17 January 2008

A Heart for the Task

Two More Beloved Servant Members to be added to Beloved’s Advisory Team on February 3rd

  

 

 

 

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.

 

Last January, Beloved’s Advisory Team unanimously approved a two-year transition process, shifting authority and responsibility for Beloved’s business affairs from those who led the birth of Beloved to those who are now part of the Beloved faith community.  The Advisory Team, until last year, had only been made up of representatives from the six congregations who financially contributed to the start up of Church of the Beloved plus a volunteer controller (bookkeeper).  Last February Beloved’s Bud Moore and Jennifer Sanders began to serve three-year terms that will end in February 2010.  Additionally, the representative from Holy Comforter (Carol Myers, who died in August) and the Representative from St. Margaret (Jane Wydra, who resigned in November) were not replaced.

 

Beloved’s Advisory Team faithfully executes the dual tasks assigned to it by National Episcopal Church and Diocesan Canon Law: to oversee the expenditure of monies, including matters concerning the congregation’s corporate property, as well as the relation of the congregation to its Clergy.  Canons further direct that I serve as the presider of this group.  I’m sure that Jennifer and Bud would be happy to share how dedicated and passionate this group truly is.   For the minority of our worshipping community with Episcopal backgrounds, you will recognize that in a traditional congregation this group is called the “Vestry.”  They are, in fact, recognized as such by our diocese. 

 

Serving on the Advisory Team is a significant ministry, one that requires dedication and faithfulness to the task.  Those who have completed Beloved’s orientation know that at any time they have the opportunity to attend Foundation Seminar to learn about annual Servant Membership.  If they believe they are led to do so, they may then sign a Servant Member Covenant (declaring that service to Beloved will be their primary Christian ministry as well as making specific commitments to our faith community). Eighteen sisters and brothers from among us have made such a declaration.  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 3. 

 

J. Derek Harbin, priest

 

 

Those who have signed a Servant Member Covenant (declaring that service to Beloved will be their primary Christian ministry as well as making specific commitments to our faith community) making them eligible for selection are:  Catherine Atwood, Todd Atwood, Fernando Baquero, Ann Calandro, Janis Conlon, Ben Copeland, Craig Doyon, Marilyn Doyon, Betsy Fox, Harris High, Tony Hodgson, Nancy Hodgson, Anna Moore, Frank Reid, Mary Reid, Dick Reif, Toni Reif, and Liz Wilson.  To learn more specifics about this selection process, click here.

 

 

This earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine;
but God, who call'd me here below,
will be for ever mine.

 

John Newton (1725-1807),

 from his poem “Amazing Grace”

 

 

Around Beloved…Beloved has received a special invitation to an Evensong and Eucharist celebrating a new companionship relationship between our diocese and the Anglican Diocese of Botswana.  This event will be held at 5pm this Sunday, January 20 @ Christ Church (1412 Providence Road).  Bishop Musonda Trevor Mwamba, an articulate and personable individual who has had a collection of his sermons published, will be the preacher.  Bishop William Gregg will be the Presider.  A reception will follow, giving us all the opportunity to meet Bishop Trevor and all the members of the delegation from Botswana.

 

 

There is no Christian Formation this Sunday due to the Martin Luther King holiday weekend.  Sunday Christian Formation resumes next week for adults and children.

 

 

The Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina meets in Convention Friday and Saturday in Greensboro.  Derek Harbin, Clifford King Harbin and Sally Brower will be in attendance. 

 

 

Dan Hood will be leading the delegation of Beloved Pilgrimage teens to YouthQuake, a high-energy youth faith transformation event held at Ridgecrest Conference Center near Black Mountain.  Special thanks to Jan Floyd who will be assisting Dan with transportation.

 

 

The Spiritual Living Book Club continues its reflections on Blue Like Jazz on Monday evening, 7pm @ Beloved Garden.  All are welcome!

 

 

The Beloved Men’s Fellowship is continuing its visioning work with David Cash.  Their next meeting will be Monday, January 21 @ 7pm.  The meeting location will be Heritage Choices, located in the Lowe’s Foods shopping center on US 521 South.  Come give your input for the future!

 

 

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

 

 

January 13…Attendance: 114; Worship Offering: $2,005.  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 January 20…Isaiah 49:1-7 & John 1:29-42

 

Serving at God’s Altar on January 20…Complete setup/complete teardown: Angel Army Team #4 Acolytes: Elizabeth Nichols, Lauren Widener, Jackson Widener, Paige Wilson; Offering Basket Passers: Deagan Burgie, Adam Burnett, Holly Burnett, Lauren Widener; Offering Tellers: Liz Wilson; Presenters: Dave and Lynn Burnett; Altar Bread Baker: Kris Leinenkugel; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Brian McCarthy & Janie Wooten; PowerPoint: Ben Copeland; Reader: Scott Sanniota.

 

 

In our Prayers…click here

 

 

Upcoming calendar…click here