CHURCH OFFERINGS

The offering for the North America Indigenous Ministries – serving with First Nations to reach all Nations. This offering is a ministry support for Sean and Becky Folkerts and their multicultural family as they minister to the Louis Bull Cree Nation near Maskwacis. Through His amazing grace, God has put in Sean & Becky’s hearts the burning desire to share their lives and more importantly, His love with these amazing people! They feel they are merely a tool used for His Kingdom work!

The offering for next Sunday, December 6^th is for Tuition Relief for Lacombe Christian School. LCS believes Christian Education to be an extension of the church, where Alberta Education’s Curriculum is taught with a biblical perspective.

From Council: This week we are holding a second collection in order to offer a donation in Wilson's Funeral Home's name as a thank you to them for allowing us to use their chapel while our church has been under renovation. Alex van Geest has chosen the Broom Tree Foundation as his choice of charity. Please make your cheques out to Bethel Church and put chapel donation on the memo line or on the offering envelope. Here is a bit of information about the Broom Tree Foundation and a link to an article about it:

The Broom Tree Foundation has found a way to grow in the community with a new home in Lacombe located on 5010 50th Street (formerly known as the Beet Top Café). The organization aims to provide support to young women in need in the Central Alberta area. “The Broom Tree Foundation is really a passion of mine. I used to work with Central Alberta Youth Unlimited. I was the director of the Stepping Stones program for about four years. There’s just a great need in our community helping young women and walking with pregnant or parenting young women,” explained Donna Abma, Founder of the Broom Tree Foundation. Abma says there are three components of the Broom Tree: connection programs, a café or place of work for young women, and transitional housing.

https://lacombeonline.com/local/the-broom-tree-foundation-forms-roots-in-lacombe

Future Church Offerings:

December 6^th – Tuition Relief for Lacombe Christian School

December 13^th – Budget

December 20^th – Tuition Relief for Central

December 25^th – Lacombe Food Bank

December 27^th – Mission Support for

John & Marian Vandermeer

Alberta Christian High School

UPCOMING SERVICES

Next Sunday, December 6^th 

Is the second Sunday of Advent. This year we are going to enter into the season of Advent through a series on Luke: A Saviour Made Known. We will be reflecting on Luke 1:46-55, Mary Sings. Mary offers a song of praise for what God is doing. She turns to the Old Testament prophets to give us a picture of God’s plan and his plan for the coming Messiah, focusing on themes which run throughout the Gospel of Luke: God’s faithfulness to his promises and his blessing of those who are humble before him.

OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Please remember our church family in your daily prayers, at mealtimes and during your personal devotions. Remember those who are unable to worship regularly with us: Jennie Bajema and Bill Wildeboer. Pray also for those who struggle in silence with ongoing physical, spiritual, and emotional issues. Continue to pray for our missionaries around the world, Diana Boot, Margaret Njuguna, Albert & Carolyn Strydhorst and John & Marian VanderMeer.

Prayer Requests:

• Please remember Jennie Bajema as she has moved to Wilkie, Saskatchewan to be closer to family. May our Lord comfort and guide Jennie as she starts a new chapter in new surroundings.
• Polly Mooy’s cancer has returned. Currently she and Pete are talking with doctors about the next steps to take. May the Lord comfort and strengthen Polly & Pete during this difficult time.
• Please remember Clarence & Doreen Kits, each having a sibling that are struggling with serious health issues, please pray for the Lord’s presence.
• Several Bethel families are walking alongside family members and friends who are struggling with health issues, some in palliative care situations. Please pray that the Lord will be with us and use us to bring strength, hope and peace to each other.

Bethel News

The Congregational meeting that was scheduled for November 25^th has been postponed until the New Year. The 2021 budget has been distributed by email for review by the congregation. Your district Elder will contact you to review any questions or concerns you may have and to give you an opportunity to vote. All votes are required to be submitted by December 13^th. If you would like another copy sent to you by email, contact Dana.

Pastor Jake has relocated his study to Wolf Creek Community Church while our Bethel Church building undergoes renovation. Feel free to stop on by for coffee, tea and a chat. I am in my study most mornings Monday through Friday. Drop on by for a chat.

