Volume 14 • Number 12 • December 2021

a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world

www.beargrass.org

We are so thankful to be able to meet in person this year!Below is the list of Advent happenings and events this year at Beargrass.

December 5 – Second Sunday of Advent (Peace)• Worship at 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM• Alternative Giving Fair• Beargrass Choir Christmas Cantata at 6:30 PM

December 12 – Third Sunday of Advent (Joy)• Worship at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM & 6:15 PM• Alternative Giving Fair• Children’s Christmas Pageant at 10:00 AM• JYF, Chi Rho & CYF Christmas parties at 4:30 PM

December 15 – Wednesday• Children & Youth Christmas Concert at 6:30 PM

December 19 – Fourth Sunday of Advent (Love)• Worship at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM & 6:15 PM• Homebound Caroling at 3:00 PM

December 24 – Friday• Family Service at 5:00 PM• Contemporary Service at 8:00 PM • Traditional Service at 11:00 PM

WORSHIP with hope 2Advent at The Table

Poinsettias

Children & Youth Christmas Concert

Children’s Christmas Pageant

By Alan Forsythe

 For years, we have decorated the sanctuary with poinsettias as we celebrate the Advent season and Christmas. This year will be no different, even though this year will be different from last year in many ways! If you would like to purchase a poinsettia in memory or honor of a loved one, you may contact the church office at (502) 896-1161 or visit our website (beargrass.org/2021-poinsettias) to place your order. Poinsettias are $10 each. Orders are due by December 8.

By Dr. Susan Lowe

By Rev. Steven Straub

By Rev. Steven Straub

 You are invited to join us for Advent at The TABLE  The unique 6:15 PM Sunday 45-minute TABLE Service continues to grow and is bringing in new visitors almost every week. Advent services will be special as we celebrate the traditions of Beargrass in a beautiful holiday decorated chapel. Philip Morgan will be performing some of our favorite Advent music in his own unique style. The Advent messages from the ministers will be outstanding as always. We would love for you to join us and share a worship experience at The TABLE service this Advent Season.

 On Sunday morning December 12, the children of Beargrass will present a Christmas Pageant at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary. To participate in the pageant, a child simply needs to report to their Sunday School classroom at 10:00 on the morning of the 12th. Following the pageant, children will return to their Sunday School classrooms to take off their costumes and enjoy some holiday treats. For the safety of all children, parents need to pick their children up from their classrooms, not the sanctuary, at the conclusion of the pageant. Please contact Steven Straub if you have any questions.

 After a virtual concert last year, the children and youth musicians of Beargrass are back for an in-person concert this December. On Wednesday, December 15 at 6:30 PM, the Melody Makers, the Children’s Choir, the Children’s Handbell Choir, and some youth musicians will present a musical concert entitled “Thank You God for Christmas.” The entire congregation is invited to the program in the sanctuary.

Happy

BirthdayTo You

December Birthdays

1: Spencer Martin Jr. · Elise Hance 2: William Woodward · Rebecca Blackwell · Karin Meyer · Diana Smith 3: Joelle Quaye · Kathy Roling · Brady Hagan 4: Kay Arnold · Ethel Casey 6: Susan Bronner · Lynnelle Morgan · Don Tupman · Dwight Elmer 7: Kay Lloyd · Matt Martin 8: Wes Wilkinson · Julie Toner · Natalie Bridwell · Dana Baker 10: Joe Babcock · David Ellis 11: Chase Herbert · Lauren Flaherty 13: Greg Claypool · Jeff Tomlin · Betty Schuetter 14: Jean Ballou · Nate Walker · Joel Mize 15: Jerry Potter · Wil Frye 16: Meredith King · Lana Laukhuf 17: Brian Carson · Geneva Burke · Brette Conliffe 18: Betty McClain · Larry Price 19: Leslie Goeghegan · Anna Whittle · Kate Whittle · Chad Burke 20: Kathryn VanGlider · Dylan Mears · William Allen · Conner Hageman 21: Mary Lamb · Connor Perkins · Jackson Haile · Sherry Lanoie · Judy Karem 22: Sarah Gold 23: Paul Fischer · Joan Stottmann 24: Grayson Elmer 25: Kim Mercker · Clemma Pettit · Zach Nallinger 26: Steve Roling 27: Alexander Aultman · Bart Miller · Dave Stallings · Clare Bridwell 28: Heidi Pence 29: Robert Watson · Jim Guy · Norma Tandy · Kevin Montgomery · Amber Langston 30: Kenneth Barlow · Andrew Fuchs · Barb Hoover · Scout Grass · Kirk Barsch 31: Cindy Blount · Jay Hageman

We wish you a very happy birthday!

