Bethel United Methodist Church A WORD FROM THE PASTOR….. Let’s Get Them Talking One day I was teaching a children’s Sunday School Class and we were talking about Moses. With great excitement the children were sharing details on Moses’ life which included his brother Ramses and the rivalry between these two brothers. I was not expecting Ramses’ name to be in the discussion. But it should not have surprised me. The children’s class also viewed Disney’s movie, “The Prince of Egypt.” Carefully, I shared with the children’s Sunday School Class that Disney didn’t get all the details just right. As I proceeded to give the Biblical version, the class seemed to enjoy hearing the missing details. Perhaps they enjoyed it more because an exciting and colorful image had already been planted in their minds by Disney. In recent days there have been a great number of religious television shows. Easter tends to draw out the classics like the “Ten Commandments.” However, there are many other options popping up in television listings for CNN, NBC, UP TV, the History, and Smithsonian channels. Here are a few examples: “Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery,” “Noah’s Ark,” and “The Dove Keepers.” Starting Easter Day, April 5 th , NBC is airing “A.D. The Bible Continues” and the exciting part about this particular program is that Bethel will use it as a 12-week Bible Study discussion series beginning Monday, April 6 th at 7:00pm in our conference room. Isn’t that great? In viewing the religious television shows, we may find that some of the stories or facts may not line up perfectly with scripture. But I would not be too alarmed about that. I am of the opinion even inaccurate portions of the Biblical story can be good news. It gets people talking about God and about Jesus. I believe the Holy Spirit can take even those small nuggets of truth and lead people to know the true and living God. In Acts 18 there is a story of Apollos, who is full of enthusiasm as he shares the good news of Jesus. Verse 24 states “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.” Apollos had most of the story right. He was well-versed in scripture. However, the Holy Spirit placed him in the path of Priscilla and Aquila who walked alongside him and shared with him a few other things that he needed to know about Jesus to better complete the Gospel Message. What an opportunity we have before us today. Many of our friends and neighbors may catch some of the movie presentations this month. What if we use those shows as a catalyst to get a really good conversations started? Whether we agree with the media presentations or not doesn’t even matter. What does matter is we have been given a forum to share what we know and love about Jesus. Led by the Holy Spirit ,we may help someone grow in their personal relationship with Jesus. Who knows, we may even lead someone to Jesus Christ. Let’s get them talking. “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” – John 12:32
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Bethel United Methodist Church
A WORD FROM THE PASTOR…..
Let’s Get Them Talking
One day I was teaching a children’s Sunday School Class and
we were talking about Moses. With great excitement the
children were sharing details on Moses’ life which included his
brother Ramses and the rivalry between these two brothers. I was not expecting Ramses’ name
to be in the discussion. But it should not have surprised me. The children’s class also viewed
Disney’s movie, “The Prince of Egypt.” Carefully, I shared with the children’s Sunday School
Class that Disney didn’t get all the details just right. As I proceeded to give the Biblical version,
the class seemed to enjoy hearing the missing details. Perhaps they enjoyed it more because an
exciting and colorful image had already been planted in their minds by Disney.
In recent days there have been a great number of religious television shows. Easter tends to
draw out the classics like the “Ten Commandments.” However, there are many other options
popping up in television listings for CNN, NBC, UP TV, the History, and Smithsonian channels.
Here are a few examples: “Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery,” “Noah’s Ark,” and “The Dove
Keepers.” Starting Easter Day, April 5th, NBC is airing “A.D. The Bible Continues” and the
exciting part about this particular program is that Bethel will use it as a 12-week Bible Study
discussion series beginning Monday, April 6th at 7:00pm in our conference room. Isn’t that
great?
In viewing the religious television shows, we may find that some of the stories or facts may not
line up perfectly with scripture. But I would not be too alarmed about that. I am of the opinion
even inaccurate portions of the Biblical story can be good news. It gets people talking about
God and about Jesus. I believe the Holy Spirit can take even those small nuggets of truth and
lead people to know the true and living God.
