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The Open Door
VOL. 34 NO. 4 Marc Sherrod, Minister April, 2006 
E-Mail & On-Line Newsletter
I hope you are as excited as I am that the Design and Development Committee for our building program is making progress, and that if all goes well, perhaps, we can break ground on our much-needed building improvements by early fall! With the signs of spring’s new life all around us, and with the approach of Easter (April 16) as the greatest sign that God is not yet done recreating the Church for God’s own glory, we all should feel grateful and challenged to do our part to give input, support, and our prayers to the “final stage” in this process for fine-tuning the building plans ahead of a congregational meeting to vote to approve borrowing money to fund this project. Please take time to “bend the ear” of a committee member if you have any questions or ideas about the building plans (members of the committee are Ken Dungan, Gary Griffith, Karen Schall, Laura Dailey, Julie Bunch, Dave Stevenson, Phil Walsh, Frederick Morgan, Gary Lemasters, Jerry Harvey, and myself). The Finance Campaign Committee would also welcome any inquiries about how you can help (Frank Harris, Carolyn McNew, Steve Jacks, Danny Holloway) Another sign of new life in the church is our upcoming New Member Sunday on Palm Sunday, April 9. We look forward to receiving Pat Hale, Allyson and Steven Cutshall, and Marsha McCaslin (Marsha is the spouse of the new director at Camp John Knox, Leigh, who is a member of East Tennessee Presbytery, and they have two sons, Joshua and Zachary, who will be added to the baptized members roll.) Please join me in giving a big Bethel welcome to each of these new people joining our faith community! I also wanted to announce and publicly thank Greg Murr for agreeing to serve as our youth minister. Greg has many good ideas, wonderful enthusiasm, and a real giving spirit, and we look forward to his leadership and the many gifts our young people can share with us, especially as we anticipate Youth Sunday on April 23, to be followed by the annual youth auction on Sunday, April 30. It is a time of new life and new beginnings, and we each have a part to play in God’s plan for a new creation right here in our own community. As the old children’s song puts it: “God’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be; it took him just a week to make the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.” Let’s all rejoice in the new things God has promised to accomplish through each of us!
March came in like a lamb but went out like a lion, didn’t it? I’m glad it is springtime, everything is blooming and the weather is getting warmer. For this month, I have planned something different. I have asked Don Lindsey from AAA to come and speak to us on April 11th on “Driving Changes as we are Aging”. This talk will last about 30 minutes and begins at 1 P.M. after our Fun Luncheon. Mr. Lindsey also has an 8-hour training program that we might consider in the autumn if we decide this is something that everyone would like to participate in. Please plan to attend and let me know your opinions. In keeping with state and federal guidelines, I need written documentation that addresses what you want Marc or I to discuss about your health. This will be a simplified HIPA form. I will send you this form with this edition of the Open Door to view and consider. Please mail it back to me at: 203 South Kentucky St., Kingston, TN 37763 or leave it in the church office in my “Parish Nurse” box. This form protects your privacy and is a way to make sure we know your wishes. Please put April 7th on your calendars. This is the day for “Time Out For Health Fair” at Roane State Community College. This event runs fro 9 A.M. - 2 P.M. and this year will feature:
We are looking at numerous mission work opportunities for June -- we should get some finalization for our plans very soon. Marc and I will let you know as soon as we get everything in place. As always, to your health ...
... none reported this month ... First Saturday Series The Civil War on the Cumberland Plateau will be the topic of the fourth meeting in the First Saturday Series at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Kingston. The session will begin on Saturday, April 1st at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the church at 203 S. Kentucky Street. A light brunch will precede the program, and the public is cordially invited to attend. The guest speaker will be Steve Jacks, Director of Library Services at the Kingston Public Library, and his central theme will be the Champ Ferguson/Tinker Dave Beaty fued, and the effect that conflict has on the region today. New Web Photo Center Ready for Your Photos Bethel’s web site has a new Photo Center and it is ready for YOUR Bethel-related photos. Whereas you used to have to send your pictures to our web master in order to get them on the web site, the new Photo Center allows you to upload your own photos and have them automatically placed on the site for everyone to see. Uploading is easy, and all you need to get started is a Photo Center user account. To get an account, all that’s required is that you be a member of Bethel and that your or your family’s e-mail address be on file with the church office. If you meet those two criteria, then just contact Marianne Shadden, our web site editor, at editor00@bethelpcusa.org. Give her your full name, the e-mail address that is registered with the church office, and what you want your User ID to be (this is a 3 – 8 character sequence that will identify you to the Photo Center); if you have no User ID preference, then Marianne will choose one for you. Once your Photo Center account is established, you will receive a welcoming e-mail message with all your access information, including the web link for uploading your pictures (be sure to set your spam blocker, if you are using one, to accept e-mail from editor00@bethelpcusa.org). Then all you need to do is go to the link that you received and follow the instructions. Please note that the Photo Center is only for pictures that relate to Bethel. What does that mean? Well, a photo of that zucchini that you grew last summer, which resembled the profile of a duck, wouldn’t be appropriate for the web site (unless, perhaps, it showed the veggie