BETHANY CHURCH
         January 6, 2006
         
         Dear friends:
         
              I’ve been ministering to a family this week. A loved one in this family committed
         suicide. Please pray for them.
              Sunday, January 8, is Epiphany. Epiphany is the feast of the church where we
         celebrate Jesus as the “light of the world.” We will be giving our Blessing to Al & Diana
         Bendert as they leave us so Al can assume his responsibilities as Pastor of the Cherry Hill
         Baptist Church in Dearborn Heights. During the service we will also enjoy the talent of
         artist Betsy McDaniel as she creates a work of art before our very eyes. After worship,
         we will enjoy a Fellowship Dinner. So, bring a dish of food to share.
         
              Check out the kitchen. Thanks to Dave Zuehlke for organizing and supervising
         the recent work done in our kitchen. We have a new double oven and new burners on the
         island. The island also has new cabinets where the old oven was. There is a nifty drawer
         under the new ovens. All this was possible through an anonymous Memorial gift.
         Thanks also go to the Space Needs Committee and to Sue Pepper who stepped up to
         manage the project in recent weeks. Sue & Tim also gave the kitchen a good cleaning.
         
              This week I read a book by the famous Japanese novelist Shusaku Endo called
         Silence. It is a novel based on the religious persecution of Christians in Japan in the early
         1600’s. The novel is based on real events. It is a gripping tale, masterfully told, whose
         theme is the silence of God in the face of religious persecution.
         
              I’ve lost two pounds since Sunday. Not really hungry. Dietician gave me a good
         plan. I’ve gotta keep exercising though, even when I don’t feel like it. I walked the dogs
         this week. They were surprised.
         
              See you in church on Sunday. - Pastor James