Power of One / Pastor Dan Baumgartner
Okay, it’s a new year. As a congregation, there are some things we already know about 2010. We already know that this year will see us moving ahead with major fundraising and a required seismic retrofit of our old building. We already know of worship services, classes, mission trips and partnering in ministry that will go on through our Bethany community...

Alpha / Bill Nagel
If you have attended Bethany for very long, you've heard about Alpha, and if you've been to Church recently, you've likely also heard the inspiring testimonials that have been given by past Alpha-goers. Still, if you haven't actually been involved in Alpha before you're probably asking yourself just what Alpha is all about, and whether it something that God is asking you to be a part of...

Arts at Bethany / Larry Chen
Arts at Bethany is not necessarily about art with a capital “A.” Two of the things I love about how art is presented at Bethany is how there can be many artists involved in a themed project, and how all the art is genuinely “approachable.” ...

Bearing Witness / Jennifer Steenstra
Dean was 86 years old when he died this summer. He was married to my mother for 25 happy years. Their love ran deep. God’s love ran deeper still...

What Questions About God Have Brought You Here?
Mae & Alex Moore, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
In early October , groups of students on campuses around the northwest found themselves faced with this question. They were at the first meeting of The God Experiment, a month-long opportunity to explore spiritual life...

The Gift of Rediscovering Your Story / Mark Cutshall
What are the stories of your life that truly matter? What are the stories of God at work in you, stories that, as you tell them naturally, can open up the life and love of Jesus to a listening friend, a curious child, or an interested colleague--and perhaps even change your life? ...

Did You Know?
...Bethany has three worship services on Sundays? Our 5 PM service can easily be overlooked. The main components of the service are the exact same as in the morning (sermon, scriptures, most music). But the feel is entirely different. Evening, candles and fewer people lend a more contemplative flavor to the service. Prayer times are a bit more intimate with smaller numbers. Additionally, we share in the Lord’s Supper every Sunday night.

For a number of people, the 5 PM is their regular service and community. For others, it is a nice option when they have been out of town for the weekend but are back by Sunday evening. Childcare is available each week for up-to-five-year olds.

The music for Sunday nights is usually one leader as opposed to the ensembles in the morning. Jennie Rose Wilson and Tara Chase have been our much-appreciated leaders most of the year. Last month, Kurt Dyhrsen and Tara began rotating music leadership on Sunday evenings.

Church Community Builder / Assoc. Pastor Todd Holdridge
The leadership at Bethany has been working to provide a better communication tool...

Children's Ministries

Love & Logic for Parents!
ALL parents of children up to ageare invited to our four week Love and Logic class with Amy Wilson on Monday nights in the sanctuary. Cost is only $10.00 per person for the whole course (quite the deal) so that you can pay for babysitters for your children at home and still attend!

Come from 7:00-8:30 pm on January 25, February 1, 8 and 22 (March 1 is our snow date if needed). There will be a Q and A from 8:30-9:00 pm each week for those who wish to stay later. You may register by returning the registration form you receive in the mail; or paying on the first night. You are encouraged to invite friends, neighbors, relatives to this very practical, helpful and often humorous class. Questions? Contact Holly Royston at sulajune@yahoo.com.

3rd Grade Milestone: Bible Unit
Sundays, Jan 17, 24, 31 & Feb 7 (9 am), and Wed, Feb 3 from 4:00-5:00 pm
Our third graders will begin their very special month long Bible Milestone Unit on Sunday, January 17.class, taught by elder Christy Mansfield and Kylie Kypreos, will continue on Sunday mornings during the 9:00 am hour on January 24, 31 and will culminate in the children receiving their Bibles on February 7. The children will meet with Pastor Dan on Wednesday, February 3, from 4:00-5:00 pm to learn how he studies the Bible, and how it is central in worship. Please be praying for our children, that God will use this course to deepen their love for God’s Word. Questions? Contact Christy Mansfield at christymansfield@
hotmail.com.

Baptism Class for parents of young children
Tues, Jan 5, from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Parlor
In order to have your child baptized here at Bethany Presbyterian church, you must have been attending Bethany for at least 3-5 months, and attend a “baptism class”. Our next class is Tuesday, January 5, from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Parlor with Pastor Dan. Please contact Children’s Ministry Assistant Holly Royston (sulajune@yahoo.com) if you plan to attend, and please also let her know if you’ll need childcare.

Annual Meeting - Kids' Party!
Sun, Jan 24, from 5:00-6:45 pm - beginning in 2 locations.
The children are in for a treat on Sunday, January 24, from 5:00-6:45 pm.…during the Congregation’s annual meeting.

• Children who are 4 - 10 years old will begin in the Sanctuary with their parents, and at 5:30 pm will leave to go to the Parlor for a fabulous puppet show led byGreider family. There will also be music and activities centered on the theme “Happy Birthday to our Church”.
• Children ages 2 & 3 will begin at 5:00 pmthe Cherub room (think Puffins) and will join the puppet show and return to their room for pick up.

Parents are asked to register their children by January 17. This may be done by either signing up your child on the sheet on the main bulletin board (on the stairway) or emailing Dianne (dianner@bethanypc.org) so we can ensure adequate numbers of childcare workers. Childcare for infants and toddlers will be in their normal nursery rooms.

If you would like to volunteer to work with the children or in the nurseries, please contact Dianne. We’ll all end the eveningenjoying a great dinner together with our whole church family in Fellowship Hall — complete with birthday cake!

On the Calendar
see interactive calendar for complete listing

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

Healing Prayer
1st Sunday of the month after the 10:45 am service on the Sanctuary balcony
3rd Sunday of the month after the 5 pm service on the Sanctuary balcony

Evenings in the Parlor
Thurs, January 14, 7:00 pm in the Parlor

Annual Congregational Worship, Meeting & Fellowship Time
Sun, Jan 24, 5 pm in the Sanctuary

Love & Logic Parenting Class
begins Mon, Jan 25 (continues Feb 1, 8, 22)

College Retreat
Fri-Sun, Jan 29-31 in LaConner

Session Notes

The Session gathered for the monthly Session meeting on Tuesday, November 8th, in the Parlor. This was a great time of fellowship and business. Matt Royston shared with us his progress toward ordained ministry and and the group supported his next step, moving to "candidacy."

Mark Russo pointed us toward Christ, asking us to think about where God is with us in our daily life. We also spent some time worshipping by candlelight in the Sanctuary.

The rest of the business portion of the meeting was spent reviewing the 2009 budget, discussing and approving a 2010 budget, and reviewing the current status of our seismic project.

News & Notes

Births

• Jacinda Louise Jedde November 17
• Reese Arville Edwards December 15