ContactNorth Bethesda

United Methodist Church

UMCOR Hygiene Kits by the Dozen or by the Pound! It was loud, it was crazy, it was FUN! Piles of combs and

toothbrushes, wash cloths and hand towels, soap and nail clippers, adhesive bandages carefully counted out so we had

exactly six. All donated by you! A bunch of North Bethesda’s finest scurrying around, lining up the items just so in the

middle of the hand towel, one of everything except Band-Aids! Roll everything up and make it fit into a 1-gallon zip-

lock bag. Press all the air out and drop the completed kit into a box. Repeat . . . until

we run out of something. Whew!

Take an empty box, carefully fill it with completed kits, counting as you go. Somebody

stops you and asks a question, and you have to start counting again. If you’re smart, you write the number down on the side of the box, row upon row of the kits, filling the

box. A medium-size packing box from Home Depot holds 50-52 kits – if you squeeze ALL the air out. Get cash - $1 per kit for toothpaste – to put in an envelope to put in

the box. Seal the box, attach the shipping label, and tape on the list of contents. Repeat. . . ‘til all 262 kits – 21.8 dozen or 230 pounds in 6 boxes – are carefully

packed, ready for shipping to UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, LA.

But wait, there’s more. All the left over stuff - not enough for

complete kits, but still useful to UMCOR - collected, counted, and loaded into two more boxes and shipped to Sager Brown.

That’s what it was like October 1 and 8 during and after the coffee hour in Johnson Hall. Lots of folks serving God by

serving neighbors. Doing the work of helping sisters and

brothers who have survived the latest disasters. We don’t know if these kits will immediately be sent on to Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands or to

another place where a disaster has occurred since this was written. Or whether they will be used to replenish the empty shelves at Sager Brown, ready to go out

immediately when yet another disaster strikes. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that UMCOR has them and will put them to use wherever they are needed.

It’s what the disciples of Jesus Christ do. It’s what the people of God called North Bethesda UMC have done to help those who

need so much help. Maybe you saw it on TV – a volunteer in Key West handing out Hygiene Kits. Those were put together by folks

just like us, and our kits will make their way to some place where a volunteer will give it to desperate people needing to feel

clean, to feel more human again.

“I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and

sisters of mine, you have done it for me.” (Matthew 25:40, CEV) Well done!

Joye Jones

Volume 46, Issue 11

November 2017

Page 2 November 2017 Contact

North Bethesda United Methodist Church

10100 Old Georgetown Road

Bethesda MD 20814

Phone: (301) 530–4342

E–mail: nbumc.office@gmail.com

Website: www.NorthBethesdaUMC.org

Office Manager: Chris Lee

Office Hours: Tuesday -Thursday

8:30AM– 3:00PM

Pastor: Pastor Jeff Jones

cell: (240) 994-1505

Minister of Visitation: Linda Thompson

Music Director: Tony Ashur

Coordinator of Education: Renee Newman

Contact Newsletter Editor: Valerie Blane

starlily5@comcast.net

Contact Newsletter Publisher: Chris Lee

1 Jesse Jennings

2 Renee Delacroix

5 Roy Rogers

6 Carol Malmi

6 Victoria Lewis

8 Emmett Ward

9 Adam Robinson

10 Michael Donigian

10 Jeanne Snodgrass

12 Sabrina Clarke

13 Obrimpong Amoa-Awua

13 Jesse Shelton

15 Joyce Newcomb

17 Elyssa Ow Mechairia

17 Hilda Smith

18 Margaret Atwood

22 Jordyn Swanson

23 Ken Ow

24 Bethany Leidl

24 Carmelita Jeter

27 Jimi Hedrix

28 Steve McDaniel

If you have corrections or addi-

tions, you can contact Diane Ta-

batabai at 301-983-6878 or

diane@linktech.org

Volume 46, Issue 11 Page 3

Preacher Feature

This has been quite a month. Elaine and I are

extremely grateful for the outpouring of love and support following my father’s death. You have really

helped me through the challenges and grief of his

going home to God.

I’ve been blessed with the participants’ enthusiasm our St. Benedict’s Toolbox class. The conversations and questions related to finding a

stronger faith in the middle of the chaos of our world has been a real joy to me. Thank you, class.

Our church made a huge contribution to UMCOR, our United Methodist

Committee on Relief, for earthquake and hurricane victims, and I am

thankful for that generous spirit.

I’m grateful for our church leaders who have guided us through so much this year. I have a special thank you to Michele Bernot, chair of

Trustees, who has guided us through the fire alarm renovation, roof repairs, asbestos clean-up, and the regular maintenance issues.

I’m grateful for the great work and care that Linda Thompson gives our

whole church in her various ministries; she is a real blessing to all of us. Be sure to thank her.

I’m grateful for Tony Ashur and his music ministry. We have put him

through a lot this year with the addition of the new organ and the learning curve that requires. Thank you, Tony, for blessing us with

music.

I’m grateful for Renee Newman, her enthusiasm and her great gifts with music, drama, and love for our children and youth. We will see more and

more of her talents as the year moves along. Welcome, Renee.

I’m grateful for Chris Lee and her superb skills in the office. She amazes me every day with her talents, her willing spirit, and the incredible ways

she makes the work of the church possible. Be sure to thank her, too, for all she does.

I’m grateful for our nursery supervisor, Tripta Verma, who is here loving

our little ones every Sunday for years. What a blessing she is to all of us,

giving our youngest the love God has for all of us.

When we think about it, we have been truly blessed by God’s love. Let us love one another with that same sense of gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Page 4 November 2017 Contact

Worship Themes

November worship is an opportunity to show our gratitude to God for all of life, because

all that we have received comes from our Creator.

11/5 All Saint’s Holy Communion We remember our relatives and friends who

have blessed us and are now with God. We light a candle and ring a bell as we name

them.

11/12 Amos, the prophet Let Justice

Roll Down

11/19 We celebrate Thanksgiving

11/26 Christ The King & Jeremiah The

end of one spiritual calendar and the preparation for moving into Advent.

The Lectionary November 5 Josh. 3:7-17

Ps. 107:1-7, 33-37 or UMH 830

1 Thess. 2:9-13 Matt. 23:1-12

November 12

Josh.24:1-3a, 14-25 Ps. 78:1-7 or UMH 799

1 Thess. 4:13-18 Matt. 25:1-13

November 19 Judg. 4:1-7

Ps. 123 or Ps. 76 or UMH 797

1 Thess. 5:1-11 Matt. 25:14-30

November 26 Ezek. 34:11-15, 20-24

Ps. 100 or UMH 821 Eph. 1:15-23

Matt. 25:31-46

Core + 4 Children and Youth We have an enthusiastic new Director of Christian Education in Ms. Renee

Newman. She has some great ideas for helping us to reach children and youth in our congregation and community. When we designed our budget back in the spring

for our fiscal year budget, we didn’t have her dreams and plans in mind.

In many cases in the Bible, when a special need arose, there would be a call to a

special offering to help with the plans God has given us. This is one of those cases. Look in the mail for a letter and special offering envelope to help us provide Ms.

Renee with the resources to increase our ministry to children and youth. Please be generous as we find ways to help our children and youth grow in their faith.

The proceeds from this offering will give her the tools to be creative. As in any

special offering like this, the money will only be used for our Education ministry.

We remember that this was one of Jesus’ great requests, “Go into all the world, and teach all that I have commanded you.” You are making it possible for us to do

the planning and dreaming to make that work here at North Bethesda UMC. Please be generous.

Pastor Jeff

Volume 46, Issue 11 Page 5

Thankful Hearts November reminds us of Thanksgiving,

Pilgrims, and harvest celebrations. We would like to encourage the thanksgiving part of our

financial contributions. God encourages us to bring our first fruits to the Temple to show

our gratitude.

We encourage you to be thankful for all that

God has done in your life and ask that you return a portion into God’s storehouse. God

claims a blessing for our faithfulness.

Keeping a church going is expensive. We spend about $1200 every day for our

building, staff, and ministry. Insurance, utility costs, upkeep, and maintenance are always

there. Our staff shares in their ministry every day. We give to our community and around

the world. Evenly split, that is about $12 a day for each of us. But we aren’t all in the

same position. God blesses some of us to be able to do better than that so that those who

can’t will still receive the blessings of our

ministry and services.

We encourage each of you to participate in

our ministry. Every member has promised to support the church with their gifts and

finances. Please be generous to show God your gratitude for all that He has given you.

Pastor Jeff

Shop Amazon Smile As we enter shopping’s busy season, we ask our church

family, when you shop on Amazon, to please shop with an opportunity to give a gift to North Bethesda.

When you go online, please type www.smile.amazon.com.

You will be asked which charity you would like the percent of your shopping to support.

Type in North Bethesda United Methodist Church. Once it recognizes us, we will receive a check from Amazon from the shopping you do. You can make a gift to North

Bethesda with every purchase at Amazon. Just remember to type in the smile.amazon to make that possible.

You will be making a difference for us that will help us in our ministry. Thank you.

Pastor Jeff

Advent is Coming We are already into the

season of preparation for Christmas. Hallmark movie

channel began showing Christmas movies on Oct 28th.

Christmas ornaments have been in stores since August. We know the

rush to Christmas is coming.

Let’s remember that the real reason

for the season is preparing our hearts to be transformed by the love

of Jesus, as we celebrate his arrival among us.

We celebrate Advent with special music, like the Lessons & Carols

service on Dec.17. We will again offer a Travelers’ Christmas Eve

service on Dec. 21 at 7:30 pm for those who must work or be out of

town. Christmas Eve is a Sunday this year, so we will have a service

in the morning as usual, and then two Christmas Eve services one with

children at 6 pm and our traditional candlelight service at 10 pm.

All good reasons to invite friends, so they will be blessed by the true

reason for the season.

Pastor Jeff

Page 6 November 2017 Contact

Stories, Truths, and Perception - October 29 SPRC invites you to listen and dialogue at the next Stories, Truths,

and Perception conversation, October 29 during coffee hour. In this month's Contact, you will get a sense of what was shared at

the first Stories, Truths, and Perceptions presentation on October 1 by two of our NBUMC family. Their stories served as a starting point

in what is to be an ongoing dialogue to learn about each other, have frank discussions, and understand issues of race, inequality, and

social injustice that continue to plague us today.

Hope to see you there. Rose Aehle, SPRC

Jesse Jennings

Background - I was born in Meridian, MS, the second of three

children. My father (a WW II Navy veteran) worked his entire life in a factory and farmed. My mother was a housewife who cared for my

disabled brother.

I graduated from an all black high school in 1964. I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Jackson State College, May, 1968. I met my wife, Vera, at

Jackson State in Psychology 101 class our freshman year, but we didn’t date until our

senior year. We married on July 20, 1968.

I was fortunate to have a job at Jackson State as the student assistant to Dr. Jane Ellen McAllister, the first African American woman to earn a PhD from Columbia University

(1929.)

I received multiple job offers from many corporations including: Dow Chemicals,

DuPont, Procter & Gamble, and International Business Machines (IBM.) I selected IBM, starting my career on June 10, 1968, in Milwaukee, WI, in the Manufacturing &

Distribution Branch Office. I was the first person of color hired into a technical marketing position in that office!

I was drafted into the Army in April, 1969, and completed basic training at Fort Benning, near Columbus, Georgia. After basic training, I was fortunate to be assigned

to the Adjutant General’s office in the Pentagon. My unit, composed of 5 enlisted men, was given the task of computerizing the counting and reporting of casualties of the Viet

Nam war. This unit grew to include civilian civil servants. As our military service ended, this office became staffed entirely with civilians. I served 24 months and received the

Army Commendation Medal.

After my military service, I resumed my career with IBM, first in Bethesda on Fernwood

Road, then in Gaithersburg. In 1986, I was named the technical manager of the year for IBM’s National Federal Marketing Division. I retired from IBM in 2002.

Vera and I have three children and two grandsons.

Volume 46, Issue 11 Page 7

Faith Journey – I was raised in the Baptist church, baptism by being completely

submerged three times at age eight. My father was a deacon of the church. I started ushering at age 14. Our small rural church had a sermon only on the first

Sunday - but service on that day was ALL DAY!

The other Sundays were only Sunday school classes. Communion was only once every three months.

When we lived in Temple Hills, MD, my family and I were members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, DC, until 1988. In 1990, we joined North

Bethesda. I became Head Usher in 1995.

Interests/hobbies –Being born and raised in MS where my father grew most of

what we ate, I have a love for working in my yard. I also am fond of playing Sudoko!

Experience with issues of race & equity – I have always been driven by the desire to be the best at my job. As a black man, I always felt I had to do more than my

co-workers to excel! I just couldn’t be average. Being with IBM and the group of IBMer’s at the Washington Systems Center, I was always treated as an equal and

with respect.

