The Beacon
Newsletter
November 10, 2023 Volume 65, No 46
This SUNDAY: november 12, 2023
Theme: When God Nearly Loses It!
In an unusual scriptural glimpse, we listen in on God’s self-talk as God nearly loses it with their child! But then God remembers and catches godself. Are there times when we nearly lose it (or have lost it) with a child or other family member, friend, or even a stranger? Relationships are messy and complicated, and this scripture shows us that God is not exempt. We will examine what God does in this story, and how that might give direction to us in our daily living as peacemakers. We also will dream: What would happen if this scripture informs every relationship, including world relationships? What would happen if different sides and countries stop losing it with each other? How might the world be different? We will ponder the situation in Israel and Gaza, and what we might do and how we might pray. This scripture doesn’t provide neat and tidy solutions. But it allows us to see the naked honesty of God who never stops loving us. And it invites us to examine our own way of being in the world as people filled with love, imagining what our prayers, attitudes, hopes, and actions might do.
To prepare, please read Hosea 11:1-11.
Pastor Paula Ulrich
Sunday, November 12
9:30 a.m. Meet & Eat
10:30 a.m. Worship
Monday, November 13
9:00-12:00 p.m. Office Open
7:00 p.m. Witness commission
Tuesday, November 14
6:30 p.m. Nurture Commission
Office Closed
Wednesday, November 15
9:00-2:00 Office Open
9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Food Bank
11:30 a.m. Worship Preview meeting
7:00 p.m. Stewards Commission
Thursday, November 16
6:30 p.m. Choir
Office Closed
Friday, November 17
9:00-2:00 p.m. Office Open
Saturday, November 18
Remember to check the Breeze calendar for upcoming events and activities!
Worship on 11/5/2023:
In-person attendance 50
Offering 10/29 $3,528.00
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Food Bank on 11/8/2023:
30 Families served
88 Individuals in families
MEET AND EAT
This Sunday, come to Meet and Eat to hear a presentation about a recent Brethren Disaster Ministries trip to Kentucky. The Trouts, Mike Crill, Mark Beck, Steve Keim, and the Longs as well as other friends will be presenting.
Weekly food bank update
Thank you for all your donations! The food bank is happy to report your food donations have helped the shoppers purchase smaller amounts of food. They have not had to carry such large orders down to the food bank. Currently, the most needed items are broth, pasta sauce, and pancake mix. Monetary donations are also appreciated.
Shoppers are needed for January and February of next year if you would like to sign-up! The sign-up sheet is located on the office countertop.
an important Message from on Earth peace
“Learn to do right; seek justice; defend the oppressed” (Isa 1:17).
On Earth Peace calls on all our constituents, on followers of Jesus specifically, and on members of the Church of the Brethren to stop the genocide of Palestinians now. All who believe in the force of agape love are called to focus and channel it now to stop this terrible tragedy.
There are no words to express how difficult, heavy, and unbearable these last weeks have been for Palestinians, and for all of us watching this nightmare on TV, and social media, and through the heartbreaking testimonies of our Palestinian friends and colleagues. We give the loss of all civilian life, both in Israel and in Palestine. No more deaths! No more violence!
Non-stop for almost three weeks now, Israel has been bombing homes, whole neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches in Gaza, while cutting off electricity, fuel, water, medicine, and food supplies to the 2.3 million Palestinians there.At least 9,000 Palestinians have been murdered, including more than 3,600 children and more than 21,000 Palestinians wounded. More than 40% of all housing units have been damaged or destroyed.
Prominent international scholars and genocide experts as well as US and Palestinian human rights organizations are sounding the alarm and calling on the world to intervene and stop the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. We must heed the call to action from Palestiians, including Palestinian Christians.
“If I die, remember that I, we, were individuals, humans, we had names, dreams and achievements and our only fault was that we were classified as inferior.” Belal Aldabbour
“In Gaza, every one of us dies a little death every night and we are born again every morning.” - Rasha Abushaban
What OEP is Calling For
We call our constituents to support Palestinians and all people of good will to act now to end the genocide and apartheid that has been inflicted on Palestinians for the past 75 years.
We support the demand for a ceasefire that can save lives immediately.
We urge that humanitarian aid flow freely through Palestine, meeting urgent needs for medical care, food, and water.
