12/14 Update on Norman Wittler

Continue praying for Norman.  His heart catheterization this morning revealed a blockage, which will be cleared by angioplasty sometime this evening. 

Update on Norman Wittler

Thanks to everyone who prayed for Norman Wittler this morning.  Just before worship, he had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital.  He's doing well now and will have a heart catheterization Monday morning.

Welcome to Our Newest Addition

Join us in welcoming our newest staff addition at Mt. Bethel.  Travis Byrd joined us as our new Youth Minister on November 15th.  He comes to us from Shiloh UMC in Covington and is currently a student at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.  He is engaged to Elizabeth Hunt and we are glad to have both of them with us.  To contact Travis, look for his information under "Contact Us" on the church website.

Christmas Eve Worship

Join us for worship on Christmas Eve, December 24th at 7pm.  The service will be a candlelight service and will include Holy Communion and many of the traditional Christmas hymns.  Come as you are.

Women's Party

All women are invited to a Christmas party being hosted by our Sisters in Christ women's group.  The party will be Monday, December 21st at 7pm.  There will be finger foods and an ornament exchange, so be sure to bring an inexpensive, wrapped ornament with you.

The women will gather at the Berry Farm, 1723 Mt. Bethel Road (1.3 miles from the church).  For questions or directions, please contact Becky Champion at hcmrs(at)bellsouth.net.

Don't forget to bring you covered dish and a dessert for the cook-off, youth sponsored, next Sunday. Bring your yummiest dessert and join the fun.



Get your tickets for the fish-fry on July 25. For tickets call or e-mail the church office.

Bible School got off to a good start. Come join the fun. Bring your kids, grandkids, and even the neighbor's kids.

Fish Fry Benefit Fundraiser

In April 2009, Jason Capes was diagnosed with Metastatic Malignant Melanoma, a very serious form of cancer, at the age of 35. Jason and his wife, Alecia, are the parents of two beautiful children, ages10 and 13. We know that Jason and Alecia both will need a lot of time off work, for this treatment and so that they can spend time together as a family. Please buy a plate or make a donation for the family and help them in a time of need.

This will be Saturday, July 25, 2009 - 4-7 PM. $7:00 minimum donation.

Desert Cook-off

July 19th, Sunday, the Mt. Bethel UMYF will be having a covered dish dinner following the VBS celebration service. We are asking you, the church, to bring you covered dishes and in addition we are having a cook off. Yes.. the best kind...DESSERT! There will be a $2.00 entry fee for the bake off. All proceeds will be split between the youth and the Capes family.

Fishing rodeo

On Sunday night the children and youth had a fishing rodeo at Johnny Wilkerson's lake. The prizes for most fish caught and longest fish were won by J.C. Capes.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Vacation Bible School starts July 12 through July 16th. 6:00 Pm until 8:30.

Kindergarten through 5th grade.

For more information call (770) 954-1194

On the fourth night, our E.D.G.E. pledge is "God loves me. I will love God." We'll be taking a trek to the upper room this night as Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. Pray this week that our children will remember that God's love is always around them, and the attraction between them and God must be more powerful than anything else they're attracted to.

2009 Annual Conference, Update 1

Annual Conference is this week.  Janice Keeter is Mt. Bethel's lay delegate this year and in a couple of weeks, she'll bring us news from Athens.  In the meantime, here is an update on what happened at conference today.

The morning started with Clergy Executive session, where the clergy members of the conference approve the reports of the Board of Ordained Ministry.  Meanwhile, the lay delegates met for an orientation session to outline the business of the week.

The afternoon began with worship.  Our Bishop, Mike Watson preached and the Hope for Africa Children's Choir sang.  This group of 20-30 kids between the ages of 5 and 9 obviously love God and inspire others to worship with all heart, mind, and strength.  Everyone present came together for worship and communion before the business began. 

Reports this afternoon mostly consisted of the approval of the standing rules, establishing the bar of conference, and a few other miscelanious reports.

Worship tonight was the Ordination and Commissioning Service.  Bishop Wandabula of the East Africa Conference delivered a powerful sermon from Jeremiah 1, 18 men and women were commissioned as provisional elders and deacons, four were ordained as deacons in full connection, and 20 were ordained as elders in full connection - including Rev. Stephen Walters and Rev. Geoff Grubbs who have both preached at Mt. Bethel since I came here two years ago. 

Sessions begin at 8:15 tomorrow and on the agenda are more reports and the discussion and voting on of the 32 proposed constitutional amendments.

God bless you all in my absence.  Thank you for your faithfulness in lifting the Annual Conference and all of its delegates in your prayers.

-Alex

Memorial Sunday - May 24, 2009

Memorial Day is May 25th, so on Sunday, May 24th, we will pause to remember our veterans.  For that service, we will be putting together a leaflet to go in the bulletin.  If you have a loved one who is deceased and would like to put their name in the bulletin, please contact the church office.  We will need their name, branch of service, where they served, which conflict, and if they were awarded any special medals. 

Homecoming - May 17, 2009

On Sunday, May 17, we will celebrate 176 years of ministry at Mt. Bethel.  One of our ministers from the past, Rev. Renfroe Watson will deliver the sermon and the Jonesmen Quartet will be on hand to sing.
Lunch on the grounds will follow worship in the fellowship hall.  Bring a covered dish and make plans to stick around.

