2016 May - Bethesda United Church

The Bethesda Beacon
Spring 2016
The Keys of Life
Worship
Books
Music
Community
Sports
Air
Earth
Creation
Beauty
Water
Fire
Love
Faith
Newsletter of Bethesda United Church
584 Garner Road West, Ancaster, Ontario
Minister: The Rev. Jeffrey Chalmers
Council Chair: Hugh Hoogendoorn
Contact Information—Rev. Jeff Chalmers
jeffchalmers9@gmail.com
Church e-mail: bethesdauc@sourcecable.net
Church Phone: 905-902-0337
twitter@2bunited
Website: bethesdaunited.ca
Council Chair, Hugh Hoogendoorn & Rev. Jeff Chalmers
Open Vestry Time
for prayer or conversation with Rev. Jeff
TUESDAYS
1 TO 3 P.M.
Just come along or make an appointment.
Text or call
905-902-0337
or email
jeffchalmers9@gmail.com
1
From the Minister’s Desk
Welcome to this special outreach edition of our Bethesda
Beacon. By the title and by the graphic, it is pretty obvious that in what
follows you will experience and read about some of the ways Bethesda
United Church seeks to be a source of light and hope into a world and
into our shared worlds which are sometimes dim, rather than
brimming with light.
Rev/ Jeffrey Chalmers
Our carriers of light are primarily spiritual orientations known as worship, faith formation and
loving outreach. The way we shine these three lights is typified at Bethesda and in these
pages as aspects of our Vision Elements of Fire, Earth, Air, Water and Love. We cast our
lights this way out of our conviction that creation and its perseverance is the key crossgenerational spiritual mode and need of our day.
Bethesda means place of healing, drawing on a biblical story of Jesus healing by the pool of
Bethsaida. (Mark 8:22). This reminds me, our title and image speak of a beacon drawing people
to healing and wholeness, which is certainly our hope and intention. This is also very much
a sharing of the light from God we are called to bear and share, perhaps akin to the anthemic
ode to summer "Bobycaygen" by the Tragically Hip, where light and life and love is diffuse .
"Where solid Constellations reveal themselves one star at a time".
Want to talk or pray or discuss or share?
jeffchalmers9@gmail.com
Rev. Jeff Chalmers, Minister,
Bethesda United Church
2
From Our Council Chair
Bethesda United Church has celebrated its 190th anniversary and has a long history in the
Ancaster community. Yet some may only know us as the Holy Food Truck Church, as we
were the first to organize this innovative and very popular summer Tuesday night feature
that draws people in from Paris to Mississauga. We are OK with that.
But there is much more to this charming country church on the hill and we invite you to
take a closer look. The building and grounds have been lovingly maintained. The Bethesda
Cemetery contains Headstones that date back to 1795. We continue to develop and
promote our Link spaces (Healing Garden, Labyrinth, Wooded Nook, Ancestral Path,
Straight and Narrow Way, and The Road Less Travelled) as community resources that are
always open for peaceful reflection and spiritual development. Link partnerships have
been established with the Aboriginal Health Centre, Bob Kemp Hospice, Wesley Urban
Ministries and the Ancaster Community Services.
As part of an overall revitalization process we are now working to sharpen our focus on
community involvement. This begins with a renewed understanding of this rapidly
changing community and the identification of unmet needs. The Bethesda United Church
Council has actively engaged the services of EDGE Consultants (A Network for Ministry
Development) to help us conduct a Community Round Table event at our church this spring
with a goal to learn more about the needs and concerns of community service providers,
representatives from local business groups, non-profit organizations as well as local
government, and to increase awareness of the unique resources available at Bethesda.
We invite you to visit us, in person or on line and see for yourself.
Hugh Hoogendoorn, Chair
Bethesda United Church Council
Hugh and Patty Hoogendoorn
Council Chair and Bethesda Treasurer
3
Fire Element
Sunday mornings at 10:30 equals “happy hour”.
We gather to worship. Happily.
No formal dress. Some come in blue jeans and sandals.
Whatever is comfortable is more than OK.
We sing, we listen, we learn.
We gather.
