The Beacon
Newsletter
December 8, 2023 Volume 65, No 50
This SUNDAY: December 10, 2023
Theme: Third Sunday of Advent-We allow ourselves to be amazed.
We need alert senses to be amazed! Happiness can force itself on you through a handful of Hershey’s kisses or a few candy canes. Joy, though… joy is never manipulative. Joy is an authentic experience that is deeper than happiness, richer than sweetness. When we are willing to feel, taste, hear, touch, and see we are alive to the bitter, the sweet, the joy of life.
To prepare, please read Luke 1:57-66 & Psalm 126.
Pastor Anna Lisa Gross
***Please plan to remain in the sanctuary after worship as we conduct a brief Church Council meeting for BH members to discuss and vote on the 2024 budget. Printed copies of the budget are available on the office counter and a verbal explanation will be provided during the meeting. We will also update changes to the church board and hear a brief update on the ReFRESH effort.
Sunday, December 10
9:30 a.m. Meet & Eat
10:30 a.m. Worship
11:30 a.m. Council Meeting
12:15 p.m. Lunch & Caroling
Monday, December 11
9:00-12:00 p.m. Office Open
Tuesday, December 12
Office Closed
Wednesday, December 13
9:00-2:00 Office Open
11:30 a.m. Worship Preview meeting
12:30 p.m. Ladies Birthday Luncheon
Thursday, December 14
6:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
Office Closed
Friday, December 15
9:00-2:00 p.m. Office Open
Saturday, December 16
Sunday, December 17
9:30 a.m. Meet & Eat
10:30 a.m. Worship
6:00 p.m. Sophia’s Portico-Winter
Solstice
Remember to check the Breeze calendar for upcoming events and activities!
Worship on 12/03/2023:
In-person attendance 59
Offering 11/26 $1,271.00
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Food Bank on 12/06/2023:
Individuals: 82
Families: 28
meet and eat-Christmas Carol Sing!
This Sunday, join us in the fellowship hall at 9:20 for breakfast. We'll remain there for the Meet and Eat program to sing our favorite Christmas carols. For a few, we'll even hear the story behind the song. And if that warms you up and you'd like to keep singing, remember that we'll be caroling in the afternoon after worship, a very short council meeting, and a light lunch!
Nativities
We are planning a new display for the entry this Advent season! The Sister Church memorabilia will be temporarily moved to make space for a collection of nativities, on loan from -- you! We're hoping for contributions of different shapes and sizes, from all over the world. If you have one (or more) that you would like to loan for these few weeks, please package it with your name clearly visible, and bring it to the church office.
We hope to get enough to be able to move nativities in and out of the display over the season, so feel free to bring yours at any time, beginning this weekend. Thanks in advance for making our entry space even more special this year!
Update: We have a great start on our display of nativities - many thanks for those contributions! There is space for lots more, so please bring as many sets as you like to the church office, making use your name is on the container. Thank you for helping to make our entry space meaningful for the season!
Christmas bureau
Thank you to everyone who made donations of gifts and time to the Christmas Bureau families this year! All gifts are wrapped and will be boxed up and delivered on Monday! Your generosity is much appreciated.
Refresh update
Beacon Heights is welcoming the season with beautiful decorations, inspiring worship, generous service to the community and updates to the kitchen! Please stop by the kitchen to welcome new appliances that are intended to add efficiency and comfort for the many folks who use them. But the work isn't done yet! Next week Mark Beck will be painting the room and the committee will do its best to complete the final touches before Christmas Eve. We continue to be grateful for the generosity of families that provided memorial gifts and other donations to make these kitchen upgrades possible.
Weekly food bank update
Thank you for all your donations! Currently, the most needed items are broth, rice, and pancake mix. Monetary donations are also appreciated.
Shoppers are needed for January 10th and 24th and February of next year if you would like to sign-up! The sign-up sheet is located on the office countertop.
November 2023 Food Bank Statistics
Open 4 Wednesdays
Families served: 98
Individuals served: 281
Food donations
Beacon Heights: 348 lbs.
Associated Churches: 900 lbs.
Other Churches: 374 lbs.
In addition, Beacon Heights shoppers spent $1411.44 for 1285 lbs.
