October 4, 2021
BETHANY UNITED CHURCH
2 Church Street
Carbonear, NL A1Y 1A9
email: bethanyunitedchurch@yahoo.ca
Minister: Rev. Simbarashe Mazhara Church Office: 709-596-6754
Supply Organists: Ruth Davidge, Louise Drover Clergy: 709-674-1169
Secretary: Judy Legge Fax: 709-596-6762
E-transfer: bethanyunitedchurch@yahoo.ca
Dear Friends of Bethany
This year’s “Hymn Sing” will be held on Sunday, November 21, 2021 in the new normal morning church service with live streaming on Facebook.
The Covid-19 year has been challenging as we continue with the life and work of Bethany here in Carbonear.
Donations made “in memory of” or “in celebration of” a loved one or friend will help us maintain our church and cemeteries in particular. These donations may be by cash, cheque or e-transfer with the form below returned to the church office by mail or email before November 17th, 2021, and the names of those will be read during the church service. (Income tax receipts will be issued if requested).
You may choose from the following hymns presented by our congregation and four music groups:
1. All The Way My Saviour Leads Me
2. Whispering Hope
3. When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder e
4. A Little Spot In Heaven
5. What a Lovely Name
6. This Little Light Of Mine
7. Jesus Loves Me
Our sincere thanks for your continued support of Bethany and Stay Safe!
Milton Peach
Milton Peach
Hymn Sing Committee Chair
Hymn # In Memory of / In Celebration of
Requested By:
Donation Church
Env. # (if applicable)
Contributor’s Name ____________________________________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________________
E-Mail Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
Congregational Update
April 27, 2020
I hope all of you are keeping safe as we move into our 6th week of COVID-19. It appears that we are flattening the curve in this province and this can only be attributed to the measures that we have undertaken to keep everyone safe.
I realize that it has been difficult not being able to worship in our normal way, but again I would like to take this opportunity to thank Rev. Simba for his messages on Face Book as well as his teleconferences on Sunday evenings. It is only through these methods that we stay connected. However, we must remember that we will always be connected through our love of God as well as our neighbour.
I want to thank everyone for continuing to donate to the work of the church through e-transfer, mailed cheques, donations on our website, or drop off at the Church Office. Your support is needed and, hopefully, will continue in order to keep our church sustainable.
We are approaching a very important time in the year, Mother’s Day, and ,unfortunately, I don’t think we will be able to celebrate it in the same manner as we always have. We must always remember the importance of our Mothers and will want to continue with their legacy. Most of you over the years have celebrated their legacy by a donation to the church in their memory and we want to be able to continue that practice. Therefore, we are opening our office for the week of May 5th to the 8th at regular hours so any memorials can be dropped off. We will still continue to take e-transfers for this event as well. Memorials will be posted in celebration of our Mothers on our web site as we did with the Easter Memorials.
Thank you in advance for your contributions to our church.
Danny Button
Council Chair
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Friends
I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope you are all well and safe.
This is a very difficult time for everyone as we attempt to keep safe from this pandemic COVID -19. We have to remember that as we attempt to practice social distancing we sometimes feel alone and isolated from the rest of the community and our church. We are attempting to reach out to all of you to ensure not only that you are safe but to try and prevent that feeling of loneliness.
As most of you are aware Rev. Simba is doing regular meditations by Facebook on Sunday mornings and last evening he did an additional one. These meditations are wonderful and inspirational and enables us to allow him to enter our lives as well as feel the presence of God in our homes.
I also realize that some of you are not on Face Book and may not even have a computer so we will attempt to contact you through telephone. Please be assured that we are here for you in these difficult times and if you feel a need to reach out we are only a phone call away. That is why even though our church is closed for services and events we have left our office open for the same hours so you may contact us if you feel a need.
Church is not a building but a community and Outreach to our community is one of the most important things we do not only in times like these but always. If any of you know anyone who is in need of Pastoral Care and don’t have the availability of technology please let us know as well or call them and let them know we are here for them.
