January 24, 2007

 

Who will God Choose?

Two Beloved Servant Members to be added

to Advisory Team on February 4

 

Peter and the believers prayed and said,

“Lord, you know everyone's heart. 

Show us which one of these two,

Justus or Matthias, you have chosen

to take Judas’ place

in this ministry and leadership…”

Then they cast lots for them,

and the lot fell on Matthias who was added

to the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:24-26)

 

 I find the record of the beginnings of the Christian Church, as described in the Bible’s Acts of the Apostles, quite instructive for those of us living in new churches ourselves.  What is most interesting to me about how Judas’ replacement was selected is who could have, but didn’t, made the choice.  In this account, Peter is clearly the one in charge, yet he didn’t decide.  The eleven remaining Apostles together didn’t choose from among those they particularly liked, nor did they say, “Since Jesus picked us, we should make the choice.”  They also stepped aside.  Either Peter (alone) or the Eleven together (including Peter) could have made a decision that would have been supported by all the believers, yet they didn’t. 

 

They didn’t make the choice for a very important reason: only God knows the heart.   For the Eleven, the most important deciding factor, among those who met their general qualification criteria, was the character of the heart.  Since only God knows hearts, Peter called for the people to pray, asking for God’s will for his Church to be revealed through the biblical practice of casting lots (like drawing straws or names from a bowl).  Does this mean that Justus, who was not chosen, had less faith or was less spiritual?  Absolutely not!  The lot falling for Matthias simply meant that God believed Matthias to have the heart best suited for the task at hand.

   

At their January meeting, Beloved’s Advisory Team unanimously approved increasing their number by selecting two members from the Beloved Servant Member Community to each serve for a three-year term.  The Advisory Team, until now, has been made up of representatives from the six congregations who financially contributed to the start up of Church of the Beloved plus the volunteer controller (bookkeeper).  These dedicated people have, for the last seven years, overseen the expenditure of monies and “all other matters concerning the congregation’s corporate property and the relation of the congregation to its Clergy” (National Canon Law).  For those with knowledge of traditional Episcopal polity, this group functions as the “Vestry” of Church of the Beloved. 

 

It is a significant ministry that will require even more from those Servant Members who have already signed a covenant to faithfully serve this community.  Thirty-one sisters and brothers from this group are eligible to serve.  They each have a heart and passion for Jesus and this Beloved community.  Two are known by God to have the heart for this task.  Pray earnestly in the days ahead, that God will reveal this duo to us when we gather in worship on February 4.

 

J. Derek Harbin, priest

 

 

Those servant members eligible for selection are:  Fernando Baquero, Dan Blackwood, Ann Bloom, Susan Boylston, Ann Calandro, Janis Conlon, Ben Copeland, Betsy Fox, Harris High, Tony Hodgson, Nancy Hodgson, Terry King, Claire Kraft, Steve Lang, Kris Leinenkugel, Bonnie Lowder, Sherrill Lowder, Anna Moore, Bud Moore, Frank Reid, Mary Reid, Dick Reif, Toni Reif, Jennifer Sanders, Scott Sanniota, Julie Sanniota, Chris Scheppegrell, Jim Skrobot, Lynn Skrobot, Annette Stephenson and Liz Wilson.  To learn more specifics about this selection process, click here.

 

 

Around Beloved…Beloved’s Worker Bees, the youth group for those ages 9-12, will gather for a light meal and Movie Night this Friday, January 26 from 6:30-9pm.  Beloved’s metamorphosis, the youth group for those ages 12-15, will gather for a light meal and Movie Night this Saturday, January 27 from 6:30-9pm.  Bring $3 for food and a friend.  Because Beloved’s youth groups meeting only monthly, please make every effort to clear your calendar and attend your respective evening. 

  

Sunday Christian formation continues this Sunday.

 

The Matthews Family of Gastonia has notified us in writing through their land developer, T B “Skeet” Harris that while the family appreciates Beloved’s proposal for their land on Providence Road, they are negotiating with others at this time.  Keep praying for God to reveal the place where Church of the Beloved can establish a physical presence in our community.

 

Last Sunday…Attendance: 125; Basket Offering: $3,511

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loaves and Fishes Annual Food Drive…Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is something usually seen as being most important in developing countries.  Yet we don’t have to go outside the boundaries of our own county to serve those who are hungry in the Name of Jesus!

 

For thousands in the greater Mecklenburg area, hunger becomes a fact of life.  Loaves & Fishes is one local agency that tries to meet this need.  People in need are provided with a week’s worth of nutritious groceries.  This year’s February 3-11 Annual Food Drive is a way of raising funds and food to help people who are “in over their heads” though tough times without seeing their families go hungry.

 

Our next Human Needs Outreach effort is a two-pronged operation that benefits the ministry of Loaves & Fishes in our community:

 

Sunday, February 4: Souper Bowl of Caring.  Beloved’s combined Fusion youth groups ask you to bring a dollar or more per person in your household to place in our soup pot for the hungry on Super Bowl Sunday.

 

Sunday, February 11: Canned Food Drive.  Beloved’s Human Needs Outreach Committee team invites you to bring bags or boxes filled with canned or non-perishable food to church on Sunday, Feb 11, and leave them by the back of your vehicle in the parking lot.  Food will be collected during worship and transported to the Arboretum to be added to the Loaves & Fishes Truck following the service.

 

 

Serving at God’s Altar This Sunday…Angel Army Team 1 (Captain: Wes Nichols; Administrator: Martha Stone; Pastor: Catherine Atwood; Convener: Toni Reif); Acolytes: Adam Burnett, Holly Burnett, Daniel Dygowski, Raquanza Miller; Altar Bread Baker: Janis Conlon; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Frank Reid & Mary Reid; Offertory Basket Passers: Trinity Atwood, Ceci Atwood, Clare Harbin, JR West; PowerPoint: Cyteria Knight; Presenters: Toni & Dick Reif; Reader: Al Krantz

 

 

Sunday’s Scripture Readings…Jeremiah 4:1-10 & Luke 4:21-30

 

 

In our Prayers…Diocesan Convention as it meets on Friday and Saturday in Greensboro…Wes Nichols‘ father, Jim…Janie and Spencer Wooten who are each healing from broken bones…Michelle Dezzutto‘s sister, Joan…Mike Montagnino and Clifford King Harbin who are recovering from surgery…John and Bob, Lee Frickhoeffer’s father and uncle…Elizabeth, Shari Wynn‘s sister…Kevin, Deb and Dan Blackwood‘s nephew…Phyllis, Linda Mellon‘s mother…Mike, Dick Reif’s brother…Melissa, Donna Elyea’s cousin…Emily, Nancy and Tony Hodgson's granddaughter…Michel, Catherine Atwood’s father…those serving in Iraq, especially Bob, Clifford King Harbin‘s nephew, Jared, Wes and Michele Nichols’ nephew; Ron, Marilyn Doyon‘s brother-in-law...Palmer, Betsy Fox’s teenage cousin…Jessie Powell...Bertie, Bonnie Lowder’s mother…Ed and Jean, Dick Reif's parents…Pat Kitts, friend of Beloved…Mary Ann Ingram, friend of the Scheppegrell family, who has liver cancer…Penny Crawford and Chris Morley as they seek permanent employment...the staff and students of Community House Middle School

 

 

Upcoming Calendar…click here