After being scattered this summer as far as Istanbul, we gathered for the first Vespers of the fifth year of Bethany House – how time flies! The Bethany House residents wanted to have a cookout to celebrate Joe’s belated birthday and prepared ingredients for three kinds of kebabs, as well as baba ganoush (with eggplant from the Community Garden), pita bread, potato salad, tzatziki, and brownies for dessert. We were joined by Pastor Karen, David and Linda (who brought yummy zucchini salad and three bean salad), and Amelia, the newest resident of Lawrence Road House. We did a little gardening (less than planned) and cooking (more than planned) and enjoyed being together after busy summers.
Tag Archives: Discussions and Dinner
April 9, 2015 – Vespers Service
On this blustery night we welcomed Pastor Dave, Sue and Anna (from Nassau Presbyterian Church), and Linda and David (our Bethany House parents). After lots of good food from China Boys Restaurant and fantastic brownies baked by Sue, David gave a short presentation on community gardens and Linda led our discussion on the Bethany House Community Garden for this year. We are planning to do some new things and will post more about them. Afterwards we headed to Trenton Social and met up with friends, including Erin from Lawrence Road House.
February 26, 2015 – Vespers Service
We gathered tonight at Lawrence Road House, where we enjoyed Jim’s beef stew (reappearing after Bethany House’s orientation dinner back in November 2011), tabbouleh, bread, oranges, and brownies. After checking in with each other, we discussed Chapter Two (Dis-Grace) of Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle, which we are reading (slowly) this year. Pastor Nina led our discussion on sin, shame, and grace.
February 5, 2015 – Vespers Service
The Bethany House residents prepared tonight’s dinner, which ended up feeding 16 people; our special guests from the Presbytery of New Brunswick were Paul, Michelle, Mark, and Brad. The Italian-themed dinner featured fettuccine alfredo with ribbons of zucchini and carrot, chicken, garlic bread, roasted cauliflower and grapes, salad, and pastries from Italian Peoples Bakery in Chambersburg.
We ate so well and shared how each of us is serving in greater Trenton and living in community at Bethany House and Lawrence Road House. A common theme was that living where we are serving is helping us form deeper connections to the people we serve and the work we do.
September 4, 2013 – Vespers Service
September 4, 2013 was a historic day for intentional community life in the Trenton area. The residents of Bethany House for 2013-2014 (Amy, Dan, Hannah, Joe, Kaysha, and Stephanie) had their first Vespers Service, along with Courtney, Danielle, and Jeffrey, the founding residents of a new house of hospitality created – in three weeks! – by the Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church in Lawrenceville. We are so happy to have a sister house and excited about our communal life in the coming year.
Lawrence House and Pastor Nina, its Chaplain-Coordinator, warmly welcomed the Bethany House residents plus Pastor Karen, David, and Linda with hearty chili, rice, and salad (and brownie cookies, ice cream, and strawberries for dessert). We ate and shared both positive and challenging experiences of living in community, in preparation for future discussions on the covenants that will govern each house this year.
Our commissioning will be on September 15, 2013 at 3 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church (1140 Greenwood Avenue, Trenton). We hope to see you there!
Bethany House of Hospitality 