This Week At Bethel

November 15, 2024

This Sunday

Church Family News

This Sunday

This Sunday we continue our sermon series, Everyday Disciples, by reflecting on the community of disciples. Jesus asks us to follow him in community with one another, in relationships shaped by love and truth, compassion and honesty. As we see in the letters of the early churches, Christ-centered fellowship takes courage, sacrifice and perseverance. Jesus addresses this when it comes to how we respond to sin in community. If we are following Jesus every day, we will not shy away from these challenges, but step into them as opportunities for restoration and healing.

The message this Sunday will focus on Matthew 18:15-20, "Discipleship in Community.”

Our Sunday Offerings:

BETHEL MINISTRIES AND MISSION: The ministries and programs of Bethel
BETHEL WORLD MISSION VISION – SEEDS OF NEW CREATION provides resources, training, and connections for a wide variety of churches and smaller ministries throughout the country of El Salvador. Seeds of New Creation assists local families to grow their own food in a sustainable way. They help people to see the Holy Spirit’s call to live out God’s mission in every aspect of their lives! It is a project through Resonate Global Mission.

NEXT WEEK– MINISTRY SHARES

RESONATE GLOBAL MISSION: Thank you for joining together to share the transformative love of Jesus around the world! Your church’s generosity echoes across 44 countries, equipping your missionaries and ministry leaders to walk alongside new believers and people who are seeking the love of Christ. Through your prayer, care, and gifts, you are helping shine the light of Christ to the ends of the earth. Mission work unites us—and your belief in God's purpose for the entire Christian Reformed Church is a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we work as the body of Christ. I hope you know how grateful Resonate is for your church’s unwavering support! In Christ, Kevin DeRaaf, Director

Church Family News & Prayer Requests:

Please continue to remember CURTIS COENEN, JENNY PENFOLD, ELEANOR PROKUDA, JEAN SAATHOF and CHARLIE TSANG as you pray for our church community.

Announcements:

JOB OPPORTUNITY: We have a job opening on our Admin. team for an Administrative Assistant. The position is constructed as a job share with our other Administrative Assistant, Tara Kilkenny. If you are interested in more information about the position, visit discoverbethel.com/jobs. Inquiries can be sent to hr@discoverbethel.com

CHRISTMAS IS COMING: Next Sunday (November 24) after worship we will be bringing out our Christmas décor to set up the sanctuary space for Christmas. We would love to have some volunteers to help assemble Christmas Trees. We would also appreciate any unused Christmas trees you may have at home that the church could borrow for the advent season and Christmas services. If you do, please let us know at info@discoverbethel.com

BETHEL COOKBOOK: Looking for a special stocking stuffer or maybe some new recipes to try out this Christmas? We would like to offer our Bethel Cookbook once again. The cost is $20 and all proceeds will support our partnership with Centro Biblico Familiar El Sembrador church in Hermosillo Mexico. Order your book here before December 3. They will be available December 8.

ALPHA MARRIAGE COURSE: Alpha - The Marriage Course is a seven-session video course designed to help couples invest in their relationship. Topics include Communication, Resolving Conflict, Forgiveness, and much more! Conversations during the course are between couples and are private. The Marriage Course will run Sundays, starting with lunch after the service at 11:30 a.m. The session will begin at 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Community Church starting January 19, 2025. All married couples are welcome! Register before December 30 by clicking here. The cost is $30/couple. If a lack of childcare or cost is stopping you from signing up, please let us know by emailing Krista at khmailbox@shaw.ca

ALPHA MARRIAGE COURSE VOLUNTEERS: Do you have a heart for supporting strong marriages and families? We are looking for a number of volunteers to provide a hearty stew/soup and buns, serving food and cleaning up, for each week that the marriage course will be running. Please sign up here or email Krista at khmailbox@shaw.ca, if you have any questions.

GEMS NEED JARS: The GEMS and Cadets need glass jars for a Christmas craft night they are planning. They are looking for 1 quart size (approx.) with no writing on them. If you have jars you can donate, please bring them to church and leave them in the collection box under the mailboxes.

Any questions, please contact Corina and Marjy at gems@discoverbethel.com. Thanks for your support.

IT'S BIG COOK TIME! Fun, fellowship, and food prep. What more could you ask for? On Saturday, November 16, join us at 1:00 p.m. to help us refill the meals ministry freezer! Come ready to cut, boil, bake, fry, and portion as we put together these meals to be used at later dates! If this is for you, bring your best knives, measuring cups, and attitude.

