Utica Baptist Church Men’s Ministry

09/08/2026

09/01/2026

Tuesday • September 1, 2026 • Windsor at Walhalla

Twenty Five gentlemen gathered at Windsor @ Walhalla for our Summer 2026 Season Finale.

As is our tradition, our Captains Draft their teams from the roster of men who have participated this season. Thanks to our six Captains this year: Terry Argo, Matt Hollifield, Mark Johnston, Duff McConnell, Dan Strawderman and Mike Utley.

Captain Dan made the right picks choosing Mac McRoberts, Grant Davis and Rick Laubenstein who shot an impressive SIX under par playing the back 9 holes to take top honors! Congratulations Champs!
Two teams tied for 2nd at Four under par & via hole handicap the team of Terry Argo, John Borycki, William Smith and Jerry Rackley edged out the team of Mike Utley, AJ West, Tim Rackley, Ryan Goodroe and Jay Bobo. Teams 4, 5, and 6 rounded out the field with -3, -2, and - 2.
Our Closest to the pin (CTP) tonight was Mike Utley on #16.

The Champs took home a club cleaning pouch & cleaning towel with the inscription “Utica Golf Champion” See pictures below with Strawderman and Davis and Utley “displaying” the goods!
Second place team members earned a sleeve of “Clemson” orange balls.
Closest To Pin - Utley also earned a sleeve of UGA Bulldog Stamped balls and a Champions towel.

44 different gents played at least once during the summer season with 34 of those having played on a winning team at least once. 16 guys claimed a CTP at least once.

We will continue playing each Tuesday for at least the month of September as long as there is sufficient interest and daylight.

A special “Thank You” to our League Historian, Don Harper who has maintained a book of each Seasons Team Champion’s Pictures.

Also, a heartfelt and humbling word of thanks to all the guys who so generously give towards a commissioners gift.
You men are incredible. It is a joy and privilege to call you Friends and Brothers in Christ!

Thank you to each man who has participated in UGL, you make Tuesday nights special! Let’s keep inviting like minded gents to join us.

Bruce Warrington will be handling “commissioner duties” next Tuesday. Please SPOND promptly, it makes planning much less stressful. Commissioner Don Foster

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

09/01/2026

TUESDAY • SEPTEMBER 1, 2026

Doug Painter welcomed everyone and had our opening prayer. Jim Hayes lead everyone in singing “Amazing Grace.” Our attendance was 32.

Doug asked for praise reports and prayer requests. Several men had requests and praises. See Utica’s Weekly email for the praise reports and prayer requests. Mark Johnston opened our prayer time. Different men prayed and Jim Hayes closed in prayer.

Brycen Patterson had our Devotion, Shared about his Cru Ministry trip to Medellin, Colombia. (See Below)

Brycen closed in prayer.

Summary and photograph: Richard Ledford.

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Devotion: Brycen Patterson
Shared about his Cru Ministry trip to Medellin, Colombia from Aug 2025 – June 2026

Psalm 46:1-7 He drew on while he was in Colombia. His time there challenged his thinking
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah” Psalm‬ ‭46‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

He was in Medellin, Colombia from Aug 2025 – June 2026. He did not speak any Spanish so it was a constant challenge, difficulty while he was there.

Medellin is in the mountains and did not experience anything from the earthquake.
Population of Medellin is 3.3 million and there are about 40 universities in Medellin.

The Cru team ministered on eight university campuses. Brycen said he would spend about 2 ½ hrs on the campus with students and them meet with them in early morning or late sessions. They were very receptive to hearing the Gospel.

Brycen shared that the country of Colombia is a send nation. They send missionaries to the Middle East and have an easier time getting into the countries than if you were an American. The people in the Middle East just don’t think of people coming from Colombia as evangelists.

09/01/2026

Utica Golf League History

The Utica Golf outings each week and the final days awards (Sept 1) are derived from our history of this event.

The Utica Golf League began with a simple challenge in 2012 or 2013, Randy Miller, Ron Calvert, Don Bradley and Joe Whiteside played golf on a regular basis and seemed to have a lot of fun.

A younger group of Golfers challenged them to a match, winner take all. Robert Cross and Don Harper were two of the people that challenged them. We played one 18 hole event, I believe at Boscobel and the younger group followed the group with Whiteside all day. We never observed any excitement, no yelling or screaming, so we naturally thought they were not having a good round. The Robert Cross group finished with the Whiteside group waiting near the 18th green. The Robert Cross group had a -9 score and the Whiteside group "stated that they were -11." They never produced a score card and the only one that we believed would tell the truth eventually, Joe Whiteside, passed away suddenly shortly after this match. And Don Bradley passed this Season after playing his final time in May with UGL.
Ron Calvert, Randy Miller are still alive and all they continue to say is ... even though they were not having a great "ball striking day," ... Joe made a number of long putts!!!!

