27 March 2008

Radical Welcome

We recently received Easter Greetings from Anne Schmidt, former member of the Beloved band, who now lives in the Dallas, TX area with her husband, Walt, and children, Andrew and Caroline.  In light of the increasing stream of visitors who live in the Charlotte area visiting Beloved each week (30 on Easter Sunday alone!), her words, excerpted from an article she wrote for her current church’s quarterly journal, seem a helpful reminder about our mission as an inviting community focused on Search, Encounter, Transform.

 

As the daughter of a priest, I never had to enter a church as a “stranger.”  My first experience looking for a new church was when my husband, young son and I moved from Tampa, Florida to Charlotte, N.C. in the late 90s.  Over the course of three years, we tried several churches and found the experience daunting.  There was the church where no one said anything to us during our entire visit with them…including the Passing of the Peace!  Many worshipers gave us less-than-welcoming looks when we brought our son (and later our infant daughter) into worship, so we spent our time making sure they didn’t utter a peep.  We definitely got lost more than once!  Some churches we stayed with and tried to make headway in, while others we went once and never darkened the door again.  I believe these roadblocks were unintentional acts on the parts of some probably wonderful people, but I also know that I was determined to find a church, and a less-than-determined person might have given up.

 

I believe these experiences led me to what was to be my ministry for the next five years at Church of the Beloved in South Charlotte…  Radical welcome was our mission.  In order to grow and survive, we would have to make people who had never been to church (or who hadn’t been to church in a while) feel comfortable without scaring them off!  As a congregation, “welcome” became part of our DNA.  We made sure there were plenty of open seats for any new person who came to any event.  On Sundays we made sure to greet any newcomers before getting into conversations with our friends.  We were very intentional about inclusive language and made sure that we explained things we can take for granted, like how to take communion, when to stand, etc.  Our congregation grew from 25 when I started to 150 when we left – and is still growing.

 

When we moved to McKinney, I found myself once again in the same boat, but much more prepared for the search.  After the first year of searching, however, I thought I was going to have to have my own church services in my own house…

 

The article concludes with Anne sharing her joy at finally finding a new church that warmly welcomed her family into their midst.  Thanks, Anne, for sharing your story with us!

 

Anne’s story raises several questions.  Why is it so hard to find a community of faith?  How are we doing today at welcoming people in the name of Jesus?  How can we, as the Beloved community, do an even better job of connecting seekers to the risen Christ?  Do you have a story to share?  Let us hear from you!     

 

J. Derek Harbin, priest

 

 

Around Beloved…The Fifty Day Feast of Easter has just begun!  This Sunday, on the Second Sunday of Easter, Beloved will host an Easter Egg Hunt for children ages toddlers – 3 years; 3-6 years and 6-9 years following worship.  Parents of participating children should bring a dozen filled eggs per egg hunter as well as baskets for the hunters.  Adults and older children are encouraged to assist with the hiding and cheer their younger Sisters and Brothers in Christ on!  Christ Church is loaning Beloved their orange mesh fencing to set off the hunting area; please offer Dave Crawford your thanks for doing the pickup truck deliveries.

 

 

 

 

This Sunday is also Kairos Cookie Sunday!  Kairos is a ministry that shares the love, grace and forgiving mercy of Jesus Christ with those men and women serving time in prison.  Cookies should be normal in size, contain no fruit or nuts and cannot have sprinkles or sugar on top. 

 

 

Special thanks go to Janie Wooten, Michele Nichols, Dan Hood, the Beloved Band and all the wonderful beloved servants of God who worked so tirelessly to make our Holy Week and Easter Worship so meaningful this year.  All of us were blessed in this holy season by your labors of love!

 

 

Easter Flowers were given to the Glory of God by Jim & Ann Calandro, Dave & Penny Crawford, Michele Dezzutto, Derek & Clifford King Harbin, Lance & Sandy Simpson and in loving memory of:  Anthony & Angela Calandro; Mr. & Mrs. Charles Crawford; Walter R. Davis; the Dezzutto Family; Bishop Ronald H. Haines; Mr. & Mrs. Irving Irons, jr.; Hall & Mary Miller; the O’Donnell Family and Warren Simpson.  Thanks also to those who contributed ferns and other cut flowers for our use, especially Calvin Hefner, Michele Nichols, Elsie Jobin, Rose-Anne Jobin, Janie Wooten and David Zoernig.

 

 

The next Gathering of the MOB (Men of Beloved) will be at 7pm on Wednesday, April 2 @ Beloved Garden.  Don’t miss out on the fun and fellowship! 

 

  

Beloved eNews normally publishes each Thursday.  News and calendar information should be submitted via email by Monday.

 

 

March 20 (Maundy Thursday)…Attendance: 67, Worship Offering: $282. 

March 21 (Good Friday)…Attendance: 60, Worship Offering for Jerusalem: $349. 

March 22/23 (Great Vigil of Easter & Easter Sunday)…Attendance: 203, Worship Offering: $3456. Income needed for ministry each week: $5,500 (fully funded) à $4,400 (requiring other funding sources i.e. fundraising events).  The financial goal of Church of the Beloved is to reach self-sufficiency (i.e. pay all expenses without income from outside sources) by 12/31/2008.

 

 

In our Prayers…click here

 

 

Upcoming Calendar…click here