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Wednesday,
September 28, 2022
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mailing address: Balmoral Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 17309, Memphis, TN 38187
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NEWS THIS WEEK
- WORSHIP for THIS SUNDAY
- Circle of Faith Worship at 8:30
- Sunday Studies at 9:30
- BPC Worship at 11
- PEACE & GLOBAL WITNESS OFFERING
- PW BIBLE STUDY MEETS OCT 5
- OUTREACH NEEDS - REMINDERS!
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Rev. Anne Apple, pastor and runner, responds to recent mass shooting and abduction in Presbyterian Outlook
- BPC Photos
- Worship from 9/25
- A Special Birthday
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WEEKLY INFORMATION
- Birthdays
- Calendar of Events
- CONTACT INFORMATION
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
- BRING FOOD for the FOOD CART
- Give out Hospitality bags
- DONATED BOOKS for the VA
- SIGN UP to be a WORSHIP LITURGIST!
- SOUP KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
- Johnson Auxiliary Fall Clothes Drive
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BPC WORSHIP
World Communion
Sunday,
October 2, 2022
11:00am
IN BPC's SANCTUARY
Scriptures: Isaiah 55:1-13 & John 6:1-13
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SUNDAY STUDIES
9:30am in Classroom A
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We Cry Justice: Reading the Bible with the Poor People's Campaign
by Liz Theoharis.
The Bible cries for justice, and we do too. It's time to act on God's persistent call to repair the breach and fight poverty, not the poor. Join us this Sunday in our discussion!
LEADERS: Ted Pearson and Cliff Gurlen
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CIRCLE of FAITH WORSHIP 8:30am
IN BPC's Fellowship Hall
Everyone is invited to join Circle of Faith's worship service!
To enter the building, use Office door to the Fellowship Hall.
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We will still send an email on FRIDAY
with the LiveStream YouTube link & Sunday Worship Guide.
Previous Worship Services at Balmoral are also still available on the
Balmoral YouTube channel
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Every year on the first Sunday in October, Christians around the globe celebrate World Communion Sunday. This day is celebrated the world over, bringing together the unique flavor of all denominations with a strong individual spirit, just like the world we live in. It is a day to remember that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church and that every Christian Church and any denomination that promotes Christian unity are one.
Balmoral celebrates our oneness in Christ with all our brothers and sisters around the world through our music, our support of .the annual Peace and Global Witness Offering as a way of continuing the ancient Christian practice of sharing what we have with brothers and sisters in need, and joining together at the Lord's Table.
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Our first hymn Sunday will be a traditional gathering song from Zimbabwe, "Come All You People." (Uyai Mose)
(Click the arrow in the box to the right to hear this hymn)
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For the Congregational Response after the Assurance of Pardon, we will be singing the familiar Caribbean song, "Halle, Halle Hallelujah." | | |
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Our last hymn is the theme of the
Peace and Global Witness Offering from the Old Testament scripture for this Sunday, Isaiah 55,
"You Shall Go Out With Joy."
(Click the arrow in the box to the left to hear this hymn)
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And remember to bring your
Peace and Global Witness Offering
this Sunday!
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A gift to the Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of conflict and injustice across the world. Individual congregations are encouraged to utilize up to 25% of this Offering to connect with the global witness of Christ's peace. Mid councils retain an additional 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation. The remaining 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.
BPC will be collecting Peace & Global Witness Offering this Sunday, October 2 - World Communion Sunday.
Please make your checks payable to Balmoral Presbyterian indicating it is for "Peace Offering."
Offering envelopes will be available on the sanctuary table.
Place the offerings in the Offering plates or mailed to: Balmoral Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 17309,
Memphis TN 38187.
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Bible Study
sponsored by Presbyterian Women
Wednesday 10:30am October 5
in Classroom A
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This year's Bible Study will consider Sabbath using passages from Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Matthew, Luke, and Acts—
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·as a celebration, not a day of dreary formality
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·as God’s intent for all of creation that includes busy women too
- as one day of the week, perhaps a Sunday
- as a time to surrender unhealthy striving and frantic busyness, and instead trust that God will provide
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as a reminder that life is precious and working too much is against God’s plans for our precious lives
- as a day devoted to community and justice and not exclusively to self-care.
