The congregation of Bethel United Methodist Church in conjunction with the Bethel Cemetery Association invites everyone to attend it’s 59th Annual Lord’s Acre Sale on Saturday, October 16th. Festivities will kick off at noon with a free barbecue lunch, followed by the auction that will raise funds for the church, cemetery and the completion of the new Bethel Community Center.

“In the early days of the sale, acres of crops such as cotton were auctioned off. That’s how the sale got it’s name. Today the auction consists of new items and gift certificates donated by local businesses, homemade craft items, baked goods and things of that nature. There are always plenty of quality and delicious items to choose from and bid on,” said Bethel UMC member and this year’s Lord’s Acre coordinator Lisa Garcia.

Bethel UMC’s first Lord’s Acre Sale was held in 1952, under the leadership of Reverend James H. Ellison. This was the first Lord’s Acre Sale in the State of Texas and has become an annual event at this church, while the idea quickly spread to other churches throughout the state. Funds from Bethel’s original sale were used to move the parsonage from its old location, two miles from the church, to its present location on the church grounds. The parsonage was redecorated and landscaped, and permanent water was piped from a well some distance away. In addition, a section of the former Boz schoolhouse was purchased and moved to the church property. It was renovated and a modern kitchen and rest room facility was added, which became Bethel’s Fellowship Hall.

Today, 59 years later, the needs of the church as well as the surrounding community have outgrown the little restored school house building, and the Bethel congregation has a new goal of constructing the Bethel Community Center.

In addition to the auction, church members are selling raffle tickets for a handmade, queen size quilt for $1 per ticket. Tickets may be purchased in advance from individual church members, at Pearman Oil in Waxahachie, or the day of the sale at Bethel UMC. Bethel UMC is located in the Boz – Five Points area of Hwy 876 and Bethel Road.