Bits from Beth

May 13, 2026

 

Dear Friends:

Thank you to all those who made Mother’s Day and graduation so special. The potluck after the service was delicious as always. We have pictures on Instagram and Facebook if you are curious. We especially thank those who stayed afterward to help clean up.

 

The Food Pack Party is at 6:00pm on Wednesday night so come join the fun. No reservations needed. Come, and stay as long as you can!

 

Pastor Ryan, Lyndsey, and Emerson arrived Saturday morning to view the church, take notes on the parsonage, and to meet the staff and Leadership. Times have changed since churches all had furnished parsonages for the pastors. As pastors move, they may find that one appointment has a furnished parsonage and the next appointment has a housing allowances which means they have to go purchase furniture and appliances. The next appointment might be a parsonage again. With the average tenure at a church being 3-4 years, that can get quite expensive for the pastor. The conference changed parsonage policy several years ago to try and address the issues that arise. The Bachusses have bedroom furniture, a piano, and dining room furniture so we will be moving much of our furniture out of the parsonage. We are also doing kitchen renovations to add counter space and a pantry. If you have questions, ask any member of Leadership.

 

Speaking of Leadership, let me remind you how simplified structure works. Nominations puts a slate together of three people per year to serve three years on the Leadership Board. In addition to those with terms, they nominate a Lay Leadership, and a Lay delegate to Annual Conference. Both also serve on the Leadership Board. That makes a Board of eleven with the Pastor making twelve. Nominations selects one of those eleven to be the Chairman, one to be Treasurer, and one to be SPRC Chairman. The Board then elects the Trustee Chairman. Every year, three or four people will roll off and nominations will put forth more names. The nominations are elected by the Charge conference. Nomination seeks our most active member who have remain faithful to their vows of church membership in terms of learning, giving, serving, praying, and being present. We are fortunate to have two additional Annual Conference delegates, Larry and Ellen Horseman who serve as district representative. Ellen serves on the South District Board of Ministry, referred to as dCom. The Leadership Board meets monthly and since they handle most of the business of the church, attendance is a commitment.

 

Why did we go to simplified structure? We had many deaths in the congregation and the pool of people willing and able to serve has declined. Having multiple meetings of various committees meant that attendance was sporadic and it was hard to get things done on a timely basis. Finally, our old system operated outside of the Book of Discipline which is a no-no. We are finally operating within the guidelines of the Book of Discipline and wish to keep it that way! Are you interested in serving? Let your pastor know. Nominations will likely meet later this summer.

 

This week, our sermon will be from the Gospel of Mark. There are two stories in Mark about the healing of a blind man. In between those stories Mark features Jesus’ teachings on discipleship. Mark has told the stories this way for a reason. He knows the disciples just do not get it. They are still looking for something earthly and political. That is not what Jesus is offering. In Mark’s Gospel which ends with an empty tomb, the disciples never understand but we do. Everything we do as a church, helps us grow in our faith.

 

We have two 90+ birthdays this month. Judson Hout will be 91 on May 22nd and Dot Everett will be 97 on May 31st. We signed Dr. Hout’s card early so I could deliver it. Let’s not forget our treasured older members.

 

Grace and peace,

Beth