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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

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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

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Scenes from Kid’s Summer Blast 2016

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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

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Living a Life

Centered In Christ