THE OLIN T. BINKLEY MEMORIAL

BAPTIST CHURCH

MARCH 2018 NEWSLETTER

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA

The Poet Thinks About The Donkey

On the outskirts of Jerusalem the donkey waited. Not especially brave, or filled with understanding, he stood and waited.

How horses, turned out into the meadow, leap with delight! How doves, released from their cages, clatter away, splashed with sunlight.

But the donkey, tied to a tree as usual, waited. Then he let himself be led away. Then he let the stranger mount.

Never had he seen such crowds! And I wonder if he at all imagined what was to happen. Still, he was what he had always been: small, dark, obedient.

I hope, finally, he felt brave. I hope, finally, he loved the man who rode so lightly upon him, as he lifted one dusty hoof and stepped, as he had to, forward.

~Mary Oliver

MARCH 2018 PAGE 2

MARCH 25 Morning Celebration, 9:00 am, Lounge ♦ Church School, 9:30 am ♦ Worship, 10:50 am

Marcus McFaul preaching; palm fronds and celebratory music commemorate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Service begins at 10:50 am in the St. Francis Courtyard for the Palm Processional.

MARCH 25- APRIL 1

MARCH 29 Meal with Communion, 6:00 pm

Service provided by the Deacons in the Fellowship Hall.

MARCH 30 Service, 12:00 pm

Readings from the four Gospel passion stories as well as music and prayers. Four fifteen-minute opportunities to remember and reflect. People may walk the labyrinth during the service. Held in the Sanctuary.

Sunrise Service, 7:00 am St. Francis Courtyard

Easter Breakfast, 9:45 am Fellowship Hall

Bring your tasty contributions and fresh flowers to decorate the "Resurrection Cross." Easter Worship, 11:00 am

Prelude begins at 10:40 am

Sanctuary

Marcus McFaul preaching; music from The Chancel Choir, Binkley Brass, Binkley Ringers, and organ.

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt, 12:15 pm

Big Playground

PALM SUNDAY

MAUNDY THURSDAY

GOOD FRIDAY

EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 1

MARCH 2018 PAGE 3

During Holy Week, March 26-30, Binkley Baptist Church will host an Ecumenical Labyrinth, open daily at 6:30 am, on Monday and Tuesday, until 8:30 pm, and Wednesday and Thursday, until 6:00 pm. You are invited to pray, meditate, release burdens, and listen to Divine inspiration as you walk the canvas replica of the labyrinth at Chartes Cathedral in France. You’ll find the labyrinth in the Sanctuary. See p. 4 for more information.

Down the hall in Binkley’s Fellowship Hall, you will find another opportunity: the Stations of

the Cross, created to also further understanding of mental illness and local resources for mental

health. This compelling artistic rendering by Mary Button was first offered at University UMC

during Lent 2016. As you walk the stations, you are invited to meditate on Christ’s suffering,

even as you pray for persons with specific mental illnesses and consider local efforts to bring

healing and hope.

We have come in our journey around the circle of the Christian year to the season of Lent, with its many invitations to practice loving attention to our spiritual life and in particular to our spiritual life with one another. In this season, we are encouraged to take a fresh look at how we pray, how we meditate, in what ways we might offer our presence and companionship to one another. One way that comes to mind is simply to sit in peace and in prayer together. A good place for such a Lenten practice is our Chapel. Its small size, the candles, and the welcoming curve of walls can offer a sense of personal sanctuary where we may sit with what is most on our minds and our hearts.

This Lent, during Holy Week, we want to offer you a personal welcome when you come to the Chapel. The Deacons are scheduling times, beginning with Palm Sunday on March 25, and going through Holy Saturday on March 31, when a candle is lit and a person is present in silent welcome for any who come. Anyone who’d like to volunteer as a Chapel companion is welcome to sign up; just click this link for the schedule of times and simple instructions. Just one reminder: our intention is to offer a silent, welcoming presence, so we ask that any conversations take place outside the Chapel.

This invitation comes from a collaboration between Melinda Wilde, Diaconate chair, and Meredith Bratcher. We offer best wishes for your personal and community practices during this Lent; may they work to turn the soil of the inner life and spur into further growth the seeds of kindness, peace, and love already planted there.

HOLY WEEK 2018 OFFERING: Ecumenical Labyrinth and the Stations of the Cross

THE WELCOME LIGHT IS LIT: A Special Invitation During Holy Week

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An Ecumenical Holy Week Opportunity

At Binkley, in partnership with 8 congregations

Walking the Labyrinth

The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool. Its winding walk symbolizes a pilgrim’s walk with God. First recorded as used by Christians in the 4th century, the labyrinth is an archetype found in all religious traditions. In walking the labyrinth, you may pray, let go of burdens, meditate, rededicate mind and heart, or simply be. Come as you

are; children are also welcome.

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES:

Friends of Christ School Labyrinth Retreat, open to all.

