Bethlehem News - May 2, 2025
Click below to read updates from various ministries at Bethlehem United Methodist Church
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We are worshipping together this Sunday at 10:15 a.m. – in the Sanctuary. Sunday School will be at 9:00 a.m. for all ages.
This week's worship service will be live streamed and recorded on our church website and on Facebook. 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.
The 2025 flower sign-up sheets are in the Church Office. Arrangements are $50.00 each and can be taken home after the end of the 10:15 worship service. Flowers can also be reserved using this Sign-Up Genius link (www.Bethlehemumc.com/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.
Fish Fry Family Zone
To celebrate our 50th Fish Fry, April has invited Grassland Dance, Harpeth Gymnastics, Chesterton Academy, and Drum'in Sync to come and have a presence in the Family Fun Zone as our community partners. Do you have connections with other groups that would be good to invite or ideas of others that would be interested in participating?
We would ask that they:
• Have a representative in their designated area from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Provide an activity that could be a craft or an experience (demonstration or quick lesson).
• Arrange ahead of time if they'd like for us to provide a table.
• Provide their own sun shade or tent if desired.
In exchange, we would be happy for them to have handouts/information about their available classes. We would also discuss with them the available space and agree on their location ahead of time.
Please let April know if you have any questions or ideas of groups should be invited.
Vacation Bible School (VBS)
It's May - and that means the end of school and the beginning of summer vacation! Don't wait to sign up for Vacation Bible School! Our Preschool Crew is full, but we are still accepting registrations for PreK - finishing 5th grade. Registration will close by the end of May, or earlier as Crews fill up.
TRUE NORTH VBS 2025 June 9 - 13 from 9 to noon each day! Get ready for the ultimate Alaskan adventure where northern lights glow over majestic mountains, racing rivers, and glistening glaciers. As kids trek the tundra, they’ll explore how easy it is to lose sight of what’s true in our wild world today. Pointing them toward Jesus, True North VBS shows them that Jesus is a faithful friend that we can always trust. He’s our True North!
Register your kids today or sign up to volunteer as a leader or helper. Free to kids ages 4 by 8/1/25 (and potty-trained) thru completing 5th grade. Registration will be limited to ensure the safety of all: https://vbspro.events/p/lights
We will have an Orientation for all youth and adult volunteers soon.
Acolytes Needed for Sunday Worship
We are looking at the calendar for the new church year. Last year, we had a nearly full calendar with at least one of our Acolytes serving every Sunday! That is amazing! Let's continue strong and fill up the months of May and June. Let April Jackson know when your Acolyte would like to serve!
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 each week.
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.
Nursery Available
Nursery is available for children 3 and under, every Sunday morning from 8:45 a.m. until the end of the 10:15 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 and Youth,
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for Church Has Left the Building! What a beautiful display of God’s love in action! We’re back to our normal schedule this week with Sunday school and Confirmation at 9:00 a.m. and our Bethlehem Trivia Night at 5:00 p.m. The youth will host a trivia night to raise funds for our trip to Hinton Rural Life Center. We still need a few more teams to make this night a success! We encourage parents to join a team with friends, neighbors or their Sunday school class. Youth are welcome to join their parents, form their own team or help behind the scenes.
Suggested donation is $15 per person or $120 per team. We'll have live trivia hosted by Nerdy Talk Trivia, pizza, popcorn, beverages and prizes. Register with your friends as a table host for a team of eight, or you can also register as an individual. To RSVP yourself or your team, please visit this link: https://forms.gle/iwYRHFziP1pV75im6
God of victory over death, your Son revealed himself again and again, and convinced his followers of his glorious resurrection. Grant that we may know his risen presence, in love obediently feed his sheep, and care for the lambs of his flock, until we join the hosts of heaven in worshiping you and praising him who is worthy of blessing and honor, glory and power, for ever and ever. Amen.
Amen. -from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers
As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Peace,
Alison Bocking+
Director of Youth Ministries
Looking ahead:
· · May 4 – Sunday School & Confirmation: 9:00 a.m., Bethlehem Trivia Night, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· May 11 – Sunday School & Confirmation: 9:00 a.m., No Youth Group (Mother’s Day)
· May 18 – Sunday School & Confirmation: 9:00 a.m., Confirmation and 2025 Graduate Sunday, Youth Group, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· May 25 – Sunday School 9:00 a.m., No Youth Group (Memorial Day Weekend)
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 the GroupMe app.
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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Communion Offering – May 4
The Communion offering on Sunday, May 4 will be directed to Project Transformation.
Monthly Mission
The next monthly mission will be Sunday, May 11, when we will collect peanut butter and jelly. Please plan to bring your peanut butter and jelly to the altar during the singing of the first hymn/song to share with those less fortunate. All items collected will be given to Feed America First.
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Issues of the May/June Upper Room 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.