Learning about “Our Ministry of Conversation” at Bethel’s Labor Day Retreat (September 3-5, 2011)

Summer vacation time is gradually coming to an end … at least for those among us with school-age children. For many among you this means purchasing school supplies, taking a critical look at your children's clothes, replacing worn-out and outgrown items with new ones, or buying household items for college dorm rooms.

For our Bethel community, this time of the year provides an opportunity to implement new programs and re-evaluate existing ones. Over the next few weeks you will hear countless announcements calling you to join your God-given talents to those of other members of the Bethel community. The Sunday School program, for example, is in need of a few more volunteers, the Labor Day Retreat committee hopes that you will participate in our congregational retreat at Mount Cross Camp, the women's ministry hopes that you would participate on the one-day SeaSide Escape retreat in September 24, music leaders hope that you would join one of the choirs or bands, and the pastors hope that you will participate in our new Wednesday night educational and fellowship program.

For me as one of Bethel’s pastors, it is invigorating to see all this life sprouting up at the end of summer.

Bethel is an amazing, vibrant community. There are so many opportunities for worship, learning, fellowship, and service. I consider myself blessed to be part of this community and to contribute to its mission. I hope you feel the same and would consider not only to resume tried-and-true activities, but to try out new ones as well.

Over the next few weeks, I will be featuring some of these worship, service, learning, and fellowship programs in my weekly eNewsletter messages. This week I hope to draw your attention one more time, to the Labor Day Retreat (September 3-5).

Over the last months, I have had many occasions to meet some of you in a more intentional way – during “healthy start” retreats or special “meet-the-new-pastor” events, over coffee or lunch, on the Common Ground tour, during committee meetings, or one-on-one pastoral conversations. There are many more among Bethel folks, however, who I haven’t been able to meet or get to know much. I hope that you would consider attending the Labor Day Retreat at Mount Cross – either staying overnight or coming up for the day – and give me a chance to get to know you. There will be worship, fun, games, old-fashioned campfire singing, learning, and outdoor recreation. What better time to attend this important event in the life of our congregation – even though sleeping in bunk-beds and cabins may not be quite your thing?

Please stop by at the Labor Day Retreat table in the Welcome Zone on Sunday and sign up for the retreat. Your presence at the retreat is important! Your gifts are just as unique as you are! Bethel is the amazing congregation it is, because of the diversity of our members. If you plan on attending anyway, don’t wait to the last minute until you sign up. If you feel that you don’t know enough people at Bethel to participate at the retreat, don’t worry – this is the best place ever to get to know folks and make new friends.

Warmly,
Pastor Gabi