Bethany UMC Weekly Announcements
Worship Announcements
– PENTECOST SUNDAY, MAY 24TH – Not only are we celebrating our graduates, but it is also Pentecost Sunday, the day we celebrate the birthday of the church. Please wear the color RED and plan to stay after the service for a reception celebrating our graduates and the gift of the Holy Spirit! It’s going to be a festive day! Happy Birthday to the CHURCH!
– GRADUATE SUNDAY, MAY 24TH – We look forward to this celebration of our Bethany family senior youth who will be graduating and starting a new chapter in their lives. Congratulations to Maecy Ann Frizzelle, daughter of Lorna and Jay Frizzelle, who will be graduating from Fort Defiance High School and to Garrett Simmons, son of Travis and Sarah Simmons who will also graduate from Fort Defiance High School. Also being recognized will be Krisalyn Mooney, daughter of Lori and Shawn Mooney who is graduating from the University of Virginia. We are so proud of all of our graduates and will begin now to pray for God’s protection and provision as they pursue God’s direction for their lives. Plan to be a part of this special day in worship and join the reception for our graduates after the service. Graduate Recognition note: We don’t want to miss any Bethany graduates. Please let the office know if there are other graduates we need to include.
– Songs for the Summer – Have a favorite praise song or hymn that you would love to sing this summer? Whether it’s an oldy, goldy or a newer tune just fill out the suggestion form at the Welcome Center and we will try and sing it this summer. Not sure of the title? Give us a few words in the song and we can figure it out! Song selections will begin June 14.
– Altar Flowers – Volunteers are needed to place flowers on the altar this summer. Please sign up for a Sunday on the clipboard in the Welcome Center. It can be simply a foliage arrangement or garden flowers from your yard. You can sign up with someone and combine flowers. Silk flower arrangements are fine too. The fellowship hall has a vase collection in the closet. Feel free to use things that are in the closet. Thank you for donating your foliage and flowers for worship service this summer.
Annual Conference Announcements
– Annual Conference Volunteers – Annual Conference is the annual meeting when all United Methodist Churches in Virginia come and gather for worship, church business, and fellowship together. This year it is at the Atlantic Bank Center at JMU in Harrisonburg from June 17th – June 20th. Many hands are needed to put this event together, so if you would like to take a volunteer shift, by providing transportation support (at this time golf carts will not be used) or helping with registration, or other opportunities, please register at this link: Annual Conference 2026 Volunteer Shifts. This will be a wonderful way for Bethany to help support the larger UMC and be hospitable and loving to all of our neighbors as they show up to Annual Conference.
Young at Hearts
– The Young at Hearts will be gathering at VMRC’s Cline Center (Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community) on June 2nd at noon. Everyone is welcome to attend regardless of age!! Three of the residents joining us for lunch that day are our own Bethany Family Members: Barbara Long, Peggy Lucas, and Carolyn Roller. These ladies are very excited that we are going to be at VMRC. Let’s show them some love and plan to join them on June 2nd. A signup sheet is in the Welcome Center to help get an idea of how much food will be needed and how much the cost will be for each meal.
Women’s Ministry
– Our program this month is on Biblical plants and Bible references to plants. There is no cost to either program. Women’s Ministry is open to all women attending Bethany. Bring a guest! Please RSVP in the Welcome Center so we can be prepared. Everyone will get a free plant for your outdoor garden. We will be tasting fruits and vegetables mentioned in the Bible and need your help bringing simple foods (example: a jar of olives, a bunch of grapes, cantaloup, etc.). There will be a food signup sheet in the Welcome Center starting Sunday, May 10th. Dress casually for the planting project. Our programs will be outdoors, unless it is raining.
May 20th from 1 – 2:30PM – Our hostess is Nicole Carter at 40 Mt Sidney School Ln, Mt Sidney.
May 21st at 6PM – Our hostess is Elizabeth Williams at 147 Fort Defiance Rd (4th driveway from the Rt 11 stoplight on the right.) Look for the black mailbox with a small pineapple. It’s the last house on the driveway, a red saltbox.
Missions
– Summer is almost here, so that means yard sales. And that means, it is time for us to help Love INC in Fishersville. We will be volunteering for 3 days this summer to help in their warehouse, sorting through donated items. The dates are Tuesday, June 23rd, Monday, July 13th, and Tuesday, August 4th. So, go ahead and mark your calendars. We will work from 9:00AM – 12:00PM. If you would like to take a lunch, we will go over to the Library and eat there together. If anyone would like to carpool, please contact Lori Mooney.
