B e t h a n y P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h. Bethany Road

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1 B e t h a n y P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h Bethany Road V OLUME 15, ISSUE 1 J ANUARY 2018 From the Desk of Pastor Peter I had one of the best Christmas gifts ever in At 5:25 am on December 23 my first grandchild was born, Arlo Jon Cherry. He came from the hospital on December 25 and we had an amazing Christmas celebration. I am very excited getting to know Arlo and seeing him grow. He has some amazing parents that will put him in a process of learning their faith, values and truths that will shape his character and his life to become a godly man. We, too, as adopted children to our Father in Heaven are in a process of growing. God has a plan and purpose for our lives and He is transforming us and growing us. This is His blessing and promise to us that God will purposely grow and shape us all the days of our lives. As the New Year gets on its way we can anticipate and participate the many ways in which God is growing us. God grows us through a process of knowing Him and His Word. This process includes hearing His Word from the private reading of the Bible, from the Word being read and explained in our weekly worship services and from participating in Bible study groups. Also, God will speak to us from songs, poems and from our relationships with His people. God provides us with a church family in which he calls teachers and preachers to explain His Word. His Word that comes to us from different types of vehicles helps us to know Him. God s desire is that our growth comes from getting to know God in an intimate and personal way. He created us and spiritual birthed us so that we can have this relationship of knowing and glorifying Him. Just like Arlo getting to know his loving parents (also his grandparents and other relatives) in an intimate and personal will transform him to become a godly man. We are in the process of knowing God and growing mature in that process. The start of the New Year is to know the process of growing and commit to it. And in our private prayer thanking God for His commitment to know us and grow us; that we can look forward to this New Year with anticipation and participation. Eph 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. NIV Inside this issue: Game Dinner; Chili Cook- Off Wedding; A Special Thank You Up-Dates- ThankOffering; My Ladies; Fun & Fellowship Christian Education 5-6 January Calendar 7 Congregational Dinner and Meetings Committee Meetings: Property January 2 at 6:30 p.m. Deacons January 3 at 6:30 p.m. Member Involvement January 9 at 7:00 p.m. Worship & Memorials January 9 at 7:00 p.m. Christian Ed. January 10 at 6:30 p.m. SESSION January 25 at 7:00 p.m. Congregational Dinner and Meetings January 28 after the Worship Service Back Cover

2 Men s Game Dinner Mark Your calendar Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Bethany Church; Plan to Help (Cooking, Serving, Picking up Give a ways) Call Andy Heckathorn at Check out insert in the Sunday bulletin. Bethany Chili Cook Off Do you like to eat AND help a good cause at the same time? Then come enjoy great food and fellowship! Do you make the BEST CHILI? Then whip up a batch and let everyone try some! Come to compete or just to eat! Support the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry by bringing food and hygiene items (see list below) to donate in exchange for tickets. Then use the tickets to vote for your favorite chilis! Each ticket equals one vote but you can keep voting if you ve got the tickets! No limit on donations, all proceeds benefit Loaves and Fishes. Three (3) tickets - tooth paste, tooth brushes, Dove soap, shampoo, deodorant, cough drops Two (2) tickets - Canned fruit, canned vegetables, any kind of canned beans, canned fish and meat, peanut butter, jelly One (1) ticket - any kind of canned soup, pancake mix, cereal, boxed macaroni and cheese, Hamburger Helper, any other non-perishable food items Join us Sunday January 21, 2018 from 5 to 6:00 PM in the Social Room where we ll announce the three contestants with the most votes! Winners get fabulous prizes! Sign up in the Welcome Center now! Mercer Elementary School Backpack Program Bethany s Outreach Committee is joining with Trinity Presbyterian Church s Backpack Program for the months of February and March The Backpack Program provides weekend meals for children that have been identified as at risk for not having enough to eat over the weekend. There are several ways you can volunteer for this outreach to our community: Pray for the children receiving the backpacks Shop for groceries to fill the weekly backpacks Help pack the backpacks on Wednesdays Deliver the backpacks to the Elementary School on Thursday mornings If you are able to volunteer, please call Diana Eperthener at (724) or meet Sunday 1/21/2018 in Carson Chapel after the service for a brief meeting. Page 2 Volume 15, Issue 1

