Sunday Morning Worship Schedule

8:00 am Traditional Service

9:15 Sunday School

10:30 Contemporary Service (child care provided)

Small groups along with children and youth groups are available at

various times throughout the week. See bethesdaec.org

for more information. All church members are asked to attend this meeting where

important discussions will take place to shape the 2020 ministries of Bethesda. Sunday School: 9:15 am

Combined Worship Service: 10:30 am Meal: 11:30 am (please bring a dish to share)

Meeting: 12:30 pm

Sunday, December 8th, 2019

Budgeted Actual Difference

Income $ 402,508 $ 390,120 ($ 12,388)

Expenses $ 372,005 $ 359,064 $ 12,941

To Reserves $ 21,913 $ 8,000 ($ 13,913)

FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT October 2019

New Classes begin Sunday, December 1st. Our Classes include: • Rotation of teachers - Honoring God - Scripture fo-

cus will take place in 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Matthew and Luke. This class will be in the International Room.

• Jeff Byerly - Eternity Is Now in Session - In this book

by best selling author John Ortberg, he dispels the myth that eternal life is something way out in outer space that we can only hope to experience when we die. Instead, John unpacks the reality that the moment we trust Christ, we are initiated into “eternal living” with God as a here and now reality. This class will take place in the Library.

• Curt Behler - Prophecy in the End Times - This class will take place in the Cafe.

Regular Sunday School classes for students in nursery thru 12 grade will be held in their respective classrooms. If you

have any questions, please contact Pastor Stewart.

New Adult Sunday School Opportunities

Christmas at Bethesda

Christmas Card Distribution by BYM - Sunday, Dec 1st thru Wed, Dec 18th - BYM will be collecting Christmas Cards for distribution within the congregation of Bethesda. Simply place your cards in the mailbox located outside the upper, single door entrance of the church – we will take care of the rest. If you would like to make a donation in place of stamps to Bethesda Youth Ministries, it would be greatly appreciated! Children’s Christmas Musical Dress Rehearsal - Sat, Dec. 14th, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Sanctuary. “The Little Drummer Dude” - Sun, Dec. 15th, 9:15 am - Instead of regular Sunday School, come join us in the Sanctuary for a Christmas musical performed by the children and youth of Bethesda! Kidz Klub Christmas Party - Fri, Dec 6th, 7 pm in Common Ground. All Kids ages 4 thru 4th grade are invited for a time of games, fun, and the Christmas Story! BYM Christmas Party - Sat, Dec 7th, 12 pm in Common Ground - All those in 5th—12th grade are invited. Please bring a white elephant gift of no more than $5. We will have food and games and a lot of fun!

JOY Group Christmas Party - Sat, Dec 7th, 5 pm in Common Ground - All those 18+ are invited for a potluck dinner so bring a main dish or dessert to share and come ready for a fun night with good food and games!

Griefshare “Surviving the Holidays” - Tue, Nov 26th at 7 pm and Sun, Dec 22nd at 1:30 pm in the Library - Special presentations of GriefShare to help those dealing with grief during the holidays. Christmas Eve Service - Tue, Dec. 24th, 7 pm

“Under [Christ’s] direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the

other parts grow, so that the whole body healthy and growing and full of love.”

Crochet Circle on December 9th & 23rd at the home of Cheryl Bender.

Ladies Monthly Breakfast All women are welcome, no need to sign-up!

Saturday, December 7th at 9 am at Blue Mountain Family Restaurant, Shartlesville. Questions? Lisa at 484-294-6765.

Join us for fun fellowship and delicious food at the Market Square Coffee House, 118 W Market St, Orwigsburg on Saturday, December 21st at 11:30 am. Breakfast and lunch are available. For

more information, call Cherie at 570-292-6917.

Men’s Monthly Breakfast, Saturday, December, 14th at 8 am at Friedensburg

Country Restaurant.

