14 December 2007

A Present for Jesus

Imagine for a moment that thirty mosques were bombed in the United States, tens of thousands of Muslims were killed, tortured, kidnapped while tens of thousands more were told to renounce their religion and convert to Christianity.  Imagine the horror and despair as these followers of Mohammed were forced to flee their homes (and all their possessions) under threat of execution by their militant neighbors.  The uproar would be unimaginable.  Yet during the last two years, when these identical atrocities were launched against our Christian sisters and brothers in Iraq / Baghdad, world governments and the media have been largely silent.

 

Since the time of Jesus there have been Christians in what is now Iraq.  Evangelized by the Apostle Thomas (the one who doubted and had to put his fingers in the wounds of Jesus’ resurrected body—see John 20:24-28), their number had grown to about 1 million before the start of the current Iraq war.  They were a small minority, but free to worship, free to build churches, and free to speak the ancient language of Jesus—Aramaic.  But after the current invasion, when Muslim militants launched a war on each other, they launched an even more insidious one on the people of the cross.

Most of Iraq’s Christians have fled to Syria and Jordan or have been killed, kidnapped, tortured or mutilated.  Those still there are too old, too ill or too poor to run.  And with them is the Reverend Canon Andrew White, vicar of St. George Church, who was send to Baghdad by the now-former Archbishop of Canterbury to facilitate reconciliation in Iraq some nine years ago, well before the current persecution.  To quote Scott Pelley’s recent 60 Minutes report, “You’d have to be mad to hold a Christian service in Iraq today, but if you must, then the vicar of Baghdad is your man…an Anglican (priest) who suffers from multiple sclerosis and from a fanatical determination to save the last Iraqi Christians from this purge.”

 

There seems to be less violence now in part because the surge of U.S. forces has Islamic militants on the run but also because the purge of Christians, especially the men, is largely complete.  Yet plenty of women and children are among those who gather in secret for worship and a common meal.  They gather to get, perhaps, their only decent meal of the week and to pray and support one another.  And in an incredible gesture of reconciliation, financed through the gifts of Anglican Christians around the world, they offer food, blankets and medicine to their displaced or impoverished Muslim neighbors.

In ten days it will be Christmas Eve.  As we finish our Advent preparations for the upcoming Christmas season, Church of the Beloved once again offers each of us the opportunity to do the single-most important act of the holidays: give a gift to Jesus Christ.  Giving to Christ at Christmas is based on a simple idea.  It’s Jesus’ birthday.  That’s why we give gifts to each other.  Let’s have our gift giving begin with a gift to him.

 

Each year we invite followers of Jesus associated with Church of the Beloved to give the most generous, one-time cash gift we can—above and beyond our normal giving, as we would any Christmas gift—to fund the twin heartbeats of our Lord: evangelistic witness and relief of human suffering, locally, nationally and internationally.  This year our gifts will be sent through the Anglican Communion Office to finance Fr. Andrew White’s determination to save our Iraqi sisters and brothers from extinction and to continue their witness of reconciliation.  Ten percent will remain here at home to continue growing this wonderful community we call Beloved.

 

So what’s involved?  It’s simple.  On December 24, bring your offering marked Giving to Christ at Christmas to the Christmas Eve service at 7:00pm and give it as part of Beloved’s Christmas festivities.  If you can’t be with us that night, simply mail or place your gift in the offering basket any Sunday before the end of the year.  If your gift is one of stock, security or other bequest, please contact us so that we may assist you with this transaction. 

 

Life doesn’t often present us with chances to make a real difference on the world stage.  This Christmas we have the opportunity to insure that the Prince of Peace’s face remains in the midst of war-torn Iraq.   Our prayer is that this gift will truly honor the One whose birthday we shall soon celebrate.

