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Sabbath rest is an opportunity to refresh your soul, your emotional well-being
and your physical strength. I had an opportunity to do that with my study leave. I
just returned from a canoe and portage adventure in Canada. It was seven days of
canoeing 36 miles, and 24 miles of hiking, portaging our canoes and backpacking.
We had beautiful weather with mostly sunny days and moon-filled nights.
Every day we took time to worship God with planned morning, lunch and even-
ing worship, sharing a reflection on Scripture and praying. Another important part
of our worship was to experience God’s creation and the fellowship of fellow hik-
ers.
God gave us opportunities to watch a moose swimming in a lake, a coyote
combing the beach, loons swimming gracefully, a baby beaver eating branches and
geese flying south for the winter. We also heard loons calling to each other, an owl
hooting at us and coyotes howling. It was a heart and soul filling and muscle aching
experience.
Another very unique experience we had was an opportunity to have a solitary
and solo time with God. We were dropped at specific places away from each other
early Saturday afternoon. This was our time to personally get connected with God
as we established our own little campsite. I had some inspiring times of reading,
worshiping and praying. I almost had a burning bush experience in the middle of
the night as the dried-up tree stump next to my supposedly dead fire pit got ignited.
I believe it was God that woke me up as I heard a loud crash of a branch falling
down in the dark and suddenly “poof” I saw a light. I turned to the light and saw
that the stump was completely ignited and thought about maybe asking God what
he wanted but then I realized this is not the burning bush.
God intended for his children to have a regular weekly Sabbath rest as well as a
Sabbath vacation. It is God’s way of refreshing and reviving our lives and specially
helping us to reconnect with God. I pray that we all can take more seriously our
need for Sabbath rest.
Matt 11:28 “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. NIV
“From Pastor Peter’s Desk”
Committee Meetings:
Property Tuesday, October 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Deacons W ednesday, October 7 at 6:30
p.m.
Finance Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 p.m.
Outreach Monday, October 12 at 7 p.m.
Christian Education Tuesday, October
13 at 7:00 p.m.
Member Involvement Tuesday, October
13 at 7:00 p.m.
Worship & Memorials Tuesday, October
13 at 7 p.m.
SESSION Tuesday, October 22nd 7 p.m.
Children’s Christmas Program;
Thank You; Snacks Needed, Opera-
tion Christmas Child
2
Bethany Women; Taste of the Holi-
days 3
Bethany Women 4
Christian Education 5
Christian Education 6
October Calendar 7
Senior Luncheon Back
Cover
Inside this issue:
Be
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Volume 12, Issue 10
October 2015
V OLU ME 1 2, ISS UE 1 0 Page 2
Children’s Christmas Program...
Children’s Christmas Program: It’s hard to believe that it is that time again!!! It is time to begin prepar ing for
Christmas!!! Children’s Christmas Program practice will begin on Tuesday, October 6th immediately following Totally
Terrific Tuesdays. All children are welcome--ages Kindergarten through 6th grade.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Patty Klutcher at 724-866-3329 or pklutcher@bethany-
presbyterian.org.
After 20 years of faithful service, Dorothy Wester is retiring as Kitchen Coordinator. Nancy Heckathorn has been ap-
pointed to replace her. Would anyone who plans on using kitchen and/or products from pantry, please contact Nancy and
check so we can keep everything stocked properly. Please call 724-748-3069 if you have any plans to use the kitchen.
Thanks to Dorothy for all her service and I look forward to working with you in the future. Nancy Heckathorn
Thank You...
Snacks Needed...
A sign-up sheet, with accompanying information, has been placed at the Welcome Center for anyone interested in
providing snacks for Fall Youth Group meetings. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Carol George at
(724) 662-5580.
Operation Christmas Child: Operation Christmas Child dedication will be November 8th; so begin your shopping
now. Together we can share the love of Jesus.
Operation Christmas Child Dedication...
We just want to provide you with a
wonderful morning of relaxation
and enjoy the company of others. If
you would like to contribute to one
of our current collections, that
would be great. We are currently
collecting the following: eating
soups for AWARE and paper prod-
ucts for Joshua’s Haven—tissues,
napkins, toilet paper, paper towels,
and powdered laundry detergent.
