Holy Cross Day: September 14, 2006

Coconuts, Peaches, and the Cross

Some churches are like coconuts.  They are full of all sorts of nice people.  Even so, they have a very hard institutional shell.  When people try to enter them, they find all sorts of worship barriers, rules and regulations that have the unintended but combined effect of keeping people far from finding the faith they are seeking.  In a coconut church, everyone is friendly to the people they know but leave in isolation the people that they don’t.  In a coconut church, people see membership as having its privileges; the “dues” they contribute often consist of a tip that is paid on the occasional Sundays they happen to attend worship.  In spite of that, the payment of these dues carries the membership expectation that ministry is something that others will do for them at a moment’s notice when they need it.  Coconut churches have far more members than people who actually show up on Sunday.  People come and go with little involvement.  Because they operate out of what the members can get rather than what they can give, there is little Gospel core…little sense of sacrifice, vision or common purpose.

Churches that are trying to become peaches are a bit different.  They, too, are full of all sorts of nice people.  In contrast to their coconut sisters, they have a very soft institutional shell.  People visiting peach churches find all sorts of ways to enter the life of the community and find that the congregation has given a lot of thought to their comfort, welcome and their faith encounter with the risen Jesus.  In a peach church, people make tangible efforts to reach out to those that they do not know.  In a peach church, membership is lived as a vehicle for continuous and dedicated service and financial contributions are offered thankfully, generously and regularly to support the mission of the congregation.  Because peach congregations challenge worshippers to view membership in light of what members can give rather than what they can get, they are intentional about their commitments and service as they achieve a growing sense of Gospel mission, vision and sacrifice that provides a solid core and purpose.

Today, the universal Church remembers the day that fourth century Christians discovered what they believed was the true cross as they excavated for a foundation of the church in Jerusalem (The Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher) that would cover the holy sites of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection.  Known as Holy Cross Day, this feast day provides us an opportunity to view our Lord’s sacrifice of himself outside of the penitential nature of Good Friday.  On Holy Cross Day, we glory in the cross because it is the throne from which Jesus continues to reign as King over all.  We glory in the cross because it gives us a clear vision about what kind of followers and church we are called to be.  Jesus told us that to follow him, we must deny ourselves and take up the cross.  It shouldn’t be surprising to discover that the churches around the world that are deepening faith and growing disciples are peach churches, not coconut ones.  Becoming a peach church is all about the joy of losing ourselves in God’s service as we live with Jesus in his sacrificial reign.       

J. Derek Harbin, priest

Around Beloved…The Beloved Beehive (Sunday Christian Formation) for adults and children begins this week following worship…Bring your baked cookies for Kairos this Sunday!  Any who are interested can join in a special Kairos Team Commissioning Worship Celebration and Bar-B-Que to be held this Saturday, September 16^th from 12-2pm at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church.  Our own Beloved Band will be providing the music for this occasion.  Questions?  Planning on attending?  Contact Rick Jordan…Ticket packets for Simon Evening of Giving are being distributed now!  Please see Catherine Atwood (last name A-H), Kris Leinenkugel (last name I-M) or Shari Wynn (last name N-Y) to pick up your packet.  Each family unit will have a packet of 10 tickets plus information about Simon Night of Giving. We’ll have additional packets of 10 for those who want more tickets to start off with.  All proceeds from the Simon Night of Giving ticket sales benefit the Simon Youth Foundation for At-risk children and the “divine provision” portion of Beloved’s ministry budget…The football team at the new Audrey Kell High School is struggling, but the spirit of the fans is infectious!  Fans attending home games are learning about Beloved as they read the athletic program.  Click here to see what they are discovering. 

Parish Picnic at Cane Creek Park…You are invited to spend Sunday afternoon, September 24^th, enjoying Beloved’s 6^th Annual parish picnic in Union County’s beautiful Cane Creek Park.  Food, fellowship, paddleboats, horseshoes, miniature golf, games and more will be available (A small fee is charged by Cane Creek for some of these activities.)  This is a great opportunity to get to know more folks at Beloved and to invite a friend, neighbor or colleague who may be looking for a church home.

Beloved will provide the meat, paper goods, bread and drinks.  Persons are asked to bring enough of the following to feed at least ten people:  Last name A-D (salad), E-M (vegetable), N-Z (dessert).  Please sign up this Sunday in the hospitality area.  Questions?  Contact Michele Nichols.

About Acolytes…Children/Teens/Adults who carry the cross, candles and gospel book each Sunday are called acolytes.  There is no minimum or maximum age to serve; must possess the ability to sit quietly while serving at the altar; to follow directions; and to carry the gospel book.  If you would like to serve as an acolyte, or if you would like to continue serving as an acolyte this year, please contact Susan Boylston by September 24^th.  New teams and schedule will be ready by early October.

Youth News…It’s not too late to be a part of FaithQuest!  This after-school or weekend faith enrichment process is the perfect way to deepen your child’s faith and is offered as the primary means of deep faith formation and small group relationships for the children of Beloved and interested children in the wider community.  Sessions have just begun and are available for those who are toilet trained through age 15.  Scholarship for those with financial need is available as is bartering of material making in trade for tuition.  For more information, click here to connect with the Beloved Garden website…If you are between the ages of 9-12 (Worker Bees) or 12-15 (Metamorphosis) and do not receive a packet of information later this week about this year’s activities, please call the Development Office at 704-752-8988 and leave your name, date of birth, phone and email address.

Iran’s future…Davidson College announces that the first lecture in this year’s Dean Rusk International Studies Series, entitled “Iran Under President Ahmadinejad: A New Era of Radicalism?”, will be held in the Martha Bowles Parish Hall of St. Peter Episcopal Church, uptown on Thursday, September 28^th from Noon to 1:30pm.  The guest lecturer will be Dr. Mark Gasiorowski, Professor of Political Science and the Director of the International Studies Program at Louisiana State University and a former Visiting Fellow at the Middle East Centre, St. Anthony’s College, Oxford University.  Tickets for the lecture are $15 and include lunch catered by La-Tea-Da’s.  Reservations may be made by calling 704.332.7746 by Friday, 9/22. A better understanding of international affairs is important for Christians as we seek the Holy Spirit’s wisdom in our calling to be salt and light in the midst of the darkness and evil we confront in the world.   

In our Prayers…

We offer prayers of intercession for:  Bishop Gary Gloster who is undergoing radiation treatment for Prostate Cancer at Duke Medical Center…those who have died or have been traumatized by the escalating violence in the Middle East and around the world...those serving in Iraq, especially Bob, Clifford King Harbin‘s 18-year-old nephew; Ron, Marilyn Doyon‘s brother-in-law; and Scott, Dan Hood's brother who is preparing to return to the States...Frank, Ben Copeland’s dad who was recently hospitalized with heart problems...Al Krantz as he travels in Jordan…Brandon and Tanna, children of Dick Reif‘s employer who were critically injured in an auto accident...Jacqui, niece of Deb and Dan Blackwood who is fighting breast cancer...Harriett, Kathy Raynor‘s mother who has cancer...Jessie Powell and Janie Lownes...Emily, Nancy and Tony Hodgson's granddaughter...Ed and Jean, Dick Reif's parents who are in declining health in Oklahoma...Bucky, Sherrill Lowder's neighbor, who has lung cancer...Cyteria Knight and Penny Crawford as they seek permanent employment...the staff and students of Community House Middle School.

Upcoming Calendar…click here