The BEACON The Newsletter of Binkley Baptist Church April 2014 SUNDAY SCHEDULE HOLY WEEK at BINKLEY 8:45 am Early Worship April 13: 9:30 am Church School 9:30 am Church School Palm Sunday 11:00 am Palm Sunday: Palm fronds and celebratory music Binkley Baptist Church 1712 Willow Drive Chapel Hill NC 27514 919-942-4964 www.binkleychurch.org Church Staff Peter JB Carman Minister peter@binkleychurch.org commemorate Jesus entry into Jerusalem; set up following worship (see below for labyrinth hours) April 17: 6:00 pm Maundy Thursday: Meal and Communion Service provided by Maundy Thursday our Deacons in the Fellowship Hall. Come and experience Jesus commandment to love one another anew. April 18: 12:00 pm Good Friday: Service in the sanctuary. Good Friday Readings from the four Gospel passion stories as well as music and prayers with opportunities to remember and reflect. The will still be available for walking. April 20: 6:30 am Easter Sunday Sunrise Service (please note the start time): Easter Rise up Early one morning like the women who went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away. (Outdoor Courtyard) Stephanie Ford Dale Osborne Associate Minister dale@binkleychurch.org Minister of Christian Formation stephanie@binkleychurch.org Lay Leadership layleadership@ binkleychurch.org Bo Lloyd Organist GEL1210@aol.com Duane Gilbert Business Manager business@binkleychurch.org Lucy Kucmierz Office Manager office@binkleychurch.org PUBLICATION DEADLINES Newsletter: The 20th of the month Bulletin and Friday Update: Wednesday 12 noon 9:30 am Easter Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall (No Church School): The Fellowship and Christian Formation Committees welcome your presence and your tasty contributions. 11:00 am Easter Celebration Worship: Peter Carman preaching. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! 12:15 pm Children s Easter Egg Hunt on the playground. Please note that Youth and Youth Group will not meet on Easter. HOLY WEEK LABYRINTH Walking a labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool for reflection. The 40 x40 labyrinth laid out on the floor of the Sanctuary is a replica of the labyrinth found on the floor of Chartes Cathedral. Prayer stations on the perimeter provide resources for those who walk. Children are welcome for a special introduction to the labyrinth, Tuesday, March 14 at 4 pm. The Friends of Christ School will host a Retreat, all welcome, Wednesday, April 16, 10 am, beginning in the Chapel. Sunday, 4/13: 4-8:30 pm Monday 4/14 & Tuesday 4/15: 6:30 am 8:30 pm Wednesday 4/16 & Thursday 4/17: 6:30 am 4:30 pm Friday 4/18: 6:30 am 1:30 pm
Dear Binkley friends, It is an odd feeling to write my final newsletter note to all of you, this Lent of 2014. In the five years we have known one another I have come to deeply appreciate you, the individual members of this congregation. I have been grateful for the time many of you have taken in these days of transition, to say farewell, to ask honest questions, and to express the love that will continue to bind us together. As we prepare to part in just a few short weeks, there are a few things I want to make sure I say to you as a congregation, by way of blessing and invitation. First, I leave having great confidence in the future and health of Binkley Baptist Church. You are a community of gifted individuals: this church has a great base of faithful members young and old, with a willingness to take on the tough challenges that face us all. You have the gifts of admitting honest doubts, a questing spirit, and a willingness to speak out on issues of principle and justice even when they are controversial. You have a broad desire for deepening spirituality, and a willingness to extend your hands in partnership and compassion. You have been and remain a haven of hospitality and a new home for both refugees from other lands and people of faith who have found themselves spiritually without an institutional home. And my goodness, you sing well! Trust these gifts, and the many more that make you who you are. Second, it has been a privilege to work with the colleagues in ministry who have been my fellow staff members these past short years. Each of us has brought significant strengths and each of