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The OPEN DOOR

17500 Manchester Road

Wildwood, Missouri 63038

www.BethelUnitedMethodist.org

Phone: 636.458.2255 FAX: 636.458.2251

Heard through

Volume 15 Number 3 April, 2019

Editors: Chylene Daub & Shirley Giebel

Maundy Thursday April 18 7:00 pm - Candlelight worship in which we are invited to experience being at the table with Jesus during the Last Supper

Good Friday, April 19 7:00 pm - Contemplative worship in which we are invited to reflect on Jesus' suffering and death in light of his resurrection

Saturday, April 20 10 am - Easter Egg Hunt & Easter Storytime with Pastor Dan

Easter Sunrise, April 21 6:30 am - Gather in the Garden of Remembrance to celebrate the Risen Christ

Easter Celebration, April 21 9:25am - Gather in the Sanctuary to celebrate the presence of Resurrected Christ in our lives today.

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Barb and Katie — Their Mission is to Spread Smiles

Katie walks in the door and everyone smiles. Both residents and staff enjoy seeing Katie and her owner Barb Jacobs come for a visit. Katie is a beautiful, snowy white Great Pyrenees. She is a show-stopper with her soft white fur, calm temperament and friendly ways. But she brings even more. Katie is a certified therapy dog. She and Barb have completed hours of training together through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs so they are well prepared when they come for one of their frequent visits to Bethesda Meadows senior home in Ellisville.

On a recent visit, Barb and her good friend Ruth Anne Krueger brought Katie to see some residents who are members of Bethel UMC and other folks who just love to be able to pet a friendly dog. “The reaction to a dog is incredible,” Barb says. “What a beautiful dog!” one resident says as Katie approaches. “There’s a lady here with a Great Pyrenees,” another tells a friend. Katie moves slowly as Barb guides her from one resident to another. She snuggles up to a man in a wheelchair. Barb says they have seen some residents who otherwise have difficulty communicating with people, but will warm up to a visit with a dog.

Katie is five years old. She is not Barb’s first therapy dog. Before Katie, Barb had a beautiful pair named Jessie and Jazz who also were trained and made visits as therapy dogs. Jazz and Jessie were brother and sister. They were a mixed breed of collie, Malamute and shepherd.

When Barb lost her beloved pair, she wanted to find another dog to continue her mission of bringing a loving dog on therapy visits. She found Katie, when she was just two years old, as a shelter dog and recognized her genuine love for people. Also, she added, “She is a happy dog,” and she naturally spreads happiness to others. Thanks to her breed, Katie has what are described as “natural guardian instincts.” The Great Pyrenees dog was originally a livestock guardian dog, from the Pyrenees Mountains of southern France and northern Spain. They were used for hundreds of years by shepherds, and they are known as “a big dog with a big heart.”

If there is any question about how Katie takes over a room the moment she enters, Barb explains: “I named her after Kate Smith. She has a ‘swagger’ to her walk.”

Barb Jacobs and Ruth Anne Krueger bring Katie for a visit with Marian Poertner.

Katie and Barb make a great team, bringing smiles to folks who cannot attend church.

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Barb emphasizes the importance of Therapy Dog training. In order to be certified, a dog and owner must meet the requirements of three separate evaluations. First, there is Basic Obedience, and another called “Canine Good Citizenship.” The owner and dog must work together as a team. The dog must be able to work alongside other dogs when the occasion arises. She cannot be too shy, and also must be receptive to letting strangers pet her. The classes do not end after the basic requirements are met. Barb and Katie continue to attend classes to keep Katie familiar with being around other dogs, and to keep all of her skills sharp. It takes a dog with a special temperament to do this job, Barb explains. “You can’t have a dog that doesn’t like to get into a car, that is afraid of elevators, or afraid of a wheelchair.”

The Alliance of Therapy Dogs is a nationwide association, based in Wyoming. There are thousands of members who all enjoy sharing their dogs with others. The Alliance requires its members to follow its published rules and regulations and to renew their training annually. Dogs can also learn more advanced skills. Some even enjoy performing tricks for people.

