Important Upcoming Events - October 20th, 2023
College Student Care Packages
In preparation of packing college care packages this Sunday, we need the addresses for your college kids. We want to make sure that we don’t miss anyone! We are collecting goodies for the boxes that will be packed on October 22. Contact Dana Smyth with your student’s address info.
We will be assembling about 35 College Care packages on October 22. There are two ways you can help us do this:
1. You can contribute something to put in the box. We are hoping to include a variety of things such as microwave popcorn, instant oatmeal, crackers, cookies, candy, post-it notes, bouncy balls, flavor packets for water, cough drops, mints and your notes or favorite Bible verses. Our young adults could use some love and encouragement from their church family. There is a container in the narthex for goodies.
2. You can contribute money for mailing expenses.
Contact Dana Smyth at dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com if you have questions.
Trunk ‘R Treat
Mark your calendar and start inviting friends of all ages! Join us from 4:28 - 6:28 p.m. on Saturday, October 28 for Trunk ’R Treat! Everyone is encouraged to dress in costume and come for a pizza/snack dinner and lots of fun! We’ll have bounce houses, games, a fun walk, and crafts.
Adults: plan to decorate your trunk and bring candy or treats to hand out to the kids. Prizes will be awarded to the best decorated trunks!
Kids: don’t forget your treat bags. Invite your friends, family, and neighbors for a fun, FREE night for ALL ages! You won’t want to miss Trunk ’R Treat!
Trunk 'R Treat may very well be the unveiling of next year's VBS theme . . . !
Don't miss it!
Please let April Jackson know if you are going to host a trunk, so we'll know that we have enough.
Trunk Ideas:
1. David and Goliath (have slingshots)
2. Queen Esther - Wear a crown and a beautiful queen’s outfit. Her story is in the book of Esther.
3. Feeding the 5,000 (give goldfish) VBS backdrop lions
5. Put on your coolest spy gear and you are Joshua and Caleb. Read about their ultimate spy mission in Numbers 13-14
6. Jonah and the Whale - You could wear a bathrobe, look really messy, and stick clumps of “seaweed” (green yarn) all over with a fake fish or two thrown in. Hold a sign that says, “On my way to Ninevah!”
7. Fishers of Men (we have a fishing game – use the Fish Fry backdrop)
8. Moses and the 10 Commandments (we have a robe and Styrofoam “commandments”)
9. Noah’s Ark (we have some pairs of stuffed animals)
10. Christmas Eve Announcement – (use the manger, palm tree, and Christmas Eve banner)
11. Fruit of the Spirit (print from online and clip to string)
12. Use the 3 big Rubik’s cubes from our VBS decor and have a CUBE theme
13. Use one of the golf carts and have a little putting green
. . . There are so many FUN ideas that don't require much effort! No need to spend any $ - borrow from us & use what you have!
Prayer Warriors
Bethlehem has a group that meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 4:30 in the Sanctuary to pray for all those on the church’s prayer list and other items. 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 to join the group to pray.
Blessing of the Animals
Hillsboro UMC and Bethlehem UMC will hold a Blessing of the Animals service on November 4 at 10:00 a.m. in the pavilion at Hillsboro, 5313 Old Hwy 96, Franklin, TN 37064 (in Leiper’s Fork). This will be officiated by Rev. Betty Proctor and Dr. Craig Goff. Well behaved leashed animals are invited to come with their owners as we honor and celebrate the blessing of pets in our lives.
Rice and Bean Packing – November 5
On Sunday, November 5, Bethlehem will have the opportunity to pack rice and beans for Feed America First. Packing will begin in the gym at 9:15 (following end of 8:15 service) and will continue throughout the morning until all 2,000 pounds (a ton) of rice and 1,000 pounds of beans are packed. Plan to stay for a little while after worship (either service) to help with this ministry for those who experience food insecurity. It is estimated that it will take 70 people about 3 to 4 hours to complete this task.
