1

The Capsule A Monthly Newsletter for Members and Friends of

Bethel United Methodist Church 141 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel, Connecticut 06801

Office: 203-743-6835 Pastor’s phone: 203-312-6789 Church email – bmethodistchurch@snet.net

Pastor’s email – pastorjohnparille@gmail.com Website – www.bethelmethodist.net

Pastor – The Rev. John Parille Pastor Emeritus – The Rev. Robert T. Johnson

Choir Director – Jessica Bardelli email: jessicabardelli@gmail.com Praise Team Leader – Erin Volpintesta

Administrative Assistant – Cheryl DePoi

June 2017

A Message from our Pastor

Summer is here, God is now on vacation!

No, that can’t be true. Even as I type these words for this article I’m looking up to the heavens expecting

mini lightning bolts to come and zap my computer! However, I have notice that many often tend to take

church off during the summer.

I’m pretty sure in all of my days of attending church, the pastors at the end of spring did not preach a

message entitled “See you in September!” No, that was a song from the group “The Happenings” back in

1966. If you were born before 1965 you might remember it….”Bye-bye, so long, farewell, Bye-bye, so

long, see you in September.”

But yet it seems when the Memorial Day holiday is over, sometimes folks get this notion in their heads

that the pastor is giving everyone a pass for the next few months, see you in September! The days are

brighter and longer, the weather is warmer, so God must be on vacation too.

News flash…He is NOT, and neither should we. Our beautiful church has been in what I would call a

good ole fashioned revival. We have seen an incredible jump in our attendance. Our finances are probably

the best they have been in years. Our fellowship time has the feel of a family holiday every week. Why in

the world would we want to miss any of this or put it at risk?

What about our faith? Do we schedule it to take the summer off as well? Do we check out of church in

early June vowing to return once school starts again in the fall? I think the more pointed question is this:

do we put God on the shelf for three months, and yet expect his blessings all 365 days of the year?

Now I understand many of us will be traveling and taking vacations, me included! But last time I checked

most folks in our church are not retired or independently wealthy, me included! In reality very few of us

get to be on vacation for three months of summer. I encourage you to of course enjoy your travels, but

please don’t take the entire summer off from worship.

Thankfully, God does not take the summer off. He continues to bless us with family, friends, health, a

job, food on the table, and in countless other ways all year long. God created the beauty of the beach and

mountains that we so much enjoy during the summer.

A relationship with God is a two-way street. Don’t let it slip into a one-way deal, enjoying the beauty of

God’s creation while ignoring the creator.

Here is my final “hook” for you to consider: we will have air conditioning in the sanctuary this summer!

Yup, that’s right! Cool, beautiful air will be flowing and so will the Holy Spirit each Sunday! Let’s not

stop the wonderful momentum we have here at BUMC. I’m happy to see you in September, but also June,

July, and August as well!

In Christ,

Rev. John Parille

Senior Pastor

We are excited to announce that our new Contemporary

style worship service is in full swing. This service is held

on Sunday evenings from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. We

believe that there are many folks in our community that

are not able to attend a Sunday morning service

because of other family or work commitments. This

service is intended to reach those folks! Come join us!

2 Facebook If you are on Facebook and have not liked our page, please do so. Here you will find links to our sermons and get a sneak preview of the upcoming sermon. If you are a member of our Facebook page we would ask that you “share” links with your community of friends. June Volunteers Sunday Morning Ministries for 8:30am & 10:00am June 4th Readers & Communion Stewards 8:30am: Peter Eckert

Readers & Communion Stewards (set-up and serve):, Diane Meldon, Chris Barnabo Communion Stewards (serve and clean-up): Rick Kelly, James Wolff Counters: Janette Blackstock & Dave Albin Greeters: Alan and Debbie Brown Ushers: Team B: Alan Brown, Joe Brenner, Tammy Esposito

Sunday Morning Ministries for 8:30am & 10:00am June 11th Readers & Communion Stewards 8:30am: Paul Young

