Bethlehem Star DECEMBER 2018 Dear Friends in Christ, What a wonderful time of year it is! People are in great spirits; individuals exchange gifts with love; caring individuals provide for those in need, placing mission giving at a yearly high. We get to spend treasured time with beloved family and close friends, enjoy relaxing time away from the office, catch an occasional carol in the air, and get surprised from time to time by the beauty of snow. Most importantly, Advent helps us to prepare our hearts for the greatest gift of all from God. In This Issue Pastor s Christmas Message 1 BPW Events 2 First Friday 3 Thank You from Kevin Klein Prayer List Liiturgists and Deacons Advent Activities 5 Family Promise 6 Financial Report 6 Calendar 7 The challenge for spiritual people is to extend the spirit of Christmas into the whole year. For those who are in the corporate world, this season may be just another thing to be checked off on the to do list of the smart phone, presenting a real challenge. Are you inspired to make everyday a continuation of the excitement and joy of this season and living that reality out in daily life? Indeed, there are real and tangible spiritual benefits of using our gifts and talents, as well as the continued giving of our time and money, throughout the year. In the end, the good news of Christmas what we see and hear all around us right now - is really what everyday in the year is about. Bethlehem Presbyterian Church Warmest Regards, 2 Race Street Pittstown, NJ 08867 (908) 735-5733 www.bethlehempc.org Pastor Dave Widmer www.facebook.com/ 1
BPW NEWS AND EVENTS THANK YOU s go out to all those who helped make the Pulled Pork Dinner a resounding success! The pulled pork crock-potters, the pineapple purveyors, the baked bean batch-makers, the coleslaw co-minglers, and the dessert demi-glazers, Everyone, everyone cooked to perfection! The quick setter-uppers, the Dishers and Bussers, the Offering Overseers, and the Move -Things-Alongers, Everyone, everyone worked harder than hard! skin, And let s not forget the Dynamic Dishwashers who slaved in the scullery scrubbing off A grateful Thank, Thank you for all you have done So well that next year we will do it again! (With humble apologies to Dr. Seuss) CHRISTMAS COOKIE SALE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 DURING COFFEE HOUR Annual Christmas Lunch The BPW December meeting will be held on Dec. 6 at 10:00 a.m. in the Calvin Room at church, and will be followed by the Our annual Christmas Cookie Sale will take place after the worship service on Sunday, December 9 in Fellowship Hall. All are invited to buy! Those who want to bake cookies for the sale should sign up on the list in Fellowship Hall. Drop-off is on Saturday, December 8 between 1 and 3 p.m. so we can set up the sale tables. Christmas Luncheon at Mountain View Chalet at 12:30 p.m. 2
Some of the several performers at November s First Friday Open Mic. CHRISTMAS MUSIC OPEN MIC Friday, December 7 @ 7:00 p.m. Join us for carols by request, an Elvis performance - Christmas Colors, selections by a BPC Sextet (more or less), and open mic appearances by local artists. Christmas fare including mulled cider, donuts And more!! 3
Connecting through prayer. One of the great privileges we have is to join in praying for and with one another. Dear Pastor Dave and BPC, Thank you for your calls, cards, thoughts, and prayers for my recent surgery. They helped me in my speedy recovery. Please pray for: Marilyn Ford Marcia Pearson Don Trauger Ward Lathrop Ted Frankenbach Ginny Straub Bob Schultz Roger Matis Sue, daughter of Helen Hofgesang Royce Stanley, friend of Bob Schultz Dan Remington, Jill O Neil s brother Bob Scrabal, Weiss friend Jane Weiss mother Steve Hendershot, Pattie Wolfson s brother-in-law Willie Matthews Kevin Moodie, Timko s friend Owen, nephew of the Wallace s The Landolfi Family, on the passing of Suzanne s Aunt Lindsey, Kathy Kushner s niece Sincerely, Kevin Klein Liturgists/Deacons Liturgist Deacon Dec. 2 Mark Fresolone Bob Alexander Dec. 9 Frank McDonald Jill O Neil Dec. 16 Ginny Straub Rhonda Witwer Dec. 23 Rhonda Witwer Dec. 30 Darla Eschbach Terri Acocella Eileen Kandl
