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Your Weekly News & Updates From
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A Look From Brook
Moving out of Flatland:
Last night we had a marketing team meeting. I love the spirit of this group! For me it models what I would call the "new" Bear Creek. It wasn't started from the top down...I had nothing to do with it...neither did our board! And that's what I love about it.
It incubated up like a bubble of spirit from the "bottoms" of our Bear Creek hearts: a heart that believed that for some reason Bear Creek had stopped telling our story out in the community and we needed to start doing that again! For some in the group, that meant a new sign. For others, it meant a new mailing campaign. For others, it meant a new attitude towards our guests in worship.
Last night, at the end of our gathering, one of our team offered up a prayer that kept me up all night. He said that our church had a message that the people in our community desperately needed to hear. As I went home those words haunted me. Did I really believe that? Did I really believe that the people in our community "desperately" needed to hear this message? And if I did, then why was I so casual about getting things done sometimes? Why was I so shy about inviting others to join us or sharing the good news that I had? That prayer challenged me at the bones of my being and I invite you to let it challenge your Bear Creek hearts as well.
I recently went to a church growth workshop led by Adam Hamilton, the lead pastor of the Church of the Resurrection United Methodist Church in Kansas City, and he said the success of his church started when he and his leadership was challenged to answer 3 simple questions:
1) Why do people need to know the God we know in Jesus Christ?
2) Why do people need to go to a church?
3) Why do people need to go specifically to our church...to Bear Creek UMC and what do we
uniquely offer the world?
I recently visited a member of our church at their work place and we got to thinking about strategy for Bear Creek. Where and how do we reach out to our diverse communities (Bothell, Woodinville, Duvall, Redmond, Kenmore and beyond). As, we were talking, this gal said, "I don't think we really need to reach out to this area...there are already 3 or 4 churches in our area."
As I left that area, I went out and did some research about that area in particular...the stats indicate that 30% of that community is affiliated to any church. I don't know. Maybe that's enough. Or is it? And if it isn't, is there something that Bear Creek offers to our community that is unique and vital?
Take some time this week. Think about that prayer. What is in our message that this world desperately needs? Pray about the 3 questions Adam Hamilton deems so vital. Can you answer them?
Rev. Rich Lang, our DS, recently wrote this, trying to share in his language what he feels we have to offer the world:
"The adventure of faith is the spiritual awakening of one who lives in Flatland as if God is not an actor in life, towards becoming a person who lives unfettered knowing that God is everywhere present, active and fully alive. It is the movement from living in Flatland where one believes nothing is real unless it can be quantified, conformed to scientific fact, and translated into money and security...towards a new movement that dwells within a web of relationships characterized by empathy, compassion, kindness, and an intuitive hunch that one is related to all others, even including all of creation."
I don't know about you...but I know a lot of people that live in Flatland! (I do sometimes) Can we at Bear Creek be about helping people see that there is more to life than what we see? Can we help people move spiritually from a life flattened by false hopes of our one-dimensional existence and call them, instead, to a multi-dimensional life that resembles the diversity and beauty of the Pacific Northwest?
Your friend, trying to figure out how to get my heart out of Flatland and into the PNW,
Brook
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Meetings & Events: September 25th - October 2nd
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Sunday, September 25th
Worship - 9:30am
Sunday School - 10:45am
Reset, Re-story, Rejoice! Class -
4:30pm
Youth Group - 6:00pm
Monday, September 26th
Men's / Women's Reunion Group - 7:00pm
Yoga Class - 7:15pm
Tuesday, September 27th
Prayer Breakfast - 6:30am
(Panera Bread, Woodinville)
Reset, Re-story, Rejoice! Class - 9:30am
Church Council / COM
Meeting - 7:00pm
Wednesday, September 28st
AA - 7:00pm
Reset, Re-Story, Rejoice! - 7:00pm
Thursday, September 29th
Worship Band Practice - 7:00pm
Celebration Choir Practice - 7:45pm
Girl Crazy Benefit Concert - 7:30pm
(Redmond Performing Arts Center-Redmond High School)
Sunday, October 2nd
Worship - 9:30am
Sunday School -10:45am
Knitting Group - 12:00pm
Reset, Re-story, Rejoice! Class -
4:30pm
Youth Group - 6:00pm
Please read lower to our "This Week's Events" section to get more details about individual events listed on this calendar.
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Ways You Can Help:
Service Opportunities
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Thank you to the many volunteers
who helped with "Back to Church" Sunday's potluck and games. You all made it a wonderful event. Special thanks to the ones who volunteered (or
maybe volin-told?) to get wet. You are all such good sports!
Thank you to the many generous folks who bought Cub Scout popcorn
from our sons this season. Your support is helping them reach their sales goals and giving them valuable experiences.
- Dee and Tom McMillan
If
you want to give someone a "Bear Hug," please write it on your presence slip or contact the church office.
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Girl Crazy Benefit Concert
When: September 29, 7:30pm
Where:
Redmond Performing Arts Center, Redmond High School
Support Eastside LGBTQ youth. Attend PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside's 20th anniversary benefit concert,
Girl Crazy, featuring Captain Smartypants. All proceeds support student scholarships and services.
For more information, c
ontact them at:
or by phone at 425.483.6642
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Upcoming Events / Save The Date
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Coming in October
Community Mahjong - 10/04
Women's Group Hike - 10/08
Interfaith Discussion - 10/16
Community Mahjong - 10/18
BCUMC Trunk-R-Treat - 10/31
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Sunday School for Children, Teens and Adults
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Children's Sunday School
When: Sundays at 10:45am
Where: Bear Creek UMC Pre-school Room (E2/E3)
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Strengths Finder 2.0 Study for Youth/Teens and Adults
When: Sundays at 10:45am
Where: Bear Creek UMC Large classroom (E8/E9)
"Hide not your talents.
They for use were made.
What's a sundial in the shade?"
-- Benjamin Franklin
"Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best
every day
?
Chances are, you don't. All too often, our natural talents go untapped. From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to fixing our shortcomings than to developing our strengths."
Starting this Sunday, Heather Nelson is going to lead our youth in a study called Strengths Finder 2.0 and she is inviting any interested adult who wants to join the youth in this study to come along!
Come join us this Sunday at 10:45 a.m. in the the large classroom (E8/E9) to find out more!
For more information contact
Heather Nelson
. Click the link above to get your own copy of the book.
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Reset, Re-Story, Rejoice! Study Starts Tuesday
When: September 18th through October 30th
Where: Bear Creek UMC, Pastor's Office
Get ready to let God reset your life with our Fall Sermon Series and Study!
This is a six week study that will coincide with Pastor Brook's sermons through October. Since he is encouraging as much participation as possible, there are many choices about when and where you wish to attend! He is also
encouraging all of the covenant groups to use the "Reset" material over the next couple of months.
Session times are as follows:
Sundays, 4:30pm
(session lead by Pastor Brook)
Meeting time will be subject to change based upon the Seahawks' game schedule.
Tuesdays, 9:30am
(session lead by Pastor Brook)
Wednesdays, 7:00pm
(session lead by Pastor Brook)
Sundays, 11:00am
(session lead by Bob Ward)
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Caregiver / Care Receiver Classes
When:
Sundays at 10:45am
Where: Bear Creek UMC, rooms E4 and E5
Caregiver Classes (classroom E5):
We are discussing living with unresolved grief due to a spouse or loved one that has dementia.We encourage families to talk together, to reach a consensus about how to mourn that which is lost and how to celebrate that which remains. Class is taught by Antoinette Ward.
Care Receivers Class (classroom E4):
Entertaining activities for care receivers such a music, puzzles, stories are lead by volunteers while Caregiver class is in session.
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When: Mondays, 7:15-8:30 p.m.
Where: Bear Creek UMC, Sanctuary
Age: 16 and up
Cost: $8/class or $64/session -
Sessions are 8 weeks long, fees are due at the beginning of the session. You may join a session at any time.
Yoga gives you tools to increase strength, flexibility, balance and relaxation, even heal some injuries. This class offers a safe and supportive atmosphere to welcome those new to yoga and will provide guidance to those who want to enhance their existing practice. You will learn the fundamental yoga poses and practical series to help you launch or deepen your own practice.
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When: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 6:30pm
Where: Bear Creek UMC, Room E5
Age: 12 and up
Cost: Free
Do you like to play game and/or cards? Want to try something a little different? Come learn to play the Chinese tile game, Mahjong, with a fun group of people from Bear Creek UMC and Congregation Kol Ami. New players to seasoned experts are welcome anytime! No registration required, just come when you are able.
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BCUMC Scholarship Opportunities Available
By now, most of our college students are back to school and starting a new year. We have scholarship opportunities for college students and we also enjoy sending them an Advent Care Package while they are studying for their finals in December.
Send your student's name, current living
address and email address to Sonya Garrett and the church office. We appreciate your doing so as soon as possible!
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Seattle District
Theological Conference
When: October 7th and 8th
Where: First United Methodist Church
(1934 108th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue, WA)
Seattle District will host a theological conference to wrestle with the various stages of faith that are found in our congregations. How do we include our
diversity (traditional, moderate, progressive) into a higher unity?
We will be led by Bruce Sanguin, a pastor, theologian and psychotherapist who has led a church in Vancouver BC into this Gospel way of life. It doesn't matter whether or not you agree or disagree with Sanguin --- what does matter is that we spiritual leaders need to start talking and listening to each other.
On Friday the 7th the clergy will be with Bruce as part of their continuing educational connectional covenant, and then on the 8th we'll open this up to beyond the clergy. We'll invite laity to attend a public session of similar concern. We need to learn how to listen to each other, and how to speak coherently concerning our witness to the power and presence of Christ in our lives. Please send a team.
(Friday, October 7th is a Mandatory Clergy Event with CE credit, for clergy attending Saturday - more CE credit is available.)
More information and registration
here
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Learn, Grow and Serve By Becoming a Stephen Minister
New training opportunities will be offered in collaboration with other nearby churches starting in January. Please consider becoming a part of Stephen Ministry.
Would you like to be part of a ministry that gives people care and support when they need it most-while making a difference in your own life?
Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who provide one-to-one caring ministry to people experiencing grief, divorce, loneliness, job loss, hospitalization and many other life difficulties.
As a Stephen Minister, you'll be equipped to provide a very high level of care. After your training, our Stephen Leaders will match you with someone in need of care-men are matched with men, women are matched with women. You'll meet with that person once a week to listen, care, pray, and encourage and reflect Christ's presence in his or her life. Stephen Ministry can be life changing for both the care receiver and the Stephen Minister. As an added bonus, your Stephen Ministry skills can enhance relationships in other areas of your life."
For further information please contact any of the following:
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Choir Director
Primary responsibilities include directing an adult celebration choir, selecting and purchasing music based on worship themes set by Pastor, conducting weekly rehearsals, scheduling bi-monthly worship performances plus seasonal and special performances.
More info
Worship Technical Coordinator
Primary responsibilities are to provide audio/visual support for worship services; recruit, train, and schedule volunteers; and maintain audio/visual equipment inventory.
More info
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We are currently a small group and want to grow! We are inviting anyone interested in attending the prayer breakfasts to join us for a morning meal, fellowship and prayer for our church and our pastor.
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We Want Your Event Photos
Are you a shutter bug, phone photographer, or budding
videographer?
BCUMC is looking for photos/videos of what Bear Creekians are doing around their
communities and here at church.
If you have any event photos/videos that are recent (within the last 6 months) please send them with an event date, names, and a brief description to:
[email protected]
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We Need Your Photo Consent Forms
Please print and fill out the
Children's F
orm
and / or
then mail it/them to us, or drop them off at the church soon. We also have forms available in the church lobby during fellowship.
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Do you have something to tell the Bear Creek UMC community? Send us your announcement (60 words or less) and a preferred graphic (if you want one), and we'll place it in our publications.
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Miss Sunday morning? P
odcasts posted on iTunes weekly.
Search for "
Sunday Mornings At Bear Creek."
Sermons also available at bcumc.org:
Sermons
Other sermon series currently on iTunes:
"
Short Stories By Jesus" (Spring 2016.)
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See photos of events, read stories, opinions, and comments, or write your own comment, and share with your friends.
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Tell Us What You Think
Your ideas about how to improve the newsletter are always appreciated.
How can we make it better? Please send feedback, praise, and constructive criticism!
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Bear Creek United Methodist Church
425.788.2953
16530 Avondale Rd NE, Woodinville WA 98077
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