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The Beech Grove
STAR
February – March, 2015
Upcoming Events
Sunday, February 8
Scout Sunday
Saturday, February 14
Happy Valentine's Day!
February 17 6-8 pm
UMM Fat Tuesday
Pancake Supper
February 27 - 28
Youth Group's
30 Hour Famine
March 2 - 21
Easter Egg Factory
Open Sale Dates
Sunday, March 8
Daylight Savings Time
-spring forward
Tuesday, March 17
Happy St. Patrick's Day
4251 Driver Lane, Suffolk, Virginia 23435 (757) 538-8353 phone
The season of Epiphany journeys on as a time of reflecting on the wise men’s experience. This is a time of “revelation” or “awakening.”
The Lenten season immediately follows as a time of preparation, repentance and self-
Pastor’s Corner…
Beech Grove crushes Stop Hunger Now goal!
Throughout the past several months, Beech Grove members donated toward the $2,900 Missions Outreach goal to host a Stop Hunger Now event. Not only was the goal met, it was doubled with $5,800 collected! On Saturday, January 24th, fifty-eight volunteers of all ages worked for just over two hours to package meal bags in the Fellowship Hall. The team filled the bags with a vitamin packet, soy protein,
examination before the great celebration of Easter. All of these celebrations in the Christian Church year point to our prayer life. Prayer is both individual and corporate as we engage the God of us all. Today’s world is so shallow in understanding prayer. Prayer is not a means by which we have every whim of our hearts satisfied. It is not a wish list which is all about you
dehydrated vegetables and rice. Filled bags were weighed, sealed and packed into shipping boxes for global distribution. Each bag will provide six meals and has a two-year shelf life. In total, Beech Grove filled 3,348 bags which will provide 20,088 meals! As a result of this second year's overwhelming success, the Missions Outreach committee will continue to host this popular annual event each January. Check out the organization’s website at www.StopHungerNow.org for further information, and scroll to page 10 to see a photo collage from our tremendous packing event!
(continues on page 5)
Peek Inside for More News
Celebrations
New Lay Leader
Easter Egg Factory Overview
Scouting Report
Financial Peace
UMM/UMW News
Stop Hunger Now Photo Collage
(Santa Claus mentality). Prayer is that time when we focus our attention in the presence of God Almighty. We offer ourselves to God, as someone put it, as a blank canvas might be offered to the master artist. We come trusting that God loves us as no one else can or will. We come believing that God knows the deepest needs of our hearts.
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Happy Birthday!
FEBRUARY 2 Jae Zirkle 9 Madison McVey 12 Kasey McIntosh 12 Corey Sanchez 13 John Lumbard 14 Linda O’Keefe 16 Shelby Dillingham 17 Mack Tabor 19 John Eberwine 20 Jon Morris 24 Lewis Wood 25 Kevin Heitzhaus 28 Dale Davis 29 Joyce Carter
MARCH 3 Braden Willis 4 Steve McIntosh 9 Jeanne Cox 10 Jeff Hill 11 Seth Sawyer 11 Sandy Thompson 14 Stephen Bell 16 Patty Yandle 16 Mara O’Keefe 16 Rod Vernon 16 Ruth Shumate 22 Millie Moore 31 Laine Magrisi **please let us know if we've
missed your special day
Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper Tuesday, February 17 ● 6 – 8 pm
The United Methodist Men return again this year for one of their most anticipated meals of the year. Fill your belly on Fat Tuesday with a hearty whole wheat pancake breakfast served from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Bring the whole family for this traditional kick-off to the Lenten season. Tickets are $6 per person and available at the door with Scouts and Scout leaders in uniform receiving a $1 discount. Proceeds support Heart Havens which operates 10 Virginia conference homes and provides residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Financial Peace University
Course Returns Feb. 22 - Apr. 26, 2014
Dave Ramsey's popular Financial Peace University program has helped thousands gain a better understanding of their fiscal situation and take control of their money. Join the upcoming nine-week course held on Sundays from 3 - 5 pm in the Beech Grove Annex featuring the following highlights:
Super Saving
Relating with Money
Cash Flow Panning
College Planning
Buyer Beware
The Great Misunderstanding
The cost to participate is $99.98, and the course is led by Jon Morris (#651-9257). Visit www.daveramsey.com/fpu/classfinder for more information and to register.
Welcome New Members! Be sure to extend that famous Beech Grove hospitality to our two newest members:
Peggy Sharer France Day
Happy Anniversary!
