Barry's Blog - Bel Air UMC

2011-12-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

We had made all the arrangements for the birth of our firstchild. Holly really liked her OBGYN and we were going to GBMC, since that waswhere Holly had been working as an RN in theNursery. All of her co-workers couldn’t wait to be a part of it. I was going tohave everything ready to take to the hospital. And then we took an unexpectedjourney!

This week we are going to look at the Unexpected Journeythat Mary and Joseph took in her ninth month. I am sure Mary had her midwifeselected and the plan for which room in the house she would give birth and looked forward to supportivefamily around at this difficult time.

The morning we were to return home from a vacation inBethany Beach, August 15, 1981, we were scrambling to call an OBGYN that we had never met,rushing to a hospital that we had never been to and nurses we did not know.Family was forced to drive to Beebe Hospital In Lewes,Delaware when Holly was admitted. 9 hours later, Sarah Grace came into theworld.

It seems that, often inlife, our plans are changed and we end up taking a journey to a place that isoften not of our choosing.

I think that the message this Sunday will give us hope,encouragement and strength as we face our current unexpected journeys. Or maybeyou will realize how you might provide room and hope for someone in your lifewho is in the midst of that journey.

In Jesus,

Barry

Change The World - The Power of One

2011-10-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

The POWER OF ONE

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for thosewho will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of themmay be one, Father, just as youare in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believethat you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gaveme, that they may be one as weare one— ²³ I in themand you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the worldwill know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23(NIV)

Jesus prayed forhis disciples and his church and made it clear how important it is for thechurch to have a spirit of Oneness and Unity! It isn’t often in our splinteredworld that we all get to be in ONE place to do ONE thing for the Glory of God!

This Sunday, at Bel Air UMC, weare gathering on a Sunday Morning at 9:20 AM with people from all six of ourservices gathered in the same place for the same purpose to Change the World.

We have 30different teams and projects that are preparing to move off our campus and outinto the world! We have teams that are staying here, praying, creating andbringing gifts.

We have over 430children, youth and adults already signed up and prepared to Change The World. Still, that isn’tenough! There are some teams that needmore people. You are just ONE, but you are needed! We need to reach 500people in order to do all that we need to do!

You are thesomeone that Jesus died for. You are the ONE that the Holy Spirit lives in, soyou can make a difference.

If you forgot tosign up, it is not too late!!! Please email hideyb@baumc.com - tell usyour name, cell phone and whether you want to work inside at the church oroutside in the community. We will have a team for you to join on Sundaymorning! Most teams will work from 10:30 to noon, some longer as needed.Childcare is available for children up to age 4. Children K- Fifth grade havemany projects they will be doing. Sign them up too!

At 9:00 AM onSunday morning, go to the CHANGE THE WORLD table outside of McComas Hall and wewill connect you with your team. It is that simple to Change the World. 15,000United Methodists are stepping out this weekend! Make sure we can count onyou!!

Let's Be theChurch!!

Barry

PS Did you seethe video on Sunday about the power of One??

The Power of One - at Bel Air UMC

Reflecting on 9-11 ten years later

2011-09-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Over the last week I havebeen struggling with the 10^th anniversary of 9-11. I didn’t knowwhat I wanted to do with it. Do I want to go back and relive the events of thatday and week all over again? The moments of that day are forever etched as towhere I was when I first heard (I was in a worship planning meeting with RonSchuyler and Rev. Peggy when Holly called), watching the video images (ourcustodian, Thureen,brought a video tape of the towers and the staff gathered around a TV set in thenarthex and watched it together) and then trying to track down Sarah who was onCapitol Hill at the time.

So, I began to go back tosermons, E-spires, prayer vigils, worship services and stories I had saved onmy church computer and I am so thankful that I did!

If I hadn’t gone back, Iwould have missed the blessings of what the church and you, our people, did together to pull through thistime. I had forgotten some of the powerful stories that came out of 9-11 andthe focus we had on the One who gives us hope!

I might have forgotten thatthe story of these last 10 years is that we realized that Hope Wins!! Join usthis Sunday, not to be reminded of what evil did, but what Hope did in ournation, church and in your life!

I do Hope to see you Sunday,

Barry

Hereis one of the nuggets of truth I found when I looked back in my notes.

Portions from Dr.Billy Graham’s Message at National Day of Prayer and Remembrance Service,September 14, 2001

We've always needed God fromthe very beginning of this nation, but today we need Him especially. We’refacing a new kind of enemy. We're involved in a new kind of warfare and we needthe help of the Spirit of God. The Bible words are our hope: "God is ourrefuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will notfear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of thesea" (Psalm 46:1,2). But why does God allow evil like this to take place?Perhaps that is what you are asking now. You may even be angry at God. I wantto assure you that God understands these feelings that you may have. And Godcan be trusted, even when life seems at its darkest.

I have been asked hundreds oftimes in my life why God allows tragedy and suffering. I have to confess that Ireally do not know the answer totally, even to my own satisfaction. I have toaccept, by faith, that God is sovereign, and He’s a God of love and mercy andcompassion in the midst of suffering.

Noneof us will ever forget the pictures of our courageous firefightersand police, many of whom have lost friends and colleagues, or the hundreds ofpeople attending or standing patiently in line to donate blood. A tragedy likethis could have torn our country apart, but instead, it has united us and we’vebecome a family.

