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January/February
2006
The Jesus Journey
What does it mean to be
a disciple? Join us as we take a
“Journey with Jesus” along the road of discipleship. Each week, our sermon series will focus on
one of the traits of a disciple and present a new tool you can use as you take
the next step in faith. A devotional
booklet written by our staff will also be provided each week. Let this journey help you experience a deeper
faith and a richer joy in Christ.
The Jesus Journey: Seven Things To Pack
January 8 “Start
the Journey” (Scripture: writings from John)
An Abider
accepts God’s grace, is transformed by Christ’s power and love,
and
demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit.
January 15 “Put
Down Roots” (Scripture: Jeremiah 17:7-8)
A Learner
grows intentionally in knowledge and wisdom of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
January 22 “Meet
With God” (Scripture: Psalm 63)
A Worshiper
responds to God through acts of praise, thanksgiving, and devotion.
January 29 “Access
the Power” (Scripture: Ephesians 13:12-21)
A Pray-er
seeks to have a continuous dialog with God.
February 5 “Get
Planting” (Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15)
A Giver
manages one’s life and creation for God’s purposes.
February 12 All Services Cancelled By Snow!
February 19 “Play
Your Music” (Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10)
A Server
ministers humbly to others.
February 26 “Tell
About Your Trip” (Scripture 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10)
A Proclaimer
conveys the transforming power of God.
March 5 “Grow
Together” (Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
1st
Sunday in Lent A Relater
models Christ’s love through relationship.
If you’ve missed any of
these steps on the journey, you can visit the website www.thejesusjourney.org directly or
through the church’s website www.baumc.com. Copies of the devotional booklets are
available from the Church Office.
Take Another Step on “The Journey”…
DISCIPLE EQUIPPING
CONFERENCE
Saturday, March 4, 2006
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Plan to participate in
this next part of “The Journey” as the Bel Air United Methodist Church family
explores more deeply what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Based on the seven traits of discipleship,
this exciting experience will offer 18 excellent workshop choices. The cost for the Disciple
Equipping Conference, which includes lunch and child care, is $10. Advance registration is required, and
payment must accompany registration.
Please complete the registration form contained in this newsletter. The deadline for registration is 4:00 PM on
Monday, February 27.
Lent/Easter Sermon Series: The Power of the Cross
March 12 “Power
to Change”
2nd
Sunday in Lent Scripture: John 4:5-42
March 19 “Power to Pass the Test”
3rd
Sunday in Lent Scripture: Mark 1:9-15
March 26 “The Power of Believing”
4th
Sunday in Lent Scripture: Mark 5:21-43
8:00 AM –
Cindy Caldwell preaching
9:20
& 11:00 AM – Cantata presented by the Chancel
Choir
April 2 “The Power of Love”
5th
Sunday in Lent Scripture: John 12:1-8
April 9 “The Power of the
Passion”
Palm
Sunday Scripture: Mark 11:1-11; 14:1-15, 47
April 18 “Powered Up”
Easter
Sunday Scripture: John 20:1-18
CHARGE CONFERENCE
Our annual Charge
Conference was held on November 16, 2005.
Rev. Barry Hidey called the meeting to order with prayer for the reasons
we have to celebrate, for the leadership of Dr. Hunt, and for the leaders of
our church. A time of worship was directed
by Rev. Doug Hollida. Rev. Dr. C.
Anthony Hunt, the Baltimore-Harford District Superintendent, addressed the
group and commended Bel Air UMC for being a church that is an exemplar as a
discipler – a model of what it is like to engage in a discipleship
adventure. Dr. Hunt went on to say that
he always feels the presence of the Lord when he comes to our church.
The purpose of this
meeting is to hear about how we work and how we work together with the
Conference in faith and service to the community and the broader church (“the
connectional church”); how the church responds in times of need through gifts
of money, service, grace, and praise; outreach to those hurting and in need;
our ministry to one another; how we share our faith in the living Christ as
living witnesses through the Gospel and evangelism; how God is moving in our
lives; and how God is with us, has been with us, and will continue to be with
us throughout the coming year.
In addition to the
Pastor’s Reports (printed below), reports were given by the Board of Trustees,
the Finance Committee, and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee. “The Year in Review” (also printed below) was
presented by Bill Benson, Chair of Administrative Council. Pastoral compensation for the clergy was
approved for the coming year. Reports were presented and approval was given for
our Certified Lay Speakers: Susan
Buttimer, Mac Caldwell, Cindy Caldwell, Elaine Crowe, Sandy Miller, Jim
Palmiter, Don Renner, Devonna Rowe, Leonard Rowe, Bob Sherman, Beverly Talbot, and
Gary Webb). The annual report on
Ministry to Members was reviewed, and the nominations of church leaders for 2006
were approved. (See the listing of
members of the 2006 Administrative Council and the church’s various boards and
committees.)
Dr. Hunt led a
closing communion service, thanking Bel Air UMC for the work we do and stating
that “Charles Wesley would not let us leave without singing something.” The meeting closed with the singing of
“Amazing Grace.”