Readers & Communion Stewards (set-up and serve): Tracy Brown, Julien Schaad Communion Stewards (serve and clean-up): Chris Barnabo, Kyle Johnston Counters: Tracy Brown and Krista Mayer Greeters: Marty Bishop Ushers: Team C: Debbie Albin, Krista Mayer, Frank Tomaino

Sunday Morning Ministries for 8:30am & 10:00am June 18th Readers & Communion Stewards 8:30am:David McClain

Readers & Communion Stewards (set-up and serve): Family Worship Communion Stewards (serve and clean-up): Family Worship Counters: Linda Bruce and Betty Lepus Greeters: Family Worship Ushers: Team F: Family Worship plus Alan Brown and Tammy Esposito

Sunday Morning Ministries for 8:30am & 10:00am June 25th Readers & Communion Stewards 8:30am: Martha Bishop

Readers & Communion Stewards (set-up and serve): Diane Meldon, Tom Wolff Communion Stewards (serve and clean-up): Angela Bassett, Uta Robertson Counters: Bill Struth Greeters: Linda Bruce and Betty Lepus Ushers: Team D: Tracy Brown, Fran Bartholomew, Paul McHugh, Lee Griswold Off the Streets Off the Streets is all all-volunteer run organization which works to get homeless people into housing. If a homeless person has a source of income, Off the Streets will provide a security deposit and basic furniture and household goods. Off the Streets collects furniture and household goods from 10am to 12noon on the first Saturday of each month behind the Bethel United Methodist Church. Items most in demand are dressers, small kitchen tables with chairs, end tables, nightstands and lamps. The next drop off date is June 10th . For more information, go to www.offthestreetsnow.com or call 203-733-5880. Fundraiser – Bottle/Can Drive Please consider saving your nickel deposit bottles and cans for our bottle/can drive the 2nd Saturday of every month. Our next drive is June 10th. This year the benefits go to Julien Schaad’s ASP tuition.

Please join us for our

ASP Pasta Dinner Fundraiser Bethel United Methodist Church

141 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel, CT

June 10, 2017

Serving 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Adults $10 Seniors & Students with College ID $8 Kids $5 (under 5 eat free)

Family max price $25 (parents & kids)

Dinners also available to go! Call BUMC 203.743.6835 the day of dinner to place your order

Dinner includes:

Salad with homemade dressings

Pasta with marinara or meat sauce

Homemade meatballs .50 ea

Homemade desserts

3 UMW – June Events

June 12th – Pot Luck Dinner at the church. 6:30-9:00 pm. All welcome. Call or see Ann McLellan if you want ideas on what to bring. June 28th- The Prayer Shawl group meets at 7 pm on the 4th Wednesday of the month in the Johnson Building Alcove. All who like or want to learn crochet or knitting are welcome. See Linda Bruce for information.

Recognition of 2017 Graduates If you know of someone connected to our church who is graduating from high school, technical school, or college, please call the church office or email the information to bmethodistchurch@snet.net. We need name, school, degree for college and future plans. Vacation Bible School Save the Date!!!! Vacation Bible School is July 31st through August 4th, 2017. Attached is a list of all the Fun Supplies needed to make VBS great. Please look this list over and let me know if there is anything on the list you would be able to donate or let us borrow. (ann_mc_lellan@sbcglobal.net) It is a big help if we do not have to buy most of what is needed.

Maker Fun Factory VBS is here at BUMC this year. Let's make it another great one!!

