April 20, 2022
Friends in Faith—
After a beautiful Easter morning and a meaningful Lenten season, this coming Sunday we'll be celebrating Earth Day. The environmental movement has been with us for several decades, but we are now hearing about climate change nearly every night on the evening news. We are experiencing wildfires and a severe drought, and we hear regular warnings that we may have reached the point of no return—that super storms and ecological disasters will only worsen until we find a way to curb emissions.
Many of us, myself included, find ourselves feeling depressed and overwhelmed. But as Christians, we proclaim that this is "our maker's world." We have been called as stewards of creation, and although we haven't been doing our job very well, God is still very much a part of creation. This Sunday, we'll celebrate our planet and discover the ways in which we are called to be leaders in caring for creation.
As always, the worship service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Pianist Natalya Amelchenko begins playing gathering music at 10:20 a.m. Folks can join from home on Facebook. (You can also watch prior services at any time here.) Consider asking a friend to join you in person at the service … or start a “watch party” on your Facebook account!
UPCOMING:
On Monday, April 25, the Spiritual Formation Commission is offering a movie—"The Shack." The event begins at 10 a.m. It's a thought-provoking movie sure to generate a good faith discussion.
On Saturday, May 7, we are having our Mother's Day Tea in our Fellowship Hall! The event begins at 2 p.m. Free!
On Saturday, May 14, we'll be participating in the CROP Hunger Walk. We'll be walking at 9 a.m. and funds raised will benefit Church World Service and the SSIP Food Closet. More details coming soon.
THANKS!
We wanted to offer a word of gratitude for so many of you who give so graciously of your time, talent, and treasures We simply couldn't exist without all the gifts shared at Bethany.
Thanks to all of those folks who donated liliesfor the Easter Sunday service in honor of loved ones. We all so appreciated gazing upon these lovely flowers in our sanctuary.
Thanks to our many volunteers who help with the many duties of our worship services and coffee hour—running the sound system, creating the slideshow, filming the service, decorating the communion table, offering songs and playing music, setting up for coffee hour, preparing treats, etc.
Thanks to those folks who swing by the church on a regular basis to undertake a variety of projects—installing new lighting and cameras around the facility, cleaning up our library and donating old books, picking up flowers, etc.
Thanks to all of you who take the time to call, send letters, and check in with so many beloved members of our congregation, especially those who can't make it to worship services any longer.
Thanks to all of you who offer donations and pledges to the various ministries of Bethany.
And thank you to everyone for keeping our church, its members, friends, and staff in your prayers.
As a faith community, we have the privilege of being able to journey with one another through a chaotic and beautiful world, full of many highs and lows. We celebrate one another's victories, and we hold one another in prayer during those times of pain, fear, and loss. If you have prayers that you would like to share with our community, please contact me or Office Manager Maria Mar. Also, be sure to indicate if you'd like your prayer to be shared, or if you'd like it to be held in confidentiality.
Violence and warfare continue to be waged in Ukraine and many other nations around the world. We pray for peace, healing, and new beginnings for all of those in the midst of such circumstances.
God hears all of our prayers, and in Christ, we find healing, wholeness, and new beginnings. With each passing day, the Spirit of God is presenting us with new opportunities of love and grace. No matter what comes our way, all roads lead to Jesus—thanks be to God!
Blessings to all,
Jesse
