THE BETHANY LETTER

Gina and I have been watching Ken Burns' TheWar on PBS for the last several weeks. The 50^th anniversary of the end of WWII must still be echoing for us because I've read several reviews of books and several articles recounting different battles, campaigns, or just individuals' experiences all about WWII. They all mention one thing about that war that I also heard my father talk about - everyone was united to win the fight.

My dad experienced the war from two sides - here at home and on the battlefield. The country entered the war just as he graduated from high school. For the next four years he saw the country pull together to win the war, When he graduated from Akron U he shipped off to fight in France and Germany, doing the house-to-house and "over the river and through the woods" kind of fighting portrayed in Private Ryan.

He told our family stories about the waste and brutality of war, but he also said that it was the best time of his life! I asked him how that could be. He said it was because everyone knew what had to be done and the entire country worked together to accomplish it. One section of the Ken Burns special featured the solidarity of the home front with the war front: scrap recycling, victory gardens, lowered thermostats in the winter, war bonds, letters and care packages for soldiers. People even saved and sent in their bacon grease from breakfast to somehow help make explosives!

As one of his Sabbath Economics principles, Ched Myers identifies the solidarity of those experiencing God's blessings with those who are not. I heard repeatedly as a child that Jesus left heaven not only to die for all of us, but that he would have left heaven to die for any one of us. He expressed solidarity with us by giving himself, to become one of us and to die for us - even if it had only been for me or for you.

We are God's hands and feet to take and demonstrate this message. In WWII people on the front lines and at home gave not only their money, they gave themselves. Until everyone has heard the Gospel and experienced it being lived out, can we do any less?

Scripture: Luke 17:5-10

Sermon: What Faith Can Do

8:30 a.m. Worship (Traditional)/ Memory Bell Choir

9:15 a.m. Church School for Children & Adults

10:30 a.m. Worship/ Chancel Choir/ Memory Bell Choir

11:30 a.m. Social Hour Host: Open

Adult Classes at 9:15a.m: Lounge Class; Bible Discoveries; Seasons of the Spirit; Seekers; Senior High; Upper Room; Perspectives

Our next meeting of the Bethany Buckeyes will be this Friday, October 5^th. For reservations, call the office before Friday. The meal is at 6:00 p.m. Fun and games follow the meal!

World Communion Sunday - celebrated the first Sunday in October - is one of the most venerable of "special Sundays." The day has taken on new relevancy and depth of meaning in a world where globalization often has undermined peace and justice - and in a time when fear divides the peoples of God's earth.  On this day we celebrate our oneness in Christ, the Prince of Peace, in the midst of the world we are called to serve - a world ever more in need of peacemaking.

Next class - October 7^th. Please read pages 13-39 in the book Desire of the Everlasting Hills. If you don't have one there are copies of the 1st Chapter in the Bible Discoveries room; top shelf next to the attendance book.

On the first Sunday of each month, Bethany's volunteer nurses, Linda Goodwin and Holly Keenan, offer blood pressure tests during social hour (10:30). If you are interested in having your BP checked, look for us in the library October 7^th. Also, we are looking for topics of interest to present in the coming year and will have a suggestion box we hope to see filled with ideas: health, social or family issues; relaxation techniques, CPR with or without certification, etc. We would also welcome new members - laypersons included.

The Mission Committee has arranged a very special opportunity for us to learn about the response of the United Church of Christ to the Katrina disaster. Jim Ditzler of the Eastern Ohio Association UCC, Disaster Response Team, will be our guest preacher at both services on October 14^th. He'll also share a video presentation during a brunch between the services. Jim has been a member of the UCC Disaster Response Team for 15 years. In addition to working to develop a stronger disaster response ministry in Ohio, he's personally spent 8 months in hurricane relief work in Florida and 6 months in New Orleans following Katrina. He's also been involved in tornado relief work in Ohio and flood relief work in West Virginia and Ohio. The team is currently involved in flood relief work in Bucyrus, Findlay, Mansfield, Ottawa, Painesville, and Upper Sandusky. To provide better resources for the response team he's also worked to develop a variety of special trailers, one for tools, one for "response kits," and one pumping mud out of flooded basements. Don't miss this opportunity to become informed about an important part of our church's wider mission.