Ultimately, Sabbath reminds us to honor God who honors us by giving us a day each week to reset our pace, our priorities, and our lives.
We'll be starting the first Lesson this month, so join us!
Don't have a book yet? See Janice Hill or Cathy Bailey. Book cost is $10.
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BOOK CLUB
OCTOBER 11, 1:30pm
Classroom A
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Book Club Plans for Fall:
OCTOBER 11, 1:30 p.m., Classroom A - Everyone is to bring the title (or an actual copy) of a book you have read in the last year or two that you really enjoyed, and please say a word or two about why it was special to you. (Refreshments will be supplied by Mona Kernan.)
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NOVEMBER 8, 1:30 p.m. -- We will read the Novella "The Ponder Heart," by Eudora Welty, a tragicomedy about a Mississippi Delta family. The NY Times describes it as "Miss Welty at her comic, compassionate best." Note: Since Nov. 8 is an election day at Balmoral, exact location is to be determined.
DECEMBER 13, 11:00 a.m -- Christmas Potluck, location to be determined. Everyone brings a dish and one or two of their favorite poems to read aloud. Great food and fellowship!
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OUTREACH REMINDERS
SOUP KITCHEN
There's still a couple of openings available for the crew that will serve at the Soup Kitchen at 1st Pres on Sunday October 9. See below or contact Scott Dawson!
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There's a definite chill in the air these days and JOHNSON AUXILIARY and the VA both need warm weather clothing! See the list of needs below or contact Beverly Hooker or Karen Pilkington.
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TROUBLE I'VE SEEN 10th ANNIVERSARY
"RACISM is a SIN" T-SHIRTS
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In preparation for our 6 November, Circle of Faith and Balmoral 10+1 joint celebration we will be selling 'RACISM IS A SIN' T-shirts in the Narthex after worship on Oct 16th, 23rd, and 30th. The suggested donation will be $20 (or whatever the purchaser is able to pay.) | |
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We have white and black shirts in sizes
S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, and 4XL.
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Memphis pastor and runner responds to recent mass shooting / abduction
In response to a string of violent attacks in her hometown, Anne Apple questions God and finds comfort –
both communal and divine – in a memorial run.
BY ANNE APPLE|SEPTEMBER 21, 2022
in Presbyterian Outlook
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“Where are you?” My phone lit up with the text message.
I was sitting in the silence and comfort of our living room reading Brian McLaren’s new book Do I Stay Christian?. But, since the text came from church-family friends, I decided to break my solitude and reply, “Downstairs. In the green room. YOU?!?”.
“Go upstairs, now. Turn off the lights. There is an active shooter in your neighborhood. Are you alone? He carjacked and killed a woman near your house.”
The fear of evil shot into my veins. I left the book, took our dog Jake, turned out the light, and went upstairs. Behind the closed door of our bedroom, I crept into the bed with my phone as my body took in one more collective trauma.
My thoughts exploded.
My breath quickened.
The practical becomes impossible.
I could not figure out how to get the news. I was fumble-fingered, anxiety-consumed, and could not turn on the television. More folks texted, called and connected with seeds of love. Eventually, a man named Ezekiel Kelly was stopped after shooting six people and killing three. Those connecting calls made all the difference that night — one was from a friend, calling from her bathtub, another from a young adult who said as she hung up, “I love you.”
The fear, grief and anger of the mass shooting was, unfortunately, nothing new for our city, especially this month.
The day before these attacks, Memphis grieved the confirmation of Eliza (Liza) Fletcher’s death. A 34-year-old kindergarten teacher, Liza was abducted during an early-morning run. For five days, there was a seed of hope that she would be found alive, but the discovery of a body behind a vacant duplex apartment building and the arrest of Cleotha Abston, 38, confirmed the worst. When hope is grayed by evil’s victory, despair moves like a lengthening shadow.