CHRISTMAS SEASON CALENDAR December 2 - First Sunday of Advent Advent Wreath Lighting December 6 - BPW Christmas Luncheon at Mountain View Chalet December 9 - Second Sunday of Advent; Advent Wreath Lighting BPW Christmas Cookie Sale - Fellowship Hall during coffee hour 11:00 am - Christmas Tree Decorating and Pizza Party December 16 - Third Sunday of Advent; Advent Wreath Lighting 2:00 pm - Christmas Caroling at homes of Members and Friends December 23 - Fourth Sunday of Advent; Advent Wreath Lighting December 2 7:00 pm - Candlelight Service; Lighting the Christ Candle December 30 - Worship Service of Carol Singing and Lay Message by Helen Hofgesang NOTE: Sunday, December 9 is the last day you can submit your poinsettia order for Christmas Eve. Please include your payment with your order. You may give them to Ann Bartlett or Karen Hoff. 5
FINANCIAL REPORT Thanks to all who have generously supported the work of Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in 2018. Through November, commitment receipts are at 81.5% of budget and our expenses are at 90.5%. (After 11 months, the percentage should be at 91.7% for each). Our deficit through November is about $55,000, versus a planned deficit for the full year of $3,000. Please make sure that you are up to date on your commitments by the end of the year to help us meet our budget. To date, we haven t received a number of commitment pledges. Please get yours in as soon as possible to the Financial Secretary, Karen Hoff, so that session can plan a budget for 2019. Thank you in advance! Family Promise Arrives December 16th for our week of hosting Please sign up for a meal, a shift, or an overnight. If those don t work with your other obligations, volunteer to help set up beds, take down beds at the end of the week or launder the sheets and towels after our guests have gone. Jane Weiss, our coordinator, has been called away to care for her mother, who fell and is experiencing health and coping problems. Let s do our best at filling the gaps and helping Jane and our guests. LORD, make us truly grateful for the gifts we re- ceive this Christmas Season and all year long. SHOW us how to share your love and your bounty by giving of ourselves, our time, our patience and the nourishment you provide with those less fortunate than us. HELP us make this Advent one of manifest love for our neighbors in need, who will soon arrive at our BPC door, stricken by the pain of homelessness. WE lift up our hearts and hands in pursuit of the love you prescribed for us as taught by Your Son, Jesus, who started his journey homeless as well. 6
Calendar for December 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Coffee Hour 10:5 am Godly Play 10:5 Chancel Choir Rehearsal 11:00 am Ministry Team Meetings 7:00 pm Boy Scouts 7:30 Bell Choir (8:00 pm AA) 12:00 Noon Study Grp 10:00 am BPW Meeting 11:15 am Gentle Exercise 12:30 pm BPW Christmas Luncheon at Mountain View Chalet 1:30 pm Chancel Choir 7:30 pm Chancel Choir (Noon AA) 5-9 Troop 119 party Gathering Room 7:00 pm Open Mic Christmas music 1-3 pm Cookie drop-off 9 9: 30 am Worship 10 11 12 13 1 (Noon AA) 15 10:30am Coffee Hour 10:5am Godly Play Cookie Sale during Coffee Hour 3:30 pm Monday Bible Study 7:00 pm Boy Scouts (8:00 pm AA) 12:00 pm Noon Study Grp 11:15 am Gentle Exercise 1:30 pm Chancel Choir 11:00 Tree Deco- 7:30 pm Bell Choir rating Party 7:30 pm Chancel Choir 16 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Coffee Hour 10:5 am Godly Play 11:00 Chancel Choir 17 18 19 12:00pm Noon Study Grp 20 11:15 am Gentle Exercise 1:30 pm Chancel Choir 21 (Noon AA) 22 Family Promise all day 11:00 Session Noon Family Promise arrives for the week 2:00 Caroling & Cocoa 7:00 pm Boy Scouts 7:30 pm Bell Choir (8:00 pm AA) 7:30 pm Chancel Choir 23 9:30 am Worship 10:30 am Coffee Hour 10:5 am Godly Play 1pm Family Promise departs 30 2 25 26 27 11:15 am Gentle Exercise 28 (Noon AA) 29 9:30 Carol Service 7:00 pm Candlelight Service (8:00 pm AA) 7
Bethlehem Presbyterian Church Route 513 @ Grandin/Race St. Mailing Address: 2 Race Street Pittstown, NJ 08867 Phone: 908-735-5733 Email: bpchurchnj@gmail.com FAX: 908-735-312 Website: www.bethlehempc.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/bethlehempc Rev. David Widmer, Interim Pastor Helene Cantilina, Director of Music Ann Bartlett, Clerk of Session Alan Ford, Treasurer The Bethlehem Star Sunday Worship Join Us for Sunday Worship at 9:30 am Mission Statement Be a community of faithful believers who love the Lord Jesus Christ and endeavor to live our lives as examples of that love. Live with deep commitment to serving those in need in our community and throughout the world by generously sharing our time, talents, and resources. Glorify God and grow in our faith though: uplifting worship, generous fellowship, and enthusiastic learning inspired by scripture. Warmly welcome others to join us in our faith journey. 8