Inside this issue:

Bethany News 2

Bethany Women 3

TTT Easter Bag

Pick-Up 4

Easter Poem 5

May Calendar 6

For all of our folks at Bethany,

It has been a great pleasure to get to know so many of you over the last weeks and

although we have been separated by a pandemic, we are still one in Christ. One of the

very unusual experiences of the last weeks has been preaching to myself alone in a

room with a camera. I have found that it is very difficult to make myself laugh even

though I think I am funny!!! I guess I will have to work on that.

Anyway, it has been a blessing to proclaim the Word of God that is alive and active even

if it is on video. And the Easter season has made sharing that message all the greater.

As I look ahead, I want to introduce someone who you have already met a few Sundays,

Dr. David Valentine. Dave has been a great friend for many years and is not only a

great theologian but a great communicator of God's Word as you have already seen.

Over the next months we are going to be preaching through the book of Joshua. It is a

profound book for many reasons but it provides God's people valuable lessons for how

God expects His people to live in times of transition. So we are entitling our series:

Joshua, God's Word for His People in Transition.

Obviously Bethany is in a time of transition, but our country and our world are in a

time of transition as well. So it would be good to hear how God spoke to the nation of

Israel and how He can speak to us today through this exciting book. So read ahead and

really study the book of Joshua and let's anticipate together how he will speak to us

through the words of the amazing man of God.

Bethany Road

Committee Meetings

Property May 5 at

6:30 p.m.

Deacons May 6 at

6:00 p.m.

Christian Ed. May

6 at 6:30 p.m.

Worship & Memo-

rials May 12 at 7:00

p.m.

Member Involve-

ment/Outreach

May 12 at 7:00 p.m.

SESSION May 28

at 7:00 p.m.

Bet han y Pr esb yt e r i an Chur ch

May 2020

Volume 17, Issue 5 From the Desk of Rev. Bob Stauffer

Easter Flowers are Presented by

Steve & Pat Amsler in memory of Helen Amsler Donna Bennington, Sara Jane & Bill Bramlett, Karen & Jim Bennington in memory of James

& Edna Bennington; Ted & Helen Irwin; Bill & Ruth Geiwitz; Gary & Susan Filer; Kenneth “Perk” Filer

The Lindsey family in memory of Eva Lindsey Jean Mellon & family in memory of Richard Mellon

Gary & LouAnn Swope family in memory of our grandmother, Ethel M. Neal Jack Thiess in memory of my parents John & Mary Thiess; my sister Mary Ellen Arrington;

my beloved uncle Lawrence Wiesen David R. Thompson & family in memory of our wife, mother, grandmother,

Shirley N. Thompson Rita Thompson in memory of Don Thompson, my beloved husband; in memory Harry & Olga

Guarnieri; in memory Dallas & Merle Mae Thompson

Easter Flowers are presented by the following in celebration of the

Risen Jesus

The Bennington family Mark & Amy Hayes

Bethany Road Page 2

Bethany News Computer Available at the Church - If you or anyone you know would like to view our online sermons but do not have access to a computer, you can now come into Bethany Church and watch the service. Just call the church and set up a time with Lois. You will be in a private room away from other people to be able to abide by social distancing. Loaves and Fishes - We are again reminding you that Loaves and Fishes can use some extra financial support during this time. They are no longer permitted to take food donations from the community and the need in our community is greater than ever. You can help by sending a donation to Loaves and Fishes, P.O. Box 636, Mercer, PA 16137. Photos of Your Family - We miss seeing your smiling faces. We would like to start our Sunday service with a few photos of our Bethany family. If you have a photo you would like included, please email it to Lois. Summer Events and Camp - The uncertainty of the pandemic has severely impacted all of the activities at Bethany. Unfortunately, we have had to make the decision to cancel VBS and the West Virginia mission trip. We will still do something to connect with children that those programs reached, but as of now we are not sure what that will be. However, Summer Camp at Wesley Woods has not been cancelled. We are still definitely planning on holding Camp and everyone involved is very excited. We are currently taking reservations and that information is available at the church and on our website. Communion - We have our Spring communion scheduled for May 17th. Again we are anticipating this service will be online. As we did for Maundy Thursday, we will make the communion elements available at the Welcome Center at the church. The week before the 17th you can stop by and pick up enough for your family. The service went very well on Maundy Thursday. Many people enjoyed it even though we could not meet together.

High School & College Graduates Please call the Church Office 724-662-4340 or email Lois if you have a child who is graduating from high school or college this spring. Thank You

EduNations 2020 Charitable Golf Tournament - Date Changed This golf tournament is sponsored by the Presbytery of the Alleghenies (our Presbytery) and is a fundraiser for the building of the first Senior Secondary School in Rokassa, Sierra Leone. These children have never had the opportunity to attend school past the 8th grade. All the money raised in the event will be used for completion of the school. Please note: the date for the tournament has been changed from June 8 to September 21. The tournament will be held at the Avalon Golf and Country Club in Hermitage. The date change will give you a little more time to practice for this great event.

