THE BETHANY LETTERMarch 20, 2007 Volume 2007, Issue No. 10 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Remember the Sabbath and Keep It Holy The impulses are so strong. Our nature and, with ever more intensity, our culture, both pull us toward being very self-centered. By that I don’t mean that we’re greedy, or selfish, or unwilling to share. I mean that we’re pulled, more and more, toward living our lives based on the assumption that each of us, our individual self, is the center of it all. We see everything, how we feel about things, how we will use our time, talent, or treasure, in terms of our individual self. What does it mean for ME? It seems so natural, so obvious, it’s hard to imagine another starting point, another basis upon which to live our lives. That assumption, shapes everything, even how we view God and what we mean by faith. It tends to make us see God as someone who can do things for us, serve us, help us get what we want. It tends to make us see faith as simply the using of God for those purposes, at best, a trusting of God, as the best one to serve us. Yet, the heart of our faith speaks a very different truth. Our faith proclaims that we are not the center – God is. It proclaims that we’ll only find true life when we accept that truth and live accordingly. The truth begins in the creation story, where we are made in God’s image (but not gods). It continues in our attempt to grasp something that we’ve been told will "make us like God." That impulse to make ourselves the center is as old as our humanity. That’s why it should be no surprise that the first of the 10 Commandments are meant to help us remember who is God and who is not. 1. You shall have no other God’s before me. 2. You shall not make for yourself an idol to worship. 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. You might ask, "Aren’t only the first 3 about God? Isn’t the 4th about something else, stopping work, getting rest, going to church, rather than about how we see God?" No, Sabbath is very much about how we see God and how we shape our lives accordingly. Sabbath is God’s gift to help us remember who God is, who we are, and how we should live as a result. It all begins even before God gives the 10 commandments, when Moses, concerned about Pharaoh’s response when he tells him God says, "Let my people go," asks God what he should say if Pharaoh asks, "why?" The answer, "Tell him so you can worship me." God has heard the cries of the Hebrews in their slavery, and has begun to act to set them free. But God knows that freedom is more than physical, it’s more than not being constrained by an oppressive system. Freedom is also spiritual, it means not giving your heart, your soul, to a false God. It means giving your heart, your soul, to the one true God. That’s why Jewish Sabbath celebrations refer back beyond God’s commandment to keep the Sabbath, to the purpose God gave for setting them free (so they could worship the one true God). Sabbath isn’t a burden laid on us to crimp our style but an expression of gratitude - for everything, for life, every blessing we need for life, and the freedom to express that gratitude. Just as important, for our hearts and souls, is that expressing gratitude requires a certain focus – away from ourselves and on the one to whom we’re grateful. If we truly remember the Sabbath and keep it holy (which means dedicated to God), it’s not about what we do or don’t get by coming to church rather than doing something else. It’s about remembering who’s the center of our life, which we owe our thanks and praise. It’s about finding that when we give that thanks and praise, forgetting ourselves and our agendas, we’re changed, made new, set free. What might it mean for us to "remember the Sabbath and keep it holy?" What might it mean to truly dedicate the day to God? 1st, it would mean remembering that it’s not, about "what am I going to get?" but, rather, "what reasons do I have to give (my time, my talent, my treasure)?" What reasons do I have to be grateful, to give thanks, and how can I best do that? 2nd, it means valuing and making use of the unique opportunities the church offers on the Sabbath. It offers a chance to worship, to hear a bit of our faith story, a truth that keeps God at the center in contrast to all the other self-centered "truths" we hear all week. It offers a chance to learn and grow in faith, through education offerings for all ages. It offers a chance to see that our family is larger than who we may or may not live with but, by God’s grace, includes people of all ages and backgrounds. I invite you to consider how you can do more to "remember the Sabbath and keep it holy." One possibility I hope you’ll consider is attending an adult class. They’re making a special effort this year to tell us about the special opportunities for learning they offer. I hope you’ll give a listen and give it a try. If you’re already a participant, I hope you’ll make a commitment to be there regularly; there’s no greater gift that you can give than your presence. For all of us, there’s no greater witness that we can give than "remembering the Sabbath and keeping it holy." Let’s do it! - Steve ************************ Family Sunday - March 25, 2007 Scripture: John 12:1-8 Sunday Morning Opportunities 8:30 a.m. Worship (Story & Song)/ Memory Bell Choir 9:15 a.m. Church School for Children and Adults 10:30 a.m. Worship/ Memory Bell Choir/ Young Shepherds Choir 11:30 a.m. Social Hour Host: Women’s Fellowship
Adult Classes at 9:15 - Bible Discoveries; Lounge Class - Video, Words from Jerusalem Part 2; Perspectives; Seasons of the Spirit; Seekers - Relationships; Senior High; Upper Room Bethany's Newsletter Were you looking and looking and wondering where the informative Bethany Letter was last week? Or think you just didn’t get yours?! Our apologies, we were experiencing a computer glitch and could not get a newsletter published. So…please remember if you have questions on upcoming events at Bethany and no newsletter in the mail - call us!
Men’s Breakfast & Service March 21st - 8:30 a.m. Please join us! Congratulations…. … to Ken and Shirley Cleary on their 60th Wedding Anniversary March 22nd. Wow!
The Young Shepherds Choir (Bethany’s children) will be singing at the 10:30 a.m. worship service Sunday, March 25th. Please join us and hear their beautiful voices. Also, the Memory Bell Choir will be playing at both services.
Harvest for Hunger Food Drive for the Akron-Canton Food Bank The Mission Committee is supporting the Harvest for Hunger Canned Food Drive. The last day for collecting food is THIS Sunday March 25th. The most needed items are: Canned Beef Stew, Canned Tuna Fish, Peanut Butter, Boxed Cereal, Canned Vegetables, and Canned Soup. Camp Staff Covenanting The make-up session for those who missed the first Camp Staff Covenanting session will be THIS Sunday, March 25th at 11:30 in the Lounge. This is the only make-up session.
Miller Ave. "Lunch on Us" The Mission Committee will be providing lunch on Saturday, March 31st for the Summit Lake neighborhood. We would like to have cupcakes for dessert. We are looking for six volunteers to make two-dozen iced cupcakes, any flavor. This is a great way to help with this mission if you are not actually able to come and volunteer.
One Great Hour of Sharing 2007 Who is My Neighbor? This is one of five special offerings collected throughout the year. When we seek to love as God loves, we create a better world not just for others, but for ourselves as well. And while we cannot personally meet every need in the world, we can join our gifts together. Through One Great Hour of Sharing we participate in Jesus’ call to be God’s heart and hands in a hurting world. Special offering envelopes are included in this newsletter. Please consider helping our neighbors around the world by contributing to this global mission.
Noisy Offering We hope to hear the loud noise of change being dropped into our offering plates on Palm Sunday, April 1st. Please consider saving your change during lent and then giving half to missions on Palm Sunday. All money collected will go to Bethany’s missions. So start saving that change and make a joyful noise! Spring is finally here, we think! C.E. is again requesting your assistance with filling Easter eggs for Easter Sunday. Please make sure the candy you provide is small enough to fit inside a small plastic egg. Your donations can be left in the C.E. office by April 1st. Thank You!
The annual Treasures-Bake Sale will be held Saturday, April 28th. You can start cleaning out your closets, garages and basements, BUT…please do not bring any of your treasures to the church until the WEEK OF THE SALE! (I need to keep Bart happy, we have no more room available!) Any questions? Please call me, Kim Wurgler.Interfaith Hospitality Network Our next host week is May 6-12. We are in need of volunteers for van driving, meal preparation, overnight hosts, and laundry crew. Please consider donating a few hours of your week to help our IHN families. ******************* B ethany is blessed to have a rich variety of Sunday morning classes for adults. We want to be sure everyone is aware of what they offer, so, for the next few weeks we will be highlighting one class in the newsletter.First is the Lounge Class The Lounge Class, as the name implies, meets in the Lounge. This has been an active adult Sunday school class for many years. For most of those years the leader was Edwina Bantum. She was very good at this and had layperson training. Since Eddie’s death the facilitator has been Lou Atleson, with Frank Read as Treasurer. We have approximately 9 to 15 members attending on any given Sunday and are a close group. We have welcomed two fairly new members, Herb Walker and Katie Kirstein. Our members have voted on videos to watch each Sunday. Over the years we have purchased many interesting and informative religious videos and these are then placed in the adult library for church members use when we are finished. We also review past videos such as Tony Compolo’s "Carpe Diem." This video was purchased when Eddie was in charge and is found to be just as relative today. A collection of $1.00 each is made each Sunday. At the end of the school year a tithe is made to the general budget and during the year contributions are made to various mission projects. Each year we invite an Ambassador from Akron University to speak to us about the country he or she was in and make a contribution. An announcement of the Sunday they are here is put in the newsletter to invite other classes to attend. We participate in at least one social hour a year; try to contact members that have not been in class for several weeks; and send cards to our designated shut-ins and members who are ill or in the hospital. We also send money and write to a child referred to us by Larry Thompson. **********************
How we’re doing…
E-mail addresses at Bethany … Pastor Steve: pastor@Bethany@ald.netCarol Wood: cwood@Bethany@ald.netBarb McCrady: Bethany@Bethany.ald.net
ACME Receipts Please remember to bring in your ACME receipts you have been saving! The cash back program ends April 7th!
TWO CANCELATIONS! LION KING - NO TICKETS AVAILABLE! SEE CAROLYN SHROYER FOR RETURN MONEY/CHECK.FAMILY NIGHT at NT - Mar. 30
Fair Trade Coffee This is an awareness mission. We have increased the cost a little so we can cover the cost of the coffee and tea used at social hour. Please consider switching to Fair Trade Coffee to make a difference in the coffee farmers' lives. For more information or to volunteer in Bethany’s mission projects, please contact Carolyn B. Hofmann.
Please remember in your prayers...
THANK YOU Dear Bethany Family, I want to thank you for the cards and prayers. Special thanks to Pastor Steve, who was at the hospital every day; to Rev. James Pugh and Don Evans for their visits; to Sally Mellott for bringing over the altar flowers last Sunday. Also, thank you for the Prayer Shawl that Ruth Schreiber brought over. It is lovely and the prayers that come with it feel wonderful. A special thanks to Mary Ann Pieratt for taking the time to knit it. I’m sure your prayers are helping me have a speedy recovery. Once again thank you to all my Bethany friends. Fondly, Nancy Buck Thanks to all for the beautiful altar flowers. Also, for your many prayers and thought for my recovery since my knee surgery. - Mary Joe Trail
April 8th - Easter Day Worship Schedule 6:30 am Great Vigil – Sunrise Service 8:30 am Worship (Fellowship & Communion) 9:30 am Brunch – hosted by Bethany Youth 10:30 am Worship (Traditional)/ Chancel Choir/Memory Bell Choir
Easter Altar Flowers Please help celebrate Easter with a beautiful plant for the altar. Cost is $10.00 each and the deadline for sign-up is Sunday, April 1st. The Ministry Committee will deliver the flowers to those on our Remembrance List after the 10:30 a.m. service Easter Sunday, April 8th. Please remember that flowers can only be delivered to those on the list.
CALENDAR March 21st to April 1st
3/21 8:00a Men’s Breakfast (L) 6:30p Lenten Service (SH)/ 7th Day 7:30p Mission Committee 3/22 7:30p Choir PracticeFamily Sunday March 25, 2007 Nursery Available - 9:15 – 11:30 a.m. Children remain in 10:30 worship service 8:30a Worship (Story & Song)9:15a Church School for All Ages 10:30a Worship/ Children’s Sunday School 11:30a Social Hour Host: Women’s’ Fellowship 11:30a Camp Bethany Staff Covenanting Make-up Session (L) 3/26 9:00a Quilters9:30a Shawl Ministry 10:00a Newsletter Deadline 3/27 8:15a Staff Meeting (L)3/28 6:30p Lenten Service/ Memory Bell Choir7:30p COMMITTEE NIGHT 3/29 7:30p Choir Practice3/31 11:30a Lunch on Us - Miller Ave.
Palm Sunday, April 1, 2007 Nursery Available - 9:15 – 11:30 a.m. 8:30a Worship (Communion)9:15a Church School for All Ages 9:15a Confirmation Reunion Breakfast 10:30a Worship/ Children’s Sunday School/Rite of Confirmation/ Noisy Offering 11:30a Adult Class Facilitator Meeting 11:30a Social Hour 11:30a Bethany Nurse BP Check (L) 11:30a 7th Day Practice V olunteersNames of Sunday Volunteers will be published AHEAD of the scheduled Sunday; as a kindly reminder and an early thank you! If you are unable to volunteer the day you are scheduled, please remember to 1) find someone to take your place and then 2) call the church office so we may make necessary revisions. Thank you! Volunteers for March 25th Greeters: Sally Mellott/ Karen Mellott Music: Memory Bell Choir (both)/ Young Shepherds Nursery: Arlene Thompson, Ed and Nancy Zeller, Rosalie Read, Heather Alberson Social Hour Host: Women’s Fellowship Ushers: Tim Hermann, Bob Charton, Sue Truby, Sharon Ward, Nancy Buck, Hilda Bowman, Lynette Sheppard, Caitlyn Malorni Van Driver: Carol Frederick Volunteers for April 1st Greeters: Lay Reader: John Dix Music: Donna & Tim Duo/ Chancel Choir Nursery: Harry Cool, Patricia Cochran, Megan Ferda Social Hour Host: OPEN Ushers: Lenora Luginbill, Herb Walker, John Grazulis, John Seymour, Jack and Judy Ingram, Rosalie Read, Henry Nagel Van Driver: Ed Frederick
CONFIRMANDS AND PARENTS- REMINDER & UPDATE OF SCHEDULE
Lenten Worship Lent is a time when we are called to examine our lives and see how we have wandered from God’s way and need to come home. What better time could there be for each of us to consider what it means "the Lord Is My Shepherd." I hope you’ll join us in prayerfully considering the challenging good news of this Psalm. The schedule is as follows: March 21 Thou Preparest a Table for Me in the Presence of My Enemies, Thou Anointest My Head with Oil, My Cup Runneth Over 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Social hall, simple meal, Anthem by 7th Day, reflection March 28 Surely Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me All the Days of My Life, And I Shall Dwell in the House of the Lord Forever 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Social hall, simple meal, Anthem by Memory Bell Choir, reflection April 5 Maundy Thursday Worship 7:30 p.m., Sanctuary, Anthem by Chancel Choir, Communion
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