JOURNAL TRANSCRIPT
in this issue:
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the PASTOR’S PEN 2 A TOUCH OF INSPIRATION 2 REFLECTING BACK 3 THE COMPUTER GUY 4-5 BETHEL’S PRECIOUS GIFTS 5 MONEY MATTERS 5-6 DID YOU KNOW? 6 LITERARY REVIEW 6 WELCOME TO THE BETHEL FAMILY 6 HERE’S TO GOOD HEALTH 7-8 TH PASTOR’S 40 ANNIVERSARY 8 TREE OF LIFE 8 STORY TIME 9 OPEN FOR BUSINESS 9 NEW MEMBERS CLASS 10 ALL SAINTS DAY 10 I’D RATHER BE A JANITOR… 10 BETHEL’S LIBRARIANS 10 STORY TIME 11 BETHEL’S KITCHEN 12 THE PLAY CORNER 12 TH 150 ANNIVERSARY COOKBOOK 12 TREATS IN THE SUITE 13 THE PLAY CORNER SOLUTIONS 13 A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR 13 CHRISTMAS V.I.P. CHOIR DATES 13 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 13 THE CHAT: WITH BETHEL’S YOUTH (insert)
Featured Story
This year we held our annual Fall Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 26. The kids were able to enjoy two bounce By Shanna Smith houses, test how low they could go with “Fall Harvest Festival” the limbo stick, find the "needle" in the haystack, have their faces painted by Haley Smith, and of course hop, run, and jump to the finish line in potato sacks! Adults and children cooked hotdogs, roasted marshmallows for s'mores, enjoyed chips and hot apple cider by the bonfire. We topped the night off with a visit from our local firefighters who gave an extensive tour of the fire engine and allowed the kids (and those that are still kids at heart) to climb aboard the truck to get a closer look. Our own Rev. Annettia Brooks-Rankin and Ivy Casey tried the firefighter gear on for size. The evening came to a close with the children taking part in “trunk-ortreat”. The trunks were decorated and graciously filled with candy. The winner of this year's best decorated trunk andevening Subwaycame gift card Denise Glenn! taking Thanks to in all "trunk-or-treat." who to a goes close to with the children part The donated, decorated, or simply came out and enjoyed the fellowship.
More pictures on page 3…
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….. ……… Pastor’s Pen
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"O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among people", Psalm 105:1. In this season of Thanksgiving many of you have been through a lot. But, when you look at all that God has brought you through, you have so much to be thankful for. When I think of that great hymn: “O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise”, it makes me want to shout, thank you Lord, because he has done so much for me I cannot tell it all.
We should also make known his deeds among people. Do not be afraid nor ashamed to tell others what God has done for you, for he alone is worthy to be praised. We here at Bethel will be telling our story for years to come as to how God took us from 5th and Walnut St. and brought us to 17777 Little Chicago Rd. Always remember every day is a day of thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving,
A Touch of Inspiration Here’s to a season filled with warmth, comfort and good cheer. May songs of joy fill your home with love and your heart with happiness this holiday season. We should live everyday like it is a holiday – being thankful, spending time with family and looking forward to a bright future.
….. ……… Reflecting Back
Fall Harvest Festival – Pictures Continued from cover page…
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Reflecting Back
Family Fun Night – Movie Night Where else can you get a movie and all you can eat at the concession stand for free (donations optional)? It can only be at Bethel for Family Fun Night's "Movie Night" sponsored by Bethel Steward Board. The doors opened on Saturday, September 28th, at 6 p.m. for the viewing of the movie "Gifted Hands". A concession stand was opened which consisted of popcorn, hot dogs, coney dogs, nachos, potato chips, beverages and an assortment of candy. If you have not yet attended the Family Fun Night, we hope you will plan to attend the next one.
………………………………………….. Reflecting Back Roberts Settlement Documentary
On Saturday, November 2, a historical reenactment was done for a Roberts Settlement Documentary. Several members of Bethel, many who are descendants of Roberts Settlement, participated in the reenactment. Participants were in costume supplied by Conner Prairie.
"Destined to be discovered – Hollywood, here we come!"