Liza, daughter to Adele and Beasley, sister to Gil; Liza, granddaughter and niece to congregants from a church I once pastored; Liza, wife to Richie and mom to James and Fordy; Liza, kindergarten teacher to so many young St. Mary’s girls, a neighbor to friends, a competitive runner in Memphis, a dear disciple who followed and shared love to so many with her generous spirit and light.
“Just no, God.”
That was my lament and my prayer the day before Liza was found, and the day after.
“Just no, God. No.”
I have lived in Memphis for over 50 years and I know that the stewardship of love is not free from pain, suffering or conflict. I marched in protests with my parents and brothers as a child, singing “We shall overcome.” I have marched with our daughters, as an adult, our voices co-mingling, shouting, “No justice. No peace.” To what benefit was my mediocre voice of protest? The lion of evil still wounds and breaks hearts with the violence on our streets.
The psalmist declares that God heals our wounds and binds up the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3).
The gospel gives us the good news that Jesus sees the hungry, weary and longing crowds and takes compassion upon them (Matthew 9:6). There is healing in Christ’s love.
And, locked in the darkness of our bedroom that night, worn by the state of the world, with the dog as my companion, I remembered back to a hot summer’s day several years ago. I stood with church members in Civic Center Plaza in downtown Memphis as we protested and lamented the violent death of Brandon Webber, a young, Black Memphian, during an altercation with law enforcement. At the protest, a rabbi reminded us of God’s first question to Adam and Eve in the garden, “Where are you?”
“Where are you?” I asked Jesus in the dark of my room. “Where the hell are you?” “I am waiting for you to show up.”
How I wish that Memphis could rest in peace, freed to not wait nor want for someday when the darkness of violence, suffering and pain will be overcome. How I wish that Memphis and the stories that get told might testify to the miracle of love’s overshadowing light.
A few strong organizers had an idea and used social media to make a witness: “Let’s finish Liza’s run.” The plan was to start in Liza’s neighborhood in Midtown Memphis, run 4.1 miles to where she was abducted, and then run 4.1 miles back to the starting point. The run would take place early in the morning, the same time when she was abducted. My running buddy texted and asked, “You going to run Friday morning?” Then another friend, “Not sure I can do the whole thing, but I need to do this. You?”
And then anonymous threats came, “If they are going to finish Liza’s run, let’s finish Zeek’s job left undone” (referencing Ezekiel Kelly’s shooting spree that led me to shelter in my dark bedroom). The fear was real. The question: do you put yourself in the possibility of harm? The freedom to risk one’s life bearing witness in the name of love is a true dilemma.
In All About Love: New Visions, bell hooks writes about the necessity to define love and lands on M. Scott Peck’s definition, “the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth. … Love is as love does. Love is an act of will, namely, both an intention and an action. An act of will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.”
I witnessed love on the streets as our community finished Liza’s run. Hundreds came out at 4 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, to run her planned loop. Others gathered along the route to show their support. The witness was palpable. And, in case you don’t know this, it is hard to run and cry at the same time.
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I witnessed love on the streets as our community finished Liza’s run. Hundreds came out at 4 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, to run her planned loop. Others gathered along the route to show their support. The witness was palpable. And, in case you don’t know this, it is hard to run and cry at the same time.
I asked my buddy, as we made our way to the halfway point, “what are you hearing in your head?” She remembered Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ song “My Oh My.” It is a song about baseball but for us that day, it was something more. The song’s refrain and ending took us to the memorial that glowed with candlelight and marked the spot where Liza had been abducted. The lyrics: “My city, my city, childhood, my life, that’s right … my oh my, rest in peace.”
In her essay “The Killing of Eliza Fletcher Is a Tragedy, Not a Morality Play,” Margaret Renkl reminds us, “It’s worth remembering that the entire Delta region has a long, terrible history of violence. For decades, a kidnapping that ended in murder was called a lynching.” I would add that crowds gathered to watch these killings.
