| A Letter from Rich |
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Dear Bethany family:
It is with great grief and sadness that I let you know that this past week we informed eight of our staff members at Bethany that their positions on our staff are being eliminated and they are being released from employment at Bethany. Each of these layoffs comes as a result of our smaller size as a church family, the smaller budget that follows that and the difficult economy we are all living in. Our staff and elders have been working on and praying about these decisions for months. These decisions have been made slowly (I know, too slowly for some), carefully and with tons of prayer and waiting on the Lord. None of these decisions were easy or painless.
I want you to know that every one of these eight staff members are dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, members of this church family, and highly valued and respected servants of the Lord. Each one has done their job faithfully and skillfully. The elders and I regret deeply each of these layoffs. We wish we could keep every one of them on our staff!
The layoffs include:
- Tia Coates - Mary Beth Cochran - Jim Crocco - Terry Gott - Sammy Johnson - Peggy Levesque - Andy Losch - Linda Whipple Each of these staff member's last day on staff will be November 13. (I have asked Jim Crocco to stay on through the end of the year to help with the transition. His last day on staff will be December 31.) Each will then continue to receive a severance package equivalent to two weeks pay for each year of employment. This follows the terms specified in the Bethany Employee Handbook. During the next two weeks we will all work together to make smooth handoffs of leadership, volunteer teams and ministry information to remaining staff and volunteers. Many of the tasks that these staff members have been responsible for will be shared with volunteers from the church body going forward. The future for our smaller church staff will include greatly increased responsibility for developing and shepherding volunteers who have gifts and abilities that they gladly use to serve the Lord, the Bethany family and the community around us. Six of the eight employees included in this layoff were members and volunteers at Bethany before they were on staff. Two moved here from other places expressly to join our staff. All eight have become dearly loved members of our church family as well as members of the staff. Without knowing where God might lead any of them for their next chapter of service, we would love it if all of them continued as members of the Bethany family.  Please join the elders and me in praying for each of our staff members and their families, along with the many other individuals and families at Bethany that have been affected by layoffs and staff reductions at their place of work. Pray especially that they will know the provision of God, along with the peace of God in this time of transition. Ask God to help us all grieve honestly and honor one another through this painful experience. Pray, too, for the health and vitality of our church family as we move to a smaller professional staff and share more of the ministry responsibilities and joys with volunteers. For all of us at Bethany who follow the Lord's direction for our lives, know for certain that the One we follow has been faithful through the centuries to care for his people and to provide all we need. To him be the glory in our lives and in his church. Amen. Blessings,  Rich
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The XP Report |
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 What's going to happen in the future? Jesus dealt with this question during his ministry on Earth, and it's a question that we often ask one another. While I don't know everything about the future, I do know that God has a great plan for you and for Bethany Community Church!
Over the last year, I have facilitated the Elders, staff and other interested lay leaders in a process of discovering the plan that God has for our future. We have called it our Vision Pathway. It's been a rigorous process of prayer, digging into our past and present, and seeking God's will for our future. We have gotten together nearly 30 times, usually for two hours or more, since August, 2008. If you attended the Informational Meeting on August 30, 2009, you heard me, and then Rich talk about it. If you weren't able to make it to that meeting, see the presentation. God's vision for our future includes two aspects. One that is very solid, built on the rock of the Bible and the uniqueness of Bethany Community Church. The other aspect is specific for the season that God has us in and may change over time. Think of these two aspects as a painting and the frame around it. The frame is that solid, stable foundation for the picture, usually with four sides. Our Vision Frame has four solid pieces by which we will "frame" our future. These pieces include mission, values, strategy and measures. The painting inside this frame is that picture or vision of what God wants us to do for the season that he has placed us in.  Let me reveal a key aspect of our vision frame: Our mission. Mission is a clear, concise statement of what we are ultimately supposed to be doing as individuals and a church. After much prayer and deliberation, our team chose: Join Jesus. Show others. as the mission of Bethany Community Church. The two parts of this phrase embrace the message of the gospel, yet in language that people today may understand better. As Rich mentioned when he talked at the Informational Meeting, let this mission sink in. Don't judge it too quickly (it took him a week to pray over it and recognize its value). Again, see this presentation for more details on the others aspects of our vision frame, a brief review of Rich's comments and a powerful video parable of a life saving station. If you have any questions or suggestions for topics that interest you, let me know. My email address is jcrocco@bethanycc.com, or call me at 480-831-5005. Blessings, Jim Crocco Executive Pastor 480.831.5005 jcrocco@bethanycc.com |
| SENT - International Sunday, November 15, 2009 |
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God never pulls you in without sending you out. Every disciple of Jesus is a sent one--sent into the world by Jesus just as he was sent by his own Father in heaven.
 Our guest speaker for SENT is Henry Deneen, president of Greater Europe Mission. Henry served for 13 years as a trial attorney and municipal judge before God sent Henry into more intensive ministry involvement. For four years, Henry and his family lived in southern France and ministered to a Muslim people group in North Africa.
In 2005, Henry co-founded, with former Governor David Beasley, the Center for Global Strategies. This organization utilizes the expertise of Christian business people from the West with those in isolated and emerging societies to connect to the world economy and community.
Since 2007, Henry has brought this creative approach to ministry to Greater Europe Mission as its new president. Bethany's international partners Rick and Cathy Roberts, Kelly and Linda Shattuck and Mary Richardson all serve with Greater Europe Mission.
A special part of our worship that Sunday will be recognition of our dear friends and international partners Jon and Harriet Askew. After many years of service in the Middle East and in Kosovo, the Askews will not return full time to Kosovo but will pursue other service opportunities from home base here in the East Valley.
Many of Bethany's international partners will be with us on campus for International Sunday. Come sample the atmosphere. Enjoy international treats from around the world. But most of all, come with a heart ready to be SENT-- whether around the block or around the world. See you there!
- John Wood, Outreach Pastor |
| Advent: A Season of Longing |
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The four weeks leading up to Christmas are called Advent, a time of waiting expectantly for the long-promised Savior. It is a time of preparation and expectation for the great Good News, The Lord has come!
On the four Sundays of Advent this year we will focus on our longing for:
- Beauty (November 29)
- Justice (December 6) - Relationships (December 13) - God (December 20) These great longings of our soul are met in the coming of Jesus into the world as our Savior. These deepest yearnings find fulfillment in Jesus, God with us. But there is still a sense of longing for perfection, for these longings to be fully met when Jesus returns and the Kingdom of God is fully established. So, we continue to live between the beginning of his Kingdom (Jesus' first Advent) and the fulfillment of the Kingdom (his second coming) and we still are longing for beauty, justice, relationships and God. And God gives us plenty of opportunities to be his agents and emissaries for bringing beauty, justice, relationships and God to the world we live in.  I'm giving you an early head's up because, along with our study and worship this Advent season, we want to mobilize the people of Bethany to Get Out! into our community and have an influence--to be active in working for beauty, justice, relationships and true spiritual life where we live. We urge you to program one of these Get Out! opportunities into your busy December schedule. They are meaningful service projects in our immediate community that we can do together. Let us have a hand (as well as a prayer) in seeing Thy will be done, Thy Kingdom come, on earth (in Tempe) as it is in heaven.
Pastor Richard Hendrix
Advent Opportunities to Get Out!
Saturday, December 12 - Children First Academy (formerly Pappas School). Pair up with some of the homeless families with the purpose of modeling healthy family relationships while putting on a Christmas party at the school. Specific opportunities will be outlined at a later date. Contact Peggy Levesque at plevesque@bethanycc.com for information or with ideas for making this a joyous and memorable event. Saturday, December 19 - Angel Tree. Many of the gift deliveries are traditionally handled by the Bethany Bikers, but they can't manage them all. Be part of the team that experiences the bright-eyed smiles of children separated from an incarcerated parent. Contact Debbie Wallace at crazewallace@cox.net. Wednesday, December 23 - I-HELP. Be part of a team that provides our I-HELP guests a special Christmas Eve breakfast before they leave for the day. Contact Cheryl Chamberlain at cheryllynn2u@yahoo.com.
Saturday, Date TBD - Adopt a Los Ninos de Guadalupe family. Be part of a team that provides a special Christmas to one of the families. This might include light home repair or painting, gifts, a holiday meal or anything else you think of. Contact Cindy Paul at copaul1@cox.net.
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Community Outreach Update |
. . . 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
Thanksgiving Food Offering - November 22
The two weeks of our emergency food drive generated more than 4,560 food items to help restock community pantry shelves and feed hungry people right now! Thank you hardly seems enough to express how we feel about your generous and caring spirits. But the need doesn't stop there. More people than ever in recent memory go without or with too little food to fill empty stomachs. So we are moving forward with our annual Thanksgiving Food Offering.  On November 1 and 8, Bethany's Scouts will pass out Salvation Army boxes with attached food lists at the end of each service. We ask those who are able to take a box (or two) to fill and return to Bethany on Sunday, November 22. Last year the people of Bethany offered almost 600 boxes, which lasted almost to summer. With the increased demand this year, we don't expect the supply to carry the Salvation Army nearly as long. For the third year in a row, we will also collect frozen turkeys destined for holiday distribution by Phoenix Rescue Mission. If you find yourself in a place of need this year, please come and take home what you need to feed your family this week. As Pastor Rich says, This is what the family of God is all about.
 I-HELP
For most of us, Thanksgiving Day holds a flurry of activity, the aroma of a roasting turkey, and the excitement of gathering with family for a feast celebrating God's blessings throughout the previous year.
But what about those without a home to call their own or a family to embrace? Even in the midst of a floundering economy, the grace of God brings warmth to my heart for all I have and hold dear. My family and I have often felt the urge to do something more than eat too much and watch football on TV.
This year, since Bethany is hosting I-HELP the night before Thanksgiving, we have an opportunity to offer a small slice of special to our homeless guests by providing them an early morning holiday breakfast. We invite you to join us in one of a multitude of ways. Contact Peggy Levesque at plevesque@bethanycc.com.
Angel Tree Is Back!
Matthew 18:5 - Jesus said, Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
The people of Bethany have the opportunity again this year to reach into the lives of some of the most at-risk children in our community. Gifts given by anonymous donors in the incarcerated parent's name are often one of the few connections a child has with that parent.
Pick up an angel in the courtyard November 8, 22 or 29 and return the gift no later than December 6. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
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Has God been speaking to you about serving in our community? Please follow through on the urging and receive the blessing that is sure to follow. Resolve to act now. Right this minute. Find your place to serve, then go out and shine with his heart!
Do you have a servant story to share (photos always welcome)? Or not sure where you might fit into community outreach? Contact Peggy Levesque, Community Outreach Ministries Director, at 480.831.5005 or plevesque@bethanycc.com. Don't forget to check out the Community Outreach page on Bethany's Web site for serving ideas.
- Peggy Levesque, Community Outreach Ministries Director
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| Bethany Members Act as Jesus' Hands and Feet |
I would like to acknowledge a truly remarkable couple, Stan and Donna Cowles. During my recent recovery from surgery, they unselfishly served me dinner for about 30 days. Both of them would come over with a large tray, nicely presented. At the same time, they were taking four meals to their daughter's house. They also trimmed trees, cleaned my patio, got my mail, took out trash and brought my newspaper to my door.  In 2005 I went to their 50th Anniversary party. Three couples stood up and said what a privilege it was to live next door to them. I didn't fully understand what that meant at the time, but I do now. They are truly remarkable. - Cheryl Wilson |
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Bethany's Children Need You! |
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 A year ago, I was enjoying my Faith Community on Sunday mornings and serving in other areas at Bethany. Someone asked me a question about how they could handle a situation with a special child. God laid it on my heart that I was to leave my comfort and serve our smaller folks. I have the only needed requirements: I am able to give and receive love. That is all that is required to find a place in Children's Ministry.
I do not enjoy crafts. I can't sing and I have trouble remembering the motions to the songs. But we work as a team so someone else can lead these activities. It is so important that we be there to listen and pray for each child's sick pets and families. I am having the time of my life and I feel blessed to serve our great kids. How about you?
 Do you like to give and receive hugs? Do you love to sing? Are you creative and enjoy helping others? Can you do none of these things, but you love children? Or maybe you just want the next generation to know Jesus? Maybe your grandkids are far away and you wish they were closer. If so, the kids at Bethany need you! No special skills are necessary. But if you have any special skills, we can use them. We need immediate help in preschool, Kindergarten-Grade 3, and Grades 4-5. Please pray about it. You will be blessed! If you are interested in helping, please contact Pam Carter at pam.carter@cox.net. - Pam Carter |
| Bethany Learning Center Celebrates Fall with Harvest Festival |
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 Every Fall at Bethany Learning Center we celebrate God's blessings with a Harvest Festival. Our playground was transformed into a farm where  students were able to milk a cow (okay it was a paper cow not a real one), picked apples from our apple orchard, visited a chicken coop, dug for potatoes and picked fruit from the Farmer's Market. Children also took a hayride around the parking lot and visited the farm animals in the petting zoo. The students enjoyed the Fall weather and celebrated the abundant blessings God has given us.
- Adriane Grimaldi
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| Shop Local & Give Locally |
If you like to eat food, you can donate to Bethany by simply shopping for groceries.  Bashas' Shop Local & Give Locally program is part of their ongoing commitment to give back to Arizona. Our hometown grocer has worked hard to make this program easy for everyone. All you have to do is give Bethany's group ID# 24246 to a Bashas' cashier next time you shop for groceries. The cashier will link our group ID# with your Bashas' Thank You Card. After that, every time you shop at Bashas' between now and April 30, 2010, 1% of your purchases come back to Bethany. Linking your card only needs to be done once. Spread the blessing by passing the ID# on to family and friends. You can also get started right way by linking your card online at: www.bashas.com/charity.
- Kathy Huizingh, Finance Director |
| Family Reunion |
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Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
~ Romans 12:15
 Bill Holmes, a long-time member of Bethany and active Bethany Biker, passed away October 18 at the age of 62 after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Loisjune. Join us in prayer for his family. Margaret Stewart passed away earlier this month. She was the mother of long-time Bethany member Bob Stewart. Margaret was 92. Please keep Bob and Brenda in your prayers. Anna Hazel Schaaf, grandmother of Suzanne Choi (Bethany's Early Childhood Director), recently passed away. Please pray for peace and comfort for Suzanne, husband Jai and sons Jonathan and David as they mourn their loss. |
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Upcoming Program and Event Highlights |
Programs
GROW PM - November 4, 11, 18 & 25
GROW AM - November 5, 12, 19 & 26
Girlfriend Connection - November 13
Christmas Trolley - December 3
Men's Morning Breakfast - November 3, 10, 17 & 24
Men's Work Morning - November 21
Job Network - November 5 & 12
Magic Mountin - November 6-8
Events
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