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The Open Door
VOL. 33 NO. 6 – Marc Sherrod, Minister – June, 2005 
E-Mail & On-Line Newsletter
Do you remember the Percept congregation-wide survey that launched our visioning process in September 2002? Were you among the many participants in the visioning small groups that met for a meal and discussion on eight consecutive Wednesday evenings in January/February ’03? Did you sign the large poster that outlined the ministry initiatives approved by the session as our way forward into God’s new future for us? Did you get excited last year as you learned about the work of the building committee, especially as you heard about this committee’s efforts to integrate many of your comments about building problems/needs into redesigned physical facility that would enhance Bethel’s overall ministry and mission as servants of Christ? Did you get to hear our architect/church consultant, Chris Malone, speak at several family night suppers this year, or did you attend one of the small group gatherings that reported on the work of the Building Committee? After exhaustive discussion and patient discernment of God’s will, the session has called a Congregational Meeting for Sunday, June 19 in Bethel’s sanctuary, immediately after morning worship, to hear and act upon a proposal from the Building Committee. Highlights of what this proposal will involve include: 1) relocating the current sanctuary structure over a new basement and expanding and enhancing the current sanctuary space, 2) building a new structure between the relocated sanctuary and educational building in order to accommodate a new gathering space, new entrances, elevators, handicapped accessibility, nursery, and “cry” room for infants and toddlers and 3) rehabilitating the educational building with additional restrooms, expanded fellowship hall, and a new kitchen. There are many details that follow as a part of this proposal that you can read about in the “Program Narrative” and “Master Plan for Bethel Presbyterian Church” prepared by Chris Malone. These are available in the church office, if you are not already familiar with the proposal. A copy of the architectural drawing is reprinted on page 5 of this newsletter (click HERE to see the drawing). The estimated cost is around one million dollars. In preparation for this historic moment, I encourage you prayerfully to consider your response to this new ministry opportunity. Grace & Peace
June has come! As I write this, I am preparing to go on the Youth Mission Trip to Lumberton, North Carolina. There will be 16 of us going: Kerry and I, Jennifer Jarvis, Jim Schall, Laura Dailey, Gary LeMasters, Matt Hines, Frederick Morgan, Rachel and Ellen Dailey, Justin and Jacob Murr, Max LaDue, Jordan and Eden Sherrod and Jeremiah Jacks. Please pray for our mission work and for our safety in working and traveling. In the absence of Nelda Toon this year, Laura and I will be the chefs. Of course, I will double as the work crew nurse. We will be leaving at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday May 28th and coming back either June 2nd or 3rd (depending on the work schedule we receive from the Lumberton folks.) The Men’s Health Screening in Harriman on May 19th went well. We had representatives from the Roane County Health Department, lab workers from Roane Medical Center, and Drs. Mark Bowles and E.C Cunningham to perform the various screenings. Please don’t forget the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk on August 27th. Hopefully the youth will be walking with me again this year. We need walkers and sponsors- so if you can help, please consider doing so. To your health ............... Deb
... none reported this month ... From: Jack and Sue Muecke and Cathy McDowell With the session’s blessing, we are pursuing having a marker made to designate the spot on the hill where Bethel used to be. As part of our research for this we scrutinized an 1869 photograph that we and others believe shows Bethel in its hilltop location. The image of the church in the background is blurry, but the bell tower and entrance doors appear to be in the center of the church rather than offset as Bethel’s doors are today. Rev. Dick Hettrick believes that Bethel was the only church that was ever located on the hill. According to Mrs. Katy Banker’s Book “A Church Called Bethel”, our sanctuary was taken apart, board by board, and reassembled at our current site sometime between the years of 1883 to 1886. According to session minutes “ ... on Sabbath morning, the 27th day of March, 1887 that Bethel Church which had been rebuilt on a new site was rededicated ...” We have seen several Bethel photographs prior to 1900 showing the bell tower and entrance doors offset to the right, so we are assuming the relocation of the entry doors occurred when the church was reassembled. Does anyone have additional photographs or knowledge that would shed light on this entrance door issue, so that we could verify that the church in the 1869 photograph is indeed Bethel? You can see the 1869 photograph on the wall in the educational building dinning area. After we verify the former Bethel location as best we can and the marker is made, Marc says that we will have a brief dedication service on the hill for all those who would like to attend. Thanks so much for any additional information that you could share with us. Presbyterian Women All Women in the Church are invited to the annual June luncheon celebrating the Birthday of Presbyterian Women to be held at the home of Carolyn Tulley, 712 Hill St., on Tuesday, June 7 at 12:30 p.m. Please meet at the church at 12:15 to carpool and bring a salad to share. Party Hosts and Sandwich Makers Party Hosts and Sandwich Makers needed for Bethel Operation Kindergarten 2005 fun lunch on Friday, July 22, 10:30 – 12:30. Please call Amber Jacks at 717-6756 or Linda Brown at 376-6575. New Church Directory Mark your calendars! You will be photographed for our new Church Directory on Tuesday, August 16 from 2:00 – 8:40 PM and Wednesday from 2:00 – 8:40 PM. Photography and proof viewing will take place on the same day. Watch for more details in upcoming newsletters and Sunday bulletins.
