Diaconate and Elders to Meet in New Sanctuary

Janci Cahoon asks that all members of the Diaconate and Elders meet in the new sanctuary Saturday, Jan. 3, at 10:00 a.m. We will be using the sanctuary soon, and it is important that we are familiar with new procedures for serving communion there. Be sure to attend--we want communion to be a meaningful experience for all of us, and it will be fun to learn a new way of serving.

Bethany Reaches Out to Community

Many military care packages were shipped overseas in December.


Bethany members Carolyn Casey and John Cannan ring Salvation Army bells.


Bethany's children look over the holiday gifts that will go to a family that our church adopted.

Correction to the Beacon

The December issue of the Bethany Beacon states that the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be at 7:00 pm at the Arapahoe Free Will Baptist Church. The correct time is 8:00 pm.

The Chancel Organ and Piano Arrive!

The organ is unloaded…


And the piano is set in the sanctuary.



Naomi and Garland Cahoon, who gave the organ, admire the new instrument.


Naomi is excited!


Naomi plays a recital…


And Annette Brinson tries out the piano!

Photos by Tommy Banks

Stained-Glass Windows Being Installed

Workmen mount windows…


First on the east side, then…


On the west, and then…


Steeple is adorned with stained-glass window.

Photos by Tommy Banks

The Stained-Glass Windows Arrive

The windows have been off-loaded and await installation.
Photo by Tommy Banks

Outreach Committee Reminders

Thanks to all who donated canned and packaged food items at our Thanksgiving Day service! All food will be donated to the Salvation Army food drive.

Holiday care packages are being mailed this week to service members from our area whom we know: Blake Harrell, Michael Bell, Jamie Wayne, Jonathan Lee and Guy Allsup. Thanks to everyone who contributed items and cards to send to these young men serving our country in or near the Middle East!

Please send a special Christmas card this year to a recovering soldier. The address is

A Recovering Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001

Also, please remember our Christmas Families and special Christmas offering schedule:

Sunday, December 14: Dedication of gift items for Christmas Family #1; last Sunday to contribute monetarily for Christmas toys and food for Family #3--a family with 3 small children ages 1, 3 & 5; and special Christmas offering for Regional Ministries

Sunday, December 21: Last Sunday to make a love offering for Family #2--a family with increased medical expenses over the past few years.

Let's make this Christmas a special one for these families and for our service men and women!

Pews Installed

Assembly of the pews began Tuesday morning…


and many were assembled by Tuesday afternoon.

Photos by Tommy Banks

Carpet and Bathroom Fixtures Installed

Carpet is laid in the sanctuary, and…


fixtures are installed in the bathrooms.

Photos by Tommy Banks

Carpet, New Transformer Installed; Power to be Turned on Soon

Carpet is prepared for installation.


A new transformer goes up; power connection is imminent.

Photos by Tommy Banks

Salvaged Window Installed in Fellowship Hall Transom

Photo by Tommy Banks

Concrete is Being Poured for Drive-Thru and Sidewalks

Photo by Tommy Banks

Closer to Home: Exterior Clean-Up and Porte Cochère Dress-Up

The ground around the building is cleared…


and the stained-glass window is installed above the porte cochère entrance. View from the outside…

and from the inside.

Photos by Tommy Banks

Electrifying Progress

Photo by Tommy Banks

District Men's Fellowship

Don't forget that the District Men's Fellowship meets this evening at 7:00 p.m. at Silver Hill Christian Church.

We Are Getting Closer to the Finish Line

The entrance to the sanctuary is installed…

And the floor is laid in the kitchen.

Photos by Tommy Banks

How to Host Another Great Harvest Dinner!

Unwrap all the food, then

let Dave get into it…

serve the plates, and now the best part,

eat it!

Photos by Tommy Banks

CWF Harvest Dinner Set for Saturday, Nov. 1

Bethany's annual Harvest Dinner takes place Saturday, Nov. 1, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Arapahoe Free Will Baptist Church. Dinners, consisting of turkey, all the trimmings and dessert, are $7.00 per plate.

Although the new church building is nearing completion, it is not ready yet for events like the Harvest Dinner, so our friends at the Arapahoe Free Will Baptist Church graciously offered their facilities for the dinner. We at Bethany are grateful for the help of our fellow Christians at Arapahoe FWB Church! The event is sponsored by the Bethany Christian Women's Fellowship.

New Building is Crowned!

Up goes the spire!

It's set in place.

The cap goes on…

…while congregational members Barbara Benton, Melissa Watson and Annette Aldridge watch from safely across the street.

The view of the new building now is enhanced by a majestic spire pointing to the glory of God!

Photos by Tommy Banks

Steeple Top Ready to Ascend!

The "nosecone," now clad in copper, is ready to be hoisted up, but the cap on the top will have to be removed to allow the crane to place it on the tower, then the cap will be replaced.
Photo by Tommy Banks

Homecoming Worship Held in New Fellowship Hall!

It was too cool and windy for a service in the pavilion, so we moved inside the new fellowship hall. No matter that it's not finished and ready to be occupied; it was our first service in the new church building, followed by a great dinner on the, well, concrete floor (no, we used tables)!
Photos by Tommy Banks

Tomorrow is Homecoming Sunday 2008!

Tomorrow is Homecoming Sunday! We welcome all to come to Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., Worship at 11:00 a.m. under the pavilion, then eat in fellowship on the grounds. If the weather is inclement, we will worship with our friends and fellow Christians at the Arapahoe Free Will Baptist Church, and dine in their fellowship hall.

Waiting for the Crowning Glory…

October 17, 2008. Photo by Tommy Banks

Tommy Banks Records First Application of Copper to the Steeple Spire

Tim Eckloff Adorns Steeple Spire with Copper

Tommy Banks has faithfully had his lens in front of the re-building of Bethany. He was on hand to capture the first copper being attached to the spire.



Roofer Tim Eckloff said, "This is work for the Lord."

Masters of the North Light

The great master painters from the Renaissance, before and beyond, labored under the soft North light. Bethany members will worship facing the North light through stained glass windows, worshipping the absolute Great Master.

From the Old to the New

Bethany members gathered at the church, Saturday, October 11, to remove the old split rail fence across from the church on the east side of Hwy 306. This was a fence from the times of the reunions and church camps in Kentucky which were the forerunners of the Disciples of Christ denomination. The new split rail fence will be in place just in time for Homecoming 2009, October 19.

Progress

Another topping, please.

Installing kitchen cabinets.

Installing protective stained-glass window coverings.

Photos by Tommy Banks