MAKER FUN FACTORY Vacation Bible School July 31 – August 4, 2017

Donations and/or loans save us money! Can you donate or loan us any of these supplies?

o packages of wet wipes and/or container of hand sanitizer

o two 30-inch bungee cords o four 18 inch bungee cords o large funnel and 2 smaller funnels o drill

o roll of colored red cellophane (check your local craft and hobby store) o electric air pump or hair dryer o duct tape – clear and regular o an item that you’re glad someone invented o an old T-shirt o a handheld, collapsible fan o 2 sheets of poster board o leaf blower o a 3-foot cardboard tube o rolled-up socks (about 5 pair) o hammers o sheets of paper (feel free to draw sketches of inventions on them if you like) o vacuum hose with bristled attachment o bag with miscellaneous noisy items in it o bizarre-looking invention constructed from random items o 10 feet of 4-inch wide PVC o six 4-inch wide curved PVC connectors o PVC glue o spray paint in 3 colors (optional) o flip flops for playing the No Hum Drum o a large duffle bag or trash bag to hold all the pieces of the No Hum Drum o six 9-inch balloons (2 for the electroscope, 2 for practice, 2 for your “show”) o string (about 4 feet) o 100% wool cloth or scarves (2 pieces) o 5 gallon buckets (at least 1 for every 4 Crews) o clear plastic shower curtains (1 will make about 4-5 Atmospheric Accelerators) o Styrofoam cups (1 per child) o 4 sets of measuring spoons and measuring cups (Dollar Store)

4 o 4 empty 16-ounce plastic soda bottles o 4 packages of yeast o 3 cups of 20-volume hydrogen peroxide liquid o essential oil (we used orange oil, to offset the smell of the yeast) o Dawn liquid dishwashing soap o paper towels o a Bible times robe for “Jesus” o balloons o sturdy drinking straws o transparent tape o fishing line (enough to stretch from the front of your room to the back) o 3 silly inventions, crafted from materials you find on-hand

o rubberbands (1 per Crew)

o small blankets or throw rugs o brown paper lunch bags o 1-inch Styrofoam balls o variety of chenille wires o colored craft sticks o various widths and colors of ribbon o various colors of yarn o colored twine o variety of items such as squares of aluminum foil, cloth scraps, paper scraps o invisible tape o tennis or foam balls o Xacto knife o sheets of white foam o 2 red Jumbo Washable Stamp Pads* o length of red rope

o sheets, preferably white or plain o plastic greenery o blocks or pieces of wood o lantern flashlight o variety of fake food such as bread, fruit, and vegetables small rug or towel (1 per Crew per rotation) o about 10 tennis or foam balls o brown paper bags to make termite towers (1 per Crew per rotation) o clear packing tape o small bottles of bubbles with wands o plastic buckets o large buckets or bowls o 6 large to extra-large buckets o small baskets as “nests” o scraps of colored paper, raffia, adhesive gems, or other small objects (for “nests”) o clean white socks

o building blocks (2 per person, per rotation)—these can be a mix of kinds of building blocks if needed to reach the number necessary for your VBS size

o pieces of carpet or heavy fabric scraps (8 per Crew, per rotation) o towels (1 per Crew per rotation)—this is a great supply to ask church members to donate

o Two 10-foot by 25-foot rolls of heavy-duty, 6-mil plastic sheeting o landscape anchor pins (10 per Slippery Slide) o oscillating sprinkler—borrow from church members or you can find cheap options in stores o garden hose o large towels o rolls of crepe paper streamer o 8-10 traffic cones o empty coffee cans medium to large rubber playground balls o flashlights

o brightly-colored marbles (6 per Crew per rotation)—bright colors will make the marbles much easier to find when they get dropped during the game

o hula hoops (9 per every 2 Crews per rotation)— o 6 blue pool noodles (2 per pair of Crews per rotation) o 6 yellow pool noodles (2 per pair of Crews per rotation) o rolls of white 48” by 200’ butcher paper (1 per every 100 participants)—each person will need a 2-foot length of the

paper; you can find the affordable Spectra ArtKraft brand at walmart.com

o various colors of thick-tipped washable markers (6 per Crew per rotation)

o painter’s tape (1 or 2 rolls)

o 12 plastic food storage containers (any sizes will work) o 4 empty egg cartons o 4 empty, clean butter tubs (can also use yogurt or cottage cheese tubs, you’ll just need to label them as Butter for

the game) o a baker or chef hat (optional)

o ping pong ball o large sponges or sponge balls o polyester fiberfill o thick yarn, red or purple

