6 December 2007

(S)advent

In a time of darkness for me and mine here you are again

Faithful little one

Early dark December… promising, awakening me as

Nights fade slowly- morning star quietly

Beckoning

Yet,

I ponder

Is it true? Can it be? Babies keep promises?

I know babies just not “the baby,” but I want to

I need to.

Hope.

 

Ann Calandro

 

 

Ed. note:  Ann Calandro’s husband Jim continues his fight against lymphoma as we begin this Advent Season. 

 

 

 

Advent Brunch, Christmas Workshop & Cakewalk this Sunday!

 

9:30am, Worship celebration

10:35-10:50am, Hospitality

10:50am-11:10am, Christian Formation for adults and children

11:15am-12:45pm, Christmas Workshop open for shopping

11:15-11:30am; 12-12:15pm; 12:30-12:45pm: Cakewalks

11:30am-12:30pm, Open seating for Brunch (Adults $5, ages 3-10 $2.50, under 3 free)

 

This is a great opportunity for young children to shop for Christmas!

Quilt Raffle (to be drawn on December 23)

Handmade jewelry, including earrings and bracelets ($1-$10)

Paper clip angel necklaces ($1)

Painted tiles for hot plates ($1.50)

Painted tree ornaments ($2)

Yummy hot cocoa mix ($3)

Delicious cookie mix (two varieties available) ($5)

Knitted dishcloths ($2)

Decorative mugs loaded with sweets ($3)

Decorative mugs with yummy cocoa ($3)

Adorable hand made bunnies ($8)

Lovely hand made soap ($5)

and more, including items made by several young people of the church

 

 

Twin Heartbeat Awards Presented at Last Saturday’s gala…Since the beginning of Beloved, it has been a part of our DNA to recognize that Jesus, God’s Beloved, is at our center.  And so we seek to become reflections of God’s Beloved whose heart was focused on the twin concerns of making disciples and serving the least of these. 

 

The Twin Heartbeat Award is really two awards.  The award for Evangelism recognizes a person who has met people in their cultural context, shared something of their Christian faith and invited them to be a part of this faith community.  The Human Needs award recognizes a person who has reached out in the name of Jesus to serve and transform the lives of the forgotten and powerless of our culture.

 

Recipients received this icon of Jesus shown with his right hand raised in blessing and his left hand held near his heart.  Emanating from his heart are two rays, one red and one white.  They represent the twin heartbeats of Jesus – the red one for the blood of Christ in solidarity with all those who suffer, the white one for the word of Jesus Christ that reaches out to those who do not know God’s love.

 

Roey Southard is the 2007 Recipient of the Human Needs Twin Heartbeat Award.  Roey came to Beloved in August 2002.  She sees those the world overlooks in the way that God sees them.  Using her spiritual gifts of exhortation, serving, discerning spirits, and mercy, she funneled her desire to minister to people into a vocation of language training for immigrants trying to build a new life.  In the process, Roey continues to do much more – serving as mentor, mother, sister.  In her honor, a donation will be made to Samaritan’s Purse for their Transform Communities Fund that provides job training and the raw materials necessary for groups of individuals to begin new and self-sustaining vocations in the southern hemisphere.

 

Martha Stone is the 2007 Recipient of the Evangelism Twin Heartbeat Award.  Martha has been at Beloved from the beginning, since that first worship service in August 2000 when Bishop Curry announced that “Church of Beloved is here and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  Martha agreed to attend Beloved as long as she was not expected to invite other people, because she believed that she wouldn’t be any good at it.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Martha’s witness is that faithful evangelism is simply sharing your own experience with your friends and neighbors.  In order to maximize opportunities to do that, she even buys Beloved t-shirts to wear while working out at the gym so that people’s questions will give her an opportunity to share.  Ironically, Martha was the one who invited her next-door neighbor, Roey Southard, to Beloved.  In her honor, a donation will be made to Samaritan’s Purse for Gifts that Spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, including Bibles and Christian literature, training for native missionaries, and other evangelistic tools.

  

 

Around Beloved…

12.07.07 Folks from Beloved will be working at the Operation Christmas Child warehouse tomorrow evening, Friday, December 7^th from 9-10:30pm.  (For those in school needing community service hours, this is a great opportunity!)  To be a part of the Beloved Team, call the Beloved Cell Phone ASAP (704.575.0097).

 

 

12.12.07 The Beloved Women's Fellowship will meet on December 12 from 7-9pm at the home of Donna Elyea.  Delicious desserts and beverages will be served. For a more festive occasion there will be an ornament exchange.  If you would like to participate in the ornament exchange please bring a wrapped ornament, not to exceed $10.  We look forward to seeing all the women of Beloved on this night filled with calories, fellowship, and holiday cheer!

 

 

12.23.07 On Sunday, December 23, Bishop Gregg will join us for Eucharist and the traditional “Hanging of the Greens and Chili Potluck Lunch.”  Following worship with our bishop on this day, we’ll begin decorating with greenery and poinsettias before sharing a potluck meal (watch for sign-ups for chili, salad or dessert).  The decorating also includes assembling luminaries with sand and candles that are distributed around our campus on Christmas Eve.  On that night a crew of volunteers, often those with high school and college-age kids, enjoy one another’s company as they visit while the candles are lighted.

 

 

12.24.07 Beloved’s candlelight December 24^th Christmas Eve Christ mass Celebration begins with pre-service music and is followed by Hot Cider, Hot Chocolate and Christmas cookies.  Plan to make this a meaningful beginning to your 12-day Yuletide celebration!  

 

 

12.30.07 On this Sunday before New Year’s Day, bring your Calendars and PDAs to be blessed at a special 6^th Day of Christmas celebration for all ages

 

 

12.30.07 Sixth Day of Christmas Open House in the late afternoon and early evening at the Harbin home.

 

 

01.06.08 Finish the holiday season with a festive Epiphany Pageant and celebration for all ages.  Speaking and non-speaking roles are available for adults and children of all ages; contact the Development Office to participate and learn the rehearsal schedule.

 

 

Thanks to all who helped make our gala weekend so spectacular!  Special thanks to the Friends of the Groom (who inspired us), Shari Wynn & Kris Leinenkugel (for the delicious desserts), Janie Wooten (for the beautiful table centerpieces and event assistance), to Ben Copeland, Craig Doyon, Harris High, Tony Hodgson & Dick Reif (gala organizers), the Beloved Band (for wonderful music) and to the Servant Member Community (who set up, cleaned up and were a fine group of waiters and waitresses)!

 

 

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

 

December 2…Attendance: 121 (+28 the preceding evening); Worship Offering: $2,427.  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 December 9…Isaiah 11:1-10 & Matthew 3:1-12

 

 

Serving at God’s Altar on December 9…Complete setup/complete teardown: Angel Army Team #3; Acolytes: Elizabeth Nichols, Lauren Widener, Jackson Widener, Paige Wilson; Offering Basket Passers: Gabi Leinenkugel, Jack Sanniota, Katie Sanniota, Allie Seidel; Offering Tellers: Craig Doyon (head) & Bud Moore; Presenters: Lucy Bockweg, Barb Johnston; Altar Bread Baker: Shari Wynn; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Mary Reid & Frank Reid; PowerPoint: Elizabeth Nichols; Reader: Miles Harbin.

 

 

 

In our Prayers…click here

Upcoming Calendar…click here