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March 2018

The Bethesda Beacon

“...the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song,

And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12b

As the Season of Lent continues, daffodils are blooming around Moore

County. What lay dormant during the winter season is coming alive and giving

glory to the Creator of all things — our Lord and our God! We invite this same

Creator to bring life in us, as we follow Jesus into Holy Week, March 25-April 1.

Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, when the people gathered and waved

palm branches and put their coats on the ground as a way to honor him. They

shouted: “Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Only four days later, Jesus was betrayed by one of his closest disciples and

arrested. He was put on trial and condemned to death on a cross, one of the most

humiliating forms of capital punishment. His disciples were scattered and devas-

tated. After three days of grief and confusion, the Spirit of God raised Jesus from

the dead. This is still a mystery for all of us to understand; however, it is also the

“heart” of the Christian Gospel of good news. We welcome you to enter into this

Season of Lent and Easter, with humility and expectation for what God wants to

do in our lives and in our church!

Grace and peace...as the good news reverberates in our lives…

Sue and David

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All Circles are supporting

Friend to Friend this year as a Mission

Partner!

Bethesda Beacon Page 2

Presbyterian Women

All ladies please plan to attend the Annual Spring Gathering for PW of the Coastal Carolina Presby-tery. It will be held on Saturday, April 14 at First

Presbyterian Church in Carthage. Registration be-gins around 8:30 AM and the gathering is over

by noon and we usually go to lunch together. Please contact Kay Mack if you would like to attend.

Every woman of Bethesda is invited to attend circle at any time of the year, September through May.

Circle #4 will meet Tuesday, March 6 at 10:00 AM in the parlor. Sandy McLaughlin is the chairper-

son (910-725-0202). The Martha Circle will meet Tuesday, March 6 at

6:30 PM. at the home of Leslie Champion. Sheila Rock is the chairperson. (910-690-3411).

The Friendship Circle will meet Monday, March 12 at 10:00 AM in the Seekers’ classroom. Kay Mack

is the chairperson (910-215-8813).

Find more information

about

Presbyterian Women and

Men of the Church

on the

bulletin board below the

stairs

up to the

Fellowship Hall.

The Martha Circle welcomes their “youngest member,” Brielle Cecelia White, born on Feb.

8th, weighing in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces. She is the daughter of Mary Katherine and Alan

White, and the granddaughter of Kathleen and Andy White.

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March 3 – Sally Noyes March 5 – Margaret McLeod

March 7 – Beth Morgan March 10 – Peggy Jacobs, Avery Locklear

March 11 – Jesse Andersen March 13 – Dene Moon

March 15 – Grant Martin March 16 – Joyce Robinson March 17 – Vance Crane

March 18 – Jasper Ardinger, Rachel Hudson March 19 – Sarah McIntosh

March 20 – Polly Smith March 21 – Luis Pages, Miriam Pages

March 22 – Mary Lou Black, Henry Taylor March 23 – Melinda Gooden, Jeff Hill

March 24 – Rebecca Brock March 25 – Laura Gingerich

March 27 – Daniel Braun March 28 – Becky Brown, Tim Wilson March 29 – Sue Hudson

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Ushers: Ann Frank

Dan Gooden Pat McLaughlin Somer Southers Nursery Maria Sumner & Volunteers:

March 4 – Nora Andersen March 11 – Sarah O’Brien March 18 – Palmer Noyes

March 25 – Alicia Dunlap Greeters

Jim Mack Craig and Sharon Fogleman

Happy Birthday!

The Directory Committee

We thank our church members for

signing up and showing up to have

pictures made for the new Directory!

We also want to thank all of the hosts

and hostesses who helped with regis-

tration and welcoming people to their

photograph sessions. The Lifetouch

photographers were very impressed

by you! We appreciate your willing-

ness and your dependability.

Love and blessings,

Sandra Tracy for the Committee:

Teddi Garren, Beth Morgan,

Janet Peele, Sandra Tracy

The One Great Hour of Sharing Offering

will be collected on Easter Sunday, April

1. It goes toward Hunger, Disaster As-

sistance and Development.

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Thank you to Moneen Bethea, Gloria Crane, and Larry Arnold for your leadership on keyboard each Sunday.

On Feb. 18, Universal Groove led worship. Thank you to Steve McKenzie,

Jimmy Greene, Samantha Taylor, Catherine Clark, Rick Noyes, Nancy and Larry Arnold. We especially appreciate the youth who assisted the Universal Groove: Ella Clark on violin and Palmer Noyes on viola, Mia Smithson and

Mason Roth on vocals! Welcome aboard!

