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www.bethanypc.com
Bethany Alive
Sermon Series on Psalms
Last spring I was sent an email from my seminary
that featured two very unlikely people getting
together to discuss the Psalms. The two people
were Bono and Eugene Peterson. Bono is the lead
singer of the famous rock band U2. Eugene Peterson is a retired Presbyterian
minister who wrote the bestselling translation of the Bible: The Message.
They met to talk about their mutual love of the Psalms. It was a powerful
conversation that you can find online at https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/bono-
eugene-peterson-psalms/. Their conversation inspired me to pick the Psalms
to study this Fall for our sermon series. The theme of this series is “Beyond a
Superficial Faith.” One of the themes of the conversation between Bono and
Eugene was how honest and real the Psalms are. The Psalms inspire us to be
honest with ourselves and honest with God. That is the power of these
scriptures. They tell our story, but most importantly they tell God’s story
about us. In the Psalms we find our faith and doubt, our pain and joy, our
loneliness and our community, our weakness and our strength. The hope this
Fall is that we can explore together the honest strength of the Psalms as they
draw us closer to each other and especially closer to our God.
Worship Service Change
This summer the music team has been exploring some changes in the worship
service. Our continued hope is to create an intergenerational worship that fits
our congregation and is welcoming to the visitor. We have been: collaborating
with all the worship team; sharing personal and congregational favorite hymns,
brainstorming ideas, working on involvement for youth, etc. The following
comes from one of my email exchanges with the music team:
“I believe our worship services here are crucial to the future of our
ministry. It is our “big event” as a congregation and my hope is to put
renewed focus on it. Worship is God centered and deeply
personal. Another way to put that is that worship is both independent of
and indigenous to the local church. That is why we balance change with
remaining true to how God has molded worship at Bethany through the
years. It is difficult and only accomplished with God’s Spirit leading us.
Please keep this all in your prayers.”
Keep the music team in your prayers as we seek to worship our God each
Sunday.
Thank you Cooper!
Cooper Ottum did a great job as our ensemble leader for the last year. He is
now moving on to a teaching assistantship at Central Washington University in
its graduate music education program. Thank you Cooper, for your ministry at
Bethany. You will be missed!
Ways to Get Involved!
There remains a constant need for volunteers and ways to get more people
involved in the ministry and missions of Bethany. With that in mind we have
developed a new brochure as a key recruiting tool and reminder of the needs/
opportunities available. Please take a look at this brochure to find ways you
too can be involved at Bethany.
Pastor Andy
“Centered in Christ - Sharing the Good News”
OPEN DOORS
What’s Inside
Bethany Alive ................... 1
Bethany Beach Blast! .......... 9
Bethany Blast (VBS) ............ 6
Bethany Book Club ........... 11
BPW ............................ 12
Calendars .................. 13-15
Deacons ........................ 11
Esther Circle Bible Study ... 10
Family Ministry ................. 4
From Megan Jones ............. 8
Mobile Giving ................... 3
Music Happenings .............. 2
Small Groups/Bible Studies 10
Stephen Ministry ............... 7
Youth Ministry .................. 5
Portland, OR Bethany Presbyterian Church
Fall 2016
Sep
Oct
Nov
2
Music Happenings
“Be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20
In our Sunday services, we engage in worship through song. Together, we
sing hymns and psalms throughout the service to connect with the scripture
and open ourselves to God. We listen to songs that encourage faith, remind
us of God’s deeds and decrees and express gratitude to God. All of this
joyous music in our services help us “be filled with the Spirit” and “give
thanks to God the Father”.
Bethany Presbyterian offers many opportunities for all ages to enrich and
engage in worship through music. Whether you are a professional musician
or an in-the-car singer, you are invited to join a music group. Descriptions
and rehearsal times of the ensembles are below. Use your musical gifts to
honor God and lead worshippers to rejoice, reflect and refocus. All are
invited to join this ministry.
Chancel Choir
SATB choral ensemble singing a variety of sacred songs. High schoolers-
adults.
Rehearsals first 3 Tuesdays of each month from 7:30-8:30pm starting
September 6th
Children’s Choir
Youth choir celebrating the joy of Jesus through song. 4 year olds-5th
grade.
Rehearsals with Jody Jones Sundays 9:45-10am starting September
11th.
Bethany Bells
Handbell ensemble joyfully ringing hymns, spirituals and sacred songs.
Middle school-adults. Previous music reading experience helpful.
