Berkeley BUZZ

7/29/2019 Berkeley BUZZ

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/berkeley-buzz 1/4

2407 Berkeley Ave.Austin, TX. 78745(512)447-6633Email: [email protected]

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

"Teach us to love"

O God, perfect us in love,That we may conquer all selfishness and hatred of others;

Fill our hearts with thy joy,And shed abroad in them thy peace which passeth understanding;

That so those murmurings and disputingsTo which we are too prone may be overcome.

Make us long-suffering and gentle,And thus subdue our hastiness and angry tempers,

And grant that we may bring forth the blessed fruits of the Spirit,To thy praise and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

—Rev. Henry Alford (1810-1871)

Berkeley BUZZBERKELEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

February 2013

Last fall, I joined the Community Advisory Council at Cunningham School. I have enjoyed the opportunity to become acquainted with the priteachers and other organizations in our a rea, and to learn much more aboevents and accomplishments of this school across the street from our chu

In February, we hear a great deal about love as Valentine’s Day b

believe the love we are given by God finds its expression in our love of neiwe have several hundred neighbors across the street who could use your

are greatly needed to provide a caring adult presence in the life of a child.Recently a church member who mentors a student at Cunningha

me a message he received from the mother of his student. With their pershare part of it with you:

When you started meeting with [my son], he would star

telling me that on Thursday he was going t o have lunch with you and that

to the library and have lunch. I can’t tell you what this means to me. His

the picture. I lost both my parents when my son was very young. I have w

surround him with strong men, but sometimes it’s hard, especially since m

families of their own. They are very good about including him in activities

him like part of their family, but with you it ’s different. You are “his” and h

to share you….He is so eager to learn, a nd sometimes I feel unprepared t

grow to his full potential. So I just keep trying every day to encourage him

him how wonderful and smart he is, and to always remember that he is lo

How will children know we love them? One way is to spend timewho needs you. Too often, we lament that we can’t “get more children int

church”. What if we decided to go where the children are? To volunteer t

hour a week with a child, go online to Austin Partners in Education, austincall 637-0900.I believe what the t-shirt says: “One hundred years from now, it w

what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much I had in maccount, or what my clothes looked like. But the world may be a little bettwas important in the life of a child.” This is one very valuable, v ery needeChange the World.

Your Pastor ~ Jeanne Devine

Members of the Congregation

Rev. Jeanne [email protected]

Victoria [email protected]

Dr. Tyler [email protected]

Elizabeth [email protected]

Tara [email protected]

Allison [email protected]

P ASTOR ’S PERSPECTIVE



The following was excerpted from LEADLIKE JESUS email devotionals for Jan 4 and Jan 21:

Jesus, I need You to sharpen my focus onYour call to make disciples and be Your witness. I

want to move forward in Your Spirit’s power. I wantthis day to count for Your kingdom. How do You

want to use me today? How do I need to equip

myself to be more useful to You? Propel meforward, I ask in Your name, Amen.

Lord, I don’t want my message to be just

words, true though they may be. I want others to

see a living, breathing example of Your Spirit’s

power to transform lives in me. May they come

into contact with You, Lord Jesus, and discover thedifference You can make in their lives. In your

name, I pray.Do you see yourself as a leader? Can you

see yourself spreading the Gospel? The UnitedMethodist Church is asking each of us to take on

this amazing task of sharing the Gift. Both of theseactions can be and are accomplished throughprayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. Pray thateach day the Lord will bring forth an opportunity toshare/be His Love . May 2013 be a New Year of

strengthening your discipleship and leadership forChrist. One small step at a time. Sign up for someactivity….ask for help in how to en gage in

Berkeley’s many ministries..….pray and pray and

pray about it…..The Lord is waiting for you to step

forward….

How Will the Lord Use Me Today?Submitted by Spiritual Care Ministry

Book Review - Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness

by Susannah CahalanSubmitted by Kathy Beth Stavinoha

The Upper Room devotion for January 7th, contributed by David R. Stadden, was based on 1 Corin-thians 13:8-12. He wrote, “As a problem solver, I can be as efficient as possible with my microscopes and

still fail to uncover that one key finding that would illuminate the problem” Mr. Stadden’s words resonated with me because I had just finished reading Brain on Fire by

Susannah Cahalan. Susannah, a journalist with the New York Post, developed a number of ailments, bothphysical and mental in early 2009. With frightening speed, she went from being a competent journalist witha vivacious personality to an extremely ill patient, displaying both psychosis and catatonia. Over $1 millionwas spent on tests which indicated she was healthy and normal, yet clearly she was no t. It was finally deter-mined that she was suffering from an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the brain.

Mr. Stadden also wrote, “Our difficulty in understanding a situation often reflects the limits of our

earthly perspective.” How do we let the limits of our earthly perspective color our relationship with others?

Do we decide someone with physical limits is also mentally handicapped? Do we decide someone with se-vere mental affliction is unworthy of love? Or do we look for that spark of humanness? Do we see God ineach person we meet?

