FIRST LIGHT

A NEWSLETTER OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
110 SYDENHAM STREET KINGSTON , ON K7L 3H5

(613) 548-7116
fbckgstn@kingston.net
October 2003

What a privilege it is to serve at First Baptist Church, Kingston, Ontario. I am amazed at the level of commitment on the part of so many within the congregation. Truly the level of commitment is cause for thanks.

Sometimes one looks back with nostalgia and remembers things being more attractive than they are in the present. My observation is that the city is even more beautiful than it was during my days at Queen's University. The beauty of the city has taken our breathe away many times. We give thanks for living in such a beautiful city.

The recent hurricane that blew through Nova Scotia and PEI on September 28th and 29th left devastating results. While it didn't hit Oxford where we lived, it came within a 20 minute drive of Oxford. As I write, power lines are still being connected there and in Halifax County. People from New Brunswick Power have gone down to help in the restoration of power in Nova Scotia.

The disaster which hit Halifax reminds me of stories I heard of an earlier disaster. The Halifax Explosion took place in December, 1917. It was the worst explosion the world had experienced up to that time. Thousands were killed. Thousands more were injured and left homeless there at the beginning on winter. Maritimers don't refer to the New England states by that name. They call them "the Boston states". In the aftermath of that explosion, an incredible amount of help and assistance came from Boston and "the Boston states". Halifax and, indeed, all of Nova Scotia was so appreciative that ever since then a Christmas tree approximately 40 feet tall has been sent each year to Boston in appreciation. Every year, a tree is selected months in advance usually from Lunenburg County and then is sent down to Boston in early December.

This past December I was in Boston for the Academy of Homiletics meetings. After the evening presentation was given, I slipped over to Boston Common to watch the tail end of the tree lighting ceremony. All the major television American networks were there to cover the event. About 15 centimetres of snow had fallen that day. People were skating on the Boston Common. It had the feeling of Christmas. But it also had the feeling of Thanksgiving. More than 80 years after the event, Nova Scotians were still giving thanks for the help given by Boston and "the Boston states".

During this Thanksgiving season, may we pause to give thanks not simply to friends and relatives, but also may we lift praise to the Lord of the harvest. May we thank Him for providing not only produce from the fields and orchards, but also for many spiritual victories as well as people that have come to faith in Jesus Christ for the first time or have come alive in Christ after having a dormant faith. May we trust Him for harvests of both kinds in the years ahead.

I would like to announce a significant event coming up in the life of this church. On November 1st and 2nd, the Rev Dr Richard Longenecker will be with us for our 163rd anniversary. On Saturday evening at 5:30pm, we are having a pot-luck supper in the church hall. After dinner, Dr. Longenecker will be speaking on "Translating the Bible". This is a theme he has been called upon to speak about frequently. It is something for which he is eminently qualified as he served on the translation committee for the International Bible society for 28 years. The following morning, he will be speaking at our morning worship service. Dr Richard Longenecker has written two commentaries on books of the Bible, including his commentary on the book of Galatians, which in frequent reviews has been considered the best commentary on this book of the Bible. He has written six monographs and eight edited volumes. In addition, he has contributed more than 50 articles. For three years, he was a Senior Editor of Christianity Today. This year, he was selected as co-alumnus of the year from Wheaton College, where he graduated 50 years ago. Dr Longenecker has taught at Wheaton College, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Wycliffe College, McMaster Divinity College and Bethel Theological Seminary. His book Paul, Apostle of Liberty was a text book I used in seminary. His book Biblical Exegesis in the Apostolic Period is considered to be the best in the field and is still widely regarded years afterward.

I encourage you not only to come out to these events, but to spread the news of his coming so that we can have a full church.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
October 19th Missions Sunday
October 26th Baptist Heritage Sunday
November 9th Remembrance Day Service
November 14th & 15th Alpha Retreat
November 16th a service focusing on the "Persecuted Church"
November 23rd Restorative Justice Sunday and also the induction of Rev Greg Rodgers as Director of Project Reconciliation
November 27th Regional Parent Seminar – "Seeing Their World, Understanding Their Cries" with Paul Robertson (Youth Culture Specialist Youth Unlimited)
November 30th first Sunday of Advent

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.

In His Service,

(Rev) Kevin Smith