Bethany Community Church, 201 Birch Avenue, Grandview, Washington March, 2018 In January, four people from our church attended the ECO National Gathering in Houston, TX. The theme was Renovate from Nehemiah 2: 18. It was a very exciting time for our denomination. The worship time was very moving, with the local churches providing exceptional music and different speakers bringing the word of God. Dana Allin, our Synod Exec, laid out the vision for ECO going forward. He referred to John Ortberg s words from the Orlando gathering several years ago when ECO was first launched. At that time he said that our vision was not to become a denomination that simply died more slowly. And while we recognize that worship attendance is declining in nearly every denomination, we don t see this decline as a hopeless trajectory. Instead, our denomination is newly excited and empowered to pray hard, roll up our sleeves, and make difficult but necessary renovations to reverse this trajectory. The speakers at the gathering were exceptional and together presented the theme that we are not yet fully living into who God has called us to be, but there is tremendous hope in the power of the Holy Spirit. Ed Stetzer, Kyle Strobel, and Condoleezza Rice helped us think about renovating as a denomination, as leaders, and as disciples. Each one pushed us in ways that made us realize, I really needed to hear that! Yet they also affirmed and championed our desire and efforts to renovate and continue to press forward. Another thing that was impressive was the Synod meeting at the gathering. ECO was created quickly, and as a result, there were some gaps in process and a lack of clarity in several areas. Everyone involved did a wonderful job in helping fill those gaps. Several commissioners noted, I can t believe we got all of that done in 3 hours of actual business! The meeting was so efficient because many hundreds of hours were put in beforehand to prepare and have everything organized. There was agreement about the fundamentals, including the centrality of the Word of God and the importance of addressing issues of racial and other divisions in our country. There were disagreements on how to resolve those issues, but the heart with which commissioners approached each topic was truly community building for us. We are truly blessed to be part of ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. We are once again on solid theological ground, not fighting about the small things, but working together to empower all churches to becoming flourishing churches that make flourishing disciples who are passionate about sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a broken and dying world. It is pretty obvious that our communities, state, and nation need prayer and strong, involved churches that stand on the Word of God and speak the truth in love. ECO is working to empower us to become that church. Still, as individuals, we must do our part and allow Jesus to renovate our hearts and minds so that we are the disciples he calls us to be.
WORSHIP HELPERS MARCH, 2018 Lay Assistants 3/4 Maxine Ballinger 3/11 Janet White 3/18 Alix Carlson 3/25 Gretchen Lange Ushers Greeters 3/4 Nancy Kragt, Janet 3/4 Ann & Don Bentley White 3/11 Polly & Bill 3/11Tim & Robin Smith McKinney 3/18 Ardith Carratt & 3/18 Gretchen Lange Ann The Youth Bentley Ministries of Bethany 3/25 Community Tim & Robin Churc 3/25 Youth-Danny Smith Snider Communion Servers 3/4/18, Polly McKinney, Bev Rider, Gay & Peggy Brewer Children s Church 3/4 Bonnie Copeland 3/11 Leah Shenyer 3/18 Peggy Brewer 3/25 Polly McKinney SATURDAY, MARCH 24 ALL-CHURCH CLEAN-UP 9:00 a.m. Noon Sprucing up inside and outside. EVERYONE PLEASE COME EASTER CHOIR Please join us to sing for the Lord at Easter time. Please ask Jean or David for practice day and time info. We started Feb. 21 with 9 members. Hope to see more next week. FELLOWSHIP GROUP Friday, March 9, 6:30 p.m. Come to Ted and Ardith Carratt s 180801 W. Robertson Rd, Grandview Bring your assigned food.
EASTER April 1 Start your day with breakfast from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt 9:15 am WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 We will have a choir and praise music! There will be Children s Church. f Palm Sunday, March 25 Children and youth bring in palm branches. Special choir number Maundy Thursday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. Worship and Communion
CHILDREN S CHURCH for children CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES Ages 4 to 4 th grade. Teachers will be using Hands-On Worship. SUNDAY SCHOOL children lessons from Hands-On Bible led by Maxine Ballinger. Adults will study A Journey Through Lent, reflecting on Christ s sacrifice for us.
