Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m - Bethany United Methodist Church

Bethany Banner
 June 2020
 The Church with Open Hearts, Minds, and Doors
 Sunday Worship ‒ 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.
 Sunday School for all ages ‒ 9:45 a.m.
 Office Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

 Hats off to the Class of 2020!

 Bethany’s graduating high school seniors, left to right:
 Carson Brooks, Austin Kent, Carter Roane, Kayla McDade,
 Kate Neikirk, and Tally Vaughan

Photo credit:
Melissa Brooks, mb photography co.

 Pastor: Mike Derflinger
 Church Office Administrator: Dee Dee Wike
 Director of Music: Sandra Fox Organist: Dr. Rudy Shackelford
 Nursery Coordinator: Joy Wike

From the Pastor

 I’ve been getting my head wrapped around the vastness of reopening
Bethany and when to do so. I think all of us realize that we will not go back to
“church as usual” and pick up where we left off. At least it shouldn’t happen
that way. We don’t know when we will return to in-person sanctuary
worship. When it does occur, we will walk by faith, obey the precautions, and
act in wisdom towards everyone and especially those among us who are most
susceptible to being infected with COVID-19.
 Our Council will meet soon. Please read your Banner. There will be a lot
of issues to discuss and reopening will be one of them. We will use our
Governor’s Executive Orders. Our Bishop may well be more conservative
than our Governor. I encourage you to go to www.vaumc.org and read the
short and long versions of The Reopening Plan. I am meeting with our District
Superintendent and other clergy to know how to implement the mandatory
guidelines and best practices.
 The view of every person is important. When the time comes, you will be
made aware of how you can offer your view. In the meantime, it is very
important that we pray, we stay connected with one another, help those in
crisis, and give financially. If we all do what we can with what we have, I
believe the Lord will favor our efforts.
 I hope you and your family will also find ways to show appreciation to
persons who are “on the front line” in dealing with this pandemic.
 If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call me at the
church, email me at MikeDerflinger@vaumc.org, or call me on my new
phone, 757-603-5193.

Shine

They will take root in your house, LORD God, and they will do well. They will
be like trees that stay healthy and fruitful, even when they are old.
– Psalm 92:13,14.

 May was Older Adult Month in The United Methodist Church and we gave
thanks for the many ways our seniors serve and love. I think often of how so
many of you visibly shine with God’s love and wisdom, as well as many others
I’ve known through the years. Some have walked with Christ for as many
years as I have been alive.
 Every person has their own story. I think they shine because they have
weathered and flourished with the times in the presence of God. Even when
they are older, the psalmist points out, they still bear healthy fruit and have a
positive impact on others’ lives.
 It makes me think about how I want to see myself in later years. Just as
we don’t know exactly know how society will look at the end of this
pandemic, we don’t know how we will be in later years. What is the picture
of yourself that you aim for? I know what I don’t want to be: I don’t want to
be bitter or jaded.
 So now is the time to “take root” in the house of the Lord. To we who are
being formed in Christ, and particularly as United Methodists, it means living
a life committed to growing in Christ. The Church has always been a place for
that to occur; not having church as we are used to puts a kink into our
commitment. Church will look different in the coming months and years, but
I believe the Church will still be a place where the things of God and that
relationship can occur. Build a life like that now, and healthy living is sure to
follow as long as you and I walk this Earth, even with all the stuff that
happens in between.
 To our graduates, I wish you all the best. Pursue Christ. Dive deeper into
your relationship with Him. Follow your dreams as Christ gives you the
initiative and direction to do so. You will do well. Shine! — Pastor Mike

FINANCE COMMITTEE
Brothers and Sisters,
 I want to start by saying Thank You to the 44 family units that that been
supporting Bethany ministries since January. You are so faithful in your giving
to God’s church and I and your Finance Committee appreciate your generosity.
 As of May 11th we have received $116,470 towards our general fund.
$39,788 of that we have received since March 15th, this amounts to less than
half of what we received towards the general fund in the first 2 ½ months of
2020. I have been receiving phone calls asking about our church finances, and I
thought I’d just put this out there. At the end of the year we had received a
total of 63 Faith Promises from members and friends. Only 44 of those family
units have made any contributions to our general fund this year. This has
significantly impacted our budget. So to that end in March I sent an email to all
committee chairs asking them to curtail spending until further notice. We have
been paying apportionments, salaries, utility bills and insurance since that
decision was made. We have had to dip into our savings to meet these needs.
 It has been my personal policy and goal as Finance Chair to be as honest
and open about our finances as possible. I apologize for not updating you
sooner than this. With the stress of going to work every day during the shut-
down and dealing with family health issues, I have neglected sending you out
this information. Am I concerned? Yes. Am I worried? No. God has led us thus
far and He will continue to lead us. We are His and He is ours!
 Please call me or email me with any questions that you may have. If I
don’t have an answer for you, I will get one.
 May God continue to bless you as you serve Him.

