For the past 25 years Betsy Zimmerman has served our church through the Heritage Learning Center as a teacher and then as a director.  Her leadership and guidance in this program has helped to create the premiere preschool program in Annapolis.  Everywhere I go in Annapolis, I am met by people who say wonderful things about our church because they have had such a wonderful experience with the Heritage Learning Center.  Their children or grandchildren attended and that experience gave them a positive vision of the church.  Thank you Betsy for the leadership and compassion you have provided for our children, parents, and the teachers and staff of HLC.  You will be in our prayers as you move on to enjoy retirement.  We thank you for your faithful service to Heritage Baptist Church and Heritage Learning Center!  This month we will honor Betsy on Sunday, May 16, 2010.  We will recognize her in the service and the fellowship that Sunday will be in her honor.  Please come to offer your appreciation and thanks for a job well done.  

On Friday, April 16, 2010, General Carlton W. Fulford, Jr., USMC and Class of 1966 United States Naval Academy, received the highest honor for a graduate of the USNA.  He is one of five honored with the Distinguished Graduate Award this year.  This is the 12th year the award has been given and it represents "their demonstration and unselfish commitment to a lifetime of service, their personal character and the significant contribution they have made to the Navy and Marine Corps or as leaders in industry or government.  They are the living embodiment of the Academy's mission to develop leaders to 'assume the highest responsibility of command, citizenship and government.'"  We are proud of Carlton and are grateful to God that he and Mary Ann faithfully serve our Lord with us here at Heritage.  As a deacon, Carlton exemplifies the presence of Christ in his ministry to others and compassion for those in spiritual and physical need.  He serves as an example to us all in his attitude of service and his positive attitude and commitment to the church.  Thank you for your service to our country and the men and women under your command.  Thank you for your service to our Lord through Heritage Baptist Church.  We are especially proud of you!

May is an exceptional month for Heritage.  In addition to honoring Betsy on Sunday the 16^th, we will honor our seniors on Sunday, May 2, and our Mother's on Sunday, May 9.  I hope all of the women in our church will be present for the Mother/Daughter banquet on Saturday, May 8.  We will honor our graduating seniors on Sunday, May 23, and on that Sunday we will dedicate our new hymnals for the church.  That Sunday, we will have a meal following the service and more music to follow.  It will be a wonderful celebration of grace as we use our new Celebrating Grace hymnals and enjoy the fellowship of God's love together!  Finally, on Sunday, May 30, we will remember those who gave the greatest sacrifice for our country and offer our thanks to God for the freedom we share as a result of such sacrifices.  Do not miss a single Sunday at Heritage this May!

Finally, I want to add a personal note about 30 years of marriage.  On May 3, 2010, Irene and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.  I met Irene in church for the first time when we were both about 11 years old.  Her father was Minister of Music in the church and she thought I had "cooties."  We met again later when she was a student at Jacksonville University and I was a student at the University of North Florida.  Matthew, Natalie, and Patrick are all glad I got over the "cootie" problem! 

 Thank you Irene!

 With Love, Henry