April 6, 2006

 

Be an Apprentice

 

Each week on Donald Trump's prime time television show The Apprentice someone is brought into the boardroom and is fired for their poor performance on the business task assigned for the week.  The rules of this game are simple: contribute favorably to your team's performance.  A poor performance as a team leader or team member puts you at risk for elimination in the boardroom.  The last person remaining at the end of the show becomes Mr. Trump's newest hire for one of his multi-million dollar corporations.  Given those rules, you might be surprised to learn the choice one contestant made during this week's episode.

 

All the work for the assigned marketing task was to be executed during the holy day of Yom Kippur.  This put a practicing Jewish contestant (named Lee) in a bind: does he take the day off to fast and pray at the Synagogue, which could result in his elimination, or does he ditch his faith and keep his chances alive to land a lucrative job where he can continue to learn from the master, Donald Trump?

 

Lee chose his faith over the contest.  Predictably, because he did not add to the team's product, his team leader brought him to Mr. Trump's boardroom to face possible firing.  He certainly fit the criteria for firing:  he had contributed nothing.  But in the end, Lee's team leader was fired, partially for his willingness to sacrifice a valuable team member who had the integrity to be faithful in his religious observance.

 

Jesus once told a story about the depths a thief will go to rob the people around him.  Our Savior ended the story by telling his disciples that they needed to work at their faith, to be an apprentice, with as much discipline and effort as the thief had used in his life of crime.  Living your faith only when it is convenient to your schedule misses the whole point of a relationship with God.  Lee, as a practicing Jew, figured this out.  So have many of Mohammed's followers.  I wonder why we, as Christians, don't often find such lives of disciplined faith among our spiritual sisters and brothers?

 

Beginning Sunday we have a opportunity to make the kind of choice that Lee made.  During this holiest of Christian weeks, we have the real opportunity to participate in worship experiences that allow children and adults to apprentice at the feet of Jesus.  (Descriptions of these opportunities appear below.)  Will you clear your calendar and PDA?   Will you walk as a disciple with those first disciples and experience with them the death and new life found in following the Master?  Will you risk the world's boardroom for the Beloved's life of joy?

 

 

J. Derek Harbin, priest

 

 

 

Palm Sunday...April 9^th @ 9:30am:  Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday as we mark Jesus' joyous entry into Jerusalem, surrounded by crowds of followers.  Worship this day begins outside at the main entrance door plaza of Community House Middle School as we pass out palm branches to young and old and join in a parade down the hallway to the worship space, experiencing together the joy and hopeful expectation of people of every age who dare to hope that this Jesus is the one God has sent to make the world a better place.

 

 

The Holy Three Days (Triduum)

 

One worship celebration, broken into three different parts, makes up the Holy Triduum (tri-déw-um).

Maundy Thursday...April 13^th @ 7pm:  "Maundy" is an English derivative of the Latin word mandatum (commandment), referring to Jesus' words on this night recorded in John 13:34:  I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  As young and old sit and feast at tables at an Agape (love) Meal in our worship space at Community House Middle School, we hear these words of the Savior, follow his servant example by washing one another's feet and share in the Eucharist, the sacred meal Jesus instituted on this holy night.  For the Agape Meal, we are asking Beloved's regular worship participants to reply or sign-up here or in the Hospitality area with the number planning to attend so that enough additional food can be prepared for our guests/visitors.

 

Following our worship, opportunity is given to follow Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane where he asked his disciples, "Can you not watch with me for one hour?"  From 9pm-midnight on 4/13 and 6am-9am on 4/14, the Blessed Sacrament will be present in Beloved Garden, providing any and all an opportunity to pray with Jesus during this time of waiting and trial before his crucifixion.  For the Watch, a sign-up sheet will be available in the hospitality area. 

 

Setup/Table and Food Preparation for this worship service will begin at 4pm with Cleanup/Good Friday preparation afterwards; if you can serve the community by assisting any during this time, please click here.

 

 

Good Friday...April 14^th @ 7pm: The Good Friday Celebration is the second part of the Liturgy for the Holy Triduum.  Using scripture, ancient prayers, song and multimedia images, we walk the journey with Jesus to the cross.  A large wooden cross is brought into the worship space with opportunity for any and all to come forward to touch and experience the awesome love of our God through a loving sacrifice that truly makes this day "good."  Finally, the Blessed Sacrament is brought into the worship space from the Watch, and Jesus' Body and Blood is offered as strength for our journey to Easter.

