July 2026 Issue 2

For many of us, the Bible sits on a shelf or a nightstand, respected but largely untouched. We believe it matters, but we're not quite sure what to do with it beyond the occasional reading plan we abandon by February. Yet Scripture is not passive. Jesus treated it as the foundation of everything He taught, and the weapon He reached for to combat distortions with truth. The early church devoted themselves to it. The psalmist called it sweeter than honey. Something has been lost between their experience of God's Word and ours. This series, PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS, is an invitation to recover it. 

This year's Christmas show is going to be a musical theater style show! The production will take us on a journey of dance, song, acting and many more awe-inspiring talents. In this show, everyone has a place. Whether you dance as a hobby or have a natural gift for singing, everyone who joins the audition process will have a place in this show. We want to celebrate the unique gifts that God has given each of us through this show and convey a message of hope to the community.

This summer, Bethany Church turns 300 years old - not 300 years in this building, but 300 years as a people carrying the same mission. To mark that anniversary, we want to kick off a Listening Tour to hear from you what you believe has kept this church going, where you sense God is leading us next, and what you hope Bethany will be for the generations that follow. This summer, we want to visit with you - in your homes, across all campuses - for an evening of conversation about Bethany's future.

Our Listening Tours begin soon, and here's how to be part of it. Members of our congregation have offered up their homes to host meetings; you can sign up to join us at a meeting nearby for this special summer gathering so you don't miss it!

What we build now, we build for those who come after us. Let's dream about it.

Our next EncounterGod Weekend is coming up! This weekend is an encounter with the power of the Gospel. Come ready to lay it all down at the Cross, be set free by the Holy Spirit, and step into your true identity as a child of the Most High.

Click here to register, this is a weekend you don't want to miss!

Solo Sisters will be having a night-out event on July 24th from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Nik & Charlie's Pizzeria, Greenland NH. Registration required to reserve your seat.

For all of our former DivorceCare participants, you are invited to the annual DivorceCare Reunion! Join us for an afternoon of fun, food and fellowship!

Abortion can leave a quiet weight of grief, shame, or unanswered questions - even years later. We're exploring bringing back Forgiven and Set Free, a confidential, compassionate study for women ready to bring that experience into the light of God's healing and grace. In a safe, non-judgmental space, you'll process your story and discover the freedom of being fully forgiven. If this is something you'd be interested in, email us here. The responses are anonymous - and help us gauge interest to see if we should offer it again.

This fall, our Kid's Ministry is expanding our ministry for children with special needs, and we're looking for ministry partners who would like to be buddies for kids who require extra support in the classroom! If you'd like more information about being a buddy, email our Kid's Ministry Director Tracy Klouse at tklouse@bethanychurch.com

All of our campuses are participating in Christmas in July! We will be collecting needed supplies to be donated to local schools near each of our three campuses. 

Our Bible Boot Camp program is back! This fun and encouraging camp is designed to help kids grow in their faith, their understanding of Scripture, and to build community with other Bethany kids! Kids entering 3rd grade through 8th grade will spend three days learning more about how the Bible is constructed, and how to use them on their own at home. This program is updated every year with new themes and activities, so kids can continue to build their knowledge and use of their Bibles!

Our Kid's and Students Ministries are planning a Family Day at Canobie Lake Park!

Students are invited to a Youth-specific EncounterGod Weekend at our Greenland Campus! You'll hear honest stories from ordinary people who've experienced real freedom through Jesus. No hype-just real people sharing how God met them and changed their lives. The heart of the weekend is to bring the things that weigh us down to Jesus at the Cross, and to let the Holy Spirit bring freedom, healing, and a deeper sense of who you really are as a son or daughter of God.

This is one of our favorite events of the year! Gladiator Training is a week-long intensive Bible study training that teaches students how to read & study the Bible in the same way that our pastoral team does to prepare sermons. We will examine how to find the main point of a passage, as well as how to examine things like commentaries, historical and literary context and application. The week will consist of large group teaching, small group work, and individual study, and there will be plenty of time for fun and community building!

Please join us in prayer this week for:
 
Bob and Bobbie Clinton working with First Love International in India and Nepal: In Bob's recent update, he reminded us of First Love's goals as they minister to orphans and vulnerable children:

At First Love Nepal, our desire for every orphan and vulnerable child rescued into our children's homes is three fold: They are dependent on Jesus Christ as their Savior and grow into mature Christian adults, they grow to be independent, self-sustaining adults, and they serve and give back to the communities in which they live.

With currently 200 children in their children's homes, they have much to keep them busy! Please pray for the national leaders of First Love ministries in both India and Nepal. Pray for relationships with government officials who seem to be moving from a position of bringing needy children to the homes, to now returning children to their families even when that places them at risk. Pray for those children as staff continues to visit them and encourage them.

Jessica Wyman working with orphans in Ukraine: Continue to pray for Jessica, who is stateside for part of the summer, that she would find rest and encouragement so that she would return to Ukraine with clear direction from the Lord on how to best serve Him there. Pray for the Lord to speak to her during a retreat she will be attending in MI. Pray that God would show Himself to every Ukrainian who reaches out to Him. Pray that many would come to know Him, and pray for peace in Ukraine.

At Bethany, we believe that work is a gift from God. We are always looking for hard-working, passionate individuals to join our growing team! Current open positions are:

-Raymond Worship Leader (part-time)
-Kittery Point Worship Leader (part-time)

If you're new here at Bethany, are looking to get involved, or just have some questions, come to DISCOVER BETHANY! Learn more about the heart and mission of Bethany Church, meet others in the community, ask questions and explore your Next Steps in faith!

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