We never know when we toowill be called into eternity. I doubt if even one of those people who got onthose planes, or walked into the World Trade Center or the Pentagon thatmorning thought it would be the last day of their lives. And that's why each ofus needs to face our own spiritual need and commit ourselves to God and Hiswill now.

Yes, our nation has beenattacked, buildings destroyed, lives lost. But now we have a choice: whether toimplode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and a nation-- or, whether we choose to become stronger through all of this struggle -- torebuild on a solid foundation. And I believe that we are in the process ofstarting to rebuild on that foundation. That foundation is our trust in God.

"Fear not, I am withthee; O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will give thee aid; I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by myrighteous, they righteous, omnipotent hand." (How Firm A Foundation)

My prayer today is that wewill feel the loving arms of God wrapped around us, and will know in our heartsthat He will never forsake us as we trust in Him.

Maybe I need to change the title of my Sermon?

2011-08-26T13:47:00.000-07:00

Maybe I need to change the title of my Sermon?

The church sign, if it hasn't floated away in the rain or hurricane, on Sunday morning will still say, "Give Me This Water!" When I picked that title about a month ago, I wasn't worried about Hurricane Irene!! As we say, you have to be careful about what you ask for!!

If you would read the story of Jesus and the woman at the well in John 4, you will discover these words in verse 15, "The woman said to Jesus, 'Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.'" This woman was beginning to understand the life-giving power of what Jesus would provide in her life. She was still thinking about the physical nature of water from a well or from a lake, but Jesus helped her to understand that the thirst she had in her life wasn't physical but was spiritual.

We might have our fears about the flash flooding of the water from a thunderstorm or a hurricane, but there is nothing to fear in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus alone gives life-giving water! And the life-giving water that Jesus Christ gives springs up to eternal life.

You might have a great memory of drinking water when you couldn't wait for that glass of ice water after a long run, cutting the yard or that first sip of water after surgery. Recently I got to drink from a glacier lake at the top of a mountain near Mt. Deborah in Alaska, probably my most memorable drink of water ever.

Still nothing compares to the promise of Jesus. "Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14 (NIV)

You might have to get wet to get to church this Sunday, but I hope you will make it!

In Jesus,

Barry

“This is My Father’s World”

2011-06-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

“This is My Father’s World”

This is my Father's world,

and to my listening ears all nature sings,

and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world:

I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees,

of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought. By Maltbie Babcock

I think this wonderful hymn explains so well the reason why Creation Care is so important!! I know that creation has played such an important part of my spiritual journey. I came to Christ praying on the beach at Ocean City, Maryland. Youth retreats at places like Manidokan, West River, Catoctin Mountains, and the Colorado Rockies, connected me with the beauty of God’s creation and, as I result, I found my heart, mind, and spirit open to the reality and power of God.

This Sunday will be a special time of worship, as Rev. Doug will be leading us in a medley of hymns and songs that help us to experience the power and beauty of God’s creation as we sing! Our message will challenge us to think about what Jesus might say if he was preaching a sermon at Bel Air. Also, our Stewardship Team will be giving a gift to every family as you enter church this Sunday! As part of our Fathers’ Day celebration, we will be celebrating a couple baptisms!! And our Men’s Chorus will provide the special music at our 9:20 service.

I hope to see you this Sunday!

In Jesus,

Barry
PS Some good resources for Creation Care are
http://www.creationcare.org/
http://www.blessedearth.org/

Creation Care!!

2011-06-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

²⁷ So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground." ²⁹ Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.³⁰ And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground-everything that has life." And that is what happened. ³¹ Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! Genesis 1:27-31

There was something very special when God created us and asked us to care for His creation! Creation Care is something that the Church should regularly practice, but growing up in the church, I never remember hearing much about that. I am so thankful for growing up on a farm and seeing and living among so much of the variety of God's creation. Yet, not everyone understands that the church is called to be the leaders in caring for this earth!

We have been given a great gift - the world we live in and on! I want to invite you to join in a three week sermon series called Creation Care! We will look at what the Bible tells us about how important it is to be Green! We will start this week looking at some key insights from Genesis 1.

A couple of years ago, I read a great book called "Serve God and Save the Planet" by Dr. Matthew Sleeth. It helped me to see how one person can make a huge difference in living out Creation Care. Take a couple of minutes and watch this video about how he came to Christ and discover what became his life calling.

In Jesus,

Barry

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=1723949&ct=6796965&undefined

http://www.blessedearth.org/

You are a blessing!!!

2011-04-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

You are a blessing!!! That is the theme of our Volunteer Celebration this Sunday! There are hundreds and thousands of lives that have been blessed because so many of our people have been in the blessing business!! Every time someone chooses to set aside their time, talents and gifts to serve and volunteer - someone is blessed! Yesterday, about 100 people helped to assemble, pack and deliver bags of food that blessed more than 240 seniors in Harford County.

I saw the smiles of our people packing bags, loading their cars and I know that those smiles continued as they went house to house, not just dropping off food, but spending time listening, praying and encouraging these people. This is just one example of the many ways the people of Bel Air bless others! Each of YOU are a blessing!!! And you know who you are and Jesus knows who you are! Thank You.

