April 19, 2007

 

Confronting Evil

 

As individuals we confront it every day.  Every once in a while it collectively hits us in the face.  Satan and all the powers of wickedness that rebel against God, the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God and individual human brokeness, sickness and sin horrifically converged in the slaughter of innocent life at Virginia Tech this week.  Perhaps Professor Nikki Giovanni, who I know little about, said it best in her words to the Virginia Tech Convocation:  “We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did nothing to deserve it, but neither does a child in Africa dying of AIDS, neither do the invisible children walking the night away to avoid being captured by the rogue army, neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devastated for ivory, neither does the Mexican child looking for fresh water, neither does the Appalachian infant killed in the middle of the night in his crib in the home his father built with his own hands being run over by a boulder because the land was destabilized. No one deserves a tragedy.”

 

But tragedies come.  Evil seeks to devour us.  Evil thought he was victorious at Calvary.  The Son of God was slaughtered, dead, never to be seen from again.  Or was he?  On Easter, Satan realized with horror that his days were numbered.  And so now we live in the “in-between” time…after the moment when the Kingdom of the Risen Christ began that first Easter and before the glorious day he will rule all and the darkness of Evil will be destroyed forever by the Light.  When we are in the midst of a violent thunderstorm, we know that it is because two diometrically opposed climates have confronted one another.  We live in the thunderstorm times.

 

We promise at our baptism that we will renounce Evil in all its hideous forms.  Renounce is a strong word that requires powerful action on our part.  Because we have died with Jesus, we are raised with him forever.  Nothing or no one will ever be able to separate us from the power and love of God.  We have been adopted by God.  We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and branded as his Beloved Children forever.  We will share in his eternal victory.  With that assurance, love and armor, God sends us as agents of Light to do battle with the Evil One and all his works.  So when people anxiously convulse or retreat in the face of Evil, wondering which politically correct solution will pacify and not “cause waves,” we are called to a different task.  We are to engage in spiritual warfare.  We must take a stand.  In the book of Isaiah, God once asked, “Who shall I send; who will go for us?”  May we, like Jesus, give this reply:  “Here am I, Lord, send me!”

 

J. Derek Harbin, priest

 

 

 

Virginia Tech and Children…Tragedies like Virginia Tech are painful for all of us, but can especially be difficult for children and teens.  Click here for some helpful suggestions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around Beloved…Beloved’s Worker Bees, the youth group for those ages 9-12, will gather for a light meal and Movie Night on Friday, April 20 from 6:30-9pm.  Bring $3 for food and a friend. 

 

 

The first New Beginnings, a faith-building and fun weekend for Middle School aged youth, is being held in Charlotte this weekend at Trinity School in Uptown Charlotte.  Dan Hood, Shana Blake and the Beloved Band will be providing the music and Fr. Derek, Miss Clifford, Deacon Deb, Forrest Boylston, Miles Harbin and Morgan Wynn will be serving on the leadership team with other adults and youth from around the diocese.  Kate Copeland, Daniel Dygowski, David Dygowski, Jonathan Elyea, Josh Elyea, Mitchell Harbin, Lexi Leinenkugel, Tori Leinenkugel, Joseph Nichols and Briana Robinson with join participants that will come from all parts of central North Carolina to attend this event.  Please keep everyone in your prayers.  Please come to the closing Eucharist at Trinity Episcopal School (750 East 9^th Street) on Sunday @ 2pm and support these wonderful sisters and brothers from our community!

 

 

Easter lasts for 50 days and there are many upcoming ways to celebrate at Beloved!  Remember those coin collection boxes for the hungry distributed at the beginning of Lent?  Please bring them to worship any Sunday between now and May 13^th (our final ingathering day).  Bishop Curry will preside at Beloved’s Ascension Day worship celebration with Baptisms on Thursday, May 17^th at 7pm to be followed by a “Death by Chocolate” reception.  Three days later we will be treated with a unique Compassion opportunity on Sunday, May 20^th.  And we will end the season with an adult baptism and the presentation of God and Country awards to two very special young men.  Watch the eNews for more details!   

 

 

The Prayer Shawl Knitters Group is up and running!  A good time was had by all…even those who tried to learn and felt like they had two left hands.  The next gathering will be at 7pm on Wednesday, April 25, at Beloved Garden.  You don’t have to already know how to knit to participate.  If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Ann Calandro here.

 

 

Last Sunday…Attendance: 116; Worship Offering: $1,985.  Income needed for ministry each week: $5,500 (fully funded) à $4,400 (requiring other funding sources).  The financial goal of Church of the Beloved is to reach self-sufficiency by 12/31/2008. 

 

 

Serving at God’s Altar this Sunday…Angel Army Team 3: Captain: Mark Leinenkugel; Administrator: Kris Leinenkugel; Pastor: Jim Skrobot; Convener: Scott Sanniota; Acolytes: Garreth Floyd, Victoria Floyd, Clare Harbin, Jake Scheppegrell; Altar Bread Baker: Janis Conlon; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Betsy Fox & Wes Nichols; Offertory Basket Passers: Ben Heckman, Gabi Leinenkugel, Katie Sanniota, Jack Sanniota; PowerPoint: Dylan Lang; Presenters:  Reader: Mark Leinenkugel.

 

 

 

In our Prayers…click here

Upcoming Calendar…click here