And I am taken back to the garden, to God’s original question to humanity. “Where are you?”
How I hope that Memphis could know the rest in Christ’s peace, and yet, what I know is that we have a history that includes depths of suffering and pain. There is so much work to be done to lay down the rails of Love on lands that bear the blood of lynchings.
In the early hours of Sept. 9, hundreds of runners stood at Liza’s memorial, lit by candles. We held the silence; we held one another; and after some unspoken moments, we turned to run back and finish Liza’s run. I asked the runners around me, “what word should we take back with us.” Someone answered, “light.” It was our metaphor and mantra. With each step, we planted the word into our hearts and heads and the concrete beneath our feet.
And as we ran, somewhere between the silence of the memorial and the pounding of hundreds of feet on the pavement, I began to sense Christ’s answer to the question I threw at him in the darkness of my bedroom. It came to me like an echo, rippling back from the most ancient of time: “remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” And so I remembered. I remembered the babies I had baptized with that phrase; I remembered my own baptism. I remembered Liza. And I ran forward under the sunrise.
Photos by Jim Apple
https://pres-outlook.org/2022/09/memphis-pastor-and-runner-responds-to-recent-mass-shooting-and-abduction/
|  | Anne is the daughter of former members Do & Bob Kaiser. Anne grew up at Balmoral and was confirmed here. | |
LITURGIST SIGNUPS
We have LOTS of open slots for Worship Liturgist volunteers. Use the button here to sign-up!
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Choose the Sunday(s) you are available to serve. All materials you need will be sent to you for that week!
(Contact Rev. Mary Gale if you have questions or need help signing up.)
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OPPORTUNITIES for OUTREACH | |
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Fall Clothes Drive
With cool weather approaching, we will soon be needing the following items for our Clothes Closet for both men and women:
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Clothing:
- Sweatpants (all sizes needed)
- Sweatshirts and Long Sleeve T-shirts (all sizes needed)
- Men’s pajama pants (all sizes needed)
- Socks—must be new preferably in a package or tags still on them (all sizes needed)
- Men’s shoes (all sizes needed) and women’s shoes (sizes 9 and up)
- Men’s and women’s underwear—must be new, preferably in a package or tags still on them (all sizes needed)
- Men’s and women’s hoodies (pull over or zip up front)
Other Clothing Related items such as umbrellas, rain parkas, jackets, gloves and caps
Hygiene Items -- must be new, unused and not beyond expiration date—
- Men’s and women’s deodorant (unscented preferred)
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Disposable razors and shaving cream
- Hand sanitizer (small bottles only - travel or purse size)
- Body wash (small bottles such as travel size only)
If items have been previously worn, they must be clean, odor-free, stain-free and not in need of repair.
Your contributions really help and are greatly appreciated!
(Place items near the Food Cart in the narthex hallway.)
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SOUP KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! | |
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Balmoral needs volunteers to serve at the Soup Kitchen at First Presbyterian Sunday, October 9th. Volunteers will leave during Worship, car pool downtown together for lunch at Westy’s, serve lunch and clean up, then carpool back around 3:00 pm back to the BPC parking lot.
If you are interested in being a volunteer,
sign up via text to Scott Dawson at 901.849.1685.
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STEWS & MEATY CHILI
are on the MENU FOR THE
FOOD CART!
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St. Luke Methodist Food Pantry needs stews or Chili with meat! Add a can or two to your grocery list this week for the
Food Cart!
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HOSPITALITY BAGS
ARE AVAILABLE NEXT to the FOOD CART -
PICK SOME UP!
You can also pick up Hospitality Bags to donate to those you pass along the road who are in need.
(And bring donations for more bags - bring bottles of water,
And bring donations for more bags - bring bottles of water, boxes of raisins or other dried fruit, granola bars, cheese crackers (NO PEANUT BUTTER!!), clean socks - when you see someone asking for a handout, hand them a Hospitality bag!
URGENT NEED: WE ARE OUT of BOTTLED WATER and SOCKS for the HOSPITALITY BAGS! Please bring what you can!