So join us for a time of thanksgiving during our worship services on Sunday! If you are not serving right now in a ministry, then make sure you come to give thanks to those who have blessed you. The choirs have blessed us, the Youth and Kingdom Kidz leaders have blessed our church. The communion stewards, lay readers, altar guild, ushers, greeters, bulletin stuffers and newsletter folders!! People show you where to park and answer your questions at the Information and Welcome desks!! So many blessings!!

THANK YOU!!!

In Jesus,

Barry and all of the staff of BAUMC

http://www.belairchurch.org/

Cantata - 24 Hours That Changed the World! April 17, 2011 9:20AM & 4:00PM

2011-04-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, the Chancel Choir of Bel Air UMC, will be offering a very special cantata. Rather than purchasing a cantata or performing a major work, we have put together our own offering of a cappella anthems in various styles. The anthems follow the sequence of the events of Holy Week from the time of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, until his burial in the tomb. Scripture readings will introduce the anthems.

We have done many types of cantatas in the Spring - some very quiet and meditative, some ending with a glorious, foot stomping Easter proclamation. While this Sunday's "sermon in song" will not include hand-clapping, foot-stomping music, we believe it is very powerful, certainly as powerful as any cantata we have ever done.

We can look at the empty tomb on Easter with joy at the power of the resurrection, yet the image of Jesus on the cross is no less powerful. For in that image is wrapped up God's love and forgiveness for us, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the freedom from sin in this life and the next. All this is what we will be singing about.

Our prayer is that the words of scripture read, then sung with voices alone will feed your soul with a profound sense of what the Lord has done for you.

We invite you to join us at the 9:20 AM worship service and we hope you will come back at 4:00 PM for the public concert, and bring a friend.

Your Servant in Christ,
Rev. Doug Hollida,
Director of Worship & Arts

Hello Pilgrim on the Lenten Journey!

2011-03-11T19:57:00.000-08:00

Hello Pilgrim on the Lenten Journey!

Join us on a Jesus Journey. Walk with me, walk with Jesus, walk with fellow brothers and sisters as we take a deep look at the last 24 hours of Jesus's life. One of my favorite TV shows was 24. It was exciting to see what could happen in a 24 hour period. It was good TV, but these 24 hours changed our world and can change your life too. All you need to do is to come to worship each Sunday in Lent. That is just to get the highlights. If you want to go deeper, then read the daily devotional, get into a small group and commit to daily prayer, study and application.

This week we will look at the connection between the Jewish Seder Meal and the Last Supper. Take a moment and read Mark 14:12-25 before Sunday. The Last Supper of Jesus is a little meal that changes everything. The Last Supper is a time for grace when we "see" and we know in our own experience who Jesus is, a moment when we know ourselves as Judas or Peter or the others on that night, a time when our souls are stretched to eternity and back with hope. At the Table of our Lord, ordinary life is transformed.

I invite you to the Table this Sunday.

In Jesus,

Barry

PS Last Sunday was the Consecration Service at Emmorton Elementary school. Here are two pictures taken by Jim Schepers.

The Vine Consecration Service
Emmorton Elementary School
March 6, 2011

Stan & Michelle serve communion

A Beginning and an Ending?

2011-03-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

This week I was blessed by a beginning and an ending.

This past Sunday, over 30 families were commissioned by our laying on of hands, prayer and blessing as they move out of the walls of Bel Air UMC and into the community of Abingdon to Emmorton Elementary School. It was a powerful and touching experience for all of us as we saw, not the end of our goal to start a new ministry and worship service in Abingdon, but a huge first step into fulfilling the mission of our church " to make disciples of Jesus Christ, as we show all people the way to the Father, teach them to know the Son, Jesus Christ, and prepare them to grow in faith and ministry, empowered by the Holy Spirit."

Praying for The Vine at 9:20 Service

I invite you to "drop by" Emmorton Elementary

this Sunday from 10-12. The Vine team will be there to welcome you and you can join in a brief consecration and communion service. They will happen every 30 minutes, starting at 10AM. I will be dropping in between the 920 and 11 service.

Praying for The Vine at 11 Service, Photo by Jim Schepers

Then, on Thursday night, we concluded our Next Steps Class, as Pastor Stan reminded us about our call to "Serve". As we concluded the service with Communion and said our good-byes, many people commented about how the course touched them and how the small groups gave them a chance to discuss and commit to their NEXT STEPS as followers of Jesus. I realized that the course was over, but, like The Vine, it is only really the beginning of practicing the things that we had studied, how a Disciple of Jesus needs to Worship, Pray, Learn, Give, Proclaim, Relate, & Serve.

One of the important images I want to keep in front of us is this idea that we are on a Journey with Jesus. We do get times to rest, we call that Sabbath, but also, we look for ways each day to grow in our faith and make an impact in the world with the grace and love of Jesus Christ!

So what is your next step?

Please pick up our Lenten Devotional, "24 hours That Changed The World", this Sunday! It is a powerful little book with a short reading for each day of Lent! When was the last time you bought a Christian Devotional and used it! The cost is only 6$ and it fits the theme of our Lenten Sermon series and small group study.

In Jesus,

Barry

http://www.baumc.com/

The VIne is being sent forth this Sunday by Pastor Stan Cardwell

2011-02-25T08:47:00.000-08:00

This is it. . . Make no mistake where you are. (Wow - that Kenny Loggins song just popped into me head when I wrote those first three words - and some (not all of the song fits).

