Looking for a Community / Pastor Dan Baumgartner
Bethany has grown. But I'm sure you've noticed that we're not pursuing too many classic "church growth" strategies. We have no parking lot. We have no "numbers" goals. We aren't building a multi-purpose gym for contemporary worship services. We aren't expanding the size of the sanctuary. Those are the things that usually get written up, by Christian and secular media alike, as marks of "successful churches."

Until the Road Ends / an interview with Bethany musician Kurt Dyrhsen
"Where's the end of the story? Where's the end of the road?" These words form the opening lyrics of a song on Kurt Dyrhsen's new CD, Until the Road Ends. A familiar face around Bethany, Kurt has been writing music and leading worship with his wife Kristen for over 10 years...

Life Among Our Youth
Read three articles written by Youth Ministries Director Scott Gronholz and interns Mike Lucero and Travis Wal.

Missions Update: Mae & Alex Moore
Learn more about Bethany's support of Mae & Alex Moore as InterVarsity staff at Washington State University in Pullman, WA...

Menu Items for Home Groups / by Patti Holman, Adult Christian Education
From February through May, we will offer two new menu items —topics, complete with a speaker—along with five continuing ones to bring to your small group:

New Menu Items

The Power of Story and Question

Marriage Maintenance Manual

Continuing Menu Items

Starting Conversations about Stewardship
led by Bob Kunde

Faithfully Feeding the Poor - A Wednesday Night Experience, led by Janet Moore

Holy Spirit: God's Empowering Presence
led by John Chase

Powerful Praying: Scriptural, Intercessory and Corporate, led by Anne Van Roden

Open Heart, Open Home, led by Bev Carlson

Narnia Musical is Coming / by Dianne Ross
Fri, May 11, 7:00 pm & Sat, May 12, 4:00 pm
This spring Children's Ministries, with help from the music ministries (resources) and youth ministry (actors, lighting, band), will put on a great musical.

2nd-5th graders are invited to join the chorus, which rehearses Tuesdays beginning March 6, from 4:15-5:45 pm and Sundays from 10:45 am-12:15 pm. There will also be some special songs for 1st graders to join, for those who love to sing and can handle the rehearsals.

Middle schoolers and high schoolers are invited to try out for the acting roles. These rehearsals will be held in April and May.

2007 Pledges Still Needed
As of December 23, 181 pledges totalling $799,269 have been received. Based on budget planning for 2007, approximately $950,000 in pledge revenue will be needed to sustain Bethany's various ministry activities and pay for all underlying costs of operating, such as electricity, maintenance, staff salaries, and the like. Pledges are still being received in the offering plate or the church office.

Bethany's Session, the church's governing body, has voted to increase the percentage of the budget used for local and global outreach to 23.5% for 2007, an increase from 23% in 2006. For several consecutive years the percentage of expenses going toward outreach has increased as the Bethany community responds to meet needs outside of our church family.

On the Calendar
see interactive calendar for complete listing

College Age Fellowship
Sundays, resuming Jan 7, 6:30 pm at 7 Howe

Dynamis
Mondays, Jan 8-Mar 12 (except Jan 15, Feb 19), 7:00-9:00 pm at Bethany

Prayer for Honduras
Sun, Jan 14, 12:15 pm in the Fellowship Hall

Don't Get Left Behind! (New Sermon Series)
New Sermon Series starts January 14, 2007
Overwhelmed by the success of the Left Behind series of books and movies? Confused by terms like apocalypse and premillenial? Looking for fresh perspective on living faithfully in a confusing world?

On Sun, Jan 14, we will begin a 10-week sermon series on the mysterious and misunderstood book of Revelation. Entitled "Last Things," the series will focus on how an apocalyptic book filled with symbols, images and dreams helps Christians live faithful lives...today.

Sunday School Department Coordinators Retreat
Tues-Wed, Jan 16-17 on Whidbey Island

First Time "New Moms" Support Group
Wednesdays beginning Jan 17, 9:30 am at Misty Grieger's home
A support group for first time moms whose babies are less than 10 months old. The group begins Wed, Jan 17 and continues the following 7 Wednesday mornings. New moms who do not attend Bethany are also welcome.