5 o cotton balls (optional) o essential oil, such as lavender (optional) o butcher paper o spray bottles for water, ablr to be set to “mist” o large paintbrush o new and unused toilet plungers o spray bottles set to “mist” (1 per Crew per rotation) o small pompoms o small stickers o turkey baster

SNACK FACTORY

o napkins

o small paper plates

o quart-size resealable plastic bags

o resealable plastic gallon bags

o resealable plastic sandwich bags

o 2-ounce plastic condiment cups with lids

o drinking cups - 3 oz and 9 oz. and 16 oz

o large trash cans and/or trash bags

o 10-pound bag of cubed ice

o plastic spoons and knives

o medium mixing bowls (4 per prep table)

o square rice cereal, such as Chex (3-ounce scoop per person)

o animal cookies or crackers (3-ounce scoop per person) — you can find gluten-free brands at most grocery

stores

o fish-shaped, cheese crackers (3-ounce scoop per person)—you can find gluten-free and dairy-free snack

cracker options at most grocery stores

o gummy worms (1 piece per person)

o sandwich-size resealable plastic bags (5 per Crew)

o small pretzel sticks (15 per person)—you can find gluten-free pretzel sticks (like the Snyder’s of Hanover

brand) in most grocery stores if you need that option

o mini marshmallows (8 per person)

o regular marshmallows (3 per person)

o small 6-inch flour tortillas (1 per person)—you can use corn tortillas for a gluten-free option

o mozzarella string cheese (1 stick per person)—for a nondairy option, you can use Daiya brand’s shredded

cheese

o squeeze bottles of marinara or pizza sauce (2 ounces per person)—you can use the Prego brand for a

gluten-free option

o graham crackers (1 full rectangular cracker per person)—you can find gluten-free options in most grocery

stores

o whipped topping, like Cool Whip (6 ounces per Crew)—you can use the So Delicious brand for a dairy-free

option

o semi-sweet chocolate chips (6 per person)—you can find dairy-free options in most grocery stores; dark

chocolate options are more often dairy-free

o cinnamon and sugar tortilla chips (6 chips per person)—you can find these at Walmart and other grocery

stores

o fresh raspberries (3 per person)

o fresh blueberries (5 per person, except for preschoolers)—blueberries can be a choking hazard for the little

ones

o fresh blackberries (3 per preschool Crew member)

o vanilla Yoplait Go-Gurts (1 per person)—you can find dairy-free yogurt options in most grocery stores

(though they might not be packaged like Go-Gurts); Silk brand is a great option

o shredded coconut (3 ounces per Crew)

o brownie bites (1 per person)—you can find small brownie bites in most grocery store bakeries or you can cut other pre-baked brownies into bite-size pieces; you may want to purchase some gluten free brownies too

6 Holy Land Trip Opportunity Have you ever wanted to see the Holy Land? To walk where Jesus walked? Feel the waves of the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea? Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane or stand on the Mount of Olives? If so, consider joining Pastor John and Maria Parille on a trip of a lifetime to Israel next February 20 to March 1, 2018. An incredible 10 day tour of the Holy Land awaits you starting at only $2,998 including air fare and first class hotels. for more information, contact Pastor John at the church office or by email at pastorjohnparille@gmail.com. Support Meetings / Groups Held at BUMC AA Meetings are held Sunday @ 7:30pm, Monday @ 6:00pm, Thursday @ 7:30 pm, Friday @ 7:30 pm and Saturday @ 8:00 pm. Family & Friends Group – Support Group for Family & Friends who have a loved one suffering from the disease of addiction and/or alcoholism meets Tuesday @ 7:00 pm Additional Support Group: “Over-eaters Anonymous" contact Chris at 203-942-3986 for more information. Randall Wright Hall 50 year anniversary We are looking for people to join our Randall Wright Hall Anniversary committee. Anyone interested in being part of the committee please contact the church office at bmethodistchurch@snet.net or 203-743-6835. Also, anyone having information concerning the construction of this building please leave your name and number so we can get in touch with you. Thank you!

