Bethel-Beacon-March

MARCH 2012
beacon
BETHEL UCC
worship
4
MARCH
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Always Close
Rev. Kristen Curlee
11
MARCH
Psalm 19
Beautiful Law
Rev. Kristen Curlee
18
MARCH
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
No Matter What
Rev. Carolyn Richar
25
MARCH
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Deem in Our Hearts
Rev. Kristen Curlee
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
10 am Worship
11 am Fellowship
4347 Arlington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203
E-MAIL BethelUCCVa@verizon.net
WEB www.bethelucc-va.org
BY PASTOR KRISTEN CURLEE
More Important than Sleep?
As many of you know, a few weeks ago my
family and I traveled to Kuwait City for a ten day visit
with friends. We had an amazing adventure and I am
grateful for the time away with family and friends. I
am also grateful for the opportunity to learn more
about our sisters and brothers who worship God
through faith in Islam.
Kuwait is a very wealthy country of about three
million people, only one million of whom are Kuwaiti.
The roads, commercial sectors and places of worship are modern. Most of
Kuwait City has been completely rebuilt in the last 20 years since the Iraqi
invasion and Gulf War One. Situated on the Persian Gulf bordering Iraq and
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait is a peaceful country in a very volatile part of the world.
Within hours of arriving at our friends’ home we were greeted
with a sound I recognized from my visit to India. A call, coming through
megaphones, sometime from two or three directions– a chant – speaking, but
almost singing – it is the call to prayer. This sound comes five times a day in
the Middle East, North Africa and other Muslim countries, reminding faithful
Muslims to turn towards Mecca, bow and recite their prayers.
Muslims believe prayer will strengthen one’s faith, purify one’s heart,
develop the mind and conscience,
comfort the soul, encourage good,
suppress evil and waken a higher
morality within a person. Prayer is
essential to their identity.
The first prayer of the day
comes before sunrise, sometime
between 4 and 5 am., while the
last prayer is late around 11 pm. I
commented that the prayer schedule
didn’t leave much room for sleep and
Jill said, “For faithful Muslims prayer
continued on page 2
Every member of Bethel
are the ministers
staff &
leadership
Senior Pastor
Rev. Kristen Curlee
pastorkristencurlee@gmail.com
Associate Pastor
Rev. Carolyn Richar
crichar@capitalhospice.org
Church President
Dave Diesselhorst
Musical Accompanist
Angie Stevens
angielatte@gmail.com
Communications Assistant
Laura Dely
bethel.publicity@gmail.com
Interim Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Dr. H. Donald Smith
revhdsmith@starpower.net
More Important than Sleep?
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
is more important than sleep.” Imagine, a whole day and life organized around
pausing to offer prayers to God, the Creator of all. There is something to
admire in the dedication and ritual of Salaat – daily prayer.
Muslims are not the only ones who devote themselves to a life of prayer.
In Hasidic communities of Judaism prayer is essential to their faith. Special
rituals accompany their daily prayers with head coverings, attaching a small
box with a covenant inside to their foreheads and winding bands of leather on
their forearms.
Each of these outward symbols reminds the devout of God’s covenant
with them.
Daily prayer is part of the Christian tradition, too. Reciting the Psalms
seven times a day dates back to the apostles and the early church as is seen
in the book of Acts. This practice grew in popularity especially, among the
monastic orders. The Benedictine order of monks structures their day and
work around praying the Psalms seven times a day. Prayer as the central order
of ones life stretches across the three Abrahamic faith traditions.
We are on a journey - a journey through Lent. We walk, sometimes
together and sometimes alone, toward the cross, toward crucifixion, and
toward death. During this season of penitence many Christians give something
up as a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. In the United Church
of Christ theologians and pastors are encouraging us to add a Lenten practice
instead of eliminating something. This, too, is a way to remember Jesus and to
strengthen our relationship with the triune God. What would your day look
like if you recited the Psalms seven times a day? If you read one Psalm, just
four times a day, you would make it through the whole book of Psalms with
a few days to spare. Would reading these sacred words, reciting these sacred
hymns remind you of Jesus’ sacrifice? Draw you closer to God?
As a devout Jew, Jesus chanted theses same Psalms as he worshiped
God. Maybe during this season of Lent we can draw closer to God with help
from our brothers and sisters from other faiths as they remind us of the power
of daily prayer.
One Great Hour of Sharing
Bethel Will Participate March 25 through April 8
According to the World Health Organization, for every woman
who dies in childbirth, 20 more suffer injury, infection or disease. This
month, UUC congregations will begin collecting donations to address
maternal health worldwide in partnership with IMA World Health.
One $25 donation provides a Safe Motherhood Kit™ that provides
providing clean and sterile birthing supplies to expectant mothers in
areas where infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest
in the world. Bethel will begin our One Great Hour of Sharing Sunday,
March 25 and continue through Sunday April 8. Please give as generously as you are able.