Others saw only what was on Susannah’s outside: her appearance and her behavior. Her father (and

mother and boyfriend) saw that too, but they could still see Susannah, much as our heavenly Father seeswhat’s inside each person.

I was drawn to this story because I’m fascinated by mystery medical conditions and this one certainly

fit that bill. It also made me rethink how I see others. I highly recommend reading Brain on Fire for a numberof reasons.

: In some quotes and references, Susannah used a word which is both vulgar and offensive.

For that reason, I would not recommend it for the youth in our church, but I think for our adult members,

learning about this rare affliction is worth tolerating the use of that word.

MONTHLY INCOME: $ 23,663 YEAR TO DATE INCOME: $248,746

MONTHLY EXPENSES: $ 21,195 YEAR TO DATE EXPENSES: $262,134

DECEMBER 2012 YTD WORSHIP 129 128 SUNDAY SCHOOL 32 42

Budget for 2012: $268,875Spent in 2012: $262,134

Income in 2012: $248,746

Summary: The church spent more than it received in 2012, drawinging balance from the beginning of the year. Households who made agiving fulfilled their estimates by 96%. Much of the shortfall is due t

in unpledged giving. Spending was less than budgeted for the year, ing could not offset lower-than-expected income.

Member contributions represent almost all the church’s income. Buinterest income provide less than 5% of our income. Everyone’s sup

tial. The Finance Committee is encouraged by the increased numbe(from 57 to 66) who estimated their giving in 2013, allowing more actions of income and resulting in higher l evels of consistent support.

Records of your giving in 2012 have been printed and are available ton Sunday, February 3 and 10. Please contribute 46 cents to your cyours up and saving a stamp! And thank you for all your generosity tyear.

Financial Review for 2012

Psalms 31

In You, O LORD, I put my trust;Let me never be ashamed;

Deliver me in Your righteousness.

Bow down Your ear to me,

Deliver me speedily;Be my rock of refuge,

A fortress of defense to save me.

Congratulations: on the

birth of their grandson,Forrest Gable Smith, De-cember 14, 2012.

onthe birth of their grand-daughter, Reyna Joy Alonzo,January 18, 2013.

Sympathies:

and familyon the passing of Sue Ham-

ilton, January 17, 2013.



Nursing Home Outreach

. . . PASTOR’S CORNER CONTINUED

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ at Berkeley United Methodist Church,

Thank you so much for your support of me as a General Board of Global Ministries Missionary of t he United MethodistChurch in 2012. Your prayers and financial assistance have made it possible for me to continue to serve the Universidad Biblica Lati-noamericana in Costa Rica. This project continues to train women and men from throughout the Caribbean and Latin America in Bible

and Theology offering university degrees. We complete last year with a total of 140 students on campus.I continue working in the office of promotion and development, which also include organizing and receiving mission work

teams and study teams to the UBL. The construction of the first 4 of 20 residential units is almost complete and our hopes are to rentthose units out for income for the seminary this year. We are expecting 15 teams in 2013. Plans are to break ground on the ne xt 4 stu-dent family apartments mid-2013. We are looking at another 2 to 3 years of work as the Lord leads us in this project and would like toinvite you and your congregation, youth groups, men’s and women’s groups to join us. A portion of my work at the UBL is photo-

graphing all activities and events and publishing a monthly newsletter as well as maintaining our business Facebook page, which Iwould like to invite you to visit.

Sundays for me are filled with joy at the opportunity to serve in an outreach program called KidsKlub of La Isla, a small bar-rio in San Jose. We have on average about 25 to 30 children each Sunday who come to the local community center for 2 hours of Sun-day School. Games, songs, Bible verse memorization, prayer, and learning how to respect each other are a great part of our gathering. I

am very blessed to be working with a young mom who lives in the barrio and we have recently been joined by UBL students to assistus. Visiting mission work teams spend Sundays joining the children and savoring worship and church in a

different way. God is with us and we are blessed.Here are a few photos from 2012. I pray you continue to join me in 2013 by renewing your Covenant Support.

Becky Harrell, San Jose, Costa Rica

HONDURAS 2013

¡Muchísimas gracias! Many thanks to allof you who have supported our missiontrip to Honduras with Tarrytown UnitedMethodist Church. Because of your gen-erosity, we will be taking school supplieswith us and have enough cash to givescholarships to two students for the com-ing year. (Parents must pay tuition andprovide books and uniforms after grade5.) Their school year starts in February.

We ask for your prayers during our trip – Prayers for the team, the work we will

do, and for the Honduran people.

Prayers of thankfulness for the pres-ence of God in this work.