It is important to define a “therapy” dog in contrast to a “service” dog. The job of a therapy dog is “to provide a therapeutic benefit to the general public.” A service dog usually serves one particular person in need. Therapy dogs often visit elder care facilities, hospitals, schools and libraries and to those who have special needs or even disaster relief. Any visit requires pre-authorization. The ATD member must approach a facility in advance and present his or her credentials before ever bringing a dog for a visit. The dog must have a current good health report and be up to date on all vaccinations. The dog is always kept on a lead while visiting.

Barb and Katie visit Bethesda Meadows on a regular basis. They also were invited to come to the Union branch of the Scenic Regional Library for a special reading program. The “Reading with Rover” event gives children an opportunity to read out loud to dogs. Katie was a “big hit with the kids,” Barb said. “One little boy was reading his book to her, and he would stop to show her the pictures.” She plans to attend this event again this spring or summer.

Katie was recognized by Bethel UMC when Pastor Dan Brown named her as an ambassador for the church. She was presented a certificate during a church service. “She is even good in church,” Barb says with a smile. “She sits through the whole service. That’s better than some children.”

Katie captures the attention of everyone who sees her, but it is because of Barb’s love for animals and dedication to the proper training and her desire to serve others that make their visits so successful. Together, the two of them make a day a little brighter for folks who find joy in seeing a beautiful dog stop by to say “hello.”

Editor’s Note: Katie’s a multi-talented girl. With an incredible sense of smell, she is Bethel’s Official Mouse Locator. And, this gentle giant makes an awesome “Easter Bunny” (see next page). Thank you Barb and Katie!

Katie greets Shayla Faruq, Activities Assistant, at Bethesda Meadows.

Barb and Katie make their way down the hall at Bethesda Meadows, stopping at several rooms for visits.

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Easter Week

Bethel United Methodist will observe the Holy Week of Easter with special services on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday morning.

Maundy Thursday, April 18, will be observed with a service at 7 pm. This service commemorates the Lord’s Last Supper when Jesus met with his disciples in the Upper Room. He told them that he would be betrayed that night and would be taken by Roman soldiers.

Good Friday, April 19, is the day that Jesus was nailed to the cross and died at the hands of the Romans. This somber service will be held at 7 pm Friday.

Bethel’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will be a gathering of youngsters on Saturday morning, April 20. Meeting in Fellowship Hall, activities will begin at 10 am with crafts and cookie decorating. Pastor Dan will relate the good news of Easter to the children and then they will be divided into age groups to hunt for the fun-filled eggs on the church grounds.

We found some pictures of past Easter Egg Hunts—recognize any of these kids?

Sunrise Service will be held in our church cemetery’s Garden of Remembrance at 6:30 am Easter Sunday, April 21. If the weather cooperates, the short service will include a message from Pastor Dan and the singing of hymns.

Easter Service will be held at 9:25 a.m. in the church sanctuary. The joyous message of “He is Risen” will be celebrated, as we remember the Good News of Easter!

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A Pastor Len remembrance:

Resurrection Sunday and Sunrise Service

(Editor’s note: The May issue will have a piece on the concept and building of The Garden of Remembrance

on the southeast boundary of Bethel Cemetery. The accompanying photos of Sunrise Service in the garden

are undated, but help tell the story.)

First in the Garden. “Helen and I came to Bethel in 2004. I had done Sunrise

Services at my previous charge so I wanted

to continue it at Bethel. The Garden of

Remembrance seemed like an ideal location

with its depiction of the empty tomb and

three crosses.

The first one to be held there would have

been Easter 2005. My original thought was

to see the sunrise and begin our

resurrection celebration then. But with the

pre-dawn light and the low headstones

along the path it might have been dangerous

for walkers, so we set the time based on the

projected sunrise--the risen sun and the

risen Christ worked well.”

Weather Not

Always

Cooperative.

“Helen played the

keyboard one year for

the singing. It was cold

and she had gloves

with the fingers cut out

so she could play.

Another year it snowed

huge flakes, but we

kept going. There are

some pages in the

Bible I used that

morning that are

wrinkled from the moisture of the snowflakes. I think of the service when I read from that section.

Resurrection Sunday is very important to me.”