3 WITH HEARTFELT THANKS... COLLECTIONS UP DATE... Thanks to so many of you, the Bethany Presbyterian Women had another successful collection of items for AWARE and Avalon Springs. You filled our bins to the brim with wonderful donations which will be used this winter and into spring. Here is a breakdown of your giving: Everyone is welcome to join Krystle Cozad and Daniel Bubba MacLean in celebration of their marriage at their open church wedding ceremony on Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Bethany Presbyterian Church. Cookie reception to follow. AWARE gloves 24; socks 64; hat and glove sets 4; boys boxers 2; hats 43 and scarves 12. AVALON SPRINGS women shampoo 13; conditioner 2; body wash 22 and lotion 9. For men shampoo/body wash and 3 in 1 5; body wash--2 and deodorant 2. Also donated were 18 tubes of toothpaste. All of these items are used as special treats for the residents there. Isn t it wonderful to know that someone will become excited because he/ she will have a bottle of scented shampoo! All of these items have been delivered well before Christmas by one of our dedicated, faithful members. JEREMIAH 29: During what has been a very long journey to recovery, this passage from the prophet Jeremiah has been Jack and my reminder that God watches over us, makes promises and keeps them. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. During the difficult times in each of our lives, we sometime cannot see, in the midst of harm, the hope and future that are promised to us and yet we as believers know that not only was Jeremiah speaking to the exiles he speaks to us. Little did Jack and I know that what was to be a one-day bus trip would turn into major surgery and weeks of therapy. But through it all, God has been in full control and has provided us with wonderful prayer support. The cards were so welcome on days that seemed dark. Each of you has been in our daily prayers. Just as Jeremiah says, I will listen to you, and He has. Update: I have had in excess of 27 therapy sessions as you read this message with more on the horizon. My mobility is through the use of a walker outside for very short distances and a four-pronged cane inside. The prognosis is walking without a cane by spring with maybe a limp. (Limps are okay). Again, we cannot thank you enough for all the bright days you have provided for us. Our personal theme is God is good all the time; all the time God is good. Peace and blessings from our home to yours. Jack and Nancy (Ollinger) Thiess Page 3 Volume 15, Issue 1

4 WITH HEARTFELT THANKS... THANKOFFERING UPDATE... The Bethany Presbyterian Women would again like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who made the 2017 Thankoffering such a success. Your donations of $2,488 made it possible for us to touch 54 people in the Mercer area from 2 month old infants to older adults. Our shoppers, with their lists in hands and funds from your gifts, provided complete Christmas bags for 39 children whose names were provided for us by the Children s Aid Society. Three willing Bethany men delivered all the bags safely and on time to West Market Street. Fifteen (15) men and women, residing at Avalon Springs, received personalized gifts purchased by one of our members. They, too, were delivered and each of these 15 residents will have a wonderful gift bag with items purchased especially for them. Since we were still in the giving spirit, Bethany Women provided four ladies from Shenango on the Green a Christmas bag with items personally selected according to each of her interests. These gifts were not purchased from Thankoffering donations. The funds to purchase these gifts came from existing funds. FUN AND FELLOWSHIP AND MY LADIES BIBLE STUDY....LOOK FOR START UP DATES... We are still on winter and recovery schedule. Please look at the February Bethany Road for updates when both events will resume. Grab a good book, a cup of hot chocolate and wait for late-breaking news.

5 From the Desk of Mr. Nate, Family Fun Night starts Jan. 12 at 5:30 pm with dinner in the Bethany Social Room with pizza from Pizza Shack. Then the fun continues at Cool Springs Recreation Center at 6:30 pm for swimming, rock wall, and open gym time. RSVP for pizza and Cool Springs or just Cool Springs on the church Facebook page or by calling the church. Wing Night- Enjoy the Mercer area s best wings (boneless ones too)middle & High School Students, Join us Sunday, Jan. 7 th at 6 pm for the start of a new year with student small groups. Bring $3 for food. Mystery Movie Night Sunday, Jan. 14 th from 6:00-9:00 pm at the Manse Popcorn, Crackerjacks, Candy Bars, and Meatball Subs!! There is also no school on Monday. Sponsored by your parents! EPIC Winter Retreat A $25 deposit for winter retreat is due next Sunday, Jan. 14 th for the retreat sponsored by EPC Allegheny Presbytery on Feb. 2-4 for 7th-12th grade students. Total cost is $75 minus discounts from Fall TTT, Equip Sundays, and/or Christmas Party gift. Our goal is to take two vans this year with 20 students! This retreat will include speaker, music, breakout sessions, foosball/pool, dodgeball tournament, a new twist on video making, and friends from other EPC churches in our area (Sharon/Grove City/Slippery Rock) and region. For more information contact Nate Childers at or nate@bethany-presbyterian.org The High School Class of 2018 is going to Corozal, Belize, July 28-August 4 for its cross-cultural trip. Please turn in your application and $100 deposit. First mission trip meeting will be on Sun., Feb. 11 th. Your internet subscription costs nothing to you and costs nothing extra to the church to sign up, so please take advantage and share with others. If you would like to sign up or have a question, please nate@bethanymercer.org.

