|
The Open DoorPublished monthly by and for the members and friends of
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
“Let the children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:14)
Dear God,
Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. Ginny. . . . Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. Joyce . . . If we come back as something, please don't let me be Jennifer Horton - because I hate her. Denise. . . It rained for our whole vacation and is my father mad! He said some things about you that people are not supposed to say, but I hope you will not hurt him anyway. Your friend (I am not going to tell you who I am). . . I read the Bible. What does begat mean? Nobody will tell me. Love, Alison . . .Is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house? Anita . . . My Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go? Love, Dennis . . . Who draws the lines around the countries? Nan . . . Did you mean for giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? Norma . . . . In Bible times did they really talk that fancy? Jennifer . . . What does it mean you are a jealous God? I thought you had everything. Jane . . . How come you did all those miracles in the old days and don't do any now? Seymour . . . Please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this year. Peter . . . Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother. Larry . . . . I keep waiting for spring but it never did come yet. Don't forget. Mark . . . . You don't have to worry about me. I always look both ways. Dean . . . My brother told me about being born but it doesn't sound right. Marsha . . . If you watch in Church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes. Mickey D. . . . In Sunday School they told us what you do. Who does it when you are on Vacation? Jane . . . We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday School they said you did it. So I bet he stoled your Idea. Sincerely, Donna . . . .It is great the way you always get the Stars in the right places. Jeff . . .I am doing the best I can. It's hard sometimes. Frank . . . . I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was Cool. Thank you. Eugene
The results of the “Season Of Dreaming” at Bethel are currently being complied and put into a narrative form. The session anticipates discussion and action on this information over the summer. Your continued prayers are appreciated.
Greetings! The flowers are blooming, the temperatures are rising and, hopefully, the flood waters are receding. Last week I became aware of some late-breaking news I thought would be of interest to you. A report out of the Vanderbilt University Medial Center’s publication Reflections of Healing and Light indicates that regularly taking anti-inflammatory ibuprofen seems to cancel out the heart-protecting benefits of aspirin.
Patients taking low daily doses of aspirin to ward off heart attach and stroke “would be prudent to avoid long-term use of ibuprofen,” stated clinical pharmacologist Thomas M.McDonald of Ninewells Medial School in Dundee, Scotland. Mc Donald and Li Wei tracked over 7,000 adults with heart disease for eight years. Those who routinely took aspirin and ibuprofen were twice as likely to die as those who took aspirin alone or took aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and Nuprin) only on occasion doesn’t seem to hamper aspirin’s benefit. Nor do painkillers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).
To your health ......... Deb
|
[A reminder that session meetings are open for members to attend unless the session goes into executive session; the minutes of the session are are available, by appointment, for review in the church office] |
|
| No Highlights were reported this month. | |
HANDS OF MERCY FOOD LIST
Sugar, Flour, Rice, Cereal, Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Saltines, Dry Beans, Canned Meat, Pasta & Sauce, Bread, Cornmeal Mix Boxes, Macaroni & Cheese, Corn, Green Beans, Green Peas, Soup, Tuna
Bethel's New Web Site!
New Address:
www.bethelpcusa.org
More Website Magic...Bethel's website has a new, fun feature designed to help you (and me) extend friendly, no-pressure invitations to those we'd like to invite to church. First, go to your e-mail address book and find someone who might be open to an invitation to visit Bethel. Write down the e-mail address and then go to
and find "Invite a Friend" on the home page (in blue, right below and to the right of the main menu.) One click will take you to a list of friend-types such as youth friend, casual friend, family members, widow/widower/single person, coworker, close friend, and family. Click on the category where your friend fits, and you will find a message that you can send from the site as is, alter, or completely rewrite to suit your situation. Contact the website editor if you'd like to suggest a new friend-type category or different wording on a message. And please let us know if you use this feature and get a response. A recent survey says that 82% of all new church members came by invitation from a current member. To paraphrase Clinton Marsh: "Love is the motive, love is the message, love is the (e-mail) method."
DINNER-ON-THE-GROUNDS
A Dinner-on-the-Grounds is being planned for Sunday, June 1st. Plan to stay after church and join in celebration of Bethel’s 185th Anniversary. Please bring picnic-style pot-luck foods that do not require heating, due to limited kitchen and oven space. Drinks will be provided; bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.
During Worship we will recognize the 24 members who have belonged to Bethel 50 years or more!
