From Our Intentional Interim Minister - Binkley Baptist … · Church’s plaintive...
Transcript of From Our Intentional Interim Minister - Binkley Baptist … · Church’s plaintive...
MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER
Psalm 25:6-7 reads “Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord.”
“Have Mercy” is this year’s Lenten theme. Our services of worship will center around the Kyrie Eleison (Greek for Lord, Have Mercy); the Church’s plaintive plea---imploring the Lord to look upon all with kind-ness and favor. Now, I wasn’t raised in a church where Kyrie Eleison was
common speech but can guarantee you “Lord, have mercy” was voiced in exasperation by many members of my family. It was said out of disbelief after someone (who me?) had done something either foolish and/or beyond belief. It felt more like judgment than mercy! And, of course, the two go together, don’t they? My handy-dandy Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms defines mercy as: “’Kind and compassionate treatment extending bibli-cally to forgiveness and the gracious bestowal of that which is not deserved.”
To ask for mercy for others and ourselves from the Holy One is to acknowledge need: need of healing and health, need of forgiveness and grace, need of help and hope. So, whether it’s sung in a high-church liturgical setting (Kyrie Eleison) or cried in desperation in a critical care unit (Lord, have mercy), it voices our need for help. Do you need help this season? Can you offer help to someone else? There are judgments rendered for purposes of punish-ment and there are judgments made which lead to new life. Perhaps this Lent we can all remember that Jesus is our non-shaming guide who walks this wilderness path with us. Fre-derick Buechner says of Christ, “the One who judges us most finally will be the One who loves us most fully.”
Jerry Webber is a Methodist minister/writer/contemplative in Houston, and serves as the Director of The Center for Christian Spirituality. In two beautifully crafted volumes, Jerry has paraphrased the psalms in contemplative voice. Here is how he begins Psalm 51 (which he describes as a psalm for soul-healing):
Mercy me, dear God.
Mercy me in your unending love.
I cast myself on your mercy
And upon your willingness to pardon my indebtedness
to you, my fellow humans, and the planet.
I owe to each more than I could ever repay.
(Sometimes an Unknown Path: 40 Psalm-Prayers in Contemplative Voice)
Maybe “mercy” as both noun and verb (mercy me in your unending love!) is yours to both receive and to give this Lent.
Your friend,
Marcus
From Our Intentional Interim Minister
BINKLEY BAPTIST CHURCH
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
8:45 AM EARLY WORSHIP (1ST & 3RD SUNDAYS)
9:30 AM CHURCH SCHOOL
11:00 AM WORSHIP
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
M-F 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
OUR CHURCH FAMILY 2
OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY
3-6
OFFICE NEWS GROUP MEETINGS
8
Committee Meetings
Diaconate 3/2, 7 pm, Lounge
Peace and Justice Action 3/9, 12 pm, Library
Outreach 3/9, 7 pm Library
Finance 3/12, 7 pm, Library
Adult Christian Formation 3/16, 6 pm, Lounge
Church Council 3/16, 7 pm Sunroom
Grounds 3/19, 9:30 am Library
Children’s Team 3/22, 6 pm, Library
PAGE 2
OUR CHURCH FAMILY
BIRTHDAYS 1 Martha Hamilton
2 Katherine Walker
3 Scott Snider
4 Lisa Costner
6 Vivian Parks
8 Vivian Avery, Caroline Russell, Molly Williams
9 Martha Hutt
10 Larry McManus
11 Marcus McFaul
12 Tim Costner, Judy Trent
14 Kristen Smith
15 Hartford Zirkle
16 Sophia Nissler, Alex Swanson-Boyd, Ana Swanson-Boyd
17 Mary Alice Dorton 18 Edith Wiggins 19 Gretchen Aylsworth, Susan Res-
nik
20 Laurie Heffner, Carl Henley
21 Connie Gates, Isabelle Lee
22 Charlie Kinnaird, Justine Mar-tin, Jessica Moon
24 Ginger Clifford, Sarah Fulcher, Jeff Swanson, Joy Wood
25 Daniel Guy, Bonnie Kell, Eliza-beth Thompson
26 Mary Alice Bradshaw, Kay Pratt, Allison Walters
28 Criag Meisner
29 Anne Barnes, Lori Cahill, Leland Kimple
30 Wayne Robinson
31 Julia Hicks, Ron Simmons
ANNIVERSARIES
2 Tom Fewel & Joy Wood
7 Lisa & Tim Costner
9 Ashley & Ralph Nissler
18 Jo & Tony Lea