Wednesday, March 28, 10:00 am, (meet in the Chapel)

Children’s Walk, K-5th graders,

Thursday, March 29, 3:00 pm, (meet in narthex)

Good Friday Service

Friday, March 30, 12:00-1:00 pm (Sanctuary)

Labyrinth available for walking Walk takes approximately 30 minutes

Monday, March 26 6:30 am-8:30 pm

Tuesday, March 27 6:30 am-8:30 pm

Wednesday, March 28 6:30 am-6:00 pm

Thursday, March 29 6:30 am-6:00 pm

Friday, March 30 6:30 am-1:30 pm

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Editor’s Note: This month’s meditation was written by Priscilla Bratcher.

March is Women’s History Month, a time to pause and examine the many overlooked contributions women have made, and continue to make, in countless endeavors around the world. It is also the month during which many Binkley women will gather at the beach to examine the lives of two of our spiritual ancestors, Mechthild of Magdeburg and Teresa of Avila. This focus on women got me thinking and I began to

ponder the aspects of God’s presence in our lives have been traditionally personified as female. The obvious top of mind answer was wisdom. I found inspiration in one of the apocryphal book of the Bible.

A quick disclaimer: Do I believe only women have wisdom? Of course not! Nor do I believe only men have power and authority. But at a time when our wider culture is reexamining gender-specific roles and traits, I was simply curious to think about the Biblical concept of wisdom. It is not clear to me why wisdom was personified as female, especially in patriarchal cultures. Probably someone has written a dissertation on this topic!

According to Oxford Bibliographies, “the Book of Wisdom (or The Wisdom of Solomon) is canonical in the Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions, but not in the Jewish and Protestant traditions. In it, wisdom is spoken of as a woman, even beyond using simple feminine grammatical endings.” From another source I learned that the Hebrew word chakmah, like its Greek (sophia) and Latin (sapientia) equivalents, is a noun with feminine gender. Even outside the Book of Wisdom, this device is employed — Proverbs 1–9 not only uses the word wisdom but also speaks of wisdom as if it’s a she.

Here is the passage in the Good News translation. As you read, consider how wisdom has been revealed in your own life.

Wisdom 7:22-30

The Nature of Wisdom

The spirit of Wisdom is intelligent and holy. It is of one nature but reveals itself in many ways. It is not made of any material substance, and it moves about freely. It is clear, clean, and confident; it cannot be harmed. It loves what is good. It is sharp and unconquerable, kind, and a friend of humanity. It is dependable and sure, and has no worries. It has power over everything, and sees everything. It penetrates every spirit that is intelligent and pure, no matter how delicate its substance may be.

Wisdom moves more easily than motion itself; she is so pure that she penetrates everything. She is a breath of God's power—a pure and radiant stream of glory from the Almighty. Nothing that is defiled can ever steal its way into Wisdom. She is a reflection of eternal light, a perfect mirror of God's activity and goodness. Even though Wisdom acts alone, she can do anything. She makes everything new, although she herself never changes. From generation to generation she enters the souls of holy people, and makes them God's friends and prophets. There is nothing that God loves more than people who are at home with Wisdom. Wisdom is more beautiful than the sun and all the constellations. She is better than light itself, because night always follows day, but evil never overcomes Wisdom.

For the last few months, I have had very little energy for my normal daily life, due to a difficult course of treatment for cancer. As a result, I have been on an inward journey of exploration and discovery. With the help of some very talented guides, prayer by many Binkley members, family and friends, and with a lot of time for contemplation, I have tried to learn how to listen to my “inner wisdom.”

Lent is time of self-examination and reflection, repentance and

withdrawal from some activities. Rather than thinking of it as a

season of self-denial, consider that this can be a time of listening,

welcoming that inner voice of wisdom. This is the gift illness can

give us. This is the gift Lent offers us. There is nothing that God

loves more than people who are at home with Wisdom.

Moment

for

Priscilla Bratcher

MARCH 2018 PAGE 6

Did you by chance catch the recent production of The Christians performed by UNC’s PlayMakers? This production will be presented until March 10 and I highly recommend you see it. Not only is the drama based on a relevant topic and filled with engrossing conversations, but it also focuses on soul-deep contradictions with which churches are living and which the staff and

members of one particular body of Christ have great difficulty reconciling. Does this sound remotely familiar? As the playbill description warns, there isn’t resolution at the play’s end.

The characters in The Christians have experienced hurt, fear, and confusion with each other and the anger these can produce. There is deep sadness for all parties onstage. And there is opportunity for understanding others’ perspectives, forgiveness and reconciliation, as unlikely as it seems. If I could write an ending ideal for this fictionalized church on stage, I would let the conversations continue until there was room in their vast sanctuary for the inevitable contradictions to live on. Yes, live on. But with enough respect and acceptance for their different perspectives, beliefs, and the people behind them that no one was afraid to speak their own truth in a way

that does not diminish other truths or require others to adopt their truth.

