CHRISTMAS BASH!!!

Come one, come all!!!

THIS SUNDAY, December 20th, YOU are invited to one of the best nights ever... the Christmas Bash! It's a night to celebrate the season, and the reason of Christmas! We'll eat tons of food, make gingerbread houses, play some awesome games, and hear about what God has done through the year. If you know a friend who you think should hear how God has worked in other students lives, be sure to invite them! Everyone is welcome!

WHERE: Fellowship Hall

WHEN: Sunday, December 20 - 6:30-8:30pm

HOW MUCH: FREE!

YOUTH SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES!

Looking for a way to get involved and serve in a great way? Why not help with our church's Christmas Eve services? Here's a few ways you can serve!

Living Nativity - This requires dressing in costume and standing at the front entrance to the church

before the services. We're looking for a Mary and a Joseph for each service, and would love to have a few others (shepherds, wisemen, etc.) as well!

The service times are 12, 5, 7, 9, and 11pm. You would have to be here a half hour before the service, and can leave as soon as the service starts.

Luminaries - These are the little lantern/candle bags that people put on their property to light up their walkway. We need people to make 100 of these (putting sand in a bag and folding the bag) anytime before Christmas Eve, and we need people to put these out before the 5pm service and collect them after the 11pm service.

Would you like to help? Call Judy at the church - 610.395.3613. Thanks!

YOUTH SERVICE OPPORTUNITY

Want to serve? Here's a great way!

The Children's Ministry here at the church is having a Christmas Party on Saturday, December 19th at 10am. They're looking for students who would be willing to act out the Christmas story while it is being read. This would take about 30 minutes, unless you'd like to help with the rest of the party!

Interested? Call Darcy (the Children's Director) at 610.395.3613. Thanks for serving!

YOUTH CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE!

Merry Christmas!

Here's what we're up to for the Christmas season here in Youth Ministry. We'd love to connect with you!

Friday, 12/11 - Middle High Cafe (6:30-8pm)

Senior High Cafe (8:30-10pm)

Sunday, 12/13 - FUSION (6:30-8:30pm)

Friday, 12/18 - Middle High Cafe (6:30-8pm)

Senior High Cafe (8:30-10pm)

Sunday, 12/20 - YOUTH CHRISTMAS BASH! (6:30-8:30pm)

Friday, 12/25 - NO CAFE

Sunday, 12/27 - NO FUSION

Wednesday, 12/30 - MOVIE NIGHT! (7-9pm)

Friday, 1/1 - NO CAFE

Sunday, 1/3 - FUSION (6:30-8:30pm)

Hope you have a great Christmas!

NO CAFE!

SOLID ROCK CAFE has been CANCELLED for this Friday, December 4th. The church's Christmas musical is this weekend, so check it out! It's going to be awesome! The show times are Friday at 7, Saturday at 3 and 7, and Sunday at 3. See you there!

Student Breakfast!

Hungry? Meet us at Emmaus Diner tomorrow from 6:20 - 7:15 for breakfast! It's a great way to connect before school. Bring a friend and a few bucks. Make sure you have a ride to school too! See you there!

THANKSGIVING YOUTH SCHEDULE

Getting ready to scarf some turkey and watch some football? We are too! Here's what our Youth schedule looks like for this weekend.

FRIDAY - Cafe - Middle High 6:30-8pm, Sr. High 8:30-10pm

SUNDAY - NO FUSION - Enjoy the holiday weekend with your family!

FUSION CHANGE - Bethany's Got Talent!

This Sunday, November 22, instead of our regular FUSION, our youth ministry is invited to experience Bethany's Got Talent! This is a great way to celebrate the giftedness and talent that God has given to our church, and there's a free meal afterwards as well! The evening will start at 4pm. There is no cost. Invite your family to be a part of this event!

WE WILL NOT HAVE REGULAR FUSION THIS SUNDAY.

Tuna Time!!!

We're collecting 6oz. cans of tuna THIS WEEKEND for the EHS Angel Network. The EHS Angel Network is an organization that collects goods and resources to help students who have need in Emmaus High School. This organization wants all students to succeed and is currently gearing up for Thanksgiving.

