Lenten Prayer Scape Worship Experience

Worship Experiences and Knowing God

by Carolyn Leah, Director of Christian Discipleship

Our worship environment during Lent has featured a unique prayer scape with elements that express the themes of this holy season. You might say, “Well, that is different!” or “What is that doing there?”  As we have explored the scriptures in Job this Lenten season, this prayer scape has added a visual aspect, a reflective aspect and even a tactile aspect to our worship experience. Why might that be important?

Howard Gardner is a developmental psychologist, educational theorist and esteemed faculty member of the Harvard School of Education. In the 1980’s, Gardner worked on a ground-breaking area of study called “multiple intelligences”. Gardner explained that intelligence might not be able to be measured in a standardized way because we compute information using multiple intelligences, some using linguistics, some musically, some visually, etc.  He estimates that human beings have 7 to 10 distinct intelligences. We all have the multiple intelligences but we are dominant in some more than others.

Gardner revolutionized how teachers began to teach, how curriculum was written, and the way we present information, so that we may come to know using different intelligences. The eight multiple intelligences that have been most explored by Gardner are visual/spatial, linguistic, musical, bodily/kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, logical/mathematical and natural. Each of us has the capacity of every one of them, but we generally work with two or three dominant intelligences. So, what do multiple intelligences have to do with a door in the corner and our experience of worship? We each use our intelligences to know God just as we would use them in any other way. Worship happens to be a place where we come to know God through God’s Word being read and proclaimed (linguistic), singing and instrumentation (musical), reflection (intrapersonal), communal actions (interpersonal), liturgical order (logical/mathematical), movement (bodily/kinestetic), colors/symbols (visual/spatial) and even sometimes flowers, etc. (natural). 

What if the intelligences most dominant for you were never or rarely used in worship experiences?  It might hinder your way of knowing God better. To explore and expand the ways that we can reach everyone is to explore and expand ways to know God better. So, when doors, prayer scapes and other new opportunities to learn through worship are presented to us, let’s embrace the difference and ask God to help us grow in one of our less dominant intelligences. We might help someone else come to know God better too. If you’d like to know more about this concept, please contact me at cleah@beulahpresby.org.

To learn more about worship at Beulah, please visit our website worship page.

WHAT BEULAH CHURCH MEANS TO ME

You Can Go Home Again

by Ann Turnock

Most Beulah members are aware that I have the best job I've ever had in my life, as Beulah's Congregational Care Assistant, doing home and hospital visitation for our members.  I'm actually rather obnoxious about telling the tale of the time three and a half years ago when Beulah was looking for someone to fill the position, but I didn't know it, and I was unsuccessfully looking for part-time work, but no one at Beulah knew that. A "chance" encounter (which you and I know was divinely arranged) with Alex Ruzanic at Five Guys led to a call from Cynthia and my enthusiastic "Yes!"

Twentieth century novelist Thomas Wolfe wrote a book entitled "You Can't Go Home Again." Well, I'm here to tell you Tom got it wrong. You can go home again.  I'm living proof.  Let others (including my siblings) retire to Florida.  They can have it.  I retired to PITTSBURGH, and I love it. Even the winters. (Although I admit it's nice to have a job where, if I wake up to three inches of snow on the ground, I can call up that day's appointments and those I was going to visit say, "Oh, I'm so glad you're not coming out in this mess.") After 40 years in California, the change of seasons, the green hills, and flowing streams are exhilarating.

Beulah is my home again. I would not be who I am today if I hadn't grown up at Beulah Church. Beulah is still shaping me and helping me grow, and I hope to be here the rest of my life.

 

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Ann Turnock serves as the Congregational Care Assistant at Beulah, ministering to our elder members and those who are homebound.  She is an ordained Elder and a gifted Bible teacher, volunteering her time in both adult and children's educational ministries, and with the office communications team.  Ann also manages the editing and coordination of content for the monthly church newsletter, a job that her mother also once held!

 

To learn more about Beulah Presbyterian Church, please visit our website or find us on Facebook!



ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE RETURNS

Friday, May 19, from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Saturday, May 20, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

No early birds please!

NEW THIS YEAR!  Organic vegetable plants, honey, and flowering shrubs from Garfield Community Farm!

Donations accepted starting Monday, May 15th between 8:30 am and 6:00 pm.  NO clothing, electronics or exercise equipment accepted.

