From the December, 1999, UPBEAT newsletter:
"The Pastoral Nominating Committee is very excited to inform our members that we have found the pastor we believe is the perfect match for Bethel Presbyterian Church. Neil Mulock will be the speaking candidate on Sunday, December 12. Neil comes to us from South Dakota, where he is currently serving three churches. Neil has followed a natural calling to ministry, as his grandfather and uncle are also in the ministry. His wife, Judy, currently living in Waterloo, is also an ordained minister who serves as chaplain at Covenant Medical Center. They have two grown children, as well as two grandchildren, all living in South Dakota. Neil is very excited about moving to Waterloo and serving Bethel Presbyterian Church. He is a gifted speaker, whose sermons are biblically based. He possesses a great sense of humor, works well with all age groups, and has a friendly demeanor which welcomes all. Please join us on December 12 to hear Neil's message and welcome him to Bethel Presbyterian Church. "

Sunday, January 3, 2000, was Pastor Mulock's first time in pulpit as Bethel's pastor. Pastor Mulock was duly installed at Bethel on February 13, 2000. A brunch was held to honor the Mulocks. He said his nickname is Skip and he would like to be called Pastor Skip.

This year our mortgage balance on the new addition was down to $23,698.14; and our total mission giving was over $10,000. At the PW’s Birthday Offering, one of our own youth, Amanda (Mandy) O'Connell was the speaker. She told of a mission trip she had taken to work in Mexico. Mary Ellen Uhlenberg was another youth who went on a mission trip this year.

"Lighthouses for Christ" was started with Ted Abkes as chairman. This program works to spread the good news of salvation through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The group distributed 500 flyers throughout the neighborhood, inviting our neighbors to our church. One of their projects was a couple of "Pack the Pews" Sundays.
Money for the engraving of the new plaques for the Memorial Board was donated by the Deacons. The Deacons also started placing a single rose on the altar for each newborn baby in the congregation. After the service, the rose is presented to the family.

"Under His Wings" is a new quartet formed by Mary Huffman, Dave Kirschman, Trudy Stewart, and Randy Walton. They provide special music during some Bethel services as well as traveling to perform in other churches and even in out-of-town shopping malls.

The Mulocks have become a vital part of our church family. They joined the chancel choir. Pastor Skip led a Bible study on Mondays and an adult Sunday school class. He began a monthly program called "God at the Movies" on Sunday evenings. The congregation and friends bring their own beverages, popcorn is provided, and after watching a currently popular movie, discussion takes place critiquing it from a biblical point of view.

Pastor Judy sometimes preaches in our pulpit and at other churches. She serves as moderator of the session in churches when needed. Judy continues her work as chaplain at Covenant, and is a member of the Commission on Ministry.

In 2001 the Daughters of Eve Circle began meeting in some of the homes of young women. Five members came together to start this circle_ Chairperson Shannon Melcher, Melanie Distler, Michelle Holliman, Chrissy Johnson and Sarah Langner. They had Bible study, planned mission projects, and shared fellowship in their meetings. They staffed the nursery on Sunday mornings during church service. In October they hosted a chili supper and "Pumpkin Party" where at least 12 little ones were grouped for a photograph.

A "Clavinova" was purchased with funds from the memorials for Weir Uhlenberg and Bob Weber. Placed in the choir loft, this electronic instrument can provide sounds of many other different instruments either singly or in orchestra form. The number of combinations is phenomenal in the hands of the various talented music staff and congregation members including the youth.

Early in 2002 a Centennial Committee was formed beginning with the Deacons who invited anyone in the congregation who was interested to join in the planning for the 10Oth year celebration. Sonya Snyder is the general chairperson. The work has been divided for committees so that more can be accomplished before that historic day. These committees are:

Centennial Banner above the entrance on 4th St. - Janis Moore. Centennial Banner in the Sanctuary - Shannon Melcher, Sonya Snyder
Centennial Bookmarks: Mark Lang
Centennial Choir: Ken Tressler, Mary Huffman, Trudy Stewart.
Centennial Cookbooks: Maxine Cagley, Rachel Goings
Centennial Dinner: Dave & Sonya Snyder
Centennial History: Cindy Hershberger, Anita Keve, Vicky Tambornino
Member and former member contact - Phyllis Kirschman, Eleanor Tjepkes
Centennial Picnic: Craig Walton
Centennial Printing Materials: Dave Snyder

It was decided to have the cookbooks published by fall so they could be given as Christmas presents. More would be ordered later for the Centennial Celebration in July. The plan is to have a cookout at the adjacent church property and a Sunday worship service with a dinner following. It was also decided to have a special event every third Thursday of the Centennial year. These would be times of fellowship including dinner and a program for our congregation and sponsored by small groups within the church.

This year Bethel had the Festival in the spring rather than the fall. It was a big success. The result was over $4,000.00 for mission and Bethel needs.

On July 7, a special potluck was held after church to celebrate Pastor Skip's 25 years of ordination, and also, to kick off the centennial year activities.

This year the Deacons sent out 107 cards, made 109 visitations, and served 854 communicants. Each deacon was entrusted with a group of members to be Pastoral Partners. This is a new program to develop relationships within the congregation in order to better understand individual needs and minister to our church family in prayer and action.

