THE BETHANY LETTERMay 1, 2007 Volume 2007, Issue No. 16 | |
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Mysterious Connections that Link Us Together National Public Radio airs a wonderful series called, This I Believe. I found these words by Azasr Nafisi very profound and moving. I'd like to share them with you. I believe in empathy. I believe in the kind of empathy that is created through imagination and through intimate, personal relationships. I am a writer and a teacher, so much of my time is spent interpreting stories and connecting to other individuals. It is the urge to know more about ourselves and others that creates empathy. Through imagination and our desire for rapport, we transcend our limitations, freshen our eyes and are able to look at ourselves and the world through a new and alternative lens. Whenever I think of the word empathy, I think of a small boy named Huckleberry Finn contemplating his friend and runaway salve, Jim. Huck asks himself whether he should give Jim up or not. Huck was told in Sunday school that people who let slaves go free go to "everlasting fire." But then, Huck says he imagines he and Jim in "the day and nighttime, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a-floating along, talking and singing and laughing." Huck remembers Jim and their friendship and warmth. He imagines Jim not as a slave but as a human being and he decides that, "alright, then, I'll go to hell." What Huck rejects is not religion but an attitude of self-righteousness and inflexibility. I remember this particular scene out of Huck Finn so vividly today, because I associate it with a difficult time in my own life. In the early 1980s when I taught at the University of Tehran, I, like many others, was expelled. I was very surprised to discover that my staunchest allies were two students who were very active at the University's powerful Muslim Students' Association. These young men and I had engaged in very passionate and heated arguments. I had fiercely opposed their ideological stances. But that didn't stop them from defending me. When I ran into one of them after my expulsion, I thanked him for his support. "We are not as rigid as you imagine us to be Professor Nafisi," he responded. "Remember your own lectures on Huck Finn? Let's just say, he is not the only one who can risk going to hell!" This experience in my life reinforces my belief in the mysterious connections that link individuals to each other despite their vast differences. No amount of political correctness can make us empathize with a child left orphaned in Darfur or a woman taken to a football stadium in Kabul and shot to death because she is improperly dressed. Only curiosity about the fate of others, the ability to put ourselves in their shoes, and the will to enter their world through the magic of imagination, creates this shock of recognition. Without this empathy there can be no genuine dialogue, and we as individuals and nations will remain isolated and alien, segregated and fragmented. I believe that it is only through empathy, that the pain experienced by an Algerian woman, a North Korean dissident, a Rwandan child or an Iraqi prisoner, becomes real to me and not just passing news. And it is at times like this when I ask myself, am I prepared like Huck Finn to give up Sunday school heaven for the kind of hell that Huck chose? It's important for all of us to ask, "What kind of 'hell' am I willing to choose out of love and compassion?" It's a question I'll be thinking about. I hope you will, too. With Humility and Hope, Steve ********************* Sunday May 6, 2007 Mr. Don Evans, Partner-in-Ministry Intern, Guest Preacher Scripture: Acts 11:1-18 Sunday Morning Opportunities 8:30 a.m. Worship (Communion)/ Donna and Tim, special music 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: Perspectives Class Adult Classes at 9:15 - Bible Discoveries; Lounge Class - Video Part 2, Why Me?; Perspectives; Seasons of the Spirit; Seekers - Relationships; Senior High; Upper Room Bethany Buckeyes Our next meeting of the Bethany Buckeyes will be this Friday, May 4th. For reservations, call the office during the week before. The meal is at 6:00 p.m. Fun and games follow the meal. IHN Our next IHN host week is May 6-12. We are in need of volunteers for van driving, meal preparation, overnight hosts, and laundry crew. Please consider donating a few hours of your week to help our IHN families. Please call Carolyn to volunteer. Bethany Church Nurse Program May 6th 11:30 a.m. The first Sunday of each month, Bethany's volunteer Nurses, Linda Goodwin and Holly Keenan, offer blood pressure tests during social hour. If you are interested in having your BP checked, look for them in the library. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12th, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. Please be sure to thank Linda and Holly for their time and talent!
