BETHESDA BEACONA Publication of Bethesda Presbyterian Church

1002 N Sandhills Blvd Aberdeen, NC 28315 www.bethesdapres.netSunday School 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Vol. 34 Issue 1

Congratulations Congratulations to Susannah and Michael Palmer upon the birth of a son, Michael Arlo, born November 4! Arlo’s proud grandparents are Gary and Betsy Mofield.

Congratulations to LeAnne and Brandon Butler upon the birth of twins, Owen James and Dexter Lee, on November 23! The twins’ proud grandmother is Virginia Wilson.

Congratulations to Katie and Michael O’Neil upon the birth of a son, Ronan Simms! Ronan’s grandparents are John and Sarah O’Brien.

Mail Call You have touched our hearts with your thoughtfulness, your cards, your calls, and your prayers. We are so blessed to be part of Bethesda. In thanks and with love, Ann and Elliott Frank

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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

The Session of Bethesda has adopted the Evangelism Committee's recommendation that, beginning in January, the Bethesda Beacon carry a short article on “What Bethesda means to me”. Current family members tell what Bethesda has to offer those who are considering membership. Dr. Bill Clark's answer follows. I can sum up 'what Bethesda means to me/us' with an alliteration: three C's. The first C is “Caring”. Bethesda cares intimately for every member. Nancy and I found that right off when we joined in 2001. More calls, cards, visits, prayers, birthday greetings have come our way than we can count!” The second C is “Children”. Children are important at Bethesda! There is no 'sit still in the pew and be quiet until you grow up' at Bethesda. Haven't you seen a little guy named Isiah greeting people at the door and ushering them to their seats? What about a lively little girl named Sally Noyes taking up the offering? Their numbers are multiplied and children grow into youth who serve and do exciting things like Mission Trips, or collect vegetables for the needy. The last C is “Commitment”. The three “T's” are important at Bethesda: talent,time, and treasure. It hard to say which is the most important in this is a multi-talented membership. In time, hour upon hours are given to make this a serving church in the community. Is it the food pantry, or back-packs, Aberdeen Elementary school supplies, or etc., etc.? Treasure is shared at Bethesda, making this a giving people of God. I'm glad we belong here!

January 2015 edition

Heartfelt thanks to the people who provide special music each Sunday at worship during the month of December! Thank you to Bethesda Bells for kicking off the Advent season for us with music November 30. Thank you to the Merry Hearts preschool students for singing December 14. Thank you to the Carol Choir for their music on Sunday, December 7 and the Chancel Choir for their cantata on December 21. A special thanks to the Moore Brass who contributed along with the cantata December 21. Thanks to Palmer Noyes, Kelly Clark, and Ella Clark for their music December 21. Thank you to Ruth Sinclair and Larry Arnold for the beautiful piano/organ duets. Thank you to Ashtyn, Catherine, Kelly, and Ella Clark, Bill Demastus, Mary Lynn Sutphen, Moneen Bethea, Emily Braun, Ruth Sinclair, Mary K. McNeill, and the Handbells for their contribution to the Candlelight Christmas Eve service. There will be no Carol Choir Sunday, January 3. Chancel Choir and Bells will resume Wednesday, January 7.

Sewing4Mission: We will meet Saturday, January 3 at 10:00 am.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Committee News Presbyterian Women

Our Thank Offering luncheon was held on Sunday, November 9 and the Presbyterian Women of Bethesda donated $364.00 that has been sent to the Coastal Carolina Presbytery to be used for many missions by Presbyterian Women in the United States as well as around the world.

Each year Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina offer scholarships to an accredited institution of higher learning. Any deserving full time student from Presbytery of Coastal Carolina who is a member of a Presbyterian Church (USA) of proven scholastic ability, who needs financial assistance to further his/her education will be considered. Preference will be given to students attending Presbyterian colleges. Applications and guidelines are available from the church office.

Our circles will be meeting in January and all women are invited to attend a circle.

✤Martha Circle will meet Monday, January 4 at 7:30 pm in the parlor. ✤Circle 4 will meet Tuesday, January 5 at 10:00 am in the parlor. ✤The Friendship Circle will meet Monday, January 12 at 10:00 am in

the Seekers classroom. If you are interested in attending a circle meeting, please call Kay Mack (215-8813).

Music Notes

Committee News ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Small Group Ministry

