Jan 7 Youth Help At HIHI Jan 30 Annual Congregational Meeting Feb 1 New Leaders Feb 17 HIHI Ends Apr 11 New Chimes Choir Apr 24 Holy Week Dramas YOUTH HELP AT 2011 HIHI NIGHT - January 7, 2011 Team Bethany -- including our Youth -- volunteered to cook, serve and chaperone almost 30 HIHI guests. Guests received a delicious meal, yummy dessert, a warm place to sleep -- and excellent entertainment -- as they watched the 2006 Mexican Spanish-language fantasy film "Pan's Labyrinth." See "2011 Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative" in BETHANY PHOTOS. Jun 11 Christina Coffee House Jun 12 Recognition Picnic May 19 Presbyterian Women Spring Gathering Jun 13 Presbytery News Jun 17 Celebrate Graduates 2011 CONGREGATIONAL MEETING - January 30, 2011 Thank you to all who attended our 2011 Congregational Meeting. Members voted on the Pastor's Call for the new year, as well as other church officers. Highlights are: Pastor's Call renewed by unanimous vote; updates received from Pastor, Session, Treasurer, and committee members; new officers of the church elected for Session, Board of Deacons, and committees; and questions answered about state of our church and Presbyterian Church U.S.A. at large. Jun 26 Jamaica Project Sep 17 Scholarship Blood Drive Oct 1 Pink Ribbons / Pastor Rea Anniversary Oct 8 Deacons Fair Dec 11 7 th Annual Living Nativity Go Tell it on the Mountain Dec 31 HIHI Volunteer Award CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NEW LEADERS FOR 2011 - February 1, 2011 Congratulations to new and returning Session Elders, Deacons and Committee Members. With your generous time and talents, Bethany has the leadership to move forward and accomplish great things for God's glory. Bethany Youth are off to a running start and doing a great job as Deacons. Congratulations to Jill Miller and Camille Whitehorn -- and all new and returning Deacons -- for accepting this leadership role. Your energy and enthusiasm are setting a great example for the rest of our Bethany Youth. We're confident that with God's blessings we'll learn as much from you as you'll learn from this rewarding experience. Page 1
TEAM BETHANY ENDS 2011 HIHI - February 17, 2011 Team Bethany hosted 20 guests at St. Elizabeth's RC church off Wolf Hill Road with a delicious meal of arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), followed by dessert of fresh fresas (strawberries), helado (ice cream) and pastelillos (cupcakes). Team and guests ended the night playing card games and watching "The Book of Eli." See "2011 Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative" in BETHANY PHOTOS. NEW YOUTH CHIMES CHOIR - April 11, 2011 We're starting a Chimes Choir for students grades K-12. Rehearsals will probably be on Tuesdays, either at 4:30 pm or 6:30 p.m. The more the merrier and the more music we can make! GLORIOUS HOLY WEEK DRAMAS - April 24, 2011 We retraced the last week of Christ's life and underscored the miracle of Easter as a new beginning in our lives! Attendees experienced our interactive Dramas at 4 events: The joyful parade-like atmosphere of Palm Sunday; the Last Supper where Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion; the Tenebrae service where we remembered the crucifixion; and he Celebration of Christ's resurrection and flowering of the cross. See "2011 Maundy Thursday Drama, Easter Sunday Drama & Flowering of the Cross" in BETHANY PHOTOS. "PRAISE HIM" CHRISTIAN COFFEE HOUSE - June 11, 2011 We praised God while enjoying Christian comedy, music and fellowship! Attendees were blessed with an evening of fun... featuring the "clean" comedy stylings of Christian comedienne Pat Shea and the riveting music of the Spiritlifters! For information about Christian Coffee House events -- or hosting your own Coffee House event -- contact Bob Brant at bbrant@yahoo.com. Admission ($5) and a love offering were taken, with refreshments served during intermission. Page 2
SUNDAY SCHOOL RECOGNITION & PICNIC - June 12, 2011 During worship, we recognized and celebrated our Sunday School students and teachers! After service, the celebration continued at our Annual Recognition & Picnic. Good food, good grilling and good fun were had by all who attended. SPRING GATHERING PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN - May 19, 2011 Featured guest speaker Joann Burrell, PWNE "Rep"/2nd USA Mission, shared her experience to South Dakota at the Spring Gathering for Presbyterian Women. This exciting event for Long Island Presbyterian Women was held at First Presbyterian Church, 717 St. Luke's Place, Baldwin, NY 11510. Highlights included worship service, dedication in Service Mission projects, and a birthday offering. NEWS FROM THE PRESBYTERY - GENERAL PRESBYTER - June 13, 2011 The Rev. Mark Tammen has announced his acceptance of the call to general presbyter for the Presbytery of Long Island, resigning his position as director of the Department of Constitutional Services in the Office of the General Assembly (OGA). Tammen, who has been with OGA for 17 years, concluded his service on May 16. He begins his new work at the Commack, N.Y.-based Presbytery of Long Island on June 13. Read more Presbytery 'Notes About People' on the Presbyterian Church, USA website. CELEBRATE OUR GRADUATES - June 17, 2011 We've watched them grow in Christ, and in life... and now they've graduated! We pray for their continued blessing and that they keep God at the forefront of all their new endeavors. Congratulations to: Samantha Jackson - College graduate, Anne Sellers - High School Graduate, and Shanika Powell - High School Graduate. Page 3
