The BEACON The Newsletter of Binkley Baptist Church June 30, 2010

Dear Friends: Christian Education—opening human minds and hearts, helping form our characters—is very much at the core of what the Church is all about.

Last week we celebrated a successful Vacation Bible School, with more than sixty children both from Binkley and the wider community, supported by almost as many adults and youth who were involved in a host of different ways. Led by Angela Snider and Beth Honeycutt, it was a week full of discovery and song, full of grace. This past Sunday the children were an important part of our Sunday morning worship. They patiently took part in the whole service and shared music they learned so well, so the congregation could get a taste of what they had learned. Enthusiastic thanks to all who were involved with VBS 2010 from the youngest child to the oldest volunteer!

I am mindful as I picture the faces of our children that this month we will be bidding farewell to our Christian Education Minister. Beth Honeycutt, her husband, Brian Graves, and their son Jonathan are moving and pursuing new opportunities. Beth has worked hard over the past four years to support this congregation in providing excellent learning opportunities for people of all ages, from the nursery to adult education. We want to make sure we say goodbye well at a reception following worship on Sunday July 11th. Please take the opportunity to come and shake hands, share a hug and say how much you have appreciated both Beth and her family.

In ministry as in the rest of life, no one human can—or ought to—replace another. We will say goodbye to Beth conscious of her unique strengths and her careful attention to detail, and wish her well and hold her in prayer as she seeks personal clarity and sacred guidance for whatever ministry lies ahead. We will welcome others with their own gifts and approaches, first to help us through a time of transition and later to help us shape and strengthen this critically important ministry.

The Christian Education Board and I are making arrangements for short term interim coverage of Christian Education; we will announce publicly in the next couple of weeks our staffing plans for the next six months. For the long-term position, we will conduct a more involved search. The CE Board has nominated a Search Committee (approved by the Council) in keeping with our church constitution. Members are Nancy Cheek, Joe Clontz, Howard Lee, Meg Graham, Dick Clifford and Alice Glover. I will work closely as staff support to clarify position priorities, and find the right person to be an integral part of our ministry team, to continue to create and support opportunities for personal growth through education, intergenerational fellowship and worship for all ages.

In the midst of the changes around us, we are confident that there is one thing that is steady and secure: the Love that binds us together with a great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and with others who will surely follow, when we are done. May God guide us in the weeks and months ahead.

In Christ’s Peace,

Binkley Baptist Church 1712 Willow Drive

Chapel Hill NC 27514 919-942-4964

www.binkleychurch.org

Church Staff

Peter JB Carman Minister

peter@binkleychurch.org

Dale Osborne Associate Minister

dale@binkleychurch.org

Beth Honeycutt Minister of

Christian Education beth@binkleychurch.org

Leandra Merea Strope

Minister of Music leandra@binkleychurch.org

Duane Gilbert

Bookkeeper business@binkleychurch.org

Maureen Rosen Office Manager

office@binkleychurch.org

Bo Lloyd Organist

GEL1210@aol.com

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GENERAL FUND: June -2010

Actual Budget Difference

Previous year $3,090 $2,890 $ 200

Current year $282,850 $303,929 -$21,079

Non-pledged $14,207 $22,000 -$7,793

Undesignated $4,868 $4,500 $368

Birthday bank $644 $750 -$106

Building use $15,883 $16,800 -$917

Int/money market $258 $0.00 $258

Totals $321,800 $350,869 -$29,069

Balance 6/01/10 Gifts Recd Disbursed Balance 06/28/10

$1,008 $603 -$987 $624

PASTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND

FINANCES: Note from the data for

June 2010 that income is $29,000 below the

budgeted amount. We normally experience a

slump during the summer. This year it is a

little larger that usual, but we are not panicked YET!

JULY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

July 4 Communion Sunday; Peter Carman preaching; Scott Coats presentation

July 11

Peter Carman preaching; Goodbye to Beth event after worship

July 18

Dale Osborne preaching; Justice United during Worship

July 25

Peter Carman preaching; Luis Daniel event after worship; tour of Binkley

NEED SOME COMPUTER HELP? Thomas Price, a sophomore Computer Science major at Elon, is volunteering his services as a hobbyist computer consultant, free of charge. If you know of someone who is in need of computer assistance but does not have the means to hire professional help, please have them contact Thomas at 619-2390 or thomaswprice@msn.com with a description of the problem.

