June 25, 2007 A Publication of Bethel United Church of Christ, Elmhurst IL Issue: 2007-07
June 25, 2007 A Publication of Bethel United Church of Christ, Elmhurst IL Issue: 2007-07
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A Message from the Pastor
I recently learned of a book that intrigued me and picked it up at the library… Reverence – Renewing a Forgotten Virtue by Paul Woodruff. The thesis is this: that reverence as a virtue has all but disappeared from our culture, our thoughts, our common life, even our faith, and that much of the malaise we experience is a result of this loss.
What I’ve read so far intrigues me.
“Why write about reverence?” he asks. “Because we have forgotten what it means. Because reverence fosters leadership and education. Most important, because reverence kindles warmth in friendship and family life. And because without reverence, things fall apart. People do not know how to respect each other and themselves. An army cannot tell the difference between what it is and a gang of bandits. Without reverence, we cannot explain why we should treat the natural world with respect. Without reverence, a house is not a home, a boss is not a leader, an instructor is not a teacher…” (p. 13)
It’s a spiritual issue that’s worthy of our attention in the church. But it’s also a virtue that has shaped what is best about our country.
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The healing of the nation after the Civil War couldn’t have happened without reverence.
This is how the surrender at Appomattox went… On Palm Sunday morning, April 9, 1865 General Lee put on his finest dress uniform, mounted Traveler, and rode away from his troops to Appomattox to meet General Grant. Lee fully expected his men would be herded like cattle into railroad cars and taken to prison while he would be tried and executed as a traitor.
In the living room of the home where they met Lee asked Grant what the terms of surrender would be. Grant told Lee that his men were free to take their horses with them and go back to their farms and that Lee too was free to go home and create a new life. Lee offered Grant his sword; Grant refused it. Lee came expecting to be humiliated and he left with dignity and honor. As he watched Lee mount Traveler and ride back to his troops, Grant took off his hat and saluted his enemy. The experience deeply affected the defeated General. As long as he lived, Lee never allowed a critical word of Grant to be spoken in his presence.
Reverence….
See you in Church…
Rev. Steve
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New Format
We’ve decided to “mix it up a bit” and fold our Bethel news into a new format. The content will be familiar. The layout will hopefully be easy to read and convenient to use. Enjoy!
Rev. Steve and Brian Barrett
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We are reaching an important juncture with our Bethel Church Open and Affirming process. I'd like to recognize and thank the Open and Affirming Task Force: Rebecca Love, Ellen Braun, Kathy Gray, Georgia DeClark, Jude Hines, Jim Harris and Mike Moulds for all of the time investment and incredible support they have given. Over the course of many months the Bethel Open and Affirming Task Force has done a wonderful job of constructing the statement, conducting multiple forums to gain congregation input, and establishing information gathering and sharing of congregation feedback. Through our Bethel Newsletter and in upcoming church bulletins the proposed Bethel Open and Affirming statement will be published. Church Council and The Open and Affirming Task Force encourages you to read the statement, think about it and participate in the process leading up to our August congregation meeting. At that time we as a congregation will vote on the Bethel Open and Affirming statement. Thank you. Jim LaPalermo - Council President The Church Council has called for a Congregational meeting to be held on August 26, following 10 a.m. worship, for the purpose of considering the following motion and resolution.
Motion: We move to adopt the Open and Affirming Statement by two-thirds of the votes cast by the members of Bethel United Church of Christ present at a congregational meeting on August 26, 2007. The Statement is to be revisited no later than three years from the date of approval. We will register and identify Bethel United Church of Christ as an Open and Affirming Congregation in the United Church of Christ.
Resolution: We the congregation of Bethel United Church of Christ, declare ourselves to be open and affirming. With God’s grace, we are striving to be a Christian community that includes all persons, embracing differences of age, ethnicity, gender, mental and physical ability, race, sexual orientation, as well as marital or socio-economic status. As we respond to the call of Christ, we welcome all to share in the life, fellowship, leadership, ministry, worship, rites, sacraments, and responsibilities of participation in our congregation. We commit to the ongoing process of dialogue, education, increased awareness, and witness for justice for all of God’s children.
If adopted the “Opening and Affirming” status of our congregation would be included in brochures and literature published by Bethel United Church of Christ.
Financial summary
If you have questions or would like further detail please contact Rod Stipe, Treasurer.
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From the Aesthetics Committee The Aesthetics Committee is looking for any interested person(s) to do some smaller painting projects around the church this summer (indoor & out). If you are available and willing, please call the church office at your earliest convenience! Thank you.
From the Board of Elders
OUTDOOR WORSHIP is planned for July 29th and August 19th. We understand that the cicadas will be a presence in June and it may be too noisy!