February 4: Mack & Sydney Tabor (2012) March 30: Frances & Charlie Craig, dec. ('96)
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Scouting at Beech Grove
Troop 16: We're celebrating the Troop's 75th anniversary this year and have commissioned a special patch to commemorate the milestone!
Beech Grove celebrates
Scout Sunday on February 8th.
Uniformed Boy and Girl Scouts from each of
our troops will host both worship services!
Sea Scout Ship 16: Our pansy fundraising sale was very successful, and we'll kick off our AutoBell car wash fundraiser in March. Before the Christmas holidays were over, we held our Bridge of Honor Ceremony. This is where the scouts who earned different ranks were recognized as well as our hard-working committee members for all they do. We also enjoyed a Christmas party which was a good time for all with lots of laughter, snacks, games and fun. We participated in the Klondike Derby in late January by performing the sled rescue. On a February weekend, some of the scouts will be headed to Delaware for some training, and may take the ferry over to Cape May, NJ.
We'll keep working on our merit badges, but don't miss our only troop fundraiser --the annual Spaghetti Dinner at Glebe Church. Held February 28th, tickets are available now for $7 each.
Pack 89: The much-anticipated annual Pinewood Derby is on tap for February 14th, and we've enjoyed plenty of other winter fun activities. The annual Klondike Derby at Johnson's Gardens was highlighted by the "dog" sled race and various skill challenges, and we're headed to Scope to cheer on our own Norfolk Admirals in February. Plus, our boys continue to work on rank requirements ahead of our Blue and Gold Banquet in March --pretty much the Academy Awards of Cub Scouting!
Troop 5292: It's Girl Scout Cookie Time Again! See any of our Beech Grove Girl Scouts to order your favorite flavors for just $3.50 per box. New items this year include Rah Rah Raisin with vanilla covered yogurt chunks and a gluten-free cookie due out this month. Through the Cookie Program, Girl Scouts learn skills essential to success in life like financial literacy, innovation and more. Other non-cookie activities include an International Tea Party in February, tablecloth design and production, a STEM Techbridge Badge workshop and a literacy project for a shelter in Suffolk. Winter charity projects included collecting for the local Humane Society and also winter coats for children in need.
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Treasurer’s Report
Nov. - Dec. ‘14 2014 totals Income Plate offering $ 28,210.20 $182,050.22 Building fund 4,600.00 7,110.00 Special offerings 190.00 2,955.48 Missions 120.00 1,020.00 Other $ 12,166.42 $ 24,149.48 TOTAL $ 45,286.62 $333,124.81 Disbursements Operating expenses $ 6,956.19 $ 44,316.26 Program expenses 3,896.86 18,714.36 Virginia UM pensions 1,817.78 10,906.68 Pastor/staff compensation 21,991.45 119,180.46 Other $ 25,665.78 $ 96,942.53 TOTAL $ 60,327.06 $293,037.29
A complete report is posted in the hall for your review.
Beech Grove UMC
Mission Statement
Our Beech Grove family seeks our Lord's will and shares
Christ's love with all.
Beech Grove cares for our community! During the 2014 Christmas season, Beech Grove members generously responded in support of our community with the following projects:
Preparing 10 Thanksgiving baskets Feeding the homeless supper one evening Donating 50+ blankets for the homeless
Raising $5,515 toward the Stop Hunger Now event Assisting 9 families in distress
Collecting 30+ shoes for the needy Filling 125 stockings for the Salvation Army
Missions/Outreach Report Before the holidays, BGUMC Missions/Outreach collected items and monetary donations for food baskets. The original goal was to make up 5 or 6 baskets filled with flour, sugar, canned vegetables, stuffing mix, pumpkin pie mix, pie crust mix, chicken broth, cranberry sauce, paper towels and napkins. Because of the generosity of BGUMC, Missions was able to provide 10 Thanksgiving baskets for the needy which each also included a $25 Food Lion gift card! In December, BGUMC delivered 125 filled Christmas stockings to the Suffolk Salvation Army, besting the original goal of 100 stockings. When the stockings were being off-loaded at the center, one of the workers exclaimed, “These are really stuffed with some great things! The kids will love these!” What a blessing it was to brighten the lives of children who are less advantaged than we are! BGUMC Missions/Outreach provided a meal for the homeless for N.E.S.T., a program that partners with churches in Norfolk to care for the homeless for several weeks during the holidays. Approximately 20 adults and youth from Beech Grove served the meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, rolls and cookies to the 65 individuals staying at Wesley Memorial UMC for this yearly program. Missions/Outreach also donated $500.00 to Wesley Memorial’s Sandwich Club, an after school program which provides activities and an evening meal for disadvantaged children.
