An Invitation: Reading Romans
Pastor Dan Baumgartner
We recently finished a sermon series on the Psalms we called “Honest Faith.” I’d like to now invite you to the next installment of reading scripture together at Bethany that I’m calling “Thinking Faith.” ...

The Sound of Gospel / Pastor Dan Baumgartner
Someone once said that “no one dies in general.” Death is very specific. And so Anne and I found ourselves in Preston, WA, a small town just east of Issaquah. Abbie Berry’s mom, Adra, had died, and folks were gathering in the local Baptist church to sing and laugh and cry and remember together. We didn’t know Adra, but we do know Abbie and so we gathered too...

Men's Breakfast is Served / John Chase
Men’s fellowship is making a big comeback at Bethany. I don’t think it ever went out of fashion, but more opportunities are currently in the works, beginning with a Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, May 30, 8:00-10:00 am. All Bethany men are invited to this time of food, fellowship, worship and conversation around the topic of “Living Authentic Faith in the Workplace.” ...

Families in Service 2009
As parents , we want to teach our children the joy of serving others, but it can sometimes be a challenge to find appropriate ways to serve together as a family. Throughout the summer of 2009, Bethany families will have many opportunities to do just that through a variety of Families In Service projects, activities and mission trips...

Learning an Awkward Trust / a conversation with Julie Anderton by Mary Cropp
It was something she “fell into” really. time Bethany member, Julie Anderton remembers working for many years as a youth leader with Young Life and engaging in ministry in a way not too unlike a chess-match; preparing the “pieces” of a meeting, placing programs into action, and praying that something good would happen...

Less of Me and More of Him / Jonathan Gerig
“Tha. Rote. Tha-Rote. Throat.” 15 Cambodian indigenous youth are trying to pronounce a newly learned English word. Nearly three months have gone by since I began teaching English and computer skills to 40-plus students ranging from 15 to 22 years old in a remote province of Cambodia, and everyone is still having trouble with their th’s. I can’t blame them...

Children's Ministries

Milestones in May
Each of our elementary classes has a “Milestones in Education” unit sometime during the year….for example, our 2nd graders have their “The Apostles Creed” milestone on three Sunday mornings: May 17, 24 and 31, during their normal 9:00 am Sunday school hour (9:20-10:20 am in the Parlor), and our 3rd graders have a four week unit on the Bible and then receive their Bibles. This year our 4th graders’ milestone will be a family environmental stewardship activity for all 4 th graders and their families on Saturday, May 9, from 9 am to 1:00 pm. We will be joining with Puget Sound Alliance – helping to clean up Lake Union and Portage Bay. Bring your own boat, or sign up with Chris Wilke right away at chris@pugetsoundkeeper.org to reserve a canoe or row boat or get a seat on a bigger boat with a captain! (Boats are going quickly!)

Pentecost Sunday
Since Pentecost is a very special day in the church year calendar, on Sunday, May 31, all three of our Godly Play classes (9 am kindergarten, 10:45 am Children and Worship, 10:45 am Gateways to Worship) will not meet so the children can worship with their families in the Sanctuary. Be sure to wear red!

Tips for helping your child have a meaningful worship experience will be handed out to parents on May 17 and 24.

Moving Up in May
May is the month when two of our children’s classes “move up” to the next grade class on Sunday mornings during the 9 am hour. On Sunday, May 10, our 5th graders will begin their “transition to Youth Ministry” class at 9 am in Fellowship Hall #1 (the class begins right at 9 am, not after Children’s Time). Then, on Sunday, May 17, our present 3rd graders will move up to their “4th/5th gender classes” after Children’s Time. The boys meet in 7 Howe, and the girls meet upstairs in Room 201.

Coming Soon
A new 5-hour/week job is opening in Children’s Ministry for a “Special Needs Coordinator.” Contact Dianne Ross for more information & an application.

On the Calendar
see interactive calendar for complete listing

Wednesday Night Dinner
Wednesdays in May, 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall

Choir Rehearsal
Wednesdays in May, 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Healing Prayer
Sunday, May 3 & 17, after the 5 pm service in the Sanctuary.

BPYG Variety Show
Fri, May 8, 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall

Prayer for Honduras
Sun, May 10, 12:15 pm in the Library

Special Guest Speaker: Dolphus Weary
Sunday, May 10, 9 & 10:45 am and 5 pm in the Sanctuary

Men's Breakfast
Sat, May 30, 8:00 am in the Fellowship Hall

Pentecost Sunday
Sun, May 31

Session Notes
Bethany's Session met on April 14, 2009. Dave Andersen pointed the group towards God with a devotional on "The Greatness of Christ."

• Steve Jones' financial report in absentia was optimistic for the first quarter, with giving fairly strong.
• Pastor Dan gave an update on Bethany staffing changes and challenges.
• Session split into pairs to walk the neighborhood, praying for the Bethany family and the broader community.
• Final allocations were voted on to complete our Housing Ministry Task Force support for New Life, Urban Impact, QA Helpline and Acts 4:32.

Conversation was held in small groups and large groups around issues of worship at Bethany raised by a recent task force that met with Lisa Hudson and Pastor Dan. Conversation to be continued. Prayer over Phil Mote, leaving Session as his family moves to Oregon.

News & Notes

Births

• Micah Caroline Starr March 23
• Freya Kathryn Swanson April 3
• Jack Matthew Eyler April 21
• Rachel Kathryn MacLean April 21