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.
We offer our condolences to
Gerrit and Dorothy Meindersma and Pearl Meindersma with the unexpected death of
Gerrit’s brother Ernest in southern B.C. He was 89. May God bring comfort
through the hope of the Savior in this time of sadness.
Do remember
those who are unable to worship regularly with us: please keep Jenny Bajema, Albert
& Tilly Biel, Klaas Boskers, Gerry Doornenbal, Lea Dykstra, Lillian
Mercier, Ernie Stebner and Grace Vander Veen in your prayers.
Pray for our
missionaries around the world.
Bethel News
Thanks
To all the children’s ministry leaders for the great preparation in the service last Sunday morning. The kids did so well presenting the message of Christmas. Also to the Fellowship Ministry Leadership team for organizing the potluck lunch. It was great that so many folks stayed.
From the secretaries:
For this
coming week, the deadline for bulletin information for the December 27th
bulletin will be 9:00 a.m., Thursday, December 24th. For the January 3rd bulletin the
deadline will be 9:00 a.m., Thursday, December 31st. Thank you!
A BIG THANK YOU
to all
who contributed to the Sinterklaas Bazaar. Thank you for making this event a huge success. Approximately $2,600.00 was raised for the
Mexico Mission Trip.
A pair of
hearing aid batteries have been found, if they are yours please contact Cindy
or Dana to retrieve them.
The
Fellowship Ministry Leadership Team
would like to invite the congregation to
share some of their Christmas baking
with each other after the Candlelight Service and the Christmas Day
Service. Please bring your contributions
to the kitchen and we will look after serving it. Thank you!
Dear
Congregation: On behalf of the General
Administration Leadership team
I have been asked to give you an update on our financial
situation. We have slowly fallen behind
in our budget giving by approximately $3000 per month. We have been able to meet our Classical,
Kings University and Ministers’ pension fund obligations and one third of our
Denominational ministry shares. Another
$30,000 is needed to fulfill this part of our budget. All together we can give as the Lord has
blessed us and share with fulfilling the denominational needs. One more note – December 28th will
be the last day to donate to the church budget. Please prayerfully consider these requests. From
the Church treasurer, August Luymes
The
Cadets are once again fundraising by collecting Bottles & Batteries in January. Please save them for us as we will collect them on January 9th
when we have our fundraising drive.
BETHEL
YOUTH
Young Peoples: There will be a Christmas social next Sunday, December 27th.
Check out the Youth bulletin board
about upcoming Campus Visit
Opportunities at the King’s University in 2016.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Check out
the foyer bulletin board for news from The
King’s University. There are King’s
View Friday coming up and a notice about the next Winter Interdisciplinary
Studies Conference – Change is in the
Air: From Climate Change to Climate
Justice to be held on January 20th and 21st.
PERSECUTED
CHURCH
Turkey
About 20 evangelical churches in Turkey
have received threatening messages from the Turkish branch of ISIS. The
messages, which have been sent via Facebook, text and email, often include
upsetting videos and pictures. The militants responsible for sending these
messages state that they are tired of waiting for Christians to return to
Islam, adding cruel comments such as, "Quranic commandments... urge us to
slay the apostate like you." While the church leaders have reported the
threats to authorities, we ask that you join us in praying for the protection
of these churches and for God's guidance to be granted to their leaders. As
these Christians seek God's wisdom and
direction in response to forms of persecution they've endured, may they sense His Holy Spirit's promptings -- always endeavoring to speak the truth in
love. Ask the Lord to protect them as they continue boldly gathering together
for times of worship and fellowship, while also reaching out to the
non-believing members of their communities. Please pray for an increase of
religious freedom in Turkey, and the empowerment of Christians to embrace that
freedom for the furtherance of the Gospel and God's glory.
