Aaron Sarma has been elected as secretary of the 2013-2015 Church Council, as well as the Council Member overseeing the stewardship portfolio.

A secretary, Aaron is responsible for the following:

• Chiefly responsible for being the administrative records of Bangsar Lutheran Church
• Keeps accurate minutes of all meetings of the congregation and of his or her Council in a volume provided by the congregation, and shall see to it that all necessary records are properly maintained and permanently stored, with copies of minutes of all congregational and Council meetings being sent to the Lutheran Church in Malaysia.
• In partnership with the Council Chairperson, to follow up on action items on Church Council meeting matters.
• Keep the membership rolls of the congregation, reporting them periodically to the Church Council and to the Lutheran Church in Malaysia. This includes being responsible for maintaining an accurate record of all baptisms, confirmations, communions and attendance at various services, classes and meetings sponsored by this congregation.
• All necessary records shall be maintained in the Parish Registrar, which shall be and remain the property of the congregation.
• In partnership with the Council Chairperson and Pastor, submit a written report to the Annual Meeting of the congregation and to the General Meeting of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia.

The property stewardship portfolio includes responsibilities over the following:

• Chiefly responsible for the proper maintenance and protection of all property entrusted to the congregation, and shall take care that the same is kept in good repair. Hence, serves as the key liaison for building repairs, maintenance, etc.
• (For 2013-2015) Presently, as payment for the Church Building has not yet been concluded, to lead and provide oversight leading to the complete settlement of the Church Building debt. This includes providing updates to the congregation and driving fund-raising activities.

Tell us briefly about yourself?
Born and raised in PJ. Living in TTDI. Currently Country Manager at StreetDeal Malaysia. An Entrepreneur at heart. Married to Mujan Sarma with little Raquel and fur-kids, Dexter & Dya.

How long have you been at BLC and what were your first impressions about it, when you first came?
We’ve been attending BLC since 2010 and were married by Ps. Augustin. We love the relaxed atmosphere and the richness of our interactions with people from such diverse backgrounds.

What was your initial reaction to being asked to join/remain in Council?
I felt honored to be asked and I hope I can contribute in a positive manner.

What do you do during your free time?
I wish I had ‘free time’ …

What’s your favorite…
Food? – I’m always up for a nice burger or a juicy steak.
Drink? – Nothing beats a Coke Light on a hot day
Movie? – Can’t think of one
Smell?  - ???
Music genre? – Rock, Jazz, Chillout … No Hip Hop
Book or literary genre? – Graphic Novels
Conversation topic? – Politics, Religion, Geek Stuff

What would you consider your strength(s) and weakness(es)?
I can be a bit of a control freak – can either be a strength or a weakness depending on who you ask.

Can you share what your personal dream and aspiration is, for the next 10 years?
To be a great dad to my kid(s).
To startup and scale one or two successful new ventures.

What is your dream for Malaysia (or the world), for the next 10 years?
To have a more mature democracy.
To transcend race-based politics.

What does it mean for you to follow Christ today?
Do justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

What do you think God is saying to you lately?
Thou shalt complete this questionnaire!

What’s the most random thing you can think of right… NOW?
Phew! One more question to go!

What’s the best way(s) to get in touch with you?
Email: aaron.sarma[at]gmail[dot]com

John Cheah has been elected as chairperson of the 2013-2015 Church Council, as well as the Council Member overseeing the education portfolio.

As chairperson, he is responsible for:

• In partnership with the Pastor, to provide general oversight and coordination among the Church Council to further the ministry of BLC
• To call for and chair/be the presiding officer at all meetings of the Church Council and of the congregation. (In the event of the president’s inability to perform his or her duties, he or she may appoint a Council Member to serve in his or her stead)
• Provides oversight for church administrative matters and is chiefly responsible for the BLC Administrator’s role.
• In partnership with the Pastor and Secretary, submit a written report to the Annual Meeting of the congregation and to the General Meeting of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore.