Helpers are welcome to assist with sorting and placing items Monday through Thursday. contact Tori Zido (412-417-1378) or Phyllis Rinsma (412-480-7795) to volunteer.

Summer Sunday Education and Mission for All Ages!

This summer, we invite all ages to come together in MGB Fellowship Hall between worship services (9:45 AM – 10-45 AM) on the 2^nd Sundays of June and August, and the 3rd Sunday in July to learn about and actively experience the ministry of mission at Beulah Presbyterian Church!  Each of these Sundays, we will learn about mission areas that Beulah Presbyterian Church is currently supporting from Malawi to Haiti, from Garfield Farm to the PRISM ministry and much more!  During this time together, adults, youth and children will have hands-on ways to dig deeper into the mission focus.  Don’t miss these dates:

Sunday, June 12:  Hear from the Morgan family about their trip to Malawi, Africa, and our support of the Migowi church there.  Learn about the country, the people and the culture that the Morgans experienced.  Be a part of making our own “chitenge cloth” and praying for the people in Malawi.

Sunday, July 17 *: Grab your passport at the door and visit several different areas to discover how we are serving people in our own communities, nationally and abroad.  Folks of all ages will get to visit with some PRISM (the Pittsburgh Regional International Student Ministry) students and also see what our work with Open Door, Haiti, Garfield Farms and some of our Special Offerings and mission ministries do!  Again – there will be hands-on activities for everyone while we learn and fellowship with one another.  Special treat for those who get their passports stamped at each station!

Sunday, August, 14:  We will be packing school-age backpacks to give to children in need in our local communities.  We will collect items to go inside the backpacks throughout the summer. We will also be making some backpack to remind the recipients that Jesus is with them.  Lots of hands-on fun! 

You won’t want to miss a Sunday!  Bring yourself or bring a family to learn and work together as one big Beulah mission team! 

There will be no other children, youth or adult classes during the summer.  For individual learning and growing this summer, check out a book or two from the Beulah Library!  New titles have been added and our library offers some great ways for children, youth and adults to deepen relationships with God and explore the Bible and topics in Christian living.   

* This is a change from the previously announced date.

NEW in 2016-Sonshine Daycamp

June 13- July 15 and August 1-12, 2016,  $185/week

Beulah's Children's Ministry is taking on the administration and leadership for the summer day camp program previously run by Beulah Christian Preschool and Child Care.  All children kindergarten through sixth grades are welcome!  Registration forms are now available.

At SONSHINE CAMP  you'll have GREAT fun with games, Bible lessons, crafts/art, sports, swimming and more! Families may register for as many weeks as you would like, in any combination! Before and after care is available for additional fees.

WOMEN’S RETREAT 

Friday and Saturday April 29 and 30, Beulah Presbyterian Church

Friday: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm and Saturday: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm 

$25.00,  Breakfast and Lunch Provided

Childcare by Reservation

 Hello, Girlfriends!

 Doesn’t a spa-themed getaway sound amazing? Get away from the busyness of life as you relax with friends, share laughter and stories, and spend time with God. Join us at our Lavender Springs Spa retreat to experience all this and more!

 Lavender Springs Spa includes worship, Bible study, and time for laughter, as well as time for quiet reflection. We’ll be focusing on the book of Psalms and will be encouraged by God’s faithfulness and love. Younger women are urged to attend and to let us know if there are childcare needs so that we might make arrangements to provide that care. Teen and almost-teen girls are also encouraged to attend, so that inter-generationally we might pass on our faith stories and help each other see and learn from one another.

 Our retreat will be held at Beulah and the cost is only $25 per person! This covers your study book, a continental breakfast, lunch, and a copy of the retreat music. Take time to relax, make new friends, worship, and draw closer to God. We hope you’ll join us at Lavender Springs Spa.

 Call the church office at 412-242-4570 to make your reservation by April 22. For questions about the retreat, to discuss scholarship availability and for child care please contact Carolyn Leah, Director of Children’s and Family Ministries, by calling the church or by email at cleah@beulahpresby.org.

We encourage you to invite your friends to join us, too! Carolyn Leah, Director of Christian Discipleship, will be our worship leader for the weekend.

 Beulah Presbyterian Church
 2500 McCrady Road Pittsburgh, PA 15235 412-242-4570
 www.BeulahPresby.org
Beulah Church - reaching out… to welcome and serve others in the name of Jesus Christ

WHERE WOMEN REST IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Adult Education During Lent

The adult class featuring a DVD discussion on Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey began in February and will finish on March 13th. 

