THE BETHANY LETTERJanuary 16, 2007 Volume 2007, Issue No. 2 |
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Wonderful Counselor By Nathan Gehlert At Christmas we often hear Isaiah's prophetic portrayal of the Christ Child who, "will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). This past December, the part about the "Wonderful Counselor" caught my attention in a new way, because I recently had begun working as a therapist at a mental health clinic in Washington, DC as part of my graduate program in pastoral counseling. I have begun to think a lot about what it means to be a wonderful counselor and what this metaphor reveals about God. At some point in the course of therapy, most people become frustrated at all the things their therapist cannot do for them. I know this frustration, because we therapists feel it, too! I cannot give my clients answers to all their questions. I cannot help them to change their friends, families, or co-workers. I cannot help them forget a terrible event from their past that breathes into their present. Sometimes, there are no words I can say to make them feel better. Often, I cannot even tell them that soon everything's going to be all right. Fortunately, there are many things that I can do. I can sit with them, I can be with them, as they experience, question, and grow through the mysteries, joys, and tragedies of life. I help them love themselves by seeing them with the eye of my heart. This allows me and them to know their pure self, which is truer than the cracked, patched-together, and destructively patterned shell that they wear and know as their self. I offer love to them by creating an aura of hospitality where they feel my unconditional positive regard for them. I gently illuminate hidden and often painfully dysfunctional aspects of their lives and selves. I have a deep well of empathy to offer them in doing this because I have seen at least a speck of all their flaws in me. These are the spiritual foundations of what it is for me to be a wonderful counselor. Just as my clients are at times frustrated with what I cannot do for them, perhaps we, too, have been frustrated with the things that God does not do for us. We all know well that God is not in the business of changing our spouse's behaviors, prolonging our lives in death-bed bargaining, ending wars that we will not ourselves work to end, giving a good grade on an exam that was not studied for, answering "why" questions about traumas in our lives and world, or helping us lose those ten pounds we just keep putting back on. In light of our frustration, there is a choice to be made in how we relate to God and how we live our spiritual lives. We can either be frustrated with what we think God is not doing, or we can relate to God in ways that are constructive and life- creating. As people of faith, we have the possibility of relationship with the Wonderful Counselor. This is the part of our relationship with God that involves prayer, meditation, and spiritual reflection. It entails listening to and speaking with the voice that is quietly within and intimately beyond. It is very easy to ignore this important aspect of our faith, to not create quiet time for communion with God, the Wonderful Counselor. Often we avoid creating this time for the same reason that many people avoid therapy: because we know that in quiet time we cannot avoid being honest with our selves about our lives. We know that truth can be discomforting. There is also a very real calm that accompanies truth. When we commune with the Wonderful Counselor, we are held safe in the shade of God's embrace. While the answers we seek may not become evident, peace will become a more real aspect of our lives. Courage and strength will seep into the voids left by fear, shame, and doubt. The direction and quality of our path will become more illuminated. We begin to heal. When my clients want me to diagnose, offer a prognosis, and develop a treatment plan, I say to them, "You must do these things yourself. I will be here with you. I will encourage you. I will explore your life with you. I will challenge you to think about things in different ways. What I will not do is take you to where you are going, because only you can know where to sojourn." Our Wonderful Counselor often shares with us the same message. It is a beautiful message that is founded in God's deepest love for us. It is a love that creates a space where we are asked to move towards our spirit and towards God. It is a love that calls us to be fully human, to use our own strength, faith, and imagination to grow, transform, and heal in communion with the Wonderful Counselor. In becoming more fully human, we come nearer to God and God's desire for us to live and be in God's image. This is our destination, and it's our destiny to reach it eventually. ******************************************************* Next Sunday - January 21, 2007 Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a and Luke 4:14-21Sermon: You Are the Body of Christ! Sunday Morning Opportunities 8:30 a.m. Worship (Healing & Reconciliation)/ Motet Choir 9:15 a.m. Church School for Children and Adults 10:30 a.m. Worship/ Chancel Choir/ Children's Sunday School 11:30 a.m. Social Hour/ Host: Grades 5 & 6 Adult Classes at 9:15 - Bible Discoveries; Lounge Class - Video, Carpe Diem; Seasons of the Spirit; Seekers - Relationships; Senior High; Upper Room; Perspectives
Confirmation: Jan. 18th 6:15p Meal, Music, Class Jan. 19th 8:00p Lock-In (9:00a)
Bible Discoveries Class Please read pages 34-44 (finish chapter 2) for next Sunday, January 21st. Annual Super Bowl Sub Sale The Youth Fellowship of Bethany is selling their GREAT SUBS to enjoy on Super Bowl Sunday, February 15th. Orders will be taken beginning January 21st and 28th after worship. The cost is only $4.00 for each sub!
