Bethlehem News - October 24, 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.
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,
I’ll get straight to the point: we need your help with the upcoming Youth Ministry Chili Cook-Off THIS Sunday, October 26. This event is more than just food and fellowship, it’s one of our key fundraisers that helps make a deep impact not only for our young people but the communities we serve. Last year, thanks to events like this one, most of our youth covered 50% to 100% of their trip to Hinton.
That kind of success doesn’t happen without a team effort. To those of you who have already signed up, thank you! To everyone else: we still need more help. We need parents and youth to cook, donate, serve, clean up, and spread the word. Your child/ren will receive credits for any hours you work as a parent in addition to their own volunteer credits.
As staff, I’m committed to making these life-changing trips happen, but I can’t do it alone. If every family pitches in, the work is shared. If only a few do, the whole thing suffers and so do the opportunities we can offer our young people.
So please:
✔️ Volunteer your time
✔️ Enter a pot of chili
✔️ Help with setup or cleanup
✔️ Donate ingredients or suppliesClick here to sign-up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FA4A728A1F4C61-59181943-chili#/
Harvest at Camp Widji-November 21–23.
Our annual Fall Retreat, Harvest is coming up next month and we couldn’t be more excited! Register 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.
God of Seed and Harvest
We bless you,
God of Seed and Harvest
And we bless each other
That the beauty of this world
And the love that created it
Might be expressed though our lives
And be a blessing to others
Now and always.
- Author UnknownIn faith and partnership,
Alison Bocking+
Director of Youth Ministries
Upcoming Events:
Looking ahead:
October 26– Chili Cook-Off, No Youth Group
· November 2 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Youth Group 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· November 9 – Sunday School: 9:00 a.m., Youth Group 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· November 16 – Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing & Church-Wide Thanksgiving Dinner, 4:30 PM/6 PM
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, November 9, when we will collect canned goods for Share the Feast. Please plan to bring your canned goods 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
Bethlehem welcomes 10 homeless men every Saturday night from November through March. Please sign up to help. For the next date 11-1-25 we need a Saturday driver, a Sunday driver, 1 overnight host, and someone to serve dinner Saturday night. You only have 20 more opportunities to enjoy this ministry. Please contact Mike Loring (mloring@live.com or 615-596-0985) with any questions. 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
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Issues of the November/December 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.