AN EVENING OF PRAISE
The First Baptist Church in Dorchester will hold an Evening of Praise with the Gagnon Family on May 17 at 7 p.m. to celebrate the dedication and resolve that its congregation has shown to restore their church after a devastating flood from a water main break in August 2005.

The service will feature worship and praise through music led by Eric, Beth, Meagan, Zachary and Kaitlyn Gagnon of Camp Oceanwood. A free will offering will be received to benefit the kitchen restoration fund. On Sunday, May 18 at 11 a.m., a worship service will be led by Eric Gagnon.

The church is located at 401 Ashmont Street in Dorchester (corner of Ashmont & Adams). For more information, call Harry Eisan at 508-580-3545 or Eric Gagnon at 207-735-7458.

EMPOWERING DEAF PEOPLE IN CHURCH
TABCOM Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministries offers a June 14 workshop, presented in ASL by Rev. Pauline Ballantine, that focuses on the history of various leadership styles that have been popular in churches, leading up to the current “transformational leadership“ style that is now considered to be “cutting edge.” Deaf Culture, the values in the Deaf Community and those in church denominations will be addressed so we can better learn how to empower Deaf people more effectively to serve within a church structure. In addition, we will learn ways to delegate, motivate and modify techniques that will help lead Deaf people in either a hearing or Deaf church.

The workshop will be on June 14, from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. (registration at 8:30 a.m.) at the Handellujiah Deaf Church (located at First Assembly of God in Worcester), 1 Tyler Prentice Road in Worcester. The cost is $90 if pre-paid and pre-registered by June 1 (additional $25 if later than postmarked June 1). Students pay $60 if pre-registered and pre-paid by June 1 (additional $25 if later than postmarked June 1). Please make checks or money orders out to “TABCOM” and note Deaf Ministry Workshop in the memo line.

Volunteer opportunities available to barter cost. First come, first serve. Contact Anne Freeman or (617) 325-3809 (V/TTY) to find out what they are. Voice interpretation and Childcare provided upon request, but you must request it no later than June 1. Lunch will be on your own. Drinks and snacks will be served during registration and breaks.

MMBB OFFERS CHURCH EMPLOYER SEMINAR
A Church Employer workshop offered by MMBB on Saturday, June 21, promises to be a morning of sorting out all of the puzzling stuff for pastors, treasurers, financial folks and pastoral relations teams! Topics for consideration at this workshop include: the church as employer, compensation, benefits, accountability, and the questions that participants bring with them.

The workshop is on Saturday, June 21 from 9 a.m. to noon at the First Baptist Church in Bennington, VT. Led by the Rev. Holly Bean, Education Director, MMBB, and the Rev. Hazel Roper, Regional Representative for MMBB. This event is free of charge and includes all materials, continental breakfast (8:30-9 AM) and luncheon (noon). Open to any AB congregation and its leadership, regardless if MMBB is utilized as a provider of benefits to a congregation's staff.

Pre-registration is requested by June 2, 2008, in order that adequate meals and material preparation can occur. Please contact First Baptist, Bennington, at 802/442-2105 or fboffice@sover.net.

MCC LAUNCHES HEALTHY CHURCHES CURRICULUM
The Massachusetts Council of Churches is introducing a new curriculum: Healthy Kids, Healthy Churches, Healthy Communities. This is a free 8-session curriculum on environmental health and justice available for the use in the Fall of 2008.

The Healthy Churches curriculum will allow you and your congregation to:

• understand the connections between faith, health and Creation
• Identify products containing toxic chemicals and find healthier alternatives
• make your church into a safer sanctuary
• identify Christian responses to environmental abuses that exploit minorities
• empower the congregation to take action on a community or state level

• May 29, 12-1 p.m. at St. Paul's Cathedral, 138 Tremont Street, Boston
• May 31, 10 a.m. to noon, Trinity United Methodist Church, 361 Summer Street in Springfield
• June 4, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 111 Park Avenue, Worcester

GREENFAITH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
GreenFaith is accepting applications for the second class of its National Fellowship Program, a comprehensive education and training program to empower lay and ordained leaders for religious-environmental leadership. To read more about the Fellowship Program or to apply, visit www.greenfaith.org/together/fellowship.html.

The Fellowship Program consists of three three-day residential sessions in ecologically varied settings (one urban, one rural, and one suburban). The themes of the retreats are: eco-spirituality, environmental justice, and stewardship and consumption. There will also be monthly conference calls, mentoring sessions, an e-mail list serve, networking both within the program and at each fellow's local/regional level and reading/writing assignments before and after each retreat. The second class of Fellows will consist of at least 25 people and will run from the fall of 2008 through the end of 2009. GreenFaith is interested in attracting applications across a broad religious, geographic and ethnically diverse spectrum. African-American, Asian-American, Latino and Jewish applications for this year's class are particularly welcome.

GreenFaith is a New Jersey-based interfaith coalition for the environment. Founded in 1992, GreenFaith inspires, educates and mobilizes people of diverse spiritual backgrounds to deepen their relationship with nature and to take action for the earth. Individuals interested in learning more about the Fellowship or in applying should visit www.greenfaith.org or contact Rabbi Troster at rabbiltroster@greenfaith.org or 732-565-7740.

CLERGY SCHOLARSHIPS IN POST MASTER OF DIVINITY PROGRAMS
The Mass Baptist Charitable Society has scholarships available to TABCOM clergy in post Master of Divinity programs who are in a recognized ministry in MA and have standing with TABCOM. To be considered, the clergy must have been accepted into the program and/or be a matriculated student. The program must be one that is approved by the Association of Theological Schools. Applications need to be in by August 1, 2008.

For further information contact the Rev. Dr. Jean Wright, Executive Director, at: revwright@charter.net or by telephone: 978-448-0451. Applications may be obtained at www.massbaptistcharitable.org.

CCCU OFFERS $40,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS
Need money for college? Christian Community Credit Union's Focused on the Future Scholarship Program is giving $40,000 in scholarships in 2008. The scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 and are open to members of CCCU. To be eligible to apply, students need to be enrolled at an accredited college, university or seminary. Also, students must be taking 12 units or more for undergraduate students and 8 units or more for graduate and post-graduate students. The scholarship applications deadline is June 13, 2008 and scholarships will be awarded by early August. Visit myCCCU.com/students or call 800.347.CCCU.
Download Scholarship Application | Download Scholarship Flyer

NOTEWORTHY
The new--and funky--Massachusetts Bible Society Web site is up and running at www.massbible.org.

The United Parish of Carver joyfully celebrated a Service of Installation for its pastor, Rev. Bruce Bardon, on April 1.

AB Men USA have found a new home at the West Virginia Baptist Convention Office in Parkersburg. The new toll-free number is 866-868-1050. The new mailing address is: ABMen USA, PO Box 1019 (1019 Juliana Street), Parkersburg, WV 26102.