Important Upcoming Events - December 5, 2025
Room in the Inn Needs You
Bethlehem welcomes 10 homeless men every Saturday night from November through March. Please sign up to help. For the next date 12/13/25, we need 1 Saturday driver, 1 Sunday driver, 2 overnight hosts, and someone to provide Saturday night’s dinner. You only have 17 more opportunities to enjoy this ministry. Please contact Mike Loring (mloring@live.com or 615-596-0985) with any questions. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, sign-up sheets are in the Narthex and Gathering Space or by using this Sign-Up Genius link http://www.bethlehemumc.com/riti
Sunday Schedule
Bethlehem’s Sunday schedule is Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. and Worship at 10:15 a.m.
Music Notes
The chancel choir along with the Praise Band will present their December cantata, Love is Breathing, for the worship service on December 14. If you are interested in a short-term commitment, we are welcoming any singers that would like to participate. We rehearse on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary now until December 14. Please see Dann Childers or Joe Smyth for more information. You can also email Dann at dchilders@bethlehemumc.com for more information.
Angel Tree
The Angel Tree mission is to provide Christmas gifts for people in our community who need help. The Angels come from Bridges Domestic Violence Center, Room In The Inn, Burns Tabernacle Primitive Baptist Church and the local community. Please consider adopting an Angel as part of your Christmas giving. Minimum suggested gift amount is $100.00 per angel. The tree is in the Gathering Space. Gifts are due back at the church on December 14. For more info, please contact Lisa McIntyre at 615-210-0662.
Longest Night Service — December 14
We will gather in the sanctuary at Bethlehem UMC at 4:00 p.m. on December 14 for a Longest Night service. Also called a Blue Christmas service, the Longest Night provides a worship opportunity for those whose Christmas might not feel particularly merry. It offers a space to acknowledge grief, fear, loneliness – and to remember that darkness has never – and will never – overcome the light of Christ. Even if you are not experiencing grief, fear, or loneliness, chances are that you know someone who is. Invite them to Longest Night, and be sure to come with them.
November 30, 2025 Financial Info
Year to date financials for November 30, 2025 are:
Contributions and Other Income: $682,541.38
Expenses: $874,739.33
Prayer Warriors Next Meeting December 16 at 2:00 p.m.
Bethlehem has a group of Prayer Warriors that meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. If you have a prayer request you would like this group to lift in prayer, please contact either Betty Swilley (swilleyb@bellsouth.net) or Pat Smith (psmith@bethlehemumc.com). Everyone is invited on Tuesday, December 16.
Just a Few Bethlehem Ball Caps Left!
Our Youth Ministry is selling ball caps for $20 and we have just 7 left! Show off your Bethlehem pride in style and help our young people make a difference near and far. Whether you're running errands or grabbing coffee, wear your cap with pride and represent Bethlehem out in the community. Get yours from Alison or drop by the church office during the week to snag yours while supplies last!
Join us for Discovery Weekend!
Friday, January 9 – Sunday, January 11, 2026. Mark your calendars — Bethlehem UMC will host its first-ever Discovery Weekend this January! Discovery Weekend is a powerful spiritual formation retreat designed to be both holy and fun, creating an environment where young people can grow in their faith, listen for God, and experience God’s presence in meaningful ways.
While Discovery is similar in spirit to the Emmaus experience, this retreat is unique because it takes place right here in our own church and is designed specifically for our youth and their friends. High school students will serve as leaders alongside trained adults - sharing their faith, leading small groups, helping with games and worship, and modeling Christian discipleship.
But Discovery Weekend isn’t just for youth, it’s for the entire church family. The success of this weekend depends on the support of our whole congregation through prayer, volunteering, providing meals, snacks, and more. We will need over 50 adult volunteers, and there will be many ways to serve!
On Saturday evening, January 10 at 7:00 p.m., the whole Bethlehem community is invited to gather for a meaningful time of prayer and praise as we lift up our students and celebrate God’s work in their lives.
Discovery Weekend invites us to live out our Baptismal Covenant, to surround our young people with a community of love, support, and forgiveness.
Stay tuned to next week’s This Week at Bethlehem for specific ways you can serve and support this incredible experience. If you would like to learn more, please contact Alison Bocking at abocking@bethlehemumc.com
Photo Opportunity for Online Directory
We will be phasing out the Instant Church Directory we have been using and transitioning to using Realm for the pictorial and info directory. This Sunday, December 7, you can have your photo taken in the Gathering Space. Have someone take your photo in front of the blue screen and email it to Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com).
Want to Keep Informed?
If you would like to receive communications from Bethlehem UMC, please send an email to Pat Smith (psmith@bethlehemumc.com) asking her to add your name to the email list.
Choir and Handbells Rehearsals
Are you looking for a small group to join and you enjoy music? If so, consider our church choir and our handbell group for rehearsals on Wednesday evenings! Handbells meet in CLC202 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearses from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Reading music is not a requirement but fun and fellowship certainly is. For more information, please see any of our members or contact Joe Smyth at jsmyth@bethlehemumc.com
2026 Flower Sign-Ups
Flowers are needed for the 2026 Worship Services. Sign-up sheet is in the Church Office. Arrangements are $50.00 each and can be taken home after the end of the worship service. Contact Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com or 615-794-6721) for more info.
Worship Help Needed
Each week we need several people to help lead our worship services by being Greeters/Ushers or Liturgists. Each month, we also need 4 communion servers. Please use this Sign-Up Genius link: www.bethlehemumc.com/worshiphelp or contact Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com or 615-794-6721) if you can help, have questions or need more info.
Safety & Security Measures
In an effort to provide safety for the church staff, preschool and Chesterton Academy of the Incarnation, all exterior doors will be locked during the week. If you arrive at church and the door by the Sanctuary is locked, please ring the doorbell or call the church (615-794-6721) for assistance.
Save the Date for These Important Events
December 6 — Breakfast with St. Nick 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
December 6 — Paint for Africa 2:30 p.m.
December 14 — Music Celebration — Love Is Breathing
December 14 — Monthly Mission — Peanut Butter and Jelly
December 14 — Angel Tree Gifts due
December 14 — Longest Night Service at 4:00 p.m. in Sanctuary
December 24 — Christmas Eve Services at 4:30, 7:00 & 11:00
December 25 & 26 — Church Closed for Christmas Holiday
December 31 — Last Day to make 2025 Contributions
January 1 — Church Closed for New Year’s Day