August 5, 2021
Friends in Faith:
Two days ago, Rowena and I had a wonderful dinner with the "younger" folks of Bethany—a handful of daughters and sons of our congregation. They are leading full lives—working, raising families, pursuing their passions, and doing their best, like all of us, to navigate through the ongoing pandemic. It was a joy to get to know them, and to hear them speak about their memories, frustrations and hopes for Bethany.
The memorial service for Rev. Dr. Dick Wylie, who was a long-time friend of Bethany and passed away last year, will be held this Saturday, August 7, at 2 p.m. in Westminster Presbyterian Church. Click here for details.
As always, we are thankful that we can worship together this coming Sunday—August 8 at 10:30 a.m. Our text is from Matthew 26:36-46; we'll be considering Jesus' time spent in the Garden of Gethsemane, preparing for the cross.
We are searching for a childcare provider for Sunday mornings from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. The position pays minimum wage, and we are looking for someone to begin as soon as possible. Help spread the word and reach out to Jim Guida, chair of the Worship and Arts Commission, if you have any further questions.
Our Annual Congegrational Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, September 12, immediately following the worship service. During this meeting, we vote in new elders and deacons, and we approve the pastor's salary package. September 12 will be "Homecoming Sunday" as we begin a new program year together at Bethany—more details to follow.
PLEASE BE SAFE while at Bethany! There have been several incidents in which staff, church members or guests have felt uneasy or encountered obvious threats from unwanted visitors. The Sacramento Police Department is aware of these issues and asks that we continue to report problems. While we should ask trespassers to leave the site, we also must not put ourselves at physical risk. If you are in immediate danger, stay in a safe location and call 9-1-1. The non-emergency number is (916) 808-5471. Reports can be made online; click here. Please notify the pastor, the office or a member of Session if you experience any issues or if you file a police report. The more that we document these problems, the more traction we gain in preventing future issues. The continued use of a Sunday morning security person will, we hope, cut down on trespassers. Session is also currently seeking bids for a fence —with a clearer barrier, we hope it will become more difficult for unwanted visitors to hang out on our campus.
My e-mail address is pastorjesse@bethpres.com; feel free to contact me via e-mail or phone. I'd love to connect!
May we trust that God hears all of our prayers, and in Christ, we find healing, wholeness, and new beginnings. Even in the midst of chaotic days and tremendous change, the Spirit of God is presenting us with new opportunities of love each and everyday. No matter what comes our way, all roads lead to Jesus—thanks be to God!
Blessings to all,
Jesse
