Bethlehem News - July 4, 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.
Summer Opportunities
We're off to a great start and there's a lot more to look forward to this summer! You won't want to miss:
• Pastor Mary Beth's first service on July 13
• FISH FRY - July 18
• Summer Concert Series July 20, 27, August 3 & 10
• Backpack packing July 27 after the 10:15 Service
• Blessing of your children's backpacks on August 3 at 10:15 Service
• Parent's Night Out on August 22
Please consider helping make the Free Family Fun Zone at Fish Fry (July 18) possible by volunteering! Let April know if you would like to help with:
• Sno Cones (2 each hour)
• Craft Tent
• Game Tables
• Giant Slide Bounce
• The Fishing Booth (2 each hour)
• PreK Noah's Ark Bounce
We will continue to have Nursery, Sunday School, and Children's Church during the summer.
Stay and Play – August 3
Plan to stay after worship on August 3 for lunch, build a bear and legos. We’ll build, create and have fun together. Please RSVP by July 30 to April Jackson (ajackson@bethlehemumc.com) or contact April for more info.
Parents Night Out – August 22
Parent’s Night Out on August 22 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. Kids will enjoy pizza, games and fun together in the gym. Please RSVP to April Jackson by August 11.
Acolytes Needed for Sunday Worship
We are looking at the calendar for the 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 July and August. 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,
Happy July! We had a wonderful trip to Hinton Rural Life Center last week. We can’t wait to return in 2026! A big thank you to our adult volunteers Stacey Ells, Stephanie Louder, and Corkey Wolczyk.
We will continue with our regular schedule this week with Sunday school at 9:00 a.m. Sunday school will wrap up our two week series on Bible Study Tools for Older Youth. We will kick off our class time with cinnamon rolls and Bible Family Feud.
Youth group will meet at 5:00 p.m. for Nerf Wars. We will have Publix chicken tenders and fixins’ for dinner. Please bring $5 to cover dinner.
We are collecting t-shirts for Ms. Cheap’s T-Shirt Drive for Room in the Inn. Here is what is wanted: clean men’s and women’s t-shirts. The shirts can be from schools, vacation destinations, charity events, brands, concerts, races, etc. Please make sure they are clean with no holes or stains. Drop them off in the Youth Hall during Sunday school or youth group.
Fish Fry is just a couple of weeks away! There are still plenty of volunteer spots. If you’re looking for something indoors, the Bake Sale is looking for more volunteers. If you’re looking for something outdoors, check out the Family Fun Zone. Click here to see the shifts and sign-up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4CA4A72CA3FB6-57105436-fish#/
The Good Use of Leisure
O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace,
Alison Bocking+
Director of Youth Ministries
Looking ahead:
• July 6 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Youth Group, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• July 13 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Youth Group, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• July 18 – Fish Fry, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
• July 20 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Youth Group, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• July 27 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Backpack Packing, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
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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Monthly Mission
The next monthly mission will be Sunday, July 13, when we will collect pasta and pasta sauce. Please plan to bring your pasta and pasta sauce 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.
Communion Offering – July 6
The Communion offering on Sunday, July 6 will be directed to Kathy’s Backpacks.
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Issues of the July/August 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.comor 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). Shewill forward the information to the staff.