 

Derek and Clifford King Harbin, priest & pastor

 

 

Around Beloved...Church of the Beloved has an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the staff at Community House Middle School this Advent.  The Parent Leadership has a tradition of hosting a Cookie Exchange in which each staff person is invited to select already prepared cookies to take home for the holiday break.  The amount of cookies desired for everyone to receive a good selection is 300 dozen.  Since Church of the Beloved is already accustomed to a ministry of baking cookies for those in prison, Derek and I thought this might be a good way for Beloved to offer thanks for the gracious weekly use of the school facility.  So for those who are not already overwhelmed with preparations for Christmas and would like to help here is what we need.  The task is: bake cookies of your choice (no restrictions as there are for those in prison!), package 6 cookies per zip lock bag, note on the supplied Beloved label what kind of cookies are in the bag and place label on zip lock bag then deliver to one of three locations: (1 – to Beloved Garden by 6pm on Wednesday; 2 – to our home by 9pm on Wednesday or 3 – to Community House Middle School by 9am Thursday morning).

Please sign up on Sunday and note how many dozens of cookies you will bring and to where you will deliver them.  Any questions, call Clifford at the Development Office at 704-752-8988 or on the cell at 704-575-0097. 

 

Thanks to all who helped make last Sunday’s Advent Brunch and Christmas workshop such a fun event for all!  Special recognition goes to….

 

Betsy Fox and all those who baked and helped her with the fantastic Cake Walk.

 

Janie Wooten and Mary Reid, who cooked, decorated and organized the wonderful cooks who prepared the Brunch. 

 

Although it’s always possible to leave out someone when naming those who have helped with a huge project, these are, hopefully, the names of those who helped make the items for sale:

 

Ann Bloom, Lucy Bockweg, Sally Brower, Marie Charbonneau, Janis Conlon, Penny Crawford, Marilyn Doyon, Marie Duty, Kim Dygowski, Nancy Hodgson, Elsie Jobin, Rose-Ann Jobin, Barbara Johnston Linda Mellon, Anna Moore, Michele Nichols, Jeannette Oesterlin, Mary Reid, Toni Reif, Katie Shaughnessy, Roey Southard, Annette Stephenson, Katrina West, Janie Wooten, and Machelle Yearwood

 

Other contributors to the goodies to sell were Cecilia Atwood and her beautiful hand made wares, Sally Brower who donated Anglican prayer beads, Ann Calandro who makes soaps, Lexi and Tori Leinenkugel and their large variety of handmade goodies, Roey Southard with her bunnies and earrings, Toni Reif with her hand made jewelry, the Beloved knitters team and the teens of the church for their excellent gift wrapping skills. Jane Wydra who provided the quilt for chances to be bought.

 

Special thanks to Angel Army Team #3 who did extra work above and beyond the norm, Dick Reif who transported tables, and Fred and Linda Mellon who arrived early and stayed late even though they are on Team #4.

 

This was a team effort and we all worked so hard for only one reason.... for the Glory of God.

 

Small gift items will be for sale once again this Sunday during hospitality time.

 

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.  (Unfortunately, luminaries in Mecklenburg County have been banned for Christmas Eve by the fire authorities because of the drought).  Sign up sheets for the Chili Potluck lunch (chili, salad or dessert) will be available this Sunday.   

 

12.24.07 Beloved’s 7pm candlelight December 24^th Christmas Eve Christ mass Celebration begins with pre-service music @ 6:30pm and is followed by Hot Cider, Hot Chocolate and Christmas cookies.  Plan to make this a meaningful beginning to your 12-day Yuletide celebration! 

 

12.29.07 Saturday Orientation for those who travel and have crazy schedules.  Participate in a marathon Orientation combining all three sessions in one day.  Register at the Development Office and note if three hours in the morning or afternoon is your preference.

 

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 at the Harbin home in the late afternoon and early evening.

 

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.

 

 

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

 

 

December 9…Attendance: 146; Worship Offering: $5,700.  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 16…James 5:7-10 & Matthew 11:2-11

 

 

Serving at God’s Altar on December 16…Complete setup/complete teardown: Angel Army Team #4; Acolytes: Garreth Floyd, Clare Harbin, Mackenzie Wynn, Morgan Wynn; Offering Basket Passers: Deagan Burgie, Jackson Widener & Lauren Widener; Offering Tellers: Craig Doyon (head) & Liz Wilson; Presenters: Stephanie Widener & Shari Wynn; Altar Bread Baker: Kris Leinenkugel; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Bud Moore & Janie Wooten; PowerPoint: Paige Wilson; Reader: Tony Hodgson.

 

 

In our Prayers…click here 

 

Upcoming Calendar…click here