KUDOS TO ELLEY SHELP-PECK who recently spoke alone before the Durham Board of Commissioners to voice her protest about the proposed budget cuts in the Durham Public School that would decrease the number of teachers, and specifically, teachers in the arts. Go get ‘em, Elley!

THANK YOU, BINKLEY, for 4 very important years of my life. It has been a great honor to minister with you. We will miss you, and definitely miss Jonathan growing up in your midst. But we trust that good things are ahead for each of us. Blessings on being the church in the world today, especially in the ministry of faith formation. My last Sunday is July 11 (Jonathan’s 2nd birthday!). I will be around the office some the week afterwards. We look forward to celebrating Dana and Fred’s wedding too. Then we move late July to Mars Hill, NC.

Peace and blessings, Beth

JUSTICE UNITED: From our founding in 1958, Binkley Church has been at the forefront of movements for social justice in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Orange County, taking seriously the mission of Old Testament prophets and Jesus to "do justice." So it is no surprise that Binkley is actively engaged in Orange County Justice United, a new organization whose goal is positive social change for and by the people of the community.

Justice United (JU) is different from most of the organizations Binkley members have been part of in the past. JU does not provide social services like the Interfaith Council or focus on one issue like Habitat for Humanity. In fact both of these groups are members of JU, along with 25 faith communities and 13 neighborhood associations and non-profits. Instead, the goal is to help ordinary citizens, especially those who are often excluded, to organize and get power -- the ability to act -- to bring about social change. JU does it by building relationships, listening to the concerns of people in one-on-one meetings or small groups. When JU identifies problems, it forms action teams to research the issue, talk with community and political leaders, and seek solutions. JU is not a protest group. It is non-ideological and non-partisan; it does not endorse candidates for public office. JU tries always to suggest constructive solutions. This involves much negotiation and occasional public actions where a large group of JU members attend a city council or county commissioners meeting.

JU is diverse--Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Pentecostal, Black, White, Latino. It has worked with Chapel Hill and Carrboro to institute living wage policies to raise the wages of town governments' lowest paid workers. It has worked with residents of Rogers Road to prevent a waste transfer station from being placed in an African American neighborhood, and with immigrant families and the owners of low income apartments to eliminate bed bugs which were keeping children awake at night. For more information, you are invited to a meeting after worship on Sunday, July 18. You may also visit the website, www.ocjuice.org, or talk with Tom Fewel, Connie Gates, Caroline Lindsay, Paul Lindsay, Dale Osborne, Sheryl Scrimsher, or Carole Stevens.

ONE IS NEARER GOD'S HEART IN A GARDEN THAN ANYWHERE ELSE ON EARTH. Dorothy Frances Gurney, "Garden Thoughts”

Binkley gardeners must spend a lot of time close to the heart of God and the beauty they have co-created is a joy for all of us. Creating such beauty requires imagination, knowledge, patience, time and plain ole hard work. The Grounds Committee met with our gardeners recently and learned a lot about the work they do, the history of the gardens, and some good ideas for the future. We want to make sure you know the special gardeners who have devoted a long term commitment to specific Binkley gardens. One thing they have in common is humility: each gardener prefers the gardens be named by their location emphasizing that the gardens belong to everyone at Binkley. The Kitchen Garden, which has a long history of care including the work of Bill and Hilda Moffitt and later Carol and Matthew Ripley-Moffitt, has been under the loving care of Susan Resnik for about 5 years. She has emphasized color and makes sure something is blooming and attractive in all seasons in this friendly cottage garden. The Rose Garden requires a team of volunteers and is overseen by Jo Flair in memory of her husband Merle. Everyone who walks or drives by enjoys the fragrance and beauty of the roses and admires the devotion of those who help create this lovely spot. The Courtyard Garden grows under the careful attention of Bob Seymour. Bob reports the garden, now in bloom for over 20 years, was started by Karen Elder and he continues it in her memory. This bountiful garden of blooming perennials greets members and visitors as they arrive and co-delights choir members each time they pass by. The Memorial Garden has been Carol Hogue’s special project, with beautiful grass and plantings located in the space dedicated for the ashes of Binkley loved ones, and is green and lush due to a watering system she added that also supports the Courtyard Garden. Carol credits Bill McNairy for his involvement in establishing the irrigation. Carol points out the need for young gardeners to get involved at Binkley. Some special person who might be just the right one to learn under her tutelage would be a lucky young gardener indeed. The Fellowship Hall Garden has been showing off the talents of Ann Brock assisted by her husband Roy. The garden honors former gardeners Bonnie Hensley and Clyde Hensley. Its shrubs and flowering perennials give us a spot of color from early spring to late summer. We applaud all these gardeners and urge you to thank them too. ~On behalf of Binkley Church, many thanks from the Grounds Committee: Bob Phillips and Tom Fewel (co-chairs), Karin Mills, Janet O’Neal, Bobby Wagoner.

