On May 11 our state celebrates it sesquicentennial in a special way. At 3:30 p.m. church bells across the state of Minnesota will ring in thanksgiving and prayer. You are invited to join Rick and Joan Phillips for a few moments of prayer and the ringing of our church bell at 3:30 that afternoon.

Beginning June 8, 2008, First Place will be shipping new materials to its groups. Wouldn’t you like to be first on the new food plan and program? This first group will start in July; date not set. Then, on September 26, some of our group will travel to Racine, WI., for a seminar. The on the 27th the seminar will begin with breakfast at Grace Church. The cost for the day is $25 which includes 2 meals. We will be sharing motel rooms. Won’t you join us for a retreat from daily life and a great opportunity to hear from national leaders how First Place 4 Health can be just what Christ wants for you. If interested call Marilyn Bradbury soon, 289-2328.

Marion Gabel has learned to make delightful angels from old hymnals and she is willing to teach us how. If you are willing to work on this project, please let Marion or Sue Boyson know. The anniversary committee would like them ready to sell at our 50th celebration October 12, 2008. Sue has an example in her office for everyone to see.

Did you know every year, the General Board of Church and Society gives individuals and organizations more than $50,000 in Peace with Justice grants? Funds are used to speak up for those who struggle, to provide education on peace and justice issues, and to take a stand for fairness and equality. On May 18 Bethany will be observing Peace with Justice Sunday.

We will have an opportunity to reach out and help as we take an offering. Where does the money go? Low-income immigrants in Dallas receive legal counsel. A church ministry in Tennessee helps youth reconcile with their families. Child soldiers in Liberia are rehabilitated. The “Lost of Boys of Sudan” reunite in Virginia. A Tacoma, Washington, congregation hosts an anti-poverty summit. Oklahoma fifth and sixth graders learn ways to resolve conflict without using violence. The list goes on. Fifty percent of the Peace with Justice offering stays in Minnesota for peacemaking ministries and programs. The other fifty percent goes to projects in the United States and around the world.

It is our chance to walk the talk; to put our money where our faith is; to transform good intentions into action. Please do all you can to help the United Methodist Church work for peace and justice in Christ’s name.

Following a fellowship dinner last Wednesday, May 7, Bethany convened a church conference with nearly a hundred voting members. After considering the concurrent worship proposal, a single service alternative and various time frames, the church conference voted to retain the current schedule. Although the church conference did not request the appointment of Rick Phillips as associate pastor at this time, it expressed with an ovation, appreciation for his words and work among us.

Children’s Ministry is transforming into Family Ministry. Come and learn more about this transformation and how you can be a part of a fabulous opportunity on Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. We strongly encourage you to join us especially if you have children and/or youth. We want to hear your ideas and thoughts on this new and improved ministry.

The next UMW regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bethany Room. The speaker for this meeting will be Jan Vetter from Lutheran Social Services. This is the organization that we go through when we donate dinners for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the summer picnic. If you would be willing to hostess that evening, please call Sylvia Fishel or Jill Anderson.

Sunday, May 11 is Mother’s Day and Pentecost Sunday. It will be a Sunday of celebration. Mothers will be honored for the blessings they receive from God and freely give away. Pentecost is celebrated by using the color RED to represent the power of the Holy Spirit. Help our sanctuary come alive in praises.

If you have completed your ministry forms, you can place them in the box labeled Ministry Sheets on the Welcome Center or place them in the offering plate. There are blank forms next to the box if you need one. Every member is a vital part of the body of our church and is important in its work here. Please take the time to consider how you can serve.

Copier – Completely funded! Exit Signs – Completely funded! Fire Alarm System – 7.7 of 18 detectors left to be funded at $473 each ($3626.03) General Fund Deficit Reduction – See the May Banner Thank you for your generosity! Please be sure to designate (on your check or offering envelope) which special project your donation is targeting.

The May offering will be given to the Minnesota Annual Conference Love Offering. This offering highlights missions around world.

You can bring your used inkjet and toner cartridges to the library to recycle. If you’re going into the library, you can deposit your empty cartridges in the plastic bin just to the right of the main doors on first floor. If you would rather drive up, you can take them to the drive up areas behind the library (on 1st Avenue SE) and drop them in the clear plastic bin to the left of the bookmobile garage door (next to the blue bin for Friends bookstore donations).

Bethany will be celebrating its anniversary in October and the committee has been meeting to plan the events. If you have any historical pictures or mementos that you would be willing to share, there is a box in the back room of the church office where you can drop off your donations.

