Important Upcoming Events - April 18, 2025
Sunday Schedule
Bethlehem’s Sunday schedule is Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. and Worship at 10:15 a.m.
Good Friday Service
Good Friday Service at 7:00 p.m. on April 18. This service will be held in the Sanctuary with scripture readings and songs remembering the crucifixion. Nursery will be provided for children up to kindergarten age. This service will be broadcast on the church’s Facebook page.
Easter Egg Hunt
Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 19. There will be a lot of eggs (candy!), activities and fun. Be sure to bring your Easter basket to find eggs and join the activities.
Garden Cross for Easter
On Easter morning there will be a wooden cross located in the Angel Garden between the Old and New sanctuaries. Everyone is invited to visit the Angel Garden before the 10:15 worship service and to place a flower on the cross. The flowering cross represents the transition from Good Friday to Easter, from meditation on Jesus' death to joyful celebration of his resurrection and also as a continuing presence of Christ among Christians today. It also will provide a beautiful family photo opportunity for Easter. Special thanks to Georgann McCoy and her team of Garden Angels for providing the flowers.
Easter Sunrise Service
Easter Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m. Sunday, April 20. This service will be held outside the Old Sanctuary, weather permitting. If needed, it will be held in the Old Sanctuary.
Easter Worship Service
Easter Worship Service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, April 20. This service will be held in the Sanctuary. Please be aware that we may have many visitors and they may have questions for you. Also, please leave the Visitor Parking Spaces near the Main Entrance (Sanctuary Entrance) for our guests. Nursery will be provided as normal for Sunday morning Sunday School and Worship.
Office Closed on Monday, April 21
The church office will be closed Monday, April 21, in observance of the Easter holiday. Normal office hours will resume on Tuesday, April 22. If you have a pastoral emergency, contact Dr. Craig Goff 615-337-4281 or Rev. Terry Carty 615-512-8821.
Music Notes
Click the links below to hear music we'll sing in the worship service this Sunday, April 20 – Easter.
1. Lord I LIft Your Name on High
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTpeIsr3ED4
2. Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o95WfCpopo
3. Because He Lives (Amen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBvU7arNhQs
4. He Lives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLKGO5FzDsY
Music Invitation
Are you looking for a small group to join and you enjoy music? If so, consider our church choir and our handbell group! Reading music is not a requirement but fun and fellowship certainly is. For more information, please see any of our members or contact Joe Smyth at jsmyth@bethlehemumc.com
Church Has Left the Building Help Needed
There is a box in the Narthex to collect snacks for one of the Church Has Left the Building projects. We will be filling 40 individual boxes for students in the Wesley programs at TSU & Fisk to offer encouragement during exam time. The leaders suggested chips, granola bars, and cookies. Any snacks would be appreciated. Thanks for your help!
Church Has Left the Building Sign-Ups
See the white insert in Sunday’s bulletin for Church Has Left the Building sign-ups on April 27 or click on this link: www.bethlehemumc.com/chlb One of our best service projects of the year is held on the Sunday after Easter. We meet in the Sanctuary for a short communion service at 9:00 a.m. and then head out to work on various service projects. There are 12 projects – 7 projects are on-site and 5 are off-site. Please look over these projects and sign up for the one that interests you the most! Wear one of your Fish Fry shirts! If you have questions or need more info, please contact Robin Folks (rhfolks@comcast.net) or Dana Smyth (dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com).
Bethlehem Trivia Night – May 4, 5:00 p.m.
Gather up your smartest trivia buffs and join us for our first annual Bethlehem Trivia Night benefiting youth missions and outreach. This exciting event will take place on Sunday, May 4 at 5:00 p.m. in the Banquet Hall. Suggested donation is $15 per person or $120 per team. We'll have live trivia hosted by Nerdy Talk Trivia, pizza, popcorn, beverages and prizes. Register with your friends as a table host for a team of eight, or you can also buy individual tickets at the door. If you can't attend, you can even make a donation by purchasing a ghost ticket or sponsoring a table. To RSVP yourself or your team, please visit this link: https://forms.gle/iwYRHFziP1pV75im6
Prayer Warriors Next Meeting May 6 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, May 6.
2025 Flower Sign-Ups
Flowers are needed for the 2025 Worship Services. 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. If you would like to sign up for one of these slots for the month of May, please 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
April 18 — Good Friday Service 7:00 p.m.
April 19 — Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 a.m. & Activities
April 20 — Easter Sunday
Sunrise Service at 7:00 a.m. Outside the Old Sanctuary
Worship Service at 10:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary
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