The Bible tells us that God is especially pleased with us when we reach out to those who have a need (see James 1:27 and Matthew 25:31-46). This would be a great way to partner with God in what he's doing in our part of the world!

Here's how it works:

Bring a can (or more) of 6oz.can of tuna (any brand) to WHATEVER you come to this weekend (Sunday School, FUSION, Wing Night, etc.). We'll collect them in Sunday School, and we'll have a collection box at Wing Night and FUSION.

We'll donate our collection to the Angel Network next week.

We're aiming to collect 50 CANS OF TUNA. Help us meet this need! Thanks!

Questions? Call Del @ 610.395.3613

Student Breakfast!

If you're a Sr. High student, this Wednesday, November 4th, is a Student Breakfast at Emmaus Diner! We'll eat from 6:20-7:15 am. Bring a few bucks for breakfast, and make sure you have a ride to school! It's a great way to connect during the busy week!

Wing Night!

If you're in grades 9-12, come out this Friday night , November 6th, from 9:30-11:30 for Wing Night! All you can eat wings, soda, popcorn, hotdogs, pretzels... FREE! This would be the perfect way to invite a friend out to our place for the first time. It's after the football game, so come on over! We'll have an Inferno eating contest as well! See you this Friday!

Questions? Call Del at 610.395.3613

Get Lost!

You're invited to get lost with us at Grim's Corn Maze this Friday! We're going to start the night at the Barats' house (10022 Sara Drive, Breinigsville, PA 18031) at 6pm with hotdogs and drinks. We'll walk over to the corn maze and stay from 7-9pm. After the maze, the Barats' are making funnel cake at their place from 9-10:30. If you can make it to the Barats', that would be great! If you can't, but still want to do the maze, get dropped off at the maze at 7pm and picked up from there at 9pm. The cost for the maze is $7.50. BRING A FLASHLIGHT!

The weather forecast does not look good for Friday. PLEASE CHECK THIS SITE AFTER 4PM TO SEE IF THIS EVENT IS STILL ON. Thanks!

Any questions? Call the office at 610.395.3613

Tonight!

We will be having the Solid Rock Cafe tonight from 6:30-8pm for Middle High and from 8:30-10pm for Senior High. We'll also be teaming up with the Bethany Marriage Conference and will be having a youth track in the Youth Room from 7-9. The topics include dating, relationships, guy thoughts, and girl thoughts. Feel free to check either one out!

Go Emmaus! Check out Emmaus's Homecoming game tonight as they take on Whitehall!

Small Groups Schedule

Attention students and parents - Middle High Small Groups will not be starting this week. We are currently scheduling leaders and extending registration. We will be calling all interested students by the end of the week to confirm availability. Senior High Small Group registration is also being extended. We will have the official schedule posted soon. Thanks!

ATLANTIC in Concert!

This Friday, September 25th, rock/worship band Atlantic will be at the Solid Rock Cafe from 7-9pm! It's going to be a great night of music, food, and giveaways. The cost is $5. This is for students in grades 6-12. Don't miss this!

Paintball Registration Deadline!

Like to play paintball? We do too! We're going to Lehigh Valley Paintball on Saturday, October 17th from 12-3pm. The cost is $35 and includes a mask, gun, 500 paintballs, pod pack, and air. If you want to come, you need to sign up by this Sunday! Download the forms on the right and make sure you get them in to the office by this Sunday!

SYATP United

Last night we were at the Ice House in Bethlehem along with 180 other students worshiping God and becoming energized to make it to the flagpole earlier this morning. It was an awesome night! The band, Out of Hiding, was amazing and lead singer Justin really challenged us to think of the different compartments we have in our life and see the need to have only one compartment, God, in which all of our other stuff goes (friends, family, sports). Everything we do should be for God, whether it's going to school, taking a test, playing in the band, etc. It was a great night!

UPDATE TO SYATP UNITED!!!! PLEASE READ!!!

The address on the flyer for the See You At The Pole United event tonight at the Ice House in Bethlehem was INCORRECT! The correct address is: 56 River St. Bethlehem, PA 18018. We are sorry for the error. You can click on the event in the calendar to the right and get a map to the correct location. See you tonight!