Following worship we gather in the hall
now known as “Jean’s Faitheteria”
In honour of our cherished, Jean Braithwaite,
a tireless, loving worker past and present.
SUNDAYS
10:30
11:30
Jean Braithwaite
Worship in the Sanctuary
Coffee and Conversation in Jean’s Faitheteria
SUMMER SUNDAYS—JULY and AUGUST
9:30
Worship in the Sanctuary
10:30
Coffee and Conversation
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
10:30
11:30
Outdoor Worship by the Healing Garden
Coffee and Conversion
What do we sing? Some of our hymns are old, familiar ones.
Others are new and sometimes challenging……..
My Love Colours Outside the Lines
My love colours outside the lines
Exploring paths that few could ever find;
And takes me into places
where I’ve never been before
And opens doors to world outside the lines.
My Lord colours outside the lines
Turns wounds to blessings, water into wine;
And takes me into places
where I’ve never been before
and opens doors to world outside the lines.
Chorus
We’ll never walk on water
if we’re not prepared to drown,
body and soul need a soaking from time to time
And we’ll never move the gravestones
if we’re not prepared to die and realize
there are worlds outside the lines
My soul longs to colour outside the lines,
tear back the curtains, sun, come in and shine
I want to walk beyond the boundaries
where I’ve never been before,
throw open doors to worlds outside the lines.
4
Fire Element (continued)
Worship at Bethesda is understood in our Vision and governing structure
as Fire, as described in our Vision statement like this:
Fire Element
An Awesome Church experience in worship for all ages, recognizing
that worship is the fiery central, energizing force of the gathered church
and that is the fuel that fires and gives energy. Special attention is to be
given to fueling the fires of awesome church worship and faith in
younger generations who will bear the torch of the fuel of faith in
Bethesda for years to come.
Our Vision Team is actively engaged in reading, reflecting and doing
field work towards new formulations of worship that allow the hearts of all
of God’s children to experience relevant worship at Bethesda...any
ideas? Thoughts? Let us know: jeffchalmers9@gmail.com
In our striving for right relations with our aboriginal sisters and brothers, we are seeking to include
traditional first nations teachings and ceremonies into our worship experience by a series of worship
experiences through this year and next: The Gifts and Wisdom of the Seasons, as well as smudging
and other ceremonies and teachings as the Creator Spirit guides us.
Currently, music and worship, both in our sanctuary and in our Link spaces at Bethesda includes a
grand piano, a classic church organ, violin, drums and sacred drum, creation worship spaces,
multisensory installations, digital media, ancient practices and 21st century expressions, thoughtful
preaching and perhaps, most importantly, open minds and hears to, in the words of Star Trek (sort
of), “Go where no worshippers have gone before:.
Candidate for Ordained Ministry,
Anna Carter
and niece, Bella Moreno
5
Earth Element
Grounding Faith for life in all its dimensions
The Link
Step out of the busy-ness of the world
and into the peace of the LINK at Bethesda
Always open; always free.
You are welcome to visit these six lovely outdoor areas at Bethesda any time 24/7, 365 days a
year. Signs will guide you to six Link areas, which are open daily to groups or individuals. No call
ahead necessary, but guides and Link-based retreats are readily available. Each person’s walk is a
personal spiritual experience. How one walks and what one receives differs with each walk. Of
note is that donations received online, by mail or mailbox (by the healing garden) or in person are
shared between ongoing Link development and our Link Community Partners listed here.
The Healing Garden (Body) stretches along the south side at the far edge of
the parking lot. There are 68 varieties of plants in the garden. It is the
intention that this garden will be an instrument for healing and a place to
experience beauty and to find peace and comfort.
Community partner: The Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice
Garden Angel
Enter the Wooded Nook (Mind) from the road at the west part
of the property near the cemetery area. The woods are
places of awe, worship, mystery and ancestry in many faiths,
legends and spiritual mythology. The purpose of the wooded
nook is to dwell mindfully, prayerfully, consciously in a wooded
area for worship, reflection and perspective.
Community partner: The Aboriginal Health Centre.
