As this unusual time we're in stretches longer, the various charities we support as a church family are being stretched thinner than ever. If you are able to help out, even a small gift can make a large difference in someone's life at a time like this.
Please
remember our church family in your daily prayers at mealtimes and during your
personal devotions. Continue to remember those young and old with ongoing
physical, spiritual, and emotional struggles.
In
this celebration season we wish everyone traveling mercies as they gather at
various family Christmas events.
Congratulations to Klaas Boskers with the celebration of his
88th birthday today. May you
be blessed with a special day with your family and throughout the coming year.
With
sadness we offer condolences to Gerry and Pita Doornenbal as Gerry’s younger
brother of Holland passed away earlier this week. May our Lord comfort you in this time of
need.
Dear Friends,
This Christmas season our family will have the chance to
share the story of the Incarnation with over 100 Chinese university
students. That’s pretty amazing, isn’t
it? For many it will be the first time
they’ve heard anything about Christmas other than Santa Claus, Christmas trees,
and exchanging gifts. In fact, Christmas
has become a very big event in China where friends reserve restaurants for a
special meal, Wal-marts are fully stocked with tinsel and trees just like their
North American counterparts, and people sell individually wrapped apples on
Christmas Eve. (Ping’an Ye, or
“Peaceful Night”, as the Chinese refer to Christmas Eve, sounds like the
Chinese word for apple.) As we share the
true meaning of Christmas with these young people, we are thankful for all of
you. It is because of your faithfulness
in sending us that they will hear, and we can all look forward to rejoicing
together in the harvest!
Thank you for your prayers. We also pray for you all regularly, asking that our Father will build
you up as His Body to minister to one another and to the community in which He
has placed you. We also ask that each of
you would know the joy and peace of His presence during this Christmas season
and throughout the coming year.
With much love and appreciation, Mark, Selina, Luke and Levi
Patterson
Do
remember our seniors and shut ins in prayer: Tony & Henny Middag, Ann
Vander Wal,
Tilly
Biel and Lea Dykstra.
Remember our missionaries
around the world.
Bethel News
Preschool Sunday School
Classes will be singing during the Christmas Day service. There will be NO PreSchool Sunday School on Christmas Day.
Note from the Treasurer
The last day for church donations for the 2011 calendar year will be December 28th. Thank you from August Luymes
Singles’ Luncheon
The deacons are hosting the
annual Singles’ Luncheon today. Invited guests are welcome to enjoy a
time of food, fun, and fellowship after the morning
service. Please join us in the Fellowship Hall for lunch and games.
Community
Christmas Dinner, Desserts
Needed!
We are still in need of desserts and baking for
the Christmas Day Community Dinner. They can be dropped off at the LMC at
10:00 a.m. or given to Jen Zuidhof at the Christmas Day Service here at
Bethel. Please let Jen Zuidhof know TODAY at 403-782-6672 so that we can
plan accordingly. Everyone is welcome to attend the community Christmas
Day dinner at the LMC. Dinner will be served at 12:30 p.m.
Guess Who is Coming for Coffee:
Just a
reminder for those who would like to take part in this interesting fellowship
idea. We have a sign up sheet on the table in the foyer. So far we
have 24 families signed up. This is a program where a coffee evening is
planned. One couple is host while two others come for coffee. The
surprise is that you do not know who is coming. It is a great way to get
to know some new people in our church family or to perhaps connect with some
that you have lost touch with. We have heard a few concerns from those
who are not so keen on driving at night. Please, do not let this stop
you. In our planning, these concerns will definitely be looked
after. Please talk to Pauline Bos or Anita Geldof if you have any
concerns or questions. We hope to start the program in January. If
you want to sign up yet, it is not too late.
Bottles and Battery Drive
Once again the Cadets will be
collecting bottles and batteries in early January. Please save them, or if you would like us to
pick them up, give Grant Zuidhof a call
at 403-782-4002. Thank you for your
support.
Bethel Youth News
Jr. Youth
Come for a day at the
water park. Bring some friends or family members.
Where: West Edmonton Mall Water Park.
When: Saturday January 14th 2012. Leaving the
Church at 9:30 am and will be back at 5:00 pm.
We will be eating lunch in the food court so bring a lunch
or money for lunch.
The
cost is regularly $36.95 for General admission and anyone 3 to 10 years is
$29.95. If we have a group of more than 15 we can get in at a group rate which
is $21.95 per person. If anyone is interested in going please contact Andrew or
Carina Tenbrinke at 403-782-7903. We need to know how many people we have
interested so we can have enough drivers and leaders coming with us so please
let us know BEFORE January 7th.
CANYA
(Classis Alberta North Young Adults)
is also
hosting a snowboard/ski evening at Rabbit hill (located just North of Highway
19 at 25512 Township Rd 510D) on Saturday, January 7th starting at 6
p.m. Invite your families, youth group, college and career group, church
councils, small group team, groups of friends or whoever can come out for a fun
evening of snowboarding or skiing. Cost is only $20.00 per person which
includes rentals and lift tickets. To reserve your tickets and space on the
hill, please contact Ron deVries (Classis Alberta Youth Ministry Consultant) at
780-619-6566 or Amy Stol at 780-952-6578. Space is limited so book early.
Announcements
Prayers for the Creator's
Children
Please join us at the Edmonton Native Healing Centre at 2 p.m. on Thursday the
22nd of December for a Ceremony of Praise and Thanks to the Creator
as well as prayers for His people, as we make preparations for Christmas. Our
address is #101, 11813-123 street T5L 0G7. Blessings of Joy and Peace!
Denominational News
Diaconal
Ministries Canada
Is your church's membership declining? Find out how
stewardship and the mission of your church might play a role in turning this
around. Go to www.diaconalministries.com to read the latest issue of Partners,
DMC's quarterly newsletter.
The Persecuted Church
Iran
The Iranian media is desperate to refute claims that
Christianity is spreading among Iranian youth and through cities considered to
be almost exclusively Islamic. On October 2nd a government-supported
news website acknowledged that the acceptance of Christianity was becoming a
trend and reported 200 house churches were discovered in just a few months in
the traditionally Islamic city of Mashhad. A prominent Islamic theologian
and writer publicly spoke about the conversion of 600 people to Christianity in
the city of Neishabour. The Head of the Ministry of Intelligence in
Iran also warned the heads of education about the spread of Christianity in
schools. There will be a new effort to fight the growth of house churches in
Iran, and there are serious concerns that this Christmas season could bring
intense persecution for Christians. Last Christmas season, authorities raided
house churches and the homes of believers in Iran arresting hundreds of
Christians. Please pray that this Christmas season believers
throughout Iran will be protected. Pray that God will grant them safety as they
celebrate the arrival of our Saviour. Pray that God will bless and strengthen
the faith of new converts to Christianity.
