The Family of God: It's a Mess/ Pastor Dan Baumgartner
We live in a culture of critique. For every expressed thought or action, there seem to be a thousand people standing by to blog their criticism. Faith communities receive their fair share...

Ministering at NW Detention Center
Cal Uomoto
For eight years, Bethany members have been breaking in to the immigration prison on purpose. What started out as a worship service for a specific group of detained Chinese men is now six services each weekend for persons from 70+ countries who have had a brush with Homeland Security.

Making a Place at Bethany/ Pastor Todd Holdridge and Sara Nagel
Bethany is blessed to have a significant representation of both older and younger adults. And to see this younger population cared for, several folks at Bethany have gathered to develop a ministry for folks in their twenties...

Circle of Friends/ Melissa Hertel
We at Bethany are blessed with many little princes and princesses. One of the princes I know lives inside a thorny hedge...So a group of us have formed a Circle of Friends around this princess and we are working to get in and bring her out...

An Unusual Opportunity/ by Pastor Todd Holdridge
Pastor Dan Baumgartner will be traveling to Minnesota for a week in June to be part of a workshop, "Writing and the Pastoral Life," with Euege Peterson...

Bethany-Supported Missionaries
Scott & Connie Anderson
This Spring, InterVarsity staff and students engaged students at the University of Colorado campus in conversation about Jesus. More significantly, they represent the definite trend we are seeking on the campuses everywhere...

Serve Our Guests This Summer / by Janet Moore
Many guests at Wednesday Night Dinner often tell me they hate preparing meals for themselves and/or that they are so very lonely. It breaks my heart to hear them speak about how lonely and isolated they are from other people. They feel like they could disappear and no one would notice. In fact, this is one of the gifts that Wednesday Night Dinners offers—we notice people. We see when they have not been around. We know when they have been ill. We remember names, and we can talk with them about years gone by.

This summer, our SPU student volunteers will be returning to their homes, working at summer jobs and traveling. Without their help, we will need volunteers to join us in serving the dinner, sitting with our guests, and assisting with clean-up. If you have an opportunity to help on a Wednesday night from May to September, please show up at 5:30 pm on a Wednesday night, and we’d be glad to have you help.

Esperanza / Mike Christensen
Esperanza is the name of the mission base for Esperanza Ministries, a Christian mission that has been on the coast of Vancouver Island for seventy years. They serve the people of the isolated coast including the first nations people. Bethany will travel to Esperanza by car and boat from Sunday, August 10 until Saturday, August 16. We will enjoy a time of working together to support the mission base, learn about the life and work of missionaries and enjoy a great week of getting to know each other as a Bethany group. This is an opportunity open to anyone and is an especially good opportunity for families with younger children. Kids have a great time there. Contact Mike Christensen (mikechristensen47@gmail.com or 365-7808).

Children's Ministries

Summer Sunday School
Summer Sunday school for children begins on June 22. This year our theme is: “Old Testament Friends”….and our pre-school classes will learn about various Old Testament characters while our elementary group will go on a “Journey with Joshua.” All parents will get a chance to teach our great Bethany kids one time this summer, and get to know a few other parents in the process! Parents are reminded to let Dianne know which Sunday they'd like to serve and in which class by June 5. Otherwise a date and class will be assigned.

“Low Tide Walk,” Sun, June 22
All Bethany members are invited to a fun and very educational “low tide walk” with Mark Plunkett on Sunday, June 22. It will take place at the Charles Richey Sr. Viewpoint/Constellation Park at Alki in West Seattle (63rd Ave SW and Beach Dr SW) at 1:00 pm. Those who would like to carpool can meet up at Bethany at 12:30 pm. Bring a lunch and wear shoes that can get wet. No containers are needed, as this is a reserve and everything needs to stay where it is. This is a great “intro to creation care” for children, and all young at heart.

VBS Openings
The farm is going to be a wild and fun and exciting place this Summer! The dates of “Son Harvest County Fair” are July 21-25, from 9:30-noon each day. Volunteers are still desired.

Youth Ministry

Summer Mission Trip
Sat, June 28-Sun, July 6 in Seattle
Our youth will participate in summer mission trips in Seattle. We'll be staying at Ashton Hall dormitory at SPU and assisting at five different sites: Union Gospel Mission, Solid Ground, World Relief, Bayview Retirement Community and Urban Impact.

On the Calendar
see interactive calendar for complete listing

Dynamis
Thursdays, April 10-May 29, 6 pm
An 8-week course on Christian discipleship taught by Rev. Tim Dearborn. Its focus is to call people into a lifestyle of participation in the purposes of God. Cost is $190 per person. RSVP with Todd Holdridge.

Healing Prayer
1st & 3rd Sundays in June, 5:00 pm
By appointment (284-2222, ext 35)

College Age Fellowship
Sundays in June, 6:30 pm in 7 Howe

Young Adults (Post-College) Group
Sunday, June 6, 7:00 pm

Sunday Supper
Sunday, June 8, 5:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall

Bethany Work Party
Sat, June 14, 9:00 am at Bethany

Read Good Books
Sun, June 29, 12:15 pm in the Parlor
Led by Pastor Dan Baumgartner on a work by Frederick Buechner entitled, "Telling the Truth: The Gospels as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale."

Session Notes

On Tuesday, May 15, the Elders gathered in the Parlor for the monthly Session meeting.

• Marie Fritzberg pointed us towards Christ, leading a discussion on where God has met us directly.
• Our Elder for the Nominating Committee, Dave Andersen, updated the group on their progress to provide deacon and elder nominations. There will be a Congregational Meeting on June 1 for the purpose of electing the nominees.
• Pastor Dan, with reports prepared by Brian Beaumont, provided updates on the development projects in the neighborhood. There was general discussion regarding the role Bethany should play in the community regarding the changes coming to the Avenue.
• Linda Cutshall shared with those present some stories from the congregation and their prayer needs.
• Pastor Dan led a discussion on “Honest Answers - An Exploration of Tough Questions.” In small groups and general discussion, we looked at how to respond to someone saying, “How do I know that God is with me when I don’t feel it?”
• Session closed with thanks and prayer over departing members: Patti Holman, Matt Royston, Julia Sensenbrenner, and Tara Taylor.
  

News & Notes

Births

• Brandon Loren Carlson April 15
• Alexander Drake McKown May 12
• Oliver Quinn Pulver May 13

Baptisms

• Bram Gerald Leonard May 11
• Griffin Ryan Peyovich May 11
• Brittany Scott May 18