22 Curt McLaughlin & Barbara Net-tles-Carlson
24 Kathy Keyser & Pat McKenzie
30 Ann & John Overton
Church Family Rachel Avery Judy Sordean Claudia Cannady Mike Berkut Martha Henderson Jo Flair Allen Davidson Jayne Howard Swanson-Boyd family Ginny Lansing Shirley Hamrick Bob Phillips Terry Huneycutt Bill Bodkin Kara Richards-Baker Edith Wiggins Norma Willhoit Bill Bodkin Joe Pardington Rob Lewis Gloria Lightsey-Lewis
Health Center/Hospital Residents Marj Boltz Ernie Roberts Ann Overton Joan Ewing Rusty Wagoner Don Hamm Jennifer Mahoney
Extended Family Tan & Scott Coats (missionaries)
Andrew Henley (Carl Henley) David Houser (Lynn Houser)
Bill & Hilda Moffitt Aaron Perkinson, USAF (Nape Baker) David Baddour (Judy Scott)
Kathleen Brown (Stacy Shelp)
Jodi Wallace (Maribel Bruno)
Marie & Tommy Preston (Susan Resnik)
Luann Martin (Connie Gates)
Jim & Mary Alice Kearley (Christine Jernigan)
Steve & Lisa Emrich (Nan Pardington)
Susan Surratt (S. Bankhead & S. Cantrell)
Kristi Kiger & Susan Grose (Bankhead/
Cantrell)
Jean & John Bankhead (Bankhead/Cantrell)
The Mitchell Family (Aneisa Blair)
Karin Lee (daughter of Howard & Lillian Lee)
Sally Chapin (friend of Jo Lea)
Family of Khansing Chamroy (friend of Con-
nie Gates)
John Ehrenreich (son-in-law of Sarah Buren)
Abu Salha & family (former colleague of Mary
Ann Bradshaw)
Rose West (aunt of Susan Read)
Joanna Anderson (sister of Jody Hite)
Logan Joines, Army (grandson of Betty Raft)
Arline & Jim Tinkham (sister of Christine
Andersen)
*names will remain on extended family list for two months and then be removed
unless church office is contacted.
PRAYER CONCERNS & JOYS
MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER
THANK YOU Dear Binkley Family,
We are so grateful to you for your kind-ness with my father's passing. Your lovely cards, wonderful food, hugs, and gentle words have given us comfort and reminded us of how blessed we are to have you in our lives.
With love and thanks, Marilyn, Richard, Den, and Tristan
GOOD LUCK!
Good luck to Rachael Elliott, Jeff & Julius Rawson, who are moving to Ger-many on Thursday, February 26.
CHURCH IN CONFERENCE
Please plan to attend a Church-in-Conference immediately following wor-ship on Sunday, March 8 to consider and vote on a list of nominees for church leadership positions for the coming year. The Diaconate will submit the following nominations:
Church Moderator-elect - Nape Baker
Council Members At-Large - Linda Denton and Kimberly Brewer
Worship Committee Chair - Myra and Josiah Knight
Membership/Fellowship Cluster Chair - Sheryl Scrimsher
Long Range Planning Committee Chair - Charles Coble
Financial Secretary - David Green
In addition, please plan to attend a sec-ond Church-in-Conference immediately following worship on Sunday, March 15 to consider and vote on a list of addi-tional nominees for church leadership positions.
PAGE 3 MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER
Our Primetimers program for March is ‘NC Fracking: An Update’ presented by Daniel Textoris. He received his PhD in geology from the University of Illinois, and then moved to Chapel Hill in 1965, when he joined the UNC faculty. He and his wife, Linda, have been members of Binkley since 1966. We look forward to hearing about this important issue of possible drilling in the Sanford Basin. We will meet at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, March 11, in the Lounge for lunch ($8) followed by the program. A sign-up sheet is lo-cated on Dale Osborne's door, or contact the office at [email protected]. If you wish to come but don’t want to eat, sign up anyway so we can have a chair available for you. For more information please contact Barbara Harris at [email protected].
PRIMETIMERS: 3/11
MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP On Friday, April 10, Faith Connections on Mental Illness Conference is holding its 5th annual conference to help faith communities engage, encourage, and serve persons who suffer from mental illness and those who care for them. The day-long event is open to Clergy, lay leaders, individuals, and professionals. Wake AHEC is offering optional CEUs. For details, costs, and registration, contact www.wakeahec.org, 919-967-5403.
