... helpers.

Bethany has experienced another loss among its church family. Dolores McMackin passed away this evening after spending a week in the hospital and rehab trying to recover from injuries associated with a fall. As recently as a couple of days ago, when church members visited her, she was in good spirits and had retained her sparkling (and wicked) sense of humor. Folks joked with her about her "unexpected vacation" away from household chores and urged her to take it easy. She agreed that she deserved the break ... but wished she hadn't had to break several ribs to earn it. Word about a memorial service will come soon ... in the meantime, please remember husband Howard, daughter Janna and son Donald (and their spouses and children) in your prayers.

On a related note ... Howard has been coming to church to make coffee nearly every Sunday morning, even while Dolores was home-bound or hospitalized. This couple, who celebrated their 68th anniversary on June 10, have truly been the backbone of Bethany's Fellowship Commission for the past two decades. When thinking of their efforts over the years to make Bethany's coffee hour and social events lovely and meaningful times for everybody, perhaps you'll agree that the apostle Paul's words to the fledgling Christian community in Colossae come to mind:

And whatever you do,
in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
— Colossians 3:17

This kind of dedication might be considered rare ... and yet, at Bethany, we have many who give generously of themselves on a regular basis to help enrich the lives of others. As Mister Rogers so famously said, in a message to children who might be upset or anxious or grief-stricken, "Look for the helpers." Just as we are secure in the knowledge that God will be with us ... to the end of the age ... we can take comfort in remembering that even in this small congregation, we do not lack the resources to take care of each other. Look for the helpers. Get inspired and be energized by them. Maybe even become one?

—Cathy Betts Sapunor

... honest talk about violence.

Summer should be a time of carefree fun ... a time of picnics and pools, families and friends. And, of course, this being an election year, also a time for expressing political views and sharing visions for the future. Sadly, this past weekend showed that our safety when gathering at public events is something we can no longer take for granted. Are we all now at risk simply by leaving our homes?

The truth, in fact, is that violent crime in the U.S. is actually on the decline. Has been for several years. So why do we feel so scared and vulnerable? Possibly because in this digital era, news travels so fast ... and bad news always grabs the biggest headlines. And also maybe because we fear what is out of our hands. We can wear seatbelts, for example, but we cannot control the inattentive driver in the next lane. We don't let this stop us from dashing to the store to pick up a carton of milk. Yet the odds of being in a traffic accident are greater than being a victim of violent crime (which California sources estimate is one victim per 20,000 persons).

Experts say our anxiety and worry probably stem from our perception that "crime is out there, waiting to get us." Will we ever get anything done, or go anywhere, if we constantly feel this way?

It's hard to believe that everything is going to be okay when the world feels like it's falling apart. Beyond taking the usual safety precautions (Don't park in unlit areas! Lock your car!) it seems there's not much else we can do. And that's when God comes into the picture, asking—no, expecting—us to trust him to watch over us. Moreover, he asks—no, demands—that we go further and step in (and speak up) to promote justice and peacemaking. Those are things we can do. And when we can do something, anything, we cease feeling like victims. It takes courage to stay engaged in the real world. Now is the time to remember that God's unsurpassed love and faith in us make that happen.

—Cathy Betts Sapunor

... responding in new ways.

The heat wave continues! Fortunately, temperatures are predicted to drop soon. In the meantime, we console ourselves with the sure knowledge that "this, too, shall pass." Believe it or not, this expression is not from scripture. But here's something appropriate that is:

All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing.
What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
— Ecclesiastes 1: 8-9

While there may truly be nothing "new" under the sun, there is always something new possible within us ... something shaping and guiding us and causing us to respond in new new ways as God's people. Take, for example, the "cooling center" ministry. It was first organized by Jim Guida during the September 2022 heat crisis (when Sacramento's temperature reached the historical high of 116 degrees). Last week this outreach effort was reactivated by elder Susan Just, providing solace and (air conditioned) comfort to those in need. She and Mike Sutton, joined by other Bethany volunteers, served as hosts Monday-Friday ... and even sought out unhoused members of the public to come in to rest and replenish themselves. This project continues Monday-Tuesday this week.

Have you got an idea of how Bethany can be of service in our community? Has your life at Bethany brought about new ways of thinking, being and doing? Be sure to share these thoughts at the next "focus group" gathering after the worship service on Sunday, July 21.

—Cathy Betts Sapunor

... sitting a while at the manger.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40)

Martha was focused on her “to do” list. Her sister Mary was fully aware of all that had to be done, but she put that aside to spend time with Jesus.

At Christmas time, it’s all too easy to become a Martha, caught up in our long “to do” list. Too often, we start focusing on all we want to get done and start resenting that others don’t help us.

Many hands may make the work lighter, but they won’t solve the underlying problem.

What we need isn’t more human help. What we need is more of Jesus. Only he can give us the peace of mind and heart that we crave.

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who came to bring us peace. But he won’t force that peace on you—like Mary, you have to seek it out.