Blessings,
Dolores Breen
Finance Chair

Our Pastor’s Discretionary Fund is active. If you or a neighbor are in need,
please call the church office at 804.642.2110. A high level of confidentiality is
part of our ministry together. All assistance is handled over the phone so you
don’t have to worry about human contact.

BAZAAR NEWS — The Bazaar Bunch is still working from home, but we have
managed to create a lot of interesting items for this year's Bazaar! We hope to
get a small group of worker bees together (with masks!) in June once we are
"released from captivity"! Remember, you can work from home on any items you
think will sell at the Bazaar. We will be most appreciative! We are glad we
decided to cut back this year! Hopefully Covid19 will not return this fall so we can
continue with our plans! Hope everyone is well AT HOME and taking necessary
precautions! — The Bazaar Bunch

BETHANY CHURCH DIRECTORY
Pastor Mike has a new cell number, 757-606-5193. The new number has been
changed in the Lifetouch Mobile Directory.

To access the Lifetouch Mobile Directory on your computer, smartphone, or
tablet:
1. Go to the Members Only page at www.bethanyumc-gp.org and enter
password servant (all lowercase).
2. Scroll down to Church Directory and click HERE, and enter access code
23062 to gain access.
3. Once the Lifetouch Mobile Directory has loaded in your web browser, you
can bookmark it for easy access anytime you open your web browser (so you
don’t have to go through steps 1 & 2 again), or save the bookmark to your
smartphone’s home page, if you use your smartphone to access the directory. If
you use it on your smartphone you will love being able to directly dial the
number, send an email, or use the built-in GPS feature should you need to make
an in-person or drive-by visit!

 CHRISTIAN LOVE AND SYMPATHY
 Families of:
 Howard Arbster, nephew of Bonnie Cecil, who passed May 11.
 Hubert Dalton “Phil” Phillips, Bethany member, who passed April 26.
 Sherman McLucas, uncle of Gerri Wilson, who passed April 26.
 Carolyn “Tommie” Rowe, sister of Iva Belvin, who passed April 24.

BIRTHDAYS
6/1 Ryan Mahoney
6/2 Connor Brooks; Mike Silberhorn
6/3 Henry Demyanovich; Miranda Shackelford
6/4 Dakota Sharpe; Chip Neikirk
6/5 Aislee Fay; Mary Margaret Kuivinen
6/7 Mike Andersen; Mike Ekdahl
6/8 Judy Burner; Joe Gayle
6/9 Kris Kiley; Neil Marshall; Debbie Rhodes; Marcia Hargis
6/10 Doris Courtney; Cole McDade
6/11 Greg Freeman
6/12 Erin Hearon
6/13 David Hoover; Nathan Schultz
6/14 Sue Morecock; Derrick Rhodes
6/15 Andrew White; James Geldmacher; Paul Blais
6/16 Morgan Cooper
6/18 Ken Bunting; Donna Andersen
6/19 Rev. Art Wolz
6/20 Rob Naquin
6/21 Michael Johnson; Tiffany Busch; Coleman Ward; April Mafturak Stephens
6/22 Zealon Stilley; Leanna Orth West; Kimberly Paiva
6/23 Susan Hutchinson
6/24 Nina Whitmore; Roger Loring; Trip Vaughan; James Hornsby
6/25 Susannah Hogge; Dean Townsend; Bessie Conner
6/27 Bonnie Young; Charla Barnard; Caragan Brooks
6/28 Krista Chase; Susan Rollins; Bonnie Young; Cliff Beach; Nerine Hickman
6/29 Rev. Linwood Daniel; Lavalle Wilson; Haley Tillage; Deanna Mitchell
6/30 Doris Luther; Jacob Frederick; Josiah Minor

ANNIVERSARIES
6/3 Keith & Susan Ward (14); Chip & Betty Neikirk (25)
6/4 Kris & Norma Baker (46)
6/8 Randy & Vicki Williams (54)
6/13 Marshall & Bonnie Lewis (58); Todd & Dawn Bontrager (21)
6/14 Sid & Marion Dixon (65), Wiley & Pam Carteret (N/A)
6/16 Jack & Nina Whitmore (46)
6/18 Billy & Ann Hogge (37); Sam & Kay Uhler (54); Tony & Gail Wallace (43)
6/21 Roger & Lana Loring (45)
6/23 Jerry & Nerine Hickman (14)
6/26 Kevin & Kathryn Jacobs (16)
6/27 Scott & Laura Glaze (22)
6/30 Jon & Kris Kent (19)
6/30 J J & Nancy Orth (47)

