BETHESDA NEWS A community caring for all God s people, being transformed by Christ's love, serving others as a witness of God s grace and peace. Bethesda Mennonite Church www.bethesdamc.org December 8, 2013 Deacon election: The final Deacon election will take place today, December 8. The two nominees are Kathryn Goertzen and John Huebert. The newly elected deacon will begin attending the deacon meetings immediately following being elected to the Deacon Board and officially begin his/her term following the Bethesda Annual Meeting in February. The deacon leaving the Deacon Board will continue to serve until the Bethesda Annual Meeting. This will allow for a smoother transition for the board. The Preschool Festival of Carols will be held on tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Please join the children for an evening filled with the joy of Christmas! We will have songs and stories about the blessed day that Jesus was born! An offering will be received for Bethesda Preschool; money will be put towards finishing our playground project! Join us after the program for refreshments in the Fellowship Hall. Upcoming Schedule of Events December 8 Deacon Election Vote December 8 Bethesda Preschool Festival of Carols 6:30 p.m. December 11 Board of Outreach and Service Caroling at Care Center December 15 Chancel Choir Christmas Program 7:00 p.m. December 24 Christmas Eve Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. December 24 Christmas Eve Program 7:00 p.m. December 25 Christmas Day Service 10:00 a.m. Christmas Bundle Stories Do you have any stories, correspondence, or pictures that relate to the time when Bethesda made Christmas bundles to send to needy children overseas? We are looking for information that can be used for the Christmas Day morning service. Please contact Marjorie Smith at 402-723-5793 or email her at hmsmith@mainstaycomm.net.
WEEK AT A GLANCE SUNDAY, December 8 8:50 A.M. Deacons 8:55-9:15 A.M. Prayer Time 9:30 A.M. Worship Service/Deacon Election Vote 10:40 A.M. Sunday School 6:30 P.M. Preschool Festival of Carols TUESDAY, December 10 8:30 A.M. Staff Meeting 7:00 P.M. Bethesda Women s December Birthdays 7:00 P.M. Board of Deacons 7:00 P.M. Sunday School Committee WEDNESDAY, December 11 12:00 P.M. Bulletin Announcement Due 6:30 P.M. Board of Service & Outreach Caroling 7:00 P.M. Powerhouse 8:00 P.M. Chancel Choir THURSDAY, December 12 8:30 A.M. Bethesda Care Team Next Sunday, December 15, 2013 Sermon Pastor Jim Voth Offering Central Plains Mennonite Conference Music Chancel Choir Organist Laura Steingard 7:00 P.M. Chancel Choir Program Please take note: announcements for December 29 need to be in the office by December 23. The Board of Outreach and Service is planning an evening of caroling. Please meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, at the Henderson Health Care Center. Anyone who wishes to join them are welcome! Note the Christmas card from Stanley W. and Ursula Green on the office window.
OUR CHURCH FAMILY Please pray for those with health concerns, grief or family needs. Dismissed: Dianne Buller Hospitalized: Elroy Bergen St. Elizabeth Medical Center Lincoln, Nebraska Pastoral Search Prayer Support Please join us for prayer each Sunday morning as we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our search for a new lead pastor. We gather in the northwest adult classroom, across from the Preschool, at 8:55 a.m. and dismiss by 9:15 a.m. We need your prayer support as we continue our search. ~Pastoral Search Committee The Prayer Board, located near the church office, is a place to post prayers that come to the office. If you wish to have a prayer matter posted, please call the church office, Pastor Jim Voth, or email him at jim@mainstaycomm.net. These may be prayers of praise, thanksgiving or intercession. If you wish to post a prayer for someone other than yourself, please request their permission. Thank you! Help the People of the Philippines Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has begun its response to Typhoon Haiyan. To donate to this effort, please go to mcc.org/typhoon-response. Thank you for your prayers for those who are grieving and suffering in the storm s wake. Potluck: The Young Adult Sunday School Class is looking for 1-2 people to help organize the dishes during the Sunday school hour. A signup sheet is located at the Coffee Spot in the Fellowship Hall with more information. Coming Events A simple pageant, Kneeling in Bethlehem will be held on December 24 at 7:00 p.m. All are invited to enjoy scripture reading and prose, as well as congregation participation through singing of familiar Christmas carols.
