January, 2014

Good News from the Bethesda Family
“Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another...” I Thess. 5:11
Volume 25, Issue 1
January, 2014
Bethesda Church
“FORGETTING AND REMEMBERING”
15033 Hwy. 13 South
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Office: 952-226-6651
Fax:
952-226-6652
www.bethesdachurch.com
Inside this issue:
Prayer Requests
2
Calendar
3
Kidz Korner
4
Wally
5
Coming Events
6
The Encourager
If you have an event or news
you would like to have
published, please submit
articles to the church office
by the second Tuesday of
the month.
E-mail:bethesda@
bethesdachurch.com
As we look ahead to the
New Year we find ourselves
strangely motivated to take on
personal challenges that we
have easily ignored the rest of
the year. It seems there is a
natural “terminal point” as one
year ends and another begins
that gives us an emotional and
even spiritual “fresh start”.
Someday it will dawn on us that
with the Lord, every day is a
fresh start, but for the time
being it is good to have these
annual opportunities to take a
good look at ourselves and
seek new personal goals with
the Lord.
It has struck me, however,
how quickly we forget our
January ambitions and slide
back into earlier patterns. I
recently came across the story
of the man who moved into a
retirement community to spend
the rest of his life there. It
wasn’t long until he had made a
number of friends among the
other residents. There was one
lady he was especially attracted
to, and she was attracted to
him, also. So they spent a lot of
time together. Finally one
evening he proposed, asking
her to marry him. The next
morning he woke up
remembering his proposal, but
he couldn’t remember her
answer. So he went to her and
said, "I’m really embarrassed. I
proposed to you last night but I
can’t remember if you said
`Yes’ or `No."’ "Oh, thank
goodness!" she replied. "I
remembered saying `Yes’ but I
couldn’t remember who asked
me."
Sometimes I feel that way
about New Year’s resolutions.
I’ve told myself, "This year I’m
going to turn over a new leaf.
I’m going to exercise regularly
and lose weight. I’m going to do
all kinds of things to improve
myself physically and
spiritually." But then somehow I
forgot. Maybe you’ve had that
problem, too. It’s important for
us to challenge ourselves about
the process of forgetting and
remembering.
A great passage for the New
Year is found in Philippians
3:12-14. It is particularly
significant to me in light of the
fact that when Paul writes this
he is in prison, chained to a
Roman guard, and living under
horrible conditions. He could
have easily slipped into a pool
of negativity. Rather, his focus
is solidly forward as he says,
"Not that I have already
obtained it, or have already
become perfect, but I press on
in order that I may lay hold of
that for which also I was laid
hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I do not regard myself
as having laid hold of it yet. But
one thing I do: Forgetting what
lies behind and reaching
forward to what lies ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the
prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus."
I’ve always been
encouraged from this passage
that there are some things it is
very important we forget.
Carrying certain things along
with us drags us down. Our
past sin and failures are to be
cleansed from our minds and
forgotten. In contrast Paul
emphasizes “reaching forward
(or straining) to what lies
ahead”. What is Paul trying to
grab hold of? Paul tells us
back in vs. 10, "that I may know
Him, and the power of His
resurrection and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being
conformed to His death.”
Obviously, there are some
things we must forget and
others that we must never
forget. As we step into the New
Year we are encouraged to join
Paul as every day we strive for
the goal of Christ-likeness and
intimate fellowship with our
Savior. May the Lord lay on
each of our hearts specific
spiritual desires that we will not
forget, but always remember!
~Pastor Mark Matychuk
Getting to Know You… Paul & Shawn Kinney
Hello from the Kinney’s
We are Paul Shawn, David,
Elizabeth, Joanna, Serenity,
and Dominick. This is Paul
and I am writing this for our
family to help you to get to
know us just a bit.
We have been in Minnesota
for two years now and are happy
to be here and happy to be
members of Bethesda Church.
Our journey to Minnesota has
been a long one, both
geographically and spiritually.