This pandemic will pass and we will return at some point to our “normal” life however how we act now will determine what that normal looks like. I urge you all to follow the guidelines set by the government of our province and even though sometimes they may seem extreme I guarantee you as a former Health Provider and Administrator these guidelines are imperative for our well being.
As we reflect I ask you all to say a few prayers for the individuals that are deemed essential, especially our health care workers, and go to work daily in the midst of this crisis. I am keeping All of You in my prayers and remember the words of our New Creed ” We are not Alone, We live in God’s World”. I am sure he will always be in our midst and provide for us as we move forward.
Please stay safe
Blessings
Danny Button Council Chai
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Fall Newsletter October 2019
From The Minister’s Desk
September 29, 2019
Fall Greetings to Bethany United Church Family
May the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
First, thank you for all the support that has kept Bethany united in this ministry. Your prayers, voluntary work and finances made a great difference. Once again, thank you.
The summer has come and gone and Fall Season is upon us. We are grateful for all the blessings we enjoyed during the Summer Season. For the moments of family fellowship, celebrations, we thank God. In addition, we thank God for the difficult moments we faced, some of whose consequences are still haunting us, we ask God to comfort us and give the strength to proceed.
As we refocus on our ministry this Fall, I continue to urge you Friends in Christ, that we are the hands and feet of God. We are the ones to proclaim and demonstrate the good news of the gospel. Let us continue to show mercy, kindness, love and seek justice as we resist evil. Our youth needs us to invest in them, children expect us to preserve the faith and leave it as a legacy for them. Our seniors need company and encouragement; some just need our love and assurance. The hungry need food and Food Banks will expect our support. Messy Church needs us most and all other ministries we are offering.
Let us join in offering different ministries to our community and beyond. If we can do something for someone else, the time is now. Let us look into the future full of the Advent hope, remembering our loved ones with respect and be inspired by both, our past and our future, to pursue our ministry with diligence and passion. You and I have a role to play.
Thank you to the Leadership, Choir, Donors/Contributors, Volunteers, UC Men, UC Women, Staff and all members and friends of Bethany United Church. Come let us join in worship, prayers, as well as offering both, our talents and resources to support the cause of the gospel. Together we can do more.
I personally want to thank you for your prayers, encouragement, support and love. I am grateful to all of you. May God bless you!
My prayers to you all shall remain.
Sincerely
Rev Simba
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Give a little kindness, give it every day, give a little tenderness as you go on your way.
The well of Love is endless, and as long as you may live,
You’ll find the more you give your love, the more there’ll be to give.
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Bethany & You . . . .
Fall Newsletter October 2019
Message from the Council Chair
Thanksgiving 2019
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and ask each one of you to look around and think what you are thankful for.
As I will not be continuing on as Chair of our Church Council after the next AGM in February I want to say that I am extremely thankful for the opportunity that this congregation has given me to serve in this capacity for the past six years. It has deepened my faith as well as given me the knowledge and experience to serve on a broader level of the United Church of Canada.
I am also thankful in knowing that there are very capable individuals in our congregation who are able to assume this role of Chair and continue the work we have started. Please consider your talents and time and offer yourselves for this position.
We are faced with many challenges in our church with declining membership and therefor declining finances but we have to work together and plan a vision for the future of our church. Some of the decisions that will be made will be difficult but with God’s help and guidance we will continue and persevere. Remember ” We are not Alone”
I would like to Thank all the members of committees, Council, staff and the entire congregation for their efforts in maintaining this Ministry, I am sure that we will continue to work together for the betterment of this congregation.
Thank You All
Danny Button
Council Chair
Tomorrow (Anne Kreer)
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It’s no good looking backwards –
The cloud which, yesterday,
Darkened the horizon
May not be there today.
It’s no good looking backwards,
Reliving loss, or pain –
Tomorrow is a golden day.
