This SUNDAY: A Viney-y, branch-y, jumbled mess

When Jesus drops this “I am” statement – that he is the vine and we are the branches – he’s on the eve of his crucifixion. Frightening, terrifying things are about to happen to everyone. Is he worried that his followers will feel abandoned, alone, and lost? When he is cut down, will they be cut off? Between the last supper and Jesus’ arrest, he does everything in his power to assure his followers that they will still be connected – and that even he depends on their mutual relationship. The public, tattooed, edgy theologian and pastor, Nadia Bolz Weber, says, ““The Christian life is a vine-y, branch-y, jumbled mess of us and Jesus and others.”

To prepare, please read: John 15:1-9

Pastor Paula Ulrich

From Diana: Good day from Poplar Village Gardens!  

We had a wonderful turnout on our 4-21 work day with David Radcliff and some members of the Beacon Heights Community joining us for fellowship with our neighbors and work toward a common goal.  We cleaned up the site and prepared all beds for planting as well as reinstalling the trellises and seeding some beds with a cover crop.

Many of you have helped with cardboard, cat litter jugs and misc discards that are useful in the garden.  Perhaps you are not a gardener or do not want to do heavy gardening tasks but you still want to show support.  We are in dire need of someone (or some persons) to assist with the coordinating of volunteer help. It would also be very helpful if a person or people were able to look out for grant opportunities and/or assist with the grant application process.

If these things are of interest please let Diana Hart know at:  poplarvillagegardens@gmail.com

What do “Worship Coordinators” Do?

You may have noticed that a “Worship Coordinator” is listed every week in our bulletin as someone participating in worship. Have you ever wondered what that person does? Often, the Worship Coordinator’s work is “behind the scenes.” Using the scripture and theme provided by the pastor or speaker, they then plan worship, sometimes completely on their own, and sometimes in tandem with the pastors. They find or create liturgy (the Call to Worship, for instance), select the hymns and music (often in conversation with Melody, our Music Director), and invite others to participate in the service as worship leaders, readers, and Children’s Time leaders.

The Worship Team meets periodically for conversation, scheduling, and planning, especially around special seasons and the way we want to use resources, such as A Sanctified Art. Some Worship Coordinators plan worship as often as once a month or so, and others only once a quarter. There’s a lot of latitude in the scheduling and timing.

Serving on the Worship Team is a big job and a very important one! But it’s also rewarding – both for the ones planning services and especially for the congregation. It’s one way that we include many voices in our worship together. We benefit from the creativity, insights, and experiences that each Worship Coordinator shares. Currently, our Worship Coordinators are Jan Long, Janice Shull, Leslie Sperry, Lisa Liechty-Steele, and Kyla Zehr. Make sure to share your appreciation with each of these women for the work they do week in and week out to make our worship rich, inspiring, and life-giving! And remember, that worship coordination doesn’t need to be limited to the women of our congregation! Others are invited to join us, too!

Does being a Worship Coordinator sound like something you would like to do or try, even on a trial basis? If so, please speak to one of the pastors to learn more. Our next Worship Team meeting is Sunday, June 2, following worship. We will gather for a simple potluck lunch, and then engage in conversation and planning. If you feel called to explore this ministry at Beacon Heights, we’d love to have you join us! 

Next SUNDAY: may 5, 2024

Theme:  The Ever-Growing Net of Love

Sometimes the Holy Spirit surprises us, upending our long held convictions about what and who is acceptable to God. Peter’s experience illustrates how often we still hold on to rigid boundaries, narrow understandings, and a limited language of love and praise. But will we hear something new if we listen more closely to other languages – to the rivers clapping, the seas thundering, and the hills ringing? In what ways might God be saying something new to our congregation through this story in Acts? Do we think we’ve already arrived, or will we be surprised? Will we resist it, or will we welcome it? How will we discern the way forward together?  Simon Peter thought he’d come a long way, and he had. And yet, he and other Christians are surprised by the ever growing net of love that Christ Jesus keeps tossing.

Special music will be shared by Kelsi Lee and Cote Godoy during the service this Sunday.

To prepare, please read: Acts 10:27-36, 44-48.

Pastor Paula Ulrich

Published by Beacon Heights
Church of the Brethren

Editor: Alexis Shoda
Phone: (260) 482-8595
Email: office@beaconheights.net

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