JUL

Y 2

010

HAPPY JULY ANNIVERSARIES!

2 Margaret and Wade Atkins, 1950

3 Joy Salyers and Isaac Grove, 2004 5 Karen Long and Arlon Kemple, 1980 6 Harry and Lynda Jensen, 1958

7 Tamara and Van Dempsey-Tanner, 1984; Dale and Suzy Osborne, 1984

13 Deborah and Jim Tippett,

15 Amy Fain and Mark Roseman, 1989

19 Billy and Anne Barnes, 1952

23 Carl Johnson and Anna Kirby, 2005

24 Myra and Joe Knight, 1976

25 Janie Benson and John Weathers, 1981; Betsy and Bob Kreutzberg, 1970

26 Jean and Mike Chitwood, 1980; Kimberly and Franklin Eastman-Zirkle, 1986

31 Joe and Eva Clontz, 1965; Becky and Wayne Robinson, 1971

HAPPY JULY BIRTHDAYS! 2: Emily Barrow, Laura Borowski 3. Marian Mueller 4: David Green, Lyn Lamont, Stephen Tanner 6: Judy Eastman, Rachel Avery 8: Mark Walters 9: Cheryl Richards, Stacy Shelp 10: Christian Savelli, Leigh Seymour 11: Jonathan Graves, Rebecca Hilburn-Trenkle 12: Haley Pratt 13: Carl May, Bob Seymour, Dot Simpson 14: Merrie Shelp 15: Margaret Atkins, Nia Simpson 16: Alice Faulkner, Carole Stevens, Jane Walters 17: Nancy Berson, Katherine Champion, Timothy Walker 18: Walker Knight 19: Matthew Wofford 20: Bob Kozelka, CL Morton 21: Elise Goldman 23: Barbara Elder, Rob Nelson 24: Bob Mueller 26: Samuel Snider, Scott Weathers 27: Ana Cheek, Nancy Joyner 28: Howard Lee, Andy Phillippi, Margaret Reed 29: Tamara Dempsey-Tanner, Thomas Price 31: Matteus Butler, John Woodson

JULY NURSERY DUTY

July 4 Joe, Myra and Walker Knight, Carol Kille, Jo Lea. Anna Kirby greets.

July 11 Paul and Caroline Lindsay, Rob Lewis, Karen Long, Kay Maltbie. Angela Snider greets.

July 18 Bill McNairy, Marge Miles, Carolyn and Mark Morton. Kara Richards-Baker greets.

July 25 Bob Phillips and Anne Winfield, Tim Pyatt, Amy Quinlan, Betty Raft. Greeter TBA.

www.binkleychurch.org

Have you RSVP’d to Dana Trent and Fred Eaker’s July 17th wedding? You can do so on the sign-up sheet on the front of the narthex closet door, opposite the baptistry. Or email Mo at office@binkleychurch.org.

THANK YOU: Now that my cancer is in remission, I wish to thank all who prayed, sent cards, and good thoughts and wishes for my recovery. I still have the cancer but it’s in remission due to the drugs that I take monthly, weekly, and daily. That said I am feeling good, like my normal self before I had the cancer and the treatments that followed its diagnosis. I thank you, and ask God's blessings on you, too. Gratefully, Lew Miles.

