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Balmoral Presbyterian Church
Where the Spirit Takes Flight
BPC NEWS BRIEF
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
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mailing address: Balmoral Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 17309, Memphis, TN 38187
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NEWS THIS WEEK
- DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS THIS SUNDAY
- WORSHIP for SUNDAY March 14
- MEET the SESSION CLASS of 2024
-
BOOK CLUB for MARCH - RESCHEDULED
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LENTEN REFLECTION: A LAMENT for OUR CITY and EACH OF US
- HOT CROSS BUNS from PINECREST!
- AROUND MEMPHIS
- PHASE 1c BEGINS
- 2nd DOSE PFIZER VACCINATIONS are AVAILABLE @ Methodist University Hospital on Fridays this month
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ONE GREAT HOUR of SHARING: Because Healing Empowers
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WEEKLY INFORMATION
- Birthdays
- Calendar of Events
- OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
- CONTACT INFORMATION
- BPC Photos
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Worship last Sunday (including the words to Maya Angelou's poem from the Anthem)
LINKS to DOCUMENTS:
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Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday!
Turn your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed Saturday night!
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ONLINE on YouTube at 11:00 am
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The BUILDING is CLOSED
BUT
BALMORAL is OPEN !
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Our Session is committed to providing worship during the pandemic that reaches everyone. Those of you who do not have computer access or SmartPhone access, Idlewild will continue to broadcast all of the worship services on the radio 96.1 FM.
Stay at home! Stay Safe!
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REMINDER: Everyone who comes onto the BPC property MUST WEAR A MASK, including those who are only in the parking lot. NO ONE is allowed in the building without authorization.
We must help to keep our Worship team and the SEED children safe!
Requests for use of the property (including the parking lot) MUST prepare a proposal to the BPC COVID-19 Task Force (Scott Hill and Mary Schmitz, co-chairs) for review; the task force will review the proposal, then make a recommendation to the Session for consideration.
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Worship
Balmoral Presbyterian Church
Sunday, March 14, 2021
4th Sunday of Lent
BALMORAL WORSHIP at 11:00 AM on YouTube
Scriptures: Numbers 21:4-9 & John 3:14-21
a a Sermon: "Covenant Response"
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SUNDAY STUDIES at 10:00am on Zoom
Join with members & friends of BPC and Circle of Faith
for either one of our two classes available:
- "Christ in Crisis?" by Jim Wallis
- BIBLE STUDY of Paul's letters
aaaaaaaaPlease read 2nd Corinthians chapters 10 to 13 for this Sunday.
(A full schedule for the Winter quarter is available
at the end of this Newsletter under Document Links.)
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CIRCLE of FAITH WORSHIP at 9:00 AM
on ZOOM
Everyone is also invited to join the Circle of Faith service led by Rev. Cliff Stockton. The link will be listed each week in the ONLINE EVENTS calendar in this Newsletter!
(The service ends in time for our joint Sunday Studies classes.)
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You will receive emails on FRIDAY & again on SUNDAY with a link to the YouTube site for Worship & a downloadable Sunday Worship Guide and links to the Sunday Studies classes on Zoom.
The Idlewild service will also still be available at 11:00 am on the radio at 96.1 FM or you can go online to the Idlewild Livestream broadcast at
Previous Worship Services at Balmoral are still available on the
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MEET the SESSION CLASS of 2024
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At the Congregational Meeting Sunday, March 7, 2021, Ruling Elders to the Session Class of 2024 were unanimously elected. They are:
Janice Hill, Beverly Hooker and Erich Shultz
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MEET THE SESSION CLASS of 2024
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JANICE HILL
I have been a member of Balmoral for 27 years; I am not sure of my ordination date but it was approximately 18 years ago.
I have served on the Outreach Committee since ordination.
