Bethlehem News - April 3, 2026
Click below to read updates from various ministries at Bethlehem United Methodist Church
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Flower Info for 2026 Worship Services – Since Always in Bloom, our florist for many years, has gone out of business we will be using Freeman Florist for our Sunday arrangements. Beginning in May arrangements will be $60.00 each. If you would like to have flowers for worship services, please let Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com) know the date that you would like.
We are worshipping together this Sunday at 7:00 a.m. on the porch of the Old Sanctuary and 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.
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! If your child has an upcoming birthday, please remind them that April has 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!
Holy Week Schedule
Good Friday service at 7:00 p.m., April 3. Nursery will be available for infants through younger elementary.
Saturday, April 4, invite friends and join us for games, crafts, and an awesome Easter Egg Hunt beginning at 10:00 a.m.!
Be sure to make some time to walk through the Easter Story Walk on the grounds. The Story Walk has beautiful illustrations that help tell the Easter story. This will be available until April 13.
Drumming Lessons
If your child would be interested in Drumming Classes to increase attention, decrease anxiety, and help balance emotions, please let April Jackson know. We're looking at possibly hosting a class once a week for 4 weeks.
Register today for Rainforest Falls VBS!
VBS Registration is filling up quickly! Don't wait to register and invite friends! https://vbspro.events/p/summer Step through the mist into Rainforest Falls, overflowing with wild waterfalls, towering trees and colorful creatures. Beneath a canopy of chattering birds and howling monkeys, kids will plunge into a life-long adventure, discovering the nature of God and exploring what it means to be rooted in relationship with their creator, a safe place in life’s storms. With games, science experiments, interactive stories, snacks, & more, Rainforest Falls is sure to be fabulous! Email: ajackson@bethlehemumc.com for more information. Faith-Filled * Free * Fun Use this link to register: http://www.bethlehemumc.com/vbs
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,
Peace to you this Holy Week. I hope you’re able to find a little space to slow down and reflect on what this week means. We hope you can join us for one of our Holy Week services. We have our Maundy Thursday service in the Old Sanctuary and our Good Friday service in the Sanctuary, both at 7:00 p.m.
Then on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., we’ll be prepping the Easter lilies for Easter Sunday. All youth and parents who help out will receive credit toward future trips and retreats. Sunday is coming! Join us for Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. and Worship at 10:15 a.m. as we come together in hope, joy, and the promise of new life.
And don’t forget, next Sunday is Church Has Left the Building. All our youth and families are encouraged to sign up to serve:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4CA4A72CA3FB6-61403129-church#/
A Prayer for Holy Week
Almighty and everlasting God, in your tender love for us yousent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon himself our nature, and to suffer death upon the Cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and come to share inhis resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. –BCP
Grace and peace,
Alison Bocking+
Director of Youth Ministries
Upcoming Events:
April 4 – Easter Lily Setup, 10 a.m.
· April 5 – Easter Sunday, Sunday school, 9:00 a.m.
April 12 – Church Has Left the Building, 9:00 a.m.
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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
GroupMe
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 April Communion Offering on April 5 will be directed to Church Has Left the Building, a church-wide community service event that takes place on Sunday, April 12 following a brief worship service. Money collected from the communion offering will help cover the cost of supplies needed for the various projects. You may bring your offering to the altar rail during communion or donate online and designate for Church Has Left the Building.
Monthly Mission
The next monthly mission will be Sunday, April 12, when we will collect canned tuna and canned meat. Please plan to bring your tuna and canned meat to the altar during the designated time during the worship service.
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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.