Our Elevator Journey...of jazz requires musicians to spontaneously invent a part of the performance, that is, to improvise. Every jazz musician makes a “leap of faith” to start

Our Elevator Journey

Bethesda Presbyterian Church

Inside this issue

Pastor’s Article ............................ 1

Announcements.......................... 2

Birthdays ..................................... 2

Lenten Bible Study ...................... 2

Thank You, Alex Patti .................. 3

Summer Opportunities ............... 3

Backpack Pals .............................. 4

Music Notes ................................ 4

Presbytery Youth Update ............ 5

One Great Day of Service ............ 5

Sunday School Update ................ 5

Lectionary Passages .................... 6

Our Session began in February 2015 looking at the long-term needs of Bethes-da. At that time the church was in transition, so they appointed a team to priori-tize the needs, along with the projected costs. An elevator to connect the first floor of our administration and education building to the fellowship hall was clearly identified. However, it was not until 2019 that our Session recommended to the Congre-gation the approval of the installation of an elevator to provide this access. We have moved forward to raise the funds, and I sincerely thank all who have con-tributed. Contributions have come from individuals, memorials, rental income, and capital funds. An informal informational sharing lunch was held in January, and then you received a letter and brochure with details. My prayer is that together we will raise the entire amount. I encourage everyone to please give, because the more we raise, the less we will borrow. “For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—

not according to what one does not have.” II Corinthians 8:12

Our estimated timeline is as follows: February—engineers begin structural, electrical and HVAC design

March—documents completed and sent for bids to select contractors End of March –pre-bid meeting with selected contractors April—open bids, enter contract

May 1st—construction begins November 1st—completion of project (6-month construction timeframe) With gratitude for God’s abiding presence in our church family, I remain,

In Christ’s Service,

David L. Hudson

Pastor

The Bethesda Beacon February 2020

February Birthdays

2—Halie Cunningham

5—Evelyn Annie Mae Martin, Carolyn Moore

6—Mark Moon, Sue Wiener

8—Jackson McClain, Jean McGiffin, Linda McMillan

9—Robert Jackson, James Rivenbark

10—Jamie Kilcollin, Al McDonald, Jim & Julia Thomas

14—Cathy Clark, Curt Litton

16—Doris Blue, Elizabeth Kane

17—Carolyn Burns

18—Nathan Cunningham,

Nick Cunningham

21—Bruce Thomas

23—Charlie Hill, Rebecca Hill, Alexander Smith, Andrew Smith

24—Hannah Clarke, Ann Frank, Eddie Brown, Bud McIntosh, Connie Monds

25—Beverly Cunningham,

Mary Hudson

26—Victor Andersen

28—Kim Blue, Candice Martin, Bob White

Simon Peter: Flawed but Faithful Disciple, by Adam Hamilton

The focus of Simon Peter: Flawed but Faithful Disciples is that Peter was an

ordinary guy who heard and followed God’s extraordinary call. He left every-

thing to follow Jesus and possessed a passion that helped change the world,

yet Peter was poor, uneducated, quick-tempered, with doubts and fears. Pe-

ter hesitates, is confused, focuses on a storm, and even denies his Lord.

While the gospel writers put Peter’s failures on display, Hamilton suggests

this is because Peter himself must have shared these stories of his failures in

the time between Christ’s resurrection and Peter’s martyrdom. Peter, as seen

in the gospels, has opened a window for Christians throughout history to

identify with him, and find hope.

Please join in this 6 week study to see how God used Peter’s shortcomings

and failures to build the church. Learn how the church can trust Jesus when

we hear his voice, and how we can keep our eyes on Jesus, and not be over-

come by the winds and waves in our lives. There will be two opportunities to

participate in this study. Please let the church office know in advance if you

plan to participate so we can have a book for you. bethes-

[email protected] or 910.944.1319

Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. beginning February 12:

Panera Bread **NEW location near IHOP**

Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. beginning Feb. 16th: Bethesda parlor

February Greeters: Broadus & Hester Combs, Jim Mack, Bob White

Ushers: Feb 2—Bethesda Youth Feb. 9, 16, 23 Broadus & Hester Combs

Shrove Tuesday is Here Again!