Every Man a Warrior: we are looking to start up men’s ministry again in January when we are able to be in our own building again. We are looking at beginning Men’s Breakfast, but Pastor Jake is also looking for 5 men with a heart for being trained as leaders in a ministry for and to men called Every Man a Warrior. To learn more about Every Man a Warrior, you are encouraged to check out their website at https://everymanawarrior.com/ Pastor Jake has arranged with one of their trainers to train 5 men in the program. From the website: We all exchange our lives for something, and there is nothing more fulfilling than exchanging your life to help other men become the men God wants them to be. In leading this course, you will have the opportunity to take men through a series of studies that can change their lives forever. It could also potentially affect future generations as these men become better husbands to their wives and fathers to their children.

Weekly Prayer Time: Due to Mark being in quarantine following a trip to see his parents in Tennessee, there will be no prayer group meeting this week at the Pattersons' home. Instead, here's something for all of us to consider. "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Can you imagine the impact it would have on our lives and on the people around us if we were to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything? Stop and imagine living one whole day characterized by rejoicing, prayer, and gratitude. In fact, let's do more than just imagine. Let's ask God to make that true in each of us by the work of His Spirit this coming Wednesday, December 2^nd. Set a reminder on your phone or jot it on your calendar: "Rejoice, pray, give thanks." Then, on Wednesday morning, ask God to remind you and enable you throughout the day to find things for which to rejoice, pray, and give thanks. Let's do this together!

BETHEL YOUTH

Tuesday Night Youth on December 1^st for grades 7-12: The leaders ask that you be dropped off at the home of Andrew & Carina Tenbrinke until our church reno is finished. Please arrive by 7:30 p.m. fs or games with classes from 8-9 p.m. TNY will take place EVERY Tuesday unless there is no school that day. If you have any questions, please call Andrew.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Administrative Assistant position opening at Shalom Counselling Centre, Red Deer, AB. For job details or to submit a resume to Kathleen Dubas, Office Manager, Shalom Counselling Centre, 5515 – 27 Avenue, Red Deer T4P 0E5. 403.342.0339

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

A reminder that we at the Ministry to Seafarers will be distributing Christmas gifts again this year for the annual Christmas at Sea gift giving campaign. If you would like to support this cause that brings joy to so many seafarers each year, please send your donations to: Ministry to Seafarers, 401 E Waterfront Rd, Vancouver, BC V6A 4G9. Cheques can now be made payable to "Ministry to Seafarers." Write "Christmas at Sea" on the memo line. Thank you, Rev. Gary Roosma

Handel's Messiah Sing-Along: Messiah is a 101-year tradition at Calvin University. This year, a true “pick-up chorus” of Calvin students, faculty, and staff joined the Calvin Orchestra to keep the tradition alive! Join us for the Messiah Sing-Along Premiere on the Calvin University YouTube Chanel on Friday, December 4^th at 8 p.m.

Healer of Our Every Ill - A new twist on a favorite Calvin University tradition! The Campus Choir, Women’s Chorale, and Capella have professionally recorded five sessions, which will debut on the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship’s YouTube channel at 7 p.m. EST each Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve. Each service is 30–40 minutes long and contains songs, Scripture, and prayer. worship.calvin.edu/news-events/events/

THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

Colombia has a high percentage of Christians, but it is also home to ruthless drug cartels who tempt vulnerable young people with promises of a better life. They do not like it when pastors offer young people a hope and future in Jesus. Pastor Plinio was murdered in his own home. His children Daniela and Sebastian are growing up without a father. These children need a safe place to receive comfort and a chance to begin recovering from trauma. Pray for Colombian families who have been confronted with violence because of their faith. May the Lord carry them through times of pain and grief. Pray for children like Daniela and Sebastian that they grow up to be faithful servants in His Kingdom.

WEEKLY CALENDAR

Tuesday, December 1^st 

7:30 p.m. Tuesday Night Youth at the home of

Andrew & Carina Tenbrinke

Thursday, December 3^rd 

5:00 p.m. Circle of Friends Community Dinner

Cooks: Gaylene & Jenny

Friday, December 4^th 

10:00 a.m. Reading the Bible on Facebook Live