The Beacon

December 22, 2022 Volume 64, No 52

Christmas Eve: December 24, 2022

Theme: The Things They Carried: Simple Gifts

Wearing the gospel of peace on our feet.

Please read Ephesians 6: 12-15 and Luke 1: 46-56 to prepare.

Pastor Anna Lisa Gross

Saturday, December 24
4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve rehearsal begins
6:45 p.m. Pre-Worship Music begins
7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship

Sunday, December 25
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
10:30 a.m. Christmas Day Brunch

Monday, December 26
Church Office closed.

Tuesday, December 27
Pastor Anna Lisa onsite.
Church office opens at 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 28
Pastor Anna Lisa onsite.
9:15 a.m. Administrative Meeting
9:30 a.m. Food Bank

Thursday, December 29
11:30 a.m. Worship Preview meeting

Friday, December 30
Church Office closed.

Saturday, December 31
8:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve Game Night

Remember to check the Breeze calendar for upcoming events and activities!

Weekly Announcements

The church office will operate on reduced hours next week: closed on Monday, and open 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday, the office will be open 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. and moving forward, the regular office hours will be Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
If you don’t want to make cookies, we have plenty of bundt cake left over from our Blue Christmas service — so we will have plenty to eat following our Christmas Eve service!
You can't share what our kind cooks have prepared, but Meet and Eat is available online - gather in the "Worship and Gatherings" zoom room (the one we used for a couple years for worship) at 9:30am. You'll join those in the Parlor, discussing the Advent devotional: Simple Gifts (through Jan 1). Starting Jan 8 we'll have another program - it's a surprise for now! If you prefer casual conversation, enjoy the Fellowship Hall. If you're looking for some quiet prayer time, find two options in the South Classroom. You are welcome to move between all three spaces on Sunday mornings (unless you're joining online, then you're stuck "in" the Parlor.)
We plan to print the Church Directory in January. If you have updates to your contact information that you would like to have included in this printing, please make sure to get that information to the office by January 9th!

Statistics 12/18/2022

Worship 83
Offering 12/11/2022 $4,666.00

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Food Bank on December 21:

22 Families served
73 Individuals in families

The food bank needs newspaper bags! If you have unused newspaper bags, please bring them to the church and put them in the labeled box in the office.

Christmas Eve and Day

On Christmas Eve we not only celebrate the stocking-stuffed-with-socks, but our monetary offerings are all given away, near and far.

Just Neighbors is our local donation. Besides the Homeless Shelter in our neighborhood, they go to court to try to prevent evictions and keep people from becoming homeless.

ARISE is on the Texas-Mexico border. They do a great job of orienting groups (like our delegation a few years ago) to what happens at the border. They help with jobs, education, working with the government for better services, empowering women and much more.

Christmas morning comes on a Sunday, and we’ll gather in the fellowship hall as family and friends. Your people from out-of-town are most welcome to come! We'll gather at 10:30am in the Fellowship Hall (no Eat and Meet that morning).

Breakfast will feature homemade sticky buns and breakfast casserole. We’ll play games and trade gifts in a White Elephant exchange - This gift exchange is a great time to declutter your home as we unload some of the stuff we carry! One's clutter may be another's new treasurer. Bring a wrapped gift (in reused wrapping paper or newspaper) to participate in a fun exchange.

If you're bringing a car-full of people, you could let Mary or Dave Wysong know as they are coordinating breakfast.

Season’s Greetings from the Beacon Heights Staff!

This Advent and Christmastime we've been celebrating the Simple Gifts of our lives: the shelter and safety we live with. The good food and good friends we enjoy. We are grateful to work and serve with the healthy and lively community of Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren.

In the swirls of so much change at BH and throughout the world, we are mindful of our many blessings, and seek to continue to bless you through our work.

Pastor Anna Lisa, Music Coordinator Melody, Office Manager Melinda

We celebrated a staff holiday outing at Takaoka with our loved ones, and thank you for the opportunity you afford us to be the staff of Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren!

Kevin and Melody, Anna Lisa & Phillip, Melinda & Riley (who chose not to be visible in this picture)

Tenth Annual New Year's Eve Game Night

Everyone is cordially invited to the Tenth Annual New Year's Eve Game Night. Bring cards, games, snacks, knitting, beverages - and a smile!

Beaconers and friends will meet in the Parlor from 8 p.m. to midnight. Hosted by Janet Mitchell and family.

Pastor Anna Lisa will be taking time away in January. First, from Jan 6-11, she'll be in meetings with the Council of District Executives. Since this meeting is in Florida, she and Phillip will then be having vacation from Jan 12-19. They look forward to returning with some color in their cheeks for the exciting final two weekends of January! (Board retreat Jan 20-21, Pastoral candidate weekend Jan 28-29).

Dunker Punks Episode 141

In this season finale episode, we hear from three generations of Dunker Punks at the Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren, who are living their faith in draft resistance, nursing, teaching, foster parenting, fire-fighting, social working, stocking shelves, and serving coffee. Listen as Anna Lisa Gross chats with Sam, Carla and Craig, and Ev and Bill to gain insights from their generational perspectives.

Listen Here!

Pet Food Drive for Humane Fort Wayne

Next Sunday: January 1, 2022

Theme & Title: Wise Ones

How do we know which leaders to follow? Which dreams to interpret? Which intuitions to trust? The stories recorded in scripture make it look simple - with angel visits and one big star to follow. But few (if any) of us get such simple guidance today. And we might look with suspicion or sympathy at our loved ones who trust horoscopes, conspiracy theories, or advertisements to tell us what to value and who to believe.

Please read Matthew 2: 13-23 to prepare.