Our Labyrinth (Spirit) is an outdoor grass labyrinth and is
located at the southeast corner of the Bethesda property. Each person’s walk is a personal
spiritual experience. How one walks and what one receives differs with each walk.
Community partner: The Wesley Centre/Youth Programs.
Jean's Faitheteria, complete with kitchen, fireplace, and media
capacity is used for faith formation for all ages, retreats and social
gatherings, and is available for use by individuals or groups. Contact:
bethesdauc@sourcecable.net
6
Earth Element (continued)
The Straight and Narrow (Mind) way adjacent to the Labyrinth at our south east corner, a short
straight walk, as the title says, a straight way, exploring: the “Golden Rule” in all world faiths,
namely care for others as you would care for yourself… this space calls us to intentionally reflect
on this paradoxically narrow focus in a world crying out for wider understanding, acceptance
and healing. Community partner: Ancaster Community Services
\
The Ancestral Path(Sprit) begins past the Loyalist Cemetery marker at our front door, a meditative
stroll around our cemetery to respectfully remember our ancestors in spirit prayer, if that is your
custom, or simply thoughtful, hopeful remembrance, in the words of the aboriginal spiritual tradition
recalling "all our relations". Community Partner: Bethesda Cemetery Board
The Road Less Travelled (Body) This brief journey follows our literal and spiritual
"road less travelled" and starts just past the wooded nook at the end of the
cemetery and is a modestly challenging exploration of seasonally changing issues
of today: mindfulness and the risk and potential inherent in considering the
choices, chances and changes along life's way.
Community Partner: (tentative) New Hope Community Bikes
66 Shades of Truth: we are almost half way through our reflective and worship-based journey
through the classical collection of 66 Books of the Bible; we will look at the “love Passage from
1 Corinthians 13, (love is patient, love is kind…. )as marking the 33 rd book/half way point in our
journey. If you want to jump aboard for the last half of our shared journey check our 66 Shades of
Truth Facebook page and/or subscribe to our email list serve for weekly updates and special study/
reflection times. bethesdauc@sourcecable.net
Children's faith nurture happens on Sunday mornings by our
capable and caring team of Verna, Anna and Janet. Adult
faith formation happens in the Link and Jeans Faithateria by
the fireside on Tuesday evenings and other days or times.
Youth church membership classes are in September. Inquiries
about weddings baptisms or funerals and all faith nurture items
here can be directed to Jeff at jeffchalmers9@gmail.com
Aboriginal teachings: we are intentionally
engaged in seeking right relations and learning about
the gifts of our Creator and creation, in the Wooded Nook,
through our Gifts of the Four Seasons worship times
and in many invitations and opportunities
with first nations peoples and groups.
Aboriginal Take on the
Golden Rule
7
Air—Community
Bethesda United Church, the church on the hill, rooted in the past,
relevant for today, breathing in Air of all sorts to resource healing and
hope for all ages for tomorrow.
Resources for worship, life formation and compassionate caring are under the care and development of our Air Element team. We are funded by the love and monetary gifts of our members,
friends and those who wish us well and share in what we are about in community by giving through
mail, in gifts or online at
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/118806652RR0001-bethesda-united-church/
As our Vision document proclaims:” Large scale intentional development and use of social media,
recognizing that the digital/cyber world, while invisible like air and the Spirit is massively changing
how communication, relationships and economies are moving forward in winds of change and
growth in what is called by name, “the information third economic/cultural age”.
(Rural era, industrial era, being the first two).”
Our website, Face Book pages, Twitter feeds are all under ongoing renewal and updating and we
would absolutely welcome an Air Resource architect, who could come along side us and move
these Air/digital resources to the next level. If this is or might be you, email us as follows:
jeffhclamers9@gmail.com or by phone or text: 905 902 0337
“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ― Ruth Reichl
“One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in
a way we couldn't as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility,
we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress , and perhaps help them find selfconfidence and inner healing.” ― Jean Vanier, Community And Growth
2016—Our 4th Season. Come and enjoy Holy Food Trucks at
Bethesda every Tuesday, 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.