Rehearsals every Tuesday from 6:30-7:30pm. New member bell basics
rehearsal August 30th; returning members September 6th
Worship Ensemble
Contemporary music ensemble leading the congregation in modern
songs and hymns at Sunday worship. Voice, guitar, bass, drums and
piano opportunities. Middle school-adults.
Rehearsals 4th Tuesday of each month from 7:30-9pm and Sunday
mornings before worship
Megan Peterson Music Director
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Coming Soon! Mobile Giving go to “Get.Tithe.ly”
Give in seconds!
Give one-time with or without an account.
Schedule automated giving (weekly or monthly).
View giving history.
Manage account and payment information.
Giving method #1:
Mobile giving
Giving method #2:
Text-to-give
Giving method #3:
Online giving
More information will be forthcoming...watch the weekly bulletins and the
weekly email updates this Fall!
Bells Fund Drive
Praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (Psalm
150:5-6).
I can’t imagine another instrument other than the hand bells that better
reflects this sentiment. Church bell ringing is not just a decorative or nice
thing to have in worship. It is an intrinsic and historical part of the church.
Historically, bells have been used to call us to wake, to pray, to celebrate,
to grieve and in times of crises, to come together.
The hand bell choir is a community. Each individual person is responsible for
the notes of the few bells they hold, counting and waiting until the precise
moment to ring. But bell music is not individual notes that suddenly make
music when smashed together. Each player relies on the player next to
them and the player down the table from them to ring at the precise
moment to create a cohesive piece of music that rings in our hearts and lifts
our souls.
But like any instrument, hand bells need regular care and maintenance to
maintain their unique sound. Bethany’s hand bells were scheduled this
spring for a basic check-up, but were found to need more extensive repairs.
The difference from our original budget and the new repairs was $1520. To
make up the difference, we are asking for you to make a one time offering
on September 18th to help us continue this joyful ministry. Our community
of bell ringers thanks you for your support and hopes you will consider
joining us praising the Lord with bells.
Megan Peterson, Director of Music
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FAMILY M INISTRY
Family Ministry Sep - Nov Schedule
Calendar of Events Here is a look at what we have happening in our family ministry as we
enter the Fall.
Mission Trip Info Night:
On October 6th we will be having an info night to discuss our Bethany
2017 Mission Trip! Come learn about the trip’s details, cost, and plan
for the year as we prepare for the big service opportunity.
Hosanna:
Beginning in the fall, we will be putting on a monthly worship night. This
will be a mid-week opportunity to come together and spend some time
worshipping God.
Bethany Beach Blast:
On September 23-25, we will be heading over to Rockaway beach for
our annual Bethany Beach Blast weekend. Bring the whole family for a
weekend filled with fun and community as we all grow in our faith
together.
For more information on any of these events, please contact me at
trevorw@bethanypc.com
Trevor
September
(9/23-9/25) Bethany Beach Blast
(9/28) Hosanna
October
(10/6) Parents’ Night Out
(10/26) Hosanna
November
(11/3) Mission Trip Meeting
(11/30) Hosanna
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YOUTH M INISTRY
YOUTH M INISTRY
Bethany PC Youth Sep-Nov
Calendar of Events Here are some exciting events coming up this Fall for our youth
ministry:
High School Retreat; This year our high school students will be
heading to the coast for a retreat on November 11-13th. We will join
a couple of other schools for a fun-filled weekend on the beach!
HSM Thanksgiving: We will be continuing our tradition of hosting a
thanksgiving dinner for students in our community. We are looking
for any sides or desserts for the dinner!
Club Year begins: With the fall comes the return of our regular youth
program. We will be spending the year growing in service, fun clubs,
and discipleship nights. Stay tuned for starting dates and special
events.
If you would like to learn more about our program or receive monthly
updates, please email me at trevorw@bethanypc.com
Trevor
September:
(9/14) MSM Event
(9/19) Kick-off Young Life Club
(9/23-25) Bethany Beach Blast
October:
(10/12) MSM Event
(10/29) Transition Dinner
November:
(11/11-11/13) High School Retreat
(11/9) MSM Event
(11/21) HSM Thanksgiving
6
Scenes from Kid’s Summer Blast 2016
7
Stephen Ministry
Can You Hear Me Now?
by Merica Fooks
You probably recognize this phrase as one of the most popular cell phone ads of
all time. The person asking, “Can you hear me now?” struggled for cell phone
reception. This ad had a universal appeal because we all want to be heard.