WHY WE LOVE THE BINKLEY BARBEE’S YARD SALE, BY JOY WOOD AND TOM FEWEL

1. We love clearing out stuff we no longer need. 2. We love working with all the happy people who promote the sale; set up the rooms; pick up, receive, sort, price, display, and sell the donated items; and clean up afterward. 3. We love the day of the sale: meeting excited folks who come to shop, talking to them about the treasures they’ve found, telling them about Binkley and Barbee’s and why we do this. 4. We love seeing the proceeds go to outreach programs.

We want to sell more than 10,000 items this year so we need donations from you, your friends, and your neighbors. Can you help move furniture, arrange children’s clothes, price thingamajigs? Check the schedule below then send us an email message, give us a call, or go to www.binkleychurch.org/contact/yard_sale_volunteer_signup. We’ll help you find your place in this event. Joy Wood, joy_wood@unc.edu. Tom Fewel, tfewel@gmail.com. Both 929-3594.

Pre-Sale Setup: August 2-6

Receiving and Sorting Hours: Two weeks of collection from Saturday, August 7, through Friday, August 20 August 7: Saturday 9 AM until noon August 8: Sunday noon until 5 PM August 9-13: Monday–Friday noon to 7 PM August 14: Saturday 9 AM until noon August 15: Sunday noon until 5 PM August 16–19: Monday–Thursday 9 AM until 9 PM August 15: Friday 9 AM until noon

SALE HOURS: AUGUST 21, 8 AM UNTIL 1 PM

WELCOME TO BINKLEY, NEW MEMBERS! Tessa Benjamin and Jordan Hale: 6123 Farrington Road, A5, Chapel Hill NC 27514; 667-4946 Pamela Nielsen and Grace Brehler: 1607 St. Mary’s Road, Hillsborough, NC 28278; 644-0973 Peter Carman and Lynn Bodden: 1712 Vista Street, Durham NC 27701; 682-3486 Chris Copeland: 807 E Main Street #6114, Durham NC 27701; 627-7282 Alice Faulkner: 1209 Roosevelt Drive, Chapel Hill NC 27514; 967-0564 Michael Jokich and Beth Welton: 101 Millingport Ct., Chapel Hill NC 27517; 929-5946 Clare Kurdys: 301 South Road #210, Winston Hall, Chapel Hill NC 27514; 828-230-6377 Isabelle Lee: 205 Black Tie Lane, Chapel Hill NC 27514; 933-8850 Laurel Raposa: 334 Ashley Forest Road, Chapel Hill NC 27514; 967-1285

VBS 2010 Report

From June 21-25, Binkley took part in Vacation Bible School, a very important program in the life of the church. Children with little or lots of church experience deepened their connection with a spiritual community in an opportunity lengthier than Sunday mornings to have conversation and fellowship. Our three hour mornings give us a longer block of time so we can learn in a variety of creative ways.

We welcomed 66 children to VBS, who came from 42 households, both from our congregation and from the community at large. Any of these kids could make a lifelong connection with a faith community. Any of these kids could do great things. With nurture and guidance, they could make peace, do justice and walk humbly with God…everywhere they go: in their schools, in their homes, in their neighborhoods, around town, in our country, and throughout the world.

Indeed, this was the focus of this year’s VBS: “God’s World, Our World.” We focused on experiencing and caring for God's world through the 5 senses God gave us. Our lectionary based curriculum used stories we have been hearing in worship lately: the wonder of God’s world (Psalm 8); Jesus raising the widow’s son and the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet (both from Luke); God speaks in a whisper (1 Kings 19); the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Through storytelling, music, art, and science, the children explored these stories in a safe and fun environment. The children gave an offering each day to benefit the Vasco da Gama Community Center in Brazil. During the opening assemblies, Dale Osborne shared about his sabbatical travels there to help us make connections with friends in Brazil. Our offering totaled $305.35!

It is a rare opportunity these days for a church to have a program of this scope offered in the morning. Mornings are the best time of day for children to learn and make the most of a weeklong program. To make our terrific VBS a reality, 57 people volunteered their time and resources. This included 37 adult volunteers and 20 youth volunteers, making this a remarkable intergenerational opportunity. The names of these saints are listed below! Additional gratitude is due to those who worked with the refugee families Binkley recently resettled to make sure their children were involved in VBS.