The Orange County Department on Aging
& Project EngAGE Proudly Present :
“AGING WELL TOGETHER: WHAT
THE FAITH COMMUNITY CAN DO”
The Symposium will bring together our county’s faith community, showcase our aging-related services, and
enable a dialogue around new possibilities.
Keynote Speaker
Gary Gunderson, M.Div., D. Div.
Featured Workshops
Dementia & Caregiver Support
Health Promotion & Falls Prevention
Access to Transportation
Aging in Place: What You Need to Know
Long-Term Care
Depression, Social Isolation & Suicide
Senior Hunger Issues
Date & Location
March 5, from 2:00—5:30 pm
Central Orange Senior Center, Hillsborough
Online Registration:
www.orangecountync.gov/aging/
(“Breaking News!” section)
For Information or Registration Assistance
Call: The Aging Helpline 919-968-2087
Email: Mary Fraser, [email protected]
FAITH & AGING SYMPOSIUM
SAVE THESE DATES FOR SUMMER
Vacation Bible School, June 22-26
Church-Wide Retreat, August 7-9
Baptist Youth Camp, June 28-July 3
ECUMENICAL LABYRINTH
Eight congregations in Chapel Hill and Durham are partner-ing again with Binkley this year to provide a labyrinth in our sanctuary during Holy Week, March 29-April 3.The laby-rinth offers space for walking meditation and prayer, a pil-grimage of the heart. Check the schedule posted around the church or on the website. For more information, please con-tact Stephanie Ford at [email protected]
MUSIC DURING LENT
In keeping with this year’s Lenten theme of “Have Mercy”, the Choral Introit each Sunday will be various settings of the Kyrie eleison or “Lord, have mercy”. The phrase is the origin of the 5th century Jesus Prayer which says “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” This short prayer is esteemed within the Eastern Orthodox church to this day. As the Kyrie is the first item in settings of the mass ordinary, thousands of composers over the centuries have set the ordinaries of the mass to include a Kyrie movement. The biblical roots of this prayer first ap-pear in 1 Chronicles 16:34...give thanks to the LORD; for God is good; for God’s mercy endures for ever.
Each Sunday as the Response to the Benediction, we will hear a setting of the Agnus Dei. Based upon John the Baptist's reference in John 1:29 to Jesus ("Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world"), the text in Latin is: Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis, which roughly translated means “Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.”
Because of the penitential character of the season of Lent, singing or saying the word "alleluia" has been suspended during Lent's forty days. This period of individual and congregational reflection on the quality of our faith and life suggests that the joyful nature of alleluia is more appropriately reserved for our Easter celebrations when it is given full and jubilant voice. The omission of alleluia during Lent goes back to the fifth century in the western church. We will observe this tradition by refraining from singing the version of the Doxology with alleluias, as well as hymns with alleluias during Lent. We will welcome back the joyful sound of alleluia on Easter morning. The postludes during Lent, many of which will be drawn from the French Classic School (1600-1800) of organ composition, will generally be of a quieter and more contemplative nature.
MUSIC NOTES
PAGE 4 MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER
CHILDREN’S CHOIR WORKSHOP WEEKEND HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED
After much thought, prayer, conversation…and in an effort to provide the children and their families with the rich-est, and SAFEST, experience possible we have decided to reschedule the Children’s Choir Workshop Week-end. With the potential danger of ice and snow melting and re-freezing on the roadways, not to mention around the building and parking areas here at Binkley, we felt the safety of our Binkley family and guests must be priority #1.
The new date will be announced soon.
Thank you for your continued support of this great outreach opportunity.
