Binkley Newsletter. October 24, What Good is a Bear? Thoughts on Earth and Stewardship

Transcription

1 Binkley Newsletter October 24, 2007 FROM THE PASTOR What Good is a Bear? Thoughts on Earth and Stewardship In October of last year, the French government implemented a program to reintroduce black bears into their natural habitat. The bear was once plentiful, but only 15 or so now live in one area. The local ranchers were outraged by this initiative, arguing that bears would kill some of their livestock, thereby causing them economic losses. Bruce Sanguin, a pastor, writer, and environmentalist, wrote that one of the ranchers summed up the sentiment, not only of the surrounding ranchers, but of modern humanity: What good is a bear? he demanded to know. Indeed, what good is any animal that doesn t directly serve our needs? What good is a tree frog, barred owl, or a remote Antarctic wilderness, home only to penguins and seals? Our faith teaches that intrinsic value is assigned by God, the Creative Word which brought all things into being through a beautiful, evolutionary process, one Annie Dillard rightly describes as the extravagant gesture, a flaring forth of life. With the predictions and outcomes of global warming growing more dire by the month, I am increasingly aware that my Christian vocation calls me to take a much more active role in protecting this imperiled profusion of life and our dwindling wild spaces from the dramatic consequences of humanity s continued emphasis on an economic bottom line. Creation Season here at Binkley coincides with Stewardship Season, and I don t believe they are disconnected. The Earth Ministries Committee invites anyone interested in further discussion and action on environmental issues to attend a re-visioning meeting on November 13 th. Ideas and s have been flowing about ways that Binkley folks can get involved in advocacy, energy audits, and a host of other possibilities. At the same time, the Stewardship Committee has been hard at work preparing budget information, letters, and pledge cards to all Binkley members and friends as we get ready for the Walk of Faith this Sunday, October 28 th, the beginning date for receiving 2008 pledges. Just as environmental stewardship challenges us to consider the intrinsic goodness inherent in all species and places, Binkley s stewardship season prods us to reflect on what we value in our church home. Instead of asking What good is a bear?, we might do well to ponder different questions: What good is this congregation, this unique, amazing, exasperating community of faith? What value does it have in our own lives and those of our children, and what is its worth in the wider community and world? As Jesus taught us, Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matt. 6:21). What do we treasure about Binkley church? How much are we willing to give to keep it healthy and flourishing? And during this Creation Season, I am also reflecting on what I must do if I really do believe that my treasure, and my heart, lie in this big, beautiful, buzzing world that I call home along with thousands of other species. For my part, I ll be looking for ways to bank on bears! -Denise

2 Halloween Party Children preschool through 5 th grade are invited to a Halloween Party! Come in costume this Saturday, October 27 th to the Sun Room for games, fun and refreshments. The party is from 2: :30-4:00 pm. Thanks to Caryl Fulcher and Myra Knight for coordinating this! Joint Service at Barbee s Chapel, Sunday, November 11th We will join the congregation of Barbee s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church for 11AM worship at their church on Barbee s Chapel Road in the first of our two shared services as part of our Racial Reconciliation Ministry. (The second service willl be hosted by Binkley in the spring.) Binkley members are encouraged to carpool to Barbee s Chapel since parking is limited. Denise Cumbeee Long will be preaching at Barbee s Chapel, and our choir will be coordinating with Barbee s choir for special music. Dale Osborne will also offer an 11AM service at Binkley. Service of Prayerr and Healing, November 11th A Service of Prayer and Healing will be offered by the Health Ministry Committee on Sunday, November 11th at 7:30 PM. This is a special time of praying and reflecting as we seek healing of body and soul related to difficult experiences we or those we love have faced in the past few months. This includes life changes, healthh problems, grief, loss of a pet, and anticipated challenges and changes. Come participate as you like. You can choose to be an observer only or are invited to various stations of your choice which will offer optional healing rituals many find meaningful, ncluding healing touch, anointing one s forehead or hand with oil, or lighting a candle for yourself or a loved one. Invitationn to Join Earth Ministry Committeee for Planning, November 13th The Earth Ministries Committee is entering a time of revisioning and planning for our efforts to promote earth care. You are invited by Co-Chairs Allison Corum and Lynn Calder to a revisioning meeting scheduledd for Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sun Room. Come help us renew our commitment to earth care as we celebrate Creation season! For more information, contact Allison Corum, , ascorum@bellsouth.net, or Lynn Calder, (lcalder@allen-pinnix.com) Dedication of the New Building, November 18th It s been a long process, and now we want to celebrate! Our 11 a.m. worship service on November 18 th will offer prayers and reflection about the importance of having a sensee of place, as welll as sacred space. Special recognition will be given to those who have worked hard to bring our beautiful building addition to fruition. Enjoy an Open House after the service, touring the various rooms in our new space. And then, stick around and shop for creative Christmass gift ideas at Binkley s annual Alternative Gifts Fair! The Alternativee Gifts Fair on November 18 The Board of Outreach cordially invites you to our annual Alternative Gifts Fair (AGF) on Sunday November 18 following worship. Join us in the Fellowship Hall to shop for Christmas gifts that give twice. Incredible non-profit their worthy work. You can shop and learn at the same time. organizations will be at the Fair with tables of information and gifts that support ORGANIZATIONS ALERT! If you know of or represent an organization that should participate in the AGF, please contactt Dale at the church. He will need name of organization, contact person, phone number, address and number of tables needed at the Fair. You can the information as well to

