“Our hope is not in the new year, but in the One who makes all things new.”

—Unknown

Vol. 39 No. 1 Monthly Publication January 1, 2020

We will observe

the Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper

On Sunday, January 12

in the 11:00 am Worship Service.

We pray that each of you have a

Blessed New Year.

2019 LOTTIE MOON OFFERING FOR INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS

OUR GOAL: $4000.00

RECEIVED TO DATE: $3906.13

Many thanks to the Kitchen/Social Committee for preparing and serving the wonderful Holiday Meal.

Also, to Chris & Mary Ann Wright, the Adult Choir, and the Children’s Choir for the months of work and the beautiful programs presented to enhance the Christmas Worship experi-ence here at Bethesda. Also, to the Building & Grounds Committee: Wayne Taggart, Wendell Bond, Andrew Myers, Frank Eason, & Don-nie Robinson, as well as Corby McCrory, Bob Hardin, Robin Myers, & James Swaringen for the hours spent working on the pews in the sanctuary. Also, thanks to Nita Flinn for all the time she spends keeping the church flower beds in front and the courtyard looking so good. We appreciate you all!!

The cycle of seasons has a way of bringing us to the beginning of another year. I’m grateful for that. There’s something fresh about the year ahead. It’s a clean slate ready for the next chapter of our lives to be written as we walk with God. The months ahead are full of new possibilities and potential if we are willing to trust our Lord. We always have options in life. What we often lack is the courage to embrace the options before us. If we’re not careful, we can get stuck in what “used to be” so that we never recognize the new opportunities awaiting us. Because of our mortality, time is a precious commod-ity. Once a day is past, it can never be recovered. In that sense, life is not a dress rehearsal. Sometimes we are so consumed with the past or so anxious about the future that we forget to make the most of the present. If we are to make the most of this new year, a lot of the old will need to be left behind. This is necessary so new blessings can come. We’ll need to let go of past regrets, failures and disappointments to make room for new hopes and goals. Carrying that old neg-ativity into the year ahead will only weigh us down. We can’t afford to waste energy better spent in more positive and productive pursuits. Louisa Fletcher’s poem, “The Land of Beginning Again” comes to mind:

Our Sympathies to the family of Otis Hicks whose funeral service was held here Monday, December 9 with burial at Bethesda Cemetery.

I wish there were some wonderful place Called the Land of Beginning Again Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches, And all of our poor selfish grief Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door And never be put on again. Too often, we get caught up rehearsing the shortcomings of our personal history. Each of us has a past but none of us has to live there per-manently. We forget that “history” is really “His story.” When we follow our Savior in faith, he shows us the new story he is writing for our lives. The good news of the gospel, according to the Apostle Paul, is that, “… if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthi-ans 5:17).” The person we used to be is dropped like that “shabby old coat at the door.” In Christ, we become the new creation he intends. I’m grateful for the new beginning God initiated when he sent his Son to deal with our past through the gift of his life on the cross. The old is past. Something new has come. Because of our faith in Christ, we have every reason to look for-ward to the year ahead with hope and expecta-tion. We serve the God of new beginnings. That’s good news for a new year! Craig

Bethesda Church Family, We want to express our thanks for the generous bonuses you provided for us at Christmas. We are so blessed to be serving such a caring congregation and working along side such dedicated people. Craig, Chris, Ramona, Vaughn, Daisy & Peggy

Also, to the family of Marylan (Gilliland) Renfro, who passed away December 18, 2019, in Mans-field, TX. Services were held at First Baptist Church, Grandview TX on December 27. Also, to Dorotha Hargett, Laura Moncrief, and family at the death of Dorotha’s son and Laura’s brother, Mike McMinn, December 19, 2019. Services were held Monday, December 30, at 10 am in the Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel.

Thank you for the beautiful plant.

The prayers and support were greatly

appreciated.

The family of Edgar Rater

$26,307.70 34,697.75 11,428.58 $46,126.33

$ 273,000.00 $ 297,765.18 $ 24,165.18

MONTHLY REPORT

BUDGET Weekly Needs-$5,261.54 MONTH-TO-DATE Budget Needs………. Budget Received……. Designated…………... Total Receipts.............

Budget Needs……….. Budget Received.......... Over.............................

SUNDAY SCHOOL Dec., 2019 Monthly Average Adults………………...………………... 62 Youth……………….…………………... 6 Children……………...……………….. 11 Pre-School…………………………..… 6 Extension…………………………..….. 4 Visitors………………………………….. 6 TOTAL ………………………………….. 95 YEAR AGO…………………………..... 93 ENROLLED…………………………….. 192 A.M. WORSHIP……………………… 116

YEAR-TO-DATE

Budget as of 12/31/19

Music Notes I am so thankful for all who worked in our Christmas musi-cals, for Mary Ann and Krecia working on staging, for Krecia on costumes, for William Colyer on sound, for Bob and Trish Pettit and June Huffman providing snacks and all the wonder-ful kids who did a great job presenting “Follow the Star”. I want to mention our Adult Choir for the wonderful presenta-tion of “Messiah, Heaven’s Glory”, for Ramona Mayfield with accompaniment, Vaughn Groom willing to step away from the piano and help in the bass section and for William Colyer on sound. We are looking forward to a great new year with many possibil-ities. Our Adult Choir will resume rehearsals on a new Easter musical, “He Is Worthy” by Russell Mauldin. We will have a listening session Sunday, January 19th at 6:00 pm. You are invited to attend and hopefully sing with us or just listen to see if you could help us in the choir. Have a great new year. Blessings,

Chris

Men’s Breakfast Saturday

January 18, 2020 8:00 am

David Lawson and the men cook up a great breakfast and John

Clements leads a brief time of devotion.

