Bethany Center for Spirituality and the Arts

Note: BCSA is a program of Bethany Church and all funds raised will be used for BCSA and not for the other ministries of Bethany Church.

Bethany Church is pleased to offer a new opportunity to the wider Central Vermont community called Bethany Center for Spirituality through the Arts (BCSA).

BCSA will offer opportunities for folks to freely explore their own sense of spirituality through a variety of artistic experiences, from art classes, to traditional spiritual practices, to community events like concerts and dances that will feed the soul. It will offer opportunities to explore spiritual development though disciplines like painting, photography, dance, music, meditation, movement, labyrinth walking cooking, theater, – the list is endless – as well as offering the opportunity to build spiritual community among the participants, if desired.

It is important to note that although Bethany Church is a Christian church, BCSA is not a Christian-focused program. Rather, each offering will begin with two universal spiritual beliefs. The first is that there is inherent worth in every individual as a being with spiritual needs. The second is that there are spiritual connections, based particularly in love, that bind us together as a human community in a shared and diverse world. These beliefs are central to the majority of spiritual traditions, and from this foundation, participants can explore different ways to develop their own spiritual awareness and practices from a variety of sources.

An additional spiritual principle that BCSA has adopted is that each offering will be designed so that everyone benefits fairly and that spiritual nurture does not come at an unjust cost. For example, musicians who play for a community dance will receive fair compensation and will not depend on the vagaries of a tip bucket. It means that instructors and practitioners will be compensated fairly for their time and expertise. It means that participants will asked to financially support programs in an equitable manner.

To this end, the purpose of this fundraiser is to raise seed money for BCSA programming. Folks are invited to consider supporting this resource as it seeks to enhance our community through development of both spirituality and the arts. Gifts in any amount are welcome and all contributors over $25 will receive the gift of two tickets of their choice to any upcoming BCSA event.

Bethany Church and Bethany Center for Spirituality and the Arts are very excited to offer these opportunities to the wider Montpelier area. We hope you will join us!