Have you wondered why the church stirs up such negative feelings in some people these days?  Phillip Yancey has been asking this all his life as a journalist. His perennial question is more relevant now than ever: research shows that favorable opinions of Christianity have plummeted drastically and opinions of evangelicals have taken even deeper dives. Yet while opinions about Christianity are dropping, interest in spirituality is rising. Why the disconnect? Why are so many asking, “What’s so good about the Good News?”In Vanishing Grace, Yancey shows the desperate need our world has for grace, and how Christians can truly make the Gospel good news again.

In this video-based small group Bible study, participants will explore what kind of news is good to a culture that thinks it has rejected the Christian version. Wading deep into the transformative power of grace, they will hear illuminating stories of how faith can be expressed in ways that disarm even the most cynical.

On two Sundays, March 6 and 13, Alex Ruzanic - our own Director of Youth and Outreach Ministries - will tackle some of the basic biblical and theological topics that we bring to the table in our normal confirmation class curriculum.  They are timeless basics that all Christians and Presbyterians specifically should know.   Join us so we can explore these topics together and hear each other across generations.  

On March 20th is your chance to hear about the Haiti Mission Trip from Alex Ruzanic and Carolyn Leah, along with the entire Haiti Mission Team.  They will share pictures and inspiring stories from their experience in February.  This combined class if for older children, youth, and adults.

If you haven’t been to an Adult Discipleship class, why not join us in the new year?  Childcare and children’s classes are offered for all ages during the Discipleship Hour. 

Faith Friends Mentor Training Begins January 16

Beulah Church is ready to help you begin the new year with a new friend or two!  The Faith Friends mentoring partnership is gearing up for the next round of mentor training and the next group of church members and Beulah friends who are ready to discover the direction God has for them.

Faith Friends has been working in our congregation for nearly two years now and individuals, couples and families have seen this learning partnership have a great impact on how they see faith and discipleship as part of their lives.

Faith Friends mentors lead others through a guided course of discovery as a mentor.  Their partners are members and friends of Beulah who are ready to discover the big picture of discipleship.  Once the mentor and Faith Friend learner(s) have embarked on this journey together, both come away with new insights as to where God may be leading them to deepen their relationship with God.

This partnership is not just for those new to their faith; it is for ALL who are ready to discover God in new ways.  Mentors are everyday people who want to help others discover their relationship with God and in so doing, deepen their own relationship.  Mentors ARE NOT experts.  They are just fellow travelers and are trained how to guide another on this partnership journey.

A new mentor training day is scheduled for Saturday morning, January 16, from 9:00 – 11:30 AM in room 209.  Those sensing God’s call to guide an individual, couple or family for a period of one year can contact Carolyn Leah to sign up for the training.

Those individuals, couples or families that want to make some new discoveries in their faith life this year should let Carolyn Leah know and she will work with your Faith Friend mentor partner.  Those who have experienced Faith Friends over the past year and a half have wonderful stories to tell!  Why not ask them just how beneficial their Faith Friend has been?  There will be a Faith Friends Game Night on Sunday evening, January 24, for all previous and potential Faith Friend mentors and partners. Come and join the fun from 6:00 to  8:00 PM.

Advent experiences along the journey to Christmas for all ages!

Self-Guided Interactive Advent Journey
begins December 4th

On Friday, December 4, from 6 to 9 PM and on Saturday, December 5, from 9 AM to 3 PM, we will once again offer a special interactive devotional journey around our sanctuary.  Each individual or family will be able to travel between stations to discover a deeper meaning to the Advent season and to the coming of Christ.

This is a self-guided event and provides reflective times, creative experiences and interactive devotional moments as we explore symbols, people, and spiritual practices that help us deepen our relationship to Emmanuel, God with us! 

Come any time within the scheduled time periods and an Advent docent will help you begin your journey.  A special gift is given to each individual or family completing the journey.

A Tabletop Journey through Advent

for kids, youth, adults and seniors together! 

Take the hope of the coming Messiah, add a splash of Advent color, throw in some texture, an interactive study of God’s Word, and a spiritual discipline journey, and you have a new way to experience and prepare for the true reason for Christmas.  This is an every-age experience! We look for families with children age 3 and up as well as adults and youth from our congregation to join together in this tabletop journey through Advent.