On Christmas Day, December 25 we will meet in the sanctuary for a time of worship, inspiration, singing and fellowship. We will dedicate the Infant Care Kits which have been assembled in the past weeks before Christmas. Marjorie Smith will also share memories about Christmas Bundles which were an important part of giving in Mennonite churches in previous years. Christmas stories and carols will be part of this service. Please join us and bring any guests as we honor the day set aside to remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Communion Date Change to January 5 This year, instead of a New Year's Eve Communion Service, we will be offering communion during worship on Epiphany Sunday, January 5, 2014. Communion was recommended for Epiphany Sunday by Mennonite Church USA for all congregations across the United States to celebrate together our unity in our diversity as we close out the Advent series, "O, the Mystery of God's Dwelling." The Deacon Board affirmed this recommendation and determined this service will replace the New Year's Eve Service. The Deacons feel that it is important to remember this past year, especially those who have passed away, therefore, this information will be included in the December 29 bulletin. A birthday gathering for December birthdays will be hosted by Lisa Tessman on Tuesday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please RSVP to Lisa at 402-723-5403 or sign up on the Bethesda Women s Ministries bulletin board. Women s Bible Study A Beth Moore Bible study titled The Making of a More Honest Me, based on Genesis 32, will be led by Susan Friesen on January 13, 20 and 27, at 7:00 p.m. A signup sheet is located on the east bulletin board.
Are you planning a special occasion? Please fill out an event planning form in the church office to let us know your set up needs. On this form you may fill out how you want tables set up, if you have need of the kitchen, sound, or technology. Help us make your occasion as successful as we can. Anyone interested in going on a Fellowship and Learning Tour to Ecuador from January 16 to 28, 2014, please contact Don Kempf at donaldkempf@windstream.net or call him at 402-759-1285. From the Board of Education We are pleased to announce that Shane Claiborne will be the speaker for the Bethesda Bible Series. After graduating from Eastern University and doing graduate work at Princeton Theological Seminary, Shane's adventures brought him to the streets of Calcutta where he worked alongside Mother Theresa, to Willow Creek Church in Chicago, and to Iraq and Afghanistan where he did peace work. Shane is currently a leader at The Simple Way, a faith community in Philadelphia whose mission statement is to Love God, love people, and follow Jesus in our neighborhoods and around the world. The Bethesda Bible Series will be February 8 and 9, 2014. Look for more information to follow in the coming months. More information about Shane and The Simple Way can be found at thesimpleway.org. Mennonite Church USA, and co-sponsors, are inviting women interested in Anabaptism to think about God in relation to our lives, February 20-22, 2014, near Washington D.C. Find the schedule, and registration information at the Mennonite Church USA website, www.mennoniteusa.org/women. A learning experience like no other! This summer, Youth Venture invites young adults ages 14-22 to serve and learn together with churches in Philadelphia, Ft. Myers, Japan, Spain, and more! Info and applications at MennoniteMission.net/Serve. An outdoor lighted nativity scene has been purchased for Bethesda. The remaining cost is $450.00. The wood for the crèche was donated by Ken R. Friesen and built by Mike Wall for this project. Donations are welcome and should be directed to Bethesda and earmarked Nativity Scene. Thank You! ~Sunday Evening Committee
Angel Tree It is again time to make a difference in the lives of inmate s children. The Angel Tree is set up in the Fellowship Hall. This is a meaningful was to express our Christian love. For more information, please call Connie Bechtel at 402-723-5250 or 402-363-9973. Save the dates March 8 and 9 for Women's Retreat 2014 in Aurora. YOUTH The high school and junior high calendars are available on our new Faith Formation website at www.bmcfaithformation.weebly.com. Go to Bethesda s website at www.bethesdamc.org and click on the Faith Formation link on the home page. December 11 CORNERSTONE will not meet. High school will meet in small groups starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Powerhouse Room. December 18 Junior high and high school will meet preparing to lead worship music on Sunday, December 22. December 22 Junior high and high school Powerhouse will lead worship music. Arrive at 8:45 a.m. in the sanctuary. Learn outside of the box. Service Adventure is a one-year opportunity to learn about God, life, and yourself, while serving others. Information and applications can be found at MennoniteMission.net/Serve. **************** Swan Lake Christian Camp Winter Schedule Young Adult Retreat (College Age & up)... December 18 20, 2013 5 th and 6 th Grade... January 17 19, 2014 Junior High... January 31 February 9, 2014 Senior High.....February 7 9, 2014 Check the bulletin board for more details or call 605-326-5690. You may also check on line at www.myslcc.com or campoffice@myslcc.com. BETHESDA PRESCHOOL The Preschool will continue accepting donations of new pajamas of all sizes and slippers of all sizes till December 18th. There is a donation box located outside of the Preschool. All items will be given to local families in need and Living Water Rescue Mission in York, Nebraska. Thank you!