(yes, you can still buy powdered
detergent and you can stretch your
money the farthest by purchasing it
at local dollar stores.) These items
can be placed in the green bins in
the Vogan Annex through Decem-
ber 15.
If you wish to attend, put on your
favorite fall attire, and call the
church office at 724 662-4340 and
let Lois know how many will be
coming. We are also accepting raf-
fle baskets (any size; any theme).
You can either bring yours in the
week of the Brunch, the day of the
Brunch or call Nancy Ollinger-
Thiess at 724 662-3986 and let her
know you are providing one.
This is a wonderful time to invite a
friend, neighbor, or co-worker.
Why not join us?
This is a special invitation to all
women to come and join in the Fall
Women’s Brunch, sponsored by the
Bethany Presbyterian Women, on
Saturday, October 31 from 10:00
until noon in the Social Hall.
This morning will find us enjoying
each other’s company, searching
our hearts to see how we can help
those in need in our local communi-
ty, play a game or two, participate
in our raffle basket (which everyone
has a chance to win), and enjoy
lunch.
Lunch will be provided and will
include a choice of several home-
made soups, sandwiches, and sea-
sonal desserts.
What is the cost? There is no cost.
The Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce, of which Bethany is a member, will be welcoming in the holidays
by conducting, “A Taste of the Holidays.” This will be held at the Mercer County Career Center (or what
Mercer veterans call—Vo. Tech on the Greenville Road on Thursday, October 22 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Not only will you have a wonderful time sampling numerous foods from Mercer County establishments, but
you will have a chance to sit around tables and talk. You can come and stay as long as you would like and
sample as much as you like for one low price. Many of the vendors will be taking orders for the holidays
from those wishing to do so. There will also be a Chinese Auction and craft vendors. One fee covers all
food and beverages (no alcoholic beverages will be available) that you can eat on-site. Your only additional
costs would be if you wanted to participate in the Chinese Auction or purchase any crafts.
For additional information or to purchase discounted tickets, please see or call Nancy Ollinger-Thiess at 724
662-3986.
Support local businesses and enjoy an evening of fun, too.
Page 3
A Special Invitation To All Women
Why Not Join Us for “A Taste of the Holidays” ….
B E T HA NY R OA D
My Ladies Bible Study—Continues Our Study of James….
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 6 at 10:00 a.m. in the rear of Carson Chapel. We will be con-
tinuing our study of the mini books of the New Testament—James. We will begin with James 3:1 and fol-
lowing and learn what James says about the need to tame our tongue. Our next meeting will begin where we
left off on the 6th of October and will be held on Tuesday, October 20—same time, same place. This Bible
Study is open to all widows and concludes by 11:15 a.m.
Why not join us on Monday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lindsey Room to make final plans for
the Fall Brunch (to be held on Saturday, October 31) and to complete the favors for that Brunch.
This is a wonderful opportunity to sit and chat, to enjoy each other’s company in an informal set-
ting, and to taste a delicious light refreshment. All women are cordially invited to attend this one
or as many of our meetings as you would like.
On Sunday, November 22, the Bethany Presbyterian Wom-
en will again be celebrating its Annual Thankoffering wor-
ship service at 10:15 a.m. This is a wonderful way to give
thanks for all the many blessings God has provided not on-
ly to Bethany Church, but to each of us as Christians. The
message, Footprints, will be presented by the Moderator of
Presbyterian Women, Nancy Ollinger-Thiess.
The special collection, over and above your normal tithes
and offerings, will be used to make Christmas happier for
many in our local community. One half of the collection
will be again used to purchase gifts of books, puzzles, toys
and needed clothing for children referred to us by the Mercer County Children’s Aid Society. The remain-
ing half will be equally divided between needed items for men helped by the Joshua’s Haven Mission locat-
ed in Sharon and personally purchased gifts for those men and women in Mercer area nursing homes that
might not receive even one gift for Christmas.
