Follow your Call

As Christians, we hear a great deal about listening to God and following his call. My children will often ask, "How and when do you hear God speaking? How do you know what he wants?" For me, I spend an appreciable amount of time talking to God, in relationship. Of course, for me, talking has never been an issue. (I remember when I was in labor for the first time and Derek called to check with the OB who said, "If she's able to talk, then she's not in labor." He can attest that I talked and yelled through all three of my natural deliveries!!) My problem is the quiet time to listen. I have developed a system of times when I am intentionally quiet - in the shower, driving the car, at the prayer table in the Atrium at Beloved Garden. I listen and write down ideas, reflections, revelations, "aha" moments.

After my time of employment at the mental health center, I learned that to admit to hearing a voice speaking to you in the shower is not understood by many folk. But I always I am amazed at the times that God shows me other faithful ones who know, speak and listen to him...like the summer the Development Office received an email from a woman living in the northern part of the county. She said words to the effect that she heard us speak at the second Episcopal congregation she'd tried in Charlotte and our words resonated with her experience. She said she heard God call her to minister at Beloved and that God just wouldn't let her go. She informed us that when the house sold in the north, that she and her husband and two children would be joining Church of the Beloved. She was excited about being part of a welcoming church because she'd experienced first hand what it meant to not be welcomed. I'll never forget the Sunday in November when the entire Schmidt family showed up to worship and said, "We're the ones who e-mailed you that we were coming." The entire Schmidt family did minister at Beloved. Walt was an Angel Army Captain and the Development Office's lead "techie" fixing all the computer problems; Anne sang in the Beloved Band; Andrew and Caroline participated in their Beehives and FaithQuest and both served as Acolytes. From November 2001 to February 2006, we were blessed with the presence of all the Schmidts who responded to a call to serve.

God has now called these faithful Servant Members and their children to a new place. We already miss them. Yet Dallas, with many church plants and fields ripe for harvest, will provide numerous opportunities for Anne, Walt, Andrew and Caroline to offer their gifts in new and exciting ways. Our lives, and the lives of those in Texas they have not yet touched, will forever be richer for the welcoming Light that shines through them. I imagine that's what God had in mind all along.

Clifford King Harbin, pastor

A Note from "The Wilderness"...

Dear Beloved People,

I'm always curious when I hear about Jesus going into the "wilderness" during the 40 days of Lent to fast and pray and discern God's will for him. What does wilderness look like? I think of dense woods but that certainly wouldn't describe the deserts of Jerusalem. Perhaps the wilderness can be both. Maybe it can even be beautiful Charlotte or perhaps the suburbs of Dallas!

Looking back (hindsight really helps here) I know that I heard God's call to me to ministry at Church of Beloved in the spring of 1998. I was in Florida and Walt was considering a job that would move him to Charlotte. I heard it as plain as day that there was a calling for me in Charlotte. We moved to the north part of Charlotte and started life. I began looking for a church. We went to Episcopal church after Episcopal church and were amazed at how ignored we were. I even attended one church for a year and a half and sang in their choir. I don't think more than one or two people knew who I was and they certainly didn't have an environment of welcome. It was a depressing three years. I think it was "wilderness time." God was preparing me for work at Beloved where the priority is reaching those on a spiritual search and making people feel welcome. I needed, to be effective in this role, to know how ostracizing church can be. Part of my discerning process was to be in the wilderness of Charlotte's unwelcoming churches!

Now I have heard God's call to Dallas. I know he has a purpose for me here but I don't know how long it will take me to figure out what it is! Perhaps I am again entering some wilderness time. I trust that my experiences at Beloved have helped prepare me for whatever my new assignment is! I trust that if I am entering a time in the wilderness that it will enlighten me to what I am to do. I pray that I can be a good listener!

My time at Beloved was a blessing. As much as I gave, I received. Being among you was inspiring and, though the work was not easy, I know that God was using me and will continue to use you all to accomplish his will in South Charlotte. I encourage you all to continue to listen to what God wants from you and to step up, take a few risks and try new things in his Name. Believe me, if five years ago you would have told me that I would sing a Blondie song in church I would have thought you crazy! I thank you for your support and encouragement as we worked together. I know you will continue to provide that for each other. I have been continuously amazed at the richness of talent that God has brought to Beloved. I can't wait to see what comes next for you!

I'll be watching and praying for you in Dallas!

Peace be with you,

Anne B.R. Schmidt

A Spiritual and Physical house cleaning...We have until this Saturday, March 18, to transform spring-cleaning into a spiritual exercise as we pray and meditate while we clear out the physical clutter in our lives. The Harbin household has discovered all sorts of stuff and is looking forward to putting it to good use for God's work at Beloved by transporting it away! Need details about Beloved's I Sold it project? Click here.