We call for Israel to lift the long-term siege of Gaza, allowing Palestinians to move freely once again and ending the prison camp of Gaza that the Israeli government has created.
What can you do?
-- Support the calls for a ceasefire and demand that no more military funding goes to Israel!
-- Email and call your congressional representatives, urging them to support an immediate ceasefire! Below are links to organizations that will help you email or call your representatives!
Email campaign: https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/resource/email-congress-to-stop-fueling-violence/
Calling Campaign: https://act.uscpr.org/a/callforgaza?oa_action=GazaToolkit
Find Local Marches: https://uscpr.org/oct-2023-protests/
Email us at Palestine@OnEarthPeace.org to let us know what local nonviolent actions you are participating in--or that you hope to join or create. We would like to hear from you, share your story, and support if we can!
“Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.” Micah 6:8
With love and righteous indignation, On Earth Peace, https://www.onearthpeace.org/
Local Action: Plymouth UCC is staging demonstrations against Palestinian genocide on Tuesdays from 5 - 6 pm at the Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne. I'm sure that they would love for you to join them!
Also, if you would like to receive the original email from On Earth Peace with more information and links, please let Pastor Paula know.
Sunday november 12
Please join us in celebrating our refugee family (Meshack, Aimerance, Romain and Etonyemya).
It will be a time of fun, getting to know them, and a light lunch.
Come on Sunday, November 12, 11:30 – 1:30 at Beacon Heights Church, 2810 Beacon St., Fort Wayne, IN 46805. We’re planning to serve a light lunch. There will be time to meet with Meshack and the rest of the family as they share about their former lives, journey to the US, and hopes for the future. You will have time to ask questions and get to know them better. Others may be attending who immigrated before them from the DRC and Nyarugusu Refugee Camp and have also welcomed them.
Spirit Journey Women Resumes
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28
TUESDAY DECEMBER 19
Bring your own sack lunch to the parlor.
Lunch 12:30-1:00
Book discussion 1:00-2:00
Prayer concerns 2:00-2:15
On November 14 we will discuss THE GOSPEL OF TREES by ANA LEVY-LYONS.
Join us as you are able!
Kingian Nonviolence
We regularly feel the weight of the injustices, inequality, and suffering in our communities and around the world—all of the many ways in which we do not experience God’s kingdom “on earth as in heaven" (Matthew 6).
Together as local Church of the Brethren congregations we have discerned that training in the methods and principles of Kingian Nonviolence (with the help of On Earth Peace) will give us the tools and a renewed imagination for actively pursuing peace in the places of violence in our communities.
This training will just be the first step. The goal is to begin forging sustainable networks and initiatives that can address the needs of our world, helping us to participate faithfully in God’s ongoing work of restoration, justice, and peace—bringing all things together and made well in Christ (Ephesians 1:10).
We hope you will join us!
Sincerely,
Brethren Building Beloved Community
Help a family in need: christmas Bureau 2023
Beacon Heights is continuing its partnership with The Christmas Bureau by sponsoring 2 families this year. Family #1 includes Andrea (34), Adalina (7) and a Baby Girl on the way.
Family #2 includes Serena (27), Luis (10) & Kashus (2).
Please consider helping by signing up on the poster board outside of the sanctuary. There is a wide selection of needs, including clothing, household basics and pantry items for the home and a Christmas Day meal.
If you are unable to shop or prefer to make a monetary donation, please put donations in the offering plate by November 26 and designate “Christmas Bureau Family” and items will be purchased.
Please bring all items unwrapped to the church by Sunday, November 26.
We will gather to wrap gifts the week of 11/27. Information on the date and time will be sent out soon. If you would like to participate, please contact Lisa and we will decide on a date that works for most.
Thank you in advance for your willingness to help families in need this Holiday Season!
NEXT SUNDAY: November 19, 2023
Theme: The Unbearable Heaviness of Being
Lightening our loads so we can pivot to follow God’s call. This isn’t just our physical *stuff* of baggage and knick-knacks. What emotional and spiritual baggage is weighing us down?
To prepare, please read Genesis 13:8-18, Matthew 23:1-12.
Pastor Anna Lisa Gross
Published by Beacon Heights
Church of the Brethren
Editor: Alexis Shoda
Phone: (260) 482-8595
Email: office@beaconheights.net