August 30, 2005

Dirt and Labor

I was about fourteen when my dad decided that on Labor Day we would begin installing a brick-in-sand sidewalk for our new home. The procedure seemed so simple: excavate a trench three feet wide and twelve inches deep, fill it with level sand, lay the brick and then sweep sand over the top.

Dirt weighs a lot. Sand and bricks weigh even more. My body ached. I learned, for the first time, what physical labor felt like. That sidewalk became an annual Labor Day weekend project until it was finished. When we visit my parents' home, it is still a source of pride and accomplishment.

As we were contemplating a wedding date, Clifford suggested Labor Day weekend, knowing that it would never conflict with a church feast day, giving us a guaranteed "window" in which to celebrate. I thought that was a great suggestion, with the added bonus that Labor Day anniversary celebrations would probably never include the use of a shovel! =R>
There is something holy about dirt and labor. The first chapters of the Bible tell how God created dirt, and then took it to shape human beings. God breathed life into us and then gave us all of creation as a gift, inviting us to love, work and create as well. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, from the cars we drive to the energy we consume, our way of life is made possible only through the work of other human beings who, with us, shape and transform the gifts of God's creation.

Labor Day provides an opportunity to be thankful for God's work and generosity in giving us the riches of creation. Labor Day also offers us an opportunity to honor the dignity of all human labor, no matter how grand or menial, for the way it enriches our lives and reflects the loving creativity of the Beloved.

J. Derek Harbin, priest


Around Beloved…The final FaithQuest Open House will be held this Wednesday, 4pm @ Beloved Garden for those interested in registering children ages three to fifteen. For more information, visit http://www.belovedgarden.org/ or contact Clifford King Harbin at Beloved Garden (704-752-8989)…Christian Formation Registration for adults and children will follow worship on September 11…Kudos to the marketing team of Dick Reif, Annette Stephenson, Lisa Lang, Liz Wilson and all who participated in creating and distributing over 3000 Blessing of the Backpacks fliers to the surrounding neighborhoods… and to those who have worked so sacrificially to make the practical and aesthetic transition to Community House Middle School seem effortless, particularly Terry Herring, Nancy Montagnino, and the Beloved Staff…A recent email to the Development Office offered these words of thanks after Sunday's worship: "Thought you might want to know that when we left to return home today we realized the battery in my car had died. I went back inside the school and John Price and Jim Skrobot immediately came out to help me. They jumped the battery and sent us on our way. What an amazing group of people!!!"…Our congratulations go to Deacon Deb Blackwood who has been named chaplain for Trinity Episcopal School, uptown. She will begin her duties on October 1.


Serving in the world…Beloved's September human needs outreach opportunity is the 3rd Annual Walk and Talk for Reading on Saturday, September 17 for Charlotte's Thompson Child and Family Focus (formerly known as Thompson Orphanage and more recently, Thompson Children's Home). This Episcopal ministry has assisted North Carolina children in need for over 115 years, with this event raising money for their literacy programs. If you would like to walk, you will need to pre-register. Beloved's Worker Bees (youth 9-12) and Metamorphosis (youth 12-15) are participating and seeking sponsors as well. Registration opens at 8:30am and the walk begins at 9am. To register online, visit http://www.thompsoncff.org/ and enter the site. Printed information will be available on Sunday. For more information, contact Deacon Deb Blackwood at 704-957-8209…Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), which provides emergency assistance after disasters, has been quick to respond to those caught up in horrific devastation of Hurricane Katrina and has mobilized people and resources in support of communities affected by this disaster. If you would like to learn more about ERD or participate in its disaster relief work, visit http://www.er-d.org/


Cookies anyone?…Twice a year, folks from Beloved join other Christians in baking cookies for Kairos, a faith-sharing, evangelistic weekend for prisoners in the Kershaw Correctional Institution. Each weekend needs about 60,000 home-baked cookies! Homemade cookies are a tangible expression of Christian love and an indication of God's concern for a group of men who seldom encounter either in the course of their daily lives. Pray as you bake that God will use your loving sacrifice to shine the Light of the Beloved into the dark corners of the prison. (This could be a great family or small group activity!) Your Oatmeal (w/o raisins), Peanut Butter, Molasses, Chocolate Chip, Ginger or Sugar Cookies should be between 2 and 2-1/2 inches in diameter and not more than ½ inch thick. It is very important not to use icing or any other type of coating, topping, fruit or nuts in or on the cookies. Bag your cookies, a dozen at a time, in labeled, quart-sized storage bags and bring to worship on September 18. May God bless you for your gift of baking!


In our Prayers…The victims of Hurricane Katrina and those from our community with friends and relatives in the Gulf Region, especially the Fox, King and Urbanowicz/Miller families…Dan Hood's brother, Scott, who is serving in Iraq…Nancy and Tony Hodgson's granddaughter, Emily…the pressing need to fill the four additional janitorial staff openings at Community House Middle School…the upcoming Thompson Walk on September 17 and the September 22-25 Kairos weekend at Kershaw Correctional Institution and team members Rick and Ricky Jordan.

Upcoming Calendar…