November 6, 2005 Newsletter

Issue #396

Telecare: 9:00 a.m. 365 days a year
bethany.crc@verizon.net
bethanychurchmuskegon.org
Office: 725-7325
Office Hours:
Mon. - Thurs. 9:00 - 3:30
Closed Friday & Saturday

In prayer we will know
that the presence of the Lord is powerful.

Thanksgiving Day Service November 23 at 7:00 PM

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Next Sunday, November 13, in our prayers during our morning worship service, we
will join common cause with the persecuted Church around the world. That Sunday
has been designated as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted
Church. Pastor David Sieplinga will lead an Adult Education Forum after the
service, exploring where persecution is most extensive and intense and how we,
as kingdom-of-God citizens in the country, might address this crisis.

Bethany Family
Christian Sympathy
Bethany Church extends our sympathy and support in Christ to the Ken Medema
family as they experience the loss of Ken Medema. We extend our sympathy for
Judy Schutter and her family in the loss of her father this week. For those who
live in Christ it is not death to die. Rather, as the Apostle Paul declares, it
is "falling asleep in Christ."
Please pray for Erika Hall who is still struggling with chronic fatigue and
fibro myalgia. She fell and has bruised a tendon in her foot.
Please remember Art Leutscher and Robert Blink in your prayers. They are both
at DeBoer's Nursing Home.
Pray for Abigail Kanaar, who is recovering from surgery.
Home: Don Doorn
Chad Patton
Lakeshore Memorial Hospital in Shelby: Carol Patton
* 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.

Christmas Luncheon
Women's Fellowship Christmas Luncheon is December 1, 2005. More info will come.
That will be the last meeting till January 6, 2006.

Special Birthday Honors to Those 80 and Over
We celebrate with Doris Brondsema who will be turning 81 on Nov. 18, 2005. Hope
your birthday is extra fun!

Single Seniors
Mark your calendar for Nov. 13. The Fellowship Committee would like to treat
you to Sunday dinner following church. Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall.
The meal is for Single Seniors. We apologize for any confusion.

Thanksgiving Baskets
We are again getting ready to make Thanksgiving Baskets. Needed: canned fruit,
jello, stuffing, pumpkin pie mix, crust mix, potatoes, sweet potatoes,
vegetables, cranberry sauce and apples. Cash contributions can be given to Ev
Christenson or the church office.

Birthdays This Week
Nov. 6 Amy Varnado
Nov. 9 Barb Holtrop
Kathy Martin

Birthdays Next Week
Nov. 15 Jason Dephouse
Nov. 17 Ginny Gilbert
Mark Deans
Nov. 18 Polly Kukulka
Doris Brondsema
Nov. 19 Caroline Bolema

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 November 13
Greeters: Art & Patti Brown, Doris Brondsema, Alma Steendam
Ushers: Dan Westra, Dick Miller, Mike Sodini, Jim Goorman
Coffee Fellowship: Patty Brown, Kathy Willer
Transparency: Brett Westra
Reader: Tom Holtrop Sr.
Lectionary: Zeph. 1:7, 12-18; Ps. 90:1-8[9-11] 12; 1 Thess. 5:1-11;
Matt. 25:14-30
Offering Opportunities: General Fund and Missions
Nursery Today: Betty Heykoop, Ev Christenson, Benjamin Klemm
Nursery Nov. 13: Melissa Deans, Amy Varnado, Kayla Deans

Collection Schedule
Nov. 13 Gen. Fund/ Missions
CRC World Hunger
Nov. 20 Gen. Fund. /BCES
Nov. 23 World & Home Mission & Benevolence
Nov. 27 Gen. Fund/Property Improvements

Harvest Thank You
THANK YOU to everyone who donated, volunteered, participated in, and bid at the
MCS Harvest Fest dinner and auction.Our preliminary estimates show a profit of
over $17,000 toward tuition assistance! A special thanks to the MCS staff and
students, Lisa Dadd, Tom Mellema, Jill Luna and our childcare workers!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Clean up and painting at our MCS-WWCS houses 11/4 & 11/11. Call 773-3221.

Can You Help?
Data entry for the Development Office (typing skills needed) next Wednesday
(11/9 and Thursday (11/10). Call Tara if you can help! 773-3221, ext. 110

Sponsors Needed
MCS is still in need of a number of sponsors for our BOOST Scholarship Program.
These families can not afford full tuition and need financial assistance in
order to attend MCS. Call Tara at 231-773-3221, ext. 110 if you would like to
sponsor a child or send your check marked "BOOST" to Muskegon Christian School,
1220 Eastgate Street, Muskegon, Michigan?? 49442.

Magazine Sales
Don't forget that you can support MCS through on-going magazine and catalog
sales. To order magazines, visit www.QSP.com, click on "PARENTS," and use the
school online code 422221948 when registering. To order from the gift catalogs,
visit www.QSP.com, click on "Just Shopping," and enter account number
710325121. Keep QSP.com in your "favorites" and please share these websites
with out-of-town family and friends so they can help support the school as
well!

Christmas Craft Show
Christmas Craft Show at Western Michigan Christian is Saturday, Dec. 3. To
reserve a booth, contact Susan Poel at 616-850-3919 or email her at
poel123@michonline.net.

Festival of Choirs
The public is invited to the "Festival of Choirs" tonight at 4:00 PM at the
Spring Lake Wesleyan Church which will feature nearly 200 singers from four
area Christian schools.
Participating in the annual event will be choirs from Grand Haven Christian
School directed by Kathryn Becksvoort, three choirs from Western Michigan
Christian High School directed by Ambre Cross, Muskegon Christian School
directed by Ambre Cross and New Era Christian School directed by Shari Baar.

Love INC News
We invite you to come to the Community Concerts on Nov. 13 at 3:00 PM to the
Frauenthal Theater in downtown Muskegon and enjoy the concert while helping
Love INC fill their food pantries. One-half of the ticket price for those
attending not holding season tickets will be donated to Love INC.
Please support Love INC at D&W's Non-profit days. Nov. 7-9, D&W will donate 5%
of the sales you generate from your purchases to Love INC, when you use the
coupons that are available in the store or in your church mailbox.
Love INC's ramp ministry needs you or your group to complete 8 ramps before the
snow flies. This is a great project to help someone who is disabled and can
also be a time of bonding for your group. Call Cindy at 773-3448.
Pots and pans are needed desperately in our Household Goods pantries. Please
drop off at Love or call 773-3448 for info.
A new budgeting class begins on Nov. 3. By Nov. 17, the participants will need
a budget mentor to work with them. Training is provided. This is a wonderful
opportunity to do hands on ministry with a family, and does not take any
specialized skill. Please leave a message for Gary or Jan at the Love INC
office at 773-3448.

MOSES, Inc. Update
Our annual Toronto MOSES mission trip takes place over the Thanksgiving break,
from Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 23 - Sunday, Nov. 27. This trip is open to teens
14 and older and to adults. For more information Judy at the MOSES office
(616-949-0344) or at mosesjudy@Mollema.com. Check us out on the web at
mosesweb.org.