We will explore the Isaiah 11:1 passage “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”  

Each week we will interact with this verse in a deeper way as we literally “take a journey” through centering, sharing, connecting, listening, wondering, applying and blessing. 

Week 1: Stumps    

Week 2: Roots   

Week 3: Shoots   

Week 4: Branches and Fruit

Carolyn Leah, Director of Children and Family Ministries, developed the concept for this original class as part of her Christian Education certification process in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  It is a joint educational effort with Adult Discipleship at Beulah.  She has been assisted by church member Ruth Ann Ritter, who created the fabric art journey mats that we will use each week with the course. 

For more information about our Christmas schedule, please check our December Beulah Life newsletter for all the exciting details. When viewing this blog from the Beulah website, consider switching to the original view synced from Blogger for improved formatting and additional links.

Beulah Youth summer mission trip 2015: Pittsburgh Project

Our team of nine youth and six leaders attended the Pittsburgh Project alongside two hundred other Christians to do work in and around the Pittsburgh area. The week was filled with service, making new friends and, most important, JESUS! The days began with eating breakfast together, morning devotions and preparation for our work sites that day. All day would be spent at our worksites on projects ranging in difficulty from painting to putting siding on the side of a three-story house. At about 4:00, groups began returning to the housing area to spend time together. The night continued with dinner, worship, group discussion and then bed time. During the week, our church group also got to have a night on the town where we enjoyed dinner and each other’s company.

Service and worship were the two biggest parts of our week at the Pittsburgh Project. Our groups served homeowners with their hands by doing construction on their houses. We also served by building relationships with the homeowners, walking their dogs, helping them with everyday things and by talking to them about God. Our teens and leaders were spread out among four different worksites. Some of the projects we got to experience were painting, installing windows, hanging siding and building retention walls.

The second important part of our trip involved worship. Every morning our day started with prayer and devotions and ended with a time of singing, prayer and a speaker. The speaker chose to focus on the Lord’s Prayer and focused on a different part every night. A special time of worship occurred on Wednesday night, when all the homeowners being served could come and worship with us. This was very moving because everyone could see what was going on in other work groups.

The group of youth we took were amazing and they all had great experiences on the trip. The youth bonded in their work groups, bonded as a church group and grew in their faith. On a night where the speaker talked about “forgiving those who sin against us” a majority of our group either recommitted or accepted Christ into their life or had someone they wanted God’s help forgiving. It was great to see that the youth’s faith had been impacted in such a large way that they were willing to make a large commitment! Out of everyone I talked to, the ENTIRE group was excited to go into this trip and just as excited leaving; they have already asked Alex to go back!

 

All in all this was an amazing trip for everyone.  There were leaps of faith taken, friendships formed, and projects completed.  ASK any of the youth about their trip and they will all have some type of great story to share!

 

See more pictures on our youth group Facebook page "Beulah Pres Youth Group".


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Exceptional Summer Camp!

EXCEPTIONAL SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Summer's Exceptional Two Weeks




Soccer skill building

Our first year of our two-week sports oriented day camp for individuals with special needs is complete!  Although, only a few weeks before, we were not sure we were going to have anyone sign up!  We have learned a lot about connecting with families, agencies and individuals with special needs.  Despite all of the hurdles, we had 5 campers join us for the two weeks!  

Scavenger Hunt team!

With a fantastic group of Head Counselors (who are also with us for Summer’s Best two Weeks), four amazing Occupational Therapy students from St. Francis University, several of our own fabulous Beulah youth and the Beulah summer interns!  As a team, we helped our five campers have an exciting two weeks learning soccer, badminton, basketball, golf, hockey, archery, tumbling and more.  We played kickball, dodgeball, bocce, shuffleboard and four square. 





Indoor Archery!

We took two field trips – one to Frick Park and one to Camp Crestfield in Slippery Rock for horseback riding, archery and canoeing.  Although we battled the rainy weather, our campers made significant strides in mastering the sports!  We all agreed that God intended us to have only 5 campers this year to spend time with them, to get our feet wet with this program and to understand what adaptations need to be made next year and for a larger group.  The word is out now and spreading so look out for 2016!



Scavenger hunt items collected on the team hat

 

Our campers  had a wonderful time engaged in sports and games activities at Beulah.  We made it to the park and the church garden and lawn many days until the rainy drizzle and cool temps sent us back to the church for lunch and more fun in the afternoon.



Shuffleboard in Fellowship Hall

Tin punch art

Check out more photos on Facebook


 




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July Movie Nights are Coming!

