Reyes Gibbs Blog

Parking Lot Sale - October 6@Bethel 9AM-4PM

Come and browse!  Our Parking Lot sale has lots of goodies and great stuff, washer/dryers, 42" TV, and more.    Proceeds to benefit our music program!

WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY - October 7 4PM

We will be celebrating World Communion Sunday with four churches on Sunday October 7 at 4PM. followed by a potluck dinner and music by the Christian band "Justo a Tiempo"   All are invited.

Giving

It's time to think about giving to the church.  Ideally, we should all give 10% of our income to the church but that isn't always possible.   Pledging is another way that the church can plan for budgets and programs.    When I talk about giving 10%, I often get the comments back that "I give to other organizations that do good things in this world that the church doesn't do."  In a previous post, I shared a story from a colleague.   The pastor asked for 10% (Biblically based) from each member of her church.  A parishioner said, "I give to save the whales.!"   The pastor pointed out that in their community only 5% of the population attends church so couldn't the other 95% save the whales and she in turn can give to the church.  The parishioner started giving more to the church and eventually was giving 10% of her income.  In addition, she became much more involved in the church, attending regularly and participating in programs.  And to her surprise was still able to give something to save the whales!

A Bethel parishioner some time ago, gave me a site that all I have to do is bookmark it and every day click a button and I've provided a free mammogram.  Below is a list of  sites that if you click on them you provide a meal for a child, a mammogram, help with environment or with animals.  A click from your computer, pays for something desperately needed and all you do is click on the site everyday. IT'S FREE!! Each day you can add to the health of women and children, help the hungry in the world, improve education, preserve the environment and help animals.  This is a way to help and not to add to your budget.   

 Please bookmark these sites and send a prayer their way as you click on the “free” buttons.

www.thehungersite.com
www.thebreastcancersite.com
www.thechildhealthsite.com
www.theliteracysite.com
www.therainforestsite.com
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com

BARK A LOT IN THE PARKING LOT

On Saturday, September 29, Bethel will sponsor its first "Bark A Lot in the Parking Lot" Dog Show for the community.    From 10AM  Dogs will pay their $10 registration fee and will be judged on qualities as "the shortest ears, the longest tail, the best smile..."  The event will have vendors who sell products just for that special dog.   All dogs who "can play well with others" are invited to join in.  Owners and Dogs who do not play well with others will be asked to leave.  Lots of food, prizes and fun are expected for the day.   Any questions, please email me.

After-School Faith, Art, & Music Program - Friday - October 5

The after-school program Friday program,  Jus' 4 kids, will begin on October 5 at 3:00 PM to 5:30.  The afternoon will consist of faith stories, art projects and music.  Children will take part in musicals and learn how to read music at the same time.  Dinner will be served at 5:00.    If you are interested, please contact  Pastor Sarah email:  sarah@bethelcpc.org.  For Grades K-5.  Per Semester fee:  $50 registration/materials

Making GOoD Choices

MAKING GOoD CHOICES

When my children left for school or  I dropped them off, I told them, “I love you and make good choices!”   Recently, I had a conversation with a young woman who had questions about a “purity ring” (which is a ring that is given to a girl to promise not to have sex until marriage-this is a simple explanation). She also asked other questions about relationships and girl stuff that she couldn’t talk to her adult about. This conversation moved me to facilitate a series of classes on “Making GOoD Choices” – Frank conversations about Faith, Relationships, Friends, School, Health and Family will be encouraged.

 The classes will be held on Fridays from 6:00 to 9:00. The class will be for girls 12 years and older. Parent permission is required before attending. The girls will have to sign a covenant of behavior in the classes (i.e. no gossiping, laughing at others, coming on time, etc.) The classes will begin on September 28 and the last class will be October 25. At the last class, the girls will be given covenant rings. The rings that will remind them that making choices involves God and God’s leading in their lives. It may be a “NO” ring, to drugs, alcohol, gossip, sex, but most importantly it will remind the wearer of the covenant they made to the group and God through prayer and conversations with other adults in their lives about making  GOoD  choices.

On October 19-2 the girls and adult chaperones will be attending a Women of Faith Gathering focused for teen girls. The conference will be inSacramento The cost including a hotel and meals will be approximately $80-$100. If you can sponsor a young woman, please mail your check to Bethel,  marked: Making GOoD choices.

It's not right....

The other day my son, Bruce, posted a Bethel event on Facebook.  Facebook is like Myspace.com here's the lilnk http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=4954521447 or  Facebook - Bethel Event when discussing this around the table, it was suggested that I go on Facebook.  The comment then from the younger one's at the table, "That's not right."  "Facebook was meant for college kids and not for old people!"  I am not on facebook yet but when i get enough nerve I may be.  Bruce is on it and he is considered old, so maybe its time ancient folks like me join up with the youngin's and use technology to get to know folks or for folks to get to know you!!

September 15 - Cafe Bethel

You are all invited to a fundraiser that will benefit Bethel's music program.  This event will feature Suzanna Smith and the Beep Trio.  Download Cafe_Bethel_2007-09.pdf

This is the the third of a series of Jazz events Bethel sponsors.  The cost is $10 per person and food and drinks will be sold. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact tyler.yarbrough@gmail.com.

Papusas and Tamales

Friday, August 3, 2007 at 6:30 Bethel will be having a Latin Cultural Food and Music gathering at the church Primera Igleisa Presbyiteriana de Hispana de Oakland, our partners in ministry,  will be cooking the food for the benefit of Bethel!!! We will be serving papusas (Salvadoran) and Tamales (Guatemala) agua frescas.  A dinner will be $5.00.  Also the Christian Contemporary Spanish Band, Justo a Tiempo will be playing music and maybe we will have salsa lessons.  If you need more information, contact Pastor Sarah at sarah@bethelcpc.org or call the church (510)357-4130.    It will be great fun!!

Worship - A Noun or a Verb?

Yesterday was the second Sunday in a series of seven focused on the future of Bethel.   All the Sundays are planned around provocative questions (see previous post).  This Sunday the questions were:  What is worship?  What does worship look like?   Does worship have a feel?  If yes, what kind.  If no, should it   How does or should Worship sound?   What is the goal of worship?    We answered these questions along with many others about preferences for worship, what happens in worship and where to worship in a survey given to everyone who came on Sunday.   There was about 20 minutes for the folks to answer the questions and then to share their answers with their neighbor.   

One parishioner raised the question, "Are we talking about worship as a verb or a noun?"   I responded by telling her to answer the questions the way she thought most appropriate.   I hadn't thought about it much, do I look at worship as a thing or an action - What we do in worship(the service in the church) and how worship changes us (action to change and work for justice)?   I think for most folks its "both and."    I am reading The Dangerous Act of Worship - Liviing God's Call to Justice by Mark Labberton.   I have just started this book and it has raised alot of questions for me about worship.     Mark points out that one of the goals of worship is to move folks "to embody God's righteousness and merciful justice."  I want that!  I always want folks to come up to me after a sermon and ask, "What should I do?' instead of "nice sermon!"  (See Acts 2:37) I plan my sermons asking God "what should I do" in hopes that I could get folks to ask God the same question.   For me worship is a verb -  I worship -you/he/she worships-we worship!   

Sunday's scripture was Isaiah 1:11-17.  After reading this together, they got the message of what God expects from worship which is, "learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow."    The survey made them think and they got the message in a different way. I like this response to the question, "What is Worship?"  Response:  "A group of people feeding off each other to live a Christ-like life"  This brought all kinds of images to my mind!

 

Next feeding?  Next Sunday  - The Question:  What should Bethel do?