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November-December
2007
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Advent/Christmas Sermon Series
From
Humbug to Hallelujah
Join us as we prepare our hearts for the Savior’s
birth.
Charles Dickens’ famous “A Christmas Carol’ will be
the theme for illustrations.*
Sunday, December
2
Break the Chains of Christmas Past
Luke 1:67-79
Sunday, December
9
Rekindle the Joy of Christmas
Luke 1:39-55
Sunday, December
16
8:00 AM and
Mt. Carmel Chapel
Celebrate the Love of Christmas
Matthew 1:18-25
9:20 and
11:00 AM
Chancel
Choir Cantata
Come Ye Faithful
Friday,
December 21
7:00 PM
Pre-Christmas Service
A Café Christmas
Worship / Karaoke / Refreshments
in Youth Center
Sunday, December
23
Embrace the Hope of Christmas
Matthew 2:1-15
7:00 PM at
Mt. Carmel Chapel
Service of Carols

Monday, December 24
4:00 PM Family Service
The Prince of Peace
5:00 and 7:00 PM Candlelight Services
at Mt. Carmel Chapel
The Thumb Island Elephant Christmas
Musical Preludes at 6:30, 8:30 and 10:30
PM
7:00 PM Candlelight Communion Service
9:00 and 11:00 PM Candlelight Services
Be Transformed by Christmas
Luke 1:26-38
Sunday, December
30
Keep Christmas in Your Heart All Year
Luke 2:8-20
* ”A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens is
available at the Welcome Center, in conjunction with our Advent Sermon Series From Humbug to Hallelujah. The book includes commentary on the story’s
Christian symbolism. The cost is $2.
Christmas Eve Help Needed
Communion
Servers are
needed for the 7:00 PM Christmas Eve service.
20 servers are needed. Adults and
youth aged 15 and older are welcome to serve.
The signup sheet is located on the Ushers Desk.
Greeters are needed for the 7:00,
9:00, and 11:00 PM services. Please
contact Alice Archer at 410-838-5181, ext. 11.
Childcare
Workers are
needed for the 7:00 PM Candlelight Communion Service. Are you available and willing to provide care
for the wee ones on Christmas Eve?
Contact Joni Behrendt at 410-838-5181, ext. 39, for more information and
to volunteer.
***
A Note from the Welcome Team
***
During
the upcoming holidays, we anticipate an increase in the number of visitors to
our church. Be extra aware of all you
can do to help enhance the welcoming atmosphere you would want to experience if
you were a visitor. Here are a few
suggestions which are easy to do.
● Say hello and introduce yourself to at
least one or two people you don’t already know.
● Offer someone with young children the
activity packet (located at the back of the Sanctuary).
● Move toward the center of the pew to allow for
late arrivals to easily find a seat.
● If someone looks a little lost, help them find what
they are looking for. If you don’t know,
then walk with them to the Welcome Center, to the Guest
Information folks in the Narthex,
or the Sunday School Information Desk by the Armstrong
Entrance.
● Invite a visitor to the next Discovery Luncheon (it
will be held on Sunday, January 13).
Better
yet, offer to attend with them.

The Sound of
Holiday Music
presented by
THE BEL AIR COMMUNITY CHORUS
Sunday,
December 16, 2007
7:00 PM
Bel Air
United Methodist Church
Christmas Greetings
Again
this year, we are offering the opportunity to share your Christmas greetings
with others in the congregation by signing the BIG card on the bulletin board
in the lobby and, in turn, making a donation to our Christmas ministry. We also invite you to “mail” your Christmas
cards to the congregation by using the lettered mail slots, also located in the
lobby outside the Narthex.
New Sermon Series
Beginning Sunday, January 13:
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The Gift of Prayer
Get closer to
Jesus and find more peace and joy
in your heart
as we look at the ways
to experience
God in prayer.
AN AFTERNOON
ESCAPE…
Don’t want to watch the football game?
Tired of wrapping presents and baking cookies?
Ready to spend some time for yourself?