The Spring EOA Meeting (May 12, Suffield) promises to be very inspiring and educational. Anthony Robinson, who's written highly-regarded books on congregational growth and leadership development and articles for numerous magazines will be speaking twice. He'll also be leading a workshop on Leadership Development. Other workshops will include Fostering Discipleship, Stewardship, Mission Discernment, Community and Culture, On-line Ministry, and Justice Global Ministries. It would be great if we could have people attending lots of these workshops. If you're interested please contact the office, 330-923-5277, as soon as possible.
Women's Fellowship Salad Luncheon Save this date! Wednesday, May 16th 11:30 a.m. Great Food & Fellowship Program: Rev. Mark and Ellie Steiner will share their adventure in Switzerland. Tickets $4.00 - Contact Jan Charton or Lou Atelson. ************* Spring Cleanup May 19th 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. *************
An Invitation to Adult Sunday School Now that you know someone who is doing an internship as part of the Partner-in-Ministry Program, I hope you also want to find out more about this exciting offering from your Eastern Ohio Association. Come and join us On May 20th during the regular Sunday school time 9:30-10:20, I will be meeting with all of the adult classes in the Social Hall and anyone else who's interested. The purpose of the gathering is for me to share some of my experiences in the program, tell you more about the program and what it has to offer, and to encourage some to try it. I feel it is a program that has something to offer any church member regardless of their age. You do not need to be in a Sunday school class to participate, so I hope to see many of you there on May 20th. - Don Evans, Partner-in Ministry Intern
Band Concert - You're Invited! New Horizons Band will perform May 21st at 7:00 p.m. in the social hall. This concert is free and open to the public. Please join us and cheer us on!
Looking for Work We have even more young people who hope to go on the Esperanza Mission Trip next year. They are looking for work to help reduce the cost of the trip. If you have a job that you need help with, just give one of them a call, then, instead of paying her or him directly, make out a check to Bethany, to their Esperanza account. The hopeful Esperanza Mission Trippers are: Taylor Giffin, Emma Jensen, Keith McDevitt, Ariel Myers, Alex Wachovec, Anna & Caitlin Zeller. News from the Williard Food Pantry Here is updated information about the Williard Food Pantry that you, the Bethany congregation, helps support through your Mission Committee. Charlie Dorow, who supervises the Food Pantry operation at Williard UCC, reports that in March of this year, 219 families and a total of 842 individuals received food assistance compared to a year ago when just 95 families and 334 individuals were served. Those figures represent 130% and 152% INCREASES respectively! In the first three months of this year 708 families and 2,498 individuals were served. Charlie's report continues that in March of this year, 40 families had to be turned away because of a lack of food and time during which the pantry is open. Through March of this year he reports that 46,000# of food was purchased by the Pantry. He also reported that at Easter, students from Sexton School in Hudson helped put together Easter Boxes of food that served 160 people. Many "thank you" notes were received from recipient families of these food boxes. The members of the Mission Committee thank you all for your support for this and all of our missions. Without your support, none of this would be possible. - Bethany Mission Committee
Well let the recycling begin!!!! The Abitibi Paper Retriever bin arrived 3 weeks ahead of schedule. We are always looking for ways to raise funds and what better way than with a paper recycling program. Paper suitable for recycling includes all CLEAN and DRY:
PLEASE NOTE: NO cardboard, phone books or laminated paper. Through our efforts we can help save landfill space, clean up the environment and earn money for our many mission projects. Those that have been saving their paper and need help bringing it to church, please contact Rebecca. For additional information about Bethany's recycling program contact: Rebecca Wachovec or Carolyn Hofmann.