3 An Update from the Transition Committee The Transition Committee was charged by the Church Council to evaluate staffing needs for Binkley and consider and evaluate various organizational structures for Binkley's Ministerial Staff. We have met on several occasions with current ministerial staff members to hear their input, researched the advantages and disadvantages of various ministerial staffing models, presented information on leadership models to the congregation, invited input from the church in the form of a congregational survey and received and integrated reports from the PRC and Staff Salary and Benefits Committees. From this process, we have formulated a recommendation for future staffing at Binkley that represents our best estimate of how to move forward given Binkley's needs, expectations and resources. We have presented our recommendation to the current staff and received their endorsement. We hope to bring our recommendation to the church in December after the Diaconate and Church Council have had adequate time to reflect on our report and provide their input to the Transition Committee. --Wayne Price, Chair, Transition Committee From the Church Council. Diaconate, Church Council Receive Transition Report On Sunday October 7, 2007, members of the Church Council and Diaconate met jointly with members of the Transition Committee to receive a report of their work to evaluate staffing needs for Binkley and the committee's resulting recommendations. The meeting was an exciting time to reflect on the thorough and thoughtful work of the committee as well as begin to address the recommendations offered. The session was a listening and discernment time. In November, the Diaconate and Church Council will examine the recommendations of the Transition Committee as well as a proposed job description for new ministry leadership. The plan is for a proposal regarding staff leadership structure to come before the church in a time of discussion and conference on December 9, We are living in an exciting time in Binkley's history! --Jim Wise, Moderator, Church Council; Wanda Burton-Crutchfield, Chair, Diaconate Bonus Approved for Associate Minister At the September meeting of the Church Council a one time, $6,000 interim bonus for Associate Minister Dale Osborne was approved. This action was taken following the recommendation of the Finance Committee. The finance committee looked at what additional duties and responsibilities all church staff may have taken on due to Jim Pike s retirement and our interim period. Dale s bonus is in recognition of the many responsibilities he has taken on and the continued additional hours and efforts he will put in through our interim period. Thanks Dale, for all the dedication and hard work! -Jim Wise, Moderator

4 From the Deacons Process to Fill Diaconate Seats Upon Deacon Resignation Recently, I heard this question: When a deacon resigns early, what process is followed to select a new deacon? During my tenure on the diaconate, particularly as its chair, we have gone to the results of the most recent deacon election, determined the highest vote getter who was not elected and invited this church member to join us in caring for the spiritual welfare of the church. Though it is regrettable when any deacon resigns due to life circumstances, some wonderful deacons have joined the diaconate through this method. Currently, Judy Trent, Jo Ann Flair, and Meg Graham serve as deacons following the resignation of others in our circle. I appreciate the question and hope this answer is helpful. Pulpit Search Committee Soon to be Formed With the transition committee offering the results and proposals related to their work regarding our future church staff leadership and a wonderful interim minister in place, it is time to begin the process for electing a pulpit search committee at Binkley. The deacons will oversee this election. The following process is outlined by our constitution. Individual members may remove their names if they do not feel they should serve on the pulpit search committee; the remaining list of member names will be presented to the church so that twice the number of committee members may be nominated to serve; the resulting list of nominees will be contacted to determine willingness to serve; and finally, the resulting list of nominees will be offered to the church to elect members of the pulpit search committee. Deacons and members of the church council who are currently serving or whom have recently served the church are eligible for election. Only those members who elect to remove their names from the list will be excluded from consideration. The hope is that the election will begin this December, with lists of members posted in November. Please look in the narthex or contact the office in the coming weeks for the membership list. Let us join our hearts, minds, beings, and spirits in prayer for those who will serve as well as the process by which they will be elected. ---Wanda Burton-Crutchfield, Deacon Chair Youth YAM JAM Report Congratulations to the twenty-six Binkley youth and family members who participated in the annual Yam Jam this past October 13. Binkley worked with hundreds of other volunteers to glean a farmer s field in Four Oaks, NC. We felt the soil in our fingers, piled yams into sacks and learned more about what it means to share resources for the good of all of God s children. The Yam Jam is a beautiful effort organized by the Episcopal Diocese of NC. Binkley participants unashamedly collected over 5000 pounds of yams. We want to thank farmworkers in general who put food on our tables through their efforts and the anonymous farmer who turned over his unused yams to us for gleaning.

