Joyce and Wes Smith
Wesley A. Smith came to First Baptist Church as pastor on April 11, 2010.
Wes graduated from Barrington College, now Gordon College, in 1973, and from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1976. He has completed several hours of Doctor of Ministry studies at Trinity
Theological Seminary. A native New Yorker, Rev. Smith has served in churches in Averill Park and Saratoga Springs, New York, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and in Westerly and Cranston Rhode Island. He has served thirteen of his nineteen years in Rhode Island on the governing board (Board of Ministries) of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island and served on the Executive Minister's support team. Wes has attended all but two biennials of the ABC, USA over thirty-three years of pastoral ministry.
Wes has led mission trips to the Dominican Republic and to New Orleans. He has also been a regular summer pulpit guest at Wilson Chapel, Ocean Point, Maine and the Lakeside Chapel, Lake George, New York.
He served most recently as senior pastor of Phillips Memorial Baptist Church in Cranston, Rhode Island and is a past president of the Board of Directors of South Providence Neighborhood Ministries, a Neighborhood Action Program of ABC, USA.
Wes and his wife, Joyce, are parents of two married daughters, Lauren Davidson and Jaclyn Alexander, and five grandchildren, all of whom reside in Colorado Springs.
Joyce graduated from Skidmore College and holds an MFA from Syracuse University.
Joyce's mother, Gerry Halliday, resides with Joyce and Wes. The Smiths own two retrievers, Toga, a seven-year-old Golden, and Cedars, a three-year-old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
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T H A N K S B E T O G O D
Cultivating the Urgent Call to Thanksgiving
Karl Barth has said, "Basically and radically, all sin is simply ingratitude." What the Bible teaches is for us to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. "Always give thanks for everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).
This text tells us that we must have "thanks," must have gratitude, at the very central part of our being. Saint Ambrose wrote that "no duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."
Clearly, the Bible wants more than just a passive gratitude. God expects us to become active, thankful servant people. Don't just sit there being thankful in your soul, do something. That's why we call it Thanksgiving and not Thanksbeing. We are expected not only to be thankful but to give thanks in some tangible way. Scripture teaches that we are to be thankful always and for everything. What about when I am down and out? or tired? or under pressure? or ill? Always! Always! Helen Keller wrote, "I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work, my God." Always give thanks for everything.
There is so much in life that we didn't earn and don't deserve. But God gave it nonetheless. As the song writer put it so correctly, "All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above. So thank the Lord, Oh thank the Lord, for all his love."
I hope that you will join Joyce and me as we respond to God's goodness by sharing a special Thanksgiving offering with First Baptist Church. Simply mark "Thanksgiving" on your check or envelope and place it with the morning offering (or mail to the Church: Box73 Hamilton, NY 13346).
Did you know that we currently have 12 outside groups who use FBC and who claim our historic building in the heart of Hamilton as their home base? Did you know that we are purchasing 60 turkeys/roasting chickens for the Madison County Food Pantry Thanksgiving meal distribution? Did you know that we assist dozens of families with rent, food, fuel, prescription drugs, etc. through our Deacon's Fund? Were you aware that our last Youth Fellowship of fourteen included eight teenagers, four Colgate student-helpers and Joyce and myself? (and yes, we met with Rev. Ross at the Shack…) Can you believe that we continue to enjoy the fellowship of nearly 30 adults taking part in the ALPHA lecture series on understanding our Christian faith?
May we respond with thankful hearts and responsive lives focused upon the One who blesses us every day, and that is God himself.
In love and prayers of thanksgiving for each of you, and the opportunity to serve among you,
Wes
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