There are Prayer Shields available in the Narthex for anyone who wishes to join in daily prayer for our Bethany family members.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry would like to remind everyone that shawls are available to anyone. It doesn’t have to be a member of our church and it doesn’t have to be someone who is sick. It can be anyone that could use a hug from God for any reason, even someone in another state.

Join Pastor Wes in the Bethany room for the first of four 45-minute seminars entitled: Rethink Your Life – a Study of the Book of Acts. You will discover from the Bible truths that will help you rethink your activities, experiences and agenda as a believer in Jesus. The schedule follows: • 9:45 a.m. August 15: Acts 8-14 • 9:45 a.m. August 29: Acts 15-21 • 9:45 a.m. September 5 Acts 22-28

For the month of August the Missions committee has chosen the New Horizon Methodist School of Paraguay. This school is located in an area of the world that is rife with violence and crime. There is little regard for the poor and underserved. A group of Paraguayan Methodist believers prayed for a school for their children. New Horizon has an anonymous donor who is willing to match all donations up to $50,000 until June 1, 2011. So your donations could be doubled. Also it is reassuring to know that since this is an advance special that 100% of the funds will go to the school.

The school offers a Christian education to more than 520 children. The children are also provided with a curriculum rich in arts, recreation, and well as their Christian Education. The hope for the future is that these children will grow up and lead Paraguay in a more Christian path. Won't you help and donate to this worthy cause?

We are asking everyone to stop for a minute every day at noon and pray for our church ministries and provisions. Along with that, we ask that anyone who is able, to fast one meal a week for our church ministries and provisions. There is a tear off slip on the back of the bulletin for you to display in your home as a reminder.

You can bring your used inkjet and toner cartridges to the Rochester Public Library for recycling. 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 the 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).

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

Imagine us reading through the New Testament together! Five chapters a week is all it takes. Please join us and pick up a schedule for the weekly readings at the Welcome Center. There are two layouts to choose from. This past week was 1 Corinthians 12:12 – 2 Corinthians 1:11. This week is 2 Corinthians 1:12 – 2 Corinthians 5:10. Also join us in using the Transformation Prayer Guide: Come, Lord Jesus, which is also available at the Welcome Center. Today begins week #31 on page 38.

Gerry Rindels, Pearl Hulsebus, Gene Hall, and John Clark all recovering from surgery; Marilyn Bradbury recovering at home; Luke Knopp (Cathy Knopp's baby grandson); Mickie Stelck and Lawrence Zebaugh suffering difficult and chronic health concerns; our international missionaries: Terry & Muriel Henderson; church family members seeking employment; the use of our prayer center and the development of 24/7 prayer in Rochester; the ministries of Iglesia de Dios and Christway Church who share our building in worship and the spiritual transformation of the Rochester region.

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 also collect and send in the Boxtops for Education.

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 Denny Butterbaugh at 289-8898.

Copies of the Sunday sermons are available on CD call the church office to make arrangements to get one.

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 Marilyn Collins at 356-4433.

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 Sara.