SUMMER POP will meet in June and July beginning the Sunday after POP Sunday. There will be 8 sessions. All the children will meet together. We will sing songs and play games and do fun Summer POP stuff! There will be no children’s programming for the 4 Sundays in August.
From the Board of Deacons Directory Updates (please contact the church office)
Students returning from or going away to college, please forward your new address to the church office.
Join the Club
Bethel Book Club Our next selection is Suite Francaise by Irene Nemerovsky. This author was well known in her native Poland before moving to France prior to WWII. Although this novel is complete in itself, Nemerovsky intended to include many more stories. She had concealed the manuscript in the lining of a suitcase before she was taken away by the Nazis, and died in a concentration camp. The manuscript was found by her daughters in the late 1990s and became an instant best-seller in France, Poland, and the U.S. Amazon.com named it the best book of 2006. The novel is contemporary with the second World War and tells the stories of several characters living the experience in and around Paris, some humorous and some tragic.
We will meet on Wednesday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Sue Crowther. Please call Sue if you plan to attend.
Women of Bethel
THE NEXT LADIES LUNCHEON will be on July 9th at 11:30 a.m. Ladies are invited to bring a brown bag lunch to Dorothea Odom’s home.
SAVE THE DATE – WOMEN’S WINTER RETREAT will be held February 22-23, 2008 at the Loretto Center in Wheaton, IL. Watch for details.
Men of Bethel
MEN’S BREAKFAST will be at the Fresh Start Café in Elmhurst on July 3rd and 17th at 8 a.m.
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Youth Fellowship
BYF Work Trip and House Boating Plans are Set!
We think we are almost ready to go after a few adjustments to the plans. Our group will depart from the Bethel parking lot on Friday, August 3rd, no later than 6:30 a.m. Our destination is Lansing, Iowa, in the far northeastern corner of the state. We hope to get there by noon to board the two boats and set off for a sort of Huck Finn adventure until noon on Sunday. Then we will drive south to Rock Island, Illinois, where we will work rehabilitating housing in low income areas for four days This work is our contribution to strengthening people and neighborhoods in need right here in Illinois. Church of Peace, UCC, will provide our housing and meals while we are there. This is Emmy Odean’s home church so we are especially excited about the opportunity to go and spend time with her, other church members and the people we will help in Rock Island. We also hope to have fun together in the evenings. We will return late on Friday afternoon, August 10th. Trip payment and required forms should be turned in to Brian in the church office as soon as possible.
Questions? Please call Jan or Jim Dondlinger.
Please plan to be in worship on Sunday, August 12th so we can thank you for your support and hear about our experiences!
From your Parish Nurse
Health Hints – July 2007
Greetings! This month I'd like to focus on First Aid Kits. Summer is a great time to be sure your kits are well stocked! When we consider potential accidents and injuries we must be sure our homes have a well-supplied First Aid Kit. You may purchase one or assemble one yourself. It should include:
In addition to our own homes being equipped to handle emergencies, our church home must be equally prepared. As a reminder, Bethel has 2 fully-stocked First Aid Kits: one is located in the First Aid/AED closet in the Undercroft; the other in the Christian Ed/Parish Nurse office on the 2nd floor. They continue to be checked and re-stocked periodically; please call with any questions or concerns. Have a happy and safe summer! Kathy Murray, RN
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Did You Ever Wonder. . .
Many of us can name historic Christian leaders: Paul, James, John, Peter, St. Francis, Martin Luther, and several others. But sometimes we forget that God still calls forth leaders among us. If you have examined the book UCC@50:Our History – Our Future, you have encountered the names of many leaders from modern times. I would like to tell you about one of them.
Theodore A. Braun wrote a short article for the UCC@50 called “Jesus Modeled Justice for the United Church of Christ.” Ted was someone I was honored to meet briefly many years ago when I trained for a national youth program called Caravanning. He spoke with us about justice. I remember vividly that he told us how he had once been asked to list his race on a form. He wrote in the word “human.”
Several years later, I encountered Ted again. This time, Ted was editing a newsletter for General Synod delegates called Balaam’s Courier. He used this newsletter to remind us delegates of our responsibilities to act justly. The newsletter also included articles and cartoon aimed at helping us not to take ourselves too seriously. One illustration particularly stays in my mind. It showed the church emblem printed upside down.
But I particularly value what Ted wrote in the book about the UCC at 50. He points out an issue I had not noticed before. Ted writes that both the ancient Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed jump from Jesus’ birth to his death. But the UCC Statement of Faith honors Jesus’ ministry of justice, a ministry of his life. In Ted’s words: “This Statement speaks about sharing and reconciling, serving others, resisting evil, and having courage in the struggle for justice and peace.”
Although I still honor the ancient creeds, I now read our Statement of Faith with even great appreciation.
