Friends in Faith—
This coming Sunday, November 7, is All Saints Day. First, remember that Daylight Saving Time ends, so set your clocks back an hour on Saturday night. We'll honor all of those we have loved and lost, and who now rest in peace with their Creator. We'll be celebrating communion—so if you are worshiping from home, be sure to have some bread and juice on hand. Our scripture lesson will be from Hebrews 12:1-2, and we'll be reflecting about our ancestors.
Panist Natalya Amelchenko begins playing gathering music at 10:20 a.m, with the service starting at 10:30 a.m. Folks can also join from home on Facebook. (You can also watch services at any time here.) Following the guidelines of Sacramento County and the CDC, we continue to practice social distancing and require masks while worshiping while indoors. If you plan to attend a worship service at the church, you can find out more about our safety protocols here.
After the service, you are invited to create "peace and remembrance bowls." We will be folding origami cranes together in the Social Hall during fellowship hour after the worship service. Each person will be given a bowl to take home to fill with the origami cranes you fold and a LED candle to fill the bowl with light. Join us in folding and creating origami cranes in memory of those we honor and love. All materials will be provided. Click here for all of the details.
I also have been given the privilege of leading worship at Grace Presbyterian Church this Sunday (Nov. 7) while Pastor Trinh is away. That service starts 1 p.m. in the Bethany sanctuary.
We are once again collecting canned goods/dry goods during worship on the 1st Sunday of the month—Communion Sunday. The donations will be given to the good work of the SSIP Food Closet. Click here for a list of items that are needed.
Robert Madrigal, our part-time custodian, has been hired on full-time at Westminster Presbyterian Church. We are working on a plan that will still keep Robert in his house and a presence on our campus, but his hours will be greatly reduced. The Personnel Commission is working on bringing on a new custodial team dedicated solely to keeping our facility clean. Hopefully, this will happen soon. As we adjust to the financial realities of our church, some of our expectations need to be modified. Robert will no longer be available for set-ups, and so we are asking all groups to take care of their own set-ups, and then returning the room to it's original set-up. We thank you for your help in pitching in to keep our campus clean, and we thank you for your understanding.
Please note that our coffee maker, located on the peninsula in our kitchen, must be unplugged after every use—or else it stays on! Also, make sure there is water inside of it before you plug it in.
COMING UP:
Wednesday, November 10, will be a "Lunch and Learn" event. We'll be making Advent wreaths together and then enjoying a delicious meal. Space is very limited.
Thursday, November 11—church office closure due to Veterans Day observance
Our annual Stewardship Campaign begins in shortly—stay tuned!
Bethany members are supporting Sacramento’s Run to Feed the Hungry (which benefits the SSIP Food Closet) and you have several ways to participate. One of those ways is to walk with Bethany members and friends at the Cosumnes River Preserve after church on Sunday, November 14. Click here for all of the details.
As a faith community, we have the privilege of being able to journey with one another through a chaotic and beautiful world, full of many highs and lows. We celebrate one another's victories, and we hold one another in prayer during those times of pain, fear, and loss. If you have prayers that you would like to share with our community, please contact myself or Maria. Also, be sure to indicate if you'd like your prayer to be shared, or if you'd like it to be held in confidence.
God hears all of our prayers, and in Christ, we find healing, wholeness and new beginnings. With each passing day, the Spirit of God is presenting us with new opportunities of love and grace. No matter what comes our way, all roads lead to Jesus — thanks be to God!
Blessings on all,
Jesse
