This Sunday at Binkley
January 13, 2019
The Baptism of Jesus
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Morning Celebration
9:00 am, Lounge
Sunday School
9:30 am
Welcome to Binkley! Inquirer's Class
9:45 am, Library
Worship
11:00 am, Sanctuary
Marcus McFaul preaching
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Safety Information Meeting
12:15 pm, Fellowship Hall
Youth Group Triple Holiday Party
7:00 pm, Osborne Home
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With our designation of 2019 as a Year of Compassion I've been thinking quite a bit about how one moves from the aspirational to the incarnational, that is, moving a belief from head to heart to hands by embodying that belief. In Christian spirituality we understand this as part of the "practice" of our faith.
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Compassion finds widespread support in the stories of Scripture; parables of children losing their way and then finding themselves and returning home----not to judgmental lectures but joyful feasts. On paper that's a great story...but as lived experience, well, it's much more difficult, especially when another sibling stayed home and never strayed. Or consider the parable of the Good Samaritan offering compassionate care, in spite of considerable risk, to one beaten and left for dead. That story, as you know, ends with the question, "now who proved to be neighbor to one on the side of the road?" Answer? Not the expected choices of religious authorities but ones who show compassion by bandaging wounds and being present to all possibilities for healing. Incarnational of the aspirational.
The wonderful Catholic writer Henri Nouwen wrote:
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Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish. Compassion means the full immersion in the condition of being human."
Sunday's worship will focus on the baptism of Jesus and his full immersion in the condition of being a beloved human being. This year we will explore the multifaceted ways in which empathy, understanding, sensitive recognition of the human condition incarnates compassion. To go under the waters of compassion means a full-on immersion of love.
I hope to see you this Sunday.
With much affection for you,
Your Pastor
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From Our Campus Ministry Coordinator
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I am glad to announce that our campus ministry is now formally named "The Pilgrimage: A Progressive Student Ministry." As we begin engaging more students this semester, it is important for The Pilgrimage to develop its mission statement, and to determine its identity. After church on Sunday, January 20th, all who are interested in helping to construct this identity are invited to come together for lunch and conversation. Students, parents, and all other church members are welcome to join in this conversation. Look for more details next week.
I hope you will make plans to join us!
Austin
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Morning Celebration and Sunday School Return this Week
Morning Celebration
9-9:20 am, Lounge
All ages are invited to join in a time of singing, sharing, praying before Sunday School begins at 9:30 am.
Adult Sunday School Classes
9:30 am
A new year, a new start! Join us on Sunday morning, January 13, 9:30-10:30 for an adult Sunday School class. There are a variety of opportunities to choose from, and each class is open to newcomers!
Mindful
Parenting,
Lounge:
This week, Miles and Megan Highsmith will be facilitating the conversation.
Finding Myself on a Journey
, Chapel:
Meredith Bratcher guides this Bible-based experiential learning and life reflection class. This Sunday, the passage to be considered is Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (the baptism of Jesus).
It’s Not Just One Way
, Room 17:
Each week in this class, an individual or couple shares their spiritual journey with the group.
English as a Second Language and Christianity
, Room 18:
Bo Lloyd leads the class in an engaging study of Christian faith, while also helping participants improve English vocabulary and fluency.
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Safety Committee Information Meeting
On January 13, 2019 the Safety Working Group will have an informational meeting to report on the activities of the group during the past year. The meeting will be held in the Fellowship Hall immediately after the morning worship service. Light refreshments will be provided.
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Welcome to Binkley!
Inquirer’s Class
Sundays, Jan. 13-Feb. 3. 9:45 am, Library
An Inquirer’s Class Opportunity for those interested in learning about the mission and ministries of our church. Facilitated by Senior Minister Dr. Marcus McFaul, these sessions are designed especially for those who are interested in joining by membership. January 13, 20, 27, and February 3, during the Sunday School hour (9:45-10:30 am in the Library). Join us this Sunday!
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Wednesday Night Series
Jan. 16, 5:30 pm, Fellowship Hall
Program:
Books That Changed Me.
Just as certain experiences and particular persons have had a transformative effect on our lives, so too certain books may have opened us to life-changing possibilities. Tonight, we will hear from four Binkleyites about how a book (or two) was transformative for them. Check ‘Event’ in the Friendship Register or RSVP to the office by Monday, January 14 at noon. Dinner is $7 for adults, $4 for children.
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New Binkley Church Sign Proposal
The committee appointed to make recommendations for a new church sign will present a display of our recommendations in January and eagerly await your comments.
Join us in the narthex at 10:15 before worship and following the services on January 20th and 27th
to look at the plans for the sign and see a model of the planned sculpture that is recommended to be part of the sign. Committee members will be available to answer questions at that time. There will be a place to receive your written comments after you review the recommendations.