 

Good Friday is a fast day; those who are physically able are encouraged to abstain from food.  (Remember that children and those with other physical needs can observe a medically appropriate modified fast.)

 

On this holy night, we do no clean up (or preparation) and leave the worship space in silence.

 

 

Holy Saturday / Resurrection night...April 15^th: During the daylight hours of Holy Saturday, we remember that Jesus' body lay dead in the tomb and contemplate how empty the world would be without the presence of the risen Jesus.  According to the Gospel accounts, the resurrection of Jesus occurred during the night of the third day (which begins at sunset on Saturday night).  At 8pm we begin the third part of the Liturgy of the Holy Triduum with the Great Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter, the most ancient feast of Christianity that celebrates with all our senses the central truth of the Christian faith: that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.  Bring a bell or noisemaker to use as we proclaim the Lord's resurrection.  We begin outside with the lighting of the new fire of Easter and process by candlelight into the worship space.  We hear the story of God's salvation, renew our baptismal vows (when we died to ourselves and rose to new life in Jesus) and feast on the risen Jesus' Body and Blood.  For those who love a great party, this worship and the festive reception that follows, is a not-to-miss opportunity!  Beloved supplies punch, wedding cake, shrimp and tenderloin; the wonderful cooks of the Beloved community supply the rest of the non-dessert hors d'oeuvres!  Please sign up indicating what non-dessert hors d'oeuvre you are planning to bring to the party either here or at the sheet in the hospitality area on Sunday.

  

 

A brief worship opportunity remembering Jesus in the tomb followed by Setup / Decorating for Easter will occur at 9:30am on Saturday morning.  All children and adults are welcome.  If you can serve the community by assisting any during this time, please click here.

 

 

 

 

Easter morning...April 16^th @ 9:30am:  Beloved will host another resurrection celebration at our regular Sunday morning worship time.  For those who would like a sunrise worship opportunity, Fr. Derek has been asked to preach and lead worship for the 7am ecumenical sunrise Easter worship service at the Harris YMCA outdoor chapel.

 

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In Honor or Memory...If you would like to give flowers for Maundy Thursday or Easter in honor or thanksgiving of a friend or loved one, please contact the Development Office.  Gifts are tax deductible and your friend or loved one will be remembered in a special way during the liturgy of that day.

 

 

 

Around Beloved...News Flash!  Three (3) free tickets have become available for the Beloved group's visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls this Saturday at 2:45pm.  The first person(s) to contact the Development Office by email or phone (704.752.8988) will receive them...Prayer supports everything we do at Church of the Beloved.  The Prayer Team is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a loving community that cares for one another and prays intentionally for the needs of the Beloved community.  During the month of April, they will meet after worship each Sunday and welcome any who would like to explore participation in this wonderful group.  If you are interested, listen for the announcement after church for their meeting location; if you would like more information, please contact Anna Moore here...The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is available with Fr. Derek by appointment for those who desire it before Easter.  To schedule an appointment, click here...All rising 7^th, 8^th and 9^th graders are invited to attend Episcopal Outreach Camp (July 10-12) sponsored by Beloved and most of the Episcopal churches in Charlotte.  Applications are available at Beloved Garden or from Miss Clifford or Deacon Deb.  

 

Serving at God's Altar this Sunday at Beloved...Angel Army Team 4 (Captain: Fred Mellon; Pastor: this ministry opportunity is available; Convener: Linda Mellon); Acolytes: Caleb Friend, Thomas Friend, Austin Yearwood, Nicole Yearwood; Reader: Tori Leinenkugel; Presenters: Rebecca Berkeley, Annette Stephenson; Eucharistic Ministers: Wes Nichols and Dick Reif; Offertory Basket Passers: Katie Kraft, Carter Rickett, Madelyn Rickett, Nykeria Thomas; PowerPoint: Paige Wilson.

 

 

In our Prayers...for Jennifer Sanders who is recovering from multiple fractures of her arm...for Richard, Ginger Leppert‘s father who has returned to the hospital...for Jessie Powell, Reid Gibbs, Janie Lownes, Dan Blackwood 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 Brian McCarthy, Lauren Skrobot and Katrina West as they continue medical testing...for Chet Rose who is to be married on April 15^th.

 

 

 

Upcoming Calendar through Easter Day...click here