On Sunday, July 4th, Bethany UMC welcomes our new pastor, Rev. Patricia Cleary! Pastor Pat comes from Greenock UMC near Pittsburgh, and we look forward to sharing in ministry with her!

We had such an AWESOME experience at our Saturday night Praise services, we can't wait to keep them coming in the new year! Join us on Saturday, July 31st at 6 pm for a special presentation and the return of Calvary Cross! (See story below). We started this new Saturday night praise service last year as a way to reach out to new people who want something different than our typical Sunday morning service (as great as that one is!). If you are interested in a more informal, praise-oriented worship service, come and join us on July 31st!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS ALMOST HERE!

Bethany UMC's Vacation Bible School program is open to all kids ages 4-12! Our fun, community VBS program is all about Close Encounters with God, using a space theme, and begins on Monday, July 12th and continues through Friday, July 16th. We meet from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, and have a wonderful time with crafts, snacks, and learning about the Bible! Sign up at our Community Day Festival on Saturday, June 5th, or call the church office to register!

We are Calvary Cross, a diverse contemporary worship band which believes in exalting Jesus and helping others to worship in spirit and truth. We cover contemporary tunes often played on KLove (105.7 FM) and we are looking forward to playing some originals in the near future. We play a mix of folk, soft rock, rock, and country pop. Our band includes (in alphabetical order):

1. Tim Duffy -- Bass/backup vocals
2. Nick Miller -- Lead vocals
3. Jena Tully -- Piano/keyboard/backup vocals
4. Craig McKenry -- Drums/backup vocals
5. Chuck Rager -- Lead guitar
6. Dawn Rager -- Keyboard/backup vocals

Recently, Bethany UMC welcomed 8 new members who have completed the membership class and are becoming members of our church! We will also be celebrating a baptism and Holy Communion, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall to welcome the new members. Come and be a part of what God is doing at Bethany UM Church!

Check out a new web opportunity on our facebook page! Post your thoughts, see the pictures, and share in the discussions on facebook! Just find me (search for Jeff Vanderhoff) and add me as a friend on your facebook page, and I can link you up with the Bethany UM Church page!

"...perhaps we are not meant to, and never can, 'make sense' of evil; the very essence of evil is the negation of all goodness - and 'sense' is a good thing. In the end, evil does not and cannot 'make sense'" -Christopher Wright, The God I Don't Understand

"Fear is the most powerful of all thoughts with one exception, and that one exception is faith. Faith is the one thing against which fear cannot stand. Day by day, as you fill your mind with faith, there will ultimately be no room left for fear. This is the one great fact that no one should forget: Master faith and you automatically master fear." -Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking