Family Ties First Baptist Church of Saint Paul 499 Wacouta Street St. Paul, MN 55101 (651) 222-0718 www.firstbaptiststpaul.org
• Janaury 2013 • The numerous recent reports of violence around the country are the basis for much public discussion and debate. In this month’s and next 2 month’s issue of The Family Ties, we are publishing the American Baptist Policy Statement on violence: analysis, Biblical/ Theological background and policy. Situational Analysis Violence is a global human experience. In our society violence is deeply rooted and constitutes a hazard to our public health and well-being. It demands both a prophetic witness and a pastoral response by American Baptists. Individuals and communities experience violence in a variety of forms. Gang and criminal violence pervade many communities. Domestic violence afflicts communities regardless of economic, ethnic or racial identity. Violence is projected into homes by means of both the entertainment and news media. Modern U. S. society was born through violent ways, through the subjugation and exploitation of many of its peoples. The multiple horrors of the destruction of native peoples, the enslavement of African peoples, and the exploitation of immigrants are major strands of a web of economic, cultural, political, and societal commitments that have inevitably led to violence. The culture of violence is manifested both in the pervasiveness of overt acts of physical force and in the more subtle dynamics by which harm is persistently done to people. This culture of violence is reflected in such ways as: the glorified role of violence in historic frontier communities; violence in the family; violence of sexual abuse, incest and rape; violence in the workplace; violence in the schools; violence in the streets; violence in the criminal justice system; violence in the use of guns, knives, and other weapons of assault; violence in the military; violence in war; violence in the marketing of weapons; violence of industries that profit by harming others; violence in the media; violence in music; violence of hate crimes; violence of the systematic destruction of the earth; and the existence of nuclear weapons, wherein we have seized the divine prerogative to determine the destiny of humanity. Violence finds expression in every human culture. The increasing interconnectedness of the global community has brought us in contact with the breadth and variety of human experiences of violence. Our missionary calling has required us to minister in the very midst of these life threatening situations at home and abroad. As Christians we are conscious of the violence around us, but we have often been numbed by its frequency and enculturation in our lives. Too often we exhibit our conformity to the world by the vicious disputes in our churches. Rather than being witnesses to Christ’s transformative power, we have made choices that reflect our own rootedness in a violence-ridden society. This sad reality requires continuing reflection, confession and committed action as disciples of Christ.
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Happy Birthday January 2012
1 - NanThadah Aye Gregorio Arabadji Clerveau Donazal Ku Kyaw Chu Heh Say Kaw Nah Htoo Lu Sios Naw Took Kau Pee Gaw Kar Wah Yu Paw Pah Khla Kaw Nyaw Htoo Hser Nay Hel Ler Kwa Neh Per Ler Bo Hter Pu Lu Ku Lay Day Eh Ku Maung Thay Chu Pwee Moo Li Lay Dah La Pei Paw Say Kwel Gay Htoo Poh Nay Htoo Mee Mu Pah Dee Pee Ea Hser Nay Hel Ler Kwet Noe Paw Moo Naw Joe 2 - Cho Cho Paw Yoe Yoe 3 - Ana Arabadji Hser Ku Lu 4 - Zaw Min Maw Bill Vang Paw Nai Mu Chris Htoo 5 - Gaw Kyaw Pamela Sebo Paw Nethan Ray Paw Ku Hser
6 - Chris Naw Hsa Hsay Hser 7 - Jenar Moe Aeh Pho Lay Paw Lay 8 - Saw Christopher 10 - Mavis Wegleitner John Eh Shwe James Eh Shwe 11 - Eh Hser Dah 12 - Michael Milligan 14 - Sophia Kyaw 15 - Kot Thalay Too Eh Kaw Lar 16 - Paw Mu Tha Htoo Ku Thaw 17 - Na Na Poe 18 - Eh Knu Dah 19 - Hay Lah Racy 20 - Sandaw Aye Lin Lin Aung Ta Eh Su Lah Eh Yo Soe Moo La Hta Thaing 21 - Walter Johnson 22 - Ku Kyi 24 - Robert Wegleitner Marjory ThatcherGregory 25 - Sun Mor Hso Tun Soldier Wah Vang Jennifer Htoo Dun Tun 26 - Day Nyat Paw 27 - Priscilla Aung 28 - Glander Htoo Der Lwen Moo 30 - Isla Fredrick Ah Hsi 31 - John Du
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February 2012
1 - Kerstin Kessler 2 - Kpne Htoo 3 - Win Naing Aung 4 - Gilbert Aung Royal Htoo Taw K’Lu Moo 5 - Cynthia Kyaw Wah Wah Mu La Kaw Lay 6 - Sher Tee Moo Esther 7 - Eh Ka Nyaw Ray 8 - David Johnson Ngwe Aye 9 - Leona Collis Shin Night 10-Gerald Davis Kaw Blut Doh Ea Hoo Taw Loe Moo 11-Mya Mya Htway Day Day Esther Naw Saw Khu Mary Htoo Kna Myint Eh Ku Say 12-Thin Ni Lu Po Naw Shwe 14-Paul Aye Ber Blute Htoo Lu Eh Doh Do Eh Ry Win Kyeh Paw 15-Nay Gay San Nwe Win Tabee Lu Pa Toe 16-Pah Si 17-Mu Moo Dah Say Bway Hto Lwee Eh Pla Pla Hku Two Thousand 18-Kaw Lah Hay Ehtes Htoo Ko Loh Poe Eh Doh Po Lah
19-Rebecca Kasuh Yin Mwe Ma Eh Doh Do Ta Myee Gay 21-Nah Na 22-Jennie Obitz Aye Mya Phyu Thu Thu Sa Ka Paw Htoo 23-Patty Johnson Ro Man Ma Nay Paw Sho Shee 24-Paw Eh 25-Naw Beh Wah Grace Aye Lah Doh Moo Day Wah 26-Shirley Sweum Luchene Donazal Tha Wah Thalmas Preday Say Wai Soe Sese Po 27-Mary Cisneros Bilir Kasuh Ladia Say Walter Gilson 28-Eh Eh Cho Dwe Willi Win Eh Lin
In case of extreme cold or snowy weather, please call the church after 8:00 am for service cancellation at 651-222-0718
IN MEMORIAM We wish to remember especially these members and friends who have died during the month of February over the last five years. May God’s Grace and Peace be with their loved ones at this time.
