Bethany Community Church

To the Bethany Family,

Greetings in the name of Christ. I shared just a few weeks ago how grateful I am to the Lord for the privilege of playing a role in the Bethany community. This past week demonstrated, once again, why this is so. When the earthquake struck Haiti, I let you know that we intended to take an offering on January 24th. I asked you to pray and give sacrificially. Our staff carefully and prayerfully considered various options for channeling relief dollars, and decided on giving to World Vision’s relief and long-term support fund. We chose them because of their long time presence in Haiti, low administrative overhead, and the fact that a grant would multiply our gift threefold.

You responded remarkably-giving over $87,000-which, due to the 3:1 matching program, translates into $348,000 to help with the rebuilding efforts of Haiti. Never have I been more proud of our community. This generous outpouring contributes directly to our mission of becoming a visible expression of Christ by “inviting people to God, to community, and to wholeness.” Food, shelter, clean water, public health infrastructures, and education all contribute to the goal of wholeness. Please pray with me for the distribution of these funds, and for Haiti, that the spirit of God would be poured out on that nation so that what comes out of this day of distress will be a new Haiti, better able to serve its own people.

In less than 12 months, we’ve been privileged to contribute $217,000 to serving the neediest in our world in both Haiti and Uganda. Thank you again for your generosity! And if you missed the Haiti offering this past Sunday, there’s still time to give. You can make your check out to Bethany Community Church—make sure to designate “Haiti” on the memo line—and we’ll pass it on to the World Vision fund.

Yours in His Service,

Richard Dahlstrom
Senior Pastor

Teacher: Pastor Richard Dahlstrom, January 24, 2010.

Discussion Questions:
Nancy Eckardt

1. How would you describe your heritage?  What influence did Christianity have on your formation as a child?

2. During the time of Abraham, the community of God was reflective of his character, causing surrounding communities to acknowledge Him as the one true God.  Yet, by the time we get to the book of Isaiah, the opposite is true.  How is the character of God seen in the Bethany community?  How do you contribute to that?

3. Richard reminded us that as believer’s, we are blessed to be a blessing.  What does that look like to you?

4. Can you think of a time when you have set a standard for righteousness that was based on your own sense of righteousness rather than God’s?  How did you overcome this?

5. Can you think of a time when you have been criticized for not maintaining an artificial, human-based standard of righteousness?  What impact has this had on you?

6. When our knowledge or moral high ground becomes the thing we place our trust in, we lose our capacity for intimacy with Christ.  What might be a barrier to intimacy with Christ for you?

7. Can you think of a time when you have reached a point of saying, “I can’t go on; will you carry me?”  Can you think of an area of  your life right now that is beyond your ability to manage?  What keeps you from surrendering to God?

Greetings;

I’d like to express my appreciation for the many good suggestions about how the Bethany community can best demonstrate the love of Christ in the midst of the catastrophe in Haiti. After prayerful consideration, we have determined that the special offering Bethany receives this Sunday will go to World Vision’s “Relief and Long Term Support” fund, which will help with both the overwhelming immediate needs, as well as invest in the vital infrastructure issues that will enable Haiti to come out of this stronger than before.

World Vision’s credibility, long-term presence, and low overhead were all contributing factors. In addition, I’m excited to let you know that every dollar you give will be matched, through a grant, by three more dollars. That means your $100 investment will be worth $400!

We’ve been advised to wait until things settle before planning any trips to Haiti, so will remain open to such in the future, but mindful that the present situation is such that this acute phase is best served by our prayers and dollars. Several of Paul’s letters included specific exhortations and instructions regarding offerings, always appealing to those with means to share with those without. In this case, few have more means than many of us (though I’m painfully aware that there are those inside our community facing the pains of unemployment), and none have less means than the Haitian people.

