Bethany Road BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. From the Desk of Pastor Peter. Committee Meetings. Inside this issue: Volume 14, Issue 3 March 2017

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1 Bethany Road Volume 14, Issue 3 March 2017 BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH From the Desk of Pastor Peter The National Football League season just ended with a great Super Bowl win by the New England Patriots and now we are entering into the college basketball season as we head into March. It seems that most of America (including me) tends to divide our life into seasons based on sports. We have the college football season, the national football league season, both professional and college baseball seasons, and the professional and college basketball seasons. As the parents of five children our lives revolve around our children's seasons of sports and music. Any parent can attest to this overwhelming scheduling. Thankfully, God reminds us and calls us to a season of Lent that helps us to experience His presence, grace and love for us. God has graciously called His people into a series of Lent, a time of preparation. God gives us this time to prepare our hearts for the glorious celebration of Easter. The season of Lent helps us to have a closer and more intimate time with Jesus. One way that Bethany EPC is going to celebrate Lent is by comparing the life of Joseph with Jesus. The correlation is remarkable. Every week we will discover God s redemptive activity in our lives I sincerely believe that God is providing Bethany a season in which all of us can have a greater intimacy with Jesus Christ. This is the time in which we ask ourselves some very honest questions like: Who among us has someone to forgive? Who among us has a (soul) blockage that would keep the Holy Spirit from moving freely in his or her life? Who among us has allowed his/her relationship with the Risen Lord to stagnate? The sermon series on Joseph and Jesus for the worship times and Sunday School are some of the means that God is using to help us to make the Lenten season a time of great importance in our life. The time of Lent is not in opposition with all the other seasons in our life, but instead it is a time in which God reminds us of His tremendous love and purpose for us. It is a season of the world's great hope. "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. C.S. Lewis Committee Meetings Deacons March 1 at 6:30 p.m. Property March 7 at 6:30 p.m. Outreach March 13 at 7:00 p.m. Christian Ed. March 14 at 7:00 p.m. Member Involvement March 14 at 7:00 p.m. Worship & Memorials March 14 at 7:00 p.m. SESSION March 23 at 7:00 p.m. Inside this issue: Save the Dates; Thank You, Church Library Spring Brunch; My Ladies; Fun & Fellowship; Thank You 2 3 Christian Education 4 Christian Education 5 March Calendar 6

2 Page 2 Bethany Road Dear Bethany Family: Thank you for the beautiful Wendell August cross. It has been an honor to serve as your Financial Secretary for the last 14 years. I have appreciated the help and cooperation I received from so many of you. It is with mixed emotions that I leave this position, because I have loved my job and the people I worked with in this role. I still can t believe an Elementary Education major ended up doing accounting, but that s where God led me! I know Patty Klutcher will do a fantastic job replacing me and I look forward to serving in NEW roles at Bethany. Thanks again, Beth Lawyer EX Financial Secretary Bethany Church Library Did you know that 2017 is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation? Check out the Bethany Library for some amazing books and series for kids, students, and adults in both nonfiction and novel genres on the Reformation and its leaders. Do you love books? Check out our newly re-organized shelves for tons of great books for every age and interest! Would you like to help out? We are looking for a few more volunteers to help with organizing and labeling new books. Please see Teri Childers, Janice Inman, or Krystle Cozad. We would love to have you!! LOOKING AHEAD. Man Camp at Wesley Woods- March 31-April 2 Slippery Rock Rec. Center- April 9 (students only) High School Wesley Woods Trip - April 17 (Horses or High Ropes) Work Weekend/Week at Wesley Woods- April 28-May 5 Vacation Bible School- June 5-9 WV Trip- June (high school students, adults, families) Summer Camps at Wesley Woods- July Pirates vs. Cardinals- August 20 Church Picnic at Camp Nazareth- August 27 Bethany Road ~April Deadline Please have all items for the April Bethany Road in the Church Office by Wednesday, March 22 at noon. Thank You Applications for summer intern are being accepted. Applicants must be a high school graduate and available to work full time hours from mid-may to mid-august. Call Nate with your address and we will send you an application.