Start Dates

You might be wondering when youth ministry starts up for the school year. Well, wonder no more! Here's the start dates for Cafe, Fusion, Small Groups, and Sunday School. We'll have the official schedule available for download this week.

Cafe - Friday, September 18th.

FUSION - Sunday, September 13th.

Small Groups - First week in October.

Sunday School - Sunday, September 13th.

Any questions? Call the office at 610.395.3613.

Here's to a great school year!

The Countdown Begins!

September is here!!! We're getting fired up for the new year of youth ministry and can't wait to see how we'll grow in Christ through this school year. If you're new to the ministry, or don't know what exactly we do, here's a little something to get you in the loop!

Cafe - Friday nights - Middle High: 6:30-8PM; Senior High: 8:30-10PM

Hang out with friends, eat, video games, game room, great time!

FUSION - Sunday nights - Combined Middle and Senior High: 6:30-8:30PM

Large game, food, message, discussion, challenges

Small Groups - Middle High: 6:30-8PM Tuesday nights; Senior High: TBA

Sunday School - Sunday mornings - 9:15-10:30AM and 11-12:15PM

Curriculum based, great teachers, great lessons

Events - TBA

Bowling, Mini Golf, Concerts, Paintball, etc.

We'll have the official schedule available this week - you can download it on the right.

Gearing Up For The New Year!

With summer coming to an end, we're getting ready for the new school year! We can't wait to connect back up with you, see how your summer's been, and grow deeper in our relationship with God! Please check back within the next week for new schedules, newsletters, events, and everything youth! Hope your summer was great... now let's take it into our schools! See you soon!

ROLLER HOCKEY CANCELLED!

ROLLER HOCKEY IS CANCELLED FOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 8TH. WE'LL PLAY AGAIN SOON. DO NOT GO TO ROLLERMOTION. THANKS!

Last Chance for Retreat!

There's still time to join us for Rooted! If you haven't signed up yet, please download the form on the right and get them in. This could be one of the best things you do this summer and can really help you to grow deeper in Christ! Don't miss it! Have a friend who might want to go? Invite them! We've got Mike Chapman coming in from New York to challenge you with God's word, and band Auburn to lead worship! It's going to be a great weekend!

www.myspace.com/trueauburn

Keep on coming out!

Even though Del's away for a few weeks, we're still having all of our events listed on the youth calendar. We've got great leaders helping out, and we'd love to see you! Bring a friend and let's have a great time!

Sportsfest Water Giveaway!

We're going to be giving out bottles of cold water this Friday, July 17th, from 2-3pm at Sportsfest! It's a great first step in getting into the habit of serving our community. We'll meet at the Cedar Beach event site, at the intersection of Turner St. and Parkway Blvd. in the grass by the lake. We will meet at 2pm and will start handing out water at 2:15pm. We're going to be walking around the park handing water out to athletes and spectators. It's as simple as that! We'll have a great time! Look at the picture for a better understanding of where we'll meet (click on the picture to zoom in). You can get directions by clicking on the calendar on the right! See you there!

Youth Night @ Iron Pigs!

Come on out to Coca-Cola Park this Thursday to see the Iron Pigs take on the Rochester Red Wings! Here's how this works: This event is for students AND their families (and friends too!). Go to Coca-Cola park (you can get directions by clicking on the calendar on the right). Get a General Admission ticket ($6 each), and meet us on the center field lawn. The game starts at 7:05pm. It's a great way to get to know other families in our youth ministry and enjoy a family night out! Hope to see you there! Go Pigs!

Rooted Youth Retreat 2009

Want a faith that goes deep? Feel like God's not strong enough for your circumstances? Tired of getting fired up for God only to fizzle out? Then you NEED this retreat!

We've got incredible team games, tons of free time, great worship and an amazing speaker. Let's discover what it means to be Rooted!

Rooted is for students in grades 6-12.

This is a great way to get involved in ouryouth ministry and make some great friendships. DO NOT MISS THIS!

Cost is $160 if registered by 7/15, $180 if registered by 7/25, and $200 after the 25th. Get the registration over on the right side of this page.

Missions Trip Countdown!