….. ……… The Computer Guy By Archie Skates “Choosing the Right Printer” Part I
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Choosing the right printer can be a daunting task. There are several types of printing technologies to choose from, each suited for different needs. Printers come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny travel companions to work group workhorses; some are geared toward photographers, others are for multitasking. And the many specifications for resolution and speed can be misleading. As a loose rule of thumb, inkjet printers are best for vibrant colors and long-lasting photos. Whereas, laser printers are best at producing speedy text documents. So to get started, you'll need to decide which of the following profiles best fits your user type. So in this article I am going to break down four basic user profiles: The Home User, The Student, The Digital Photographer, and finally The Small Business Owner. If the truth be known, even the lines of these basic profiles are blurred, as most of us will fit into more than one profile as most printers will cross over multiple duties. The home user demands a lot from a printer. The device must tackle everything from a book report to a newsletter to the occasional snapshot -- all without breaking the budget. This is why the best choice is a versatile and affordable printer, such as a small-office/home-office color inkjet. These printers cost anywhere from $40 for a single-function inkjet up to $499 for behemoths with interactive touch panels, Web connectivity, cloud printing, and other features. The alternative: Get a personal laser printer (starts at $100) for simple setup with fast, quality monochrome text and graphics output. Also consider purchasing a second printer -- either a single-function photo inkjet or a snapshot printer for light-duty digital photography. The student will have many needs from writing term papers, to printing notes, and every day printing needs. A student will need a printer that can crank out page after page of text double-time, and a monochrome personal laser printer should fit the bill. It delivers copious crisp, legible text faster than you can say, "Wikipedia is not a valid source." Personal laser printers start at around $100 or so, but toner generally produces more pages per refill unit than ink cartridges, so you can save money while clawing your way out of debt. The alternative: A multifunction inkjet is a viable option for power
users who will make use of the additional copy, fax, and scan options, plus it gives you the flexibility to print in color when necessary -- photo postcards for the family, perhaps? If you decide to head down this path, spend a little extra, meaning more than $100, for a decent model that will be a little faster and won't chew through expensive ink and paper as quickly. Today anybody can be a photographer, especially since today all you need is a cell phone. Any inkjet can print photos in color. But if you want results that approach professional photofinishing, you'll need a printer designed to reproduce the dynamic range of a traditional photograph. If you consider the printer a critical aspect of your digital darkroom, you need to look at the gamut and characteristics of the ink set, the supported papers, the color-management tools, and the paper path options. If you plan to purchase only one printer or are a serious hobbyist, a letter-size inkjet is your best bet, since it can also handle routine printing tasks. Snapshot printers can print directly from compatible digital cameras, cell phone or pads, but the other end of the spectrum (high-quality medium format, or 13x19-inch, desktop models) can cost as much as $800. The alternative: If you're into digital photography but also run a busy home office, consider a multifunction printer. Manufacturers of these all-in-ones have been working on improving photo output and scanning technology, and many offer multiple ink cartridges that save you money in the long term by allowing you to replace each color as it depletes, as opposed to purchasing a brand-new three-color cartridge every time one color runs out. Additionally, most all-in-ones boast memory card slots and LCDs on which to preview prints and do light editing, in addition to connectivity options like Ethernet and wireless, with Apple AirPrint and Google Cloud Print features in the upper tiers. Finally for our purposes, the last profile is small businesses. Small business owners can benefit from a jackof-all-trades model like a multifunction or all-in-one printer. These space-saving devices come in both laser and inkjet models that also include a fax machine, copier, and scanner along with printing to round out the versatility. Depending on the extra features you choose (for example, auto document feeder (ADF), auto duplexing, and wireless), this category can get pricey, but many of the lower-end models start at $100 and up for basic copy, scan, and print functions. The alternative: If you already have a standalone fax or scanner, a personal laser printer should meet your needs; many color laser printers now cost less than $250.
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….. ……… The Computer Guy
By Archie Skates “Choosing the Right Printer” Part I Continued from previous page…
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Now as you can see, although there are printers that can fit your one personal need, most of us really have more than "one personal need", which is clearly shown when you look at the basic alternatives, that I listed for each profile. So in the next issue I am going to go a little deeper into a couple of printer options that would fit most of our readers needs and also try to explain some of the terms that you will encounter when purchasing a new printer. With the holiday season coming up, now would be a great time to get that new shiny all-in-one printer! Good luck and remember the “Computer Guy” articles try to make readers aware and provide brief information on computer technology, (this month with the help of cnet.com). If you are still having questions please email me at
[email protected].
……………………………………………... Bethel’s Precious Gifts
MEHKAI TRAVIS HAMPTON - Son of Travis Hampton & Heather Wilson Born September 17, 2013
Money Matters
By Jim Julian, Financial Consultant “Terrible Reasons to Avoid Saving for Retirement” We’ve discussed financial topics over the past few months and one of those topics was saving for retirement. I suggested that over time you need to have a goal of saving a minimum of 10% of your income. I know that’s a fairly high goal when maybe you’re currently living pay check to pay check but you still need to start with whatever you can even if it’s only 1%. The goal then becomes increasing that 1% or 2% every year until you get to the 10%. When I tell most people that, I will normally get some of the following excuses: 1. “I just don’t have any extra money now”. One of the first topics we discussed was setting up a budget and then looking at where you’re spending your money today. Are there things that you are buying today that you could and should live without? How about soft drinks, snacks, etc? I’ll wager there’s $25 to $50/month of wasted spending that you could apply to a retirement savings plan. Most mutual funds today can be set up with small amounts like this. Start small if you need to BUT START. 2. I’d rather take any excess money I may have and pay off debt. That sounds like a good idea on the surface but it also has a big negative effect on saving for retirement because it delays the growth of your investments. The bulk of the growth of anyone’s retirement account comes not from the money you put in but the compounding of interest on what you have saved. Let’s say that you could save $100/mo and you’re 35 years old and assuming you could earn 7% on the month over that time. At 65 you would have $113,353 in your account. However you have a car loan for $5,000 costing you $100/mo so you wait for 5 years before starting to save the $100/mo for retirement. How much of a loss in your retirement account occurred because you waited. Your retirement account is now worth only $75,899 so paying off that $5,000 debt cost you almost $38,000. Find some other way to pay off debts. 3. Investing is hard to understand so I’d rather just sit on the sidelines. It’s true that the markets can be both confusing and scary at times. However today most investment vehicles such as mutual funds provide funds that are called Target Benefit Funds or Lifestyle Funds to take most of the guesswork out of any investment decision.
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….. ……… Money Matters
By Jim Julian, Financial Consultant “Terrible Reasons to Avoid Saving for Retirement”
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4. Investing is hard to understand so I’d rather just sit on the sidelines. It’s true that the markets can be both confusing and scary at times. However today most investment vehicles such as mutual funds provide funds that are called Target Benefit Funds or Lifestyle Funds to take most of the guesswork out of any investment decision. 5. I’m too old and it’s too late for me to start. Obviously the later you start the less you’ll have but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to start. You might need to somehow save more each month and you might need to look at your budget to see where you might be able to cut back a little to come up with more savings. The bottom line is no matter how much you save there will be more there for you in the future than if you didn’t save something.
Literary Review
By Eunice Collins
“One Sports Fan Left Behind”
You can make it!! The author, William D. Butler, one of eight children of Reverend Doctor Ernest D. Butler and Wife resided in Noblesville for 10 years. Rev. Butler was Pastor of First Baptist Church. All 5 sons excelled in sports while here. We were still in the years of segregation that he also touched on. You must read his book. You too can make it.
………………………………………….. Welcome to the Bethel Family
My next article will cover college costs, value of a college education, and ways to save for college.
……………………………………………... Did You Know?
Jason Brannon
Poshier Moore
Charlotte Hankins
Ivy, Bryce & Randy Casey
Joy Rogers
Janetta Washington
Quentin Howard
Reims, Raquel, Keith & Marin Brooks
CALIFORNIANS ARE THE LARGEST CONSUMERS OF TURKEY IN THE UNITED STATES
….. ……… By Angie Granger, Director of Nursing
“5 Cold Weather Hazards, and How to Stay Safe”
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Here’s to Good Health
1. Hypothermia: In the United States, about 700 deaths occur each year from hypothermia. Hypothermia happens when your body temperature drops to 95 degrees F (35 degrees C) or less and can be fatal if it’s not detected promptly and treated properly. While hypothermia can happen to anyone, the elderly run the highest risk because their bodies often do not adjust to changes in temperature quickly and they may be unaware that they are gradually getting colder. What to watch for: If you have hypothermia, you'll first feel cold, shiver, and seem socially withdrawn. As the condition worsens, you can become confused, sleepy, and slur your speech. In the most severe stage, the heart can slow down dangerously. Stay-safe tips: To prevent hypothermia, wear warm, multi-layered clothing with good hand and feet protection and a warm hat or hood. If you notice symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend seeking medical attention immediately. If medical attention is not available, remove any clothing that's wet, and wrap up in a warm blanket to prevent further heat loss. Warm beverages may help increase the body temperature, but do not drink alcoholic beverages. Also, do not take a hot shower or bath, because it can cause shock.
2. Colds and flu: Each year, adults get an average of about three colds every year, and 1 in 5 adults will get the flu. Although colds and flu aren’t specific to cold-weather months, they're both more prevalent during winter. One Welsh study suggests that cold temperatures can actually lead to a cold by limiting the supply of infection-fighting white blood cells in the nasal passage, where cold viruses most often enter the body. And research that the flu virus is more stable and stays in the air longer when air is cold and dry. What to watch for: It’s often difficult to know whether you have a cold or the flu, because the symptoms can be similar. At the onset of a cold, you may feel a dry, scratchy sore throat, sneezing, a headache, runny nose with watery mucus, watery eyes, chills, and a fever. Later symptoms can include a blocked nose, sinus pain, a cough that keep you awake at night, muscle aches and pains, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Flu symptoms are normally worse than and come on more quickly than cold symptoms and include a fever of about 100
degrees to 104 degrees F, a dry cough, muscle aches, headache, a stopped up nose, sore throat, and feeling extremely tired. Stay-safe tips: With a cold, you may feel quite sick for a couple of days, but your symptoms should clear up in a week to 10 days. And most people recover from the flu within a week. Of course, both will very likely need to be treated by medicines. There’s no cure for a cold, but taking cold medicines may help lessen your symptoms while your body fights off the virus. Take a look at our recommendations for what cold medicines work best (subscribers only). Be sure to steer clear of antibiotics--they don't work for viruses and they have side effects. For flu, a flu shot will help your body fight off the flu virus, but if you already have the virus, the CDC recommends zanamivir (Relenza), an inhaled drug, for treating seasonal flu in people age 7 and older or a combination of oseltamivir and rimantadine. 3. Frostbite: Frostbite can cause a loss of feeling and color in the affected areas, such as the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage body tissue, and severe cases can lead to amputation. In extremely cold temperatures, the risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and when people are not dressed properly. What to watch for: Signs of frostbite include reduced blood flow to hands and feet (fingers or toes can freeze), numbness, tingling or stinging, aching, and bluish or pail, waxy skin. Stay-safe tips: To prevent frostbite, wear warm clothing and dress in layers when you plan to be outdoors for an extended amount of time, and keep dry (wet clothes increase chance of heat loss). If you notice the signs of frostbite, get into a warm room as soon as possible. Immerse the affected area in warm water or warm it area using body heat. Avoid rubbing or massaging the frostbitten area; doing so may cause more damage. And do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming since affected areas are numb and can be easily burned. 4. Depression: About 5 percent of Americans, three-quarters of them women, experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD) each year, a type of depression that typically occurs during the coldweather months. Signs to watch for: Some symptoms are similar to those associated with other types of depression: sadness, fatigue, excessive sleepiness, social withdrawal, and trouble concentrating. But people with SAD also tend to move slowly, crave carbohydrates, and gain weight. And they're less likely than people with conventional depression to have feelings of worthlessness or thoughts of suicide. Stay-safe tips: If suspect you’re suffering from SAD, the nonprofit Center for Environmental Therapeutics has an online questionnaire that can help you determine whether you have it.
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….. ……… By Angie Granger, Director of Nursing
“5 Cold Weather Hazards, and How to Stay Safe”
Continued from previous page…
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Here’s to Good Health
For mild cases, doing 60 minutes of outdoor aerobic exercise in the morning might bring some relief. For more persistent cases, talk to our doctor about therapies, including light therapy and antidepressants. Other treatment options include cognitive-behavioral therapy, in which you learn to ward off negative thoughts about the season and work on finding enjoyable activities. That kind of therapy might also help prevent a recurrence. 5. Heart Attacks: It’s true that there are numerous risk factors for heart attacks, including having high cholesterol, being male, and smoking cigarettes. But did you know heart attacks are more common in winter? This may be because cold snaps increase blood pressure and put more strain on the heart. Also, your heart also has to work harder to maintain body heat when it's cold. What to watch for: The warning signs for a heart attack include, chest pain (though not always), shortness of breath, sudden fatigue or dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, blue tinges to your skin. Stay-safe tips: Bundle up outside and take it easy when exerting yourself in the cold to help prevent a heart attack. If the symptoms we mentioned above strike, don’t ignore them; call 911 immediately. —Ginger Skinner (ConsumerReports.org)
Pastor’s 40th Anniversary
On November 17, 2013, Bethel will be celebrating Pastor Tarrance's 40th anniversary in the ministry. Pastor Tarrance accepted the call into the ministry in 1973 and he was appointed to his first church (Bethel-Noblesville) in 1976. It is only befitting that since he has returned to Bethel we help him celebrate his 40 years in the ministry. A Thanksgiving Dinner will be prepared by the Steward Board following the morning worship service and all are invited to attend. A program will be during the dinner hour.