You’re invited to come to the Lightner
Library from 1:00-4:00 PM on Sunday, December 16 and on Sunday, December
30.
You can spend some quiet time reading, catching up on your small group
or class assignment, or just browsing the shelves to learn all the library has
to offer. We have lots of new fiction
and Christmas books for adults and children!
Coffee and light refreshments will be available. For more information, call Emma Jean
McDermott at 410-838-8521.
NEW BOOKS
Children’s Christmas
What Happened to Merry Christmas?, by Baker
King of the Stable, by Carlson
What Nick and Holly Found in Grandpa’s Attic, by Carlson
The Christmas Lizard, by Edwards
One Starry Night, by Godfrey and Ayres
The Star of Christmas (Veggie Tales), by Kenny
The Stable That Bob Built, by Kenny
The Shepherd’s Christmas Story, by Mackall
Zeek, the Christmas Mouse, by Schneider
Hare’s Christmas Gift, by Schmid
Gigi, The Perfect Christmas
Gift, by Walsh
Children’s Fiction
Coming Home,
by Lucado
His Mighty Warrior, by Shepherd
Canyon Rescue,
by Bolton
Legend of Gid the Kid and the Black Bean Bandits, by Miller
Adult Christmas
The Aluminum Christmas Tree, by Davis
Christmas in Harmony, by Gulley
A Christmas to Remember, by Kincaid
Christmas in My Heart, by Wheeler
Adult Non-Fiction
3:16 – The Numbers of Hope, by Lucado
A Great Freedom, by North
Adult Fiction
Sisterchicks Series, by Robin Jones Gunn
Gideon’s Gift, Magie’s Miracle, Sarah’s Song, Hannah’s
Hope, Ever After, and Between Sundays, by
Karen Kingsbury
A
book titled Grace Gifts explores graceful giving and receiving. It asks us to imagine what God is creating
with the connections between givers and receivers. This $6 book makes a great gift for those who
enjoy a spiritual stroll with beautiful scenery. All proceeds will be gifts to a homeless
family, a family’s first student to graduate from college, Habitat for
Humanity, and the medical clinic in Zimbabwe.
Written by a member of our church family, the book will be for sale
between services in McComas Hall on Sunday, December 16.
BAUMC ON
ICE 2008!
Sharpen
your skates! Start the New Year off on
the right “foot”
and join your church family at Ice World in Abingdon on
Tuesday,
January 1, 2008 from 2:30-4:30 PM.
Admission is $10 per family
or $3 per person (plus $3 skate rental if needed). Here’s the “kicker”:
Bring a
friend who does not attend BAUMC, and you and your
friend
get in free! Mark your
calendar now for this exciting all-church activity
sponsored by the BAUMC Children & Family Ministries Team.
A Russian Christmas Eve Celebration
On Sunday, January 6,
2008, Bel Air
United Methodist Church
will be hosting Reverend Eduard Khegay, who will speak at all
three worship services as a guest of the
Russian Outreach
Committee.
Many may remember his previous visit to Bel Air UMC in
February
2006. At that time,
he described his youth in Communist Russia
and his coming to Christ through a
relationship with an
American missionary.
He was and continues to be the Assistant
to Bishop Hans Växby, United Methodist
Church in Eurasia.
Since many
in Russia celebrate Christmas on January 6, some special music is planned. The topic
of
Reverend Khegay’s sermon is not known at this time, but he and Reverend Carol
Pazdersky will be sharing the services.
Reverend
Khegay was born in l970 in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, Soviet Union, to parents in
the Communist Party. Kazakhstan is
located in south east Russia, bordering China, and is best known today for its
rich oil deposits. The first half of his
life was under Communism, and the last half was as Russia was becoming more
democratic. He had no Christian
background and thought Christians were strange, joyless people.
While he
was in Moscow at the Bauman Moscow Technical University studying engineering in
1992, he met a missionary named Jonathan Park, now a pastor in Los Angeles, who
encouraged him to come to a Bible study group.