We're only 5 days out from our Toronto missions trip, and everything is in high gear! I'm so excited for what God is going to do both in and through our group as we serve in the city. It seems as though when we get out of our everyday routines and remove our normal distractions that we are able to connect with God in a unique, almost concentrated way. We'd really appreciate your prayers as we travel to Canada and serve in Toronto. If you'd like to know how to better pray for us, please click HERE to get a prayer calendar for the week of our trip. Thanks so much for believing in us! Here's to an amazing God doing amazing things!

BONFIRE @ HEFFNER'S CANCELLED!

THE BONFIRE @ THE HEFFNER'S IS CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN, SOGGINESS, AND GENERAL DREARINESS. PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ALONG TO ANYONE YOU THINK WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. THANKS!

Summer Schedule!

Our Summer Schedule for Youth Ministry is here!  We've got a TON of great things going on, and we want you to be in the know!  From daytime activities and bible studies to night time hang outs and outings, we've got something you're going to love.  Summer's a great time to invite a friend or two along for the ride!  You can download the Summer Schedule by clicking here (Middle High), or here (Senior High), by clicking on the link on the lower right, or by clicking onevents on the calendar to the right.  Check out all of the dates, times, cost, etc. and let us know if you have any questions!  Here's to a great summer!

SUMMER SCHEDULE

Our Summer Schedule for youth ministry is being finalized this week.  Please check back soon and often for the Summer Schedule and for any other youth-related topics.  Once the Summer Schedule is published, it will be available for download via a link on the right hand side of this page.  Thanks!

NO FUSION - MOTHER'S DAY!

Remember that lady who changed your diaper when you were little?  Who broke up fights between you and your siblings?  Who feeds you and pays for your movies?  Who loves you even when you're not the most loveable?  That's Mom!  We're taking Sunday off from FUSION this week to spend time with our mom and let her know that we appreciate everything she does for us.  If you're a mom, Happy Mother's Day!  We'll pick up again on the 17th with part 2 of our series, Attached.

Attached

Every one of us is attached to something—some person, thing or experience. The trouble with our attachments is that sometimes they let us down. For the next three weeks your students will be exploring the attachments that become part of their identity, and uncovering the truth about their identity in Christ.  See you at FUSION!

COMBINED CAFE and FAMILY NIGHT!

This Friday, April 24th, Bethany Family Ministry will be showing the movie "Facing the Giants" in the sanctuary.  The movie starts at 6:30 and there will be free popcorn!  It will look like a theater, smell like a theater, and if you're there, it will be a theater!  This is for anyone in our Bethany Church family, and friends are welcome too!

This Friday's Cafe will be combined (Middle and Senior High) and will run from 6:30-9pm. to work into the movie night.  While we don't have the teams for the dodgeball tournament, we'll still play hard and eat tons of food!  We'll see you on Friday!

FUSION - The Cross

People wear a cross on necklaces, sport one on bumper stickers and even slap on across T-shirts, but what does the cross really stand for? What does it really mean? Next week we'll finish up this series by taking a look at the cross in a different way, a way that moves beyond gratitude and nostalgia to a way of life. The cross teaches us that we live so we can die, and we die so we can live.  See you at FUSION!

EASTER

There will be NO youth programs this week (Friday and Sunday) due to the Easter holiday.  We'll start back up after this weekend.  Spend time with family, and remember with thankfulness the sacrifice Christ made for you!  Have a great week!

MISSIONS TRIP DEADLINE!

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR OUR TORONTO MISSIONS TRIP!  WE HAVE NO MORE SPOTS LEFT, BUT WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN EXPAND OUR GROUP! GET YOUR NAME IN ON THE WAITING LIST - FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE!  IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME!

MISSIONS TRIP REGISTRATION DEADLINE

High School students, don't forget!  If you want to come with us to Toronto for a missions trip that will change your life, you MUST register by this Tuesday, March 31st to get a spot!  There's only a few spaces left!  It's gonna be AWESOME!

CHANGE OF SCHEDULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DUE TO A SCHEDULING CONFLICT, THE BOWLING OUTING THIS FRIDAY, 3/27, WILL BE FROM 8-10PM INSTEAD OF 7-9PM.  AGAIN, COME O THE BOWLING ALLEY AT 8PM AND GET PICKED UP AT 10PM.  THE COST IS STILL $10.  THANKS!