…………………………………………… The Tree of Life We have recently "uprooted" and "re-planted" our Tree of Life from its original location to its new home at Bethel. The Tree of Life was originally introduced in 2004 as a capital campaign program to fund our on-going building project. So that all members will have an opportunity to have their name memorialized on this lasting wall plague, we are reinstating this project. All funds received will be directed to the Building Fund Account. Anyone who contributed to our 2013 pledge campaign for our current church facility will have their name automatically engraved on a leaf (if their name is not already on the tree). We will soon be contacting those individuals for engraving details. We encourage everyone (our former members as well as our new members) to consider investing in the Tree of Life, not only as financial support to Bethel, but also to have a lasting recognition of your gift.
Donor Designations are as follows: Family Branch Mini Tree Foundation Stone Acorn Gold Leaf Silver Leaf
$5,000 $3,000 $1,200 $ 600 $ 300 $ 200
A Family Branch consists of nineteen (19) leaves - (10 Gold and 9 Silver) - complete with family name on the branch. If you would like more information or details regarding the Tree of Life, please contact Teresa Granger.
….. ……… “A Thanksgiving Story”
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Story Time
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day, but I cannot see it." Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people that they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?
Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.
Open for Business
The Lending Library
The Lending Library is now open for your enjoyment! We would like to invite you all to stop in and see all the wonderful books that have been donated to the church for people to read. The vision for the library is that it will become a welcoming space where members can stop in and find a book that interests them, take the book home to enjoy, and then return it to share with others again. The library may look like it is full for now, but we will always need new books to pass on to people… so keep them coming! We currently have a great selection of religious books, biographies, African American studies, some cookbooks, both children’s and young adult books and even a few fiction selections. When you bring in donations, they can simply be placed on the desk that is in the room and they will then be cleaned off and shelved. Now, you may be thinking that you want to help but have no books at home to bring in. In that case, we ask that you just help spread the word to neighbors and friends for books or simply stop in for a book to read. We have greatly appreciated all of the members who have supported this effort with donations of books and will continue to work to make it a great asset for the congregation to enjoy. PLEASE DON’T BE SHY… STOP IN ON SUNDAY FOR A BOOK! Eunice Collins & Tracy White
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New Members Class
A "New Members Class" will be held at Bethel on Saturday, November 16 at 3:00 p.m. It is important that all new members who have joined Bethel during this calendar year (from January to the present) plan to attend. However, if you transferred from another A.M.E Church, you are not required to attend. Please contact the church office (Terri Woodard) at 776-0830 or Teresa Granger to confirm your attendance.
….………………………….……………... All Saints Day The Steward Board of Bethel is designating Sunday, January 12, as "All Saints Day". Every member and all of the friends of Bethel are asked to be united in worship. If you have not attended church for some time or if you have been attending church every Sunday, we would like to fill the church on that day -- standing room only! Come and receive a blessing.
….………………………….……………... I’d rather be a janitor in the house of the Lord than to……………..
Webster’s Definition: A janitor, janitress (female), custodian "cleaner” is a professional who takes care of buildings. Often not visible and not recognized, they are an important part of keeping a building clean and in order. So it is with our beautiful church. We’re fortunate to have janitors who have volunteered their time to keep our church looking beautiful. These dedicated volunteers have helped the church save significant expenses and at the same time have provided a pleasant and impressive atmosphere for those attending church. For this we can all be proud. Our volunteer janitors are: Jerry Granger, Teresa Granger, Sandra Glover, Marcia Glover, Mike Fischer, Denis Suggs, Annette Suggs, Terri Woodard, Jeff Woodard, Denise Glenn, Paula Gilliam, June Newsom, and Vincent Newsom. Please take time to thank them for the work they do to keep our church looking beautiful. We still have some open volunteer slots. If you are interested in volunteering 2 hours per month, please contact Vincent Newsom at 841-2705.
Bethel’s Librarians
“Just Thought You Should Know”
Eunice Collins has had quite a lot of
experience in the library area. She has most recently worked for the Noblesville Public Library (Hamilton East Public Library) for fourteen years. While there, she worked with a program to teach illiterate people how to read and has helped people earn their GED through this program. She has always had a love for reading fiction as well as non-fiction literature. She also encouraged her children and grandchildren to read as much as possible. She still can always be found at home with a book or two reading and she still faithfully does the daily crossword puzzle. After retiring, Eunice Collins began working at Hamilton East Public Library (formerly Noblesville Library) as a shelver for about four years. From there, she moved to Tech Services as a clerk then labeled all new books until ending her employment. Eunice is experienced in the mechanics of the library and really loved her job. She is very excited about this new lending library at Bethel and hopes that it will bring joy of reading to others in the church.
Tracy White has had an unending love of
books since she was a young girl. She was fortunate to follow in her father’s footsteps of earning a Bachelor of Science degree in English Education from Ball State University. She has read thousands of books in her lifetime and reads anything that is fiction, non-fiction, religious, inspirational, educational, and children's books. She truly thinks that the library can be a great wealth of information and enjoyment and she is very excited to spread her love for reading to the Bethel church family.
….. ……… “A Christmas Story”
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Story Time
It was so long ago that the whole world has forgotten the date and even the name of the little town in which lived a little boy whose name was Hans. Little Hans lived with his aunt, who was quite an old lady. She was not always kind to Hans, but this made no difference to him. He loved her just the same, and forgot that she was ever cross and very unkind to him at times. Hans went to school with many other boys, but he was not clothed as they were. He had to wear the same clothes both week days and Sundays; the same even in the summer that he wore in the winter. It was now midwinter, when everything was wrapped in snow and glazed with ice, while the north winds sang loud and whistled down the chimneys, played very roughly with the bare trees, and crept through every crack and crevice of the house. The frost, too, was busy pinching the cheeks and biting the toes of the boys, and making them run, jump and dance to keep warm. The children were wild with the excitement and the joy that was astir at this time. For there were secrets in the air. Everyone was busy making gifts for some loved one. It was the night before Christmas, the one great birthday on which the whole world rejoiced and when all endeavor to make their fellow men happy. The schoolmaster and all of his pupils started for the midnight worship and prayer at the church. All of the boys were well clothed, with heavy coats, fur caps, thick mittens, and very heavy and warm shoes. But little Hans had only a poor, plain, ragged suit, with no overcoat, no mittens, and his shoes were only wooden ones. It was a very cold night, and the boys and the schoolmaster had to walk very fast to keep warm. But little Hans did not mind the cold so much, because the stars smiled down upon him and seemed like so many diamonds set in a deep blue canopy, each one glittering and flashing in the darkness. The snow, too, was a sparkling mass, and Hans wondered if the stars could see themselves reflected in the tiny snow crystals which covered the earth. At last they reached the church, whose windows were shedding forth a soft, golden light on the stillness and darkness of the cold winter night. This little group of worshipers quietly passed into the church and sank noiselessly into their pews. It was a beautiful place to Hans. He loved it dearly, and was always happy to come here. The candles were all lighted, and they burned steadily brighter and brighter, filling the church with a beautiful mellow light. The grand old organ softly and clearly sent forth its tones, each one growing richer, deeper and sweeter, and gradually the voices of the choir boys and the tones
of the organ filled the old church with such beautiful music that little Hans's heart seemed to bound within him, and his whole soul was enraptured, while there shone from his face a radiance that only a divine inspiration could bring forth. At length, after the people had sung, each one knelt and offered thanksgiving to the Heavenly Father, little Hans, too, knelt and offered thanks for the blessings which he had received during that year, and for the tender care of the Father of all. The people then quietly passed out of the warm church into the cold of the night. Hans was the last one out, and as he carefully made his way down the icy steps he noticed a little boy no larger than himself sitting on the steps, with his head resting against the church. He was fast asleep. His face was beautiful, and seemed clothed in a golden light. Beside him, tied in a cloth, were a square, a hammer, a saw and other tools of a carpenter. He had neither shoes nor stockings on his feet, although his clothing was spotless and of the purest white. It grieved Hans that the child should have no shoes, not even one to place for the Christ-child to fill with gifts. Hans stooped and took from his right foot the wooden shoe and placed it in front of the sleeping child, so that the Christchild would not pass him by. Hans then limped along on the ice and snow, not feeling how cold it was, but only thinking of the poor child asleep out in the cold. The other boys were talking of the good things awaiting them at home, of the feasts, the plum pudding, the Christmas trees, and the many drums, wagons and blocks the Christ-child would put in their shoes that night. When Hans arrived home he found his aunt awaiting him, and when she saw that he had only one shoe, and he had told her all about the other one, she was very angry with him, and sent him to bed. Hans placed the wooden shoe from his left foot at the fireside, hoping that the Christ-child would remember him as he passed by. The first sunbeam that crept into Hans's bedroom and kissed him the next morning awoke him, and he bounded downstairs, and flew to the great open fireplace to find his shoe. Hans rubbed his eyes and caught his breath, for, to his great surprise, there were both of his wooden shoes, filled with beautiful toys; by the fireside he found warm clothing and many other things to make him comfortable and happy. Hearing loud voices, Hans went to the door. The people were standing in a crowd about the priest, who was talking to them. He told Hans that where he had seen the child asleep on the church steps there was now in the window above a beautiful crown set with precious jewels. He said that the child was the Christ-child, whom the Heavenly Father had again sent among men on earth for that night, and that it was He with whom Hans had shared his wooden shoes. The people bowed themselves before that miracle that the good God had seen fit to work, to reward the faith and charity of a child.