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IF ANYONE IS CALLED TO SERVE....
We work every 1st and 3rd Thursday.
Colonial Park UMC
5330 Park Ave
CONTACT SCOTT DAWSON for more INFORMATION
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THE VA WANTS YOUR BOOKS!
GENTLY USED BOOKS WANTED!
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The VA has a need, a big one, that won’t cost you any money! We need books!! Books in good condition! BUT we need to be a bit picky….
No books that smell of cigarette smoke, no books that have been sitting in open boxes in someone’s garage or attic gathering dust and/or bugs. We need books of many genres, fiction & non-fiction: histories, mysteries, DIY, westerns, biographies, cookbooks, etc. We’ll take some romances, but most of the folks here aren’t big on the Harlequin variety!!
The VA ALSO NEEDS:
We are in desperate need of the following items:
- T-shirts, sizes M and 2XL
- Sleep pants/lounge pants, summer weight, sizes 2XL and 3X
- Deodorant, men’s
Of course, we always need all sizes of underwear, t-shirts, sleep pants, but we are either out of or down to just a few of the items listed above. And we get requests daily!
Anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated.
Karen Pilkington will be collecting the books & clothes – bring them to church in bags or boxes and leave them next to the Food Cart and her DAR chapter will see that they get to the VA.
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Dona Sparger (3), Michael Rollosson (5),
Gordon Brigman (12), Leiza Collins (16),
Cathy Bailey (17), Heather Baldick (23),
Eleanor Thomas (29), Fran Addicott (31),
Bill Thomas (31)
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Sunday, October 2, 2022
World Communion Sunday
8:30 AM Circle of Faith Worship in the Fellowship Hall
9:30 AM Sunday Studies in Classroom A
11:00 AM BPC Worship & Communion
in the Sanctuary & on LiveStream
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
10:30 AM PW Bible Study in Classroom A
Sunday, October 9, 2022
8:30 AM Circle of Faith Worship in the Fellowship Hall
9:30 AM Sunday Studies in Classroom A
11:00 AM BPC Worship in the Sanctuary & on LiveStream
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
1:30 PM Book Club in Classroom A
Sunday, October 16, 2022
Commitment Sunday
8:30 AM Circle of Faith Worship in the Fellowship Hall
9:30 AM Sunday Studies in Classroom A
11:00 AM BPC Worship in the Sanctuary & on LiveStream
Sunday, October 23, 2022
8:30 AM Circle of Faith Worship in the Fellowship Hall
9:30 AM Sunday Studies in Classroom A
11:00 AM BPC Worship in the Sanctuary & on LiveStream
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Bells of Balmoral
Lynn Ward leads the bell choir for the Prelude and Musical Offering
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Scott Hill, Liturgist with Rev. Mary Gale
Julie DeMarco with a Moment for Mission on the SEED program
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A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY SURPRISE!
Hudson DeLoach, grandson of Becky DeLoach & son of Timothy DeLoach, got a very special trip for his 3rd birthday - visiting a fire truck!
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Pastoral Care is supplied by Pastoral Care Intern Rev. Elizabeth Dick 314.330.0506
or email elizabethdick2@gmail.com
and our Transitional Pastor
Rev. Mary Newberg Gale 913.481.7427
or email mngale@balmoralpc.com
Session members are your primary contact for ongoing communication. Here's the current contact list:
Lori Blackwelder .... (901) 262-8282 ............... LORIEB1165@yahoo.com
Leiza Collins ........... (901) 246-5031 ..................... leiza1016@gmail.com
Barry Dotson .......... (901) 277-1596 ............... barry.dotson@yahoo.com
Janice Hill ............... (901) 826-9747 ................... janicehill81@gmail.com
Beverly Hooker.........(901) 496-1241 ......................... bev.h@earthlink.net
Ted Pearson home: (901) 754-9796 ................... pearsonteda@aol.com
...........................cell: (901) 486-6117
Karen Pilkington......(901) 262-5810 ............karenlpilkington@gmail.com
Erich Shultz ..............(901) 268-4951 ...................emshultz@bellsouth.net
Linda Warren............(901) 573-2654..............emighwarren1947@gmail.com
(NOTE: Many of these Session members work during the day, so you may want to text them or email them.)
