| A Special Opportunity to Serve |
Minister to Bethany's Very Special Adults
The Friendship Class is a faith community designed for adults with disabilities. New leaders are needed soon to work with these loving and giving adults. No experience is required. You will share God's love using a simple teaching plan and lead them in growing in their knowledge of the Lord. We would like to develop a team of leaders to serve in this important ministry and share the teaching opportunity. Visit the class at 9am on any Sunday in the conference room to see how you might serve. You will be blessed.
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| Children's Camp Memories |
The mountain was conquered! Adventure Mountain 2008 Children's Camp was a blast! The 3rd and 4th graders had an awesome journey learning about God through an interactive journey with Moses all week long. Kids and leaders experienced God in His great creation. There was a giant slip-n-slide, lots of water balloons, swimming, and mud, mud, mud! We shot archery, hiked, boulder climbed, and explored all around the cool pines of Prescott. We sang, danced, and rocked out during worship. We had great discussions, lessons, and prayer in our small groups. The fun continued with campfires, night games and stargazing. Memories were made, relationships were built, Jesus was glorified! What an adventure...
"The final day of camp held a funny moment for me. I was helping one child pack his bag. All the clothes, clean and dirty, swim trunks, towel, sun block, toothbrush, Bible, even his pillow - all into one small, crammed bag! Finally, I ask whatever happened to the two filled water balloons he had been carrying around. He answers very honestly, 'I put them in my bag.' To everyone's amazement, they were in the bottom of his bag and yes they were still intact, filled with water and ready to take home a little part of the camp experience!"
-Kevin Kramar, Bethany Volunteer Camp Counselor
"My favorite part of camp was going on all the hikes and watching my girls catch little creatures!!! Every waking second of free time we were either hiking, catching bugs, or hiking to a creek to catch bugs."
-Grace Hoover, Bethany Volunteer Camp Counselor  | |
| Christmas in July |
 Matthew 25 Sunday - July 13
On Sunday, July 13, you will have an opportunity to serve Jesus by supporting the Los Niños of Guadalupe ministry. This ministry collaboration among several East Valley churches meets every second Saturday on the Bethany campus and currently serves approximately 50 children ages three to fourteen from the Town of Guadalupe.
Los Niños plans to take a different approach to gift giving this Christmas. The girls want to learn to crochet. A scarf is a small enough project to complete successfully, learn a skill, and hopefully learn to appreciate the value of their work enough to take good care of it. In the same manner, the kids like to ride bikes, yet they don't know how to take care of their equipment. Below is a list of items this ministry will use to introduce new skills in conjunction with lessons on how God expects His people to take care of the world He created for us. To relieve some of the pressure of additional expenses in December and to celebrate the joy of giving in July, Bethany can help by donating these items for the 2008 Los Ninos Christmas Fiesta.
Crayons
Coloring Books
Water Colors
Blank Paper
Play-doh
Yarn Skeins (U.S. Worsted Weight Yarn: 5 oz Red Heart with a crochet hook U.S. size I) preferred
Bike Tubes:12", 16", 18", 20", 24"
Bike Tools (Ultra Bike Tool by Bell) preferred
Bike Locks (Master Lock 6' LED Lighted Combo Lock) preferred
Bike Pumps (Schwinn Air Driver 1100 Deluxe Floor Pump with Gauge) preferred
A New Household Item (suitable for the adult raffle)
Questions? Contact Cindy Paul at copaul1@cox.net.
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." -Matthew 25:40 |
| Community Outreach |
 United Food Bank
On Sunday, June 8, Bethany's Friendship Class sponsored a food drive to help restock the bare shelves at United Food Bank. The people of Bethany generously brought in 130-140 grocery bags of food and other needed items. A hearty "thank you" from Community Outreach Ministries to all who helped in this effort.
I-HELP: Crossover Gets Involved
Cheryl Chamberlain and Betsy Carini have been busy getting faith communities involved in serving the homeless in Tempe through I-HELP. On June 3, Crossover provided a meal for the homeless guests at Grace Community Church. Jay Hendserson said, "We had such an amazing time. Our group played pool and ping pong and passed out Jesus stickers to the guests before we ate. After praying and serving dinner, we sat down and ate with guests. No one wanted to leave, but when we finally did we felt humbled. This experience reminded us of how blessed we are."
Crossover is already planning next month's menu.
Pick up a ministry list in the Information Center or check out the Community Outreach Web page for information on community ministries in which the people of Bethany are already engaged. If you are looking for suggestions on matching your passion with a service opportunity, please contact Bethany's Community Outreach Ministries Director, Peggy Levesque at plevesque@bethanycc.com.