Need activity space? Mitchell Hall: $180 for 4 hrs including set up time, (Pledging Members: $51.00 – tax deductible donation). $51.00 for partial Kitchen use (refrigeration and warming of meals), There is also a $75 refundable deposit in case of damage to the room or in case professional cleaners have to be called in. Rm. 201: $15.50 hr Opportunities to serve our church Please consider volunteering for our church service! We currently need readers, communion stewards, greeters, ushers and acolytes. Please contact Cheryl for more information or to sign up at bmthodistchurch@snet.net or 203-743-6835 Red Bird Mission The UMW collects Campbell’s labels and Boxtops for Education for the Red Bird. Please cut the bar code labels as we only need the bar codes. There is a small basket on the counter in Mitchell Hall for the labels.

Note from Renewal House The residents and staff at Renewal House thank you so much for your support. Please enjoy your cookbooks and have a wonderful 2017. Carolyn Morton – Program Manager Note from Off the Street Dear Ann, Thanks to you and the Bethel United Methodist Church for the donation of silver and pot holders and can openers, never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the outpouring of generosity from your members. Thanks for your support to Off the Streets. God Bless you All. – Sincerely Joan Finn Email received Greetings in Christ's love, I just wanted to say thank you for filling the air with hymns via your church bells. Here it is 6:00 pm on this nice spring evening and I am reminded of Christ's holiness as your church bells are chiming Holy Holy Holy. I am not a Methodist; my husband is a Lutheran minister serving as chaplain at the Federal Prison in Danbury. I live right across the street from the fire department in Bethel, and can hear the bells ringing each hour. I absolutely love it and feel so blessed to be a part of this community! From: Aretta Gordish

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PERENNIAL PLANT SALE 2017 Order Form

PLANT PRICE / AMOUNT Blooms

Andromeda** $ 3.00/ rooted branch April/ May

Astilbe (lavender)** $3.00/ plant June-July

Azaleas (Red, Rose, Pink, Honeysuckle lavender) $5.00 rooted branch May-June

Bee Balm (Firecracker Red or pink)** $ 3.00/ 10 spears July-Aug.

Bell Flower ( Campanula)( blue)** $3.00/ 6" clump June-July

Bishops Weed (snow on the mountain)** * $ 3.00/ 20 spears June-July

Black Eyed Susan $ 3.00/ plant July-Sept.

Bleeding Hearts (pink)** $ 3.00/ plant June-July

Bugle Weed (ajuga)( Chocolate Chip)** $ 3.00/ ½ flat April/ May

Buttercups ** $ 2.00/ 4 plants May-June

Chameleon Flower ** $ 3.00/ 10 spears June-July

Chives** $ 3.00/ 5" clump May/ July

Columbine (purple)** $ 3.00/ plant May- June

Coreopsis (yellow) ** $3.00/ 5" clump June-Sept.

Coreopsis Verticllata (thread-leaf tick seed) ** $3.00/ 5" clump June-Sept.

Corydalis ( yellow)** $ 3.00/ plant May-Frost

Daffodils ** (must order in April) .25/ bulb or 5/$1.00 April

Daisy Chrysanthemum (white) $ 3.00/ 10” clump Sept.-Oct.

Deptford pink** (Dianthus armeria) $3.00/ 5 spears June- Sept.

Dianthus (pink & white)** 5" clump/ $3.00 June

English Ivy ** .50/ft. -------

English Violets** (white & violet or violet) (order by June) $ 2.00/10 plants April/May

English Primrose (rose & yellow or Lt. yellow) $3.00/ plant April-May

Evening Primrose (yellow)** $ 3.00/ 10 spears June-July

False Sunflower (giant ox-eye)** $4.00/plant July-Sept.