PAGE 5 MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER
DISCIPLESHIP CLASS BEGINS
MARCH 10
Join us on a journey of learning about Binkley’s out-reach connections to our local, state, and global com-munities. Each week, we’ll sit down to a simple soup supper, 5:30-6:00 pm, followed by a presentation by one of our outreach partners, 6:00-7:00 pm, such as the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC), Josh’s Hope, and the NC Council of Churches. You’ll be inspired by the speakers, and you may discover new ways to get involved. Families with children are wel-come. Take advantage of this opportunity for your child to explore Children’s Choir (ages 4 through 5th
grade). ~ The Adult Formation Team & The Outreach Committee
LENTEN SUPPER SERIES:
FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF JUSTICE
MARCH 4, 11, 18 AND 25
A lively and intelligent group of 7-8th grade Binkley youth have received invitations to join this year's Discipleship Class. The class is de-signed to allow young people to deepen their faith in Jesus and increase their understanding of the work of the Church. We will come together for 5 classes beginning on Tuesday evening March 10. If you know of a young person who fits this age category, please encourage them to join us. - Dale Osborne
BINKLEY WOMEN’S RETREAT 2015:
BLESSING OUR BODIES
Join Binkley women, re-kindling long relation-ships and making new friends, at Avila Retreat Center in Durham, April 10-12 (Friday evening through Sunday morn-ing). The theme consid-ers the gift of our physi-cal being, remembering
body stories, and acknowledging the body apart from cultural myths. Rebecca Rogers, a spiritual teacher of yoga who incorporates a Christian per-spective, will guide our Saturday morning session. Come and be nourished, body and soul. Registra-tion forms available, March 6.
~Stephanie Ford
SPRING MEANS LEADERSHIP
CHANGES AT BINKLEY
The Binkley Diaconate is still in the season of recruitment for church leadership positions, and we are determined to help each individual congregation member find a role so you can, to quote Marcus’ January 18 sermon, “Do what pleases you. Belong to God, but do what pleases you most.” Please give prayerful thought to how you would like to be involved in the life of the church. There are so many places to serve, and with many of us the burden becomes light. You will forge new friendships and deepen old ones.
Current vacancies on Church Council: Music Committee Chair and Outreach Committee Chair. See the white board in the narthex for many other opportunities to be involved.
New deacons will be elected in the next six weeks as well. Please consider this calling. Deacons are elected for a term of three years and then rotate off to a period of ineligibility for three years. So, we need new deacons who are willing to serve by assisting the staff in providing pastoral care to church members, among other duties (See your church constitution.) Requirements for election to the diaconate are as follows:
Be a resident adult member (18 and above) for at least one year;
Not a current (2015-16) member of the Church Council;
Only one member per family may serve as a deacon.
We will be compiling a ballot in the next couple of weeks. Prayerfully consider leaving your name on the list. The pay is low, but the benefits are out of this world.
Claudia Templeton, Chair of Diaconate
PAGE 6 MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER
Family Health Ministries, the non-profit organization out of Durham that supports Haitian communities in their efforts to build and sustain healthy families, is holding their annual fundraiser on Saturday evening, April 18, from 6 to 9 PM. The gala will be held at the Levin Jewish Community Cen-ter on Cornwallis Road in Durham.
The evening of celebration will include a delicious buffet dinner, music by E.G. Peters Band and a special guest speaker and notable Haitian community leader. There will be an electronic silent auction. Funds raised will go to-ward building a new surgical center for women's healthcare in rural Haiti.
Tickets are $40 for students, $80 for individuals and $150 for couples. For ticket information, contact FHM at 919-382-5500 or [email protected].
FAMILY HEALTH MINISTRIES
NAMI FAMILY-TO-FAMILY
A series of 12 weekly classes structured to help family members understand and support their family member suffering with a mental illness will be offered this spring. There is no cost to participate in this NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program. January 11-March 29, 2015 2-4:30 pm Chapel Hill Public Library, 100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill, NC Contact Nancy Brickman at (919) 542-1377 or [email protected].
World Day of Prayer annual celebration spon-sored by Church Women United, March 6, 10:00 am, at Church of the Holy Family (on bypass near Glen Lennox). Join the world-wide movement of women in prayer for each other.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER THE PROPHETIC TASK OF THE CHURCH
One of the world's foremost interpreters of the Hebrew Bible, Dr. Walter Brueggeman will bring the third annual W.W. Finlator Lectures, March 20-22, at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh. He'll give the keynote ad-dress following dinner on Friday, March 20. The conversation continues on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Tickets for the Friday dinner and keynote are available for $30. Call the church office 919-828-0897 or check www.pullen.org/finlator to RSVP. All other events are free and open to the public.