GROW together as a community of faith 3

Beargrass AlternativeGiving Fair 2021By Mike Puckett - Outreach Division Chair

 The Alternative Giving Fair is a Beargrass tradition of almost 2 decades now. It is an Advent opportunity to take the hope of the Christ Child beyond our walls to those in need. The 6 organizations shown here will be represented at tables in the gathering space on the mornings of December 5 and 12, and highlighted on our website and through social media posts. You can donate at the tables, where you can also learn more about the organizations; online at beargrass.org; or by mailing a check to the church office. (Cont. on next page)

This food bank has served Kentuckiana for 50 years. It partners with some 300 local social service agencies such as food pantries, shelters, and emergency kitchens to distribute food. Dare To Care provided 22 million meals to the community during the past year.

While Habitat’s work is home building, their purpose is to change lives with hope brought through housing solutions of home ownership, community development and home repair. Donations are channeled through Habitat of Metro Louisville.

This Christ-centered facility in Guatemala provides a family environment to meet the physical, educational, medical, spiritual and other needs of its young residents. Many Beargrass mission teams have traveled there over the past decade.

Since 1912, the Center has helped victims of intimate partner abuse or sexual assault to become survivors through supportive services, community education and cooperative partnerships that foster hope, promote self-sufficiency, dignity and hope.

This local ministry provides safe water solutions internationally. It does so through purification systems, training in their installation and overall health education. Empowering communities to handle their own safe water needs, WaterStep has also worked with Beargrass mission teams.

The successor to Fed with Faith, Beargrass members and friends continue to play an integral part in this ministry. It is dedicated to serving Louisville’s homeless by providing meals, as well as collecting and distributing coats, blankets and other essentials.

SERVE with generosity & a passion for justice 4

Gifts To Beargrass

In Memory of Karyn Rademaker:Bruce Rademaker

In Memory of Carl & Wanda Crosier:William & Patricia Brasch

In Honor of Danny McMahanJanice Nallinger

In Honor of Dr. Leigh Bond:Rev. David Ellis

 Sunday, November 14, Beargrass members celebrated the installation of our “newish” Senior Minister, Dr. Trey Flowers. Although the installation was delayed a few months due to Covid concerns, it was worth the wait! A 10:00 AM combination of our three worship services featured the music of our Beargrass Choir and Praise Team, plus additional instrumental selections. The service was memorable, meaningful and personal for the Flowers family. The installation words and sermon were delivered by our new Regional Minister, Rev. Dr. Donald Gillet. His inspired sermon was based on the text, Jeremiah 3:15, “God has a plan…” Rev. Dr. Nancy Pittman, President of Phillips Theological Seminary and Trey’s Mother-in-law, presided over the communion table.  Guests included Trey’s friends from Woodmont Christian Church, Downey Avenue Christian Church, friends from Memphis, and Rev. Dr. Charisse Gillet, President of Lexington Theological Seminary. The Hospitality Team hosted a reception in Chalice Hall with a congratulations cake and a number of other treats. John and Kathy Wise recorded the event in a number of terrific photos. It truly was a wonderful installation. We are so grateful to all who helped make this event happen. Congratulations to Dr. Trey Flowers.We are glad you are here!

Installation Sunday Recap

Homebound Caroling

By Linda Sewell

By Dr. Susan Lowe

The online opportunity will be available December 5-17 (simply click on the Giving Fair banner on the top of the website page). As we move closer to the celebration of the birth of Christ and consider His teachings as well as our many blessings from God, we invite you to be a blessing to others through the wonderful work of any or all of the programs on page 3.

...Giving Fair Cont.

 Once again we will spread and receive the joy of Christmas by caroling to some of our members who are homebound. We will leave the church at 3:00 PM on Sunday Dec. 19 and visit several folks! The number of folks we can visit depends on how many people are able to go caroling (if we have enough we can split up into smaller groups).  Please contact Susan Lowe at (502) 896-1161 or at susan@beargrass.org to sign up or if you have any questions. PLEASE SIGN UP by WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15th! We will gather for cookies and hot chocolate following our caroling!

In Memory of Robert Steineker:Andrew & Susan Russell · Patsy Nall · Jeannine Livesay · James & Mary Crain · David & Elaine Branaman · Robert & Linda Gunter · Ron & Charlotte Walford · Janet Thomson · William & Marcia Murphy · Jeanette Wortham

In Memory of Malcolm Bentley:Kenneth & Leslie List

In Memory of Marshall Skaggs:Jeanette Wortham

In Memory of William Skinner:Jeanette Wortham