September 6, 2007

 

Why Bother?

 

When a young woman becomes pregnant, it really isn’t important to have prenatal care.  It really doesn’t matter if she smokes or drinks or takes drugs.  When the child is born, it doesn’t matter if she has regular medical checkups.  Doesn’t nature do well enough without our help?  Don’t worry about reading to your child or providing an environment to stimulate his mind.  Children are quite capable of deciding what to learn and when to learn.  Let them eat what they want, watch what they want, do what they want and live how they want.  Let them grow into adulthood with this attitude and philosophy and they will most certainly succeed for the rest of their lives. 

 

Preposterous?  Absolutely!  We can’t be physically healthy without the disciplines of exercise, good food, hygiene, sleep and medical care.  We can’t be successful and productive members of society without years of disciplined intellectual and physical sweat.  Unlike animals, humans rely on formation (not instinct) for survival.

 

The current worldwide average human lifespan is 67 years of age.  If we believe the teachings of Jesus, we will live eternally with him or not after that.  When it comes to preparing for life in the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom membership that begins at our baptism and continues in an eternal existence beyond time, we only have 67 +/- years.  Take a moment to really examine your calendar, your bank account and your priorities.  How well is that preparation going for you?  How well is it going for your children?  What are you going to do in the short lifespan you have remaining to allow God to form your life, your children’s lives, more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus?

 

J. Derek Harbin, priest

 

 

7^th Annual Beloved Picnic

Cane Creek Park, Waxhaw, NC

 

 

Sunday, 09.30.07

2-7pm

Come for fellowship and family fun all afternoon

Dinner ready about 4:30pm

Mark your calendars now!

  

 

 

Christian Formation News…Registration for all 2007-2008 Christian Formation offerings will be held after worship this Sunday, September 9.  Most Sunday and Weekday Christian formation opportunities for all ages will begin the weeks of September 9 or 16. 

To view Sunday morning Beloved Beehive opportunities for children 14 and under, including curriculum descriptions of content covered in each level over a three-year cycle, click here.

 

Applications for FaithQuest, Beloved’s primary Christian Formation opportunity for children ages 3-15, are now being accepted for the 2007-2008 school year.  This (very minimal) fee-based faith formation experience occurs weekly in 1½ hour sessions at Beloved Garden.  Click here for starting dates, session days, times and fee schedule. 

 

Youth Groups for all ages will begin in September.  Click here for descriptions of these groups. 

If you are 15-18 years of age, click here to learn about the exciting new formation, fellowship and pilgrimage opportunity being launched this year to assist you in your transition out of your home into the world of being an adult Christian.  An important teen/parent information & question session with Fr. Derek and Miss Clifford will be held at Beloved Garden on September 9 @ 6pm.

Adults have an incredible array of opportunities to nourish their spiritual lives this year!  Short-term and long-term opportunities abound throughout the week.  Access complete descriptions, costs, group leaders & dates for all offerings (through June of 2008) by clicking here.

 

 

Communion Matters

An important conversation with our Bishops

 about the Episcopal Church’s future in the Anglican Communion

 

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

7-9pm @ Trinity Episcopal School, Uptown Charlotte

 

Click here to learn more & to read the study document

in advance of this important meeting

 

 

 

Around Beloved…The funeral of Carol Myers, faithful sister in Christ Jesus and Beloved Advisory Team Member since 2000, will be held at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church (on Park Road in the Dilworth community) on this Sunday, September 9 at 2pm.  Please make every effort to attend.  Please also pray for her brothers and all of us who grieve her loss and may our Lord Jesus grant her eternal rest.  May her soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Want to serve at God’s altar carrying the cross, torch or Gospel Book?  Sign up to be an acolyte in 2007-08 by clicking here, speaking with Miss Susan at church, or signing up during Beehive registration on Sunday, September 9.  New teams and a schedule will be posted to begin on Sunday, September 16.  

 

Beloved eNews publishes each Thursday.  News and calendar information should be submitted via email by the Monday preceding the publication date.

 

 

September 2…Attendance: 105; Worship Offering: $2,206.  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.

 

 

Scripture Readings for September 9…Jeremiah 18:1-11 & Luke 14:25-33

 

Serving at God’s Altar on September 9…Complete setup/complete teardown: New Angel Army Team #5; Acolyte volunteers: Daniel Dygowski; Offering Basket Passer & Presenters: Volunteers; Altar Bread Baker: Shari Wynn; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Kris Leinenkugel & Dick Reif; PowerPoint: Mitchell Harbin; Reader: Miles Harbin; Offering Counters: Liz Wilson (Head Counter) & Roey Southard (Assistant)

 

 

In our Prayers…Click here

 

Upcoming Calendar…Click here