Bethesda Bells played for Ash Wednesday and Sunday, Feb. 25th. Thank you, ringers, for your wonderful addition to worship. The Chancel Choir’s anthems have been beautiful and meaningful! Thank you!

The Chancel Choir has begun work on the cantata: Upon This Rock: The Passion, the Question, the Call, by Pepper Choplin, which will be presented in worship on Sunday, April 8th, focusing on the Apostle Peter’s experience with Christ. Please join the choir for practice

at 7:30 Wednesday evening in the choir room, if you would like to sing!

Faith Weaving Families are off to a great start! The spring musical, Judge Julie Truly & the Case of the Holey Roof! will be presented on Sunday, June 3 after worship. There are many parts for ‘extras’ if older youth would like to

act, sing, or help behind the scenes. See Nancy Arnold, if you are interested.

The 2018 Worship & Music Conference will be held at Montreat Conference Center: June 17-22 and June 24-29. This year’s theme is Sacra-ments and Seasons. If you are interested in attending the conference, please

talk to Nancy. These conferences in the beautiful North Carolina mountains offer spiritual renewal and opportunities to sing, pray, worship, move, ring,

play, study, drum and celebrate our way through the seasons of the church year.

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Bethesda Beacon MISSION OPPORTUNTIES Page 5

Letter from Libby Marsh:

“I was at the Food Bank yesterday picking up food donation boxes and was told that as of

this month Moore County surpassed Scotland and Robeson Counties in the numbers of residents below the poverty line. Everyone seems to think that we are a wealthy county but we are not. We have such pockets of severe poverty that are not seen from our beautifully landscaped golf courses. This is shameful! Once again I am asking for food donations to be brought to the Crop Hunger Walk on April 15th. I will be bringing around your Crop Walk packets this week and have donation boxes with me if you need one. It is exciting for me to know that all of you will be joining me in our quest to feed hungry people in our neighborhood, provide wells in impoverished countries, or cleaning and housing as-sistance in the US in flooded areas.”

Sandhills CROP Hunger Walk Sunday, April 15, 2018

Brownson Presbyterian Church Ashe Street Parking Lot,

Southern Pines, NC

1-2 registration: 2 PM walk begins… Contact Person: Libby Marsh (910) 690-9600

Sandhills Coalition

Thank you, Bethesda, for hosting Sandhills Coalition’s

Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon this month.

Our mission is to alleviate hunger and financial strains of struggling

households and prevented eviction of 147 families. Clothing was pro-

vided for 4,870 residents and food for 6,572 people who might have

otherwise gone hungry. This and many other services are made possi-

ble by our dedicated volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering,

please feel free to contact me directly to schedule a tour and learn

more. I would love to see some Bethesda faces amongst our volun-

teers. Ashley Keith Daughtridge (910)693.1600 ext. 203).

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Bethesda Beacon Page 6

March Programs

Mar. 7, 14, 21: YANA Christian M & Meditation…. 5:30—6:30 p.m. (in the parlor) What Does the Bible Say about Anger?... 6:30—7:30 p.m. (in the Seeker’s Room) Choir Practice…. 7:30—9:00 p.m. Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25: Faith Weaving Families…. 4:00—6:00 p.m.

Play, Drama, Art, Music, Dinner Preschool—5th Grades

Adult Component: Boundaries with Kids, by Cloud & Townsend Mar. 1, 8, 15, 22 Confirmation Class…. 5:30—7:30 p.m.

Middle and Senior High Youth

Holy Week Schedule

Palm Sunday Worship Service

11:00 a.m. March 25

Maundy Thursday Communion

7:00 p.m. March 29

Good Friday Worship

6:00 p.m. March 30

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt

10:00 a.m. March 31

Easter Morning Worship Services

7:00 a.m. April 1 (at Old Bethesda)

9:00 a.m Breakfast (in Fellowship Hall)

11:00 a.m. April 1 (in the Sanctuary)

Bring Flowers to adorn the cross!

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Bethesda Beacon Page 7

What Your Pastors Have Read in 2018!

