OUR CHURCH FAMILY

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.

Congratulations to Ralph Bos with the celebration of his birthday tomorrow and to Lea Dykstra with her birthday on Saturday. May God be with you both and may you feel his blessings in the coming year.

Carol De Waal and Robert Hosmer plan to be united in marriage on Saturday, October 29^th at 3:00 p.m. here in Bethel church. The congregation is invited to come to the service and witness as they exchange their sacred vows before God.

Do remember those who are unable to worship regularly with us: please keep Jenny Bajema, Tilly Biel, Klaas Boskers, Gerry Doornenbal, Lea Dykstra, Ernie Stebner and Grace Vander Veen in your prayers.

Pray for our missionaries around the world. 

Bethel News

From the Church Treasurer: 

Just a reminder to the congregation that we still need $23,000 for the church budget to meet our ministry shares for this year. Also, we received with thanks $28,000 for various cause on Thanksgiving Day. Thank you! August Luymes

Book Discussion: 

"From Embers to a Flame" by Harry L. Reeder III. Some of you have read this book already, or are currently reading it. A number of the ladies belonging to the Book Club have decided to read it as well. This is the book that is recommended reading for the Church Renewal Lab. The idea is that readers gain a better understanding of the process of how to become a spiritually healthy, and a vibrant congregation. This discussion is for both men and women, or couples, who have read, or are still reading this book, or want to read it but have not started. The date is Thursday, December 1^st at 7:30 p.m. Place to be announced. Please let Margaret Roolker (403-782-4506) know if you are planning to come.

The Church Renewal Lab: 

We have begun a “Church Bible Reading” schedule for the Book of Acts. The vision is to read 5 chapters a week and ponder the reflection questions in relation to our church. Here are the readings for last week and this week.

Week 2: The New Testament Church is prepared for mission 

(Acts 6 - 10, October 17^th to 21^st)

Day 1: Acts 6 - Q: How can we identify opportunities, train leaders and release persons for mission?

Day 2: Acts 7 - Q: How can we maintain the sweet spirit of Stephen (vs. 59-60) when we are mistreated?

Day 3: Acts 8 - Q: How does Philip and the Ethiopian offer guidelines for our outreach to seekers?

Day 4: Acts 9 - Q: What does Jesus’ call to Saul (see 7:58) say about who Jesus can use for ministry?

Day 5: Acts 10 - Q: Who are we overlooking that the Spirit may have in mind for us to love & serve?

Week 3: The New Testament Church moves beyond her walls 

(Acts 11 – 15, October 24^th to 28^th)

Day 1: Acts 11 - Q: v.10-30 show disciple-making. How can we make better disciples?

Day 2: Acts 12 - Q: The church in Acts 12:15 underestimated the power of prayer for mission…do we?

Day 3: Acts 13 - Q: How does the mission-minded Antioch church help us think about missions?

Day 4: Acts 14 - Q: Acts 13-14 describes a persistent push for greater Gospel impact…are we persistent?

Day 5: Acts 15 - Q: The council of Jerusalem extended grace. How can we be more gracious?

October is Rehoboth Membership Month! 

Why not join thousands across Alberta as a Rehoboth member to support the ministry of supporting persons with developmental disabilities. Membership fees are just $10 each, and donations of any amount are also greatly appreciated. Look for the October is Member Month postcard in your mailbox. Please place your completed membership forms in Arnie & Sherry Tenbrinke’s box. Thank you!

Operation Christmas Child 

shoe boxes are in the foyer. Please help yourself to a shoe box if you are interested in taking part in this ministry. All the info for filling a shoe box is inside the box. Please bring your filled boxes back to the church by Sunday, November 13^th and place them back under the church mail boxes.

Living members 

will meet at the home of Alex & Ann Wildeboer today, October 23^rd at 7:30 p.m. Please read the first 10 chapters of Acts and prepare to discuss the questions as per handout in our mailboxes last Sunday.

Craft Days! 

To all crafty folks, this is an advance notice for the craft days to be held on November 5^th and December 10^th. We would so like to see new faces when we get together to do crafts. Ladies, whatever you want to do, even just visiting, please come for a bit, or the whole day and enjoy our warm lunch, provided free. New! Men, if you have a hobby that does not involve or require large, fixed-to-the-floor machinery, please come and join us. Model building, technical Lego, assembling of whatever you made at home or in your garage....we know there are both men and women who love colouring. Come one and all! There's coffee, baking, lunch, desserts, good company, good conversations. Love to see you all there! N.B. For those of you who like to do Christmas baking together and then exchange a dozen or so to take home a variety of goodies, we plan to do that on December 10^th. Just let Anita (403-782-2817) or Margaret (403-782-4506) know ahead of time so we can plan the warm lunches. See you there!

BETHEL YOUTH

Young Peoples 

will meet at Kyle Scholing’s home this evening at 7:00 p.m.

Young Adults 

will meet at the home of Kyle & Erica Van Stryland for a Bible study this evening at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday Nite Youth 

meets this Tuesday, October 25^th at 7:30 p.m. If you have friends who would like to join in on all the fun, please invite them. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. See you there!

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

You are invited to come and celebrate our 25^th Anniversary as an urban Aboriginal ministry in Edmonton on Thursday, October 27^th at the Chateau Nova hotel in the Grand Room. We have several city and provincial dignitaries coming to share a few words. Also John Stellingwerff will be in town to share about his time as director of the ENHC. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with coffee, punch and dessert!! Come hear the stories of God’s Goodness and share in the journey of Reconciliation.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE – you can still register for this Saturday’s Day of Encouragement 

held at The King’s University. The event begins with registration at 8:00 a.m. and Dr. Wilkinson’s keynote address begins at 8:45 a.m. The variety of morning and afternoon workshops are of interest to all people (not just church leaders). Go online today to www.diaconalministries.com to find the link to register. For more information contact NADC: 780-819-7488 or yournadc@gmail.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A new and exciting musical opportunity awaits you! 

Wolf Creek Community Church invites you to join in preparing for the upcoming Community Christmas Eve event at the LMC. The program this year is Christmas Messiah for Young Voices, an arrangement of Handel's Messiah that provides a setting for young children and beyond to tell the Gospel story of Christ and his birth. We are in need of 40 committed voices. Calling all singers, age 6 to 99: If you like to make new friends, relax, serve others, and sing, please contact Amber Nagel @ 403-786-9934 or email: amber.nagel@gmail.com Consider inviting a friend or neighbour who loves to sing. Rehearsals will take place on Sundays following the worship service from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Wolf Creek Community Church in Lacombe. The first rehearsal was last Sunday, October 16; however, it is not too late! Join us this Sunday, October 23 for lunch @ 12:00 p.m. and rehearsal @ 12:30 p.m.

Central Alberta Youth Unlimited’s (Youth for Christ) 

annual Dessert Night will be held on Friday October 28^th featuring Brian Doerksen along with The Shiyr Poets! This year, we will also be hosting a full concert on Saturday, October 29^th at Crossroads Church. Tickets are available online at CAYU.ca, through your church representative or at our main office in Lacombe (5025 50 St.) Our purpose in hosting this event is to increase the community’s awareness of who Youth Unlimited is and what we do, as well as to raise funds for youth work in the communities of Lacombe, Ponoka, Rimbey, Red Deer & Sylvan Lake. We want to share that “We see the hope & potential in every young person”, and we believe that you can help us do that!

Come to Woody Nook CRC 

on October 30^th at 7:00 p.m. to hear from Rev. Greg Sinclair as he delivers a message on loving our Muslim neighbours. Greg will be talking about how the Muslim worldview is quite different than the Christian worldview, but there are still common issues that we all deal with such as shame and fear. As Christians, we need to be sensitive to people of other cultures, and Greg will talk about this as well as why and how we should be missions-minded but not overbearing.

Faith and Climate Change: Towards a Just Transition 

Join Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) for a panel discussion on key issues related to energy, the environment, faith, and the economy. The panel will include Karri Munn-Venn (CPJ), Mike Hudema (Greenpeace), and Joe Bacsu (Iron and Earth) and will be moderated by Dr. Elwil Beukes (The King’s University). It will be followed by commentary from Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Join us on Sunday, October 30^th at 7:00 p.m. at West End Christian Reformed Church (10015 - 149 St, Edmonton) For more information, contact Karri Munn-Venn at karri@cpj.ca or go to cpj.ca/faith-climate.

A Musical Open House For Rehoboth: 

The Joyful Noise Choir is hosting a Musical Open House for Rehoboth Christian Ministries at Parkland United Reformed Church at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, November 5^th. Parkland United Reformed Church is located just south of Ponoka of 2A on Spruce Road. Program will be one hour in length with refreshments to follow.

PERSECUTED CHURCH

Ethiopia: 

Three Christian girls have been arrested following the distribution of a Christian book written in Ethiopia's main language: Let's Speak the Truth in Love. The book answers questions posed by an Islamic scholar about the Christian faith. Local Christians decided to distribute it following their cross-cultural evangelism training. Threats against the girls' church leaders have since arisen. There is concern over the well-being of the girls, but their faith is unshaken. "This (suffering) is an honour for us, we should expect persecution. We are not afraid. We are singing and praying here in prison." Ethiopia's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and in most cities people of different faiths co-exist peacefully. However, evangelical Christians are subject to discrimination, threats and sometimes attacks. Please pray that the girls will receive justice, mercy and protection from potential harm. Thank God for their steadfastness in the face of persecution. May their witness inspire others to grow in the Christian faith and to live more courageously. May God's message of salvation and peace prevail throughout Ethiopia.