Take time this Christmas to sit a while at the manger. Contemplate what Jesus means to you, and listen to what he has to say. Take time to focus on him instead of on your chores and lists.

Chores are temporary. The peace you get from a relationship with Jesus is everlasting.

—Christine Sackey

 
top of month blog dec 2020.jpg
 
 

... authentic growth & renewal.

... authentic growth & renewal.

Not only do we need each other desperately during these tough times … we need desperately to better understand and learn from each other. Here's your chance—during the months ahead of sitting at home—to read … to think … to really ponder what you can do to be more connected with others. If you want friendships that are true and authentic, you'll find that examining your hidden prejudices (yes, you've got them; everybody does) is the first step.

... waving goodbye to summer and anticipating the beauty of fall.

August is the time to wave goodbye to summer and anticipate the beauty of fall. Vacations end and children prepare for school. The days are still bright and kissed by the Sun but they are getting shorter. Frosty mornings are a long way off but night has lengthened its grip.

This year is different. Our vacations were aborted in March and schooling remains a mystery. Will it take place at the kitchen table or will children file off to school?  Will our homes still be our workplaces and for how long?

As we transition into this quagmire of uncertainty, let use keep the words of Isaiah 26: 3-4 in mind:

perfect peace.jpg

Thou dost keep him in perfect
whose mind is stayed on thee,
because he trusts in thee.

Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

God is my source of peace. I know that there is a path for me in the most difficult and trying circumstances. This path will help me grow in peace, joy and wisdom. Can these verses help you as we move into the future?

P.S. I set my alarm to this song when I need to awaken to the day in a strong and energetic manner. It is based on Isaiah 26: 3-4. It is called “Perfect Peace” and it is performed by Andre Crouch and the Disciples.

—Jackie Sneed 

… looking ahead.

As we live in this time of the pandemic, with heartache over the many, many people around the world sick and suffering and passing on from this virus, so many emotions fill our hearts and spirits. Yet in the midst of it all, there is beauty and hope and transformation. An inspiring poem by retired Madison, Wisconsin, teacher Kitty O’Meara and the accompanying video so beautifully capture this promise and hope.

— Rev. Janice Kamikawa

And the People Stayed Home.jpg

In the Time of Pandemic

And the people stayed home.

And they read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.

And they listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. 

Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed.

And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

—Kitty O’Meara

 WATCH THE VIDEO.

Note: after about 5 seconds, you can click “skip the ads” (lower right corner) to go directly to the video.

... hope and trust in God.

It was roughly a month ago that many were beginning to realize the grave seriousness of this coronavirus pandemic. Just today, the death toll in the U.S. has now surpassed that of China. We are glued to the news, longing to better understand the nature of this disease and how we might all stem the tide of death and devastation. We are hesitant to learn what tomorrow will bring, and we are quite fearful of what may transpire over the next few months.

As people of faith, we know the many Bible stories that speak of substantial challenges faced by the People of God—slavery in Egypt, survival in the Sinai desert for 40 years, warfare, invasion, the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, dislocation, Roman occupation and persecution. Nearly every biblical character faced his or her share of crises. Most of us are familiar with the stories of our own families that inevitably involve our ancestors facing their own trials and tribulations. Life is all about mountaintop highs and bleak lows in the wilderness. So how do we find our way out of these dark days?

I wish I knew. I wish I could tell everyone that everything will be fine. But we just don’t know what tomorrow holds—only God does. And so, as the faithful of the past have done, we must draw upon the deep well of our faith.

I encourage all of us to read the many Bible stories that teach us about God’s faithfulness. Study the many passages of the four gospels, and the ways in which Jesus teaches us about the nature of God and the living waters of faith in Christ. May we reach out to one another in the spirit of love and grace, rather than fear or judgment. We may be “social distanced,” but we can still call one another and share encouraging words. We can pray for one another, our community, the world, and ourselves, trusting that God hears our prayers and longs for wholeness for all of creation. We can creatively discuss new ways of being the church to minister to so many who will have profound needs.

We are not only in this together, but God is with us, too, and God will see us through this storm.

The old Gospel song declares, “Guide my feet, Lord, while I run this race for I don’t want to run this race in vain!” Yes, indeed, let us trust in God’s guidance as we navigate the uncharted waters of this coronavirus crisis together.

— Rev. Jesse Larson

... growing new beginnings.

corinthians-5-7.jpg

A couple of months ago, the landscapers pruned all the rose bushes on the property where I live. Wow, people were so upset. The guys actually cut the bushes down so it looked like they would not survive.

Well, now the little stumps have new growth on them. It is slow, and I wonder if they will be big enough by late spring to flower. But they are growing.

That is like the scripture that says the tree will be pruned, the dead cut out, and new grafts and new growth. I see our church like that. At first, what is perceived is death, not growth. But we all know that growth comes after pruning.

And now I think we are in the growth of beginnings.

— Sammi Fernandez

... greater love.

Poor little February. Only 28 days in duration, it’s the shortest of all the months. But this little runt of the litter contains one of the most endearing holidays—Valentine’s Day. We get an entire day devoted to the appreciation of love!

