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The Open Door
VOL. 33 
E-Mail & On-Line Newsletter
Wow! That was my main thought at our annual congregational meeting on January 23 as I listened to the chairs of our church committees review all the various ministries undertaken in 2004. For those unable to attend, it was quite a “good news” list of ways that we are trying to be faithful to the Gospel! I repeat my words of thanksgiving and appreciation for all who participate at whatever level in making and keeping our congregation active and vital. As we continue discernment about God’s will regarding a possible building project, it is critical that we achieve a sense of united purpose about who God has called us to be. Thanks to Mission Outreach and Parish Life for providing the meal – over $400 was raised for Roane County Cooperative Ministries, a ministry of assistance to those in need in our local community. As always, I am grateful that my terms of call as your pastor have been renewed, and that the Spirit has empowered us to respond to Christ’s invitation to discipleship. I am glad to welcome Alicia Webb as our new Administrative Assistant in the church office! After over 10 years of faithful service to Bethel, Kathy Francis left as our secretary at the end of 2004. We are very grateful for all the contributions Kathy made to the life and witness of our congregation. Alicia comes to us with a background of church secretarial work in the United Methodist Church as well as experience in small business bookkeeping. As you know, the Administrative Assistant position combines secretary and Disbursement Treasurer responsibilities, a decision the Personnel Committee made when no one volunteered to assume that latter duty. Alicia will be at the church Monday-Friday, 9:00 – 2:00, and I know you will enjoy meeting her. Her husband, Jack works at Y-12, and their youngest daughter, Sarah, is a 9th grader at Midway High School. Welcome, Alicia! Thanks to the following who volunteered in the office during the first three weeks of January: Ruth Ann Ludwig and Carole Brown who helped with the January Open Door, Carolyn McNew who took off three Thursdays from work to provide coverage, and Pat Harvey who covered the office on most other days during that interim period. You’re great! And while I am thanking volunteers, let’s all be very grateful to Karen Schall who continues to serve as a wonderful volunteer editor for the Open Door. Thanks, Karen! Let’s also be very thankful for the way that Brenda and Chuck Bunch have labored long and hard to revamp Bethel’s process for tracking our financial records. Brenda is stepping aside as Disbursements Treasurer, and we now have in place a very thorough system for accounting for all of our various funds and for matching particular types of income to the purpose to which the funds were given or have been directed by session. Bethel’s financial health is good, and we owe a large debt of gratitude to Brenda and Chuck and Nancy Landers for helping us put our financial house in order. The Stewardship and Finance Committee, as well as the Trustees, will continue to oversee the financial stewardship of the church in a wise manner. Let’s all be mindful of just how blessed we have been, individually and corporately, by God! Peace,
February greetings to everyone! I have been asked to elaborate on a disease that is now affecting 4.5 million Americans. The disease process is Alzheimer’s. In a recent internet article from www.medscape.com it is thought that by the year 2030 there will be as many as 14 million Americans affected. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been an annual focus in the fall at Bethel as we usually gather up walkers and sponsors to go on the “Memory Walk”. As you probably know, Alzheimer’s disease affects memory. It develops in stages and, although a terminal process, the patient could live 2-20 years. The first sign is a change in mental status. Sometimes this is manifest by the patient being inattentive to their personal appearance. A person who is usually clean and properly dressed might become slovenly and dressed inappropriately for the weather. Also simple instructions may be impossible for them to follow. A typically punctual person may become habitually late or miss scheduled appointments altogether. Research is showing that positron emission tomography (PET) scans may help with earlier diagnosis and treatment of AD. In addition there is a genetic test known as ApoE genotyping used to diagnose persons greater than 65 years old. Also a CT scan can show changes in the brain, including brain atrophy.
I hope this answers some of your questions; if I can be of help to you, please call me at 376-6340. ............. Deb
... none reported this month ... Lent Begins ... Ash Wednesday (February 9) marks the traditional beginning of the Season of Lent, a forty day period of confession, reflection, and meditation upon the cost of discipleship. To help initiate us on our Lenten journey, we will have an Ash Wednesday service in the sanctuary at 7:30 on February 9. This will include the imposition of ashes on the forehead and the reminder that “you are of the dust and to the dust you shall return.” Loaves and Fishes Experience Now that Christmas has passed and the New Year has begun, don't forget to register for the Loaves And Fishes Experience which is coming up March 18-19. The Registration deadline is March 1. Download the registration brochure at www.presbyteryeasttn.org or check with your church office for forms. Questions? Contact Sharon Carter at revscarter@comcast.net. Don't miss this event-- there's something for everyone! Upcoming Events at Maryville College The February Meetings at Maryville College (held since 1819) provide the college and the surrounding community an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Christian faith, as we live it in the world and in our daily lives. The meetings will take place this year on February 15 and 16…We are very excited this year to welcome two outstanding speakers: David Young, who is a former professor at MC, and currently a staff photographer for the PCUSA in Louisville, and Rick Ufford-Chase, the director of Borderlinks, a ministry on the US-Mexico border, and who is also the Moderator of the 216th General Assembly. It is a great honor to have both of these speakers at the college. These presentations are free and open to the public. For further details call 865-981-8000 or online at www.maryvillecollege.edu. Also at Maryville College, the Community Conversations Series for this spring will feature speakers on various environmental topics. There will be a flyer posted on the bulleting board in the fellowship hall, or you can look for further details online at crystal.wright@maryvillecollege.edu. Wish List On the downstairs bulletin board, there is an extensive wish list from John Knox Center. If you can help with any of these items, or would like to make a donation, it would be most welcome. A NOTE FROM YOUR WEB SITE EDITOR Hello Bethel members and friends! Have you checked out our new Bethel Homepage yet? Our Webmaster, Dan McDowell, did a great job, as always. Toward the bottom of the new home page, you will see the most significant addition, “The Bethel Ministry Spotlight” area. Each time a visitor comes to the home page, a random synopsis of one of Bethel’s ministries will appear there. If it is of interest to them, they can click on the link that comes at the end of the synopsis to go to the page with the complete information about that ministry. Below the “Bethel Ministry Spotlight” in the PC (USA)-related links section, Dan has added a link to the Presbyterian Foundation’s web-site. Check it out—it’s very informative. If you have questions or ideas about the web-site, please let me know. You can reach me at HERE. Thank you. Marianne Presbyterians Today Magazine The church will be mailing in our yearly subscription for Presbyterians Today in a few weeks. All current session members and all ministers receive a copy of the magazine. If others would like to subscribe, the cost is $11.25. Make check payable to Bethel and indicate for Presbyterians Today. Please give your check to Cathy McDowell by February 20.
Book Discussion Group Bethel’s Book Discussion Group will meet on February 24 at 1:30 in the church lounge. Upcoming book selections include:
LENTEN STUDY 2005 During Lent 2005 we are planning a series of Intergenerational Church Family Events. These events begin on Ash Wednesday (with a meal and Worship Service). Then for four consecutive evenings (beginning on February 27th ) we will meet for dinner, a Lenten Program and Small Group study (age appropriate)! A traditional Jewish Seder Dinner will be experienced by young and old just before our Maundy Thursday Worship Service on March 24th! Mark these dates on your calendar! Plan to attend!
During Lent 2005 you will develop new relationships as you participate in His Last Week…A.D. 30 Lenten Celebration. You will explore new ideas, and participate in old traditions! Children and adults alike will have a great time! The Fellowship Hall will be transformed into a Jewish Marketplace! All your senses and imagination will be tapped for a very meaningful Lenten season! HIS LAST WEEK…A.D. 30 HELP NEEDED IN THE MARKETPLACE BOOTHS If you can help one evening in any of these areas, please call Pat Harvey at 376-4767, the church office at 376-6340, or contact us HERE.
REGISTRATION FOR LENTEN SMALL GROUP PARTICIPATION If you would like to participate in the Adult Small Group Study, call Pat Harvey at 376-4767, the church office at 376-6340, or contact us HERE and give us you name and phone number. If your child, grandchild, or friend would like to participate in the Children’s Small Group Program, just provide us with their name(s), phone number(s), and grade(s).
Thanks to all of you who attended the small group meetings and Chris Malone's presentation at family night supper in January. Your comments are all appreciated. It's wonderful to work with a congregation who is willing to share their thoughts and suggestions. The committee met on Tuesday night, January 25, to discuss our next step. In response to your concerns, we will be asking Chris to have a structural engineer to thoroughly evaluate the sanctuary in order to determine how it would tolerate a move as proposed. As soon as we get that information, we will let you know the results. We will then know more of how to proceed. Again thanks. Mission Outreach Second Harvest does even more than just collect and give out food.