baked and served at the Fun Lunch!). However, your pictures of Bethel youth at the Youth Summit, of activities at the Loaves and Fishes conference, of the Mother/Daughter Luncheon, of the annual church picnic, or of any other Bethel event—all those would absolutely be right for the site. We look forward to seeing your photographic work on the web site! Other website news Visit the Presbytery website: www.presbyteryeasttn.org for timely articles about resources, upcoming meetings, opportunities for youth and service. If you find the newsletter informative and wish to subscribe, there is a link on the website to do so. One Great Hour of Sharing Did you know that this offering began more than fifty-five years ago in response to the devastation of World War II. In March 1949, a national broadcast on a Saturday evening asked Americans to give generously the next morning in their churches. A remarkable assembly of national leaders and celebrities gave their efforts to the broadcast, and more than 75,000 churches responded the next day.One Great Hour of Sharing is an ecumenical offering and each denomination decides how the gifts its members give will be used. The Presbyterian Church USA roughly divides the offering into thirds. Each of the three programs—Self-Development of People, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and the Presbyterian Hunger Program—receives 32 percent of the offering; the remaining 4 percent goes to the Presbyterian Hunger Program for its work on homelessness and affordable housing. Even though the official date for the offering is Easter Sunday April 16, envelopes will also be placed in the pews on April 9, giving those who will be attending church elsewhere an opportunity to participate in this very important annual offering. Community Music Program The Harriman Music Club invites everyone to the Annual Community Palm Sunday program, to be held Sunday, April 9 at 2:30 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 4242 Decatur Hwy. (Hwy. 58). Musicians and singers from various Roane County churches and schools will be performing. Prison Ministry In cooperation with the volunteer team from Westminster Presbyterian Church, we will be going to Brushy Mountain (Petros site) to conduct three back-to-back worship services on Good Friday once again. The service is a very moving meditation on the seven last words of Christ, culminating in communion. We generally begin at 3:30 in the afternoon and the last service ends about 8:00. For security reasons, the prison management requires that we be there for all three services. Note: the prison has a new computer system, and the following are now required: the names, social security numbers, ADDRESSES, and PHONE NUMBERS of each person who wants to go. Book Discussion Group Bethel’s book discussion meets at 1:30 on the last Thursday of each month. We read a pre-selected book and join together for a time of fellowship and lively discussion. The April selection is “The Cat Who Played Brahms” by Lillian Jackson Braun. SENIORCIZE SENIORCIZE....is a physical fitness program for ALL people. It does not mean that you have to be a senior to join our small group of people who enjoy to exercise and fellowship together. We meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in our Fellowship Hall from 9 - 10 AM. Everyone is welcome. The exercises are not new or difficult, but beneficial and essential. Movement is the essence of exercise; it's the key for healthier citizens. Even slow movements will build strength and flexibility. It is also a great stress reliever. FITNESS IS FOR EVERYONE--AGE HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH IT. So, come on down and join our group. We are waiting for you. Spring Clean-up Mark your calendars! April 22 has been designated as Spring Clean-up Day at Bethel. Please plan on stopping by for a short while or longer as your schedules permit to help spruce up the grounds and attend to some housekeeping chores. In addition to the usual array of outdoor yard activities, the Property and Personnel Committee would like to use the day to remove unused and broken items from both buildings, in anticipation of the renovation and just to keep the Lord’s House spiffed up! Items so identified for “re-use” will not go to waste as we will donate them to the Bethel Youth Auction in late April where you will have the opportunity to buy your favorites. The remainder will be donated to the Habitat for Humanity rummage sale thereafter. Nothing goes to waste save the dust! We will have things do for all ability and mobility levels and time commitments. So, plan on spending some time and fellowship breaking “a little sweat for the Lord.” Bring gloves, yard tools and such and we will commence work at 9 AM. In the event of rain, the rain date is April 29m same time, same place. Update from Design & Development Committee Your committee has been busy and some progress is being made. After review of the site boundaries, the committee recommended to session and session approved the reaffirmation of the Option B orientation of the sanctuary. The committee has also discussed ways of reducing costs without sacrificing our mission goals. The committee has developed a list of proposed changes to the conceptual floor plan which architect Chris Malone will try to incorporate. This modified conceptual design will be presented to the congregation and various committees for comments. The plans will be discussed at the April 19, 2006 Fellowship Supper and will be posted in the education building for all to study. We will set up times when various members of the committee will be available to go over the plans and answer questions. So we do not lose track of your comments, we are asking that they be written up, so we can respond regarding our resolution. Please stay active in the process! We value your input and the opportunity to communicate what we plan to do and why we chose our courses of action. And pray for us! We have an excellent group, but much work to finish. Mission and Outreach New Mission Opportunity The session of Bethel Presbyterian Church is considering joining along with other congregations to provide the Angel Food Ministry in our area. This ministry provides meats, vegetables/fruits, eggs and other staples for a nominal cost. There are no minimum or maximum income