Don't Look Back by Pastor Alan Felton
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
March 19
2023
Don’t Look Back
by Pastor Alan Felton
Things have changed. Benson Memorial UMC is now and equipping new disciples
Things are changing. beginning its own self-examination. (evangelism)
Things will continue to change. 5. Simple and accelerated decision-
We studied Bishop Will Willimon’s making and ministry follow-
Consider the changes you have seen book, Don’t Look Back, last fall and through (culture/ process)
just during your lifetime. Then think the church was invited to spend an 6. Active, resourceful leadership
about the changes you have noticed evening listening to Bishop from the pastor as mission leader
in the last year or the last month Willimon when he visited Benson (leadership)
or even the past week! Change Memorial last month. It’s now time
happens and it is here to stay. to act! We want to listen to each other and
begin to discern a direction forward.
Change cannot be avoided, but it can You are invited to take part in a Your voice needs to be heard! Please
be navigated. Jesus’ disciples surely series of conversations during which attend one (or all) of these sessions
experienced a life altering change in we will examine six challenges for scheduled as follows:
the death and resurrection of Jesus. the church highlighted by Willimon. • Sunday March 19 at noon
Through the fear and grief of the These challenges are: • Tuesday, March 28 at noon
crucifixion and the confusion and 1. Clarity about your congregation’s • Wednesday, April 12, 6:45 p.m.
eventual joy experienced at the part in God’s mission (identity) A meal will be enjoyed at each session.
resurrection, the disciples were 2. Vision of where God wants
amazed at what new thing God was you to go from where you are Change is all around but God’s
doing in their midst. The response presently most comfortable presence remains the same. Be
of the disciples sparked the creation (assessing needs/capabilities) encouraged! “Therefore prepare
of what we now call “the church.” 3. Strategies for overcoming your minds for action; discipline
Self-examination is an important introversion by reaching and yourselves; set all your hope on
part of Lent. You may have already serving the surrounding the grace that Jesus Christ will
been deeply examining what God is community (intentionality) bring you when he is revealed”
doing in your life during this season. 4. Tactics for reaching, integrating, (1 Peter 1:13).
Benson Memorial United Methodist Church, 4706 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612
Open office hours: M–Th 9AM–1PM | Available by appointment: M–Th 9AM–4PM / F 9AM–1PM
Church office: (919) 787-0789 | Pastor-on-Call: (919) 695-7874
office@bensonmemorialumc.org | bensonmemorialumc.org
facebook.com/bensonmemorialumc/ | instagram.com/bensonmemorialumc/
The forty days of Lent are a season for careful self-
examination and humble repentance. We come to know
during these weeks that we are not God but we rely on
the true God for our hope and salvation. Lent is not about
“beating ourselves up” but instead finding ways to draw
close to God and receive the love and grace of Jesus.
We are providing this calendar to help you through the
weeks of Lent. This calendar, designed by Cortney
Babajtis and Martha Johnston, offers scripture readings,
prayer practices, encouraging poems, and service
opportunities in which to engage during this season.
It is my prayer that you will use this calendar and the
activities contained in it not so much as a “to-do” list but
instead as an important spiritual pathway through which
we can learn together as disciples, be strengthened by
the Holy Spirit, and grow in love and grace.
DOWNLOAD OUR 2023 LENTEN CALENDAR
Visit and Share Our Lenten Web Page
Please take a moment to see our new Lent landing page on Benson Memorial UMC’s website, where you will learn more about
our 2023 Lenten focus: drawing closer to God. As God so generously gives to us, may we also give to our community.
Discover ways you can give to others through our Sunday service opportunities. Fill your spirit and draw closer to God with
the guidance of our daily reflections and readings. All of these are easily found on our new web page. Share the link with your
friends and family: https://bensonmemorialumc.org/lent/.
Lenten Service Opportunity for Sunday, March 19:
Cards for Springmoor Residents
As part of last week's service opportunity, we asked you to spend some time creating an encouraging cards
for a resident at Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community. This Sunday, bring your cards for
a resident at Springmoor Life Care Retirement Center to worship.
Lenten Service Opportunity for Sunday, March 26:
Donations to North Raleigh Ministries Food Pantry
Check out this list of the most needed items at North Raleigh Ministries and bring your items with you to worship:
jelly • shelf-stable milk (8oz cartons) • ramen • individual cereal boxes (mini boxes) • oatmeal packets
canned meat • pasta sauce • canned pasta (beef ravioli, Spaghettios, etc.) • pasta • peanut butter • fruit cups
diapers size 5 and 6 • toilet paper • paper towels • laundry detergent
Read more about our service opportunities here.
Palm/Passion Sunday | April 2 Easter Egg Hunt | April 2
8:45 and 11am services in the sanctuary 12-1pm in the courtyard and front lawn
Holy Thursday | April 6 Stations of the Cross | April 79
12pm and 7pm services in the sanctuary self-guided 10am-2pm; guided tour at 3pm
Good Friday | April 7 Easter Sunday | April 9
7pm service in the sanctuary 8:45 and 11am services in the sanctuary
Invite your friends and family to our Holy Week events!
Celebrate Easter and Holy Week with us!
Visit bensonmemorialumc.org/easter/
for all the details.
Urgent Need for Ushers and Counters
There is an urgent need for volunteers to serve as ushers and counters.
Volunteers are invited to serve on teams for both tasks. Ushers welcome people
as they arrive for worship and help collect the weekly offering. Counters tabulate
the weekly offering and ensure all money collected is properly accounted for and
ready for deposit in the bank. These are both critical tasks! If you are
interested in serving in either of these roles, please contact the church office.