May 31 to September 27
8
Water Element
Much of our Bethesda Outreach work is now being done by hosting concerts under the title,
Concerts in the Key of Life. The gift of a grand piano has opened more possibilities for upcoming
concerts.
Our first concert, a benefit concert for Wesley Urban Ministries Refugee fund, was held on February
13, 2016. Talented guest artists wowed the full house with their talents. Wayne Strongman,
Robert Missen, Simone Caruso, Charles Cozens, Paul Naphtali and James Naphtali were all
outstanding artists. We raised a little over $1,000 for Wesley.
On April 10, we enjoyed the music of Alex Teeuwsen, Jozef Teeuwsen (Redeemer students) and their
friends Andrew Charuk and Dyheim Stewart. Bethesda was rocking that day, and even some of the
“grey hairs” were swaying to the music of EG4 (Electric Guitars, keyboard and drums).
On June 19, we will enjoy an outdoor concert with country music by Larry Sicinski. This will be a
benefit concert for the Bethesda cemetery. On Saturday, September 24, at 3:00 p.m., Taryn
Chaykowski and Friends will entertain us
Late November or early December will bring a Christmas program by pianist, Jack Packer with his
friend Ryan Scott playing recorder. The grand piano will sing with Jack at the keyboard. Watch the
church signboard for concert information. Proceeds from this concert will go to the Bethesda
accessibility fund.
Concert posters have been placed around Ancaster and most businesses are happy to help
Bethesda by posting the concert information. Business owners are welcoming and most want to
hear more about what we are doing. We even get invited to come back with future posters.
The Water Team does much work by email, but if you see us huddled at coffee hour, you know
something is afoot and an in-person meeting was needed. Currently we are working on a couple
of possibilities, but with nothing firmed up, it is too soon to report, but we are ever hopeful.
Spearheaded by Mark Strongman, Bethesda is again sponsoring local baseball teams. Hopefully,
we will soon have a schedule of their games and we can cheer on the youngsters with Bethesda
written on their shirts.
Plans are that the Newsletter will be more and more slanted to outreach. We will have this Spring/
Summer newsletter available at Holy Food Trucks and in the Ancaster Town Hall.
Rev. Jeff Chalmers, Cheryl Strongman, Mark Strongman, Marie Shwaluk
Water Team
Submitted by Marie Shwaluk
9
Concerts in the Key of
Concerts in the Key of Life...
have become an important and delightful part of the Bethesda identity.
Two enjoyed! More to come. This year all five concerts are benefit concerts for ...
Already enjoyed
 Wesley Urban Ministries Syrian Refugee Fund—February 13—Voice, piano
 The Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice—April 10—EG4—Electric Gospel
Yet to Come
June 19—The Bethesda Cemetery—Country—3:00 p.m.
November 26—Bethesda Accessibility Fund—Piano and recorder—3:00 p.m. A Christmas Treat
Wayne Strongman, Charles, Cozens, Robert Missen,
Simone Caruso and
Paul and James Naphtali
Paul and James Naphtali
February 13, 2016
Dyheim Stewart, Jozef Teeuwsen, Alex Teeuwsen, Andrew Charuk
April 10, 2016
“Where words fail, music speaks.”
―
Hans Christian Andersen
10
Bethesda Music and Arts: two members of the violin class of our Music Director, Taryn Chaykowski
Bethesda Music and Arts
Current Offerings
Violin Lessons with Taryn Chaykowski
taryndiane@gmail.com
519-754-6430
Drum Circle 150/Drum Lessons 150
Psalm 150: “Praise Him with crashing cymbals”
with Jeff Chalmers
jeffchalmers9@gmail.com
If
you are, or you know a musician,
and are looking for a fabulous rent-free performance space
to share the gift of positive music of any genre,
Bethesda is actively seeking you out to help make this happen,
Contact Jeff.. email jeffchalmers9@gmail.com
phone/text 905 902-0337
11
Love Element
Love
is our fifth vision element, the human element of
caring and
connecting in friendship, faith,
care cards,
care bears and
outreach,
though our own local resources,
through our six Link community partners and
through United Church mission services.
Our minister, the Rev. Jeff Chalmers is available most
Tuesdays from 1-3 pm at the open vestry for pastoral/spiritual care.