Guppies Leaders Bill Bodkin, Jo Lea, Emily Fulcher, Rachel Jenkins, Grace Brehler, Ana Swanson-Boyd

Minnows Leaders Tim Bradshaw, Lori Cahill, Marge Miles, Stephanie Hawkins, Melanie Perry, Keith Ramer, Jay Rogers, Haih Siu

Whales Shepherds Kathy Keyser, Sylvia Ramer, Sarah Fulcher, Imani Simpson, Alex Swanson-Boyd, Zach Szostak

Sea Horses Shepherds Raqi Guy, Christine Jernigan, Scott Weathers, Walker Knight, Allison Walters

Dolphins Shepherds Michael Bean, Stephanie O’Daly Thomas Price

Elementary Art Merrie Shelp, Lyn Lamont, Dalton Hogue, Sam Siu, Ham Siu

Preschool Art Lena Hudock, Emma McNairy, Linda Textoris

Music Leaders Hannah Osborne, Jenny Walters, Brian Graves, Stacy Shelp (CDs/home use), Leandra Merea Strope (transferring songs to sheet music)

Storyteller Sharlene Meisner

Explorations Leaders Nancy Cheek, Sue Schroeder, Kam Siu, Somer Szostak, Linda Textoris Dianne Willis

Refreshments Mike Berkut, Daniel and Raqi Guy Pat McKenzie

Decorations Caryl Fulcher, Libby Fosso, Emma McNairy, Brazil Team

Welcome Table Gloria Lightsey-Lewis, Linda Textoris

Registrar Katherine Walker Photography Heather Rabalais

Opening Assembly Angela Snider, Director; Beth Honeycutt, Minister of Christian Ed; Dale Osborne, Associate Minister; Peter Carman, Minister

Prayer Concerns in the Church Family: Dot Simpson, Nettie Wilburn, Leo Wagoner, Jo Flair, Phillippi family, John Overton, Alice Glover, Aaron Shah, Claudia Cannady, Brooke Wheeler, Bob and Betsy Kreutzberg, Martha Henderson, Andi Elliott, members of Job Seekers, others seeking support. Prayer Concerns in the Extended Family: Linda Sisk (Mark Walters' mother), Kellie Brady (Heather Rabalais' friend), Norma McKenzie (Pat's mother), Barbara Osborne (Dale's mother), Geoff and Maria Frank (friends of Karen Long), Dot Peterson and family (Susan Resnik's aunt), Brenda Baker (Drew's mother), Rosalie Skinner (Michele Mabry's mother), Kevin Roberts (Christine Jernigan's cousin), Elizabeth McLachlan (friend of Stacy Shelp), Gail Carson's sister, Tessa Benjamin's family in Haiti, Eric Wells (Julie Jennings' friend), Susan Campbell (Julie Kern's sister), Martha T. Smith (Allison Corum's mother), Sally Rockriver (David Resnik's sister), Bo Stevenson (Bonnie's father), Lynn Marcin and her mother Jean Steele (friends of Frank Smith), Mary Booth (friend of Caroline Lindsay), David McIlwain (Ashley Nissler's uncle), Ram Thapa, Carol Salzgaber, Frances Daughtrey (Heather Rabalais & Nathan Daughtrey's grandmother), Marie Long (Karen's mother), Meg Kemper (Sybil Wagner's friend), Carley Pardington (Joe's mother), Henry Hall (Howard Lee's brother-in-law), Carol Richardson (Bonnie and Laura Rogers' mother), John Kent's father, Johnnie Johnson, (friend of Lillian Lee), family of Thomas Barnett (Karen Long's friend), Tan and Scott Coats, Tara Hogan (Talmadge Walker's niece), Gulf Coast (marine and land life). Health Center Residents: Rusty Wagoner, Laurie Freeman, Joan Ewing, Carolyn Wallace, Beth Jukes, Marj Boltz. We offer prayers of sympathy to Elizabeth Stroop on the death of her father, Don Stroop, on June 22. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 26; and to Nancy Ehle and Jeremy Nord on the death of their husband and father, Warren Nord, on June 19. A memorial service for Warren was held on Tuesday, June 22. Prayers for our men and women in the armed forces: Paul Smith, grandson of Allen Smith, who is in Iraq.

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Binkley Baptist Church 1712 Willow Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27514 (919) 942-4964 www.binkleychurch.org RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED