Finals season is just around the corner, and the Wesley Foundation students at TSU could use a little love from us! As a part of Church Has Left the Building, we are collecting individually packaged snacks to send care packages to them as they hit the books.

Please bring donations of any individually wrapped snacks — with the specific requests for mac & cheese, granola bars, peanut butter or cheese crackers as well as peppermint candy — and place them in the collection tub in the Narthex starting Sunday for the next few weeks.

Every snack is a small reminder that they are prayed for, thought of, and cheered on by us. Thank you for helping fuel their finals! The small serving sizes are important since the boxes we pack are 6 x 6 x 4 and we want to get as many snacks in as possible!

Easter Lily Order Form

See the blue insert in Sunday’s bulletin for an Easter Lily Order Form. Lilies can be given in honor of or memory of someone to be placed in the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 5. March 29 is the last day to place your order. Lilies are $20.00 each and support youth missions and outreach.

Holy Week Schedule

Story Walk — All week outside on church grounds (Begins March 29)

Maundy Thursday, April 2 — Worship Service 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday, April 3 — Worship Service 7:00 p.m. Childcare Provided

Holy Saturday, April 4 — Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 a.m.

Easter Sunday, April 5

Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m.

Normal Sunday Schedule Worship 10:15 a.m., Sunday School 9:00 a.m.

NO Afternoon/Evening Activities

Project Transformation

Bethlehem is once again serving children outside our community through Project Transformation. PT helps children improve their literacy by being better readers, their social and emotional health and their nutrition during summer months when those things might be difficult for working families. They also hire college-aged young adults to engage in purposeful leadership and connect churches with their communities. How can you be a part of this? Here are some ways:

1. Sign up to be a reading volunteer. We’ll go to Antioch UMC four days in June to work with children on their reading skills. Hours are 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

2. Cook dinner for 15 interns twice in June. A team of Bethlehem volunteers will provide a taco bar or fried chicken or another tasty meal for this group at Scarritt Bennett center.

3. Provide books, snacks and supplies for the summer program. You can click this link: https://a.co/0802NaI9 to go directly to their Amazon wish list.

4. Pray for the program. Prayer guides are available in the church office.

April Communion Offering

The communion offering on April 5 will be directed to Church Has Left the Building, a church-wide community service event that takes place on Sunday, April 12 following a brief worship service. Money collected from the communion offering will help cover the cost of supplies needed for the various projects. You may bring your offering to the altar rail during communion or donate online and designate for Church Has Left the Building.

Easter Eggs

If you took a bag of empty plastic eggs, please return filled eggs by April 2. If you have questions or need more info, please contact April Jackson (ajackson@bethlehemumc.com).

Garden Cross for Easter

On Easter morning there will be a wooden cross located in the Angel Garden between the Old and New Sanctuaries. Everyone is invited to visit the Angel Garden before the 10:15 a.m. worship service and to place a flower on the cross. The flowering cross represents the transition from Good Friday to Easter, from meditation on Jesus' death to joyful celebration of his resurrection and also as a continuing presence of Christ among Christians today. It also will provide a beautiful family photo opportunity for Easter. Special thanks to Georgeann McCoy and her team of Garden Angels for providing the flowers.

Prayer Warriors Next Meeting April 7 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, April 7.

Church Has Left the Building – April 12

Church Has Left the Building is coming soon! This event has taken place on the Sunday after Easter for more than 10 years. This year on April 12 following a brief worship service at 9:00 a.m., we will literally leave the building to become the hands and feet of Christ in our community.

Some may choose to pick up trash along Hillsboro Road, others may visit and sing to some of our homebound members, and some may want to do yard work at a residential home for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

There are other projects that take place at church but still have an impact on our community. From baking cookies that will be delivered to faculty and staff members of local schools, to packing beans and rice that will be distributed through Feed America First to help the food insecure, to putting together hygiene kits that will be distributed through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to those in need following disasters, there is a project for everyone.

These are only some of the projects you can choose from during Church Has Left the Building. Sign ups are in the Gathering Space, insert in Sunday’s bulletin and online using this link: https://www.bethlehemumc.com/chlb

The BUMC Missions Team looks forward to joining with you to make a difference in our community. Please contact Robin Folks at rhfolks@comcast.net or 615-202-3417 if you have any questions or need more information.

Love Cooks

Prior to COVID, Bethlehem members cared for one another through LOVE COOKS. We made certain there was always food in the freezer at Bethlehem that staff and members could share with folks who might need a meal and a food “hug” during a difficult time. There is no doubt that Bethlehem is filled with great cooks and generous hearts. We are revitalizing LOVE COOKS and need your help. If you like to cook, please let us know if you might provide a meal, dessert, etc., for the freezer. We are also looking for 2 more Bethlehem members to serve as a captain for one quarter helping to track food or encourage others to cook. If you are interested in helping or knowing more about LOVE COOKS, please contact Debbie Robinson (robinsondebbie555@gmail.com) or Rebecca Little (rebecca8916@gmail.com).

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.

Flower Info for 2026 Worship Services

Since Always in Bloom, our florist for many years, has gone out of business we will be using Freeman Florist for our Sunday arrangements. Beginning in May arrangements will be $60.00 each. If you would like to have flowers for worship services, please let Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com) know the date that you would like or sign-up from the church’s website: bethlehemumc.com/flowers

Just a Few Bethlehem Ball Caps Left!

Our Youth Ministry is selling ball caps for $20 each! 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!

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.

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

March 29 — Palm Sunday

March 29 — Easter Story Walk Begins (Outside)

April 2 — Maundy Thursday Service at 7:00 p.m.

April 3 — Good Friday Service at 7:00 p.m.

April 4 — Easter Egg Hunt and Activities at 10:00 a.m.

April 5 — Easter Sunday

Sunrise Service 7:00 a.m.

Small Groups (Sunday School) 9:00 a.m.

Worship Service 10:15 a.m.

April 5 – Communion Offering – Church Has Left the Building

April 6 — Church Closed for Easter Holiday

April 12 — Church Has Left the Building — worship at 9:00 a.m. — day of service to the community

April 12 — Monthly Mission — Tuna and Canned Meat

Bethlehem United Methodist Church

Important Upcoming Events - March 27, 2026

Along The Way (March 27 - April 2, 2026)

Bethlehem News - March 27, 2026