Feel free to drop by or make an appointment: phone/text 905 902 0337
Email: jeffchalmers9@gmail.com.
It is anticipated that by the end of this year we will also have
a team of trained and accountable lay pastoral care givers
to deepen and expand our capacity to love and care in faith.
Rev, Jeff Chalmers, Minister,
Bethesda United Church
OPEN HOUSE
EVERY SUNDAY—10:30 A.M.
And TUESDAYS
1—3 p.m.
12
LOVE—FAMILY, CHURCH FAMILY, FRIENDS, CHILDREN, SPECIAL OCCASSIONS
SUNDAY MORNING
SOME OF OUR BETHESDA FAMILY
Well-deserved holiday time for
John, Patty and
Hugh Hoogendoorn.
You were missed at Bethesda!
Betsy Carter is 4
now, but I (Editor)
could not resist this
pink hat picture
Hugs for the
Chalmers Ladies
Birthdays are for celebrating and
for cake:
Mark and Patty
celebrate their birthdays with
cake and well wishes, just one
expression of the Bethesda
Love element
Three Bethesda families knew the joy, in 2015, of welcoming little ones
JACOB MORRIS
SAGE STRONGMAN
JONAH DICK
13
Books/Faith
To Clayton Morley Beswick
from Mamma—May 15th, 1901
“Mamma” was Alice (Vanatter)Beswick, a great grandmother I never knew. The recipient of this
King James Bible was her 11-year-old son, my grandfather, and he was known. Added to that
page, in my Grandmother’s writing are the words, “Goes to Marie”, and though it is not a version of
the Bible that I read today, it is one of my treasures.
That same Grandmother, was the first to take four-year old me to church, and I remember sitting
beside her with a childish faith beginning. That beginning had me picturing an old man sitting on a
throne in the sky. He had a long white beard and He saw everything I did, good or bad. He was a
little scary.
There was a time when I asked some in our Two B congregation to write a paragraph about their
faith for inclusion in one of our newsletters. Believing that I should not ask anything of others that I
would not do myself, I also wrote about “My Faith”.
I have wondered recently what words I would use today to write that “My Faith” paragraph. The
old man in the sky is long gone. The “HE” is long gone and reading has had much to do with
influencing and growing my faith. A recent read has been a help with giving me words.
E. M. Forster says, “I suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are ready,
and which have gone a little further down our particular path than we have yet gone ourselves.”
When I read Grounded (Diana Butler Bass), I was happily led down a path I was on—such a delight
to read words that help clarify what is already in my heart and mind. It is an outstanding book. I
usually am willing to lend books, but I don’t think I can part with this one. I will have to dip back into
it often.
The author of Grounded takes us from a God in the Sky to God in us, with us, in air, sky, earth and
water………..and we in God.
Here are some of the thoughts from Grounded.
“People believe, but they believe differently than they once did.
page 21
We must abandon the external height images in which the theistic God has historically been
perceived and replace them with internal depth images of a deity who is not apart from us, but
who is the very core and ground of all that is………..Paul Tillich
page 33
Dirt
For millennia, the ancients looked to the heavens, to the light of millions of stars above, to find God.
Although the stars will move us to wonder, contemporary people are learning that the soil beneath
our feet is as mysterious, complex, and awe-inspiring as gazing into the night sky.
page 51
Soil is a portal to another world (Fred Bahnson)
page 50
…we have become jaded and unaware of the spiritual power of dirt. Soil is life. And it is time for us
to reclaim the dirt.
page 58
14
Instead of seeing God as distinct and distant from the world, we are acquiring a new awareness
that the universe itself is God’s body, a complex and diverse interdependent organism, animated
by God’s breath and….we are in God and God is in us. Maybe the far-off heavenly Father is finally
retiring, replaced by a far more down to earth presence, a presence named in Hebrew and
Christian scriptures as both love and spirit.
page 52
Water
“Water is the blood of the earth and flows through its muscles and veins... and is concentrated in
living creatures. Therefore it is said that water is something spiritual.
