Pastor’s Annual Report – 2010

During 2010 I preached for 48 Lord’s Day services, at eleven of which we celebrated the Lord’s Supper. We had special services on Maundy Thursday, April 1^st, and Easter Sunrise, April 4^th, which this year the weather permitted us to hold outdoors in the Abington Cemetery. Our Christmas Eve Candlelight service remains our most popular, with 60 worshippers this year. The Reverend Robert Blackard supplied our pulpit for the four Sundays I was away.

We were delighted to receive a new family into the fellowship of our church this year, Derik and Jennifer Kruger, on August 8^th.

We were privileged to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism with two families of long-standing in our church and community: Amaya Leigh Hart (of the Curriers’), born on September 15, 2009, was baptized on April 25^th; and Kendra Nicole St.Marie (of the Harris’), born on January 3, 2007, was baptized on May 9^th.

We were saddened to bid a adieu to one of our most active members, Lois Marie Brandt, who passed away on June 7^th, and whose funeral we held in our sanctuary on June 19^th. I also had the sad duty to perform the memorial services for three members of our community; Muriel Geddes Brundrett, age 92, on February 20^th; Gladys L. Paine, age 81, on February 28^th; and Peter W. Booker, Jr., age 67, on November 20^th. We commend their spirits to our Heavenly Father in the sure and certain hope of our resurrection to everlasting life.

In response to a community survey spear-headed by Bob Reiss, I delivered ten “Welcome Baskets” to new families in our community, which contained samples from local merchants in Pomfret, gathered by Joyce Davis.

Some of you may remember that years ago, for our children’s sermons, I brought my guitar to teach the children simple choruses. This year I have brought it back for those occasions in which we have a few children once again in worship. My Christmas Eve sermon was based on an old carol, which I played as a guitar solo.

I added more photographs and historical documents to our church’s website: www.abingtonchurch.org. Some visitors have mentioned that they learned of our church because of the internet.

I want to express my special thanks to Mr. Robert Sloat for his uplifting music; to David Smutnick for writing the checks; to Sylvia for the up-keep of the church; to the Trustees to maintaining our physical plant; to the Deacons for communion and other spiritual matters; and to the Ladies Guild for their sales and help.

Bruce Hedman, Pastor