September 13, 2005
Cookie
Sunday
While attending Furman University, I was a member of Collegiate Educational Service
Corps (CESC), a group that regularly placed college students in non-profit agencies that helped serve the powerless and forgotten in the Greenville,
SC community. Besides helping the less fortunate, it also gave this ivory-towered student a chance to get off campus and relate
with someone other than classmates or professors.
My senior year placement for CESC was in a minimum-security prison helping young men
learn to read. The literacy rate is remarkably low in juvenile/young adult prisons and increasing it has very positive long-term
ramifications. The young males I tutored were quite motivated for a visit from a shapely ninety-two pound young female, but
hopefully found their new reading abilities an important skill for their futures!
What began as a volunteer opportunity quickly became the first step in a career
journey. I was hired as an investigator in the Public Defenders’ Office, primarily because I had demonstrated the ability
to relate to those involved in criminal activity. From there I was promoted to working with children and teens accused of a
crime. In this role I made a sentencing recommendation to the Family Court Judge after conducting a home study, interviewing
teachers and other significant persons involved in the life of the child, and hearing the child take (or not take, as the case may be) personal
responsibility for the activity. I reviewed each case with such thoroughness that oftentimes I uncovered child abuse or neglect as
a significant factor that contributed to his or her brokenness and criminal behavior.
Because the “system” on many occasions failed these children, I requested
a transfer to the investigative unit of Child Protective Services (Department of Social Services). In this role I investigated
allegations of abuse and neglect in the hills of Greenville County (SC). During my time as an investigator, it quickly became
apparent to me that until the hearts of all men and women (particularly those of the influential and powerful) were transformed, the public,
governmental agencies I served in would not be capable of solving the systemic problems of the poor, powerless and forgotten. I
began to hear God calling me to initiate this change through the faith community. This call led me to full-time lay pastor
positions in the Episcopal (and later the United Methodist) Church, assisting children, teens and their parents to encounter the transforming love of
Jesus and sharing his values of baptizing, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, clothing the naked, and visiting those in prison.
I believe that the “systems” in our world can be changed, one person at a
time, if each Christian uses his or her influence, affluence, time or energy to do so. Things can always get better, can always
become more godly, no matter how well they appear to be functioning. This is why I have supported Rick and Ricky Jordan’s
ministry over the years with Kairos, a prison ministry that shares the love, grace and forgiving mercy of Jesus Christ with
those in prison. Rick and Ricky have made a significant commitment to this ministry that involves extensive training, prayer
and preparation. When they leave Charlotte to live in Kershaw Correctional Institution over the weekend of September 23-25, they
go with the prayers of their Beloved community, dozens of homemade cookies (brought to worship on this Sunday,
9/18!), and hand colored placemats that the children and adults of this community decorated last Sunday during Beehive
registration.
At Church of the Beloved, we value the transformation of the world through our sisters
and brothers who are the vessels of the Holy Spirit in that work. If you have an evangelistic or human needs ministry outside of
the Beloved community that could benefit from our assistance, please let us know and we will let your needs be known to the greater
community. In the meantime, get out those chocolate chips and let’s get
baking!
Clifford King Harbin, pastor
Cookie
Sunday Details…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 this Sunday, September 18. May God bless you for your gift of baking!
Around
Beloved… Visit the new website for Church of the Beloved at http://www.churchbeloved.org/. It, along with this weekly
e-news, are two ways we are seeking to improve communication as Beloved grows. We are trying to gather all information in
one place so that you will receive only one email per week (unless an emergency prayer request needs to be conveyed).
Please read e-news, as this will be the only notice of many events that you will
receive…Children’s Orientation will be offered immediately after Hospitality Time this Sunday for any child that
desires a name badge and to know more about the Beloved community, its mission, values and principles…. Adults will participate in an
Adult Forum at the same time in which they can “Stump the Priest” with their questions and hear what adult faith
opportunities will be offered during the 2005-06 year… Christian Formation for adults and children will follow worship
beginning Sunday, October 2…. Encourage your friends and neighbors to stop by and say “hello” to Terry
King and Clifford King Harbin who will be at Beloved Garden’s Information and Children’s
Craft Activity Booth on Saturday in the parking lot in front of Bi-Lo from 10am-3pm for the Terraces at Park Place’s Customer Appreciation Day
(any others with the gift of “helps” who could also spend an hour during the day would be greatly
appreciated…let the Development Office know via reply email or 704.752.8988 if you have any time)….Last Sunday, Kris
Leinenkugel and Fred Mellon’s Servant Member Funding Team began distributing tickets for the Simon Evening of Giving
fundraising project to reduce Beloved’s projected $35k income shortfall for this year. If you need some tickets to sell and
didn’t receive any, please see Kris in the hospitality area on Sunday…. Beloved’s Worker Bees (youth
9-12) and metamorphosis (youth 12-15) each have Movie Nights coming up; the younger group on Friday (9/23) and the older group on
Saturday (9/24) beginning at 6:30pm at Beloved Garden. Don’t forget to bring $3 and a friend…. the
5th Annual Parish Picnic at Cane Creek Park is scheduled for Sunday, September 25. Sign up on Sunday,
pick up a free entrance ticket on the 25th after worship, bring a side dish or dessert to go with the church provided meat and come
prepared to have a fun time playing miniature golf, paddling a boat, or pitching horse shoes with other Beloved ones.
To be
married…I publish the Banns of Marriage between Timothy Scott
McCloud and Caroline Sherrill Benfield. If any of you know just cause why they may not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you
are bidden to declare it. This is the first time of asking. Derek Harbin+
Serving
in the world…Those interested in finding ways to provide
longer-term support to Hurricane Katrina evacuees are invited to an Charlotte faith community meeting on Thursday, September
15, 6pm at Covenant Presbyterian Church (1000 East Morehead St.)…In addition to our collective prayers and efforts for those impacted
by Hurricane Katrina, Beloved’s already scheduled September human needs outreach opportunity is the 3rd Annual Walk and
Talk for Reading on this 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. For more information, contact Deacon Deb
Blackwood at 704.957.8209.
In our
Prayers…The victims of Hurricane Katrina and the relief efforts underway around the
nation…Dan Hood’s brother, Scott, and Bruce Fowler’s brother, Arthur, who are 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 this Saturday, September 17…the September 22-25
Kairos weekend at Kershaw Correctional Institution and team members Rick and Ricky Jordan… Jennifer
Sanders while she looks for a job working with children and Bruce Fowler while he looks for a job in automotive
sales/management….for safe travel for the Philips’ family as they travel to Ohio and a holy death for
Heather’s grandfather, William who is suffering from oral cancer and is now under the care of Hospice….for the opening
week of FaithQuest 1.0 and 1.5 on Wednesday and a new 1.0 on Thursday.
Upcoming
Calendar…