Healing Prayer
First and Third Sundays beginning Sun, Jan 21, 5:00-6:30 in the Parlor
Jesus came anointed by the Spirit to preach Good News to the poor. He was sent to: bind up the brokenhearted, comfort all who mourn, bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (see Isaiah 61). The Lord loves people and He desires us to draw close to Him.

If He prompts your heart to join us on a Sunday night, call the church at 284-2222 ext 35 and leave a message. A member of the Healing Prayer Team will call you back to set up a time to pray with you.

Our Healing Prayer time will begin on Sunday evenings with a time of praise at 5:00 pm, followed by a time of confession. Your prayer team will then take you to one of the Sunday School classrooms where you will be prayed for privately.

Come Be Appreciated
Sun, Jan 21, 10:15 am in the Parlor
Nursery volunteers and 9:00 am Children's Sunday School teachers, assistants, buddies and musicians are invited to a "Thank You Coffee/Tea" as a small but heartfelt way of saying "thank you for loving our children to Christ and for teaching them God's Word." Sponsored by the Sunday School Team and Nursery Team.

Third Grade Bible Milestone Unit to Begin
Sundays, Jan 21-Feb 11, 9:00 am in Fellowship Hall classrooms 1 & 2
The class meets during the 9:00 am hour (after Children's Time) and continues on Sundays, Jan 28, Feb 4 and 11. The children receive their new Bibles on Sun, Feb 11 during 9:00 am worship. They also lead a responsive reading that day (which they memorize) at both the 9:00 am and 10:45 am services.

Baptism Class
Wed, Jan 31, 5:00-6:15 pm in the Parlor
A class for parents desiring to baptize their infants and toddlers, led by Pastor Dan Baumgartner and Dianne Ross. At least one parent must attend for a child to be baptized at Bethany.

The Book of Revelation
Sundays, February 11, 18, 25 at 10:45 am in the Parlor
Join this Adult Christian Education class in conjunction with the "Last Things" sermon series. Led by John Chase

• Feb 11
  The Climax of Prophecy: An Introduction to Christian Apocalyptic Literature
• Feb 18
  Mysterious Apocalypse: On the Millennial Kingdom and Being Left Behind
• Feb 25
  Christian Zionism: The Salvation of the Jews and the End of the World

Welcome to Narnia Experience
Mon, Feb 12, 4:15-5:15 pm
For all children and parents prayerfully considering participation in the Narnia musical. Come meet the director, Stephen Rumph, and his production assistant, Cate McCrory. They will share more about what you will be doing, what is expected of you, and what the acting opportunities are.

Women's Retreat: Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Fri-Sun, Mar 23-25 at Warm Beach Conference Center
Our theme this year is "Lord, Teach Us To Pray." Several women from Bethany will share with us what they've learned about prayer and how prayer has changed them. We'll be in the scriptures and explore new ways of praying.

Now is the time to step up to help plan our retreat. We need artists & singers, poets & worship leaders, instrumentalists, small group leaders, registration hosts, a supply queen, an emcee, crafts, sports enthusiasts, an aerobic leader, ambiance fo the prayer room and many helping hands for setting up. Contact lindac@bethanypc.org. Sign-ups start on Sun, Feb 18.

News & Notes

Births

• Elliana Marais Wickline December 9 to Mikhai & Dan Wickline
• Andrew Warren Royston December 21 to Holly & Matt Royston
• Josiah Lucas Sanderson December 25 to Sarah & Jeremy Sanderson

Baptisms

• Charles Leonard Chin December 24
• Jane Elizabeth Chin December 24
• Laura Ann Wooten December 24

Session Notes
Session met in the Bethany parlor on Tues, Dec 12. Tim Burgess pointed us to Christ with a devotional time titled, "People of the City." Tara Taylor continued pointing us to Christ by leading us in worship.

Session voted to accept the Housing Ministry Task Force's recommendations to distribute the $80,000 in our transitional housing fund amongst the Plymouth Housing Group, Bethany's Wednesday Night Dinner fund, City Team Ministries and New Life ministry through First Presbyterian Seattle.

The bulk of the "business" portion of the meeting consisted of further review and approval of the 2007 Budget, discussion on the state of the 2006 Budget, and ideas on "community" and the 5:00 pm service.

Time was spent praying over the needs of our Bethany congregation.