If you have any
questions about the Charge Conference or Administrative Council, please contact
Bill Benson, Chair of Administrative Council, or Rev. Barry Hidey.
Charge Conference – November 16,
2005
Report of Rev. Barry E. Hidey, Lead
Minister
As I thought about where we have been in the last year, I
wanted to use our Disciple Traits as review.
A Learner grows intentionally in
knowledge and wisdom of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
This past year has been all about learning. I found that
preaching through the Bible, as the congregation used the Grand Sweep
Devotional, was exciting. As we read the 30 chapters, I think the biggest
challenge was trying to decide from which ones to preach. I heard from so many
people that this was the first time that they attempted to read through the
Bible, cover to cover. There has been so much fruit as children studied the
books of the Bible - all 62! The Walk through the New Testament gave us the big
picture of the events of Jesus and the disciples.
We began a servant leadership development course this year
called Teleios. We have over 30 students and leaders who will meet monthly for
one year. It is the goal of this course that each person will discover their
calling in the church’s ministry and be equipped to lead in an effective way.
The dedication of the Charles W. Lightner Library is just
the beginning of a new way of learning and outreach. These books will help us
to become better learners and, as it attracts community people, will help many
beyond the church to be touched by good Christian material.
A Worshiper responds
to God through acts of praise, thanksgiving, and devotion.
We have been blessed with the addition of Rev. Doug Hollida
to our staff. I heard from folks that first Sunday in January, when Doug opened
the lid to the piano for the offertory. People knew that he was the one! Doug
has worked to grow the worship experience by providing an introduction each
week to the service, giving us a roadmap to the Worship Journey for that day.
Our choirs continue to grow and move us in our worship. Doug is working with
our praise bands to help them grow in their ministry.
We have hired David Burke to help move our trueFusion
worship service into a new era of ministry. David brings a wealth of experience
in reaching the emerging young adult and unchurched culture. We are developing
a good team of servants, worship leaders, and leaders to make a difference in
this service.
We are now planning how we might change the way we develop
sermon series and worship services. Starting January 15, we will be launching a
sermon series on the Disciple Traits that are highlighted in this report. This
new team-based approach will coordinate to work on the sermon, along with
several supporting documents and worship service creative ideas. It is our hope
that this will result in great continuity in our worship and teaching ministry.
We are also looking at ways to improve our 11:00 AM worship service.
A Pray-er seeks to have a
continuous dialog with God.
Each Sunday, we are lifted up in prayer during the morning
worship services by a prayer team in the Prayer Chapel. We had folks give
testimonies in worship about their prayer ministry and how it continues to
grow. A healing prayer workshop is training folks to touch more lives with
prayer.
Throughout the year, our Prayer Team developed worship
services, while our Prayer Chain is always ready to pray for the needs of our
congregation and community.
A Server ministers humbly
to others.
It was so exciting to hear how God used our youth and adult
leaders as they served on the Baltimore Mission Team. They served through VBS, games, skits,
worship, and food distribution, and found that their lives were changed as much
as the people they went to serve. The
VIM team spent a weekend putting siding on New Hope Christian Fellowship UMC and
is preparing to spend time supporting hurricane recovery efforts.
I was blessed by a large group of committed parents and
other adults who developed our Youth Ministry Support Team. They stepped up and
carried our youth ministry through some tough times, while planning creative
and engaging ministry. Our Youth Sunday School has been transformed this year,
with many new youth in attendance.
We were also blessed by our Buddy Ministry. Children and
youth with “special needs,” like my son, Garon, had youth and adult “buddies”
who joined them in our Sunday School ministries. It
helps our teachers and more importantly our students participate in our Sunday School.
We are looking forward to serving with the United Methodist
Church in Zimbabwe in a new way in 2006. We are developing a mission team that
is exploring how we can make a difference in one village or town.
A Giver manages one’s
life and creation for God’s purposes.
The story of this summer and fall has been the generous
giving above and beyond our budget. Look at what the church did!
$41,495 to UMCOR for Hurricane Relief
$1,730 to UMCOR for Pakistani Earthquake
Relief
$1,318 to support SoFMEDA in Shillong,
India
$6,638 to help build a church in Choma,
Zambia
$1,809 for refugee assistance in Darfur,
Sudan
$11,593 for our Pass It On
Ministries
$55,667 for our Heat, Eat and Retreat Trustees Special
Appeal
More and more folks are stepping out towards the tithe. Our
giving continues to grow each year and it reflects the maturity of our
discipleship.
A Relater models
Christ’s love through relationship.
I have seen this year, in even greater ways, how much small
groups play in providing essential ministry in our church. The people who spoke
to me after completing the reading of the whole Bible said that it was the
support and accountability of their small groups that helped them to be
successful. When Peggy was gone for three months for her sabbatical, I found
how much people depend on their small groups for support in times of need. When
we reached out to seekers and new people through our Beginnings Course, it was small groups that provided the meals each
week.
