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The Open Door
| Bethel Presbyterian Church ~ a community of faith, fellowship, study and service ... Seeking God's peace, justice and love ~ |
VOL. 35 NO. 4 – April, 2007
Marc Sherrod, Minister
Pat Harvey, Stated Supply Pastor
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E-Mail & On-Line Newsletter
A number of the members have responded regarding saving postage and mailing by reading the newsletter online. If you wish to add your name to that list, call (865-376-6340) or e-mail the church office.
We also maintain a master list of e-mail addresses. Please include yours if you wish.
ALINE TERRY TRANSPORTATION FUND
This service is free for friends and members of Bethel. If you have a transportation need, please call the church office at 376-6340. Please be ready to tell us the date and time of your appointment and what time you want to be picked up. Some of the places we transport to are: doctor’s office, hairdresser, library, post office, grocery store, and shopping. We drive as far as Knoxville. We are open to other suggestions, also.
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Maundy Thursday - 6:30 Bethel
Good Friday - 7:00 UMC
Easter Sunrise - City Park
Easter Sunday -11:00 at Bethel
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As I pause and think about Bethel Presbyterian Church, I am amazed how you love one another and those in our world. I want to reflect on one of the greatest blessings I have experiences as I have come alongside Marc and you during this time.
We are in the midst of the 2007 Youth Confirmation Classes. The work of confirmation-commissioning should not be viewed as “filling containers that will hold or preserve a set of facts or truths”. Rather, it is a journey of faith taken when the young person is seeking to discover a living and growing faith!
We have begun this intentional road of the journey with seven youth at Bethel. They are a fun, loving and dynamic group of young people. I am having a blast getting to know them better, and astounded at their questions (they are certainly keeping me on my toes!).
We are reminded that it is the church that confirms and the church commissions. When infants are baptized, they are brought by others to receive the sign and seal of grace; and the whole community assumes the responsibilities to raise that child in the faith. Confirmation affirms the vows of commitment. In confirmation youth are commissioned to participate in the community of faith and to serve the community and world in Christ’s name! What a great privilege!
We are learning about scripture, prayer, church history, but especially we are learning that to grow in faith it is good to ask questions and to struggle with what God is trying to teach us!
Thank you for allowing me to walk alongside your youth in this way – they are the joy of my week!
In Christ’s Service and Love,
Pastor Pat
April greetings to all of you! This month I am going to teach about stress and its’ effect on our bodies. First of all, stress is a normal reaction to occasions such as arguments with your mate or children, that “fender-bender” in the parking lot, or paying taxes. However, when stress is chronic it becomes a problem. Your body starts the stress reaction in the hypothalamus at the base of your brain. From here, it sends signals to the adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones (like adrenaline and cortisol). Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars in the bloodstream, enhances the brain’s use of glucose (sugar) and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also alters the functions that are not essential in such high stress moments such as the immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, reproductive system and growth processes. Also affected are the areas in the brain that control mood, motivation and fear.
There are predisposing factors that may increase your sensitivity to stress. The Mayo Clinic article entitled Unhealthy Response to the Pressures of Life, says: “Strong stress reactions sometimes can be traced to early environmental factors. People who were exposed to extremely stressful events as children, such as neglect or abuse, tend to be particularly vulnerable to stress as adults.”
Stress is a part of everyone’s life, but it doesn’t need to be IN CONTROL of our lives. The first step to manage your stress is to identify what is stressing you. Next, you need to rationalize if you can control this stressor. If you can, great….if you can’t, don’t forget the “Serenity Prayer” and learn to let go of the stressors you cannot control. Talk to God about what bothers you and give your uncontrollable stressors to Him. It is very important to exercise when stressed and practice relaxation techniques. Exercise releases chemicals in your brain to elevate your mood. Some relaxation techniques are close your eyes and breathe deeply while picturing a serene scene, yoga or Tai Chi . Don’t forget to call on your friends for a “night out” or go see a movie. Professional psychotherapy is very helpful to many. The payoff of managing stress is peace of mind and..hopefully…a longer, healthier life.
