Despite the Ruins / Pastor Dan Baumgartner
Don’t let me rush you to Christmas. I, of all people, want to sit in the gentle anticipation that we call Advent. And if any of this sounds familiar to you, it relates to an 11 pm meditation I did a couple Christmas Eves ago. It just seems even more appropriate given the state of things at year end 2008...

The Reason / Mary Cropp
Advent is all about joyful expectation, yet the relentless secularization of Christmas tends to focus attention on crass commercialism rather than the Reason for the Season...

Seeking a Baptized Imagination / Max Hunter
On 26 June 1988, I landed in Washington State carrying two gym bags, the bible, a catholic priest’s book on Rastafarianism and a baptized imagination. Oddly enough, reggae music had inspired me to read the bible and embrace Christianity. I was a walking enigma—half Rastafarian, half Pentecostal—who had left “Babylon” with $300 U.S. in his pocket, and a peace surpassing human understanding in his heart...

Read Good Books...with a Bonus!
Extra, Extra …you are invited to start 2009 off with a “good read”: Mark Labberton’s The Dangerous Act of Worship. Mark is the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Berkley, CA. The book, like Mark himself, is very thoughtful as well as thought-provoking. He challenges us to look at worship as the dangerous act of waking up to God and God's purposes in the world. Too often, he says, worship is a place of safety and complacence, a narrowly private experience. Yet even when we gather corporately, we often close our eyes to those around us. Hence the subtitle of the book: Living God’s Call to Justice. The connection of missional living and the worship of God may be linked far more closely than we think. We will talk about the book on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009 in the Parlor after the second service with Pastor Dan.

Now, the bonus: Mark Labberton will be preaching at Bethany the following Sunday, Feb. 15 and also in Seattle that weekend for some other events.

A Tale of Two Runners / Phil Mote
Jane and Mindy , friends who attend Bethany, are jogging around Green Lake...

To Ethiopia and Back / Pastor Todd Holdridge
She’s back! Many of you had the pleasure of knowing Maren Mylander while she was a student at SPU. She worshipped at Bethany while at SPU, and served as a high school leader before going overseas last year...

Deacons Reorganize By Gifts, Not Neighborhoods / Linda Cutshall
Through prayer and conversation, our deacons realized that the neighborhood or parish model - where each deacon has about 30 households under their wing - looks great on paper, but isn’t helping us meet real needs. The truth is people rarely call a deacon for help, except for meals when a baby is born or there’s an illness in the household...

Children's Ministry Intern: Brittany Scott / Brittany Scott
Hi there! My name is Brittany Scott and I am the new “Winter Children’s Ministry Intern”.

Children's Ministries

Christmas Eve Family Service-s!
Wed, December 24, 4:00 & 5:30 pm
Due to the very large crowds the last several years at the 5:00 Family Christmas Eve service, this year we will have two Family Services: 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm (there will also be the normal 8:00 and 11:00 pm services).wonderful and large 5th grade class will lead these candlelight services, along with Pastor Dan and Dianne Ross. There will be a brief “run through” for all participating in either service on Tuesday, December 23, at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary.

Baptism Class for Parents of Young Children
Before having your child baptized here at Bethany , we ask parents to attend a one time class with Pastor Dan. These are held quarterly and the next one will be Tuesday, January 6, from 5:00-6:15 pm in the Parlor. Please RSVP to Holly Royston, Children’s Ministry Assistant, at sulajune@yahoo.com let her know if you’ll need childcare.

First Sunday Gatherings
If you happen to walk through Fellowship Hall between 9:20 and 9:45 am or so on a “First Sunday of the Month” you’ll hear our
1st-5th graders singing exuberantly; and then enjoying a special presentation by an individual or family who has participated in some kind of outreach! So far this year the children have heard from the Judd family about their experiences in Africa last summer, and from Janet Moore about the coat and toiletry drives (which our children were challenged to participate in). On Dec 7, Tim Uomoto will share about his experiences in Asia last summer with a break dance mission trip (and the children will get to see some great break dancing!) and on Jan 7, Maren Mylander will share how she saw God at work last year in Ethiopia.

On the Calendar
see interactive calendar for complete listing

Women's Bible Studies
Tuesdays in December, 9:00 am & 6:45 pm in the Parlor

Wednesday Night Dinner
Wednesdays, December 3, 10 & 17, 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
The meal begins at 6:00 pm. WND will be on break Dec 24 & 31.

Young Adults Gathering
Friday, December 5, 7:00 pm in 11 Howe
Hor d'oevre potluck and games. Movie to follow (starts at 8:15 pm).

Holiday Magic
Saturday, December 6, 6:00 pm on the Bethany lawn and in the Fellowship Hall

College Study Break "Sugar Coma Night"
Sun, December 7, 6:30 pm in 7 Howe

Christmas Eve Services
Tues, December 24, 4, 5:30, 8 & 11 pm in the Sanctuary
4 & 5:30 pm are child-friendly; 8 & 11 pm are traditional

Session Notes

On Tuesday, November 11, 2008 the Elders gathered in the Parlor for the monthly Session meeting. The November Session meeting typically is focused on working together to create a draft of the coming year’s budget and this year was no exception. Our Finance Elder, Steve Jones, led a discussion on the various line items, highlighting any proposed changes from the 2008 budget.

Jacque Ives, our Membership Elder, coordinated with several others to brief Session on the latest Bethany 101 class of new members. Everyone was very excited to welcome this group into membership.

Pastor Dan continued his discussion series on “Honest Answers to Tough Questions” with the question, “Is Jesus the only way?”

Stained Glass Reinforcement
The stained glass windows (1929) on the south side of the sanctuary will be removed, rebuilt and reinstalled during the week of November 10-14. The disruption will be relatively minor on our worship in the sanctuary, but we thank you ahead for your patience.

News & Notes

Birth

• Seth Dene Langford November 12

Adoption

• Tyler Mitchell Adams November 16

Baptisms

• Reed Calahan Benoit November 9
• Sarah Grace Cutshall November 9