In mid-February, our “finalist” candidate for a consultant to help us through some of our current Binkley “contradictions” met, at the invitation of the Church Council, with staff members individually, with Council, and with congregation members that included the Koinonia working group of the Council. All responses to these discussions have been positive thus far, and Council will have received and voted on a formal proposal for further work together with the consultant at our meeting on February 26. The proposal will encompass work internally with the staff as well as work within the congregation. We can likely look forward to this work beginning quite soon. More information on process and predicted time will soon follow.

Personally, I am excited about this engagement in the weeks and months ahead. And I’m even more excited about what endings and new beginnings we will write and live into together for the sacred drama that is Binkley church. As usual, don’t hesitate to contact me with questions.

Peace and blessings, Sonnie

Sonnie VanSant, Moderator

O ur Lenten journey has begun. The Church across the centu-ries has understood this season in terms of penitence and renewal, individually and communally. Our services of wor-

ship this season will be focused on Lent as a...journey. Carlyle Marney liked to say that "We Christians are a 'pilgrim people' or we are dead." To be alive is to be traveling, but from where to where?

Writer Paul Elie describes it this way; "a pilgrimage is a journey un-dertaken in light of a story...and the pilgrim seeks not only to confirm the experience of others firsthand but to be changed by the experi-ence." He adds this important point, "pilgrims often make the journey in company (The Life You Save May Be Your Own)." For many of us the light of the Jesus story is an illuminating lens to view ourselves, our human family, and our world.

Journeys from one place to another space, and journeys that transform attitudes, spirits, and dispositions.

On Ash Wednesday my homily included these words from abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass on what would've been his 200th birthday, a description of an episode in his spiritual journey:

"I was not more than thirteen years old, when in my loneliness and destitution I longed for some one to whom I could go, as to a father and protector. The preaching of a white Methodist minister, named Hanson, was the means of causing me to feel that in God I had such a friend. . . . one thing I did know well: I was wretched and had no means of making myself otherwise.

"I consulted a good old colored man named Charles Lawson, and in tones of holy affection he told me to pray, and to "cast all my care upon God." This I sought to do; and though for weeks I was a poor, broken-hearted mourner, trav-eling through doubts and fears, I finally found my burden lightened, and my heart relieved. I loved all mankind, slaveholders not excepted, though I ab-horred slavery more than ever. I saw the world in a new light, and my great concern was to have everybody converted."

Conversions of this kind do not lessen the urgency of ending social evils (such as slavery for Douglass), but our advocacy for policy chang-es on any issue mustn’t be separated from seeing every human being as bathed in the light of God’s grace. Understanding and then embracing everyone as your brother and sister is, of course, the journey of a life-time...and it’s painfully difficult. Will Campbell was fond of saying, “If you’re gonna love one, you’ve got to love them all.” The same Bible that instructed him to abhor segregation told him to love segregation-ists.

I invite us to a Lenten journey, knowing that for some it will involve travel through doubts and fears, but one which may yield lightened burdens and relieved hearts. We make this journey together, as veter-an pilgrims on the road with each other and our faithful traveling com-panion, Jesus. He knows the route very well.

Grace and peace to you, Marcus McFaul

FROM PASTOR MARCUS

FROM THE MODERATOR

MARCH 2018 PAGE 7

The #MeToo movement has quickly escalated into a cultural phenomenon. Brian Crisp, Community Ministry Coordinator at Pullen Baptist Church, Raleigh, will be our guest and help us better understand this national and international movement.

Brian will address the topic:#MeToo: What should men know and what should men do – or not do!

All Binkley men and their guests are invited to join us for a Sunrise biscuit, coffee, and fellowship and an opportunity to learn and grow together.

In preparation for March 3, please listen to this fascinating NPR podcast about women’s encounters with playwright Israel Horowitz, who decades earlier were not believed and why women’s reports of similar experiences are now being heard and believed and how this has morphed into #MeToo. This podcast traces the history and beginning of the #MeToo movement, triggered by the 2016 Presidential election.

Larry McManus and Charles Coble, Co-Chairs, Men of Binkley

OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY

MEN OF BINKLEY

Saturday, March 3 8 am, Sunroom

Brian Crisp

March 7 Emily Brewer:

The Practice of Simplicity Emily will lead a discussion on the value and joy of simple living in a consumerist culture that promotes excess. Participants will be invited to share examples and brainstorm ways to pare down and to live and give simply.

March 14 Cate Alexander:

Prayer: The Attitude of an Open Heart Renowned and beloved spiritual teacher Henri Nouwen describes prayer as fundamentally “an attitude of an open heart silently in tune with the Spirit of God.” In our discussion, we’ll explore Nouwen’s and other teachings on prayer for potential contributions to our own prayer lives. Bring your thoughts about prayer to reflect on and possibly share as we explore ways that help us and have helped others to deepen connection to God.

