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Bethany Presbyterian steps out in community to help

BRIDGETON - One church’s day to get everyone off the pews and out in the streets helping people was so successful, they’re going to do it once a year ... possibly more.

Bethany Presbyterian Church’s Pastor Robin Weinstein and congregation skipped last Sunday’s sermon and singing to serve God on Bridgeton’s streets as part of its Faith-in-Action Campaign.

One crew helped clean Pearl Street, netting a total of 10 bags of trash, another helped with bake sales and face painting, and others helped at the “Yours for the Taking” free yard sale, which had furniture, knickknacks, lots of clothing, crutches, shoes, toys and even one computer.

The donation box for a local food bank raised about $323, as well.

“God is amazing; He’s the one who pulled this all together,” said Dianne Johnson, a Bridgeton resident and congregation member at Bethany.

She added that the church should go out and serve the community more often “and not necessarily on Sunday mornings, but through the whole week.

“We’re not just to be pew warmers, but have to go out into the community and help each other.”

Many of the congregation would agree that Faith-in-Action should be done more often.

“With the success that we’ve had today, I would think this is something we’d probably do once a year,” said Upper Deerfield resident Bill Kies, who is a longtime member of the church. “It’s amazing how many people we’ve touched today, especially with South Jersey Healthcare being here to screen people.

“That’s a great outreach for the community.”

Camden’s Cooper Hospital System and Memorial Hospital of Salem County were also on hand at the event, offering blood pressure screenings, blood sugar screenings, cholesterol screenings, bone density screenings, medication cards and other information.

Kies helped set up and worked at the yard sale Sunday morning with many other church members and volunteers….