Okay (stop ADDing) . . . This is it - The Vine's last week in McComas Hall before we are sent into Abingdon. And it is a BIG DEAL. Or it should be. I titled the grap.eVine newsletter The Art of Blessing, because blessing is a major stream running through the Bible. From God's first words to His creation - "be fruitful and multiply" to Jesus' blessing the children brought to him, the act of blessing is a significant part of God's plan even if lost on our current culture. (Read Gary Smalley's The Blessing to understand this gift and why it is important to bless.)

On Sunday, members of The Vine will be attending all or part of all the morning worship services to be commissioned (sent) and BLESSED. We need the blessing of our sending church. We hunger for the blessing on our sending church. Like a child seeking the blessing of a father, so we must be sent with a blessing.

And that blessing isn't reserved for us. The Vine is being sent to bless others. (Blessed to be a blessing.) We have been called to love people into a relationship with Jesus Christ - the ULTIMATE BLESSING. Be fruitful and multiply - go and make disciples. The other wonderful thing about blessings is that the blesser is also blessed. God loves to bless blessers.

Please keep this critical concept in mind as we come together on Sunday. 8:00ers, 9:20ers, Igniters (not pyros), 11:00ers and Viners all need God's blessing. So come. This day is historic. This day is epic. This day is it! Come to be blessed on Sunday. My message on Sunday is entitled Set Apart . . . to Love and to Share.

Stan

http://connect-to-the-vine.blogspot.com/

Celebrating the African American Church by Bishop John R. Schol

2011-02-18T08:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Each February, we seek to incorporate some of the music and liturgy that has been a part of the experience of African-American Methodists. One of the blessings of being a pastor in the Baltimore- Washington Conference is experiencing the great diversity of our churches, pastors and laity. There have been brothers and sisters in the Black Church that have blessed me, taught me, challenged me and loved me. I have been blessed to share their ministry, to preach in their churches and pray with them. I have included below a letter that I received from our Bishop, John Schol. Take a moment and read this letter and look at some of the links and learn for yourself some of the powerful history and life lessons that we have learned from our African-American brothers and sisters.

In Jesus,

Barry

February 17, 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This February, I am remembering Rev. Charles Johnson, a great pastor in our conference who passed away on February 11. I am also remembering a church at Tackawanna and Margaret Streets. Early in my ministry, it was the St. Thomas United Methodist Church, an African-American Church in Philadelphia that shaped my thinking and understanding of ministry and the Church. St. Thomas was one of the churches in a cooperative ministry that I directed. They welcomed me and my family with open arms, taught me about vibrant life changing worship and about the importance of ministering to the whole person – mind, body and soul.

The black church in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and throughout the country, has a rich history of serving as a beacon of hope and faith for all people. The black church has demonstrated its faith by providing social services, working for justice, and providing a voice when the white majority sought to silence African American voices.

During Black History Month, we celebrate the past, present and future of the black church—which continues to proclaim, in an unending hymn, “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.” As the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”

Today the entire Church stands at a crossroads and we can learn from the black church, which has blended evangelism and social action by being evangelists for Christ and drum majors for justice. We can embrace a vibrant active faith, taking a step even when we don’t see the entire staircase. We can step out in faith, knowing God is found along the way.

We also take the step with others who took courageous steps that has shaped who we are today and the multicultural church that we continue to become. Along the way, great Methodists worked for an integrated denomination. John Wesley our founder preached against slavery. Harry Hosier, one of Methodism’s first great preachers, got his start in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Today we also remember Rev. Charles Johnson, a courageous pioneering pastor of the Baltimore-Washington Conference whose home going was celebrated today. He will be remembered for his preaching, strong leadership and the building of congregations.

I share with you three United Methodist resources as we together celebrate black history.

Timeline: Methodism in Black and White http://tinyurl.com/4t5n63z
Harry Hosier, Great Methodist Preacherhttp://tinyurl.com/harryhosier

Please also visit the following link, which will take you to an award-winning documentary titled “We’ve Come This Far by Faith http://www.bwcumc.org/content/comethisfarbyfaith

This video chronicles the dramatic story of the former Washington Conference which later merged with the Baltimore Conference to form the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,… plans to give you a future with hope.” I know that God has great plans for making us a better Church that continues to overcome racism and creates a stronger church by working together for the glory of Christ..

Keep the faith!

John R. Schol, Bishop
The United Methodist Church
The Washington Area
Baltimore-Washington Conference

bishopsoffice@bwcumc.org

http://www.bwcumc.org/

Where Do You Dare To Go? by Pastor Tom Hodges

2011-02-12T07:52:00.000-08:00

Where Do You Dare To Go?

I was watching a very old movie last week called, "Time Bandits." In this movie these bandits travel to various points in time and steal valuable items to bring them back and make profit from them in their current time. In one scene, the leader spreads the map that gives them the coordinates to the various times they can go to and as he is looking over the map, he stops, looks up at his compatriots and asks, "Where do we dare to go this time?"

That is an interesting question...where DO we dare to go? Where did Jesus dare to go is a good starting point for those of us in the church. Where did He go? To what group of people did Jesus find himself gravitating towards? There was the time He was speaking with a woman at a well who was a foreigner and as He spoke to her, she was extremely shocked that a Jew would dare speak to her. Jesus was all about daring...all about going...all about shaking up the culture of complacency. He challenged His own followers to dare to go and do the things He was doing...he sent them out on their own to show them they could do it.