To make you smile again.
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Bethany & You . . . .
Fall Newsletter October 2019
First Dawn Eastern Edge
Inaugural meeting
May 3rd-5th, 2019
First I would like to take the opportunity to thank you, the congregation, for supporting your delegates, Ruth Davidge, Will Butt, Rev. Simba and I, to attend the inaugural meeting of the new First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional Council. As you are all aware the restructuring has occurred and we are started on a new journey as a new region. The following are the highlights of the Regional meetings that occurred May 3rd-5th in Gander.
The opening worship was performed by members of the Liturgy committee and the message was delivered by our President Wendy Lowden. At the conclusion of the worship all delegates were given the opportunity to participate in an anointing ceremony.
An overview of General Council was presented by Kathy Brett and Michael Blair
Theme Presentation #1 was presented by our Moderator the Right Reverend Dr. Richard Bott and his topic was Where We have Come From and Where We are Going
Nominations Part 1 was presented
– Nominated for Holy Land Visit – Wendy Lowden and Paula Gale
Elected Paula Gale
– No nominations for president Elect and several positions needed to be filled
Several presentations given by the following
President’s report President Wendy Lowden
Burry Heights – Joan Conrad
Youth at Council
Stella’s Circle – Miriam Bowlby
Justice, Mission and Outreach – Laura Hunter
Regional Bookstore – Leona Laundry
Saturday started with the presentation of our new logo by Rev. Faith and then a presentation was done by the Youth and Young Adult Minister, Lauren King. Her position is utilized throughout Atlantic Canada.
Worship was led by the Youth at Council
The 2nd Theme Presentation was done again by the Rev. Dr. Richard Bott and he used the Acronym UNITED in his presentation
U – Uplifted by God’s Love
N – Nurtured Through Worship
I – Inspired by Scripture
T – transformed through Prayer
E – Empowered through Spiritual Friendships
D – Developed through Service
Nominations Part 2 presented – 7 nominees for the position of President elect: Adekunle Adeniyi, Linda Guy-Flint, Gneid Lackey, Nancy Mojica-Fisher, Grant Stuckless, Susan Sheppard, and Kim Waite
Elected: Grant Stuckless
Several presentations occurred on various topics
Office of Vocation, Mission articulation Team, Cochrane Center, and Youth
There were also 5 Workshops that delegates could attend in the afternoon
Finance and Accountability
Justice and Mission reboot
Incorporated Ministries
Youth programs
Becoming the beloved Community
Saturday night the Milestone in Ministry Banquet recognized ministers with years of service as well as those retiring
Sunday Morning Celebrations of Ministers Service recognized as a DLM Mrs Georgina Parsons and the installation of the new President of First Dawn Eastern Edge Regional council Rev. Peggy Johnson
Once again I want to thank you all for your support of your delegates
Danny Button
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Autumn Leaves (Dorothy M. Loughran)
Autumn leaves come fluttering past
In bronze and gold array,
Soon Winter’s rain and stormy blast
Will carry them away.
It’s best to banish hopeless dreams
Which fade, like Autumn’s leaves,
And start afresh on happier themes
The steadfastness achieves.
“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and Prayer.”
1 Timothy 4: 4-5
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Bethany & You . . . .
Fall Newsletter October 2019
The Seed in the Mud (Paul Berchtold)
Once upon a time there was a seed buried in the mud. It was in dark blackness. It was cold and wet. It shivered. It was just plain no fun. It was icky. It was dirty. It was muddy. It was mucky. It was stuck in the mud. How it got there is a little 3 sentence story.
One nice breezy Fall day, it had fallen on the ground. Then it rained a little. And a deer came along and stepped on it and pushed it deep in the mud. Life just wasn’t fair. It was all alone. If only it had fallen like the other seeds in the grass, or on the log over there, or at least not been stepped on. But what the little seed did not see was the mouse that ate the seeds in the grass and the bird that ate the seeds on the log
and the chipmunk that gathered the seeds on the ground to store and eat all winter long. It couldn’t see this because it was stuck in the mud. It didn’t know how lucky it was.
