St. Paul Healing the Cripple at Lystra by Dujardin, Karel. 1663.

Bethany Sermons

The Book of Acts

What was God doing as the early church was formed, and how might that shape us as a community today? Beginning July 11 through the month of November we will experience some fascinating twists and turns in as we walk through the book of Acts. If we ask the right questions, we might find some surprising answers as well.

If you are interested in hearing some of the sermons from Bethany's worship services, click here. If you would prefer to browse some of the topics first, click here.

"What Pastor Dan Said..."
Baumgartners Will Move This Fall

end of service, Sunday July 4, 2010
This followed a sermon entitled, "Holy Moments."

Please be seated.

I need to tell you about one other Holy Moment I had a couple months ago. It is actually part of a much bigger story with many other moments, but I need to tell you this one. You know I often journal things, and I want to read you part of what I wrote about Wednesday March 17th:

I decided to go over to Top Pot and grab a 2nd cup of coffee and a donut. It was a nice morning, about 8:30am or so. I walked the length of the Bethany campus heading south, (past the sanctuary, along the lawn). I crossed the Avenue at Blaine, heading down towards Howe Field. As far as I can remember, I wasn’t thinking about…anything in particular. But I received this strong, clear thought that felt like “You know, your days at Bethany are drawing to a close.” What was that?! It came a second time, with what felt like some certainty. Gentle, but clear: “Your days at Bethany are drawing to a close.” When I shared that with Anne, she didn’t seem at all surprised, but… “I’m sensing that as well.”

That was a holy moment. And a hard moment.

Well…that was God’s still small voice, and I need to tell you this morning that it is true. It’s very surprising to us, but Anne and I will be moving this fall, finishing at Bethany in early October. We’re going to California…in fact, to Los Angeles…in fact, to Hollywood…and I will pastor the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood.

In the truest sense of the word, this is a “call.” It was certainly nothing we were looking for, or ever thought we would do. If you know Hollywood Pres, you might know that they have had a very difficult ten years, with lots of turbulence. But it seems that they are now ready to start an important new chapter, and that we are to play a part in that.

You need to know that it is nothing about Bethany. All of my pastor friends are filled with envy that I get to be a pastor here! Bethany is in great shape. People are learning and growing, outreach is happening, there is an amazing group of people here, staff and elders and others with great leadership gifts and experience. Bethany has never been about one person…it’s a community following Jesus. I have absolutely no worries- Bethany will be a wonderful community for years to come.

Anne and I have been praying for the last couple months: Lord, if this is from you, 1) would you make it really, really clear and 2) would you make it clear to BOTH of us. And that has definitely happened, and we’re grateful for that. We are excited about what God is doing and might do in us and through Hollywood Pres, and here in the next chapter at Bethany.

But we’re also using up boxes of Kleenex crying and trying to imagine leaving. Fortunately it won’t happen until October. I’m here this month, we’ll have some vacation in August, I’m here in September, and then I’ll probably finish the first week or so of October. We will move in November.

I’m sorry to shock you with this. I wish I could have talked with each one of you. But you are our family, and we love you and want to treasure the time we have remaining here.

We’re supposed to end the service, but I’m not sure how to do that. So let’s sing one more song…

If you want to talk or pray with someone this morning, there are still elders or deacons available here. And some of our staff and elders have made themselves available in the Lobby and Fellowship Hall. Anne and I are going to head over to the Fellowship Hall as well.

Receive now the benediction. Zephaniah 3:17.

From the August Briefs...

Transitions / Pastor Dan Baumgartner
Shock. That was my first response when Anne and I began to feel that our time at Bethany was coming to a close...

A Cup Runneth Over
Chuck Gould
Anyone privileged to serve with the Wednesday night dinner crew will be blessed by the experience. I have no doubt that Jesus is at Bethany on Wednesday nights...

For Men Only: Navigating Midlife
Mark Cutshall
A few Bethany men have already begun talking openly and honestly with each other about hitting midlife and the grinding (and graying) realities that hit back. What began as a conversation between two guys in a hurried hallway between services last winter is now an open invitation...

Bethany Youth Mission Trip
Missy Lein
Service, dance party, bump, devotions, reflection, sleeping in the same room with 49 other people, pinkberry, homelessness, prayer, gratitude, hiking, joy, community...what do all these things have in common? BPYG mission trip!...

Stewardship Notes
In the interest of avoiding major financial need at year end and knowing we will soon be fundraising for the seismic retrofit, Session wants to keep you informed of Bethany's finances. While deficits are common early in the year, our decrease in overall giving from a year ago is a concern (see June Briefs for more information). Questions? Contact Dan Wickline, Treasurer (dan.a.wickline@gmail.com), or Janette Plunkett, Stewardship elder (janplu@comcast.net).