“Writing Your Life Story” takes November off, “Weekly Writing Wednesday” prompts to begin

Our monthly writing workshop will not meet in November.

Due to a scheduling conflict and Thanksgiving, “Writing Your Life Story” will not meet in November. We will reconvene in December.

Starting Nov. 8, we will begin “Weekly Writing Wednesday.” Every Wednesday, check our website or Facebook page for an idea to get you started writing. You can respond by commenting each week, or keep your writing private in your own journal at home. No matter how you express your thoughts, just remember that we all have a story to tell.

The Gathering does 2nd Saturday

COMING SATURDAY, OCT. 14: “THE STUFF OF STORY”—A 2ND SATURDAY SHOWING OF ORIGINAL ART AND FAVORITE THINGS

More than 50 works of original art and eclectic collections will be on view as The Gathering program presents a free Second Saturday show and reception Saturday, October 14, 5-8 p.m. in the Bethany Social Hall. The show will continue Sunday, October 15, from 12 noon-2 p.m. There is no cost to attend; free refreshments will be served. A donations basket to benefit the local food closet will be available. The show is all-ages friendly!

“The Stuff of Story–A Showing of Original Art and Favorite Things” will feature paintings, drawings, photography, textile art, mixed media, poetry and more … as well as cherished memorabilia and wacky collections. Three dozen Sacramento area residents have created and/or contributed entries for the non-juried show.

Questions? Want to help? Contact Cathy Sapunor.

Japanese-Americans tell their stories of internment and WWII

Our next storytelling event is on September 13 at 6 p.m.

On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, thus ordering all Japanese-Americans to evacuate the West Coast. Ultimately, approximately 120,000 people were forced to relocate to internment camps across the country. This included thousands of people from Sacramento County.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 IS POSTED ON THE CORNER OF FIRST & FRONT STREETS IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA — APRIL 1, 1942

Join us on Sept. 13 for “Executive Order 9066: Where did my neighbor go?” when we will hear the stories of four Japanese-Americans who were interned.

Learn more about this event and our speakers

Download the flyer to post and share!

Annual Readers Theater Scheduled for July 16

JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL READERS THEATER ON SUNDAY, JULY 16 AT 3:30 P.M.

Enjoy an afternoon of good stories and tasty popcorn in air-conditioned comfort! This yearly event, led by Tim Sapunor, is a crowd favorite!

What is readers theater? Readers theater is a style of theater in which the actors do not memorize lines. There are no sets, costumes, or props. Because readers theater takes a “minimalist” approach to theater, the performer’s goal is to enable the audience to visualize the action without actually seeing it.

All are invited to attend…participate as an actor (reader) or as an audience member…no acting experience required! Note that this event is suited for adults and older teenagers.

This event is FREE and all are welcome to stay for our monthly Evensong Service at 5:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Download the flyer to post and share!

Justice in Rwanda: a story told by Dr. Lisa R. Pruitt

Join us on Wednesday, June 28 at 7 p.m. as we hear the story of the fight for justice in Rwanda.

Dr. Lisa R. Pruitt will be talking about her 1996 work for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, which investigated and prosecuted war crimes committed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In particular, Pruitt worked on the first ever prosecution of rape as a war crime, in the case against Jean-Paul Akayesu. That prosecution is the subject of an award-winning documentary, “The Uncondemned,” released in 2016. The prosecuting witnesses–Rwandan rape survivors–appear in the film, and their story is told in parallel with that of the lawyers who prosecuted the case, including Pruitt. Download the flyer!

Lisa R. Pruitt is Martin Luther King, Jr., Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis, where she has taught for 18 years. She teaches and writes about gender issues and legal geography, with a focus on rural livelihoods and their intersections with the law. Prior to joining UC Davis, Pruitt lived abroad for a decade, working in a range of law practice settings, from international organizations to private practice. Pruitt is a long-time member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She lives in Fair Oaks with her husband and son. Pruitt is a native of the rural Arkansas Ozarks, where she grew up attending the First Baptist Church of Jasper, Arkansas.

Light refreshments will be served.

As always, this event is free and donations of food items for the South Sacramento Interfaith Partnership Food Closet are gladly welcomed.

Bethany Partners with World Relief

We heard from refugees in April…now it’s time to act

At our last storytelling gathering on April 13, we featured four Middle Eastern refugees as our storytellers. We also had a Middle Eastern meal prepared and served by one of the refugees and two musicians from Afghanistan who provided music along with our own Peter Baird.

Out of this collaboration with World Relief, Bethany Presbyterian Church has decided to sponsor a Middle Eastern Refugee family through the Good Neighbor Team program at World Relief, a Christian organization that resettles immigrants and refugees. Bethany is the sponsoring host church for our New Worshiping Community, “The Gathering.” Through our work, Bethany has found a concrete way to respond to the stories we heard on April 13.

ALL are invited to attend an information session at Bethany Presbyterian Church on Friday, June 9 at 5 p.m. to learn more about World Relief and Bethany’s efforts to aid in the refugee crisis.

Download the Flyer

Everyone has a story…now’s your chance to share it!

All are invited to attend a writing workshop on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month in the library at Bethany Presbyterian Church from 9 to 10:30 a.m. We will remember the stories of our lives and discover our spiritual journey along the way.

Each week consists of:

group discussions
writing exercises
individual reflection.

Tea & light refreshments are provided.

Bring your own writing materials (paper, pen/pencil, laptop…however you like to write).

No cost to attend, and ALL are welcome!

Coming April 13: Stories of Middle Eastern Refugees

Come and hear of courage and tenacity from people who have wandered far and wide in search of a new home and a safe place to raise their families.

At 5:30 p.m., there will be a free Middle Eastern dinner prepared by refugee families. Donations are gladly accepted.

After dinner, we will hear stories from refugees. This month’s storytellers are:
Khalil, an Muslim Iraqi who worked with the U.S. Military
Maurice, a Christian asylum-seeker from Palestine
Ban, a Muslim Iraqi woman who lived in Jordan as a refugee before coming to the U.S.
Shujaat, an Afghan who grew up in Pakistan as a refugee and was in a refugee prison in Indonesia before coming to the U.S.

An optional Maundy Thursday service will be held in the Sanctuary at 8:30 p.m., which will include the opportunity to participate in a foot washing.

This event is co-sponsored by the Gathering and Bethany Presbyterian Church in conjunction with World Relief.

All are invited to attend this important and eye-opening event.

“Making a Difference” is Our Next Storytelling Evening Jan. 19

Hear four individuals talk about experiences in “making a difference” as The Gathering presents another storytelling evening! Speakers include hospice chaplain Be Patterson, musician Dr. May Tuan Tucker, Rev. Steve Smith, and church administrator Gordon Zerkel. Free; please bring canned or packaged goods for the SSIP Food Closet. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments.

It’s happening Thursday, January 19 at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5625-24th Street, Sacramento, just south of Sacramento City College.

3rd Annual Free “Write Christmas” Writers’ Workshop is Dec. 7

Write down all those holiday memories for sharing with others (or just cherishing on your own).

The Gathering and Rev. Judy Davis will again lead this free workshop, which will help participants capture thoughts and ideas on paper.

No cost to attend, and ALL are welcome. Donations of canned goods for the local Food Closet will be gratefully accepted at the door.

Wednesday • December 7
7-8:30 p.m.
Come at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments

Questions? E-mail us or call the church office.