Danner Ferguson
Since Bethany has been my only church my entire life, this seems to be an appropriate time to reminisce. I can remember, and maybe you can too:
1) We used all the classrooms and had regular promotion schedules.
2) All the Sunday School teachers loom large in my memories, e. g. Harvey Brower, Donnie Ferguson, Gracie Ferguson, and Hassie Kivett; and the ones who taught our children — Lin and Louise Allred, Margie Lednum, Ray and Hilda McMasters. In our children, we see the fruits of their labor.
3) We looked forward to over-flowing crowds on Memorial Day, and I would stay outside during preaching (to make room for others in the church!). Some of us would then go to the spring for water and end up playing in the woods.
4) Daddy brought ice (from Arthur Smith’s store) and water in a wooden barrel for the Memorial Day lunch, and the barrel remains in the storage building behind the church.
5) The large Memorial Day dinners were outside where we used a long table made just for that purpose. About everyone participated.
6) We also had large ice cream suppers outside.
7) Daddy would take me over to the church early and leave me to build the fires in the tin heaters to get the church warm. I almost over-did it one Sunday when I got the wall so hot in one of the Sunday School rooms that resin was running out of the walls. Needless to say, I didn’t repeat that.
8) The gas lamps hanging from the ceiling required numerous adjustments during revivals, because the flames were reaching for the ceiling.
9) Our hopes and prayers were answered in October, 1999, when we completed the Fellowship Hall. This solved the problems we had in using the basement for social functions.
10) During my time in Korea, I carried a picture of Bethany that Mom and Dad sent to me. It was very meaningful for me and helped sustain me during this time.
Emogene Daniel
I remember years ago when just before Memorial in May, most of the women gathered flowers from everywhere to put on the graves. Every grave had flowers. Some may have been wild flowers, but no grave was left empty.
Christmas brings to mind many memories:
We at Bethany always remember the shut-ins and elderly with fruit baskets. One night is designated for a meal, then we assemble the baskets. Of course, there is a homemade touch with baked goods and candies.
The real treat is delivering the baskets and talking with the ones that are so happy to have someone visit them.
For a very long time, we have had breakfast at the church the Sunday before Christmas. We missed this year because of icy weather.
I have wonderful memories of the traditions in the past. The Christmas program was a big event at the church. Almost everyone in the community attended. It was really a fun time with Mr. Harvey Brower playing the part of a shepherd or wise man. He could play the part of a wise man so well, because he was one of the wisest men I ever knew. And I can say the same thing for Mr. Otis Lineberry.
Lights have always been an important part of Bethany’s Christmas tradition. The candlelight services were very meaningful and so were the luminaries that lit the way to our little country church.
Many times we got together for caroling. I remember one really cold night we went to Mr. Cleve Williams. Rev. Okel Evans played the guitar and we sang while Mr. Cleve sat on the porch wrapped in a quilt.
For us at Bethany, Christmas is a time to remember God’s gift to us. If God so loved the world that He gave us His Son, we are to share His love with others.
Showing kindness to orphans and widows are Biblical teachings from Old and New Testament times. We sponsored an orphan girl (Tina) at the Children’s Home. She spent many week-ends and holidays at the home of different members. We gave her special love at Christmas. We did this kind of thing a lot because we remembered Jesus teaching that things done for others are things done for Him. And these are the things that make precious memories.
Darlene S. Kimrey
I am a new member in Bethany United Methodist Church. I started attending in 2008. My friend “Shorty” Williams had invited me to Bethany. I went with her and started going on a regular basis. I had been visiting various churches for several years, and when I went to Bethany I knew this was IT. I felt like I was coming home to the churches of my childhood. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming to a stranger.
It was the best decision I ever made. I’m more involved in the church than I ever thought I would be. We are small but have a lot of spirit.
Coincidently, my husband’s great grandparents were members in Bethany’s early church, and they are buried in the church cemetery—Alfred B. Kimrey (1846 – 1926) and Phoebe Ann Moser Kimrey (1846 ~ 1927).
Jean Ingold, Rutherfordton, NC
I remember when I was a little girl I used to play up and down that road by the church. And I remember it was always so pretty and the shrubs were always trimmed so pretty.
I love that church and all of my family and my Dad’s family are buried there. I love that church and all the people that make it up. They have been so good to me and I love every one of you. I pray that Bethany will be going strong for another 175 years.
Shirley Ferguson
All of us at Bethany a long time have many memories-some good, some bad, and some just trying—- but all lasting. I’m going to share one in each of the last two categories.
When I was involved with the class for young children, we had two teachers——Louise Allred and I worked together. She usually taught the lesson, and I tried to teach the little ones to be still, be quiet, and listen. We had one little boy who found that quite difficult to do. One Sunday, I simply took one of the little chairs and sat beside him. He was furious. He didn’t wait long to pull on my sleeve to get my attention. When I looked at him, he said, “I hope a bumble bee gets up your dress.” While I was trying hard not to laugh, he was getting angrier with me. Again he tugged at my sleeve. This time he very seriously said, “I hope that bumble bee gets under your girdle.”
Years later, J. C. Stevenson was the Sunday School Superintendent and was having trouble getting a teacher for the Young Adults Class. He asked me to do it and I knew I couldn’t. My only experience with teaching was with children and that’s quite different. I assured J C. that I was not qualified. But J. C. was desperate. He lLooked at me and with a dejected sigh he said, “Shirley, you would be better than nothing.” I tried it and I was better than nothing.
You have no idea how many things I’ve done in the last forty years just because I remember that whatever I accomplish will be better than nothing.
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