AND every four years—Leap Year—we get 366 days (not 365) and Shorty February gets the honor of hosting it. Leap Year asks—no, demands—that we do something meaningful with our extra day.

What will YOU do with your 24 extra hours? You could write overdue letters to family and friends. You could grocery shop for items to give to the food closet. You could visit someone whose health makes it hard to get out of the house. You could learn the name of your mail carrier (coffee barista, gas station attendant, credit union teller, et. al.) and begin greeting him/her personally. You could pray. Oh yes, please do pray. The world, as troubled as ever, desperately needs your prayers.

On February 29, do what you can to bring about understanding, friendship, peace and love.

Take a leap … into greater love.

—CBS

mother-theresa-quote-do-small-things.jpg

... forgiving and hoping.

As a child, I remember asking where hate “lived.” I was told it lived in my heart. But—if I kept my heart full of love—there would be no room for hate. That made perfect sense to me then … and now! With the current president and the state of the world, I am finding myself needing to reconnect with those wise words. Please, God, help me to keep my heart full of love and my prayers full of hope.

—Pat Stanfield

PHOTO: JIM GUIDA

PHOTO: JIM GUIDA

... giving and receiving.

Christmas marks the birth of Jesus: “the greatest gift to the world.” In keeping with that spirit of generosity, we give presents to one another. (And Santa comes with treasures for good little girls and boys!) Every December we place immense emphasis on getting just the right thing for the right person.

Yet a Bethany member once declared that it wasn’t until he became seriously ill that he learned how to receive. He remarked that while his cancer was not a blessing, his response to it was. He said he was learning to ask others for help and for prayers. For someone whose career had been focused on helping others rehabilitate themselves, he now found himself on the receiving end. Up until his death, he proclaimed that just as much as “God loves a cheerful giver,” God loves a cheerful receiver.

During the month that lies ahead—the month traditionally promoted as filled with joy—we are bound to feel moments of sadness and longing. We may grieve for loved ones no longer with us. We may feel overwhelmed by finances or schedules. (We may even come down with the ‘flu!)

Let’s remind ourselves that the infant Jesus was as vulnerable and weak as any other newborn, needing infinite care and love. And know that this same comfort and aid is always available to us from friends and family. And from God, the greatest Gift-giver of all.

—CBS

giving-and-receiving.jpg

Receiving is often harder than giving. Giving is very important: giving insight, giving hope, giving courage, giving advice, giving support, giving money, and most of all, giving ourselves. Without giving there is no brotherhood and sisterhood.

But receiving is just as important, because by receiving we reveal to the givers that they have gifts to offer. When we say, “Thank you, you gave me hope: thank you, you gave me a reason to live; thank you, you allowed me to realize my dream,” we make givers aware of their unique and precious gifts. Sometimes it is only in the eyes of the receivers that givers discover their gifts.

–Henri Nouwen

… giving thanks.

This is historically the month for giving thanks. For food on the table, for family and friends, for paychecks, for roofs over our heads. But for every blessing we can count, we can recall even more terrible, embarrassing, dangerous, thoughtless, angry or foolish things we have done. Years later, we are still pointing blame at ourselves and considering ourselves unworthy of God’s care and comfort. But God accepts us just as we are, because He knows our human struggles and frailties. (He made us in His image, after all!) You are the total sum of your experiences; they’ve made you the person you are today. Take time this month to number not just blessings, but how far in life you have come — and what you have overcome — and are, through the grace of God, becoming.

—CBS

Nouwen-gratitude.jpg

… finding time.

As winter looms closer, the days shorten. Soon (November 3, for those who like to plan ahead) Daylight Saving Time will end, initially granting us an extra hour of sleep but inevitably dooming us to nights that commence as early as our afternoon coffee breaks. The clock ticks, the calendar pages rustle, and we find ourselves counting the days until the sun again beams brightly. During this time of waiting—for the sun (and for those of you already counting the days until Christmas) THE Son—we can reassure ourselves of the constancy of God’s love for us. AND to try to meet the challenge He has issued to each of us: to love one another, regardless of circumstances and differences. This admittedly is not always easy to do. But we’ve got lots of time to work at it.

— CBS

corinthians-2-6.jpg

… preparing to harvest.

Autumn is here, a time for reaping and giving thanks. Yet in looking at the torn and troubled world around us, we sometimes feel our spirits as parched as our sun-dried California lawns. God tells us, however, to not give up … that we are to be patient and do what we can, within the scope of our own influence, to make the harvest rich and plentiful for those around us. This month, look for beauty in the season’s change … and for opportunities to serve.

—CBS

Ecclesiastes-3 11.jpg

… renewing the spirit.

Pentecost is when we remember that from centuries ago, the Spirit of God still calls to us, fills us … and empowers us to live and serve as His committed, caring, compassionate people.

Spirit of the Living God,
fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me
fill me, use me,
Spirit of the Living God,
fall afresh on me.

art by Rev. John “Stushie” Stuart

art by Rev. John “Stushie” Stuart