Playing with Fire
Talking about religion is like playing with fire.* Used to be, you weren’t even supposed to discuss it in polite company. Well, at Bethany we’re not just talking about it: we’re trying to put it into practice. We’re trying to find out what Christian faith might still mean — even now, especially now. We’re trying to live like Jesus and follow a 2000 year old tradition. In the meantime, we’re getting our grubby little fingers all over it. And it’s true: it is dangerous to engage faith like that.
Someone could get offended.
Someone could get hurt.
Someone could get it all very wrong.
Play with fire and you’re gonna get burned. But if you never strike a match:
Someone could get left out in the cold.
Someone might never know the light a life and community of faith can provide.
Someone might be desperately lonely, with no place to gather and huddle up with friends.
So this February, we’re taking the risk. We’re playing with fire. We’re inviting kids to play with fire (whose idea was this?) — training our first young acolytes in years, in short sessions after worship each week. We’re building kid-centered services, and you can just imagine all the ways that could go sideways. But we think it’s worth it. For their sake and for our own.
Come fan the flames with us.
Find us Sundays mornings at 10:30 am in the sanctuary or online!
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* Professor Margaret Mitchell, Univ. of Chicago
Creation Justice Small Group
Next Meeting: February 4th
Our Green Team is starting up again this upcoming year! We will be seeking to lower our energy usage by 5-25% while making our building and practice more sustainable. We’ll be meeting twice a month to tackle these goals on Tuesdays at 7 pm!
Playing With Fire!
After Church Worship Workshop for Kids
For the month of February, we want to invite the children of Bethany to help lead worship! We're going to teach the kids how to acolyte (light the candles) and help with other parts of the worship service. We'll gather after church each week in February for about 15 minutes for a little lesson and practice. Then the kids will be invited to help each week with at least one part of worship (if they want). Please join us!
Serve A Meal At The Crib
February 23rd
"The Crib" is an overnight space for 21 young people, ages 18- 24, to eat good food, get a good night’s sleep and be part of an affirming community. As partners of the Night Ministry, we volunteer to prepare meals for The Crib and our next date is coming up on Feb. 22nd. Can you volunteer to prepare a meal?
Volunteers will plan a meal, buy their own groceries, prepare the meal at your own location and bring the food to the Crib. Please prepare enough for 30 people. Folks are hungry so seconds are great! The Crib is located at 1735 N Ashland Ave, near the end of the 606. For more info on volunteering, or to sign up, click here