Bethesda Youth Ministries Students in 5th thru 12th grade

December Schedule

December 7th - BYM Christmas Party 12-3 pm December 14th - Escape Room 1-4 pm Cost: $20 Any questions, contact Pastor Stewart at 570-739-2241 x223.

Christmas Party Saturday, December 7th at 5 pm

All adults 18+ are invited to join us for a pot-

luck dinner, so bring a main dish or dessert to share. It will be a night filled with fun, good food, and games! Questions? Call

Linda Bollinger at 570-739-4580.

Kids Christmas Party All kids 4 through 4th grade are invited on Friday,

December 6th at 7 pm for a fun night filled with

games, snacks and the Christmas story!

Opportunities all around you: Wednesday Evening life groups Future MOB’s Service Opportunities!

Tuesdays @ Bethesda 6:30 to 8:00 pm

Celebrate Recovery® is designed to help those struggling with hurts, hang-ups, and habits by showing them the loving power of Jesus Christ through the recovery process. The program is based on eight principles from the Beatitudes and the Twelve Steps (i.e. AA) and their biblical comparisons. A limitless number of issues can be dealt with through the program such as chemical addictions, overspending; anger; overeating; need to control; fear/anxiety and more! For more information, please call the church office.

Savings Banks are now available at the Welcome Counter for the Spring Ladies Retreat. Pick yours up TODAY to start saving for this great event!!

Mondays 7:00 to 8:00 pm Bethesda @ the Corner

December 2nd - Angels Among Us December 9th - Stuck in a Rut December 16th - Conquering Conflict December 23th - The Spirit of Santa December 30th - Why, God?

December 8th & 22nd 1:30 - 3:30 pm in the Library

GriefShare is a support group for those who have lost a spouse,

child, family member or friend. Video vignettes, group discussion,

personal study, and reflection are part of healing. Call Paul at

570-294-0778 for more information.

There will be a special presentation of

Griefshare to help those dealing with

grief during the holidays.

It will be Sunday, December 22nd at 1:30 pm in the Library.

Prayer Meeting Join us in the International room on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm to pray for the needs of our community

and congregation.

Winter Jam is coming to the Santander Arena Thursday, January 16, 2020. We would like to put together a group who would like to ride together,

departing from the church. The cost for the tickets are $45.00 which includes a limited edition T-shirt. If you would be interested in attending please sign up at the

welcome counter. Any questions, please contact Tammy Munster.

Wayne Township Senior Group 23 Meadowbrook Center

December Events

December 4th –9am COOKIE BAKE! - Lunch: Turkey and Ham Sandwiches - Activity: BINGO! December 11th - Lunch: Shepherds Pie Program: STS Presentation

December 13th - 6:30 pm “The Miller Family Concert” December 18th - Lunch: Christmas Lunch - Activity: Christmas Caroling with Deb Perkins! December 25th - CLOSED for CHRISTMAS! Diakon also offers Chair Yoga, and Zumba Gold classes throughout the week. Please call Diakon directly at 570-

624-3018 for more information.

For more information on any of these events, please visit 23meadowbrook.org or call 570-739-2241 x225.

SUMMER STAFF - Twin pines has 2020 summer staff applications available! If you are interested in being part of their summer staff visit twinpines.org and download a 2020 summer staff application! SMILE FOR CAMP - You can give back to Twin Pines just by shopping on Amazon! Visit smile. amazon.com, register as an amazon smile customer and search for Twin Pines to direct 0.5% of your purchases to Twin Pines.

Extended Hands Meals Ministry

We are in need of frozen meals! If you are able to provide frozen meals for those in need please place them in the church freezer in the kitchen. Label them for the Extended Hands

Ministry and see Pastor Mark with any questions. Thank you for your support!

Christmas Decorating at the

Church

On Sunday, November 24th we will be decorating the church for Christmas directly after 2nd service. If you would like to help

there is no need to sign up, just show up ready to work. If you have any

questions please connect with Cara Stine.

PRAYER CONCERNS December 2019

Please Note – All prayer concerns will be listed for one month and then removed. If you would like your prayer concern to be continued longer than a month, you must contact the church office or Pastor Mark. Thank you!

Personal C. Emily Babb (blood) Jake Bensinger (therapy) Cody Berger (recovery) Bonnie Betz (heart) Wayne Blankenhorn (recovery) Dave Bondura (eye) Eileen Blew (knees) Stacy Bohr (chemo) Kathy Bomberger (cancer) Benjamin Brackman (birth) Vicki Cenpeleghe (chemo) Joseph a & Dorothy Conway (grief) Robert Donton (recovery) Kandi Dysinger (eye) Gloria Ebling (cancer) Mary Faust (heart) Sheryl Dzurek Faust (therapy) Pam Guido (cancer) Glen Helbert (AML diagnosis) Dorothy Kerschner (recovery) Barry Kintzel (cancer) Lori Lehman (cancer) Manny Lopez (testing) Susie Lowenthal (treatment) Sandy Lugo (recovery) Pricilla Majestic (back) Jim Martin (transplant) Jeff McNeil (surgery) Barb Miller (chemo) Erika Minnich (migraines) Steve Minnich (recovery) Marylin Motley (cancer) Angie Onufer (cancer) Stewart Perkins (stroke) Willi Perkins (recovery) Dawn Reiter (testing) Luke Reiter (eyes) Riley Rejniak (cancer) Bud Snyder (cancer) Cara Stine (pain management)

Joe Stock (cancer) Lynn Stranix (headaches) Maria Szumblinski (recovery) Theo Szumblinski (cancer) Thomas Walser (deployment) Richard Welker (cancer) Charles Wertz (recovery)

Family Loretta Behler Family (loss) Benjamin Brackman Family (birth) Al Bryant Family (loss) Phillip Christman family (transition) Sara & Brandon Costenbader (support) Eileen Goodwin Family (loss) Bob & Barb Hancock Family (fire) Leo & Dorothy Lotz Family (loss) Matt Perkins Family (loss) Robert Saeger Family (loss) Troy Shadle Family (loss) Vicki Sleinkofer Family (perseverance) Stover Family (family challenges) Linda Vaughn Family (perseverance) Flo Walton Family (loss) Beth Zimmerman family (perseverance)

Military Josh Behler (Air Force) Ryan Brooks (Air Force) Jeff McNeil (Army) Nicole Perkins (Army) Thomas Perkins (Army)

Steven J Russell-Rhen (Army) Zehn & Sharon Schropp (Air Force) Joe Sweigart (Army) Thomas Walser (Air National Guard)

Shut-ins Walter Bilger Dorothy Blankenhorn Theron & Mary Anne Boyer Bert Heydt Edith Houtz Sharon Kissenger Eleanor & Jacob Jamison

M. Jean Luckenbill Hazel Minnich Sheree Minnich Mary Rhen Ron and Karen Roundtree Maria Szumlinski

Local, National and Global EC Officers: Bishop: Bruce Hill Exec Director: K. Henry Associates: J. Byerly, L. Cool, G. Kuehner, & T. Rathman Hurricane Recovery President Donald J. Trump Vice President Mike Pence US Military Forces PSP Troop L - Frackville, Jonestown & Schuylkill Haven

Congregational 23 Meadowbrook Center Celebrate Recovery Coffee @ the Corner Griefshare Ministry Lifetree Café L.I.F.E. & TUMI Prison Ministries

All articles for events held during January 1st through February 15th should be submitted by

the 10th of December in order to be included in our January issue. A copy of this newsletter

can also be found on-line at www.bethesdaec.org.

A time of adoration and worship followed by

small group prayer focused on specific requests.

Fellowship of Prayer 6 pm in the International

Room December 8th & 22nd