Being heard, however, requires a good listener. For some people, listening
comes naturally, but for most people, (including myself), being a good listener
requires conscious effort and practice.
Have you ever been on a phone call when you realized that the person you are
talking to is watching T.V.? They give robotic “uh-huh, uh-huh”. It’s an awful
feeling when that happens.
Why? Because…being a good listener reflects how much we care – do we care
enough to take time to listen? Being a good listener reflects the respect we
have for the speaker. Are we willing to be patient while we listen, or do we
push the person to finish, or do we interrupt?
In our Stephen Ministry training, “listening skills” is one of the first modules.
The art of listening takes the desire, the patience, and the commitment to
listen.
I ask myself…do I desire to listen to God? Do I wait patiently on God to
respond? Am I committed to listening to God?
“Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the clouds
said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.’” (Mark 9:7)
In Job 2:11-13, Job’s three friends didn’t do everything wrong. They came to
be with Job when he was suffering, they empathized with him, and then they
sat with him for 7 long days in silence. Empathetic, silent listening can be a
treasured gift to a friend, and often more valuable than advice.
Jesus had a lot “to do” in His brief time on earth – but he took time for the
people around him. Jesus listened. Jesus asked us to listen.
“Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he
taught.” (Luke 10:39)
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be
quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” James 1:19
1 Samuel 3:9 “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”
In researching for this article I found so many Biblical references to listening
and hearing. God has placed listening as a priority in our Christian walk. Let us
serve God and one another with open ears and open hearts.
At Bethany Presbyterian Church we have a team of trained Stephen Ministers.
We are here to listen with compassion and confidentiality. Please phone Pastor
Andy if you would like to request a meeting with one of our Stephen Ministers.
We are a Stephen Ministry Church
Bethany Presbyterian Church
Stephen Ministers:
Emily Wirsig
Sherry Labavitch
Debbie VonHollen
Dinah Chadwick
Kim Gaston
Merica Fooks
Kim Gaston
Give me time for patience For understanding, too. Time to remember Thoughtful deeds to do. Time to believe in all fellow men Time to perceive the value of a
friend.
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From Megan Jones
Finally, the end of the school year arrived! That final push conjured many
memories of cross-country races for me, and I am SO thankful it was finally
over with. Despite the finish, June was a whirlwind of activities—end of year
get-togethers, graduation, finals, last day party, a friend’s wedding—and this
is just the Japan side!
To say I’m grateful for the end of this school year barely scrapes the
emotions felt when that final bell rang. This year has been the hardest by
far emotionally, work related, and more; however, I can say I survived. Lot’s
of learning, but all of it was good; I certainly believe I’m a better person for
it and feel more prepared to handle what may come. To snag a line from
Eleanor Roosevelt “You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this
horror. I can take the next thing that comes.’” Just asking the next thing to
wait a bit before it arrives.
I recently finished a month stateside visit, and enjoyed seeing and catching
up with so many of you! It was a whirlwind but fun! Thank you to everyone
who made the visit so enjoyable, and thank you again for your pr=yerful and
financial support. Believe me, it makes a difference and I appreciate it.
Blessings! Megan
Japan’s Christian Past—The Early Years: Japan is a difficult nut to crack for missionaries, and understanding why
many Japanese are interested in Christianity, but not seeking it out is
baffling. As one long time pastor put it “The Japanese don’t care that you’re
here, and they don’t care that you are here.” In China, people generally
were interested in why you lived there, and the government was nervous
about your presence. It created the temptation for locals to know you more
and seek information they were sure the government was keeping from
them. However, Japan, for the most part, lacks this. There is interest, but
without the forbidden fruit mentality people don’t necessarily seek it out.
This is sad considering the enthusiasm Christianity encountered when it first
arrived and the history of martyrdom in Japan.
Arriving with Jesuit missionaries in the mid-1500s, Japan was a haven for
spreading the gospel message. The Warring States Period was in its final
moments, the rigidness of Japan’s caste system, and the emotionless
existential nature of Buddhism offered little comfort to the people who were
suffering on a regular basis. Christianity, however, was different. Much like
the early church in Rome, the faith spread quickly because of its equalizing
message and the hope provided. In the first 50 years over 200 churches and
250,000 converts were recorded. Some converted for political/economic
reasons, but many were genuine changes.
Initially, with a divided Japan, there was no way to stop Christianity’s
spread, but after unification in 1604, things began to change. Hideyoshi, one
of the great unifiers of the country, vacillated between tolerating the
movement and hating it; however, full persecution didn’t happen until after
Hideyoshi’s death and Tokugawa’s ascension to power.
