THE BEACON

Easter’s Dawn

On the third day, the friends of Christ coming at daybreak … found the grave

empty and the stone rolled away. In varying ways they realized the new wonder; but

even they hardly realized that the world had died in the night. What they were

looking at was the first day of a new creation, with a new heaven and a new earth;

and in a semblance of the gardener, God walked again in the garden, in the cool, not

of the evening, but of the dawn. ~ G.K. Chesterton

April 2020

Brookstown United Methodist Church

Reverend James T. (Chip) Webb, Jr.

6274 Yadkinville Road, Pfafftown, NC, 27040

336-945-3029

brookstown@triad.twcbc.com

www.brookstownumc.com

Follow us on Facebook

Resurrection Day at Brookstown

Sunday April 12, beginning at 7:00am

Officially, my best tentative plan is to offer outdoor morning exercise: biking, walking,

running - maintaining a social distance of not less than six feet, from 7:00-8:30 a.m.

(Distance violators will be disqualified.) I hope to offer a contemplation trail around the

perimeter of our property, beginning in the parking lot and moving counter clockwise,

concluding at the cemetery. (People can cut corners if they prefer.)

I hope to broadcast - some music, Scripture and remarks - on the FM dial, to be received

by radio apps on cell phones or on radios in automobiles.

The lilies will line the sidewalk adjacent to the cemetery at 6 foot intervals, and may be

picked up by their donors at the conclusion of the walk.

We’ll offer online worship at 8:30, Sunday School at 10, and worship at 11.

These are my best tentative plans, all subject to change on short notice. I hope to bike in

… for exercise! ~ Pastor Chip

“Easter says you can put Truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.”

~ Clarence W. Hall

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,

yet I tell you even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Luke 12:27 (ESV)

“Easter is the soul’s first taste of spring.”

~ Richelle Goodrich

"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone,

but in every leaf in springtime."

~ Martin Luther

Special Offering Sunday, April 26

The Native American Ministries offering

supports Native American outreach within

annual conferences and provides seminary

scholarships for Native Americans. It also

strengthens, develops, and equips Native

American rural, urban and reservation

congregations, ministries and communities.

Thank you for your generous gifts.

Adopt-A-Highway

You’ll recall that we were recently seeking

a new coordinator of the Brookstown Road

Clean-Up in memory of Jeffrey Perkins.

We now have a volunteer, and a very

special one at that! Susan Hughes, Jeffrey’s

mother, has stepped up to take on this very

important role. Thank you, Susan, for helping

keep a portion of Yadkinville Road clean,

while helping your Brookstown family honor

the memory of your dear son.

Brookstown Summer Care

It’s time to register elementary-aged

children for the Summer Care Program! Open

registration began March 16 – first come, first

served. Let your friends and neighbors know

about this great opportunity for children to

have a fun-filled “summer camp” experience.

Parents may come by during open hours

(currently 7am-6pm) to register their children.

Brookstown School Care

Many day care centers are closed due to

the health situation, leaving parents in need of

child care. BSSC is open from 7am-6pm for

anyone who needs care for elementary-aged

children. If a child isn’t already registered,

parents can come by to register their

child(ren), and they can begin immediately.

Chicken Pies

We have large and small chicken pies

available for sale: $5 for the small ones, $12

for large. Let everyone know they can stock

up for Spring and the Easter season!

Lost Bible

A small navy blue New Testament Bible

was found in the parking lot after choir

practice 3 weeks ago. It is in the church office,

waiting for its owner to claim it! ~ Lavonda

“Let’s Pray”

Virtual Prayer Room Thursdays at 6pm

On Thursdays from 6-6:30pm, we have a

virtual neighborhood prayer room allowing us to

comply with social distancing while meeting

together from our living rooms!

If you would like to participate, please email

me and I will send you the Webex app link.

Join us for prayer, scripture, and spontaneous

sing-alongs. See you there! ~ Georgia Saylor

gsaylor0406@gmail.com

Christ Has Triumphed!

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;

Death is strong, but life is stronger.

Stronger than the dark, the light;

Stronger than the wrong, the right.

Faith and hope triumphant say,

Christ will rise on Easter Day.

~ Phillips Brooks

Staying Connected

Webex and Facebook Live are making it possible for Brookstown to reach out and connect

through prayer - praise, petitions, and supplication - Scripture, Christian conferencing,

encouragement, and service opportunities.

