The Way of Jesus / Pastor Dan Baumgartner
War, nuclear fallout, starvation, hostility, the near annihilation of the human race...

Not Your Normal Annual Meeting
Pastor Dan Baumgartner
The Bethany sanctuary was full on Sunday, January 24th. Full of people, music, balloons, laughter, tears, numbers, skits and poignant moments...

New Tools, New Opportunities / Associate Pastor Todd Holdridge
Have you ever called a telephone number in the church directory (after spending 20 minutes trying to find the directory) only to discover that the number has changed?...

Great Reading Awaits You / Brad Ward
It's safe to say that books have a special place in the hearts of many Christians. A great book has the ability to transport us into a new narrative, to let us ponder the things of God, to leave a lasting imprint that no other media can...

Building Project Gathers Steam / Pastor Dan Baumgartner
The ball started rolling in Spring of 2009 when Bethany's session commissioned an engineering study which confirmed beyond doubt that our 1929 building (sanctuary, education wing/parlor and tower) needs a major seismic retrofitting to make it safe in case of severe earthquake...

Women's Retreat / Marisa Gronholz
The women of Bethany will go and be together at Camp Berachah in Auburn from April 23-25...

A Global Gathering: Reflections on Urbana '09 / Alex Pearson
“Hey you! Yeah you, I got something to tell ya!” These were the words that ushered me across an icy street in St. Louis to talk with Roger, a homeless man who has been gracing the streets of St. Louis with his presence for most of his adult life...

Urbana '09 / Yasmin Ravard-Andresen
The hearts of InterVarsity students at the UW are making room for God’s purposes in the world. Twenty-two students from our fellowship returned from Urbana ‘09 considering their whole life as mission, and knowing that how they live now dictates how they will live later...

Resources for Sabbath Keeping / Kimberlee Conway Ireton
Since I preached about Sabbath in October, many folks have come to me with questions, comments, and heartfelt expressions of desire and frustration about Sabbath keeping. So I wanted to share some additional resources with those of you who are interested...

Children's Ministries

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Mark your calendars and come as a family to the every other year “Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper” here at Bethany on Tuesday, February 16, from 5:15-6:15 pm. Shrove (“to confess”) Tuesday has been celebrated for centuries in the UK, Ireland and Australia. It takes place the day before Lent begins (Ash Wednesday) and is marked by the eating of pancakes. Historically, Shrove Tuesday began as people wanted to use up their sugar, eggs and fats, since they gave up these rich items for Lent.

An amazing team of men will cook us pancakes, as we mark the beginning of Lent and thus symbolically ”clear out” our homes of sugars and oils! You’ll also be able to choose a Lenten resource for your family to assist you in journeying toward Easter together. The “cost” to get in is to bring some non-perishable food items which we’ll donate to one of our partner ministries. Sign up on the poster near the stairway, or RSVP to Holly (sulajune@yahoo.com). Come enjoy this time of fellowship with other Bethany families and friends…this is a very kid friendly event! (you may even see some young children in pajamas!)

How do I get my child baptized?
This is definitely a “FAQ,” and here is the answer. First, determine if Bethany is where you want your child to be raised. We encourage people to be regular attenders of Bethany for at least 3-6 months before considering baptism so you are certain this is the church community in which you want your child to be nurtured in the faith. Then attend a baptism class for parents. You must attend a baptism class for parents that Pastor Dan teaches about once a quarter. The next class is Tuesday, March 2, and will take place from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Parlor.

To register for the class, please contact Children’s Ministry Assistant Holly Royston (sulajune@yahoo.com) to let her know you will be attending. Please also tell her if you will need childcare. At the class you will learn that we do baptisms on the 2nd Sunday of the month, at any of the three services. You will coordinate a date with Holly. If you have further questions, please contact Holly or Dianne Ross.

It's not too late to get some parenting helps!
The Love & Logic class has just begun, as Amy Wilson taught a group of Bethany parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends from preschools and co-ops this past Monday, January 25. The class continues on February 1, 8 and 22, and new drop ins are welcome. We meet in the Sanctuary from 7:00-8:30 pm with an optional “Q & A” from 8:35-9:00 pm.

Summer dates in Children's Ministries
Mark your calendar now: June 13 (last day of school year Sunday School), June 20 (first day of Summer Sunday School), July 9-11 (Gold Basin Camping Trip), July 19-23 (Vacation Bible School)

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

Alpha
Thursdays, February 4 - March 25, 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall

Evenings in the Parlor
Thurs, February 11, 7:00 pm in the Parlor

Ash Wednesday
Wed, February 17, 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Lenten Mid-Week Services
Wednesdays, February 24 - March 24, 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Love & Logic Parenting Class
Mondays, February 1, 8 and 22 in the Sanctuary

Bethany 101
Friday-Sunday, February 26-28 in the Parlor. Times vary.

Session Notes
The Bethany Session meeting on January 12 was overflowing with special guests, numbers and great thanksgiving!

Guests

• Janet Moore, Bethany Director of Social Services educated Session on ways to deal well with visitors who come to Bethany off the street and need extra attention.
• Mike Christensen, Facilities Director updated us on the progress of the seismic retrofit project (see article page 2).
• Greg Nelson, co-chair of the finance team for that retrofit project, came for an initial conversation with Session about capital campaigns, fundraising and options. Greg was involved in a similar campaign at Bethany in the 90’s for the Fellowship Hall project.

All three were immensely helpful to hear from.

Numbers

• We heard from Treasurer Dan Wickline about the
  phenomenal giving during the last three weeks of
  December that resulted in not only making up a large deficit but ending with a surplus to share with three previously announced ministry partners.
• We discussed the use and potential uses of our Acts 4:32 Fund, and will return to more of this conversation.
• We thought and prayed over the upcoming building
  project and financing.

Thanksgiving

At various points of the meeting, we stopped to thank the Lord for the Wednesday Night ministry, for the financial resources and generosity of our community, for particular ways and places God has shown up.

And along the way Ken Windus pointed us to Christ through the
Gospel of John, we talked and prayed in small groups, and shared laughter and one another’s company. A good evening, well spent.

News & Notes

Births

• Max Christian Wilhite January 10

Births

• Micah Caroline Starr January 10