****************************** Vacation Bible School - July 9th - 13th " Take the Plunge Make a Splash with Jesus " ******************************
Remember in your prayers Evelyn Vance, Akron City Hospital Kathy Ruch, Akron City Hospital Diane Neilsen, released from hospital
Thank you I want to thank my Bethany family for the many kindnesses shown me during my recent bout with pneumonia. Especially Sally and Karen Mellott for the altar flowers they brought and Rev. Steiner and Doris Brubaker for visits to my home. - Gerry Czetli
Dear Bethany, Once again, I want to thank all those who keep me in their prayers and send get-well wishes by card and phone. A special "thank you" to Rev. Steiner and Don Evans for their home visits. I appreciate all the thoughts and concern. - Jenny Bisesi Dear Bethany, My husband, John, and I wish to thank you so much for the pastoral visit and the lovely yellow knitted shawl I was given after my surgery. It was truly a lift. God bless you for being so kind. Thanks also for sending Caitlin Zeller of the Esperanza group to help me with the housework. She is doing a great job. I'm so thankful for her. - Linda Grazulis Dear Friends, I want to thank those that have sent cards and for the beautiful flowers that were sent to me this week. I also appreciate the prayer shawl (and the prayers) that was made by Mary Bowmaster. I am hoping my body is on the mend so I will be able to join with you in worship soon. - Peggy Pugh
V olunteers -Names of Sunday Volunteers are 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. Volunteers for May 6th Greeters: Bob and Carole Pletzer, Dale and Maurine Renner Music: Donna and Tim duo/ Chancel Choir Nursery: Martha Peyak, Kim Miller, Tracy Ocepek, Anna Zeller Social Hour: Perspectives Class Ushers: Carolyn Hofmann, Bob Charton, Marilyn Seguin, Mary Seymour, Jack and Judy Ingram, Marcia Spring, Eddie Frederick Van Driver: Carol Frederick Visitor Outlook: Carole Pletzer Volunteers for May 13th Greeters: John and Becky Wachovec, Lou Atleson and Margaret Deacon Music: 7th Day/ Chancel Choir Nursery: Carole Pletzer, Robert Read, Heather Alberson, Emma Jensen Ushers: John Mancinelli, Herb Walker, Mary and Ralph Bowmaster, Sue Mancinelli, Nancy Buck, Lynette Sheppard, Caitlyn Malorni Van Driver: Ed Frederick Visitor Outlook: Marty Crichton Mission Trip Preparation In order to assure that we do a thorough job planning for the all day Bible School and show the attitudes and behaviors that truly represent Christ and our church, we have begun our planning process for the mission trip. At the first session on April 22, we reviewed a covenant regarding our purpose and expected attitudes and behaviors, and began studying the scriptures for our Bible School lessons. Last Sunday we continued to plan our daily worship, craft and recreation times. Here are the important dates for the future:
Camp Bethany Dates Our Camp staff have covenanted to uphold the attitudes, behaviors, and responsibilities needed to faithfully serve our campers, and have begun the planning process. Here's a reminder of important dates and deadlines.
Calendar for May 2nd to May 13th 5/02 10:00a Bible Study (CE) 5/03 7:30p Choir Practice 5/04 6:00p Buckeyes (SH) 5/05 Sunday - May 6, 2007 Nursery Available - 9:15 11:30 a.m. Don Evans, Guest Preacher IHN Guest Week 8:30a Worship/ (Communion) 9:15a Church School for All Ages 10:30a Worship/ Children's Sunday School 11:30a Social Hour 11:30a Bethany Nurse BP Check (L) 11:30a 7th Day Practice (last one) 6:00p IHN Meal 6:30p YF Hike at Gorge 5/07 9:00a Quilters 9:30a Shawl Ministry (L) 10:00a Newsletter Deadline 6:00p IHN Meal (L) 5/08 6:00a Primary Election 8:15a Staff Meeting (L) 10:00a Sponsors Meeting 6:00p IHN Meal (SH) 7:15p Finance Committee 7:45p At Ease (L) 5/09 10:00a Bible Study (CE) 6:00p IHN Meal (SH) 7:30p Consistory (L) 5/10 6:00p IHN Meal (SH) 7:00p Inquiry Meeting (L) 7:30p Choir Practice 5/11 6:00p IHN Meal (SH) 5/12 EOA Spring Meeting (Suffield UCC) 6:00p IHN Meal (L)
Sunday - May 13, 2007 Nursery Available - 9:15 11:30 a.m. 8:30a Worship (Fellowship) 9:15a Church School for ALL Ages 10:30a Worship/ Children's Sunday School 11:30a Social Hour
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