May 22, 2005 Newsletter

Issue #372

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

Intermediate Club Breakfast
May 31 at 9:00 AM at Mickey?s
Everyone Welcome!

Graduates of 2005
We are pleased to announce who our graduates are this year.
Benjamin Klemm is graduating from Bunker Middle School in June.
Rachel Klemm graduated from MCC with an Associates Degree. She will be
attending Western Michigan University in the fall.
Reuben Klemm will graduate from 5th grade Nelson Elementary in June.
Katie Sytsema graduates from WMC in June and plans to attend Calvin College in
the fall.
Anton Sieplinga graduates from Holland Public High in June and will be moving
to Muskegon with his father.
We are very proud of your many accomplishments and wish you the best!
Proud Parents: if you have any graduates this year, either from junior high,
high school or college, please let Laurie know in the office.

Let the Children Come to Me
On Sunday, May 29, in our 10:00 AM service, we will witness the baptism of
Gracie Sytsema, the daughter of Marty and Heidi.

Please note
There will be no 5:00 PM service on May 29, in light of Memorial Day holiday
weekend.

Celebrate With Us!
The family of Les and Marva Stevens invite all of their friends to join them
for cake and punch after the morning service today, to celebrate their 50 years
together.

Gleaners Food Mobile
The Gleaners Food Mobile will be coming for the food give away on Saturday,
June 11, at 1:00 PM. We will need volunteers to fill two shifts: 12:00 - 1:30
PM and 1:30 - 3:00 PM. Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall for the shift that
is most convenient for you. Your work in this ministry is appreciated!

Bethany Family
Home: Ken Hoeker
Mike Hepler
* 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.

Christian Sympathy
We extend our Christian sympathy and support to Linda and Gary Rottman and
families in the loss of Linda?s mother, Margaret Natte. Margaret was a long
time former member of Bethany Church and passed away May 16, 2005. May our
Father in heaven comfort you with His peace and the promise of the resurrection
of life everlasting in Jesus Christ.

Special Collection Next Week
We will be having a special collection May 29 for Dave & Daphne Smith, our
missionaries in India during our morning service. Let?s remember them with our
financial gifts as well as our prayers.

Birthdays This Week
May 22 Helen Heethuis
Jacob St. Amour
May 23 Jim Bultema
Kelli Brazley
Eleanor Kroese
May 25 Sue Petersen
Kara Westra
May 26 Ken Medema
Freddie Rottman
May 27 Joyce DeYoung
Geraldine Langeland
Martin Sytsema

Birthdays Next Week
May 29 Erika Hall
May 30 Dr. Ken VanHemert
May 31 Les Stevens
Kevin Hepler
June 1 Bryant Westra
Pat Palmer
Heath Patton

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 May 29
Greeters: Don & Ardi Pranger/Art & Patty Brown, Nelson & Pat Gould
Ushers: Jim Dephouse, Mike Gordon, Bob Heethuis, Dale Palmer
Coffee Fellowship: Catherine Butterfield, Cyndy Johnson
Transparency: Joe Buthker
Reader: Joan Workman
Lectionary: Deut. 11:18-21, 26-28; Ps. 31:1-5, 19-24; Rom. 1: 16-17; 3:22b-28;
Matt. 7:21-29
Offering Opportunities: General Fund and
Nursery Today: Ilene Rosales, Betty Gould, Misty Patton
Nursery for May 29: Mary Abbott, Carol Patton, Jesse Patton

Enhancing Summer
Fellowship
Everyone loves cookies and everyone loves enjoying warm summer days! The
Fellowship Committee would like to enhance our summer fellowship by having
homemade treats served outdoors (weather permitting). If you are willing to
take a turn to provide 6-7 dozen cookies on a Sunday, please sign up in the
Fellowship Hall. We will do this as many Sundays this summer (June - August) as
we have cookies. Thank you!!

Women's Softball News
Next practice is May 23 at 6:00 PM, at Beukema field. Newcomers are welcome.
Any questions, call Pat Miller (777-1715).

We Appreciate You!
Thanks to all of you who came out to the Youth Business Simulation Game! We
appreciate your time. If anyone is interested in helping out with The Youth
Entrepreneurship Program, please let Michael Jackson or Sarah Rinsema-Sybenga
know.

Pantry Needs
Please help us fill the shelves with cereal, oatmeal, pancake flour and syrup,
fruit, pork & beans, toothpaste, deodorant and bar soap. Thank you again for
your support.

Special Birthday Honors for Those 80 and Over
Geraldine Langeland will be celebrating her 82nd birthday on May 27, 2005.
Two of our shut-ins will also be celebrating birthdays. Let?s remember them
with cards or visits. They are Eleanor Kroese and Ken Medema. Eleanor will be
66 on May 23, 2005. Ken Medema will be 73 on May 26, 2005. Their addresses are:
Eleanor Kroese
McAuley Place, Rm. 613
1380 E. Sherman Blvd.
Muskegon, MI 49444

Ken Medema
HHCC Knollview
1061 W. Hackley Ave,
Muskegon, MI 49441
May God bless everyone of you on your special day!

Unity 2005
Make plans now to attend the best Christian music festival in the USA, right in
our back yard, on Aug. 11-13. Headline acts this year are Avalon on 8/11,
Jeremy Camp and tobyMac on 8/12, and Steven Curtis Chapman on 8/13. Advanced
tickets are cheaper if you order through the church: $25 for one day, $35 for
two days, $50 for all three days. Family passes are ONLY available through the
church (good for parents and children under 18) at $120 for two days and $150
for three. Sign up with Gail Hall in the Fellowship Hall, or call her at church
or home (759-9012). Checks should be made out to Alive on the Lakeshore.

Loyalty Drive
Today is the fourth week of Bethany Christian Education Society?s Annual
Loyalty Drive. We want to thank the contributors for $1,536.00 given to the
schools this past week.We have set a goal to raise $5,000 by the end of May to
help Bethany?s children attend Muskegon Christian School and Western Michigan
Christian High. Additional envelopes are available in baskets on tables at the
back of church.
If you are considering a Christian education for your children, call Art Brown
(616-846-3165) or Marva Spitters (739-7684).

Lost & Found
Items unclaimed are: 2 men's coats. One is a large black Eddie Banco spring
jacket. One is a gray all weather coat with a black fuzzy removable lining.
We also have a green striped "Faine" apron, a pair of black leather palm
gloves, a white stocking cap, a black Nike swish stocking cap, and a brown
glasses case. All of these items will be donated if not claimed in May.

Summer Office Hours
Beginning May 31, the summer office hours at Bethany Church will be 9:00 AM -
2:30 PM, Monday through Thursday. These hours will continue till Sept. 6. (Day
after Labor Day)

Position Open
Coordinator for small non-profit agency, 3 days per week. Looking for
self-motivated individual with associate degree and/or non-profit experience,
good communication and computer skills. Send resume by May 30th to Personnel
Committee, P.O. Box 4115, Muskegon, MI 49444.

New Opportunity for Kids with Special Needs
Camp Roger, a Christian camp near Rockford, MI, seeks to enrich the outdoor
experience for all by introducing a pilot program for inclusion of young people
with special needs into their Summer Camp program. Limited openings are
available this summer for children with special needs between the ages of 7 and
13. Registration materials may be obtained from Camp Roger (616-874-7286) or
through the Christian Learning Center (616-245-8388).

Love INC Supported
Garno's next to Wal-Mart will donate 10% of your purchase when you use the
coupons available that have been designed for Love INC. Coupons are on table at
bottom of stairs in Fellowship Hall.