The Messenger - Bethany United Methodist Church

The Messenger
A Publication of Bethany United Methodist Church
VOL . 29 , NO. 7
FEBRUARY 15, 2016
Our Mission:
“To Reach Out, Make, and Nurture Disciples For Jesus Christ.”
The Lenten Season is Here!
Pastors & Staff
Rev. Chip Wilson
Senior Pastor
706-836-4500 (C)
Rev. Pam McCurdy
Associate Pastor
770-314-8919 (C)
Rev. Stiles Cobb
Pastor Emeritus
We have begun our Lenten Journey together this last week. I invite you to
walk with us. Here are our Lenten Scriptures and Sermon Titles for
Sundays during Lent as we Journey Through the Wilderness:
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Chandra Miles
Administrative Assistant
Mary Jane Higman
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Children’s Director
Mary Robbin Pittard
Youth Director
Dr. Changa Miller
Music Director
Evelyn White
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Ash Wednesday was Joel 2:12-17 “More Than Skin Deep”
Yesterday was Luke 4:1-13 “Growing in the Wilderness”
February 21 is Philippians 3:12-16 “Pressing Toward the Goal”
February 28 is Luke 13:1-9 “How Authentic is Your Faith”
March 3 I am preaching at Smyrna 1st UMC at their Lenten Lunch at
11:30 on Luke 15:1-7 “The God of Lost Sheep.” And you are invited
to come!
March 6 is Luke 15:1-7 “I Once Was Lost But Now I’m Found”
(A little different look at the same scripture from Thursday).
March 13 (Scout Sunday) is John 12:1-11 “What is Bethany To You?”
March 20 (Palm Sunday) is Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Luke 19:28-40
“Have You Ever Felt Unwanted?”
Thursday, March 24 (Maundy Thursday) is Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14;
John 13:1-17, 31b-35 “The Magnificence of the Ordinary”
Pianist
See you Sunday and bring a friend!
POINTS OF INTEREST
 Worship Services:
9:00 AM &11:00 AM
Yours in Christ,
 Sunday School:
10:05 AM
 Our Connection:
Dr. Jim Lowry
District Superintendant
 B. Michael Watson,
Bishop
Pastor Chip
Page 2
REACHING OUT, SERVING, SHARING & PARTICIPATING
Join us on Sunday, March 20
at 4 pm in Lacy & Children’s Halls for
the Triple “E”
Children’s Egg-cellent Easter Experience
Families will move through six Faith Discovery Stations
together. This event caters to ages nursery through 5th
grade, but all are welcomed.
We will end with an Easter Egg Hunt for the
children. Be sure to bring a bag or basket
for your eggs. Remember, the eggs will be
empty because Jesus is alive! Your empty
eggs will be traded in for a bag of candy.
Also, we will need individually wrapped candy
donations for this event. Donations are needed by
March 13
HOMELESS OFFERING
The North Georgia Housing and Homeless Council
awards capital and operational grants to organizations and
programs throughout North Georgia who are working to
alleviate poverty and homelessness in their communities.
These grants are made possible by your contributions to
the Homeless offering, collected each February across
the North Georgia conference. 100% of the offering goes
to ministries that serve persons experiencing poverty.
These ministries include housing programs, food pantries,
veteran support programs, and many others. Your
contribution to the offering allows you to make a difference
in the life of someone in need. This offering will be
observed this Sunday, February 21. A special envelope
will be provided for your contribution. Please be in prayer
for the people that will benefit from this offering.
WEEKLY LENTEN PRAYER FOCUS
February 15, 2016
Pray to grow in your personal
walk with the Jesus Christ.
February 16, 2016
Pray to be open and obedient to
the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
February 17, 2016
Pray for patience to wait for what
God has for you; wisdom to know
and understand God’s plan for
you.
February 18, 2016
Pray that you are and will
continue to do what God has
called you to do-that you are
using your gifts for God’s
purpose.
June 6-10
9 am until Noon
Ages 4 through 5th grade
February 19, 2016
Pray that with God’s help and
guidance you can be a better
parent, child, sibling, spouse,
friend and co-worker.
**2-3 year olds can attend if Bethany or PMO families
February 20, 2016
Volunteers are needed. Please contact Mary Jane.
To register go to www.bethanyumc.net
Pray for eyes to see the needs
around you and a heart that
responds with love and care.
February 21, 2016
It’s Sunday – Celebrate God’s
Amazing Grace
Surf’s Up…..Save the Date!
Vacation Bible School
Page 3
BETHANY NEWS
BETHANY
NEWS
Called Charge
Conference Session
All members of the church council are
reminded of the Called Charge
Conference Meeting this Sunday, February 21
immediately following the 11 am worship service. We
have an action that requires our attention. Thank you in
advance for your attendance at this meeting.
WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO...
I am sure you have said this or heard others say this, not
only about your personal finances, but about the finances
of the church. We’ll, the Trustee Committee thought they
would begin to alert you of some of the “big” expenses as
they occur. This will hopefully give some insight to let you
know how some of your tithes and offering are being used
here at Bethany.
This past January, we arrived to a very cold sanctuary.
Why? Well, one of the two horse powered motors used for
heating stopped working after 15 years. The cost to
replace that motor was $1,050. Without your continued
pledges and contributions, we would not have been able
to make the replacement so quickly. So, we thank you for
commitments and pledges, as they allow us to take care
T HE W EEK A T A G LANCE
SUNDAY ATTENDANCE, FEBRUARY 14, 2016
Contemporary Worship Service—70
Traditional Worship Service—106
Total Worship—176
Sunday School—132
Attendance for Sunday, February 7
Contemporary Worship Service—100
Traditional Worship Service—114
Total Worship—214
Sunday School—160
Ash Wednesday Service—75
FEBRUARY 21, 2016
PRAISE & WORSHIP—9:00 AM
TRADITIONAL WORSHIP—11:00 AM
“Pressing Toward the Goal”
Philippians 3: 12-16
Rev. Wilson
AV TECHNICIAN & SOUND ENGINEER
9:00 am
Jack Reilly & Cindy Webb
11:00 am
Claire Farmer & Ron Adhikari
PRESENTATION TEAM
Jack Reilly & Christine Adhikari
Happy
Birthday!
We send birthday greetings to the
following celebrants for this week.
February 17—Mary Jane Higman, Myrna Smith
February 19—E’lice Mitchell
February 20—Olivia Garrison
MUST MINISTRIES NEEDS...
canned fruit, pork & beans, chili, pasta sauce,
tuna/hamburger helper, canned meat (chicken, tuna, beef
stew). Jiffy cornbread mix, hot chocolate, Jell-O, large
oatmeal, ramen noodles, kidney beans, instant potatoes,
chunky soups, blankets, coats, hats & gloves
USHERS
9:00 am
Keith Groce
11:00 am
David Stuart, Kevin Ammerman, Mike
Garrison, Wayne Human, Ron & Mun Hui Johnson,
Wes Liebergesell, Beth Weldy
SCRIPTURE READER
Alan Peterson
CHLDREN’S CHURCH LEADERS
Lisa Ammerman & Stephanie Johns
Find us on facebook and be sure to check-in
Bethany UMC, Smyrna
The Messenger
Page 4
Bethany United Methodist Church
Non-Profit
Organization
760 Hurt Road, Smyrna, GA 30082
Phone 770-436-2675
Email office@bethanyumc.net
Office Hours
Mon-Thurs 8:30 am —4:00 pm
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SMYRNA, GEORGIA
PERMIT NO. 111
Return Service Requested
«Family Greeting»
«Address1»
«Address2»
FEBRUARY 21—FEBRUARY 27
«City», «State» «Zip»
Sunday, February 21
9:00 AM
10:05
11:00
12:00
2:00
4:30
AM
AM
PM
PM
PM
Praise & Worship Service—Lacy Hall;
Children’s Church—Room 101
Sunday School
Traditional Worship Service—Sanctuary
Media Shout Meeting—Koinonia Classroom
Girl Scouts—Children’s Hall
Kidz Matinee; MYF; Prayer Walk
Monday, February 22
