The Messenger - Bethany United Methodist Church

The Messenger
A Publication by Bethany United Methodist Church
Vol. 29, No.24
June 13, 2016
www.bethanyunc.net
Our Mission: “To Reach Out, Make, and Nurture Disciples For Jesus Christ.”
Conference Highlights
Annual Conference 2016 is in the books and
I am glad to say that Rev. Pam McCurdy and I
are back for another year! This was North
Georgia’s 150th Annual Conference and our
theme was “Bound for Greater Things”.
Bethany was well represented at Annual
Conference. Most churches have one laity for
each appointed clergy; Bethany had 7
delegates (Wayne, Curt, Spencer, Louise, Pam
Wilson, Pam McCurdy, and I). Pam Wilson,
Louise Young, and Spencer Young served as
District at Large Delegates.
Pastors & Staff
Rev. Chip Wilson
Senior Pastor
706-836-4500 (C)
Rev. Pam McCurdy
Associate Pastor
770-314-8919 (C)
Rev. Stiles Cobb
Pastor Emeritus
Chandra Miles
Administrative Assistant
Mary Jane Higman
Children’s Director
Mary Robbin Pittard
Youth Director
Dr. Changa Miller
Music Director
Evelyn White
Pianist
POINTS OF INTEREST
 Worship Services:
9:00 AM &11:00 AM
 Sunday School:
10:05 AM
 Our Connection:
Dr. Jim Lowry
District Superintendant
 B. Michael Watson,
Bishop
Annual Conference is like a big family
reunion where 1400 ministers and 1400 laity
gather together to worship, conduct the
business of the Conference, ordain new
ministers, retire ministers, and remember clergy
& conference laity who died since last Annual Conference. This year Rev. Pam helped
(unofficially but still just as hard) with the worship decorations and Spencer Young
participated in worship as an acolyte on several occasions. The picture above was
Spencer preparing to carry in the bells for the service of remembrance where we
remembered 2 of Bethany’s members, Rev. Aleck Poolos and Dottie Taylor. We heard
great preaching by Bishop McAlilly, and Dr. Wiley Stephens.
In the business of the conference, celebrated these statistics and approved this budget:
For the Annual Conference totals:
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A slight increase in total membership
A slight decrease in the percentage of racial/ethnic membership
An increase in the number of small group interests, especially among young
adults
For the third straight year, a significant increase in the number of persons
served by community ministries of outreach, justice, and mercy
An overall decline in the average of weekly Sunday school and weekly worship
Page 2
REACHING OUT, SERVING, SHARING & PARTICIPATING
cont from front page
Keith Cox, Conference Treasurer and Director of
Administrative Services, gave a summary of the Annual
Conference’s financial report. Giving highlights included:
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Conference Advances: $582,415
General Advance Specials: $238,709
Special Offerings: $1,092,554
Apportionment Payments: $21,645,161
Total Funds: $23,558,859
A thank you was given to the 700 churches (80% of all
churches apportioned) who supported regional and global
ministries by paying 100% of their apportionments for
2015 (Bethany paid 100%).
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Slight increase in the budget from 2015 by 0.3%
The general church apportionments were up 2%
The total recommended budget is $22,134,096
The Conference UMW collected 5,833 health kits
(Bethany brought over 50).
We celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Order of
Deacons, in which Rev. Pam McCurdy was ordained.
Many other items and reports were made over the 3 days.
If you wish to read more go to:
http://www.ngumc.org/ac2016
On a totally different note:
Please pray for all those impacted by the tragic shooting in
Orlando. It is heart breaking on so many levels. Lord have
mercy!
See you Sunday and bring a friend!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Chip
Annual Pignic is Sunday, June 26
Serving begins following Sunday School
Reservations are not needed.
BBQ, beans, cole slaw & potato salad
Adults $6 Children $4
UMW News
Congratulations to Susan Sprayberry who received a
special mission recognition pin from the Joymakers Circle
and to Debra Nix and Sandra Crowe who received pins
from the Unit.
