December 2017

COMMUNICATOR A PUBLICATION OF BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH

“Our Light Has Come” “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth,/ And deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you,/ And His glory will appear upon you.” Isaiah 60:1-2 At the time of the Christmas story, darkness did indeed seem to cover the earth for the godly remnant in the land of Israel. The Roman Gentiles were dominating the Promised Land. They were ruled by the Roman dictator Caesar Augustus, whose full name was Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus. He was the "Imperial Caesar Son of God Magnificent One." He claimed to be divine. The vassal king ruling over Judea under the authority of the Romans was Herod the Great. By some accounts he was the wealthiest man in the world. But he was cruel and immoral. He had sexual relations with a variety of males and females. He had a total of ten wives, not more than one at a time. He killed several family members, including wives and sons. This prompted the comment from Caesar Augustus, “It is better to be Herod’s pig than his son.” Herod also claimed for himself the title “King of the Jews.” For godly Jews, it was terribly dark to be ruled by one who claimed that title and lived such an ungodly life. Then there were the religious leaders. The Sadducees dominated the priesthood. According to Josephus, they did not believe in any afterlife. We know from the gospels that they didn’t believe in resurrection from the dead. The high priests among them came into power by bribing the Romans and promising loyalty to them. The Pharisees were dominant among the rabbis. They were legalists who lost their love of God and people by their promotion of religious rules. Among other things, they taught that people could set money aside to God, and pay the Pharisees a nice fee, and not have an obligation to provide for their parents. When their parents were gone, they could get that money back. But what Isaiah the prophet and godly Jews saw as a dark time was called the fullness of time by the Apostle Paul: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5) A dark time was chosen by God to be the setting for one of His greatest accomplishments, the incarnation of His Son. Many of us are rightly concerned about the direction of our country. Our national government continues to spend hundreds of billions of dollars more each year than it takes in. Gay marriage has been legalized throughout the country, and now efforts are being made to normalize gender identity changes. Legalized abortion continues to be the law of the land. Churches have been attacked in our own country. Las Vegas suffered a horrible attack in October. And so it goes. The Christmas story should give us encouragement. It is in the midst of darkness that God often accomplishes His greatest purposes. It is also in darkness where light is most noticeable. May we reflect the light of Jesus in this Christmas season. - Pastor Kurt

2017 Boards Board of Elders - Jack Taylor, Chairman

Board of Deacons - Michael Holliday, Chairman

Board of Deaconesses - Patti Childress, Chairwoman

Christian Education Board - Jenny Fletcher, Chairwoman

Property Maintenance Board - Nate Crawford, Chairman

Missions Board - Rob Hedlund, Chairman

Service Time: 10:00 a.m. Sunday School: 11:15 a.m.

Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Telephone: 702.293.1912

Web Site: www.bcbethany.com

E-Mail: staff@bethany.lvcoxmail.com

Bethany’s 2017 budget was based on receiving offerings averaging $24,224.36 each month.

Year to date budget requirement was $266,467.96. Year to date giving, through November, totaled $249,372.85.

The difference was ($17,095.11). Bethany’s 2017 general budget, through October, was underspent by $8,742.96.

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$5,000.00

$10,000.00

$15,000.00

$20,000.00

$25,000.00

$30,000.00

$35,000.00

January February March April May June July August September October November

Bethany Financials

Giving Budgeted

Ladies’ Outing to the

Bellagio Conservatory

Saturday, December 9th @ 10 am

Decorated in “Holiday Glamour”

Lunch after @ Black Bear Diner

Caroling

and

Soup Potluck

Sunday,

December 10th

Movie Day

During

Children’s

Church

Sunday,

December

24th

Dear Bethany Family, Our family thanks you for your love demonstrated in your cards, visits, transportation, other volunteer help & prayers for Jerry from his fall, hip surgery & hospitalization this past month. We continue to covet your prayers as he recovers at home with home health care services & therapy. Sincerely In Christ, Lois & Jerry Wood, Melba, Linda, Delberta & Sam

XYZ Potluck Our XYZ Potluck will take place on Thursday, the 21st. Over 50?

Bring a dish to share and come to the 5PM Christmas Party! Ham will be provided. If

you’d like to participate in the gift exchange, ladies should bring a $5 gift for a lady and guys a $5 gift for a man. Come be a part of the Christmas fun!!

