the chimes - east lake united methodist...2018/11/10 · this might be something that has troubled...
TRANSCRIPT
The Chimes April 2018
Volume 59, Issue 4
The Chimes November 2018
Volume 59, Issue 11
In the neighborhood for good!
Gratitude
I was standing in my kitchen holding the body of Christ. I had come from a chapel service at the Conference building where we shared Com- munion. Normally when we have Communion here at the church, if we have any bread left over, I give it out to the children who gather around me asking for more. I try to use that as a teaching moment for the children, and as a reminder to me, that there is always enough love and grace to go around. But there hadn’t been any children at chapel that morning and the Communion bread had been sent home with me in a large plastic bag. There was about a half a loaf of wonderful sour dough bread left. I had toasted some for breakfast, and eaten a few handfuls as a snack—“when- ever you eat this, do this in remembrance of me.” But there was a lot of it, and now it was no longer fresh. Do I just throw it away? I wondered. That doesn’t seem right. And in as long as it took me to think that thought, as I stood holding the plastic zip bag over the garbage can, I heard a whisper in my ear that I took to be the Spirit. How often do we let God’s gifts go to waste? How many times to we treat the very Body of Christ, gifts and love and mercy and even God’s own children as something that can be discarded. In that quick glimpse, I had a renewed sense of gratitude for the mercies God pours on me and all of us. I promised a new regard for Christ’s body in all the forms it comes to us. As ideas of thanksgiving and stewardship surround us this month, let us be mindful of what we do with what God has given to us. Do we waste it, disregard it, even forget about it? Or do we treasure and savor each wonderful gift that is given in every child, young and old, that gathers around the table asking us if there is enough love and mercy for them? Grateful to serve with you,
Sally
Coming in December! The latest production of the
Belltower Players
And the December item is RICE!
EACM Item for November:
RICE
2 November 2018
A Way Forward: New Class At the 2016 General Conference, the Council of Bishops formed a Commission on a Way Forward to deal with the impasse of the United Methodist Church concerning issues of full inclusion of LGBTQ individuals as regards the language in the Discipline and the practice of individual churches. Much study and prayer has occurred over this past year on this topic, and in February of 2019 a called General Conference will meet to determine the future of the UMC. This might be something that has troubled you over the past year or it might be something that is totally new information to you. The Rev. Tom Duley will offer a class on Sunday mornings at 10 to discuss the plans that are offered and how they might affect us. He will then extend the class to discuss why this topic of inclusion is so important. Please join him in the diner beginning on November 11. The class will run through December 2.
The Chimes is published monthly by East Lake United Methodist Church.
Editor: Jane Phares Deadline for articles: The 15th of the month prior to
publication month.
East Lake United Methodist Church 7753 First Avenue South (corner of 2nd Ave. S. & 78th)
Birmingham, AL 35206
www.eastlakeumc.net
(205) 836-3201(office) (205) 836-3203 (FAX)
Pastoral and Program Staff:
Rev. Sally Allocca, Senior Pastor (205) 821-8804
Rev. Melissa Patrick, Assoc. Pastor (205) 901-5066
Mr. Barry Norris (205) 540-1820
Dr. Jane Phares (205) 821-8632 [email protected]
From Pastor Melissa . . . Four months! Really?! That’s how long I’ve been in ministry with you all, and oh, what a blessing! Strength for today? Most definitely gathered around the table—in the Diner, with the children at Step Up After School, with the Seniors at local restaurants, and at Christ’s table – where we are fed, spiritually and physically. Gathering in the Chapel on Wednesdays for chair yoga and centering prayer definitely gives me strength for today and enlivens my hope for now and into the future. During this season of harvest and remember-ing, we may find great joy, or stress and anxiety, or maybe a mixture of all of the above. We are surrounded by our dear saints who rest with God, and we miss them. And yet we are blessed to be part of the saints here on earth. As we gather around tables of thanksgiving, and as we move through this season of intentionally recounting our blessings and discerning our tithes to God, let us remind one another of the Source of our strength, the One who gives bright hope for today and for tomorrow. And at the end of each day, as we prepare for sleep, take a few slow, deep breaths and then release the events and the persons of our day into the heart of God.
Blessings,
Pastor Melissa
Join us for the
Eastern Area
Christian Ministries
Joint Thanksgiving Service
Thursday, November 15, at 11 a.m.
