Scriptures for Sunday, September 16, 2018
Psalm 116:1-9
Isaiah 50:4-9
James 3:1-12
Mark 8:27-38
A big Thank You to every one of you who worked to make Bethel’s 2018 wonderful! From the mulch and flowerbeds to the kitchen and all through the sanctuary, beauty and hospitality flowed.
Today, I considered writing for you some bits and pieces of the sermon I didn’t preach, yesterday. But then I spent a little while meditating on our lesson from the prophet:
Morning by morning He wakens—
wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
- Isaiah 50:4
Now, instead, I mean to share with you some good things I heard yesterday.
† † †
In case you missed it, or would like to keep it for posterity, here is the text of Deacon Dianne B. Griffin’s reflection on the occasion of our 2018 Homecoming:
What I remember about Bethel Church: growing up here, most of my life.
My mom and dad brought me, my two brothers and sister to Bethel from birth. I remember, we always sat in the same place with my Grandparents, Roy and Lucille Bear, and Gail Putnam and family. We are still sitting in the same place, today. We are missing lots of our family, but we have added some new, to keep the memories growing for many years to come.
This brings me to tell all of you what our Bethel Church family is like. They are always there for each other, in good or bad times.
We at Bethel have lots of good times. Just to name a few: starting with Sunday School, the Bible schools, Fall parties, and all of the awesome meals we share and enjoy so very much together.
In my later years at Bethel, I was blessed to share in lots of mission projects with my mom and the ladies of Bethel’s [Women’s] Fellowship group. Wish you would all join the fellowship— it will help you get to know your church family more closely, help you grow as a Christian, and fill your hearts with joy and happiness.
I love sharing Bethel Church with my husband, children and grandchildren as much as I can.
Coming back to Bethel is just like coming home to your family. Thank You, for your guidance, love, and kindness that I have always felt here at Bethel.
† † †
I’m a fan of Glick & Phillips since Nancy and I first heard them playing for First Night in Harrisonburg, probably almost 30 years ago. I especially love their original parody and satire songs. But one song they shared, yesterday— not an original— the doctors especially urged us to sing along: “Gone Home.” It really touched my heart on this special occasion, as I saw it touch many of us who were present. This turns out to be a Bill Carlisle song from 1952, first made popular by Carl Story and his Ramblin’ Mountaineers. Much later, Jerry Garcia spread its fame further.
All of my friends that I loved yesterday--
Gone home (they have gone home)
The songbird that sings in the dale seems to say,
Gone home (they have gone home).
Chorus: They've joined the heavenly fold,
They're walking the streets of pure gold.
They left one by one
As their work here was done--
Gone home (they have gone home)
Life here is lonely since they've gone before--
Gone home (they have gone home).
The old weeping willow that stands by the door--
Gone home (they have gone home).
The trumpet will sound on that great judgement day
Gone home (they have gone home)
We'll see all our friends who have gone on that way
Gone home (they have gone home).
† † †
Thanks to Deacon Stephanie Monger for her thought-provoking, brain-teasing exercise: think of words that end with each letter of H-O-M-E-C-O-M-I-N-G, that remind you of our church. Try it !
________________________________________________H
________________________________________________O
________________________________________________M
________________________________________________E
________________________________________________C
________________________________________________O
________________________________________________M
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________________________________________________N
________________________________________________G
Psalm 116:1-9
Isaiah 50:4-9
James 3:1-12
Mark 8:27-38
A big Thank You to every one of you who worked to make Bethel’s 2018 wonderful! From the mulch and flowerbeds to the kitchen and all through the sanctuary, beauty and hospitality flowed.
Today, I considered writing for you some bits and pieces of the sermon I didn’t preach, yesterday. But then I spent a little while meditating on our lesson from the prophet:
Morning by morning He wakens—
wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.
- Isaiah 50:4
Now, instead, I mean to share with you some good things I heard yesterday.
† † †
In case you missed it, or would like to keep it for posterity, here is the text of Deacon Dianne B. Griffin’s reflection on the occasion of our 2018 Homecoming:
What I remember about Bethel Church: growing up here, most of my life.
My mom and dad brought me, my two brothers and sister to Bethel from birth. I remember, we always sat in the same place with my Grandparents, Roy and Lucille Bear, and Gail Putnam and family. We are still sitting in the same place, today. We are missing lots of our family, but we have added some new, to keep the memories growing for many years to come.
This brings me to tell all of you what our Bethel Church family is like. They are always there for each other, in good or bad times.
We at Bethel have lots of good times. Just to name a few: starting with Sunday School, the Bible schools, Fall parties, and all of the awesome meals we share and enjoy so very much together.
In my later years at Bethel, I was blessed to share in lots of mission projects with my mom and the ladies of Bethel’s [Women’s] Fellowship group. Wish you would all join the fellowship— it will help you get to know your church family more closely, help you grow as a Christian, and fill your hearts with joy and happiness.
I love sharing Bethel Church with my husband, children and grandchildren as much as I can.
Coming back to Bethel is just like coming home to your family. Thank You, for your guidance, love, and kindness that I have always felt here at Bethel.
† † †
I’m a fan of Glick & Phillips since Nancy and I first heard them playing for First Night in Harrisonburg, probably almost 30 years ago. I especially love their original parody and satire songs. But one song they shared, yesterday— not an original— the doctors especially urged us to sing along: “Gone Home.” It really touched my heart on this special occasion, as I saw it touch many of us who were present. This turns out to be a Bill Carlisle song from 1952, first made popular by Carl Story and his Ramblin’ Mountaineers. Much later, Jerry Garcia spread its fame further.
All of my friends that I loved yesterday--
Gone home (they have gone home)
The songbird that sings in the dale seems to say,
Gone home (they have gone home).
Chorus: They've joined the heavenly fold,
They're walking the streets of pure gold.
They left one by one
As their work here was done--
Gone home (they have gone home)
Life here is lonely since they've gone before--
Gone home (they have gone home).
The old weeping willow that stands by the door--
Gone home (they have gone home).
The trumpet will sound on that great judgement day
Gone home (they have gone home)
We'll see all our friends who have gone on that way
Gone home (they have gone home).
† † †
Thanks to Deacon Stephanie Monger for her thought-provoking, brain-teasing exercise: think of words that end with each letter of H-O-M-E-C-O-M-I-N-G, that remind you of our church. Try it !
________________________________________________H
________________________________________________O
________________________________________________M
________________________________________________E
________________________________________________C
________________________________________________O
________________________________________________M
_________________________________________________I
________________________________________________N
________________________________________________G
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