Stay tuned for details on the March 21 program.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LENTEN SERIES

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED PRESENT World Day of Prayer Services

Friday, March 2

Church Women United are planning two local services on Friday March 2. The program written by the Committee of Suriname is titled: "All God’s Creation is Very Good!" based on Genesis 1:1-31. The first service will take place Friday morning at 10 am at St. Joseph CME Churc, 501 W. Rosemary with parking also available at St. Paul AME and First Baptist. The later bilingual service will be held on Friday evening at 7 PM at Binkley, followed by light refreshments. To participate in the evening service or for more information, please contact Connie Gates at 919-929-0650 or conniegates@hotmail.com or María Palmer at 919-260-4361 or mariatpalmer@gmail.com.

Each program is preceded by dinner beginning at 5:30 pm in the Lounge. Dinner is $6 for adults, $3 for children.

Reservations are required. Contact the church office the Monday prior to the event to make your reservation.

MARCH 2018 PAGE 8

FOR LENT (AT LEAST), GIVE UP PLASTIC

Every piece of plastic manufactured on Earth is still with us today. If we don't cut back now, there will eventually be more plastic than fish in the ocean!

The sheer volume of plastic trash now littering Earth has become impossible to ignore. We need a bolder response than just

recycling plastic. We need to phase out all single-use plastic – and not just the most pernicious, like plastic bags, drink bottles, and drinking straws.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has outlined a plan to eliminate plastic waste by 2042. Queen Elizabeth II kicked it off this month by banning plastic straws and bottles from royal estates, and the Church of England supported a nascent social media campaign, #plasticlesslent, to encourage its flock to give up plastic for Lent this year.

What a great idea and that is what the Earth Ministries co-chairs encourage Binkley members and friends to do: As much as is possible give up the use of plastic for Lent!

Buck Horton & Charles Coble

“To Everything there is a Season...” -yet it seems spring has for-gotten it is still winter and wants to tease us with warm days. That leads the grounds team to wake early from a very short winter’s nap. We’ve almost finished the great Binkley Leaf Re-moval Marathon (lots of trees mean lots of leaves!) just in time to begin late winter mulching and pruning. That will be followed closely by spring planting of new trees and shrubs to replenish and renew our landscape. The St. Francis courtyard is changing a bit to allow a more appealing view into the courtyard from the Sun Room. New driveway entrance lighting will be underway soon. We look forward to an exciting year at Binkley with Easter celebrations, outdoor worship, quiet reflections in the labyrinth and among the garden blooms, 60th Anniversary celebrations and more. And to accomplish all this, we need your help. You don’t have to be a master gardener or landscaper to be helpful. Please let us know of your willingness and we will find the right job for you. Some suggestions are at right. Contact Janet O’Neal at joneal23@nc.rr.com,919-880-2509 to volunteer.

MULCHING DAY is Saturday March 3rd at 9:30. Bring your gloves and garden rake if you have them and help us transform a large pile of mulch into a tidy, weed inhibiting, plant nurturing landscape on the Harris Teeter side of the building. There will be coffee, bagels and doughnuts, lots of laughter and fellowship.

BE A PRUNING BUDDY! There are over 100 shrubs to be pruned. We need people to pick up and bag the clippings and deposit them for town pick up. No experience or expertise required. No age or gender require-ment either! We need at least 3 pruning buddies. Will you be one?

LITTER CLEANUP is an ongoing need. Our church property is used by many and is in a high foot traffic area. Every member can help. If you see trash, simply pick it up and recycle or place in waste cans. It’s that easy. Don’t wait for someone else to do it.

WATCH FOR SPRING! Plan some walk-abouts to see what’s blooming and watch spring emerge at Binkley.

FROM THE GROUNDS TEAM

MARCH 2018 PAGE 9

I’ve become interested recently in learning more about the life of Charlotte “Lottie” Moon (1840-1912), Baptist missionary to China from 1873 until her death Among the accounts of her life and ministry, this book caught my attention: Lottie Moon: a Southern Baptist Missionary to China in History and Legend, by Regina D. Sullivan.

Of course, as a Southern Baptist from infancy on, I heard a lot about Lottie Moon, starting in my Sunbeam days. Each year our church took up an offering for missions, called the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. I knew that she was a Baptist missionary in China, though somehow I didn’t realize that she’d actually died in 1912! Her story was emblematic of the image of missionaries everywhere, and Lottie

Moon lived in our religious imaginations as the Baptist equivalent of a saint. There was a legend, told for true in religious publications and biographies, that she had given away all her money and her food at the end to help Chinese people suffering from famine in her region. It fit right in with the image of her sacrificial self-giving; “was she the very personification of the Savior?” wrote one biographer, Catherine Allen, in The New Lottie Moon (1980).

