Bethany Presbyterian Church Introducing Yelena Morosky - Sunday School and Youth Coordinator Hello there! My name is Yelena Morosky and I am a full-time student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). I am studying Communication with a minor in Legal Studies. I am also working and feel truly blessed and thankful to be the Sunday School Coordinator and Teacher and the Youth Coordinator here at Bethany Presbyterian Church. I am 23 years old and I just am moving to Rochester in July. I am originally from Russia. I was adopted at 18 months where I moved and was raised in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Yes, I am a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Pens! I was raised in a strong Christian home where my family and I went to church every Sundays. During the summer, I went to Christian Camps such as, Summer s Best Two Weeks. My adopted mother is Catholic and my adopted father is Russian Orthodox. I was raised in two different religions, Catholicism and Orthodox. Some interesting facts about me being raised with both religions is that I attended a youth group in a Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh form 7 th grade till 12 th grade. When I was in 10 th grade, my youth group had this amazing opportunity. This opportunity gave anyone in the grades 10 th grade through 12 th grade to become a high school youth leader for middle school students. I took this opportunity to be a high school leader, that was when I started getting involved with youth ministries and found my passion. I have been a volunteer ever since I graduated high school in 2013 at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA until I started attending school at RIT. Another fun fact about me is I am able to speak English, Russian and sign American Sign Language (ASL). After finding my birth family, which I was truly blessed to be able to find them and to keep in touch with them to this day, I am now determined to learn Russian Sign Language (RSL). The reasoning why I want to learn RSL is because I have a baby sister who is 2 years old and is profoundly deaf. Victoria uses RSL to communicate with my birth family and I would love to be able to communicate with her. Lastly, I play rugby for the RIT Women s Rugby Club Team. I have been through a lot in my life. Never gave up because I trusted in God and let God take control of my life. God has guided me to where I am in life. I know in my heart, God will guide me to my dream job. My dream job has been to work as a part-time youth leader and possibly be a Sunday School Teacher or Coordinator, and now my dream job is happening. I am truly blessed and thankful to take this position here at Bethany Presbyterian Church. I am really looking forward to what the future has to offer as I work here. I trust in God and I do know that God will help guide me in making the right decision. With strong ambitions, I want to help grow the Sunday School Program and the Youth Group Program to the best of its abilities. God Bless you and have a wonderful day. Bethany Presbyterian Church We are a welcoming Christian family who worships God and nurtures spiritual growth through friendship, learning, music and serving others. July/August 2017 Volume 19, Issue 7/8 Inside this issue: Pastor s Page 2 With Our People 3 Calendar 4,5 Special points of interest: Bethany s Vision 20/20 update Stephen Ministry Worship in the Park Red Wings Game and Dr. Bob s celebration reception pictures. Calling Singers of all Ages! Deadline for the September Newsletter is on August 7, 2017.
Pastor s Page: Dear Friends, I want to thank all of you for the beautiful luncheon celebration in honor of receiving my Doctorate. A huge Thank You to Helen West for her leadership and generosity. Thanks especially to Jennifer Walker-Sykes, Raymond, Ray J and Bailey Sykes, Beverly and Jim Walker, Michelle Korn, Pat Hemmenway, Sandy Erickson and Sharon Nichols for their help with the event. Thanks to all of you for your gifts, cards and well wishes. I will always treasure the new stole, which has my name and favorite Bible verse Overcome Evil with Good Romans 12:21stitched inside. I am humbled. It was a circuitous and long process that brought me to that day, and it amazes me that seven years have passed working on that degree. My dissertation alone took two years to complete. The title is Strategies for Church Growth in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Synod of the Northeast. In it, I focused on activities and strategies that make churches grow and attract new people. Specifically, I evaluated various contemporary theories for church s growth and evangelism and conducted a statistical survey within our own denomination, the Presbyterian Church of the USA, identifying the practices that churches in the Northeast of the USA can implement to become attractive for non-believers. Dr. Nelson Grimm supervised my dissertation. In the fall I plan to offer a presentation, open to all who are interested, in a more detailed discussion. God bless, Dr. Bob Spratt Page 2