(Lunch provided afterwards)
Huffman United Methodist
The Chimes 3
November Birthdays
1
2 3
4 *Cheryl Lott
5 6 7 8
9 *John Burgin
10 *Sara Heard
11 12 *Betty King
13
14 *Lillian Nelson
15 16 17
18 *Margaret Hooper
19 20
21 22 23
*Margaret Skinner
24
25 *Ja’Leshia Luster
26 27 *Linda Pierce
28 29 30
For our final “Boomer’s Choice” outing this year, Keith Fine has chosen our neighborhood El Cazador on Montclair Road. We will meet there on Friday night, November 16, at 6 p.m. In December, as we said in last month’s Chimes, we’ll stay in at the diner and have a potluck. More plans will be coming in the December issue, but be thinking about what you’ll bring for “White Elephant Take-away.” (Again, if you’re not familiar with the term “White Elephant,” one of the definitions is “an object no longer of value to its owner but of value to others.”) Look around your house and garage and see what strikes you as something you’re ready to part with that someone else might love to have. This should be fun!
It’s birthday month for three of our regular Super Seniors! How exciting is that? ’Though our second Tuesday is right smack in the middle of two of our birthdays, we will go ahead and have our movie that day (the 13th, at 10 a.m.). Once again, we have several Thanksgiving-themed movies to choose from: Home for the Holidays (with Holly Hunter and Robert Downey, Jr.), Curly Sue (with James Belushi), and Grumpy Old Men (with Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, and Ann-Margret). Scope them out and see which one we should choose! On Tuesday, November 27, we will gather at 10:30 a.m. in the back room of the diner for a November/December birthday party. Be sure to come if you are one of the birthday girls! We may play “pin the tail on the donkey”!
FALL FESTIVAL! Saturday, November 10, 10:00 am – 12 noon
bouncy house, cake walk, games, face painting, fun for families with children 12 & under
4 November 2018
Music Notes ’midst Organ-izing
The changing leaves, bright sunshine, brilliant blue skies, and brisk temperatures herald this season. Since November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought I’d begin listing the many things for which I’m thankful. Life and health are a good beginning. Another is family, some of which are "blood kin," and others of which are "claimed kin," both vital and necessary to my being. Then there are those who’ve gone before, who have loved me, and patiently helped shape me. There are good friends, like yourselves, who walk the way with me; there’s a goodly place to live, many sources of great food, and the opportunity to grow, inside and out. Part of that growth is to present the choir, and ultimately the 9:00 congregation with anthems that enrich and inspire our worship every Sunday morning. The challenge is threefold. First, the music must fit the musical strengths of our personnel, numerically and vocally; and be learnable within our meek 45-minute-long rehearsal time each week. Second, the anthems should go hand-in-hand with what is particular to a certain Sunday—sermon emphasis, scripture readings, and hymns. And for the next few Sundays, thirdly, the anthems should in some way reflect our time of stewardship and commitment. My ideal is to have four to six weeks’ rehearsal on each piece. Our singers get here way before church time, each Sunday, so that we may learn all the new music. They also rehearse many Saturday mornings in November and December for Lessons and Carols (on December 16!) and then soon repeat the process for the Lenten music. Choir members, I’ve said it before, and it is well-worth mentioning again, I love you from the bottom of my heart. You all, indeed, are my greatest thanks-giving.
Barry
A Word from your Lay Leader
As I’m writing, we have just finished our fall bazaar. Whew! It was a great day, even though we didn’t have the crowds we had hoped for. Even so, we made over $2000 for the church budget! That part is very exciting! When we revived the bazaar last year and again this year, I thought so much about Margaret Pyron, a faith-ful church member and also a member of our Missions Committee for many years. Each year at the bazaar, she would present me with a check for anywhere from five- to seven hundred dollars, money she had saved from cakes and preserves and other goodies she had made for people throughout the year. She would tell her friends who asked her for one of her luscious chocolate cakes that she would make the cake for them (or sell the preserves) for a donation to East Lake UMC’s missions. And in the fall, we would reap the benefits of her labor of love. Margaret was an extra-mile giver. She kept her goal firmly in mind throughout the year, and it paid off for her and for us. What a wonderful inspiration to us all!
Jane Phares
Save the Dates!!! Mark your calendars for the exciting activities coming up next month:
Saturday, December 1, 11 a.m. The Hanging of the Green
Thursday-Sunday, December 6-9 The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular
(Details coming soon)
Wednesday, December 12, 5:30 p.m. Neighborhood Christmas Party and Tree Lighting
Sunday, December 16, 2:30 p.m. Lessons and Carols Service
Thursday, December 20, 7 p.m. Blue Christmas Service
Monday, December 24, 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Service
Tuesday, December 25, 10 a.m. Christmas Day Service and Brunch
“Keep on praying for the saints . . .” Ephesians 6:18
We extend our sympathies to
The family of Gerry Ricketts, who died on
September 4. Gerry was such a presence in our
church for a very long time, especially working
with children, training acolytes, and making them
all feel special and important;
The family of Alcie Ward, who passed away on
October 22. She was a member of the Alma
Boggan Class but had not been able to attend for
quite some time;
Kim Smith and Hugh Ilenda, Julia Caddell and her
family, in the loss of Johnny Smith, on October 24.
Johnny touched many lives, both as a long-time
member of ELUMC, and in all other paths he
traveled.
Please keep these families in your prayers as they
go through this time of grief.
The Chimes 5
Lectionary Readings for November I keep your word close, in my heart, so that I won’t sin against you.
Psalm 119:11 (CEB)
Sunday, November 4 – Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide Ruth 1:1-18 Hebrew 9:11-14 Psalm 146 Mark 12:28-34
Sunday, November 11 – Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Hebrews 9:24-28 Psalm 127 or Psalm 42 Mark 12:38-44
Sunday, November 18 – Twenty Sixth Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 1 Samuel 2:1-10 or Psalm 113 Mark 13:1-8
Sunday, November 25 – Last Sunday after Pentecost/in Kingdomtide 2 Samuel 23:1-7 Revelation 1:4b-8 Psalm 132:1-12 John 18:33-37
The Chimes 5
Memorials & Honoraria
Gifts have been given to the church in memory of:
Yvonne Duncan
Alison Walker
Jim Eady
Cliff, Mary, Mike, & Martha
Clifford Harris
Alison Walker
Frances Killingsworth
Mattie Lou Harrison, for her birthday on Nov. 14
Alison Walker
Mary Osborne
Alma Boggan Class
Alma & Jack Boggan
Martha J. Ellis
Sara Shepherd
Bobby & Jean Cox
Kelley Wilson
Gifts have been given to the church in honor of:
Mattie Lou Harrison
Alison Walker
Jane Walker
Alison Walker
6 November 2018
Thursday, November 1 Diner and Dominoes – 12 noon (Diner)
Sunday, November 4 Traditional worship – 9 a.m. (Sanctuary) Sunday School – 10 a.m. (various classrooms) Alternative worship – 11 a.m. (Chapel)
Wednesday, November 7 Centering Prayer/Chair Yoga – 10:00 a.m.
(Chapel) Adult Bible Study – 11 a.m. (Fireside Room) Trustees Committee meeting – 1 p.m. (back room of the diner)
Thursday, November 8 Diner and Dominoes – 12 noon (Diner)
Saturday, November 10 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal – 9:30-11:00 a.m. Edge Piano and Voice Recital (Shelly Ann Edge McDonald, teacher) – 3 p.m. (Sanctuary)
Sunday, November 11 Traditional worship – 9 a.m. (Sanctuary) Alternative worship – 11 a.m. (Chapel) Finance Committee meeting – 2 p.m. (Office
Conference Room)
Monday, November 12 VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY
CHURCH OFFICE AND DINER CLOSED
Tuesday, November 13 Super Seniors Second Tuesday movie – 10 a.m.
(Office Conference Room)
Wednesday, November 14 Centering Prayer/Chair Yoga – 10:00 a.m.
(Chapel) Adult Bible Study – 11 a.m. (Fireside Room)
Thursday, November 15 Diner and Dominoes – 12 noon (Diner) EACM Joint Thanksgiving Service and Lunch – 11 :00 a.m. (Huffman United Methodist)
Friday, November 16 Boomers outing to El Cazador – Meet at 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 17 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal – 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Sunday, November 18 – Commitment Sunday Traditional worship – 9 a.m. (Sanctuary) Sunday School – 10 a.m. (various classrooms) Alternative worship – 11 a.m. (Chapel)
Wednesday, November 21 Centering Prayer/Chair Yoga – 10:00 a.m.
(Chapel) Adult Bible Study – 11 a.m. (Fireside Room)
Thursday, November 22 THANKSGIVING DAY
CHURCH OFFICE AND DINER CLOSED
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 23 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
CHURCH OFFICE AND DINER CLOSED
Saturday, November 24 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal – 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Sunday, November 25 Traditional worship – 9 a.m. (Sanctuary) Sunday School – 10 a.m. (various classrooms) Alternative worship – 11 a.m. (Chapel)
Tuesday, November 27 Seniors November/December birthday party – 10:30 a.m. (Back room of the diner)
Wednesday, November 28 Centering Prayer/Chair Yoga – 10:00 a.m.
(Chapel) Adult Bible Study – 11 a.m. (Fireside Room)
Thursday, November 29 Diner and Dominoes – 12 noon (Diner)
November 2018