It was during the time that the Soviet Union was collapsing, the economy
was crashing, and there were no products in the stores. He wondered why anyone would voluntarily come
there, particularly from sunny California.
After
learning about Christ’s love and becoming increasingly involved, he decided he
wanted to dedicate his life to God. He
felt drawn to Methodism and the Methodist Church because of its atmosphere that
did not tell you what to believe and its openness to all questions. After finishing college, he attended the
Moscow United Methodist Theological Seminary, became a pastor in St.
Petersburg, and subsequently received a Master of Divinity from Emory University
in Atlanta, Georgia.
He has now
been given a full scholarship to attend Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC for
his
Doctor of Ministry program in the Church Leadership Excellence track.
This is the first time such a scholarship has ever been given. Several churches were requested to donate
$2,000 each to cover the cost of his travel expenses for the five trips that he
would be making between Russia and Washington, DC. Our committee willingly agreed to
contribute.
In addition
to his current position as the Bishop’s Assistant, Reverend Khegay is also a
part-time pastor for the Raduga UMC in Moscow.
The following is a quote describing his experience as a pastor:
“It is amazing to be a pastor in
Moscow today, where life is rapidly changing, the economy experiences fast
growth, corruption is high, moral values are destroyed, a new consumer
generation is emerging, and a great spiritual vacuum exists. I believe that in this very midst of life
complexity, God gives the church a great opportunity to proclaim the gospel,
call people into Christian discipleship, and transform the world. As a pastor, I feel very privileged to serve
my church and be a part of God’s Kingdom.”
Russia Mission Initiative
The Russia Initiative, which also includes the Ukraine,
Moldova, and Belarus, is a partnership among annual conferences, congregations,
and institutions committed to church growth and development in that
region. It is sponsored and organized by
the General Board of Global Ministries.
The initiative began in the winter of 1991-1992, with the
primary purpose to deliver food to Russsia’s Moscow Region. Later, Global Ministries expanded the project
to include the re-establishment of Methodism in the former Soviet Union. The Eurasia Annual Conference was established
in 1997, with expansion to four annual conferences in 2003 and a fifth annual
conference in 2005.
Rev. Carol Pazdersky, Carol and Rob McCormack, Jean Walker, and
Gloria Baker recently attended the Russia Initiative Consultation held in Kansas
City. For more information, visit the
website http://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/initiative/russia/.

Washington, DC Bus
Tour
Thursday, April 3,
2008
Hosted
by Sweet Charity Trips, this trip will benefit the Russia Initiative Program of
Bel Air United Methodist Church. The
cost of the trip is $70.
The
first $35 is due with your reservation, and the remainder will be due March 1,
2008. Call Dottie DeCarlo at
410-335-7744 or e-mail her at dotdecarlo@aol.com to make your reservation.
The
trip includes:
● Washington
National Cathedral – Guided Tour
● Library of Congress – Guided Tour
● Old Post Office Pavilion Center –
Lunch & View from Clock Tower
● Madame Tussauds Museum – Wax Figures of
Presidents & First Ladies
The
bus will leave at 8:30 AM from the church parking lot and returns at
approximately 6:30 PM.
Further
information may be obtained from the flyer available at the Welcome Center or
on-line at http:/sweetcharitytrips/com.
A Tax Tip from the
National Society of Tax Professionals
There is a little known provision of the tax law
that is in effect until December 31,
2007. Congress can extend this
provision in the law, but there are no guarantees. This particular law could benefit certain
senior citizens who have become 70½ years old, have a traditional Individual
Retirement Account (IRA), and are required by law to take at least a Required
Minimum Distribution (RMD).
There are a significant number of retirees who have
provided well for themselves for retirement, therefore some may wish to put off
taking distributions from their IRA’s.
They do not intend to increase taxable income; however, at 70½ they face
compliance with the RMD… and these distributions are taxable income.
Several things occur with RMD’s:
(1) Taxable income inceases.
(2) More of Social Security
benefits are taxable.
(3) Tax brackets can change
upward.
