Bethlehem News - September 18, 2026
Click below to read updates from various ministries at Bethlehem United Methodist Church
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Worship News
We are worshipping together this Sunday at 10:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary Sunday School classes will meet at 9:00 a.m.
Flower Info for 2026 Worship Services –
If you would like to give flowers for worship services, please let Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com or 615-794-6721) know the date (or dates) 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.
This week's worship service will be live streamed and recorded on our church website and on Facebook and YouTube. Currently the worship bulletin is available on the website by clicking on the All Media tab, then the Media tab and then the Bulletin and Announcements tab.
If you get the following error message on the All Media tab
“403. That’s an error.
We're sorry, but you do not have access to this page. That’s all we know.”
Please scroll down the page to the website info that is actually there for you to see.
You may give online by going to the church website. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Ron Whitler.
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Please contact April Jackson, Director of Children's Ministries (ajackson@bethlehemumc.com) for more info on any of these children's activities.
Happy Birthday Gift
May this week find you with warm hearts! If your child has an upcoming birthday, please remind them that April has a little Birthday gift for them that they can get when they come to Sunday School or Church! Birthday gifts have been kid suggested and kid approved. I'm so excited to help your child celebrate their special day in 2026 with a "Happy, Happy day" gift!
Children’s Church
Children’s Church is for children 3rd grade and younger. Help us ensure the safety of your children by registering them for Children’s Church each week using the sheet next to the Sanctuary center doors.
Worship Bags
Worship bags are on the hooks in the main hallway. They contain quiet, hands-on items like wikki sticks, coloring pages, books, and other fidgets to keep hands busy while still allowing users to listen and learn.
Nursery Available
Nursery is available for children 3 and under, every Sunday morning from 8:45 a.m. until the end of the worship service.
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Please contact Alison Bocking (abocking@bethlehemumc.com) for more info on any of these youth activities:
Friends and guests between 6th and 12th grade are always welcome at all of our youth events!
Dear Parents,
I hope everyone is surviving the heat dome! Fall weather, where are you? A big thank you to Jen McQuiston and Amy Everhart for leading youth group while I was away last week. I’m so grateful for the wonderful team of adults who help make our youth ministry possible!
Sunday school continues this week as we dive into our lesson, “The Mountain of God.” Through Isaiah 2:2, we’ll explore the prophet’s vision of God’s holy mountain and what it teaches us about hope, peace and drawing closer to God. As always, we’ll kick things off with cinnamon rolls and conversation.
This Sunday evening is a FUN Night! We’ll head to the gym for an action-packed Nerf Night filled with games, friendly competition and plenty of laughter. Friends are always welcome, so invite someone to join the fun! We’ll have pizza for dinner. Please bring $5 to help cover the cost.
We can’t wait to see everyone Sunday!
A Prayer for the Season of Creation
Gentle God, You make yourself known through the colors, shapes, textures, sounds, tastes and smells of creation. May we never stop looking up, reaching out, and being still in our more-than-human world. Amen.
- A Prayer from Illustrated Ministry
Peace,
Alison Bocking+
Director of Youth Ministries
Important Dates and Reminders:
Looking ahead:
· September 20 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Youth Group, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· September 27 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Youth Group, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· October 4 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Youth Group, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· October 11 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., NO Youth Group
Super Important Links:
Youth Calendar
Click here to view and subscribe to our new and improved Google Youth Calendar!
iPhone Users: Click here to subscribe to our Youth Calendar
Click here to join the Youth Parent's group chat on GroupMe
Click here to pick a Calendly date
Do you have a soccer game, orchestra performance, community play you'd like Alison to attend? Or maybe a family game night? Dinner outing? Parent chat over coffee? Please sign up for a date and time. If the time exceeds one hour, please select an additional block of time.
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October Communion Offering
The communion offering for October 4, will be directed to “Share the Feast.” In November, Bethlehem hosts "Share the Feast," where thousands of canned goods collected by local schools are sorted and placed in more than 600 boxes and distributed to families in need through Feed America First. Bethlehem also provides the funds to purchase turkeys to go with the food boxes. Money collected from the communion offering will go toward buying the turkeys. You may bring your offering to the altar rail during communion or donate online and designate for “Share the Feast.”
Monthly Mission
The next monthly mission will be Sunday, October 11 when we will collect pasta and pasta sauce. Please plan to bring your pasta and pasta sauce to the altar during the designated time during the worship service.
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Issues of the September/October 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 if you have questions or need more info.
If you’re moving through a particularly difficult place in life perhaps a Stephen Minister could help. We currently have Stephen Ministers available to help you through a difficult journey. Please contact Pat Smith (psmith@bethlehemumc.com or 615-794-6721) for more info.
If you have surgery planned or are ever in the hospital unexpectedly, please let the church know. You can email Dana Smyth or call the church office (615-794-6721). She will forward the information to the staff.