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The Open Door
VOL. 33 
E-Mail & On-Line Newsletter
By now, everyone is aware of the proposal for some major building renovations at Bethel. This proposal results from our visioning process, begun several years ago, and represents the best efforts of our building committee, in collaboration with our architect/consultant Mr. Chris Malone, to respond to the need to update our facilities and to be better equipped for ministry in the 21st century. Many of the specific ideas for changes came from you during the small study groups that met in January/February of 2003; the committee and consultant generated other ideas based on Bethel’s perception of God’s preferred future for our fellowship, study, service, worship, and witness. Mr. Malone, who made a presentation to session last month about this proposal, will be making a similar presentation to any and all who want to learn more about this project. His presentation will be at the third Wednesday family night supper, January 19, beginning with our covered dish meal at 6:30 pm. Prior to January 19, the building committee will host four small group occasions for you to review the proposal:
If none of these times suits your schedule, please contact the church office. This is an exciting time in the life of the Bethel Presbyterian Church – a time filled with hope and promise! Much, much creative energy has been expended in an effort to address a variety of building concerns, and we are glad to have arrived at the point at which the whole congregation can now review and rejoice over a wonderful proposal for aligning our physical facilities with a renewed sense of God’s calling to be Christ’s Good News people. As the prophet Isaiah once wrote: “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (43:18-19). Please join with me in anticipation and prayer that we all might be empowered to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit regarding this possible new direction in our life together at Bethel. I look forward to hearing your comments, questions, and suggestions about this building proposal, and I especially plan to count on seeing each of you on January 19 at our fellowship supper! Grace and Peace,
Another year gone by- it has been quick, hasn’t it? Happy 2005 to you and I wish you a happy and prosperous year. The process I want to talk about in this article is called Seasonal Affective Disorder. This disorder can affect any age but is especially prominent in young people and women. It strikes in the winter months when the days are shorter and grayer (primarily January and February.) The cause of Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) is lack of sunlight and an increase of a chemical in your body called melatonin. Melatonin is a sleep-related hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. The increase in production of melatonin is directly attributable to longer periods of darkness in the winter months. Symptoms include:
If you have any questions about this or any other health problem, please call me at 376-6340. As always, to your health ............. Deb
DISASTER RELIEF FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS It was with horror and sadness that the PDA team viewed the destruction and loss of life resulting from the earthquake and tsunamis that hit South and Southeast Asia on Sunday morning, December 26, 2004. The quake is the world's most powerful in a century. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is processing an immediate response of $100,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds to support regional church partners and their relief organizations. Already CASA (Church's Auxiliary for Social Action) and the National Council of Churches of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) are hard at work. In India, CASA reports that 12 teams have been deployed, both assisting and assessing the needs of people in the coastal areas. Four strategic operational points are being set up and an emergency feeding program started. Nine of CASA's member churches are already engaged in relief work. Plans are to reach at least 50,000 families through these operational points. In Sri Lanka, the three pastoral teams have been sent to the affected regions. Food distribution has started and church members are hard at work transporting people to safe areas. Emergency officer S.K. Xavier reports that "there are many children's homes run by the churches, and although we have been told that they have been moved to safe places, we have been unable to make contact with them." The homes support children who have lost their parents or families in the war. As in India, churches cancelled all end of the year functions and are using funds collected at Christmas for relief work. In Indonesia assessment visits are underway. Information there has been more difficult to get as the region hardest hit has also been isolated from the world due to a clampdown by the Indonesian government in an effort to control fighting between government soldiers and separatists rebels. PDA is expecting assessment information and response plans from Church WorldService within the next couple of days. Partners throughout the region are pleading for prayer and assistance. "I can't describe the disaster that has hit Sri Lanka very unexpectedly and has thrown millions of lives into complete disarray. We have broken our vacation and are working today to assist those who are helpless during these times. Please help us." Writes Xavier, an emergency officer with the Council of Churches of Sri Lanka. Those wishing to respond financially may do so by designating gifts for Asia - DR000167. Donations may be sent through normal mission giving channels. Gifts by credit card can be made by calling PresbyTel at (800)872 3283 or online at http://www.pcusa.org/pda Checks payable to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) can also be mailed directly to:
