Bring your neighbors and friends to enjoy grilled hot dogs with all the fixings, soft drinks, and the traditional “Bethel Strawberry Shortcake Special,” all at very reasonable prices. Children will enjoy the giant bubbles, sidewalk chalk creations, hot wheel races and much more.  There will be plenty of home-made desserts on the bake sale table, and a kitten adoption booth hosted by a local rescue operation. For more information, contact 703-528-0937.

Parking is free and close by at the Red Cross on Route 50.

Last year’s festival more than 100 people from the community gathered to enjoy hot dogs, drinks, games, bubbles, fellowship and the famous Bethel Special – strawberry shortcake – yum!

For more than 50 years Bethel has hosted the Strawberry Festival the first Saturday in June.  It’s an opportunity to eat strawberry shortcake, meet new friends, fellowship with neighbors, enjoy the laughter of children at play.  The money raised support the Red Cross and Bethel’s ongoing ministry.  Join us!

We hope our Mother’s Day music will be a great success and the ABC Choir will be back on June 17th, Father’s Day to sing  ”He Holds the Whole World in His Hands.”

Many of our children are very small, age 2, 3, or 4. We hear reports of them skipping around the kitchen and singing, but so far, only wide eyes and rapt attention from them in church!  Many of the older children are quite shy and have had little experience singing.  But we are having great fun and all children and youth are invited, encouraged, and welcome to attend, including parents as desired.

All Bethel's Children Choir Practice

Bethel Celebrated Easter Sunday with special music and an Easter Egg Hunt.

He Shall Feed His Flock

The Easter Story

They are off!

What fun!

Eggs, eggs, eggs

This is a season of reflection and meditation where we cleanse our hearts and minds as we journey towards the cross.  It is a time to think about your relationship with God and seek new way to renew that relationship which is central to who we are as people of faith.

This year instead of giving something up for lent as many of you may do, maybe this year try adding something – ten minutes each morning of journaling, making one call to a friend each day or reading a psalm each evening.  I’d like to encourage everyone to find a daily faith practice and add it to your routine.  Adding something new to your day is a way to honor and remember Jesus’ sacrifice.  As you do this practice each day reflect on how you are connecting with God.  Drawing nearer to God, this is the heart of the lenten season.

Join us each Wednesday evening during lent for a soup dinner at 6:15 followed by a lenten bible study at 7:15.

Holy Week, April 1st through 8th -We enter Holy Week with Palm and Passion Sunday.  During our 10 am worship we’ll move from the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the communion table and betray that follows.  Maundy Thursday we will share a feast and tell the story of the Last Super at 6:30.  Good Friday worship will be hosted at Arlington Church of the Brethren with our ecumenical partners.  Join us stand with all the saints before us at the cross of Jesus.  Easter Sunday we will gather at 10 am to experience the joy and new life that comes on Easter morning.

H. Jeane Siskel Frey, 87, formerly of Ann Arbor, MI, passed away peacefully at home with her family around her on January 18, 2012.  Jeane was born to Maj. Maurice and Dorthea Katherine Baldridge Siskel in Chicago, IL on August 18, 1924.  She received a Bachelor of Science degree at Butler University before earning a Master of Science degree and entering the doctoral program at the University of Michigan, where she conducted medical research for more than 30 years.  She continued to conduct research at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque for more than 20 years before retiring to live in Arlington, VA.

Jeane was an active church member her entire life, having been inspired by her grandparents Rev. Harry and Bertha Baldridge, with whom she lived as a young child after her mother passed away.   She served on dozens of church committees, and was the first female elder elected at Bethlehem UCC in Ann Arbor, and provided leadership at her church in Albuquerque that led to her receiving recognition as the UCC Southwestern Conference Woman of the Year.

An outspoken advocate for equal justice, Jeane was a lifelong civil rights activist.  She was honored to receive the Viola Liuzzo Award from Amistad UCC of Ann Arbor in recognition of her efforts during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and beyond.

Always an avid traveler, Jeane enjoyed visits to every state in the USA, and also toured Canada, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and New Zealand among other places.  She was a gifted pianist and violinist who loved a wide variety of music, especially when performed by her children and grandchildren.  She greatly enjoyed playing games and cards with family and friends, and actively participated in a weekly bridge club.

Jeane is survived by her children Jay Frey (Valerie) of Gallatin, TN, Wendy Frey Raymond (Steve) of Ann Arbor, MI, and Kathy Frey Kerr (Jim), of Arlington, VA., as well as grandchildren Allen, Caroline, and Adrienne Kerr, and Lisa, Peter, and Julia Raymond.  She is also survived by her brother Maurice Siskel, Jr., of Fort Worth, TX, niece and nephew Robin and Mark Siskel, and nephew Jonathan Long.  She was preceded in death by her sister Joyce Siskel Long.

In lieu of flowers, Jeane requested that donations be made to The VISION OF GOD CLINIC in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, that serves a rural area with many health care needs.  The clinic was created by Bethel United Church of Christ associate pastor Rev. Carolyn Richar.  Donations can be sent in Jeane’s name to the church.

A Note from the Family….

Dear Bethel UCC Community,

The family of Jeane Frey wishes to thank you for your support during our mother’s recent illness and death.  Mom was truly blessed to have so many thoughtful and generous friends. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude, and to thank each one of you for opening your doors and hearts to our family, and for the comfort that you brought us at this difficult time. 

Thank you to those who prepared food, made monetary donations to the Vision of God Clinic, called us with kind words, sent cards, kind thoughts and prayers, or who were there for us to help with anything that needed to be done.

Thank you also for creating the beautiful music that Mom wanted so much to be included in our celebration of her life.  It was uplifting to have Angie’s artistry, the choir’s lovely voices, and to have hymnals so each person could sing the hymns Mom had selected for the service.  We were also grateful to have the comfort of the beautiful sanctuary along with the welcoming fellowship hall with the special refreshments and flowers.  It meant so much for us to be able to greet and visit with family and friends in the after-service gathering.

Your expressions of sympathy and loving regard for our mother and for our family have been greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten.

With warmest wishes and many thanks,

The Frey Family



Deck the Halls

and

Advent Luncheon and Workshop

Sanctuary during Advent

Works of Creativity

Finishing Touches

Everyone helps!

Food and Fellowship

Making Advent Wreaths

Working Together

Fun for all Ages

Your next chance to work against hunger is Friday, December 2nd at 7:00 pm at AFAC where we will bag groceries. 

To learn more about the UCC’s united Mission 1 efforts click here.

All Saints Sunday 2011

This tradition is very important to many at Bethel.  It’s a chance to pause and remember and honor loved ones who have departed this life.  During a time of prayer and reflection the names of saints are read and a candle is lit in their honor.  Our saints live on forever in our hearts.  May we never forget.