Shawn and I were both born
and raised in Michigan. I was
raised in church while I was
young and saved at the age of
six. Shawn and I met when I
was wrapping up my
Mechanical
(Continued on pg. 2)
2
The Encourager
Prayer & Praise Requests
RACHEL MATYCHUK - Praise the Lord that
Rachel has received over 90% of her
needed funds. Her ticket has been
purchased for her departure to Santa Cruz
on January 21st. Pray for her as she has
much to complete before leaving for Bolivia!
CONGRATULATIONS - to Kyle and Betty
Anderson on the birth of their second son,
Ethan Isaac, born at 4:24 a.m. on Dec. 24th,
weighing 7lbs. 2oz., and 19.5 inches long.
Mother and baby are doing well and Elijah
loves his new brother. His proud
grandparents are Dwight & Darlene
Anderson.
CONGRATULATIONS - to Derek & Faith
Larson on the birth of their son, Alan Scott,
born Dec. 24th, at 8:05 p.m., weighing 8lbs.,
and 21 inches long. Alan & Cheryl Larson
are very proud grandparents.
BETHESDA BOARDS - Elder, Trustee,
Deaconess, Mission, Christian Education
Boards, and the Pastor, as they prepare
their reports for the Annual Business
Meeting on February 9th.
RUSSELL FAMILY - Please pray with us
as we prepare for our trip to Haiti as a
family on January 21st thru February 12th
(3 weeks). We ask you to partner with us
in prayer as the Lord leads and uses this
trip for His perfect will. Please pray that
our hearts would be open to whatever He
brings to us and that He would give us His
compassion for those in need. May we
be sensitive to His Spirit and ready for His
guidance. We ask also to pray for good
health, strength, and safety throughout
each day. Looking forward to seeing the
Fountain School kid's faces and spending
time with them. Thank you Bethesda for
your prayers. We appreciate you!
Getting to Know You…
Cont. from page 1
Engineering degree at Western Michigan
University and working part time as an Engineer
with the Eaton Corporation. Shortly after
graduation I was transferred to one of our plants
in North Carolina and we were engaged. While
I was working and waiting for our wedding
(Shawn remained in Michigan), new friends of
mine from the plant invited me to church and I
began to attend again after many years away
church. Shawn and I were married and began
our life together in North Carolina. She came to
church with me and was saved. It was quite
obvious at that point that God was in control and
my move to North Carolina was a lot more than
a career move. The church and community took
us in and God got our lives on the right track.
Our first two children, David and Elizabeth, were
born while we were there.
After transferring back to Michigan to be closer
to family, we completed our first adoption,
traveling to China and bringing Joanna home.
Not long after that, Serenity and Dominick joined
our family. God continued to steer our lives in
ways that we could not predict. After 10 years
back home in Michigan, God pulled us out of
Michigan and landed us back in China again,
this time for more than a visit, following a very
rare opportunity that was provided to me by
Eaton (or rather, by God). We never would
have thought that our paths would lead us to
Shanghai. By now we were starting to figure out
that we were just along for the ride. Life in
China was eye opening and the experience
Paul & Shawn Kinney & Family
shaped us in many ways.
After 18 months in Shanghai, just as we
were beginning to long for home, a new
position materialized in Eden Prairie, tailor
made to fit my skills and experience, and
Eaton was eager to bring me to Minnesota
to fill it. Almost as soon as we arrived in
Minnesota, into a home that fit us perfectly
and just happened to be vacant, we knew
this was the place for us. Not exactly a
direct path to Bethesda that is for sure, but
then again, the thousands of miles that we
have come are not a big deal for the God
who brought us here. God has blessed us
and He is guiding our paths. Our hope is
that we are at the end of the road as far as
our earthy travels go but by now we know
that it is God’s will and not our own.
God Bless You on
Your Special Day!