WOMEN’S EVENT – A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS: Do you love delicious food and getting your craft on? Join us on Sunday December 1st from 2:30-5:00 P.M. at Bethel Community Church to enjoy tasty appetizers, unwind, get crafty and mingle with the women of Bethel. Each women attending will receive a box with all that you need to paint and put together 3 beautiful layered wooden ornaments made locally in Canada. The cost for this event is $25. This is a great event to invite a neighbor, friend or family member to join - the more the merrier! Please register here. The registration deadline is November 24th.

BETHLEHEM COMES TO BANNERMAN: A Christmas Dinner Theatre will have two showings on Saturday, December 14th. We invite you to get involved. We are excited about our plans for December 14 and would love to enjoy the day with you. Sign up at discoverbethel.com/events or the bulletin board across from the mailboxes: be part of the drama team, hospitality team, food prep & kitchen teams, or set-up/clean-up teams. Looking for more information about the event? There is a volunteer interest meeting right after worship this Sunday, November 17. Please join us if you have any questions and sign up as soon as you can!

MEMBER LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE RENT: A quiet woman in our congregation is looking to rent in a Christian home on the Northeast side of the city. If you are interested in offering her a place to live, please e-mail the office at info@discoverbethel.com.

DEACON REQUEST: We have a family that has recently moved into a home and is looking for some help to furnish it. The furniture items that are needed are a couch, queen bed, double bed, and any kind of bedding with that size of bed (pillow, pillowcases, sheets, blankets). If you have any of these items and are willing to donate, please email info@discoverbethel.com.

Bethel Youth:

PAUL & PANCAKES CONTINUES! Next meeting is this Sunday, November 17 during the service.

BETHEL YOUTH RETREAT: a youth opportunity we have coming up is a youth retreat at Camp Nakamun. This will be a gathering of several CRC youth groups similar to what we partnered with last year, which included over 100 students. The retreat will run from Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1, 2024 for youth in Grades 7-12. The cost per person is $110 (plus processing fee) and includes lodging, meals, snacks, and session materials.

The theme for our 2024 retreat is TRUST. Trust is a necessary building block of healthy communities. It’s what makes teenagers feel like they belong in your ministry. Research shows that trust is also critical for forming the Christlike character in teenagers that fosters long-term faith. This 4-session retreat hosted from Friday night until Sunday afternoon explores biblical stories about Jesus and Peter as your youth grow to understand that God is trustworthy and sticks with us even when we struggle to trust. During this retreat, we will play together, make something together, have fun together, and explore Scripture together in ways that will create conversation, lasting memories, and bonds between those in your youth group.

If this is something your youth would be interested in, sign up HERE for the link to the registration form.

Financial Update:

E-TRANSFERS: Thank you to all of you who send money for various items through e-transfers. These transfers all go to the same recipient, which should be accounting@discoverbethel.com. There are several items for which we receive the same amount of money for payment. To help us share the funds with the correct purpose, please help us by stating what you are sending it for in the notes section of the transfer. An example would be sending accounting $50 for GEMS registration or $50 for Bethel general operating expenses. If it’s not stated that the money is for a specific cause or item, we are assuming that the funds are meant as a donation to the general fund. Thank you for your care in designating where the funds should be shared.

COLLECTIONS IN NOVEMBER

November 3 Canadian Foodgrains Bank

November 10 Benevolence Fund

November 17 Bethel World Mission Vision: Seeds of New Creation

November 24 Ministry Shares

Community News:

EMMANUEL HOME’S CHRISTMAS MARKET: You are invited to our annual Christmas Market on Saturday, November 23 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Home (13429-57 Street). Bring your family and friends to enjoy a festive time of crafts, Dutch food, silent auction, and great fellowship. If you would like to rent a table to sell your crafts and wares, contact Aria at aria@emmanuelhome.ca or 780-822-1274. Hope to see you there!

GOSPEL-INSPIRED ORGAN CONCERT AT THE WINSPEAR: Alcee Chriss III, winner of the 2017 Bach Prize as well as First Prize in the Canadian International Organ Competition, is an internationally acclaimed organist. The son of a minister, he was raised listening to gospel music, and his interest in the organ started from watching shows like Hour of Power. Mr. Chriss hasn’t forgotten his roots, and his current performances are infused with gospel inspirations. His upcoming performance on Sunday, November 24, will feature classic pieces like the Organ Concerto in D Minor by Bach, as well as more contemporary pieces like Improvisation on “Over the Rainbow”, by Harold Arlen. For more information and to buy tickets click here.