Bowling Night!

Remember - This Friday, 3/37/09, we are going bowling at AMF Parkway Lanes from 7-9pm!  Do not come to the church, or you'll be lonely!  The cost is $10, and you sould get dropped off and picked up at the bowling alley.  Check the schedule to the right for the address and directions!  Feel free to bring a friend or two!  See you there!

We

In following Christ, there is one truth that most of us forget—we were never meant to do this alone. We need other people. It’s critical not just because we need friends, but also because in community we understand more about who God is. We see how He is working in other people’s lives. We learn things that God has taught them, and we get an opportunity to love and serve others. The WE series helps us discover the “WHY” behind community—why we need it, why we should pursue it. 

Parents!

If you're a parent, we want to partner with you in raising your teen for Christ!  You're not alone!  Here's a few ways that we're trying to support you:

1. Parent's Newsletter - We want to send you practical help every month through The Parent Link - a newsletter created by Group Publishing.  It has great tips and ideas, as well as the latest happenings in Youth Ministry here at Bethany.  Email Del at dheiney@bethanyumchurch.com to get it sent to you, click on the link to the right to view it yourself, or pick it up in the hallways at the church!

2. Parent's Resource Library - We're building a resource library with books written specifically for raising teens in today's world.  Feel free to borrow a book and work your way through it.  For a listing of books, please click the link over on the right.  This is a new idea, so the library will be growing steadily as the year goes on.  Please check back frequently.

3. This Website! - This site is designed to be the main means of communication between our ministry and parents.  You'll find up to date information on all of our programs, locations, times, registration forms, maps, and other resources pertaining to Youth Ministry here at Bethany.  Please check this site regularly, as it is updated frequently, and we don't want you to miss out!

You can always call Del at 610.395.3613.  He'd love to talk to you!  Thanks!  We're here for you!

FUSION Movie Night!

It's good to take a break every now and then, so in between our FUSION series we're going to take it easy for a night and just enjoy being around each other.  We're having a Movie Night this Sunday from 6:30-8:30PM in the Fellowship Hall for students in grades 6-12.  We're watching "Horton Hears a Who".  We'll be giving away free popcorn and other snacks.  Feel free to bring a friend!

Student Breakfast

Do you like breakfast? Del does too!

Starting Tuesday, March 17th, Del wants to invite any Emmaus High School students and their friends to have breakfast at the Emmaus Diner at 6:20AM.

Starting Wednesday, March 18th, Del wants to invite any Parkland High School students and their friends to have breakfast at the Parkland Restaurant (Diner) at 6:20AM.

Del WILL PAY and it's just a way to stay connected through the week and build relationships!

You're going to be up anyway, so why not come and eat?!  Invite some friends!

TORONTO Missions Trip '09

Last year we took 12 students on a life-changing trip to Washington, D.C. to partner with ongoing ministries in sharing the love of God with the inner city.  All of our lives were changed, and we saw God working in ways we would have never expected.  If you're in grades 9-12 and want to be a part of something that can change your life and outlook on the world, you NEED to be a part of this year's missions trip.

We're taking 16 students to Toronto, Ontario, Canada from July 5th to July 11th for an urban missions experience.  We'll work with homeless shelters, food distribution organizations, and other social ministries.  We'll also experience one of the most diverse cities in North America through ethnic cuisine and touring the city.

We'll be fundraising heavily to pay for this trip.  The hope is that this will not cost the student or their family any money at all.  This is such a great opportunity for life change that we would hate for cost to stand in the way (the only cost for the family would be to get a passport for the student).  

If you are interested in being a part of this life-changing experience, you must register by March 31st.  If you'd like to support our youth on this trip, please contact Del at dheiney@bethanyumchurch.com.

This will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Photo Scavenger Hunt!

If you're coming to the Cafe this Friday, we are going to be going on a photo scavenger hunt throughout Lower Macungie!  The goal is to see if you can get pictures of your team acting out specific situations within a time limit.  These situations will be revealed to you when you show up on Friday night, and will take you on a tour of the area, ending up at Chick-Fil-A.  Instead of coming for the usual time, come to the church for 7pm.  Del will break you up into Middle and Senior High teams, give you a driver, and a checklist/rules sheet.  If you have a digital camera or a camera on your cell, bring it!  

