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The Open Door
VOL. 34 NO. 2 Marc Sherrod, Minister February, 2006 
E-Mail & On-Line Newsletter
“I write this on the eve of the final congregational gathering about the building options. Here we are, a little over a week away from the time when I and the other members of session, in our called session meeting on February 5, will accept the spirit’s leading as to which building option will best further the vision and ministry goals of the Bethel congregation. Once a decision is made, session will put together a “Building Design Committee” which will work with our architect/consultant Chris Malone for approximately 8-10 weeks. Once the design is complete, session will then call a congregational meeting in order to approve the borrowing of any necessary funds to carry out the completion of this project. This vote will be in accordance with our PCUSA polity contained in the Book of Order, G-7.0304 (4), which requires a meeting of the congregation to consider “matters related to buying, mortgaging, or selling real property.” Note that session will be considering names of individuals to serve on this “Building Design Committee.” It will be an eight-member committee that will need to include people with certain areas of expertise and interest. I invite anyone who feels called to serve in this capacity to contact me or one of our elders. While everyone who is nominated may not be placed on the committee, a large pool of interested individuals should ensure both a strong committee and results that will be acceptable to all. You know as well as I that the process that has led the Bethel Church to this moment in time has, to say the least, been a bit circuitous and frustrating at times. But since, in the divine economy, hindsight is always providential, I believe that the extra time and extra energy expended has confirmed the integrity and validity of a decision to move forward. As I said in a sermon early in January, part of what it means to be a Presbyterian is to trust that the ordained and installed leaders of a particular church will honor ordination vows by seeking to know the mind of Christ, by promoting the peace, purity and unity of the church, and by serving the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. On behalf of your session, I say to you that we are grateful for the confidence you have placed in us. Your prayers and support, as always, are deeply appreciated. May the love of God, the peace of Christ, and the fellowship of the Spirit be with all of us – now and always!
Happy February to you! As this is one of our winter months, I would like to concentrate on a way to help in case you happen to come down with the flu bug. I would like to title this article “Potato Soup for the Presbyterian Soul”. As we all know, when we feel badly we don’t want to expend what energy we have cooking meals. I suggest one “feel-good” soup that my mother used to fix me when I was ill many years ago.
I hope you don’t have to get sick in order to enjoy a good ol’ bowl of potato soup. As always, to your health ...
As a continuation of our Advent Bible Study, the group of about a dozen participants agreed to continue meeting on Wednesdays at 10 am in the kitchen. We will study passages from Matthew’s Gospel with particular attention to the broader Greco-Roman context and the circulation of Apocryphal texts that intersect with the early Christian story but which, for various reasons, were not included in the canon of scripture. All are welcome to join us for this one hour study. It is time to renew subscriptions to "Presbyterians Today". If you wish to continue your subscription (or enter a new one), please write a check in the amount of $11.25 to Bethel Presbyterian Church and be sure to indicate Presbyterians Today on the memo line. Please submit your check to the church by February 15. Annual Congregational Meeting The annual meeting of the Bethel Presbyterian Church has been called for Sunday, February 12 in the church fellowship hall, immediately following 11 am worship and lunch. Business to be conducted includes hearing annual reports from session committees and the board of trustees; electing three members of the congregation to serve on the nominating committee; voting on changes to the pastor’s terms of call. Choral Society Presentation The Roane Choral Society will present "Music for Lovers" on Friday, February 10, 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 11, 8:00 p.m. at Roane State Community College student lounge. There will be lots of coffee, desserts, and love songs. Season ticket holder admission is $12 and general admission is $18. Seating is by reservation only. Please call Diana at (865)882-1472, Gloria at (423)365-5162 or email: click here. At Maryville College Maryville College continues to offer a series of excellent discussions and seminars of interest to the community-at-large, and Presbyterians in particular. Among the offerings are: The February Meetings Series (2/23-26/06) features Dr. Anna Carter Florence and “Rules of Engagement: Fighting Fair with Scripture.” Coming in March, the Presbytery’s Loaves and Fishes Event will take place on the campus of Maryville College. Click HERE to see a full listing of speakers, courses, maps, and registration information (another PDF document ... ~951KB in size). First Saturday Series APPALACHIANS ALL: East Tennesseans and the Elusive History of an American Region is the topic of the second in the “First Saturday Series” to be held at Bethel Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, February 4 at 9 a.m. Dr. Mark T. Banker’s focus will be on the inter-related histories of the three East Tennessee communities – Knoxville (“modern Appalachia”), Cades Cove (“timber-tourism Appalachia”), and the Clear Fork Valley (“coal Appalachia”).
On Sunday, February 26, 2006, Bethel Presbyterian will welcome Rev. Michael Sivalee. Rev. Sivalee is a professor in evangelism, church planting and pastoral care with the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPIB). His wife, Irene, who cannot be present at Bethel, is an educator with the IPIB. The Sivalees have been in Brazil several years. Many of you will remember them from previous visits to Bethel. Rev. Sivalee will participate in the Sunday School hour as well as present the sermon that day. Everyone is encouraged to attend the luncheon following the morning service and visit with Michael. Julie C. won the Kingston Elementary Spelling Bee. She will represent the entire school at the county level in February. Memorials received in the month of January for:
 ... none reported this month ... Year End Contribution Reports Your year end contribution letters will be in the narthex at the church on Sunday and in the church office during the week. The IRS requires that you retain a statement for any single contribution of $250 or more. Please pick up your letter,even if you don't really need it for tax purposes, and check it for accuracy. Let me know if anything appears to be incorrect and I will change it. Any letters remaining after February 5th will be mailed. Please help us keep down expenses by picking up your letter. Thanks to all of you for your support of Bethel, not only monetarily, but through the love, care and support that you give not only to one another but also to the community. It gives me great joy and comfort to be a part of the Bethel family within the larger family of God. God be with all of you. ... none reported this month ...
Bethel Family Prayer Calendar - February, 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.
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Mark Banker