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 January 5, 2014 Today we will be offering communion during worship on Epiphany Sunday. 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." From the Nominating Committee We are again getting close to Annual Meeting time, which means positions to be filled on our boards and committees. If you have interest, or have an individual you know who is interested in either becoming involved or more involved in the organization and work of Bethesda's various ministries, please contact Jeff Peters at 402-723-5273. The congregation s willingness to be involved in the work of the church is what allows Bethesda to continue to offer the many ministries that we are able to enjoy. Please consider giving your time and talents to the work of Bethesda. ~Jeff Peters, Nominating Committee Chair The 2013 Annual Meeting will be held February 2, 2014. The following boards/committees need to turn in 2013 annual reports to the church office no later than January 8: Historical Committee, Board of Education, CORNERSTONE, Powerhouse, Peace Representative, Sunday Evening Committee, Board of Service and Outreach, Dayspring Ministry and Board of Business. Please email them to bethesda@mainstaycomm.net at your earliest convenience. Midweek (Mission:Possible) for kids preschool through grade 6, begins their second semester on January 8 at 7:00 p.m. Our last night will be April 2. Teacher binders are ready and located in the AV room. Any children who have agent or skit binders at home are asked to return them to the AV room as soon as possible. Please see the church website (www.bethesdamc.org/#/ministries/children) for information throughout the year. ~Midweek Committee
WEEK AT A GLANCE SUNDAY, January 5 8:30 A.M. Deacons 8:55-9:15 A.M. Prayer Time 9:30 A.M. Worship Service 10:40 A.M. Sunday School 12:00 P.M. Potluck TUESDAY, January 7 8:30 A.M. Staff Meeting WEDNESDAY, January 8 7:00 P.M. Adult Prayer & Bible Study Study II Timothy 3:10-17 7:00 P.M. Midweek (Mission:Possible) 7:00 P.M. Powerhouse/CORNERSTONE 7:30 P.M. Music Committee 8:00 P.M. Chancel Choir THURSDAY, January 9 8:30 A.M. Bethesda Care Team Next Sunday, January 12, 2014 Sermon Pastor Jim Voth Offering Local Church Music Chancel Choir Organist Laura Steingard From the church office Bulletins will be made available for pick up at 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. If you pick up a bulletin early, we encourage you to bring it with you on Sunday. 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. Help us make your occasion as successful as we can. Please note the informative Christmas letter received from Dr. Sam and Sherri Evans posted on the church office window.
OUR CHURCH FAMILY Please pray for those with health concerns, grief or family needs. Prayer Requests: Spencer Prentice Continue praying for Spencer. He is making progress! Hospitalized: Maxine Regier Marie Siebert Dismissed: Lisa Buller (daughter of Paul & ReNee Buller) Omaha, Nebraska Memorial Community Care: Wilbur Peters Henderson Community Hospital Bryan LGH East Hospital, Lincoln, Nebraska Children s Hospital, Aurora, Nebraska Death: Nadine Epp, 83, passed away on December 25. Services were held at the Monroe Evangelical Free Church near Murphy, Nebraska. We extend sympathy to sons Kelly (Donna) Epp of Lincoln; Brian (Diane) Epp of Lincoln; Ron (Sue) Epp of Bluffton, Ohio; Delwayne (Kathy) Epp of York; Mark (Judy) Epp and Matthew Epp of Henderson; and daughter Vicky (Kevin) Goertzen of Aurora, 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! Coming Events A family fun night, sponsored by the Sunday Evening Committee, is being planned for Sunday evening, January 26 beginning at 6:00 p.m. for the 2 nd Annual Souper Bowl Event. Watch for details to follow. A sign
