Worship Services take place each Sunday at 10:40 a.m. Traditional music with a few contemporary touches are blended together, along with the pastor’s creative sermons, to develop a beautiful experience of praising God.
Special Worship Experiences are offered throughout the year that bring extra creativity to each occasion: World Communion Sunday, the Longest Night, Healing Services, Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, Easter Sunrise Service at Lake Mirror.
Christian Education on Sundays at
9:30 a.m.
Sunday school classes are offered for all ages, and the nurseries are open.
Fellowship Dinners and Picnics
The church family gathers monthly for a meal following worship.
Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners are hosted in members’ homes on special
holidays. Several times a
year, meals are taken outside for a picnic, and water games are provided for the
children.
Fun & Sun Fly In
Each spring, thousands of small planes fly low over Bethany’s steeple as
they prepare to land during the Fly In. On
the Sunday of this special event, the sermon is hard to hear, so the tradition
of an old-fashioned hymn sing was begun. No
sermon – just lots of great singing directed by a guest song leader.
After this musical worship experience, the congregation moves outside for
a picnic to view the plans as they fly over.
Choir
The Chancel Choir for teenagers and adults rehearses weekly on Thursdays at 7:30
p.m., and they share their music weekly in Sunday worship.
The Children's Choir schedule is announced as performances are scheduled
Chime Choir
Four octaves of choir chimes were given to Bethany as a memorial gift, and
the new chime choir (composed of ten adults) meets weekly to rehearse special
numbers. The chime choir plays their
music in worship monthly.
Outreach
Bethany supports local families and children in need and global missions through
a variety of activities. Bloodnet sends their bloodmobile to the church four
times each year, and many blood donors appreciate this door-to-door service.
We encourage personal involvement in outreach, especially through our outreach
program.
Summer Bible School
People of all ages gather nightly for dinner and fun learning activities during
one week each summer. Kids and youth perform on the last night.
They've previously entertained with puppet shows, skits and videos in which they
star. Adults select the classes they'd like to attend, and one group
creates collectable Bethany Christmas ornaments which are provided to each child
and family at Christmas.
Missions Trip
A summer work trip is planned most summers for youth and adults for
intensive spiritual growth while serving people in need. In the past, the
groups have worked with disaster and poverty relief and outreach in North
Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and the Florida Keys.
Retreats
Each year, the elders of Bethany attend a 24 hour spiritual retreat led by
the pastor at the Conference Center in Silver Springs.
Tres Dias and the Women's (CWF) and Men's (CMF) retreats are times of
reflection and learning to promote spiritual growth among adults. Summer
camp provides a retreat for kids and youth.