Quicklinks

The Congregation voted to provide support for the Pastor and ministries of the church at a Business Meeting on October 17th to hire Betsy Crowe and Steve Gruber as part-time Ministry Associates. The establishment of these two positions is in response to a resolution by the church in 2009 to hire an Associate Pastor. However, making it two part-time positions, has additional benefits for the church. Their primary responsibilites include Equipping Ministry, Christian Education, Small Groups, Administration, and Pastoral Care.

Betsy Crowe shared, “My passions are for teaching, training, equipping and discipleship ministries in the local church, as I continue to grow in my own knowledge and love of God. These twin desires fueled my pursuit of a master’s degree in New Testament, and undergird my increasing interest in using my gifts, education and experience to serve my local church more directly and formally in these areas of ministry.”

Betsy leads a women’s Bible Study in her home, and has served as Worship Ministry Chair the past few years. She and husband, Steve, live in Wenham, and have been members of NSCBC since 1979. They are parents of two adult sons, Jonathan & Stephen.

And Steve Gruber shared, “My passions are for small group ministry, individual and small group discipleship, encouragement, pastoral care, teaching and administrative oversight. I particularly enjoy coaching and/or leading individuals in teams to grow beyond what they thought they could do. I enjoy working with volunteers with diverse gifting and love watching what God can accomplish when people team up to serve Him.”

Steve serves as one of our Elders, and has chaired the Search Committee for the search for an Associate Pastor of Youth and Families. He & Sherry came to the area in 2005, and have been members of NSCBC since that time. They live in Danvers, and are parents of a married son in Texas, a married daughter in Lynchburg, VA, and daughter, Sarah, a pharmacist in Charlottesville, VA. They are grandparents to four children –– two in Texas and two in Virginia.

FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

Shaped for Thanksgiving, Service, and Giving

Dear Followers of Christ,

In the month of November, our thoughts turn toward Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays because it is quiet, worshipful, involves no gift-giving, and includes food! We also need to give thanks, because God has shaped us this way. Gratitude for God’s grace is the fuel for the Christian life.

This year Thanksgiving comes at a time when our country is in the midst of an historic economic downturn. We want to respond in two ways. First, on Sunday, November 14 and 21, we will bring food to the church and place it on the platform at the front of the Sanctuary as a visible offering that we will donate to local food pantries. All pantries have been receiving record requests and as Christians we want to respond generously. There are instructions listed in this Shoreline that suggest the kinds of items needed.

Secondly, our Thanksgiving Eve Offering will go to Catholic Charities, which provides help to needy families at Thanksgiving and through the year. Sarah Bartley, one of our members, works for this agency, and we know through her that the monies go directly to families in need. (Note: Catholic Charities is not controlled directly by the Roman Catholic Church, and assistance does not only go to Catholic families.) Sarah has assured us that the need for help in these days has been enormous. We need to help our local communities!

God has also shaped us for service. As I trust you know by now, we are having a SHAPE Seminar on Saturday, November 13. It is an opportunity to learn how God has uniquely shaped you to serve Him. We – like Christ – were created not to be served, but to serve. I trust you are mak- ing plans to come to this seminar as we seek to serve you in helping you discover God’s unique work in your life.

Undertaking a ministry initiative like SHAPE takes ministry staff support. I am overjoyed that Betsy Crowe and Steve Gruber have joined us as part-time Ministry Associates. Steve is working in Small Groups, pastoral care, discipleship, and administration. Betsy is serving in Christian Education, equipping ministry, discipleship, and pastoral care. You notice that there is some overlap in these areas, with some shared responsibilities. That is by design, and with each being the “point person” in key areas. These two special individuals bring remarkable experience and gifts to our staff. Steve has an MBA and years of management experience, and Betsy an MA in New Testament and years of serving in nearly every ministry of our church! Affirm them, pray for them, and follow their leadership in their areas of responsibility.

God has also made us to give. God does not need what you and I have, but we need to give. We give not only our thanks, but our service, and our tithes (10%) and offerings. We need to give to remind ourselves that we are dependent on God and that all we have comes from Him. He is the owner, we are the managers. As we have added staff, we have let it be known that calling an Associate Pastor for Youth and Families will require us to spend an additional $60,000 dollars in staff expense next year. Our Elders and Leadership Council believe we can do this, and we as lead- ers confidentially communicated with our Finance Committee how much more we were willing to give next year. Thanks be to God, our leaders have pledged $25,000 in additional giving for next year. Our leaders believe in what God has called us to do, and I encourage you to accept the challenge and follow their example.

Called to thanks, called to serve, called to give. It is an honor to offer these things to God who has given us all things as our Creator. But what about as our Savior! Ponder these truths: “What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Romans 6:21–23 (NIV)

Blessed to be your pastor,

Gary Westra

GRACE & PEACE: COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE

Gratitude

Not only did the Apostle Paul begin many of his letters with expressions of “Grace & Peace”, but he also expressed gratitude for the believers to whom he wrote –– gratitude for evidence of God at work in their lives, gratitude for their provisions on his behalf .... “I thank my God ....” This is the time of year we often focus more on being thankful, even though we should be grateful to God all year long for what He has done for us and on our behalf.

As you reflect on God’s grace in your life –– whether by remembering your past, perhaps the heritage of a godly family, a ‘dramatic’ conversion, or a series of ‘remarkable’ events that led you to faith and/or where you are today –– would you be willing to share a piece of your history and your experiences through The Shoreline to encourage others?

I am personally grateful for the Christian home in which I grew up, with Godly parents who loved the Lord, served faithfully all their lives in the church of which they were members; for God’s provision for a Godly husband, and children who desire to follow Christ.

“You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.” (Psalm 61:5)

“Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.” (Isaiah 54:17)

“I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 26:18)

Let us continue to find ways to encourage one another in Christ and share our common faith and heritage.

Marilyn G. Sweet, Office Administrator, November 2010

North Shore Community Baptist Church

Embracing people with Grace and Truth

Quicklinks

News Feeds

Shoreline