November 9, 2006

 

Second Creation & Second Birth

 

Baptism is the sacrament that imprints the initial likeness of Christ on the human person; it is the first step of Christian initiation.  To initiate means to let someone share in a life, in this case, the life of the risen Christ.  The risen life of Christ is a transformed and empowered life, since it is totally permeated with the Holy Spirit; it is the life of Jesus glorified by the Father after his passion.  At baptism, Christians are given a new life whose source is Christ, the effective cause, model and, we could say, reserve; that is, the new life is found in a concentrated form in the resurrected body of Jesus, and we can draw new life from this source so as to participate in and enjoy it.

 

Just as at the center of the history of salvation the cross of Christ restores what Adam spoiled (he who was defeated through the wood of the tree of knowledge in Paradise now become victorious through the wood of the cross), so baptism applies to each person that healing the cross obtained.  Through baptism, the central point of salvation history—salvation as concentrated in the person of Christ—gradually widens, thereby building the Mystical Body of Christ, always adding new branches to the true vine, building the spiritual temple for the praise of the Father.

 

From baptism is born a kingdom of new persons who share in a new quality of life; the life of the risen Christ.  This new race is created.  As the human race descended from Adam was created in the beginning by the word of God, so too is the new human race descended from Christ created by the sacramental act and word, which are Christ’s act and word.  In baptism, it is Christ who takes hold of, or seizes, the person and transforms him or her by communicating his own fullness of life.

 

As the human race has its origin in Adam, so the new human race has its origin in the risen Christ.  The resurrection is the great event of the world, compared to which any other historical event pales.  The very creation at the beginning of the world loses its importance when seen in the light of the second creation, a creation on a higher plane, a new life, the very life of God.  As resurrection is the second creation, so baptism is the second birth.

 

Dr. Sofia Cavalletti (founder of FaithQuest / Catechesis of the Good Shepherd; tr. from the Italian by Patricia A. Coulter & Julie Coulter-English), Living Liturgy: Elementary Reflections

 

  

Around Beloved…The Beloved Beehive (Sunday Christian Formation) for adults and children resumes this week following worship and hospitality…Sunday hospitality time now features coffee from It’s a Grind coffeehouse at Ballantyne Village.  Give us your feedback as we work to adjust quantities so that we have enough without waste…Beloved’s Servant Member Community meets on Sunday.  Items on the agenda include Bible Study, Finance Team update, Beloved’s upcoming 5^th Anniversary celebration and ministry team organizational gatherings.  Servant Membership is open to all who have completed Orientation at Beloved.  Attendance at a two-hour Foundation Seminar is a prerequisite.  For more information or to register for the next Foundation Seminar, click here…Beloved’s metamorphosis (youth group for ages 12-15) will be working in the Operation Christmas Child Warehouse preparing boxes for shipment overseas on Saturday, November 18^th from 6:30-10:30pm.  There are slots available for adults in the congregation to assist in this wonderful ministry.  Please join us!  To volunteer, click here.

 

Last Sunday:  Attendance: 126; Basket Offering: $3,515

 

 

Simon Evening of Giving…Thanks so much to all who have worked so hard selling tickets for this wonderful event!  This Sunday is the deadline for returning unsold tickets as well as all ticket proceeds to your ticket coordinator.  Because Simon Foundation requires payment for all outstanding tickets, those not returned are your financial responsibility!  Proceeds from each ticket sale benefit the Simon Foundation for at-risk children ($3) and the Divine Provision portion of Beloved’s budget ($7).  Thanks go to Kris Leinenkugel, along with team members Catherine Atwood and Shari Wynn, for coordinating this event.   

 

The final night for selling Plasma TV raffle tickets will be at the Simon Evening of Giving.  The winner will be drawn at Beloved Garden the following day at noon.  Someone will be enjoying the holiday football games on their new television!  Tickets ($20) will be available for purchase the next two Sundays during hospitality time.  As of this edition of eNews, odds of winning are 1 out of 225 for the Plasma TV and 1 out of 45 of winning a prize (either the TV or one of four $100 gift cards).  All proceeds fund the Divine Provision portion of Beloved’s budget.  Thanks so much to Fred Mellon who is coordinating this event.

 

 

Fifth Anniversary Celebration…Church of the Beloved will turn five years old on Christmas Eve this year!  As part of the festivities, we are looking for folks who are willing to write brief meditations or poems about their spiritual journey and/or their spiritual journey specifically at Beloved to be shared with the entire congregation as a devotion for each day of Advent.  Work must be completed and submitted before Thanksgiving.  Click here if you want to participate!

 

 

Operation Christmas Child…Church of the Beloved is once again participating in Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse.  This program provides a shoebox for a child who lives in poverty somewhere in the world – and as a gift at Christmas – sends the hope that Jesus brings into the world in a hands-on project. 

 

Pray that the Spirit will guide each of us as we select specific gifts for the boy or girl we are gifting.  Pray that through our prayers and gift selection, that child will feel God’s touch.  As you print the stickers for your box label – take a moment alone or as a family to ask God’s special blessing on that child who lives in such need.  May Jesus speak to THAT CHILD in magnificent ways.

 

Don’t forget that if you can, add $7 in a separate envelope to cover shipping costs.

 

– Deb Blackwood, deacon

 

We will collect these shoeboxes, bless them and then take them to the Samaritan’s Purse warehouse on Sunday, November 19^th.  For more information on how to pack your box, speak to Deacon Deb or click here.

 

 

Serving at God’s Altar this Sunday… Angel Army Team 5 (Captain: Steve Todd; Administrator: Frank Reid; Pastor: Mary Reid; Convener: Tom Friend); Acolytes: David Dygowski, Elizabeth Nichols, Joseph Nichols, Katie Sanniota; Altar Bread Baker: Shari Wynn; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Dick Reif & Al Krantz; Offertory Basket Passers: Joseph Duty, Hannah Friend, Benjamin Lamb, Jeremy Lamb; PowerPoint: Forrest Boylston; Presenters: Miles, Mitchell & Clare Harbin; Reader: Brian McCarthy.

 

 

Sunday’s Scripture Readings…1 Kings 17:8-16 & Mark 12:38-44

 

 

In our Prayers…Benjamin Doyon’s physical therapy…Connie Johnson, wife of our former bishop, who is recovering from breast cancer surgery…Mike and Lisa Prather, neighbor of the Blackwoods and Frickhoeffers, who has been hospitalized with late-term pregnancy complications with their yet unborn 34 week twin boys…Ricky Jordan undergoing tests….Michel Parent, Catherine Atwood’s father who has Alzheimer’s Disease… those serving in Iraq, especially Bob, Clifford King Harbin‘s nephew, Jared, Wes and Michele Nichols’ nephew and Ron, Marilyn Doyon‘s brother-in-law...Palmer, Betsy Fox’s teenage cousin who is fighting leukemia…Jessie Powell, Janie Lownes and the Morley family...Emily, Nancy and Tony Hodgson's granddaughter...Bertie, Bonnie Lowder’s mother who is unable to speak and the doctors are unclear about the diagnosis… Dick Reif's parents who are in declining health in Oklahoma Ed and Jean…Bucky, Sherrill Lowder's neighbor, who has lung cancer… Jacqui, niece of Deb and Dan Blackwood who is fighting breast cancer...Harriett, Kathy Raynor‘s mother who has cancer...Clifford King Harbin as she returns Saturday from a week of graduate work at seminary…Bryan McCarthy, Penny Crawford and Chris Morley as they seek permanent employment...the staff and students of Community House Middle School. 

 

 

Upcoming Calendar… click here