Other Announcements
– The FOBF Team is auctioning off a stepstool made by Gerald Fulton. The stool and a bid sheet are located in the Welcome Center. This auction ends this Sunday, May 17th at 11:00AM.
– Mowing Time! If you are willing to mow in August please call the church office at 540-234-8880 and Laura will add you to the schedule. If you need a substitute, you can find phone numbers on the signup sheet which is posted on the Office door. If you have any questions reach out to Mark Dunsmore.
May mowing – Gary Lucas, June Mowing – Jacob Robertson
– Mark your calendar now, as we will be hosting our next Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday June 5th from 9AM-2PM in the Fellowship Hall. There is a signup in the Welcome Center for the drive! The following link is also available for sign-ups: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=bethanyumc. Need folks to sign up – encourage friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members!
– MEET YOU AT THE PARK – This is our summer outreach event. Actually, there are 3 events all on Wednesdays – June 10th, June 24th, and July 8th, at 6:30PM. Each night has a different theme and will feature not only the food or drink to go with that theme, but also a few simple activities primarily for kids. Our goal is to connect with families in our community by just being at the park, providing some fun and sharing the love of Jesus. What can you do? First, we need donations for the items we will provide or use on each night. Second, we need YOU to assist with simple (and we mean simple) activities, serve the food and drink items or just be there with a friendly face. Come one night or all three. Signup sheets for donations and helping at the event are in the Welcome Center.
June 10 – LEMONADE June 24 – S’MORES July 8 – ICE CREAM
– Girl Scout Troop 373 appreciates Bethany’s graciousness in providing a meeting place for troop meetings. The social hall provided the space needed for the 24 girls and 4 leaders to accomplish badge activities. The troop is collecting plastic bottle tops (any will work – laundry detergent bottle caps, water bottle caps, juice bottle caps, etc.) that will be made into an outdoor bench for a local park. There will be a collection box in the Welcome Center for these items.
– Mark your calendar now, as we will be hosting our next Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday June 5th from 9AM-2PM in the Fellowship Hall. There is a signup in the Welcome Center for the drive! The following link is also available for sign-ups: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=bethanyumc. Need folks to sign up – encourage friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members!
– The Verona Community Center, a non-profit that serves those from throughout our SAW community who are in need, is currently looking for a new Operations Coordinator. This is a part-time, paid role. You can find the job description and application on the bulletin board outside the sanctuary. If you have questions or would like to learn more about the VCC and its ministry, you can contact Rev. Sean Gundry at (803) 673-9799.
Dates to Know
– Softball Game, Tonight, May 13th at 6:30PM – Weyers Cave Ruritan Ball Field
– Pastor Blaine out of town, May 14th – May 18th. Contact Laura at the Church Office at 540-234-8880
– Donuts & Devotions, Saturday, May 16th at 8AM – Fellowship Hall
– Fellowship Hall Reserved, Sunday, May 17th from 3-5PM
– Finance Committee Meeting, Monday, May 18th at 6PM – Sunday School Classroom
– Trustees Meeting, Monday, May 18th at 7PM – Fellowship Hall
– Softball Game, Tuesday, May 19th at 7:30PM – Weyers Cave Ruritan Ball Field
– Women’s Ministry, Wednesday, May 20th from 1-2:30PM – See announcement above
– Softball Game, Wednesday, May 20th at 6:30PM – Weyers Cave Ruritan Ball Field
– Women’s Ministry, Thursday, May 21st at 6PM – See announcement above
– Pastor Blaine will be having Coffee Hours at Valley Pike Thursday, May 21st from 3-5PM. So come and grab a cup of coffee, tea, or even some ice cream!
– Young Adults Dinner, Sunday, May 31st at 6PM – Mi Rancho, Weyers Cave
Prayer Requests:
Members: Tom and Jan Gorden, Charlotte Saufley, Barbara Long, Garrett Roller, Jacob Robertson
Pam Lynn is at Monroe Health & Rehabilitation Center, 1150 Northwest Dr, Rm 111, Charlottesville, VA 22901.
Our Shut-ins: Audrey Bradshaw, Ramona Garrison, Carolyn Roller, Nadine Moore, and Dollie Wilfong
Extended Family: Chris Raab, Doug Sheets, Tene and Josh Fox, Chris, Katelyn Ecroyd and family, Rolf Dolder, Michelle Hartman, Donna Moomaw, Samantha and Bradley Pittman, Ellen Shank family
We pray for all of our Food Pantry Neighbors and for all those in our community and world.