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Service ministries in which I have been most active include our Habitat for Humanity build (many years ago), our Mexico Water Ministry, Mid-South Foodbank Sort and Distribution, Meals on Wheels for MIFA, and our Prison Ministry. I also have served as a leader for Sunday Studies, and currently I joyfully participate in the Bell Choir, Writer’s Circle, the Balmoral Book Club, Presbyterian Women and the Trouble I’ve Seen Small Group. My experience with this small group and our partnership with COF has been a great blessing, as have been all of my activities at Balmoral, and most especially the people in them.
My husband, Scott, and I have been married for nearly 44 years. We are thankful that Balmoral helped to raise our two daughters, Jennie and Susan, now grown. Susan lives in Brooklyn, NY and Jennie and her husband, Sean, live in Nashville with their children Emma (2) and Owen (5).
What I hope for our congregation is that we continue to pursue how we can better demonstrate God’s compassion and justice for one another and all people.
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Beverly Hooker
My husband Bill and I have been members of Balmoral since 1984. Ann R Held, a college friend, performed our wedding ceremony in 1983, and recommended BPC. We have been here since then.
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This will be my third time to be an elder—one time when Bill Jones was pastor, and another time with Carla.
At Balmoral I have been involved with Christian Education for a while. Several years ago Rosemary Banta asked a few of us to be on that committee. After she died I have taken the lead to work with our committee to look over and select materials we can use each year. Cathy and Clinton Bailey, Renee Mitchell, Glenda Ellis and I are members of this team.
I love music, and have been in the bell choir at this church. Occasionally I have sung in the choir. The music here is wonderful!
Bill and I have also gone on trips to Mexico for the Cistern Building project for clean water in Xpujil, Mexico. It is hard work, but definitely fulfilling.
Other activities I have enjoyed doing is work at Regional One Health in the Gift Shop. I volunteer there once a week (in normal times). Balmoral was instrumental in founding Johnson Auxiliary with a couple of other churches, and our church makes yearly contributions to the hospital for some of the needs there. Our church has donated to our Clothes Closet there also. I am also an ESL tutor with the Collierville Literacy Council.
Besides Jessica, Sean, Jack and Emmy, our other family members are son Joseph and his wife Emily. Joseph was baptized at Balmoral. Both Jessica and Joseph enjoyed being in the Balmoral Youth Group here.
I hope our church continues doing good work in the community and beyond. I am happy to be a part of this congregation.
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Erich Shultz
Erich Shultz, happily retired from the practice of law, is now happily partnered with wife Cynthia Stanley in operating DeSoto Kennels where they board dogs.
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Erich has been a member of Balmoral since 1990, is a part of the choir and Memphis Men Of Harmony barbershop chapter. Erich's children Rachel Lynn and Tom were part of the church family, too. This is Erich's first time to serve on Session and will be ordained on Pentecost.
Erich hopes to take part in keeping up the Balmoral tradition of service and worship.
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Thank you to those who the Nominating Committee:
Ted Pearson, Gordon Brigman and Jessica Orians.
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BOOK CLUB for MARCH
HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED
Tuesday, March 23, 2021 2:30pm
(please note the time change)
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The BPC Book Club postponed their regular meeting day due to scheduling problems and has now been RESCHEDULED to March 23, when we will discuss our March book selection:
The Nikel Boys by Colson Whitehead
(discussion leader: Do Kaiser)
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In this Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times bestselling fiction book based on the real story of a reform school in Florida that operated for 111 years and whose cruel practices warped the lives of thousands of boys who were sent there. A devastating, driven narrative that showcases a great American novelist writing at the height of his powers.
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In case you missed it, Colson Whitehead was on 60 Minutes 3/7. Watch his interview here:
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Looking ahead, here are the books we have identified for the rest of the academic year:
April 13: The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan, Led by Kathrine Getske
May 11: All Over But the Shouting by Ricky Bragg, led by Cathy Bailey
June 8: The Overstory by Richard Powers, led by Bob Kaiser
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A LAMENT FOR OUR CITY AND EACH OF US
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Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us.
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Unemployment, homelessness, hunger, violence, crime, unlawful and unsafe gun ownership, closed schools, distress and sorrow, desperation, food availability challenges, being judgmental, blindness to the needs of others, helplessness, lack of safety and hope, physical and spiritual abandonment
The joy of our hearts has ceased: our dancing has been turned to mourning, our hearts are sick.