Bethany UMC Prayer List BETHANY FAMILY
CANCER/CHEMO: Krista Chase, Carol Johnson, David Lewis, Ted Peterman (NC), Linwood Rowe,
Matt Shackelford
GRIEVING: Family of Dorothy Critzer, Hubert D. Phillips, Roswell Sanderlin, Mary Dale Williams
HEALTH: Mike Andersen, Irene Brown, Woody Brown, Dawn Cluts, Jimmy Greene,
Kathleen Greene, Clare Hall, Paige Mitchell, Jane Niethamer, Peggy Peterman (NC), Nancy Smith,
Jack Wallace
HOMEBOUND: Linda Booth, Gene Harrell, Katherine Jordan, Alice McGee
PARKINSON’S: Doris Courtney, Fred Townsend
RECOVERING FROM SURGERY: Marsha Germek, Shelton Glaze, Kathy Jacobs, Bonnie Lewis,
Joy Long, Jeannie Meisner, George Parkes, William Schultz & Bain Schultz, Jack Whitmore
OTHER: Aaron Chapin
NEWLYWEDS: Zach and Michelle (Taylor) Camacho, Albert and Ashleigh (Polk) Schroeder
 BETHANY FRIENDS
CANCER/CHEMO: Tom Beard, Cleveland Cameron, Pap Connell, Patrick Cooney, Jr., Roxanne Erb
(PA), Elizabeth Flowers (NC), Joseph Forrest, Richard Grow, Karen Hendrix, Martin Kulik (NY),
Allyson Lindquist, Thia Martin, John Riesbeck (NC), Marie Rucci, George Skinner, Eddie Stalnaker,
Alan Thomasson (GA), Elizabeth Wheeler, Jennifer Wallace (FL), Angie Williams (NY)
CHILDREN & YOUTH: Emmett (AK), Henry Chapin, Makenna Jobes (FL), Willa
EMPLOYMENT/TRAVEL: Lamont Johnson
GRIEVING: Families of Howard Arbster, Robert Jackson Bartley, Mary Broe, Duane Burnett, Dave
Cooper, Alice Cruz, Rev. Jim Draper, Brenda France, Trudy Grimm, Vivian Hodges, Kerry Janzen,
Ben Lankford, Sherman McLucas, Carolyn “Tommie” Rowe, Phil Soliday, Emma Trottier,
Elizabeth
HEALTH/OTHER ISSUES: Mary Ann Bray, Les Breen, Michelle Brown, John Cook, Chuck Corbin,
Janet Elvis (SC), Don (CA), Jason Harney (NV), Wesley Hodges, Kevin & Mary Margaret James,
Verma Lankford, Bill Lawry, Denise Liverman, Eleanor Lucento, Dave Magee (Ireland), Mary,
Dottie Meyers (PA), William Owens (FL), Mary Jo Smith (NC), Mildred Townsend
RECOVERING FROM SURGERY: Richard Alligood, Keith Brown, Joyce Burnett, Tommy Dutton,
Steve George, Allyson Lindquist, Libby McGraw, Laurie Minor, Larry White (TN)
SURGERY/TESTS: Mary Jo Smith (5/5)
OTHER: Coronavirus victims, first responders, medical personnel; Our country and political
leaders; victims of COVID-19 and their families; teachers, parents, students; tornado victims;
United Methodist Church
 BUMC’S ACTIVE MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES (italics—Bethany friends)
Edward Bailey, Michael Brown, Peter Demetriades, Meagan Demetriades, Laine Fay,
Kevin Jacobs, Cory Long (Okinawa), Jim Minor, all members of the military.
 ASSISTED LIVING (italics-Bethany friends)
 Lorraine Brown, Rm 107
 Jean Heywood, Rm 110
Gloucester House, 7657 Meredith Dr., Gloucester 23061
 Esther Marie Jordan, Rm 509
 Archie Leigh, Rm 217
ManorCare, 715 W. Central Rd., Room 253B, Arlington Heights,
 Mary Margaret Kuivinen
IL 60005
Sanders Assisted Living, 7407 Walker Ave., Gloucester 23061 Ellis Hall, Rm 106
Sunrise Senior Living, 2015 Cranbeck Rd., Richmond 23235 Pauline Harris, Apt. 130
York Convalescent & Rehab Center, 113 Battle Rd., Yorktown, Mary Poland, Rm 27A
VA 23692 Alice Doggett, Rm 27B
 OUR MISSIONARY – Clara Biswas, Cambodia.

OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ‒ CLASS OF 2020

 Carson Ryan Brooks is graduating from
 Gloucester High School and will be attending Mary
 Baldwin University this fall with plans to major in
 Business/Economics. He will also be playing on the
 MBU Men’s soccer team.
 Carson is the son of Ryan & Melissa Brooks and
 grandson of Mary Linda Brooks.

