Volume 07 Issue 9 The herald November 2016 A Congregation of the From the Pastor...Randy Clayton I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Pastor s Letter Mission Happenings Calendar S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : Mission News What s happening at Brown Memorial Woodbrook The summer foliage in my yard has begun to turn brown and die away. The sweaters and coats are now necessary on increasingly cool mornings. Halloween has come and gone. And before we settle in for the winter, we will celebrate Thanksgiving. I d like to share a few thoughts with you about thanksgiving and gratitude from others [with thanksgiving for brainyquote.com for providing these quotes]: Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. William Arthur Ward Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. Oprah Winfrey As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. John F. Kennedy What is it you are thankful for especially this year? How can we express our gratitude in words and in deeds this month and beyond? I hope everyone has a wonderful and grace-filled Thanksgiving!
V o l u m e 0 7 I s s u e 9 P a g e 2 PATH FORWARD TASK GROUP October 2016 The Session of Brown Memorial Woodbrook Church recognizes that the congregation is facing several significant, and inter-related challenges and that we must seek God s will for our path into the future. To that end, the Session has appointed a Task Group to prayerfully and carefully examine possible options for the congregation s future including, but not necessarily limited to, merger with another congregation, dissolution of the congregation, or divestiture of property while remaining a church. The Task Group will report monthly to the Session and periodically to the Congregation. The hope is that the Task Group will be able to make a specific recommendation to the Session during the winter of 2017 regarding a path into the future that seems faithful given our particular complex of challenges and the resources available. Depending on the particular Task Group s recommendation and the Session s response to it, the Session may bring a recommendation to the Congregation for congregational consideration and potential action. The Task Group is charged with making a recommendation about a path for the future that seems consistent with God s calling based on prayer, reflection, and an examination of possible options in light of current and historical financial situation, membership statistics and other factors. Depending on the recommendation that they make, and the response to it, there would likely be a subsequent process and timeline developed to implement any action resulting from the recommendation. By design the Task Group is small. This will provide the opportunity for in depth conversation. The Task Group is comprised of Session and non-session members, with Baltimore Presbytery also participating. Selection of individuals to serve on the Task Group was based on a variety of factors the Task Group needed to have a balance between males and females, it needed to include people representing different stages of life, differing lengths of membership at Brown Woodbrook, and a variety of skills and gifts. All of the members of the Task Group needed to have an openness to whatever God may desire for this church in the future and a willingness to engage in a significant, but time limited discernment task. The members of the Task Group are: Tom Crawley, Elizabeth Ceanfaglione, Bobbie Cook, Maria Wong, Henry Peck, and Ken Lewis. Baltimore Presbytery is invited to participate. The work of the Task Group will be facilitated by the Pastor. The Congregation is invited to pray for the members of the Task Group and for their discernment process.
T H E H E R A L D LOOKING AHEAD... P a g e 3 Keep a look-out for the weekly Look Ahead email for information regarding the joint Thanksgiving Service with Kol HaLev. Poinsettia orders will be due by Monday, November 28. Order forms will be in Sunday s bulletin on November 13, 20, and 27. Advent Fest and all Church Christmas dinner will be held on Sunday, December 11 immediately following worship. BOOKENDS will meet on Friday, November 11 at 10 AM to discuss Dead Wake by Erik Larson IN MEMORIUM Giving thanks for the life and witness of Mary Jo Campbell who died on October 15. We also give thanks for the life and witness of Midge Nelson who died on Monday, September 19, 2016. We pray for those who mourn their deaths. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, says the Spirit. They rest from their labors, and their works follow them. (Rev. 14:13) A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 12 at 11:00 AM
V o l u m e 0 7 I s s u e 9 P a g e 4 2016 ACTC THANKSGIVING BASKETS Donations of food, baskets, or money is due by November 13 Please include ONLY the following items in each basket: (All additional items should be in separate bags and marked MISCELLANEOUS ) 1 can sweet potatoes/yams (23-29oz can) 2 cans meat/main dish (example: beef stew or chili-15-24oz cans) 1 large can fruit (20-30oz can) 4 cans vegetables (example: green beans, peas or corn-15oz cans) 1 cranberry sauce 2 pkg. macaroni & cheese 1 box instant mashed potatoes 1 cake or brownie mix 1 bag or box of stuffing mix 1 lb. bag or box of rice * PLEASE DO NOT PUT MONEY OR GIFT CARDS IN BAGS. TIPS FOR PACKING: Pack large cans on bottom & lighter items on top. If possible use a Reusable Grocery Bag /OR a double brown grocery bag inserted in double plastic bag. Mark bags as COMPLETE or INCOMPLETE (list what is missing). OR You will have the opportunity to purchase pre-packed Thanksgiving Baskets from several supermarkets in the area for a reasonable price. Detailed information for this option will be coming to you soon! **Donations of money or gift cards can be placed in the offering plate during Sunday Worship or mailed to the church office. Please mark the envelope/check Thanksgiving Baskets.
