| Christmas Eve Offering 2009 - |
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Words of Life for Mibu &
Life Support for Bethany Families
Words of Life for Mibu (Goal: $46,000)
An important part of our Christmas heritage at Bethany is the Christmas Eve Offering. By means of this offering, we as a church body focus on making a significant impact in advancing the ministry of one of our partners working around the world.
This year, we focus our attention on the work of the Husas and Tartgalias in Mibu, Papua New Guinea. By faith, we are trusting God to be able to give $46,000 so that the Word of God can be read, heard and integrated into the life of the new cluster of churches in Mibu and the surrounding areas.
In reality, our goal is to continue the story which began a number of years ago in Bethany's youth ministry. Four young people grew up, came to faith in Christ, and were married here at Bethany. It was also through Bethany's ministry that these two young couples, Joey and Brooke Tartaglia, and Geoff and Shannon Husa, heard and obeyed God's call to take the good news of Jesus Christ to a people group in Papua New Guinea who had never had the opportunity to put their trust in him.
This is also the story of a new church, or really cluster of new churches, which came into being through the ministry of this team from Bethany. As they taught the Mibu people the story line of the Bible culminating in the cross of Jesus Christ, virtually the entire village made a commitment of faith in him.
In 2006, it was our joy as a church to celebrate with them at the birth of this new church in far away Mibu, and many of us committed to praying for one year for a specific Mibu family. Soon after, teachers went out from the new Mibu church to surrounding towns and language areas to share the story of God's Word with others. As a result, there are now churches in a number of other villages in addition to Mibu.
Our goal with this year's Christmas Eve Offering is to make sure that this story keeps moving forward. Resources are needed to continue translating God's Word into the Ma and Mina languages. Once translated, Scripture portions need to be accessible through printed portions, as well as through recordings that can be played by young believers using hand crank MP3 players.
This is our invitation to be a part of this story line. Through our gifts, offerings, and prayers, we can assure that our sister churches in Papua New Guinea continue to grow in God's Word and move forward in spreading the Gospel to other towns and people groups in their corner of the world.
Life Support for Bethany Families (Goal: $46,000)
In addition to our support for the work of the Gospel in Mibu, we want to live out the Gospel in our community by helping provide financial support and help to individuals and families at Bethany who have been hard-hit by the current economy. We want to match, dollar for dollar, everything we send to the work in Mibu with an equal amount to help local families who are struggling to stay in their homes (or find a new place to live), keep the utilities turned on and keep food on the table and clothes on their children.
This dual-focused offering this Christmas allows us to keep our hearts and gifts flowing to a remarkable place in the world where the Gospel has taken root in a truly amazing way. And it will also help us meet needs among our nearest neighbors. Both of these reflect the heart of God.
Between now and Christmas Eve, please pray and ask God to show you what he is directing you and your family to give this year.
Blessings,
 Richard Hendrix Senior Pastor |
| Advent Opportunities to Get Out & Get Serving! |
 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 20 - 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, December 5 - 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.
- John Wood, Outreach Pastor
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Community Outreach Update |
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. . . 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
Thanks for Giving at Thanksgiving  Let your light shine before others in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Thanks to all of the people of Bethany who shared the blessing of Thanksgiving with others this year. Our generosity overflowed through our annual Thanksgiving Food Offering.
 A total of 203 turkeys were donated to the Phoenix Rescue Mission for our neighbors in need. In addition, we donated over 350 boxes of food for families served by the Salvation Army and Children First Academy. Thank you.
Also, ten Bethany families graciously opened their homes on Thanksgiving to international students from ASU. What a great way to express Christ's love to these students who are far away from home and family, who are especially wanting to experience American family life during our holiday seasons.
Good work everyone!
- John Wood, Outreach Pastor
 I-HELPHave you been showing God's love to those around you? This is an opportunity you might want to consider. Bethany volunteers make it possible to host I-Help homeless guests on Bethany's campus on a pre arranged schedule. This means that the guests arrive, spend the night in H building and receive a hot meal.
Through October, 2009, there have been 13 hosting dates on Bethany's campus. Over 150 different people have been involved in making this happen. There are several opportunities coming up in December in which to get involved. If you can't serve but would like to give a Christmas gift to our homeless guests, feel free to purchase a $5 gift card from a food store, pharmacy or general merchandise store and drop it off at the church office. The experiences of those who have been participating in this ministry are far greater than expected. Most people expected to receive God's blessing by following his commands and example. But they found that they have also experienced the joy and pleasure from working with volunteers from Bethany who have helped in the program. If you would like more specific information on I-HELP activities, want to receive the Bethany informational newsletters that list the current needs and opportunities or want to get involved in helping, please contact Cheryl or Gen. - Cheryl Chamberlain, cheryllynn2u@yahoo.com, 480.838.5188
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| SENT: International Sunday 2009 |
 The Bethany courtyard was the center of activity on Sunday, November 15, as we celebrated International Sunday. Lots of people gathered to interact with our international partners and their representatives around their displays. A Burundian chorale added a joyous spirit to the occasion. Nine of our international partners were present with us, while those far away were represented by their core teams and representatives.
 The theme for this year's International Sunday was SENT, based on Jesus' prayer in John 17:18, As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. Henry Deneen, president of Greater Europe Mission, expounded on the sense of that theme, challenging us to be a people sent with the good news of Jesus Christ, whether it is to our neighbors down the street or those who have never heard of Jesus Christ at the ends of the world.
A special part of the worship service was the presentation of a certificate of lifetime service to Jon and Harriet Askew. This couple, charter members of Bethany, has also helped to lead us to be a church with a heart for mission. After completing their full time ministry in Kosovo, the Askews are settling back into life in the East Valley. It was a joy to honor their exemplary service together.
And, there was more going on than met the eye. Many of our partners were invited to share about their ministries in one of Bethany's adult faith communities. Our children visited the tables on the courtyard while the service was going on. Other meetings with smaller groups took place on Sunday afternoon and evening and on Monday morning.
Thanks to the more than 60 volunteers who helped to make this day a great success. This was a day when once again our vision was renewed to be a people who follow Jesus into the world.
- John Wood, Outreach Pastor
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| Partners in Prayer |
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 Partners in Prayer is a new and exciting ministry that has recently begun at Bethany. A leadership team has been formed to pray about, discuss and develop prayer opportunities for you, the congregation, to become involved in. We are excited and envision Bethany as one day being referred to as a "house of prayer."
Some of the ideas currently being planned are a worship service prayer team, increased prayer opportunities during the Sunday morning service, quarterly prayer gatherings, prayer shields and involvement with East Valley House of Prayer for All Nations. More to come in the future! Please be in prayer as to how you might become involved. God Bless.
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| GriefShare: Surviving the Holidays |
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Saturday, December 5 | 9-11am | D5
Check-in begins at 8:30am
This helpful, encouraging seminar is designed for people facing the holidays after a loved one's death. The seminar features practical suggestions and reassurance through video interviews with counselors, grief experts and others who have also been through this type of grief.
 You'll discover what emotions to expect during the coming days, how to prepare for the holidays, how to manage relationships and holiday socials, and how the holidays can help you heal. If you know someone who might benefit from this seminar, please encourage them to come.
This seminar is free of charge but please register now to allow us to prepare enough materials.
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| Birthed at Bethany - The UthBuild Story |
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If you were to visit the High School Ministries (HSM) room at Bethany Community Church on one specific night just over a year ago, you would likely have not recognized that something new was being birthed. You probably would have easily mistaken it for a teen event where the lights were flashing and the music was just a bit too loud. Like most, you could have easily missed that God was, in the midst of the noise and the strobing lights, forming a new friendship and a new partnership that is today changing the lives of not only our teens, but also the lives and the futures of families across the border in Mexico, as well. It was on that night in November during a Bethany HSM concert event, that HSM Pastor Dave Robinson met the Houck family and Share5.org. Traveling with the concert tour, the Houck's nonprofit provided the ministry support for the bands. Pastor Dave took the time to share his heart for transforming and building youth with Chad Houck prior to the concert, and by the end of the night, the two had agreed to join forces in Mexico when HSM went on their annual mission building trip in March. (Read the rest of this article and see photos of the UthBuild Mexico October 2009 project at http://share5.org/2009/11/uthbuild) March arrived and the Houcks returned to Bethany in their 34-foot motorhome--their home on wheels for their now full-time mobile ministry work. They served as the camp speakers for the two weeks of building in Mexico, and, upon their return, sat down for another heart-to-heart with Pastor Dave. This time, the offer was to help create a new opportunity that would expand the ministry that had begun at Bethany by making it available to youth nationwide. With the blessing of Bethany's Senior Pastor, Richard Hendrix, UthBuild was born as a full-fledged ministry division of Share5's parent 501(c)3 organization, World Wins International. This past October, for the first time under the UthBuild banner, several youth from Bethany's High School Ministry stood before the congregation. They were sent out with blessings and prayer as they set their sights on Puerto Peņasco, Sonora, Mexico, for their six-day Fall Break building project. The goal: to build a home for a homeless family in only four days, using nothing but hand tools and their own willing sacrifice. By the end of the four building days, those fortunate enough to be involved had the opportunity to witness the miraculous power and capacity of God manifest itself through their very hands. A group of 18 non-professional, non-experienced high school "builders" not only constructed a home for a family, but they went 200% above and beyond. By joining the new house to an existing structure already on the property, the team was able to create a home with 2.5 times the living space of the original plan. Where the plans called for installing 320 square feet of roofing, they installed over 800, giving the entire structure a new sealed roof. Though a typical build only involves 60 linear feet of stucco, they applied in excess of 100 feet, making the full home water tight. They pushed themselves harder than they believed possible, and in the end, they pulled off nothing short of a miracle. A group of people that shouldn't have been able to do, so built a house that shouldn't have been finished, for a grateful family whose tears flowed as freely as their Spanish words of appreciation and praise to God. Be sure to check out the photos of the UthBuild October 2009 Build at Share5's newly redesigned website. You can find this article and more on the Share5 Blog, where you can follow the Houck family and the rest of the things happening on the Share5 Tour until they return to Bethany for the next UthBuild trip in March of 2010! Thank you for your continued support of Bethany High School Ministries and watch for more here from UthBuild, the new national ministry making international impact, birthed right here at Bethany Community Church. Check out www.Facebook.com/BCCHSM and www.Facebook.com/UthBuild for more photos and to comment on what is going on! - Dave Robinson, High School Pastor |
| HSM & MSM Christmas Parties |
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Join us Wednesday, December 16, from 6:30-8:00pm for our annual HSM and MSM Christmas Parties! Students, bring some fun food to share and a friend or two for the first birthday party of the season!
- Dave Robinson, High School Pastor
- Josh Harper, Middle School Pastor
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Thanks to Early Childhood Volunteers! |
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Did you know that there are almost 50 volunteers who serve as regular teachers in the A building? Not to mention the dozens of people who occasionally act as substitute teachers. These volunteers on the Early Childhood Team help teach and care for the youngest (and, according to Jesus, possibly the most important) people in our church--the infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. I would like to make special mention of a few of these wonderful teachers.
First, I would like to recognize those who serve every single Sunday in the A building:  - Amy Anderson
- Amanda Betzer
- Pam Bradley
- Emily Buelow
- Jewelie DeGrado
- Linda Lange
- Wendy Larish
- Linda Phillips
- Wendy Talley
I would also like to recognize those adults and high school students who just started serving regularly (either for the first time or after a hiatus) in the last few months:
- Amanda and Delbert Betzer
- Tim and Becky Dmoch
- Bernice Ebenezer
- Jenn Goslin
- Avery Hegrenes
- Grace Hoover
- Pam Obermeyer
- Charlene Reaux
- Dilcia Rokusek
- Jason and Tracy Schumacher
- Wendy Talley
This is just a small sampling of the wonderful people who work with and love the small children in our church each week. Each and every volunteer is a special person who adds a unique dynamic to the Early Childhood Ministry. I am grateful for each of them, as I am sure you are, too!
If you have a heart to love little children and play a role in their spiritual and personal development, there is still room on our Early Childhood Team for you! We are particularly looking for people who could occasionally volunteer during the 10:45am service. My favorite Doestoevsky quote reads, The soul is healed by being with children. I certainly have found that to be the case. Maybe your soul could use some of the healing power that little children can offer it.
Contact me if you'd like to talk more about the options available.
- Suzanne Choi, BCC Early Childhood Director, schoi@bethanycc.com, 480.831.5005 or 480.491.1347
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| Need a Tax Credit? |
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The December 31 tax credit deadline is fast approaching. It's not too late to donate to any of the Arizona Private School Tuition Tax Credit Organizations. Donations received before December 31, 2009 will be credited on the donor's 2009 Tax returns. Married couples filing jointly can donate up to $1,000 and single taxpayers can donate up to $500. Donors will receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit against their Arizona state income tax.
Donations can be recommended for an individual child attending Bethany Learning Center or to Bethany Learning Center's general donation pool to be distributed by the tax credit organization.
The tax credit organizations are:
If you have any questions, please call the school office at 480.838.2440. We will be glad to help you in any way possible.
- Adriane Grimaldi, Bethany Learning Center
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| Family Reunion |
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Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
~ Romans 12:15
 Bethany member Alvan (Al) Toews passed away November 5. He is survived by his loving wife, Kay, daughters, Sheri Baltzer (Bethany's Children's Pastor) and Terri (Jim), son, Glenn (Laurie), and seven grandchildren. Please pray for the family as they mourn the loss of their beloved. |
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Upcoming Program and Event Highlights |
Programs
GROW PM - December 2 & 9
GROW AM - December 3 & 10
Girlfriend Connection - December 11
Christmas Trolley - December 3
Men's Morning Breakfast - December 1 & 8
Men's Grilltime! - December 14
Men's Work Morning - December 19
Job Network - December 3 & 17
Christmas Party - December 16
Events
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Christmas Eve Services 