To your health ...
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[A reminder: session meetings are always open for members to attend unless the session votes to go into executive session per Robert’s Rules of Order; the minutes of the session are available, by appointment, for review in the church office]
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... none reported for March ...
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... nothing reported this month ...
The Book Discussion group will meet on April 26 at 1:30. This month we will be discussing
The Hornets’ Nest, by Jimmy Carter
Sunday, April 1, 2007 - Palm Sunday!
This Sunday is the day we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. It is also the beginning of "Holy Week". We hope that you will plan to join us for worship on this Sunday.
Thursday, April 5, 2007 - Maundy Thursday!
This is the night of the Jewish Passover and the night on which Jesus shared the last supper with His disciples. At 7:00pm, we will have a Communion Worship Service at our church in rembembrance of this holy night. Please make plans to be with us for this joint worship with Kingston United Methodist Church!
Friday, April 5, 2007 – Good Friday!
This night our youth will join the youth of Kingston United Methodist Church for a special worship. We will be worshipping at the United Methodist sanctuary at 6:30pm.
Sunday, April 8, 2007 - Easter Sunrise Service!
The community of Kingston will gather together in the annual Easter Sunrise Worship at the Kingston City Park. Please join Christians in our community as we praise God for the wonderful gift of His Son!
Sunday, April 8, 2007 – Easter morning Sunday School at 9:30 with a continental breakfast between Sunday School and Easter Morning Worship!
At 11:00am, we will hold our Easter Morning Worship Service. Please mark your calendars and be sure to be with us for this celebration of Christ's resurrection from the dead!
The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering this year will be received on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007. This is one of four special offerings annually authorized by the General Assembly and approved by our Session. The One Great Hour of Sharing was started in 1949, after World War II, when much of the world was still trying to recover from the destruction of the war, and the needs of displaced persons were great.
The offering has continued for 58 years. Now, the contributions are used to fund Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and the Self-Development of People Program. The needs in all of these activities continue to be overwhelming.
The theme for the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering this year is “Who is my neighbor?”. Jesus addressed this question in the 10th Chapter of Luke, and Presbyterians have interpreted his answer to include many diverse people, many of them needing help. You can give to this offering using the envelopes found in the pews or by writing “One Great Hour of Sharing” on your check. Please prayerfully consider this special offering.
There is a beautiful liturgical stole traveling around our church that is helping remind us that we are “The Preisthood of All Believers.”
If you receive this stole, you have been observed “Living a Real Live Sermon” (being a Doer of God’s Word), and we want you to help us write this book!
This book, stole, and camera is traveling around our community of faith and will be passed to many different people during the next year (including children, youth and adults). If you receive this book, stole and camera someone will have written what they observed in your life that reminded them that you are an important part of God’s plan here at this place we call Bethel! At the end of the year we will share with the congregation all of the stories that have been written in this book and share what God is doing in our midst!
If you receive this book and stole please take a picture of yourself wearing the stole and keep them for a week and reflect on God’s faithfulness in your life. Then, think of someone at Bethel Presbyterian Church that you have observed “Living a Real Live Sermon”. Write down what you have observed on the page provided, then pass the stole, book and camera to that person. When you have passed the stole, book and camera to the person you have chosen PLEASE call the Bethel Church office and let us know where the stole has traveled, so we can keep track of its journey!
(one day early!)
Beat the rush! Adopt-a-spot, Adopt-a-place. Mark your calendars for Saturday April 21 for Spring Clean-up Day at Bethel. In addition to changing batteries in all our smoke alarms, we need to pay particular attention to cleaning out spaces in preparation for renovations to come. Also, we need to make the grounds reflect the loving, caring church that we are-- shed the mantle of winter and make ready for the blooms and re-birth of spring and summer. There is something for everyone. Be on the alert for more info on specific spaces and places that need YOUR loving attention! Activities will commence 8:30-ish and continue until we're tired.
The Wednesday morning prayer group meets at 9:45 in the kitchen for a cup of coffee, and then we adjourn to the sanctuary for a time of prayer. All are welcome to join us; Karen Schall or Carol Brown can provide more details.
Bethel's hiking crew will return to the Smokies on the afternoon of Sunday, April 15. Everyone is welcome. We plan to do a loop trail in the Elkmont area that totals, at least according to one guide book, 5.1 miles. You may already know that Elkmont was the site of a base camp and sawmill for logging operations of the Little River Lumber Company in the 1920s prior to the establishment of the park. We'll be on portions of three different trails: Little River, Cucumber Gap, and Jakes Creek. The Cucumber Gap trail may have gotten its name from the presence of the Fraser Magnolia trees at the top of the gap (about 3000'), which grow a long, bumpy fruit resembling a cucumber.
This is not a strenuous hike – in fact, the elevation change is zero since it's a loop! (The 'gross' elevation change is less than 1000'.) Don't worry if you're slow – we need a few slow ones to keep Henry Coen company near the rear. If you're otherwise fast, you can carry Henry on your shoulders awhile.
Bring a sack lunch and your shoes with you to worship that day. We'll leave right after, drive part of the way, and then pull off at Ft Loudon Dam to eat our lunches before driving the rest of the way to the trailhead. Bring plenty of drink and snacks for the hike, and plan to be home for supper.
For carpooling, it would be helpful for you to let Joe Coen (376-9033) know if you are planning to go. If you forget to mention your plans, come anyway.
| Computer monitor approximately 15" – it’s on a table in the fellowship hall. If you can use it, please give it a good home! |
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| I have a HP Deskjet CL printer with disc, instruction manual, and ink cartridges to go with it. No cost, free to a good home.
Thanks, Nancy King -- 376-9951
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Believing in God means that I acknowledge that nothing I possess is mine by right. Everything that I call my “net worth” is from the generosity of the Eternal One who gives me the responsibility to be a good steward of what I consider my own. I cannot look around at my house, my vehicles, my automatic icemaker, my central heating, and my indoor plumbing as something that I have earned and possess as a right. “ Lawton W. Posey, in Presbyterian Outlook March 31, 2005, p. 14.
Let’s take this one step further. Everything Bethel Church possesses is from the generosity of God. But, you say, we give the money and the time to keep the church going. We make decisions that determine the future of our congregation. Are we then the owners of Bethel church? Or are we the vessels through whom God works? To whom does the church belong? Does our building define our ministry? How do we preserve our history and enhance our ministry? These and other thought provoking questions keep surfacing as we move closer to final decisions concerning our building renovations.
Our building fund campaign is progressing. Total pledges were almost $381,000 over a three year period and to date, 44% of the total has been received. We also received an additional $27,000 without pledges. Thank you. God’s generosity flows through each and every one of you.
We still have a long way to go. If you haven’t pledged to the building fund, or if you would like to increase your pledge, building fund pledge cards are available in the narthex and fellowship hall. Please complete a card and place it in the collection plate or leave it in the Receipts Treasurer’s mailbox in the office. Every dollar pledged and received is one less dollar we must borrow.
Since my last environmental stewardship note in the Open Door, Cathy McDowell has started a swap corner in the Open Door. Many members of the church have told me about their recycling efforts. Even more exciting is the number of young people who are proud of their families’ recycling efforts. We have been put in charge of this marvelous planet called Earth and each of us has the responsibility of taking care of it to the best of our ability.
Most of us are aware of the recycling opportunities in Roane County. However, are you aware of the results of these efforts? An article in the March 2007 issue of Southern Living indicates that “recycling a 6-foot-tall stack of newspapers saves the life of a 35-foot tree”. Keep recycling those plastic milk containers because it takes “1,000 milk jugs to make a 6-foot –long plastic park bench”.
