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:

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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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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: sueallen@bethany-presbyterian.org

Fax: 724-662-1080

Web: www.bethany-presbyterian.org

BETHANY PRESBYT ERIAN CHURCH

100 W. VENANGO ST .

MERCER, PA 16137