Week Three of Advent

Seize the Moment – Carpe Dieum

So much of life is lived in the past and future. Have you noticed that in your own life? Regrets, Monday morning quarterbacking, and feeling sorry for things done or left undone can really occupy our thoughts. Likewise living in the future, planning, worry, and anticipation can really distract us from fully appreciating the present. This week I will delve into seizing the moment this Christmas.
How will we do that? Here will be the suggestions: 1. Focus on the vital and not ust the urgent. Listen to Jesus words: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 MSG; 2. Focus on spiritual preparations and not just the physical preparations. St Paul talks about this when he writes to the people in Colossae “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.” Colossians 3:2 MSG; 3. Focus more on God than on yourself. Jesus famous conversation with Martha and Mary brings this to our attention: “‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘You are worried and upset by so many things but only one thing is needed.’” Matthew 6:41-42; 4. Focus on the supernatural rather than the superficial. I love what the prophet Jeremiah has to say about this; “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.” Jeremiah 9:23-24.
I know my thoughts are a few among the memories, conversations, and activities of the week ahead but I hope for a few of you this might inspire you to grow closer to the Lord this very special week. Don’t forget the Christmas Eve Schedule December 24, 2008:

1:30PM Holy Communion and Canlelight 4:30PM Candlelight Service of Word and Carols 10:30PM Candlelight Service of Word and Carols

You might want to note that during the day on Christmas Day WCOE radio will being playing a lot of sacred and traditional music of which Bethany is one of the sponsors. In fact we are the only Church that is sponsoring music that day. Listen in if you get a chance. Thanks to Donna and Norma who got us signed up.

C U in Church,
Pastor Denny

Get Ready for Peace and Good Will

Good News? Did you know that there is a website dedicated to this very effort? Here it is: http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ but no matter how much good news you read or hear any earthly news will not satisfy you deep down in your soul. The announcement about Christ’s birth was to be an announcement of peace and good will toward all people. Yet, that is not a shared vision by all of humanity. Some people want to intentionally bring chaos and misery. People are dying of cholera, starvation, and other diseases in Zimbabwe, Africa and the world puts this on page three because it is an internal political issue.
Read over what Jesus spoke about to his followers in Matthew 6:25-34. That will be the main text for the message this week. Read what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-9 years later after his life was completely turned around by Jesus. There is plenty to worry about in the world but Jesus addresses this by saying that we should not be worried. When we begin to lose ourselves in serving others we worry less. It seems like just the opposite. If you don’t worry about yourself, who will? God cares and that is literally all that matters.
The kind of peace that Jesus offers is a peace of mind that the world can never give us. The good will that Jesus shares is the good will that is generated by all the followers of Jesus living out their faith in life of service.
I was so pleased to see the response to the Clothesline ministry this past week. Today someone brought in a whole pile of NEW coats. Others are planning on caroling to shut-ins and nursing homes next Sunday night at 4:00PM. Still others are acting on their own doing all kinds of charitable acts of kindness, good will, and love. That is what makes Christmas – Christ’s Mass (the worship of Christ in our very lives.)

Get Ready For Christmas

I watched the Dow plunge another 600 points yesterday, the attacks in India were still headlines, people look to our President elect to solve a host of problems, and the job market is just plain scary. Is there any good news out there? The Good News, with a capital G and a capital N has been there for two millennia but we fear what is going on right now rather than looking with trust and faith to the consistency of God and the promise of a present and future guided not by markets and malevolent dictators but by the Christ. Christmas is about Good News. Good News announced to shepherds and wise men, to Kings and cattle, and to star gazers and carpenters. It is good news for everyone.

Over the next few weeks we are going to explore what the Good News is and what it means for us. One thing is for sure Christmas is less about consumerism and more about Christ. This week we will pick up the theme Get Ready for Christmas. We will explore three ideas: 1. If Christ brought us Good News we should know what it is. Read Psalm 107:2 and Philippians 4:4; 2. We need time to tell others the Good News. Read Matthew 11:28; 3. We need to share the Good News “on purpose.” Read Luke 2:15. Good News is not wrapped up in warm fuzzy stories that warm the heart. It is news that remains consistent dependable over the eons and stirs hope and faith in the midst of massive world troubles.

I will explore these three themes and make a few suggestions on how to live the Good News this Christmas season. We are putting ads in the Herald Argus over the next few weeks so you can point to those to tell a friend or neighbor about it. We can also run off color flyers for you to share with others if you like. Just give us a call or stop by the church office to get a few to pass out. We will also be decorating the sanctuary and hallways on December the 10th at 6:00PM with sloppy joes, chips, and hot cider and then try to make quick work out of decorating. As the saying goes, Many hands make light work. C U in church!

GIVE THANKS, GIVE BACK!

At the Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service, we will be giving out food certificates to attending persons in need of Thanksgiving Meal assistance.

Come, join us in worship. Give thanks... and if you could use a little help with paying for this years Thanksgiving meal, let us know. We want to give back in honor of the many wonderful blessings Bethany has realized in 2008.

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

Rally Day

Chris Buresh, our Christian Education Director, is busy preparing for Rally Day.

Rally Day is Sunday, September 7, at 9:15 am. Children from three years through fifth grade will gather in the ARC and rediscover the miraculous power of Jesus.