NEWS FROM MISSIONS From our Scout Troop 643 HAVE A FREE COFFEE ON US! Stop by for a free cup of coffee and spend some time hanging around in the Center doing whatever reading a book, playing a game, using a computer 2:30 4:30 Monday- Thursday. Who knows, maybe you will get to know some students and have the opportunity to encourage them. GOLF TURNAMENT FUNDRAISER will be April 28 beginning at 9 a.m. GOLFERS Put this on your calendar. Oh the places we ll go! Walk for Life Saturday, April 21, 2018 for Life Options Maxine Ballinger will be our liaison. Walk begins at 9 a.m., Grandview Community Center!!! The troop collected 1,100 pounds of food and $144 during a one-day food drive benefiting the Salvation Army in honor of 108 years of Scouting in the U.S. There are 12 boys in this troop. (From Jim Davidson, Scoutmaster) Grace In god s hands Stephen and Carol Carlyle, Co-Founders of Grace in God s Hands Ministries, report that seventy graduated at Christ Bible School in Uganda. During November 2017, 200 people came to the Lord during a Youth Team Crusade and Conference held for five days in Kasese, Uganda. With much appreciation and gratefulness, we thank you for remembering the children and those who are blessed by Grace in God s Hands Ministries. UPDATES and NEWS From Abraham & Deborah Lara Missionaries with Family Life I came very close to getting a divorce after my husband s infidelity. EVEYONE, including my therapist, told me divorce was the right thing to do, but I listened to Family Life Today religiously. My mind was slowly changed and I decided to give the marriage another try. This was five years ago. We are stronger and happier now than we have ever been. This is just one story out of many where we know our ministry has blessed a marriage.
MARCH BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES 4 Polly McKinney 7 Mark Drollinger 10 Lucille Norlinger 12 Bev Rider 13 Jen Schlegel 16 Jim & Judy Rice 18 Ken McPherson 24 Karen Gustafson 27 Bruce & Sue Johnson 26 Donnie Olmstead III 30 Marv Kragt
MARCH 2018 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 8:00a.m. Prayer team 2 3 10-12 a.m. Girl 4 9:00 Suday School 10:00 a.m. Worship and Communion 5 6:15 Choir 6:30 pm Cub 6 8 a.m. Souders Men s Bible Study 7:00 pm 7 1:30 Women s Bible study 6:00 pm Potluck & Small groups 5:30 pm-8:00 Engage 8 8:00a.m. Prayer team 9 2:15-4:30p.m. KIDZ CLUB Fellowship Group 6:30pm at Carratt s 10 11 Daylight Time starts 9:00 Suday School 10:00 a.m. Worship 12 6:15 choir 6:30 pm Cub 13 8 a.m. Souders Men s Bible Study 7:00 pm 14 1:30 pm Women s Bible study 6:00 pm Potluck & Small groups 5:30 pm-8:00 Engage 15 8:00a.m. Prayer team 16 2:15-4:30p.m. KIDZ CLUB 17 10 12 noon Girl 18 9:00 Suday School 10:00 a.m. Worship 19 5 pm Deacons 6 pm Team meetings 7 pm Session 6:30 pm Cub 20 8 a.m. Souders Men s Bible Study 7:00 pm 21 6:00 pm Potluck & Small groups 5:30 pm-8:00 Engage 22 6:30 am Priscilla Circle 8:00 am Prayer team 23 2:15-4:30p.m. KIDZ CLUB 24 25 9:00 Suday School 10:00 a.m. Worship 26 6:30 pm Cub 27 8 a.m. Souders Men s Bible Study 28 1:30 pm Ruth Circle 5:30 pm-8:00 Engage 29 Maunday Thurs. Worship, Communion 30 31