We are becoming a church of small groups. As we are
realizing that significant long-term spiritual growth is happening in our small
groups, we are working to ask ourselves the following questions. How do we move
more folks into small groups? How do we develop leaders that can mentor our
current group of small group leaders?
A Proclaimer conveys
the transforming power of God.
Back in September, The
Aegis Weekender did a front-page article about our Rebuilding SInglehood
ministry and our leaders, Mike and Nancy Savakinas. Mike and Nancy were overwhelmed with the huge
number of people who called them, and a second class was added. As I spoke to
the class, I wanted them to know that they were in a place where they were
loved. I wanted them to know that the transforming power of God was available
in their lives.
Our Beginnings
small groups were a place where people were able to share their questions and
doubts and hopes. In the process, they met this life-changing Jesus in a new
way.
Erica Miller spent the summer learning how to share her
faith and touch others with the message of the gospel. Erica used the
experience of the workplace to develop relationship with seekers, as well as
beach events, which gave her the chance to interact with seekers. We hope to
support more of our youth and college students in these kinds of mission
events.
This year, we decided that our youth needed to be an even
greater priority for our church. We need to reach the youth that we have with
the message of Christ and help our youth to proclaim their faith in a life-changing
way in the places they go. I am excited that Tom Hodges has agreed to join our
church team as of January 3, 2006. Now, we can expand our youth ministry and
touch more youth for Jesus.
In 2006, we will receive the report of the Compass Task
Force, which will help us to establish a strategic planning process. The Compass Task Force will help us to
develop a long-range plan and figure how to make a lasting impact on the seeker
and unchurched in our midst. Through BRAC, we might get upwards of 50,000 new
residents to Harford County in the next few years, and this will help us make
the changes so that we can continue to proclaim the message of faith to all who
need to hear it.
We face many challenges in the coming year, but I think that
we will rise to each challenge as we continue to allow the power of the Holy
Spirit to work in us.
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry
it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
In Jesus,
Barry
Charge Conference – November 16,
2005
Report of Rev. Marguerite B. (Peggy)
Groseclose, Associate Minister
Peter
writes these words to the Christians in Asia Minor. They are especially relevant for all
Christians in all times:
Finally, all of you,
have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a
humble mind. Do not return evil for evil
or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been
called, that you may obtain a blessing 1 Peter 3:8-9
And
I would add that you may be a
blessing. This is the focus of the
Congregational Care Ministries and the Outreach Ministries of BAUMC. We strive to help our members understand
that as they mature in faith, they are also called to serve: Showing
all people the way to the Father (through our love and care), teaching them to Know the Son (through study, and
through experiencing the healing, forgiveness, grace and hope that Christ
provides), and Growing in faith and
ministry, empowered by the Holy Spirit (as is experienced through service.). (This is our Mission Statement with
Congregational Care additions.)
This
past year has been one of re-evaluating the care and serving ministries of
BAUMC, and we look forward to re-configure our ministries to better reflect our
growth in understanding what God calls us to be and do. Especially after returning from the American
Association of Christian Counselor’s World Conference, I have taken steps to
further train our caregivers, set up a “Care Board” of leadership, and to
launch new ministries in 2006. Our
Shepherd Ministers have served a dinner to raise funds for the launch of Stephen
Ministries here (to work in tandem with Shepherds), and I am exploring and
recruiting leadership to launch Celebrate Recovery. Meanwhile, Rebuilding Singlehood, That All
May Worship (accessibilities and Buddy Ministry programs), GriefShare, and GRACE
Team (our grief support groups), Parish Nursing, Prayer Ministries, and Welcome
Ministries are all seeking to serve those who are hurting and in need of
strength and encouragement. We have Celebration ministries which keep in
contact during the good times (such as birth of babies, special birthdays and
anniversaries), and a whole host of volunteers who serve in these ministries.
In
light of these ministries, I also spend a considerable time counseling and
referring our members to professional care givers.
While
I work with Barry; planning worship, supervising some staff members, and also
with the ministry planning team, I also have responsibility for keeping track
of our attendance and membership. I had
hoped to have our rolls straightened out and organized this year, but time
passed too quickly. With the help of
volunteers and other staff members, we are working through our ACS system;
contacting members who are not regularly attending, and updating information.
A
very exciting event this year was my involvement in the launch of the Charles
W. Lightner Library. We have a team of
dedicated workers who arranged the library, catalogued books, decorated the
room, purchased books, and are now continuing the work as we seek to make
Christian books available to the public.
We developed necessary policies and have created an ongoing committee to
oversee the operation of the library. We
launched the weekend of October 7, with a banquet, open house, and golf
tournament. Money was raised through the
dinner and golf tournament for future expenses, and Rev. Lightner came from
Maine to preside at the festivities.
This was a very satisfying ministry.
Thanks to the many people who have put their heart and time into making
this happen.
