March 13, 2005 Newsletter

Issue #362

Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal
godliness.

Bethany Family
DeBoer Nursing Home: Art Leutscher
Home: Priscilla Gunn
Gay Sieplinga
Pray for Kathy Rabbit’s mother’s condition/comfort and for strength for family
members.
Tom & Cyndy Johnson’s daughter, Larissa.
* If you have a prayer request you would like to put in this newsletter, please
give copy to Laurie in the office by Wednesday noon, or fill out a request card
and place it in the Prayer Request Box on the Literature Table in the foyer.

Sacrament of Baptism
Next week, March 20, 2005, we’ll have the privilege of witnessing the baptism
of Travis Deans, son of Mark and Melissa Deans.

Birthday Honors for Those 80 and Over
Special birthday congratulations go to Clarence Achterhoff. Clarence will
celebrate his 87th birth anniversary today and the congregation is invited to
have cake in the Fellowship Hall after the morning service.

Share the Joy of Easter!
A list of addresses of our shut-ins is available on the literature table for
those who wish to visit them or send cards for Easter.

Pantry Volunteer Luncheon
Food Pantry Volunteer’s Luncheon will be March 16, at 1:00 PM, at Bethany
Church. Mark your calendars. Hope to see you there!

Collection Schedule
Mar. 20 Gen. Fund/BCES
Mar. 23 Maundy Thursday: Sacred Suds
Mar. 27 Gen. Fund/Property Improvements

Intermediate Club
Breakfast
March 29, 2005
9:00 AM

Maundy Thursday Service
March 24, 2005
7:00 PM
Bethany Church

THANK YOU!
A special big thank you to Vanika Branden for coordinating the Praise Dance
performed by the Praise Sisters last Sunday evening and a big thank you to the
Praise Sisters.

ADULT EDUCATION
Please join us today at 11:30 in the parish house for the first of two sessions
dealing with the topic of FAITH BASED INITIATIVES. As our first speaker,
Bethany is honored to welcome noted expert - Dr. Steven Monsma, Former State
Senator and currently Research Fellow at the Henry Institute at Calvin College
- who will discuss current Bush administration policies on faith based
initiatives and their impact on local communities.
We will begin promptly at 11:30, so bring your coffee and your questions for
Dr. Monsma on this important topic.

This Week Birthdays
Mar. 13 Clarence Achterhoff
Mar. 14 Robert Pell
Ken Sherwood
Mar. 17 Barb Villalpando
Next Week Birthdays
Mar. 20 Paula Foreman
Mar. 24 Beth Post
Mar. 25 Brian Hinken
Erika McCollum
Muriel Arkema
Mar. 26 Israel Neal
Adrian Rosales

The birthdays listed are from the information we currently have in our
‘membership list’. Should your birthday be recorded incorrectly or not appear,
please contact the office @725-7325. Should you wish to send cards but do not
have current addresses, please call the office as well.

Ministry Opportunities for March 20
Greeters: Jerry & Betty Heykoop, Doris Brondsema, Alma Steendam
Ushers: Bob Sytsema, Tom Miller, Mike Abbott, Ken VanHemert Sr.
Coffee Fellowship: Catherine Butterfield, Cyndy Johnson
Transparency: Dan Rinsema-Sybenga
Reader: Tom Holtrop Sr.
Lectionary: Isa. 50:4-9a; Ps. 31:9-16; Phil. 2:5-11; Matt. 26:14-27:66
or Matt. 27:11-64
Offering Opportunities: General Fund and Bethany Christian Education Society
Nursery Today: Melissa Deans, Jan Koons, Kayla Deans
Nursery for March 20: Jamey Foreman, Paula Foreman, Jesse Patton

Book Review With
Robert Sikkenga
Friday, April 8 at 1:00 PM - Muskegon native, author and humorist, Robert
Sikkenga, author of Moon Over Ajalon and Amity Street will be at Bethany CRC
(corner of Hartford and Terrace). His book talk will be on Moon Over Ajalon.
This devotional book invites readers to consider themselves as characters in
the drama of Israel by following the stories of heroes, villains, and everyday
folk in the first six books of the Bible. As per the author, “many of my happy
memories from Sunday School are recorded”. Amity Street is “set in familiar
surroundings between Wood and Getty, the celery flats and the churches, and
recalls a few familiar ghosts of the past such as a preacher, a drunk, a junk
man and few other characters thrown in to make a good story.”
After the talk, everyone is invited to enjoy coffee and cookies during Bob’s
book signing.
If you would like to join the Bethany Intermediate Club for lunch with the
author at 11:30 AM, please call Marva Stevens at 755-0579 or Grace Eckman at
780-3988 before Tuesday, April 5.

We’ve Moved!
Bill & Mary Pranger
3322 Willington Dr.
Dublin, OH 43017
Ph. 614-339-3271

Art Leutscher
DeBoer Nursing Home
1684 Vulcan St.
Muskegon, MI 49442

Betty Gardner
Pine Grove Manor, Apt. 113
1764 Apple Ave.,
Muskegon, MI 49442
Ph. 773-3264

E-Mail Address Change
For Bruce and Willy VanderKooi
bwvanderk@altelco.net
WMC Presents Musical “Fiddler on the Roof”
Western Michigan Christian High presents the musical “Fiddler on the Roof”
Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 PM at Spring Lake Intermediate
School, 345 Hammond, Spring Lake. There are more than 55 WMC students involved.
The public is invited and it’s a wonderful production for the whole family.
Directors are Ambre Cross, Barb Getz, Jeff Hall and Lois Reinders. Tickets are
on sale at the school and at the door for $5 adults and $4 students.

A Musical for Easter
White Lake Festival Choir presents One Holy Lamb, a musical for Easter Friday,
March 18 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, March 19 - 3:30 PM & 7:30 PM, Sunday, March 20 -
3:30 PM. For complimentary tickets, see Hage’s Christian Supplies, Muskegon, or
Lipka’s Drug Store - Montague, or at the door. The musical will be at the
Howment Playhouse, 304 Mears Ave., Whitehall. A freewill offering will be
taken.

Love INC Notes
Love INC invites you to share your ministry with the community on April 2nd
from 9:00 AM to noon. We will broadcast from our Love building via radio
station 103.7. Representatives from your church are invited to come anytime
during the hours listed to share how you are building the community through
your ministries. We will also have a food drive during this time. We could use
help from your youth groups or individuals. Call Cynthia at 773-3448.

On March 14 there will be a Governor’s Faith and Community Based Resource
Symposium. It is co-sponsored by many of the state agencies and departments,
the United Way and will be addressed by the Governor and Jim Towey from the
White House of Faith-based and Community Initiatives. You may still be able to
register. Cynthia can respond via email with the details of the symposium.
cynthia.loveinc@verizon.net

Muskegon Pax Christi is hosting a Prayer Vigil for Peace on Sunday, March 20 at
St. Francis de Sales in the Marian Chapel, 2929 McCracken, at 3:00 PM. Palm
Sunday weekend marks the two year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Prayer is essential as we continue to live out the gospel call to be witnesses
and agents of peace and justice. Please join us.

Telecare: 9:00 a.m. 365 days a year
bethany.crc@verizon.net
bethanychurchmuskegon.org