Important Upcoming Events - February 7, 2025
Write a Card to Encourage Candidates for Ministry
The Board of Ordained Ministry invites you to share the gift of prayer and encouragement by sending a card to our candidates to greet them upon their arrival. These cards will be displayed for all candidates to read before their interview.
The Board of Ordained Ministry is prayerfully preparing to interview this year’s class of candidates for ordained ministry. This year’s class includes a total of twenty candidates who are seeking provisional, associate, or full connection clergy membership with the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference. These candidates are each scheduled to complete a two-hour interview before the Board of Ordained Ministry Evaluation Conference (BOMEC) between February 24 and 26 at the Beersheba Springs Assembly.
The path to ordained ministry is a years-long process that requires a level of sacrificial commitment on the part of each candidate. The interview before BOMEC is a point of convergence where the call, promise, effectiveness, and fruitfulness of each candidate is evaluated among lay and clergy members of the board. It is the duty of the board to determine whether or not each candidate will receive a recommendation to be received in to clergy membership at annual conference.
We will have cards available in the Gathering Space on February 9 and will be mailing them as a congregation. If you would like to mail a card on your own: Please mail cards by February 14 to: BOMEC Prayer Card, c/o Joanna Newberry, 5050 Pickering Road, Clarksville, TN 37043-7006.
Sunday Schedule
Bethlehem’s current Sunday schedule is Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. and Worship at 10:15 a.m.
Prayer Warriors Next Meeting February 18 at 2:00 p.m.
Bethlehem has a group of Prayer Warriors that meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. If you have a prayer request you would like this group to lift in prayer, please contact either Betty Swilley (swilleyb@bellsouth.net) or Pat Smith (psmith@bethlehemumc.com). Everyone is invited on Tuesday, February 18.
Youth Souper Bowl Cook-Off — February 23
Get your slow cookers fired up for a little friendly competition and join us for our annual Souper Bowl Cook-Off on Sunday, February 23. We’ll need soup makers, soup tasters and soup eaters to make this event a success. All proceeds will benefit Youth Missions & Outreach. Donations will be accepted at the door. If you will be unable to attend and would like to support our youth, place your donation in the offering plate and mark it “Youth-Soup Cook-Off.” Please drop off your slow cooker of your best (winning) soup to the gym between 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. and join us for this souper feast following the 10:15 a.m. service. To sign-up to bring soup or sides: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FA4A728A1F4C61-47607401-souper#/ For questions, contact Alison Bocking, Director of Youth Ministries at abocking@bethlehemumc.com
Discovery Weekend
As Alison Bocking looks for a new date for Discovery Weekend, she’s asking ALL of our families to look at your calendar and complete this quick form so that we can begin making plans. Your feedback and participation is crucial to our success: https://forms.gle/oEcGPLZDpmwpj2ZH7
Confirmation Class Info
Confirmation Classes will begin February 23! Confirmation is a time set aside to teach and nurture young people in the basics of the Christian faith and understanding of that faith as United Methodists. Confirmation at Bethlehem is geared towards middle school students, but anyone in 6th grade and up who has not been confirmed is encouraged to participate. Classes will be held on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. with an additional weekend opportunity. All are welcome! Stay tuned for registration information or contact Alison Bocking (abocking@bethlehemumc.com) for more info.
Lenten Book Study
Our Lenten book study will feature Jemar Tisby's acclaimed book The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism. It offers “a timely narrative of how people of faith have worked against racial justice (and) a call for urgent action by all Christians today in response.” Our six week study will delve into the continuing legacy and impact of racism in society but also in the Christian church, and how we can respond. The Color of Compromise is both enlightening and compelling, telling history we either ignore or just don't know. We will be guided in thinking through concrete solutions for improved race relations and a racially inclusive church. Date and time TBD. For more information or to sign-up, contact Alison Bocking at abocking@bethlehemumc.com
Lay Leadership Training
You're Invited! Join the Harpeth River District for an engaging Lay Leadership Training Event designed to equip and inspire your ministry!
Date: Sunday, March 2
Time: 3:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Riverside UMC, 313 6th Ave, Columbia, TN 38401
This event offers worship, fellowship, and dynamic workshops to support your faith journey and leadership development.
Workshops Include:
• Discipleship Pathway: Discover intentional methods to help take a Next Step in faith.
• SPRC Tips & Tools: Practical guidance for Staff-Parish Relations Committees.
• Finance Committee Tips & Tools: Best practices for managing church finances.
• Board of Trustees Tips & Tools: Learn tools to foster understanding and curiosity through conversation.
• 3 Practices for Crossing the Difference Divide: Learn tools to foster understanding and curiosity.
• One Board Model: Explore what it is and how it works for simplified church governance.
• Lay Servant Ministries: Resources to assist you in furthering your leadership within your local congregation or answering your call to ministry.
• Disaster Response: Prepare your church to respond effectively in times of crisis.
• Leading Bible Studies Creatively: Innovative strategies to make Bible studies engaging and impactful.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow! Click this link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe31Vgz-Xr8wIlfwHDx7WxCBfbQ-Llwf5JN_EvmausF2Py63Q/viewform
Inclement Weather Policy
The Church’s inclement weather policy is to cancel ALL activities EXCEPT worship services when Williamson County schools are closed due to weather. That means if you have a meeting, Bible Study group or other event at the church and Williamson County Schools are closed, the event will be cancelled. Worship services will be held regardless of weather.
2025 Flower Sign-Ups
Flowers are needed for the 2025 Worship Services. Specifically flowers are needed for February 23. Arrangements are $50.00 each and can be taken home after the end of the worship service. Contact Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com or 615-794-6721) for more info or by using this link: http://www.bethlehemumc.com/flowers.
Worship Help Needed
Each week we need several people to help lead our worship services by being Greeters/Ushers or Liturgists. Contact Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com or 615-794-6721) if you have questions or need more info.
Safety & Security Measures
In an effort to provide safety for the church staff, preschool and Chesterton Academy of the Incarnation, all exterior doors will be locked during the week. If you arrive at church and the door by the Sanctuary is locked, please ring the doorbell or call the church (615-794-6721) for assistance.
Save the Date for These Important Events
February 15 — Parent’s Night Out 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.— RSVP required
February 17 — Church Closed for President’s Day
February 23 — Souper Bowl Soup Cook-Off
March 2 — Lenten Lunch for 3rd - 5th Graders (11:30 - 1:30) Bake & Burn Ashes — RSVP by February 26
March 5 — Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 p.m.
March 22 — VBS Fun Shop 9:00 a.m. to Noon
April 17 — Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 p.m.
April 18 — Good Friday Service 7:00 p.m.
April 19 — Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 a.m. & Activities
April 20 — Easter Sunday
April 21 — Church Closed for Easter Holiday
April 27 — Church Has Left the Building
May 4 — Bethlehem Trivia Night
May 26 — Church Closed for Memorial Day Holiday
June 9 - 13 — VBS 9:00 a.m. to Noon Each Day
June 19 — Church Closed for Juneteenth
July 4 — Church Closed for Independence Day
July 18 — Fish Fry