Susan Curtis, Myrna Cavender, andCarolyn Brown

KNIT FOR KIDS

Do you like to knit orcrochet? World Vi-sion has a Knit for

Kids program.Sweaters for chil-dren can be knittedor crocheted. Theirdistribution center“serves as a hub for sending your precious gifts to

children as far away as Armenia, Nicaragua, Swazi-land and Tanzania, and as close to home as Appala-chia, New Orleans and the Bronx.” Use acrylic yarn

and one of their patterns (or your own pattern). Formore information, see www.worldvision.org/

content.nsf/getinvolved/knit-for-kids . Contact Caro-lyn Brown at 443-2600 for additional information.Sweaters will be collected and sent to World Visionlater in 2013.

Note: This is not intended to replace our

prayer shawl program. It is simply another opportunity to knit or crochet for others.

Juan Carlos (above) and Bielka Marllini, scholarship recipients

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and the Lord has already sent blessings your way in 2013! Let usto share our blessings with those less fortunate. Your offerings help vast numbers of God’s children th

and the United Methodist Church ministries here at home and around the world!

If you have not had the opportunity to turn in your estimate of giving for 2013, please take a prayerful do so. Cards are always available in the narthex (lobby) on the small table. Berkeley’s Stewardship T

tends a warm thank you to everyone for supporting Christ’s mission at BUMC.

: Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio, (doubled by a

grant!) (in addition to $705 in November)

The church received 66 pledges for the Gand 32 pledges for the Capital Asset Fund. Thank you to all who have turned in pledges.

Our UM Women and others continue to offer assistance to the women and chneed at Saint Louise House. Please contact Carolyn Brown (443-2600) if you are interested inthis ministry.

From elementary school through high school, students need Christian adults to strate God’s care and to take an interest in their progress. Can you spend one of your 168 hou

with a child who needs you? If so, contact Austin Partners in Education at apie@austinpartners

will go to support United Methodist Free Store. For more info visitwww.freestoreaustin.org . Participate with the faith community. Welcome guests. New ushers and greeters, new c

members, new acolytes always welcome.Please help keep your giving current. Our mission depends on you!

Contact Claudia Wenzel (441-3285) or Mary Lynn Sm6054) for this and other service opportunities.

No cash? No checkbook? How can you pay your pledge? Call or come by the church office or speak wTreasurer, Ray Curtis (280-1313), for tips on setting up online bill pay or automatic draft. It’s easy!

Contributions to this column are always welcome—please email Kimberly Gamble at gamhouse@swbel

GENEROSITY AND BEYOND S U B M I T T E D B Y K I M B E R L Y G A M B L E , S T E W A R D S H I P C H A I R

Cunningham Elementary School is 50!

Our neighborhood school will celebrate its 50th birthday with a cele-bration on Friday, February 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. You are invited! DavidBailiff, head football coach at Rice University, is the guest speaker.

Did you know that Berkeley UMC worshiped in the CunninghamElementary School cafeteria from 1972 to 1974, when the current sanctu-ary was completed? Over the years we have supported each other’s mis-

sions. Congratulations may be sent to Principal Amy Lloyd at 2200 BerkeleyAve. Austin, TX 78745.

http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/getinvolved/knit-for-kids



mailto:[email protected]

http://www.freestoreaustin.org/










Free Store—Huge News!

On March 2, the Free Store opens its doors at its permanent location, 1717 E. 12th St. in eastadjacent to Simpson UMC. This ministry provides clothing and household goods and encouragcommunity. You can bring any donations to the store (and check out the new digs) on MondayWednesdays & Fridays from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. You can also make a special [email protected] . There are numerous volunteer opportunities—call Matt Cardona iDistrict Office, 444-1983. For information, visit www.freestoreaustin.org .

2/2 Abbey Triggs2/3 Elizabeth Goble2/4 Catherine Waltman2/5 Kate Noll2/9 Jimmie Dittlinger2/14 Karen Carlton2/18 Kimberly Royal2/20 Donna Bostick2/23 Autumn Kaylor2/24 Dorothy Rittenberry

2/27 Doyce Holsenbeck2/28 Mathew Wenzel

2/14 Dale & Doris Lyon2/27 Charlotte & Bill Campbell

Spiritual Care ministry invitesthe Berkeley congregation toparticipate in “Secret Prayer

Pals” during the week of Febru-

ary 14th. Look for the Valen-tine’s box and basket in the nar-

thex. There will be hearts uponwhich you write your prayer re-quest, then place them in thebox. On February 10th, the

hearts will be drawn at randomfollowing each service and theSecret Prayer Pal will be in in-tentional prayer for that prayerrequest during Valentine’s week

as an expression of our loveand care for each other.

Secret Prayer Pals

Berkeley’s ann

Tuesday “Gour

for Dinner” wil

February 12, inship Hall. Comscrambled eggblintzes, cinnacuits, fruit, andment of toppin

fering will go to the Berkeley UMC General Fu

RSVP via email to Bridgette Reece at breece@or sign up in the foyer.

Shrove Tuesday, Februa







Berkeley BUZZ

Documents

Transcript of Berkeley BUZZ