5 Operating Revenue Update JANUARY SEPTEMBER 2007 Source Actual Budget Difference Pledges $ 399,155 $444,000 ($44,845) Other Contributions 45,596 35,850 9,746 Birthday Bank 899 1,125 (226) Building Use 16,780 18,750 (1,969) Total $462,430 $499,725 ($37,295) Binkley Pledges to Reduce Carbon Footprints Earlier this year, many Binkley members and visitors responded to Dale Osborne s challenge that we pledge to individually reduce our carbon footprints by 10% in He delivered our pledges to join those of many other churches and communities as part of the NC Interfaith Power and Light campaign to encourage personal awareness and positive involvement to create global climate change. As we are in Creation Season, it is an appropriate time to revisit your pledge. There seems to be a change in the air as Binkley folks are often heard saying: Can we car pool? How about using dishes instead of disposables? Could you turn off that light and close that door please? I have started hanging my clothes outside to dry--i had forgotten how nice they smell. I finally got all my bulbs switched to compact fluorescent lights (CFL s)! I decided to buy a hybrid! What are you doing differently and what more can you do? How can we make sure our impact on our beautiful Earth reflects our belief in its sacredness? How will you care for this holy ground we call Earth? Review your pledge and check your progress. If you didn t pledge, you can still commit yourself to making a difference. Visit and for more information. NASA's Hansen Brings Global Warming Message to Triangle The nation s foremost climatologist will bring his urgent message against corporate influence over energy-and-climate decisions to North Carolina in November. The forum in Chapel Hill will be held at 3pm on November 17, at the Friday Center. Admission is free but early reservation of seats is recommended. Event information can be found at Dr. James Hansen, head of NASA s Goddard Institute and an outspoken proponent for rapid reductions in greenhouse gases, will outline his five-step plan for solving the global climate emergency. His leading recommendation: a moratorium on coal-fired power plants such as one planned by Duke Energy at Cliffside, North Carolina. The forum, called AVERTING CLIMATE CATASTROPHE: Power Plants or Clean Energy Who Decides? will be hosted by NC WARN of Durham, and co-sponsored by other nonprofits across the state. Mike Nicklas, an internationally recognized green architect and leader in renewable energy, will join Dr. Hansen in laying out a societal path that can cut global warming pollution rapidly through clean energy and by avoiding dangerous new power plants.