(4) If you itemize and benefit
from medical expenses as a deduction, less will be deductible, due to increased
Adjusted Gross Income, thereby impacting the 7.5% limitation on medical
deductions.
Therefore, if extra income is not needed, consider
another approach. Under the current
provision of the tax law, you can make a direct
gift of all or a portion of the IRA to a qualified charitable organization
– maximum gift amount is $100,000. It is not included in the taxpayer’s income. It is a direct transfer gift from the IRA
custodian to the charitable organization.
This law is scheduled to expire December 31, 2007. In order to receive the greatest tax saving,
a gift of a portion or the entire IRA, subject to maximum limitation, is
possible before this provision in the law expires.
Note: You may
have more than one IRA. Your gift will
count toward the RMD for 2007. Also,
future calculations of RMD’s will be less as they will be figured on a smaller
amount.
The BAUMC Legacy Committee
Have you completed your
2008 Stewardship Commitment form? Now is
the time for us to see what God wants us to do, and your gift is
essential. There are fields that are
ready for us to plant the seeds of God’s love and grace. Commitment forms are available in the pew
racks and at the Welcome Center.
Job Description: APPALACHIA!
I’ve been trying to write a job description for the
work we do. I had an explanation of what
we do, but it actually is not a job description. The Appalachian project is just a part of
what is done, and it does not lend itself to an organized description. For instance, we collect about 100 or more
bags of clothes per week for Tabitha’s House, plus baby furniture, shoes, toys,
books, and household items. We collect
from Bel Air UMC at least one truck load of clothes, and other things,
sometimes twice a week. We collect from
Bows & Britches at least one truck load a week of toys and clothes. Also from Country Britches. A load a week comes from Advent
Lutheran. Then we get several calls a
week from individuals who have a load to donate. Most all of this is taken to the warehouse.
Now, delivery goes to Appalachia four times a year,
in January, June, September, and December.
Every week we take a load of 80 to 100 bags to the Church of the
Nazarene in Pylesville, who send about 1,200 banana boxes of clothes,
tableware, blankets, and all other sorts of items to about 22 different
countries. About once a month, we take
80 to 100 bags of clothes to Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster, who
sells some things at two locations to support their work and then sends many
things to other Third World countries.
Then, about once a month we take a load of clothes, baby furniture,
toys, and household items to Agape House in Baltimore City. We had been taking things to the Mason-Dixon
Center, but they are only open at certain times and it’s hard to get there on
time. All the things that are picked up
are picked up by my partner and me. It
requires work every day, including Sundays.
We are committed to doing it, and it is something the Lord has led both
of us into doing. However, my partner is
almost 83 and has arthritis in his hip, which will be replaced in January. I’m almost 80 and have arthritis in my knees,
hips, lower back, and shoulders. It’s a
family thing. We are both in pain, but
controlled pain. We both agree with
Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything. We’ve worked for about 15 years, and now it’s
time to do something else. The Lord will
lead us.
But how could I ask someone to do what we do? I can’t.
So we’re just going to close down, unless the Lord sends someone.
Please pray that God will call someone
to help with this vital ministry. For more
information, contact Harry Fitzhugh at 410-836-1462 or Rev. Peggy Groseclose at
410-838-5181, ext. 14.
BLOOD DRIVE NEWS
♥ November Totals… Our Blood
Drive on November 12 resulted in 51 good units of blood from the 58 willing
donors who signed in. This represents an
increase from our recent Blood Drives.
On behalf of the many patients who will benefit from these donations, we
express our heartfelt thanks to each and every person who came out in support
of the drive.
♥ Happy New Year 2008… Ready or not,
2008 is fast approaching! As you get
your new calendars and begin to fill them with your activities and
appointments, please include our Blood Drive dates. Our Blood Drives occur on the second Monday
of January, March, May, July, September, and November. If you are an eligible donor, please consider
making this one of your resolutions for 2008.
It is truly the most precious gift of all, and willing donors such as yourself are still the only source.
♥ Our next Blood Drive will be on Monday, January
14, 2008 from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM.
