June 2003 Meeting

Our Guests

Our guests for the meeting were

Rev. Robert E. Stetson
Pastor Roslindale Baptist Church
Rev. Thomas E. Goldthwaite
Pastor Central Baptist Church
Mr. John Kennedy
Director Boston Baptist Social Union
Mr. David Cloues
Director Boston Baptist Social Union

Song

As we came into the room. A slide show of pictures from China was being displayed on a large screen in the front of the room. We began our meeting by standing and singing the hymn "Fair Name of Jesus". The hymn was unfamiliar to most of us, but the tune would be familiar to many Chinese. By the fourth stanza we had learned the tune and sang with more gusto.

Invocation

Rev. Robert E. Stetson, Pastor of the Roslindale Baptist Church led us in a prayer of Invocation. Rev. Stetson said he was happy to be here and reminded us that his father had been a long time member of the Boston Baptist Social Union and served many years as the chairman of the Christian Work Committee.

Dinner

During dinner Chinese music was played as the slides of China were displayed on the screen. The dinner on this night was extra special as we had the choice of lobster or steak. The meal with a nice salad followed by the traditional New England style clam chowder. Next we surprised with a bowl of steamed clams and drawn butter. The entree was served with asparagus. Dessert was a edible chocolate bowl with a chocolate parfait, drizzled in chocolate syrup.

Program

Ed Hobart introduced the program for the evening. A video produced by Bob Beck showed many scenes from China from their 2002 trip and an earlier one in 1999. In July 2002, five American Baptists from Massachusetts traveled to China to teach English to Chinese Middle School teachers. They were joining 100 other Christians from the United States and England to participate in the Amity Foundation's five week seated left to right: Rev. Wallace, John Jackson, Bob Beck , and Ed Hobart

seated left to right: Rev. Wallace, John Jackson, Bob Beck , and Ed Hobart

English Summer Program.
Four of the five who went on the trip were with us that evening and fielded questions from the group. We saw some pictures of Christians worshipping in China. We were amazed to learn how much freedom there is to worship in China. We were astonished at the levels of poverty in the western provinces and intrigued at the differences in "public" education. Teachers are paid by the government, but parents have to pay for their children to attend school.

Benediction

We ended our meeting with a prayer of benediction given by the Rev. Thomas E. Goldthwaite of Central Baptist Church in Chelmsford.

Our Guests	Our guests for the meeting were Rev. Robert E. Stetson Pastor Roslindale Baptist Church Rev. Thomas E. Goldthwaite Pastor Central Baptist Church Mr. John Kennedy Director Boston Baptist Social Union Mr. David Cloues Director Boston Baptist Social Union
Song	As we came into the room. A slide show of pictures from China was being displayed on a large screen in the front of the room. We began our meeting by standing and singing the hymn "Fair Name of Jesus". The hymn was unfamiliar to most of us, but the tune would be familiar to many Chinese. By the fourth stanza we had learned the tune and sang with more gusto.
Invocation	Rev. Robert E. Stetson, Pastor of the Roslindale Baptist Church led us in a prayer of Invocation. Rev. Stetson said he was happy to be here and reminded us that his father had been a long time member of the Boston Baptist Social Union and served many years as the chairman of the Christian Work Committee.
Dinner	During dinner Chinese music was played as the slides of China were displayed on the screen. The dinner on this night was extra special as we had the choice of lobster or steak. The meal with a nice salad followed by the traditional New England style clam chowder. Next we surprised with a bowl of steamed clams and drawn butter. The entree was served with asparagus. Dessert was a edible chocolate bowl with a chocolate parfait, drizzled in chocolate syrup.
Program	Ed Hobart introduced the program for the evening. A video produced by Bob Beck showed many scenes from China from their 2002 trip and an earlier one in 1999. In July 2002, five American Baptists from Massachusetts traveled to China to teach English to Chinese Middle School teachers. They were joining 100 other Christians from the United States and England to participate in the Amity Foundation's five week English Summer Program. Four of the five who went on the trip were with us that evening and fielded questions from the group. We saw some pictures of Christians worshipping in China. We were amazed to learn how much freedom there is to worship in China. We were astonished at the levels of poverty in the western provinces and intrigued at the differences in "public" education. Teachers are paid by the government, but parents have to pay for their children to attend school.
Benediction	We ended our meeting with a prayer of benediction given by the Rev. Thomas E. Goldthwaite of Central Baptist Church in Chelmsford.