The
ministry of Mt. Carmel Chapel is causing some concern, as attendance has fallen
off. However, just when we became
discouraged and took measures to seek to see if God has something else planned
for us, attendance picked up again. We will be having ongoing dialogue about
seeking God’s vision for the ministry of the Chapel. We are still fulfilling
our mission to be a “feeder congregation” for BAUMC and as an alternative
worship for those who can’t come on Sunday morning. The congregation there has even put together
a small choir that sings on special occasions.
I
have been a resource to our community outreach ministries and have helped to
connect other churches in their work with Harford County, which provides names
and other resources for our Pass It On Ministries and
other ecumenical ministries in Harford County. The county suddenly closed their
Neighbors In Need office. After several meetings, the County invited
Mason-Dixon Community Services to administer these needs and resource the
churches. I still keep ecumenical connections
through volunteer chaplaincy at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. I am on call two days a month plus attend
regular training meetings.
It
has been a pleasure to continue the teaching of the Wednesday Morning Bible
Study and to be a part of the leadership team for Teleios.
I
thank Barry, Staff-Parish, and the congregation for allowing me to take a
Sabbatical this summer. I believe they
were a very productive three months, which prepared me to return with renewed
energy and vision. I look forward to what
we will do together in 2006 in service to God, healing brokenness, and offering
grace to those who do not yet know His love.
Charge Conference – November 16,
2005
The Administrative Council Year In Review
We, the congregation of Bel Air United Methodist Church, are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ, as we show all people the way to the Father, teach them to know the Son, Jesus Christ, and prepare them to grow in faith and ministry, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We are committed to spiritual
growth through individual prayer and devotion and by participation in loving
and supportive groups that provide biblically based study, prayer, fellowship,
accountability, service, and outreach.
The focus of being an Administrative Council member coming into this
year emphasized the importance of each individual’s commitment and
responsibility. These values were an
essential part of our congregation life as well as we “Journey-ed” through the
Bible and continued to grow in our small groups. This focus fed the needs of both the
Administrative Council and the congregation by providing us principles to live
by as well as creating a foundation to
build our lives on. But what are we building toward?
We began the year by
traveling in January to the Shiloh Conference and Retreat Center in Hagerstown
for our Administrative Council Retreat aptly named “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”
We wondered what our church would look like if “show” were a driving
force in all that we do and say. While
we returned unsure of how we would accomplish this task, being a “show” church
became and still remains the major goal for the work of the Administrative
Council today. In our effort to move to
that goal, we discovered the wise words of Proverbs 24:27 that say: “Finish your outside work and get your fields
ready, after that, build your house.” So
the work of the Administrative Council this year has been spent finishing the
work on the foundation in anticipation of building a “show” house.
The Administrative Council was
able to put in place both an Attendance Policy and a Conflict of Interest
Policy, completing the work started last year.
Both emphasize the importance of accountability and the commitment
expected from our members. We discovered
that the Administrative Council lacked adequate representation from our youth,
so we responded by adding both a youth member and a youth representative to the
council. It has provided a welcomed and
much needed perspective. We approved a
plan of action from the Archives Task Force for collecting and organizing
information. This will allow us to
systematically capture our current documentation and ultimately retrieve past
data as well. Once the task force has
completed its work, a Church Historian will be appointed. Finally our Library Committee celebrated the
dedication of the Lightner Library in October.
Their work continues as they have developed guidelines for library’s
contents as well as a job description for a Librarian.
It is significant to note
that this year marked the first time in many years where the church has had new
leadership simultaneously at Ad Council, Finance, Trustees, and Staff
Parish. While we all have been
challenged by many of the issues we have faced in our new roles, it has been
comforting to know that God has provided us the Grace and patience to
endure. Our Finance Committee continues
to monitor and implement safeguards to our accounting system as work closely
with our external auditor, Clifton Gunderson.
This relationship will continue in 2006.
Our five week Stewardship Campaign, “For Thine is the Power,” ended last
week with Victory Sunday. This year was
unique because all members of the Finance Committee provided their support and
participation in the campaign.
Our Board of Trustees continues
to maintain our properties well to adequately meet the needs of our
congregation and community, while challenged by limited funds. But God continues to provide us hope in the
face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Late this spring we were simultaneously faced with the loss of our
boiler, needing to meet building code for our classroom windows to keep our
church school programs functioning, and the loss of a State grant for the
purchase of a commercial freezer. With
the support of the Finance Committee and the Administrative Council, the
Trustees made a special appeal to the congregation (AKA “Heat, Eat and Retreat”)
for help, and they responded generously.
Our church will be a warm, safe place to gather this winter as a result.