Preschool Silent Auction
Introducing Save the date! Benson Memorial UMC Preschool is holding a silent auction on
Church Center Monday, April 17, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Chow Pizza Bar, 8311 Creedmoor Road,
Your connection to the life of Raleigh. Drop by and bid on your favorite auction items or grab a table and stay
Benson Memorial UMC! for dinner. Fun for the whole family! All auction proceeds directly benefit the
We are very excited to announce a preschool program. For more information, contact Shannon Luxford.
new way to interact with Benson
Memorial UMC. This month, we are
switching to Planning Center as our
church management software. With
this new software, our church staff
will gain an increased ability to
communicate, schedule, generate
reports, manage registrations and
room reservations, share files, and
more. One of the most exciting
features of Planning Center is
their phone app and their online
portal for the congregation, called
Church Center.
By accessing the Church Center
phone app or online portal, you
will be able to keep your personal
information up to date, access our
online church directory, and easily
check in to worship services (either
in-person or online) and other
events. You will also be able to give
to Benson Memorial by ACH transfer
from your bank account, give using
a credit or debit card, and even give
by sending a text. Small group and
Sunday School leaders will be able
to take attendance, communicate
with their groups, share resources
and files, and so much more.
These are just some of the features
available through Church Center.
Watch your email inbox on
Monday for even more details as
we launch into Church Center and
our new church directory!
Easter Flowers
Our Worship Committee will provide
greenery arrangements for the Sundays in
Lent. Flowers will return to the sanctuary
on Easter Sunday with Easter lilies and the Church Calendar
flower cross provided by the whole Benson (complete church calendar is here)
Memorial family. You can help with our
Easter flowers by ordering Easter lilies Sunday, March 19
and providing cut flowers for the creation 8:45 a.m., Worship Service
of the Easter flower cross. 9:45 a.m., Pathfinders Class
9:45 a.m., Benson Discussion Class
Easter lilies can be ordered in honor or 9:45 a.m., Bright Siders Class
memory of someone by filling out an order 9:45 a.m., Thrill Seekers Class
form found as the last page of the Beacon or 11:00 a.m., Worship Service
found on the welcome table in the narthex. 11:00 a.m., Online Worship
Easter lilies are $12 each and should be 12:00 p.m., Chancel Chimes Choir
paid for when the order form is handed in to the office or placed in an offering 12:00 p.m., “Don’t Look Back”
plate. The last day to place an order for Easter lilies is Sunday, March 19. If you Church Gathering and Lunch
order lilies, they can be picked up after 11:00 service on Easter Sunday. Lilies that
Monday, March 20
are not picked up will be shared or planted on campus grounds.
7:00 p.m., Trustees Meeting
Our Easter flower cross is created on Easter Sunday using cut flowers provided
Tuesday, March 21
by the congregation. These flowers can be from your yard, your neighbor’s yard
2:00 p.m., Prayer Shawl Ministry
(with permission), or purchased cut flowers. Flowers may be dropped off at the
6:30 p.m., SPRC Meeting
church on Saturday or Easter morning. All flowers should be dropped off under
the breezeway entrance to the narthex. Containers of water will be available in Wednesday, March 22
this area for Saturday flower drop-offs. The Easter flower cross will be part of 5:45 p.m., Wonderful Wednesday
both the 8:45 and 11:00 services, so the earlier the flowers are provided, Churchwide Meal
the better. 6:45 p.m., Bible Study
7:00 p.m., High School Bible Study
Thank you!
Thursday, March 23
10:00 a.m., Bible Study
Campus Clean-up Days 5:00 p.m., Choir Rehearsal
Come out for a morning of indoor and outdoor light maintenance and grounds Saturday, March 25
cleanup involving power washing, leaf blowing, and other yardwork as needed. 9:00 a.m., Campus Clean-up Day
The more who can pitch in to help, the shorter the time it will take! Our Spring
Sunday, March 26
dates are Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to noon, March 25, April 22, and May 20. Contact
8:45 a.m., Worship Service
Jerry Crenshaw to volunteer. Thank you!
9:30 a.m., Coffee Fellowship
9:45 a.m., Pathfinders Class
New Staff Email Addresses 9:45 a.m., Benson Discussion Class
Our staff emails have all changed to a new, branded email address. Please use 9:45 a.m., Bright Siders Class
only the following addresses when contacting a member of our staff, and update 9:45 a.m., Thrill Seekers Class
these in your contact list. 11:00 a.m., Worship Service
11:00 a.m., Online Worship
Alan Felton: seniorpastor@bensonmemorialumc.org 12:00 p.m., Chancel Chimes Choir
Cortney Babajtis: outreachandfamilies@bensonmemorialumc.org
Monday, March 27
Martha Johnston: office@bensonmemorialumc.org
Elizabeth Moy: businessmanager@bensonmemorialumc.org 7:00 p.m., Church & Society
Anthony Roncolato: musicdirector@bensonmemorialumc.org Tuesday, March 28
Shannon Luxford: preschooldirector@bensonmemorialumc.org 12:00 p.m., “Don’t Look Back”
Trustee Chair: trustees@bensonmemorialumc.org Church Gathering and Lunch
Order deadline: Sunday, March 19
Who are the lilies from (names to be listed): ______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In memory of: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In honor of: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Number of plants: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
Cost: $12.00 each Total enclosed:_______________________________________________________________________
Please mail to the church office: Benson Memorial UMC, 4706 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh, NC 27612
Make checks (marked “Easter Lilies”) payable to Benson Memorial United Methodist Church.
Indicate on envelope of cash payments that it is for Easter Lily orders.
You can also read