Tokugawa, like many rulers, viewed Christianity as a subversive force. There
were several suppressions of the faith, expulsions of missionaries in the
following years, and some 200 Japanese Christians were beheaded or burned
at Nagasaki in 1622. Unfortunately, Tokugawa’s fear became hysterical
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Bethany Beach Blast 2016
Time is running out! The weekend of September 23-25th is
fast approaching for our annual Bethany Beach Blast! It is
seriously ‘A BLAST’!! Games, food, fellowship, sand, sun
(hopefully), and more!! Come join your Bethany family at
Camp Magruder on the Oregon coast. Accommodations are
still available, so register today!
Questions…contact Jody Jones.
during the Shimabara Rebellion. What began as a farmer’s revolt against
radically high taxes, took on a religious fervor when Christian leaders and
samurai joined the battle to protest the persecution. The four month
standoff ended in April 1638, and was the final nail in the coffin. Tokugawa
expelled ALL foreigners and missionaries, and Christianity was outlawed.
The great purging that followed was insane. The Japanese leaders
recognized that martyrs simply embolden Christians, so rather than kill
believers outright, they wanted those they arrested to renounce their faith
completely. This shifted the beheadings to burning alive and other torture
methods. Even children as young as five underwent the torture too.
Sometimes it was an attempt to coerce parents to apostasy by forcing them
to watch; other times it was because the children refused to slander God.
Christianity did survive the purging, but just barely because it was forced to
go completely underground.
The toll of these persecutions shattered the movement of the faith in this
country for the next two centuries. Threat of persecution and torture
convinced many to renounce their faith and encouraged others to stay away
from Christianity entirely. It’s sad, but at the same time hopeful for me to
remember this bit of my host country’s history, because it shows me the
desire to know God DOES exist in Japan. Persecution has a way of showing
those whose faith is true, and those who only pay lip service; that so many
willingly underwent torture and death for what they believed tells me that
the desire to serve the Lord is present here. It also challenges me. Under
those circumstances, what would I do? Would the pain be so much that I
would renounce Christ, or would I hold on to the Father? Would I continue to
live boldly for Him despite the circumstances, or would I hide and deny Him?
I don’t know the answer. But I do know that my desire is this, when I pray
each morning for the Holy Spirit to guide me, and when I hand myself to the
Lord as a living sacrifice I want to mean that with every fiber of my being.
Japan’s Christian history is saturated with believers who knew the worth of
what that had, and I want to recognize that worth myself and share it with
those around me.
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Connect Discover Serve
Small Groups & Bible Studies Book Club - 3rd Monday each month 7pm - Janet Smith’s house Info: Janet Smith 503 645-2134 or jvsmithpdx@gmail.com Esther Circle - 2nd Thursday of each month 9:30am CE 1 Info: Launa Zurbrugg 503 645-1298
Men’s Bible Study - Tuesdays 6:30pm Elmer’s Restaurant - 1250 NW Waterhouse near 158th & Cornell Rd. Info: Craig Johnson 503 503 449-3916 Men’s Breakfast - 2nd Saturday each month 7:30am Elmer’s - Cornell and 158th Info: Craig Johnson 503 629-4952 Quilting / Knitting Prayer Shawls - 2nd Saturday of every month
9:30am - 1pm Fellowship Hall Info: Susan Gillespie 503 533-8645 Shipmates - Seniors Fellowship Group- 3rd Sunday each month 11:30a Fellowship Hall Info: John Baldwin 503 643-4916 or 971 260-7807 Women of the Spirit - 2nd & 4th Wednesdays each month 7 - 9pm Info: Maryanne Weed 503 645-3439
Esther Circle Fall Bible Study
The Bible is filled with promises God has given to believers, but do we ever
think we might have to do battle to claim them? This was a lesson the
Israelites needed to learn as they approached and entered the Promised
Land. This year, the Esther Circle will study the book of Joshua where we
will learn the importance of staying strong in our faith by claiming and
acting upon God's promises.
We meet monthly on the second Thursday from 9:30a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in
Room 1 of the CE Building. Contact: Launa Zurbrugg 503-645-1298.
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Bethany Book Club
The Bethany Book Club meets on the 3rd Monday of each month. For
information and/or directions, please contact Janet Smith at 503.645.2134 or
jvsmithpdx@gmail.com.
SEPTEMBER
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
In love we find out who we want to be.