In Acts 18 there is a story of Apollos, who is full of enthusiasm as he shares the good news of
Jesus. Verse 24 states “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and
Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.”
Apollos had most of the story right. He was well-versed in scripture. However, the Holy Spirit
placed him in the path of Priscilla and Aquila who walked alongside him and shared with him a
few other things that he needed to know about Jesus to better complete the Gospel Message.
What an opportunity we have before us today. Many of our friends and neighbors may catch
some of the movie presentations this month. What if we use those shows as a catalyst to get a
really good conversations started? Whether we agree with the media presentations or not
doesn’t even matter. What does matter is we have been given a forum to share what we know
and love about Jesus. Led by the Holy Spirit ,we may help someone grow in their personal
relationship with Jesus. Who knows, we may even lead someone to Jesus Christ. Let’s get
them talking.
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” – John 12:32
Bethel Service
Times:
Contemporary
Service
8:30am
Sunday School
9:45-10:45am
Traditional Service
11:00am
Third Sunday Donations
Please remember your Third Sunday donations for these mission initiatives:
A Friend’s House is dedicated to meeting the emotional and physical needs of children in crisis. Please consider donating to A Friend’s House. Look for the Little Wooden House in the Narthex to make your donation.
Helping in His Name Food Pantry. As you enter or leave worship, don’t forget to place your donations of beans in the supply bin near the church office.
Hello Bethel,
He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah the Messiah
is risen. I hope everyone has had a spiritual Lenten season and
will have an enjoyable Easter season. The youth have been
busy bees learning about having quiet, meditative time with
God, having their youth retreat, and beginning work on service
projects. Always on the move!
We are eagerly about to begin a Good Samaritan study
where we will learn about the parable of the Good Samaritan
and how we can act out these good deeds in our lives as our
calling in Christ to love our neighbors. We will be making sock
puppets for the mission team to take with them to Honduras.
This will be a great way to talk about service and a wonderful
transition into our upcoming mission trip.
Coming up we are looking at our summer mission trip.
The current plan is to be away July 5-11, but we are still in the
process of deciding. Input would be helpful from youth and
parents alike! We will be travelling with the PASSPORT Pro-
gram to Birmingham, AL to help families in need with light
construction work.
Another tentative date we are looking at is Senior Sunday
to honor our graduating seniors. A possible date I am looking at
is May 17. Seniors and parents of seniors in Bethel Youth,
please let me know if this date works! I would like to get this
planned soon so that seniors know to be there that night, we can
prepare the evening, and seniors have enough time to ask
families to attend.
Joy in Grace,
Glory Cumbow
Youth and Children’s Activities For April
9:45 Sunday School
11:00 Children’s Church – is held after the Children’s message in the 11:00am Easter Worship Service.
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt (rain or shine)
On April 4th at 10:00 a.m., please bring the children to the Chapel for a fun time. The
children will have snacks, a craft activity and talk about the true meaning of Easter be-
fore heading out to hunt Easter Eggs. Make sure they bring their Easter basket!
“We have been very blessed with plenty of donations of Easter Eggs, candy and trin-
kets for the Easter Egg Hunt. Thank you so much for all you do for our children. We
are so fortunate to have such caring and nurturing friends at Bethel!
Love, The Children’s Ministry Team”
Hi, everyone. Easter is here! Jesus is
ALIVE! What a wonderful time of year. I
feel like Spring is a reminder of Jesus ris-
ing from the dead. Do you see flowers
blooming? They were there all Winter, but
seemed dead. The trees were bare and now
they are all budding and blooming. The
birds are singing and building their nests.
The bunnies are hopping (and eating my
flowers). Butterflies are flitting around.
Everything is waking up and coming to
life! We should be that excited about Jesus.
Do you feel him alive and well in your
heart?