BETHEL T-SHIRTS
Your Parish Life Committee is in the process of ordering Bethel T-shirts. The shirts are white with dark blue lettering: Bethel Presbyterian Church , (picture of our church).Kingston, Tennessee. The cost for a shirt is approx. $10. We need to get a general idea about quantities and sizes to put the order in. Sizes come in S,M,L,XL, XXL, and higher. And for our Bethel Youth: Bethel Presbyterian Church, YOUTH, (picture of our church), Kingston, Tennessee. Let's all order a Bethel T-shirt and do a little Evangelism. Please call Marianne Shadden 354-3609. Thank you.
Summer Music
Summer is fast approaching, and the choir will once again be having a well-deserved break. A sign-up sheet will be placed on the bulletin board in the back of the sanctuary the last week of May to give all you talented folks an opportunity to sign up and display your musical skills.
If you have any questions, please contact Mary Ann Hensley (988-3708 or 574-4268).We look forward to hearing you!!
Recent Graduates
Ellen Evans
graduated from Maryville College on May 18 with a BS in Psychology.
Jonathan Rybka
will receive his Masters in Education (Social Studies) from Wake Forrest University on May 17.
Future employment status still unknown!!
Sarah Dungan
will graduate from Rhode Island School of Design with a BA in Film and Animation on June 7, 2003.
Linda Preston
received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Belmont College on May 10.
You Are Invited!
You are invited to: Bram Hyder’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor on June 6, 7 p.m. at Luminary Methodist Church on river Rd. Ten Mile (on left just past John Knox Center turnoff.)
Change of Address
Mary Woodall
Home Away from Home
312 McMaster's Place
Maryville, TN 37801
Harvalee Preston
Rockwood Health Care
5580 Roane St Hwy
Rockwood, TN 37854
You are invited to a reception on Sunday, June 8 right after Worship Service to honor our confirmands:Rachel Dailey, Matthew Hines, Jeremiah Jacks, Max LaDue, Frederick Morgan, Jordan Sherrod.These young people have been on a confirmation-commissioning journey and are ready to make a public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ. Let's welcome and celebrate our newest Bethel-members! Bethel continues to support The Theological Education Fund of the PCUSA through our budgeted funds. The TEF is the only denomination-wide source of financial support for PCUSA seminaries. Last year, 2,300 congregations gave a total of $2,665,466 to the TEF in support of our seminaries as they prepare men and women to serve the church of Jesus Christ.
Mission Outreach Report
Bethel Presbyterian Church U.S.A. is one of 80 churches in the East Tennessee Presbytery. Our benevolence giving has been noted by the Presbytery as outstanding. In 2003, our benevolence giving has made up 19% of our total budget. This 19% includes $5000.00 per year for our Mission Outreach budget and approximately $30,000.00 for the Shared Missions of General Assembly, our Synod, and our Presbytery. Our Mission Outreach Committee disburses our $5,000.00 to support local, national, and international missions ranging from emergency assistance to individuals in Roane County to The Grace School in Kenya founded by Rev. Samuel Wambugu. This year we have allocated $1200.00 to support the Medicare/ pharmacy supplement for senior citizens in Roane County that cannot afford their medicines.
$30,000.00 of our benevolence giving goes to Shared Missions of General Assembly, Synod, and Presbytery. In conjunction with other Presbyterian Churches our dollars are combined to support missions of the Presbyterian Church USA. The Presbytery of East Tennessee has allocated its’ 2003 shared Missions funds in the following way:
| Percentage | Recipient |
| 12.0% | U.T. Chattanooga Campus Ministries |
| 11.0% | U.T. Knoxville Campus Ministries |
| 6.5% | Bachman Learning Center |
| 3.5% | Sunset Gap Community Center |
| 12.0% | John Knox Center |
| 3.0% | Committees on Ministry & Preparation for Ministry |
| 12.0% | Congregational Redevelopment |
| 24.0% | Presbytery of East Tenn. Administrative Costs |
| 10.0% | OTHER SPECIALIZED MINISTRIES, INCLUDING
Knoxville College, Maryville College, Tusculum College, Morgan-Scott Project, and other programs, such as Christian Education, Evangelism and New “Church Development, Mission Interpretation and Stewardship, and Reconciliation and Compassion. |
At the Synod and General Assembly level, the outreach of the Shared Missions funding is broader and covers emergency aid to victims of war and natural disasters, translation and world-wide distribution of the Bible, support of Presbyterian seminaries, ministries to military personnel, and assistance and education to the poor in our country and overseas.