January Birthdays
1-04 Tracy Peterson
1-08 Howard Helberg
1-09 Don Koukal,
Vincent Martin
1-11 Myka Burma,
Robert Schauer
1-14 Dorie Johnson,
Merlin Keller,
Robert Nix,
Angela Toeller
1-15 Julie Burma
1-16 Marilyn Niccum
1-18 Jennifer Brown,
Duane Herbranson,
Dave Teply
1-20 Nathan Matychuk
1-21 Justin Brooks,
Zach Lind
1-22 Nicole Pedro
1-23 Andy Papulas
1-24 Elizabeth Kinney
1-26 John Francis
1-27 Bob Nelson,
Lily Wolke
1-28 Jim Loppnow
1-29 Brent Befus
1-31 Dwight Anderson
Anniversaries
1-07 Jason & Brittany
Christenson
Missionary Birthdays
1-07
1-08
1-12
1-13
1-16
1-17
1-21
1-23
1-24
1-31
1-31
Barb Sherman
Rachel Roth
Gomer Indino
Brook Seekins
Judy Heath,
Nell Lawley
Tasha Reed
Cliff Lee
Talo Vergara
Nene Indino
Jonathan Molina
Joshua Molina
Anniversaries
1-03 Dan & Mary Sue Reed
1-19 Bruce & Janet Swanson
4
The Encourager
All Church Family Skate Night!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Bethesda Church will be hosting an “All Church Skate Night” at SKATEVILLE
in Burnsville. We will be the only group there and will be playing Christian
music. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Skates will
be provided at no charge. You may bring your roller blades or rent a pair for
$3.00!
Bring the whole family and invite your friends.
Have you ever looked out the window
the morning after a fresh layer of
snow has fallen? I am always amazed
how it can affect me. Even if I went
to bed the night before miserable, I
look at that clean snow and feel refreshed, like the troubles of the day
before don’t matter any more. I think that the new year is the same way,
no matter what happened in the past year it is a chance to make a change or
a fresh start. It reminds me of
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;
the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” When we
accept Jesus as our Savior, who we used to be is changed. We are new, just
like the snow. That is really neat if you think about it, we are new,
but then what are we?
Galatians 2:20 gives us the answer, “I have been
crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me.” What will you do with that new life,
will you choose to live for Christ?
The Encourager
Katie (Christenson) Morton gave
her Dad the gift of a magnificent
flute recital. What a beautiful talent
and a beautiful young lady - both
inside and out.
Carl Christenson got quite a gift.
Wally Sez... Not only is he engaged to the
lovely Christina Deyoe, but he has
been offered a choice of attending several
medical schools. No decision has been made
yet.
Leah Hollenbeck hosted quite a houseful.
Three young ladies from China....friends of
Kendra’s from school. By the way, Kendra
passed her EMT class and exam. In case you
take a header in the church parking lot----not to
worry, Kendra is now EMT certified. Lesley
Hennen, who we all know is brilliant, wrote a
repertoire paper at NYU. Now that is graduate
school work. Lesley is an under-grad. I have no
idea what a "repertoire" paper is.........but.........if
it is graduate school work... it must be a
doozey!!
Pastor Brent and the Youth Groups are having
way too much fun--------even for me. I tried
following them on their Amazing Race, but when
one clue called for finding a store with a
bear........I quit!!!!!!!
Becky Christenson's home schoolers had a
ball with some Salvation Army bell-ringers. The
kids each brought a tin whistle and joined in with
Christmas Carols.
Michael Francis and Mitch Pagel are majoring
in engineering at the U of M. They recently
displayed their inventions to be graded on. Both
make eating breakfast easier and more fun.
Michael's cereal box tips the correct amount of
cereal into a bowl. Then, a pump delivers the
exact amount of milk. Mitch's machine cracks
eggs and divides the yolks from the whites.
(Pagels have been eating lots of omelets lately)!
Forrest Francis has already received an
engineering internship for the summer, working
for AGCO, one of the world's largest farm
equipment manufacturers.
Bethesda Church will be hosting Bible Quizzing
on Jan. 4th at 9 a.m. Come on out and watch
Julie Francis and Andy Hollenbeck and the kids
do their stuff. You will be flabber-gasted!!!