In October 350 lbs. of food were collected by the congregation for World Food Day. In addition the CROP walk netted $684.00 for the eight Bethel walkers. Bethel Church also participated in World Peacemaking Day and in the Christmas Joy offering.
As of December 31, 2002, the mortgage was down to $16,158.53. The mortgage was burned (i.e. paid in full) in 2003.

Being the Centennial year, 2003, Pastor Skip, the Sunday Church School Superintendent Anita Keve, and the Christian Education Committee supported the idea of a "one room school" for classes. The attendees were from second to sixth grades. They enjoyed learning new songs while singing along with a CD provided by Pastor Skip. The curriculum was based on Bible stories geared to different age groups. The older children read the passages, discussion took place with all participating, and activity sheets with varying difficulties were provided for the students.

Vacation Bible School was hosted in June at Bethel. First Presbyterian of Waterloo and First Presbyterian of Cedar Falls joined us in a Lighthouse Kids program. A lighthouse facade was built for the entrance at the parking lot so the kids could enter through the lighthouse door. In addition to the children belonging to the three churches, some neighborhood children also attended.

Also, in June, permission was given to Ms. Susan Potwin, of the Neighborhood Association, to use Bethel property adjacent to the church. Women from the correctional facility in Waterloo will plant and tend a garden. These women are in need of opportunities to learn social and work skills. Currently twenty women are in the program ranging in age from 21 to 45 years. All produce from the garden will be donated to the Cedar Valley Food Bank or other mission groups.

With the world being in upheaval because of terrorist attacks, including that at the World Trade Center in 2001, lighting of the peace candle with prayer became a regular part of the service at Bethel. Seven or more church family members had someone deployed in the armed forces during the war with Iraq. They were honored with their pictures on a bulletin board made by the Daughters of Eve circle. They are remembered and prayed for in our Sunday worship service.

During 2003 the Centennial Committee mailed flyers to members, former members and friends of Bethel announcing the events of the Centennial Celebration, asking them to respond if they plan to attend.

Ambassadors, members who attended when the church was at Wellington and Second St. will greet and get old friends together. Their name tags will be different from the others for easy identification. At the cookout on Saturday and at the Centennial Dinner on Sunday, a table displaying scrapbooks of Bethel, made by Phyllis Kirschman, and various other mementos of Bethel's past will be available for viewing.

A letter was mailed to current and former choir members to be a part of the Centennial Choir. They will sing during services on Sunday, July 6, 2003. Communion will be served.

Former Bethel pastors Rev. Fred Graham, Rev. Earle McCrea, and Rev. David Lenz will take part in the service on Sunday. At this writing Bethel is eagerly awaiting this celebration with church family and friends.

After the Centennial Celebration, events will continue; some are a Bible study on Friday nights during the summer. Stephen Keve will facilitate sessions on "Wrestling with Angels", a 20 minute tape with various Christian authors discussing their personal "wrestling experiences."

On July 12, members of Bethel First Congregational, Trinity Lutheran, and First United Methodist churches (4th Street Churches) will join in Washington Park for "Neighbors in the Park" from 4-7 p.m.

July 15 the Daughters of Eve Circle will have a potluck barbecue. This will be a time of fun and fellowship for its members and their families, with the hope that others will come, get to know them and get familiar with the circle. Hopefully, some may want to be a part of the Daughters of Eve Circle and join.

The July Third Thursday fellowship dinner and program will be July 17th. Lora Schneider will portray Mary, the mother of Jesus, telling us about her life.

Bethel will be adding a second service on Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. with praise music and a more contemporary style. Randy Walton will be leading the praise team as he and Pastor Skip along with the Worship Committee try a new style of worship for Bethel.

Bethel Church's Fellowship, Membership, and Evangelism Committee has a new mission team. These people have been ordained either as elder or deacon. They go in pairs to give Communion to members who are unable to attend church. The visits are made on the first Sunday of each month, the same day that the congregation receives Communion in the morning service.

Over the last 25 years, our church has many people taking part in Bethel and Presbyterian work. Flora Uhlenberg has been Bethel's Mission Advocate to Presbytery. She and Anna Reimer have been honored as PW Life Members. Rachael Goings has been to the Church Wide Gathering of Presbyterian Women in Louisville, KY, and will be going again this year. Flora Uhlenberg and Clyde Knight have been honored as outstanding Senior Presbyterian. Many of our current members have been Commissioners to Presbytery. These include Ted Abkes, Wayne Black, Wayne Grimes, Clyde Knight, and Byron Lesch. Some faithful (present and former) adult Sunday school teachers include Wayne Black, Dean Jagger, Glenn Tjepkes, Stephen Keve, Byron Lesch, Gary Scoggin, Pastor David Lenz, and Pastor Skip Mulock.

Bonnie Brown has been Bethel's secretary for 43 years and Ken Tressler has been music director for 36 years. God has blest Bethel because of their faithfulness and consistency of service.

The Christian Education committees and Sunday School Superintendents, VBS leaders, WNL teachers, Youth leaders, and all teachers of our youth are too numerous to mention here, but they are all appreciated for the work they do in the name of the Lord.

Bethel Presbyterian is a friendly, vital, mission-minded church with close fellowship and a large number of people who tithe. We are looking forward to the future of Bethel and hope we will continue to follow Jesus Christ's commandments to "Love God" and "Love thy neighbor."

Throughout Bethel's history, the congregations have been very strong in mission giving. For many years we have had Christian events with other churches and other denominations.