Bethlehem News - October 3, 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 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.
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.
October 2nd Sunday Story Time
We had a great time together in September and are looking forward to having another 2nd Sunday Storytime on October 12! We would love to see you and your little one! Invite a friend and meet me in the old sanctuary for a relaxed time of interactive stories, activities, crafts, songs, and snacks. We'll start at 9:30 and finish by 10:15a.m.
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 Mary Beth’s office. You are always welcome to donate new or gently used quiet gadgets.
Nursery Available
Nursery is available for children 3 and under, every Sunday morning from 8:50 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,
Can you believe it's already October?! Time is flying, and so is the excitement, Fall Break is just days away for many of you, and right around the corner for others. Whether you're counting down the days or holding on for two more weeks, we’re cheering you on!
We’ve got some great things coming up this month, and we don’t want you to miss out. First big event is our Youth Halloween Party on Sunday, October 19. We will host a Night of Mystery with Totally Rad 80’s Prom Gone Bad. Come join us for a night of mullets and mayhem! Click here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGBkk7Vz-MoHEj1rea3bUB9SArUhaTC1MGh_iawTwefXRF-A/viewform) to RSVP so we can get all the cast members assigned. Then, the following weekend, we will host our annual Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, October 26. This is a church-wide event to support youth outreach and missions. We need all families on deck to help support this event. Click here to sign-up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FA4A728A1F4C61-59181943-chili#/
Our Sunday School series Fathom continues on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. This week, we will begin our study on Genesis. As always, we will start with cinnamon rolls. Youth group will not meet this week due to Fall Break.
Our Fall Retreat, Harvest at Camp Widji, is next month, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s shaping up to be a meaningful, memory-making weekend for our young people. As we finalize plans, there’s one important need we’re still praying to fill: we’re looking for two male overnight chaperones to help make this retreat possible. Whether you’re available for the whole weekend or just the overnight shifts, your presence would make a big difference. As much as we wish we could create volunteers out of thin air (or have AI generate them!), we can’t. We need real, dependable people who are willing to show up and invest in our young people. If you’re available or even just curious about what’s involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We truly can’t do this without you.
Registration for Harvest Fall Retreat at Camp Widjiwagan in Nashville, November 21-23. Cost is $125. Register here: https://forms.gle/PhtMqvL7V8dz1KBeA
Download our fall/winter calendar here (https://mcusercontent.com/616f5a0b85d4305540051b1b2/files/2f3e075a-ad29-6fc8-3e1c-0f2409611dab/Fall_Winter_Calendar_25_26.pdf).
If your child has an upcoming game, concert, performance, or anything else, please let us know! We’d love the chance to come and cheer them on. Drop us an email with their upcoming game or schedule.
A Prayer of St. Francis (for the Feast of St. Francis, October 4)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Blessings,
Alison Bocking+
Director of Youth Ministries
Upcoming Events:
Looking ahead:
· · October 5 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., No Youth Group (Fall Break)
· October 12 – October 12-Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Lunch Outing-11:30 a.m.
· October 19 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Youth Group 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· October 26– Chili Cook-Off, No Youth Group
Super Important Links:
Youth Calendar
Click here to view andsubscribe 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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Monthly Mission
The next monthly mission will be Sunday, October 12, 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.
Room in the Inn Needs YOU
As the cold winter months approach, it’s important that we remember those who are less fortunate than us and help with Room in the Inn. Bethlehem partners with Room in the Inn (RITI) to host 10 homeless men every Saturday night until the end of March. 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 If you have any questions or need more info, please contact Mike Loring (mloring@live.com or 615-596-0985).
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Issues of the September/October 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). She will forward the information to the staff.