Our
Volunteers In Mission (VIM) Team have scheduled
another trip to Louisiana on January 13-20, 2008. A planning meeting will be held on Wednesday,
January 2 at 7:00 PM. For information,
please call Dave Candey (410-420-3830), Andy Hessenauer (410-942-0766), or
Palmer Paules (410-836-7456).
“Neighbors In Need” Needs Your Support!
Dear Food
Volunteers,
We want to
thank you all very much for the food
you have delivered
to us. It sure came in at a needed time!
Did you know that our
congregation reaches out to 225 needy seniors every month? The Harford County Department on Aging has
identified seniors in our community who have scarce resources, and our
congregation has responded to those who need help through our Neighbors In
Need/Senior Food Distribution program. BAUMC provides nutritious food at the end of
month to help these neighbors. Over the
years, we have heard from grateful recipients about how the food we provide
makes it possible for them to eat healthfully even as their own resources
dwindle.
This program needs
your support. To pack or deliver food,
please call the Church Office (410-838-5181) for more information. To financially support this ministry, send
contributions to the church or place them in the offering plate. Be sure to specify that your gift is for
“Neighbors In Need.”
Harford
Habitat for Humanity
By now you should have received a framed
photo of the FaithWorks 2 home and partner family, Ms. Jeannie Nkuruziza and
her son Hosanna. The faith community of
the Bel Air United Methodist Church was significant in helping to build this
home.
On behalf of Harford Habitat for Humanity,
I would like to share our gratitude with your congregation. Perhaps the framed picture can be a reminder
that you have been the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in Aberdeen.
In His Service,
Joseph Hughes
Church Relations Committee
Faith
Communities and Civic Agencies United, Inc.
On behalf of FCCAU, I thank you for your generous donation of 25 blankets
in the amount of $250. These items have
been a tremendous blessing to the homeless men and women coming into the
shelter. When God has a plan and his
people respond, there is nothing that cannot be done!
We extend our prayers for a year of God’s blessings on you. Again, thank you for your commitment to
bringing this spirit of change to the lives of the homeless in Harford County.
Sincerely,
Judy Merritt
Executive Director
The Neighbors In Need Furniture
Program began 19 years ago through the hard work of
Bel Air United Methodist Church and their volunteers. As of October 1, 2007, the volunteers from
this program have retired and the program has been redirected. Customer and client needs should no longer be
sent to Harford County Government through the Department of Community Services nor
through Bel Air United Methodist Church.
The
following organizations offer assistance to those in need and will gladly
accept donations of the items indicated:
Harvest
of Love Mission, Aberdeen
Phone
410-273-8995
Furniture,
household items, clothing, small appliances.
Lutheran
Mission Society
531
Legion Drive, Havre de Grace
Phone
410-939-0879
Food and
clothing.
Alpha’s
Glory
106
N. Philadelphia Blvd., Aberdeen
Phone
410-272-4711
Baby furniture,
clothing (up to size 2), diapers, baby food and formula.
Tabitha’s
House
112
Connolly Road, Fallston
Phone
410-877-9730
Clothing and
household items.

Our
annual remembrance of the Saints in our congregation was observed on Sunday,
November 4, 2007. We honor those who
have died in Christ, having lived lives of faithful service, during the past
year.
Virginia
Stark
Helen
(Bobby) Spicer
Catherine
Ennis
James
Hightower
Rev.
George Pferdeort
Susan
Tracy
Mildred
Preston
Margaret
Winaker
Elsa
Anderson
Meridith
Morris
Vera
Moody
Gertrude
Francisco
Robert
McClurg
Herschel
Fender
William
Paul Gordon
George
Runyon
Dennis
Sulkowski
Doris
Stemler
Rewey
McAuley
James
McConnell
Margaret
(Peggy) Kelly
Dolores
Hearn
Archie
Kaper
Rod
Hutchinson
Iris
Lufburrow
Brandon
Hilyard

We wish to thank our church family for their thoughts, prayers, cards,
and support during our recent loss of Barb’s step-father, Ed Asher. We truly appreciate all your concern.