up poster will go up soon in the Fellowship Hall outlining the night s events. There will be games and fun for the entire Bethesda family! From the Board of Education We are pleased to announce that Shane Claiborne will be the speaker at the Bethesda Bible Series. Shane is currently a leader at The Simple Way, a faith community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bethesda Bible Series will be held February 8-9, 2014. Look for more information to follow in the coming month. More information about Shane and The Simple Way can be found at www.thesimpleway.org. 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. Learn Outside of the Box: Service Adventure is a one-year opportunity to learn about God, life and you while serving others. Information and applications can be found at www.mennonitemission.net/serve. High School: The 2014 Catechism Class will begin in January. Please contact the church office by Wednesday, January 8, 2014, if you are interested. PRESCHOOL NEWS As the New Year begins, Bethesda Preschool welcomes the children back from Christmas break! I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas filled with the joy and love that comes from spending time with family. I know I had a wonderful time, but missed seeing all of the preschooler s smiling faces! I am excited to start 2014 with all the exciting things that God has in store for us at Bethesda Preschool. ~Kori Lewis, Preschool Director/Teacher Swan Lake Christian Camp Winter Schedule 5 th and 6 th Grade... January 17 19, 2014 Junior High... January 31 February 2, 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 Women s Ministries 2014 Reminder: There will be no 1 st Tuesday all day sewing meeting! Our first all-day meeting will be held on January 14, 2014. Also, if you have not picked up your 2014 BWM brochure, they are available on the east bulletin board. Women s Bible Studies: Mom s Time Out, led by Kara Janzen will meet from 9:30 11:00 a.m. in the Crossroads Coffee House, beginning January 9, 2014. For those of you who have previously attended a Beth Moore study, this one is in a different format. There is no outside homework, and it is only for three weeks. It is based on the story of Esau and Jacob, a story of restoration and forgiveness, which can only happen through the transforming power of God. The Bible study is titled The Making of a More Honest Me and will be led by Susan Friesen on January 13, 20 and 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the youth room. A signup sheet is located on the east bulletin board. The January BWM birthdays will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2014, in the Crossroads Coffee House. Each woman with a January birthday is asked to submit a name, picture and short story or biography of 200-400 words of a woman who has inspired you (either typed or hand written and sent by mail to 811 Rd A #1, Henderson, or by email to Erin Sams at esams@york.edu by January 20, 2014, along with $7.00). The stories will be compiled into a book as gifts for some of the young women and girls in the congregation. The exact number we are able to distribute will be determined after all submissions are in. Again, please have your submissions in by January 20 so that we are able to preview the book at our gathering! For questions contact Erin Sams.
Save the dates March 8 and 9 for Women's Retreat 2014 in Aurora. More information to follow at a later date. FINANCIALS Christmas Eve Offering December 24, 2013 Reach International Sam/Sherri Evan.$48.10 Radio Broadcast...50.00 General Operation Receipts 8,258.80 Total Christmas Eve Offering $8,356.90 Christmas Day Offering December 25, 2013 Mennonite Church USA $1,261.00 Mennonite Central Committee Infant Care Kit..100.00 Nativity Project....20.00 Benevolent Fund...400.00 General Operating Receipts........5,420.00 Total Christmas Day Offering...$7,201.00 Worship Offering Last Sunday, December 29, 2013 Worship Attendance 293 Sunday School Attendance 118 Central Plains Mennonite Committee... $500.00 Mennonite Central Committee... 800.00 Swan Lake Christian Camp... 1,100.00 Dayspring Ministries Congo... 1,110.00 Dayspring Ministries Thailand... 500.00 Grace Children s Home... 750.00 Reach International Sam/Sherri Evans... 350.00 Campus Crusade Service Workers... 25.00 Ashland Fellowship... 250.00 Benevolent Fund... 50.00 Living Water Rescue Mission... 151.00 Radio Broadcast... 2,000.00 Sunday School Offering... 128.50 General Operating Receipts... 24,068.00 Total Worship Offering... $31,782.00
Bethesda Operating Fund January 1 through December 31, 2013 Approved Operating Budget 2013... $622,320.00 Offering Receipts... $557,332.30 **We have received 90% of our Approved Budget Operating Expenses... $533,456.98 ** We have spent 86% of our Approved Budget Summary Deficit in comparison to Approved Budget... (-$64,987.70) Surplus in comparison to Actual Expenses... $23,875.32 SERMON NOTES