12/09/04

Hey everyone – only 15 or so shopping days left until Christmas – which means it’s almost time for the men to get out for shopping!


It’s a rainy day here in Beulahland – and likely where you are this day.


A few reminders:

The Fellowship and Membership Commission would love some help Saturday morning at 10:00 – we need help setting up tables, chairs, place settings and table decorations for the Christmas Dinner – which is this Sunday following the second worship service. I don’t know if reservations are closed by now, but if you want to come, please call the office right away – like now – 239-3231.

The Christmas Music Tapestry – our special evening of Christmas music by our vocal and handbell choirs will be Sunday, December 9 at 7:00 in the Sanctuary. This would be a great opportunity to invite a new friend or neighbor to church – for a music program. Then you might pass on an invitation to come and worship on Christmas Eve (at 5 and 10). Research shows that people are most open in looking for a church and a church home around the Christmas season, so take this opportunity.

Remember that on Dec 26 and January 2 we have One Worship Service Only – at 10:40, and Sunday School is not meeting on those Sundays. December 26 is a Service of Lessons and Carols – and I need readers to help with this service, so if you can, send me a note at ken@beulahpresbyterian.com

On the prayer list for these days, please remember these folks:

Tim Lovett – newer member, with his wife Cheryl. Tim is now out of surgery for a hip replacement.
Kelsey Blake – daughter of Melinda Smith, a 9th grader, took a bad fall with soccer and had knee surgery just before Thanksgiving, and will need another operation in the near future.
Rosemary Reynolds – rumor has it, is struggling with a broken ankle. I have not yet confirmed this with Rosemary – but if so, pray for healing for her.
Jim Williams – is home from the hospital (on Tuesday) and is feeling very well. Chemotherapy may be scheduled, but the doctors are confident they were able to remove this tumor, which was a “spindle” shaped tumor, apparently not very common.
Susan Rock – she still is struggling on and off with MS symptoms, and it is very frustrating and exhausting for the entire Rock family (and her Mom and Dad, Lorna and Don Pierce).
Cliff Stout – still at Hurstbroune Nursing Home – Rehab Center. Cliff is somewhat more talkative when I saw him last, but is still recovering from a stroke. I miss seeing him in his pew – toward the back, pulpit side, along the north aisle.

This Sunday December 12, at the 10:40 service, we are celebrating the Sacrament of Baptism of an Adult – Believers Baptism – for Cindy Rice Magruder, who is married to Toby Magruder, with in-laws Bob and Melody Magruder. We are also welcoming Cindy, and Bob Thompson and Jodi Wells as new members. Bob and Jodi are getting married here at Beulah next summer, and you likely see with them - every other Sunday - Bob’s two daughters, Morgan and Bailey. Please give them a warm Beulah welcome.

We received a good word from Bren Bishop – former Seminary Student here at Beulah, and now a chaplain serving in the Army, stationed in Iraq. The note is passed on from Bren through Bill Sanders, now Interim Pastor at Strathmoor – and here it is:

Fellow Mid-Kentuckians – a note about Rev. Bren Bishop (Chaplain, US Army Reserve) and his wife Mary.

Bren was home from for a 14 day leave last month. The Strathmoor congregation was blessed to have him agree to preach one Sunday while he was home, and he brought them a message of hope from the midst of war. Mostly he shared stories of how his ministry touches and is touched by the lives of the soldiers he works with, as well as the lives of the Iraqis with whom he has contact.

Bren asked me to share his greetings with his fellow Presbyters. He is grateful for your prayers, your concern and for the connections to home. I’m sure he would also want you to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is making a profound difference in the lives of young soldiers, coping with their fears, isolation, and wounded-ness – in body and spirit. One particular story he shared told of how he was able to use the symbolism of the Celtic cross in order to give back hope to a severely burned soldier, Also, Bren is very concerned that the church and the nation hear the success stories of hope-filled Iraqis citizens, which seem to be neglected in the general media. The stories of new educational opportunities for youth and children, especially the girls; the stories of courage in the face of extreme violence; and the stories of hopefulness in the possibility of true freedom and a growing democracy.

So, Greetings to you from Bren, and please continue to keep him and his colleagues in ministry, as well as all of those involved in the struggle, in your prayers this holiday season.

Thanks and blessings to all,

Bill Sanders

Some New for your prayer list in these days. Blessing on you and yours in this holy time of the year. I remain,

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Ken Hockenberry