Dr. Sullivan takes on this legend in the course of her account of Lottie Moon as a free-thinker, a very intelligent woman of means and standing in Tidewater Virginia, and a leader who encouraged Baptist women in the South to find their own voices, through their determination to support foreign missions.

When Miss Moon went to China in 1873 as a single woman, she was pushing against resistance in both East and West. In the East, most Chinese people responded to missionaries as emissaries of yet another self-promoting effort of Westerners in the 19th century to change their ancient values. And in the West, the culture of missionary life limited the role of women missionaries to “keeping a Christian home” (as an example of “civilized life”) or to setting up and teaching a girls’ school. (In the early 1950s, when my parents served as missionaries in Rio, Brazil, this same norm still held strong!) ...Continued on p. 10

BOOK REVIEW

LOTTIE MOON: A SOUTHERN BAPTIST MISSIONARY TO CHINA IN HISTORY

AND LEGEND by Regina D. Sullivan

Binkley Readers Friday, March 9 7:30 pm, Library

Collins Kilburn will lead a discussion on The Third Reconstruction by William Barber.

Daytime Book Group Tuesday, March 27 10:30 am, Library

The group will discuss Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly facilitated by Anne Winfield.

BO

OK G

RO

UPS

Meredith Bratcher

MARCH 2018 PAGE 10

ABOUT PARKING...

It’s delightful to see our sanctuary and classrooms filling for wor-ship and other activities. With the joy of fellowship and partici-pation comes the responsibility to park with safety and consider-ation for each other and our grounds.

Overflow Parking The “additional parking area” (the grassy area between our park-ing lot at 15-501) recently added was intended for overflow parking, not for regular use. New signage will be coming soon to clarify this intention. This area is not on Binkley property. Addi-tionally the area is prone to being very wet. Parking in this un-paved area should be for overflow only and only in dry weather. Additional parking is available behind Harris Teeter with easy access to the sanctuary through the courtyard. A path was con-structed for your convenience.

Disability Parking Parking for those with physical disabilities was increased there are still people with disabilities who are unable to easily access parking for worship. If you are able-bodied, it is essential that you not park in either the disability parking and parking spaces in closer proximity to the narthex entrance. Please make the com-passionate choice to walk a bit further so that someone who can-not will be able to come to worship. We also want our visitors to feel welcomed by finding a place to park. Let’s put our motto of “All are Welcome” into action by the parking choices we make.

No Parking Areas Parking along the driveway is illegal. Emergency vehicles require a 20 foot minimum for access. The concrete area in front of the narthex is not for parking. It is for loading and unloading when people need assistance and to give access to emergency vehicles.

Of course, the ways that women in religious life in the US could make contributions in their own voices were limited too; but Lottie Moon was not daunted in either culture. Once in China, she persuaded the Foreign Mission Board to transfer her to a remote station in North China, where, being the only evangelist there, she could not but preach both to women and to men (though the latter was not permitted by the Southern Baptist Convention). And for her work on the home front, she wrote constantly in Baptist publications about the needs of missionaries, appealing to women to form societies to raise money for missions. At one time she compared how Methodists and Presbyterians supported their missionaries in China with what the Baptists were doing!

Dr. Sullivan sees her as a skillful leader, negotiating the deep-rooted stereotypes of the religious culture that she depended on to keep her in the mission field, and finding allies who would widen the idea of “woman’s place” in this time. You may not think that reading about annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention in the 1880s would be interesting – but in this account, the eventual establishment in 1888 of the Women’s Missionary Union becomes almost thrilling! Sullivan notes: “(Lottie Moon’s) advocacy of Southern Baptist women had helped launch them into a permanent organization that would forever change the balance of power within the denomination” (p. 112).

Two final points will stick with me from reading this book: one is that the legend of her sacrificial death is false. The facts are laid out in the book’s final chapter “Creating the Lottie Moon Story”. Miss Moon died of an undiagnosed illness, most likely an infection and in the last weeks of her life she was not herself, and in her distress kept telling her colleagues that all her money was gone (it was not). But the legend, once started, was hard to give up, and is still passed along. It speaks, Dr. Sullivan notes, to a tension between Lottie Moon as “a female activist who preached, argued for female equality, and helped bring the WMU into existence,” and “Moon (as) a female Christ-figure, giving herself that others might live”. This latter view has persisted because it fits comfortably with “the traditional understanding of the female role for Southern Baptists” (pp. 160, 161). This is a topic I’ll want to reflect on some more.A second point is a personal connection that Binkley Church has with Lottie Moon, through Rev. Dr. Stephanie Ford. Miss Jane Lide, Stephanie’s great-aunt, was a missionary to China when Miss Moon served there, was her friend, and took care of her during her last illness!