….. ……… By Brianne Williams
“Leftover Halloween Candy Bark”
DIRECTIONS:
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Bethel’s Kitchen
INGREDIENTS:
*1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped *3 ounces white chocolate, chopped *3 Butterfinger candy bars (or 8 fun-size bars), cut into 1-inch pieces *3 Heath candy bars (or 6 fun-size bars), cut into ¾-inch pieces *8 Reese's peanut butter cups, each cut into 8 wedges *¼ cup honey roasted peanuts *½ cup Peanut M&M's (Halloween colors!) or Pretzel M&M's or Reese's Pieces
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. 2. Place the chopped bittersweet chocolate in a medium bowl and microwave at 50% power in 30-second increments, stirring after each, until completely melted and smooth. Pour the chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet and, using an offset spatula, spread into a thin layer (about ¼-inch thick - a 12x10inch rectangle). Sprinkle the melted chocolate with the chopped Butterfingers, Heath bars, peanut butter cups and honey roasted peanuts, making sure all pieces touch melted chocolate (so they adhere). Lightly press to make sure the candy adheres to the melted chocolate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. 3. Melt the white chocolate using the same method as the bittersweet chocolate (in a microwave in intervals) until completely smooth. Using a spoon, drizzle the white chocolate over the chilled bark in a zigzag pattern. Scatter the M&M's (or Reese's Pieces) over the white chocolate drizzle, and again press to make sure the candy adheres to the melted white chocolate. Chill again until the white chocolate is set, about 30 minutes. 4. Cut/break the bark into irregular pieces and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
The Play Corner
Cryptogram
"HVL VMKZQ CZUL VZN FQL CLZPPD LYYLUHXAL BLZIFQ, ZQO HVZH XN PZMTVHLC." -- KZCR HBZXQ Hint:
H stands for T V stands for H L stands for E M stands for U Solution on page 13
………………………………………….. 150th Anniversary Cookbook
We are excited to announce that in early December, our Missionary Society will be selling cookbooks commemorating Bethel's 150th anniversary. The cookbooks, priced at $10.00 each, have been a "labor of love" and will be an ideal Christmas gift for that special someone on your gift list. There will be many favorite recipes from our current members, family and friends, as well as recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation, many of which you may recall enjoying. Your support of this fund-raising effort for our Missionary Society will be greatly appreciated. It will also be an opportunity for you to be the first to receive this collector's edition of Bethel's recipes. If you would like to place an advanced order, please contact any Missionary Society member. To those who contributed recipes for this publication, we would like to thank you in advance for your support.
the The Thompkins Family News Jeremy Shawn, Jaiya Brion and Janea LaShawn are the son and daughters of Zachary and Joyce Thompkins. Jeremy, 19, is probably the most visible at Bethel. He is the director of Blessed Men of Bethel , a member of the Mass Choir, has taught step to the young people and assembled small singing groups. Needless to say, music is the joy of his life. At the age of two, he was playing the tambourine and directing the choir. Singing, directing, dancing and choreographing step is just a few of the many things he enjoys. Jaiya and Janea are the total opposite of their brother. They are very low key, almost invisible is how they prefer to be. Jaiya, 13, is a 7th grader at Riverside Junior High School. She is an honor roll student and a member of the Riverside Melody Chorus. At Bethel, Jaiya is a member of the Mass Choir. Janea, 12, is a 6th grader at Riverside Intermediate School. She is an honor roll student and in the Riverside Yearbook Club. At Bethel, Janea is a member of the Mass Choir. Jaiya and Janea love the computer, bowling and grocery shopping with their dad. They are close in age and close in life.
