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This Sunday will be the third Sunday in Advent. Roger and Polly Surprenant will light the beautiful pink candle during the worship service, the Joy Candle. We will also have another guest minister, Rev. Ed Koffenberger. Please be sure to come to the worship service. It will be wonderful. Later, at 3:00 pm we will gather at the church to go caroling. This is an annual tradition at Bethany. We will cram into as few  cars as possible and head out to visit our congregational members who are not able to come out and see us! Not only do we sing a few songs, but we also come bearing gifts, spreading Christmas joy, so it is very fitting that we will carol on third Sunday. Once we have visited everyone, we return back to the fellowship hall for some yummy chili!

Today is the 87th day of read-through-the Bible -in-a-year program at Bethany. “Challenge” is a word that defines well the journey that takes you from Genesis to Revelations in 365 days. I confess that I have never read the Bible cover to cover and was apprehensive about sticking with it but wanted to give it a try. Once the plan was introduced to the congregation, I committed to the program. There have been times that my daily reading became every 2-3 days and once I was a week behind. If you are experiencing the same setbacks, do not give up, catch up instead! 

I have really enjoyed discovering new insights from my Bible reading and would like to share two dealing with Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness: 

A journey that might have taken Israel less than two weeks to complete lasted forty years because of their unbelief and disobedience. (See Deuteronomy 1:2) 

We are told that for forty years in the wilderness the shoes and clothes of the Israelites miraculously never wore out. (See Deuteronomy :5) 

There are many mysteries in the Bible to uncover if you are up to the challenge, read God’s Word. You will be blessed!  – Susan Bissette

 I sit down alone, 

Only God is here. 

In His presence I open, 

I read His books; 

And what I thus learn 

I teach. 

–John Wesley 

Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. –John 21:17

Some people call it the most wonderful time of the year. Children make their wish lists and by mid-November shoppers are flooding the internet and stores for deals. Christmas music can be heard on the radio and TV, and the Hallmark channel plays Christmas movies 24 hours a day. The weeks before Christmas are consumed with baking, wrapping gifts, writing cards to friends, special church programs, and parties. We make every effort to fit in all these grand activities in a short time period…

How much better would it be to share the spirit of Christmas every day? –Susan H. Bissette

What is the sprit of Christmas? What did Christ do in his life? He fed the hungry, healed the sick, provided shelter to the homeless, clothed the naked, lifted the spirits of all who met him and offered salvation to those who believe in Him and follow Him. He told those who believed in Him and followed Him to “feed my sheep.”

To “feed His sheep” is to show and practice the Christmas spirit. To share Christmas every day, plan a program. On Monday, write an encouraging card to someone on the prayer list. On Tuesday, help someone pay a bill. On Wednesday, give someone a ride. On Thursday, help someone complete a chore. On Friday, invite someone to lunch. On Saturday, invite someone to share in your family fun. On Sunday, take someone to church with you. Repeat.

Sharing Christmas every day requires a Christian attitude. How can we call ourselves “Christian” if we do not follow Christ and share Him?

 Christmas Happenings 2021

Click on the above link to view updated holiday events.

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On the Second Sunday in Advent, Renee Midyette will light the Peace Candle. Rev. Teddi Therkildsen is the guest minister. Be sure to walk over and say Hi!

This year our Hanging of the Greens Committee Chair, Terry McCotter, suggested that we move our traditional Hanging of the Greens worship service to Saturday morning between 9 and 9:30 am. Well, we are in a season of change, so our Board Chair, Chris Watson said, “Sure.” I must say, I do not mind changing things up, but I was a little nervous. We traditionally have this service on the Friday evening before the first Sunday in Advent. Would people show up  or would they want to spend their Saturday Christmas shopping? Well, this crew wanted to spend their time in church! We had a very nice turnout of people. And everyone was so cheerful that the work went by quickly.  Below is our Christmas Tree with all the Chrismons on it.

We also have a fun small tree that is in our fellowship hall. We call it the Kid’s Tree. Well we had three sweet little kids decorating it today.

And a big kid came by to add the star to the top of the tree!

We have 38 beautiful poinsettias this year, 19 red and 19 white. Some are in honor of someone we love and/or admire, and some are in memory of loved ones. You can find posted all the names of the people who donated in an earlier post. Below is a picture of our poinsettia elves, setting each plant in the perfect location.

Look at this stain glass nativity that Juanita Arrington created. Isn’t it just beautiful. And Rev. Roger Bennett lets us use his beautiful collection too.

Our beautiful nativity has a special place on our chancel this year. When you stand in the doorway to the sanctuary you see it right over the communion table. What a wonderful placement that speaks to the birth we will soon be celebrating and ahead to the last supper, Jesus on the cross, and ultimately his resurrection.

This is a wondrous season.

Blessings All,

Melissa Watson

 

 

2021 poinsettias 

The poinsettias are gorgeous! Thank you everyone for your lovely and generous donations!

 

Sunday November 28, 2021 is the first Sunday in Advent.  There are four Sundays in the Advent season, and we will light an additional candle each Sunday until we light the fifth and final candle, the Christ Candle, on Christmas Eve. “The mood of advent is best expressed as one of longing for deliverance from oppression coupled with anticipation of the coming of the Messiah. It is a season of prayer. One of the most beautiful traditions of Advent is the lighting of the advent wreath, the candles signifying that God’s Son is the Light of the World. On this First Sunday, we light the candle of Hope because we hope for a Savior. “This information was taken from The Story of the Advent Wreath written by Rev. Frans A. Victorson. (Photo: Melissa Watson)

Our Hope candle will be lit this year by Margaret Harrell.