Anniversary Celebration Events

Bethany Presbyterian Church was chartered as a congregation on September 30, 1956. Here is how we celebrated our 60th anniversary!

On Saturday, September 24, at 2:00 PM we had a joyful gathering for all members and friends of Bethany, past and present, to kick off our 60th anniversary celebration.

Thank you to Pastor Kathryn Pyke for speaking, to our former pastors Garry Cox (who was accompanied by his wife Robyn, daughter Jenifer, and granddaughter Molly!) and Kimberly Elliott for coming and speaking, and former Parish Associate Robin Crawford, too! We also heard from Kay DeWeese (Pastor George DeWeese's wife), Rev. Janet Bower, musicians Dorie Swales and Derek Tam, and from Sue Bullis - and you can see their letters here! Their messages of love, memories, and hope for the future were a true blessing to all in attendance.  We sang some favorite hymns together, accompanied by the talented Pam Matthews, and were treated to delicious and festive food and drink.

On Sunday, September 25, we will celebrated worship, including some of Bethany’s fine musicians: Prayz, the Chancel Choir, and the double quartet of "Four on the Floor" and the Bethany Quartet presented beautiful music.  After worship we headed down to the Picnic!

Our 60th Annual Picnic was held at Beckner Shelter in San Bruno Park, with food, field games, and fellowship, and of course the perennial sno-cones to celebrate our 60th year as a Bethany church family!

We are sincerely thankful to all who participated in our weekend. It was wonderful to see old friends and new!

Letters from former clergy, staff, and members can be read here.

Photos of the Anniversary weekend can be seen here.

The First Saturday Dinner in September, September 3, at 6:00 p.m, was a beautiful evening with delicious food, excellent company, and sweet memories. We hosted a screening of the Bethany Story Project film. You may recall that after the San Bruno explosion and fire in 2010, we were visited by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) to help us recover from the shock and trauma that event, including losing beloved members of the Bullis family. Part of that recovery was to document our stories - about Bethany, the disaster, and the people who were lost. The PDA sent filmmaker David Barnhart to capture those stories, and he made a beautiful and moving film, which has only been shown at Bethany. After viewing the film, we shared some time for discussion, and then closed with a prayer in the healing garden.  We are very thankful for all who chose to be with us that night!

We have finished taking orders for Bethany logo apparel: t-shirts, sweatshirts and polos.  We hope that you all will enjoy wearing the Bethany name wherever you go!