Lou & Barb Sedlak
To my Bel Air United Methodist Church
family,
I would like to thank all of you for your support while we grieve the
loss of my mother, Dolores Hearn. We
were so humbled by the outpouring of love and comfort at our time of
sorrow. Thank you for being there and
serving in the name of Jesus.
Denise & Rick McGhee and Family
The family of Iris Lufburrow sincerely
thanks all who have given so graciously in support and remembrance of Iris with
your prayers, meals, cards, and words of concern and care. We were deeply touched. God has richly blessed us with your
friendship and love. God bless you,
Jack Lufburrow
Chip & Charlene Lufburrow
Lynda
& Mike Trueblood
Sandy & Mike Bishop
WITH APOLOGIES TO
EDGAR A. GUEST
It takes a heap o’ prayin’ to make
a house a Christian home.
A heap o’ love and patience and
sometimes when children roam
A heap o’ understandin’ when they
come back to your door
To keep
from sayin’ “I told you so” and thus make them roam some more.
It takes a heap o’ working both of
muscle and of mind
To train your children as you
ought; to be both firm and kind.
It takes a heap o’ studying o’ the
way the Savior trod
To keep your children and yourself
fit to present to God.
It takes cooperation to make our
church God’s home on earth.
To see each individual for what
God thinks he is worth.
We must daily think of others and
live out God’s law of love
Trusting
always in his guidance seeking daily help from above.
Forgetting self in service – doing
good to fellow man
And like the Good Samaritan cross
lines of race and clan.
Just lose yourself with no thought
of gain – using your ability
To bring God’s Kingdom here and
now and through eternity.
This
poem was written by Virginia Groseclose (Bill’s mother) for the Family
Fellowship Week Banquet at First UMC on July 24, 1981.
Great is thy
faithfulness!
A Celebration of Our 40 and 50 Year Members
was
held at Mt. Carmel Chapel on Sunday, October 14, 2007.
Congratulations to these faithful members of Bel Air
United Methodist Church!
Class of 1967 (40 Years)
Art
Benson, Gloria Benson, Bob Gillette, Sue Gillette, Wilson Gorrell,
Sandy Gorrell, Lawrence Graham, Frances Graham, Tom
Hutcheson, Ruth Hutcheson, Linda Kaste, Cora Moore
Class of 1966 (41 Years)
Harry
Buck, George Dryden, Ron Fortner, Vivian Fortner, Alice Humphrey, Palmer Paules, Sandy Paules, Jack Riggin, Eileen Riggin, Paula Roberty, Betty Bolt Scott, Hazel Wells, Paul Wooddell, Barbara Wooddell
Class of 1965 (42 Years)
Gerry
Bolt, George Callender, Pat Callender,
Evelyn Clayton, Jencie Dailey, Ken Kern, Paul
Newcomer, Glenys Rigney, Sue
Rouzer
Class of 1957 (50 Years)
Frances
Bowman, John Denbow, Sr., Anna Denbow, Lloyd Fry, Kathleen
Fry, Lucille Jones, Jack Kendall, Tom Smith, Mary Lou White
Class of 1956 (51 Years)
Clonie
Bolt, Nellie Graybeal, Jean McLane, James Mentzer, Margaret Mentzer, Judy
Rinehart, Virginia Schafer, Doris Scholl
Class of 1955 (52 Years)
Shirley
MacLean, Emmitt Pelt
TINY
TOTS SCHOOL NEWS
from Joan Elloff, Director
In November, we counted our blessings and were “thankful in our work and
play.” We learned about classical music
and the Golden Rule, we did science experiments, and traveled to Brazil in
social studies. We took a field trip to Goucher
College to see American Indian dancers.
The children collected canned food for Manna House, and we sing there
once a month.
The Tiny Tots 3 year old classes are getting ready for Jesus’
birthday! Our shape in December is a
star, just like the one that the shepherds saw on that special night. Our color is yellow, our number is four, and
we will learn about the minister’s job for our community helper.
