The above scripture serves as a guide as I seek to carry out God’s ministry here in this place. This report reflects this year’s activities as they relate to our 2003 Pastoral Leadership Goals.

Worship services have been conducted each Sunday morning with the exception of the first Sunday in December. This service was canceled due to a major snowstorm. Thanks and appreciation go to all who assist in making our worship a meaningful experience. A special tribute goes to Hazel Hawkins who continues to faithfully use her gift of music at the organ to enrich worship. To all who have provided special music and to all who assist in worship or share a mission moment, thank you. Thanks also to the Deacons who prepare and serve communion each month, and to the Chair, Connie Cole, for arranging for pulpit supply as needed.

A worship service and hymn sing is conducted each month at the Alpine Nursing Home where our members Stella Briggs and Marjorie MacDonald reside. Pastoral Care visits have been made to those in our church family who have been at Cedar Crest, Cra-Mar, Haven Health Center of Coventry, Kent Regency and Riverview nursing homes. In all over thirty nursing home visits have been made. In addition, parishioners have been visited at Rhode Island, Kent, and Miriam Hospitals and St. Joseph Rehabilitation Center for a total of twenty hospital visits.

Memorial services were conducted for Judith Hawkins Marseglia, Andrew “Pat” Gorton, and
Ruth Mumford. A special thanks goes to Pastor David Picciano who conducted the memorial services for Steven Chartier and James Adams.

Regular visits are also made to those in our church family who are homebound or otherwise have difficulty attending regular worship services. During 2003 pastoral visits have been made with fifty-three individuals and families and personal contacts have been made with twenty additional individuals and families. This represents nearly three-fourths of the individuals and families affiliated with Tabernacle Baptist Church. A goal for this year was to make personal contact with two-thirds or more of church families.

A new church website has been established and can be viewed at http://tabernaclebaptistchurchoffiskeville.org. If you are an internet user, you are encouraged to view this sight regularly. This is in addition to our prayerNET that goes out as needed to those with email services. If you have email and are not currently on this list please contact the pastor.

The pastor has represented Tabernacle Baptist Church at the Annual Gathering sessions of the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island and at the Biennial Session of the American Baptist Churches USA.

We continue to support the ministries of the American Baptist Churches of RI through service as Program Chair and National Senator for the Ministers Council, a member of the Standing Committee on Ordained Ministry, the Canonicus Program Committee and the Board of Mission. During staff training week your pastor provided leadership for Canonicus staff in conducting Bible Studies, an orientation for camp pastors, and also a parent orientation at Hasbro Children’s Hospital for the Asthma Draw-a-Breath camp program. In August I served a week as Camp Pastor.

Your pastor represents ABCORI as a mentor in the Nehemiah Leadership Network, a leadership training program for the northeast regions of ABCUSA. Other activities include serving as Vice President of the Andover Newton Alumni/ae Board, and as a volunteer for the Rhode Island State Council of Churches annual phonathon.

I continue to participate in the Spirituality of Christian Living program a the Our Lady of Peace Retreat Center in Narragansett and am part of a Pawtuxet Valley Area Ecumenical Collegial Covenant group.

My recent hospitalization was a reminder of my need to take care of my physical wellbeing and to make sure I schedule more Sabbath time. Thanks to all for your continued prayers on my behalf.

We are now in our ninth year of shared ministry here at Tabernacle Baptist and give thanks to God for each of you. As we move forward in 2004 let us be lifted together in love through our stewardship, fellowship, and worship.

Joyously in Service for Jesus,

Pastor Joyce B. Duerr