The Staff Parish Relations
Committee is doing a complete overhaul of the both the ministry and staff job
descriptions in an effort to improve communication, efficiency, and
accountability. Their work will provide
a firm foundation for us to grow and help keep our direction and vision
clear. The SPRC has been faced with
their own challenges as well. We started
the year in desperate need for a Director of Worship to fill the large shoes
left by the death of Ron Schuyler. God
responded by bringing us Rev. Doug Hollida, who has been a spiritual force in
our worship services. We were faced with
the departure of Rev. Tom Delk in July, who had been instrumental in the lives
of our youth and a mainstay of our trueFusion service. On top of that, Rev. Peggy Groseclose took a
well-deserved sabbatical this summer. SPRC supported the short-handed staff
during the summer and after an exhaustive search will hire Tom Hodges as our
first full-time Director of Youth Ministries in January 2006.
Through our spiritual journey
and personal discovery, the many gifts that God the Father has given us are
revealed. We are called to use our gifts
to further the Kingdom of God.
Biblically inspired teaching and training create and equip us as
disciples and the Holy Spirit empowers and unleashes us for ministry into our
community, our nation, and the ends of the earth. The Administrative Council dedicates a
significant portion of our meeting time to devotion, leadership training, and
praise and celebration. It helps keep us
spiritually grounded and provides the training and equipping necessary to build
upon the foundation we have laid. To help stay focused on the goal of
mobilizing the church for outreach, the Administrative Council has created and
launched two important tools -- Teleios and the Compass Task Force.
Teleios is a lay-led course
whose goal is to nurture and equip leaders for the church and its ministries by
exploring the three major components of servant leadership – character,
competence, and chemistry. New church leaders will be raised up through the
teaching of spiritual formation, leadership, vision, and team building. The inaugural class was launched in October
with 27 participants, who are committed to find their role in the leadership of
God’s church. The one-year program includes
monthly assignments, small and large group discussions, and attendance to the
Willow Creek Leadership Summit next August.
God’s hand has been a powerful influence in making this idea a reality.
The second important tool
that the Administrative Council approved this year was the appointment of the
Compass Task Force. They have the
awesome responsibility of reviewing and comparing the makeup and culture of our
community and church for the purpose of recommending how Bel Air United
Methodist Church can provide the greatest impact to facilitate the growth of
the Kingdom of God. We eagerly await
their findings and will focus our Administrative Council Retreat in January
2006 on the results of their study.
We have found that our
congregation will respond, if there is a need and a passion. And as we mature as Christians, we come to
understand our responsibilities to minister to each other. Galatians 6:2 says “Carry each others’
burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” The congregation has given generously to the
victims of Hurricane Katrina. Our VIM Team
will be traveling to the Gulf Coast early next year. Our Missions team has adopted a new vision
statement and is currently seeking to establish a partnership with a village in
Zimbabwe.
What about 2006? I think we become more committed to building
a “show” church every day, but there is still more “outdoor work” that needs to
be done. The best advice I can give to
our members is from Galatians 6:9-10: “Let
us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up. Therefore,
as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all
people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Respectfully submitted,
William A. Benson, Jr.,
Chair
CHARGE CONFERENCE UPDATE
On December 19, 2005, a Charge Conference, led by our
District Superintendent Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt, approved a motion to provide
an option for the Lead Pastor of Bel Air United Methodist Church to purchase
his/her own home. A procedure for moving
the Lead Pastor was discussed and approved, should this option be exercised.
Upon notification from the Lead Pastor to the Board of
Trustees of his/her intentions to purchase a home, the Charge Conference
approved the following actions to accommodate this request.
·
To
establish a housing allowance for the Lead Pastor.
·
To
lift restrictions on the Wakefield Parsonage Fund to allow returns only to
cover the initial
housing allowance costs.
·
To
permit the sale of the Vermont Road Parsonage.
·
To
transition the cost of the housing allowance to the General Fund budget over a
period
no longer than 5 years.
·
To
establish a Housing Allowance Fund from the sale of the Vermont Road Parsonage
and the remaining Wakefield Parsonage
Fund, whose returns only will be used during the
transition period to fund the portion of the
housing allowance not covered by the General Fund budget.
The minutes of the December 19, 2005 Charge Conference are
available from the Church Office for review.
2006 ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL
usually meets on 4th Mondays
*indicates Staff
Chairperson – Bill Benson (2007)
Secretary – George Newberry (2007)
Committee
Chairs
President, Board of Trustees
Sandy Miller
Chair, Finance Committee
Barry Miller
Chair, Staff-Parish Relations Committee
Julie East
Secretary, Lay Leadership Committee
Sue Shank
Lay Leader – Janet Newberry
Administrative
Representatives
Treasurer
Roger Niles
Memorials Secretary
Irene Littleton
Membership /Secretary
Audrey Tolston
Lay
Representatives
Lay Members to Annual Conference
Cindy
Caldwell
Elaine Crowe
Debbie Englar
Lou
Sedlak
Alternate Members to Annual Conference
George Buckless
_______________
Lay Leaders (Lay Reader Coordinators)
8:00 – Donna Becker
9:20 – Janet Newberry
11:00 – Taylor Hawkins
trueFusion – Andrea Richie
Mt. Carmel Chapel - Judy Niles
Program
Representatives
President, United Methodist Women
Colleen Dombroskie
Chair, Altar Guild
Phyllis Bradley
Scouting Representative
Bob Young
Members At
Large
Class of 2008
Libby Maenner
Doug Pratt
Class of 2007
Pete Entner
Angie Wilson
Class of 2006
Jill Brock
Brittany Kappauf
Beth Lusky
Ministry Team Leaders
Program Coordinator
Cheryl Firth*
Worship Ministry Team
Rev.
