Important Upcoming Events - October 16, 2026
Sunday Schedule
Bethlehem’s Sunday schedule is Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. and Worship at 10:15 a.m.
Music Notes
The Bethlehem Bluegrass Band will provide special music for the worship service this Sunday. In addition to the songs they will sing, the following hymns will be used:
1. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
https://youtu.be/kJcY-ZLVwvs?si=7vIcYYPIyhZ_Bi3a
2. I've Got a River of Life
https://youtu.be/0X2IdisRsoE?si=pFWQyeLROcpjJV8n
3. We Are the Church (chorus)
https://youtu.be/HggUIYjV8AY?si=5JSzO5Jg22gO0-e-
Choir and Handbells Rehearsals
Are you looking for a small group? Do you enjoy music? If so, join our church choir and our handbell group for rehearsals on Wednesday evenings! Handbells meet in CLC 202 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearses from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. 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
Cantata Rehearsals Begin October 21
All singers (young and old) are welcome to join the choir to sing for the cantata on Sunday, December 20 at 10:15 a.m. Rehearsals will be every Wednesday (except the week of Thanksgiving) at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary starting October 21. You can email Dann Childers (dchilders@bethlehemumc.com) or Joe Smyth (jsmyth@bethlehemumc.com) for more information.
Study the Book of Revelation
Join the New Wine and The Path Sunday School classes for a study of the book, Breaking the Code: Understanding the Book of Revelation by Bruce M. Metzger. They will meet in CLC 206 at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday until November 8.
November/December The Upper Room
Issues of the November/December The Upper Room (daily devotional booklet) are in the black mailbox just outside the Sanctuary doors and on the tables in the Narthex. Contact Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com) if you have questions or need more info.
Prayer Warriors Next Meeting October 20 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 Conference Room 2. 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, October 6 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room 2.
Preschool Selling Butter Braids
Bethlehem Preschool is selling Butter Braids until October 21. Delivery is before the holidays on November 10. The Butter Braids are $18.00 each and the following flavors are being offered:
Cinnamon Roll with Cream Cheese Icing
Apple
Chocolate
Strawberry & Cream Cheese
Bavarian Crème with Chocolate Icing
Four Cheese and Herb with Marinara Sauce.
To place an order please contact Lori Foy at 615-497-1308 or lfoy@bethlehemumc.com by 10/21 or you can sign up in the Narthex. Thank you for supporting our Preschool!
Trunk ‘R Treat – October 24
We hope you will join us October 24 for Trunk ’R Treat! Enjoy food and activities from 4:30- 6:30 p.m. in the Gym. Trunks open outside at 6:30p.m., in the back parking lot. Mark your calendar and start inviting friends!
Everyone is encouraged to dress in costume and come for a pizza/snack dinner and lots of fun! We’ll have bounce houses, games, and crafts. Adults: plan to decorate your trunk and bring candy or treats to hand out to the kids. Prizes will be awarded to the best decorated trunks! Kids: don’t forget your treat bags. Invite your friends, family, and neighbors for a fun, FREE night for ALL ages! You won’t want to miss Trunk ’R Treat!
The Bridge — Bridging Generations. Building Community
The Bridge will meet on October 25 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Banquet Hall. The Bridge is a gathering designed for young and midlife adults, children, and youth to build relationships, share a meal, and grow in faith. Whether you're single, married, raising kids, or simply looking for community there's a place for you! Please RSVP at bethlehemumc.com/thebridge or using the QR code.
Free Screening of “The Chosen”
Please join us on Sunday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the Old Sanctuary for a free advance screening of “The Chosen.” This will be season 6, episode 1 of the series.
Youth Chili Cook-Off
Everyone is invited to make a pot of chili and join us in the gym following the worship service on Sunday, November 1. Even if you don’t make a pot of chili, you’re invited to come enjoy the food and fellowship.
Charge Conference — November 1
Plan to attend the church’s annual Charge Conference on November 1 in the Sanctuary at 1:00 p.m. Charge Conference is the “State of the Church” meeting where you can learn what has happened in the past year and some of the plans for next year. Youth Chili Cook-Off will be immediately before Charge Conference — join in the food and fellowship prior to the meeting.
Share the Feast – Saturday November 14
Once again it’s time to plan for Share the Feast –BUMC's annual day to share food and caring with those less fortunate. This year, the goal is to provide 400 turkeys (cost of $20.00 each) for food boxes that will be packed. Increased cost of turkeys, combined with a significant growth of difficult financial circumstances make our sharing efforts even more critical this year! The other big need is for volunteers to join in the packing event. The packing will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14 in the gym. Canned goods for the boxes will be provided by area schools and other sources. If you have questions or need more info, please contact Dave Speer at meatguy453@gmail.com
Love Cooks
Love has been cooking, now who needs to eat? Our Love Cooks freezer is as full as a Grandpa after Thanksgiving dinner. Meals are coming and going. You are welcome to share this bounty of homemade goodness with someone who is experiencing illness, grief or just needs to be reminded of how much God loves them. There are casseroles, soup and even banana bread ready to go. We are so grateful to all who have answered our call to make meals. If you have questions (or need help finding the freezer!) ask Dana Smyth in the church office, or email Debbie Robinson (robinsondebbie555@gmail.com).
Employment Opportunity
The Bethlehem UMC SPRC is seeking a Facilities Maintenance Coordinator to work 20-30 hours per week. The full job description can be found at bethlehemumc.com/fmc If you or someone you know is interested in this position, please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@bethlehemumc.com
Soul Sisters
Soul Sisters are a group of women who meet for Bible study and to share our lives together. Our mission statement says:
Our mission is to grow closer to Christ as we grow closer to each other and to spread God’s love to other people.
We meet at 1:00 p.m. on Mondays in the Upper Banquet Hall - once a month we meet at night so working women can join us too! If you are interested in joining us, contact Liz Maden (Maden.en0625@gmail.com) or Rebecca Little (rebecca8916@gmail.com).
Help Support The Bridge!
The Bridge is a gathering of young and midlife adults building community together at Bethlehem UMC. They meet twice a month at the church and their gathering begins with a shared meal, along with youth and children. If God is calling you to support The Bridge by providing a meal, you can sign up using this link (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4CA4A72CA3FB6-65571438-thebridge#/) or the attached QR code.
Operation Christmas Child
How can you get involved with Operation Christmas Child? Every year, boys and girls all around the world experience the love of Jesus through the simple gift of a shoebox. Shoebox gifts go to the poorest children in the world; for many this is the first gift they'll ever receive. If you would like to bring items for the boxes, small items (combs, brushes, baby dolls, cars, etc.) may be brought in between now and the packing party. No liquid, breakables, soap, or food. On Sunday, November 15, all ages are invited to the Old Sanctuary at 4:30 p.m. to help pack gift boxes; we need your hands! Contact April Jackson ajackson@bethlehemumc.com if you have any questions or need more information.
Room in the Inn — November 7
Bethlehem welcomes 10 men experiencing homelessness every Saturday night from November through March – the first night to host is November 7. A complete description of all the jobs for Room in the Inn can be found in this newsletter. Please contact Don Fagan (donfagan@bellsouth.net or 615-400-1254) or Vicki Wolczyk (vicki.wol@comcast.net or 615-397-8015) 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
Rice and Bean Packing — November 8
Please join us to pack rice and beans in the gym on Sunday, November 8 immediately after the worship service.
Room in the Inn — Team Meal Info
Would you like to be involved with Room in the Inn, but preparing dinner for 12 – 15 people seems like a challenge. Here’s a great way to start! Sign up for a “RITI Team Meal.” There are sheets for meals in the Gathering Space where you can sign-up to bring a main dish, a side item or dessert. You can each volunteer to show up and serve the meal. Best part is you can sit down to share the meal with our guests. As an added bonus, we will teach you how to operate the dishwasher!
Gather your friends, neighbors, a Sunday School class, a Bible study group, a book club or any group you are a part of to provide dinner for our Room in the Inn guests. Arrive by 5:30 - 5:45 p.m. on Saturday in the gym/gym kitchen to set the table, warm the meal and serve our guests.
What’s needed:
1. Servers – 2 people to serve and clean-up
2. Entrée
3. Vegetable/salad
4. Starch
5. Dessert
6. Drinks
Sign-up sheets and dates available are in the Gathering Space. If you have questions or need more info, please contact Vicki Wolczyk (vicki.wol@comcast.net or 615-397-8015).
Room in the Inn Job Descriptions
Bethlehem has participated in Room in the Inn for more than 35 years. From the beginning of November until the end of March, our church opens its gym to host 10 men each Saturday evening. Guests receive dinner on Saturday night, breakfast Sunday morning and a sack lunch to take with them when they leave the church on Sunday morning. Racks of clothing are set out for guests to take at no cost. Guests also have access to a washer and dryer, showers and a warm place to sleep. In addition, there is time for conversation and fellowship. All guests must attend an orientation led by Room in the Inn staff to participate in the program. We will begin welcoming guests this year on November 7. Volunteers are needed each week to make the program possible. Sign-up sheets are in the Narthex and Gathering Space, and you can also sign up on the church website, www.bethlehemumc.com. Volunteers are needed for the following:
Drivers
Two male drivers (over the age of 25) are needed to drive the church vans each Saturday night to pick up our guests from the Room in the Inn Campus in downtown Nashville at 705 Drexel Street. Drivers should be prepared to leave Bethlehem by 5:30 p.m. The van keys will be on a hook on the wall in the gym kitchen. Upon arriving at the Room in the Inn campus, drivers pull in the first entrance and push the call box and a staff member will let drivers in. Drivers are to pull forward as far as possible, remain in the van and guests will be escorted to the van. After returning to church, van keys should be returned to the gym kitchen.
