Bethlehem News - February 13, 2026
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 2026 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.
Happy Birthday Gift
May this week find you with warm hearts, despite the chill in the air! If your child has a February Birthday, please remind them that I have a little Birthday gift for them that they can get when they come to Sunday School or Church! Birthday gifts have been kid suggested and kid approved. I'm so excited to help your child celebrate their special day in 2026 with a "Happy, Happy day" gift!
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is early this year. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m. and plan to attend with your children. Nursery will be provided.
Paintings
Canvases (and pictures for inspiration) are still available, if your child would like to take one to paint. Artwork may be displayed at the Artists Among Us event on February 22, or placed in the Children's Artwork hallway.
Special Music for Easter
Kids of all ages are invited to be part of a special music group that will sing on Easter, April 5th. Dann Childers has chosen a beautiful song for them to sing. Please let April know if your child is interested, so we can determine the best practice time and assign solo parts. We will try to keep practice to a limited time on Sunday mornings.
Sunflower Seeds
We planted sunflower seeds during Children's Church this past Sunday. Here are more instructions than you need to care for them :) - https://www.americanmeadows.com/blogs/wildflower-seeds/how-to-grow-sunflowers?utm_id=PKA&utm_medium=single-species-sunflower&utm_source=FY24-packet
Jesus taught that our hearts need to be like good soil to grow in God's love. So many things try to distract us and keep us from focusing on the word of God and the Son; those things are like weeds in our lives. Even if your sunflower seeds don't grow, I (April) pray that you will use them as a starting point for a faith conversation as a family. What's one "weed" that you could get rid of this week?
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,
We hope you’re enjoying these warmer days!
Souper Bowl Sunday was a big success, and we’re excited to share that we raised over $1,200 for youth missions and outreach! Thank you to Jen and all of our youth and parents who helped make it happen. Your time, generosity, and hard work truly made the difference.
A few quick calendar updates:
• Sunday School is back this week at 9:00 a.m.
• No Youth Group this week. We will resume on February 22.
Registration for Hinton (June 21-26) will open on March 1, 2026. Stay tuned for more details to come.
We are so thankful for this amazing community and can’t wait to see how God continues to use our young people in powerful ways.
The Season of Waiting and Wonder
Merciful God,
February rests between winter’s stillness and spring’s awakening. Teach us to wait with trust, believing that even when life feels frozen, your Spirit is at work beneath the surface, preparing new life.
As Lent draws near, draw us nearer to you. In quieter words and longer prayers, give us space to confess, to begin again, and to love with steady faithfulness.
Bless those who feel grief or loneliness in these gray weeks. Let them sense your nearness in small kindnesses and gentle words.
Remind us that resurrection begins even now, wherever your grace takes root. R.enew us, restore us, and ready us for the joy to come. Amen.
adapted from Rev. Hae Seon Lee
Grace and peace,
Alison Bocking+
Director of Youth Ministries
Upcoming Events:
· February 15 – Sunday school, 9:00 a.m., NO Youth group
· February 18 – Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 p.m. (Sanctuary)
· February 22 – Sunday school, 9:00 a.m., Youth group, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· March 1 – Sunday school, 9:00 a.m., Youth group, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
· March 8 – Sunday school, 9:00 a.m., NO Youth group
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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Communion Offering
The March Communion Offering on March 1 will be directed to Church Has Left the Building.
Monthly Mission
The next monthly mission will be Sunday, March 8, 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.
Room in the Inn Needs YOU
Bethlehem welcomes 10 men experiencing homelessness every Saturday night from November through March. Please sign up to help. For the next date 2/21/26, we need 2 Saturday night drivers and a Sunday morning driver. You only have 5 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 March/April 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.