us is limited and human. The willingness to work together, to reflect honestly and practice both self-critique and mercy toward one another, has made this church staff an extraordinary little community within the wider community of Binkley. I ask as I leave that you personally offer support to this team who works so hard for you. Thank you Lucy, Duane, Leandra, Bo, Dale and Stephanie. And thank you Carl and Priscilla and crew who quietly keep the very busy building we call Binkley habitable and in service with their faithful work nights after the rest of us leave. Third, I appreciate the good work the congregation has undertaken in the past several months around the question of what it takes to be a healthy church. In the days to come I invite you to trust one another despite your honest differences, share your disagreements in love, and turn to One who is bigger than any of our theologies or convictions. Listen for the still small Voice, among your voices and trust that One to guide and bring you together in the days to come. Fourth, know that however we locally see Binkley as our church, there is a wider world beyond Chapel Hill that looks to this congregation for friendship and partnership, and is willing to offer support. You have friends you do not know well enough yet friends in the American Baptist Churches, the Alliance of Baptists, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, the North Carolina Council of Churches, and the Baptist Peace Fellowship, to name but a few. You have new friends and old in your partner churches Pinheiro Baptist Church in Maceio, Brazil, and Barbee s Chapel here in Chapel Hill, two strong local churches willing to offer support and prayer and friendship. None of us stands alone not even congregations. And one of Binkley s greatest strengths is its partnerships in ministry. Trust your friends and turn to them in your need and support them even as they support you. Well, that s a long benediction. Let me finish it simply, by offering you the blessings of your Creator s grace, the love of Jesus, and the infusion of a Power other than that commonly known by the world, a Spirit who makes friends out of strangers, heals the wounded, and raises the dead. My final Sunday with you will be Easter, the 20 th of April. After that I will no longer be your Minister, but I will remain your co-worker and friend. I hope many of you will drop by to see me some day in upstate New York! We will continue in faith and ministry together, despite the miles, and slight local differences in accent and temperature. In Christ s Peace, From the Minister s Desk Peter
AROUND THE CHURCH PRAY FOR NEW DISCIPLES Please be in pray for 6 beautiful youth who are participating in the 2014 Discipleship Class. Colby Rabalais, Claire Keller, Avery Jenkins, Emily Bradshaw, Olivia Jenkins and Jewel Szostak are spending 6 weeks engaging their faith and learning more about what it means to follow the teachings of Jesus. If any of these disciples decide to join the church through baptism, the service will take place on May 11. The class will be encouraged to help lead worship on either April 6 or at the Maundy Thursday service on April 17. PHOTO DIRECTORY Have you had your picture taken for the directory? If not, it is not too late. We will be taking photos over the next few Sundays in April. If you are out of town and would like to submit your own photo, please send it to office@binkleychurch.org. Thanks! PETER CARMAN FAREWELL CELEBRATION Please join us for a farewell celebration to honor Peter Carman on Sunday April 6 from 4-6 pm with a short program at 4:45. Peter will be leaving us following Easter Sunday, April 20 to accept a call as pastor at Emmanuel-Friedens Church in Schenectady, NY. Those wishing to contribute to a love gift may place their gifts in the offering plate or send donations to the church office (checks should be designated "Peter's gift"). Anyone wishing to bring food for the reception (sweets, cheese and crackers, fruit, or veggies and dip) should contact Claudia Templeton at claudiatempleton4@gmail.com. LENTEN SUPPER SERIES - WORDS THAT COUNT Our series continues on Wednesday evenings through April 9. The program features speakers from our own Binkley community reflecting