3 Page 3 Spring Brunch...Showers of Blessings...Be Our Guest Bethany Road Bethany Presbyterian Women s Semi- Annual Spring Brunch with a theme of Showers of Blessings will be held in the Social Hall of the Church on Saturday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. Our almost two hours together will feature some fun activities, our basket give a ways, an opportunity to chat and share a time of fellowship and lunch! This Brunch will have a wonderful lunch. We do need to know how many are coming so we will have plenty of food for everyone. Please call the Church Office by Wednesday, April 19 ( ) and let us know how many will be attending. Why not invite a member of your family, a neighbor, or a coworker? How much is the cost of admission to this fun event? You may not believe this, but it is absolutely free. There will be no collections until fall. If you would be willing to donate a basket (you select your theme) please call Lois at the church office at or Nancy Ollinger-Thiess at Any basket large or small; any theme will be welcomed. This Brunch is open to all members and friends of Bethany and the community at large. This is the Bethany Presbyterian Women s personal invitation for you. We will miss you if you are not there. My Ladies....Continue on Angel Sightings We will continue our Bible Study on angel sightings. Since we have concluded a summary of those in the New Testament, we will be starting our March studies on Old Testament angel sightings. We will be meeting on Tuesday, March 7 and March 21. This Bible Study meets in the rear of Carson Chapel and begins at 10:00 a.m. and concludes by 11:15. Fun & Fellowship.Why Not Join Us Our March meeting will be held on Monday, March 20 in the Lindsey Room at 7:00 p.m. We will be making final plans for our upcoming Brunch (to be held on Saturday, April 22) and make additional plans for the rest of this year. We will share a time of fellowship and refreshments provided by Delores Palmer. If you have never joined us before, we have missed you and hope you can be with us. Collections...None Until Fall... Because of your generosity over the past year, we are going to take a breather from collections until late summer or early fall. At that time, we will have a new collection(s). If you want to get an early start on one of them, you can be picking up women s and children s socks, gloves, mittens, scarves and hats. Watch for these items to go on sale soon. We know these items will be one of our collections for fall/winter. If you knit or crochet, handmade items are always a hit. Other items will be included when the fall/winter collections begin. Dear Friends: I would like to say a very special thank you for the In the Beginning Cross you gave me for my 38 years of service as Clerk of Session (and five years serving in that capacity on the Board of Trustees). It was a wonderful surprise and I appreciate you remembering me in this special way. Blessings...Nancy Ollinger-Thiess

4 Page 4 Bethany Road From the Desk of Mr. Nate, Last week we had a preview of the temperature change of seasons from winter to spring to summer and back to winter again. After reading the announcements below, you may feel the same way winter to spring to summer! March 9- At 6:30 am and 6:30 pm on Thursday we will be having our monthly Prayer Meeting for Youth. We love to see you out (any age) as we pray by name for our youth from crib to college....continues its eighth year on Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 28 and April 4 and 11 from about 3-6 pm. If you are able to volunteer, contact myself or Nancy Thompson. You can also partner with us with cookies and in prayer for the week. Candy and Volunteers to pack eggs with candy are needed in March for the Mercer Area Easter Egg Hunt at Brandy Springs Park on Saturday, April 8. Call or e- mail nate@bethany-presbyterian.org if you are interested in egg packing. A Preschool Director/Teacher is needed for Vacation Bible School (June 5-9). You will also have a crew of adult and student volunteers to help. Craft leaders are also needed for preschool and older elementary. If you are interested in these positions, please contact me (Nate). Summer camp at Wesley Woods on July is also in need of adult counselors for Junior, Middle School (Nikes), and High School camps. Please let us know if you are available for any of these wonderful ministries. Camp is Sunday-Friday. Our 2017 Senior Class Trip (Aug. 5-12) To Jamaica Team includes: Rachel Bish, Abby Grabigel, Ryan McQuown, Paige Gressly, Grace Ruhlman, Ryan Peck, Brittany Watson, Alex Denny (Big Bend UMC), Leah Fuge (Chapel), Nate Childers, Sharon Ketterer, Laurie Ruhlman, and Peter Dembroski, Our seniors, parents, chaperones are raising 1/3 of their trip costs. Our next fundraisers for the Senior Class Mission Trip in March and April will help us raise our remaining $3,106 or 42% of our $6,500 goal. Dessert Auction is Sunday, April 9 th after Lenten Lunch. Make that special dessert and bring Spring Service Day(s) Call Dale McQuown to schedule a time for yard work, spring cleaning, or moving help.