Christmas is Jesus’s Birthday, but Easter is
our Birthday! Jesus died for our sins so we
could live forever. What a great gift of love
Jesus has given us. Check your heart and
feel Jesus’s love pouring out for you and
those your love. Then share that love with
others - you never know how you can be
the BEST part of someone’s day.
Love,
Oreo
PRAYER REQUESTS
Nancy Beavers – Home
Mark & Keith Bingham Family
Scott Brimer and Family
Gloria Chamblee
Elouise Golden
Jean Cornwell
Wilma Flint
Rick Gilmore - Health Issues
Kim Enlow – Health Issues
Rominia Hall
Glen Maurice Harris
*Penny Hill
*Laura Zehner Johnson
Cindy Linde’s Nephew – BT
Missionaries worldwide
Ed Owens
Ernestine Phillips
Chris Poole
Rowena Powell
*Sheila Readdy
*Ed Redding
Angelica Searls
Jim Smith
Robert Simmons, Sr.
Robert Simmons, Jr.
Charmie Walters
ABIGAIL ’S P ANTRY
Please remember our emergency food pan-try. If you could pick up one or two items dur-ing your trip to the market please drop your donation in the bin in the Narthex. We need more of the following:
Hygiene Items
Shampoo Conditioner Soap Toothpaste
Toothbrushes Deodorant Lotion Hand sanitizer
Toilet paper
GIVING SUMMARY– MARCH TO DATE General Fund Received $20,3333.00 Apportionments 80.00
Mortgage Retirement 542.50 Total: $41,368.50
Our Monthly Budget goal for 2015 is $29,755.00 DESIGNATED GIVING TO DATE If you want to know the financial state of Bethel with regards to the General Fund or the Designated Fund check out the board located near the men’s restroom. If you have any questions contact Doreen Elliott, Church Treasurer. I am normally in the church office on Tuesday mornings or you can email me at: [email protected]
Simply encourage your members to regis-ter online at krogercommunityrewards.com
Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy and regis-ter your card with your organization after you sign up.
If a member does not yet have a Kroger Plus card, please let them know that they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.
Click on Sign In/Register
Most participants are new online customers, so they must click on SIGN UP TODAY in the ‘New Customer?’ box.
Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and condi-tions
You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.
Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.
Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number.
Update or confirm your information.
Enter NPO number or name of organization, select organization from list and click on confirm.
To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organization’s name on the right side of your information page.
REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your group until after your member(s) register their card(s).
Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.
Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each purchase to count.
Remember to use UMCmarket because ...
UMCmarket makes it possible for Bethel to receive
donations from retailers every time you make an online pur-
chase. You won’t have to change anything from how you
shop today, and there's no additional cost or charge for
either you or Bethel!
The stores send UMCmarket the contributions and once
Bethel reaches a $100 in total donations, a check will be
mailed to us. Just go to UMCmarket.org, click on the “Get
Started” button and register.
Sign up with your Facebook account or enter your email
address and create a password. You’ll be prompted to
download the Easy Give button and find our church (listed
as Bethel Stockbridge). You’ll see the UMC Cross &
Flame icon in your browser toolbar. It will allow you to
shop directly at store websites and let you know you are
connected. Once you have registered you will the see the
incredible list of stores that participate (or do a search for a
store to see if it is on the list).
Once the Easy Give button is downloaded you don't have to
remember to go into UMCmarket.org to shop.
Graduation Day and summer is right around the corner! Before
you shop, register at UMCmarket.org and know that a percent-
age of your purchase will be donated to Bethel!
Bishop’s Special Offering
This year Bishop Michael Watson has two initiatives:
No Malaria and the Wesley Woods Community of
Caring Project. Prayfully consider giving to these
causes.
Come join us for
Murder, Mayhem, and Marshmallow Salad
A murder mystery dinner theatre comedy by Shelley Sellepack
Friday and Saturday April 24th and 25th. Sign up for the dinner