Staff
REV. ANN DICKEY
Pastor’s Annual Report January 2010
Bethany church had a lively and exciting year of ministry in 2009 and I have been honored to be a part of it!
In addition to regularly leading worship and preaching, teaching adult Church School, formatting and printing the bulletin each week, sending out and receiving emails, writing birthday and anniversary cards, being in the church office Tuesday and Thursday mornings, greeting visitors and inviting them to make Bethany their church home, meeting with the Session, Deacons and church committees, attending Presbytery and serving as chair or a subcommittee and overseeing 15 churches on the Committee on Ministry of Donegal Presbytery, I have documentation for these visits in 2009:
Home visits to church members: 50
Visits with members in the church office: 53
Hospital and nursing home visits: 41
Phone calls to church members: 45
I have been happy to support existing programs while initiating some new ones in 2009 and have seen exciting things happen! 15 new members were welcomed into membership and welcomed in worship. Attendance is up at worship with the average of 42 attending each week out of a membership of 60 at this writing. New Elders and Deacons and Trustees came to the fore in the fall and were ordained and installed early in 2010. The Stewardship campaign “New Consecration Sunday” raised pledged income for 2010 over $60,000. The manse was sold and the money used to refurbish the basement and foyer. The music program grew in numbers and dedication, singing each Sunday under the direction of faithful director LoriAnn Ford. They sang at special worship services and performed a Cantata on Palm Sunday. A Contemporary hymn was added in the fall of 2009 to the Order of worship and the congregation seems to be at ease and enjoying the new form of worship! We added a service on Ash Wednesday and continued traditions of Sunrise service on Easter and Maundy Thursday downstairs with Communion and Tenebrae as well as worship with Hamorton Methodist at Thanksgiving. Sunday school for adults continues each week during the school year with various topics being studied and discussed. The Second Sunday programs have been varied and well attended. A “Spirit Jam” contemporary music sing a long monthly concert began in the fall of 2009 and has been well received.
The redevelopment grant money procured in late 2008 has allowed us to do some new things and purchase some new items. We have increased our advertising in newspapers, including the insertion of a Christmas Eve flyer in the Kennett Paper. With this money, we purchased new signs for Easter and Christmas, new Bibles and hymnbooks, a video camera and tripod to record services and create video for overflow crowds, hosted Charlie Zahm in concert with standing room only, bought a new cordless microphone for the preacher, new choir robes and the materials for the community Easter egg hunt.
It is hard to sum up a year’s activities in one page and I know I have only touched on the wonderful ministry of the people of Bethany. I have really enjoyed my year with Bethany! The congregation is warm and accepting and yet open to trying new things. The people are very generous and ready to help those in need. Bethany church has spent over 100 years in ministry in Chester County and has a great future in store! I thank God for allowing me to be a part of its faithful history. I would like to thank the congregation, the Elders and Deacons, the Choir and its director and my husband for supporting me in ministry in 2009. It was a great year and I look forward to many more at Bethany! Rev. Ann G. Dickey, Half time Stated Supply Pastor of Bethany, Mendenhall