-Louise
I hope you have been reading books from our UMW
reading program. It is time to your name and the books
that you have read. You can choose from one of the
following plans:
Plan 1—read five books—one from each category
Plan 2—read ten books - two from each category
The five categories of books are: spiritual growth, social
action, nurturing for community, education for mission and
leadership development. Your list is due by Sunday,
July 3. Either mail it to me or place in UMW box and put it
to my attention. Let’s have a good group receiving
certificates this year.
-Peggy Hicks
MUST MINISTRIES ITEMS
canned fruit, pork & beans, chili, pasta sauce,
tuna/hamburger helper, canned meat (chicken, tuna, beef
stew), Jiffy cornbread mix, hot chocolate, Jell-O, individual
packaged oatmeal, ramen noodles, kidney beans, instant
potatoes, chunky soups
Page 3
BETHANY NEWS
T HE W EEK A T A G LANCE
BETHANY
Welcome to Bethany!
NEWS
We extend a hearty Bethany greeting to our new members
Rae Marie Cardelle and her son, Connor, who joined the
church this past Sunday. They can be reached at 445 N.
Sessions St., NW, Unit 2109, Marietta, GA 30060;
404-426-4053; raemorris@hotmail.com. We are excited
that you have chosen Bethany as your church home and
look forward to being in ministry with you.
SUNDAY ATTENDANCE, JUNE 12, 2016
Contemporary Worship Service—99
Traditional Worship Service—111
Sunday School—149
Community Prayer Night—47
VBS—498 (excluding volunteers)
JUNE 19, 2016
Thank You!
You surprised me! What an honor it was to receive a special recognition pin from the UMW this past Sunday. I am
humbled and honored. The extra icing on the cake is that
my family was there to share this with me. Thank you
UMW.
-Love, Susan Sprayberry
VBS 2016 was totally awesome!. Thanks so much to all of
the volunteers for your hard work and dedication to make
this annual outreach ministry a success. I could not have
done it without you. We had an average attendance of 100
children each day and at least 65 volunteers. Thank you
those that offered prayers and donations as well. This was
my 18th VBS! What a blessing it is to have the love and
support of my church family.
-Love, Mary Jane
PRAISE & WORSHIP—9:00 AM
TRADITIONAL WORSHIP—11:00 AM
FATHER’S DAY
“Healing and Celebration“
Galatians 3: 26-28
Rev. Wilson
GREETERS
9:00 am The Young Family
11:00 am Jerry & Maryanne McCurdy
AV TECHNICIAN & SOUND ENGINEER
9:00 am
Jack Reilly & Cindy Webb
11:00 am
Claire Farmer & Ron Adhikari
PRESENTATION TEAM
Jack Reilly & Catherine Simpson
Dear Bethany Family,
Thank you for the gracious graduation gift and for having
such a positive impact on my development as a young
Christian. It’s a blessing serving you all every week for
worship in the Contemporary Service and I will miss you
all dearly when I head off to college. I’ll still come visit of
course!
Love, Jackson Garrison
USHERS
9:00 am
Keith Groce
11:00 am
David Stuart, Kevin Ammerman,
Mike Garrison, Wayne Human, Ron & Mun Hui
Johnson, Wes Liebergesell, Beth Weldy
SCRIPTURE READER
Alan Peterson
CHLDREN’S CHURCH LEADERS
Lisa Ammerman & Stephanie Johns
Find us on facebook and be sure to
check-in
Bethany UMC, Smyrna
The Messenger
Page 4
Bethany United Methodist Church
Non-Profit
Organization
760 Hurt Road, Smyrna, GA 30082
Phone 770-436-2675
Email office@bethanyumc.net
Office Hours
Mon-Thurs 8:30 am —4:00 pm
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SMYRNA, GEORGIA
PERMIT NO. 111
Return Service Requested
«Family Greeting»
«Address1»
«Address2»
Current Prayer Concerns
Russell Blackburn—family of Donna Carter
George Colon—family of David & Louise Young
Nanci Hatcher
Dianne Henry
Joann Neville—mother of Dolly Stratton
Ron Smith
Hospitalized/Rehabilitation