5 Page 5 Bethany Road Did you know that 2017 is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation? Check out the Bethany library for some amazing books and series for kids, students, and adults in both non-fiction and novel genres on the Reformation and its leaders. Do you love books? Check out our newly re-organized shelves for tons of great books for every age and interest! Would you like to help out? We are looking for a few more volunteers to help with organizing and labeling new books. See Teri Childers, Janice Inman, or Krystle Cozad. We would love to have you!! There will be a WV Trip Informational Meeting for high school (9 th -12 th grade) students and parents on Sunday, March 12 starting at 6 pm in the Social Room. Small groups will be afterwards. July 16-21, 2017 is this year s date for summer camp for youth who finished 3 rd -12 th grade. Cost is $325 minus applicable discounts. Register by May 1 st to get the $50 early bird discount! Scholarships are available for those who have financial need. Online registration is at and health form registration with Wesley Woods is at Call us if you need help at Highlights include Capture the Flag, Water Slide, Bear Hunt (formerly Counselor Hunt ), Bedlam, Skit Night, Gaga Ball, 9 Square in the Air, Heated Pool, Showers in the Cabins, music, speakers, and 6 O clock News with college age and older counselors. Junior Camp (completed 3 rd -6 th grade) includes the above activities, plus ponies, challenge course, Gaga Ball, and more. Nikes Camp (middle school) includes the above highlights, plus your own location, Adirondack cabins, canoeing, Zip line, Survivor, visit Frosty Jack s, group service project, optional horseback riding (extra cost), and more. High School Camp (completed 9 th -12 th grade) includes the above highlights and discounts up to $150. High school camp activities include rock climbing, survivor, air soft, high ropes, breakouts, optional horseback riding and zip line (extra costs). High school campers have three options for the week: 1) Camp fun and friends, 2) Camp fun and friends plus volunteer 2-3 times for a 5 hour morning or evening block with a Junior Camp counselor and campers, 3) Volunteer the whole week with a Junior Camp counselor and campers sleeping in their cabin. Seniority will be given to upperclassmen. Call church office at if you are interested in being a high school counselor for more information and requirements.

6 12 9:00 Sunday School 19 9:00 Sunday School 26 9:00 Sunday School 14 7:00 Men s Group Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5 9:00 Sunday School 10:15 Worship Lenten Lunch 11:30 TWIST 6-8 Youth Groups 10:15 Worship Lenten Lunch 11:30 TWIST 6-8 Youth Groups 10:15 Worship Lenten Lunch 11:30 TWIST 6-8 Youth Groups 10:15 Worship Lenten Lunch 11:30 TWIST 6-8 Youth Groups 6 6:30 Cub Scouts 13 6:30 Cub Scouts Outreach in the Lindsey Room 20 6:30 Cub Scouts 7:00 Fun & Fellowship 27 6:30 Cub Scout Pack Meeting March :00 Men s Group 10:00 My Ladies TTT 6:30 Property TTT 7:00 Worship & Memorials; Christian Ed. Member Involvement 21 7:00 Men s Group 10:00 My Ladies 28 7:00 Men s Group 3-6 TTT 1 8:00 Quilters 9:30 Mom In Prayer; Back Pack 6:30 Deacons 8 8:00 Quilters 6:00 Back Pack 6:30 Military Prayer 15 8:00 Quilters 9:30 Mom In Prayer; Back Pack 22 8:00 Quilters 6:00 Back Pack 29 8:00 Quilters 6:00 Back Pack 2 7:00 District Scouts 9 6:30 a.m. & p.m. Youth Prayer 3 Family Retreat 4 Cub Scout Pinewood Derby in the Social Room and Kitchen Reed Bridal Shower Wyldlife at the Manse 23 7:00 SESSION Wyldlife at the Manse 18 25

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8 BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 100 West Venango Street Mercer, PA Regular Office Hours Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. (724) Prayer Chain: Fax: Web: Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Mercer, PA PERMIT No. 39 We re here to Exalt, to Encourage, to Equip, to TO: Current Resident Easter Flowers Tulips, lilies & hyacinths available for $12.00 each. Fill out the order form below, and return it to the Church office with your payment by Wednesday, March 29th. Your Name: Lily Hyacinth Tulip In Honor of: In Memory of: In Celebration of the Risen Jesus