Collection of shoes for needy
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Don’t forget to “Spring Forward” on Sunday, March 8th. It’s the official start of Daylight Savings Time, so set your clocks forward one hour before you go
to bed on Saturday night to ensure you’re not late for church on Sunday!
It's much easier than filing taxes, but a deadline just the same. Please plan to submit items for our Spring newsletter edition (April & May) by Sunday, March 15th.
Pastor’s Corner (continued from cover) Prayer is the secret of bearing through life’s journey. In those highest moments of prayer we desire nothing but to be in God’s presence and trust in God’s providence. When we yield ourselves up to God so completely, we discover peace and contentment. But we also discover the power and strength. We also discover sensitivity and patience. Then we experience a strange passion that our lives count for something significant and make a difference. This is the power of prayer. Thoughts worth pondering, Pastor Keith Moore
Meet Your New Lay Leader
I send greetings as your Lay Leader Fanita D. Morris,
I am truly excited about my newly appointed position as Lay Leader here at Beech Grove UMC. Please afford me the opportunity to tell you a little about myself. Raised in Hazlehurst, MS, I am the second eldest of five siblings. At a young age my parents, Toby and Etherlene Hite, taught me the importance of serving others and seeking God for guidance in all aspects of your life. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path".
Family: My husband Jon and I have been married four years and are looking forward to many more exciting years together. Jon supports several church activities and ministries, from yard manicuring to UMM Treasurer and hosting Financial Peace University (FPU); he stays engaged. I am blessed that we have a great working relationship and we both find joy in helping others, traveling near and far, and spending time with family and friends.
Education: I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biology/Physical Therapy from Jackson State University and a Master degree in Biology Education from Mississippi College. I have also taken several post-graduate classes in various areas of science and technology.
Career: I am blessed to have two amazing and sometimes challenging careers. I have devoted 15+ years to teaching Life Science and Biology to Middle and High School students as well as Biology Lab to college freshmen. My second career is serving in the United States Navy, four years Active Duty and 18 years as a Reservist. The knowledge and skills acquired from these careers have allowed me the opportunity to positively influence our nation's youth and young adults.
Strengths: I am a diligent worker, and I have a willingness to listen and learn from others. Goals: My goals are to gain a clear understanding of our congregational and community needs and identify the talents within our congregation. With God’s help and guidance, I will do my best to be an advocate on behalf of all congregation members while, at the same time, keeping the needs of the church as a whole, foremost in mind. “I must be faithful to this moment in time that God has given me. I recognize that my anointing is tied to the needs of others; someone somewhere is counting on what God has placed inside of me.” As stated by Reverend Tamieka N. Moore as she was inspired by Luke 4:18.
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Beech Grove UMC's
Plan for Ministry
We are called to be a compassionate,
nurturing congregation who serves God
through prayer, worship, fellowship,
study and missions as we
“Honor the past, serve the present
and build the future.”
Beech Grove Youth
Fundraising
Challenge
To God Be the Glory (the story behind the hymn)
Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) was blinded by an illness as an infant, but she lived a long life full of joy and accomplishment. She entered the New York School for the Blind at age 15 and remained there for 35 years, first as a student and then as a teacher. She wrote poetry from the time she was a child, and published her first book of poetry, A Blind Girl and Other Poems, at age 24. But Fanny Crosby is best known for her hymns. She wrote more than 9,000 hymns during her lifetime. Many, such as "All the Way My Savior Leads Me" and "Blessed Assurance" quickly became standards and are still included in many hymnals a century after her death. Fanny wrote "To God Be the Glory" about 1872 and included it in a collection of hymns entitled Brightest and Best. However, while many of the hymns in that collection became quite famous, this one didn't catch on --at least not in America. Evangelist Ira Stankey published the song in his Sacred Songs and Solos and took it with him to England. It caught on well enough there to be included in several hymnals. Then in 1954, Billy Graham went to England for his London Crusade. Someone (almost certainly English) gave a copy of the song to Cliff Barrows, Graham's song leader, and suggested including it in the songbook they were compiling for the crusade. Barrows had heard the song on an earlier visit and was impressed with its strong notes of praise, so he included it in the songbook and used it during the crusade. The crowd responded so enthusiastically that he sang it nearly every night. Upon returning to the US, Graham and Barrows introduced the song to an American audience for the first time at their Nashville Crusade. One again, the crowd responded enthusiastically, so the song was adopted as one of their standards. Because of their influence, the compilers of today's hymnals began including it in new collections. It has become sufficiently popular that many are surprised to learn it had languished in disuse for such a long time. (www.lectionary.org adapted from Richard Niell Donovan, ©2008)
For the third year, Beech Grove UMC Youth Group is participating in the 30 Hour Famine with Main Street UMC on Feb. 27 & 28. The event teaches valuable lessons about our world's most vulnerable children and how to help. Youth Coordinator Bob Freiler has issued a fundraising challenge in hopes of boosting donations for World Vision fundraising: if the youth collect $1,000, Bob will trim his beard to a half inch. If they match Main Street's goal of $3,500, he'll shave his beard off. If Beech Grove Youth collections surpass those of Main Street, Bob also will shave his head! Please give generously, and all donations must be given to a Youth Group member to count!
