First, I want to thank Marvin Kelley who stepped up to admirably serve as SLT president for most of 2024. He will be missed on council. I am looking forward to working with SLT and all of you as we move ahead at Bethel. Most of you know that Bethel is a very welcoming place… Read More »
From the Pen of Pastor Barb – March 2025
“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You, know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Psalm 139:1-2 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We are now in the season of Lent, which is a time of “spiritual discipline.” During Lent it is customary in… Read More »
Leadership Update – February 2025
Your new SLT President, Ron Freund, will be writing to you for the next year on how the church is moving forward. I will still be in charge of the maintenance team, trying to complete the contracts already written (revision of the electrical boxes, the parsonage sewer project, and the fixing of the broken west… Read More »
From the Pen of Pastor Barb – February 2025
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Can you believe we have past January of 2025 already? Mike and I were talking about how quickly time flies. When we were in high school in the 70s, we couldn’t even begin to think… Read More »
From the Pen of Pastor Barb – January 2025
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We embark on a new year (can you believe it is almost… Read More »
From the Pen of Pastor Barb – December 2024
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, November is almost over and we are fast approaching the season of Advent. The time of expectation… the time of anticipation… the time of preparation. I used to say our world so quickly passes by Thanksgiving to race toward Christmas, however, now I need to say how quickly our… Read More »
Leadership Update – November 2024
On Sunday, October 20 I read the following statement to the congregation regarding the sewer system issues at the parsonage: I wrote in the last newsletter of this problem. The septic system was pumped for the first time this year approximately five months ago. When this problem occurred again, a plumber was called to unplug… Read More »
From the Pen of Pastor Barb – November 2024
“Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the creator triumphantly raise, who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, who still guides us on to the end of our days. God’s banners are o’er us, God’s light goes before us, a pillar of fire shining forth in the night, till… Read More »
Leadership Update – October 2024
I thank all for coming up to do the work of the church during clean-up week at the start of September. The giving of gifts has been steady this summer, so we have not fallen behind in the missions of the church. Our expenses were greater than what we received in August as this includes… Read More »
From the Pen of Pastor Barb – October 2024
“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.” Martin Luther—1529 Dear Brothers and Sisters… Read More »