As our Bethesda Family grows, we can very quickly find ourselves disconnected. All of a sudden, we flip through the directory, and we find so many people we do not know. Or, while reading the Beacon, we discover that there is a program or a committee that we never even heard of. The larger a congregation becomes, the easier it is to become a lost or wandering sheep. Small Group Ministry is one way for us to assure that we remain connected to our Bethesda Family. If someone has a particular passion, or focus of interest, and feels called to give their time in pursuit of that endeavor, Small Group Ministry (SGM) is one way to fulfill it. Let us say, for example, that you love to travel, drive a vehicle, and visit points of interest in our State. This passion could indeed become the focus of a SGM. Back a few years, we had such a program; it was called MAC (Maturing Adult Christians). This group met frequently for fellowship, support, and worship. They travelled about our beautiful State visiting places of Spiritual interest. I remember one such outing; I got to drive the Church van and fifteen happy go lucky Bethesda Family members to Charlotte to visit the Billy Graham Museum. Curtis Mcinnis kept us all in stitches with his hilarious anecdotes to and from the museum. We really need to reactivate this wonderful program, for it truly is a perfect example of how just one small group can help us remain spiritually connected. So, all we need is someone with the time, talent, and passion to step up to the plate and get it started. Kay and I have been leading one such SGM for quite a few years now. “Scriptures Alive”, we call it. We worship together, support one another, study the Bible, discuss books, and minister to the needs of our congregation and community. Our focus is Drama. No, you don’t have to be a Thespian to get involved; we just try to bring everything we do alive in some dramatic fashion. For example, we have visited our residents at Kingswood, and we gave them a Bingo Party with all sorts of fun and useful prizes. First prize was to join our group for a picnic at Aberdeen Lake. We also had a “Clown Party” and gave each resident a framed picture of themselves with the Clown. If you go there now, you might still see some of these pictures on night stands or hanging on the wall. Bringing experiences alive has meant so much to the residents, but you know what? We get so much more, just being a part of it. Our group is open to all ages. Beginning in February, we will meet the first and third Thursdays of each month from 2:00pm to 4:00pm in the “parlor”. For more information about “Scriptures Alive” or how you might start your own Small Group Ministry, please call us at 910-215-8813.

Join us for Sunday School! There is a class for everyone:

✴ PreK - 5th grade (begins in Chapel with music)✴ Middle school (upstairs)✴ High School (downstairs across from Chapel)✴ Seekers Class (downstairs by parking lot)✴ Jesse Wimberley Class (upstairs)✴ Healthy Living (downstairs in Parlor)✴ Young Adult (fellowship hall)

Youth Group Scoop $50 Montreat and Massanetta non-refundable deposits due January 4th. 

Costa Rica payments ($50) due January 4th. 

Next Youth Council meeting: Sun, January 11th at 4:00 PM

Family Promise is in need of donations of brand new bed pillows, and of gently used, clean blankets and quilts.  Please contact Gail Cunningham (638-8739) if you can help make our Family Promise guests feel most comfortable during their stay with us at Bethesda.

Prison Ministry Update from Chuck Dearborn

First I wish to thank all those from Bethesda who helped us prepare for our trip to Hoke Correctional. There were placemats, and prayer chains, and checks provided ahead of time and many prayers during the time together.  

Our group of volunteers met at Camp Monroe on Nov 13th and proceeded to the prison to set up and arrange the meeting room for the next four days. We met our residents (this is how we refer to the inmates) that evening, and spent time getting to know them and letting them get to know us.  Our prime mission in being there is to impress upon each resident the love of God is still with him. We then remind them that even though they are isolated from society, we remember them as Christ’s creations and we share that love of God with them. All of our time with them is spent reminding them of God’s love and the love of their fellow man. At first this is hard to grasp in the harsh, stark surroundings in which they live, but as the days progress God works on them and through the volunteers to reacquaint them with feelings of the Grace of God’s love and mercy amongst themselves. We are all filled with this love and the feelings run so deep by Sunday when we finish up. We do half day followup periodically and are there each Monday through the year for a one hour meeting called Prayer and Share. During this time the residents are allowed to meet and pray and share their burdens with one another. This trust and family atmosphere between them can only exist through the strength of God’s Grace. It is such a wonderful feeling to see these men meeting and praying with one another, and know that through God Bethesda has helped spread this love. Thank you again for all of you who helped make this possible. You have made a difference, and it continues. God Bless.

Lectionary Readings for SundaysJan. 4: Jeremiah 31:7-14 Jan. 18: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Psalm 147:12-20 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18Ephesians 1:3-14 1 Corinthians 6:12-20John 1:(1-9) 10-18 John 1:43-51

Jan. 11: Genesis 1:1-5 Jan. 25: Jonah 3:1-5, 10Psalm 29:1-11 Psalm 62:5-12Acts: 19:1-7 1 Corinthians 7:29-31Mark 1:4-11 Mark 1:14-20

Bethesda Beacon If you would like information included in the Beacon, please email to emilybraun@nc.rr.com or

leave in the church office by January 15.

Editor: Emily Braun Production: Lisa Keith Beaconettes: Dottie Folley, Flora Hollister, Joyce McInnis,

Margaret McLeod, Louise Monroe, Nellie Williams

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JANUARY

1 Jordan McNeill 11 Gary Mofield Nathan Clarke 16 Jamie Boles 2 Marie Hardister 17 Brittany Hardison 4 Carl Ferguson 20 Leigh Baggs 5 Eric Braun 27 Connie Atwell Jacob Braun Nellie Williams Angus MacLeod 28 Ellen Heckman Sarah O’Brien 29 S.R. Ransdell, Jr. 6 Dot Medlin 31 Madelyn Gorba Sarah Naradzay Pat McLaughlin