Jaanuary 11, 2021
Dear Friends,
This new year has not started the way many of us had hoped. In fact, the news in just 10 days of this year is dire between a worsening virus and the shocking attack on the Capitol Building last week. If you are feeling more anxious or uncertain, please call or email me. I am here to support and encourage you even in these continuing difficulties.
One bright spot for me came yesterday as we did what we always do, just in a new way this year. We ordained three new elders and installed a previously ordained elder. Continuing the 202 year tradition at Bethel, not to mention the hundreds more in the Presbyterian Church, we laid hands on these new elders through the gift of handprints of the current elders. Now I am not very creative, so the shawls with the handprints were a bit rough, but it was moving all the same. Thank you to everyone who left their handprint at the office. This class of elders will always have a reminder of who laid hands on them at their ordination/installation in the year 2021.
Tonight we resume our discussion of racial justice at 6:30pm. For this conversation, we will talk about current events related to this article Mark Banker has shared. Click
HERE to access the article. You are welcome to join the conversation, whether you have participated before or not. Please contact the church office for Zoom access information.
On Wednesday, January 13 at 6:30pm we will continue our study of the Book of Exodus. You are welcome to join us for the study on Zoom. We used much of our time last week to debrief the happenings of that afternoon. So we will pick up at chapter 2 on Wednesday. Please contact the church office for Zoom access information.
Mission Corner news: Family Promise continues to support families in need in the community even though we do not currently have families as guests in the churches. If you would like to donate gas cards or grocery store gift cards to help Family Promise, you drop those off at the church office and we will get them to the day house. Even though we will not be back to in person worship by Feb 7, we will still be receiving the Souper Bowl offering to help support Roane County Cooperative Ministries garden grant program. You may mail a check to that offering to the church or drop off a donation between now and Feb 7. Thank you in advance for your support of this important local ministry.
Continue to offer prayers for Jon Hettrick and Jill McMaster. Remember Jon Dailey who is COVID positive, Joni Morgan's sister in law, Janet, who is facing new surgeries, Dianne Griffith's niece who is facing additional medical hurdles, and Ken Dungan's extend family who has been hit hard by COVID. Pray for comforting mercies for John Leitnaker whose father Jim died last night. Let us also pray for our elected officials local, state and national as they seek to work to heal divisions, for those who feel so disenfranchised, and for each of us trying to discern how to love our neighbors, including those who need to be held accountable for their actions. Continue prayers for health care workers, teachers, students and parents.
Friends, this week, may God's peace surround you, God's love fill you up, and God's grace move you to imagine and work towards the Beloved Community God intends for us all.
Grace and peace,
Wendy
Sundays at Bethel 
Do you love to read? Do you enjoy discussing that "best book ever", but often can't find anyone who has read it? Do you want a brief interlude when you can talk and think about things other than what your normal routine requires? If you said "yes" to any of these questions, then we may have something that you'll like – the TN TEN Book Club!
Worship (Communion - First Sunday)
Christian Education 
Coffee & Conversation
Order of Worship