Doug Hollida*
Congregational Care Ministry Team
Rev. Peggy Groseclose*
Education
Ministry Team
Joni Behrendt*
Outreach Ministry Team
Cheryl Firth*
Youth/Young Adult Ministry Team
Tom Hodges*
Hospitality Committee
Alice Archer*
TINY TOTS SCHOOL BOARD
Chair – Stacie Farley (2006)
Vice Chair – Les Goodwin (2007)
Treasurer – Al Roberty (2008)
Secretary – Lisa Tenerowicz (2007)
Member At Large – Vicki Seitzinger (2008)
Director, Christian Education - Joni Behrendt*
Director, Tiny Tots School - Joan Elloff*
CHILDREN’S
CHRISTIAN CENTER BOARD
Chair – Andrea Richie (2008)
Vice Chair – Normajean Boyd (2006)
Treasurer – Shelley Ellis (2006)
Secretary – Carol Benson (2008)
Member At Large – John Cavanaugh (2007)
Director, Christian Education - Joni Behrendt*
Director, CCC – Vacant
2006 BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
|
BOARD OF TRUSTEES J.D. Kurzmann Don Mahan Sandy Miller Esther Pardo Bob Sherman Mary Schruefer |
|
FINANCE COMMITTEE Randy Wentsel Class of 2007 Barry Miller Class of 2006 Sandy Miller Lay Member to Annual Conference Debbie Englar |
|
LAY LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE Class of 2008 Devonna Rowe Mark Ward Class of 2007 Chuck Heatwole Sue Shank Class of 2006 Sandy Conway Doug Dorer Lay Leader
Representative Janet Newberry |
|
STAFF-PARISH RELATIONS Vice Chair – Genene LaCour Janet Newberry (Lay Leader) Genene LaCour Jen Lewis Tony Pitrat |
TREASURER’S REPORT
The
church ended the year 2005 in a good financial position and on target with our
financial policies. Thanks for your
faithful giving which increased about 6% above 2004. That giving provided for the fulfillment of
budgeted programs. We can look back at
2005 as a year with many special and exciting events. Judy Jones and Rev. Doug Hollida joined the
staff. The Lightner Library came to fruition. Many folks completed “The Journey” by
finishing their reading of the entire Bible. Substantial sums of money and supplies were
generously donated to alleviate the many people suffering from the tsunami and the
hurricanes. On top of that, we had an
excellent response to the “Heat, Eat, and Retreat” special appeal which
provided for a new boiler, freezer, and safety exit windows for children. Your
faithful support made all of this happen!
Now
the year 2006 has started. The
Administrative Council approved the 2006 budget in December and below is a
summary:
Budget Category 2005 2006
Conference Payments $206,621 $212,368
Administration
64,000 64,500
Trustees Maintenance 210,000 229,600
Trustees Capital
17,000 16,000
Administrative Council
31,200 31,200
Worship 17,200 19,800
Congregational Care 7,250 7,650
Children and Adult Education 42,500 44,800
Young Adult and True Fusion 8,800 10,080
Youth Programs
9,000 9,700
Outreach 3,500 3,500
Church and Society 20,400 19,200
Missions 12,800 14,300
Staff Parish 725,279 779,442
Total $1,375,550 $1,462,140
Based
on the tabulation of pledges and historical giving patterns, this budget is
attainable. We would like to do more;
there are plenty of needs. However, the
budget requests were reduced to the level of our expected income to assure the
exercising of responsible stewardship.
Like any good family, we need to live within our means. The Finance
Committee will monitor income and expenditures during the year to assure that our
finances remain in order. The
implementation of the 2006 budget now rests with you and your faithful giving.
The Building Fund
In the monthly packet of offering envelopes, there is a
green striped envelope entitled “Building Fund.” Many of you are aware of this envelope and
contribute using this envelope. The
funds received through this envelope are used to pay for the mortgage that was
necessary to complete Armstrong Center and the renovations completed in 2000. This mortgage is down from the original
$500,000 loan to $104,146 (as of the end of December). Our monthly payment is
$4,606. Lately, our monthly receipts
from the Building Fund envelopes have been less than the required payment, and
some reserve funds have been utilized to make up the difference for the
payment. If you have been contributing
to the Building Fund, you can be proud of the reduction of the mortgage. Thanks
to all of you for your generosity. If
you have not been contributing to the Building Fund through these envelopes,
you might consider doing so. We are on
the last part of the mortgage, and it is our goal to be debt-free as soon as
possible. Thanks for your consideration
of this matter.