6 Our Refugee Friends From Burma The Binkley team has worked hard over the past few weeks, preparing for the arrival of a new family of refugees (and continuing help for our Durham friends). They arrived at 10:05 PM on October 17th and began to settle into a new home and new life in Chapel Hill. Happily, there are a number of Burmese already in Chapel Hill, and some were at the airport to greet the new arrivals. Some are close relatives, and several are in the same apartment complex on the By-pass South of town. There was one surprise. We expected the father, mother and two children, but did not know that the mother will deliver their third child in the next two to three weeks. The initial arrangements in the apartment - furniture and kitchenware - were impressive to them. Binkley did well with contributions and hard work. We will be working to find clothes and to make adjustments over the next few days and weeks. Please stand by for requests. Contact Allen Smith for ways to help, allens@earthlink.net, Death Row Exoneree Speaking at Binkley on November 4th Together, they spent 1, 151 years on death row. They are the 124 men and women who were condemned to die in North Carolina and other states and have all now been proven innocent- exonerated and released from death row. Binkley will join other congregations in North Carolina in hosting 18 of these exonerees in a one day appearance through a project sponsored by People of Faith Against the Death Penalty and Witness to Innocence. We are fortunate to have Dan Bright bring the Word from the World during our Sunday morning service on November 4 th. Because material evidence had been withheld by the state, Bright s conviction was overthrown. The prosecution subsequently dismissed all charges and Bright was freed. Today, Bright lives near New Orleans and is active in working with ex-prisoners and in the anti-death penalty movement. Walk for Family Peace Supporting Victims of Domestic Violence Walk for Family Peace, next Sunday, October 28 th at 1:00 pm, in support of victims and survivors of domestic violence will begin at McCorkle Place beside the Planetarium on Franklin Street. The walk will end at the Hargrave Center on Rosemary and conclude with performances by Big Fat Bluegrass, Bouncing Bull Dogs and the UNC Lorelies. Great food and raffle prices! No cost, but donations welcome. This is fundraiser sponsored by the Family Violence Prevention Center. For more info, contact Julie Kern at , Julie.kern@prucarolinas.com Annual Vigil to Close the School of the Americas Each year thousands of people gather at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the U.S. Army s School of the Americas, to protest the decades of murders and human rights abuses committed by SOA graduates in a host of Latin American countries, and to demand that the school be closed. Each year, progress has been made in raising awareness. A recent bill to close the SOA was a mere 6 votes short of passing in the House of Representatives, and last year s vigil drew close to 22,000 participants. Witness for Peace joins other advocacy and peace groups to call on people form across the United States to help make this year s vigil the largest ever, Saturday, November 17 -Sunday, November 18, For more information, ideas for carpooling, or to secure a hotel room reserved for WFP friends and allies, contact Gail Phares, , citca@bellsouth.net.

7 November Birthdays 3 Kathy Bryan 15 Barbara Thorton 28 Sheridan Bushnell Becky Robinson Martha Henderson Joe Templeton 18 Robin Brooks Sylvia Ramer Susan Rogers 4 Holly Fitzgerald 30 Jan Clark 19 Charles Coble Jim Fulcher 6 Tracy Berger Carolyn Kozelka Myra Knight Mary-Jo Daughtrey Nancy Lutes Lou Shook 20 Anne Huffman Nan Pardington David Resnik 7 Gene Johnston 21 Patricia Owen 8 Jane McKay 22 Adams Wofford 11 Mike Jenkins 23 J.J. Nelson Jaye McDermott 24 Heather Rabalais 12 Nancy Ehle Bob Kreutzberg 25 Jennie Baumeister Mark Morton Kara Richards-Baker Angie Stuckman Melinda Wilde 13 Juanita Kakalec 26 Nancy Cheek 14 JoAnn Flair 27 Wayne Price Nell Morton November Anniversaries 2 Linda Hill-Wise & Jim Wise 10 Pat Goetz & Bob Goetz 15 Gloria Lightsey-Lewis & Rob Lewis 18 Verla & Chester Insko 23 Lillian Lee & Howard Lee 24 Lou Ann Hellmers & Henry Hellmers 26 Claudia Templeton & Joe Templeton 28 Valerie Hudock & Chuck Hudock November Nursery Duty 4 Betsey Wu, Ashley Adkins, Laurence and Rachel Avery, Billy and Anne Barnes. 11 Donald Beeson, Alice Glover, Stuart and John Beeson, Tracey Berger. 18 Nancy Berson, Margie Billinger, Ellen Bradley, Kim Brewer and April Kemper, Ann Brock. 25 John Burton-Crutchfield, Charles Carver, Neal Cheek, Bill and Susan Christopher. 30 Nancy Cheek & Neal Cheek

