June 15, 2021
Friends in Faith,
As someone who was raised in upstate New York, I was very familiar with the ways in which the weather could thwart our plans. Snow storms kept us indoors, away from slippery roads and frigid temperatures. As I adjust to life in Sacramento, I'm learning how things also grind to a halt out here when the weather gets extremely hot. We are advised to stay indoors and limit our exposure to the sun. For safety's sake, many of our plans need to be put on hold until the weather lets up—which, in this case of three-digit temperatures, won't be until next week.
As this past year of pandemic-related lockdowns has demonstrated, we can all really struggle with patience and delaying our plans. But I believe that slowing down and "going with the flow" are important faith disciplines which we all need to practice more often. The tyranny of the present and our to-do lists often keep us running from here to here, so much so that we fail to stop and smell the roses. We miss the gifts of each day. God instituted the Sabbath Day for rest and reflection, and we have been asked to honor such time and make it a priority every week.
In the midst of so much change and turmoil in our nation and in our churches, we need to work even harder to carve out quiet time for rest and renewal, and to focus on the many blessings that continue to surround us everyday. And to inventory all that we have to be thankful for means we have to slow down and take it all in. After all, God made us "human beings" as opposed to "human-doings." So sisters and brothers, stay safe during these blistering days, and take some time to feed your souls.
I will be away tomorrow through Friday, June 16-18, for some continuing education time in Kings Canyon. I'm looking forward to camping, hiking, reading and praying. If you have an emergency, please contact one of our elders. As always, my e-mail address is pastorjesse@bethpres.com; feel free to contact me via e-mail or phone. I'm beginning to visit more of our members as it becomes safe to do so. I'd love to connect!
We hope you'll join us for worship this Sunday, June 20—Father’s Day. Our text will be from John 8:1-11. It concerns a woman caught in adultery, an angry mob, and a spectacular gift of grace. Gathering music begins at 10:20 a.m. in Bethany's Social Hall. Kids are aways welcome.
There are several options on how to share in worship with us:
In-person, in our Social Hall.
In-person, from your car. We broadcast our service via very low=frequency radio channel 94.9 (available within the vicinity of the church parking lot).
From your home, on Facebook Live (hint, if you miss the actual service, you can watch it on replay).
You can also view the service on the website here; it’s usually available starting Sunday night.
HERE”S WHAT’'S COMING UP:
We still enjoy checking in with one another via Zoom on Wednesday mornings at 11 a.m. Join us here! I will not be able to attend tomorrow's meeting, but I still hope folks will pop by and say hello.
“Blooming Creativity” event at the Water Lilies Pond of William Land Park is scheduled for Thursday, June 24 from 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. This special event will be led by Parish Associate Rev. Judy Davis and Rev. Janice Kamikawa. We'll meet at the William Land Park Amphitheater (near Fairly Tale Town) and you are invited to bring a camera (or cell phone camera), a journal or note pad and colored pencils. Click here for more details.
Our celebration and reception for outgoing Music Director Dr. May Tucker is on Sunday, June 27 during and after the worship service.
The "Ladies Camping Trip" is back and scheduled for July 9-11. Here are the details.
Pastor Jesse's installation service is on Sunday, July 11 at 3 p.m.
The all-church "Friends and Family Retreat" is on August 13-15. Rooms book-up quickly for this special event so get your reservation in soon. Here are the costs and other details.
May we trust that God hears all of our prayers, and in Christ, we find healing, wholeness, and new beginnings. No matter what comes our way, all roads lead to Jesus—thanks be to God!
Blessings,
Jesse