On Sunday morning, two male drivers are needed to drive our guests back to the Room in the Campus. Drivers should be ready to leave church by 6:00 a.m. Upon returning to church, the vans should be parked in the south parking lot and keys placed on the hook in the gym kitchen. Drivers must be over the age of 25.
Overnight Hosts
Two men (over 18) are needed each week to spend the night in the church gym with our guests. Volunteers are provided with a cot but need to bring their own sleeping bag or blanket and a pillow. Overnight hosts should arrive at the gym by 5:30 p.m. to set up cots and put sheets, pillows and toiletry bags on beds. Hosts are responsible for taking clothes racks out of RITI closet and setting up a long table for books, shoes, shorts and other items. Hosts also set up four long tables and 16 chairs for dinner close to the kitchen area and place towels outside the men’s restrooms for showers. When guests arrive between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m., hosts are to welcome them, direct them to the showers and laundry facilities and have dinner with them. Showers are in both gym restrooms. The shower in the women’s restroom should not be used until all females assisting with dinner have left. Washer and dryer are outside through the door by the restrooms. Guests are welcome to watch the TV in the gym lobby. Smoking is only allowed outside. Lights are out at 10:00 p.m. Guests need to be awakened by 5:00 a.m. on Sunday. Overnight hosts are responsible for making coffee and setting out breakfast provided by volunteers. Guests leave the church at 6:00 a.m. Overnight hosts are responsible for putting away cots and placing used towels and sheets in rolling canvas bags (labeled Laundry) and putting the bags in the restroom hallway.
Saturday Night Dinner
Volunteers are needed to provide dinner and drinks for 12 men (ten overnight guests and two overnight hosts) plus those who are serving dinner. The meal should be ready to serve by 7:00 p.m. This is a great project to do as a family, Sunday School class or other small group. Those serving are encouraged to sit and have dinner with our guests. Dinner is typically set up on the counter in the gym kitchen buffet style with church members serving our guests. Drinks and desserts are usually set up on a table along the wall by the kitchen and are self-serve. Volunteers are also responsible for washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen.
Breakfast on Sunday Morning
A volunteer is needed to provide breakfast for 12 men on Sunday morning. The food should be delivered to the gym kitchen after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Since our guests leave Sunday morning by 6:00, cereal, donuts, pastries and frozen breakfast sandwiches that can be warmed in the microwave are good options. Our guests also enjoy juice and milk. Coffee is provided by the church.
Sack Lunches
A volunteer is needed to prepare and deliver 10 sack lunches to the gym kitchen after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. Lunches should be placed in the gym kitchen fridge (large stainless steel fridge in area by dishwasher, not the black Parent’s Day Out fridge). Sample lunch could include a sandwich, chips, soft fruit, dessert and drink all in a disposable bag.
Laundry
A person is needed to pick up laundry in the restroom hallway in the gym Sunday after church. Clean laundry should be returned to the gym by the following Saturday. Laundry includes 10 towels, 10 wash cloths, 10 flat sheets and 10 pillow cases.
Contact Information
There is a passage that reminds us of who we serve at Room in the Inn. According to author, Sharon Brous of “The Amen Effect,” there is a nineteenth century Rabbinic Text that declares every person is accompanied, at all times, by a procession of angels crying out “Make way for an image of the Holy One is approaching!” How do we keep missing all these angels, with the trumpets and proclamations desperate to rouse us to the dignity of every human being?
Brous says “Our hardest and holiest work is not to look away.”
Come join the Room in the Inn team! We thank you for considering to participate in this important ministry. If you have any questions, please contact Don Fagan (donfagan@bellsouth.net or 615-400-1254) or Vicki Wolczyk (vicki.wol@comcast.net or 615-397-8015)
Flower Info for 2026 Worship Services
If you would like to give flowers for worship services, please let Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com) know the date that you would like or use the link from the church’s website: www.bethlehemumc.com/flowers Arrangements are $60.00 each and can be taken home after the end of the worship service.
Only 1 Bethlehem Ball Cap 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 and preschool, 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
October 24 — Trunk ‘R Treat
October 25 — The Bridge
October 25 — Free Screening of “The Chosen”
November 1 — All Saints Sunday
November 1 — Youth Chili Cook-Off
November 1 — Charge Conference
November 7 — Room in the Inn Begins
November 8 — Pack Rice and Beans in Gym After Worship
November 14 — Pack Boxes for “Share the Feast”
November 15 — Operation Christmas Child
November 15 — Church-Wide Thanksgiving Dinner