I hope you’ll join me in giving sacrificially as we receive this special offering, and pray that, as God is well capable of doing, light will shine into the darkness, bringing hope and blessing to that land. If you missed Sunday, you are more than welcome to send in a check with “Haiti Special Offering” in the memo up until Sunday, January 31st.

Yours in His Service,

Richard Dahlstrom

Senior Pastor

Teacher:  Pastor Richard Dahlstrom, Januray 17, 2010.

Discussion Questions:
Nancy Eckardt

The wrong diagnosis leads to the wrong treatment.

1. Can you think of a time when you or a loved one was wrongly diagnosed?  What happened?

2. Why are you not ashamed of the gospel?  Or, positively, why do you have full confidence in the gospel?

3. God accepts us where we are and is committed to our transformation.  How have you seen this in your life?

4. What in nature draws you to God?  How do you respond?

5. Can you think of an example from your own life when the sense of natural law has kicked in?  To what did you appeal in your outrage?

6. We are wired to suppress the truth by running from intimacy.  What does that look like in your experience?

7. Richard said that the biggest dysfunction is our own inability to evaluate our own dysfunction.  Christ referred to it as the “log” in our eye.  How do you respond to that?

8. The result of God’s treatment for our own dysfunction is a change of nature, abounding grace, and the ability to replace our dysfunctional nature with one of hospitality, grace, generosity, and hope.  Where have you seen the transformation of God in your life?  Where do you need to see his transformation?

“This picture is from a Spilling Hope funded water project site we visited today outside of the town Ntugamo.  ”Health and Hygiene” training started with a dance to get warmed up.   Limited internet here and attaching 1 photo took a while so this is all for now.”

-”Wolt” Wolters
Spilling Hope Project Coordinator

“Wanted to send a quick note to say that we are here safe.  Met some incredibly nice people and I am super impressed by the Living Water International team.   Staying at a hotel tonight and then at the LWI compound for a few nights before heading back to Kampala. Starting to get some good photos/footage… will let you know more about that soon… or when we get back.”

-Andrea Moon
Spilling Hope Visual Media

Happy New Year!

An extended stay in Europe this past month has reminded me of two things. The first is that Bethany Community Church, though we are completely independent, stands in a rich tradition of carrying the torch of Christ’s testimony. We’re part of God’s global story, which transcends both geography and generations. Though we may feel alone at times, we are connected to a story much bigger than what God is doing here in Seattle, and there are those praying for us around the world, even as we pray for God’s work elsewhere.

Also, as I stood in a pulpit in Austria and thought about all that had happened in history since that pulpit was built, I was reminded that we carry the testimony, each of us, for but a few brief decades. The brevity makes each day, month, and year a privilege. I hope and pray that we’ll be found faithful, both individually and collectively. Towards that end, I’ve asked the staff of Bethany to begin the new year by submitting prayer requests related to their various areas of ministry, so that you might know how best to pray for us.

Thanks, in advance, for your ministry of intercession. The Scriptures surely teach us that God desires our asking, seeking, and knocking, and that He responds. I look forward to seeing what God does in the coming year, as we seek Him, and ask for His guidance, provision, and annointing, throughout our church community.

Pray for the spiritual well being of our staff, church council, and their families. This is, of course, of paramount importance; without it, everything else we might do will be nothing but a sham. Ask that God would continue to teach us how to love Him, and other people, in increasing measure, to the end that we might increasingly make Christ’s life visible to each other and to our world.

Pray for our community as we spend time this year inviting people to a more intentional path of discipleship. I’ll be talking about this more in the coming weeks, but please pray that God would put it on the hearts of many in the Bethany family to take the next step in the growth in Christ by declaring their intent to follow Jesus in specific ways in the areas of Prayer, Bible Reading, Service, and Generosity. This specific discipleship path is called a RULE OF LIFE here at Bethany.

Richard

SMALL GROUPS
Pray that God will continue to raise up couples/individuals who have a heart to be trained for leading new small groups. Also, pray for a community of people who will help surround the Small Group ministry with their prayers, talents, and time. Most importantly, continue to pray for people to be growing in their relationships with Christ, and each other, as they seek Jesus in the context of smaller communities.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
Pray that God would bring us the right fit for the next Children’s Ministry Pastor/Director and that we would be patient with God’s timing during this process. For the Children’s Ministry staff, that we would continue to love and build into the kids God brings through our doors.

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE
Pray for wisdom for the Stephen Ministry leadership team, as they begin to recruit a new class of Stephen ministers to care for our community. For wisdom in stewarding our resources, that Bethany would continue to be a place of support during tough economic times.

DISCIPLESHIP & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Please pray that we will each develop the practices of prayer, Scripture reading, generosity, and service into our lives this year, not as an end in themselves, but as a context for God to transform us and draw us to himself. Pray that we will identify and develop leaders who will walk alongside the staff in carrying out the work that God wants to do through Bethany in the Seattle area.

WORSHIP & ARTS
Pray that the Lord would hand-select a replacement for the position of
Director of Worship and Arts here at Bethany, and for the search committee to be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit during this process.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Please pray that the women of Bethany will participate in the studies being offered this upcoming quarter, and that through these studies, they will know Christ in a deeper way, experience connections with the women they worship with, and be motivated to serve Him. Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill the leaders with wisdom and instruction as they lead. And finally, please pray that Women’s Ministries will find volunteers to help with the various jobs that keep the ministry running.

MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL MINISTRIES
“Reaching the unreached student in new and creative ways”—this is our prayer for 2010. Our heart is to see hundreds of teenagers in our city get connected with Jesus and Veritas, baptized, and equipped in their faith. We have over 30 amazing youth staff who give their time, talents, and hearts; your prayers for them would be truly coveted. Our students each day walk on to campuses with the opportunity to be salt and light—please pray for them to have the courage and wisdom to live for Jesus.

COLLEGE & POST-COLLEGE/EARLY CAREER
College: Pray that during this time in their lives, students would find a safe place and a home at Bethany, where they can ask questions and be challenged in both their thought process and their faith.
Post-College/Early Career: Pray that Bethany would be a place for people to connect with other believers and grow toward intimacy with Christ. Specifically pray for the upcoming Winter Retreat, that there will be space for people to take the next step with God, whatever that looks like for them.

OFFICE STAFF
Wisdom stewarding and prioitizing the church’s facility and office resources.

Teacher:  Pastor Richard Dahlstrom, January 10, 2010.

Today, as we begin the book of Romans, we come to discover that Paul’s introduction is earth-shattering. It lays down the gauntlet, challenging conventional notions of power in the world. In doing so, it also reframes the meaning of the gospel to include far more than a ticket to heaven and personal transformation.

Discussion Questions:
Nancy Eckardt

1. Can you think of a time when you received some good news? What was it? How did it affect you? How long did the ramifications of the good news last?

2. Richard outlined Paul’s purpose in writing the letter to the Romans as well. How does Paul’s desire to continue to Spain relate to Acts 1:8?

3. Can you think of a time when your allegiance to Christ has put you in an awkward position? What is risky about being a Christian in your community?

4. Read Romans 1:5, 6. How does relate to John’s vision in Revelation 7:9, 10. How does this open up your understanding of the Christian faith?

5. Read Romans 1:16, 17. What do you think Paul means by “not ashamed’? How would you reword his assertion to be a positive statement? How does sound in light of the context of living under Caesar’s rule? How is this attitude risky in your own context?

6. What challenges your allegiance to Christ as King? What areas of your life are threatened by his kingship?

7. What would living more recklessly look like to you?

8. How is Lordship different than Kingship? How do you see the Lordship of Christ reflected in someone close to you? In your own life?