All men are invited!

Women’s Touch Ministry

Thursday, January 9, 6:30 pm

All women are invited to come and bring a friend as we complete our study, “Defiant Joy” by Candace Payne. Nita Flinn will host—please bring

Mexican food.

5:00 pm Sunday Bible Study continues with the study of John led by Jerry Boelter in the Education Build-ing, first room on the right downstairs.

HIGH POINTS Monday, January 27, Noon

All are invited to bring a potluck dish and stay

for fellowship, “42” and Chicken Foot.

There will not be a Card Ministry Meeting in January.

Bible Journaling will meet on Sunday,

January 26 at 1:45 pm in the fellowship hall.

Ladies Craft Night Friday

January 17, 2020 6:30 pm

Leisa Hardin leads this time of crafts

and fellowship. All women are invited to participate. See Leisa for more information.

Eagle Scout’s Bake Sale—Vincent Vu will be hosting a Bake Sale Fundraiser at the church on Sunday, January 12 from 1-4 pm for his Eagle Scout project. Please make checks payable to Scout Troup 11.

YOU ARE INVITED TO AN 80TH BIRTHDAY PARTY in honor of Martha Clements on Sunday, January 5, from 3-5 pm in the church fellowship hall..

IN HONOR OF—We have received an offering for Lottie Moon Missions from the Esther Sunday School Class in honor of their teacher, Martha Clements.

PLEASE NOTE—Due to New Year’s Day falling on Wednesday this year, there will be no Mid-Week Activities on January 1. The First Wednesday activities are moved to the 2nd Wednesday, January 8, with Potluck at 6:00 pm, Adult Bible Study, Youth, & Team Kids at 6:45 pm, and Building & Grounds Committee Meeting at & 7:45 pm.

Pastor - Dr. Craig Vire Music Minister—Chris Wright Student Minister— CHURCH PHONE — 817-295-4632 FAX NUMBER — 817-295-7631 E-MAIL ADDRESS — bethesdabaptist05@sbcglobal.net WEB SITE — bbcburleson.org

Bethesda Baptist Church P.O. Box 756 Burleson, TX 76097-0756

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit #77 Burleson, TX 76028

G.W. & Betty Bain Bill Barkley Grace Behnke June Boelter Clayton Boyd Rob & Billie Bruner Roger & Goldie Clements Addie Dibley Gail Dougharty Rose Fiscus-Huguley Nursing Gary Fiscus-Huguley Nursing

“The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.”

Numbers 6:25 kjv

Betty Fletcher Barbara George Peggy Green Carolyn Groves Heather Jones Dorotha Hargett Family of Otis Hicks Travis Mayfield Laura Moncrief & Family Luther & Kathy Mosley Guy & Betty Peacock

Wednesday, January 1 New Year’s Day No Mid-Week Activities Sunday, January 5 9:45 am—Bible Study 11:00 am—Worship 3-5 pm—Birthday Party for Martha Clements 5:00 pm—Bible Study Monday, January 6 7:00 pm—Scouts Meeting Wednesday, January 8 6:00 pm—Potluck Meal 6:45 pm—Adult Bible Study 6:45 pm—Youth Refuge 6:45 pm—Team Kids 7:45 pm—Building & Grounds Committee Thursday, January 9 6:30 pm—Women’s Touch Ministry Sunday, January 12 Lord’s Supper 9:45 am—Bible Study 11:00 am—Worship 12:00 pm—Finance Committee Meeting 1:00 pm—4:00 pm—Eagle Scout Bake Sale 4:30 pm—Deacons Meeting 5:00 pm—Bible Study Monday, January 13 7:00 pm—Scouts Meeting

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

Peggy Seelbach-Grandview Nurs. Johnny Sherwood Mike Smith Bill & Brenda Taggart Bonnie Taggart-Allegiant #204 Wayne & Irene Taggart Missionaries Personnel Committee Servicemen & 1st Responders America

Wednesday, January 15 6:30 pm—Business Meeting/Adult Bible Study 6:30 pm—Youth Refuge 6:30 pm—Team Kids Friday, January 17 6:30 pm—Ladies Craft Night Saturday, January 18 8:00 am—Men’s Breakfast 10:00 am—Scouts Meeting Sunday, January 19 9:45 am—Bible Study 11:00 am—Worship 5:00 pm—Bible Study 6:00 pm—Adult Choir Easter Listening Session Monday, January 20 Martin Luther King Day Wednesday, January 22 6:30 pm—Adult Bible Study 6:30 pm—Youth Refuge 6:30 pm—Team Kids Sunday, January 26 9:45 am—Bible Study 11:00 am—Worship 1:45 pm—Bible Journaling Class 5:00 pm—Bible Study 6:00 pm—Adult Choir Rehearsal

Monday, January 27 7:00 pm—Scouts Meeting Wednesday, January 29 6:30 pm—Adult Bible Study 6:30 pm—Youth Refuge 6:30 pm—Team Kids

Bob & Trish Pettit Ray & Mary Phink Phil & Nadine Pope Allen Randell Marlon Read Kathryn Roberts Conrad Rogers Jordan & Becky Sauceda Rodney & Nancy Schlotzhauer Jack Shelton-Mustang Creek Est. Joan Shelton & Greg