David:

The Last Ballad, by Wiley Cash (Harper Collins, 2017), 304 pages. Cash, a New York

Times best-selling author, native of North Carolina, writes a book inspired by the events of

an actual textile-mill strike in 1929. Cash creates a vivid picture of one woman’s despera-

tion in a heartbreaking and beautifully written look at the real people involved in the Labor

Movement.

Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee (Grand Central Publishing, 2017), 479 pages. Lee, a National

Book Award Finalist, writes about love, sacrifice, ambition and loyalty over four generations

in Japan and Korea. Her work is insightful to understand the Korean context today.

Admissions: Life as a Brain Surgeon, by Henry Marsh (St. Martins Press, 2017), 270

pages. Marsh, New York Times best-selling author, retired after 40 years of handling the

human brain as a premier neurosurgeon to serve pro bono in the Ukraine and Nepal, and

gained a new understanding of what matters to us all in the end.

Thank You For Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations,

by Thomas Freidman (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016), 453 pages. Freidman’s seventh

book “exposes the tectonic movements that are reshaping the world today and explains

how to get the most out of them and cushion their worst impacts.”

The Triumph of Christianity: How A Forbidden Religion Swept the World, by Bart D.

Ehrman (Simon and Shuster, 2018) 286 pages. Ehrman, Distinguished Professor of Reli-

gious Studies at UNC Chapel Hill, leading authority on the New Testament and history of

early Christianity, and author or editor of more than thirty books, “shows how a handful of

charismatic characters used a brilliant strategy and an irresistible social strategy to win

over hearts and minds one at a time.”

Sue:

Women Who Run with the Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. The author has extensive

cross-cultural experiences and exposure to the myths and stories of female archetypes.

She is an internationally recognized scholar, award-winning poet, a senior Jungian psycho-

analyst, and cantadora (keeper of the old stories in the Latina tradition). She has mined

deeply the female psyche and soul.

Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy, by Anne Lamott (Random House, 2017). In

classic Anne Lamott style, this book offers mercy as medicine in an increasingly complex

world. She gives the reader the chance to “soften ever so slightly” so that people can un-

derstand one another more deeply. Her words are honest, humorous, surprising and joyful!

Anger: Taming a Powerful Emotion, by Gary Chapman (Moody Publishers, 1999). Chap-

man’s writings never go out of style and seem more timely today than when they were first

written. He addresses the divine origin and source of this powerful emotion, and gives prac-

tical guidance about channeling anger in positive ways. He addresses unhealthy anger, and

how to cope when we are angry at God, ourselves or others.

Beyond Boundaries, by Dr. John Townsend (Zondervan, 2011). A follow-up to the best-

selling book, Boundaries, which gives biblical guidelines for establishing healthy relation-

ships, this book shows how to restore broken relationships and rebuild trust.

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In November of last year Chris and Rebecca Dunn’s son “CJ” had a

white blood cell count so high it didn't register on the pediatrician's ma-chine. They spent 13 days at UNC Hospital learning a different language and trying to keep up with new information daily. CJ has T-Cell Acute

Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Three 3 months later he is living a very different life. CJ cannot go back to school for at least the next 12 months. He is cur-rently working through 4th grade as a home bound student. CJ's prognosis

is very good! T-Cell A.L.L. is treatable, though it is a long and sometimes unpleasant 3 year treatment.

Overall, C.J. is doing well, although there have been hiccups in his treatment. Chris and Rebecca feel very fortunate to live close to good medi-

cal care, and know they are in good hands. “We could not be holding it to-gether or keep going without the love and support of our family, friends, cards, texts, emails, surprises, gifts, Facebook comments and messages. The words, “thank you”, will never be enough to express our gratitude to our Mer-ry Hearts and Bethesda families for your love and support for CJ and our family in this new chapter in life.” The Session has approved taking a “Love Offering for CJ.” We will re-ceive contributions through the end of March. Please designate your gift: CJ Dunn Love Offering.

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Family Promise Bethesda hosted Family Promise by making meals, sharing fellowship and

staying overnight February 19-22. We shared our evenings with three Moms and a total of six children. Volunteering always reminds us of how blessed we are and

how the paths of many are difficult. Many, many thanks go to Gail Cunningham, Marjorie Downey, Joyce Robinson for Monday's dinner crew, to Carol Prevatte, Dot-tie Folley, Lynn Dworak, Ann McNeill and Nancy Arnold for Tuesday’s dinner crew,

Alice Demastus and LoJuanna Pages for Wednesday's dinner crew and to Nancy and Chuck Dearborn and Jim and Kay Mack for Thursday's meal crew.

