This SUNDAY: August 13, 2023

Theme: Too much of a good thing.

Our planet is getting overheated by what we burn and do; our politics and public discourse are often overheated by untruths and unhearing; When things get too overheated, we commit violence on each other. Think you don’t? Even the disciples asked to rain down fire on those who didn’t respond to God’s call. What do you do with *heat*? Yours, and the heat all around you? Does anyone’s anger *not* feel righteous?

Please read Luke 9: 51-62 to prepare.

Pastor Anna Lisa Gross

Beacon Heights Welcoming Friends Update

Those of us on the refugee committee are so encouraged by the congregation’s support of our endeavors to welcome a family of refugees. Thank you all so much.

Our family of 4 seems like a perfect fit for BH congregation: father, mother, 3 year old son and 7 month old daughter. At this point, we can’t share too many details until they arrive in the US due to safety concerns for them. We hope to see them within the next 5-7 weeks.

Since we started this journey, we have received offers to help in various ways from many of you. Thank you for that. Our committee has been fairly busy the last couple of weeks assessing our current and future needs. Below are some of those needs. Please sign your name and check off any items that you could help us with. This list of needs will be updated as we fill some needs and determine new ones.

Funds:

We still need $1200 to cover the costs to support the family monetarily for the first 3 months after they arrive. Thanks to those who have contributed so far. We’re getting close to our goal, but not yet there. Even $20 helps. Please mark your donation clearly for the Refugee Fund.

Household Items:

Thanks to donations from Don and Joyce Jordan and a friend of Doug Wages, we have many of the large household items covered. But there are a few items we still need. Please let us know if you can furnish any of these:

• Queen bed mattress (must be new)

• High chair for baby

• Laptop for family

• Area rug for living room for toddler and baby

• Car seats for toddler and baby (2)

Other Assistance:

There are a number of areas where we can use help. Some of these are more immediate; others are needs we will have in the future. It’s helpful for us to have a list of people who would be willing to help.

• Tech assistance in setting up an online calendar to track who is on call for the family, who will be out of town or unavailable from our team. Track appointments and other engagements for the family.

• Help with moving donated furniture. Within the next couple of weeks, we have to move some items to either the church basement or apartment. And then another time to move things from the church basement to the apartment for the family.

• Access to a large vehicle capable of accommodating driver, translator and the family of 4 with 2 car seats. (To meet them when they arrive at airport.)

• Transportation to appointments, applications for benefits, weekly grocery trips, etc.

• Host family for meals in your home or theirs or somewhere out to eat

• Plan outing for family – picnic, zoo, park, etc.

Any other ways you might help that we haven’t thought about yet.

Beacon Heights Welcoming Friends (Refugee Group)
Leslie Sperry, Carla Kilgore, Ev Kilgore, Maurie Sperry, Robyn Valdizon, Brian Zehr, Kyla Zehr

NEXT SUNDAY: August 20, 2023

Theme: Both Sides Now

We live with contradictions, and tensions: We suffer and celebrate, laugh and weep, struggle and sail. We hold mixed emotions, perhaps feeling guilty about some of them. We see devastation around the world and feel that we have no right to happiness, peace, and joy. But even in scripture, we see the overlapping of “opposites.” Suffering and lament is a normal part of human existence, but so is joy and celebration. How do we sense God’s presence with us in the shadows, giving them their due, and also live into celebration?

Please read Revelation 10:8-10 and Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 to prepare.

Pastor Paula Ulrich

Published by Beacon Heights
Church of the Brethren

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