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Welcome to our Interim Pastor, Rev. George H. Sinclair, Jr.
After 11 years at the Avon Baptist Church, Reverend Stephen Gretz has moved to New York state to help care for his ailing father. We are actively searching for a new pastor for the church, but in the meantime we are pleased to announce that our Interim Pastor will be The Reverend George H. Sinclair, Jr.
George served as the pastor of four churches in Connecticut, Michigan and Massachusetts before joining the Faculty of Andover Newton Theological School from which he retired. He is now back at the school serving as a volunteer Special Assistant to the President. George has also served as the Interim Pastor of over 20 Massachusetts Churches, the most recent of which was the First Baptist Church of Westwood. Through the years he has served on many committees and boards and has led workshops on various themes including some on Interim Ministry. He currently serves as Chair of Interim Ministry Committee of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts. George brings not only his experience and knowledge, but also his kindness, warmth and spirituality to our Church. He is serving us on a part time basis and will be with us until a Settled Pastor is called.
FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
Having come recently to the Avon Baptist Church as its Interim Pastor I have found a congregation of dedicated persons who enthusiastically welcome all who come to worship with them. It is a community of persons who are committed to enriching their lives together and to serving the larger community with energy and joy.
If you are looking at this Web site for the first time or if you are returning to it having checked it out before, I invite you to join us for worship and/or any other activity you see as you scan these pages.
Whether you are looking for a Church home where you can actively participate, are seeking to know more about the Christian faith or are struggling with your belief you will find a warm welcome awaits you.
The congregation and I will be happy to meet you and to welcome you. If there is any way that we might be of service to you please feel free to contact us.
George H. Sinclair, Jr., Interim Pastor
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About the Website
We hope you find this website to be both a useful introduction to our church, and an on-going source of information about our current activities.
Our calendar is kept up to date with the latest meeting times for our scheduled events. Separate pages are provided for more information about what our music program is up to, what is going on with Christian Education, and information from Board and Committee Meetings.
We also have a place for you to come on a daily basis, to find inspirational readings, and Scripture verses for the day--even some trivia tests for fun. We hope this can be a useful tool for your own personal devotional life and spiritual development.
If there is any way we can be of service to you in the Avon area, we hope you will contact us!
May God bless.*************************************************************
"Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart," begins one of the "favorite" hymns. The Scriptures tell us that where there is no vision, the people perish. And we have learned over and over again through history, that when we are guided by the WRONG vision, destruction and misery lie ahead for all of us. But this hymn, and the whole Gospel message, affirms that when CHRIST is our vision, then we walk on solid ground, and are headed in the right direction.
What vision will guide our church as it goes through the coming period of transition? Part of the process of finding a new pastor is coming to a better understanding of who we are, of where we are, and of where we are going.
"Who we are" is a matter of identity–realizing our uniqueness; seeing what special gifts God has given to us; celebrating our diversity while at the same time learning what it is that holds us together.
"Where we are" is a matter of demographics–really seeing the community around us; understanding how that community has changed and how it is going to change in days ahead; identifying needs and constituencies to which we can minister as a church.
"Where we are headed" is the vision we have of the future. What are we becoming as a church? How are we growing? What changes lie ahead for us? What will be the over-arching guiding vision that will carry us forward?
Our hope and fervent prayer for the Avon Baptist Church is that as it unites around the "vision" of Jesus Christ. If our goal, as a church, is to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ, and to do everything we can to conform to the mind, the teaching, and the example of Jesus Christ, then there is no limit to what we can accomplish for the Kingdom.
May God grant us the grace and wisdom and courage to hold to that vision!
Avon Baptist Church
119 North Main St. Avon, Mass. 02322-1253 508-583-8076