For the education portfolio, he is responsible for:

• In partnership with the Pastor, to be chiefly responsible to encourage spiritual growth through education and lifelong learning by supervising and coordinating BLC education programmes and initiatives
• Provides oversight to ensure Bible Studies as well as other congregational learning programmes are carried out smoothly
• Key liaison with LCM HQ on education matters and programmes, including LBTI classes
• To lead the Education Core/Committee, if there is one

Tell us briefly about yourself?

• Hometown: Kuala Lumpur
• Age and/or birthday? 27 Sept
• Occupation? Works in a bank
• Baptism date/year? 1997
• Single/married? Married
• Number of Children and names? Christine (4 yo) and Daniel (1 yo)
• Spouse’s name? Su Shen
• If married, wedding anniversary/years married? 9 years
• What you do for a living? Similar to (c)

How long have you been at BLC and what were your first impressions about it, when you first came?
Su Shen and I first attended BLC in mid 2003
First impressions: Cozy, warm and friendly, family centric

What was your initial reaction to being asked to join/remain in Council?
Glad for the opportunity to serve in this capacity

What do you do during your free time?
Read, play online games with children

What’s your favorite…

• Food?
• Drink?
• Movie?
• Smell?
• Music genre?
• Book or literary genre?
• Conversation topic?

No favourites at this time

What would you consider your strength(s) and weakness (es)?
Strengths: Enjoys talking and eating…
Weaknesses: Excessively

Can you share what your personal dream and aspiration is, for the next 10 years?
Run my own training consultancy

What is your dream for Malaysia (or the world), for the next 10 years?
A safe place for my children to grow up in

What does it mean for you to follow Christ today?
Making a difference at the workplace

What do you think God is saying to you lately?
Uncertain… the only word that comes to me now is BALANCE

What’s the most random thing you can think of right… NOW?
Lunch

What’s the best way(s) to get in touch with you?

Bono: My understanding of the Scriptures has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean? What it means for me: a study of the life of Christ. Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honor. I don’t let my religious world get too complicated. I just kind of go: Well, I think I know what God is. God is love, and as much as I respond [sighs] in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that’s my religion. Where things get complicated for me, is when I try to live this love. Now that’s not so easy.

Assayas: What about the God of the Old Testament? He wasn’t so “peace and love”?

Bono: There’s nothing hippie about my picture of Christ. The Gospels paint a picture of a very demanding, sometimes divisive love, but love it is. I accept the Old Testament as more of an action movie: blood, car chases, evacuations, a lot of special effects, seas dividing, mass murder, adultery. The children of God are running amok, wayward. Maybe that’s why they’re so relatable. But the way we would see it, those of us who are trying to figure out our Christian conundrum, is that the God of the Old Testament is like the journey from stern father to friend. When you’re a child, you need clear directions and some strict rules. But with Christ, we have access in a one-to-one relationship, for, as in the Old Testament, it was more one of worship and awe, a vertical relationship. The New Testament, on the other hand, we look across at a Jesus who looks familiar, horizontal. The combination is what makes the Cross.

Assayas: Speaking of bloody action movies, we were talking about South and Central America last time. The Jesuit priests arrived there with the gospel in one hand and a rifle in the other.

Bono: I know, I know. Religion can be the enemy of God. It’s often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building. [laughs] A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship. Why are you chuckling?

Assayas: I was wondering if you said all of that to the Pope the day you met him.

Bono: Let’s not get too hard on the Holy Roman Church here. The Church has its problems, but the older I get, the more comfort I find there. The physical experience of being in a crowd of largely humble people, heads bowed, murmuring prayers, stories told in stained-glass windows

Assayas: So you won’t be critical.

Bono: No, I can be critical, especially on the topic of contraception. But when I meet someone like Sister Benedicta and see her work with AIDS orphans in Addis Ababa, or Sister Ann doing the same in Malawi, or Father Jack Fenukan and his group Concern all over Africa, when I meet priests and nuns tending to the sick and the poor and giving up much easier lives to do so, I surrender a little easier.

Assayas: But you met the man himself. Was it a great experience?