Chuang-tzu page 65
Sky
The sky is not static. The firmament is not fixed. Instead, a dynamic sphere of activity surrounds us.
To say that God is in the sky is not to imply that God lives at a certain address above the earth.
Instead, it is an invitation to consider God’s presence that both reaches to the stars and wafts
through our lives as a spiritual breeze.
John 3:16 is not a call to personal salvation or revivalist fervor. Instead, it offers a glimpse of
Christianity’s central cosmology. The emphasis is on the first line, and the verse essentially says,
“God so loved the universe, that God entered the cosmos in the form of a gift, the gift of Jesus, that
we might trust in this divine presence and experience abundance. It is not a story of getting saved
from hell—unless that hell is the one we are making through our destruction of the atmosphere.
Rather, it is the Christian way of saying that God dwells in the universe we also inhabit that we might
experience the life of heaven here and now.
page 122
Earth, water, sky and fire. There is God. A spiritual revolution and ancient awareness. Our natural
habitat.
Life….is an ever-unfolding mystery that defies precise definition.
Page 154
Spirituality is about mysticism which is about awe and wonder and the prophetic dimension
of standing up to injustice because it interferes with our wonder.
Matthew Fox
See the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
They will be his peoples,
And God himself will be with them.
Rev. 21: 3
15
Beauty
BETHESDA HEALING GARDEN
The Healing Garden is alive and well in the “Key
of Life” for Spring 2016. To be specific, in the
musical key of “b” for bees looking for pollen.
The little blue scilla flowers, covering about
two-thirds of the garden in April, are attracting
hundreds of bees.
As the winter snow cover was sparse this year,
along with erratic temperatures, there seems to
have been no particular damage to perennials
and shrubs.
A fine mulch cover of Chestnut and Maple roots has been spread over the garden. This is
the remains of the roots of two fallen trees in the ice storm last year.
A mailbox has been erected in the garden, with information for donations.
Tulips and daffodils will continue to bloom in May along with Magnolia, Forsythia, Bridal
Wreath, almond and cherry shrubs. The birds are singing, squirrels bustling, rabbits nibbling,
bugs crawling, worms wiggling and the butterflies are en route.
We can look forward to hearing and seeing the “Keys of Life” being played in the garden
as the seasons progress. New life, disease, destruction and death all play a part in the
circle of life.
Take time for a stroll and maybe sit for a rest, along the garden. It will arouse your senses
and calm your nerves.
You will see the miracle of renewal - how the world and its creatures replenish themselves.
In beauty there is hope!
Joan Lindley
Custodian
Angel in the Healing Garden
16
Sport
Sport, of any kind, has never been a part of my life. It took meeting Mark Strongman for me to get
a better understanding of why he and others love sports. Writing about Mark meant, in good part,
writing about sport—many sports but mostly baseball. From elementary school right up until today,
sport has been an important part of Mark’s life.
Knowing that today, Cheryl Strongman is also involved in the Ancaster baseball scene, I assumed
that Mark took her along to work with him and into the world of baseball. Not so. When their sons,
Adam and Brandon were quite young, Cheryl volunteered Mark to coach their teams, and so the
four Strongmans became a baseball family.
Mark’s passion for baseball is about much more than sport. Now we are getting to some of the
answers that I wanted. Mark’s baseball story is really a people story. It is a story of loving, teaching,
mentoring and joy—the joy of watching kids grow up. Baseball is the vehicle—a conduit to allow
coaches to help young people develop into contributing members of society.
Some of Mark’s philosophy… “Sport and its endeavours mold a young person, teaching not only
Baseball skills, but life skills as well. Young people need something of their own; sport gives them that
something”.
Some of the learning that happens:
 each brings his own skills, talents to the game
 and learns to play as a team with a common agenda
 goals are not always achievable, but team learns to give its best
 good work ethic
 good time management
 learning from failure
 respect for self and others
 learning to strategize
ALL GOOD LIFE SKILLS!
Ministry happens everywhere, differently for each of us. Mark’s ministry is out there on the ball
diamond. He will leave a legacy to be proud of. Let’s play ball!