Daylight Savings Time
Begins March 8
"TROUBLED MINDS" DISCUSSIONS PROVE HELPFUL
For three consecutive Wednesday nights Binkley members and friends gathered in our church lounge to pray, share and discuss our ideas around mental illness and the role of the church as a friend and hospitable advocate to individuals and families dealing with mental illness. Amy Simpson's book, "Troubled Minds" was our jumping off point for these discussions. Her non-fiction work looks at both experiences with her mom who dealt with Schizophrenia and Amy's research on how churches respond to mental illness. Our series of discussions can serve as a catalyst for increased awareness and advocacy of mental illness issues at Binkley. Everyone is welcome at our church but it is imperative that we open our hearts and minds to the ways we encourage hospitality and support for friends and visitors who deal with mental illness on a daily basis. On April 10, Amy Simpson will be part of a daylong seminar at St. Thomas More in Chapel Hill. The conference is sponsored by Faith Connections, a faith based advocacy organization which Binkley supports and helped to found through the efforts of Barbara and Gove Elder. Go to http://www.faithconnectionsonmentalillness.org/ to register for the conference.
MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER PAGE 7
FASTING AND FEASTING
Let us fast from being mean to others...and feast on the Christ living within us.
Let us fast from always being right...and feast on seeing each other’s point of view.
Let us fast from a gloomy outlook on life...and feast on what is bright and cheerful.
Let us fast from always pointing out differences...and feast on what unites all of us.
Let us fast from thought of illness...and feast on the healing power of God.
Let us fast from words that pollute...and feast on thoughts that purify.
Let us fast from boredom...and feast on being creative.
Let us fast from anger...and feast on patience.
Let us fast from pessimism...and feast on optimism.
Let us fast from worry...and feast on God’s love.
Let us fast from complaining...and feast on appreciation.
Let us fast from negatives...and feast on positives.
Let us fast from overdoing...and feast on time for prayer.
Let us fast from hostility...and feast on reaching out to others.
Let us fast from self-concern...and feast on caring for others.
Let us fast from discouragement...and feast on encouraging ourselves and others.
Let us fast from self-pity...and feast on the goodness in ourselves and others.
Let us fast from depression...and feast on thankfulness for our blessings.
Let us fast from laziness...and feast on diligence and determination.
Let us fast from suspicion...and feast on trust.
Let us fast from weakness...and feast on promises that inspire.
Let is fast from idle gossip...and feast on the love and truth in all people.
Let us fast from labeling others...and feast on acceptance.
Let us fast from jealousy...and feast on security and confidence in ourselves.
This Lent I especially need to fast from …
And I need to feast on ...
BINKLEY BAPTIST CHURCH
1712 Willow Dr Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919-942-4964 [email protected]
We’re on the Web ! Bi nk leychu rch .o rg
CHURCH STAFF Intentional Interim Minister
Marcus McFaul [email protected]
Associate Minister Dale Osborne
Minister of Christian Formation Stephanie Ford
Minister of Music Daniel Cherrix
Business Manager Duane Gilbert
Office Manager Lori King
The Beacon is published monthly and is posted on our website: binkleychurch.org, and it is emailed through constant contact. To join our email list please send a request to:
Include your name & email.
Submit articles for the news-letter, Friday Update, or the Sunday announcement page to: [email protected].
Newsletter: The 20th of the month
Bulletin and Friday Update: Wednesday 12 noon
ARTICLE SUBMISSION & DEADLINES
Gen Fund Pastor Discretionary Fund
Actual $105,811 Balance $6,803
Budget $50,417 Received $280
Difference $55,394 Disbursed -$1,685
Ending $5,398
FINANCIAL NEWS
PREACHING SCHEDULE
Carolina Meadows Worship
3/19, 2 pm, Dale Osborne
WEEKLY GROUPS
Sermon Shaping Tuesday 1 pm
Library
Morning Prayer Wednesday 9 am
Chapel
Youth Group Sunday 6 pm
MUSIC GROUPS
Chancel Choir Wednesday 7:30 pm
Children’s Choir Wednesday 6 pm
Handbells Thursday 5:30 pm
Youth Choir Sunday 5 pm
Old Time Gospel Band
2nd & 4th Sundays 9 am
MONTHLY GROUPS
Binkley Readers Friday, 3/13, 7:30 pm
Church Library “Being Mortal”
by Atul Gawande
Daytime Book Group Tuesday, 3/24, 10:30 am
Church Library “Defending Jacob” by William Landay
led by Beryl Holmes
Primetimers Wednesday 3/11 12:30 pm Lounge
MARCH GROUP MEETINGS (FULL CALENDAR AVAILABLE AT BINKLEYCHURCH .ORG)
3/1 Stephanie Ford
3/8 Dale Osborne
3/15 Marcus McFaul
3/22 Marcus McFaul
3/29 Marcus McFaul