Rev. Sally Scheib, Associate Pastor
Human Concerns
FOOD PANTRY In July we will be collecting baby food to be distributed by the local food pantries. Please leave your donation in the basket just inside the North entrance.
OUR MISSION We have received news of a little boy from the Philippines that we at Bethel will be sponsoring. Frederick is the youngest among eight children. He has six older brothers and one older sister. Felix, his father is a laborer with a low income, not sufficient for supporting his large family. Rogaciana, his mother raises livestock, fruits and vegetables to augment the family income. They live in a small house made of wood and bamboo. Frederick is 7 and in first grade. Frederick walks to school everyday with his brothers and sisters. He loves school and had an average of 86.83% on his first report card. He loves to draw and would like to take an art class someday.
We will start corresponding with Frederick this summer, and hope to hear more about him. We would like to get the children of Bethel involved in writing to him as well. Chris Smith
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Music Ministry
Greetings Bethel Members and Friends-
I am pleased to announce that our own Bethel pianist Kelly Lockerbie will be performing a solo piano recital Sunday July 15th at 3 pm. Kelly just completed her freshman year at York High School and has been studying with me privately for approximately 7 years. Her program includes the Sonatina in F Major by Clementi, Debussy’s Children’s Corner Suite, and Scott Joplin’s Solace. A free will offering will be taken at the door, and the donations will go to the mission work of Church of Peace UCC in Rock Island – where our Bethel Youth will go on their work trip later this summer. I am extremely proud of Kelly, and it has truly been one of my favorite Bethel adventures to teach her and watch her musical and personal growth. ALL ARE INVITED to this recital, and a reception will follow Kelly’s performance. Please come July 15th to support Kelly, one of our many talented Bethel Youth.
I would like to thank the many Bethel musicians who have offered their musical talents to enrich and inspire our summer Sunday worship. It is a joy to work with each of you, and I thank you for your contributions as always to our Music Ministry at Bethel.
Also, July 29th at 3 pm I will give my annual solo recital, this year benefiting our fundraising activities. My program, which will be my only solo performance in the area this year, is of a more “accessible and light nature” and will featuring works of Ravel, Beethoven, Scarlatti, Mozart and Gershwin. All donations received at the door will benefit our many Bethel programs. Jeffrey Panko, Minister of Music
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Jeff Panko and Friends - September 24, 2007 Our opening concert of the Monday Evening Concert Series’ ninth season on September 24, Jeff Panko and Friends, will feature several artists already familiar to our MECS audience. Jeff will be joined by his piano duet partner, world renowned pianist Amy Dissanayake, the immensely talented soprano Sarah Gartshore, violinist Thomas Yang and John Schreckengost on French horn in a program featuring works of Dvorak, Schubert and Dukas as well as Brahms’ famous Horn Trio.
Jazz at Bethel returns to our Monday Evening Concert series lineup December 10 and will showcase the superb jazz vocalist Margaret Carlson and the Scott Stevenson trio in a jazzy tribute to the holiday season.
Chamber Music at Bethel - Sunday at 3 - March 2, 2008 The Monday Evening Concert series will introduce Chamber Music at Bethel in our Sunday at 3 performance March 2. Three of Chicagoland’s outstanding classical musicians, violinist Katherine Hughes, cellist Jill Kaeding and pianist Jeffrey Panko will be featured in their first public performance as a trio. Their program will include trios of Mozart and Brahms and will also highlight each musician in solo performance. Elmhurst’s Own – May 5, 2008 Our final performance for the ninth season of the Monday Evening Concert Series will feature three of our talented Elmhurst musicians. Dramatic soprano Marcy Stonikas, flutist Jennifer Brown and Jeffrey Panko will present a program featuring major works including Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915,” the Faure Flute Sonata and the Busoni piano transcription of Bach’s famous “Toccata and Fugue in d minor.”
We hope you are able to join us for what promises to be an amazing season of music. Tickets are on sale now, and if you purchase a season ticket before August 15th you will receive $5 off the regular price (season tickets are $70 for adults, $65 for seniors, and $20 for full time students). Tickets can be purchased in the church office during the week.
We can always use more help with the production of this church fundraiser. We need help distributing posters, baking, serving and clean up at the reception. We are in the process of putting together our list of contributors for the season, and we would like to invite you to join this list by making a donation. Lastly, we are always looking for more advertisers for our program book. Contact Leslie Stipe if you would like to support the concert series in one of these ways.
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Independence Day Marchers will man the shopping carts to collect food items for the Yorkfield Food Pantry.
LOOK FOR OUR BLOG DISCUSSIONS on the Bethel website.
The newsletter and other releases are available on the Bethel website under Publications.
Contributions for the August issue are due in the church office by July 22nd!
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