- Guide us to find ways to help the unemployed;
- Help us to know how to help others with small businesses who are suffering, the homeless, the hungry and all those with needs;
- Guide us to do our part to end violence and crime;
- Show us how to encourage our leaders to pass laws requiring better safety and background checks for gun ownership;
- Guide us to find ways to help our children who are missing their educational opportunities;
- Strengthen our hearts and actions to address the concerns of our city and its people;
- Enlighten us that we might have more knowledge about the desperate needs in our community;
- Guide us to support financially and/or help distribute food to neighborhood leaders to help those most in need;
- Help us to cease to have any judgmental thoughts about others;
- Give us the open eyes to see what and where people most need help;
- Direct us to more knowledge about the desperate needs in our community;
- God, give us a better understanding of how to help and to be angels of caring so that others may be safe, have hope, have their needs met and be fed both physically and spiritually.
Restore us to yourself, O Lord,
that we may be restored.
Composed and offered by the Presbyterian Women of
Balmoral Presbyterian Church on March 3, 2021
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A PINECREST TREAT
for EASTER
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Hot cross buns are rich with history, dating back to the 12th century. They're yeasted sweet buns filled with spices and various fruits such as currants, raisins, and/or candied citrus. They're decorated with a white cross, either marked right into the dough or etched on top with icing.
The bun marks the end of Lent and different parts of the hot cross bun have a certain meaning, including the cross representing the crucifixion of Jesus, and the spices inside signifying the spices used to embalm him at his burial. They are now available all year round in some places.
Pinecrest Cinnamon Rolls are legendary.... For this Easter, Pinecrest wants to make HOT CROSS BUNS available for Easter Week!
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IN THE NEWS AROUND MEMPHIS
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Eligibility for Vaccines Expanded to Phase 1c
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In alignment with the Tennessee Health Department, the Shelby County Health Department has moved into Phase 1C of the Tennessee COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. This phase includes residents who are 16 years old or older with health conditions that put them at risk of serious illness from COVID-19. For all other individuals, the age eligibility remains age 65 and older. For a detailed list of the high-risk health conditions covered under phase 1C, please refer to Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan posted here:
Appointment availabilities at City of Memphis and Shelby County vaccination locations will be posted at https://covid19.memphistn.gov/ each Friday for the following week.
Other Vaccination Providers:
Other providers are also vaccinating persons in the priority groups, including:
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2nd DOSE PFIZER VACCINATIONS are
AVAILABLE @ Methodist University Hospital
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METHODIST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL (Union Ave.) has Pfizer 2nd dose COVID-19 vaccines available on Friday afternoons by appointment only. (1st dose vaccines are not yet available through them until their clinic is set up)
Rev. Stacy Smith, pastor of Buntyn Pres, is working with Methodist, and has indicated there are openings on the following Fridays: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, and 3/26.
To secure an appointment, contact Stacy by texting her at (201) 0487-0818 with your NAME, PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL, ,and preferred DATE. Also send her a general time of day you prefer and she will do her best to schedule you around that time, if possible.
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For COVID-19 testing information, go to this link:
NOTE: Several CVS and Walgreen's locations are now currently on the updated list at the link above.
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ONE GREAT HOUR of SHARING
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Because Healing Empowers
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“Mama O” is a survivor, a healer.
Her moment of greatest need led her to Black Women’s Blueprint, a civil and human rights organization headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. Since 2008, Black Women’s Blueprint is specifically focused on the needs of Black women and girls. At 65 years of age, Mama O is among the eldest survivors of sexual violence in the organization.
Despite living with the lifelong trauma that results from sexual violence, Mama O is a pillar of strength for other survivors, both young and old. Our One Great Hour of Sharing gifts are helping Black Women’s Blueprint in its vital mission to take action on social justice issues and to deliver educational resources and support services to women like Mama O. Through their work, they seek to address the unique struggles of Black women and girls within the context of the larger racial justice concerns of Black communities.