THE MUSTARD SEED – 9TH ANNUAL FAMILY GIFT CENTRE: We created the Family Gift Centre where low-income families can purchase Christmas gifts at our pop-up toy shop for $2. We believe no family should have to choose between putting food on the table and giving their children the joy of unwrapping a present on Christmas morning. You can be a part of this incredible event in several ways:

Donate New Toys: We’re looking for new toys for ages 0 – 18 years (we can provide a box & poster for collection-toys will need to be collected and delivered by December 3rd)
Monetary Donations: Your financial support will help us stock the shop with a wide variety of gifts. Sponsorship opportunities available.
Volunteer Opportunities: Multiple volunteer shifts available.

If you have any questions, please e-mail sarahwhittaker@theseed.ca.

U of A CHAPLAINS' FESTIVAL OF LESSONS & CAROLS Start this Christmas in reverent reflection and anticipation on Monday, December 2 • 7:30 PM. Join in this festive tradition heralding Advent and Christmas through lessons, anthems and carols! Thrill to the music of the University of Alberta Mixed Chorus and Handbell Ringers. Sing Christmas carols and hear scripture readings alongside hundreds of others - a wholesome night out, a genuine highlight. Tickets are $25 (plus some admin fees) and can be purchased online from Winspear or by calling the Box Office at 780.428.1414.

CORDINATOR FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER AT ABBOTSFIELD RECREATION CENTRE NEDDED: After doing it tirelessly for many years, the current organizer is stepping down. There is an opportunity to shadow this year’s planning and dinner to learn how the dinner is currently organized. Please contact Bertram Dost at dostautopro@shaw.ca or 780-475-0970 if you are interested or have questions. If we can't find someone or a group of people willing to continue this great tradition, this may be the last year for this Christmas event. Thank you for your consideration.

PREGNANCY CARE CENTRE Are you or someone you know looking to make a meaningful impact while growing professionally in a Christ-centered environment? We have exciting news—the Pregnancy Care Centre is expanding, and we’re looking for passionate individuals to join our mission! We currently have openings for Client Services Director, a Community Education Coordinator, a Receptionist and 2 Board Members. Please visit https://www.pregnancycarecentre.ca/hiring/

PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS IN GREECE (March 28 - April 8, 2025): Travel by motor coach (7 days) and cruise ship (3 days) to sites connected with Paul’s second and third missionary journeys, as well as visit other major sites of biblical, archaeological, and cultural interest. Jeff Weima, professor at Calvin Theological Seminary and leading Pauline scholar, hosts this inspirational tour. For more information, contact Dr. Weima at 616-328-3110 or weimje@calvinseminary.edu.

PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS IN TURKEY & THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION (May 27 - June 8, 2025): Visit ancient sites connected with Paul’s First, Second, and Third Missionary Journeys as well as the seven churches to whom John wrote the Book of Revelation. Join Jeff Weima, professor at Calvin Theological Seminary and leading biblical scholar, for this inspirational biblical tour. Contact Dr. Weima at 616-328-3110 or weimje@calvinseminary.edu.

CRC NEWS: Check out what’s happening in the CRC community here.

CRCNA ANNOUNCEMENTS: Connecting church members with the ministries of the denomination. Find out more by visiting the website here.

THE INTERIM COMMITTEE OF CLASSIS ALBERTA NORTH IS SEEKING NOMINATIONS

Classis Treasurer: to commence July 1, 2025. The treasurer looks after all the financial matters for Classis and should have a basic understanding of book-keeping. The treasurer serves on the Classis Interim Committee (CIC) which meets about 9 times a year in Edmonton to conduct the affairs of Classis between classis meetings. The treasurer is also an ex officio member of the Student Support Team, which meets 3 times a year. The treasurer will be supported by Mike Vos who will continue to serve as alternate treasurer.

For more information, contact Mike Vos, Classis Treasurer, at classistreasurer@gmail.com.

Alternate Stated Clerk: to commence in March of 2025. That alternate stated clerk fills in for the Stated Clerk when that person is unable to fulfil the duties of that position. Stated clerk duties include preparing the agenda, support documents and minutes for all Classis meetings and meetings of the Classis Interim Committee, as well as looking after all Classis correspondence. The stated clerk also serves on the Classis Interim Committee (CIC) which meets about 9 times a year in Edmonton to conduct the affairs of Classis between classis meetings.

For more information contact Gary Duthler, Stated Clerk, at classisstatedclerk@gmail.com.