Bethany will celebrate One Hundred Twenty One Years of Faithful, Dedicated service to GOD, this community,and the world.
  We will celebrate Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.  The Rev. Jonathan Bradford, Associate Minister of Bethany Baptist Church will be our Speaker.  Our guests for the afternoon will be the Reeb Hosack Baptist Church Choir, Sister Donna Bates, Minister of Music, and the guest soloist will be Sister Pearline Byrd of New Faith Baptist Church of Christ. 

For such a time as this, you have called the church to be at its best.

Quicken our memories of those whose wisdom and love established this church and whose faith and steadfastness glorified you through its life.

For those who laid the foundations of this household of faith, we give thanks.

Make vivid to us the glorious victories that have been won in your name and the continuing fellowship, which has revealed your Spirit through these years.

For this rich inheritance of the Church of Jesus Christ, we give thanks.

Crown our joy in this hour with a fresh awareness of the vast company of Christians who share our celebration and who urge us to yet greater achievements in Christ's name.

For those who make common cause with us, we give thanks.

May we be worthy of the faith of our ancestors and eager to win new victories for righteousness' sake.

For the "invisible institution" of black slaves we give you thanks.  For the emergence of the Black Church, solidified by shared suffering and deliverance, we give thanks.

We remember with gratitude and awe their creative appropriation of the Bible, and their centuries-long struggle for freedom all alone.

For the Quakers who took a firm stand against slavery in 1688, we give thanks.

Fill us with an ever-increasing knowledge of truth, and with an ever-growing awareness of need.  Give us a more generous spirit.

For the assurance of new opportunities to serve you better, we give thanks.

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, renew our faith and increase our strength.  May we be worthy recipients of past blessings and ready helpers in the tasks that lie ahead.

Come, Lord Jesus, empower and hold our church to your heart.

Unite us in common commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, that the world may see our dedication to follow your techings and to fulfill your will for this church.

May your kingdom come and your will be done in splendid, perfect fellowship.  Continue to guide us in the future, as you have in the past.