on words from the book, Spiritual Rx by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. Come and join us for supper (5:30 pm) and/or for the program (6:10 pm). Meal: $5 (12+); $3 (children 4-11); free (children 3 and under). Make reservations before noon of the Wednesday program (office@binkleychurch.org). Wednesday, April 2, Tammerie Day will guide us on the word compassion. Wednesday, April 9, Dana Trent and Fred Eaker will return. This time they will reflect on teacher/guru. BINKLEY DIACONATE - DEACON NOMINATIONS The BINKLEY DIACONATE requests your prayerful discernment to answer the call to serve as deacon to our church for a three-year term starting in May 2014. DEACONS join with ministerial staff to provide pastoral care to church members as well as advise and assist in the development and interpretation of the life and work of this church. They provide ministries that enhance the spiritual welfare of the church, such as assisting with communion, coordinating the welcoming of worshipers, helping with new and prospective member orientation sessions, and serving as the nominating body for the church. The Binkley Diaconate meets the first Monday of each month at 7 pm and has an annual half-day retreat. If you are interested in becoming a Deacon or to remove your name from the nomination list please contact the church office (office@binkleychurch.org). TRANSITION TEAM MEMBERS Jerry VanSant Marty Moore Priscilla Bratcher Tonya Hamm Sonnie VanSant Matthew Ripley-Moffitt Gary Stutts Erik Butler Karen Long
FAREWELL - LEANDRA MEREA STROPE On March 23 Binkley Church held a celebratory and emotional farewell for our Minister of Music of almost twelve years, Leandra Strope. The reception was brought to order by aclamor of handbells. Binkley being the kind of congregation that it is, the hint didn t take, and had to be silenced by our MC, Sonnie Van Sant, so the presentation could begin. Sonnie reviewed just a few of the events in Leandra s Binkley career, which began when Leandra was a teenager at Binkley Church, singing with the adult chancel choir. She then fast forwarded to that happy moment when Leandra and Binkley reconnected, this time as the Minister of Music, leading that same choir. Each of the musical ensembles subsequently brought their own tributes. The Old Time Music group offered a tribute written for the occasion by Billy Barnes. Christine Jernigan offered words of appreciation as a parent of school age children in the music program. Sydney Jernigan and Elise Van Manen sang the song Winds of the Dawn from last summer s music camp musical, Malice in the Palace. Elley Shelp Peck then offered a moving tribute about how much Leandra s mentoring had meant to her personally, and the Youth, led by Sophia Nissler, followed with a song. Peter Carmen followed with a few brief remarks, followed by Roal Carlson, Chair of the Music Committee. On behalf of the Music Committee, and the congregation as a whole, Roal presented a farewell monetary gift the amount was not specified, because it is still growing! The climax of the event was the Chancel singing a song composed by Richard Rodgers and Jan Clark. The tune was My Favorite Things, and there are many things about Leandra that indeed are Our Favorite Things. Sonnie then called for a rousing applause for Leandra, and the whole room complied, with an applause that could only be described as thunderous. Thanks to Gretchen Ayslworth, Carole Stevens, and Sonnie Van Sant for organizing this very successful event, as well as all who participated by providing music, food, setting and cleaning up.
Tribute for Leandra to the tune of My Favorite Things Chancel choir, Handbells and Youth and Children s Brass, Drums and Chimes, it s fairly bewilderin Orchestra, Old Time Band, Malcolm Dalglish Leandra Strope is a wonder, capisce* On Strope s To-Do List: Plan service Taizé style,, Chairs in the round oh yes, meanwhile, Become a mother, Get Pasha 5 pounds! Leandra s sense of adventure astounds! One dozen years now, Leandra, you ve led us On musical journeys that surely have fed us. Time for new visions! You re set to move out, To plot a new pathway! All join in the shout: How we ll miss you! How we bless you! Though we re feeling blue, we ll keep