Miles for Meals Walk - May 2, 2009

Mt. Bethel has a tradition of participating in the Annual Miles for Meals Walk that takes place the first Saturday of May.  This fundraiser benefits the Henry County Meals on Wheels program that feeds so many of the homebound citizens of our community.
Grab a fundraising envelope next time you're at the church, raise some money, and come out on a Saturday to walk for someone's meal.  For more information, contact Becky Champion at (770)957-1097.

World Malaria Sunday - April 26

Sunday, April 26th is World Malaria Sunday.  Churches across the United States will take a few moments during worship to take up a special offering for the Nothing But Nets Campaign (http://www.nothingbutnets.org/).  Each year 500 million people worldwide are affected by malaria - 900,000 children will die from the disease this year.  The good news is that malaria can be prevented with a simple, $10 bed net that keeps the mosquitoes away at night.  Next Sunday, consider giving a gift to this incredible ministry.  $10 is enough money to save the life of a child.

Casual Sundays

From now through the summer, leave your neckties and pantyhose at home.  During spring and summer months, we especially encourage everyone to come casual and comfortable. 

Upcoming Important Dates

Be sure to put these dates on your calendar.

April 26:  World Malaria Sunday - Consider a $10 donation to save a life.

May 2:  Miles for Meals Walk - Walk with us and raise money for Meals on Wheels of Henry County.

May 10:  Mother's Day - Don't forget Mom!

May 17:  Homecoming - 176 Years of Ministry, good preaching, good singing, and lunch on the grounds.

May 24:  Memorial Sunday - Remembering our veterans.

District Joint Worship Service

One of the benefits of the United Methodist Church is our connectional system.  No church stands alone and we are able to efficiently share resources as well as join together as a broader community for a variety of purposes.

The Griffin District, of which Mt. Bethel is a part, is holding joint worship services over the next three months.  On Sunday, March 1st at 6:00 that evening, the churches within Henry County will come together for worship and Holy Communion at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church.  The worship will be reflective of all our different styles of worship and our District Superintendent, Dr. Mike Cash will share God's word with us.

Everyone is encouraged to attend as this should be a time of sharing and rejoicing together.  Wesley Chapel UMC is located at 397 Racetrack Road in McDonough.  Click here for a map and directions.




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Update on Doshia Barham

Many of you are concerned and in prayer for Doshia Barham.  Her family has asked that we post some basic updates on her condition to keep you aware of how you can be praying.

As of Monday evening, Doshia was still on the ventilator and in the Critical Care Unit.  Because she is on the ventilator, they are keeping her sedated and trying to get her to start breathing on her own again.  The blood clot in her heart shows no signs of improvement as of yet, but the hospital staff are continuing to do all they can to get it dissolved.

Please continue to pray for Doshia.  We will keep you posted on her condition.

Beth Moore Study

The Women's Bible Study will be meeting on Tuesday mornings this spring, beginning on February 24th at the church parsonage.  The group will meet for 11 weeks from 9:30 until noon.  Come study Beth Moore's "The Patriarchs", an in-depth study of Genesis 12-50.  Sign up with Erin Stroud by calling the parsonage or emailing her at thestrouds@bellsouth.net, by Sunday, February 22nd.

Youth Pancake Dinner

The youth of Mt. Bethel will be hosting a pancake dinner on Wednesday, February 25th before the Ash Wednesday worship service.  Dinner begins at 6:00 and worship at 7:00.  The proceeds of the dinner will support the activities of the youth ministry through the summer months.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the start of a particular time for new beginnigns in faith, a time for returning to the Lord.  On this day we recall our mortality and wait upon the Lord for a renewing Spirit.  This is a time for putting aside the sins and failures of the past in the light of who we are yet to become by the grace of God.  We are to be tested by the Spirit so that participation in the meaning of the Easter faith may be authentic and a true dying and rising with Christ to new life.  Join us as we begin anew on Ash Wednesday, February 25th at 7pm.

Disaster Preparedness

Mt. Bethel will be hosting a meeting for the churches of the Griffin District on Monday, February 16th at 6:30pm.  The meeting is to share information about a new program for churches that helps them prepare a plan for the event of a disaster.  The plan will establish ways that we care for ourselves as a church and how we can serve the community around us, including work with the local Emergency Management Agencies.  Anyone interested in learning more or serving on a team for Mt. Bethel is invited to attend.

Soup Luncheon to Benefit Homeless Ministries of North Georgia

Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 15th.  Following our 11:00 worship service, we will have a soup and sandwich lunch in the fellowship hall.  The food is guaranteed to be good and the fellowship even better.  All proceeds will go to benefit the Housing and Homeless Council of the North Georgia Conference.  An additional offering for the same ministry will be recieved the following Sunday, the 22nd, during worship.

Happy Hearts Gathering for February

Our older adult ministry, the Happy Hearts will meet for lunch at Baby Jane's Country Cooking in McDonough.  The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 on Thursday, February 12th.  Bring a funny and creative Valentine's Day card to share with the group.  For directions, call the church office (770) 954-1194.

Nursery

Volunteers are needed to help work the nursery on Sunday mornings.  Commitment is one hour on Sunday morning, once per month.  Contact Connie Calhoun or the church office.

Camp Scholarships

The church has money available to help families of active children pay for summer camp at Camp Glisson.  If your child is attending Glisson this summer, please contact Sam Deutsch as soon as possible to apply.  Scholarships will be distributed soon and will be first-come, first-served.

Jesus & Me Planning Meeting

The Children's Ministry Leadership Team will hold a meeting Sunday, March 1st at 4:30 to discuss the schedule for the coming year.  Anyone interested in helping make this an exciting year for our kids is encouraged to come.  If you cannot attend but have ideas, please contact Sam Deutsch.