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| International Outreach |
From a Land Far, Far Away... Called Papua New Guinea
Greetings to you all,
Hope you are doing well. There are a lot of exciting things happening in Mibu right now. We are just about finished teaching through Ephesians and it's going well. The people were especially excited to hear what God's word says about husband-wife relationships. Lord willing Geoff will be doing some topical teaching on child training in the next few months. Speaking of children, one of the Mibu believers, Posilongge, has taken the initiative in teaching the children in the village of Beng. He teaches every evening for one hour and kids of all ages are faithfully attending. We also have another man, Roifo, who is doing the Phase 1 teaching (creation-Christ) for a few men who missed it the first time around. He teaches on Saturdays and Sundays and they are about 1/3 of the way through. Lord willing we will be able to say that we have some new brothers in Christ in just a few months! It is so thrilling to see these dear people growing in their faith and being obedient with the knowledge they have. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry. We really appreciate your partnership.
Your hands,
Geoff, Shannon, Skyler & Madelyn
Kosova Celebrates Independence  Hello all Bethany members, We hope you are all well and each day blessed from the gifts of our God. We just want to quickly update you with things happening in Prishtina. February 17, Kosova declared independence from Serbia and since that day is known as the Republic of Kosova. Kosova has been recognized as the newest state in the world by 42 of the world's largest and important states. Living in Kosova is a blessing for us all, especially now that we are experienceing the independence that earlier and present generations fought for centuries to achieve. We hope from now on that our people will be more open for living by the Word as other doors for development begin to open. Please visit www.kosovothanksyou.com as we continue to celebrate our independence! In ministry, Areopag is becoming a place for study for our member-students. Since January 2008 we have 23 students who have become new Areopag users-members. Sincerely, Artan and Agnesa, your International Partners in the Republic of Kosova |
| Early Childhood Ministry |
 We have a staff change alert! Rebecca Johnston has moved from the part-time Early Childhood Director position to a full-time Ministry Assistant role. Robin Johnson has assumed the responsibilities of Early Childhood Director, in addition to her ongoing role as First Impressions Director. Robin is well qualified for this assignment, as she has over 20 years experience working in the early childcare profession both in the public school system and in the private sector. Her strengths lie in building and recruiting teams of volunteers and connecting them with the right resources and people so that they can grow in their areas of giftedness. Rebecca's strengths in the areas of  organization and information management served the Early Childhood Ministry well for the last 2 ½ years. In her new role, these strengths will continue to benefit Early Childhood (and Robin!), as well as many other ministry areas at Bethany. Rebecca and Robin, along with Children's Pastor Sheri Baltzer, are working to make these transitions as smooth and effective as possible. We are excited about these changes and look forward to how this newly formed team will move the Early Childhood Ministry into a strong and thriving future! |
| Student Life |
MSM Splash Pool Parties
 The Bethany middle schoolers will have Splash pool parties throughout the rest of the summer! Come enjoy some snacks and cool off in a refreshing pool at a student's house. For each Splash, guys should bring drinks or a dessert and girls should bring a snack or side dish.
Wednesday, July 16: Matt Smith's home
1517 W. El Alba Way. Chandler, AZ 85224
Wednesday, July 30: Maddy Gorman's house
2000 E. Magdalena Dr. Tempe, AZ 85283
Operation Renovation
Middle School Ministry is headed to the UMOM New Day Center in Phoenix, which offers emergency housing for homeless and low-income families as well as transitional housing for families and single women. The play area for the kids is in poor condition with lots of trash and many broken toys. MSM will be cleaning and getting the place lookin' nice! We will meet on Saturday, July 12, at Bethany at 7am (before it's too hot) - and return by 12pm. Just show up - we'll drive ya! Lunch and drinks are included and it's free. Students should wear comfortable beach clothes that can get dirty. If you have any cleaning supplies that we can use, please bring them. The center is in need of new or lightly used toys. If you have toys to bring or would like to purchase some new toys or outdoor equipment, please bring them or contact Josh Harper at jharper@bethanycc.com.
To learn more about the UMOM New Day Center, visit www.umom.org.