Now besides being squished tight in the mud, it was also locked in it’s shell. It tried to get out of it’s terrible predicament, but the Fall days got shorter and shorter. It got colder and colder too. It had no strength to get out of its shell. The mud was frozen solid, the deep snow covered it. It went through a terribly cold and dark winter. Finally, after what seemed forever, slowly the days grew a little longer, a little warmer. The seed had work to do. It began to grow. The water in the mud had softened its shell. Still, how hard it was to get out of its shell ! It had to exert energy like never before. It struggled and struggled. Finally it broke free.
Then it used more energy to go not up, but down, struggling to send a tiny little root through that compacted mud — that terribly icky place. It needed something to tightly hold on to, because………..now it had to struggle yet again with great effort to send a tiny little shoot to the light above — through all that icky mud. Finally it was free. It reached the warm sunlight. You would think its troubles were over. Not so fast. In a whole year it grew only a few inches, while the other plants grew by leaps and bounds, as if to mock the little seed. Every fall it lost its leaves. In winter it barely survived, covered with snow. And as it got a little taller, it had to go through windstorms and blizzards. But one thing was peculiar. Even while it slowly grew up to the sunny blue sky, it never forgot its roots. It had the wisdom to keep growing its roots deeper and deeper in the mud. In fact, it used every wind storm, every blizzard, every shaking, every vibration to wiggle its roots deeper and deeper into the black icky mud. It knew the importance of a solid foundation, because it always remembered where it came from, how it had been protected and helped by the mud.
The years rolled on, and the seasons too. Each summer it so slowly but surely grew. Each winter it became a little tougher and stronger. It had little joys and little sorrows throughout its life like all of us do. Then came the fiercest of all storms. The wind blew so violently this way and that. Trees all around were dashed to the ground, broken, uprooted, a jangled mess.
After the devastation, the sun shone once again. To be sure, it didn’t look so pretty, some leaves were missing, in fact, quite a few, but that would soon be remedied. Because it hadn’t forgotten its roots as a seed in the mud, it stood there in all its glory. It had become the mighty oak tree.
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Bethany & You . . . .
Fall Newsletter October 2019
Special Presentation
On Friday night, September 27th a special presentation was given at our church hall, by Mr. Jocelyn Linsay of Quebec City. The presentation was about the loss of the schooner “Ellen & Mary” which was owned by W. J. Moores of Carbonear. During July of 1942 the schooner left Carbonear with a load of barrels filled with Herring Oil, for Montreal. On July 18th the Schooner, went up on the Green Island Reef , not to far from its destination.
The Captain and the Crew had to abandoned the vessel and take refuge at the Green Island Lighthouse. The Captain at the time was onetime congregational member Gordon Walters, who had to stay on the Island for a month.
The presentation was given using photo albums and written documentation preserved by Jocelyn’s parents, lighthouse keepers on Green Island. It covered the period from it’s building in 1912 to its end in 1962. For the twenty -five people who attended, got the opportunity to see pictures taken at the time of the loss (those never seen before) and other artifacts of the Schooner from an earlier owner. It was an excellent presentation and enjoyed by all who attended, followed by a time of fellowship.
To make this event more special was the fact that the Lighthouse keeper’s son, Lindsay, and Captain Walter’s daughter met some 77 years after the event happened, both were not born at the time. Also, at the event was, Phil Earle, son of Captain Guy Earle, who gave a passionate talk about the early mariners and their skills. Mr. Cameron Hopkins from Ontario, also spoke about renowned seamen and the special people, lighthouse keepers were.
Before leaving Mr. Lindsay, left a copy of his presentation with the local Heritage Society to be preserved. Thanks to all who came along.
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Thankful For Many Things (Julie Hebert)
I am thankful for my family, My friends I feel the same.