Over and above our budgeted giving, Bethel participates in the special offerings of the PCUSA: Peacemaking, Christmas Joy, Pentecost and One Great Hour of Sharing.
As the chair of Mission Outreach, it is very gratifying to know our money is helping so many. Thank you for your generous support of our missions.
Deb Hyder, Chair, Mission Outreach Committee
Christian Education Committee
Summer Sunday School:
WHAT’S NEW IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION?!
A choice of three opportunities for your Christian Education Committee, Sunday School Teachers, Director of Christian Education, and all those interested n Christian Education, to explore What’s New in Christian Education.
– You can explore tools to discern which curriculum to choose.
– You can examine the new PC(USA) curriculum, WE BELIEVE.
– You can learn new tips for calling volunteers to teaching.
– You can review other curriculum available.
Sunday June 1, 2003
2-4 p.m.
Resource Center, Presbytery of East TN
609 Cedar Lane Knoxville, TN 37912
Tuesday June 10, 2003
10- 12 Noon
Abel Lodge John Knox Center
Ten Mile, TN
Lunch is available with prior reservations, please call John Knox Center, 376-2236
Saturday June 14, 2003
10-12 Noon
Robinson Room, Rivermont Presbyterian Church
3319 Hixson Pike, Chattanooga, TN 37415
For more information or directions, contact:
Rev. Lina Hart - Lina@PresbyteryEastTn.org, by phone: 423-877-2422 or 865-388-2381 or
Connie Umbach - Resource@PresbyteryEastTn.org, by phone: 865-688-5581 or 800-542-4246
We are very grateful to the Senior High and Middle School youth who did such an outstanding job leading our youth Sunday service. Participants were Becca and Rachel Dailey, Brahm and Kerry Hyder, Eden, Jordan, Hannah, and Caleb Sherrod, Julie Hart, Max LaDue, Chelsea Richmond, and Justin Murr. Thanks to Pat and Jerry Harvey, Marc Sherrod, and Kathy Banker for helping the youth put together Youth Sunday on May 18. Everyone is encouraged to come out to the White Elephant Sale at Bethel this Saturday, May 24, beginning at 9:00 am. Set up will be on Friday. Proceeds will go to help fund the mission trip to Idaho and Washington this July. Thanks for all of your help with the auction, flamingo flocking, and White Elephant Sale.
Gifts received during the months of April and May in memory of:
Cleyon Newcomb from Doris Barber
Joyce Law from Vernon Law toward kitchen renovation
Dot Pierce from Gordon & Ruby Fielden to the “Miss Dot Hunger Fund”
Notes of Appreciation
Prison Ministry:
Excerpts from a note from the Lifers' Club: "On behalf of all in the Lifers' Club I want to thank you and the rest of the Bethel gang for your help and support of the Easter Egg project. Smiles on the faces of children and parents assured us it was a grand success....please pass along our thanks...and to the youth group for their time, effort, and support.."
Dear Bethel Family,Just wanted to say thank you again for your thoughtfulness and gift to Habitat For Humanity in memory of my mother, Cleyon Newcomb. You all are such a wonderful, caring church family.
Much love, Mary Ann
April 29, 2003
We want to thank everyone from Bethel that came out and cleaned up and cut trees. We sincerely appreciate their hard work. With the dead pines and the storms that hit it has been impossible to catch up with all the trees that are down.
Please tell everyone in the group how much we appreciate them! Remember - “Volunteers are unpaid, not because they are worthless but because they are priceless”!
Sincerely, Barbara Flowers, Admn. Assistant, John Knox Center
Dear Miss Dot’s Hungry Children’s Fund:
Please accept our sincere thanks and appreciation for your generous donation to Casa de Sara. Your gift will help make a difference in the lives of children in Bolivia and your kindness will not be forgotten.
Lori Santoro, Founder and Executive Director, P.O. BOX 30306, Knoxville, TN 37930-03-6
A VERSE FOR PENTECOST
God is like the wind, something no one sees;
Mighty as the gale, gentle as the breeze;
With a hidden power no one can deny as the days go by.
— From the hymn “God Is Like a Rock” by Natalie Sleeth
1 - BOB JONES 376-4434
Chris Badger 8 Clay & Nancy Landers |
15 - CAROLYN MATTHEWS590-1422
Madge Benfield 22 Melissa Foy |
|
||||||||||