Beginnings
An Introduction to Christian Faith
Come
with us on this 9-week journey through the basics of Christian faith. Classes
will be held on Thursdays, March 9 through May 11, from 6:30-8:45 PM. There will also be an all-day retreat on
Saturday, April 22. Each session of Beginnings includes a meal, an engaging
message, and interactive small group time.
Child care is provided.
Registration forms are available at the Welcome Center or contact Cindy
Caldwell at 410-838-5181, ext. 13 or e-mail caldwellc@baumc.com.
Beginnings Class Schedule:
March 9 - So, Is This All
There Is?
March
16 - Who Is Jesus, and Why Should I Care?
March
23 - Why Am I Not Where I Want To Be? – Sin and the Cross
March
30 - What Happens When I Die? – Death and Resurrection
April
6 - Can I Trust God? – Providence and Suffering
[No
class on April 13]
April
20 - How Does God Speak To Me? – The Bible
April
22 - Day Apart (three sessions in
one day)
If I Don’t Feel Lost, Why Do I Need To Be Found? -- Salvation
and Conversion
Can I Start Again? – Forgiveness and Wholeness
How Do I Speak To God? – Prayer
April
27 - How Can I Make A Life and Not Just A Living? – The Good Life
May
4 - Why Should I Join Any Group That Will Have Me As A Member? – Church
May
11 - Love Feast! Remembering, Sharing
and Continuing The Journey
Look What’s Happening!
Carpenter’s
Tools will be worshiping with us on Sunday, March 5. Check them out at www.ctimusic.org. Needed are accommodations and meals for 8
team members. We will need housing on
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights.
They will arrive on Saturday evening and depart early on Tuesday
morning. Please contact Cheryl Firth
(410-838-5181, ext. 18 or e-mail firthc@baumc.com)
if you can be a host family. They are a
wonderful group of young adults!
Favorite passages for members of the team are: Humble
yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. (1 Timothy 4:12) and Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example
for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
(James 4:10). And their favorite quotes
are: A
man’s worth is not measured by what he has, but by what he does. and Too blessed to be
stressed.
Come for dinner on Wednesday,
March 8 from 5:00-7:00 PM in McComas Hall.
A Chicken Dinner will be served to benefit the
Baltimore Mission Project. Tickets will
be available at the door.
The
Children and Family Ministry Team invites everyone to the Family & Friends Ice Skating Party on Saturday,
March 11 from 3:15-5:15 PM. Join us
at Ice World, 1300 Governor Court in Abingdon.
Admission is $3 per person at the door.
However, BRING A FRIEND WHO DOES NOT COME TO BAUMC AND GET IN FREE –
both you and your friend! This includes
adults! Bring your neighbors, school
friends, work pals. Bring as many as you
want and get in free!
Want
to find out more about Bel Air United Methodist Church? Come to the Discovery Class Luncheon
on Sunday, March 12 from 12:30-2:00 PM.
Come for lunch, meet the pastors, and ask your questions about the
church. Stop by the Welcome Center to
pickup an invitation, or call the Church Office (410-838-5181) for more
information.
Rebuilding
Singlehood begins a new session on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:30 PM. This support group is for anyone going
through separation and divorce. Classes
will be held on Tuesday evenings for 13 weeks, ending on June 6. For information, call Mike & Nancy
Savakinas at 410-569-4541.
The
Bel Air United Methodist Women invite all members of the church and community
to our annual Call to Prayer Service on Monday,
March 20 at 6:30 PM in the Community Room.
Denise McGhee will be speaking on her recent mission trip to
Namibia. The evening begins with a
simple meal of soup and bread, as we remember those around the world who are
affected by hunger. A special offering
will be taken to benefit global mission work.
Debbie Englar will be part of a Trip to Zimbabwe with the United Methodist Ubuntu Explorers from March 22 through April
6. They will be meeting the women of
Zimbabwe, visiting churches and the Africa University, and touring Victoria
Falls. They will be sharing testimonies
and Bible study and will get to know the people of Zimbabwe and their
culture. Members of the group have been
asked to bring crafts to share. If you
have a craft than can pack well, please bring it to the box provided at the
Welcome Center. Please be sure to attach
a card with your name and town and any special note or greeting you may want to
send. For more information, contact
Debbie at 410-569-7181.
The Cherub
Choir is hoping to have robes in time
for Palm Sunday! The cost of one robe is
$36.36, and donations are welcome.
Checks may be made payable to Bel
Air United Methodist Church, denoted for “Music Ministry Fund.”
WINTER HOMELESS SHELTER MINISTRY
Bel
Air United Methodist Church will be hosting the Winter Shelter from February 27
through March 13, 2006. While we had
hoped to be the first hosts in the new Riverside facility, that will not be
happening. The shelter will again be
held in our Community Room during these two weeks.
There
is a table in McComas Hall during Morning Fellowship to signup the needed
volunteers. We will need the following:
Food
Dinner will be needed each evening for about 30-35
guests and workers.
