The Beacon
Newsletter
March 1, 2024 Volume 66, No 09
This SUNDAY: third Sunday of Lent: Praise the mount
Have you listened to the NPR segment “This I Believe”? These are short essays from a wonderful variety of people and perspectives about the rock on which they build their lives. I'm not sure I've ever heard a “religious” testimony in this segment, but share values with the essayists nonetheless.
In this passage Jesus asks “Who do you say that I am?” And we'll explore Peter's answer (Son of Man, Chosen One, Messiah, Son of God). These answers are stones in the foundation of Peter's faith, a faith that changes with time - just like each of ours. What rocks are you building your life on today?
To prepare, please read: Matthew 16: 13-20 and Psalm 19.
Pastor Anna Lisa Gross
Sunday, March 3
9:30 a.m. Meet & Eat
10:30 a.m. Worship
Monday, March 4
Office Open 8:00 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday, March 5
6:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
7:00 p.m. Education Commission
Office Closed
Wednesday, March 6
9:30-11:30 a.m. Food Bank
Pastor Anna Lisa On-site
8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Office Open
Thursday, March 7
4:00 p.m. Worship Preview meeting
Office Closed
Friday, March 8
Pastor Paula’s Day Off
9:00-2:00 p.m. Office Open
Saturday, March 9
Sunday, March 10
9:30 a.m. Meet & Eat
10:30 a.m. Worship
Remember to check the Breeze calendar for upcoming events and activities!
Worship on 2/25/2024:
In-person attendance 57
Offering 2/18 $4,848
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Food Bank on 2/28/2024:
Individuals served: 60
Families served: 21
Easter Flowers: Deadline for Ordering -- Sunday, March 10
Help to decorate the worship center for Easter! You may order flowers in memory or honor of someone, or simply to share with the church on Easter Sunday. Prices are as follows:
Lilies
Single plant 6" pot. $15.00
Double plant. $25.00
Triple plant. $45.00
Bulb plants
Hyacinth, tulip, or daffodil. $14.00
A sign-up list will be on the counter outside of the office. An envelope will be provided to leave a check, payable to the church, or cash with your order. After worship on Easter Sunday, you may pick up your flower; or leave it at the church for Leland Harding to plant in the flower beds around the church building.
ReFRESH Update
As winter seems to be lessening its grasp, we are excited to formally begin Phase 2 of the ReFRESH effort at Beacon Heights! Beginning this Sunday and throughout the month of March we are inviting you to prayerfully ponder what you are able to commit financially to this effort. Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 to match the seed money the Board allocated to the project during their January meeting.
Members of the ReFRESH committee will have a special table set up Sunday, March, 3 after worship for your to pick up your pledge card. If you are not in attendance at worship that morning, your letter will be placed in USPS mail on Monday. Please return your pledge no later than April 1. We are asking that financial pledges be fulfilled by June 1 so that the work of the projects can begin. Projects will not be started until sufficient funds are on hand to complete them. Of course, if you wish to make a donation at this time instead of a pledge, we are prepared to receive your gift.
Phase 2 will occur throughout 2024, focusing on the main floor of the building likely by using space somewhat differently to increase opportunities for people to sit together for conversations, reading, or just waiting. We also hope to update the restrooms by reducing the heavy use of orange color and ensuring greater convenience for all users. However, the most anticipated change is the replacement of the carpet throughout the hallway area and in the offices. Later this year, you will be invited to pledge financial support for Phase 3 of ReFRESH which is intended to replace the carpet in the sanctuary during 2025.
We remain grateful for your encouragement, your questions, and your ideas as our building takes on new life. Be sure to visit our table on Sunday!
The ReFRESH Committee
Easter Candy Needed!
The education commission needs candy to fill Easter Eggs. Please bring in any donations by March 24th.
Thank you!
"Fight Like Jesus" during
Meet and Eat!!!
For four Sundays in March during Meet and Eat, we will be discussing Jason Porterfield's book, Fight Light Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace throughout Holy Week (Herald Press, 2022). Porterfield structures the book based on the events of each day of Holy Week. If you are reading along, please keep the following schedule in mind. If you aren't reading along, that's fine. Dan Ulrich will summarize the important points.
March 3
Chapter 1: "The Key to Holy Week"
Chapter 2: "Palm Sunday: Of Hammers and Lambs"
March 10
Chapter 3: "Monday: The Whip of Christ"
Chapter 4: "Tuesday: Traps, Truth-Telling, and Traitors"
March 17
Chapter 5: "Wednesday: Two Roads Diverged, and I Took"
Chapter 6: "Thursday: A Community Conceived"
March 23
Chapter 7: "Friday: Who Holds the Hammer?"