Please keep the survivors of this disaster in your prayers. The pastor has begun teaching a series of confirmation classes for 6-8th graders who have expressed an interest in joining the church. This class meets on Sunday morning during the Sunday School hour as well as for special activities. Participants include: Ryan Preston, Jacob Murr, Kerry Hyder, Ellen Dailey, John Richmond, and Eden Sherrod. Please pray for and encourage these young people as they make this very important decision in their lives! FAREWELL/APPRECIATION GIFT A note from Marianne Shadden and Cathy McDowell:
IN THE NEWS ... Former Bethel member Beth Hettrick Berry has received the 2004 Community Service Award from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. Berry, a 1979 graduate of Roane County High School and a 1984 graduate of Warren Wilson, is a Scout leader, lab technician, published poet, and works with church theater. In the past five years, she has received six grants from the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts to stage theatrical productions with elementary and middle school students. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management awarded Berry and Wakefield Elementary School the Environmentalist of the Year Award for their work on the play titled Kid-cycle. Congratulations to Frank Kornegay for being selected as a finalist at the Director Level for the Administrative and Operational Leadership Award at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. At a recent fancy and festive event, Frank was recognized for balancing the Spallation Neutron Source Project’s demands of cost, schedule, and technical performance without compromising safety or environmental mandates. A NOTE FROM YOUR WEB SITE EDITOR We have a new entry in the web site Visitor Registry. Dollie, from Bethel Presbyterian USA in Plainfield, New Jersey, enjoyed our site very much; she thinks our site is beautiful and I agree. Have YOU checked our web site recently? I invite you to click on “New at Bethel” and learn about the New Alpha Course starting January 12th, 2005, read the latest letter from the Wambugu’s of Grace School in Limuru, Kenya, and find out the latest Youth News. Shalom, PRISON MINISTRY Many thanks to all who contributed candy and helped decorate goody bags for the children of inmates at the Morgan County prison. I am continually amazed at the love and generosity shown by Bethel members. This year it was particularly evident as we had occasion to ask for donations for not only the prison ministry, but also for Head Start children and our servicemen serving overseas this Christmas. Our bags, boxes, and tables overflowed! It seemed to me to be a modern-day version of the story of the Loaves and Fishes. Thanks to everyone for your generous support. – Karen Schall ADULT EDUCATION Mid-East Community Action Agency would like to announce that Adult Education classes are available to earn your GED or improve your basic skills. Classes are free for adults age 18 & older. Please call 376-6663 for more information. CIRCLE NEWS The REa circle will meet regularly beginning on Sunday, January 9th. We will continue our study of the book of Acts. We always welcome any woman of our church or friends in the community who would like to study with us every second and fourth Sunday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the choir room. ALPHA MINISTRY YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN BETHEL'S NEW COURSE TO BEGIN JANUARY 12th, 2005 The Alpha ministry is beginning registration for its second course! The first course was attended by twenty regular participants who found the Alpha experience to be open, outward-focused, Spirit-led, future-oriented, inclusive and intentional! The teachings of Alpha are Biblically based and sound! Sound good? Well, INVITE A FRIEND TO JOIN YOU DURING OUR NEXT ALPHA COURSE! Click HERE for Alpha details. Forming lasting friendships within the body of Christ is one of the main reasons people stay in the church. At Alpha we get to know new people and learn to minister to one another. We pray together, study the Bible together, and discuss issues arising from the talks: including a few questions like these– Why does God allow suffering? What about other religions? Is there a conflict between science and Christianity? Consider inviting a friend, neighbor, co-worker, or a family member…to attend with you! ALPHA IS IN NEED OF A FEW GOOD PEOPLE ALPHA MINISTRY JOB DESCRIPTIONS What Skills are Required ? FRIENDLINESS! COMMITMENT! What Kind of Help Do We Need
If you are interested in helping with this great outreach ministry:
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP Bethel’s Book Discussion Group will meet on January 27 at 1:30 in the church lounge. Upcoming book selections include:
Head Start Christmas Party a Grand Success The 26 children of Head Start and their families who meet at Bethel each week enjoyed a Christmas Party December 10 in our Fellowship Hall. Each child received a $20 gift card in memory of the following that loved children and served God at Bethel: Bob Badger, Delvenia Beasley, Jimmy Beasley, Clara Haler, Harold Haler, Robert Ludwig, Terry Robbins, Frances Smith, Little Bill Smith, and W.J. Smith. The children and siblings were given several books each, colorful candy, washable markers, magnetic plastic numbers, plus the Christmas crafts they made at the party to take home. Most of the little ones cheerfully tried to play Jingle Bells using our color-coded children’s bells. The 24 families accepted food boxes from Bethel in memory of those who founded our church in 1818. Thank you very much to Bethel Elves Barbara Williams, Delores Sandmel, Chelsea Richmond, Ruth Ann Ludwig, Debbie Hyder, Marge Hettrick, Pat Harvey, Amber Jacks, Amy Coen, Julie Bunch, and all those who made this special party so wonderful. Brrr… ... on these cold nights, is everybody using their corn pillows that they purchased at the Youth Auction?