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RESOLUTIONS
Happy New Year! It is a chance to put the old behind us, set goals and strive for the new; a turning of the page. So how is it going? What things did you leave in the past? More importantly, what things did you bring into the New Year with you? A lot of folks find it hard to let go of the past because we feel we were wronged or we are embarrassed about what we did and think “there is no way God can forgive me.” We are chained by events, hindered from becoming what God intended us to be. Filled with criticism about everybody and everything? Maybe it is because of what someone did to you or, just maybe, it is because of some poor assumptions you have made. Either way, it is time to realize that YOU are holding onto the “chains” with a “white knuckled, red faced, Kung-fu grip.” It’s time to take stock in where you are, let go and let God begin to work in your life again; maybe for the first time! No matter what we have done, we are not defined by our past! When we repent and are baptized, grace comes like a flood! Our old selves are buried with Christ and we are new creations! If you have already done that, then quit “taking flowers to the grave of the old you that died,” and instead honor God with all you have! If you haven’t asked Christ to be your Savior, then why not do it today? Done? Ready? “Welcome to the New”! Peace.
Welcome To The New (Mercy Me) Got to live right / Just stay in line / You’ve heard it all at least a million times / And like me you believed it. / They said it wasn’t works / But trying harder wouldn’t hurt / It sounds so crazy now / but back then you couldn’t see it. / But now here you are / Eyes open wide / It’s like you’re seeing Grace / In a brand new light / For the first time
Chorus: Let us be the first to welcome you / Welcome to the Life you thought was too good to be true / Welcome to the new / Welcome to the new / Welcome to the new
You broke your back / Kept all the rules / Jumped through the hoops / To make God approve of you / Oh tell me was it worth it / The whole time you were spinning plates / Did you stop to think that maybe He is OK with just you / There’s no need to join the circus / Now here you are / A new point of view / And it all makes sense / Why it’s called The Good News /
(Chorus)
Look at you / Shiny and new / Look at you / You got the proof of purchase / You were purchased / ‘Cause you’re worth it / Look at you / Finding your groove / Don’t you dare think that you’re not worth it / ‘Cause you’re worth it / Yeah, you’re worth it!
(Chorus)
"Soup-er Bowl" Sunday February 1, 2015
Forget the Seahawks and Patriots --help Beech Grove support another super team this Superbowl Sunday by participating in a special "Soup-er Bowl" offering. Please bring a can or bag of soup to church, and the collection will be taken to the Wesley Community Center for their food programs. Cash donations are still welcomed and will be taken to the center as well. The Wesley Center provides a variety of services to disadvantaged, inner-city families in our area. Bring your soup for a great "kick-off" to help the hungry this year!
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Beech Grove’s Annual Easter Egg Factory
Rolls into its 36th Year!
It’s official, Easter is on its way! And with it comes the beloved and tasty tradition of the Beech Grove Easter Egg Factory. Please make note of the important dates to remember below as well as the prices and order options. We appreciate your orders and also welcome you to join the ranks of egg mixers, rollers, dippers, decorators and order fillers throughout the factory season whenever your schedule allows. We’re open Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 8 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 3 pm --so put on your hair net and join the fun!