BLOOD DRIVE Bethany United Church of Christ Tuesday, January 23rd 2:00 p.m. Be the one to make a difference to patients in need. Positive ID required. Annual Dinner and Meeting Sunday, January 28thThe annual meeting is an important opportunity to celebrate the work of God's Spirit among us in the past year and to reflect on God's call to us in the year ahead. You can make your reservation for the dinner, which will follow the 10:30 worship service, on your attendance card or by calling the church office at 330/923-5277.
Come join us for an evening of suspense, entertainment, great food, fellowship, and opportunity to support Bethany's many mission projects. Our own Erica Hess has written this play especially for the occasion. The event will be held in Bethany's Social Hall on Saturday, February 3rd from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Tickets are $25 and will be on sale beginning this Sunday after both services through Sunday, January 28th (last day for ticket sales so Denise and Donna can work their magic in the kitchen). Dinner choices include Beef Burgundy or Pasta Alfredo with Vegetables and we will also be serving appetizer, salad, dessert and beverage. Volunteers are needed for this evening to help in the kitchen and serve the dinner throughout the performance. Please call Carolyn B. Hofmann to volunteer or for information on ticket sales. $10 of the ticket price will go toward Bethany's missions.
Bethany Night at Donato's January 31st 5:00 – 8:00 PMEnjoy some food! Enjoy the fellowship! The next Youth Fellowship Donato's night is Wednesday, January 31st. Ten percent of the receipts and tips received by the youth are tithed to Bethany, 10% goes to the youth account and 80% goes to support the youth mission trip. Hope to see you there!
Bethany's Health Ministry We are looking to expand our health ministry at Bethany. The United Church of Christ is offering a free training for Lay Ministers of Health. You will learn to educate, nurture and support one another. You will learn ways in which we can promote healthy and holistic ways of living and soundness and wholeness of health. Jesus sent out his disciples with a mandate to preach, teach and heal. If you are interested in learning more about ways in which the Lord can use you to help in the healing of the mind, body or spirit of another member of our Bethany family, this training is for you. Please call me if you are even a little bit interested! Training begins February 2nd. - Holly Keenan, RN, Parish Nurse IHN Walk a Mile in My Shoes will be held on Sunday, February 18th. The focus of this event is to bring together the families from our twenty-eight congregations to celebrate the success of our IHN mission. This is also a fundraiser for IHN and we are encouraging all Bethany members to ask for the support of their family, friends, neighbors and collect pledges for the walk. There is no registration fee for the walk. If you are not able to collect pledges, you are still welcome to participate and join in the fun. Registration forms will be available in coming weeks. This event is being held in February so our participants can think about the homeless families that are on the streets in the winter months enduring the cold weather. Our original plan for this event was to hold it at the Family Center and walk in the Summit Lake Neighborhood. The police department is not issuing any new parade permits to block off streets, so we needed to find a different location. Having the event at Akron Children's Hospital will still allow us to be outside in a safe environment, provides free parking, and will also allow us inside facilities for activities before and after the walk. Please come out and support this important event as a walker, pledger or volunteer. Thank you for the support you have given to this mission. Hope to see you on February 18th. The Missions Committee
Hire Help! Bethany's Youth are looking for work to help defray their ticket to Mexico. They are willing to do just about anything, from babysitting to gutter cleaning and yard work. The youth going this time are: Amanda Keenan Emma Jensen Keith McDevitt Ariel Myers Anna Zeller Caitlin Zeller Any work you can offer will be a real gift to them, and through them, to a homeless family in Mexico
REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS Doris Brubaker, General Hospital, 400 Wabash Ave., Akron OH 44307 Charles Kuhn, City Hospital, 525 E. Market Street, Akron OH 44304 Dorothy Beidler, home
PLEASE USE YOUR NEW 2007 NUMBERED GIVING ENVELOPES. PLEASE! It really is helpful.Volunteers Names of Sunday Volunteers will be published AHEAD of the scheduled Sunday; as a kindly reminder & an early thank you! If you are unable to volunteer the day you are scheduled, please remember to 1) find someone to take your place and then 2) call the church office so we may make necessary revisions. Thank you! Volunteers for January 21st Greeters: Carolee and Ariel Ahrens, Zeller Family Lay Reader: Alan Cool Music: Motet Choir/ Chancel Choir Nursery: Bob Read, Heather Alberson, Arlene Thompson, Ariel Myers Ushers: Lenora Luginbill, Frank Read, Mary and Ralph Bowmaster, Jack and Judy Ingram, Marcia Spring, Eddie Frederick Van Driver: Bob Read Visitor Outlook: Judy Ingram
Volunteers for January 28th Greeters: Henry and Elizabeth Nagel, Marcia Spring Music: Bell Choir/ Bell Choir, Young Shepherds Nursery: Heather Bedillion, Ed Zeller, Nancy Zeller, Caitlyn Zeller Ushers: Carolyn Hofmann, Bob Charton, Sue Truby, Sharon Ward, Andy McVan, Megan Ferda, Lynette Sheppard, Caitlyn Malorni Van Driver: Frank Read Visitor Outlook: Beth Lees Congratulations… … We share the joy of John and Jennifer Bantum (and grandparents, Ben and Joan Bantum) on the birth of TWIN BOYS, Blake and Drew, January 4th.
