Memorial Wish List
We want to honor your loved ones in ways that recognize their unique interests, commitments, and personalities. These are just possible ideas for memorials – you may have others. See Pastor Julie or the chair of the Memorials & Bequests Team with your questions. Once you decide on a fitting memorial, we will want to recognize your loved one in Bethany’s Banner newsletter, as well as in a special worship service on All Saints Sunday (the first Sunday in November).
Endowments
We strongly encourage support of Bethany’s endowment funds. Memorials given here will be permanently invested, with the ongoing earnings supporting Bethany’s ministries for years and years to come.
Bethany Endowment – Supports many projects at Bethany each year, with the primary emphasis being to support new or innovative programs of the church.
Children and Youth Endowment – Used to create, improve, expand, or maintain children and youth programs at Bethany, in the community, and in the world.
Scholarship Endowment – Provides scholarship grants to Bethany youth for post-high school education, and also for Bethany members attending seminary.
Other Special Funds – Bethany has several other special funds supporting ministries such as music ministries, mission projects, social justice projects, and more. If you have a specialized ministry that you want to support, we can probably find a way to accomplish this.
Children and Youth Ministries
TVs or Video Projectors for various meeting rooms – Our Sunday School curriculum frequently includes brief videos to enhance lessons. Rather than roll TVs on carts throughout the building, we want to install video display equipment in several meeting rooms.
Child Classroom Improvements – Current needs include more adult-sized chairs for teachers, colorful rugs (with pads), artwork for walls, cork boards for displays, shelving, cubbies, and more.
Youth Room Improvements – We constantly seek to update the furnishings and equipment in this room to meet the evolving interests and needs of youth.
Youth Transportation Fund – The youth frequently go to activities around town, and take mission trips even to other states. We often need funding to support their travel, including renting vehicles on occasion.
Worship and Music Ministries
Video Recording of Worship – We want to install high quality cameras and recording equipment, so that we can share Bethany’s worship services with prospective visitors (through our website), as well as with homebound persons and Bethany members who are traveling.
Handbell Choir Equipment – We want to expand this ministry with additional bells and chimes and supporting equipment.
Video Screen for Worship Leaders/Singers – A video screen would be installed in a discreet location in the sanctuary to aid musicians and other worship leaders.
Banners and Other Worship “Visuals” – We frequently use banners, altar decorations, and other visuals in the Chapel and Sanctuary to promote worship themes throughout the year. Additional banners and visuals would help us to keep worship fresh each week.
Electronic Drum Set for Sanctuary – Replacing the live drums with an electronic set wouldn’t change the sound, but allow us to balance the volume more easily with other instrumentalists and singers.
Piano Mic for Grand Piano – The grand piano is easily heard live in the sanctuary, but currently can’t be heard well in the lobby or when we are recording worship. A piano mic would correct this.
Improved Lighting Controls for Sanctuary – More precise and dimmable control of our Sanctuary lighting would enhance worship dramas, concerts, special Holy Week worship services, Christmas Eve worship, and more.
Choir Scholarships – We hope to provide special scholarships to music students, who could participate in our choirs, help with section rehearsals, sing solos, and practice directing skills.
Building and Grounds
Fellowship Hall Improvements – We hope to equip this large room for more and better use through improved acoustics, brighter lighting, impact-resistance for light recreation, sound system improvements, video projection, and more.
Sound and Video Systems for Room 228 – This double-sized classroom is frequently used for adult forums and other larger groups. Better sound system and video-projection equipment would enhance the learning environment.
Matching Stackable Chairs for Room 228 – Currently we have an assortment of colors and types of chairs. New chairs will freshen the appearance, be more comfortable, and be easier to stack compactly.
Acoustic Improvements to Meeting Rooms – Acoustic treatments will improve the ability to hear in meeting rooms.
Video Announcement Displays – We are installing video announcement displays in the lobby or other locations, to promote the depth and variety of Bethany ministries and missions to guests in our building.
Replace the Volunteers’ Copy Machine – The 20-year old machine in the office is frequently used by Sunday School teachers, group and team leaders, and others throughout the week. Spare parts are now sparse, and so this much-used tool will soon need to be replaced.
Landscaping of Southwest Section of Church Campus – Create park-like atmosphere to the southwest of the church building once parsonages have been razed to improve visibility. Note: Furnishings, equipment, and landscaping must be approved in advance through Bethany’s Board of Trustees. Also, Bethany customarily recognizes memorials through means other than plaques.
Mission Outreach and Caring Ministries
The Care Bus – We send out a weekly shuttle to transport those who cannot otherwise get to worship. There is an ongoing need to rent a wheelchair-equipped minibus for this ministry.
Outreach Needs – Bethany has a history of strong support of mission and social justice outreach in our community and world. Much of this support across the years has been made possible through memorial gifts.