Keep in mind that ANY Balmoral member who is healthy will most likely be happy to help you in case of need as well!
To contact other members, the most-current contact information is available by requesting a copy of the BPC PHONE DIRECTORY from Kathy Singleton by email ksingle2@bellsouth.net or by phone or text to (901) 734-7193.
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POLICIES for WORSHIP & BUILDING USE
- Wearing a mask in the church building is optional.
- Social distancing is still encouraged.
- Individuals exhibiting symptoms of illness are asked to not enter the building.
- Unvaccinated individuals are asked to wear a mask, including members of community organizations that use the building.
- Should a surge in Covid-19 infections prompt the Shelby County Health Department to recommend indoor mask-wearing and social distancing, the task force will convene to decide how to react.
- Members who test positive for Covid-19 are asked to notify Rev. Elizabeth Dick, who will notify the congregation so members can decide how to respond.
- To keep the SEED children as safe as possible, the procedures controlling the old end of the building will remain unchanged, except when there is a need for someone to pass through the SEED area.
- Individuals may bring only water into the sanctuary; food and drink is permitted elsewhere.
- Passing plates to collect the offering is permitted.
- The SEED children and staff are allowed to use the new hallway to access the playground and the main bathrooms.
- The drinking fountains are no longer off limits.
- The kitchen is no longer off limits.
- Collections for the Food Cart may resume.
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Small Group Meetings in Classrooms A & B must be scheduled with Barry Dotson, barry.dotson@yahoo.com or signed text/cell: 901. 277.1596 | |
THIS ISN'T ENTIRELY OVER YET, HOWEVER!
PLEASE, FOR THE SAFETY OF YOURSELF and ALL THOSE YOU LOVE AND CARE FOR:
Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of illness (EG: sinus infection; flu like symptoms; sore throat; fever or chills; cough; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; fatigue; muscle or body aches; headache; new loss of taste or smell; congestion or runny nose; nausea or vomiting; diarrhea) should consider contacting your Healthcare Provider and let them know you may have been exposed to a breakthrough case of COVID-19 to a fully vaccinated person.
PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE CHURCH
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS
Thank you for continuing to observe the ever-changing policies as we navigate the pandemic together.
To contact the Chair of the BPC COVID-19 Task Force:
Scott Hill - signed text: 901.277.9794
email: sphill1946@gmail.com (NOTE his new email!)
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IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO OR HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID
Contact: The Reverend Elizabeth Dick 314.330.0506 or elizabethdick2@gmail.com
Let Elizabeth know when you were last in church; Give permission for notification to the congregation; Get Tested, if you have not already been; Contact any person or persons you have been with and follow with your doctor's advice.
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- Newsletter Articles & Photos should be emailed to Kathy Singleton at ksingle2@bellsouth.net no later than Monday at noon for the week you want the article in the news.
- Bulletin Information should be emailed to Rev. Mary Gale, with a copy to Kathy Singleton, no later than Monday noon the week before the Sunday you want the information to appear.
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Prayer Concerns should be submitted via email to Rev. Mary Gale (mngale@balmoralpc.com) and/or Rev. Elizabeth Dick (elizabethdick2@gmail.com) with a copy to Kathy Singleton at ksingle2@bellsouth.net.
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SEPTEMBER 2022
online church calendar
Click HERE for the BPC Calendar
The calendar will take a few seconds to load and, once it opens, you will see the month that we are currently in. To see the next month's calendar, click on the arrow pointing down - it is just to the right of the name of the month. Once you click on that arrow, an icon will appear with all the months of the year listed. Click on the month that you want to see. To see a specific date, click on the number of the day you would like to see. The entire 2021-2022 calendar is available to you.
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