Professional Documents
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The Bethlehem: Gratitude
The Bethlehem: Gratitude
January 2014
Gratitude
Dear friends in Christ,
I am grateful for the way you have opened yourself to my presence, guided me through the intricacies of liturgy and the history of the congregation. I am grateful for Jeff Green, a wise, gifted, committed Senior Warden. I am grateful for Ashley Nick and Ashley Romero, our parish life-education team. I am grateful for Dr. Sandy Fryling, one of the finest church musicians I have worked with. I am grateful for Marcy Ratcliff and her attention to tasks, calendar, printing and many daily interruptions. We have created a terrific team to serve this parish in this important year of transition. As you look back in gratitude, the collective of all those events of this past year, I hope you will notice how often the Bishop of Los Angeles has placed this congregation at a high priority. He came to the church just after leaving hospital care for his cancer, to affirm his desire that I come here as pastor. He chose me and your new pastor with care and respect for the congregational culture. His representative, Canon Satorius, has guided Jeff and the Vestry with the process of calling a new rector. He has sent several financial support resources to help the parish, including tightening up our financial records and completing the tasks required for a clean CPA audit of our funds. He sent stewardship resources to help us through our stewardship campaign. There is more I have not listed. But it tells me and you that Bishop Jon is with us as our chief pastor. I understand the reasoning behind Bishop Littles pastoral care during this complex transition, but I hope that your awareness of the many ways Bishop Jon has delivered resources to you will guide you to transition back to his full pastoral care. I will never forget the good people of this parish. If someone told me I would come here as interim pastor right after I retired, I could not have imagined that. But here we are, looking back on a great year together, seeing those places where Gods amazing grace has seeped into our parish community. And now you are ready to look to Gods future for you with bold hope. I will be praying you through the days ahead. Faithfully, Fr. Brad Karelius
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Thereisnoonewhounderstands,noonewhoseeksafter God. Romans3:11 Ajoyfulheartisgoodmedicine,butabrokenspiritdriesupthebones. Proverbs17:22 Behold,childrenareagiftoftheLord;thefruitofthewombisareward. Psalms AndGodsaid,Lettheearthbringforththeherbyieldingseed,andthe fruittreeyieldingfruitafterhiskind,whoseseedisinitself,upontheearth: anditwasso.Genesis1:11 Honoryourfatherandyourmother,thatyourdaysmaybeprolongedinthe landwhichtheLordyourGodgivesyou.Exodus20:12 Honoryourfatherandyourmother,thatyourdaysmaybeprolongedinthe landwhichtheLordyourGodgivesyou.Exodus20:12 Foryouwerecalledtofreedom,brethren;onlydonotturnyourfreedom intoopportunityfortheflesh,butthroughloveserveoneanother. Galations5:13 Giveninstructiontoawiseman,andhewillstillbewiser,teacharighteous man,andhewillincreasehislearning.Proverbs9:9 Rememberingwithoutceasingyourworkoffaith,andlabouroflove,and patienceofhopeinourLordJesusChrist,InthesightofGodandourFather. 1Thessalonians Bedressedinreadiness,andkeepyourlampsalight.Luke12:35 ForIwas hungeredandyegavememeat:Iwasthirsty,andyegaveme drink:Iwasastranger,andyetookmein.Mark25:35 GivingthanksalwaysforallthingsuntoGodandtheFatherinthenameof ourLordJesusChrist.Ep.5:20
PleaseAlsoRemember,EverySunday ACanaWeektoFeedGodsSheep
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The chores might be as diverse as painting baseboards, changing light fixtures, hanging gutters, painting doors or rooms, changing hardware on cabinets or doors, etc., etc., etc. The list is ever changing and seemingly every growing. Bob started a program called Toolbox Ministry that meets at the shelter every Thursday morning from 9AM to 12 noon (roughly) to take on the tasks of the week. We sorely need some additional helpers who can apply their talents in fixing things at the shelter. The best way to volunteer is to e-mail Bob at hutch1038@yahoo.com to find out what tasks are scheduled for the week. This will allow you to determine if your talents fit the needs and to come prepared with the right kind of tools and supplies. Bob usually has all the materials readied so all you have to do is show up and dig in. So if you know which end of a paintbrush to hold or can hit the nail with the hammer instead of your thumb (most of the time), then we welcome your participation. Please send Hutch an e-mail to be part of this very necessary service at the shelter. The look of gratitude from residents when something new is added or something broken is fixed will be payment in full for your efforts.
It is the bounden duty and service of the people of this parish, being part of the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church, to worship God as he has revealed himself in Jesus Christ, to become saints, and to make disciples of all people.
Blessings,
Toolbox Ministry
Like the TV credit card commercial that asks, Whats in Your Wallet?, we are asking Whats In Your Toolbox? Probably more to the point is Do you know how to use it? HIS House has continual needs for maintenance, repair, and upgrade. Some projects are bigger than others, but they all need to get done. Our main man for this task is Bob Hutchinson who has for years contributed uncounted hours and dollars to keep the residence safe and an attractive place to live. He has a (small) core group of dedicated workers who faithfully donate their time and talent to the tasks at hand.
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It appears to all involved in Blessed Sacraments operations that Father Christopher Potter has just the right combination of Anglo/Catholic conservatism and music, liturgical, counseling, business administrative and legal skills to assist us through this period of transition until we call a new Rector.
PARISH
The Parish Portfolio is the primary device a church uses to communicate their history, finances, theology, environment, and parish survey results to prospective candidates for Rector. The Blessed Sacrament Church Parish Portfolio has now been published on our church website at:
http://www.blesssac.org/parish-portfolio/ .
It has also been posted on the Blessed Sacrament Face book page.
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access to professional guidance and resources to develop our property and better serve the local community. The majority of the convention was dedicated to the mundane approval of budgets, the election of Diocesan officers and electing clergy and lay representatives to the next convention. However a couple of resolutions of note were considered and passed: It was resolved to take certain actions to fully include people with developmental/intellectual disabilities and their families in the communal life of the church. It was resolved to take certain actions to reduce gun violence in the United States and to declare all diocesan places of work as gun free zones. It was also resolved that whenever food is served at church functions that the food should be healthy and nutritious. Another resolution, that was tabled, concerned reducing the eligible age of voting delegates to convention from 16 to 14 so as to incorporate more youth in the life of the church community.
new Rector. However, we do still have to elect people to other positions, such as delegates to Diocesan Convention and a Deanery Representative. The 2013 budget and financial analysis will also be presented, as will reports from the various guilds. It is hoped that all parishioners will make an effort to attend.
ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting has been scheduled for Sunday January 19, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Usually the primary business of the annual meeting is to elect new Vestry members, however, Bishop Bruno has frozen the current Vestry membership pending the calling of a
FR. BRAD KARELIUS, INTERIM PRIEST FR. CHRISTOPHER POTTER, INTERIM PRIEST JEFF GREEN, SENIOR WARDEN BRIAN NICK, JUNIOR WARDEN MARCY RATCLIFF, OFFICE MANAGER MARION & THEO HETHERINGTON, EDITORS cssquared@roadrunner.com
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THE BETHLEHEM
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