Urban Impact Workday
by Mitchell Penney, age 13
Early in the morning on Sat, June 23, LauraLeigh Young, Jim, Celia, Leah & Jim Penney, Misty, David, Ava & Caleb Grieger, Stephen Rumph, Rebeccca Martin, and Dianne & Chris Ross rendezvoused at Bethany and trucked off to Urban Impact’s Rainier Valley Location. Their mission: Do yard work in and around the property in order to appeal to kids and families.

“These people need a place to hang out and play with friends and family,” John Abe, Urban Impact staff person and our leader for the day, told us.

The volunteer Bethany work crew weeded and mowed the premises, picked up trash, raked and swept in order to save Urban Impact money that they will now use to educate kids and make a place where they feel they belong. John took us on a tour of the church (ECOM) and the new fitness center. Then we went to work.

Urban Impacts Mission Statement
by Leah Penney, age 11
Urban Impact’s mission is to strengthen families and raise servant leaders by providing life changing relationships that encourage good health, quality education, economic opportunity and a Christ–centered faith.

Bagels and Bags!
Sat, July 28, 10:00-11:30 am Fellowship Hall
As part of our Families in Service smorgasborg of outreach activities for children and their families this summer, on Sat, July 28, there will be a special event for our youngest children (infants to 5-year-olds) and their families to introduce these young children to outreach.

After eating bagels and drinking juice & coffee, the children will hear a five minute talk about homelessness, then visit different “stations” to fill Ziploc bags with water, sunscreen, soap and a card with information on Bethany’s Wednesday Night Dinner. The children will also make “encouragement cards” to put in the bags and receive a list of food items that their families can add at home. These bags can be kept in your cars and handed out to homeless people. Children are encouraged to bring white tube socks to donate to New Horizons, a Bethany outreach partner that ministers to homeless youth in Seattle.

To sign up or help with this event, contact Christy Mansfield, christymansfield@hotmail.com. Feel free to invite a non-Bethany family to this child-friendly event! Last day to sign up is Wed, July 25.

Food and Farm Fun
July 21 and/or July 22; August 9-11
Come have a great time with your family, while you learn about how to take good care of the earth that God made for us! Grayce Mitchell and her team will take you to local farms to pick berries and then get them ready to eat or keep for the winter (think smoothies and jams). We’ll also visit organic farms and do related activities.

This event is for children going into 1st-5th grades, and a parent or two. Dates are July 21 and/or July 22. On August 9-11, there is also a “weekend option,” when people will go to Lynden and spend two nights in a local church. For further information contact Grayce Mitchell at graycemitchell@hotmail.com.

Children Partner (by prayer) with our Youth
Sun, July 1, 9:00 am Sunday School hour
Several of our youth going on the youth mission trip will share with our elementary age children about their upcoming trip. They will give the children specific ideas of how they can be praying for the youth team from July 6-16. Children and their families are encouraged to pray daily for the high schoolers while they are involved in a variety of reconciliation ministry activities at Harambee Center in Pasadena, CA.

Families in Service Kick-Off
by Dianne Ross
The Fellowship Hall exploded with energy in between the morning services on Sun, June 3, as the Families in Service team kicked off a summer of 23 different activities that the Bethany church family can be involved in as we support, encourage and learn from our Outreach partners.

While 2 through 92-year-olds created “encouragement cards,” others put together bright orange HIV Caregiver Kits, which included everything from cotton balls to flashlights. Huge thanks to Stephanie Jones for coordinating this kick-off event, and to all our activity coordinators for your great information booths!