On August 2nd at 9:45 a.m. we will have a combined Adult/Youth Sunday school on the topic "C.S. Lewis and the Imagination."  Edith Humphrey of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is the presenter.

In preparation for this special summer intergenerational class we have scheduled two movie nights.

The first will be Wednesday July 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm.  The movie will be Shadowlands, a biopic of C. S. Lewis directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Anthony Hopkins.  

The second movie is scheduled for Wednesday evening July 29, 2015 at 7:00 pm, and will be The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, perhaps C.S. Lewis' most famous story.

Kids can bring a pillow, sleeping bag or blanket to lie on, some movie chairs and pillows and plenty of snacks will be provided.  No official cost for the night, just a free will offering.  Let us know if you will be coming by signing up in fellowship hall or by using the contact form on our website 

Dr. Edith Humphrey is the William F. Orr Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.  She is the author of seven books and numerous articles on the literary and rhetorical study of the Bible. An active member of the Orthodox Church (attending St. George’s Antiochian Church, Oakland), she retains strong ties with friends in various denominations, and is a well-known and popular speaker. She and her husband, Chris, have three grown daughters and are expecting their tenth grandchild this summer.

Staff Spotlight - Carolyn Leah

Like the proverbial bunny, Carolyn Leah is an energizer and whizzes by, but she is staunchly focused on everything she does! You know her as the enthusiastic head of Beulah’s children’s ministries, but she does much more!  Her creativity races with ideas to give people new faith experiences and a connection with prayer.

No matter what question asked Carolyn, the same thread of thought runs through her answers. Whatever her commitment, she wants “intentional impact.” She makes the difference in meaning and purpose.  While personally connecting with families, she takes pride in encouraging parents to be Christian educators within their family unit at home. 

One of her goals is for children to have a meaningful involvement in and comprehension of what worship means so that they do not feel like outsiders. With joy in her heart, she finds immense satisfaction in guiding children through their formative years and aiding families in discovering how faith connects God to their lives.  Realistically, she feels the sadness when too many come and go through our church before there is time to change their lives.

“Worship is important.  A big issue today,” she claims, “is in young families where there may not be anyone to form or help shape their Christian walk.  That’s why Beulah’s program with Faith Friends is so important. Faith should not be an after thought.”

In five years as Director of Children’s and Family Ministries, Carolyn has engaged all age groups. She favors experiences where people interact together, and she loves to create events.  Vacation Bible School, Sports Camp, Sunday school, Lenten Spirituality Center are only some of her involvements.   Another passion is striving for inter generational ministry.  She says, “Young people need to see faith role models.  We don’t mix generations enough in our churches.” 

That’s one reason she has organized and headed the enlightening all-church Women’s Mini-Retreats for the past two years, and has taken the lead in forming Beulah's Faith Friends mentoring ministry.

“While honoring the past,” she continues, “We need to be looking to the future in a different way.  Tradition is important, but holding onto tradition for the sake of tradition is not always the best idea. We need to adapt and change.”  For instance, she cites new challenges presented in electronic resourcing.  She emphasizes, “Connecting with families via electronic media is not a wave of the future anymore.  It is imminent!  We must be open to the potential and possibilities of reaching people with innovations as soon as they become available.”

Personally, she has a marketing degree and her vast experience includes Christian education on many levels. She finds delight with two grown children, Andrew and Jillian.  In leisure moments, she enjoys traveling, cooking and hiking. On her bucket list is a desire to hike more national parks and to visit France where her great grandparents were born. She also spends time developing recreational projects at a senior housing community.

Two years ago, Carolyn was diagnosed with breast cancer and a wellness plan took her through 17 chemotherapy/herceptin treatments, 33 radiation treatments, along with numerous tests. She is now cancer free!  Being self-sufficient, but with a sense of hope and faith, she never felt she was alone. She learned to accept help, prayers and encouragement, for she reflects, “I could not put a stop on the Holy Spirit leading others.”  Her gratitude extends to Beulah’s people who unselfishly embraced her through deeds of kindness as she faced this serious health issue.

As a ministry “planter of seeds,” her mission is personified in a favorite scripture from Luke 8:15 when Jesus speaks the parable about seeds of faith maturing: “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”

Carolyn is a beloved angel “bunny” in Beulah’s halls,  who keeps going and going because she is energized by God’s Spirit!

From an article by Kitty Paladin for the Beulah Life Newsletter