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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. 2 Marc Sherrod, Minister February, 2007
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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Our Pastor is undergoing treatment for cancer, and was unable to prepare an article for this month's Open Door – please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers ...
Happy hearts and flowers month to you! There are two subjects I wanted to talk to you about this month. First of all, I want to let you know of the up-coming mission trip back to the Gulf area. We are going back to Waveland, Mississippi in March and will be staying at the Lagniappe Presbyterian Church. This is the same place we stayed last fall. This time we will be roofing and dry walling. The weeks of the trip are: March 10-17th for U.T. (and college) students and adults, and March 17-24th for high school students and adults. The cost is $199.00 per person for the week’s stay. For those of you that didn’t go with us last fall, we stay in bunkhouse style mobile homes and have our own shower facilities at the church. I hope that Bethel will be able to help those going with their fees. I will look into this and report it in church when I have “the word”. I know Dave Nippert will be going back and has already signed up. He is one of our crew chiefs. Adults that would like to stay both weeks are certainly welcomed to. Please notify Rick Kuhlman at 865-250-5479 if you are interested. There are two meetings before the mission trip:
February 28th at the Pan-Hellenic Building on U.T. campus at 7:30 P.M. for college students.
March 4th at 2nd Presbyterian Church on Kingston Pike at 5 P.M. for parents of the high school students (and of course the students themselves).
Adult participants can attend either meeting.
I will not be able to go on this trip, but I encourage all of you who are interested to take advantage of this opportunity to be the “hands and feet” of God.
The second item of interest is a December article from R.N. magazine about “Gaining Control over A- fib (Atrial Fibrillation)”. There are several in our parish that have this condition. Currently, there are more than 2 million Americans living with atrial fibrillation. A-fib (as we call it in the medical community) is responsible for a third of all hospitalizations for cardiac rhythm disturbances. One of the dangerous side effects from A-fib is stroke or heart failure. Many of you know that common treatments are medicines such as Lanoxin or Coumadin. There is also cardioversion which is an electrical current applied to the chest wall to “reset” the heart’s rhythm. In addition, past treatments were: pacemakers or implanted defibrillators. A new treatment for a-fib that is not relieved by the above measures is called “the maze procedure”. This procedure is performed by a cardiac surgeon who makes small cuts in atrial tissue to interrupt the conduction of abnormal impulses. These incisions direct the normal sinus impulses to travel to the atrial- ventricle node, as they should. During healing, scar tissue forms and the abnormal electrical impulses are blocked from traveling through the heart. If you are interested, I could give you more information about this procedure. Call me anytime Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday at 376-6340.
As always, 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 November ...
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The Gift of Caring project allows individuals to purchase Girl Scout Cookies to send to the residents in Jamestowne Assisted Living or in Wellington Place. Members of Girls Scout Troop 846 will deliver your gift personally during March. Julie C. has more details for Gift of Caring orders ($3.50 per box) plus she has delicious photos of your eight cookie choices.
The Stewardship and Finance Committee needs:
- A Bulletin Board Coordinator
- Special Offering Coordinators (4) – One Great Hour of Sharing (March), Pentecost (May), Peacemaking (Sept) , and Christmas Joy (Dec)
Call Carol Brown, 376-7171 or 384-8158, if you can help.
The PCUSA’s office for Theology and Worship, and the Duke University center for End of Life Center are sponsoring an End of Life Conference March 12-14 in Durham, NC. On-line registration is now open. Information follows. For additional description you may want to read the story currently on the Presbyterian News Service at http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2007/07041.htm
The Presbytery of East Tennessee Presents
The 2007 Loaves and Fishes Event
Fully Alive, Fully Aware
March 16-17, 2007, Maryville College Campus
It’s time again to talk about Loaves and Fishes, our Presbytery’s annual conference designed to renew, inspire, and equip us for our life in Christ. This is a two-day event held each year on the campus of Maryville College.
It begins on Friday with several early courses designed for church professionals and administrators. This year there are so many wonderful course offerings that some are being offered on Friday afternoon: a writing workshop led by keynote speaker Ann Weems; a look back at the Peace, Unity and Purity report led by Jack Haberer, event preacher; a workshop on capturing people’s stories through the camera lens led by David Young, and another workshop on designing aesthetic worship spaces led by Brenda Grauer. After the dinner hour on Friday the event will kick off with opening remarks and Keyote speech by Ann Weems, noted poet and author.
A glance at the list of workshops lets you see that there is a broad spectrum of topics – from self-improvement and awareness -- to spiritual growth and reflection – to topics designed to help individuals and churches in their specific ministries -- to discussions of issues that affect the church as a whole. There are a total of 44 workshops in the two-day span. The problem is not finding something that interests you, but in narrowing your choices down to two or three!
