CHURCH STAFF

Pastor

Rev. Dr. Bill Herndon

Secretary

Tina Douglas

Financial Manager

Lisa Parris

Director of Music

Barbara Lawson

Pianist

Carolyn Peters

SESSION MEMBERS

2018

Brandon Douglas

Lawson Hooper

Bill Mote

Tracy Pirkle

2019

Shannon Henderson

Paul Lewis

Lanier Mote

A Monthly Publication of the Bethany Presbyterian Church

“Love, Compassion, Reconciliation”

June 2018

Bethany Spirit

Inside this issue:

Session Reports 2-3

VBS News 3

Calendar 4

Volunteers/Prayer List 5

Youth News / 4th BBQ 6

Praise Notes 7

Mother’s Day 8

Submitted by Rev. Bill Herndon

T he writer, Ian Maclaren, tells the story of a young woman in his book Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush. The woman was raised in a

Christian home but left it behind in search of a better and freer life. She found it! The kind of life she thought was free, but never is, and she got for herself all that she had ever desired, in a way she did not desire it. But it always came up short in this freer life and what she possessed began to possess her. Finally she didn’t even know what it meant to be free or rather freer. One day, enough was enough, she decided to go home. When she got near the cottage of her birth, she wanted to turn around and run away. Her footsteps faltered. She began to turn her body. But then the dogs in the yard caught her smell. They had not forgotten her, even though it had been so long. With suddenness the light came on at the door and it opened, she could not see. All she could hear was her dad, her da’, bathed in the light. He called out her name, even though he could not see her either. He again called out her name, even though he had no reason to expect her coming. He called out her name once more, and suddenly her feet were out of her control and running toward him. He took her into his arms. He sobbed out Irish blessings on her head. Later, when she told their neighbor of that night, the neighbor remarked, “It’s a pity, Margaret, that you don’t know Gaelic. That’s the best of all languages for loving. There are fifty words for ‘darling,’ and your father called you every one of them that night you came home.” A second story…A missionary in China had an early convert a wizened old man who later church members simply called “Elder Cao.” When Elder Cao witnessed to some visitors why he had become a Christian, the elderly gentleman put it delicately and simply. “A man once fell into a deep and slimy pit,” said Elder Cao, “and he was unable to climb out. Along came the Buddha. He stopped and took pity on the man. ‘If you will come up here to me,’ said the Buddha, ‘I will teach you the way of enlightenment and you will never fall into the pit again.’ But the man could not get out of the pit, so the Buddha went on to bring enlightenment to others. “Along came Confucius, and he too was moved with compassion by the plight of the man in the pit. ‘If you will listen to my teachings,’ said Confucius, ‘you will understand how society is formed, and what can be done to prevent

(Continued on page 6)

Session Summary Clerk of Session Paul Lewis

T he meeting was opened in prayer by Rev. Herndon at 6:30pm in the Church office and a quorum was declared present

Financial Lisa Parris The Financial reports were reviewed and elders were given the opportunity to clarify and ask questions. Financial report approved. Prayer Cards/Concerns The Prayer List was reviewed and updated. Prayer cards were sent to those in need. Pastor’s Comments/Concerns Rev. Herndon Request of use of a classroom for Adult Bell Choir (with a locking door) was approved. Clerk’s Report Paul Lewis Starting membership - Membership – 94, Ending Membership 103 Death of Florence Sears on May 3, 2018. It was approved to add the membership of Sharon Thomason May 13, 2018. The communicant class particpants have been added to membership rolls Ansley, Hannah and Kylie Douglas, JD, Ryan and Andrew Mote, Brylie Lewis, Kendyl Nimmons and Jordan McCullough. Correspondence: The received correspondence was passed around for session to read.

Reports from Ministry Teams Mission and Outreach Shannon Henderson Nothing to Report Administration/Stewardship and Finance Lawson Hooper Nothing to report Worship Lanier Mote Sound System - was tabled for now Communion procedures where discussed, and returning to using bread and serving communion the first Sunday of the month plus special occasions. Father’s Day gifts bought and we will recognize the father with the youngest child and the father with the oldest child. Building and Grounds Bill Mote Reviewed the possible replacement of refrigerator in fellowship hall

(Continued on page 3)

P a g e 2 B e t h a n y S p i r i t

P a g e 3 B e t h a n y S p i r i t

Christian Education/Children and Youth Brandon Douglas New Sunday School material has been purchased for Summer Quarter Reported Camps have raised $2072.15 this year VBS is on schedule for June 4-8 ($205 raised so far) Reported that all camp fees have been paid in full Member Care/Hospitality Tracy Pirkle Food provided for the Sears Family Old/New Business Spirit front page article responsibility for June 2018 will be Rev. Bill Herndon The Docket and minutes pending any corrections that need to be made were approved. The meeting was closed in prayer by Rev. Bill Herndon at 7:21 pm. Next Session Meeting: June 19, 2018 at 6:30 pm.