William Young - February 10, 2008 Winston Allen, Sr. - February 11, 2009 Lynn Clevenger - February 8, 2010
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Our Homebound Members Esther Borden Lee Clevenger Shirley Sweum
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WHAT’S GOING
ON
FBC?
Announcements •At the 162nd Annual Meeting of the First Baptist Church we will review the activities of 2012 and look ahead to 2013. We will be voting for several new church officers and other pending issues. We will provide a light lunch for a donation of $3.00. •The flower chart for 2013 Sunday flowers is now available for sign-ups. Don’t miss the opportunity to beautify the sanctuary on Sunday mornings. The flower chart is located in the Narthex. Sign your name and indicate who the flowers are honoring or remembering by the date you desire. The cost is $25.00. • Thank you to all who contributed to the Mitten Tree. The Merry Marthas collected 44 socks, 17 scarves, 41 caps and 40 gloves. All the donations were taken to American Indian Magnet School in St. Paul. They have now received the donations and wrote us this note: Thank you for the generous and much needed and appreciated gift of hats, mittens, scarves and socks. Many of our students come to school unprepared for the cold weather and are happy to receive these items at school! Sincerely thanks to you! American Indian Magnet School. • Led by Dave Mathews, a new Media Ministry Team has recently formed to coordinate the much needed upgrade of our sanctuary’s audio/video/projection/lighting. • In December, FBC received a significant monetary gift. Thanks to the generous donor, the church will be able to stabilize it’s operation expenses, put money into the endowment and do upgrades to the sanctuary. The donor asked $75,000 to be given to The Family Place. FBC is blessed to have been given this gift.
Mark your calendar Sunday, February 3
11:00 am — 162nd Annual Meeting Fireside Room
Wednesday, February 13
7:00 pm — Joint Ash Wednesday Service with Central Presbyterian Church at FBC
Thursday, February 14
5:00 pm — Budget Committee Meeting
Saturday, February 16
10:00-12:00 noon — Baby Celebration Basement Classrooms
Monday, February 18
5:30 pm — Board of Trustees Meeting Library 7:15 pm — Church Council Meeting Fireside Room
A Closer Walk A devotion for January by Geri Johnson
“NEW LIFE”
Let God change the way you think. (Romans 12:2) God changed Paul’s life. God appeared to him as such a bright light that he was blinded. He had been threatening to kill Jesus’s followers, but after he was healed of that blindness, he had a new way of thinking. Paul began to preach about Jesus. God doesn’t always use a bright light or blindness to change us. God can change us by changing the way we think. This new way of thinking can result in living our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. 2013 can be a year of New Life filled with love, hope, joy, peace, and healing. Prayer: Dear God, Teach us to enliven our minds. Bless us all with new life in 2013. Amen. 3
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Pastor Saul Lu arrived at his polling station in Maplewood at 8:00am, excited to vote for the first time as an American citizen. Saul Lu said he was grateful for the election judges who helped him understand the voting process. “In Burma, they force you to vote for one person, but here, they don’t tell you who to vote for,” he said. “They [the election judges] smiled and were very friendly.” Saul Lu, who is the first Karen-speaking associate pastor at First Baptist Church of St. Paul, and four of his children became U.S. citizens this summer after receiving assistance from KOM and World Relief to complete their applications. KOM has helped nearly 200 refugees from Burma apply for Green Cards and citizenship so far this year by conducting community outreach to explain the citizenship process and eligibility requirements, scheduling appointments, and providing translation and interpretation as needed. Through our partnership with World Relief, an accredited immigration specialist comes to KOM every Monday to screen applicants
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Pastor Saul Lu Casts His First Vote As An American Citizen
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for citizenship and help them complete all of the paperwork needed. Saul Lu listed many reasons for wanting to become a U.S. citizen, including the right to vote. He also noted that by becoming citizens, refugees gain the ability to travel and visit friends and family who are scattered across the world. Beyond these practical benefits, Saul Lu said, “It is important as a human being to have documents to recognize that you belong to a country.” Like many Karen refugees, he was never able to get these documents in Burma or Thailand. “I want to say a word of thanks to the U.S. government for accepting Karen people, supporting us, helping us build a Karen organization, and allowing us to become citizens,” Saul Lu said. He also thanked First Baptist Church for welcoming refugees from Burma into their congregation and for all the support they give to the community. “I encourage other people to take advantage of this very valuable opportunity to become American citizens,” Saul Lu said. If you would like to know more about immigration services available at KOM, call Marner Saw at (651)202-3103.
sis also have immeasurable long-term impact.