Living Waters for the World: To bring affordable water purification systems to all parts of the world is a global mission project of the Synod of Living Waters. This is accomplished through a partnership program in communities with contaminated water. Through water purification and education, areas with contaminated water can take ownership in making their own water clean. Sunday, February 13, 2005 has been designated Living Waters for the World Sunday. Watch your bulletin that Sunday for a handout about this worthwhile program and how we can get involved. Tsunami assistance update: Bethel has sent $350 from 2004 Mission Outreach funds and $50 from designated funds to supply a prescription and non-prescription medical kit. In addition, 24 health kits have been mailed. On the Presbytery level, over $350,000 was sent immediately to the involved areas. Parish Life CONGRATULATIONS to Fred and Willie Mae Meers on their Anniversary on Valentine’s Day! Host/Hostess for February Fellowships:
We are planning another trip to the Cumberland County Playhouse on Sunday, April 17, 2:30 p.m. to see “The Spitfire Grill.” As always, we will carpool leaving Bethel at 2 p.m. Sign-up Sheet is in the office. Tickets $17 for a group of 20 or more. More details later. This year, our Mother/Daughter Luncheon will be on Saturday, May 7th, 12 noon at IVAN’S in Rockwood. Sign-up sheet is in the office. More details later. Stewardship & Finance Committee Report
Memorials were given in the month of January for:
 ... none reported this month ... Dear Bethel Family, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for 10+ years of blessings. It has been my joy to be an employee, but be treated like "family". I don't have enough words to tell you how much I appreciate the farewell dinner and the very generous monetary gift of $695. I plan to get a home computer and will enjoy e-mail contact with you. I will never forget you as I move on to the next phase of my life. You will remain dear to me always. Much love to all, Kathy Francis Dear Church Family, I did it again. I got so busy in December I didn't check my box in the church office until the middle of January; so didn't notice I had a lovely Christmas card and Christmas bonus waiting for me to open from you. I thank-you very much. I did use the bonus to help celebrate my birthday at Whitestone Resturant with my family. So, many thanks again. Laura Walker, Choir Director Dear Bethel Family, Thank you very much for the Christmas monetary gift. Also, thank you for being the loving, supportive family that you are. Bethel is a wonderful church, and I truly enjoy being your organist. Blessings to each of you. We, the family of Carole Jane R. Rowe, extend our heartfelt love and thanks to our church family for their prayer, love and care during Carole's long illness and the celebration of her life. I think she would have said, "Mother, that was just like I wanted!" Our love to all. Mac Robbins Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for the great care package. I appreciate all the hard work that went into making it. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope to see some of you when I return home on leave. Semper Fi, To All at Bethel Presbyterian Church, I wanted all of you to know how much I appreciated the care package. I will be leaving soon and all of the items will be of great use. It means so much that although we’ve never met you took the time to help with my deployment. There is no way to thank you for this gift, but please know that I am very grateful. Sincerely, Dear Friends at Bethel Presbyterian Church, The Head Start children and families from Terry Cotts’ group would like to thank you so very much for having the holiday party for our children at the church…You have truly blessed our hearts and holidays again this season. Sincerely, Dear Members of Bethel Presbyterian Church, Reflections of the year just passed are always a part of the dreams we have for the new year. I would like to thank you for enabling us to end 2004 with such a tremendous act of good will and faith in humankind. Through your generous giving of time and resources we were able to relieve the pressures of many parents, grandparents, caregicvers, and help more than 300 children have a wonderful Christmas. In was heartwarming to hear of the families’ experience at the party and as they received the presents you provided. The appreciation, the hugs, the tears, the exclamations of disbelief that someone who doesn’t know them cares so much for them is overwhelming. Your congregation has made a difference in the lives of people who struggle to meet the basic needs of their families, yet desire, as we all do, to give gifts to their children. We also appreciate your extra efforts in wrapping the presents. Thank you for partnering with Mid-East Head Start. We look for greater things to happen in our community because of these combined efforts. In this new year our wishes for you include success, growth and fulfillment. Sincerely,
... none reported this month ...
Bethel Family Prayer Calendar - February, 2005 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.
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NO. 2
Bonnie Anderson