Why We Do VBS at Bethany?

June 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

3

Sunday School—9:30am

Morning Worship—11:00am

— Holy Communion

4

5

Lee Allen

Maggie Hall

5

Choir Practice

6:30pm

7

8

9

Lisa Parris

10

Sunday School — 9:30am

Morning Worship — 11:00am

11

12

13

Choir Practice

6:30pm

Rae Cook

14

15

16

Mallory Adams

17 Father’s Day

Sunday School — 9:30am Morning Worship — 11:00am

18

19

Session Meeting

6:30pm

20

Choir Practice

6:30pm

21

22 23

Dee Starr

24

Men’s Breakfast — 7:30am Sunday School — 9:30am Café Connections — 10:30am Morning Worship — 11:00am

Mckinley Mostek

25 26

Linda Colman

27

Fun Seekers

11:00am

Choir Practice

6:30pm

28

Grier Sims

29 30

Sack Lunch Prep/Delivery

10:00am

B e t h a n y S p i r i t P a g e 4

B e t h a n y S p i r i t

Prayer Concerns

Monthly Volunteers

June 3 June 10 June 17 June 24

Children’s

Worship Adrianne Mote Tina Douglas Adrianne Mote Tina Douglas

Liturgists Stuart Clive Tommy McFarlin Schylar Parris Bill Foster

Greeters Bill Foster

Holly Foster

Bill Foster

Holly Foster

Bill Foster

Holly Foster

Bill Foster

Holly Foster

Ushers

Shannon Henderson

Dennis Mills

Chris Mize

Wayne Mize

Shannon Henderson

Dennis Mills

Chris Mize

Wayne Mize

Shannon Henderson

Dennis Mills

Chris Mize

Wayne Mize

Shannon Henderson

Dennis Mills

Chris Mize

Wayne Mize

Open Bldg. Buddy & Rae Cook Bill Mote Lawson Hooper Men of the Church

Close Bldg. Carolyn Peters Lisa Parris Tracy Pirkle Brandon & Tina

Douglas

Joyce & Sam Ball (Boyce) Judy Branch (Pirkle) Cheryl Burke - Forman University (Pakistan) Tim Burke (B. Herndon) Evelyn Capes Emmett Chapman Lisa Cole (O’Donnell) Betsy Connolly (O’Donnell) Bill Cook (B. & R. Cook) Willene Davis (Ann Herndon) Chris Deaton Kenny Ellis (Peters) Jim Fan (Parney) Nancy Fullerton (Sheri Gahwiler’s Mom) Zach Foster Kaylon Gracia (Boyce) Joey Hancock (L. Mote) Hazel (sack lunches) Kenlee Hicks George Hushour (L. Mote) Bob James Kathleen (friend of Boyce) Helen Kohler (Boyce)

Jeffery LeMoine (C. Hunt) Mary (R. Cook) Grady & Judy McMahan (Boyce) Irene Mize (W. Mize) Larry Mize (O’Donnell) Jane & Bill Moore (Boyce) Joel & Leah Sanders Schuitema Family (Parney) Thomas Sexton (Boyce) Grier & Marge Sims Casey Sullivan (Sullivan) Charlotte Sweeten Matt Tan (Parney) Gloria Tisius (O’Donnell) Connie & Bob Warren (Boyce) Kevin Waters (Peters) Mitchell Wheeler (Mize) Lamar Wilkes (B. Hunt) Ava Young (Pirkle) Our College Students Our Military Men and Women Our Session

We need your help to keep our prayer list current. You may make requests / updates by submitting a blue pew card, calling the office (770-786-1629) or by emailing (office@bpccovington.org). Thank you!