D-Backs Game & Stellar Kart Concert - Youth Faith Night
 Come see the Diamondbacks take on the Dodgers and afterwards stay for the concert with Stellar Kart - all at Chase Field in Phoenix! Students will meet at Bethany at 5pm Friday, July 18 and will return between 11pm-12am (students will call). The cost is only $15. Bring a friend that's new to MSM and they pay only $5! Cost includes ticket for the game, concert, and transportation. Students should bring extra money for food, souvenirs, etc. Register today! |
| Bethany Family Reunion |
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Mary Ann Asa's grandson and wife, Christopher and Jessica Williamson, lost their baby 5 months into the pregnancy, on June 1. The memorial service for baby David Raymond Williamson, was June 28. Please remember this family in prayer.
 Hope Marie Gellner, granddaughter of Robin and Keith Johnson was born on Father's Day, June 15 at 3:25am and she passed on to be with Jesus at 4:58am. She cried when she was delivered and even moved around a little (she was a fighter till the end). Parents Crystal and Eric Gellner and grandparents Robin and Keith need your prayers as they seek God's comfort and strength during this difficult time.
 Congratulations to Bethany member Dawn Hess! Her grandson, Tyler William Hess, was born April 19 to parents Sonya and Jason, siblings Kyle, Lexi, & Madison.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." -Romans 12:15 |
| Baptism for Adults and Children |
 Do you know the Bible clearly teaches that those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior should be baptized in water as a testimony of their faith? If you would like to be baptized on July 27, sign up in the Information Center on Sunday mornings or call to set up a time to meet with one of the pastors. If your child knows Christ as their personal Savior and is ready to be baptized, there will be a child baptism class on Sunday, July 13, at 10:45 am in D3. One parent must attend the class with his or her child. Sign-up is required.
Adults contact Mary Beth at mbcochran@bethanycc.com
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| Upcoming Events |
The Power of a Gratitude-Attitude
Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm in E6 This summer attend this four-week series by relationship expert Dr. John Townsend, psychologist and best-selling author. Learn practical tools for handling issues that are common to all relationships and to people of all ages. This series will be presented in a casual and friendly atmosphere with video and discussion time. Invite a friend. Registration is required for childcare and space is limited.
July 9: Thanks, I Deserve That! - Learn the benefit of gratitude over entitlement. July 16: That's Not Fair! - Discover how this attitude may be affecting you. July 23: View from the Top - See how your perspective affects your view of the world, your relationships, and how other view you. July 30: The Good Old Days - Life is every-changing, learn how to see the good in the new. Contact Mary Beth Cochran with questions mbcochran@bethanycc.com
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Summers End Camping
August 29 - September 1  Celebrate the end of summer Labor Day weekend, Friday thru Monday, with the Bethany church family. Enjoy with families and friends at Crook Group Campground near Woods Canyon Lake on the Mogollon Rim. Cost is $35 per camp site for all three nights. This is a beautiful campground in the tall pines, with picnic tables, fire rings, bbq and paved parking at each campsite as well as a beautiful group ramada and fire pit. Tents, pop-ups, trailers or RVs are all welcome. Space is limited to 30 camp sites so you'll need to register soon. Kathy Feruglio 480.831.5005 or kferuglio@bethanycc.com
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Crafty Chick Night July 24, 6-9pm in E6 Have you been putting off dealing with that pile of photos you want to scrapbook or do you have an unfinished project you want to complete? Maybe there is a skill you've been longing to master. Bring your favorite snack (we'll supply the drinks) and come hang out for our summer Crafty Chick Night. Even if you aren't crafty or don't want to be, you can still join in to eat and chat. See you there.
If you have a skill you'd be willing to teach please contact Robyn Dahl at rdahl@bethanycc.com. _____________________________________________________________________
FREE Self Defense Class for Women
Saturday, July 19, 9:30am-12pm in the H Building Have you ever wanted to learn some simple techniques that will help you become more aware of your surroundings and give you the ability to defend yourself? Women ages 14 and up are encouraged to attend. Remember to wear comfortable clothing.  You will learn how to: Escape from grabs & chokes Defend against guns & knives Make your home safe
Avoid dangerous situations
Avoid date rape
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10-Week Evening Fitness Program - Starts July 1  Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30pm in building H This program focuses on providing classes that de-stress the mind and restore, build, and maintain strength to the body while listening to music that encourages the soul. Cost for the course is $40. Sign up online or contact Mary Beth Cochran at 480.831.5005 or mbcochran@bethanycc.com for more information.