Fern** (2 types) $ 3.00/ 5" clump -------

Flowering Pink Almond** $ 5.00/ 1 rooted branch Early May

Flowering Quince** $ 5.00/ 1 rooted branch April/ May

Forget-me-nots (pink or blue) $3.00/ 5" clump May/June

Forsythia ** $ 3.00/ rooted branch April

Golden Alexander (zizia aurea) ** $3.00/ plant May/June

Gooseneck Loosestrife (white) ** $ 3.00/ 10 spears June-July

Ribbon Grass (low green & white) $3.00/clump

Grape Hyacinth $3.00/clump May

Hardy Geranium (purple)** $ 3.00/ plant May/June

Hollyhock Malva (lavender) $4.00/ plant July-Aug.

Hosta (green w/ white center or plain green)

een) $ 3.00- $12.00 depending on

size

July

Hyacinth (many colors)(order in April) $3.00-$5.00 depending on size April/ May

Iris (bearded ) (many colors)** $ 1.00 - $2.00 depends on tuber May/June

Lamium (Dead Nettle) pink $3.00/ plant May/June

Lambs Ear ** $3.00/ 5" clump July

Leadwort (blue)** $ 3.00/ 10 spears Aug.-Sept.

Lily of the Valley** $ 3.00/ 10 spears May/June

Lilys (Burnt Orange or Orange Day) $ 3.00/ plant June-July

Milk Weed Pod plants ** $3.00 each July

Mint ( spearmint, pineapple or lemon)** $3.00/ 10 spears July-Sept.

Money Plant **(silver dollar) $3.00/ plant May-June

Monkey Grass **(Liriope) $3.00/ plant Aug.- Sept.

Moss ** $ 3.00/ ft. sq. --------

Mullins Pink (Rose Campion)** $ 3.00/ plant June-Sept.

Myrtle (periwinkle)** $ 3.00/ ½ flat April/ May

Obedient Plant (purple) $3.00/ 10 spears Sept.

Oregano** $3.00/ 5" clump July-Sept.

Oregano** (ornamental) $3.00/ 5" clump Aug.-Sept.

Pachysandra ** $ 3.00/ ½ flat May/June

Peony ( double pink or white)** $ 3.00/ large tuber May/June

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Poppy **(orange oriental) $3.00/ plant May/June

Ragged Robin (pink) (Lychnis flos-cuculi) $3.00/ plant May-June

Sedum "Live Forever" non-blooming ** $3.00/ plant ----------

Silver King** $ 3.00/ 10 spears Fall plume

Spiderwort (blue)** $3.00/ 5" clump June

Star of Bethlehem** (bulbs) $ 3.00/ 5" clump (~20 bulbs) May/June

Stonecrop **(common) (sedum) 3.00/ 5" clump June/July

Wild Scallions ** 5 bulbs/ $3.00 July

White Daisies** $ 3.00/ 10” clump June-Sept.

TREES/ SHRUBS/MISC.

Euonymus (green & white)" silver queen" $5.00/ rooted branch

Weeping or Curly Willow $ 5.00/ ~ 3’

Gray Dogwood (Viburnum) $5.00/ rooted branch May-June

Red Maple .50-$10.00 depends on size

Rose of Sharon (pink or purple) $3.00-$5.00 / 1-3 ft. July-Sept.

Spirea ( White) $5.00/ rooted branch May

Pine seedling/ bush .50-$5.00 (depends on size)

Oak seedling $1.00-$3.00

Kousa Dogwood $5.00/ rooted branch May-June

Lilac ( purple) $5.00 rooted branch May

Crooked (curly) Willow Branches (Dried) $2.00/ 3 ft.

Fresh Cut Rubarb 5 stalks/$1.00

Hummingbird / Butterfly feeders $2.50

Flower/ Plant Books .50-$3.00

** deer resistant Please see Alice (203-748-2774) if you are

interested in purchasing any of these plants. Make check payable to BUMC.

(Bethel United Methodist Church)