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:30 PM
MUST Kitchen—Elizabeth Inn
Marriage Enrichment Group (MEG) - New Hope Classroom
Boy Scouts—Scout Lodge
Current Prayer Concerns
Family of Tomari Jackson—classmate of Claire Vance
Family of Dottie Taylor
Russell Blackburn—family of Donna Carter
Doris Eddins
Bobbie English
CM Herndon
Judy Kelley
Beverly Norman—friend of The Sprayberry’s
Tuesday, February 23
6:45 PM
7:00 PM
7:30 PM
Cub Scouts—Lacy Hall
ESOL—Koinonia Classroom; Sundowners Circle Meeting
Narcotics Anonymous
Wednesday, February 24
7:00 PM
Chancel Choir Rehearsal—Choir Room;
Lenten Bible Study—New Hope
Thursday, February 25
10:00 AM
7:00 PM
Deacon Meeting—Koinonia Classroom
Praise Band Rehearsal—Lacy Hall;
Covenant Bible Study—Garth Davison Classroom
Friday, February 26
Youth attending Spiritual Life Retreat—Camp Glisson
7:45 PM
Narcotics Anonymous
Saturday, February 27
Youth attending Spiritual Life Retreat—Camp Glisson
11:00 AM
Welden Class Social—Lacy Hall
Pray For Our Friends
Jim Barnes
Doreen Beaton
Steve & Kathy Beckham
Nell Bilderback
Rachael Coffee
Jane Eisenburg
Eloise Fulmer
Ray Gary
Joe Hartzog
Betty Herndon
Lisa Hilley
Bobbie Hughie
Mary McBath
Floyd Moffett
Marjorie Riley
Alan Rustin
Wes Smith
Martha Speir
Edith Sprayberry
Long-Term Prayer Concerns
Neal Allen
Baldwin Family
Bill Bennett
Rev. Stiles Cobb
Betsy Cohen
Diane Dalton
Laura Denton
Dale Etheridge
Mandy Harrison—sister of Melanie Crowe
Roberta Heinlein
Charles Hill—family of Johnnie Driver
Ken & Jackie Johnston
Jackson Jones—family of Mary Terry
Patricia Kramer
Kramer Family—friend of Lauren
McCormick
Lecia Landolt—daughter of Mary Lanford
Bonnie Lee—friend of Dianne Tidmore
Kelley Lennon—friend of Leta Thomas
David Marvin-family of Ray Gary
Kathy & H.R. Monroe
Hazel Nolan—friend of Jimi Gunter
Buddy Panter
Betty Posey—friend of Wes Liebergesell
Aaron & Allie Rice
Eliska Rucker & Family
Richard Sprayberry
Dave Smith Jr.—family of Dianne Tidmore
John Tidmore—family of Dianne Tidmore
Cole Tolbert-family of Brad & Laurie Mote
Dan Vesper—friend of Dale Etheridge
Bill Waldrep
Keya Yarbrough—family of Noah Thomas
Bethany’s youth have an opportunity to join in on an amazing retreat
with other youth groups all over the North Georgia United Methodist
Conference! We will be attending Spiritual Life Retreat (SLR) at Camp
Glisson the weekend of February 26-28. The cost is $145 per person
for a weekend of lodging, meals, a t-shirt, and unforgettable
experiences with other youth groups. It will be a wonderful weekend
packed with spiritual restoration.
Know a youth who would love it? Interested in sponsoring a youth? Many of our Bethany youth families
have more than one child involved with the youth ministry, so donations would be helpful to them, as well
as those that may be experiencing financial difficulties, but don’t want their youth to miss out on this super
cool experience.
Talk to Mary Robbin today or email her at youthdirectorbumc@gmail.com.
Time is Running Out...Show Your Support
Bethany’s youth program is having a t-shirt fun-raising event! This is a must-have for ALL youth,
volunteer, Sunday School teacher, parents, or supporters of our students. These shirts will be great to
wear when we go on trips together, volunteer in the community, hold events at the church, or just want to
show some pride for Bethany’s youth ministry! The best part, this fundraiser will help support our
upcoming retreat registration costs and future trips! Order yours today
at https://www.booster.com/bumcyouth or you can use the included QR code.