Church Biennial Mission Summit Watch Party

June 24-26, 2021

This year the Mission Summit will be coming to us. Would you consider setting time aside to join in one of the evening gatherings between June 24-26. In years past this virtual opportunity has not been possible. Plan to experience the vitality of our American Baptist family together with other American Baptists from all corners of the United States and the world through the June 2021 online Biennial Mission Summit event! Join one of the most diverse Baptist denominations as we imagine new possibilities and celebrate together the love of Christ and the joy of being a part of American Baptist Churches USA. The online Biennial Mission Summit will feature scheduled programming on each of the three event days, June 24-26, 2021.

opening Worship June 24, 4-5 p.m.

The opening worship service will focus on imagining unity as we celebrate coming together as an American Baptist family, as the Body of Christ. We invite you to join us for upbeat and diverse worship with music from across the country, including Puerto Rico, moments of prayer and response, and a celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Communion will be led by Rev. Dr. C. Jeff Woods (Interim General Secretary), Karen Podsiadly (ABCUSA President), and Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri (Associate General Secretary for Mission Resource Development).

June 25 Worship 4-5 p.m.

Dr. Winterbourne Harrison-Jones This year in particular, we recognize the need for healing in our churches, communities, nation, and the world. On Friday evening we will invite you to imagine and experience God’s healing spirit in our lives. Through a virtual choir, liturgical dance, and a time for prayers of the people, we will acknowledge the hurt in our midst and celebrate the balm that heals us all. Our preacher for the evening will be the Rev. Dr. Winterbourne Harrison-Jones.

Rev. Susan Sparks Special Comedy Hour As a trial lawyer turned standup comedian and Baptist minister, Rev. Susan Sparks is America’s only female comedian with a pulpit. A North Carolina native, she received her B.A. at the University of North Carolina, law degree from Wake Forest University, and Master of Divinity at Union Theological in New York City. The twenty-year senior pastor of the historic Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City

Rev. Susan Sparks (cont’d)

(and the first woman pastor in its 170 year history), Sparks’ work with humor, healing, and spirituality has been featured in “O” (The Oprah) Magazine, the New York Times, and on such networks as ABC, CNN, CBS, and the History Channel. A featured TEDx speaker and a professional comedian, Sparks tours nationally with a stand-up Rabbi and a Muslim comic in the Laugh in Peace Tour. She is the best-selling author of five books and an awardwinning nationally syndicated columnist. Most importantly, she rides a Harley, loves tasty BBQ, and collects fabulous cowboy boots. Find out more at SusanSparks.com! Sparks is presenting the Comedy (half) Hour “Laugh Your Way to Grace” on Friday, June 25 at 5:15 PM.

June 26, 2021

Rev. Dr. Brianna Parker We are a people of hope and a Body of Christ who celebrates what God can do through us and in our midst. In our closing worship we will imagine hope through the children and youth leading portions of our worship, through a virtual choir inviting us into a time of praise, and through a prayer of thanksgiving for the imaginative hope that we feel. Our preacher for this worship service will be the Rev. Dr. Brianna Parker. We will end with the announcement of our 2023 Biennial Mission Summit to be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

dIreCTory UpdATInG

The Diaconate Commission is planning to print a new church directory in the Fall. This will be names and addresses only, no photos. We’re hoping to do that at a later date. We would appreciate your help in making sure we have correct information about our church members and friends.

If you’re absolutely sure we have all the correct information for your family, you can ignore this request. But if you have any changes that you know need to be made, or you’re not sure if we have the most current information, please respond to the church office at admin@fbcredlands.org, or to Berva Smith at knitwhiz@roadrunner.com. Things we’d like to know: Names of all immediate family members, address, home phone number, cell phone number for all family members and their birthdays.

If you are not in the current directory and want to be, or if you are now in the current directory and do not want to be, please let us know.

Thanks for your help.