First Baptist Church
of Hamilton, New York

Founded in 1796, First Baptist is an American Baptist church with an ecumenical congregation. First is the "Mother Church" of Colgate University.

Report of the Diaconate

Sandra Carter, Chair

“Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.”
Matthew 25: 40

Deacons:  Ben Barrett, Pat Blocklin, Joel Caldwell, Sandra Carter, Karen Johnston, Bruce Lamb, Louisa Richards, Carolyn Todd, and Don Townsend

Amid the flux of a changing diaconate, God’s gentle, powerful love has guided us through another year of trying to do His will in our community.  Our efforts were focused on (1) routines that facilitate worship, (2) opportunities for Christian fellowship, prayerful support and appreciation, and (3) extending a helping hand beyond our own church family.

Routines to Facilitate Worship:

As in past years, the deacons helped to facilitate

• Communion by sharing responsibilities each month
• A Schedule for our Volunteer Ushers (Hats off to Don Townsend!)
• Readers for Sunday Worship
• Hosts for Coffee Hour (again this year, capably handled by Ben Barrett)

Christian Fellowship, Prayerful Support & Appreciation:

• Easter & Christmas Observances – We celebrated these two important seasons with (a) the ever memorable Maundy Thursday meal of soup and bread, (b) an Easter morning breakfast hosted by Park Methodist Church, and (c) an Advent luncheon that even a snow storm couldn’t thwart.  The deacons also decorated the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas and had the decided pleasure of delivering poinsettias to fourteen of our members.
• Fellowship Dinners – What started as an experiment last year continued into this year, thanks to Carolyn Todd’s organizational efforts.  Inevitably, the camaraderie of these pot-luck gatherings seems to extend well beyond the shared meal.
• Prayerful Support/Appreciation –Each month we wrote notes to folks letting them know we were holding them in prayer; about sixty cards were sent this year.  As situations arose, we tried to respond appropriately with either covered dish meals, flowers, or visits.
• Packets to Combat Zones – When our pastor’s son and daughter and their spouses were sent to Iraq, we began organizing appreciation packets for them. Though originally the project focused on only “Joe’s Kids” (James, Lauren, Jim, & Grace), it will soon expand to include the Cazer’s son-in-law,  Michael, and Collette Gotham’s step-brother, Tim.  Thus far, thanks to your generosity, there have been four mailings (a total of twenty packets) with another planned for January 30th  this year.
• Celebration of Our Pastor’s Ordination –June 10th saw the culmination of covert efforts to organize a surprise celebration for Joe, marking the  35th anniversary of his ordination.  The well-attended buffet luncheon followed the Sunday morning service and featured fresh spring flowers (thanks to Bruce Lamb), some truly vintage photos of Joe and a superb caramel cake provided by Jo and Galen Fenner.
• Fourth of July – Again this year we set up a changing station for parents with infants.  We also served cookies, fresh fruit and lemonade on the church portico.
• Picnic on the Grounds – As summer drew to a close, we hosted a bring-your-favorite-dish picnic that gave us the opportunity for fellowship with each other and with folks from the Methodist church.

Extending a Helping Hand:  Fellowship among Christians can be a vibrant and gratifying aspect of faith, but Christ exhorts us to extend God’s love further, to consider “the least of these [our] brethren.” 

• Again this year the deacons have worked closely with the Community Action Partnership (CAP) to channel help to those in need.  CAP has a good track record of identifying bona fide needs and, in most cases, it has the wherewithal to address those needs, whether it be through temporary lodgings, transportation, food stamp acquisition, child care, or counseling.  Throughout the year, as you have contributed to the deacons’ fund we have been able to pass along your donations to help those who have fallen on hard times.
• We also had the opportunity to provide support to a long-term convalescent through providing some house-cleaning sessions.
• Further, your donations went to make Christmas a little brighter for at-risk youngsters being mentored by our own Louisa Richards.  On a shopping outing, the youngsters warmed our hearts by their choices of basic necessities rather than frivolous items.

First Baptist Church
27 Broad Street
PO Box 73
Hamilton, New York 13346
315-824-2780