The 4 year old Tiny Tots are very excited and quite busy. We will count the days until Jesus’ birthday
on the Advent calendar and talk about how blessed it is to give and to help
others. The school will have a hat and
mitten tree to help needy neighbors, and canned food is being collected for
Manna House. We visited a farm to select
a Christmas tree for each classroom, and we decorated our trees with crafts
each day. In social studies, we’ll
travel to Israel. We will sing holiday
songs, learn about Tchaikovsky and The
Nutcracker ballet, and visit the Meyerhoff Theater downtown. We’ll celebrate Christmas with our holiday
program on Friday, December 14 in the Sanctuary. Merry Christmas!
Three Steps to Membership
At Bel Air United Methodist
Church, our commitment to you begins on the day of your first visit. We aspire to help you grow in discipleship,
and to be there for you in the joys and sorrows of life. Membership is about your commitment. It is where
you confirm your faith in Christ, and your partnership in the mission and
ministry of our church. If you would
like to become a member, the steps to membership are easy and can be completed
in any order. We’ve outlined them below
so you can decide what your next step will be.

Merry Christmas
from the Church
Staff
Bel Air United Methodist Church
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
8:00 a.m. (Communion), 9:20 & 11:00 a.m. in Linwood
Sanctuary
9:20 a.m. Ignite Youth Worship in Youth Center
7:00 p.m. Evening Worship at Mt. Carmel Chapel
MORNING FELLOWSHIP in McComas Hall – 9:00-11:15 a.m.
|
CHURCH
OFFICE Phones
410-838-5181 or 410-879-2797 Fax 410-893-8363, E-mail info@baumc.com Who You Should Call: To
schedule a meeting or use building Alice
Archer To
use The Homestead Cheryl
Firth To
schedule a wedding Cheryl
Firth To
schedule a baptism / Baptism Class Judy
Jones About
membership / Membership Classes Lisa
Wong Wolf About
Christian Learning (Sunday School, VBS) Joni
Behrendt About
adult learning opportunities Cindy
Caldwell About
small group fellowship Cindy
Caldwell About
the bulletin (Deadline: Wednesday, 12
Noon) Judy Jones About
the e-Spire (Deadline: Thursday, 12
Noon) Judy Jones About
the SPIRE (newsletter) Alice
Archer About
programs and ministries Cheryl
Firth About
finances - envelopes, invoices, etc. Bill
Groseclose About
Child Care Joni
Behrendt About
Children’s Christian Center Anjanette Jacobs, Director (410-420-8304) About
Tiny Tots School
Joan Elloff, Director (410-838-6399) Please Call the Church
Office: If your address or phone number has
changed. If there’s been a birth or
death in your family. If you are ill or
hospitalized. The federal regulation
called HIPAA, the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act,
applies to how the church will minister to you, through clergy visits
and the Prayer Chain, while you are hospitalized. For the Prayer Chain: Call Andrea Whitcomb, 410-803-8520
(please leave a message if there’s no
answer) or send an e-mail to Jean Wood, jsjwood2@comcast.net. |
SPIRE SCHEDULE:
Deadline
January 2008 Sunday,
December 30
February 2008 Sunday,
February 3
March 2008 Sunday,
February 24
April 2008 Sunday,
March 30
SPIRE Editor - Alice
Archer
SPIRE Mailing - Sandy
and Palmer Paules
SPIRE Circulation -
Bruce Allen, Margaret Browning, Audrey Tolston Coale,
Shirley Cooney, Elaine
Crowe, Lloyd and Kathleen Fry, Sue and Bob Gillette,
Nellie Graybeal, Betty
Hartsock, Jean Henderson, Garner Jones, Elsie Kaste,
LeRoy Knepper, Jane Knode,
Auleen and Ed Leister, Irene Littleton,
Shirley MacLean,
Wayne and Jane Mason, Jean Moore, Dorothy Panowitz,
Nancy Paris, Shirley
and John Renshaw, Doris Scholl, Ruth Smithson,
Carole Vangrin,
Marguerite Ward
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BAUMC ON-LINE... The SPIRE is posted on our webpage at www.baumc.com.