BOOK REVIEW LOTTIE MOON (CONTINUED FROM P. 9)

MARCH 2018 PAGE 11

TALKING ABOUT HOLY WEEK WITH CHILDREN

As a child, I wondered why

there was so much focus on

Jesus’ death. It just seemed

to me that there were so

many other stories about Je-

sus that were more im-

portant: like angels at his birth,

a baptism when a voice from

heaven announces, “This is my

beloved son!”, healing stories, and the Beati-

tudes. I didn’t understand the Beatitudes well,

but I felt their mystery was big and important.

Traci Smith, a Presbyterian pastor in San Anto-

nio, says strongly: “I believe Christian educators,

parents, and pastors should shield children

from the details of the passion narrative/

crucifixion story during Holy Week.” We cannot

completely protect children from many stories

of violence (Parkland, Florida, for instance), but

Jesus’ crucifixion is a story of the state sanc-

tioned torture and death of a human being.

Young children are particularly concrete and

literal in their thinking. Even older children need

to hear the story told with care. When I talk to

older children, I have sometimes compared Je-

sus’ death to that of Martin Luther King, Jr.; Je-

sus was bringing ideas about God and the

world that were hard to accept– and there were

people who didn’t like them and wanted to

stop him.

Of course, children may ask questions, and their

conceptual understanding will grow over time.

There will be some hard questions and answers.

But Jesus himself never glorified suffering. In-

deed, in the gospel of John, he said his purpose

was to bring life and that life, more abundant!

(Jn 10:10). At Binkley, we have some thoughtful

traditions during Holy Week that are good for

children: waving of palm fronds on March 25

(Palm Sunday), a labyrinth walk designed for

children on March 29, Maundy Thursday supper

(Jesus’ last dinner with his best friends), and

then of course, a joyful Easter with a sunrise

service, Easter breakfast, bells to ring

“Hallelujah” during worship, and an Easter egg

hunt after the service. Without making light of

Jesus’ horrific death, we can celebrate the gift of

his life and the joy of his resurrection in mean-

ingful ways during Holy Week.

Stephanie Ford Minister of Christian Formation

MARCH 2018 PAGE 12

Music Notes MARCH SERVICE REPERTOIRE AND

CHOIR SCHEDULE

March 4 – 11:00 am: The Third Sunday in Lent – The Chancel Choir and Ryan Rowe, tenor Give me Jesus arr. Moses Hogan Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statues Thomas Attwood

March 11 – 11:00 am: The Fourth Sunday in Lent– The Chancel Choir and Mandy McAllister, soprano A Singer’s Prayer Robert Powell Restore my soul Robert Powell

March 18 – 11:00 am: The Fifth Sunday in Lent – The Chancel Choir Create in me a clean heart, O God Carl F. Mueller

March 25 – 11:00 am: Palm Sunday – The Children’s Choir and the Chancel Choir Hosanna! Betty Ann Ramseth Christus factus est Anton Bruckner Adoramus te, Christe Theodore Dubois

April 1, 11:00 am: Easter Day Festival Service with Choir,

Luke Boehm is a senior at UNC-

Chapel Hill. He studies Vocal

Performance and Economics

with a minor in military science.

Upon graduation, he will

commission into the U.S. Army

as a Second Leuitenant in the

Infantry, and be stationed in Fort Benning, GA.

He’s been singing since middle school, and is

honored to a part of the choir at Binkley.

Lexi Batchelor is a junior at

UNC-Chapel Hill, majoring in

psychology, and music with a

concentration in vocal

performance. Her main area of

musical study is opera and

classical music; however, she also

enjoys singing musical theatre

pieces (and karaoke!) She has been studying music since she

was young, starting with taking piano lessons through

elementary school and playing the flute in middle school

band, before switching to voice lessons in 8th grade and

joining numerous choirs. She plans to continue to pursue

performance after undergrad while going to graduate school

for clinical psychology. She is from Raleigh, NC, and was

actually raised an NC State fan before finding her home at

UNC for undergrad. She loves church music and is so

excited to be a part of the Binkley Baptist community!

THE MUSIC MINISTRY WELCOMES TWO NEW

CHORAL SCHOLARS FOR SPRING 2018

As we welcome Luke and Lexi, we wanted to take a moment to honor our very first two Choral Scholars. Allie Eidson and Anne Sutton. They kicked the program off with talent and enthusiasm. Anne says this about the experience, "Being a choral Scholar at Binkley

was a great experience. It made me feel more like a member of larger Chapel Hill community, rather than just the UNC community. Everyone was always very friendly and supportive, and it was great to make music with such a

kind and dedicated group!" Thank you, Anne, and to all our Scholars, for sharing your talents with us.

