Children's Education
What's Happening
Columbarium and Prayer Garden
Proposed to Congregation
Posted November 1, 2018
by Tom Reedy
A couple of years ago, several couples from White Bluff attended a memorial service where they experienced quite a discovery. That occurred as they visited the beautiful columbarium and prayer garden where the loved one’s ashes were placed. For most of them it was a first-time experience, as well as quite a revelation.
Over the past twelve to fifteen years, cremation has become an increasingly frequent choice (some estimates are as high as 60% today) for families interested in a more cost-effective alternative to funerals. Funerals are expensive and costs are increasing, while cremation and inurnment provide dramatic cost savings.
A little over a year ago, the Trustees formed a committee to investigate building a Columbarium and Prayer Garden at White Bluff Chapel to provide a resting place for the cremated remains of deceased Chapel members and other eligible persons. Betsy and Bill Torman chair the Committee. Other members are Debbie and Doc Bradley; Maura and George Collins; Cheryl and Gary Comer; Kathleen and John Knightstep; Marilyn and Mike Pollard; JoAnn and Tom Reedy; Carla and Ronnie Roberts; and Nancie and Jody Yarbro.
Last month the Committee submitted their report of the project to the Trustees, who approved the site and conceptual design and approved pre-sale of the niches and memorial wall plaques, which will provide the sole funding for the project. No funds for the project will come from the Chapel’s operating budget.
The Columbarium and Prayer Garden will be located on the east lot across the driveway from the back entrance to fellowship hall. It will be surrounded by beautiful, well-developed trees. Each niche will hold the cremated remains of either one or two individuals, and the memorial wall plaques will be available to remember loved ones not inurned in the Columbarium. The faceplates of the niches and the memorial plaques will be custom-engraved granite.
Congregants in attendance were invited to the fellowship hall to obtain an informational brochure, review artist renderings, and discuss the proposed Columbarium and Prayer Garden with members of the Committee. The brochure contains additional information, such as prices, photos, regulations and whom to contact to register one’s interest in the project. Accommodations will be on a first-come, first-served basis. It is hoped that enough reservations will come in during November so that construction can start before the end of this year.
An Open Invitation to Meet African Bishop
Posted November 1, 2018
Hello from the Campbell family,
Many of you know Carol and I have been working with Truth Encounter (TE) out of Midlothian for over 25 years, where I got started by doing Prison Ministry. In the last three years we got involved in building two schools in Kenya. I recently got to see the fruits of our labor through Truth Encounter and Kenya in just three short years. That came when I was able to travel to Kenya in July, 2018, by the grace of God and with the help of White Bluff Chapel.
What a blessing! And Truth Encounter has now been able to bring Bishop Samuel Nyaranga from Kenya to California and Dallas to meet those who have been in prayer for the African schools. The projects there have involved helping bring fresh water to the school's students; the planning of two schools in Kakamega (in progress) and Webuye, Kenya; and spreading Christ's love. Sammy (as the Bishop likes to be called) will be in the Dallas/Ft Worth area from October 30-November 11. November 6-12 he will be staying with Carol and me so that we can share with him the same prayers that he gave WBC from Kenya.
As Bishop Samuel will have his schedule full for the two weeks he will be in the DFW area, Carol and I would like to invite each of you to witness how God is working with your prayers and say hello to a true man of God from Kenya. (Yes, he speaks English, but have your hearing aids on because it is Great British English and he laughs at our dialects!) We have selected two days, (Tuesday, November 6 and Thursday, November 8) from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm for you to meet Bishop Samuel for prayer and his PowerPoint presentation of my visit with Truth Encounter and him in Kenya. We will provide cookies, coffee, tea, water, and appetizers for an enjoyable evening with Bishop Samuel Nyaranga from Karen Community Baptist Church, Webuye, Kenya.
Please RSVP for one of the two evenings. My phone number is 972-741-2116, if you have any questions.
Your brother and sister in Christ,
Billy and Carol Campbell
**The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve**