In war we find out who we are.
France, 1939
In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her
husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the
Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers,
in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs
upon the innocent.
When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter
must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope,
as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible
choice after another to keep her family alive.
Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for
purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians
march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gäetan, a partisan who
believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in
love as only the young can...completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle
joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to
save others.
With courage, grace and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah
captures the epic panorama of WWII and illuminates an intimate part of
history seldom seen: the women’s war.
OCTOBER
The Last Bus to Wisdom by Ivan Doig
A lively and poignant coming-of-age story about a boy and his great-uncle on
a cross-country odyssey.
Eleven year old Donal Cameron is being raised by his grandmother, the cook
at the legendary Double W ranch in Doig's beloved Two Medicine Country of
the Montana Rockies. But when Gram has to have surgery for "female
trouble" in the summer of 1951, all she can think to do is to ship Donal off to
her sister in far away Manitowoc. His adventures there and on the
Greyhound bus will keep you reading.
Coffee with Your Deacon
On November 15, the deacons will host Coffee With Your Deacon. It will be
held during fellowship time after church. It is a great time to visit with your
deacon and enjoy some coffee and treats.
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BPW-Bethany Presbyterian Women
FALL ACTIVITES: September TBA
October - Lunch at Pumpkin Ridge
November - Operation Christmas Child
December - Soup and Song
Details will be in the weekly Bulletin.
FOOD BANK: The Bulletin has a suggested item of the month. However, all
nutritious food in unbreakable containers is most welcome. If there is
something on sale that you would like to donate or you are overstocked in
your kitchen with some item, the food baskets have lots of room. If you
are donating items that have been in your cupboard for awhile please
check the expiration dates to be sure the dates have not been exceeded,
or so close to expiration that there is not time for distribution before the
expiration date occurs. Also the Food Bank cannot accept opened
packages or individually wrapped item from opened packages.
Put cash donations in an envelope marked Food Bank or make checks to
The Oregon Food Bank and put them in the offering on Sunday.
Bethany has donated 265 pounds of food to the Food Bank in April, May and
June of 2016. Our total of the year is 340 pounds.
Our donations have helped many neighbors in need over the past 10 years.
Thank you for your generosity and faithful support.
LABELS/BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION: Containers to deposit your Labels/
Boxtops for Education for Springville Elementary are available in the
narthex and Fireplace Room. Labels can be found on Campbell’s Soup,
Glad Sandwich Bags, Kleenex etc. They are quite small and not in a
prominent spot, so look carefully on the various products that you use.
Schools can use them to purchase a variety of things they need.
KITCHEN USE: Probably everyone has experience in finding the sink full of
dirty dishes when preparing for an event or the counter is piled high with
clean dishes that were not put away. Sometimes it is necessary to do more
than just cleanup your own mess. Life isn’t always fair. Please leave the
kitchen the way you would like to find it; perhaps better than you may
have found it.
KITCHEN ITEMS: The Board has determined that items from both kitchens
need to be stored and used only on the premises. When kitchen items
disappear, they must be replaced, and are therefore not
always…………………. available when needed. We all need to be good
stewards of our resources.
Prayer Chain Tip
If you are on the Prayer Chain, sometimes you may wish to contact the
person requesting prayer to encourage him or her. If so, be sure to click on
“Forward” rather than “Reply”. When you click on “Reply” it goes to the
Prayer Chain mailbox and NOT to the person you are trying to contact. By
hitting “Forward” instead, then typing in the email address of the person
you’re trying to reach, it will go directly to him or her. The Prayer Chain
Administrator thanks you for taking care to send your email to the correct
party.
If you would like to be added to the Bethany Prayer Chain, please contact
the church office by phone or email.
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postal PAID Beaverton, OR Permit No. 82
We are a Stephen Ministry Church
OPEN DOORS is published seasonally by: Bethany Presbyterian Church
Phone: 503-645-1166 Fax: 503-645-0464 E-mail : info@bethanypc.com Website : bethanypc.com Church Office Hours:
Mon.—Fri. 8:30am-Noon, 1-4pm Sat.-Sun. closed Sunday Schedule (Sep-May):
9:00am Sunday School for all ages (Sep-May) 10:00am Celebration Worship / Children’s Church 11:00am Coffee Fellowship Time Childcare provided (newborn - 3 yrs. old)
Bethany Presbyterian Church 15505 NW Springville Road Portland, OR 97229 www.bethanypc.com
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
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