The goal through this Thankoffering Sunday is to touch the lives of as many men, women and children as
possible. Won’t you make this dream come true?
Page 4
Fun and Fellowship. .Preparation for Fall Brunch
Why Not Join Us For Our Annual Thankoffering Sunday?
B E T HA NY R OA D
The next Bethany Road
deadline
will be Thursday,
October 22.
Come all, come all, to the Cool Spring Corn Maze on Sun-
day, Oct. 11th from 4-8 pm with Bethany Church. All
ages welcome! Cost this year is $8.50 per person with a
Bethany coupon. This includes the Corn Maze, the new
Jump Pad, the Hay Maze, group Hayrides, Pedal Tractors,
40 ft. Mountain Slides, group campfire, and the Barnyard
Board game. Concessions and additional activities are
extra.
BETHANY KIDS Totally Terrific Tuesdays begin on Tuesday, October 6th and continue until No-
vember 17th. Our three-week study for each group will be from the book of Jonah on
God’s Call, Our Response, and Our Attitude. Thank you to everyone who is vol-
unteering, praying, and/or donating other resources for us to have this program.
Please pray as we minister to these kids as seeds of the gospel are planted and
they will produce fruit. Pray also that there will maybe be follow-up with the Corn
Maze, Kid’s Musical, Sunday School, a Sunday morning service and/or Junior Retreat.
Parents of 3rd-6th graders—mark your calendar for our Junior Retreat at The Castle on November 21 & 22. Be
sure to invite friends to attend with you. Cost is $40 and transportation will be provided by Watson’s this
year.
BETHANY STUDENTS Youth Alpha is on Sundays from 6-8 pm for middle and high school
students. We have several Young Life leaders from Grove City College
that have joined us as well this fall. In October, our film series will be
discussing the following questions: How can I have faith? Why and
how do I pray? Why and how do I read the Bible? How does God guide
us into a full life?
Three events for November to be aware of are our second annual
Food & Friend Drive, Awake All-Nighter, and the Young Life
Weekender for high school. Parents we need your help with driv-
ing for the Food & Friend Drive as we see how much pounds of
food we can get for Loaves and Fishes. We will also be rounding
up friends that night to bring to the Alpha Youth Film series and inviting them to Awake and the Young Life
Fall Weekend.
Christian Education Happenings
What is Awake? Awake is a new, 12 hour all-night event for middle and high
school students on Friday, Nov. 13. We will start at Bethany Church at 7 pm
with food, games, and speaker. Then at 9 pm the Watson buses will roll out for
more fun at the Grove City YMCA, Olympic Fun Center, and possibly 10-Pin
Alley. We will return to Bethany at 5 am, but Awake will continue with more
fun and breakfast until 7 am. Cost is $20. Tickets are limited and will be on
sale starting October 11th. More information or questions see Nate.
The Young Life Fall Weekend is a high school retreat at YMCA Camp Kon O
Kwee in Fombelle, PA. Over 400 students will be attending. Cost is $115 for
two nights. High school students can get a Bethany $20 discount after they regis-
ter for both Awake All-Nighter and the Weekender. Bethany students who regis-
ter for the Weekender will also get an additional discount of $20 or more. Need
based scholarships are also available through Bethany. More information or
questions see information at the Welcome Center or Nate.
Page 7 B E T HA NY R OA D
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15
Fall Senior Luncheon The Deacons will be
having a luncheon hon-oring our Seniors on
Wednesday, October 28 at noon in the Social
Room. There will be a time for fellowship, a
wonderful program and a delicious meal. Please call the church office at 724-662-4340 by Friday, October 23 to make res-
ervations.
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Mercer, PA 16137
PERMIT No. 39
We’re here
to Exalt,
to Encourage,
to Equip, to
TO: or current address
Regular Office Hours
Mon. – Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(724) 662 – 4340
Prayer Chain: [email protected]
Fax: 724-662-1080
Web: www.bethany-presbyterian.org
BETHANY PRESBYT ERIAN CHURCH
100 W. VENANGO ST .
MERCER, PA 16137