MARCH 2018 PAGE 13

On January 27, a sold-out Binkley crowd went to Prom in the Fellowship Hall. There were beautiful decorations, outstanding musical performances, engaging storytelling, delicious food and beverages and a lot of dancing. Yes, quite a bit of dancing. DJ Charles “Spin ‘Em” Coble kept the crowd on the dance floor mov-ing. As he noted later reflecting on his own dance-free upbringing, it was hard to believe all that joyful movement was going on in a Baptist church in the South! Oh, and by the way, there was also an auction to support the Music Ministry at Binkley. Over $7,000 was raised to support the Children’s Choir Workshop Week-end, Youth Choir participation at Festival by the Sea, and the Chancel Choir re-treat. A heartfelt thank you all to those who came dressed to the nines, danced, bid and supported music at Binkley.

Music Notes

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MARCH 2018 PAGE 15

WHAT IS IT? An abundant box of fresh, sustainably-grown fruits and vegetables from Anathoth Community Garden & Farm, grown in Cedar Grove, delivered weekly (including to Binkley), and distributed on a sliding scale. Anathoth's mission is to heal divisions by growing food together.

WHY SIGN UP?

With HarvestShare, you can put to rest all the decisions about your groceries (where it's from, how it's grown, and even how your food choices live out your faith). You can simply celebrate, every week of the season, a deep connection to a place, a community, and a mission.

WHERE AND WHEN CAN

I FIND THE PRODUCE BOXES?

We deliver weekly (Wednesdays 5-8 p.m.) to Binkley. Deliveries begin April 18.

HOW DO I JOIN? You can purchase a produce box for the season for your own household, or contribute towards another household that needs the support -- or both! Our vision is for everyone to pitch in what they are able, while sharing as equals in the gift of good food. To sign up, contact Julia Sendor (336-524-7985 or anathothgarden@gmail.com) or visit our website at anathothgarden.org.

MORE DETAILS - Box pick-up sites right here at Binkley, and elsewhere in Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough, Efland, and Cedar Grove - Season length: Warm Season runs April 18 - Sept. 26 (24 weeks); Cool Season runs Oct. 10-Dec. 1 (8 weeks). Sign up for both, or choose one! - More about HarvestShare: Weekly deliveries of produce, all grown at Anathoth Community Garden & Farm in Cedar Grove (northern Orange County). Through the HarvestShare CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program we care for the land, employ local youth, and distribute good food throughout the community to households of all income levels. Half of the produce we grow is distributed at no cost to HarvestShare participants who connect with us through churches and health and social service organizations. - Anathoth's story: The garden, now grown to a farm, was founded in 2005 to address the effects of rural poverty that were brought to light by the murder of a community member. Our mission is to heal divisions between neighbors and the land by growing food together. We envision people of faith engaging with the root causes of violence, poverty, and malnutrition in rural communities by working collaboratively to create a more just, sustainable, and equitable food system. Join us!

YOU'RE INVITED! Enjoy a season of fresh fruits and vegetables through the

HarvestShare program!

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BINKLEY HEROES

This month we celebrate the generous gift of time Emily Brewer has devoted to the Children’s Choir. Emily has been an integral part of choir leadership for several years. Along with choir member Dylan and husband Patrick McDonough, Emily is the organizational backbone of the Children’s Choir. She spearheads communication with parents about rehearsals and special events. Daniel Cherrix says, “The choir program would not be possible without her. She’s an invaluable leader of the Children’s Choir. She is a fine example of a parent leader.” Thank you, Emily, for the many hours you have devoted to the Children’s Choir.

OUR CHURCH FAMILY

1 Martha Hamilton

2 Katherine Walker

4 Lisa Costner

8 Caroline Russell, Molly Williams

9 Martha Hutt

14 Kristen Smith

15 Hartford Zirkle

16 Sophia Nissler, Alex Swanson-Boyd

17 Mary Alice Dorton

18 Edith Wiggins

19 Gretchen Aylsworth,

John Weathers

20 Laurie Heffner, Carl Henley

21 Connie Gates, Isabelle Lee

22 Karin Mills, Jessica Moon

24 Ginger Clifford, Jeff Swanson,

Joy Wood

25 Daniel Guy, Bonnie Kell,

Elizabeth Thompson

26 Mary Ann Bradshaw, Kay Pratt,

Allison Walters

28 Craig Meisner

29 Anne Barnes

30 Wayne Robinson

31 Julia Hicks, Ron Simmons

2 Tom Fewel & Joy Wood

7 Lisa & TimCostner

9 Ashley & Ralph Nissler

18 Jo & Tony Lea

30 Ann & John Overton

ANNIVERSARIES BIRTHDAYS

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AN UPDATE FROM JOE & JENNI REIFF

Dear Binkley Members,

Hello from the world-traveling Reiffs!

Our trip was amazing. Some of our highlights included: touring the Prague castle at sunset, wading in the public baths in Budapest, enjoying some amazing pasta and gelato in Florence, a crazy flamenco concert til 3AM in Madrid, touring the world's 3rd largest mosque in Casablanca, seeing giraffes and elephants on a safari in Kenya, snorkeling in Zanzibar, taking a cooking class in Thailand, discovering a cuddly wallabee sanctuary in southeastern New Zealand, and taking a boat cruise/hiking in Milford Sound New Zealand. We are still working on organizing the photos to make public in some way! In the meantime we've attached a few of our favorites.