Lenten Bible Study

Mark Your Calendars

Bethesda’s 3rd Annual Pancake Eating Contest

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall

How Many Hotcakes Can You Handle??

2

3

Alex Patti’s last Sunday as our Youth Director was January 26th. Since

Alex’s long-term goal has long been to teach at the college level, we

congratulate him on securing a full-time position at Sandhills Commu-

nity College!

Alex has served as Bethesda’s Director of Youth since September of

2018. We are sad for Bethesda’s loss and appreciate Alex’s service

over the last year and a half, as he has taught and accompanied our

Middle and Senior High Youth in Sunday School, at Youth Group, and

on summer trips to Massanetta, Montreat and Tabasco, Mexico!

We are deeply grateful for Alex’s commitment and dedication, and

pray God’s blessing on his new “ministry” of teaching full-time.

Congratulations, Thank You, & Farewell

Summer Camp at Camp Monroe!

Sign up for Summer Camp NOW!!!

From archery to canoes, vespers to devotions, river trips to rock climb-

ing, whitewater to Stillwater, Camp Monroe has it all!

Sleep away camps start at 8 years old and go to as old as 16!

Right now you get a 10% discount on already low prices!

Camp Monroe has a lot of exciting changes in 2020 for everyone!

—“Surf n’ Turf!” Campers can spend part of their week at Camp Mon-

roe for the land portion, then head to Camp Albermarle at the coast to

sail, sea kayak, and more!

— Two weeks of Night Owls! Whether it be a night swim, Fortnite in

the field with pool noodles and mattresses, or camp wide treasure

hunts, the Night Owls go late into the night!

Sign up at www.monroecamp.org before Feb. 29 to get the early bird

discount!

NOW HIRING FOR

THE SUMMER

Know a young adult who’s

looking for a summer job

and wants to make a differ-

ence in the world?

June 1—July 31, 2020

Counselor—18+ years old

Support Staff—16+ years

w/ lifeguard certification

Cooks—rotating shifts

Sunday-Friday

Photographer—take photos

and make videos all

summer long!

Apply online today!

www.monroecamp.org

Be the “raisin” a

child smiles!

Bethesda will be collecting

boxes of raisins for Back-

pack Pals of Moore County.

We will have a new basket

in the narthex for the col-

lection on February 23,

2020. Please give as you

can.

Music Notes

FAITH WEAVING FRIENDS: Watch the Sunday bulletin for announcements. We

will get started in February and prepare music for worship and a musical! Stay

“tuned!”

We will observe Ash Wednesday on February 26.

March 1 will be our A Cappella Sunday at Bethesda! A Cappella Sunday is when

worshipping communities across the United States commit to singing a cappella

in their Sunday morning worship services. It offers to God something that is, for

many congregations in the United States and Canada, a gift that is different from

our usual music-making, and it connects us to the history of the church.

Watch for details of our Chancel Choir Cantata to be sung on Sunday, April 5.

On April 19th, Bethesda will worship in a “Jazz Service” with music selected and

prepared by Larry Arnold. Fellow UNC Pembroke faculty member Aaron Vander-

meer will play trumpet with Larry on piano.

Jazz is considered America’s unique contribution to world artistic culture. It is a

truly unique blend of African, European, and American musical influences. The art

of jazz requires musicians to spontaneously invent a part of the performance, that

is, to improvise. Every jazz musician makes a “leap of faith” to start something

new in the moment, trusting that it will turn out well.