Joshua Sermon Series - Please join us each Sunday morning for our online worship and Pastor Bob's sermon series on Joshua. Right Now Media has some great resources available to learn more about Joshua. They have been gathered under the Bethany tab on the Right Now Media website. If you don't know how to access Right Now Media, please call the church and we will help you.

Bethany Prayer Chain - We are very fortunate to have a great email prayer chain here at Bethany. If you have a prayer need, please do not hesitate to send the request to bethanyprays@yahoo.com. If you would like to receive the prayer requests, you can ask to be added to the recipient list by sending your email address to bethanyprays@yahoo.com. Soup for All - We have all missed the Lenten Lunches and the wonderful soups and sandwiches prepared by our great cooks here at Bethany. There is one last opportunity to enjoy Bev's vegetable beef soup. Bev and the Deacons will be preparing it this Friday (April 24th) and it will be available for takeout at the rear drive-through between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturday April 25th. Come early because when it's gone, it's gone!

Bethany Road Page 3

NEWS FROM THE BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN . . . JUST TO KEEP YOU POSTED. . . .

As you can see the following Bethany Women activities are postponed for the month of May. Stay tuned each

month for updates and new dates: My Ladies Bible Study, Spring Brunch

FROM THE HEARTS OF BETHANY WOMEN

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with

thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

As I have been thinking over the past month, I have tried to think of Biblical personalities who

exemplify faith over fear. Peter always comes to mind and has been the subject of many articles and

sermons, but my mind went to the well-known account of David verses Goliath. I love this passage

from I Samuel 17. This popular story involves an underdog (David) who overcomes great obstacles (Goliath) and

secures victory against all odds.

For just a little background we see Saul and the Israelites facing the Philistines each one on a hill with a valley

between them. For 40 days, twice a day—morning and evening, Goliath would come forward and challenge the

Israelites to send out one of their own to decide the outcome—one man verses one man—winner takes the loser as

his subjects. Saul, who as the leader should have stepped forward, but he and all the Israelites shook in their

shoes. (FEAR OVER FAITH) Why? Goliath was over nine foot tall and was heavily protected for battle. Do you

see why they were all terrified? Who appears into our Biblical account—the youngest son of Jesse who just

happened to go back and forth taking food for his brothers. David approaches Saul and offers to fight Goliath.

(FAITH OVER FEAR) Saul tries to discourage him by telling him you are only a boy and he is a seasoned

fighting man. Finally, Saul says, “Go, the Lord be with you.”

Saul tries to give David his battle attire only to find out David couldn’t move even when he tried

to walk. David takes his staff (as he was a shepherd), five smooth stones, and his sling. After

being insulted by Goliath, David ran quickly toward the battle line—can you just see it? A

teenager verses the nine foot veteran soldier. (FAITH OVER FEAR) David takes out one of his

five smooth stones and his sling and with one smooth stone hits Goliath in the forehead. The

mighty Goliath falls face first to the ground and David cuts off Goliath’s head with his

(Goliath’s) own sword.

You can legitimately ask, what life story can I learn from David and Goliath? David’s faith in God (see I Samuel

17:45-47) caused him to look at the giant from a different viewpoint than Saul or the rest of the Israelites. Goliath

was only a mortal man (yes, huge) but David’s faith in God was one where he, David, saw Goliath defying the

all-powerful God. (FAITH OVER FEAR)

Each of us needs to look at the giant problems or impossible situations in our own lives, including the coronavirus,

from God’s perspective—that OUR GOD will fight beside us and with us. David knew what action he had to take;

he knew what God required of him. He knew to identify and use the gifts God gave him and a miracle occurred.

(FAITH OVER FEAR) It can happen in your life just as it did in David’s.

Printed below is a prayer that can be found on the Dayspring web-site. It spoke to me; I hope it speaks to you.

Dear God,

You are so faithful, so generous, so gracious. Your gift of salvation can sometimes feel overwhelming

when I consider my own faithlessness, my own fallibility, my own foolishness. I can barely breathe

when I think that You created the heavens and earth but are also mindful of me. I can hardly believe

it when I think that You loved me so much that You paid the price of my sin. But, Lord, I do believe!

I believe and I am so thankful. I’m so thankful that You love me, so thankful that You didn’t leave me in my sin, so

thankful that You refuse to let anything come between us.