Breakfast will be needed each morning.
Bag lunches can be prepared and delivered daily.
Van Drivers
Drivers are needed each evening to transport guests
from Social Services
in Bel Air to the shelter, and then back to Social
Services or to the day shelter
in Edgewood each morning.
Hosts
and Hostesses
Supervision is needed during the
operating hours of the shelter, 5:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
Laundry
Sheets and towels will need to be
laundered each day.
If
you, your family, your home group, or your organization would like to help in
any way, please contact Linda Sajko at 410-638-8869 or e-mail lsajko@hotmail.com. We will also need help with setup on Monday,
February 27 and with take down and cleanup on Monday, March 13.
BLOOD DRIVE
♥ Great Start for 2006… The first of
our six Blood Drives in 2006 was a big success.
A total of 70 units of blood were collected, which is good for this time
of year when the cold and flu season is in full swing. On behalf of the many patients and accident
victims whose health will benefit from these donations, we express our sincere
thanks to everyone who came out in support of the drive.
♥ Two-for-One Deal… Did you know that
the Red Cross now offers a two-for-one donation opportunity? Their “Double Red” donation allows a donor to
give two units of blood during a given Blood Drive. The donor would then skip the subsequent
Blood Drive. It’s a great opportunity to
serve as a faithful, full-time donor with only half as much time required. During our January Blood Drive, there were ten Double Red donors!
♥ Mark Your Calendars… The next Blood
Drive is scheduled for Monday, March 13 from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Appointment times can be reserved on the
signup sheet across from the Church Office.
The remaining Blood Drives for 2006 will be held on May 8, July 10,
September 11, and November 13.
THE ASBURY GUILD
In 1934, the Asbury Guild was formed to provide many gifts
of love which enrich the lives of the residents requiring assisted living and
nursing care in the Asbury communities at Asbury Methodist Village in
Gaithersburg and Asbury-Solomons Island.
Guild members give of their time volunteering, working on special
projects, managing the gift shops, and establishing on-going relationships with
residents who may have no other family members with which to share their lives.
The Guild hosts monthly birthday parties and holiday
parties. Our Baltimore-Harford District
supplies gifts for residents who have birthdays in September and October. We also supply many Christmas gifts each
year.
The Asbury Guild asks you to give $3 or more per year as
membership dues. It is through these
dues that many benefits have been received by Asbury and the residents. Since 1961, the Guild has raised more than
$2,750,000 to pay for the third floor of the Health Care Center, the Guild
Chapel, automatic doors at two buildings, a 21-passenger bus, sponsored trips
off campus, and give $50,000 yearly to the Benevolent Fund.
Your representative for the Asbury Guild is Elaine Crowe,
who is also President of the Baltimore-Harford District of the Guild. There are Asbury envelopes available in the
pew racks and at the Welcome Center for you to use in giving your membership of
other donations. Be sure to write your
name and address on the envelope.
Envelopes can be placed in the offering plate on Sunday mornings between
now and March 12 or given directly to Elaine Crowe.
To find out more about Asbury, you can call the Marketing
Office at 301-216-4100 or 1-800-327-2879 or visit their website at www.asbury.org.
Have you ever been
described as the person that your friends or co-workers go to when they need
advice or support? Do you like to
celebrate with people the special events in their lives?
Do you rely upon
prayer and the healing power of the Holy Spirit to get you through the tough
times? You may just have what it takes
to be a wonderful Shepherd to the folks in our congregation.
If you’ve been
feeling that nudge to get more involved in the church’s ministries and want to
know more about being a Shepherd, please contact Rev. Peggy Groseclose at
410-838-5181,
ext. 14 or e-mail groseclosep@baumc.com or Chip Newhart
at 410-879-6907.
Shepherd training
will be included in the Disciple Equipping Conference on Saturday, March 4. A
Shepherd Equipping Seminar will also be held on Saturday, March 18.
GRIEF… is a natural part of life, yet no one is ever completely
prepared to deal with it. It can
devastate the strongest. With God, we
can find peace and strength in our time of grief and begin to heal.
Constructive
ways of dealing with emotional hurt and the pain of a broken heart:
- Talk it out. When your heart is broken,
find a friend with a sympathetic ear and talk it out. It really helps.
- Cry it out. It’s normal to cry. It’s God’s
cleansing gift – a healthy way to express painful feelings. Grief
hurts. You have been wounded by
your loss. You need to cry it out.
- Work it out. Work (or play for
children) can be a way of dealing with heartache. The saving reaction is simply to go on
living, to go on working. To find
in the presence of Jesus Christ the strength and courage to meet life.
- Worship it out. Let the church be part of
the healing process. Claim the
strength and support of the church.
Let the love hold you up.
Let the prayers and gentle hugs lift you and help you. Get back to church as soon as you can. Remember, God loves you and will bring
you through this valley.
Taken from “When Grief Breaks Your Heart,” by James W. Moore.