From the Pastor's Desk
September 2024
Grace and Peace…
First Baptist Church Westwood
& Friends
Praise God! Summer continues until Sept. 22nd. May the Holy Spirit's gentle presence continue to give you moments of ease and happiness. You do have a reason for hope to lift your heart each day. Remember, God's mercies toward us are new every morning.
Have you shared about God's life-changing love active in your life through Jesus?
Let someone know what a friend you have in Jesus. Introduce them to Him in prayer.
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While it is true that the transition from Summer to Fall season is a few weeks off, our church is in midst of major change within our Music Department. We all have known for some time now that after Sunday August 25, 2024, our dear Jan Randlett, will no longer carry the title of Music Director at FBC, Westwood. She shared this decision to retire this past Spring. Now the time of her stepping down is upon us. Celebrating love and appreciation for Jan's many years of committed service to Christ's Church will be bittersweet. I've worked closely with her for almost 1 ½ years. Not nearly as long as many of you have known her but it's sad for me. I'm very thankful she'll still be here!
It made me smile when Jan accepted my invitation to interview her a couple of months ago for this September newsletter. It was both a historic and fun time. We meet for work always and built a true friendship while chatting about life, dogs and birds! But interviewing Jan was a special privilege and I am personally encouraged by her testimony of God's faithfulness and miraculous power that strengthens Jan's will, faith, and body!
Jan is one of those musicians hand-picked to play for God. This was made apparent very early on when she was a young child. Her loving father, Rev. Edward G. Ward, a Baptist minister, recognized his daughter's musical gift, so when she was 4 years of age, he sat her at the piano and taught her to play Home On the Range, to the glory of God! Next, he found a piano teacher for his little girl and Jan played for her first worship service at merely 10 years of age! The story gets even better... Jan's feet could not yet reach the base pedal so her dear father left the pulpit, got down on hands and knees, and pressed the pedals while Jan played her heart out on the keys!
At 19 years of age, when Jan was preparing for her nursing career at New England Baptist Hospital, she was a member of their Glee Club. A high honor was extended to Jan that she could have never imagined would come her way. The Baptist Glee Club chose Jan to be their pianist for a combined concert with Boston University's fraternity and she would be accompanied by the fraternity's organist. The concert was held at John Hancock Hall and Jan told me about the amazing diversity of instruments and vocal melody ringing out in harmony. Sounds of organ, piano and choir voices created a memorable grand finale of Battle Hymn of The Republic which was the classic arrangement by Peter Wilhousky. Jan's heart has a beautiful imprint of that experience and that particular arrangement. Jan's eyes sparkled as she shared this in my office. She said: "What an honor to be considered, let alone to be chosen." Well done, Jan!
Family is one of the greatest blessings Jan has received in life and she thanks God for them each day. Her three 3 children (Linda, Lisa and Mark) have always been supportive, never giving her a problem. Jan put it simply: "My family easily fell in line with life and has always upheld me." They are respectful, loving and kind and her 7 grandchildren are being raised in this way. She adores her grandkids who are always waiting to greet her at family gatherings. As soon as she arrives there are shouts of: "Nana's here!" followed by their big, group hug.
Jan has had worries as we all have, but refused to let worry overwhelm her. She never let discouragement force her to give up. Jan is soft spoken but courageous. In her words: "I always have faith that God is going to take care of me." She stands firm on these words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 6:27, 31:
"And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life?... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Her father, Rev. Ward, was a good man and a people person. Jan's strength for life was also built up by observing him helping other people… diverse people. Jan was learning that godly character is built when we help others from a selfless heart. She was being prepared for the nursing vocation. She noticed her dad's way of being present for people, being company to people, and being an authentic listener. Jan recalls at 12 years of age during worship feeling certain that God was real and that she was special to God. She didn't understand many things about the Christian faith yet, but she felt God with her.
In spite of great trial, God ordained even greater abundance of blessing upon Jan's life.
Hallelujah! Jan dear, your cup runneth over...
Peace to us all.
Pastor Catherine