Growing up in MS in the 50s and 60s, in an environment where segregation was

the law, was not easy. Schools were segregated by race; restrooms and water fountains were designated as: Men, Women, and Colored. Blacks were not allowed

to sit in the front of public buses. I was around nine years old when Emmitt Till was brutally lynched in 1955 by the KKK. I didn’t really understand this horrific incident

until later. I remember when President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and white people in Meridian were happy driving around blowing their car horns.

The brutal killing of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner in June, 1964, by the KKK was really painful as I was preparing for college. The

killing of Martin Luther King in 1968 during my senior year in college was another instance where hate was on full display. I was being invited to job interviews

across the country, and my mother was really worried about my travelling. All these murders showed the worst in our society.

At the turn of the century, I thought racial equality was becoming a thing of the past. The KKK was getting quiet; we didn’t have many race riots. But since then,

we’ve had Ferguson, MO; Charleston, SC; Baltimore, MD, where violence against blacks has erupted. As a result of the 2016 campaign, all the hidden hatred seems

to have been resurrected. I worry where our country is headed. Our politicians don’t seem to have compassion and don’t seem to want to do what is best for the

entire country. They only care about themselves. The recent health care vote, or non-vote, reflects a very divided nation.

My beliefs – I believe in the golden rule or Mathew 7:12 “do to others what you would have them do to you.” As a manager, I always told my employees to be the

best they could be, so that everyone would want them on their projects. I also never told an employee to do anything that I would not do. I still need to learn to

listen better and to be more tolerant.

Page 8 November 2017 Contact

Where are you and/or your family from? My Mississippi mother and Minnesota father met and married in Washington, D.C. Both had left rural

home towns and struck out for larger horizons. They made a good home for my brother and me here in Bethesda and sent us to good colleges. Rob and

I both went to grad school, earned Ph.D.s, taught college, and went on to work in business and broadly educational organizations.

What is your faith journey? I grew up in this church. I was a devout child, and in college I minored in religion. But later, away from home, like many young people, I did not attend church regularly until Dad died in 1992, and I became my mother’s companion in all things.

Kitty Johnson and Lois Tigert talked me into joining the choir, and since then the choir and the music of the church have been my faith anchors.

What are your interests/hobbies/talents/special skills? I read constantly, about everything. I enjoy museums, concerts, plays, walks. I am a good teacher. I enjoy writing. What has your experience been with issues around race and equity?

Race I worked for ten years with a company owned by four Chinese American brothers. One was deaf. The employees were one-third Chinese, one-third deaf, and one-third the rest of us.

The owners knew they had to work harder and better than non-immigrant, non-Asian competitors. The deaf employees working on government sites often felt isolated, but at our own office, many employees learned enough sign language to become friends with deaf co-

workers. I became extremely aware of national origin, language fluency, and appearance including skin color, as signals of who was who and how to interact successfully and sensitively.

When I taught at Montgomery College for 16 years, many of my students were people of color with immigrant backgrounds. In a single class, 19 different native languages could be represented. There I learned how to support students of different levels of readiness, different

expectations, learning styles, and cognitive and physical abilities. It helped me to grow as a person of faith.

Equity Woman in the workplace My earliest memory of discrimination against me as a girl came in fourth grade. Timmy

and I tied for the spelling bee prize. The teachers expected Timmy to win. So they gave him

the prize, a book on Astronomy and the Stars. They got me something I can’t remember. Much later, I applied for grad school and received a federal government grant. I received

a Ph.D. in English Literature and taught at Gettysburg College for three years. No one told me, but I was the thirteenth member of a department with twelve tenured members, and my position had been flipped like a flapjack for years—always a young woman. I complained to the

chairman and he said, “Oh, don’t worry, you can get married, and your husband will take care of you.” So I was unemployed.

I was lucky to land jobs at National Public Radio and the Smithsonian, non-profit institutions where women could succeed. I left each when opportunity dried up and jumped into the for-profit IT sector at the Chinese/deaf company. On week one, an engineer told me that I

was a “parasitic end user” of his software systems. But, I could learn, and I worked hard. I eventually became a Senior Budget Analyst, wrote a manual for managers explaining contract

types, and managed over $300 million of government contracts. As a woman in the workforce, I had to overcome a high level of suspicion and distrust from predominantly male colleagues.

What have you had to learn or unlearn around issues of social justice? I learned: To be aware of discrimination and injustice. I am not an activist. I work best on an individual level. “Think globally, act locally:” that’s me. My most important life skill is re-invention – treat new

challenges with respect, learn, adapt, and survive. And sometimes thrive.

Carol Malmi

Volume 46, Issue 11 Page 9

Lost in Yonkers

Peace Mountain Theatre proudly presents Neil Simon's award-winning

comedy, Lost in Yonkers, (presented by special arrangement with Samuel

French, Inc.)

Show dates and times: October 26, 28 at 8pm

October 29 at 2pm November 2 at 8pm

November 5 at 2pm and 7pm

Performances will take place at the Har

Shalom Synagogue located at 11510 Falls Rd, Potomac, MD.

Tickets can be purchased at ww.peacemountaintheatre.com or by

calling 301-299-7087. Group rate (for 10 or more) is $18/

ticket. General Admission is $22 in advance, $24 at the door.

Students $12.

Natalie McManus

Bring a Friend

November and December are fantastic

times to invite your family and friends to church. We have special and

meaningful services, great music, the connection to God in worship, and a

way to bless our families and friends.

Many people are looking for a church,

but are afraid or have questions or wonder if they will be welcomed or

accepted. You know we are a very welcoming and loving congregation, so

it should be easy, but for many it’s an uncertainty. By your inviting people,

they will know someone there and that will make them feel more

comfortable. They will then thank you for asking them, and North Bethesda

will be thankful for the new people we

get to meet and welcome.

We make the Magnetic Attraction to help you with those invitations. Take

several extra ones and pass them along as a part of your invitation.

Pastor Jeff

Page 10 November 2017 Contact

A Message from the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC)

A quick and easy description of the SPRC: we serve as a human relations

or personnel department. We are responsible for performance

evaluations for the pastor and staff. When a staff vacancy occurs, we

advertise, interview, and select a new employee, just as we recently did

when we selected Renee Newman as our new Director of Christian

Education. I would like to thank Rose Aehle, Tsitsi Sithole, and Pastor

Jeff for going through the numerous applications and participating in the interview

process.

We also conduct an annual survey that provides feedback to the pastor, staff, and all

church committees. The statistical results of the NBUMC 2017 Survey 017 are posted

on the Church Committees bulletin board outside the church office. Many thanks to

Jack Enders for volunteering to review and update the Survey form and to Flora Milans

for tabulating the results and separating the comments for each area of the church. In

response to feedback from several members, the SPRC will discuss changing the time

frame for the Annual Survey from the summer months, when many are out of town, to

the spring.

.

We also serve as a conduit and filter for ideas, suggestions, and complaints. We are

here to listen to you and make certain that any suggestions or complaints are

thoroughly discussed by the committee and propose or initiate changes as appropriate.

We also interact with the Finance Committee to set salaries and benefits. We do not

micromanage the operations of the church.

As a follow-up to a conversation that started in the SPRC at its September meeting and

continued at the following current events Sunday School class, SPRC member Tsitsi

Sithole proposed a new program at NBUMC to get to know each other, with an

understanding of each person’s perspectives and interactions with each other. “Sharing

Our Stories, Truths, and Perspectives” was initiated October 1 during coffee hour. We

will hold these events twice a month. If you would like to present, contact Rose Aehle

or Tsitsi Sithole.

Due to the sensitive nature of our work, almost all of our work is conducted in

confidence. We work in an atmosphere of mutual trust based on the guidelines

established in the Book of Discipline. Last month, I had a brief meeting with our District

Superintendent, Dr. Jerry Green. He had been contacted by someone from NBUMC on a

matter that, according to him and the Book of Discipline, should have been raised with

the SPRC here at NBUMC. We are open to listen and discuss your concerns, whether

they are in the Annual Survey or communicated to SPRC members by other means.

We wear green name tags so that we are easily noticed.

Mike Haney

Chair, SPRC

Volume 46, Issue 11 Page 11

NBUMC’s Annual Birthday Luncheon Sunday, October 8, after our church service, The

Membership and Evangelism Committee sponsored a Pot

Luck Birthday Luncheon for approximately 70 attendees.

Pastor Jeff administered a blessing before we began

serving a great variety of very delectable dishes, provided

by many of the attendees.

Lukas Chandler, our guest musician, accompanied us in singing “Happy

Birthday to US.” Then, we enjoyed a beautifully decorated birthday cake

of half chocolate and half vanilla with butter cream icing. This was a

wonderful time of fellowship where we were able to get better acquainted

with each other.