The e-Spire, a weekly
update of information, devotions, upcoming events and activities, and a
printout of the previous week’s sermon, is distributed via e-mail (usually on
Fridays). If you would like to receive
the e-Spire, please send your e-mail address to info@baumc.com. If you do not have e-mail and would like to read
the e-Spire, copies are available at the Welcome Center.
Here are the e-mail
addresses for the church staff. Please
use these addresses for information, announcements, prayer concerns, etc. Use e-mail for any questions you have or to
sign up for any church activities.
Archer, Alice archera@baumc.com
Behrendt, Joni behrendtj@baumc.com
Caldwell, Cindy caldwellc@baumc.com
Firth, Cheryl firthc@baumc.com
Groseclose, Bill grosecloseb@baumc.com
Groseclose, Rev.
Peggy groseclosep@baumc.com
Hidey, Rev. Barry hideyb@baumc.com
Hodges, Tom hodgest@baumc.com
Hollida, Rev. Doug hollidad@baumc.com
Jones, Judy jonesj@baumc.com
Pazdersky, Rev. Carol pazderskyc@baumc.com
Schepers, Jim schepersj@baumc.com
Wolf, Lisa Wong wolfl@baumc.com
Children’s Christian
Center ccc@baumc.com
Tiny Tots School tinytots@baumc.com
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Bishop – Rev. Dr.
John R. Schol
District
Superintendent - Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt
Lead Minister - Rev.
Barry Hidey
Senior Associate Minister
- Rev. Peggy Groseclose
Associate Minister –
Rev. Carol Pazdersky
Director of Worship
& Arts – Rev. Doug Hollida
Director of Children
& Family Ministries - Joni Behrendt
Director of Adult Discipleship
- Cindy Caldwell
Director of Student
Ministries – Tom Hodges
Church Administrator
- Jim Schepers
Bookkeeper – Bill
Groseclose
Pastoral Administrative
Assistant – Judy Jones
Office/Facility
Coordinator - Alice Archer
Congregational Care
Coordinator - Cheryl Firth
Membership/Data Base
Coordinator – Lisa Wong Wolf
Building
Superintendent/Custodial Supervisor –
Don Sandefur
Custodians – Stephen
Kenly, Thureen Drake,
Jeff Shimek
Chair, Administrative
Council – Bill Benson
Secretary, Administrative
Council – Jen Evans
President, Board of
Trustees – Rick Schulte
Chair, Finance Committee
– Barry Miller
Chair, Staff-Parish
Relations – George Newberry
Secretary, Lay
Leadership Committee – Sue Shank
Lay Leader – Janet
Newberry

Don’t feel like celebrating Christmas?
Do the holidays make you blue?
Or have you had a major loss this year,
and the holidays will be different?
Christmas is
Christ’s day and still deserves our attention.
Led by Rev. Peggy Groseclose and Rev. Carol Pazdersky, we invite you to
Bel Air UMC’s first Blue Christmas Worship Service
on Friday, December 21, 2007 at 7:00 PM at Mt. Carmel Chapel.
In this intimate
setting, you can join with others to recognize that the longest night of the
year falls during this Holy Season.
Instead of all the bells and merry-making, you can use this time to call
forth the hope that the birth of Christ meant to a hurting world.
ADVENT CONCERT SERIES
Take
some time from your busy holiday schedule
to
enjoy the music of the season. All
concerts begin at 12:00 noon in the Sanctuary.
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Wednesday, December 5
Bel
Air High School Ensembles:
The Counterpoints
and the Pop Choir,
directed
by Terri Matthews
Saxophones Anonymous,
directed
by Tony Domenico
Wednesday, December 12
Bel
Air High School Orchestra and
Bel
Air High School Guitar Ensemble,
directed
by Terry O’Neill
Wednesday, December 19
C.
Milton Wright High School Concert Choir,
directed
by Paula Roberty
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