Nancy Eckardt, Director of Discipleship and Leadership Development

Every morning at 8:39am, my watch alarm goes off. At one time or another, just about everyone on staff has asked me what is magical about that hour, especially when I am sitting in a staff meeting or prayer time before a Sunday service. My answer: “If I was home right now and it was a school day, it would indicate to Cameron that it is time for him to get his coat and shoes on and head out the door for the bus.” With the knowledge that my watch is keeping time, we can both relax for those 20 or so minutes before school, knowing that one of us doesn’t have to keep our eye on the clock. And when play is interrupted, it is happily the watch’s fault, not the parent’s.

I have often thought that I should set more alarms on my watch, alarms to remind me to stop and pray. How else will I be shaken out of my routine and activities to be drawn back to the feet of Jesus, to remember the important practice of the “observing the divine hours,” in order to more deeply be the hands and feet of Christ to those in our world? As Phyllis Tickle describes it, “The divine hours allows our human awareness or mental focus to move back and forth on a daily basis and in a disciplined way from attending to the necessary bustle of each day of our lives to attending to the eternal timelessness and magnificence of divine life.”

As we begin to focus on the importance of spiritual disciplines to till the ground of our heart to receive God’s presence, we will discover quickly that these habits do not form out of our intentions, so much as out of our daily commitment to carrying out those intentions. The divine hours is one way to commit to the discipline of prayer throughout our day. This practice of setting aside time at fixed hours of the day for prayer goes way back to our Jewish roots. It was as they were on their way into the temple for prayers that Peter and John healed the lame man; it was during the afternoon prayers on Cornelius’ roof that Peter encountered a vision for the salvation of all, Jews and Gentiles alike. Over the years this same practice has taken on new forms in different contexts. In my late teens and early 20s, I would attend Compline service at St. Mark’s Cathedral, as some of you do now, and without realizing it, having grown up Conservative Baptist, would observe the divine hours.

With the start of Advent, I began observing the divine hours, using Tickle’s book, Christmastide: Prayers for Advent through Epiphany from the Divine Hours. To be honest, I have not set my watch, and while my morning prayers are nailed, the afternoon and evening prayers have not become habit yet. But it has been nice to find the cry of my heart and the hand of God in the words of the psalms.

These prayers can be done alone, but are also done in community. In fact when we do them in community, we are actually standing with the body of Christ, the universal church, across the world and the centuries, as one voice of worship and prayer to God. With this in mind, we invite you to join a group of us on Monday evenings at 6:20-6:45pm, beginning on January 18th, in the Sanctuary, as we practice the tradition of evening prayers. We will provide the format and the content. Together we will read aloud the scripture and the corporate prayers, as well as offer time for personal prayers of intercession. It will be a time to refresh and center our hearts after a busy day, and to join with others in prayer.

Teacher: Pastor Richard Dahlstrom

Sermon Discussion Questions:
Nancy Eckardt
1. In John 4, Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman, and the conversation turns toward worship.  Why do you think the Samaritan woman asked about worship?  What was she trying to avoid?  What might have her underlying question been about?

2. How do you experience Christ’s presence in worship on Sundays?  How do you see Christ as the presence of God during the week?

3. What gets in the way of your entering the presence of God on Sunday?  What about during the week?

4. How have you seen the character of Christ manifested in your life and experience this week?

5. Sacrifice of Another was demanded in order for us to be in relationship with God, because his character both infinite love and infinite justice. What thoughts or feelings do you have as you consider God as being infinitely loving and infinitely just?  How does this impact your understanding of yourself in relationship to God?  To others?

6. Read 1 John 1:9.  How much is confession a part of your life?  What would a habit of confession look like to you?

7. The table of bread represents to us the way that Christ’s fullness is the perfect match for our hunger.  What is your soul hungry for?

8. How does the light of God illuminate your perspective of life?

9. What aromas do you find pleasing?  Can you think of an aroma that brings back a special memory?  How do you experience God as a pleasing aroma?

10. Where are you on your way into the presence of God?  In what areas would you like to grow over the next few months?