One of the great “intangibles” that is not mentioned anywhere in the Loaves and Fishes brochure is the opportunity to meet, mingle and share with fellow Christians from other churches in our Presbytery. Some are old friends from previous churches, some we have met along the way as we attended Presbytery meetings or served on committees, and some are good friends we just haven’t met yet! Being able to worship together on Saturday morning with Presbyterians from all across east Tennessee, listening to music performed by musicians and a mass choir from all our churches – it’s an experience you just have to be a part of to understand!
We don’t have the space here to list all of the workshops, but there is an excellent color brochure put out by the Presbytery available. You can find a copy in the church office, or by contacting Karen Schall or any of the members of session. Short versions, called “The Menu,” are available in the narthex along with registration forms. Online versions are at presbyteryeasttn.org. The deadline for early registration has already passed, but the final deadline isn’t until March 1. Session has indicated that the church will pay for half of the tuition costs, making this a bargain you won’t want to pass up. We urge you to register early, as some of the sessions are bound to fill up soon.
The Book Discussion group will meet on February 22 at 1:30. In the next three months, we will be discussing:
February: Tall Woman, by Wilma Dykeman
March: Raney, by Clyde Edgerton
April: The Hornets’ Nest, by Jimmy Carter
Fellowship Sunday, February 11: Issues Class
Valentine's Fun Lunch, Tuesday, February 13: The Hettricks
Fat Tuesday's Feast, Tuesday, February 20 Denise Martin and Youth
Please note: The Fat Tuesday's Meal will replace our February's Fellowship Supper.
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.
We would like to invite ALL of our Bethel family to a banquet on Sunday, February 25th, 2007, after church in our Fellowship Hall to honor our cherished and talented organist, Mary Ann Hensley. Mary Ann will leave Bethel after more than 18 years of faithful service to take a job as organist and choir director at a church closer to her home in Lenoir City.
Parish Life/Worship
Committees
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THANKS AND APPRECIATION
Mary Ann, This Is For You:
All of us appreciate you
For all the special things you do
Your music, o, so cheerfully
Brought joy to us abundantly.
We will honor you today,
It’s a perfect time to say,
We wish you happiness and cheer
All throughout the coming year!
Thanks so much for all you’ve done
To make our church a special one.
We will miss you very much
But hope you’ll always stay in touch.
God Bless You!
Your Bethel Family
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The Tenth Anniversary
Music For Lovers
"Coffee and Confections Cabaret"
with Silent Auction
Friday and Saturday, February 09 and 10, 8:00 p.m.
Roane State Community College Student Lounge
$18 General Admission, $12 Season Ticket Holders.
Seating by reservation only!
The concert includes popular songs from all eras and genres - especially for your sweetheart. It is guaranteed to be a very special outing for that one you love. A beautiful fresh flower will be presented to every lady and our gentlemen guests will receive a sweet surprise! Waiting at your candlelit table will be a medley of fruit and cheeses. Once the concert begins you will be presented with a veritable cornucopia of delectable desserts, all served at your table by our singers! Seating is limited and by reservation only, call in your reservation as soon as possible.
Call with your choice of performance nights and the number of people in your party to 865-882-1472, 865-882-1456 or via email louanneb@volstate.net
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On January 7, we welcomed these new members to the life and worship of our church family. If you haven’t already met Mike, Jeanette, Larry, and Brenda, please take time to say hello and welcome them. We are truly blessed to have them in our midst!
Mike and Jeanette McElhinney come to us from Lake Zurich, Illinois. Mike has been here a little over a year, and Jeanette moved here in August, after selling their home there. They live south of the river, and are neighbors of Bonnie Anderson and Phil & Jane Walsh. They have a 21-year-old son who is in his final semester at Indiana University.
Mike is President/CEO of Michael Dunn Center, and Jeanette is a registered nurse. She worked at a hospital in Illinois for over 20 years, but so far she has stayed busy enough that she hasn’t looked for a permanent job here. In addition to lots of time spent working on their house, she is involved with the Hands of Mercy food pantry, and is also an avid reader.
Mike and Jeanette are both avid gardeners, and are hard at work planting trees and planning gardens. They share a love of all things outdoors, especially hiking and bicycling. Mike also happens to be an ordained Disciples of Christ minister. He also enjoys woodworking.
Jeanette reports that they love being in east Tennessee, and especially enjoy the friendly people they have met here. They have stayed pretty busy with home improvement projects, but look forward to hiking our mountain trails in the future.
Larry and Brenda Strickling are former Bethel members who have rejoined us after returning to Tennessee. Originally from Ohio, they moved here in connection with Larry’s job as an Electrical Engineer with Union Carbide. The lived here from 1973-79, and then Larry’s job took them to New York, and eventually Iowa, where they stayed for 27 years until his retirement. They moved back to Tennessee last year, and now live next-door to Doris Barber in the house vacated by Brenda’s parents when they moved to South Carolina. Larry reports that they stay very busy with remodeling, repairing, repainting, and general fixing-up.