Where has the church dared to go in the recent decades? Is it possible that we need a cultural shakeup of the sort that Jesus did during his ministry? I admire the efforts of the Vine as they DARE to go to a place full of the unknown. Many of us, and I'm talking about the universal church including our own, are comfortable with our "club" setting. We're uncomfortable with change, with newness, with things that might change our sense of ownership. Church goers have found a level of comfort with coming in and sitting in THEIR seat or pew and hearing great worship music and a sermon and seeing the same people we've always seen. When leadership poses a challenge, we sometimes get this feeling that change is on the way and we get our defenses up. When someone comes in dressed differently or smells differently than we expect they should be, we find ourselves pulling away and wondering what's going on and complain about how "our" church is changing.

What happened to our daring? Our calling might be another name for that! What happened to our teaching from Scripture to GO! We call that the Great Commission and it explicitly tells (read: Commands) us to Go! Into all the world (not just our seat or pew). We are called to go and make disciples...not sit and wait for them to come to us when they're interested. If we don't go and tell them and if we don't act and show them...how will they know? If we, the church, don't break up our own little culture club and go have dinner with the sinners...if we're not willing to venture out beyond our comfortable borders and speak to the "foreigner"....if we're not willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus....then who will? The church should be a hospital for the injured and dying and sick...not a place of comfort for the well! I love the statement by a singer named Steve Camp in one of his songs that pretty much sums up my little article above...."Hell is burning while the church is asleep!"

Where do you dare to GO?

In His Love,

Tom

When was the last time you said THANK YOU for a moving worship service?

2011-02-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

Hello Church!

It is a privilege to plan and lead worship at Bel Air! I am thankful for Rev. Doug Hollida and his leadership in leading the worship planning with Carol and I. Some weeks, it seems that what we seek to do and how we hope the congregation responds comes together in a Holy Spirit moment. I am thankful for all the variety of worship that happens here at Bel Air. May the Holy Spirit continue to touch our hearts and our lives as we worship. Here are a couple of responses we got this week.

In Jesus,

Barry

Revs Barry and Carol,

Job well done!

Barry,

Thanks very much for making it special for me, yesterday, when you had our whole family together for the baptismal renewal. The boys weren't quite sure what was going on, but they'll get it as they mature in the church. I, on the other hand, really appreciated it and it took me back to the days when the boys were baptized.

Carol,

Outstanding job when you explained to the youngsters what you were doing and what it meant When you were baptizing the little girl. That's the way to do it. Plus, your sermon was spot on!! We had a talk around the dinner table about what our name meant to us.

My Grandfather told me one day that an old grouch in church was commenting that the "kids in the church should just shut-up." My Grandfather's response was, "if you shut them up and shut them out, you are choking off the future of this church." I think he would be very proud of us that we chose a church that includes the youngsters.

Have a great week !!

A Dad with two elementary children

Rev Barry/Rev Carol,

The service this past Sunday was a great intergenerational worship and celebration! From a baptism of an infant ... to the kids participating in the service and being a special part of the baptism ... to the youth enthusiastically greeting the congregation and sharing from the youth retreat ... to the celebration and singing Happy Birthday to Marge for her 93rd birthday! What a great day of celebration and remembering our baptism for all ages. And, Rev Carol, thanks for including the kids and explaining each step and why we do it (great for us big kids too).

A Mom of two of our youth

Rev Doug Hollida wrote about Loving God with all your strength!

2011-01-21T14:11:00.000-08:00

A Note from the Director of Worship and Arts:

"Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind." That is the theme of our current sermon series. This Sunday, Rev. Carol will look at what it means to "love the Lord with all your strength."

I think we can all define the word "strength," but what does it mean to "love the Lord with all your strength?" Does it mean we should lift weights? I remember 20 years ago a Christian weightlifting team came to our town-they would give a demonstration, and then witness about Jesus. I guess we could say they were literally loving the Lord with all their strength. And yet, the weightlifting was just to draw folks in; the Christian work was the witness. And that takes strength too-physical strength to go out and do it and also emotional and spiritual strength.

Every aspect of our existence is from God and belongs to God-it was created by and given to us by God, and God has a plan for every aspect of our lives. It takes strength to put away our selfish, worldly ways and open our hearts, souls and minds, and yes, the use of our strength to God's purposes. But the Lord, speaking through the prophet in Isaiah 55, says that we can come to him and get what we need for free. Our ways are not the Lord's ways, but the Lord's ways are better and easier. So there is every reason to turn to the Lord in love and seek the Lord's ways for our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
   call upon him while he is near;
⁷ let the wicked forsake their way,
   and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

Isaiah 55:6-8 (NRSV)

We will see you Sunday, as together, we continue on the journey to loving the Lord with everything we have.

Rev. Doug Hollida,
Director of Worship and Arts

How Is It With Your Souls? Questions about Loving God and Living Life

2011-01-10T18:57:00.000-08:00

In my sermon on Sunday, January 9, I mentioned that John Wesley developed 22 questions that he used in his small group, which was called John's Wesley's Holy Club.

When you ask yourself the question, How Is It With My Soul?

John Wesley’s Holy Club Questions

These are 22 questions the members of John Wesley’s Holy Club asked themselves every day in their private devotions over 200 years ago.