THANK YOU Just Peace Concert – Thanks! It's was great to come together for another Just Peace Concert. It was great to be with our partners in Christ from New Trinity who welcomed us so graciously. It was great to share the joyous, inspiring music, images, and speeches. It was great to share food and fellowship when it was all over. Thanks to the Just Peace Concert Committee – Michelle Davis, Oz Hibbard, George Jensen (chair), Beth McDevitt, Judith Overcash-Mohr, and Barb Spencer for their dedicated leadership. Thanks to all those who shared musical, pictorial, and verbal gifts – Sharon Alberson, the Chancel Choir, the Confirmand/Youth Choir, Stephanie Gallagher, George Jensen, Seventh Day, Barb Spencer, the Young Shepherds Choir, the special trio (Donna McDonald, Beth McDevitt, Judith Overcash-Mohr. Finally, thanks to all those who supported the concert – who enabled your children to come, who attended yourself, who made a commitment at the offering time to be a part of the partnership in some way. This is Concert was an important expression of our partnership – may God help us to all take advantage of the many others that will be available in the year ahead Thanks to all who helped with the painting and cleanup on the rental property. Your time is greatly appreciated. - The Property Committee Thanks to Sally Mellott for the visit and pretty poinsettia; and for the Christmas cards. Love in Christ, Jean Pekar Bethany Friends, I can't begin to thank the members of Bethany, some I know by name, some by their smiling faces for their wonderful thoughtful Christmas cards. My home and heart have been brightened by your thoughtfulness. Hopefully, one of these days I will be able to join you at Sunday worship service and thank you all personally how you have touched me at a difficult time. Until the, God Bless you all for you kindness. Sincerely and from the bottom of my heart, Joan Porter
CALENDAR January 17th to January 28th1/17 8:00a Men's Fellowship Breakfast/Service (L)10:00a Bible Study (CE) 7:00p C.E. Committee Meeting 1/18 6:15p Confirmation Meal, Music, Class 7:30p Choir Practice 1/19 8:00p Confirmand Lock-in (L) - 9:00a 1/20 1/20 11:30a Bethany Kitchen (SH)
Sunday - January 21, 2007 Nursery Available - 9:15 – 11:30 a.m. 8:30a Worship (Healing and Reconciliation)9:15a Church School for All Ages 10:30a Worship/ Chancel Choir/ Children's S.S. 11:30a Social Hour Host: Grade 5 and 6 11:30a 7th Day Rehearsal 6:30p YF 1/22 9:00a Quilters 9:30a Shawl Ministry (L) 10:00a Newsletter Deadline 1/23 8:00a Staff Meeting (L) 2:00p Bloodmobile 1/24 7:00p COMMITTEE NIGHT 1/25 7:30p Choir Practice 1/27 10:00a Lunch on Us – Miller Ave. Youth Fellowship Family Sunday January 28, 2007 Nursery Available - 9:15 – 11:30 a.m. Children remain in worship 8:30a Worship (Story and Song)9:15a Church School for All Ages 10:30a Worship/ Children's S.S. 11:30a ANNUAL DINNER AND MEETING
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