Stephen Ministry Fiscal Focus CALLING SINGERS OF ALL AGES! Bethany s Family Choir will help lead summer worship on the following Sundays: 9 July, 30 July, and 27 August. On each date, we will meet at 9AM in the balcony, learning a piece to sing in that day s service, as well as exploring the day s hymns. Come have some fun, and consider bringing a friend! The more the merrier. BETHANY S VISION 20/20 CAPITAL CAM- PAIGN, PHASE 1 UPDATE: As of June 16, 2017 we have collected a total amount of $6159.00. 2017 May Year to Date % Budget Income $26,596.45 $158,421.20 38.42% Expense $29,856.41 $156,025.52 37.83% I hear lawn mowers, birds, and people talking about opening their pools. I see flowers, green grass, bikes being ridden and kids actually playing outside. I guess this is the beginning of summer. At this point, I pay little attention to what the weather forecast is. Weather forecasters have the best jobs: possibility, maybe, looks like, could happen. No commitment there! That s because it is out of their hands! So many factors in our lives are out of our hands. Good and bad. The good surprises are welcomed and enjoyed. The bad ones, not so much. When the good things happen, we look up and say, Thanks, I know that was you. We have understood that thanking God for the good things can also bring us just as close as prayers for guidance. The difficult times, especially the unexpected ones, can rock our world and throw our step off. We have a knee jerk reaction to What? Where do I go from here? How can we change this? And why did this happen? We realize how non prepared we are and feel so lost. It is so hard. We all know that God is aware of our feelings and is there to wrap his arms around us. Christians just know. But sometimes, we need to speak with someone to reassure ourselves and to help guide us through these feelings. That is one of the reasons for Stephen Ministers. We want to help you realize that God is truly there and help you to make your heart steadier to deal with whatever you have been handed. We listen to you, and pray with you hoping that we can help you become stronger again just by feeling His love. We are the set up crew for God to begin His frame work of helping you to become stronger. If you would like to speak with a Stephen Minister, please contact Edna Hamlin or Pastor Bob. Surplus/ (Deficit) -$3259.96 Peace to you all from the Stephen Ministers. Cindi Sywulski Volume 19 Issue 7/8 Page 3
2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 8-Men s Club Breakfast @ Patti s Pantry 2 Communion 3 4 4th of July Church Office closed 5 6 7 8 9-Dress a Girl Sewing 9 10 11 7-C&GM 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Page 4
2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 8-Men s Club Breakfast @ Patti s Pantry 6 Communion 7 8 9 10 11 12 9-Dress A Girl Sewing 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Volume 19 Issue 7/8 Page 5
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Red Wings Game Celebration Reception for Dr. Bob Spratt June 11, 2017 Page 7
Bethany Presbyterian Church Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Rochester, New York Permit No. 881 Bethany Presbyterian Church 3000 Dewey Avenue Rochester, NY 14616 Phone: 585-663-3000 Email: bethpres@frontiernet.net www.bethanyrochester.org Change Service Requested Mailed June 23, 2017 We re on the Web! Ministries Team Head of Staff / Sr. Pastor Dr. Bob Spratt Music Ministry Karl Robson-Director of Music Chase Loomer - Asst. Organist Jean Coniber - Bell Choir Director Jeff Tabor - Tenor Bookkeeper Tom Olney Administrative Assistant & Mouse Editor Eileen Sengillo Membership Secretary Sharon Nichols The Session Cindy Stanek, Budget & Finance Ken Connor, Christian Education Deb Petersen, Community & Global Miss. Bev Bennett, Congregational Life Sue Brown, New Member Craig Johnson, Nominating Ed Grizer, Personnel Steve Watt, Property Carrie Buri, Spiritual Growth Walt Snyder, Stewardship Helen West, Worship & Music Dr. Bob Spratt, Moderator Sue Blum, Clerk of Session Treasurer Carl DeGraff Sunday School and Youth Coordinator Yelena Morosky Custodian Jeff Price Nursery Child Care Worker Jennifer Watt Summer Church Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM