Important Upcoming Events - December 12, 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 12/20/25, we need 1 Saturday driver, 1 Sunday driver and 2 overnight hosts. You only have 16 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
Room in the Inn Meal Changes
Football coaches are known for calling big victories a “team effort.” One of the ways Team Bethlehem is battling hunger is by providing dinner for our Room in the Inn guests on Saturday nights. Feeding ten guests and two overnight helpers can be overwhelming, but not when it is a TEAM effort. We have new sign-up sheets in the Gathering Space where you can volunteer to bring a salad, vegetable, desserts or bread and drinks. You can also sign up to serve our guests. This Saturday, December 13 is the first week we’re trying this approach. If you can help, contact Dana Smyth at the church office and be a part of the team!
Room in the Inn Overnight Host Info
This mission opportunity is for men only. It is like a camp out in the gym. You eat dinner, talk, watch TV, play on your phone or computer then go to sleep. We have Wi-Fi available. If this is your first time to sign up, have no worries, we will always pair you with a seasoned veteran. It is easy and safe.
Sunday Schedule
Bethlehem’s Sunday schedule is Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. and Worship at 10:15 a.m.
Share the Feast Thank You
The 2025 holidays are here and BUMC has started off the season with a record setting “Share the Feast“ effort. BUMC has been the center of the food collection/distribution effort managed by Feed America First (FAF) for nearly twenty years and the generosity of BUMC members has been strong for that entire time. The food collected at seventeen schools, four pre-school/daycare centers and three local neighborhoods built a giant pile in the middle of our gym – an amazing THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS (cans/boxes)! Together with the youth from
Chesterton Academy, some neighborhood families and many of our BUMC congregation, we separated and re-boxed all that food – generating 665 very full boxes to be shared with local food agencies who got the food to needy neighbors. AND..once again BUMC members reached deep into our own pockets and donated enough funds so that FAF was able to provide 400 turkeys to go along with each of those food boxes. In fact, BUMC raised more than enough funds to purchase the available turkeys. However no additional turkeys were available to buy in time for Thanksgiving, so the money is being used to buy boneless hams to distribute to hungry neighbors between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
All of this was possible because the families of 10,000 students, teachers and neighbors willingly shared a portion of their blessings and the 200 or so folks here at BUMC shared some of our blessings and some of our most precious assets – time. The families who received the food will never know those who donated, but they will know that there are people who care. Those food boxes made the holiday season a bit brighter for many people and the gifts of true Christian love and compassion offered their hearts some sustenance as well.
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.
Donna Gray will provide special music at the Christmas Eve services at 4:30 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m.
BethleHymns for 12/14/25
1. House of the Lord - key of G
https://youtu.be/IqfV0zeEvT8?si=nw29TotY3-Lq-DJm
2. Joy To the World
https://youtu.be/bP5b0VQIhLg?si=7_iTwfaXKGn8HwiT
3. From the Manger
https://youtu.be/Uvm0sYo0ULI?si=hclULIkfZheXcVUW
4. Cantata Music - Love is Breathing
Link to hear cantata songs: https://daywindworship.com/product/love-is-breathing/?srsltid=AfmBOoo63Hulwqg_CbAhNh2uQlND2rQYGDCDqdC2KvantPjZJRlNkodu
5. God Rest Ye Merry
https://youtu.be/K01cCKfA-6M?si=r-HUWx2_gc7BLd8
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. Gifts are due back at the church on December 14. For more info, please contact Lisa McIntyre at 615-210-0662.
Youth Poinsettia Sale
Honor or remember a loved one this Christmas with a poinsettia. The youth of Bethlehem are offering poinsettias to be placed in the sanctuary this Christmas season for the cost of $20 per plant. See the form in Sunday’s bulletin and return it in the offering plate or to the church office by Sunday, December 14.
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.
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 – January 9-11, 2026
Discovery Weekend is coming in January! Discovery Weekend is a spiritual formation retreat (imagine all the goodness of summer camp crammed into a weekend!) held in the local church for youth in grades 5-12. Our weekend will be held January 9 - 11, 2026. We kickoff on Friday evening and wrap up on Sunday morning after the 10:15 am worship service. Our theme is Rooted in God’s Love from the book of Ephesians. The weekend includes meaningful worship experiences, engaging discussions, and fun-filled activities. It all happens right on our campus at Bethlehem UMC with our entire church wrapping their arms around our youth.
Whether you or your child have been active or not, you are invited to this weekend. Everyone is invited to experience God’s love and find out how much God has to say.
Here are three key ways you can support Discovery Weekend:
The cost is $75. It’s really important to register early so we can plan for meals and other important details. Visit http://www.bethlehemumc.com/discovery to register.
Join the Discovery Team: We’ll need to fill 60+ volunteer slots throughout the weekend. The whole church is invited to participate in the weekend through serving on the team, praying, providing meals and snacks, and more. Sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044CA4AC2DA2F85-46943187-discovery#/
Pray: Please begin praying for this weekend and our youth community at Bethlehem UMC and make plans to attend the Church-Wide Prayer Service on January 10, at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. We also need individuals to sign up for the Prayer Vigil: http://www.bethlehemumc.com/discoverypray
For more info on Discovery Weekend, 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 14, 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 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
January 9 – 11 – Discovery Weekend
January 11 — Monthly Mission — Pasta & Pasta Sauce
January 19 — Church Closed for MLK Day
January 24 — Church Council Retreat
February 8 — Monthly Mission — Beans & Rice
February 16 — Church Closed for President’s Day
February 18 — Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 p.m.