advent wreaths and relived the nativity story comparing what we knew from tradition and what the Bible account truly says.

In the coming months we will be looking at the stories of those who encountered Christ as a child: the shepherds, the magi, and Simeon and Anna.

Our Faith Discovery classes wrapped up the major Kings of Israel and took a break for the second half of December. The group will meet again on January 8th and continue building our Lego Solomon’s Temple, as well as begin our exploration of Israel’s minor kings and what happened after Israel experienced civil war.

A new fellowship group is being formed at Ogden Baptist Church. It will be called “Third Friday Fitness,” and will meet the third Friday of each month starting January 17th. We will gather in the fellowship hall at 10:30am til 1pm for fellowship, some gentle exercise, and a

healthy lunch. At the first meeting we will discuss types of activities the group would be interested in doing. Please join us! Any questions call Linda Benjamin at 773-4465 or Nancy

Hill Dean at 490-2177.

“The Hands & Feet” Monthly Newsletter January/February 2020 p.5

Here’s wishing a very happy birthday to the following individuals who have birthdays in January and February:

JANUARY 6 Gail Vogt 11 Addison Newland 14 Ginni Grindle 19 Sue Ludwig & Carolyn Ayers 20 Mary Powell 21 Wendy Maurici & Pastor Nicole Iaquinto 22 Richard Bourns 23 Arlene Lind 25 David Riexinger 26 Bob Dean 29 Nancy Olney

FEBRUARY 3 Thomas Castellano & Anthony Castellano 4 Bette Wiebeld 8 Laurie Cole & Lydia DeSormeau 11 Elaine Hill 12 Charlotte Plyter 14 Nancy Dean 17 Lincoln Cole 23 Eric Feuerherm

Congratulations to you all!!! Enjoy your special day!

THANK YOU!!!

Dear Friends at OBC,

Before the year is out I wanted to thank you for all your kindness through several times this year. Thank you to Pastor Nicole for her caring and contact throughout the year. And to all of you for your prayers, cards, calls, thoughts — I can never thank you enough. You are our ‘family’ here and we’re greatly pleased by that. May the New Year find you blessed in many ways, but most importantly that you know where those blessings come from. Thank you for being there for us through some hurdles over the past couple of years. ~Ted & Doris Vargo

Pastor Nicole will be out of the office Jan 1-11, 2020

If you need pastoral care while she is away, please contact your Deacon. Not sure who your Deacon is or how to get in

touch with them? Call Deacon Chair Tom Olney at 585-406-1824.

Happy New Year, from all of us at Ogden Baptist Church!