At 6 pm Confirmation students and parents are invited to church for the Confirmation Potluck. Parents will be provided with information about Bethany's Confirmation program and Confirmation students will have their first class.

Next Sunday, the 14th, classes begin for children from three years through fifth grade, middle school Confirmation, high school, and the adult class, Espresso. There's something for everyone! Check it out!

Bible Discipleship Teleclass

LIVE STUDY DISCUSSION WHEREVER YOU ARE!

Live far away? Working late? Can't get a babysitter? You can still join us in study!

Pastor Dennis will be leading a discussion on discipline and discipleship from your home, your office, your cell phone, or wherever you are the first and third Wednesdays from 8:00 - 9:00 pm. The book Blue Like Jazz will be the basis of the discussion.

You'll be given a bridge line and code and join the discussion.

Pastor Dennis' Study Leave Time

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would give you an update on what is happening during the study leave time. The first week of the trip I have been moving Aaron to Monterey, California where he will be working as a guidance counselor at a high school. As many of you know, Monterey is one of our military officer training school towns and Aaron will be working with a number of their kids during his time out there. It has been a long drive already. I'm looking forward to watching the video tape of the kids' mission trip presentation from Sunday when I get back.

We began our trip Saturday and drove to Ogalala, Nebraska. That's pretty much all you can say about that. I do have to say that Nebraska looked incredibly green for this time of year. These are long days in his car all packed down with his worldly belongings. Day two we arrived in Elko, Nevada. It was another long day but the sky was big in Wyoming and Utah was an interesting and amazing state. We briefly stopped to see my cousin, Randy Meyer and family, in Evanston Wyoming on the way to Elko, Nevada where we spent the night.

The Great Salt Lake and the dry Salt Lake were both incredible to see. Driving down the mountains into Salt Lake City the way Joseph Smith came into that city can make you imagine that he and his band of followers really did think they reached the "promised land".


Today we journey on to Salinas, California, apartment hunting, and the start of Aaron's work. I do appreciate this time with him and the opportunity to see this great country of ours. It stirs my patriotism so much to see all that we Americans have to enjoy (gas prices not withstanding). I will write again when we arrive in California and keep you updated. I am reading a book right now as a part of the study leave call "Margins". It has to do with how we create space in our life and work to be with God. It is challenging and thought provoking. I have shared this book with members of the Pastor-Parish Team and they are reading it with me.

I have prayed for you daily on this journey and know that the staff at Bethany stands ready to help in any way while I am away with my son. I will be back in town before too long. Stay well and seize the day!

Blessings from our King and Lord,

Pastor Dennis

July 4th Outreach Picnic

Bethany served free hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and drinks to the La Porte Community on the 4th of July during the parade.

When a volunteer was asked by someone waiting in line why the church was giving away food, the Bethany volunteer replied, "Because we love La Porte!"

Any donations given are going to be used for improvements to Trinity Park where the picnic was held.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

It's that time of year! Vacation Bible School at Bethany is a fun and engaging way for preschool and grade school kids to learn about Jesus.

Bethany focuses on making the program fun for all ages and we have several young adult and adult volunteers who enjoy this VBS week as much as the kids do!

You DON'T need to be a Bethany member...

You DON'T need to pay anything...

You DON'T need to bring anything...

Just bring your kids, enjoy a few hours off, and we promise... your kids will have FUN and LEARN!

MONDAY 6/23 - FRIDAY 6/27 from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Carnival for a Cure Update

Carnival for a Cure put on by the Relay for Life Team Mary's Merry Marchers was successful in raising funds for the American Cancer Society.

The carnival offered a great outreach and fellowship time for the community and our Bethany family and friends.

The La Porte County Relay for Life is this Friday and Saturday, June 13-14, at the La Porte County Fairgrounds.

Bethany's pastor, Dennis Meyer, was a good sport volunteering for the dunk tank at the carnival! (See photo.)

http://www.bethanylaporte.org/

Bethany Build Dates

Bethany will be lending a hand to help build homes for our new neighbors on June 14th and June 21st.

You can see the work in progress now on the homes located on the east half of the old Park School lot on F Street. These are first two of the four Habitat for Humanity homes to be built on this lot. Volunteers from Bethany have been signing up to work on the build dates to "give a hand up - not a hand out" to our new "Habitat" neighbors. If you would be interested in helping out on either day, for even a few hours, let us know. 219-362-3312 or nakedwithgod@gmail.com

BETHANY BUILD DATES: JUNE 14 & 21

Stay Connected

iPhones can keep us connected to many things as we live, work and play. Actually, most of us have numerous technical devices that keep us connected to work, family and friends no matter where we are or what we are doing. The one thing that these gadgets do not come equiped with is a God button. Bethany wants to help keep you connected to HIM this summer as you travel or just enjoy the better climate of our area. So, regardless of WHERE you are - you can find your church connection and God connection RIGHT HERE at http://www.bethanylaporte.org/ with podcasts of the sermons, online giving capability, and community updates.

CARNIVAL for the CURE

Carnival for a Cure - June 1st, 2008 - Noon to 2:30

Mary's Merry Marchers, a Relay for Life team honoring Mary Steck and all of the Bethany family and friends who have been affected by cancer, are sponsoring this Carnival for a Cure as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Please plan to bring your kids, volunteer to work a booth, or offer to sponsor the rental of one of the games like the dunk tank or air walk.

Rain plan is to have the carnival inside the Arc at Bethany.