Congratulations, Bethany!  With our vote to join Sun Valley Community Church we have chosen our Change Path to implement God's will for our church!  We have decided as a congregation that we will be better together than we ever could be apart.  Much work has been done to get us to this point, and there is still much more work to do.  However, we are at a point to catch our breath and celebrate both our past and future.  There are many people who should be recognized and thanked for their work the last few months to get us here. 

Thank you Nominating Committee for a fantastic job of running our voting process and managing it flawlessly.  

Thank you Senior Pastor Search Committee for meeting tirelessly, developing a profile for our next Senior Pastor, interviewing Scott Ridout and Chad Moore, and being prepared to start a nationwide search should the merger not have been approved. 

Thank you Bethany staff for doing an incredible job of keeping us learning about Christ as we prepared to vote and for being ready to continue to lead regardless of the outcome of the vote.

Thank you Danny Dodson for delivering impactful sermons to us, preparing us for the future.  Your message has become part of the culture of Bethany. 

Thank you Bethany congregation for engaging in the process of making this decision.  You prepared both your heads and your hearts to seek God's will. 

Thank you Sun Valley Community Church for working with us and going through the process together. 

Thank you Elder Board for your endless meetings and endless leadership. 

Glory to you, God, for making Your will known to and through Your people here at Bethany.

Yes, there is much more work to be done to get us to where we need to go.  It will take us some time to get the results that we believe God wants. However, for a moment may we just rest in the Lord and see that He is good.

God Bless,

David Chittenden, Elder Board Chairman

Upcoming Worship Schedule

 Next Sunday, 10/9

Final Service as Bethany Community Church

 Family Worship Service

9:15 | Worship Center

Adults, students and children will all worship together as we celebrate Bethany's history, heritage and future!

There will be no children's programming the first hour, but the Mother's Room will be open with an audio feed for those with crying or fussy children.

All Faith Communities, Children's and Student ministries will be held as usual, starting at 10:45.

Sunday, 10/16

9:15 | Worship Center  

Communion or Communication

Are we looking to communicate with God or commune with Him in our prayer life? That was an idea brought to my attention while reading an interview recently between former CBS anchor Dan Rather and Mother Theresa.

Rather asked, When you pray, what do you say to God? Mother Theresa replied, I don't say anything. I listen. Rather continued, Okay, what does He say? She responded, He doesn't say anything. He listens. Rather didn't know how to continue--he was baffled. Mother Theresa then added, And if you don't understand that, I can't explain it to you.

How many of us can understand that kind of prayer intimacy, that kind of prayer communion, with our heavenly Father? Yet isn't that exactly what Adam and Eve experienced with God in the garden of Eden, what Jesus experienced throughout His earthly walk (I and the Father are one), and what God desires for each of us through a personal relationship with Christ (walking in, and filled with, the Holy Spirit)?

Jesus Christ is our treasure, not only for eternity, but for the presen,t as well. We can experience Him as our present joy when we realize that prayer is more than communication with God, it is the communion of unity with Christ in this present age.

Drawing closer to Him with you,

Your Partners-in-Prayer

MSM's Fall Lock-In a Success!

Transformer Game Night with PrimeLife
 Everyone of all ages had a great time at our Transformer Game Night where we combined generations by bringing our fourth and fifth graders together with our senior adults (members of Bethany's PrimeLife community). 

Friday, September 16, was a fun night filled with laughter, good times and great memories!  New connections were made between 23 kids and plenty of senior adults.  We even had three kids attend who were brand new to Transformers!  Thanks to everyone who came and played--you helped make this event a great success!

Wheely Fun Family Picnic  

Kids birth through fifth grade and their entire families are invited to our next Children's Ministry-wide event.  On Saturday, October 8, from 9:30am to 3pm, we will hold our Wheely Fun Family Picnic. 

Join us for a great bike ride from Bethany's campus to Kiwanis Park where we will enjoy a noon cookout lunch together and other fun in the park, followed by our bike ride back to Bethany.  Those not wishing to ride with the bicycle group are invited to meet us at our picnic ramadas in the park.

This will be a great event for the entire family to Get Together and have fun with others in our Children's Ministry!  Everyone is asked to invite other families with children (birth-fifth grade) to join us.  It will be fun, wheely fun!

Jump on a Bike, even a Trike, a Scooter will do, or Skates for you--get ready to roll, let's go!

The cost for the event is only $1 per person and includes lunch and all activities!  Reservations are required.  Registration and complete information is available online at bethanycommunity.com.

Please feel free to contact Kevin Kramar, 480.831.5005, with any questions about this event.

- Kevin Kramar, Children's Ministry Director