Make a special effort to attend Our Bread of Life Homecoming Celebration on October 14^th at 10:30. This special Sunday is sponsored by the C.E. Committee, for our members who are often unable to attend church. We hope to encourage them to come and worship with us on this special Sunday. A special Bread of Life Social Hour will follow. Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread.

Men's Volunteer Breakfast

It is a great time for men of the church to get together to share faith, food, and fellowship together; as well as a few chores with which the custodians could use some help. The men gather the 3^rd Wednesday of the month at 8:00 a.m. (Next breakfast October 17^th) Can you help make this time possible by providing breakfast for 8-10 men once during the year? If so, call Nancy Read.

Red Cross Disaster Training

Bethany has been a Red Cross shelter in the community in the event of a disaster for a number of years. The American Red Cross has asked us if we would like to recruit volunteers to be trained to open and run our church as a shelter if needed. The Missions Committee decided to have our members trained. The three-hour training will take place on Wednesday, October 17^th from 6-9 pm at Bethany. This is a one-time training not yearly. If you are interested in being a part of this training, please contact Carolyn B. Hofmann. This training and volunteer opportunity is open to all Bethany adults not just the mission committee members.

Help Us Be a Family . . .

There is no more important time for us to be there for each other than when one of our members or families must deal with the death of a loved one. One of the most important ways for us to express love and care is by providing a meal for friends and family after the funeral. This lifts an important burden from the bereaved family and offers them a comfortable space where they can come together and share food and fellowship. Bethany has a long tradition of ministering to its members in this way. Unfortunately, though we have a large number of people who are willing to help with these meals (by setting up, providing salads, side dishes, or desserts), the numbers who are willing to serve as coordinators for these meals (choosing the menu, ordering food, calling the volunteers) is now down to two. In order to have a funeral meal rotation that doesn't overly burden anyone, we need at least 2 more people to serve as coordinators. If you'd be willing to help in this way please call the office at 330-923-5277. Your help would be much appreciated and make a real difference to others in our Bethany family.

There will be a fall retreat. What will it need most of all to be a blessing? YOU! The bonds of faith and fellowship to which God calls us and which have always made Bethany unique, can only remain strong if we value them enough to turn from other priorities in order to come together. Everyone who went on this year’s retreat hopes that you’ll do just that next year.

September altar flowers given by. . .

9/16 Karen Butler's family in honor of her birthday!

9/23 Doris Brubaker in memory of Blanche and Floyd Schneider and in honor of Dorothy Draper's birthday! Bart and Carol Clemente in memory of Roy Brandon, Carol's father

9/30 Sarah Mellott and family in memory of Calvin Mellott

Thank you for lifting up in worship Mom's sweet spirit, courage and faith. During the memorial service as I sat with friends and family, my mind was flooded with memories and the thought that for 40 years mom attended practically every worship service, funeral and most of the weddings held at Bethany. I thought of all the people, the endless events, Sunday school, guild meetings, work days, new member receptions, conferences, retreats and all who impacted our lives and shared this journey together. The church was my mother's life and when her health failed and she moved to Kankakee she welcomed the newsletter and cards; remembrances from her Bethany family brought joy. Special thanks for the beautiful music, the choir, those who attended the service and all who prepared food and served in the kitchen. I rejoice that Mom is home and we take comfort in your blessing, "The Holy Spirit be upon you Mary Powers, Child of God, Disciple of Christ, Member of the Church." Gratefully, John Powers on behalf of Mary's family

Please remember in your prayers . . .

Joan Porter, St. Thomas Hospital

Jenny Bisesi, Manor Care

Dorothy Draper, Rockynol

Albert Jensen, Manor Care

Geraldine Hunter, Briarwood

Margaret Martin

Peg Leiter, Seattle WA

Receipts must be dated Beginning September 29^{th -} Ending February 16, 2008

Acme brands: Food Club, Dining-In, Domestix, Paws, Top Care, Top Crest and Valutime. Acme Fresh Market will issue a rebate check equal to 5% of the Cash Back amount printed at the bottom of the receipt. The Cash Back amount includes all Acme brand merchandise purchases. Locate Acme brand items easily by watching for shelf tags in the store. Ask your families, friends, co-workers and neighbors to save them too! (R.S.V.P. stores not included in the program.) Bethany's Youth Fellowship appreciates your support as the proceeds help fund the youth mission trip.

The Ocepeks could use a few bags of old newspapers for shipping communionware. If you have any to spare at this time, please bring them in and mark "Ocepek" on the bag or box so they don't mistakenly get put into the dumpster. Thanks!

Our program is a special PBS Video titled Akron Women: Another Look at History. This video celebrates the significant contribution of Akron women to the city’s history. The program begins at 7:00 PM in the Lounge.

6:00p IHN Dinner (Social Hall)

7:00p Mission (Social Hall)

8:00p Bell Choir Practice

10/04 6:00p IHN Dinner (Lounge)

6:15p Confirmation Meal, Music, Class (Library)

7:30p Choir Practice

10/05 6:00p IHN Dinner (Lounge)

6:00p Buckeyes (Social Hall)

10/06 6:00p IHN Dinner (Social Hall)

8:30a Worship/ Communion

9:15a Church School for Children and Adults

10:30a Worship/ Communion/ Memory Bells/ Chancel Choir

11:30a Social Hour

11:30a Bethany Nurse BP Check

11:45a 7^th Day Rehearsal

4:00p Adult Ensemble

5:30p Youth Committee Meeting

6:30p YF

10/08 9:00a Quilters

9:30a Shawl Ministry (Lounge)

10:00a Newsletter Deadline

7:30p Kerygma

10/09 7:15p Finance

7:45p At Ease

10/10 9:30a Bible Study (CE)

6:30p Spiritual Council (BD

7:30p Consistory (L)

8:00p Bell Practice

10/11 7:30p Choir Practice

8:30a Worship (Fellowship)

9:15a Church School for Children

9:15a Adult Classes/ Brunch/ (Social Hall) guest speaker, Jim Ditzer

10:30a Worship/ Children's Sunday School

11:30a Homecoming Celebration!

11:30a Confirmation/ Mentor Meal

11:30a YF lunch/ zoo

10/15 9:00a Quilters

9:30a Shawl Ministry (Lounge)

10:00a Newsletter Deadline

7:00p Women's Fellowship (Lounge)

7:30p Kerygma

10/16 8:15p Staff Meeting (Lounge)

10/17 8:00a Men's Breakfast

9:30a Bible Study (C.E.)

5:00p Red Cross Training Session (S. Hall)

8:00p Bell Practice

Names of Sunday Volunteers are published AHEAD of the scheduled Sunday as a kindly reminder & an early thank you! If you are unable to volunteer the day you are scheduled, please remember to:

find someone to take your place and then call the church office so we may make necessary changes.

Esperanza Cup Washing: A. Myers, A. Wachovec

Greeters: J.&S. Mancinelli, S. & N. Keenan

Lay Reader: H. Keenan

Music: Memory Bells both/ Chancel Choir

Nursery: T. Ocepek, A. McVan, V. McVan, E. Frederick

Social Hour Host: Seasons of the Spirit Class

Ushers: R. & S. Holle, M. Jensen, M.Seguin, M. Seymour, K. Mellott, S. Mellott, J.& J. Ingram, N. Buck, M. Spring, S.P. O'Malley

Van Driver: F. Read

Visitor Outlook: L. Goodwin

Esperanza Cup Washing: A. Zeller, C. Zeller

Greeters: H. & E. Nagel/ G. & V. Earlenbaugh

Lay Reader: G. Jensen

Music: 7^th Day/ Chancel Choir

Nursery: M. Peyak, K. Miller, C. Pletzer, T. Giffen

Social Hour Host: Christian Ed.

Ushers: T. Hermann, R. Read, J. Grazulis, J. Seymour, B.&C. Pletzer, C. Eberhardt, Karen Fratz

Van Driver: J. France