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

4. Can I be trusted?

5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

7. Did the Bible live in me today?

8. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?

9. Am I enjoying prayer?

10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

11. Do I pray about the money I spend?

12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

13. Do I disobey God in anything?

14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

17. How do I spend my spare time?

18. Am I proud?

19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?

22. Is Christ real to me?

These questions make you think!

In Jesus,
Barry

PS I also quoted Rocky Balboa in my sermon, here is that quote, , “But it ain’t how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. If you know what you’re worth, go out and get what you are worth, but you got to be willing to take the hits.” (From Rocky 6) or you could watch it here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1tXhJniSEc

Happy New Year!! Do you like a fresh start!!

2011-01-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

Do you like a fresh start? I know that I do. There is something special about a new year. Over the past week, in the church office, we have been finishing up all the paperwork, finance bookkeeping, attendance figures, budget review, etc, as we bring 2010 to a close. Maybe you have been doing the same at your house, trying to figure out how your finances did in 2010. You took down the Christmas decorations and maybe realized that you need to get into that garage, basement or closet this year and get out the old stuff that nobody is using. Sometimes though, we can get so busy taking care of last year's stuff that we don't focus on the opportunities of the new year.

This year I decided to spend some time, in the week after Christmas, looking forward to 2011. I spent time planning sermon series, reviewing the goals I have for our ministry in 2011, calling people and asking them to step into new leadership roles, thinking about the changes with The Vine moving offsite in March and my return to the 11 Worship Service leadership.

Cindy and I have also been working on the New Course that is starting this week called Next Steps: Living and Loving Like Jesus. This 7-week journey is designed for all who want to continue on a life-long journey with Jesus. Whether you are a committed disciple, a new believer, or still exploring questions of faith, everyone has a “next step” to take on the journey with Jesus. In this course, we’ll explore seven essentials of Christian discipleship, offering tools for growth that are designed to meet you where you are, and help you take your next faithful step. Each evening begins with casual conversation over dessert. Then we’ll gather for a time of worship, learning, and small group discussion. Childcare is available upon request.

It's been great looking forward into 2011 and anticipating how God is going to touch our lives, how we can grow in our faith and help our church to grow. I know that the Homeless Shelter is going to stay open because churches like Bel Air have been stepping up across Harford County by giving in the Christmas season. We collected over $8700 in our Christmas Eve Offerings for the Shelter! It will give the shelter a fresh start in the new year.

So my question for you is, how will you grow in 2011? What fresh start in your faith will you take in 2011? Will you expect the same old, same old in your walk with Christ. Just getting by? Or will you seek to love God and live the life that Jesus wants for each of us?

Jesus us tells us there are some things we can do that will show us how to LIVE. Luke 10:25-28 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”

I am starting a new series on Sunday that will focus on what it would mean for each of us to love God with our heart, soul, strength and mind! That pretty much sums up all of life and faith! Won't you join with me in being open to doing something new in 2011 and just maybe we will end up Loving God and Living Life in a most powerful way!

In Jesus,

Barry

PS I must admit that I have also spent some time this week planning how the Ravens will get to the Superbowl!! Just as we can only live for God one day at time, I know the road to the Superbowl is taken one game at a time. Go RAVENS! I've got my purple on!!

How Might God Surprise You This Christmas?

2010-12-23T13:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,
More than 2,000 years ago, no one was prepared for God to actually do what had been predicted by the prophets. It was easier to believe that a Messiah, a Savior, would come someday than to think that it could happen in their lifetime.

Reactions to this surprise vary between believing it is from God and immediately submitting, like Mary. Or like Joseph who initially decided to quickly dispense with the discomfort by assuming someone has done something wrong.

Part of the surprise was the original cast of characters God chose. Mary was an unwed teenager who had "never known a man." She likely thought of herself as a poor prospect for motherhood. Joseph was a descendant of religious leaders, surely expecting a traditional marriage before fatherhood. Herod was a paranoid political figure. The Magi were foreigners, educated scientists of the day, who were not a part of the Jewish faith. The shepherds were just regular working folk, unlikely to be esteemed in religious circles because they could not keep all the ceremonial laws. Who out of that cast would expect to be chosen?

Once upon a time, God interrupted the lives of people to make them part of a special story. Those of us who remember the story are also part of it. During Advent we prepared for Christmas not merely as a ritual but as a hoped-for divine interruption. We looked to recognize, in the interruption of our routines, a chance to see God's arrival again. We are hoping that God will use us so that we can help others to find their way to Jesus. We are hoping that as our families get together, as we personally ponder in our hearts (as Mary did) all the facets of the Christmas story, God will use us to do something extraordinary in the world again.

I ran into a young woman the other day, who I had met working at a Starbucks and then later at a local restaurant. I had been looking for the chance to invite her to our Christmas Eve services…she didn’t know I was a pastor, just a guy who always ordered peppermint mochas and remembered her name. So I told her what I did and gave her our Re-Discover Christmas brochure and invited her to our services. And… the unexpected happened… she said, “I really need this. I need to be there”.

I am praying that God will continue to draw this young woman closer to himself this Christmas. I am hoping that she will “ponder’ in her heart what it would mean for her to find forgiveness, hope and faith this Christmas.