Kathy Nixon—friend of Marla Garrison–Windy Hill Rehabilitation
«City», «State» «Zip»
JUNE19—JUNE 25
Sunday, June 19—Father’s Day
9:00 AM
10:05 AM
11:00 AM
Praise & Worship Service—Lacy Hall;
Children’s Church—Room 101
Sunday School
Traditional Worship Service—Sanctuary
No Afternoon / Evening Activities
Monday, June 20
No Afternoon / Evening Activities
Tuesday, June 21
Pray For Our Friends
Jim Barnes
Doreen Beaton
Steve & Kathy Beckham
Nell Bilderback
Rachael Coffee
Jane Eisenburg
Eloise Fulmer
Ray Gary
Joe Hartzog
CM & Betty Herndon
Lisa Hilley
Bobbie Hughie
Mary McBath
Colene Morrison
Marjorie Riley
Alan Rustin
Wes Smith
Edith Sprayberry
Martha Speir
7:00 PM
7:30 PM
Wednesday, June 22
9:00 AM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
Neal Allen
Baldwin Family—community friends
Rev. Stiles Cobb
Betsy Cohen
Diane Dalton
Laura Denton
Dale Etheridge
Bobbie English
Mandy Harrison—sister of Melanie Crowe
Harvey Hendrix
Charles Hill—family of Johnnie Driver
Ken & Jackie Johnston
Jackson Jones—Terry family member
Patricia Kramer
Lecia Landolt—daughter of Mary Lanford
Bonnie Lee—friend of Dianne Tidmore
Kelley Lennon—friend of Leta Thomas
David Marvin-family of Ray Gary
Kathy & H.R. Monroe
Hazel Nolan—friend of Jimi Gunter
Buddy Panter
Betty Posey—friend of Wes Liebergesell
Aaron & Allie Rice
Eliska Rucker & Family
Richard Sprayberry
Rev. Susan Taylor
David Smith Jr.—family of Dianne
Tidmore
John Tidmore—family of Dianne Tidmore
Cole Tolbert-family of Brad & Laurie Mote
Dan Vesper—friend of Dale Etheridge
Keya Yarbrough—family of Noah Thomas
Children & Youth Outing—Tubing—Helen, GA
MUST Kitchen—Elizabeth Inn
Chancel Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, June 23
7:00 PM
Long-Term Prayer Concerns
Congregational Care;
MUST Lunch Preparation—Lacy Hall (New Hope Class)
Narcotics Anonymous
Praise Band Rehearsal—Lacy Hall
Friday, June 24
7:45 PM
Narcotics Anonymous
Saturday, June 25
Memorial Service—Sanctuary
We send birthday greetings to the
following celebrants for the week.
June 12—Terry Heyer
June 13—Nanci Hatcher,
Ashley Peterson
June 14—Judy Reaves
June 15—Jan Wullschleger, Leslie Peterson,
Glenda Etheridge
June 17—Chad Black, Newton McCurdy, David Stuart
June 18—Radney Simpson, Kevin Ammerman
Presented by The Smyrna Village Players….
Starring our own Foster Johnson as Oliver!
Dates & Times
July 21 @ 7pm
July 22 @ 7pm
July 23 @ Noon & 7 pm
Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $10 for senior adults and students. Tickets will be sold each Sunday
after worship service. Contact Sharon Rice for more information.
MUST Summer Lunch Program
WooHoo! We are doing our happy dance! All of the days are gone!
Thank you so much Bethany for the great response for our partnership with
Powder Springs UMC to help feed the children in our community this summer.
Your response has been totally awesome!
All volunteer groups are reminded to please be sure to make your $225 contributions for the lunch. The
church staff will purchase the items needed to lunches and have what you need available. A staff
representative will be available for guidance during your chosen time slot. If your time slot changes,
please be sure to contact the church office. Thank you all again for your willingness to participate in this
great mission project.
More Opportunities to Serve Others
through the MUST Summer Lunch Program
Drivers are needed to help deliver the MUST lunches from Powder Springs United Methodist Church to
the community children. Also, volunteers ages 10 and up are needed as checker/packers at PSUMC to
make sure the lunches are ready for distribution. This is a great way for high schoolers to earn service
points for school. If you feel God calling you to service in this way, please check out