- Art Lipman
2 BETHEL UCC BEACON
By Rev. Richar & Jairo Samuel Bustamante Rivera
Rappaport Scholarship Fund Update
In memory of Bethel’s longour Lord Jesus Christ.
dreamt of being a professional, and
time close friend, Norman Rap I am writing to thank you, beI hope that I will obtain my degree.
paport, who had a lifelong dedicacause God put you in my life so that Sometimes school gets hard but
tion to education and community
I could obtain such a great blessing. I muster up my energy. I know I
service, Bethel established a scholI feel super happy and words can’t
have a challenge ahead of me but
arship fund which is funded via do- express my gratitude. Carolyn, you I don’t lose courage. I have a lot
nations from Bethel members and
have a great heart and I am sure
of faith that my goal is near. May
others in the community who value that the God of heaven will conGod bless all of you and I keep you
Norman’s contributions during his
tinue to bless you.
always in my prayers.
life.
I know it has not been easy to
Carolyn Richar and family, I
The current recipient, Jairo
recover from the accident you had. wish you all a happy New Year and
BustaI know that it is may God Almighty pour many
mante, is
a miracle from
blessings on you. May blessings
the son of
God that you
accompany you everywhere you
the pastor
are alive. God
go. These are my and my family’s
of Nueva
knows what
wishes.
Amenecer
plan he has for
Attentively,
Church in
you. My family Jairo Samuel Bustamante Rivera
San Luis
is praying for
Talpa, El
you and your
NOTE:
Salvador –
family.
I am very grateful first to God
A map of El Salvador, where Jairo lives.
the church
Keep up
and to everyone who is helping
that is also the site of our Vision of
what you are doing and don’t give
me because all of you are putting
God clinic.
up because after the storms and
in such an effort. I will never be
Jairo attends school part-time
winds that weigh down our lives
able to repay everything you do for
while working full-time at the
there comes calm. Thank you so
me. I feel very happy because of
International Airport in a nearby
much for everything you do for me. the opportunity you have given me,
town. He is scheduled to complete I also ask you to say thank
because it was my dream to be a
his engineering degree in informa- you to everyone who helps me.
professional and I hope one day to
tion technology degree in NovemLet them know that I am very
make it a reality.
ber 2014. The Rappaport Fund
happy, because since I was little I’ve ¡May God bless all of you!
covers the cost of tuition, books,
supplies, and assists with transporJairo’s Report of University-Related Expenses
tation costs for Jairo’s daily travel
to San Salvador (approximately 35
Funds Received in 2011
$800.00
miles each way) for evening classes.
Registration
$150 per year
— Rev. Carolyn Richar
Monthly fee $55.00 x 12 months = $660.00 yearly
San Luís Talpa, January 3, 2012
Dear Carolyn Richar:
It is a privilege to greet you
Reverend Carolyn Richar, hoping
that this letter finds you enjoying
rich and abundant blessings from
Paperwork
TOTAL COSTS: $5.75 x 2 = $11.50 yearly
$ 821.50
OTHER COSTS I INCUR:
Gas$10 x 5 days a week = $50
Parking
$3 x 5 days a week = $15
Food$3 x 5 days a week = $15
TOTAL: $80/week. I attend five days a week.
BETHEL UCC BEACON 3
Social
Concerns
Arlington Food
Assistance Center
Bethel has started off the year
with a total of 298 pounds of food
for AFAC - well on our way to
our goal of 1500 pounds for 2012.
(We’ll need to collect 125 pounds
each month to stay on target.)
Thank you for your generous
support and please continue to
drop non-perishable foods such
as low-sugar cereal, whole wheat
pasta, Masa, cooking oils (canola,
vegetable, and olive), canned soups
with pop-up lids, dry beans (not
canned), rice, and canned proteins
(chicken, salmon, and tuna).
In April, join us for First Friday
at AFAC. Fri. April 6 we’ll meet for
dinner at 6 pm at the Boston Market Restaurant (Glebe and Columbia Pike), then head over to AFAC
bag groceries at 7:00 pm. Contact
Judy Lipman if you plan to come.
up vitamins - adult, children’s
chewable and prenatal – for the
patients of the clinic Bethel helps
sponsor in San Luis Talpa.
Bandaids, ace bandages, gauze
pads- (2x2, 3x3, 4x4) are also
needed. Please leave donations at
Bethel in the designated box in the
lobby by March 18.
First Friday Service
March 2 is game night at Residential Program Center (RPC): If
you would like to donate any homemade cookies, brownies, a bag of
chips or a bottle of juice they are
greatly appreciated. These may be
left at the church, but please contact Pastor Kristen or Judy Lipman
before 5 p.m., Friday, March 2.
ASPAN News
A large bag of Hotel-sized
toiletries donated to Bethel were
delivered to Arlington Street
Peoples Assistance Network
(ASPAN). As you travel, please
consider returning with any
toiletries you may be able to collect
or purchase these when you see
them in retail locations. You may
leave them at the church and they
will be delivered to ASPAN (no
mouthwash).
Fellowship
Events
These are the some of the foods
AFAC desperately needs.
Vision of God Clinic, in San
Luis Talpa, El Salvador
Next time you are in CVS or
Target or the grocery, please pick
4 BETHEL UCC BEACON
Virginia Bronze
“At the Ballet”
Sunday, March 25
4 p.m.