I also am thankful for each of you here at Bel Air Church. Thank you for your generous support for God’s work through Bel Air and all the families that you are touching with the hope, grace and love of Jesus Christ. May you experience God’s Holy Spirit living in you and your family this Christmas.

Merry Christmas,
Barry

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 12-19-2010

2010-12-16T14:01:00.000-08:00

I'm sure we're all saying that as we look out of our windows on this Thursday afternoon. Snow is in the air and it makes us think of Christmas. I would hope that each of us realize that we'll miss the point of the story of Christmas if it's just about the snow, the gifts, and getting your Christmas to do list completed.

This Sunday, we will take a look at Joseph and the challenges that his choice to follow God's will would mean for him. It wasn't easy to make a choice to stay with Mary. It would've been easy for him to follow the whims of the world, but instead he chose to follow God's will. This Christmas we live in a world with many challenges - homelessness, war, poverty and death – to name a few. A great Christian writer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, wrote these words from a German prison in 1943. He had lost good friends to the war. He was imprisoned and separated from those he loved. Evil was all around him, but he believed his Christmas was going to be "exceptionally good."

"I think we're going to have an exceptionally good Christmas. The very fact that outward circumstance precludes our making provision for it will show whether we can be content with what is truly essential. I used to be very fond of thinking up and buying presents, but now that we have nothing to give, the gift God gave us in the birth of Christ will seem all the more glorious ... The poorer our quarters, the more clearly we perceive that our hearts should be Christ's home on earth."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer chose to follow Jesus. His faithfulness is a witness to us. As we read Joseph’s story this Sunday (Matthew 1:18-25), it will remind us that we need to choose to follow Jesus in the good times and in the tough times. It is my hope that each of us, this Christmas season, would begin to and continue to look a lot like Christ.

In Jesus,
Barry

ENOUGH! - 11-5-2010

2010-12-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

ENOUGH! I know that I heard my Mom say that more than once to me. Enough Already! It usually was some behavior I was doing that was getting out of hand. Maybe it was one too many questions about something. Maybe it was time to turn off the TV and I needed to go to bed. Maybe it was pestering one of my sisters and it needed to stop before it got out of control.

When we say, "Enough!," it means that we have all that we need or we have too much of something. Change needs to happen after we say, "Enough"!

I will be starting a new sermon series this Sunday called "Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity." It will help us to focus on both our need to say "Enough" to a society that tells us more is better and to believe when God says that there is "Enough" when we become generous.

Our Finance Chairperson, Tony Ciampaglio, noticed that the Upper Room devotional for Wednesday fits nicely into the theme of our new series! You can read that devotional at

http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/default.asp?month=11&day=3&year=2010

I encourage you to sign up for the free daily Upper Room email at the bottom of that page.

Of course, I have had "enough" of typing with one hand this week! Only four more weeks until I hope I can get my cast off!

In Jesus,
Barry

Cultivating Contentment 11-21-2010

2010-12-16T13:38:00.000-08:00

Cultivating Contentment is the theme of my message this week! When we are considering the battle that we as followers of Jesus have with a culture that tells us that what we have right now isn't enough, and we need to spend more money and buy more "stuff" in order to find contentment...what did Jesus say?

"Life is not measured by how much you own." Luke 12:15 (NLT) Contentment is a great virtue for us when it comes to many areas of our lives.

At the same time, we need to have DISCONTENTMENT in other areas. Jesus challenges us not to be satisfied with just loving Jesus. We need to be discontented about people being far from Him. We need to be discontented about people being homeless. We need to be discontented that there are huge numbers of people in the Abingdon area who don't know Christ! We need to be discontented with church as normal that doesn't include us reaching out to our neighbors and friends who are disconnected from Christ.

We know there is hope in Jesus for every man, woman, youth and child. That is why we do what we do at 21 Linwood Ave and why we are sending out The Vine to a new place of ministry. I want to remind you why we are doing The Vine! Watch this video from March 2008 that Toni Pitrat created which cast the hope and vision for what is now the The Vine. Listen, read and pray!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v1ElEJqw_c&feature=youtu.be
In Jesus,

Barry

PS I am counting on you to prayerfully commit to our ministry in 2010 and step forward for a second gift for The Vine. We can do this by being content with what we have and give away what we might have spent on ourselves.

2005-10-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

Attention Bookworms!
Have you been in the new Library? It is wonderful! We had a great weekend of festivities to celebrate its opening. It was great to have Rev. Lightner with us all weekend. I know that Charlie was very appreciative of all that was done to create and open our new Lightner Library. I want to thank all of the folks who worked so hard to make this happen. Now, you need to come in, browse and check out a book!

It is easy in the midst of all that we have done for the Hurricane relief, to dig in, once again, to help those devastated by the earthquakes in and around Pakistan. UMCOR is already working with other Christian relief agencies in the region. Please bring your gift on Sunday and mark it for Earthquake Relief. You have given over $40,000 for Hurricane Relief. Thank you!

Don't forget that VIM is working on sending teams to the region. Please consider whether you can go. Please contact Tony Vinciguerra at tlvincig@clearviewcatv.net

This week we will welcome Rev. Charlie Parker. One of the joys I have had, being on the Board of Ordained Ministry, has been getting to know Charlie. He is now the Director of the Stewardship Foundation of the Baltimore Washington Conference. I know that you will find his message engaging and challenging this Sunday. I look forward to hearing what he has to say. As we begin our Fall Stewardship Campaign, I want all of us to be in prayer about how we can use our giving to make an even greater impact in our community and world for Jesus Christ.

