What Are Friends For? / Pastor Dan Baumgartner
Here are a few final things that Jesus told his disciples as he prepared them for his absence: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you…You are my friends if you do what I command you…I do not call you servants any longer…but I have called you friends.” ...

What is Healing Prayer? / Jan Beriault, Elder for Prayer Ministries
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up...."

My Journey of Faith / John Edwards
Before I realized God was calling me, I had met individuals whose words and actions did not support their claim to believe in God. I came to believe that everyone did things based on what was in it for them, and I chose to live this way too...

Ensenada Mission Trip Update / Dianne Ross
Twenty six Bethany attendees (ages 8-54) just returned from a week of ministry just outside the town of Ensenada, in Mexico, working with some amazing children and staff at a place called “The Ranch.” Here are just a few excerpts from our group journal...

Softening / Dana Hess Glessner
To better understand my story, I should let you know about three of my personality traits: 1) hyper-planner 2) uncertainty-hater 3) family-focused. They are at times my gifts, though often my downfall...

Seminary Graduate: Ryan White / Ryan White
In Pasadena thermometers are pushing 100˚ forcing us inside to the reprieve of air conditioning; a drastic change from the “June Gloom” that daily enveloped us a month ago and reminded me of many days in Seattle...

Youth Mission Trip to Portugal
Please pray for our 37 high school youth and 8 leaders who are working with Serve the City in Portugal from July 30-August 9. Serve the City reaches out to local surfing youth with the purpose of building relationships to share Jesus. Pray for safe travel and God-filled experiences.

Children's Ministries

Update on Families in Service!
We are halfway through the summer and God is doing wonderful things in and through our Families in Service…here are just a few updates:

• Over 300 books have been brought in for Christ Gift Academy! You may continue to bring in good books all summer and place them in the bin on the main stairway.
• The children have brought in enough nickels, dimes and quarters to reach the $100.00 mark as of July 26! Keep bringing in that those coins, to purchase rice and beans for migrant farmer families in the Skagit Valley. Donations may be put in the ”bucket” next to the book bin any Sunday.
• 100 Aids Caregiver Kits were assembled at our June 7 Families in Service (FIS)
  Kick-off!
• 8 families enjoyed a workday at Urban Impact on June 27.
• 9 families experienced God’s amazing power and love in new ways at Rancho
  Milagro, outside of Ensenada, Mexico from July 11-18.
• Many children and their parents enjoyed creation care events.
• Bobbi Windus did a fabulous job leading our “Secret Agents” 9:00 am Sunday School for elementary children in June and July.
• Our parents are doing a wonderful job teaching in Sunday School and in the nurseries this summer, giving our teachers a much needed break.
• Many families have helped serve dinners at Wednesday Night Dinners.

It’s not too late to get involved in some of these child-friendly ways of sharing the love of Christ, both locally and abroad. See the sidebar for August FIS events! (You may also go online to find out more details, or pick up a FIS brochure on the welcome table.)

Buddies Needed for Some Bethany Children
We have several very special children at Bethany who need a buddy to be with them one-on-one in their Sunday School classes. This past year we had 14 wonderful buddies. A few of them are moving from Seattle this summer, so we need a few more for the 2009-10 school year. If you would like to learn more about this important “one time a month” ministry, please contact Kim, Director of Special Needs Ministries, at 706-0305 or email kimk@bethanypc.org.

Preparing for Fall Ministry
Even though it’s just mid-summer, we are already praying for, and working hard, on fall Children’s Ministry programs. Sunday School Department Coordinators will meet up at Kari Kehle’s home on Lake Washington for a meeting/picnic lunch/swim on Tuesday, August 18. Then on Thursday, August 20, all Godly Play worship leaders and doorkeepers are invited to the annual “summer salad potluck and inventory night” beginning at 5:30 pm. Bring a salad to share, come when you can, and leave when you must! Sunday school volunteers (teachers, assistants, buddies, musicians) – watch the bulletin for news of a fall planning evening in early September!

On the Calendar
see interactive calendar for complete listing

Wednesday Night Dinner
Wednesdays, August 5 & 12, 5:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
On break: August 19 & 26. Dinners will not be served on these dates.

Healing Prayer
Sun, August 2 & 16, after the 5 pm service in the Sanctuary.

Bethany Women's Summer Bible Study
Tuesdays, August 4 & 18 in the Parlor

Families in Service August Events

• Urban Impact Lunch Making
  (August 2, 10:15 am FH. Continues August 3-6)
• Wednesday Night Dinner (August 5),
• Esperanza Outreach (August 9-15)
• Refugee Simulation Project (August 15)
• Zoo Day with Refugee Families (August 16)
• Bagels & Bags (10am August 29)
• Wrap Up (September 20)
• Sharing in Worship (August 30)

News & Notes

Births

• Corban James Campbell June 30
• Nathaniel Stuart Singleton July 22