qualifications. Purchase is open to anyone. Please keep this ministry in your prayers, that we will be led by the Holy Spirit in the right direction. FISH Needs Volunteers FISH of Roane County, a volunteer nondenominational Christian-based organization, is in urgent need of drivers. Volunteer drivers are only asked to transport persons who have no other resources to a doctor, hospital, or medical related appointment. Drivers may be reimbursed for gas expense if they so desire. Calls for help are received in the FISH central office where the United Way screens them before referring the client to a telephone volunteer who will confirm the appointment or need before contacting a driver. Please prayerfully consider this much-needed volunteer opportunity. If you will help or know of others who might, please contact the FISH office at 8882-9505 or 376-5340. Environmental Stewardship Keep saving those labels off of Campbell soup cans. Sunset Gap uses them to purchase items for that area. These labels can be placed in the container in the church entry. Most of us are just thinking Spring but others are already planning a big Christmas project. They need many, many clean aluminum cans with their labels on. All sizes of cans are needed, large, medium and small. These cans can be left in the Fellowship Hall. Many of us start thinking plants as the weather warms. Even if you do not have a “green thumb”, no room to plant outside or are not able to get around much, you can have green plants, flowers and even some vegetables in “pot” gardens. Container gardening is very popular now and the many decorative containers with a healthy tomato plant or herbs can be beautiful as well as tasty. Check with the Shenks if you want to see container success with blueberries. Bethel members can help in environmental and recycling efforts. Please keep sharing your ideas with others. It looks like winter is almost gone and spring is here. I never knew that being the youth leader took so much planning, and spring seems to be the time it all has to be done. As most of you already know, I am now the new youth leader for Bethel. Along with my able assistant, Scott McGill, we are planning lots of exciting things for this year. The first big event will be Youth Sunday, which will be held on April 23 this year, followed the next week by the Youth Auction, on April 30. The congregation has always been very supportive of this fun, fundraising activity and it’s important for us all to support the auction again this year because the money we raise will be used for the intergenerational mission trip to Mississippi, in June, to help in the rebuilding of areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Don’t forget we will also be serving lunch before the auction. The menu will consist of baked ham with all the fix ins' and plenty of veggies. Our senior citizens will be served first at this luncheon! Between now and the 4th of July, we have several bonfires planned by the river with songs, stories, hot-dogs, and some-mores. Who could ask for more? We will be needing your prayers for good weather on those weekends. Next month, I hope to be able to tell you about something very exciting we’re trying to put together for the weekend of the 7th, 8th, and 9th of July. It’s still in the planning stage, so I’ll have to tell you more about that later. We have several mission outreach activities we are trying to put together also. Planning, planning, planning, it never seems to end! But, even in the planning stage, I’ve got to say, the future looks great at Bethel! I need your prayers and support in this new labor of love for the kids. May the Lord love and protect you.
News from Camp John Knox Camp John Knox will be having a Summer Camp Open House Saturday April 8, 2006 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. This is a great time to come down, meet the staff, see the facility, and register your child for Summer Camp! There will be a physician on site performing camp physicals for a cost of $15.00. Please call the camp office to make an appointment (865) 376-2236 Camp John Knox is currently hiring Counselors, Lifeguards, and an Arts & Crafts Coordinator for Summer Camp. Applicants must be at least 18 year old Christians who enjoy working outdoors with children, and have the ability to share their faith with others. If you are looking for a rewarding summer that will change your life, log on to www.johnknoxcenter.org and click on Jobs at JKC, or call (865) 376-2236. Summer Camp registration is in full swing at Camp John Knox. There are sessions available for kids ages 5-18. Critter Camp, Night Owls, Adventure Sampler Camp, and Horse Lovers are just the beginning! Register online at www.johnknoxcenter.org and click Summer Camp 2006 or call the office for a brochure. Your church youth leader also has brochures available. NOTE: Due to a problem with the server, the John Knox Center may not have received your child's online summer camp registration. If you did not receive a registration number and/or confirmation email please contact Barbara, at the Center, at 865/376-2236. We apologize for any inconvenience. Do you have a digital video camera? Camp John Knox is looking for you! Camp John Knox is currently looking for volunteers with technical interests to put together a camp DVD with clips from the upcoming summer. All you need is a digital camera, a couple of days during this summer, and a few hours to put the clips together on a DVD. The finished product would be used at Presbytery meetings, job fairs, camp fairs, and other events. Please contact Bri Payne at the camp office for details.
 ... none reported this month ... ... none reported this month ... St. Theresa's Prayer:
Bethel Family Prayer Calendar - April, 2006 The members and regularly attending friends of Bethel are assigned to elder care groups. Each month in the newsletter for your prayers, we publish the list of one or more elder care groups. The elder’s name and phone at the top of the list are listed as a reminder of their role in nurturing and supporting those who belong to Bethel. You should feel free to contact your elder or the pastor if you have a particular spiritual need or other matter that needs to be brought to our attention. (*Non-member ^Shut-in +Inactive)
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Dolores Sandmel