Bethany Road

Bethany Presbyterian Church 100 W. Venango St. Mercer, Pa 16137

Volume 13, Issue 8

August 2016

From the Desk of Pastor Peter

“Gruss Gott!” This is a German phrase meaning “May God bless you.” God truly blessed us on our two-week vacation in Germany. I had a wonderful time revis-iting Germany and my relatives. It has been about 42 years since I last was there, and I felt a great need to go back to see my six cousins and their children. The trip was amazing and there are so many things I could say about it. I want to focus on some of the things that I experienced at the cathedrals and churches of Germany.

Walking into an ancient medieval cathedral completely takes your breath away as you walk between its massive pillars and look at all the ornate and intricate designs of Christian symbols and images. This is not only true of the Catholic cathe-drals but it is also true of the evangelical protestant cathedrals as well. Everywhere a person looks there are pictures and statues that bring out the gospel message of Jesus, our Savior, who came into the world and died on the cross.

At a time when many people were illiterate and could not read this message for themselves, this art work provided a way for them to relive the wonderful story as they looked upon all the pictures, symbols and images of our Heavenly Father, Je-sus Christ, the Holy Spirit and many of the people that were a part of this story. Also these icons, images, pictures and symbols were a way to help people to worship. As they gathered together on those sacred days to focus on God’s presence, these sa-cred symbols gave them a sense of God’s real presence in their lives.

These German cathedrals are visited by hundreds, maybe thousands, of tourists throughout the day. And I’m pretty sure that most of them are amazed at the beauty and historicity of these cathedrals, but I wonder how many overlook the God these beautiful symbols point to and fail to worship Him.

This can also be true of our worship services. We do have many things that remind us of God’s real presence which help us to worship God. Nonetheless we can allow distractions, a preoccupied mind and an indifferent attitude to take the power away from these reminders of God’s presence and our need to worship.

That is why one of the most important parts of our worship service is the “preparation of our hearts.” It is the time that we allow God to prepare our hearts to receive the symbols that remind us of his real presence and to respond to his living word.

Worship is a blessing that God gives us to remove us from the ordinariness of our lives and into the amazing reality of his kingdom.

“Gruss Gott”

Ps 100:1-3, Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with glad-ness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. NIV

Men’s Ministries 2

Thank You; Women of Hope

3

Bethany Women; My Ladies

4

Children’s Musical 5

Christian Education 6

August Calendar 7

Church Picnic Back Cover

Inside this issue:

Committee Meetings:

Property Tuesday, Au-

gust 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Christian Ed Tuesday,

August 9 at 7:00 p.m.

Member Involvement

Tuesday, August 9 at 7:00

p.m.

Worship & Memorials

Tuesday, August 9 at 7:00

p.m.

SESSION

Thursday, August 23 at

7:00 p.m.

Volume 13, Issue 8 Page 2

Amazing Grace Race Finish Dinner

August 14, 6-8

Bethany Fellowship Hall

This is the 2nd finish of our Amazing Grace Race and we will celebrate this finish with barbeque rib dinner, giving out prizes and the overall winning team for the whole race. The winning team will receive a $200.00

certificate.

This dinner is open to the team member’s spouse or significant friend and family members. Dinner is $7.00 per person or $20.00 per family. You will need to sign up

by responding to the attendance card or call the office. 724-662-4340.

3rd Annual Golf Outing

Annual Golf Outing-August 21-Green Meadows Golf Course, Volant, PA. Block of ten tee times beginning at 1:28 p.m. Cost, per golfer is $28.00 (includes green fees and golf cart); picnic to follow. Sign-up sheet is at the

Welcome Center.

Thank you so much for all the prayers, meals, cards and concerns during the recent passing of our mother and grandmother, Shirley Michels. We highly appreciate what our church family has done. You all are a blessing to us. -The McQuown Family

Thank You

Volume 13, Issue 8 Page 3

Women of Hope

We are women who love the Lord and whose desire is to offer events that will encourage you in your journey with the Lord and with the hope that you will make caring friendships with other women. Please mark your calendars for the upcoming events planned for this fall.

We hope to see you and please invite your friends….

MOM2MOM: This a MOM’s group that meets to encourage and support mothers of babies and children through grade 6. They will resume their gatherings starting in September on the second Tuesday of each month. The planning team is busy getting great speakers and relevant topics that will be of interest to the mothers who gather. Contact is Teri Childers

Carol Kent at Knox Ladies Seminar. We are excited to offer you a wonderful seminar, “Unquenchable – Growing a wildfire of faith that will endure anything,” with speaker, Carol Kent. We will be traveling together on Saturday, November 5th to Knox, PA. Registration will begin Sunday, August 21st at the Welcome Center, with the cost being $30 per person. Contact is Pat Amsler.

Secret Sister Christmas Brunch will be held in the Social Room on Saturday, November 12th at

10 a.m. This is for the current participants to reveal to each other who they have been encourag-ing throughout the year. Guest speaker will be Diana Richeson, author of “Grins Groans and Gift Giving - Creative Ideas for Making Family Giving Fun.” Additional information will be made availa-ble soon – Contact is Debbie Latsko

Ladies Winter Bible Study will begin Monday, January 9, 2017. This is a six-week Bible study

using the new book by Lysa TerKeurst, “Uninvited.” More information will be provided later in the fall. Contact is Pat Amsler

Walking the faith journey with you,

Sue

Fun & Fellowship Starts ...Monday, September 19

This wonderful time of fellow-ship, games, and community projects will resume its fall,

winter, spring schedule. Our first meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. in the Lindsey Room.

Watch for the September Beth-any Road and Sunday morning bulletins for exact details.

CHRISTMAS BEGAN IN JULY. . . .