Brenda has been a homemaker for most of their marriage. She enjoys singing in the choir; in fact she re-joined Bethel’s choir even before their membership transfer was complete! She also enjoys sewing and being a member of the women’s circle. Larry has been involved as an adult in Boy Scouting for more than 40 years; he served as Cubmaster in Pack 101 and Scoutmaster in Troop 201 (no longer exists) during their first time in Tennessee. A particular interest is collecting scout patches, the commemorative badges issued for special events or honors.
Larry and Brenda have two children: Allen, who is with Motorola in Colorado; and Cynthia Cortesio, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They are the grandparents of Christa Cortesio, a college freshman, and Mike Jr., a senior in high school.
About a year ago the session approved getting the Presbyterian Historical Society to place Bethel's session records (1818 - 2000) onto microfilm and the microfilm images to be transferred to a master CD.
All that has been done and the micro film and master CD will be stored in the Bethel Office in the media cooler of the fire cabinet. You may have a free copy of the CD - Please contact Cathy McDowell.
The rules are simple:
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For members and friends of Bethel to Buy, Sell, Swap, Give Away items -- or list an item you need, or a job you would do or need to have done. |
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Use Twenty five words or less to describe your item - send to Karen Schall schallk@highland.net |
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Items will not be automatically carried over from month to month - you can resubmit your item. |
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Deadline is the 20th of each month - items received after the 20th will appear the next month. |
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You may list your phone # or folks can use the Bethel Directory |
Give Away - 3 decades of National Geographic's to give away. They are from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Jane Walsh
Financial Report 1/1/06 to 12/31/06
| *Undesignated Income |
$224,651.45 |
| Plus supplemental income from designated giving |
$ 6,709.75 |
| Total Operating Income |
$231,361.20 |
| Less Budget Expense |
234,862.10 |
| Deficit |
($ 3,500.90) |
*Undesignated Income includes: Undesignated giving, rental house income, Mid-East rental income, and checking and savings account interest.
H.O.M.E. (Hands of Mercy)
The volunteers and Board of directors of HOME would like to thank every one who donates to the 2 cents a meal program. We received a grant from Presbytery last year. Our Director wrote a grant again this year and we received a grant of $1800. This really helps us feed the poor and hungry of Roane County.
We appreciate so much all your foodstuff and money you donate to us. God Bless you and thanks for helping us do Christ's work of feeding the hungry.
Big doin’s are in the works for February! As always, Bethel’s youth are heavily involved in the life of our church and community. They just finished hosting the Sunday dinner that was held before the annual congregational meeting on January 28th. A big round of applause goes out to the kids and their adult helpers for their efforts.
Coming in February, they will host a Pancake Dinner on Fat Tuesday, February 20th. The dinner will feature (besides the pancakes) Mardi Gras décor and cajun music. Donations will be accepted and will go to a mission project of their choice.
And, just for fun youth leader Gregg Murr is making plans for a gala lock-in sometime during the month. Plans aren’t complete yet, but it promises to be a blast – be sure to stay tuned for details about time and place.
Many thanks go out to Greg Murr and all the folks who help with our youth programs. Their energy and enthusiasm are an inspiration to us all!
Memorial gifts were received in the months of December and January for:
Joyce Law
from Vernon Law
George, Jean and Joan Thompson
from Ron Thompson
Dot Pierce
from Gene Pierce
Bear Allen
from Buddy Patton
Bear Allen
from Buddy Patton
Larry Fritts
from Buddy Patton
Virginia Patton
from Buddy Patton
... none reported this month ...
... nothing reported this month ...
Dear Bethel Family,
Thank you very much for the monetary Christmas gift. Each of you is very special to me, and I have been very blessed to be your musician for these many years. May God bless each of you, and may the joy of music always fill your hearts.
With love,
Mary Ann
... nothing to ponder this month ...
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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Bettie Shenk, Doris Barber, Madge Mounger, Ginny Warlick, Wanda Carter, Al & Dot Davis, Tom & Helen Roostee, Marc Sherrod, Hugh Webb, Justin Trivette
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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)
LAURA DAILEY (07)
376-0759
(Ted, Rebecca, Rachel, Ellen)
*Banker, Tollie
Gaffin, Marilyn & +Chad
+Heidinger, Judy
Martin, Bill & Bobbie
*Miles, Buddy & Mary
Miller, Sabrina
Miller, Tabitha
Murr, Margaret & Greg
Murr, Jacob
Murr, Justin
+Pickel, Gilbert
Pickel, Tom & Lisa
Shenk, Bettie & *Bill
Sides, Bill & Ann
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DANNY HOLLOWAY (08)
376-1440
(Tammy, Andy)
Anderson, Bonnie
Davis, *Sam & *Joan
Hettrick, Marge & *Dick
Hines, Jim & Mary B.
Hines, Matthew
^Hunter, Ruby
McDowell, Cathy & *Dan
Morris, Jerry & Jennie
Roostee, Tom & Helen
Schall, Karen & Jim
Shesler, Elmer & Erma
+Tipton, Linda Jo Templeton
Walsh, Phil & Jane
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Mark Banker