The Applause of Giving
by Pastor Dan Baumgartner
After a long stretch of standing and singing we plopped down in our chairs and the worship leader said, with obvious pleasure, “Now it’s time for us to worship God by bringing our offering to Him.” Immediately, the entire congregation broke out in spontaneous applause and “Hallelujahs!” I looked around, startled. Had I missed something? more

Lessons Learned in Honduras
by Gina Morgan
We are a dangerous bunch: We have close to 40 years of overseas experience between us. Four of us speak near-perfect Spanish. What could God possibly teach us? more

Single Moms Walk Side by Side
by Lisa Anderson
Our stories are painful, each unique, and yet we hear so much of ourselves in each other’s struggles. But we also have witnessed God’s transforming grace... more

How You Can Help Single Moms

• Help with home fix-it projects
• Car maintenance or repair
• “Big Brothers” to the (numerous) adolescent sons we are raising
• Childcare help for our meetings

Contact Lisa Anderson.

Advent Carols Give Voice to Our Hope and Longing
by Gary Talbert
Advent carols speak of waiting for Christ’s birth, His second coming, or His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (for this, too, was an anticipated Advent of Christ the King.) And we'll have a special opportunity to worship with these carols and readings at 5 pm Sunday, Nov 27. Come remember and anticipate with us the Lord’s coming as we enter the season of waiting. more

Meet the Staff: Virgil Owens
by Gail Beran Neils
Virgil began working at Bethany over five years ago. A PACCAR Operations Analyst at night, he took on the 20 hour/week job of Facilities Administrator by day, after being introduced to it by his previous colleague, our custodian Bernardo Reyes.

As Facilities Administrator, Virgil has a lot of tasks on his hands: care for all the details of maintaining Bethany’s main building and the three houses that serve its staff, youth, and intentional community. In addition, Virgil handles emergencies and remodels. Who can forget the sewer problems of last year, or fail to appreciate this year’s remodeled kitchen and new carpet in 3 Howe? On the side, Virgil also holds one more “hat”—staff Computer Manager, which invites frequent cries of “Virgil!” from all corners.

Apart from four years of college in Montana, where he majored in Fine Arts, Virgil has always lived in Seattle. He worked a variety of jobs after college—including teaching pottery at a private school—before finding his job at PACCAR, where he has worked for 26 years.

On the side, Virgil likes watching movies and being a “student of life.” His favorite movies are sci-fi fantasy, particularly "Lord of the Rings," "Star Wars," and "Batman." Having grown up in a family with five children (four of whom are girls), Virgil is blessed with a large extended family. This includes six nieces and nephews, and four great-nieces and great-nephews. Virgil keeps up with his two daughters, who currently live in Georgia.

If you need to get in touch with Virgil, he can be found at Bethany from 8 am-1 pm, Tuesday-Friday, or email him at virgilo@bethanypc.org.

So, where’s my Bethany directory?
by Jennifer Streenstra
Thanks to everyone who’s contributed a photo and updated address/contact information. We’re now putting it all together and hope to have our new directory available around the first of the year. Look for more information in the weeks/months ahead.

We will be taking donations to help offset production costs. One directory will be available per household, and we encourage all Bethany members and regular attendees to pick one up.

Why a directory? This information is intended to help keep our Bethany family connected—connecting a name with a face, connecting a face with a phone number. This information is not intended or made available for non-Bethany related solicitations or bulk mailing lists in any way.

Thanks again for your participation. If you’d like to help with distribution, contact Jennifer Steenstra.

Gifts for Guests of Wednesday Night Dinners
We are collecting the following items for Wednesday Night Dinner guests for Thanksgiving and Christmas:

• warm coats, preferably waterproof coats & large men’s sizes.
• toiletry items: shampoo, deodorants, razors/shavers
• gloves and scarves, preferably men’s large sizes

Please mark the items “Wednesday Night Dinner” and place in the main office on Sundays. -- Janet Moore

On the calendar
Children-Youth Choir for 4th-9th graders
Tuesdays, Nov 1-29, 5-6 pm Sanctuary
Dinner is provided from 6-7 pm for middle schoolers staying through for youth group. The Children-Youth Choir will lead in morning worship services on Sun, Dec 4.

Sunday School Leadership Team meeting
Wed, Nov 16, 9:30-11:00 am, Room 201

Advent Choir
Rehearsals 7 pm Wednesdays beginning Nov 16
Choir retreat 9-noon Sat, Nov 19
You are invited to join the Bethany Choir for an Advent Season filled with inspirational music in an atmosphere of fellowship,
ministry and worship. The Advent Choir will participate in services:

• Sun, Nov 27 (pm)
• Sun, Dec 11 (am)
• Sun, Dec 18 (am & pm)
• Sat, Dec 24 (optional)

No audition required but prior choral experience important. Contact Gary Talbert at 284-2222 x 16, garyt@bethanypc.org or drop a note in his office box.

Stewardship Sunday
Nov 20

Thanksgiving Worship
10 am Thurs, Nov 24, Sanctuary

Special Advent Service
5 pm Sun, Nov 27, Sanctuary

Godly Play Advent Gathering
Tues, Nov 29, 6:30-8:30 pm at Julia Sensenbrenner’s home
This is a special evening for Godly Play worship leaders and doorkeepers. Join us for a simple soup & salad supper, fellowship, a story with wondering, and prayer.

Holiday Magic
Fri, Dec 2

Bethany Christmas Reception
Sun, Dec 11

The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge
Wed, Dec 14, 7:30 pm, Taproot Theater

Good Book Discussion: A Christmas Carol
Sun, Dec 18 Parlor
led by Pastor Dan Baumgartner

Christmas Eve Worship
5, 8 & 11 pm Sat, Dec 24, Sanctuary

Christmas Day Worship
10 am Sun, Dec 25, Sanctuary
Only one service Christmas Day

Women’s Retreat
Fri-Sun, Feb 10-12, 2006, Warm Beach

News & Notes
Parting the Waters
Thank you, everyone, for your help with the concert to assist victims of the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast Region. It was a great turnout and we were able to raise over $5,000 during the evening! The money will go to First Presbyterian Church of Baton Route, LA, and Mendenhall Ministries in Mississippi, both
reaching out to hurricane victims.

Births

• Asha Angeline Windus August 18, 2003
  (newly adopted child of Angie, Oct 2005)
• Simon James Vance October 23, 2005

Baptism

• Kellyn Louise Royston October 9, 2005

Session Notes
by Chuck McFarland
Session met on October 11. Kelly Pearson and Cal Uomoto pointed the Session to Christ. They read letters written by inmates from the NorthWest Immigration Detention Center which told of several detainees’ response to God’s love as well as gratefulness for the time spent worshipping with Cal on Sunday evenings.

Brian Ives delivered the treasurer’s report, showing a significant deficit (often the case heading into fall). The process for creating the 2006 budget was outlined and discussed.

There was discussion on areas of focus for the Session and some time spent talking about worship services for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The balance of our time together was spent in the sanctuary with the deacons, listening to a message from Pastor Dan,
praying, worshiping, and ordaining/installing new elders and deacons who had been out of town in June.