Share the Feast – November 11
Once again it’s time to plan for Share the Feast – Bethlehem’s annual day to share food with those less fortunate. This year, the goal is to provide 400 turkeys for food boxes that will be packed. Cost per turkey is $20.00. Last year, Bethlehem collected $8,250.00 for hams, so the goal of $8,000.00 for this year is definitely achievable. The packing will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 11 in the gym. Canned goods for the boxes will be provided by area schools and other sources. If you have questions or need more info, please contact Dave Speer at djspeer@comcast.net
Charge Conference – November 11
Bethlehem will have its annual Charge Conference on Saturday, November 11 at 12:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Come to help with Share the Feast packing food boxes. Lunch will be provided before Charge Conference begins.
Church-wide Thanksgiving Dinner – November 12
The annual church-wide Thanksgiving Dinner will be on Sunday, November 12 beginning at 6:00 p.m. The church will provide the turkey and dressing. Everyone is encouraged to attend and bring two side items to share – salad, vegetable or dessert. Sign-up sheets to help are in the adult Sunday School class folders and in the Narthex at the Welcome Desk.
Operation Christmas Child
We're collecting small toys for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts from now until the middle of November. Please leave the supplies in the container in the Narthex.
Flowers Needed for Sundays in November
Flowers are needed for November 5, 12 and 19 worship services. Arrangements are $50.00 each and can be taken home after the end of the 10:45 worship service. Flowers can also be reserved using the Sign-Up Genius link from the church website (www.bethlehemumc.com) and select the Sunday/Sundays you want or you may contact Dana Smyth (615-794-6721 or dsmyth@bethlehemumc.com).
Handbells and Choir Rehearsals
If you are interested in ringing with our Bethlehem Bells or singing with our Chancel Choir, come give us a try! Handbells meet Wednesday nights in room CLC 202 at 6:00 p.m. and Choir meets in the Sanctuary at 7:00 p.m. Email Joe Smyth at jsmyth@bethlehemumc.com for more information.
Christmas Cantata
The choir has begun work on our Christmas cantata, and we invite you to lend your voice and sing with us on December 10 at both services. We rehearse in the Sanctuary on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Contact Joe Smyth at jsmyth@bethlehemumc.com for more information.
Room in the Inn
Once again it’s time to begin signing up to help with Room in the Inn. Bethlehem partners with Room in the Inn (RITI) to host 10 homeless men every Saturday night from November through March. This ministry begins November 4. We pick up the men Saturday night and return them to our campus. They sleep on cots in the gym. We provide them dinner, breakfast, and a sack lunch to take with them. Then, on Sunday morning, we return them to Nashville. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, sign-up sheets are in the Narthex and Gathering Space or by using this Sign-Up Genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4CA4A72CA3FB6-room5#/
If you have any questions or need more info, please contact Mike Loring or 615-596-0985. Thank you.
Updated 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.
Financial Information Update
For 2023 financial info, please use the following link on the church’s website: http://www.bethlehemumc.com/finance
Save the Date for These Important Events
October 22 — Third Grade Bibles and Lunch & Learn
October 22 – Youth pack College Care Packages (5:00 – 7:30 p.m.)
October 28 — Trunk ‘R Treat 4:28 – 6:28 p.m. in the gym and south parking lot
November 4 — Blessing of the Animals at Hillsboro UMC (Leiper’s Fork) beginning at 10:00 a.m.
November 4 – Room in the Inn begins
November 5 – Pack Beans and Rice beginning at 9:15 a.m. in the Gym
November 11 — Share the Feast 8:00 a.m. — Gym
November 11 — Charge Conference 12:30 p.m. — Sanctuary
November 12 — Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Packing 4:30 p.m.
November 12 — Church-wide Thanksgiving Dinner
November 13 - 20 — Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Community Drop Off at Bethlehem - On the 20th we will take a moving truck full of collected shoebox gifts to the semi-truck in Green Hills.
December 2 — Breakfast with St. Nick (Saturday) Enjoy food, a hot chocolate bar (& coffee!), games, meaningful crafts, and fun with St. Nick from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the Banquet Hall. Come and go as it fits your schedule.
December 3 — Mission Market – Gathering Space