P a g e 5

B e t h a n y S p i r i t P a g e 6

anyone from falling into the pit.’ Then he too went on, for the man did not rise out of the pit. “Finally,” said Elder Cao, “Jesus came along. As with the others, he was filled with concern for the man in the pit. So he jumped down into the pit and helped the man get out. “This,” said Elder Cao, “is why I am a Christian.” The language of love. The dialect of compassion. The speech of reconciliation. It is all an echo from eternity. David heard it in the voice of Yahweh as they shared the throne of Israel. Paul wrote about it to the Ephesians who were trying to build a community of heaven in one of the nastiest places on earth. Most of all, Jesus expressed it even when he didn’t use words. He still does. And so can we. If we will…

Kid’s Club / Youth Group News

Submitted by Brandon Douglas

S ince we have now moved into the crazy summer schedules , we are placing a short hold on our

youth meetings . Once everyone gets back for camp or youth conference we will resume with our regular bi-weekly meetings.

We are so excited to have 4 youth going Camp Calvin this year. They will be attending the day camp with an over night time on Thursday. I am so ready to hear of all the new things they learn at camp.

We finally have Middle School youth again. Tracy Pirkle and I will be leaving Monday, June 18th to travel to Covenant College for a week of activities. We have 4 youth attending this conference, too.

The whole youth group wants to thank the members at Bethany for all the prayers and donations. With your help, you have been able to make opportunities happen for the future of Bethany.

We are excited to come back Sunday, June 24, to share all we learned.

Congratulations

Graduate!

T his year Bethany has a high school graduate, Joshua Starr. We are very proud of

him and we are pleased to honor him in this month’s newsletter.

It is everyone’s prayer that he will rely on God in whatever they do and wherever they go, and that He will continue to bless their lives!

T he Fourth of July Barbecue has been a tradition at Bethany since the early

1930's. The cooking will begin at approxi-mately 9:00pm on July 3 and continue all night until 12:00 noon on July 4.

The menu will be pork barbecue, stew, slaw, pickles, chips, bread, and plenty of cold drinks. The charge for this “all you can eat” meal is expected to be around $8.00 per person and children under six eat free. This is not a fundraising event. The intent is to collect just enough money to cover the expense of the meal. If there are funds collected beyond expenses they will be applied toward various church projects. We encourage you to invite your friends, relatives, and neighbors to join us!

Fourth of July Barbecue

Fun Seekers

Meets June 27, 2018

Special guest:

The Regional Office of Age

from Athens

P a g e 7 B e t h a n y S p i r i t

Praise Notes Submitted by Barbara Lawson

BETHANY’S NEXT GENERATION SINGERS AND MUSICIANS

As Director of Music at Bethany, I sense a necessity of training our youth, not only in music generally, but in church music specifically, and recruiting the “next generation” of church musi-cians. Typically, a child’s interest in becoming a musician (voice or instrument) emanates from hearing good music. Some children may enjoy music without speaking up about a desire to be musicians themselves.

Parents play an essential role in encouraging their children to participate in a musical jour-ney. Singing to God starts in our homes and our families. Mom and Dad, sing the Psalms and other scripture verses to your children at home—sing “grace” at meal time; sing an assuring song at bed time; sing a glad song as they begin their day. Sing about God’s love and care; sing the Doxology; sing the Apostles’ Creed; sing Amazing Grace!

At Bethany, my hope is to make it possible for our youth to participate in music-making. I want to get to know and enjoy camaraderie with all children that call Bethany their church home. My heart’s desire is to share the love of Christ in whatever way I can to encourage them in this avenue of service for Jesus.

And, Bethany members, here is where you enter the picture. Step right up and join me as we tap into this wonderful resource of our youth and help grow a passion for godly music in their lives.

“From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise.”

Matthew 21:16

CATCH THE SPIRIT!

Bethany’s Sack Lunch Program

Meets the last Saturday of every month at 10 am

B e t h a n y S p i r i t

We a

re

Bethany Presbyterian Church 1002 Bethany Road

Covington, GA 30016 Phone: 770-786-1629

Fax: 770-786-9676 E-mail: office@bpccovington.org

PAGE 8

Mother’s Day at Bethany

Every year it is our tradition to recognize two special mothers in our worship service on Mother’s Day — the mother with the oldest child and the mother with the youngest child. This year the mother with the oldest child was Sara Mote, and the mother with the youngest child, was Bethany Belcher. All the women present at morning worship were honored with a special gift.