Please join Virginia Bronze “At
the Ballet” Sunday, March 25, 2012
at 4:00 p.m.at the George Washington Masonic Memorial Auditorium.
We will perform ballet-suite
works by Gershwin, Ellington,
Prokofiev,
Shostakovich,
Stravinsky,
and Anderson,
among others.
Contact Peter
Rich for tickets
and further information.
Young Adult Potluck Dinner
Saturday March 2
5 p.m. | Mike & Laura’s House
Bethel Members in their 20s and
30s are gathering for a potluck dinner
and fellowship. Join us!
Contact Janna Lipman for more
information.
Faith
Formation
Lenten Dinners &
Fellowship
Join us on Wednesday evenings during
the season of Lent for soup dinners
and fellowship at 6:15 p.m. and then a
Lenten study group at 7:15 p.m.
3rd Thursday
3rd Thursday Lunch in the Bethel
Library | January 19 | 12 p.m.
Bring your lunch and join Pastor
Curlee for connection, conversation
and prayer.
Bethel’s Ministry of
Welcome Welcomes You
Creating the space to welcome
worshipers – visitors and members
– is the significant role of Ushers.
Each month in 2012 an elder will be
assigned to recruit ushers. You might
get a call from one of them — please
take a turn as an usher when they call.
We need one person each week.
March Monthly Service Project
10 a.m. on March 24 at Arlington Church of the Brethren
As usual, the March project will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the
Arlington Church of the Brethren, on the 4th Saturday, March 24. This
month, we have a two-part project: a morning activity and an afternoon
one, with lunch in-between.
In the morning, we will assemble packets of tomatoes, peppers,
cucumbers, and zucchini seeds, and then break for lunch at noon.
Pizza lunch will be served at noon (please bring $5 to cover cost of
pizza and drinks and cookies).
At 12:30, groups of volunteers will disperse the seed packets to
the neighborhoods around Brethren or Bethel or St. Hildegard’s (these
are the 3 founding churches of the Monthly Service Project), where they
will go door-to-door to invite residents to “Plant-a-Row” for AFAC in
their home gardens or to start a garden row using the seeds provided by AFAC that were bundled together in the
morning. Come for the morning, or the afternoon, or both. Direct questions, project ideas, or to get news and announcements about the MSP, send e-mail to MSP coordinator at laura.dely@gmail.com. In April, make a gift for
Culpepper Garden residents, and another for your Mother or friend, using recycled common household items on
Sat. April 28 at 10:00 a.m. (You’ll be surprised at the beautiful things you can make with ordinary stuff you might
otherwise throw away.)
Gratitude from Jeanne Frey’s Family
Beloved Member was Honored at February Memorial Service
Dear Bethel UCC Community,
The family of Jeane Frey wishes
to thank you for your support during our mother’s recent illness and
death. Mom was truly blessed to
have so many thoughtful
and generous friends.
We want to express
our heartfelt
gratitude, and
to thank each
one of you for
opening your
doors and
hearts to our
family, and
for the comfort that you
brought us at
this difficult time.
Thank you to those who prepared food, made monetary donations to the Vision of God Clinic,
called us with kind words, sent
cards, kind thoughts and prayers, or
who were there for us to help with
anything that needed to be
done.
Thank you
also for creating
the beautiful
music that
Mom wanted
so much to
be included
in our celebration of her
life. It was uplifting to have
Angie’s artistry,
the choir’s lovely
voices, and to have hymnals so each
person could sing the hymns Mom
had selected for the service. We
were also grateful to have the comfort of the beautiful sanctuary along
with the welcoming fellowship hall
with the special refreshments and
flowers. It meant so much for us to
be able to greet and visit with family
and friends in the after-service gathering.
Your expressions of sympathy
and loving regard for our mother
and for our family have been greatly
appreciated and willBETHEL
neverUCC
beBEACON
forgot-5
ten.
With warmest wishes and many
thanks,
The Frey Family
BETHEL UCC BEACON 5
march 2012
sunday
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
1
6 pm Yoga
7:15 pm Bible
Study
friday
2
First Friday at RPC
6 pm Dinner
saturday
5 pm
Young Adult
Potluck Dinner
3
7:30 pm
BINGO at RPC
4
10 am Communion
5
6
11 am Fellowship
11
10 am Worship
12
13
19
20
10 am Worship
11 am Fellowship
10 am Worship
11 am Fellowship
6 BETHEL UCC BEACON
14
6:15 pm Soup
Dinner
7:15 pm Lenten
Study
11:30 am
Congregational
Meeting & Potluck
25
8
9
15
16
22
23
29
30
10
7:15 pm Lenten
Study
11 am Fellowship
18
6:15 pm Soup
Dinner
7
21
6:15 pm Soup
Dinner
12 pm
3rd Thursday lunch
in the library
7:15 pm Lenten
Study
26
27
28
6:15 pm Soup
Dinner
7:15 pm Lenten
Study
17
9 am
Building a Home
for Peace Family
Workshop
24
10 am Monthly
Service project at
Arlington Church
of the Brethren
31
5 pm
Monthly Movie
Night