21 Beacon Heights Food Bank volunteers 141.5 hrs. to keep the Food Bank operating in
November.
Thank you to all the October 2023 volunteers:
Tom Bever, Kathy Schmidt, Ruth Ann Bever, Jeanie Lantz,
Brenda Galbraith, Jan Lung, Maurie Sperry, Dianne Lung,
Mary Whitehead, Joan Thompson, Mark Bech, Lois Guess,
Ev Kilgore, Tom Coursen, Sandy Kiracofe, MaryJane Coursen,
Susan Harroff, Sharon Heitz, Kris Bohnstedt -Thorn, Barb Bohnstedt-Thorn,
Linda Wolf
New Adult Library books
Perhaps you have noticed the new adult library books displayed on the table between the chairs in the north entryway. These meditative books are for you to check out, enjoy, and contemplate. Pastor Paula has referenced one or two of them in her recent sermons. New books include: Being Mortal-Atul Gawande, Acting in the Wake: Prayers for Justice-Walter Brueggemann, Inciting Joy: Essays-Ross Gay, The Book of Delights: Essays-Ross Gay, A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal-Sarah Bessey, My Voice-Heidi Ramer, and Grateful: the Transformative Power of Giving Thanks-Diana Butler Bass.
Other adult library books, available for check out, are located on the shelf inside the front entryway. Please note that the adult library on the lower level has been disbanded, but there is a wonderful collection of children’s books in the lower level preschool area, available for check out.
Happy reading!
Caroling party
Come join a caroling party on Sunday, December 10, after church. We will have a light lunch provided at church featuring Craig Smith’s delicious chili and a few other things. We will leave about 12:45 and go first to Towne House to sing for Larry Lesh and Don and Joyce Jordans and others at this location. Then we will go to Heritage Point and sing in the chapel for Deverl Whitehead and others. We should be back at church by about 3:00. Please text or email Ruth Ann Bever by Sunday, December 3, if you are attending so we can tell Craig how much chili to fix.
Ladies Birthday Luncheon
The Ladies Birthday Luncheon will take place at 12:30 p.m. on December 13th at Casa Restaurant on Parnell Avenue. Please contact Brenda Galbraith by email: na4bj@yahoo.com or by phone (260) 466-6479 to RSVP.
Spirit Journey Women Resumes
TUESDAY DECEMBER 19
Bring your own sack lunch to the parlor.
Lunch 12:30-1:00
Book discussion 1:00-2:00
Prayer concerns 2:00-2:15
Join us as you are able!
Lincolnshire COB Audition callout
A play about helping others and how that can help you just as much if not more!
December 18, 2023 7:00 PM at 6404 S Calhoun St. Fort Wayne, IN 46807
Who?
5 women between the ages of 20-60; 2 men any age (Voice over only, not physically on stage)
Southern dialect required for all. One female part ALSO requires NJ dialect. Dialect coaching is an option.
Go online to register and receive more information: https://lcobtheater.wixsite.com/lcob-theater
Thank You for Your Support
Thanks to all who provided dinners, material support, and prayers for Just Neighbors Interfaith Homeless Network during the first week of December. Ten families (19 children, 14 adults) were kept safe, warm, and well fed during this advent season as parents worked and children went to school. Our dinners, lunch items, and household supplies were much appreciated as these families work through this difficult time toward securing suitable housing. In 2024 Beacon Heights will again have three service rotations, with the first coming up in January. Watch for sign-up opportunities to join the Beacon Heights team January 7, 8, and 9 as we continue this service. Also, please pray for the families and staff that they remain healthy as they continue their work.
In the meantime you can check out Just Neighbors on Facebook or you can go to their website http://www.ihnfamily.org/ to keep up with the latest news and needs.
Mark and Barb Beck
NEXT SUNDAY: December 17, 2023
Theme: Fourth Sunday of Advent: We sing stories of hope!
We invite you to settle into the sanctuary at 10:15 for Prayer with Art. This will begin promptly at 10:20 as we let go of busy-ness, and take a much-needed deep breath, focusing on the Spirit's presence and how God is speaking to us through the art we see.
Then, we will explore the revolutionary power of song in a world filled with suffering, death, violence, and hatred.
To prepare, please read: Luke 1:46-55 and Luke 1:67-80.
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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