making music With spirit and love! Leandra our thanks to you!!! * pronounced capeesh (Words for Leandra offered with love by Jan Clark) TRIBUTE TO A LEANDRA STROPE, GREAT DIRECTOR OF MUSIC, AND TREASURED FRIEND (Tune of How Can I Keep From Singing ) Leandra Strope, how sweet the sound, Of music you ve been bringing. Year after year you blessed us here, you kept us all a-singing. It poured forth from the Chancel, And lovely bells a-ringing. The old-time players, children s choirs, You kept us all a-singing. You re parting from us very soon, To spread your joy in Chatham. Your notes of bliss, we re sure to miss, But we re so glad we had em. God speed to you, bless all you do, As through your life you re winging. We ll ne er forget the lady who, Kept all of us a-singing. Kept all of us a-singing. (Words for Leandra offered with love by Billy Barnes)
SMALL GROUP NEWS SERMON-SHAPING BIBLE STUDY Tuesday 1 pm - MORNING PRAYER Wednesday 9-9:45 am - Chapel BINKLEY DAYTIME BOOK GROUP Tuesday, April 22 10:30 am Church The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce FRIDAY NIGHT BINKLEY READERS Friday, April 11 7:30 pm Church Stations of the Heart by Richard Lischer HEALING HUNGRY HEARTS Wednesday 6:30-8 pm Room 17 Eating Disorder/Body Image Support Group WELCOME TO BINKLEY! New Member & Visitor Orientation Class: TBD PRIMETIMERS Wednesday, April 9 at 12:30 pm K&W Meal ($8) followed by Binkley member, Larry McManus will speak about international Habitat for Humanity mission trips Sign up on Dale Osborne's door or contact office@binkleychurch.org SUSTAINABILITY TASK FORCE David Green will be leading the Task Force. Many thanks to the members of the congregation who responded to the call for your prayerful insights into the life of Binkley and what constitutes priorities for sustainable ministry that will support Binkley's mission. Your responses to the layleadership@binkleychurch.org e-mail address have been encouraging, inspiring, insightful, and gratefully received. The summary of comments is available in the Narthex, and Friday update. BINKLEY in the COMMUNITY AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES, USA NATIONAL MINISTRIES OFFERING Seek Justice (Isaiah 1:17) is the theme for this year s American Baptist Churches, USA National Ministries Offering. This yearly offering supports ABC mission work in the United States and Puerto Rico. Working cooperatively with hundreds of ABC churches, our gifts support refugee resettlement, inner city youth centers, ABC affiliated colleges and universities as well as hospital and prison chaplains. Binkley will collect the offering in special envelopes on March 30 and April 6. Make checks payable to Binkley with AFC Offering in the item section. Learn more at www.nationalministries.org/afc. Thank you. THANKS FOR WALKING The CROP Walk to stop hunger was held on March 23 in Carrboro and Chapel Hill. We are grateful to the Pardington Family for serving as our recruiters this year. Many thanks also to Linda Textoris, the Binkley clean-up crew, and everyone who walked or supported a walker. Each step was a step in the right direction to end hunger through the work of the IFC and Church World Services (CWS). FAMILY HEALTH MINISTRIES FETE DE FAMILLE Family Health Ministries, (FHM), the non-profit organization which helps support Haitian communities in their efforts to build and sustain healthy families, is holding a very special fund raising event on Saturday, May 3. Called Fete de Famille, there will be a dinner, special Haitian music and speaker, silent auction and the opportunity to meet others from the Triangle who sponsor efforts to save the lives of women and children in Haiti. The event will be held at the Charlotte and Dick Levin Jewish Community Center at 1937 West Cornwallis Road in Durham from 6 to 9 PM on May 3. Further information is available at http://familyhm.org
APRIL BIRTHDAYS 2 Hai Siu 3 Tammerie Day, Olivia Jenkins, Kim Siu 8 Ruby Pardington, Bonnie Stevenson 9 Ann Brock, Peggy Kinnaird, Sofia Palmer, Zoe Redick 10 Caryl Price, Karen Stewart 11 Raqi Guy, Dana Trent Howard Ammerman, Neal Cheek, 14 15 Chandler Zirkle Roal Carlson, Diana Coble, Fred Eaker, Rob Jenkins, Lydia Osborne 16 Alexis Avery, Julia Avery 17 Marcella Burk Groon, Nancie McDermott, Lisa Price 18 Joe Clontz, April Harper 19 Christopher Schmid 20 Mable Strowd, Zach Szostak 21 Jacob Osborne, Angela Swanson 23 Abbie Dickinson 24 Maribel Bruno 25 Priscilla Bratcher, Gordon DeFriese, Van Thanga 27 Jonah Van Der Plas 28 Beverly Comfort, Linnea Smith 29 Rachael Elliott, Clayton Forbus 30 Caroline Lindsay, Jackie O Daly, Jim Wilde APRIL ANNIVERSARIES 3 Martha Hamilton & Collins Kilburn 8 Gretchen & Art Aylsworth 12 Karin Mills & Linda Bourne 17 Sam Wilburn & Barbara Proctor 27 Adams Wofford & Sibyl Wagner SAVE THE DATES CHURCH-WIDE RETREAT July 11 13 Blowing Rock Conference Center All Ages Welcome YARD SALE Saturday, August 16: 8am - 1pm Volunteers Needed Contact: marilyn_metcalf@yahoo.com or ccoble2@nc.rr.com PRAYER CONCERNS Church Family Nape Baker Bill Bodkin Roy Brock Claudia Cannady Ann Cockrell Billie Cox Jim Crisp, Jr Bill Eastman Jo Flair Jayne Howard Shirley & Willard Hamrick Martha Henderson Paul Lindsay Tom McCullough Curt McLaughlin Kristi Myers Joe Pardington Health Center/Hospital Residents Jean Breckenridge Marj Boltz Mary Alice Dorton Joan Ewing Hilda Moffitt Laurie Freeman Charlie Kinnaird Ann Overton Ernie Roberts Annie B. Talbert Leo and Rusty Wagoner Wade Atkins Extended Family Pauline Binkley Cheek Edna Bradshaw (mother of Tim Bradshaw) Barbara Brown (daughter-in-law of Gladess Crisp) Kim Carson (friend of Al Wheless) Janet Claire (sister of Barbara Elder) Tan & Scott Coats David Deaton (brother-in-law of Dale & Suzy Osborne) Steve Emrich (friend of Joe and Nan Pardington) Pat Florian (friend of Janet O Neal) Andrew Henley (Carl's son) David Houser (son of Lynn Houser) Larry Kupper (friend of Martha Henderson) Phyllis Lambert (friend of Sarah Buren) Alec & Steve Lansing (grandson & son of Ginny Lansing) Jenny Lawrence (cousin of Marge Miles) Melissa Lutes (granddaughter of Nancy Lutes) Dana Maxfield (sister-in-law of Ginny Lansing) Joseph Niedzwiecki & Ann Yang (friends of the Andersen s) Dot Peterson and family (Susan Resnik's aunt) Hartley Plyler (friend of Gloria Lightsey-Lewis) Krista Flair & Jessica Webb (daughter & granddaughter of Jo Flair) Karen, Judy, Bill & Jean (cousins & friends of Marge Miles) Donna Whitley (friend of Martha Henderson) Divine Healer, Please give courage and strength to our friends. Help them to be strong and to heal. Help them through these difficult times and provide them with your loving support. Amen. please contact the office to remove names from the above lists*
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat April 1 6 pm Discipleship Class 2 5:30 pm Lenten Supper, 3 5:30 pm Handbells 4 Women s Retreat 5 Women s Retreat 7 pm Chin Worship, 17, 15 6 Women s Retreat 8:45 am Early Worship 9:30 am Church School 1:30 pm Chin Worship, 17 4 pm Reception for Peter 5 pm Youth 7 7 pm Diaconate, 8 6 pm Discipleship Class 9 12:30 pm Primtimers 5:30 pm Lenten Supper, 10 5:30 pm Handbells 7 pm Finance Committee 7 pm Old Time Ensemble 11 7:30 pm Binkley Readers 12 7 pm Chin Worship, 17, 15 13 PALM SUNDAY 8:45 am Early Worship 9:30 am Church School 1:30 pm Chin Worship, 17 4 pm Opens 5 pm Youth 6 pm Youth Group 6:30 pm Children s Team 14 6:30 am 8:30 pm 7 pm Adult Christian Formation Team, 7 pm Board of Outreach, 15 6:30 am 8:30 pm 4 pm Children s Walk 6 pm Discipleship Class 16 6:30 am 4:30 pm 5:30 pm Lenten Supper, 17 Maundy Thursday 6:30 am 4:30 pm 9:30 am Grounds Committee 2 pm Carolina Meadows Worship 6 pm Maundy Thursday Service 5:30 pm Handbells 18 Good Friday 6:30 am 1:30 pm 11 am Special Music 12 pm Good Friday Service 19 7 pm Chin Worship, 17, 15 20 EASTER SUNDAY 6:30 am Sunrise Service 9:30 am Easter Breakfast 1:30 pm Chin Worship Newsletter Deadline 21 7 pm Church Council 22 10:30 am Daytime Book Group 23 24 5:30 pm Handbells 7 pm Old Time Ensemble 25 Youth Retreat 26 Youth Retreat 7 pm Chin Worship, 17, 15 27 Youth Retreat 8:45 am Early Worship 9:30 am Church School 1:30 pm Chin Worship, 5 pm Youth 28 12 pm Peace & Justice, 7:30 pm BPS Board Mtg 29 30 CHURCH FINANCES GENERAL FUND: February 2014 Actual Budget Difference Totals $113,827 $100,833 $12,994 PASTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND Beginning Balance Gifts Received Disbursed Ending Balance $4,760 $490 -$450 $4,800