Join our online worship services through the Brookstown Facebook Page. Sunday School can

be “attended” using the Webex app. You can also use this app to join in the virtual prayer meeting

“Let’s Pray” on Thursday evenings (see Georgia’s article below).

A weekly email News Bulletin will be published for the duration of the pandemic, and Phone

Tree messages will alert our congregation members to opportunities and community concerns. Be

sure your contact information is up-to-date; send any changes to Lavonda in the church office.

Finance

Thank you for continuing to support your

church by mailing offerings or dropping them by

the church office.

We also have a new online giving resource

through “VANCO Payment Solutions”. To donate

electronically, go to the Brookstown webpage,

select “Online Giving” in the header menu, and

follow the instructions. This takes you to the

secure VANCO site, enabling you to make an

electronic donation. Many thanks for your faithful

stewardship! ~ Jimmy Holder, Finance Chair

Something Borrowed

When a Sunday school teacher told her class that Jesus was buried in

a borrowed tomb, a student raised her hand to share an insight.

“I know why,” the girl said. “It’s because Jesus

only used it for three days.”

Thanks to everyone who is making it possible to stay connected!

Sometimes you need

chocolate eggs for

breakfast!

Just for Laughs . . .

Yes, I am a Senior Citizen.

I’m the life of the party – even if it lasts until 8pm.

I’m very good at opening childproof caps –

with a hammer.

I’m usually interested in going home before I get

to where I’m going,

I’m smiling all the time because I can’t hear a

thing you’re saying.

I’m very good at telling stories – over and over

and over and over . . .

I’m not really grouchy, I just don’t like traffic,

waiting, crowds, lawyers, loud music, unruly

kids, barking dogs, politicians, and a few other

things I can’t seem to remember right now.

I’m wondering, if you’re only as old as you feel,

how could I be alive at 150?

I’m a walking storeroom of facts – I’ve just lost

the key to the storeroom door.

I won’t say my memory’s bad, but I’m getting to

the point where I can hide my own Easter eggs!

“I ‘fudged’ on my Weight

Watcher’s list. I wrote that I

ate three eggs ... but they were

Cadbury chocolate eggs.” ~ Caroline Rhea

Bunny Funny

Q: How do you catch a unique rabbit?

A: Unique up on it!

Q: How do you catch a tame rabbit?

A: Tame way! Unique up on it!

Misery Be Gone!

On the Sunday after Easter, some churches celebrate “Holy Humor.” Laughter is a gift

from God, who wants us to be joyful. A happy disposition is also an effective — and infectious

— way to share our faith.

“I cannot think that when God sent us into the world, He had irreversibly decreed that we

should be perpetually miserable in it,” said John Wesley. “If … taking up the cross [implies]

bidding adieu to all joy and satisfaction, how is it reconcilable with what Solomon expressly

affirms of religion, that ‘her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace’?”

(Proverbs 3:17, KJV)

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Chip Webb

Jacob Shelton

Steve Yates

Georgia Saylor

Nina Anderson

Ellen Gough

Bobby Macemore

Michael Barajas

Marge Lanier

April Hager

Marge Schaper

Wayne Burton

Charlotte Douglas

Peggy Norris

Andrew Swart

Jay Burton

Amie Crews Harris

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

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David & Amanda Cleary

Bruce & Leshia Bailiff

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

Crisis Control Product

of the Month

Instant Oatmeal

Meetings Postponed

The April UMW & UMM

meetings have been postponed

until it is safe for all to fellowship

together again. Stay safe and well!

~ Noreen & Ronnie Brickey

We will not have the regularly

scheduled BASC meeting in April

due to everyone trying to stay in

and stay healthy. Let us know if

you have questions or needs.

Thank you! ~ Roberta Lasley

“April hath put

a spirit of youth

in everything.”

William Shakespeare

Why We Need Easter

No one is exempt from tragedy or disappointment — even God was not exempt. Jesus

offered no immunity, no way out of the unfairness, but rather a way through it to the other

side. Just as Good Friday demolished the instinctive belief that this life is supposed to be fair,

Easter Sunday followed with its startling clue to the riddle of the universe. Out of the

darkness, a bright light shone. …

The cross of Christ may have overcome evil, but it did not overcome unfairness. For that,

Easter is required, a bright clue that someday God will restore all physical reality to its proper

place. ~ Philip Yancey