This would be a cool thing to invite a friend to!  It's going to be an awesome night!  Bring some $$ if you want to eat something at Chick-Fil-A!

PARENTS - Please drop off your teen at the church for 7pm, and pick up your teen at the Chick-Fil-A on Hamilton Blvd., across from The Texas Roadhouse at 9pm.  We will have adult leaders driving students from location to location.  Middle and Senior High will be separated.  All leaders are cleared to drive by our church.  If you have any questions, please call Del at 610.395.3613.

Forward Motion

We’ve all made resolutions and set goals, but too often we fall short of what we expected to accomplish. Unfortunately it’s often the same when we try to become the Christian we really believe God has called us to be. We fall short of the goal and become increasingly discouraged. In this 3 week FUSION series, we'll learn that following Christ is more about the small steps we make every day, not about the huge leaps of faith that we think we need to make.  Are you up for it?  Hope to see you at FUSION.

High School Conference!

Hey!  If you're in High School, we want to invite you to come with us to Ocean City, MD from March 27-29 for the IMPACT '09 High School Conference!  It's a great way to experience God in a large venue (there's about 5,000 youth there) and also build relationships with the friends we're going with.  There's sweet music, a concert by Skillet on Saturday night, great speakers who will challenge you, and a great time at the beach!  The cost for the event is $130 - this covers the ticket to the conference, hotel, travel, and breakfasts.  You will need some $$ for meals (2 lunches and 2 dinners) and souvenirs.

If you want more information on the conference, go HERE.

TO DOWNLOAD THE REGISTRATION PACKET, CLICK ON THE LINK IN THE "REGISTRATION FORMS" SECTION ON THE RIGHT, THE CLICK "VIEW PDF" OR "SAVE PDF".

Del will also have packets at the Cafe, Sunday School, and FUSION.

YOU MUST REGISTER BY MARCH 1ST!  Hope to see you in OC!

PAINTING DAY UPDATE!

Our painting day scheduled for this Saturday from 8:30am - 12pm has to be moved.  There is a group who had booked the facility months ago for a banquet, and although we at first thought we could paint in the morning, we don't think that it would be a good example of God's love to force that group to deal with paint fumes and wet walls.  We still want to tackle as much of the room as we can before the Super Bowl Party (pun intended!), so we're going to have a painting session on Saturday night after the 5 o'clock service.  We'll start around 6 and paint until we're done or until we decide to stop.  If you can help out this Saturday night, we'd really appreciate it, and it's a great way to own your ministry and serve in the church!  Please email me at dheiney@bethanyumchurch.com if you can make it, or call me at 610.395.3613.  Thanks!  If you have rollers or roller trays, please bring them!

SNOWTUBING UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a very important message for those who are planning on going snowtubing with us on FRIDAY.

Bear Creek needs a roster of people who are attending the event!  I need you to email me at dheiney@bethanyumchurch.com and let me know the following:

Your NAME

Any FRIENDS who you are bringing FOR SURE

Your PHONE NUMBER

We are booked for 30 students.  If we have more, we will need to purchase additional tickets.  There are currently 40 tickets left for our night, so I need to know how many we are bringing and gt extra tickets if needed.  Thanks!

If you cannot email me, please call me at 610.395.3613 and leave a voice mail.  Thanks!

Del

SUPER BOWL PARTY!!!!!

This is going to be AWESOME!  We're having a Super Bowl Bash here at the church on Sunday, February 1st, and we want YOU to be a part of it!  We're going to have tons of wings, pizza, soda, snacks, and video games!  We're also playing the first annual Bethany Bowl - a rain or shine flag football game during halftime out in the retention pond under the lights!  Here's what you need to know:

What:  Super Bowl Bash

Where:  Here at the church

When:  Sunday, February 1st, from 6-10PM

COST: $5 per person, or FREE if you bring a friend who hasn't been here before!

Who:  Students in grades 6-12

What else:  Dress to play football outside during halftime!