Bono: [W]e all knew why we were there. The Pontiff was about to make an important statement about the inhumanity and injustice of poor countries spending so much of their national income paying back old loans to rich countries. Serious business. He was fighting hard against his Parkinson’s. It was clearly an act of will for him to be there. I was oddly moved by his humility, and then by the incredible speech he made, even if it was in whispers. During the preamble, he seemed to be staring at me. I wondered. Was it the fact that I was wearing my blue fly-shades? So I took them off in case I was causing some offense. When I was introduced to him, he was still staring at them. He kept looking at them in my hand, so I offered them to him as a gift in return for the rosary he had just given me.

Assayas: Didn’t he put them on?

Bono: Not only did he put them on, he smiled the wickedest grin you could ever imagine. He was a comedian. His sense of humor was completely intact. Flashbulbs popped, and I thought: “Wow! The Drop the Debt campaign will have the Pope in my glasses on the front page of every newspaper.”

Assayas: I don’t remember seeing that photograph anywhere, though.

Bono: Nor did we. It seems his courtiers did not have the same sense of humor. Fair enough. I guess they could see the T-shirts.

Later in the conversation:
Assayas: I think I am beginning to understand religion because I have started acting and thinking like a father. What do you make of that?

Bono: Yes, I think that’s normal. It’s a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma.

Assayas: I haven’t heard you talk about that.

Bono: I really believe we’ve moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace.

Assayas: Well, that doesn’t make it clearer for me.

Bono: You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics; in physical laws every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that “as you reap, so you will sow” stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.

Assayas: I’d be interested to hear that.

Bono: That’s between me and God. But I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep s—. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity.

Assayas: The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that.

Bono: But I love the idea of the Sacrificial Lamb. I love the idea that God says: Look, you cretins, there are certain results to the way we are, to selfishness, and there’s a mortality as part of your very sinful nature, and, let’s face it, you’re not living a very good life, are you? There are consequences to actions. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled . It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.

Assayas: That’s a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it’s close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has his rank among the world’s great thinkers. But Son of God, isn’t that farfetched?

Bono: No, it’s not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet. I’m saying: “I’m the Messiah.” I’m saying: “I am God incarnate.” And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You’re a bit eccentric. We’ve had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don’t mention the “M” word! Because, you know, we’re gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you’re expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he’s gonna keep saying this. So what you’re left with is: either Christ was who He said He was the Messiah or a complete nutcase. I mean, we’re talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we’ve been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had “King of the Jews” on his head, and, as they were putting him up on the Cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I’m not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that’s farfetched

Bono later says it all comes down to how we regard Jesus:

Bono: If only we could be a bit more like Him, the world would be transformed. When I look at the Cross of Christ, what I see up there is all my s— and everybody else’s. So I ask myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is this man? And was He who He said He was, or was He just a religious nut? And there it is, and that’s the question. And no one can talk you into it or out of it.

Rev. Augustin Muthusami is the pastor of Bangsar Lutheran Church. As pastor, he is responsible for:

• General oversight of the spiritual life and ministry of Bangsar Lutheran Church.
• Proclaims the Word of God through preaching and the administration of the Sacraments.
• Conducts services of worship in accordance with the faith and practices of the Lutheran Church.
• Provides catechetical instruction.
• Visits members of the congregation regularly.
• Together with the Church Council, to supervise all activities and organizations of this congregation and to administer discipline.
• Seek out and encourage qualified men and women to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel and strive to extend the Kingdom of God in the community, in the homeland, and abroad.
• Member of the District Council which shall have the responsibility to co-ordinate the work in the District and to deal with spiritual and temporal matters concerning the District as a whole.
• Participate actively in the life and work of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia submitting such regular reports as are required.
• Serves as the main contact person for the church – mail correspondence, official letters, etc.
• To oversee and report on behalf of the Youth, Sunday School and Family ministries.

Tell us briefly about yourself?
I hail from Penang, but was mostly brought up in PJ. My primary school days were in Seremban. My secondary school was Sultan Abdul Samad in PJ, and thereafter, College was Seminary Theoloji Malaysia when it was at SFX in PJ. After my seminary training, I was posted to Bukit Mertajam for nearly 8 years before returning to KL / PJ.

I was born on 7 December 1966, and was baptized in the same year. I am married to Deborah and have two sons: Timothy and Noel. My wedding anniversary is on 30^th December. I am a Pastor. My passions are in teaching and training, and so I have been doing that for the past 28 years or so in some form or another. I have served in 4 other congregations prior to BLC.

How long have you been at BLC and what were your first impressions about it, when you first came?
I have been in BLC now for about 2 ½ years. People here know where to go for food…

What do you do during your free time?
Read fantasy novels…at the rate of 1 per year!

What’s your favorite…

• Food? Chicken Rice
• Drink? Coffee
• Movie? Star Wars (TOS) / Star Trek / LOTR – you get the idea…
• Smell? Freshly baked bread
• Music genre? 80s
• Book or literary genre? Fantasy
• Conversation topic? Er…

What would you consider your strength(s) and weakness(es)?
I can teach and train. I can organize thoughts and processes.  As I get older, I suppose my main weakness is lack of patience… with stupidity!

Can you share what your personal dream and aspiration is, for the next 10 years?
Leave my mark on the world… by helping those around me reach their fullest potential in Christ.

What is your dream for Malaysia (or the world), for the next 10 years?
Stay safe, stay sane, and stay unique.

What does it mean for you to follow Christ today?
It’s a tough road that keeps changing as the days go by. The biggest challenge is to turn theory into praxis as I strive to obey and then realize that it is not striving, but being.

What do you think God is saying to you lately?
Live long and prosper.

What’s the most random thing you can think of right… NOW?
Hungry.

What’s the best way(s) to get in touch with you?

• Catch me on a Sunday
• Call: +60 10 779 6449
• Email: revaugustin[at]yahoo[dot]com

The day started early for some in what is now lovingly known as “Emily‘s Sweatshop” (courtesy of Jason!). We had to roll stacks and stacks of newspapers into balls… which were then used for games later in the afternoon. Unfortunately for us, the air-conditioning in the room failed… (and yes, Emily got little kids to work too!).

Emily even found the time to have a little fun with one of her underaged “volunteers”!

Mei Li set up a pretty neat altar decoration…

…and Aaron even came decked out in the latest fatherly fashion!

Since it was Father’s Day today, Rev. Thomas Low preached a moving sermon based on the life-example of Joseph, the father of Jesus.

Then, we installed the new church Council for the 2013-2015 term!

Of course, any celebration would be remiss without the obligatory fellowship meal – i.e. lots and lots of #omnomnom!!!

And, then, lots of laughter with games by Emily (the sweatshop did not labor in vain!)!

And finally, family photos for everyone!

A huge word of thanks to Jamie for organizing everything!

For the previous council members who have served, we thank you for your dedication, faithfulness and contribution towards the work of God’s kingdom through our BLC Family.

For the incoming council, we pray for them; that God’s wisdom, love and grace will cover them and their loved ones – even as they serve the BLC Family in the areas of responsibility that they have been called to.

BLC Council 2013-2015:

1. Augustin Muthusami, Pastor
2. John Cheah, Chairperson & Education
3. Aaron Sarma, Secretary & Stewardship
4. Eric Yeow, Treasurer
5. Leigh Wong, Communications & Community
6. Jason Goh, Worship
7. Rubini Murugesan, Altar Guild
8. Sheryl Chong, Missions

This morning, in conjunction with Father’s Day (and BLC’s Parents Day Celebration), Rev. Thomas Low preached a very moving sermon based on the life and example of Joseph, the father of Jesus.