JAMAICA PROJECT - MORE UNIFORMS NEEDED - June 26, 2011 Thanks to the Bethany Mission team and your generosity, 42 students went to the Richmond Road Primary School in Jamaica, West Indies... and many more want to go! All they need is a uniform... and your continued support. In rural parts of Jamaica, school-aged children can attend only if they have a uniform. But for some poor families, purchasing one is not possible. The Bethany Mission Team saw this need and stepped in December of 2009. Along with the help of the local Pastor, the school principal, and a dressmaker, ABC's became a part of each child's life. We inspired them to learn... now let their motivation to continue inspire you. While you're school shopping for new outfits or the latest sneakers, think about what you would give to ensure that YOUR child (or a child you know) goes to school? 2ND ANNUAL FALL SCHOLARSHIP BLOOD DRIVE - September 17, 2011 PINK RIBBONS ARE THE FASHION - October 1, 2011 "It's a good thing you're doing here... a good thing!" -- A blood donor commented to Bethany members. Yes, it was a good thing --- 33 Pints from 25 Donors. Thank you to all the Bethany Deacons, donors, Medical staff and volunteers who participated in our Annual Fall Scholarship Blood Drive. Long Island Blood Services (LIBS) partnered with Bethany Deacons for our Annual Blood Drive, and for coordinating a successful blood drive -- collection of at least 30 units -- LIBS rewarded one student with a $250 college scholarship! The sanctuary was transformed into a 'MASH' unit as precious life-giving blood was freely shared and collected. At the end, Bethany's 'Blood Drop' did an awesome job outside the church, rallying community members as they drove by -- generating several walk-in donors! See "2011 Annual Blood Drive" in BETHANY PHOTOS. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and it's a great time to wear pink! Annually, members of our Craft Circle create beautiful ribbons to benefit this worthy cause. Church members bought a pink 'Breast Cancer' ribbon for only $2... or any amount they could give. All proceeds benefit local awareness-building efforts in Huntington. help. CONGRATULATIONS, PASTOR REA - October 1, 2011 Twenty-two years ago on October 1 -- World Communion Sunday -- Pastor Rea was ordained in Iowa. We thank God he was chosen for service and pray for continued blessings. See "2009 20-Year Ordination Anniversary" in BETHANY PHOTOS. Page 4
ANNUAL DEACONS' FAIR 2011 - October 8, 2011 What a great day for all at Bethany's Deacon's Fair... perfect weather, lots of vendors, great food, and fellowship with the community. Thanks to all who helped by baking for the sale table, running the cafe, organizing the White Elephant sale, taking a table or just showing up! We generated quite a good sum which will be used to continue doing the Lord's work. "GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN" - LIVING NATIVITY DRAMA 2011 - December 11, 2011 Truly, this event was blessed because everyone walked away feeling they had just shared something special! Our 7th Annual Living Nativity Drama was a wonderful event -- the Bethany Drama Team brought the Christmas story to life! New for this year, our theme was: Go tell it on the mountain. It's important that we retell this story and share it from one generation to the next. It's also -- and possibly more -- important that we share it with people who may not know the story. Go tell your friends, go tell it in your neighborhood, go tell it on the mountain! Go tell it! See "2011 Go Tell it on the Mountain" in BETHANY PHOTOS. HIHI VOLUNTEERS ARE "PEOPLE OF THE YEAR" FOR 2011 - December 31, 2011 Sheltering the homeless, uniting everyone else, quietly yet industriously helping Huntington's homeless... that's who HIHI volunteers are. And for their efforts, The Times of Huntington honors them as People of the Year in Religion! Bethany Presbyterian Church is one of the more than 20 houses of worship that participate in HIHI, providing respite for the homeless during the winter months. Each night from December through March, dozens of volunteers from over 25 churches and synagogues in Huntington Township quietly collaborate to house and feed the homeless under the auspices of the Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative. See "2011 Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative" in BETHANY PHOTOS or go to top of 2011 ARCHIVES. Donations may be sent to Family Service League (designating HIHI), 790 Park Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743. The Northport Times is a newspaper in Northport, NY; first published in 2004. It covers local news, sports, business, jobs and community events for Northport, Eaton's Neck, East Northport, Fort Salonga-West, Asharoken, Centerpoint and surrounding Suffolk County communities. It is owned by Times Beacon Record Media. Page 5