This Christmas season, we encourage you to make Infant Care Kits which will be distributed by MCC to hospitals, clinics and refugee camps. Kits are given to mothers who use the items to help their infants get a good start in places such as the Democratic People s Republic of Korea (North Korea), El Salvador and Serbia. Contents: (New items only, size 3-9 months) 2 gowns/sleepers (flannel or similar warm, soft material) 2 undershirts/onesies (short or long sleeves) 4 cloth diapers (flat-fold preferred; pre-fold accepted) 1 receiving blanket (lightweight fleece or flannel, minimum 36 inches square; however, 30 inches will be accepted) 4 safety pins (2 inch) 1 large bar mild soap such as Dove (leave in wrapper) 1 pair of socks 1 cap Remove packaging material (except soap) and fold into the receiving blanket. Fasten together with safety pins. An infant gown pattern has been ordered and will be available at the church office. If you sew the receiving blanket, double the flannel. For fleece, use a single layer and hem the sides. Bring your bundles to church on Christmas Day morning, or place them in a box near the church office anytime. They will be dedicated at the Christmas Day morning church service. Why not start a Christmas tradition which teaches children, grandchildren or little friends the joy of giving! There is a pattern for the layette gown available for the Infant Care Kits if anyone would prefer to sew it. Brochures with the above items are available on the table outside the church office. Visit Infant Care Kits MCC online for additional information. If you have questions, call Marlene Ott at 402-723-5351 or Carol Janzen at 402-723-4675.
FINANCIALS Thanksgiving Offering, November 28, 2013 MC USA. $3,473.20 Mennonite Mission Network..3,334.94 Central Plains Mennonite Conference 6,304.90 Mennonite Central Committee...700.00 Swan Lake Christian Camp Building Project..1,000.00 Swan Lake Christian Camp.3,050.00 Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary...3,850.00 Bethel College 1,750.00 Dayspring Congo..3,250.00 Dayspring Thailand..3,750.00 Grace Children s Home...3,134.96 Henderson Health Care Services 550.00 Reach Int l Sam/Sherri.3,500.00 Reach Typhoon Relief.750.00 Campus Crusade Service Workers.350.00 Mennonite Women...50.00 Join Hands..100.00 Ashland Fellowship.1,700.00 MCC Canner.25,744.90 Benevolent Fund.2,500.00 Bethesda Women s Ministry.100.00 Special Projects Cemetery Directory.1,000.00 Angel Tree..200.00 Backpack Project 100.00 Nativity Project 50.00 Bethesda Ministry Radio Broadcast.100.00 Preschool Support...1,000.00 Preschool Scholarship...500.00 MC USA School Scholarship..2,000.00 General Operating Receipts..33,021.40 Total Worship Offering..$106,914.30 We have received enough funds to cover the canner project for this year. Thank you so much for your generous giving! Let's do it again next year! ~ The Canner Committee
Worship Offering Last Sunday, December 1, 2013 Worship Attendance 329 Sunday School Attendance 165 Temporary Holding Accounts MC USA... $6,023.60 Central Plains Mennonite Conference... 1,400.00 Mennonite Central Committee... 1,250.00 Mennonite Central Committee Typhoon Relief... 50.00 Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary... 850.00 Dayspring Congo... 2,020.00 Dayspring Thailand... 175.00 Grace Children s Home... 200.00 Henderson Health Care Services... 100.00 Reach Intl Sam/Sherri... 1,685.00 Christian Peace Maker Team... 100.00 Ashland Fellowship... 150.00 MCC Canner... 1,850.00 Benevolent Fund... 700.00 Special Projects MCC Infant Care Packages... 150.00 Angel Tree... 95.00 Nativity Project... 195.00 Bethesda Ministry MC USA School Scholarships... 900.00 Sunday School Offering... 142.00 General Operating Receipts... 3,280.00 Total Worship Offering... $21,173.60 Bethesda Operating Fund: January 1 December 4, 2013 Approved Operating Budget through December 4 $580,151.00 Offering Receipts through December 4 $450,964.00 **We have received 78% of our Approved Budget. Operating Expenses through December 4 $498,148.00 ** We have spent 86% of our Approved Budget. Summary Deficit in comparison to Approved Budget -($129,187.00) Deficit in comparison to Actual Expenses -($47,184.00)
SERMON NOTES
When life Gives you more Than you can stand, Kneel.