“Through all of Mama O’s ups and downs, she returns to community, holistically and ever-present,” said Sevonna M. Brown, the organization’s associate executive director. “She has continued to contribute creative healing arts and spiritual intercessory prayer on behalf of our survivor communities, carrying us through transitions, challenges and triumphs.”
The Rev. Alonzo Johnson, coordinator for the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, the organization’s partner, says, “Despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, Black Women’s Blueprint continues to be out in the community addressing issues of trauma and providing things like food and housing assistance that people need in order to be whole.”
Mama O is just one example among the many women who now bless and lift up others, an ongoing benefit of the organization’s partnership with the PC(USA), for which Brown is especially grateful.
“We want to share our gratitude for the continued leadership that the One Great Hour of Sharing and Self-Development of People partnerships have shown over the years,” said Brown. “We are hopeful that times will grow brighter, and that we will come out on the other side of this with more wisdom, care, compassion and strategies for healing our communities and walking hand in hand towards a future of greater possibilities and opportunities to center survivors as the key to community thriving and justice.”
Thanks to our gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, programs like Black Women’s Blueprint are lifting up women just like Mama O. Every gift makes a difference in the life of someone who deserves God’s love and support; someone who deserves our love and support. We are the Church, together. And when we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.
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Let us pray ~
May our healing spring up quickly, as the prophet Isaiah proclaims. May these gifts, God our physician, be a balm and medication for your people and your world. Amen
For over 70 years, One Great Hour of Sharing has provided Presbyterians a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need around the world. Millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity. Typically received during the season of Lent, each gift to One Great Hour of Sharing supports efforts to relieve hunger through the Presbyterian Hunger Program, promote development through the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, and assist in areas of disaster through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Join with Presbyterians worldwide in sharing God’s love with our neighbors-in-need around the world by providing relief from natural disasters, food for the hungry, and support for the poor and oppressed. Send your gifts made out to Balmoral Presbyterian, with your check marked for OGHS in the comments by Monday, April 5.
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For a video about "Mama O's" Mission,
Use the "Play" button below.
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Looking for an outdoor activity close by (and SAFE!) Or a short getaway or a walk in the woods? Check out what PINECREST has to offer this spring!
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Bill Hooker (13),
Robin Van Nortwick (20),
John Gilmer (27)
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ONLINE
EVENTS
SUNDAY WORSHIP LINKS
Every Monday
2:00pm Writer's Group via Zoom
1st Wednesday of the Month
Bible Study with Presbyterian Women 10:30 am
1st & 3rd Thursday of the Month
Ellis Small Group 10:15 am
2nd Tuesday of the Month
BOOK CLUB meets via Zoom
2nd Thursday Evening of the Month
7:00 pm Trouble I've Seen Small Group
1st & 3rd Thursday of the Month
COLONIAL PARK FOOD DRIVE
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Sunday, March 14, 2021
9:00 AM Circle of Faith Worship on Zoom
10:00 - 11:00 AM Sunday Study on Zoom
11:00 AM BPC Worship Service via YouTube
4th Sunday of Lent
Sunday, March 21, 2021
9:00 AM Circle of Faith Worship on Zoom
10:00 - 11:00 AM Sunday Study on Zoom
11:00 AM BPC Worship Service via YouTube
5th Sunday of Lent
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
2:30pm BOOK CLUB on Zoom (rescheduled date)
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Palm Sunday
9:00 AM Circle of Faith Worship on Zoom
10:00 - 11:00 AM Sunday Study on Zoom
11:00 AM BPC Worship Service via YouTube
Thursday, April 1, 2021
Maundy Thursday
7:00 pm BPC Worship Service via YouTube
Sunday, April 4, 2021
Easter Sunday
9:00 AM Circle of Faith Worship on Zoom
11:00 AM BPC Worship Service via YouTube
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IF ANYONE IS CALLED TO SERVE....
We work every 1st and 3rd Thursday.