Tracing the life of Joseph, Rev. Thomas talked about how Joseph:

• Was a loving man towards Mary, despite the circumstances when he felt betrayed and had the right to shame and divorce her publicly;
• Was loving towards Jesus, despite the gossip and scandal that surrounded His birth, bearing the burden of ugly rumors for the rest of his life to protect his beloved son, Jesus;
• Was a devout man who obeyed God (who packed up and went to Egypt, and then back again) and had faith in God; and
• Was a wise man who redeemed time -  it is not how long you live, but how well you live. Even though it was likely that Joseph died early (there are no more references to Joseph after the incident at the Temple when Jesus was 12), his impact on Jesus was indelible – Jesus even became a carpenter like his father.

Fatherhood is a awesome and frightening blessing. May your children drive you even closer to God. Leave them a legacy that lasts, even until they face the Throne of God at the end of their days.

And, as fathers (biological, adoptive, spiritual, or even just being a “father figure”…), may we be like Joseph – loving, devout, and wise.

Happy Fathers’ Day!

As the Church Council seeks to be installed this coming Sunday, they covet your prayers – that God’s wisdom, grace and love will guide them in their responsibilities.

To understand what an installation service is, and why we hold one, here’s a great article by The Rev. Dr. Mark W. Oldenburg:

Until a few years ago it seemed that only church workers and home appliances were “installed.” This led to some rather lame jokes at receptions (“Well, we’ve got you plugged into the hot water and the drain now!”) and some real misconceptions. For instance, appliances are pretty much interchangeable — one new Maytag Compact Washer (model MAH2400A) is pretty much identical to any other. And installing a home appliance doesn’t really change either the home or the appliance. They’re just connected now. The same is not true of workers and officers who are installed. They certainly aren’t interchangeable with all other possible candidates. Nor do they, or the organization, remain unchanged by being brought together.

That’s why we’re luckier now, since we have another and better (still not perfect, but better) use of “installation”. It’s now not only church workers and home appliances that are installed, but computer software. And that installation is a more complicated procedure than installing an appliance, mostly because installing software on a system requires changes not only in the software, but in the system. The two are not only connected, but adapted to one another.

Workers and organizations, too, are both changed when they’re connected. The worker has different responsibilities; the organization has new abilities; there vill be new ways to communicate within the organization’s structure. That those changes are happening is one of the things recognized publicly at an installation. Neither the one installed nor the organization is exactly the same once the person is in place.

Certainly that’s recognized in the ceremony of installation. But there are other truths recognized, and other things going on as well. Looking at what goes into such a ceremony might help bring those to the service.

While services for the installation of pastors, diaconal ministers, deaconesses, certified lay church workers, associates in ministry or unrostered lay people are different, they are similar enough to talk about together. Certain items appear in almost all of them:

• A presentation of the installee, with reference to that person’s appointment;
• A description of the position that person will be filling, with passages from the
• New Testament related to ministry within the church;
• Questioning of the installee, regarding their faith and intentions;
• Questioning of the people assembled, regarding their willingness to work with the installee;
• Announcement of installation and the acclamation of the community;
• Blessing of the installee;
• Prayers for the work of the installee, the organization, and the whole church

The presentation of symbols of the person’s service may also be part of the ceremony.

Just by its form and content, the service of installation will, therefore, do several things:

• It will provide an opportunity for the organization to reaffirm its mission, since that is implied in the description of the position, and often stated in the prayers.
• It will recognize and honor the work of those who sought out a person who could honestly and capably make the promises included in the service.
• It will affirm the mutuality of the relationship between the person being in stalled and the people present at the installation — other staff; board members, clients, and other stakeholders. The installee promises to be faithful to the trust shown in offering the position; everyone else promises to work together with that person to accomplish the mission of the organization. By applause and by prayer, the community expresses its support.
• It will declare that God and the church are intimately involved and interested in the work of this person and the organization. The prayers, once more, will at least imply that that interest is on-going. Indeed, the service’s similarity to rites which take place in congregations will imply that the life of this organization is, itself, an expression of the church and a way of carrying out the mission of God.
• Especially where there has been a difficult transition, the service will help cement the movement of this person now into this office.