~The Sign Committee (Rob Lewis, chair, Fred Schroeder, Janet O’Neal, Chon Shoaf)
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Habitat Build
Saturday, January 26
1-4:30 pm
Click
here
to sign up and join Binkley friends in building "A Beloved Community" of affordable housing for Seniors in Orange County.
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Let’s talk…and listen
Sunday, Jan. 27, 2:30-5 pm, Fellowship Hall
You may be aware that lots of conversations have been going on around the church regarding the ways in which women are viewed and heard. Prompted by what’s happening in our politics and culture, experiences inside the church in meetings and decision-making, and our own inner yearnings to be fully realized in our beloved community, many women and men have shared perspectives with each other over the past several months. Beginning with the 2018 Women’s Retreat in March, several of us have met to learn, listen, and discern a path toward a larger conversation involving the entire congregation that might begin to explore issues related to gender and power. We had worked to imagine how to do this in an open and inviting way so that all voices can be honored and heard. And then, on December 17, the Council accepted the
Reference Team final report
which called for such a conversation as part of its recommendations. In that spirit, we invite you to set aside
Sunday, January 27 from 2:30-5:00 in the Fellowship Hall
to participate in the first congregational discussion of women and power in our church. More details will be shared closer to the event. We pray that regardless of your views, you will join us to share them at this important meeting.
~Priscilla Bratcher, Linda Bourne, April Kemper, Caryl Price, Susan Rogers
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2019 Program of Ministry Budget Meetings
All members are encouraged to attend two upcoming meetings regarding the 2019 Program of Ministry Budget. Based on pledges received from our
Planting, Cultivating, Harvesting
Stewardship Campaign, the finance committee will present a proposed 2019 budget for discussion at a meeting after worship on
February 3,
in the Fellowship Hall. On the following Sunday,
February 10,
a Church-in-Conference will be held to approve the budget. You may still submit your 2019 pledge to the church office to help us reach our ministry goals for the coming year. Pledge cards are available in the narthex or you can email your pledge to [email protected].
Login to the
Members
section of the website to view the proposed budget.
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January Challenge
Choose and Commit to ONE Sustainable New Year's Resolution
Ready to take on a more sustainable lifestyle in the New Year? Looking for ways to minimize your impact on the planet? This year make changes that will help both you and the Earth! To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of some potential resolutions for you to choose from. Think about what is reasonable for you when choosing a resolution. Some of these may seem easy, but others may be quite challenging! You can obviously adapt any one to fit your own personal needs. Pick one to share with us this Sunday, and your resolution might make it in next Friday's Update!
Resolving Resolutely for our Earth Home
The resolutions are coming in! Here are what some of you resolved to do on our first Sunday, 1/6/19:
- Saying “no” to plastic straws at every meal (3)
- Bringing shopping bags every time and not just at the grocery store (2)
- Committing to Meatless Mondays
- Composting at home (2)
- Cooking mostly from scratch
- Taking reusable containers, straws, and shopping bags with me (3)
- Taking a basket (not a shopping bag) to the grocery store
- Detoxing home
- Riding bike to Sunday Worship
- Committing to use a reusable coffee mug or go without: AARRGGHH!!
- Carrying my own cutlery and cloth napkins in lieu of single-use items (2)
- Buying eggs in cardboard cartons (recycle or give to IFC)
Isn’t it inspiring?!
Look forward to seeing more resolutions this Sunday!
All are welcome to attend the next Earth Ministries meeting on January 31 from 1:30-3 pm in the library.
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Save the Date:
2019 Seymour Symposium
March 2-3
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Serene Jones, our featured speaker for the Symposium, comments on some issues of our time in the videos below. You will not want to miss her when she joins us in March.
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“Staring suffering straight in the face” 2.23 minutes 5/2/16
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“The weirdness of being human” 2.20 minutes 5/2/16
Follow the links below to read two articles written by Serene. Copies are also available in the Narthex.
(Time)
(Sojourners)
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Click the links below for more information on each event.
Monday, January 21, 9 am, Peace and Justice Plaza
The 34
th
Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Banquet will be on Sunday, January 20, 2019 at the Friday Center. Reception 5-6 p.m. The Banquet will begin promptly at 6. Caryl Price and Mark Davis will be among banquet participants. Tickets are $30.00. Lillian Lee has tickets.
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Link your grocery store loyalty cards to BPS.
Here's how.
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Church Office Hours
Mon.-Thurs.
8:30 am - 4 pm
Friday
8:30 am - 3 pm
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Publication Deadlines
Submissions for the February Newsletter are due by:
January 21
Submissions for the weekly bulletin and Friday Update are due by:
Wednesday Noon
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The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church
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