Many thanks to everyone who helped make the 2004 Christmas Basket project successful. This includes all those who sponsored an angel and/or donated to the Christmas Basket fund. We were able to supply gifts and food to 27 families and 57 children. Special thanks go to Jack McNew and Phillip Walsh for helping with food pick up and handling; Linda and Frank Jones, Jack McNew, Chelsea Richmond and Joe Coen for sorting, checking and placing all gifts Friday night. Many thanks to Jack McNew, Joe Coen, Linda and Frank Jones, Marilyn and Frank Harris, Mary Will, Joan Davis, Al Rybka, Chelsea Richmond and Phil Walsh, for helping distribute gifts Saturday morning. Thanks to Boy Scout Troop 101 and Roger Richmond for the donation of Christmas trees to needy families. Thanks to the Tai Chi instructor for several boxes of band oranges (enough for every family to have 4 – 6 oranges). We owe Krogers and Food City a special thanks for supplying us with turkeys and the food baskets. A very special thanks goes to Peggy Sheppard for doing such a great job coordinating the food and making sure every family had plenty to eat. Roane County Cooperative Ministries RCCM is one of the projects that the Mission Outreach Committee has decided to concentrate on during 2005. Cathy McDowell and Jane Pickel, two Bethel members involved with RCCM, reported to the Mission Outreach Committee that RCCM is usually out of money by the second week of each month – many families are seriously effected by this situation during these cold winter months. To help bring in more funds during the winter months, the Mission Outreach Committee and the Parish Life Committee will have a chili lunch tentatively scheduled before the congregational meeting January 23rd. Watch the bulletin and listen to announcements before church for more details. Our Gifts at Work The Mission Outreach Committee requested and received session approval for a budget increase. The additional money will be distributed each month to the Wambugus in Kenya ($150 per month which will support a child at their school) and an additional $200 per month for a total of $400 per month to RCCM. Many thanks to the session and to the congregation for supporting these worthwhile projects. PARISH LIFE Hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas. Here are some announcements. Fellowship Sunday, January 9th. Hosts: Mark Banker’s Sunday School Class. Fellowship Lunch, Tuesday, January 11th. Host: Marge Hettrick.
Fellowship Supper, Wednesday, January 19th. Session has invited Mr. Chris Malone to our Family Night to present the proposed plan for building renovations and redesign. Hope you can make it to this important night.
... none reported this month ... Dear Bethel Family, Thank you so much for the generous Christmas bonus. As you know, when you have children usually they get the money and attention during the holidays. Thank you for my "mad money." Kerry and I are already planning a trip to West Town Mall. Debbie Hyder An enthusiastic Thank You from Lib Muecke for all the Christmas carolers who serenaded her on December 19. It was wonderful! I would like to thank all of those people who contributed items for the Christmas packages we sent to our Bethel family members currently serving in the military. We had enough items to fill 6 large boxes, which were donated by the Kingston post office. Hopefully the packages will be received by Christmas and will help make the season a little brighter for each of those who received one. Remember to keep all of the servicemen and women in your prayers this season. I would also like to take this opportunity to say a huge “THANK YOU” to Julie Bunch. I inadvertently left her name off the list of the “crew” helping with the Christmas pageant this year. Julie faithfully came to each and every practice, not only teaching the kids the songs (with designer word sheets) as requested, but also volunteering to be the lighting/staging coordinator, while also helping to get kids into costumes and onto the stage when it was their turn and prompting lines when needed. Without her help, things certainly would not have run as smoothly as they did this year. Greg and I both appreciate her help and apologize for the omission of her name from the program. Thanks again, Julie! --Margaret Murr, Christian Ed. Committee
... none reported this month ...
Bethel Family Prayer Calendar - January, 2005
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FRANK HARRIS (06) Barrett, Simon |
CHAD GAFFIN (06)
Benfield, Madge |
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