This really was the motivation for Don Bradley to begin organizing the league as we have it today. He was our first commissioner. Jay Bobo followed Don Bradley and now Don Foster is our leader.

We originally tried to encourage Joe Whiteside's son to come each year and participate in the final competition and he would bring a team to participate. He did that JUST one year in 2016 and did NOT show any interest in continuing the process that honored his Dad. Joe's wife (Ida Ruth) presented the Joe Whiteside trophy in the inaugural event in June 2016. Ida Ruth passed away not long after this June 2016 event.

We began the current practice in 2018 of playing all during the summer and then having a final event to award the Joe Whiteside Sr Trophy to the winners.

I developed a slide show to document this story. It is attached. We don't have time to tell it at our final event.
It shows the winning teams beginning with 2018. We did NOT have a true final in 2021 and that is why there is no picture. I believe there was a lot of weather issues associated with the final for 2021.

On the final day, we have a trophy for the winning team, the second place team and the closest to the pin.
ALL the trophies remain as part of the Utica award system and the pictures book is displayed in the AAA SS Classroom #26.

I sure wish some of you that know Ron Calvert would get him to tell the truth about the "real score" of that challenge event back in 2012...oh, by now he does not remember for real.

Enjoy the picture show.

Don Harper
Utica Golf Historian

08/25/2026

Tuesday • August 25, 2026 • Windsor at Walhalla

Can you believe August 2026 is almost history? Sixteen gents gathered on this final Tuesday of August to enjoy our weekly 9 holes at Windsor @ Walhalla.

We also really enjoyed the tasty chocolate chip cookies baked by Debbie West and delivered by AJ. Thank you Wests!

Again all 4 teams scored well.
Top honors to the team of Don Harper, Mike Houston, Duff McConnell, & Gary Cromer who Shot -5 playing the back 9.
Our “runners up & honorable mentions” shot -4, -4, & -2.
Closest to the pin on #16 was Dan Strawderman! Nice going Gents!

Reminder next Tuesday Sept 1 will be our Summer Season Championship with captains drafting teams.
Please Note:
The reply by response deadline will be 6:00PM on Monday 8/31.
I will need an EXACT COUNT of players, so that we can finalize selection and notify captains on Monday night. Commissioner Don Foster

Psalms 103:1 (A Psalm of David.) Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Psalms 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

08/25/2026

Richard “Dick” Borycki’s Streaming Service

8/25/26 We will be streaming Dad's service on Facebook Live. The livestream will begin at 1:00PM on Tuesday, August 25th for those who are not able to attend. John Borycki

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BWqH69Nfz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/25/2026

TUESDAY • AUGUST 25, 2026

Pastor Joe Steele expressed his appreciation to Doug Painter for serving as our Men’s Ministry leader for the past year. Joe introduced Dexter Friesen as our new Men’s Ministry Leader.

Dexter Friesen welcomed everyone and had our opening prayer. Dexter lead everyone in singing “I Love To Tell The Story.” Our attendance was 26 including guests Greg Friesen and Zack Hearne.

Dexter asked for praise reports and prayer requests. Several men had requests and praises. See Utica’s Weekly email for the praise reports and prayer requests. Joe Steele opened our prayer time. Different men prayed and Don Harper closed in prayer.

George Carraway had our Devotion, Psalm 130:1-4, 10, “My Soul Wants for the Lord.”.” (See Below)

George closed in prayer.

Summary: Richard Ledford, Photographs Joe Steele.
•••••••

Devotion – Psalm 130 V 1-4 My Soul Wants for the Lord.

Psalm 130 Song of Ascents
One of 15 Psalms 121-135 Song of Ascents

Preparation of Worship
Are we prepared to worship
Saturday and Sunday morning routine to prepare for worship
Psalm 130 “Out of the depths” – only time in the bible
Worship – ascribing worth to God
- Sense of bowing down to God
- We can stand only because God does not remember our sins
V3 We need mercy
- Rules out self righteousness
- Rules out self condemnation
What are your Sunday mornings like – are you preparing – prepared for worship - no distractions

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

08/20/2026

Richard “Dick” Borycki’s Streaming Service

8/20 This is the last picture taken of Dad and me just a few weeks ago. I also wanted to announce that we will be streaming Dad's service on Facebook Live. The livestream will begin at 1:00PM on Tuesday, August 25th for those who are not able to attend. John Borycki