Even when the transition has been natural and easy, beginning the relationship with public, common affirmation and prayer is not simply an empty form. Humans seem to be created in such a way that we are moved by ritual. Not only can rituals be emotionally important (why do you think that we cry at weddings, even of people who have been living together for years?), they also seem to help with the movement of people from one social role to another. Of course it is not true that, unless he is installed, a person is not really a chaplain. But being installed does seem to help settle him into that role, in his eyes and in those of others. As a rite of passage, it won’t magically accomplish an improvement in communication and mutual support. But it will help.

The children of BLC when I first encountered them in what seems like a lifetime ago (minus the adult Sunday School volunteers, obviously)

This really struck a chord with me. When my wife and I had just returned from our time overseas and were looking for a church, one of the key reasons that “clinched” the decision for us to stay at BLC was when I saw how children were a real part of our worship services. And because they were a real part of our church services, it was easier for them to become a real part of our lives.

Before we had children of our own, we helped other parents take care of their children, seeing them crawl between our feet and chairs, prevented them from falling, and even played with them with funny faces or distracting toys to help their parents keep them entertained. In fact, it was the interaction with these parents and their then-young children that my wife and I learned how to deal with ours.

So, this really encapsulates for me the original vision for the worship life of our church, especially when it comes to parents, children and families. I encourage you to read the blog in its entirety here.

When you [parents with young children] are here, the church is filled with a joyful noise. When you are here, the Body of Christ is more fully present. When you are here, we are reminded that this worship thing we do isn’t about Bible Study or personal, quiet contemplation but coming together to worship as a community where all are welcome, where we share in the Word and Sacrament together.When you are here, I have hope that these pews won’t be empty in ten years when your kids are old enough to sit quietly and behave in worship. I know that they are learning how and why we worship now, before it’s too late. They are learning that worship is important.

I see them learning. In the midst of the cries, whines, and giggles, in the midst of the crinkling of pretzel bags and the growing pile of crumbs I see a little girl who insists on going two pews up to share peace with someone she’s never met. I hear a little boy slurping (quite loudly) every last drop of his communion wine out of the cup determined not to miss a drop of Jesus. I watch a child excitedly color a cross and point to the one in the front of the sanctuary. I hear the echos of Amens just a few seconds after the rest of the community says it together. I watch a boy just learning to read try to sound out the words in the worship book or count his way to Hymn 672. Even on weeks when I can’t see my own children learning because, well, it’s one of those mornings, I can see your children learning.

I know how hard it is to do what you’re doing, but I want you to know, it matters. It matters to me. It matters to my children to not be alone in the pew. It matters to the congregation to know that families care about faith, to see young people… and even on those weeks when you can’t see the little moments, it matters to your children.

It matters that they learn that worship is what we do as a community of faith, that everyone is welcome, that their worship matters. When we teach children that their worship matters, we teach them that they are enough right here and right now as members of the church community. They don’t need to wait until they can believe, pray or worship a certain way to be welcome here, and I know adults who are still looking to be shown that. It matters that children learn that they are an integral part of this church, that their prayers, their songs, and even their badly (or perfectly timed depending on who you ask) cries and whines are a joyful noise because it means they are present.

I know it’s hard, but thank you for what you do when you bring your children to church. Please know that your family – with all of its noise, struggle, commotion, and joy – are not simply tolerated, you are a vital part of the community gathered in worship.

As you already know, BLC will be celebrating Parents’ Day (combining Mother’s Day and Father’s Day) this coming Sunday, 16 June 2013, right after service. All parents, god-parents, people who have served, are serving and will soon be serving in any parent-like capacity are welcome! There will be light games, some gift-giving, and… of course, food.

Here’s the plan for the short little celebration, immediately after service ends at 12:00pm.

• 12:00pm – Lunch is served!
• 12:30pm – Light Games (there will be prizes!) with Emily Shipman
• 12:50pm – Gift giving to all moms and dads (including god-parents, people who have served, are serving and will soon be serving in any parent-like capacity)
• 12:55pm – Prayer of blessing
• 1:00pm – End

Throughout the celebration, we will also have a photographer who will take family portraits for families in attendance. Feel free to come dressed thematically as a family!

Looking forward to seeing you all this Sunday!