BETHEL – On Saturday, Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. there will be a Forgiveness Retreat held in the dining hall at the Bethel United Methodist Church on Main Street.  Real forgiveness is deeply countercultural and some of the hardest work human beings do.  It is easier said than done. In this day long retreat, Rev. Dr. Karen Munson will lead our exploration of experiences and practices with creative exercises, individual and group reflection, and a deep dive into the primary theme of forgiveness in the Gospel according to Matthew. Topics include forgiveness as power of personal autonomy. The impact of forgiving (or not) on a relationship. Forgiveness and physical health. Forgiveness as fasting. Forgiveness and God. Obstacles to forgiveness and the art of lament.  This donation-based retreat is open to all and to register contact Linda Howe at 824-2328 or 824-2027 as well as email at lhowe7273@gmail.com

The Bethel Senior Citizens will hold their September 12th meeting at the Sudbury Inn. Folks need to call Donna Douglass by August 31st at 824-2591 to confirm lunch choice of either Baked Haddock or Chicken.

 Out on Grover Hill, Joan Cole had a milestone birthday. She turned 90 years old!  Her daughter Janice came up from Bristol, Connecticut and got a watermelon cake from the Bethel Foodliner.  I had the good fortune to sample this ice cream sherbet cake and it was a hit! Joan continues to be sharp as a tack with a good sense of humor. Happy 90th birthday Joan Cole! 

Last week the 2nd annual Summer Cooking Camp was held in the Church kitchen at the Methodist Church. Nano Zackery led the charge and she is an experienced cook. Children needed to tie their hair back in ponytails, wash their hands many times and clean up in the kitchen at the end of the class. Dishes that they learned were inexpensive and practical. Nano did a marvelous job keeping the kids engaged in the kitchen.  During the four-day Camp children got to learn different food dishes such as making yogurt, homemade pizza, salsa, garlic knots, tortilla and burritos.

On Friday we had a guest chef and Patti Thurston taught the children a dish she first learned from her mom. It is called a 4-1-1 chicken dish. She also showed the kids how to make gourmet brownies which were a huge hit.  Patti donated the food for the Friday class and the Bethel Foodliner and the Bethel Food Pantry were also generous donors for our Community Summer Cooking Camp for Children. It was fun cooking with local Bethel kids and one child who was from Washington D.C.  Because our visitor was new to our group it was heart warming seeing the older kids reach out in kindness and help out the youngest member of our group. There are some nice kids living in our Bethel Community! This summer camp class taught kids cooking skills that will last their entire lifetime.

Folks with news or events can contact me at 824-2328 or at lhowe7273@gmail.com

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