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.

We wish Bill Noordhof blessings on his birthday as he celebrates tomorrow. May God be with you in the coming year!

Do remember those who are unable to worship regularly with us: please keep Jenny Bajema, Klaas Boskers, Rena DeRuiter, Lea Dykstra and Ernie Stebner in your prayers.

Pray for our missionaries around the world.

Bethel News

ATTENTION PARENTS OF ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH: 

The Children’s Christmas Worship Service is coming together and it is going to be a wonderful time of Praise and Worship as we anticipate Christ’s birth. The service will take place during the morning service on December 10^th. We have carefully planned and considered parts for ALL our Children and youth. The Christmas Story will be presented once again as a play. There will be a rehearsal next Sunday, December 3^rd after the morning service to hand out parts and go through the play. Each part is very small and we do not require costumes (Those who have larger parts and costumes should have been contacted already). If you are unable to be part of this service please contact Donna by text at 403-506-9993 (I will not have cell service until Saturday and will reply at that time). Please bring a flashlight labeled with your name on December 3^rd. Thank you!

Please mark your calendars for the Bethel Congregational Meeting 

to be held this Wednesday, November 29^th at 7:30 p.m. We will be looking at and voting on the proposed Bethel budget for 2018 as well as other items.

Living Members 

will meet tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Peter & Gerry Prins’. Please study lesson 7 in the Discover Ephesians book.

Prayer Meeting: 

There will be a prayer meeting at the home of Margaret Roolker on Tuesday morning, November 28^th at 10:00 a.m. This is for the work and ministries in our congregation, and especially for the ongoing need for the Holy Spirit to make us aware of God's agenda for us all. If you feel led to pray not only with but also for the congregation, please feel free to join us.

Sinterklaas Bazaar: 

The Bethel Mission Team is planning a trip to Mexico to build a house in the spring. Our team consists of youth leaders from Woodynook, Wolf Creek and Bethel. In order to help raise money for our trip, the mission team is hosting the Sinterklaas Bazaar this coming Saturday, December 2^nd here at Bethel from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Come enjoy a delicious Dutch luncheon, play some traditional Dutch games and meet Sinterklaas and the Mission Team. Donations for quality clean toys would be greatly appreciated as well and can be dropped off at Bethel or the Bouwman house before the event. Contact Jackie Bouwman at 403-357-8043 for more details.

December Newsletter: 

The newsletter team is preparing to print the last newsletter for 2017. We look forward to hearing from the congregation. Send us a note as to how your year has been in your particular ministry or Bible study. Tell us about your plans for 2018. Send us a poem, or a recipe, or a devotion that touched your heart. Send us your drawings and your artwork. We strive to make the newsletter something that is interesting for all, but also something that tells us about our Bethel family, helping us to get to know one another better. We include some denominational news and community announcements as they become available to us. Growing as a family and as a group of disciples of Christ Jesus is our goal for the newsletter and our prayer for each member of Bethel. Thanks for your support and your contributions through another year. Please talk to Harriet Luymes or Anita Geldof about items you would like to see included in the newsletter.

Lost & Found: 

The box at the bottom of the stairs at the front of the church is overflowing with a vast assortment of coats & hoodies - many of which seem to show up after Tuesday Nite Youth - Tupperware and toys. Please take a moment to check for any items which might belong to YOU. Leftovers will be given to the Building Blocks Thrift store this week!

Community Christmas Dinner 2017: 

Bethel is once again hosting the Community Christmas Dinner on Christmas Day. Are you willing to hang up posters all around town? Please let Pete or Cora Hoekstra know. This task would need to be completed by December 1^st.

BETHEL YOUTH

Tuesday Nite Youth 

meets this Tuesday, November 29^th at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. See you there!

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

CRCNA Position Opening 

Resonate Global Mission, the mission agency of the CRCNA, has part-time openings for Local Mission Leaders for the Western Canada, specifically (but not limited to) in the Greater Vancouver, Edmonton, and Winnipeg areas. The positions will be located in a city in the Western region of Canada (Thunder Bay west). The work of the Local Mission Leader will be to develop contextual strategies that catalyze the development of mission-shaped congregations, missional leaders, and holistic mission networks and connect global and local partners for mission in their local context and/or ministry focus area. Visit www.crcna.org/jobs for a detailed description or to apply, attaching a current cover letter and resume, by Tuesday, November 28^th. To remain open until candidates are located in Greater Vancouver and Edmonton.

The denominational Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee (EIRC) 

has a vacancy to be filled by a person from Western Canada. The Committee is appointed by Synod of the CRC to engage and participate in the life of the global church, particularly interacting with churches and ecumenical organizations that share the heritage of the Reformed understanding of the Christian faith. Members of Classis Alberta North who wish to be nominated for serving on this Committee or nominate someone else should send the nomination to Henk Van Andel, Classis Nominations Coordinator, at henkva@telus.net before December 15, 2017. Nominees are to have some ecumenical experience and interest, and nominations should be accompanied by a brief biography demonstrating this experience and interest.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Central Alberta Christian High School’s Fall Drive/Capital Campaign 

is underway. This year’s goal is $600,000. If you have not received a donation form you may contact the school’s business office (403-782-3-4535) and request the form to be mailed, faxed or emailed to you. During the evening, you may also contact Phil Tenbrinke (403-782-7951) or Wendy Barnes (403-885-5187). Your donations may be mailed to C.A.C.H.S., 22 Eagle Road, Lacombe, AB, T4L 1G7. Attention: Wendy Barnes or they may be handed in a sealed envelope to the canvasser who called you.

PERSECUTED CHURCH

India 

Officials and police in Tamil Nadu state have ordered ten churches to discontinue services. Hindu militants have compelled state officials and police to issue orders mandating the churches to stop conducting worship services unless permission is obtained from a government collector's office, a process that could take several years. Twenty more churches are under threat with similar bans. In their efforts to challenge such complaints, nearly 500 Christians submitted a memorandum demanding protection and appealing for churches to re-open. Despite this urgent call for justice, the police superintendent has refused any support or action, stating that nothing can be done. Pray that any plans to hinder ministry among the people of these communities will be thwarted. In the meantime, may these believers be reminded that their prayers and worshipful praise are not confined to a building. Pray that the hearts of those in positions of governing authority will be turned toward the Lord, so that the truth of the Gospel message can succeed in transforming many more lives in this country.