8 Thank you Teia McCall We are saying good-bye to paid nursery worker Teia McCall. Teia works hard in all areas of her life, including Ephesus Elementary, Harris Teeter and Binkley s Sunday nursery. She is needing to cut back some, but it has been a hard decision since she loves the Binkley children so much! We are very fortunate to have benefitted from her expertise and compassion for over three years. Our best wishes and gratitude go with you Teia! Miss a Sunday? Want a Copy of the Sermon? Print copies of the sermon are generally available in trays on the narthex table or in the hallway outside of the ministers offices by Tuesday of each week. If you would like an copy, contact Liz Moorehead, Temporary Office Manager, (office@binkleychurch.org, ) and she can add you to the list who receive weekly copies by . Binkley Coffee 10:30am Sundays We need volunteers to host and clean up the friendship time on Sunday mornings. Refreshments are optional; if a volunteer only wants to provide coffee and juice, that s perfectly fine. Coffee is provided at the church and you can be trained in how to do this. Please contact Kay Pratt (kspratt@nc.rr.com; ) if you would like to serve. Wanted: Members to Help with Fundraising! The Church Council has approved the establishment of an ad hoc Fundraising Committee. The hope would be for some fun and interesting events to be planned that could generate funds that could be used to assist in paying down some of the additional obligations that the Church has taken on in order to complete Our Church Home for the 21 st Century. Events would be planned in collaboration with the Finance Committee and following approval of the Church Council and Church in Conference. If you would be interested in being part of this fun d raising committee please contact Jim Wise (Moderator) or Don Wilhoit (Budget Director).

9 Prayer Concerns in the Church Family: Gretchen Aylsworth, Family of David Basile, Tom Bryan, Sarah Buren, Neal and Nancy Cheek, Maurice Cohen (Julie Lentz s husband), Billie Cox, Mary Jo Daughtrey, Martha Henderson, Caroline Lindsay, Phillippi family, Lyn and Nash Pollard, Coye Rogers, Pam Swanson-Boyd. Prayer Concerns in the Extended Family: Karen Brock (Ann and Roy Brock s daughter-in-law), The family of Thomas Barnett (Karen Long s friend), Joyce Bradley (Family friend of Kent Coyle), Tan and Scott Coats, Richard Cole (Kent Coyle s uncle), Margie DeWoskin (Laurie Freeman s daughter), Tara Hogan (Talmadge Walker s niece), Thalia Falk, (Nettie Wilburn s friend), Hope Conway (Kit Conway s mother), Gayle Gordon (Ruth Nagle s sister), Christine Hopkins (Anne Fishel s mother), Bill and Ellen Huffman (Anne Huffman s parents), Dirk Leiser (Mary Lou Smith s brother), Shamelle Long (Granddaughter of Shirley Long, Binkley custodian), Ethel Moses (Nettie Wilburn s sister), Bob Overton (Ann & John Overton s son), Dan Peck (brother of Bill Shelp Peck), Lisa Radford (Jane s sister), Rebecca Rogers (Susan s mother), Jeanne Schulte (friend of Gladess Crisp), Sebene Selassie (Bereket s daughter), Jane Sutton ( Willard Hamrick s cousin), Ruby Switzer (Katherine Walker s grandmother), Linnea Smith s father, Don & Sally Weil (friends of Doug and Susan MacKinnon), Mark Zach (friend of Phil and Rhonda Szostak). In The Military: Brian Buchanan (Tom and Kathy Bryan s son-in-law in Afghanistan), Logan Peck (Bill and Stacey Shelp-Peck s nephew in Iraq). The Community of Binkley Baptist Church offers its prayerful support to the family of charter member and friend David Basile who died on October 15, A memorial service celebrating Dave s life was held in the sanctuary on October 20 at 1:00 pm. Sympathy is also extended to Caroline Lindsay on the death of her father, and Neal Cheek, on the death of his mother. Binkley Baptist Church 1712 Willow Drive Chapel Hill, NC (919) Nonprofit Org. US Postage Paid Chapel Hill, NC Permit No. 70 Staff Directory Denise Cumbee Long, Interim Senior Minister denise@binkleychurch.org, ext. 27 Dale Osborne, Associate Minister Dale@binkleychurch.org, ext. 26 Beth Honeycutt, Minister of Christian Education Beth@binkleychurch.org, ext. 25 Leandra Merea Strope, Minister of Music Leandra@binkleychurch.org, ext. 24 W. Sands Hobgood, Substitute Organist Chris Fisher, Business Manager Business@binkleychurch.org, ext. 23 Elizabeth Moorehead, Temporary Office Manager Office@binkleychurch.org, ext. 10 Robert E. Seymour, Minister Emeritus Pearl Seymour, Organist Emerita Bill Eastman, Volunteer Minister of Visitation Gloria Lightsey-Lewis, Vol. Min. of Church Growth Marlene Dickison, Director of Binkley Pre-School