February 19, 2006 Newsletter

January 29, 2006
Issue #411

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

Remember - Our God upholds and watches.
Thank Him for His presence.

Birthdays This Week
Feb. 19 Doris Bogema
Holiday Hall
Bryan Hoeker
Feb. 20 June VanHemert
Feb. 22 Catherine Butterfield

Birthdays Next Week
Feb. 26 Lauren Rottman
Feb. 27 Ruth Aardema
Matt Holtrop
Feb. 28 Reuben Klemm
Mar. 1 Al Rockwood
Mar. 2 Max Christenson
Dan Hoeker
Mindy Post
Mar. 4 Nelson Gould

The Bethany Reading Program is Moving!
Starting Monday, February 27, at 4:00 PM we will be meeting at McLaughlin
Elementary School in their library. We are looking for more volunteers to help
read to the children. We will meet every Monday from 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM. Please
call Josh if you have questions. 725-7325.

A Generous Heart and Kingdom Values
Bethany has received a gift in the amount of $165,869.10 from the estate of
Anne Spoelman. We praise God for this gift, which is so reflective of Anne?s
generous heart and kingdom values. The Council has charged the Administrative
Committee with developing proposals for the dispensation of the bequest and to
bring those proposals to the Council no later than May 24, 2006. Please pray
for our leaders as they prayerfully seek God's guidance on how this money might
be used!

Bethany Family
Mercy Hospital: Dob Sieplinga
Mercy Hospital: Lin Holtrop
Knollview: John DeYoung
Home: Ethel Brown
We extend our sympathy and support in Christ to Mary Kay and Dan Hoeker and
family on the passing away of Mary?s father, Robert Cartier. May our Father in
heaven comfort you with His peace and the promise of the resurrection of life
everlasting in Jesus Christ.
* 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.

Bethany Breakfast Club
As of January 31, the Intermediate Club has officially changed their name to
the Bethany Breakfast Club (BBC). They will meet for breakfast at Mickey?s
February 28, at 9:00 AM. Everyone is welcome. See you there!

Engaging the World Outside the Four Walls
Join us after church for a continuation of our February Theme, "Engaging the
World Outside the Four Walls." Laura Carpenter, our guest today from Madison
Square CRC, will be facilitating a discussion today based on the film "Free
Indeed." The film and subsequent discussion will help us further explore how
Bethany can build deeper and freer relationships with our neighbors and our
neighborhood. All are welcome!! A special invitation to those of you who live
in McLaughlin Neighborhood. Your voices are important to these conversations!!

Black History Month
February is Black History Month. During several of our morning worship services
we will be celebrating the ways African Americans have enriched Christian
worship through song, poetry and dance.

Choir Members Note
No Choir rehearsal today. Please plan to meet next Sunday at 9:15 AM, in the
Choir room for next rehearsal.

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 at 725-7325. Should you wish to send cards but do not
have current addresses, please call the office as well.

Ministry Opportunities for February 26
Greeters: Anne Rose, Florence Saunders, Marv & Ethel Brown
Ushers: Art Brown, Jim Dephouse, Jamey Foreman, Andy DeBoer
Coffee Fellowship: Grace Eckman, Judy Hepler
Transparency: Brett Westra
Reader: Tom Holtrop Sr.
Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Ps. 50:1-6; 2 Cor. 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
Offering Opportunities: General Fund and Property Improvements
Nursery Today: Melissa Deans, Jan Koons, Kayla Deans
Nursery Feb. 26: Jamey Foreman, Paula Foreman, Jesse Patton

Lost & Found
Are you missing a red plastic bag with blue jeans inside? Please check the lost
and found box. Also the red plastic cooler with a white top is still unclaimed.
Please check to see if this is yours. Any items, after a period of time, are
donated to the Pantry.

Healthy Congregations Workshops
On the afternoons of Feb. 28 and March 14, 28, Pastor David Sieplinga will be
participating in a series of Healthy Congregations Workshops, facilitated by
the Christian Reformed Board of Home Missions and funded by a Lily Foundation
grant for Sustaining Pastoral Excellence. Please pray that these seminars will
have benefit for Bethany!

Special Birthday Wishes to Those 80 and Over
Doris Bogema will celebrate her 92nd birthday today! Be sure to wish her a
" Happy Birthday"! Catherine Butterfield will celebrate her 82nd birthday on
Feb. 22, 2006. Happy Birthday Doris and Catherine! Al Rockwood will celebrate
his 84th birthday on March 1, 2006. May God bless all of you!
NEW ADDRESS
Nick Hall's new address is:
Airman Hall, Nicholas
230 Chevalier Field Ave.
BKSA
Pensacola, FL 32508-5151

Collection Schedule
Feb. 26 Gen. Fund/Property
Improvements

Housing Opportunities
For families in need of housing, affordable one bedroom apartments are
available, a HUD subsidized housing complex managed by the Muskegon Housing
Commission. Call 722-2647 or stop by the office to learn more about and to
receive applications for this reasonable rental option.

Promote Unity Fest 2006
Unity Fest is looking for Church Contact Volunteers to promote Unity 2006 in
our church. Responsibilities include bulletin/newsletter announcements, hanging
posters, and making announcements in our church service. Love INC also needs
regular volunteers for Unity 2006. To sign up, call Cindy at 773-3448.

Employment Opportunity
Water Plant Operator at the Water Filtration Plant/Public Works. Please see the
flyer posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall for details today.

TEENS!!
Come to Mississippi (March 30-April 8) with MOSES to provide assistance and
encouragement to those who have suffered loss of or damage to their homes from
the hurricane. See mosesweb.org for more info or contact the MOSES office at
616-949-0344. Adults are also needed for driving, cooking and mentoring the
teens in construction skills.

Celebrating 25 Years
International Aid would like to invite its supporters to join in celebrating 25
years of changing lives around the world on March 3,?6:30 to 9:30 p.m.,at the
Grand Haven Golf Club, 17000 Lincoln Road, Grand Haven, Michigan. Cost is $35
per person. For more information or to reserve tickets, call Marrilee
Chamberlain, (616) 846-7490 ext. 376 by March 1.