In order for our prayer life to be complete, it is important that we do not overlook prayers of praise and thanksgiving.

Often, it seems, our prayers focus on asking God to meet our wants and needs. Certainly this is an important and necessary part of our spiritual relationship with God, but maybe we should also consider prayers of praise and thanksgiving as part of our prayer life.

To encourage a fuller prayer life we are providing a bulletin board outside the pastor’s office for your use in sharing these prayers of joy. Posted prayers can be signed or unsigned. You may use the cards attached to the bulletin board or you can email your Praise Prayers to Sue at music@bethanyum.com and she will post them.

“I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders, I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2

We are looking for a new Nursery Coordinator, so if you are interested, please contact Kelly Ness.

Imagine us reading through the New Testament together! Five chapters a week is all it takes. Let’s do it! This past week was Acts 2-6. This week is Acts 7-11. Also join us in using The Transformation Prayer Guide: Come, Lord Jesus. Today begins Week #20 on page 26.

We are requesting diapers sizes 4, 5 and 6 for the Crisis Nursery.

Anna Dingfelder recovering from shoulder surgery;Rudy Biaggio recovering from back surgery; John Clark recovering from recent surgery at the Charter House; Tom Englund; Mickie Stelck and Lawrence Zebaugh suffering difficult and chronic health concerns; our development as disciples of Jesus Christ who go and bring people to faith and freedom in Jesus Christ and for the multiplication of His church.

There is now a new way to cut and save the Campbell’s soup labels. The front label is no longer accepted. We need to save the UPC label and the Labels for Education symbol (all in one piece). If you have questions, check out the UMW bulletin board or just turn in the entire label, making sure the UPC and the education symbol are in one piece. We could use a person to trim and mail the labels to the mission projects. For now, please contact Jill Anderson at 271-1466.

In the interest of building security and safety the following guidelines will apply. During evening meetings, gatherings, and choir practice all exterior doors are to be locked. The individual in charge of the group or gathering will be in charge of securing the building when leaving. All secure office doors are to be locked unless occupied by the person to whom the office is assigned.

If something needs repair, please leave a note with particulars and your name in the church office or the Trustees mailbox. If it is an emergency, please call a Trustee.

While the men’s group is financing the food for this project and the women’s group supplies the paper products, we as a church are asked to serve one another. This is just one way to serve. I welcome your service and ask God to bless the activities of preparation each Sunday as we greet each other in fellowship over coffee and treats. Please consider being a part of this team by contacting Linda Arthur at 206-0054.

Copies of the Sunday sermons are available on cassette tape and can be signed out in the church office.

Visit www.prayrochester.com. Join Christians of many denominations who gather in homes and churches to cover Rochester night and day in prayer and worship! These united efforts are scheduled on Prayrochester.com! In addition, a team from Pray Rochester worships and prays on behalf of Rochester and its pastors weekly: Fridays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 am; and the third Thursday of each month from 11:30 am to 1 pm (during Rochester’s Evangelical Pastors' Fellowship meetings). Extended worship and prayer for the city occur Thursday evenings: 8:30 to 10 p.m.; and Saturdays: 7:45 to 9:15 p.m. People with a heart for this work are invited to join them. Call Greg and Deborah McIntire at 280-1948.

There is also the opportunity of giving stock to Bethany as a special gift in support of the building fund or as a memorial or for any other reason. This may also be advantageous for you in tax planning. There is an account set up for this at Bethany and it is a fairly simple procedure. If you have any questions or would like help in taking advantage of this plan, please talk to Denny Butterbaugh at 289-8898.

Did you know that you can give to Bethany through Electronic Funds Transfer? Some people find that this option helps them to be faithful in their stewardship of their resources. Using this allows you to set the amount you would like to give weekly or monthly and it is automatically transferred. No more envelopes to fill out each week. You can change or cancel at anytime.

The Sunday School is providing children’s activity bags for use during the worship service. These are available by the table in the narthex each Sunday. Each bag contains a sticker activity, coloring book, and activity book. Please feel free to have your children use these during the service and return the bag to the rack after the service. Children are free to take home the pictures they have created.

Large print Bibles and bulletins are available for your use during the service. Please ask an usher for assistance.

If you know of a college student that would like to receive their own copy of the Bethany Banner newsletter each month, please give their name and address to either Ed Fishel or leave the names in the church office for Marilyn.