V o l u m e 0 7 I s s u e 9 November Birthdays ADULT BIBLE STUDY P a g e 5 Maria Wong 2 Glenn Wong 5 Selwin Gray 7 Jessica Morrow 7 Eleanor Casey 16 Elsie Wong 18 Laurel Oldach 21 Max Wach 21 Janet Tyler 25 Mary Stewart 26 Woodbrook at Broadmead Tuesday 10 AM Contact Sally-lyn Duff at 443-578-8387 or wsduff925@comcast.net for more information. Our weekly e-mail is an important way that our church has of communicating with you If you are not on our weekly e-mail distribution list, please sign up. You can sign up on our website or you can call or e-mail the church office and request to be added. Session Rev. Dr. Randy Clayton, Moderator Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class 2018 Betsy Toole, Clerk Elsie Wong Karen Ceanfaglione Elizabeth Ceanfaglione Tom Crawley Linda Bluth Katherine Stanka Bobbie Cook Paul Voreacos, Treasurer Board of Deacons Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class 2018 Tom Eastman Edie Cleaves Jane Houck Dottie Phipps Mimi Cooper Elena Storey Anne Stone Phyllis Ross Bob Gist
The Woodbrook Players present Adults $20 Students $15 Children under 12 Free All tickets available at the door. Cash & Checks only. Sundays, Nov. 6, 13 and 20 3 PM Saturdays, Nov. 12 and 19 7:30 PM 6200 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21212 443-608-4022 Woodbrookplayers@gmail.com woodbrookplayers.wix.com/home Deadline for the December Herald will be 9 AM Tuesday, November 15. Please submit all information, articles, and reports to the Church Secretary via e-mail: office@bmwpc.org Keep up with what s going on at our church by checking our Facebook page, Brown Memorial Woodbrook PCUSA. And, while you are doing that, please Like us. You can help us spread the word about this congregation by checking in on Facebook when you come to worship
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 10:30 Worship & Communion 11:30 Mission Presentation 1 PM Woodbrook Players 7:00 Boy Scouts 13 10:30 Worship 11:30 Fellowship & Team Meetings 11:30 Town Hall Mtg. 7:00 Boy Scouts 20 10:30 Worship 11:30 Fellowship 7:00 Boy Scouts 30 27 10:30 Worship 11:30 Fellowship 7:00 Boy Scouts 7 11:00 AM Staff Mtg 5:30 Yoga-RM 8 14 11:00 AM Staff Mtg 5:30 Yoga-RM 8 7 21 9:15 Weekday School Chapel 9:30 Parent Group 11:00 AM Staff Mtg 5:30 Yoga-RM 8 28 11:00 AM Staff Mtg 5:30 Yoga-RM 8 November 2016 1 9:30 AM Story Time Play Group 8 9:30 & 10:30 AM Story Time Play Group 11 AM Monthly Renters Meeting 15 9:30 & 10:30 AM Story Time Play Group 22 9:30 & 10:30 AM Story Time Play Group 29 9:30 & 10:30 AM Story Time Play Group 2 7 PM Woodbrook Players 7 PM Compassionate Friends 9 7 PM Woodbrook Players 7 PM Boy Scout Committee Mtg. 16 7 PM Woodbrook Players 23 7 PM Woodbrook Players 30 3 10 AM Security & Safety Meeting 8 PM Choir Rehearsal 10 8 PM Choir Rehearsal 17 8 PM Choir Rehearsal 24 THANKSGIVING DAY OFFICE CLOSED 4 7PM Woodbrook Players dress rehearsal 7PM Common Ground on the Hill 11 10 AM BookEnds 18 19 25 OFFICE CLOSED 5 9AM Weekday School Fall Festival 12 10 AM Midge Nelson Memorial 26
BROWN MEMORIAL WOODBROOK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 6200 North Charles Street at Woodbrook Lane B a l t i m o r e, M D 2 1 2 1 2 Herald ADDRESS SERVICES REQUESTED Dated Material Please Deliver Promptly A Congregation of the CORE VALUES We commit to living out God s love through: Compassion Learning Inclusion Faith VISION 2016 In five years God will see us 1) welcoming all God s children; 2) sharing Christ s love with others; 3) intentionally and actively building our faith to understand God s purpose for us; 4) using our physical resources sustainably to honor God; and 5) celebrating God s love with abandon. Staff: The Rev. Dr. Randy Clayton, Minister Peter Morey, Director of Music Karen Bartell, Intergenerational Ministry Coordinator Anthony Mason, Sexton Michele Hanna, Church Secretary Cindy Zhao, Financial Secretary Website: www.bmwpc.org Phone: 410-377-7232 Fax: 410-377-9115 E-mail: office@bmwpc.org