Notes from Mark
Ancaster Little League celebrates 60 years in 2016
World TBall—50 years in 2018
Canadian Little League Championship in 2019
Mark is currently President of the Ancaster Little League.
Marie Shwaluk with Mark Strongman
Carrying on the Strongman baseball tradition, Mark’s son, Adam,
Is head coach for the McMaster Marauders and the Hamilton Junior
Cardinals. He is also the founder/instructor/owner of Extra Innings
Baseball.
Mark Strongman
17
Sport—With love from Aruba
Earl Sutherland is one of our Bethesda congregation, at least he is when he is
not in Aruba. But in either Ancaster or Aruba Earl is busy with baseball. As this
newsletter is put together, Earl has just returned from his four-month stay in
Aruba.
Earl does not always go there alone. He loves taking local baseball teams with
him, and because family and friends and baseball people know that, Earl was
invited to take a Canadian Ladies Softball team to Aruba to be participants in
the International Softball Competition.
The invitation came from the International Softball Federation via Endy Croes,
Vice-President of that organization. The young ladies on the team
range in age from 17—24 and all are from Ancaster, Brantford,
Peterborough, Sarnia, Guelph, London and Brampton and their
smiling faces show their joy in the sport and the trip and the WIN!
Earl was happy to be one of the several coaches and was proud
to show off his medal on his first Sunday back at Bethesda after the
Aruba trip.
Closer to home; Bethesda will be sponsoring the following little league baseball teams.
We thank Mark Strongman for his knowledge and organizational skills to
make this happen. These young people will have baseball jerseys with “Bethesda”
on the back.
Blastball Dodgers:4 and 5 year olds play every Monday night from 6:15—7:30;
mainly instructional so no schedule.
Minor Expos: 9 and 10 year olds, mostly boys (hardball)
Major Expos: 11 and 12 year olds mostly boys (hardball)
Girls Squirt: 11 and 12 year olds (softball/fastpitch)
Follow these teams (schedules) as follows
http://ancasterbaseball.ca/Teams/1513/Schedule/
http://ancasterbaseball.ca/Teams1560/Schedule/
http://ancasterbaseball.ca/Teams/1518/Schedule/
18
Wesley and The LINK at Bethesda
Our Bethesda Labyrinth Partner
Wesley Urban Ministries
Wesley offers support, every step of the way, to children, youth, adults and seniors living in poverty in
Hamilton. For over 60 years, we have responded to the needs of our community with respect, dignity
and compassion. Our programs include supports for homeless youth and adults, children and families living in high priority neighbourhoods, isolated seniors and refugees new to Hamilton.
Wesley has recently welcomed close to 1,000 Syrian refugees. To read our new Progress Report on
Syrian Refugees as well as opportunities to volunteer as a Friends of Newcomers, visit wesley.ca and
click Syrian Refugee Information Portal. As one child shared, “I thank Wesley staff because they
gave me toys and took me to school readiness program. I made a new friend at Soccer World. This
was my first time playing in a real indoor soccer field. I am happy in Canada because I can go to
school and learn English.”
To learn more about our programs, visit wesley.ca and click Services. In the past year, our outcomes
include:
·
4,200 home visits to high risk families
·
2,150 new family participants in our early years programs
·
84 chronically homeless have become newly housed
·
94,000 meals served at our day centre
·
131 secured employment
·
876 senior participants
Our staff and volunteers work to meet immediate needs as well as long term supportive independence, improved education and literacy, and successful employment. As one participant shared:
“I’ve completely changed in my life over the last 2 years. From living in a shelter, to having my own
apartment. Wesley has really helped me.”
As an organization, we have a diverse and strong funding base, including all three levels of government, Hamilton Community Foundation, United Way of Burlington and Hamilton, United Church of
Canada, corporations and individual donations. We are a financially responsible organization with
3% of fundraising expenses.
For more information, visit wesley.ca or find us on Twitter and Facebook. We always invite community support through volunteering, donating needed items, making financial donations and sharing
our news on social media.
From all of us at Wesley Urban Ministries, thank you to Bethesda United
Church and the Ancaster community for their ongoing support!
