another thing at bethel i just remembered reading through the posts was the annual 'family' day. I attended 2 of them during my stay at canadian bethel and they were absolutely AWESOME. It was the one day that true creativity, excitement, freedom, enjoyment, happiness, diversity, risk-taking even, was allowed and encouraged - it ROCKED!
I also am posted for Feb 22, 2004 on this site. http://www.freeminds.org/bethel/bethelguest.htm
To me, I also loved dish duty - it was hard work with a bunch of really fun people - it was a blast and got you out of other duties or meetings whether at your assigned congregation, or the monday night wt study. We joked, sang, giggled, laughed, raced each other in setting up the dishes - a good time and always a good sleep after.
When we were going to leave bethel, we did so under good circumstances, so the bros including some on the branch committe were very kind and loving towards us. We were given going away parties by our departments, a special pre-lunch drinky poo with one of the b committee bros, special seating at the head table during lunch on one of our last days there. It was a special and loving departure treatment - take it or leave it we all know there are many people who are kind and sincere in the org like in any other group. Of course, if we would have left for one of the non-acceptable reasons, things likely would have been different - sigh.
boa