Bethlehem News - November 10th, 2023
Click below to read updates from various ministries at Bethlehem United Methodist Church
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We are worshipping in person together this Sunday at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m.
This week's worship services will be live streamed and recorded on our church website and on Facebook. Currently the worship bulletin is available on the website then by clicking on News tab, then Bulletin and Announcements tab.
The 2024 flower sign-up sheets are in the Church Office and in the Adult Sunday School class folders. Arrangements are $50.00 each and can be taken home after the end of the 10:45 worship service. Flowers can also be reserved using this Sign-Up Genius link (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4CA4A72CA3FB6-45723586-flowers#/) and select the Sunday/Sundays you want or you may contact Dana Smyth 615-794-6721.
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:
Operation Christmas Child
We are gathering small toys and items for shoebox gifts. Bring your donations any time between now and November 12. We are also collecting normal sized shoeboxes.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
November 12 - Shoebox Packing Party for Operation Christmas Child - 4:30 p.m. gather in the Old Sanctuary. Bring small toys and gifts to help pack gift boxes to go to children in need all over the world.
Less than 100 days to Christmas . . . make a list with your family. . . of something that you're thankful for each day until then!
Grateful for you!
Children’s Church
Please make sure that you use the Sign Up sheets in the Narthex to register your children. If possible, please sign them in before the service begins. Children's church is offered during each service.
Worship Bags
Worship bags are on the hooks in the hallway across from Pastor Craig’s office. Keep us in mind if you get tired of your Rubik's cubes or other quiet gadgets and want to donate new or lightly used items.
Children’s Sunday School
We learn through Bible reading activities, games, discussion, a 2 - 3 minute video, theme-related snacks and more — 9:30 a. m. each Sunday in the Old Sanctuary and Children’s Classrooms.
Nursery Available
Nursery is available for children 3 and under, on Sunday mornings from 8:10 a.m. through the end of the 10:45 service.
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Please contact Dana Smyth (dsmyth@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!
THIS WEEK:
Sunday School – Every Sunday - 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Join us in the Banquet Hall Kitchen to start your week with breakfast and fellowship. From there we head to the Youth Classrooms to discuss how we show God’s Love with Bob Goff’s study Love Does.
Sunday Evening Activities 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. - Come join us for Dinner, Games, Worship and Study. Parents, please sign-up using this link for Sunday night meals or as a Small Group Leader: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C48A8AD2DA0FF2-bethlehem
Upcoming Events
November 12 - Sunday School (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.) we’ll continue the journey with Bob Goff’s Love Does series.
No Sunday Night Youth - Instead plan to join your families and the church packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child at 4:30 (Old Sanctuary) and then stay for our Church-Wide Thanksgiving Dinner at 6:00 (Gym).
November 17 - 19 - HARVEST - Postponed
With regret, Harvest 2023 has been postponed. Please mark your calendars for next year: same time, same place (the weekend before Thanksgiving). Instead we’ll help Miss April and go to Zoolumination on November 19 - see below.
November 19 - Sunday School (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.) Bible Games! Trivia or Pictionary. Prizes will be awarded!
NEW!!! Sunday Afternoon and Evening (November 19) (2:30 - 8:30 p.m.) - We’ll start by helping Miss April with Operation Christmas Child (2:30 - 4:30), then head to dinner (4:30 - 5:30) and Zoolumination at the Nashville Zoo (6:00 – 8:00) - back at church by 8:30 p.m. Join us for any or all of these activities. Cost is $20 plus money for dinner along the way and for snacks or souvenirs at the zoo. Register via our GroupMe event or contact Jen at jen@mcquistontn.com / 615-516-2297 NO LATER THAN this Friday, November 10 (we have to buy tickets in advance and they do sell out). We also need 2 - 3 adult volunteers - please sign up to help at this beautiful evening at the zoo.
November 26 - Thanksgiving Weekend
No Youth Activities due to the holidays.
December 3 Sunday School - Movie Time! This month we’ll watch and discuss the Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.
Sunday Night Youth - We’ll continue our Advent(ure) study with a dive into Peace.
Calendar Reminder:
• November 12 (Sunday) 4:30 Shoebox Packing; 6:00 Church-Wide Thanksgiving Dinner
• November 19 (Sunday) 2:30 - 8:30 Volunteering, Dinner and Zoolumination
• November 26 (Sunday) Thanksgiving weekend - No Youth - Enjoy your family
• December 3 (Sunday) 5:00 - 7:30 Advent Study 3: Joy
• December 10 (Sunday) 5:00 - 7:30 Advent Study 4: Peace
• December 16 (Saturday) Time TBD Service Saturday poinsettias, carols, RITI
• December 17 (Sunday) 5:00 - 7:30 Christmas Party
• December 24 (Sunday) - No Youth - Enjoy your family and Christmas
• December 31 (Sunday)- No Youth - Enjoy your family and New Year
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
GroupMe
Click here to join the Youth Parent's group chat on the GroupMe app.
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Monthly Mission – November 12
Every second Sunday of the month we collect food items to be donated to those less fortunate. The next collection will be THIS Sunday, November 12 when we will collect boxes of canned good for Share the Feast. Please plan to bring your canned goods to the altar during the singing of the first hymn/song during either worship service.
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Info
It's time to bring in school supplies, small cars, playing cards, baby dolls, stuffed animals, etc. for Operation Christmas Child. Christmas always feels like it comes a little early at Bethlehem as we start to prep for Shoeboxes! There's a lot of work that goes into the boxes long before the packing party (as many of you know already!). If you are interested in joining in the prep, we'd love your help.
Shoebox Prep Includes:
• Watching for really good deals on small dolls, hotwheels, playdough
• School Supplies organized and put into kits
• Hygiene Supplies purchased, organized and put into kits
• Donations sorted, prepped (packaging removed) and counted for a rough idea of packing setup
• T-shirts cut, stretched and braided for jump ropes
• Fleece cut and wrapped around dolls and stuffed animals
• Boxes Wrapped – Valerie Porter has wrapped hundreds, if not into the thousands, of the most beautiful boxes! But with the number of boxes that we're packing, Valerie could use some help.
• Quality Control of each box
Some of this is perfect for small groups of kids or adults to work on as a 30 to 45 minute service project (for scouts, etc.).
We are working towards packing 300 boxes this year...and each one has the power to change a life, by letting a little one know how much they matter!
Bethlehem UMC is a community Drop Off Location during National Collection Week: November 13 - 20!
Let April Jackson know if you would like more information or want to get involved.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels has experienced an increased demand for persons needing meals. If you can spare a couple of hours once a month to help deliver meals, please contact Brenda Wilhoite (615-473-5217) for more info
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Issues of the November/December Upper Room are now available in the Narthex and the black mailbox just outside the Sanctuary doors. 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 email Pastor Craig Goff or Pat Smith or call them at 615-794-6721.
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.
email Dana Smyth or call the church office (615-794-6721). She will forward the information to the staff.