BETHEL OPERATION KINDERGARTEN 2005 SPONSORS NEEDED SPONSORS NEEDED for Abigail, Brennan, Connor, Danny, Emily, and ten more little tikes. Fifteen children will begin Kindergarten this August who have been participating in the special Mid-East Head Start program held weekly at Bethel. You are encouraged to assist the families and children with an exciting yet intimidating time through Operation Kindergarten. Families could use our support as they, perhaps nervously, start this new adventure and go through this BIG, sometimes scary, transition. Go visit the School Angel Tree House in the sanctuary during the end of June. Information for each child will be available in the “windows”. Sponsors are asked to make a $20 purchase of two shirts, socks, and underwear for a bright-eyed, bouncy five-year-old by July 19. Sponsors are also asked to meet the family at a festive carnival lunch on Friday, July 22, 10:30 to 12:30. Finally, sponsors are asked to make additional contact as feasible with the family within one month following the start of school next August. Sponsors have a unique opportunity to nurture and share God’s love. These children also need a $17 set of school supplies as outlined by Midway Elementary and Kingston Elementary plus the family is asked to pay a $20 classroom fee. If this is not the right time for you to be a sponsor, donations to the school supply fund Bethel hopes to make available would be GREATLY appreciated. We hope to give each child a “Goody Bag” with the clothes, fees, and school supplies on July 22. You could make a big difference in the life of a little child and the family. Please contact Linda Brown, Amy Coen, or Amber Jacks with any questions. Congratulations to: Jared McGill – Presidential Award during 5th grade graduation for excellent TCAP scores in two areas. Charlie C.– The only Kindergarten kid at Kingston Elementary to have perfect attendance for the year. Julie C. – “A” honor roll for the year in third grade.
Parish Life New Church Directory Mark your calendars for picture taking on Tuesday, August 16 from 2:00 - 8:40 PM and Wednesday, August 17 from 2:00 - 8:40 PM. More details later. Host/Hostess for June Fellowships
Annual Church Picnic Our annual Church Picnic will be on Sunday, August 14 at The Hettricks (Swan Pond Harriman). The fun will begin at 3 PM with games for young and old alike. Around 5 PM we will have our picnic. More details will be announced in our July Open Door. Stewardship & Finance Committee Report
... none reported this month ... Dear Bethel Family, Thank you so much for the lovely dinner last Wednesday night! I really appreciate everything that was done in honor of the graduates, especially the wonderful CD and “A Graduate’s Journey” book. I will treasure these gifts as well as all of the special memories that have come with being a part of the Bethel community over the past few years. Thank you all so very much! Since becoming an Official High School Graduate, I have felt relieved, excited, saddened, reminiscent, thrilled, and lost. (Note that all of these emotions occurred all at the same time!) I have felt particularly lost, like I don’t belong anywhere. I guess this is because I am in a transition stage right now, High School is over and done with and College is yet to come. I don’t exactly feel like I have a home, except that I know that I do. Bethel has been a wonderful Church to continue to grow in, and I know that I will always have a home here. Thanks to all!
Dear Bethel Family, Thank you for the inspirational gifts. I would like to thank everyone for making my family and me feel welcome. Bethel has done an excellent job of building my foundation of faith for the journey of life.
I would like to thank all our Bethel friends for the prayers, calls, cards, hugs and memorials given at the time of Fred’s death. Each one was appreciated.”
Bethel Family Prayer Calendar - June, 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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Louise Pickel