With Valentine's Day fast

approaching, many of the

husbands out there are

starting to feel their palms

sweat with the pressure of

living up to the high expec-

tations this holiday

brings. While the guys are

out there trying to conjure

up a romantic evening,

many of us gals are trying

to wow our men by meas-

uring up to cover models.

Whether it's Valentine's

Day or not, many of us are

walking around with our

emotional cups out

stretched, waiting for our

husbands or wives to fill

them with security and

significance. However, the

reality is that our spouses

were never meant to fill our

emotional cups with those

things. Only God

can. When we expect our

spouses to meet all our

needs we put them on a

throne in our heart that was

designed only for our

Lord. When they fail to

meet our high expectations,

we become disappointed

and dissatisfied with

them. This Valentine's,

give your spouse the gift of

a relationship centered in

God's love.

A relationship centered in

God's love acknowledges

that the Lord is your per-

sonal source of signifi-

cance, security and satis-

faction. When I turn to the

Lord in my neediness to

hear Him say, "The king is

enthralled by your beauty;

honor him, for he is your

lord" Psalm 45:11, then I

can let my husband off the

hook for making me feel

secure about myself.

When I seek God because

"in [His] presence is full-

ness of joy; at [His] right

hand are pleasures forever-

more" Psalm 16:11 then

God can touch the secret places

of my heart that no person ever

could reach to give me the satis-

faction my soul desires.

When I remember that my Lord

thinks about me more times than

there is sand in the sea (Psalms

139:17-18), that He saw every

tear I cried in secret and collected

them in a bottle (Psalms 56:8)

and that He has counted every

hair on my head (Matthew 10:30)

then I am wrapped in His cherish-

ing love.

Understanding the truth that my

God bends down to tend to every

detail of my life gives me a place

of significance that no other per-

son can give or take away. Let-

ting God fill that place in your life

instead of expecting your spouse

to fill it is a gift to both of you!

The Best Valentine’s Day Gift

The Focus Principles For Each Age Group

2 year olds -Kindergarten

God Made Me

God Loves Me

Jesus Wants to Be My Friend

Forever

1st –6th Grade

I Need to Make Wise Choice

I Can Trust God No Matter What

I Should Treat Others the Way I

Want to Be Treated

7th –12th Grade

Authentic Faith

Spiritual Disciplines

Moral Boundaries

Healthy Friendships

Wise Choices

Ultimate Authority

Putting Others First

Be

th

an

y

Ch

ur

ch

February 2015

Valentine’s Cards

Throughout the month of February we will be collecting our offering to buy

socks and toiletries to be given to the homeless. The kids will have a chance

to wrap up the supplies and make a card for each recipient.

The kids, preschool through sixth grade have the opportunity to engage in the

offering project during our worship experience each Sunday morning. Our

Student Ministry also participate in this offering project.

Offering Project

Valentine’s Day is a wonderful holiday to share God’s love. When the kids arrive to the elementary and Merge rooms on Sunday mornings they will have a chance to make a valentine for someone. We are en-couraging the kids to make a valentine for and deliver it to someone who they wouldn't normally think to give a valentine to. It could be a neigh-bor, the mail carrier, a fire fighter, a bus driver, a babysitter, etc.

Kids will also have time to create Valentine’s for the congregation. Dis-tributing Valentine’s to the congregation is another way to bring the whole church body together. It allows kids to shine God’s love and be an example to believers no matter what their age.

Top Secret Kindness Missions

During the month of February the Elementary and Merge Groups are studying the Life Application of Kind-ness. A great way to show kindness without expecting a reward is to od this undercover. On the next page is a form you could fill out and give to your child as a secret mission for the week. Encourage them to be as stealthy as possible. Some ideas for the days could include: Do a chore for a brother or sister without them knowing it, help out your parents today without any complaining, smile at three random people today, write a note to someone telling them how special they are to you, pick up trash you see lying on the ground today, clean your room without being asked, write a note to your teacher, leave a special drawing for your mail car-rier, make a special treat and deliver it to your neighbor, speak kindly all day long-no complaining, shovel the driveway without being asked, read to a younger brother or sister, etc.

Preschool

and

Kindergarten

Elementary

and

Preteen

Ali Bousquin

Family Ministries Director

abousquin@bethanychurch.com

603-570-9002

9:00 Check in Team

Pam Goodman

Alison Stallings

9:00 Worship Team

Amanda Doiron

9:00 Nursery Team

Lynn Linville

Missy Heiman

Terri Mancini-Allen

Christine Heichlinger,

Jenn Hale

Mike O’Connell

Heidi Gagnon

Hannah Gagnon

Lori McConn

9:00 Preschool Team

Heather Roberson

Robyn Patrie

Melanie Riley

Sarah McGill

9:00 1st through 4th Grade Team

Jim Lombard

Alison Stallings

Ali Bousquin

11:00 Program

Ali Bousquin

Heidi Rolston

Wednesday Night Nursery Team

Wednesday Night Preschool Team

Wednesday Night Elementary Team

Ali Bousquin

Special Needs Coordinator

Heidi Rolston

Marriage Ministry Team Sandy Fagen

Andy Fagen

Family Ministry Events Team Robyn Patrie

Jenn Hale

Christine Heichlinger

Missy Heiman

Cathy Hoffman

Lynn Linville

Ali Bousquin

Heidi Gagnon

9:00 5th and 6th Grade Team

Amanda Doiron

Carlton Stallings

Wednesday Night Youth Group

Joya Anderson

Matt Lovgren

9:00 Sunday Team

Matt Lovgren

Joya Anderson

Ministry Partner Teams