After Christmas, I [Jenni] started work for a short-term contract job at a for-profit skilled nursing facility in the tiny town of Murphy, NC, about 5 and a half hours from Chapel Hill. The contract would have lasted until April, but I ended that contract early because I accepted an awesome permanent position that I will start at the end of this month at a small non-profit community hospital in Farmville, VA, about 2.5 hours north of Chapel Hill!

We're really excited about this opportunity. The job itself will provide many opportunities for professional development, as well as good perks and benefits. The area will provide us with opportunities to learn how to build community, and we intend to take Christ's call seriously as we seek to be part of the ongoing racial reconciliation (given Prince Edward County's history with Brown v. BOE). We like the idea of becoming part of a close-knit community in a small town, and are also thankful that there is a small university in town that brings a stream of new ideas and people. We'll also hope to be developing more hands-on homesteading skills. In fact, for the first few months, we've arranged to stay as short-term tenants and part-time helpers on an organic farm that does small-scale carpentry/building and raises chickens, goats, and vegetables.

Of course, we're very sad that this means we won't be living in the Triangle area for the next few years. We're really going to miss our friends and newfound family at Binkley--but we're thankful to be within an easy drive's distance for visiting!

We want to thank you for all your support over the past two and a half years that we've been attending Binkley. This is by no means a final goodbye from us! We look forward to seeing everyone when we visit, and we'll be sure to keep in touch.

Much love,

Jenni and Joe

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BINKLEY BAPTIST

CHURCH 1712 Willow Drive

Chapel Hill, NC 27514 919-942-4964

office@binkleychurch.org

We’re on the Web ! b in k le yc hu rch .org

CHURCH STAFF

Senior Minister Marcus McFaul

Associate Minister Dale Osborne

Minister of Christian Formation Stephanie Ford

Minister of Music Daniel Cherrix

Business Manager Duane Gilbert

Office Manager Stephenie Sanders

Sexton Charles Myhand

FINANCIAL NEWS

PREACHING SCHEDULE

WEEKLY GROUPS

Sermon Shaping Tuesdays, 1:00 pm

Library

Morning Prayer Wednesdays, 9:00 am

Chapel

Wednesday Night Series Wednesdays, 5:30 pm

Lounge

Youth Group Sundays, 6:00 pm Sunroom/Lounge

MUSIC GROUPS

Children’s Choir Wednesdays, 6:00 pm

Room 15

Chancel Choir Wednesdays, 7:30 pm

Choir Room

Youth Choir Sundays, 5:00 pm

Choir Room

Old Time Gospel Band Contact Libba Wells

Choir Room

MONTHLY GROUPS

Binkley Readers 3/9, 7:30 pm, Library

Primetimers 3/14, 12:30 pm, Lounge

Carolina Meadows Worship

3/22, 1:30 pm, Fairways Activities Room

Daytime Book Group 3/27, 10:30am, Library

March 4

Marcus McFaul Lent III

Communion

March 11 Marcus McFaul

Lent IV

March 18 Dale Osborne

Lent V

March 25

Marcus McFaul Palm Sunday

Service begins at 10:50 am in the St. Francis Courtyard

MARCH COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Diaconate 3/5, 8 pm, Chapel

Finance 3/8, 7 pm, Library

Peace and Justice 3/11, 12:30 pm, Library

Leadership Team 3/12, 6 pm, Lounge

Outreach 3/12, 7 pm, Library

Grounds Committee 3/15, 9:30 am, Library

Sanctuary Matters 3/18, 7:00 pm, Library

Church Council 3/19, 5:30 pm, Lounge

Adult Christian Formation

3/21, 10:30 am, SF Office

Human Resources 3/26, 7:00 pm, Library

MARCH GROUP MEETINGS (FULL CALENDAR AVAILABLE AT BINKLEYCHURCH.ORG)

Submit articles for the newsletter, Friday Update, or the Sunday announcement page to:

office@binkleychurch.org.

April Newsletter: March 19

Bulletin and Friday Update: Wednesday, 12 noon (weekly)

The Beacon is published monthly and is posted on our website and emailed to our subscribers. To join our email list please send a request

to office@binkleychurch.org.

The Beacon is edited by Priscilla Bratcher and designed by Stephenie Sanders. We welcome your story ideas. Send them to:

pbratcher@nc.rr.com or office@binkleychurch.org.

General Fund numbers for January 2018 were not available at the time of this issue’s

publication. We are, however, pleased to announce that The InterFaith Council's food pantry gratefully received nearly $400.00 through

Binkley's Souper Bowl of Caring efforts. Thank you to everyone who was able to put a dollar or more in either the Eagles or Patriots soup pot. The money received successfully predicted an Eagle victory. The real winner is the pantry.