Jim Christenson's Lego League team took first
in State for their robotic invention. The theme
was "natural disasters". Jim's team researched
and found there were too many deaths and
injuries from tornadoes by folks watching one
approach. So they invented a periscope to be
used from a safe shelter in the basement.
Thought for the Month:
A close walk with the Lord
is a life of continual newness
5
SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP
The school year is already halfway over!
Crazy to think how quickly these past few
months have gone by. High School Youth
Group has been exciting. As a youth group we
want to be a fun, safe place where our youth
can challenge their beliefs. We want them to
feel comfortable to engage in what they have
learned and start connecting the dots to belief and practice. This is a long
process that includes parents, friends, and family, but it is worth doing!
We have also been able to be growing together as a group. Lately we,
as leaders, have been sharing our stories with the youth so that they
would feel comfortable in sharing their own stories. We want to be able to
relate to each other and be able to understand each other in where we
have come and where we are going. We have also been able to do some
fun activities as well as service. We did an Amazing Race a few weeks
back and then went to Keystone to play some Bingo with the elderly there.
We also just had our Christmas Party with our lovely Christmas sweaters
and crazy white elephant gifts (pictures on "Bethesda Church Youth
Group" facebook page).
Looking forward we are planning on diving into some apologetics and
some of the hot cultural issues that the youth face today. We have heard
truth and many of us have internalized it. But how do you defend it when
someone is intent on making you look bad regardless if they are wrong?
This next semester we will focus on how to navigate in a tough conversation and be able to present our own views in a concise and understandable way.
Thanks so much to everyone who is supporting the youth group by
helping out in events as well as praying for the students. The youth appreciate it a lot and we only can move forward with your help!
JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP
The New Year is upon us! Crazy! And so
much has happened these last few months in
Junior High Youth Group. We have had a
Harvest Party, an Amazing Race and adventure at Keystone with the Senior High, and our
Christmas Party with our very festive Christmas sweaters. We have gone from a group of
four students on average to now a consistent seven students with some
exciting possibilities in the future!
Our mission is to be a fun safe place where our students can discover
truth about God and themselves. We want them to enter high school with
a solid identity in Christ and a self-identity in who God has made them to
be. We have looked at the overarching narrative of the Bible and now we
are learning Who God Is. We have discussed how big He is and His majesty, how God is in control, how God knows all things, is stronger than
anything or anyone, how He is everywhere at all times, and His Holiness.
We want the youth to understand God's character so they can know how
to respond to Him in all the crazy circumstances of life. We will be continuing this study of His character as we begin the new year as well.
We are grateful for your support and your continued prayer and support. Youth ministry is more than just a once a week thing. It is a constant
effort done by parents, teachers, and even friends. We want to thank everyone for helping out with the events as well as praying for individual students.
Coming Events
Annual Business Meeting
February 9, 2014
Potluck Lunch
“Sweet Heart Banquet”
Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014
5:30 p.m.
Timber Lodge Steak House
Southtown, Bloomington
Our Annual Church meeting will be held
immediately following the church service
Sunday, February 9th. A potluck lunch will
precede the business meeting. Please sign-up
in the foyer and let us know if you can bring a
salad. The Main Course, Coffee, rolls, and
dessert will be provided.
Join us for our annual “Sweetheart Banquet”
held in the banquet room at the
Timber Lodge in Bloomington.
The food is delicious - dessert is included.
ALL reports are due in the office
by Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014.
We will also enjoy a special program!
Please sign up in the foyer or call the Church
office, 952-226-6651 to reserve your place by
Sunday, Feb. 9th.
We look forward to a great time
of fellowship & sharing!
Coming…
Bethesda Women’s Retreat
March 14 - 16, 2014
Sunday,
February 16th
at 6:30 p.m.
This will be an Evening of Memorable
Fellowship and a Special Dinner for all
Junior and Senior High Youth.
We Hope you can all make it!!!
This is a special dress up affair...
This will take place at church…
There is no cost.
Mark your
calendars Ladies,
for this wonderful
Bethesda event
held at the Oak Ridge Hotel
Convention Center in Chaska!!!