Message from our Pastors

Dear Friends in Christ .

October is that beautiful time of year when the seasons change, the weather cools, the crispness of the morning give a different perspective than the heat of summer, the colors become vivid, and we watch all the spring and summer growth get ready for a long winter's nap. This is also that time of year that we devote to the harvest. The harvest of our labors is a wonder time as the crops come in, as we sample the fresh tree and vine ripened produce. It is also the season of thinking and praying about our spiritual harvest-what gifts will we commit to God, the giver of all our blessings.

Yes, it is time for our annual stewardship drive!

We want you to think of it as a time to imagine a time to pray and reflect about how we will thank God for the gifts he has given to us.

This year we have taken a leap of faith! We have added a children's choir, a guitar group for our confirmands, a mission trip and adult studies.

We still need to add  a Director of Family Ministries.

Adding programs for our church means that budgeted expenses will increase. These increases have been carefully looked at and prayed about. We believe they will add to the mission of Bethlehem and of Jesus Christ. More than anything we want our children to be a part of today's church; they are not so much the church of the future as they are the church of today. So we are adding "Faith Builders" (opportunities to grow in faith like Sunday School, Moms and Tots, Bible Listening and Alpha), "Strong Bonds" (developing good relationships among each age level), Mission Trips, and Spiritual Asset Programs because it is important for all of us to gift the parent and bless the child. It is important to be rooted in Jesus the Christ. It is important to share the blessings we have receoiveed.

You will soon receive stewardship material in the mail. When it comes, please read it, pray about it, listen to the words as they speak to you. What is God saying to you? What is God asking of you? The "Just Imagine" series will ask you to think and pray about your giving.

Study the materials, read the scriptures, and pray about your offering to Bethlehem and to Jesus Christ.

If each person or family-who now pledge-were able to contribute $5 more each week, there would be an additional $40,320. coming in yearly! If each person/family who now contribute (with or without a pledge) would do the same- there would be an additional $89,500. in the budget. This would help fund programs at Bethlehem, enable us to contribute to LOVE INC., missions-and be used to spread the Gospel.

What does $5 represent? A BK combo meal? Latte and donut? Soda and chips? Would you consider investing $5 more/wkly for the advancement of the Gospel?

Just Imagine if those of us who CAN-WILL!

Thank you for your prayers, your gifts, your time, your offerings. Each of you is light on top of the hill -shining and doing for Jesus. The ministry of Bethlehem happens because of who you are and what you so graciously do for the sake of the Gospel.

Thank you, Thank you.

Pastors Jim & Jean

Previous Messages

September 2006

August, 2006

July, 2006