California is a forward-looking state when it comes to recycling. The Oakland recycling web site estimates that in 2006 over 2 million tons of unwanted junk mail (advertisements and catalogs) used 62 million trees and 25 billion gallons of water. How to stop some of this junk mail? Go to www.stopjunkmail.org for suggestions. Keep in mind that the Roane County Convenience Centers will take all junk mail and catelogs for recycling.
Millions upon millions of plastic bags end up in the landfills each year. Even worse are the ones that end up alongside the roads and in our lakes and rivers. Not only are these bags unsightly but they are devastating to the wildlife which either try to eat the bags or get tangled in them. Marge Hettrick has an excellent suggestion which I have been using for two months now and will certainly continue to use. Heavy cloth bags of various sizes are excellent to take shopping with you for groceries and other items. If you do end up with a plastic bag or two, just leave it in the cloth bag to be used during the next shopping trip. If this does not work for you, remember that most of the grocery stores collect and recycle used plastic grocery bags.
Keep your recycling items coming and I will continue to share them. Happy recycling.
Jane B. Walsh
Hands of Mercy Enterprises
Bethel now has two members on the board of Directors of HOME. At the last board meeting it was decided since Carol Brown is our treasurer, she should be a board member. A warm welcome to Carol.
The board’s members and the volunteers would like to thank Boy Scout Troop 101 for their food drive of 180 items in March. It is because of organizations like this and donations from individuals that we are able to continue doing our mission of feeding the hungry and poor of Roane County. Thank you everyone who contributes to our mission.
As always, Bethel’s youth are busy, busy, busy! Greg will be in touch with the group about April’s plans, but for the short-term, here’s the scoop for Sunday, April 1:
Meet at church around 2:00 in the afternoon (a little earlier, if possible) and help out with the annual Easter-Egg Dyeing extravaganza. We’ll be dyeing 15 dozen eggs, more or less, to send to the regional prison for the annual egg hunt for the children who will be visiting their fathers on Easter weekend. Then, at 3:00, Greg will take all the kids over to the Methodist church to meet with Jamie Jordan (UMC Youth Leader) and their youth to practice for the Good Friday service.
Memorials were received in the months of February and March for:
Terry Robbins Sr.
from Mac Robbins
Carol Jane Row
from Mac Robbins
Joyce Law
from Vernon Law
Beverly Boland
from Carolyn and Henry Tulley
Edna Billings Haun
from Buddy Patton
Dr. Louis Haun
from Buddy Patton
Jack Billings
from Buddy Patton
Nancy Billings
from Buddy Patton
... none reported this month ...
This year’s Mother/Daughter luncheon will be on Saturday, May 12, noon, at Roane State Community College (Student Lounge Area). The menu consists of the following choices: 2 meats, 3 vegetables, 2 salads, assorted desserts, coffee and tea. Cost is $10 p.p. which incl. dessert, drink and tip. All mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, granddaughters and girl friends are invited. Please call Alicia at the church office by May 7 for reservations.
Bethel’s High School and College Seniors will be recognized at the Fellowship Supper on Wednesday, May 16, 2007. In order to identify all of the graduates, please let the church office know the senior’s name and school as soon as possible, if you have anyone or know of anyone graduating this year. Thank you.
... none reported this month ...
Bethel received the correspondence below concerning the requests from several congregations to withdraw from the PCUSA. The authors requested that the letter be read the following Sunday in each church's worship service, but Bethel's Session thought it a better item to communicate to the members outside of worship. Our own Presbytery of East Tennessee has received one such withdrawal request from a large congregation near Chattanooga. If you would like additional information about the current happenings on this issue, feel free to contact Pat or a member of the Session. In addition, you can access information from the General Assembly at the Presbyterian Church (USA) website at www.pcusa.org
January 29, 2007
Dear Presbyterian sisters and brothers in Christ,
We are writing to you in advance of news you may read in the coming days. We have heard that a few Presbyterian congregations may soon announce their intention to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
We are deeply saddened by this news for several reasons. First, any church's departure is difficult and painful for the congregations involved and the wider church. Fractures within the body of Christ diminish our witness of God's grace and mercy to the world — unfortunate in these already divisive times. And, the PC(USA) will miss the gifts and perspectives of these brothers and sisters in Christ.