Cookie Baking in Lent?...Absolutely, especially when these treats can lead to a saving relationship with Jesus! Over the years, Beloved has enthusiastically supported Rick Jordan and Ricky Jordan in their work with Kairos, a ministry that shares the love, grace and forgiving mercy of Jesus Christ with those serving time in Kershaw Correctional Institution, by joining others in baking hundreds of dozens of cookies for each renewal weekend. Cookies should be normal in size, contain no fruit or nuts and cannot have sprinkles or sugar on top. Rick and Ricky have made a significant commitment to this ministry that involves extensive training, prayer and preparation for weekends that occur twice a year. Rick will lead the fall 2006 weekend and will intern with the leader of this spring weekend. All containers filled with cookies should be returned this Sunday, March 19. If you did not pick up a container the last two Sundays, bring your cookies in storage bags for transfer to containers when you arrive.

Around Beloved...Softball anyone? Ed Fox is looking to form a Beloved team for the city's church league this summer. Over twenty-five men, women and children who worship at Beloved have already indicated their interest! Costs and league practice schedules at this time are unknown. Any adults (male or female) or children (with parental permission) who are interested in having their names included on an interest list, click here or sign up on Sunday in the hospitality area...Sunday Christian Formation continues this Sunday...Beloved's Worker Bees (youth 9-12) and metamorphosis (youth 12-15) each have a Movie Night coming up this week; the younger group on Friday (3/17) and the older group on Saturday (3/18) beginning at 6:30pm at Beloved Garden. Don't forget to bring $3 and a friend...For those who have said they are interested in knowing more about the Human Needs Outreach Team that is forming, it will hold its initial gathering next week on Tuesday, March 21, 7pm at Beloved Garden. Please email Deacon Deb to let her know if you can make it. It this jogs your memory that you haven't contacted her yet, go ahead and email that you are interested and coming. (To learn more about the purpose of this team, click here to see its purpose and description in the March 1 edition of eNews)... Congratulations to Emma Cooke and Mitchell Harbin, who were part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Honors Chorus 10^th Anniversary Concert that premiered a new choral work among other selections during a performance at the Northwest School of the Arts last Sunday afternoon...Area church-sponsored camps are now taking registrations for overnight summer camp. Two excellent accredited and reasonably-priced camps are: Camp Phoebe Needles (up I-77, off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the mountains of southern Virginia; Mitchell Harbin attended last year and will again this summer) and Camp Henry (west on I-40 in the mountains west of Asheville, NC; Dylan Lang attended last year). In addition, Trinity Episcopal School is also offering day camp opportunities during the summer as well...Ministry of Money (from the metropolitan Washington, DC area) and the Servant Leadership School of Charlotte are presenting A Money and Faith Retreat at Christ Episcopal Church on March 24 and 25. Through presentations, discussion, scripture, prayer, song, laughter and silence, participants are engaged and encouraged to look at how we are called as Christians to live out our faith in a society that places such a high value on money and material things. A previous participant writes, "What a refreshing workshop! Leaders helped focus questions, but nobody applied any pressure on anybody. The whole retreat was a wonderful celebration." Cost for the retreat is $100 (includes all materials, Friday supper and two light meals on Saturday). If you are interested in attending, please contact the Development Office ASAP to secure a late registration.

Serving at God's Altar this Sunday at Beloved...Angel Army Team 1 (Captain: Wes Nichols; Pastor: Catherine Atwood; Convener: Toni Reif); Acolytes: Daniel Dygowski, Elizabeth Nichols, Joseph Nichols, and Katie Sanniota; Reader: Tony Hodgson; Presenters: Barbara Johnston and Roey Southard; Eucharistic Ministers: Kris Leinenkugel and Betsy Fox; Offertory Basket Passers: Joey and Madison Haarstick, Clare Harbin, and J.R. West; PowerPoint: Miles Harbin.

In our Prayers...for Molly Mellon, who is recovering from a dog attack...for Rachel Herring who is on the road to recovery after suffering several repeat complications from her tonsil and adenoid surgery...for Jessie Powell, Howard Stephenson, Janie Lownes, Dan Blackwood and Richard, Ginger Leppert‘s father who are recuperating from surgery or hospital stays...for those serving in Iraq, especially Scott, Dan Hood's brother...for Nancy and Tony Hodgson's granddaughter, Emily...for Marilyn Doyon and Marie Duty who are expecting babies this upcoming year...for Dorothy, Mary Reid's sister who is fighting lung cancer...for Ruth, Shana Blake‘s cousin...for Ed and Jean, Dick Reif's parents who are in declining health in Oklahoma...for Bill, Lee Frickhoeffer's uncle who has terminal cancer...for Bryan McCarthy, Lauren Skrobot and Katrina West as they continue medical testing...for Chet Rose who is to be married....for traveling mercies for those on Spring Vacation from college and private schools...prayers of thanksgiving for Susan Miller, who has been hired as a therapist at York Place, the Episcopal Children's Home in York, SC.

Upcoming Calendar...click here