Easter Egg Menu All of our delicious eggs are hand-
rolled, dipped in milk chocolate and decorated with sweet frosting flowers
Please select from any of our
four (4) flavors of filling: Coconut
Butter Cream Peanut Butter Fruit and Nut
Easter Eggs are available in three tempting sizes:
1 ounce $ 8.00 Bite-sized and sold only by the dozen in any combination of our four flavors Half-pound egg $ 6.00 Available in any flavor 1 pound egg $12.00 Available in any flavor
WE’RE SORRY, but we are
unable to personalize
eggs of any size
Important Dates
Tell your friends about open sale dates March 2 - 21, 2015
Feb. 14: Box Labeling Day with pizza at noon Feb. 21: Box Making Day with pizza at noon Feb. 28: Set up Easter Egg Factory March 2: First day of production! OPEN for business – phone orders and
walk-ins are welcome March 21: Last day to PLACE orders March 27: Last day to PICK-UP orders plus CLEAN UP and close down the 2015 BGUMC Easter Egg Factory
A few notes….. Come for one hour or many anytime between 9am – 8pm,
Mondays through Fridays and 9 am - 3 pm on Saturdays. No experience necessary, and hair nets are provided!
Jobs include taking phone and walk-in orders, rolling and dipping eggs, decorating eggs, filling orders, etc. We’ll train you!
Children under 12 are not permitted to work in the factory, but childcare will be arranged if there is enough interest. Call the church office at #538-8353 to inquire.
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Beech Grove Pitches In to Stop Hunger Now --Saturday, January 24, 2015--
THANK YOU to all the donors and volunteers!!!
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Witnessing About … Passiveness
When you hear the word “passive” what comes to mind? One who avoids conflict or avoids making a decision? Whatever the case may be, passiveness is something that infects the heart of every man this side of Genesis 3. Now, I am not talking about passiveness as some would think. In reality, there is no such thing as a “passive” man. Everything involves a decision to do or not to do something; inaction is simply the decision not to act or decide. Though a man may not be “actively” doing something, he is “actively” making the decision to give his heart to something that is more “important” at the time.
Everyone is aware of the story of Adam and Eve, how Eve was deceived by the Serpent (Satan), rebelled against God by eating the fruit, thus opening the door for sin to enter the world. However, Eve was not directly responsible for that. That responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Adam. Look back if you will at Chapter 3 of Genesis. In verse 6, we see that Eve took the fruit, ate it and “gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate.” Adam was there during the deception, and yet he idly stood by and did nothing. He was the one that was supposed to take care of the garden, exercising leadership by protecting everything in it. Yet, he did nothing. As a result of his inaction, Adam abdicated his responsibilities and chose disobedience and rebellion. He hid himself from God and, ultimately, blamed God for what happened. Look at verse 12: Adam says to God, “The woman whom You gave to me …” Adam is essentially laying the blame on God.
Another example of passiveness in the Bible can be found in the story of King David (2 Samuel 11). Instead of being on the battlefield with his armies, as was customary for a king in his day, David was milling about his palace. While on his balcony one day, he saw Bathsheba and lusted after her. This led to an affair and, eventually, as part of the cover-up, David had her husband killed while HE was away at war.
Now these are extreme cases and probably hard to relate to in our own lives because we would never do anything like that, would we? Maybe not, however, there are MANY subtle examples of “passiveness” which are just as damaging and we may not even be aware. Things such as:
the refusal to worship or even delight in God (e.g. not attending church regularly; not singing)
engaging fantasy instead of reality (i.e. lingering thoughts of a different situation, job or family)
being silent in a moment where words are needed (i.e. sin of omission when encouragement or admonition are required; actively avoiding conflict or even vulnerability)
making excuses and complaining
disorganization and procrastination
hiding sin in our lives (i.e. unrepentant or reoccurring sin)
busyness (i.e. actively busying yourself to avoid “this” or “that”)
laziness or apathy in family, work, service, or ministry
leaving difficult labors to others or leaving people in need
gluttony (overindulging in sex, food, toys, or entertainment for comfort)
apathy (lack of ambition/caring about things that are truly important to God and other people).
Being passive is more than just a bad habit, it’s selfish. It is actively walking against God’s design for mankind in general and manhood in particular. But, this is what sin has done and continues to do to our hearts as we walk through this life. God designed us for a much richer and full life. Make a decision today to evaluate where passiveness exists in your life and ask God to help you weed it out. The youth of today need us adults to be leaders - to set the tone and the pace; to be a shining example of God’s plan here on Earth. Find something that you can do to be of service in the church community you belong to and then get involved. The rewards far outweigh the costs!
Peace, David Willis
