True Fast: A Week of Serving

“Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke…” Is. 58:6

If you are like most people, fasting can seem a daunting proposition. No one likes to go without food, and why should we anyway? Many claim that fasting “gets God’s attention” as if He stopped caring because you were eating. Really, fasting is more for our benefit than for God’s. It reminds us that we should be relying on God all the time. But if you abstain from eating thinking that God will be obligated to answer your prayer, you are in for a big surprise. Fasting is about having a right heart before God and if you don’t have a right heart, it doesn’t matter how long you go without pizza, it won’t make a bit of difference.

TrueFast is about making sure that your heart is right before God. It is about making sure that your heart is True. TrueFast does not mean that abstaining from food is a “FalseFast,” it simply means that abstaining from food while treating others with contempt is a “FalseFast” and gives false hope for answers to prayer. We want to make certain that our hearts are in the right place. If we want God to work through us and help us, we have to make sure that our hearts are aligned with His, that they are True.

Join us March 29, 30, and April 1 as we make sure our hearts are True by foregoing some of our normal evening activities to help those in need.

“…then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.”

(For more information, e-mail Pastor Stephen Thee at sthee@bethany-ag.org or come to our Saturday evening Contemporary Service and find out for yourself.)

Bake Sale for Clean Water

Our Third-grade Sunday School class has taken on the challenge of raising funds for a “KHLORGEN 3000” water purification system. Many children and adults around the world suffer from diseases due to a lack of clean drinking water, something that we take for granted. This system will be placed in an orphanage in Tanzania. The orphanage feeds 2,000 meals per day to street children. The cost of the system is approximately $250. Our Sunday School children are making a difference! They are willing to tackle hard things for God. They will be having a BAKE SALE in the gymnasium between services next Sunday, March 14. Please support their efforts. You will enjoy their tasty treats and many orphans in Tanzania will enjoy clean water!

Easter Egg Hunt

Can you believe it? In less than one month Easter will be here! Saturday, April 3 (the day before Easter), we have scheduled our annual Easter Egg Hunt, with an opportunity to minister to hundreds of children. Please be praying for this event and for the TNT Puppet Team as they prepare their message. Also, volunteers and prizes are needed. God has blessed us with candy, but we do give away over 100 prizes and your help would be very much appreciated in this area. There are Easter Crosses on the white lattice in the main foyer with suggestions for prizes that you could donate. You can have a part in sharing the Good News of the eternal prize of everlasting life through faith in our “Risen  Savior.”

Easter Set Construction

The massive Easter set is scheduled to  be constructed Monday, March 15, 8:30am in preparation for Bethany’s 2010 presentation of Golgotha on Palm Sunday weekend. We need ten to fifteen men to help with this project; lunch will be provided.  If you can help (even part of the day), please see Pastor Ken so an accurate lunch count can be obtained.  The platform will be cleared after the Sunday evening service, March 14, in anticipation of the Monday work day; any and all help will be appreciated at that time as well.

Actors Needed for Easter Productions

We are in need of actors to help with Bethany’s Golgotha Easter drama—specifically men for disciples, soldiers, and other characters. There are a few parts for women as well. No children, please. Most parts are non-speaking. We are also in need of men for the Good Friday Living Lord’s Supper, a live reenactment of DaVinci’s painting. Most of these are speaking parts. If you desire to participate in either drama, please sign up at the Hospitality Counter. You will be contacted by phone for auditions and practice schedules.

Lead/Host a Fusion Forum Home Group

Special informational meetings for potential Fusion Forum leaders and/or hosts will be held on Sunday, March 7th following the 2nd service in Room 101 and on Saturday, March 13th following the Contemporary service in the choir room. Bethany’s small home groups for adults and young adults, called Fusion Forums, will be highlighted by coordinators Chuck & Caryl Schivley. Come hear first hand from some of our current leaders what God is doing in and through Fusion Forums.

Hope Totes

Please help the Springfield Rescue Mission this Easter by filling a Hope Tote for a homeless man, woman or child.

Items needed:

• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Soap/Body Wash
• Shampoo
• Deodorant
• Lip Balm
• Socks
• Underwear
• Hair Brush & Comb
• Tissues
• Shoelaces
• Hand or body lotion
• Shaving cream
• Disposable razors.

The Totes (bags) are available at the Hospitality Counter. Please return them by March 24.

Love Center Needs

The Love Center has a need for children’s and adult’s clothing as well as various household items. You may drop these items off during the week (church business hours) or before any scheduled service.

Scholarships Needed for Youth Retreat

Revolution Youth Group’s Winter Retreat is always one of the highlights of the year, but unfortunately, several students miss out every year because they can’t afford it. This is your opportunity to invest in the life of some of our teenagers. If you would like to sponsor a student, the total cost is $135.00. Partial scholarship funds will also be very much appreciated. Make your checks out to “Bethany Assembly of God” and be sure to specify “Retreat Scholarship” on the check and/or on the offering envelope.

Video Director Needed

We are much in need of a Supervisor/Director for the Video Ministry to recruit and train video personnel and to provide oversight to this ministry.  If you have the needed skills in camera function/operation, video lighting, video capture/directing, and team building, WE NEED YOU!  This vital ministry provides DVD’s of our services as well as “live streaming” over the internet.  If you feel this is for you, please contact Pastor Ken for more information.

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