December Birthdays

4th Marti Barth

10

th Lary Street

Jerry Wood Steve Fishburn 20

th Rod Savage

23

rd Donna Disney

Bob Nycek 24

th Consuelo Juarez*

30

th Joanna Beeler*

December Anniversaries 5

th Richard & Anne Angora

30

th Pastor Nelson & Consuelo Juarez*

*indicates a missionary family member.

Christmas Across America

Good News Club

December 16th 3:00 – 5:00 pm

For All Elementary Age KidsBethany Baptist Church - 210 Wyoming Street, Boulder City 293-1912

Christmas Eve

Service

6PM

Youth Christmas Party

@ Jenny Fletcher’s

1116 Azul Way

Sunday, December 9th 5-7 PM

Bring a $5 Wrapped Gift

Bethany Baptist Church 210 Wyoming Street Boulder City, NV 89005

The Communicator is published monthly as a ministry of Bethany Baptist Church.

For birthday and anniversary additions; changes in address; or removal from our mailing list please contact the church office at 702-293-1912 or E-mail staff@bethany.lvcoxmail.com.

Tuesday Evening

Women’s Bible Study

6:00 p.m.

Boards and Committees Reception All 2017 and current Board and Committee Members are invited to attend our annual meeting for a time of

encouragement, information and fellowship! Sunday, December 3rd at 6:00 PM Emmaus Hall

Christmas Caroling & Soup Supper Bring a pot of soup to share and come join us

for caroling around Boulder City and then dinner! Sunday, December 10th at 4PM

The Good News Club Children's Christmas Party All kids, ages 5 - 12, and their parents, are invited to celebrate the Season with a party!

Saturday, December 16th from 3-5 PM in The Children’s Center.

Ladies’ Trip to Bellagio Conservatory and Lunch Decorated in “Holiday Glamour”

Join us together for Joyful fellowship and lunch @ Black Bear Diner Saturday, December 9th at 10 AM

Christmas Musical and Brunch Invite your friends and neighbors to join us! Our choir will perform the

Christmas Musical during the morning service. Afterwards we will celebrate the season with a potluck!

Sunday, December 17th at 10 AM

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Silent Night, Holy Night. Begin your Christmas Celebration with our Annual Candlelight Service. What a Blessed way to celebrate our Savior’s Birth!

Sunday, December 24th at 6pm

Youth Christmas Party @ Jenny Fletcher’s

1116 Azul Way Saturday December 9th

5-7 pm Bring a $5 Wrapped Gift

Sunday: Prayer Time - 9:15 a.m. Worship Service - 10 a.m. Sunday School - 11:15 a.m. Bible Study - 6:00 p.m. Tuesday: Women’s Bible Study - 9:00 a.m. Women’s bible Study - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: Prayer Meeting - 7:30 a.m. Praise Team & Choir Practice - 5:30 & 6:00 pm Saturday: Men’s Group - 7:00 a.m.

WEEKLY EVENTS

Our next Care Center & Hospital Long Term Area Visit will be on

Saturday, the 2nd. Meet at 9:45 AM. Come share time and sing some

Christmas carols with the residents.

Spend a small amount of time with those not able to attend a Sunday service!

CARE CENTER VISIT

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

Men 7am

Care

Center

9:45 am

3 2018 B&C

Mtg 6:00 pm

4 5

Ladies Bible Study 9am and 6pm

6

Prayer Time

7:30 am

Praise Team

5:30p Choir 6

7 8 9 Men 7am

9:30am

Deaconess

Ladies Trip

10am

Youth Party

5-7pm

10

Soup

Potluck &

Caroling

4PM

11 12

Ladies Bible Study 9am and 6pm

13

Prayer Time

7:30 am

Praise Team

5:30p Choir 6

14

15 16 Men 7am

Good News

Club Kids’

Christmas

Party

3-5pm

17

Christmas

Musical

service

10am

Potluck

18 19

Ladies Bible Study 9am and 6pm

20

Prayer Time

7:30 am

Praise Team

5:30p

21

XYZ

Potluck

5PM

22 23

Men 7am

24 Eve

Service 6p

31

25 26

Ladies Bible Study 9am and 6pm

27

Prayer Time

7:30 am

Praise Team

5:30p

28 29 30

Men 7am

December 2017