On Sunday June 12th, we gathered for our last sermon from Pastor Cathi and her last as she transitions into retirement. It was a day filled with laughter, confetti and yes, a few tears. If you want to catch up on worship – you can watch the entire worship service here.
After worship, we headed out to the Garden of Life where Pastor Cathi dedicated the Peace Pole she is leaving with us as a reminder of her time in ministry among us. It will surely remind us always of her heart for the grieving. You can witness her dedication of the peace pole below.
Then, we moved into the Fellowship Hall where we released confetti cannons! Here’s 2 videos from 2 different angle of the confetti cannon launch.
In the Fellowship Hall, we enjoyed a wonderful potluck dinner. We continued putting our wishes up on the Dandelion Wish Wall.
As we finished our meal and enjoyed the delicious cake prepared for us by Barb Nickerson, Karen Nichols shared a light-hearted “roast” and “dessert” of Pastor Cathi. We didn’t get it on video, but member Bryan Boyse was able to capture the audio. Listen below as Karen shares so many wonderful memories of our time together with humor and laughs.
We shared a piece of writing about confetti during worship and wanted to share it here as well.
Spiritual Confetti
I love throwing things up in the air.
At weddings or on New Year’s Eve everybody wants
something in their hands to throw.
It’s a way of lavishing our love on people.
Confetti is a tangible expression of intangible emotions.
Taking the time to gather little pieces of love, grace, strength and hope
is worth it when you shower your friendship with them.
Spiritual confetti is the ultimate encouragement.
Encouragement is to a friendship what confetti is to a party.
It’s light, refreshing and fun and you always end up finding little pieces of it stuck on you later.
We’ve spent a lot of time reminiscing about Pastor Cathi’s love of dandelions in the last several weeks. If you’d like to listen to her 3 part series about Dandelions during our Stewardship campaign in 2018, you can find listen to them online. This was before we were doing livestream video, so it is only audio files! Click the image below to go to a page with links to each sermon in the 3 part series.
All of our best wishes carry with Pastor Cathi into her retirement! Friends are friends forever when the Lord is Lord of them!
View below a gallery of images of Pastor Cathi’s retirement celebration. Photos courtesy of Dave Bower who does an excellent job documenting the life of our church!
Cross during the Retirement celebration on 6/12/2022 
Pastor Cathi blesses the offering 
Larry Heller shares a powerful story “Unknown Friends” during worship 
Marc Middleton serves as lay reader 
Pastor Cathi during her final sermon 
Pastor Cathi prepares Holy Communion 
Pastor Cathi, Marc, Jasmine and Laura Gray serve Communion 
The congregation receives communion 
The congregation receives communion 
The congregation receives communion 
The congregation receives communion 
Congregation waiting for communion as seen from the balcony 
Communion stewards including Jasmine 
Elizabeth Whiting (SPRC) and Diane Weaver (Lay Leader) share the Farewell liturgy 
And – it isn’t a celebration for Pastor Cathi without confetti! 
More confetti! 
We gather in the Garden of Life for the dedication of the peace pole 
The peace pole has the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in 4 languages. English, Hebrew, Greek and Flemish. Flemish is the native language of Pastor Cathi’s mother. 
Pastor Cathi dedicates the peace pole as Nola and Lloyd Massey look on. 
The confetti cannon send off! 
Lots of confetti! 
The MOST confetti! 
Confetti aftermath 
Pastor Cathi checks out Barb Nickerson’s cakes! 
She declares that they are good! 
Cake created by Barb Nickerson. 
It’s a big party so we get a 2nd cake!! Also by Barb Nickerson and this one features dandelions. 
Melodye Surgeon VanOudheusden, a pastor and good friend of Pastor Cathi’s who attended seminary with her offers the blessing for our meal. 
And we eat! 
and eat some more! 
Dandelion Wish Wall 
Dandelion Wish Wall created by Bill Thornton, Karen Nichols and Elizabeth Whiting 
Elianna with her friend Pastor Cathi at the Dandelion Wish Wall. 
The Bethany Youth gifted Pastor Cathi a custom red wings jersey. #29 for her years in ministry! 
Pastor Cathi and her brother Hank.
Here’s more images from Pastor Cathi’s time among us!
Bethany United Methodist Church – THANK YOU!
I am seldom at a loss for words, as you surely know, but June 12 brought me close!
Your thoughtfulness and creativity made the celebration of my retirement a day / a season I will never forget. My own Red Wings jersey, a light toss of confetti, dandelion jelly at coffee time, a field of bright yellow in the pews, a sprinkle of confetti, and whimsical dandelion wishes, clearly showed that you have taken the time to know my heart. Oh, and confetti. Did I mention the confetti? I have NEVER been so gleefully ambushed and showered by confetti!!! Not one, not even two, but THREE surprise attacks of confetti streamers, shiny stars, and pieces of the rainbow!! I was so tangled in the streamers that I couldn’t walk up or down the aisle — I was brushing confetti out of my hair and clothes for the rest of the day — while grinning ear to ear! But, my favorite memory is the mischievous smile on each and every face as you covered me in love.
Yes, love. After all the confetti and delicious food and surprise visits from family and friends who traveled to join us; after all the cards and gifts and blessings and wishes; after all the tearful hugs and “I will miss you’s” and “I’m not going to say goodbyes”; my only words are: You made me feel loved. And I am deeply grateful. I am thankful for our years in ministry together, for your kindness and trust, and for our shared growth in knowing and loving and serving God. And we will continue to grow in new places and in new ways. I have already told Pastor Kayla that she will be greatly blessed by you, and I confidently place you in her care as I wait to see what God will show me in this new segment of my life.