Chapter 8: "Saturday and Sunday: Peace Be with You"
WHAT’S THIS? A potluck for Meet and Eat? Starting this month, the last Sunday of each month will be a potluck. That means anyone is invited to share something for breakfast. You don’t have to cook but you can. You can bring a box of donuts, cereal, yogurt, whatever you wish. It will be a great experiment to see what happens on potluck Sundays! Remember the LAST Sunday of each month!
Lawnmower Needed!
If you have a used lawnmower to donate or sell to Meshack and Aimerance (the African refugee family we sponsor), please inform Kyla Zehr, Ev or Carla Kilgore, or Leslie Sperry
Ladies’ Birthday Luncheon
The Ladies’ Birthday Luncheon will be on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Blueberry Pancake House at 12:30 p.m. All ladies are invited to join the group for lunch at the Blueberry Pancake House, Georgetown Square, 6736 East State Blvd, just east of the library in the strip mall. We will celebrate those with March birthdays. Please RSVP to Sharon Heitz or Mary Whitehead by Tuesday, March 12, if you plan to attend. We hope to see many of you there.
Family Meeting for Parents, Children, and our Christian Educators: Sunday, March 17, 11:45-12:10 in the Parlor
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend this important meeting. We'll review upcoming summer activities for our children, talk about summer camp at Camp Mack and scholarships, and also review safe activities, safe spaces, and the ways we want to interact with one another when we're in the church building together. Have questions? Please speak with Pastor Paula or Pastor Anna Lisa.
Weekly Food Bank Update
Thank you for all your donations! Currently, the most needed items are pancake mix and syrup. Monetary donations are also appreciated.
Shoppers are needed for March 2024, if you would like to sign-up! The sign-up sheet is located on the office countertop.
The Gift of Candle-light!
The worship team is grateful for the gift of Luminara candles by George Johnson-Coffey for our worship centers. These candles are battery-operated, and the batteries last for a long time. The candles, of various sizes, are coated in real wax with a visible flickering flame. We know that they will enhance many a worship service. Thank you, George!
Radio Interviews
Recently, Leslie Sperry did a series of 10 interviews with the CEO of Welcome Corps. Four of the interviews have aired on our local NPR station to date and there are plans for more interviews with Meshack from our refugee family. Here is a link to the interview if you are interested in listening: https://www.delmarvapublicmedia.org/local-news/2024-02-01/thousands-of-americans-sign-up-as-sponsors-for-refugees
Paintings for Sale
The paintings currently hanging next to and across from Pastor Anna Lisa's office will be switched out soon to ones with a spring theme. Linda Myers, the artist, is making the current winter themed ones available for purchase, and will donate half of the proceeds to the church's ReFresh fund. The price of each painting in the 16x20 black frames is $80 a piece, and the two smaller ones of the bird and hill top trees are $50. The poinsettia one in the front walkway is also $50, and the large one of snowy winter birches with a stream is $400 and includes a custom frame and mat. Frames and mats are not included with any of the other art pieces, as they will continue to be used for new artwork. Please contact Linda Myers if you are interested in purchasing any of these art pieces at 260-414-2551 or email, lindadaintymyers@gmail.com.
Your Chance to Support the Refugee Family!
Aimerance needs rides to and from her English class on Tuesdays and Fridays. It runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Class is at 1005 West Rudisill (Door A), on the former campus of Fort Wayne Bible College/Taylor University. You can drive her whenever it works for you. Please contact Kyla Zehr as soon as possible if you are available on any Tuesday or Friday. (Aimerance is very friendly and communicates well with smiles for now. She lives very near the church at 2606 Lynn Avenue). Thank you!
Save the Date!
Nurture has reserved 30 tickets for the TinCaps game on Saturday, June 29. This game also includes fireworks! Put this on your calendar if you have interest and you may let Ruth Ann Bever know if you want your name on the list. The tickets will be $14.00 apiece. Children’s tickets are half price, compliments of Education.
Next SUNDAY: March 10, 2024
Theme: Fourth Sunday of Lent: I’m fixed upon it!
Peter is fixed upon what he believes about the Messiah. He expects Jesus to take up the sword, defeating the Romans. Finally, Israel will be free of occupation and suffering! But then Jesus says that he will suffer and die. When Peter passionately objects, Jesus’ response seems sharp: “Get yourself behind me, you Satan!” This comes immediately after he has commended Peter, naming him as “The Rock.” While staying true to faith in Jesus, Peter is invited to reimagine what “Messiah” means – as we are, too. And what if Jesus is not only speaking to Peter when he retorts, “Get behind me, “ but also to the temptations that rise within himself? Peter’s wandering heart and Jesus’ humanity give us much to ponder – in light of our own faith and humanity, too.
To prepare, please read: Matthew 16:21-23.
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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