Life is filled with many thanks, Life is the perfect game.
Life is filled with treasures, If you’re a lucky one.
Be grateful and be humble, And share them with someone.
But one thing we must remember, We are not the one to thank.
There is a higher power here, That we must give first rank.
I am thankful for my life, And all that it holds.
I’m excited to see what’s next for me, Lets see how it unfolds.
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Bethany & You . . . .
Fall Newsletter October 2019
Worship Schedule until the end of Year
Today
11 am Worship – Holy Communion – Food Bank
(Shoe boxes out – pick yours up) December 1st
11 am Worship Service – White Gift
October 13th
11 am Thanksgiving Service – Baptism December 8th
11 am Worship Service -Baptism
October 20th
11 am Worship – December 15th
11 am Worship Service
October 27th
11 am Worship – December 22nd
11 am Worship Service
November 3rd
11 am Worship – Communion – standard time December 24th
7 pm Christmas Eve Service
November 10th
11 am Remembrance Service – Legion December 29th
11 am Worship Service
November 17th
11 am Worship January 5th
11 am worship – NEW YEAR
November 24th
11 am Worship Service Welcome to 2020!
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Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You’ve done
Especially for the gifts of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provisions, Your mercy and Care
These are the blessings You spaciously share.
So today we offer this response of Praise
With a promise to follow You all our days.
Mary Fairchild
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Bethany & You . . . .
Fall Newsletter October 2019
Bethany Financial Report for the 3rd Quarter, 2019
(July 1st – September 30th)
As we begin the last quarter of our year, let’s look at our finances up to September 30th.
For the 2019 financial year, our budgeted revenue is $189,700.00, and in order to meet this, we require weekly givings of $3,777.00. To date, our total revenue, including fundraising, is $106,000.00, which is $3700.00 less than last year.
In reviewing our Budget Expenses to September 30th, our total expenses are $139,200.00, which exceeds 2018 by $3100.00.
In order to avoid bank charges for overdraft we have now raised our overdraft protection to $24,000.00 with Scotiabank. As of September 30th, we have a current account deficit of – $22,600.00, and with outstanding invoices owing of $2,700.00, we need your continued financial support.
On a positive note and with the support of our entire congregation for the remainder of 2019, we are optimistic of ending our year with a balanced budget.
We are energized to begin our fundraising on October 5th with our Men’s Fellowship doing a fish & brewis breakfast. This will be followed on October 26th with their UCW Fall Sale, our annual Hymn Sing on November 17th, our congregational cold plate take out on November 20th, followed by the UCW Christmas mug-up on December 5th.
Again, our Finance & Fundraising Committee wish to thank everyone for their leadership and commitment to the life and work of Bethany.
“Have an enjoyable Fall season”
Milton Peach (Finance Chair)
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Psalm 100:1-5:
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
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Bethany & You . . . .
Fall Newsletter October 2019
Sunday School (Terri Green)
Sunday school is up and running for another great year which started on September 22/19! The children will sing in the service on Thanksgiving Sunday October 13th. The Operations Christmas shoe boxes will be collected on November 10th during the service. The boxes are now ready in the church basement. Also fast approaching is our White Gift Service in December which the date will be announced shortly. Also, I would like to welcome Destiny Butt as a Helper this year with Sunday School. Bless the little children….
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Messy Church (Terri Green)
Messy church started the year at Salmon Cove Church with the theme “Abraham and Sarah”. We had a great turnout with about 45 attended in total. The next one is at Bethany around the last week of November, the date will soon be announced. Hopefully having a youth and a teen
Messy Church. The theme will be centred around the Christmas Season. Any enquires on helping or wanting to attend Messy Church please don’t hesitate to contact myself Terri, or other committee members Michelle Penney-Rowe, Lynn Evely or Deann King.
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October Verse ( Rev. Martin Rinkart)
Now thank we all our God,
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom the world rejoices;
Who from our mother’s arms
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
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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
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