Submitted by Andrea Buttars
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Instrument of God
A small, wooden flute,
an empty, hollow reed,
rests in her silent hand.
It awaits the breath
of one who creates song
FOOD
through its open form.
My often-empty life
rests in the hand of God;
FOR
like the hollowed flute,
It yearns for the melody
which only Breath can give.
THE
The small, wooden flute and I,
we need the one who breathes,
we await one who makes melody
SOUL
and the one whose touch creates
awaits our empty, ordinary forms,
so that the song-starved world
may be fed with golden melodies
Joyce Rupp
I shall sing to Yahweh
all my life,
Make music for my God
Psalm 104:33
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Good Food, Easy Food
FOOD
FOR
In 2004, there were several Bowman Bethesda young people heading away
from home to start life on their own. The CD Committee decided to provide
these teens and early 20’s with a cookbook. We asked the congregation to
submit easy recipes that the newly-independent teens could easily prepare.
Here is one from Blanche Somerville.
Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup white suger
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix together and drop by teaspoons on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake at 325 for 13 minutes. 3 doz. Cookies.
THE
BODY
Easy
KidFriendly
recipes
And, from Barb Morris
Quick and Easy Pizzas
Take a 6 “ or 8 “ Pita
Spread Pizza Sauce
Add Shredded Cheese, pepperoni, or other toppings as you like.
Bake in toaster over at 350 for 10 minutes.
From the Lindleys
Pizzaburger by the Yard
8 servings
1 loaf French Bread 18” X 4”
Cut in half lengthwise.
1 lb. ground beef
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. oregano
Dash of pepper
1 60 ml. can pizza sauce (2/3 cup)
Combine and spread mixture
on each half of loaf.
2 tomatoes sliced thin
5 slices of processed cheese or
shredded mozzarella
Sprinkle cheese over meat and
then top with tomato slices.
Broil about 6 inches from heat
for 10 minutes or until meat is
done.
Return to the broiler for a minute or so until cheese melts.
Slice.
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Who goes into these
Why do we
Bethesda Doors?
“do” church?
We are
farmers
office workers
electricians
business people/owners
contractors
landscape designers
construction workers
human resource heads
retirees
sales people
couples
singles
young and old(er)
Plus one Minister! Rev. Jeff
Oh, and drumming by Rev. Jeff
We are passionate about
gardening
quilting
horses
music
history
reading
antiques
baseball
Bethesda ...AND
Faith
Sundays, we go into these doors,
happy to see our Bethesda family.
We are NOT there because we
have the answers. We probably
have more questions than
answers, but we are:
seekers
listeners
learners
leaders
followers
And we are excited when words
from a sermon or scripture open
new doors and bring new
Understanding.
On Sunday mornings, I like to
be taught, challenged and
inspired—and I am!
We recognize that our faith is part
mystery and always will be.
We enjoy the journey!
When we are truly
troubled, questioning…
We can meet with Rev. Jeff
On a Tuesday from 1 to 3.
Council Chair,
Hugh and Rev Jeff
in what seems like
serious discussion
Joan Lindley, our Bethesda
Healing Garden Custodian
Outdoor service
22
Gift of Mercy and
Understanding,
all my good intentions
for spiritual growth
go sliding down the gutter
of responsibilities.
All my hopes
of deepening prayer
get splintered and broken
in the chaos of busyness.
All my desires
to have a quiet haven
are swallowed
by the jaws of my calendar.
All my resolutions
to rise earlier, to pray longer,
Whoever you are,
you are human.
Wherever you are,
you live in the world,
which is just waiting
for you to notice
the holiness in it.”
― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in
the World: A Geography of Faith
“Earth is so thick
with divine possibility
that it is a wonder
we can walk anywhere
without cracking our shins
on altars.”
are lost in the blankets
of an extra hour of sleep.
― Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in
the World: A Geography of Faith
And all the while
I fuss and fume about this,
you look at me and smile.
Are you sending the message
that spiritual growth can happen
among the very things
that seem to keep me from you?
Are you assuring me
that my desire to grow
is not lost to you?
Abundant peace, Joyce Rupp
A Welcome Awaits You
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