Colonial Park UMC
5330 Park Ave
CONTACT SCOTT DAWSON for more INFORMATION
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Pastoral Care will be supplied by Rev. Carla Meisterman
and by Rev. Anne Hagler as a backup.
Rev. Carla Meisterman 901.235.1014
or email carlam@balmoralpc.com
Rev. Anne Hagler 901.628.2104 or anneh6616@gmail.com
The current Session members have been re-aligned to be your primary contact for ongoing communication. Here's the new contact list:
Lori Blackwelder .... (901) 262-8282 ............... LORIEB1165@yahoo.com
Cathy Bailey ........... (901) 481-6395 .............. catbailey2017@gmail.com
Frank Carney ...........(901) 337-4917 ............. fcarney@evanspetree.com
Leiza Collins ........... (901) 246-5031 ..................... leiza1016@gmail.com
Becky DeLoach ...... (901) 489-3369 ............. BeckyMD2905@gmail.com
Barry Dotson .......... (901) 277-1596 ............... barry.dotson@yahoo.com
Don Lamb ............... (901) 754-5530 ............................ fbslamb@aol.com
Ted Pearson home: (901) 754-9796 ................... pearsonteda@aol.com
...........................cell: (901) 486-6117
John Van Nortwick (901) 605-2907 ............ jvnortwick@cornerstone-
systems.com
(NOTE: Many of these Session members are working during the day, so you may want to text them or email them.)
Keep in mind that ANY Balmoral member who is healthy will most likely be happy to help you in case of need as well!
To contact other members, the most-current contact information is available by requesting a copy of the BPC PHONE DIRECTORY from Kathy Singleton by email ksingle2@bellsouth.net or by phone or text to (901) 734-7193.
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BPC Worship
Sunday, March 7, 2021
3rd Sunday of Lent
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Prelude "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken"
Leiza Collins on piano
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Choir: Clinton Bailey, Linda Warren, William Warren, Pete Addicott,
John Gilmer and Fran Addicott on cellos, Leiza Collins on piano
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Musical Offering "Maya's Prayer for Peace"
(words by Maya Angelou)
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Father, Mother, God,
Thank you for your presence
during the hard and mean days.
For then we have you to lean upon.
Thank you.
Father, Mother, God,
Thank you for your presence
during the bright and sunny days,
for then we can share that which we have
with those who have less.
Father, Mother, God
Thank you for your presence
during the Holy Days,
for then we are able to celebrate you
and our families and our friends.
Father, Mother, God,
Thank you.
For those who have no voice,
we ask you to speak.
For those who feel unworthy,
we ask you to pour your out your love
in waterfalls of tenderness.
For those who live in pain,
we ask you to bathe them
in your river of your healing.
For those who are lonely, we ask
you to keep them company.
For those who are depressed,
we ask you to shower upon them
the light of hope.
Father, Mother, God
You, the borderless sea of substance,
we ask you to give all the
world that which we need the most—
Peace.
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BPC CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Sunday, March 7, 2021
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We have been keeping reference articles in the Newsletter each week throughout the summer. It's time to take them out, BUT some of these may still be helpful, so we will store them and give you links to them, but eliminate them from the body of the newsletter itself.
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To access a document, simply click on the link name. The document will then open in your browser as a PDF file!
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- Newsletter Articles & Photos should be emailed to Kathy Singleton at ksingle2@bellsouth.net no later than Monday at noon for the week you want the article in the news.
- Bulletin Information should be emailed to Rev. Carla Meisterman, with a copy to Kathy Singleton, no later than Monday noon the week before the Sunday you want the information to appear.
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Prayer Concerns should continue to be submitted via email to Rev. Carla Meisterman (carlam@balmoralpc.com)
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MARCH 2021
online church calendar
The calendar will take a few seconds to load and, once it opens, you will see the month that we are currently in. To see the next month's calendar, click on the arrow pointing down - it is just to the right of the name of the month. Once you click on that arrow, an icon will appear with all the months of the year listed. Click on the month that you want to see. To see a specific date, click on the number of the day you would like to see. The entire 2021 calendar is available to you.
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