July 5, 2020
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture:
Daniel 3:16-18

Sermon:
God Breathed, Pt. 3: "Graduating Through the Fire"

Rev. Timothy L. Adkins-Jones,
Senior Pastor
Good afternoon Bethany family! Here is the video of Sunday's service. The sermon begins at 59:47 (59 minutes and 47 seconds in).
BYOCC VIRTUAL COMMUNION

Join us LIVE on Sunday morning at 8 A.M. and 11 A.M. for our BYOCC communion services. You can watch us on YouTube and on our website. Visit bethany-newark.org/liveservice/ . Don't forget to bring your cup and cracker so you can participate from home!
UPDATE MEMBER CONTACT INFORMATION

ALL MEMBERS : please complete the contact form linked below with your contact information ( name , mailing address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and date of membership ), so we can keep communicating essential information to you. In times like these, having the correct contact information for EVERY MEMBER is incredibly important.
YOUTH AND ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

There are two Adult Sunday School classes. The Contemporary Sunday School class is taught by Deacon Linda Caldwell Epps at 9:30 a.m. via conference call. The Traditional Sunday School class is taught by Brother Ronnie Walker via Zoom immediately following the 8 a.m. service. Please contact the church office for login information.

There are also two Youth Sunday School classes. Children ages 11 and younger meet at 9:30 a.m. and youth between the ages of 12 and 18 meet at 10:00 a.m. Please contact the church office for login information.
Prayer Requests


Please pray for Deacon Dorita Newsome-Dobbins's parents, Johnnie & Louise and for covering for her sister Barbara, who is returning to work in New York and will be taking public transportation. Please pray that she is not exposed to any illnesses from being in close contact with large groups of people and does not infect her elderly parents, who are especially vulnerable to illness because of their age.

Please also pray for Deacon Franklin Dobbins, Jr.'s brother-in-law, Malcolm Bryan, who is suffering from a terminal illness. Pray also for Malcolm's wife, Deacon Dobbins's big sister, Helen, and their children: Malcolm, who is currently deployed in the Middle East, and their daughter Maria.


"If you have any personal prayer requests, please know that you are always welcome to submit them to the church office or at our website: bethany-newark.org/resources/request-prayer .

We continue to keep in prayer all individuals and communities that have been affected by the Coronavirus. We pray for caregivers, individuals who are waiting for test results, and all who have lost loved ones in this season. We also pray that all leaders will seek wisdom as they prepare to reopen their communities.

Rev. Timothy L. Adkins-Jones, Senior Pastor
PRAYER CALL LINE -- NOW ON SUNDAY MORNINGS, TOO!
Join the Matthew 6:9 Daily Prayer Call every weekday, Monday-Friday at 6:09 p.m.

Dial 1 (425) 436-6372 and type in the Access Code: 146003.

UPDATE: You can now call in to listen to Sunday morning services at 8 AM and 11 AM!

"In this manner, therefore, pray: "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name." -- Matt. 6:9, NKJV
PASTORAL COUNSELLING

In these difficult and unprecedented times, members of the Bethany Baptist Church - Newark ministerial staff will be available to provide pastoral counselling to anyone who is in need. Appointments are available via phone call or Zoom conference. Just call the church office for more information and to see all available appointments.

"5 IN 5" INITIATIVE

Counselling and outreach aren't limited to our ministers, however. Consider participating in the "5 In 5" initiative. As part of this initiative, you--yes, YOU!-- can reach out to at least one member a day, especially one who is outside of your usual social circle, resulting in 5 members in 5 days. We hope this initiative will enable us to stay connected and, perhaps, emerge from this even stronger than before.
BETHANY BIBLE INSTITUTE UPDATE


 Here is our bible reading schedule for the upcoming week.

Stay tuned as we premiere our #WayBackWednesdays series of sermon throwbacks!
TRUSTEES ' CORNER
REMINDER FROM THE EXAMPLE YOUTH MINISTRY
Parents and youth, please email theexample@bethany-newark.org and provide your name, child's name, Date of Birth, phone numbers for parent and youth, address, and email address. Thank you!
SEASONAL DEVOTIONAL BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE
The "Our Daily Bread" and "The Secret Place" devotionals are now available. You may pick up a copy at the church.
SURVEY OF CHURCH-GOERS' PRACTICES
SINCE COVID-19