I want to say THANK YOU to the many folks who gave a helping hand with

the set-up, serving, and clean-up: Linda Thompson, John Griffin, Mark Aehle, Anita Deanell, Chris Lee, Raj Ghaman, Penny Clarke, Joanna

Voight, Beth Wasson-Blair, Gail Hazelrigg, Claude Bartholomot, and telephone support from Joy Burt. If I missed anyone, I do apologize and

want you to know that your help was appreciated. Mary Lou Griffin, Chair of M&E

Page 12 November 2017 Contact

The Story Behind “Eternal Father Strong to Save”

William Whiting was an Anglican priest who had grown up on the coasts of

England. He was born in 1825 in Kensington, England. After graduating from Winchester College Chorister’s School, he was asked to become its master.

His defining moment came when, at age 35, he was travelling on a ship during a violent storm. He believed that God overcame the rage of the storm

and calmed the sea, allowing him safe passage to port.

He remembered this saga years later when one of his students expressed fear about an

upcoming voyage to the United States. Whiting wrote a poem to calm the student’s

fears, much of it based on psalm 107. The poem was subsequently published in 1861 in Hymns Ancient and Modern.

Although he published two volumes of poetry during his life, this is his only hymn. He died in Winchester in 1878.

John Dykes (1823-1876) happened across Whiting’s poem in the 1861 edition. He composed the tune for it and named the tune itself, “Melita,” an

old name for Malta. This was the site of a shipwreck involving St. Paul.

Dykes was born in Hull, England. At age 10, he became assistant organist

at St. John’s Church. He graduated from St. Catherine’s College with a BA

in classics. He helped begin the Cambridge University Musical Society. In

1847, he was ordained. He is known for his indepth sermons and articles on

religion and for his over 300 hymn tunes.

This hymn has had many iterations. Whiting edited it several times. Other people have

tweaked it for military worship services, including the launching of a ship. The United

States Naval Academy played it every Sunday in its chapel, starting its tradition of

calling it the “Navy Hymn.” The Royal Navy has a slightly different version, but the

same tradition. The word, “space,” was added to a verse to include space travel. I read

one article that listed 101 different verses to specify different places. There is even a

version for Antarctica!

I’m sure that there are many Contact readers who immediately associate this with

President Kennedy’s funeral. Fifty-four years later, the song still conjures images of

that day.

Valerie Blane

Fun with Words from British Mysteries! quidnunc: one who enjoys knowing and talking about other people’s private lives

shilpit: pale and feeble or sickly looking

clarty: muddy, filthy

nippy: waitress at J. Lyons & Co’s London restaurants

The clary nippy was also a shilpit quidnunc!

Valerie Blane

Volume 46, Issue 11 Page 13

Day: Elbow of right

arm rests on back of

left hand. Right D

hand arcs down to

rest on left arm.

Soldier: Both S

hands, right

above left,

taps several

times on right

chest.

Sign Language Corner: Veterans Day

Veterans –

Right V

brushes

down right

cheek.

Navy: Both hands

move together to

“button” pants top.

Valerie Blane

Greentree Women’s Shelter

This year, the Arts Committee is again sponsoring a

drive for clothes (women’s and children’s), diapers, toiletries, toys, and children’s books for Christmas for

the Greentree Women’s Shelter. We will have the large wagon installed in the narthex soon to accept your

gracious donations. Please be generous. Thanks!

Valerie Blane

Blessing of the Animals

A small, yet vociferous group was present for Pastor

Jeff’s blessing of the animals. It was a lovely service, with many comments offered by the dogs, including

Tosca Aehle, Coco and Snaps Swanson, and the incorrigible Gwynneth Blane. Several people from the

community arrived when they saw the sign.

The blessing made us grateful for God’s continued visible

spirit through the lives of our companion animals. Thanks

to Jeff for starting the hymns in a soprano-friendly key! Thanks be to God!

Valerie Blane

Page 14 November 2017 Contact

Wayne Huff BBQ Day/

Wombat Day

Celebration

On October 22, an enthusiastic

group of diners enjoyed all forms

of BBQ including chicken, ribs,

burgers, hot dogs, potato salad,

deviled eggs, corn casserole, bean

salad, Waldorf salad, egg salad,

etc. In honor of Wombat Day, we

had delicious chocolate cake. And

thank you, Natalie, for your

delectable cookies! Yummy.

A big thank you to grill masters

Wayne and Raj!

Volume 46, Issue 11 Page 15