FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
As a church we celebrate the season of Lent, accompanying Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. The signs and words on this way are to encourage us.
In the early centuries of Christianity, Lent marked the preparation time for those who aspired to be baptized. Today that period reminds us to prepare ourselves to take up our cross and follow Jesus. So Lent is a time of struggle against evil in us and around us. We seek God’s will; we open a space for all the questions and all the answers to all the challenges and all the dreams within us. We also face the enigma of our lives and our faith and allow the divine light to overcome our fears and give us new hope.
In these days Panama lives some special moments. It is the struggle for justice. – The Ecumenical Committee held their monthly meeting and we discussed the situation. As Christians we know that human justice can only resolve a part of all problems. People will ask for more punishment; but that wouldn’t resolve anything. We accept justice with all its imperfections. Then wounds can heal again and new opportunities will arise. Lenten time will help us to focus on the right way Jesus taught us and fulfilled with his own life.
Kind Regards
Rev. Roland
GET INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATE!
We will be asking for Volunteers to help with the following event that we have:
Last year we had the first Annual Picnic to celebrate our 100 year anniversary. It is our intention to redo the event and make it an annual event for the community.
We are looking for volunteers that can help with:
- Organising the Event
- Helping on the day – Saturday the 14th of March.
We have already got quotes for the cotton candy, popcorn and ice cone machines, as well as organising the games. David & Joe have agreed to “man” the barbecues, but I am sure that they will need some help!
We need help on the day with serving drinks, getting payments, and organising the games.
Please speak with Beth Gray for more information.
THIS SUNDAY AT BALBOA UNION CHURCH
Worship Service at 10 a.m. – ALL ARE WELCOME!
Children’s Sunday School Teacher: Sue Robbins & Martha de Maduro
SPEAKER: Beth Anne Gray
| First TestamentReadingsandPsalms | Genesis17:1-17Psalm 19 |
| Epistle Reading | 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 |
| Gospel Reading | John 2:13-22 |
Other News
From Our Mission Committee
Open Call:
For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to see me. “
Matthew 25: 35-36
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
On February 1, we assumed the challenge of coordinating the missions program of our church, guided by the Holy Spirit and always looking forward to serve with all of our being.
However, to carry out the tasks, we need the support of all of you. We all have valuable gifts and talents that God has given us, let’s put them at the service of its mandate. There is No Help too little, all aid is necessary to perform the work of the Lord and your participation makes a difference.
Assume the commitment to transform the world in which we live, by giving the best we have, Ourselves.
ALL IDEAS AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOME. Please also invite your friends and family to volunteer in our programs. they will not regret it.
We will focus on four axes and want your opinion on how the missions program of our church can help.
Children:
Literacy program for children in San Felipe. Education = Opportunities
Affordable day care center for working mothers.
Elderly:
Given the unexpected closing of Catherine Brown’s home, will move our visits to the Home Light and Life, located in Los Ríos, Ancon that is the home to 23 seniors who gladly await our visit.
Families:
transform the Bridging families program to provide not only food baskets, but comprehensive assistance for beneficiary families to help them out of their plight. We Do not want to be a crutch, but a stepping stone.
Prision Inmates:
We all feel fear of insecurity and violence in our society; This is an invitation to do something about it! Give a helping hand hand to a person who has made a mistake and encourage new purposes in their lives after they go out. Often, all you need is One person who believes in you.
If you are interested please send an email with your details to misiones@Balboaunionchurch.org and in the coming days we will contact you for our first meeting.
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13
Betsy Farah Moran
Chair of Mission Commitee
+ (507) 66124494
Committee Night at BUC join us!
Mar 10, 2015 10:00am
The members of our BUC church council – under the leadership of David McIntosh Mahady – have developed a new initiative that we are calling BUC Committee Night. Rather than hold committee meetings throughout the month, in 2015, we will hold ALL committees together on one productive (and interesting!) evening each month. CHILD CARE WILL BE PROVIDED!
When we all joined the Balboa Union Church, we pledged “to uphold it and each other with our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service.” An important way we do that is through the work of our committees. ALL MEMBERS AND FRIENDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSIDER MAKING COMMITTEE NIGHT A PART OF YOUR 2015 COMMITMENT OF SERVICE TO OUR CHURCH!
The Committee Night schedule will look like this:
- 7 p.m. to 7:15: Gather in the Fellowship Hall for fellowship, snacks and prayer. (This opener is important! We will start on time!)
- 7:15 to 8 p.m.: Committee meetings held throughout the building. (Council officers and staff will cycle through all committees to offer support.)
- 8 p.m. to 8:15: Gather back in the Fellowship Hall for ending activity
Committee Night will be a great chance to see our seven committees at work and figure out where you want to serve!
- WORSHIP & MINISTRY (Joel Guerra) – Planning of Sunday worship services and special worship events
- CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (Roland Schnell) – Organizing our Sunday school, seminars and educational opportunities
- MISSIONS (Betsy Moran) – Our church’s outreach into the community for those in need
- MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS (Beth Gray) – Membership development, greeting and advertising
- PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Kendra Walker) – Refurbishing, maintaining and decorating our buildings and landscape
- YOUTH & ADULT ACTIVITIES (Please note that this chair is vacant) – Leslie (our office secretary) has been helping out this month with the upcoming events, but we are praying that one of members will step up and take this over. Our social and hospitality group – PARTIES!
- FINANCE & STEWARDSHIP (Please note that this chair is vacant) – Last year this chair was held by David, who will be overseeing it with Colombino Headley until we have someone steps up to this responsibility. Managing our church’s finances and fund-raising
Looking forward to seeing you at 7 p.m. on March 10th for COMMITTEE NIGHT!!!
Practice: Sunday, March 8th, immediately after the service. Meet at the piano!
PERFORMANCE: Sunday, March 15th during our service
Please join us if you like to sing. (At BUC, we make a joyful NOISE!)
From Our Friends of Kiwanis
KIWANIS NEWS:
The Kiwanis Club de Canal de Panama is coming to the Balboa Union Church!
Starting April 1st, the new room that we are renovating behind the altar will be The Kiwanis Room, where the Kiwanis Club de Canal de Panama will be meeting every Wednesday night. Last Wednesday night, the group was in our narthex area collating backpacks for the two schools they support in the Darien, in Torti and Las Tosca. We had the front doors open, and it was a beautiful dry season evening for lots of good work for the children of Panama!
From Our Friends of Cantus Panama
From Our Friends at the Theatre Guild
Written by Cole Porter in the 1940’s Panama Hattie is set in none other than Panama City!
Hattie Maloney, a brassy nightclub singer in Panama, tries to fit into the upper-crust world of her fiance, Nick Bullett, an officer in the armed forces, and the divorced father of an 8-year-old child. Hattie insists that he send for the girl before they are married, and spends most of Act I trying to get the child’s endorsement of her as a prospective stepmother. In Act II, she wins over Nick’s boss, Whitney Randolph, by foiling a plot to blow up the canal.
Panama Hattie will be directed by Adam Herzig and will be presented at the Theatre Guild of Ancon.