Among the reasons of those wishing to leave are perceptions of particular actions of the 217th General Assembly last summer. These perceptions include concerns that our ordination standards have changed and that the PC(USA) no longer believes in the Trinity. Neither of these is true.
It is our deep conviction that we are better together than we are apart:
We are better followers of Jesus when we stick together, mutually encouraging one another in the work of discipleship.
We are better together and more effective in confronting the enormous problems in the world-dire situations like Darfur, HIV/AIDS in Africa, and ongoing human tragedies in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
We are better together because the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as one expression of the whole body of Christ needs all of its parts in order to function well (1 Cor. 12).
We are better together because our resources of time, talents, and treasure have a larger and farther reach.
We are better together because our discernment and deliberations on tough topics need our many perspectives to reach the most faithful decisions.
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Our confidence in the strength of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its people is unwavering. More than 11,000 PC(USA) congregations are, day in and day out, engaged in remarkable ministries that include proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, breaking the bread and sharing the cup, challenging injustice, and exhibiting the kingdom of God to the world. As the apostle Paul wrote, "I am confident ... that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).
In over three hundred years of American Presbyterian history, we have never agreed 100 percent on any issue of the day. But, in the end, we are better together in Christ's unity.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Clifton Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Linda Bryant Valentine
Executive Director, General Assembly Council
IN HEALTH CARE CENTERS
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| NAME |
FACILITY |
Ruby Hunter,
Anne Robertson,
Christine Wood |
Harriman Health Care |
Muriel McKonley
(sister of Jean Young) |
Rae-Ann Nursing Home
(Geneva, Ohio) |
| Betty Baird Brown |
Alpharetta Healthcare Center |
Mac Robbins,
Anne Smith,
Louise Pickel |
Jamestowne |
| Evelyn Waldrup |
Baptist Healthcare (Lenoir City) |
Margaret True
Roberta Cash |
Rockwood Healthcare |
| Joan Pemberton |
Wellington Place – Kingston |
AT HOME
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Doris Barber, Madge Mounger, Wanda Carter, Al & Dot Davis, Tom & Helen Roostee, Marc Sherrod, Hugh Webb, Justin Trivette, Marci Smith
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OUR SERVICEMEN
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Jason Brown
Geoff Winsbro
Robert Howard (son-in-law of Bill and Bobbie Martin)
Tommy Sandmel
T.R. Morgan
Kyle Foote, son-in-law of Alicia Webb
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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)
DENISE MARTIN (07)
376-6605
(*Bob, Max LaDue)
*Coleman, Vee
Dungan, Ken & *Maggie
Keko, *Peter & *Bitsy
Law, Vernon
Lemasters, Gary
McGill, George & Mary Lee
McMaster, Jill
Robbins, Mac
Rybka, Jon
Stackpole, Jack & Fern
Stooksbury, Billie
Thompson, Ron
Webb, Hugh & Lucy
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CAROLYN MCNEW ( 07)
376-5906
(Jack)
Carter, Wanda
^Cash, Roberta
Evans, Dick & Celia Simon
Betty Foy
King, Nancy & Vic
Kornegay, Frank & Janet
+Loden, Jon & Vicki
+Loden, Jonathon
Meers, Willie Mae
Muecke, Jack & Sue
*Nestor, Bill & Sibyl
Sherrod, *Marc & Melanie
Sherrod, Caleb
Sherrod, Eden
Sherrod, Hannah
Sherrod, Jordan
Walker, Jim & *Cindy
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Dolores Sandmel