SUNRISE SERVICE EASTER APRIL 21, 2019 AT 6:30 AM WEATHER PERMITTING

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CROSS PURPOSES

When you settle into a pew on Sunday take a moment to concentrate on the

large cross above the altar and the ray of light surrounding it. The plain

cross is a statement of the risen Christ and the Resurrection. The Catholic

Church and even some Protestant denominations display the Crucifix with

the suffering Christ on the Cross. It is hard to imagine that arguments have

arisen and are still emerging about the use of and the type of Cross to

display.

Bethel’s Special Crosses. Thanks to Pastor Len and his wood working

talent Bethel has two other crosses within the church. The first will be set at

the front of the church during the Easter season. Pastor remembered that

Good Friday was coming and he wanted a non-manufactured

rough looking cross in the church to take us back to a more

Biblical time. He found two trees in his yard with limbs that

looked the right size and constructed the Cross from them. At

the top of the Cross is a crown of thorns and the cross piece is

draped with the cloth depicting the empty tomb and the risen

Christ.

As you enter the lobby outside

Fellowship Hall, there is another plain

cross on a table display—this one made

of oak. Pastor Len rescued a framed

chalk board about to be discarded. He

salvaged and repurposed it. It is

unusual being an open cross but that

was done to hide the holes made for the

chalk board. The cross was used by the

Missouri Annual Conference Session to

adorn the communion table one year in

Columbia.

Thank you for your generosity after the tragic death of our husband, father and much loved grandson, Sammy. When we realize you didn’t even know him, it says so much about the wonderful Christian community Bethel is.

Blessings from, Kris, Maia & Nancy Cross Tom & Elaine Hellweg

I want to thank everybody for the prayers, visits and cards I received during and after my surgery. It helped my recovery.

Jean Watson

THANK YOU NOTES RECEIVED

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DATE A/V BREAKFAST FELLOWSHIP GREETERS / USHERS

7-Apr G Hayes Dave Strickland & Mike Lantz

Brenda Krueger, Ron Guentz & Jewel Dougan

Ruth Anne Krueger & Katie Schuch

14-Apr M Muthukumaru Carla DeSalme & Ali-son Verbeck

Ruth Anne Krueger & Bert Foster

Sheila Olive & Chuck Hoker

21-Apr D Camden Gary Hayes & Angie Strickland

28-Apr A Strickland The Camden Family Jim & Judy Baugus; Louella Phipps (Elev.)

Kim Hotze & Jan Allerdissen

St. Luke’s Hospital Needs You!

If you would like to make a difference in the health of our community, St. Luke’s Hospital is seeking

dedicated adult volunteers with weekday availability to serve as Couriers (patient and visitor

navigators and transporters) on the Chesterfield Hospital campus. The position requires strong

communication and customer service skills. Adult volunteers serve one shift per week on a

consistent day for a minimum commitment of six months. Shifts are Monday through Friday

mornings (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) or afternoons (12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) Please call St. Luke’s

Hospital Volunteer Office art 314-542-4768 or visit our website www.stlukes-stl.com

Or, you are encouraged to learn more about volunteering at St. Luke’s Hospital by attending an

informational meeting in Suite 360E either Tuesday April 9 from 2-3 pm or Wednesday April 10

from 10-11am.

Please contact the Office of Volunteer Services by April 8th to confirm your attendance at 314-542-

4678.

On Saturday April 27, the Wildwood police and Rockwood school

district are holding a prescription drug take back program at Wildwood

City Hall from 10am to 2pm.

We at Bethel have in years past volunteered to help with this event.

We hand out literature and ask people to complete a survey. If you are

interested in volunteering for either the 10-12 shift or the 12-2 shift,

please contact Diana at the church office (636-458-2255).

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY

http://www.stlukes-stl.com

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Bethel United Methodist Church

17500 Manchester Road

Wildwood, MO 63038-1907

April

News!

8:00—8:30 a.m. Contemporary Issues Group

8:30—9:00 a.m. Breakfast Served

9:25 – 10:30 a.m. Worship

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Fellowship

10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Additional Small Groups

Bethel United

Methodist Church

Love God, Love Others, Serve All!