Thank You for Helping Make This Possible
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That’s why, in faith, the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches continues to work, and in faith, people like you support that work. Every small effort is part of a larger transformation.
This summer in Project Home, we celebrated a very special birth. Matthew* was born while his mom was a guest at St. Mark’s Episcopal. Volunteers, staff, and other guests surrounded mother and child with gifts and support. One volunteer gave a beautiful white rocking chair. A simple gift, but full of hope – hope that Mom will soon have a home in which to place that chair, hope for peaceful times cradling, caring for, and teaching her son as they sit together.
Thank you for being a part of this community -people of faith -- working together to help people in need.
We know that the love shown to Matthew and his mom made an immediate difference in their lives. And we believe that love and help in the time of cri-
Project Home is the overnight ministry that supports The Family Place. *Matthew is not the real name of this guest.
Kristi Anderson Development Director Saint Paul Area Council of Churches Connecting Congregations for Service & Justice 651-789-3843 • www.spacc.org
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Adoniram & Ann Judson
Pioneers of the American Missionary Movement
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hristian History magazine came out with a great issue in Spring 2006 featuring Adoniram and Ann Judson’s biography. In preparation for the bicentennial anniversary of their arrival to Burma in 2013, Ties will feature several articles from the issue. We have received permission to reprint their articles.
The Man Who Gave the Bible to the Burmese (Part VI)
As A PREACHER, TRANSLATOR, PRISONER, HUSBAND, AND HOMELAND HERO, ADONIRAM JUDSON DEMONSTRATED HIS CONVICTION THAT A MISSIONARY IS A MISSIONARY FOR LIFE
By Richard V. Pierard
American hero
In late 1844 Sarah’s health began to fail, and the local physicians believed her only hope for survival was to return to America. Adoniram and three of their children traveled with her, but she died at St. Helen in the South Atlantic on September 1, 1845. Though grieving once again, Judson continued on to Boston, where he was welcomed six weeks later as a missionary hero. For 30 years the religious and secular press has recounted his exploits, and in the next weeks he was acclaimed form city to city. More enjoyable for him was returning to his old haunts in Massachusetts and renewing the acquaintance with Samuel Nott, the only other survivor of the group of seminary students who conceived the idea of American foreign missions. While visiting in Philadelphia that December,
Adoniram met Emily Chubbock, who wrote fiction under the pen name of Fanny Forrester. His proposal that she write a biography of his late wide Sarah was followed soon after by a proposal of marriage—despite considerable controversy, since she was half his age and, as a fiction writer, she did not fit the saintly image that the public had bestowed upon Adoniram. Emily proved to be a delightful companion and devoted mother to her step children as well as to their daughter Emily, born in 1847. Adoniram devoted the last years of his life to writing an English-Burmese dictionary. The Burmese-English halted was halted, however, when he developed a serious lung infection and the doctor prescribed a sea voyage as a cure. It was to no avail; on April 12, 1850, he died on board the ship and was buried at sea in the Indian Ocean. He had spent 37 of his 61 years of life in service aboard, with only one home leave, and inspired countless young people to follow his example. “All missionary operations, to be permanently successful, must be based on the written word,” he had said in an address to the American and Foreign Bible Society. His belief in the power of Scripture to transform people’s live was indeed the driving force in Judson’s missionary career and, for many, the source of his greatness. At home, Adoniram Judson became a symbol of the preeminence of Bible translation for the Protestant missionary. He was, above all else, the man “who gave the Bible to the Burmese.”
The final word.
Judson’s Burmese translation of the Bible took him two decades to finish. On January 3, 1834, he wrote in his journal, “Thanks be to God... I have knelt down before him, with the last leaf in my hand... [and] I have dedicated it to his glory. May he make his own inspired word, now complete in the Burman tongue, the grand instrument of filling all Burma with songs of praise to our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” 5
First Baptist Church 499 Wacouta Street St. Paul. MN 55101
NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 937
January 2013
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
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first baptist church of st. paul 9th & Wacouta in Lowertown …in the Heart of the City. (651)222-0718 www.firstbaptiststpaul.org
Senior Pastor The Reverend William M. Englund Associate Pastor Reverend Saul Lu Dir. of Children & Youth Ms. Sheila Ahlbrand Secretary Mrs. Raquel P. Gibbs Clerical Support Mrs. Geri Johnson Accountant Ms. Cleveland Donazal Parish Nurse Ms. Roi Saga
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