…………………………………………………………………………………………… Exciting Opportunity Can Food Drive
For the month of November and December the YPD will be doing a can food drive to support the Noblesville's Trustee Office Food Pantry. Please support us with your donations so we can help fill their shelves.
…………………………………………………………………………………………… Comic Corner
the It’s Game Time
Word Search
ANNUAL AUTUMN CELEBRATION CORN CRANBERRY FAMILY FEAST FESTIVAL FOOD FOOTBALL FRIENDS GATHERING GRAVY HARVEST HOLIDAY LONG WEEKEND MASHED POTATOES
RELATIVES REUNION SQUASH STUFFING SWEET POTATO THURSDAY TRADITION TRAVEL TURKEY WAMPANOAG YAMS MEAL NOVEMBER PARADE PILGRIMS PLYMOUTH PUMPKIN PIE
Alexandra Glenn
Youth Night for the Indiana Conference Missionary Weekend was on September 13, 2013. Three of our youth participated in the event. Adriana Brown served as an usher, Alexandra Glenn participated in a group dance to the song "Break Every Chain" by Tasha Cobb, and the star of the evening was Blake Fischer who performed a written dialogue about Trayvon Martin. This was a fun and powerful praise and worship night! Reverend Cecilia Bryant and Elder Byfield also prayed over all the children and gave powerful and encouraging messages. Thank you Blake, Adriana, and Alexandra for your participation!
Blake Fischer
Youth Night
Adriana Brown
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Treats in the Suite
Come and fellowship with Bethel after Worship Service over coffee and treats in the Hospitality Suite! We will be having this time of fellowship every Sunday.
*Sponsored by the Stewardesses*
………………………………………….….. The Play Corner Solution
"THE HUMAN RACE HAS ONE REALLY EFFECTIVE WEAPON, AND THAT IS LAUGHTER." -- MARK TWAIN
A Note from the Editor Our Bethel family has so much to be thankful for. This year has been filled with blessings above and beyond what we could have imagined. Please make sure you plan to be a part of the upcoming events and check out the things that are new at Bethel as you read the newsletter. As we enter into the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, let us give abundantly and celebrate the birth of Jesus and his love for us. Let us spread good cheer not only during the Christmas season, but throughout the New Year. Keeping you informed,
"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.”
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…………………………………………………………………………………………… Christmas Dates for NOVEMBER: Calendar of Events Victory in Praise Choir 16 – New Members Class at Bethel – 2013 Westfield In Lights Celebration Victory In Praise will sing Saturday, December 7 -- 7 p.m. Following Tree Lighting Main Stage -- north of Main on Union St. ******* VICTORY IN PRAISE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
"JESUS IS THE LIGHT" Saturday, December 14 -- 6 p.m. at Bethel ******* Spreading Christmas Cheer With the residents of Sanders Glen (Home of our own Beverly Howard) 334 S Cherry St, Westfield, IN (317) 867-0212
Victory In Praise will sing The Youth of Bethel will also participate Saturday, December 21 -- 2 p.m.
3 p.m. 17 – Pastor’s 40th Anniversary at Bethel – following Morning Worship Service 28 – THANKSGIVING
November 2013
DECEMBER:
7 – 2013 Westfield in Lights Celebration – Main Stage: north of Main on Union St. – 7 p.m. 14 – Victory in Praise Christmas Celebration at Bethel – 6 p.m. 21 – Spreading Christmas Cheer – Sanders Glen: 334 S. Cherry St. Westfield, IN – 2 p.m. 25 – CHRISTMAS
*Sneak Peak - JANUARY:
12 – All Saints Day at Bethel – during Morning Worship Service
*Bible Study’s winter break will be from November 20 - March 6, 2014
December 2013
Bethel A.M.E. Church
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the
17777 Little Chicago Road Noblesville, IN 46062 317-776-0830 Pastor: Rev. Mallory H. Tarrance E-mail:
[email protected] Newsletter E-mail:
[email protected] Website: www.bethelamenoblesville.org Newsletter Editor: June Newsom Newsletter Graphic Designer: Erica Newsom Sunday School: 10 a.m. Sunday Worship Service: 11 a.m.
…………………………………………………………………………………………… Map of the Church
BETHEL