6 Check out the Book Stall across from the Welcome Center for some great resources that will encourage you in Bible reading in Did you know? We carry extra copies of adult Sunday School and small group Bible studies. There are some great resources to encourage you or someone near you in Bible reading in There are yearlong devotional books, book based studies, undated Bible reading guides, and more. Take the slip out of the book, grab an envelope, and write the total on front. Then place the completed envelope in the dropbox by the office doors and our downstairs AED. Many of the books are significantly discounted by the publisher or distributor to us. All donations are reinvested in purchasing more literature to help others. Small groups for 5 th -12 th grade continue in January! Check out times and locations below. 5 th & 6 th Grade Guys & Girls meet weekly at the Chapel from 6:00-7:30 pm with Dave & Cindy Robinson and DJ Carl. They are grappling each week this month with the questions: What difference can I make? Why can t countries get along? Why isn t there enough to go around? Is our environment really falling apart? 7 th & 8 th Grade Guys & Girls meet from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Bethany Welcome Center from 6:00-7:30 pm with Nate & Teri Childers and Scott & Wendy Hinkson on Sundays. We will be studying the Book of Exodus this month and starting a new series Feb. 11th. 9 th -12 th Grade Guys from 6:00-8:00 pm on Sundays starting at Bethany Manse then head over to Aaron Hart s house with Aaron & Enoch Blackburn. They are finishing up reading together the book Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. 9 th -12 th Grade Girls from 6:00-8:00 pm at Bethany Manse with Cynthia Dembroski and Amanda Carl. They are working through the study Keys to Freedom from Mercy Multiplied. PIT Winter Jam- Feb. 16 CCO Jubilee- Feb. 24 (juniors/seniors) Men s Retreat- March 9-11 Pirates Game- May 20 VBS- June 4-8 WV Trip- June Summer Camp- July 15-20

7 21 9:00 SS 11:30 Back Pack Meeting 28 9:00 SS 7 9:00 SS 10:15 Worship 6:00 Youth 14 9:00 SS 10:15 Worship 3 p.m. Wedding 6:00 Youth 10:15 Worship Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 5:00 Chili Cook-Off 6:30 Youth 10:15 Worship 11:30 Congregational Dinner & Meeting 6:00 Youth 1 Church Closed No School 8 6:30 Cub Scouts 6:30 Outreach 6:30 Women s Bible Study/Carson Chapel 15 No School 6:30 Women s Bible Study/Carson Chapel 22 6:30 Cub Scouts 6:30 Women s Bible Study/Carson Chapel 29 6:30 Pack Meeting 6:30 Women s Bible Study/Carson Chapel January :30 Property 9 9:30 MOM2MOM 7:00 Worship & Memorials; Member Involvement 16 6:30 Cub Committee 3 8:00 Quilters 9:30 Moms In Prayer 6:00 Girl Scouts 6:30 Deacons 10 8:00 Quilters 6:30 Military Prayer; Christian Ed. 17 8:00 Quilters 9:30 Moms In Prayer 6:00 Girl Scouts :00 Quilters :00 Quilters Cool Springs Family Night 13 5:00 Wedding Rehearsal Sanctuary & Social Room for Dinner Game Dinner in the Social Room 25 7:00 Session Social Room & Kitchen Cub Scout Blue & Gold Banquet

8 B ETHANY PRESBYTERIAN C HURCH 100 W. VENANGO S TREET M ERCER, PA Regular Office Hours Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. (724) Prayer Chain: gloriaj@zoominternet.net 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 or Congregational Dinner January 28, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. The Congregational Dinner will be before the meetings at 11:30 a.m. in the Social Room. The Bethany Deacons will provide place settings and drinks. Please bring a covered dish to share. Congregational Meetings January 28, 2018 after the dinner Which is the date and time of the annual congregation meetings. The purpose of these meetings will be to elect Elders and Deacons, to vote on the changes in the terms of call for the Senior Pastor, hear reports and have your questions and concerns addressed. Not only will this business be conducted, but it is also a wonderful opportunity for fellowship.