In Jesus, Barry

2005-10-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

Dear All,
Last Sunday afternoon was a great time of worship and celebration of music, with Doug's recital. It was a great way to give thanks to those who have served our church behind the organ and the piano. If you missed it, we plan to put the recital on the website in the near future! Just a reminder - most of our 9:20 anthems and sermons are at www.baumc.com Thanks to Doug Pratt for videoing them and for Tina and Doug McCorkle for putting them on our website.
We are getting very close to the opening of our Charles Lightner Library next weekend. The library committee is working hard to get the Library up and running. You have been very generous with book purchases and we are adding many new books to the thousands already there. Sunday is the deadline for purchasing tickets for the Celebration Dinner. Please bring your check on Sunday and you can place it in the offering plate or drop it off at the welcome desk. We have a few more spots for the golf tournament too!
Peggy will be coming home to Bel Air this weekend and I am glad that she is! I have missed her leadership and support over these last three months and we all value her as a key part of our team. I know she will come back refreshed, motivated and ready to give me about 100 new ideas of what we can do to care for our people and reach out in new ways!
You have been very generous in support of our offerings for Katrina and Rita…keep up the good work. You will hear on Sunday the latest report on what we have been giving and how you can join our VIM team in mid winter and this summer to make a difference in the affected areas. Relief efforts continue in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. To date, United Methodists in the Baltimore-Washington Conference have contributed more than $280,000 to relief efforts, and United Methodists around the country have contributed more than $7 million.
It looks like cold weather is coming and we hope that the boiler installation will be completed by the first cold Sunday. We are trying to complete our project and you noticed that we put Trustee Special Appeal envelopes in your offering pack for October 2 and 9. Please help us get the last boiler payment in place before they complete the installation.
Thanks for touching lives in the name of Jesus!
Barry Hidey

2005-09-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

Hello Church!

I am amazed at what the church can do. Last week I mentioned in the E-spire that we were going to ask folks to bring groceries to church, because our food ministries will no longer get adequate Federal Food support, due to Hurricane Katrina. Well, I was amazed to see the huge number of bags of food sitting outside of McComas Hall Sunday after church. You gave before we even asked you to give. There was a huge pile of flood buckets, health and school kits in the corner of McComas Hall. Bel Air Church and many other UM churches in our district have supported this effort and, today, our District VIM folks emptied McComas and took them to our UMCOR Depot in PA, for processing to LA.

I had the privilege of getting a small glimpse of what the church is all about on Tuesday. It started with a young man who dropped by and he said, "I'm not a church goer, but I want to talk to a minister". Pray for him, because he needs it and I am thankful that he felt the church was a safe place to come in a time of need. Well, that was the theme of the day.

I had dinner with the latest Beginnings class and it was interesting to hear how folks came to BAUMC and the spiritual wanderings they had been on. Each one talked about the love and welcome they felt here. Later that night I went to visit with the "Rebuilding Singlehood" class where 25 folks squeezed into one of our SS rooms and I told them we are really glad that they are here. I told them the church wanted to love them in the midst of the pain, loss and anger of a broken marriage. It was awesome to look around the room and see eyes welling with tears, faces of hurt and hope and the privilege we have to be a place of grace and healing. I then went down the hall and stopped by our "Grief Share" class. Again, people fresh with pain and loss, and yet here they were in a place where they could be open and honest and loved by others who had been there. I

passed a room full of children watching a Veggie Tale video and playing with toys as some of our high school youth took care of them in the nursery. I passed by the AA meeting and I then found our latest Disciple Class. I encouraged them to learn and grow through this great experience. I finished by dropping into the Youth Center for our latest TNT. A youth, for whom I had written a letter of reference, excitedly told me he had been accepted at Eastern University. As I was leaving, the group was gathering for a Video presentation by the leaders.

Finally, I returned to the office, where the UMW mission team was meeting in the workroom, Tiny Tot Board was in my office and the Youth Director Search Team was getting ready for a phone interview. It was after 8 when I arrived at the meeting I needed to be in that night, the Global Mission Meeting, as they began to develop a vision for an exciting opportunity for our church. What a day!!

God is doing amazing things in your lives and you are doing amazing things because you choose to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. You have told me the themes of this latest series, "The Graceful Journey" are really hitting home for you. How many of us have gotten caught up in the performance trap?? This week, I want us all to Disgrace Shame. In the Bible, we find the story of a man who lived with shame. He was successful by the standards of his day, but it was his way of hiding from the pain. His name was Zacchaeus. I think we can learn a lot from him because Jesus helped Zacchaeus to break the mirror of his past, so he's no longer a prisoner of his shame. I hope you discover that when you come to God by faith in Jesus, God will do the same for you!

We have some great music this week and Sarah will be sharing about her mission trip to Zambia. She will close her moment with a video presentation that brings home, in a powerful way, the reality of AIDS, hunger and poverty in our world. Finally, there is much anticipation of Doug's recital on Sunday afternoon. He has been working hard all week getting ready. I know that it will be a great day to celebrate our faith with music! I know that you will add those in the path of Hurricane Rita to your prayers. Your continued financial support is needed. See you in church on Sunday!

Barry