Overnight hostesses were Terri Combs, Sue Hudson, Laura Murdock and

LoJuanna Pages. Our next opportunity to host is April 30—May 3. Please contact

LoJuanna Pages at 910-638-1866 or the church office if you are interested in help-

This is a ministry to women and children who

need housing, employment, food and safety during life

transitions!

Please keep our Confirmation Class in your prayers… as they decide whether or not they are

ready to be baptized/confirmed and make a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ on Easter

Sunday. Here are a few pictures of their “creative work” as people created in God’s image!

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BYG Bethesda Youth Group

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Thank you to our youth group for singing "Come As You Are" by Crowder in worship on February 11. Kelly Clark led on guitar with Ella Clark on piano, and Andrew Plyler,

Director of Camp Monroe, added some percussion with the cajon.

Spiritual Practices: In February, one of the spiritual practices BYG explored was

"Working Together to Solve Problems." To demonstrate this, we split into two teams to find clues and solve puzzles and riddles to discover codes that would unlock a variety of

locks. After this fun "Escape Room" exercise, we discussed different tactics for solving

problems that translate to real-world issues.

The Youth Council has been re-structured for accountability and efficiency. Davis

Clark is now the Session moderator of the Youth Leadership Team, which is the Session

committee working on behalf of the Youth Group. Sam Cunningham Taylor continues to

function as the Youth Director and Rev. Sue Hudson is the pastor for this team. The

Team will include Sunday school teachers for Middle and High School, which are pres-

ently Henry Hogan, David Keith and LoJuanna Pages. The Youth Elder is Ella Clark and

the Youth Deacon is Sierra Stefanelli. On Sunday night, February 25, the Youth and Par-

ents selected Christian Blue as the Middle School representative and Palmer Noyes as

the Senior High representative. Parent representatives are Michelle Martin (for Middle

School) and Lisa Noyes (for Senior High).

Parent and Youth Council meetings will take place quarterly to gather input and

feedback for the Youth Leadership Team. If anyone has concerns or would like to give

input, please contact any one of these representatives.

The Youth Leadership Team has appointed four people to accompany Laurinburg

Presbyterian Church’s mission team to Tabasco, Mexico, June 10-15, to explore plans

for an international mission trip to Tabasco in 2019. They are: Victor Andersen, Sue

Hudson, Palmer Noyes and Sierra Stefanelli.

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Family Photo Gallery

We welcome Ellie Madeline Cunningham! She was born

on Feb. 24 at 8:06 a.m., weighing 7 lbs. 13 oz., the

daughter of Nathan and Vanessa Cunningham,

granddaughter of Gail and J. Cunningham.

Pat McLaughlin and Sara Swartout were crowned

King and Queen at the Pancake Supper on Feb. 13!

Jimmy

Greene

receives the

Golden

Spatula for a

second year

in a row for

winning the

pancake eat-

ing contest.

The Chili Cook Off was

well attended!

David Keith won the

Judges’ Award and tied

with T.J. Combs for the

Peoples’ Choice Award!

Sandra Tracy was

our Bingo caller and

kept everyone on

their toes! Thanks to

Burney Hardware

for donating the

prizes!

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Lectionary Bible Passages for March

March 4 Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; I Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22

March 11 Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3,17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21

March 18

Jer. 31:31-34; Ps. 51:1-12 or Ps. 119:9-16; Heb. 5:5-10; John 12:20-33

March 25: Palm/Passion Sunday Isaiah 50: 4-9a; Psalm 118:1-2, 9-29; Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16

March 29: Maundy Thursday Communion

Exodus 12:1-10, 11-14; Ps. 116:1-2, 12-19; I Cor. 11:23-26;

John 13:1-17, 31 b-35

March 30: Good Friday

Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Ps. 22; Heb. 10:16-25 or 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

April 1 Easter Sunday

Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; I Cor. 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8

Bethesda Beacon

Bethesda Presbyterian Church 1002 N. Sandhills Blvd.

Aberdeen, NC 28315 910-944-1319 bethesdapres@ncrrbiz.com

www.bethesdapres.church

TO:

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Pastor’s Article 1

Presbyterian Women 2

Birthdays/Ministries 3

Music & Worship 4

Mission Opportunities 5

Programs 6

Pastors’ Reading 7

CJ Love Offering 8

Confirmation 9

BYG 10

Photo Gallery 11

Lectionary Readings 12