All American music is either an influence on or influenced by jazz and adapts well

to jazz performance. The jazz worship service will highlight a wide spectrum of

American hymns—from the earliest folk hymns to contemporary songs, and in-

cluding hymns from the black and white gospel traditions. It is hoped to be a re-

minder of the many parts of Christ’s body and the melting pot of American and its

music.

A special “Thank You” to Moneen

Bethea, Gloria Crane and Larry Ar-

nold for their willingness s to step up

to the keyboard and lead worship

for these many months!

Welcome to our new organist Ear-

lene McLamb who has already

demonstrated her talent at the key-

board.

Sympathy to Jim & Kristy Ransdell at

the loss of S.R., who selflessly served

his Lord and his church for many

years. Also sympathy to former choir

member, Machele Gage, who lost

her father recently.

4

Nancy Arnold Music Director

[email protected]

910.315.9379

Confirmation Retreat. February 7-9 @ Camp Monroe. Open to 6th-8th

grade confirmands of the Presbytery. Deadline for sign-up Monday,

January 27.

Presbytery Youth Council (PYC): Applications for the 2020-2021 PYC

are available now. This is open to 9th-12th graders who show gifts for

ministry.

Middle School Retreat. Saturday, March 21 - Sunday, March 22. Open

to 6th-8th graders of the presbytery. Theme: "The Final Countdown."

Registration Begins in February.

Contact Erin Wehrmeister for more info!

[email protected] or 910.578.7724

5

Presbytery Youth Updates

The Christian Education and Spiritual Formation Committee sensed

God leading us to make some adjustments in our offerings for children

on Sunday mornings. We will be combining grades K-5 and move to-

wards a rotation model of teaching and learning.

This will involve utilizing our existing teachers in 3-4 learning centers

that will be flexible and engaging.

We are also planning, in coordination with the Fellowship Committee,

to return to providing a light breakfast at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. Music

in the chapel will be at 9:45, and Sunday School classes will begin at

10:00.

Our hope is that this schedule will better suit our families, and encour-

age parents to join one of the existing adult classes.

We plan to start this Sunday, February 16th.

Please contact Nancy Dearborn with any questions:

[email protected] or 910.964.0645

Faith Formation With Our Children

One Great Day of Service—Sat. March 21

In each county of the Presbytery West Community we will have service

agencies ready to welcome volunteers with a half day project. Some

projects are “hammer and nail,” other are “needle and thread,” others

are “learn,” while still others are “sort and pack.” On that afternoon

we will have a worship service together in Moore County to hear from

each other and share in prayer for all whom we served.

Advance registration is required—see Pastor David for more info.

Sunday, February 2

Micah 6:1-8

Psalm 15

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

Sunday, February 9

Isaiah 58:9-1a [9b-12]

Psalm 112:1-9 [10]

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 [13-16]

Matthew 5:13-20

Sunday, February 16

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Psalm 119:1-8

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Matthew 5:21-37

Sunday, February 23

Transfiguration of the Lord

Exodus 24:12-18

Psalm 2 or Psalm 99

2 Peter 1:16-21

Matthew 17:1-9

Ash Wednesday—February 26

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12

Psalm 51:1-17

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10

Matthew 6:1--6, 16-21

Lectionary Passages for February 2020 Jokes of the Month

Bloopers from Various Other

Church Bulletins:

-The sermon this morning: “Jesus

Walks on Water.” The sermon

tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”

-Don’t let worry kill you off—let

the church help.

-For those of you who have kids

and don’t know it, we have a

nursery downstairs.

-A bean supper will be held on

Tuesday evening in the church hall.

Music will follow...

Bethesda Presbyterian Church

1002 N. Sandhills Blvd.

Aberdeen, NC 28315

www.bethesdapres.church

Facebook.com/bethesdapres

Phone: 910-944-1319

E-mail: [email protected]

Sunday Schedule

9:00 Prayer Time in the Chapel

9:30 Fellowship Time

9:45 Music in the Chapel

10:00 Sunday School (all ages)

11:00 Worship Service

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