This Sunday: May 28, 2023

Pentecost Sunday
Theme: Survival of the Fittest and Treasuring the Weakest

On this Pentecost Sunday when we celebrate the Spirit of God among us, we will hear Paul reminding us that it’s not only the obvious, measurable gifts that are important. In a culture that values fitness, success, achievements, strength, vitality, good health, and capability . . . how do we understand ourselves when we no longer have those things? We will explore our love for one another as a beloved community that includes everyone, recognizing each member’s worth and value. We will think about the quiet gifts that bless our relationships with one another. And we will look at our interdependence as a gift in the body of Christ, affirming and reminding those who are unable to “do” but share the gift of “being,” instead, and those who “do differently” how very important they are to us.

Please read I Corinthians 12:4-27 to prepare.

Pastor Paula Ulrich

Pastor Paula can be reached by email at pastorpaula@beaconheights.net

Plan to tune in Sunday evening for the next Shalom Conversation
and see current and former Beacon Heights friends!

• Carol Lindquist, a retired school administrator and lay leader in the church

• Irv Heishman, co-pastor of West Charleston Church of the Brethren in Tipp City, Ohio, and a board member for On Earth Peace

• Amy Gall Ritchie, associate pastor for pastoral care and Christian education at Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester, Ind.

The webinars will not be recorded, so put this on your calendar!

Sunday, May 28, 7-8 p.m. (Eastern time) Please register here.

The vision:

Annual Conference Moderator Tim McElwee envisions the conversations as opportunities for the church as a whole to “gain a greater sense of our spiritual health as a faith community, especially as it pertains to the experiences of sisters and brothers who have sometimes been under-valued or even marginalized within the church.”

“I describe these sessions as something like a group of friends sitting around a table having coffee and sharing conversation,” McElwee said. “Those in the gallery could be understood as other friends, within earshot, and listening in to the conversation with permission.”

He hopes the series will be well received as an invitation to listen with love and to resolve to take action to “bring more justice and love into our churches and our world.”

Being a guest observer at the Mennonite Church-USA special delegate assembly last May brought the inspiration. “I was so inspired by their discussions concerning their proposed Resolution for Repentance and Transformation regarding the violence against LGBTQ+ members of their church,” McElwee said. “In small groups, and in larger settings, two of the key questions they discussed were: what are the benefits of learning about others’ lived experiences as they pertain to the resolution? and what are the unintended consequences when we don’t build the capacity to understand others’ lived experiences? Many people made it clear that these discussions played a key role in better understanding the dire need to transform their relationships with one another.”

Anna Lisa Gross and Samuel Sarpiya are facilitating these Shalom Conversations.

Help Plant Watermelons for the Food Bank

 June is here and that means it’s time to plant the watermelons for the food bank.  I have enjoyed doing this for the last 15 years, however it’s getting more and more difficult so I am asking for some help.  I am planning to do the plant this coming Saturday, June 3 at 9 o’clock in the morning.  It shouldn’t take more than 2-3 hours.  We will be planting the melons in Sandy and I’s backyard, in the area of Maplecrest and St Joe Center Rd.  If you can help us out, we would appreciate that greatly.  If you are planning to come, you’ll need to wear garden planting clothing and bring some work gloves.  It would be nice if you could let us know you’re planning to attend.  Thank you very much!

Dave Kiracofe
(260) 402-7877

For those interested in membership:

On June 4 and 11, we will be hosting luncheons to share a conversation about what it means to become a member of Beacon Heights Church. Those who are interested in membership (even if you're just curious) should attend both luncheons. Bring something you like to eat (for yourself or to share). Connect with Dave Wysong or a Pastor if you have any questions.

Save the Date: July 22nd
Fort Wayne Pride Fest!

Pride Fest is coming up, and we’re starting to get organized! As in past years, we will have a table/booth in the non-profit area at the festival, in Headwaters Park East. We are seeking volunteers to staff our booth, which we will have set up from 12 noon to around 7pm, on July 22nd. It was fairly busy last year, so we’re hoping to have 3 or more people present at all times. Please connect with Beth Crook or Thom Quinlan if you would like to assist at the Beacon Heights booth!

We are also seeking donations of cases of water bottles. Bring them to church any time (marked clearly for Pride Fest), and we can put the labels on them during the Meet & Eat time in the morning before church, as they arrive. We actually ran out of water last year.

Note these Pride March changes for 2023: Due to heavy construction in the area as well as a large amount of participants, the Pride March will kick off on Saturday, July 22nd at 2pm to the north of the Headwaters East festival plaza (near the Headwaters fountain).
The March is open to all Pride supporters.

Next Sunday: June 4, 2023

Theme: Sleep and surrender (when enough is…enough!)

God created not just the heavens, the earth, all creatures on the earth and under the earth…God created rest. God rested and created in rhythm, from the very beginning. Some of us have healthy rhythms of work and rest. Some of us work and/or worry until we collapse. How can we let enough be enough? In a peaceful and faithful way? How can sleep be a spiritual discipline?

Please read Genesis 1: 1 — 2: 3 and 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 to prepare.

Pastor Anna Lisa Gross

Published by Beacon Heights
Church of the Brethren

Editor: Melinda Long
Phone: (260) 482-8595
Email: office@beaconheights.net