The Bethany Presbyterian Women began its collections for the last part of the year. Currently you can deco-

rate our tree (found in the Vogan Annex) with hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and socks for men, women and

children. The men’s items will be going to Joshua’s Haven in Sharon and the women’s and children’s will be

going to AWARE. They will be distributed to help keep members of our local community warm during the

winter. (I know it is hard to think of being cold during the heat of summer).

Also being collected will be books for infants through teens. They need not be new books, but they should be

in good condition—no one wants a book with writing in it or food stains--ugh! These books can be placed under the tree. This collection is in conjunction with the Mercer Area Library’s 100th Birthday Celebration to

encourage children to read and have books of their very own. These books will also be distributed through

Mercer area organizations.

In order to keep everything orderly, you will see items disappear from the tree and books from under the

tree. They will be placed in storage until distribution takes place. If you wish to see the number of items

collected, check the Bethany Women’s bulletin board across from the Outreach bulletin board in the back

hallway. The number of items collected will be updated each week.

The collections will end December 15 so distribution can take place. Merry Christmas!

We hope you will think of all the many blessings God has bestowed on each of us. Can’t we give back even a

little to make someone’s life a little easier?

Watch for updates of the Total number of items you have donated.

New Items Being Collected by Bethany Women

As usual, we will share a time of fellowship, have a lunch that is provided for you and share a short devotional. Our time to-gether will conclude by 1:15 p.m.

This Bible Study is open to all widows. The regular twice-a-month Bible Study will begin in September.

My Ladies Bible Study...NOTE CHANGE IN DATE

It is hard to believe but the summer is slipping by and that means that our monthly fel-lowship/lunch times are draw-ing to a close.

But the good news is that we have one more! It will be held on Tuesday, August 16 at noon in the Lindsey Room. Yes, the date has been changed for this meeting only.

Page 4 Bethany Road

It’s that time of year again!!! Time to start thinking about

Christmas!!!!

With Christmas only five months away, it’s time to start preparing for the Children’s Christmas pro-

gram!!!

This year, we will be doing a longer Christmas program!!! and will be needing more practice time. We will be start-

ing practice on Tuesday, August 30th at 6:15-7:15 and will continue with the practice schedule listed below. Please

do not feel obligated to attend each practice. There are a lot of practice times listed, so please come to as many

practices as possible…but they are not mandatory. Practices are subject to change. An extra Saturday practice

in December may be needed. The tentative date is Sunday, December 11th during the morning worship service.

All children, ages kindergarten through 6th grade are invited to participate!!! Each child will receive a CD of the

program to listen to and to learn from.

If you would like your child to participate, please complete the Christmas Program form and place

in the offering plate or turn into the church office. If you have any questions about the program

or practice times, please do not hesitate to contact me: call or text 724-866-3329, or email

pklutcher@bethany-presbyterian.org

August: September: October: November: December:

Tuesday 30th Tuesday 6th Tuesday 4th Tuesday 1st Tuesday 6th

Tuesday 13th Tuesday 11th Tuesday 8th Saturday 10th

Tuesday 20th Tuesday 18th Tuesday 15th

Tuesday 27th Tuesday 25th

Children’s Christmas Program

Child’s Name(s):

Parent’s Name(s):

Address:

Phone:

Page 5 Bethany Road

From the Desk of Mr. Nate,

Summer is a unique time of the year for my family. Our kids visit grandparents for multiple weeks in between VBS, mission trips, and summer camp. Trips to Dairy Queen

and Jones are sprinkled in between days of playing in the sprinklers and kiddie pool. Most recently, for our kids the best entertainment in the month of July is picking blueberries.

Summer is also a unique time in my role here at Bethany with the launch this sum-mer of ministries that have been months in preparation. Then there are the final weeks of preparation for ministries ready to be launched this fall.

Don’t miss anything below for the last month of summer “vacation” before school starts. Also, mark your calendars for our Fall Preview on Sunday, Aug. 28 in the Social

Room. You don’t want to miss it and upcoming announcements of ministries for Bethany Kids, Students, and Adults coming this fall.

Kids Sunday School Teachers- Aug. 7 at 9 am

Adult Sunday School Teachers- Aug. 14 at 9 am Children’s Church Leaders- Aug. 21 at 9 am

A weekly Christ-centered summer get-together for middle & high school students.

Aug. 3- Jones’ Soda at 7:30 Aug. 10- McConnell’s Mill (meet at Bethany at 6 pm) Aug. 17- Lake Latonka with boats @ Muehlman’s with Dem-

broski’s (early) Aug. 24- Glow-in-the-Dark Capture the Flag @ the Allen’s (late)

Class of 2017- Stay tuned for an announcement of our next

meeting in regards to next summer’s mission trip in the month of August.

Equip Sundays- High school students serve one two month term in Sunday School and earn a scholarship for re-

treats or camp. Middle school students who are actively serving the year as a Children’s Church assistant leader

for 2016/2017 and each a scholarship for camp.

Parents’ Cookout- Sept. 11 Save the Date!

For Parents Middle & High School Students

Page 6 Bethany Road

Volume 13, Issue 8 Page 7

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Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Mercer, PA 16137

PERMIT No. 39

We’re here

to Exalt,

to Encourage,

to Equip, to

TO:

Regular Office Hours

Mon. – Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (724) 662 – 4340

Prayer Chain: sueallen@bethany-

presbyterian.org

Fax: 724-662-1080

Web: www.bethany-presbyterian.org

Bethany Presbyterian Church

100 W. Venango St.

Mercer, Pa 16137

Current Resident or

Church Picnic

The Church Picnic will be held on Sunday August 28th at Camp Nazareth. Save the date, more information in the weekly bulletins.