Forgive me, Lord, for all the times I’ve forgotten – about Your greatness, about Your grace, about You. Forgive me

for putting myself first, and thank You for being faithful to remind me, time and time again, of the plans You have

for me and the path You’ve laid for me. Thank You for giving me an example to follow in Jesus and Your Word as a

weapon to use when I face temptation. Thank You for forgiving me, again, when I stumble. And thank You for be-

ing so faithful to me when I fail, while never seeing me as a failure.

Sharing this message, from the hearts of all of the Bethany Presbyterian Women~~

Nancy Ollinger-Thiess, Moderator

Bethany Road Page 4

TTT Easter Bag Giveaway and Prayers, April 9, 2020

Because of the stay at home order, we unfortunately had to cancel some events here at Bethany Church for the

children. Totally Terrific Tuesday or TTT, our after-school program, was cancelled as well as the Backpack

Program, which hands out food weekly to children in need. But I’m here to tell you about an exciting event we had

at Bethany Church last week. On Thursday, April 9th, our church handed out Easter bags to the TTT families!

Each child received a bag of food from the Backpack program, a dozen plastic candy-filled eggs, and a bag filled

with crafts, coloring pages, and snacks. We served over 100 children and had almost 40 carloads of Mercer families!

After giving the bags to the kids (with our masks and gloves on, of course) each carload had an opportunity to pray

with an Elder. This event was a huge success! The kids were excited to see the colorful eggs and the other goodies

that they received. Many families took the eggs home and had an Easter egg hunt in their yards.

It was a blessing to send them off with love, prayer, and a hope of seeing them again soon. We are tentatively

planning another drive-up opportunity like this again for Mother’s Day to honor ALL women of Bethany Church,

Moms of TTT kids and a few other groups of Moms that our church supports. If you would like to be a part of our

next drive-through blessing, either with donations of items, money, or your time, please contact the Bethany

Church office, Pastor Bob Stauffer, or myself and we will gladly accept your help! These are interesting times and

we need to be thinking of how to reach out to our community in new and safe ways. Keep praying for these families,

for our Community of Mercer and for our world to become even closer to God in this time of social distancing.

God Bless! Laurie Ruhlman

Children on Easter Sunday enjoying the

TTT craft bags that were passed out.

Bethany Road Page 5

Prayer Focus National Day of Prayer - National Day of Prayer is Saturday May 2. Watch your email updates and Facebook for an online prayer event on that day. Friday Drive-Through Prayer - Because our Easter drive-through TTT prayer event was so well received we have decided to offer the community a weekly drive-through prayer opportunity. Starting Friday May 1st members of our prayer team will be waiting at the drive-through to pray with people in their cars between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Whatever your prayer need, we will be happy to pray with you and you won't even have to get out of your car.

The Night Before Easter

Twas the night before Easter, and all through the town

The Jews were all fasting, for the sun had gone down.

Their leaders were gleeful, as Jesus was dead

The disciples were mourning, as they went to bed.

Stranger than fiction, mysterious sight

A heavenly spirit came out of the night.

Focused His power, rolled back the stone

Entered the tomb, saw Jesus alone.

"Come with me master, your life is renewed,

The faithful await you, death is subdued."

Jesus arose, yet the linens remained,

His body was muddy, and bloody, and stained.

They left the tomb open, for others to see

A coffin as empty, as empty could be.

They rose in the air, as spirits can do

To spread the good news, for me, and for you.

Easter reminds us, that He is alive,

Though danger surrounds you, you will survive.

He lives in your mind, He lives in your heart

Asking forgiveness, a good place to start.

Joe Burns Sr. Mercer, PA

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Bethany Family,

Thank you for your outpouring of love and support to us with kind words and cards of encouragement in the passing of our brother, Bob. He is now enjoying his heavenly rewards at the feet of Jesus.

Carol, Gary and Linda Wiggins and family

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Mercer, PA 16137

PERMIT No. 39

We’re here

to Exalt,

to Encourage,

to Equip, to

TO:

100 West Venango Street

Mercer, PA 16137

Regular Office Hours

Mon. – Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

(724) 662 – 4340

Prayer Chain:

bethanyprays@yahoo.com

Fax: 724-662-1080

Web: www.bethany-presbyterian.org

B e t h a n y P r e s b yt e r i a n C h u r c h

Current Resident or

Easter Flowers - You may have noticed that the Easter flowers you ordered miraculously showed up on your doorstep the week before Easter. Please thank Lois for delivering all the flowers. Joshua Sermon Series -

Please join us each Sunday morning for our online worship and Pastor Bob's sermon series on Joshua. Right Now Media has some great resources available to learn more about Joshua. They have been gathered under the Bethany tab on the Right

Now Media website. If you don't know how to access Right Now Media, please call the church and we will help you.