Sister Dorothy Handfield is conducting research as part of an academic project about how organizations such as churches operate. As part of this project, she is collecting data from Bethany members in the form of a survey about Bethany Bible Institute attendance since the class has become virtual. If you would like to respond to the survey, it is available at the link below. The survey closes on Wednesday.
BBC BLACK HISTORY COMMITTEE PRESENTS:
THE INVESTIGATION OF INDIVIDUALS OF AFRICAN DESCENT IN BIBLICAL ANTIQUITY


This mini-course will investigate the substantial presence of people of African descent in the Bible. The journey of the children of Israel can be thought of as coterminous with the life and culture of the Ancient Africans. This view has been denied and ignored in biblical translations and scholarship of the Bible. This course will inquire, explore, and re-discover our fore bearers who became the icon of hope for Ancient Israel in the Bible. This mini-course will be held in six sessions* via Zoom:

Session 1. The African Heritage in the Hebrew Bible, Thursday, June 25 at 7 pm

Session 2: The Contributions of Jethro and our Fore-Bearers to the American Legal System, July 9 at 7 pm

*The themes and dates for sessions three through six will be announced in September.

Contact the church office to gain access to the Zoom call login credentials.
BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH IS NOW OPERATING ON A SUMMER SCHEDULE
The church will be closed on Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th in observance of the 4th of July holiday.
SAVE THE DATE: DRIVE-THRU CHURCH FELLOWSHIP
Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 18, 2020--the third Saturday in July--for our Drive-Thru Church Fellowship. Details to follow, but we hope to be able to see you again soon!
BETHANY MEMBERS’ PICTURE BOOK DIRECTORY

The Directory is available to purchase for $10 . 00. It can be purchased by mailing your payment to the Church Office, "Attn: Suzette Jones," or pay online by selecting "other" and indicating "Directory" in the note section. Once the order is received we will mail the directory to the address provided. The Committee responsible for overseeing the production of the Directory is composed of Deacons Patricia Fullilove , Dorita Newsome-Dobbins , Carl Watson , Richard Roper , and production manager, Sister Nicole Jean Baptiste . See any one of this group if you have questions about the document. 
Bethany's 150th Church Anniversary

As we prepare for the anniversary of the church, please consider donating photos, church programs, bulletins and other memorabilia prior to the year 2000. The Archive Committee would greatly appreciate PHOTOS of founding church members, historic church events, and church ministries. Bring all items, with your contact information, to the church clerk’s office, or email them to  egallashaw@verizon.net.
DON'T FORGET TO RESPOND TO THE 2020 CENSUS

A census is a method by which a particular geographic jurisdiction is able to get an (ideally) accurate count of its residents. Responding to the census allows your government to allocate funds and other resources towards infrastructure, education, employment, political representation and other needs in your community. If you have not responded yet, please visit my2020census.gov to do so online. You may also complete the paper questionnaire that was mailed to you. If you need help completing your 2020 Census questionnaire, please call toll-free 1-844-330-2020.
ADDRESSING THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Dear Bethany family,

As the COVID-19 strain of the Coronavirus spreads, it is in our interest to keep you informed and protected. We encourage you to practice proper hygiene habits and be careful when interacting with others. Here are some precautions to take:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or cough or sneeze into your elbow.
  • If you are sick, stay home.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Instead of shaking hands, greet others with a fist bump, elbow bump, "Wakanda Forever," or anything that does not require direct physical contact.
  • Do not use your fingertips to touch shared surfaces. For example, you may use paper towels to open doors, press elevator buttons, etc.
  • Keep hand sanitizer and disinfectants within reach and in locations you frequently access, such as the entrance to your home, your car, and any personal bags that you carry.
  • Stock up on medications and other essentials you may need in the event of quarantine, such as nonperishable food items.

We especially encourage our Seniors to take extra precautions, as data has proven that they are most at risk of catching the Coronavirus.

In addition, we as a church have taken steps to increase the availability of hand sanitizers in common spaces.

Although we are no longer having in-person meetings, please join us live in worship on our YouTube channel and at bethany-newark.org . You may also give securely online through our website. In the midst of these uncertain times, we want you to be able to worship with us as you always do, except from the comfort of your own home. Please be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, and click the icon that looks like a bell in order to receive all notifications in real time.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. We pray for your protection during this time, and for a safe and full recovery for anyone who has been infected.

For more information, see the following publication from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/workplace-school-and-home-guidance.pdf
NEWARK URGES RESIDENTS WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS TO CALL NEW JERSEY HOTLINE AT 1-800-222-1222. Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day. More information at https://www.njpies.org/