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New - Stretch and Tone Zone Class Need help staying in shape and feeling fit? Join this new fitness class designed to strengthen and tone your core using light weights, therapy bands and rist-a-bands. Learn the proper techniques to correctly use light weights, how to balance and stabilize muscles and stretch so you don't loose flexibility. Class is offered two nights a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-6:30pm in F1. Cost is $5 per class with minimum sign up of 10 classes. Wear loose clothing, bring 5-6lb weights and a mat. This is a beginner friendly class. Space is limited so register soon. Contact Mary Beth Cochran at mbcochran@bethanycc.com
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Biblical Hebrew Class
 A new class will be forming in the fall for any persons interested in studying the original language of the Old Testament. The class will meet weekly for one hour and require 3-4 hours per week of study. The time for meeting will be determined by those attending the class. The teacher for this course is Jill Pack. Jill has taught similar classes in several valley churches. She has studied extensively at ASU, Fuller Seminary and under Hebrew University professors in Israel. If you would like to be a part of this class, please email Robyn Dahl at rdahl@bethanycc.com or sign up at the Women's Ministry table on Sundays. ______________________________________________________________
Friday, July 11 at 7pm Do you love to play games, share and enjoy delicious appetizers, or just chat with the gals? Then Girlfriend Connection is the place for you! Join us every second Friday in C2. All ages are welcome to enjoy the fun and great times. There is no cost and new friends are always encouraged to come. For more information, contact Noreen Hurd at 480.820.3788 or for an electronic reminder the week of Girlfriend Connection send your email address to mbcochran@bethanycc.com. |
| A Word from Rich |
 Vacation. Rest. Renewal.
This has been a recurring theme all my adult life. At times I've done pretty well, and at other times I have not done so well. Kind of like my experience with healthy eating and exercise! I tell people I am a recovering workaholic. Not fully cured, but constantly trying to keep work in perspective. There are a number of factors that contribute to workaholism, but one of them is the unwillingness to rest. To quit working. To be still. Even unproductive. And we ignore this and work ever longer and harder to our own peril. Our physical health, emotional health, family health, even our spiritual health all suffer under a killer schedule of all work and no rest.
I'm fascinated knowing that God decreed one day in seven for rest in his original Top Ten List of human behaviors. "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy," ties back to God's own rest after six days of creation. Because he rested, he has called us to rest with him one day in seven. My guess is that this is the most-violated of all the commandments. I know there is a lot of stealing, adultery, lying and coveting going on, but this refusal to rest one in seven seems to have swallowed almost all of us. Even those of us who desperately try not to lie, steal, covet or commit adultery. We've seemingly given ourselves a free pass on Commandment #4, and hardly think of not resting as commandment-breaking at all. To our peril.
This really is the word from the Lord to us. The one who made us (in his image!) designed us to rest one in seven. He was so serious about this that he even went further and instituted rest requirements for the land that farmers worked one in every seven years. And then he added a great super-sabbatical Year of Jubilee every 50 years (after seven sevens).
And when Israel blew him off and ignored this part of his word to them, he collected on all the days and years of neglected rest during 70 years of forced rest-captivity in Babylon. I find it remarkable that he marked out the time for this captivity based on his calculation of the days and years of missed Sabbaths, not because of any other sins they had committed. Their captivity wasn't because of murder or idolatry or adultery-but because they refused to rest. He really is serious about this.
Which is just one more really good reason to take a summer vacation. To rest. To change the view. To stop working. To listen. To the quiet. To be refreshed. And while God never actually commanded the summer vacation, he did direct us to a weekly vacation-one day in every seven. Jimmy Buffet once sang about "changes in latitude, changes in attitude." I think he was on to something that God has been saying all along. Rest is good.
Even if you can't get away, out of town, out of our summer heat, at least take some days and nights off and rest. Play. Recreate. Listen. Read. Be still. Slow down. Focus on relationships with the people you love more than achievement of your next big goal.
God can speak to us in the hustle and bustle and busyness of our hectic schedules. But we often don't hear him. We just plain miss him. Even Jesus took quiet time out of an admittedly pretty busy schedule. (After all he only had three short years to train the next generation of spiritual leaders who would turn the entire world upside down!) Yet he regularly went to the beach or the mountains to get away and pray. And maybe play. Eugene Peterson says the essence of God's intention for weekly sabbatical rest (and summer vacation, too) is re-creation. Recreation. Pray and play. It's amazing how simple this is. And this is God's prescription for our bodies, souls, minds, spirits, relationships, families. Rest! Often. Regularly.
One time Jesus was responding to some spiritual curmudgeons in his day who had totally missed the point of Sabbath rest, when he said: "The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath." He meant that the idea of regular rest was for our benefit, not a religious rule or straight-jacket to hem us in, but a wonderful gift from God designed to renew and refresh us. Man, I need this. So do you. Take a vacation this summer. And enjoy it.
-Richard Hendrix | |