 Austin Kent is graduating from Gloucester High
School. He plans to attend Rappahannock
Community College in the Fall. After two years, he
aspires to attend Longwood University to major in
Screenwriting and Journalism. His parents, Jon and
Kris, wish to thank all of their Bethany UMC Family as
Austin begins this important next chapter. They
appreciate your love, guidance, many blessings and
being such awesome role models for Austin. The
opportunities to grow with his fun-loving, respectful
peers as well as serve Christ have made a strong and lasting impression on
Austin.

 Kayla McDade has been attending Liberty
 University Online Academy for high school, where
 she has really grown this year. Her graduation
 ceremony was to be May 9 but has been
 rescheduled for September 11 at Liberty University
 in Lynchburg and also a “virtual” graduation will
 take place sometime in July.
 Kayla is excited to move on to her next chapter
 at Thomas Nelson Community College. She plans to
 pursue Dental Hygiene, and transfer to a four year
college after a year or two. Kayla has a passion for photography. In her free
time, you can find her on the tennis court.
 The scripture that inspires her the most is Philippians 4:13 — “I can do
all things through Christ who gives me strength”.
 Kayla is the daughter of Steve & Dawn McDade, and sister to Cole.

Kate Neikirk is graduating from Gloucester
 High School and will start Vassar College in
 Poughkeepsie, NY in the fall. She will be playing
 field hockey and studying psychology. She hopes to
 pursue a career in special education or abnormal
 psychology.
 Kate is the daughter of Betty and Chip Neikirk.

 Carter Roane is graduating from Gloucester
High School. He is the SCA student body Vice
President and has been in chorus and theater
for all four years of of high school. He loves to
sing and is extremely outgoing. If you have ever
met Carter you will never forget him. He has
never met a stranger and amazes us daily.
Although the abrupt and crazy end to his senior
year is just beginning to hit him he is taking it all
in stride and is looking to forward to starting his
next journey as he pursues his dream of
becoming a history teacher.
 Carter is the son of Jason and Shannon Roane and grandson of Pitt and
Cheryl Roane.

 Tally Vaughan has enjoyed her years at
 Gloucester High School. She has played field
 hockey each year, serving as captain in her senior
 year. She has been involved in the National
 Honor Society, the National Art Honor Society, the
 National Spanish Honor Society, and Beta Club.
 Tally is so grateful to those in her school and
 church who have crossed her path and helped her
 along the way. Next year, Tally will attend the
 University of Mary Washington, where she will
 play field hockey for the Eagles. Tally is the
daughter of Doug and Laura Vaughan.

COLLEGE GRADUATES

 Nicholas Olav Aukland, son of Cherie Aukland and grandson of Joni
Neal, graduated from Physicians Assistant School at Eastern Virginia
Medical School, where he was one of 80 out of 3,000 applicants to be
accepted. He has been offered a position in the Cardiac Surgery ICU at
George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he
will begin in August 2020.

 Hannah Nicole Campbell, daughter of Joyce Mitchell and
granddaughter of Bonnie and Nile Cecil, is graduating with honors from
Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History.

 Julie Derflinger, daughter of Pastor Mike and Sherri Derflinger, is
graduating from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Music in Choral
Music Education.

 Andrew Martin Harvey, grandson of Alan and Sandra Harvey, is
graduating from the University of South Carolina at Beaufort.

 Christopher Lewis Kaylor, son of Kevin and Jennifer Kaylor and
grandson of Mary Kaylor, is graduating from University of Virginia with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering, Minor in Economics.

 Zachary Todd Kaylor, son of Todd and Julie Kaylor and grandson of
Mary Kaylor, is graduating from George Mason University with a Bachelor
of Science degree in Cyber Security Engineering.

 Will Neikirk, son of Betty and Chip Neikirk, is
a graduate of Virginia Military Institute. Will has
commissioned into the Air Force and leaves for
Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma in May of 2021
to start his flight school training to become a pilot.

CELEBRATING OUR OTHER RISING STARS

 Entering High School

 Alyssa J. Hall, daughter of Chris and Clare Hall, is graduating from 8th
grade at Page Middle School and will be a freshman at Gloucester High
School this fall.

 Entering Middle School

 Cyler Hudgins Brooks, son of Ryan & Melissa Brooks and grandson of
Mary Linda Brooks is graduating 5th grade from Petsworth Elementary
School and will be a 6th grader at Peasley Middle School this fall.

 Baum Hogge, son of Jason and Susannah Hogge, will be finishing 5th
grade at Achilles Elementary and moving to Page Middle School this fall to
begin 6th grade.