Bcc Newsletter Jan 09

Featured in this Issue...

Calendar

Pg. 2

Women’s Book Club

Pg.4

Meal with the Minister

Pg. 4

Missions Soup Luncheon

Pg. 5

January 2009

The Bethlehem

Word

Message from the Pastor

Place: In your heart.... He'll meet you there. (You'll hear Him knock.)

The Christmas season has now just about passed. Some of you no doubt still have your Christmas tree and/ or decorations up at the house. But hopefully the spirit of the season lives on well past the twelve days of Christmas. Below is something I received in an email. It is an invitation that none of us should pass up. It’s good not just around Christmas, but all year round.

Attire: Come as you are... grubbies are okay. He'll be washing our clothes anyway. He said something about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last.

You are cordially invited to

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!! Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ Date: Every day. Traditionally, December 25 but He's always around, so the date is flexible... Time: Whenever you're ready. (Please don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!)

Tickets: Admission is free. He's already paid for everyone... (He says you wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway... it cost Him everything He had. But you do need to accept the ticket!! Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a far-out drink He calls "Living Water," followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world! Gift Suggestions: Your life. He's one of those continued on pg. 4

January 2009 Sun

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Sat

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6 Veritas Team Meeting 7pm

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8 Bible study 7pm

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11 Worship 10:30am Missions Soup Luncheon

12 Music & Worship 6:30pm Pastoral Relations Committee Mtg. 7pm

13 Board Mtg. 7pm at church

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15 Bible Study 7pm

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28 Worship 10:30am

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21 Meal with the Minister 12pm

22 Bible Study 7pm

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25 Worship 10:30am

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29 Bible Study 7pm

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Thank You Dear Bethlehem Covenant,

Dear Parishoners,

Holiday Greetings to all the women at Bethlehem Covenant Church...and best wishes for a happy New Year form all at our shelter, Women’s Center, food pantry, thrift store and our supportive housing facilities. We thank you for your generous contribution which enables us to continue our work with homeless and battered women with or without children. What a great idea—a Christmas tea! With Sincere best wishes to all of you, Annette Rafferty Abby’s House

The teachers and staff at Quinsigamond School would like to thank the church for your generous donation of clothing for our students. Your donation will help us in caring for the Quinsigamond students and is truly appreciated. Sincerely, Joan Sherman

Dear Diaconate and Members, Al and I want to thank you for the beautiful poinsettia John Schonning brought us. We had such a nice visit with John. We enjoy the discs we receive every week and the cards we receive during the year. God Jul. Gratefully, Al and Lil

On behalf of our director David Johnson, my wife and myself, we wish to express our gratitude to all for your donations for our Thanksgiving baskets. Your dedication has been overwhelming as usual. Henry and Nettie Kimbar Food Pantry Coordinators

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Birthdays and Anniversaries January Birthdays

February Birthdays

Mark Fellion Johanna Thompson June Rice Gordon Forsberg Carl Thompson Jeremy Leach James Zoulias Karen Meenan Denise McGinley

Justin Stafinski Steven Bartkus Judy Nelson Esther Werme Steven Quinn Eric Thompson Ryan Thompson Christine Leach Sherry Gosselin Pamela Johnson Debra Miller Linda Lizotte

1/1 1/1 1/5 1/8 1/13 1/15 1/16 1/25 1/30

2/6 2/9 2/9 2/11 2/12 2/15 2/16 2/20 2/24 2/24 2/24 2/29

February Anniversary Robert and Beth Quinn

2/22

Thank You A special thanks goes out to all those who helped plan and then execute the Children’s Christmas party on Sunday, Dec. 14th. While I was not there, I know a great time was had by all. Special thanks to Denise McGinley, Michele Koller and Pam Johnson for all their hard work. I am probably leaving others out. We also would like to thank Jeanne Bartkus for her part in making the party such a success. Jeanne invited a number of children from the immediate neighborhood to come to church for the party...and come they did! In all, I believe we had close to 40 kids at the party. Some from the neighborhood are already asking about and hoping we will do it again next year. We certainly will. I

believe God has used this to show us that we can be effective in our neighborhood and there is a huge potential ministry opportunity here. On a different note, I would also like the thank everyone for my staff Christmas gift and for the cards and notes I received. We are blessed to be at Bethlehem. The Christmas season at Bethlehem was a wonderful time for all those who were a part of it. Blessings, Pastor Dave

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The following is an updated list of our church members and friends who unable to attend church on a regular basis. Let us remember them in our thoughts and prayers and with a note. Please let the pastor know if you are aware of others who should be on this list. Mr. Lee & Mrs. Astrid Randall 10 Hall Street Webster, MA 01570 508-943-0847 Mrs. Doris Anderson 667 Washington Street #225 Auburn, MA 01501 508-832-5239 Mr. Algot Ekstrom Beaumont Rehab & Skilled Nursing Center 378 Plantation St. Worcester, MA 01608

Paul Faler 321 Massasoit Rd. Worcester, MA 01604 Mrs. Dagny Johnson Life Care Center of Auburn 14 Masonic Circle Auburn, MA 01501 Mrs. Claire Poirier 63 Hudson Avenue Grafton, MA 01519 508-839-0364

Meal with the Minister Wednesday, Jan. 21st at 12pm Come join us for a soup luncheon—all are invited. Pastor Dave will provide soup, chips and/ or bread, drinks. If you’d like to bring dessert, let pastor know. Hope to see you there.

Mrs. Lydia Anderson Whitney Place P.O. Box 935 85 Beaumont Dr. Apt. 10 Northbridge, MA 01534

Mrs. Lillian Ekstrom Notre Dame Du Lac 555 Plantation Street Apt. 327 Mildred Carlson Worcester, MA 01608 669 Washington St. Apt. Mr. Carl & Mrs. Esther Werme 105 Auburn, MA 01501 24 Briarwood Circle Worcester, MA01606 508-856-7232

Message from the Pastor… people who already has everything else. (He's very generous in return though. Just wait until you see what He has for you!) Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness, Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power, Eternity in Paradise, Contentment, and much more! (All "G" rated, so bring your family and friends.) R.S.V.P. Very Important! He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot for you at the table. Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future reference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life." Party being given by His Kids (that's us!!)! Hope to see you there! God bless, Pastor Dave

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Women’s Book Club on January break Resuming Tues., February 3, at 7pm to discuss

Lucy Grealey’s Autobiography of a Face In a strikingly candid and beautifully written memoir, Lucy Grealy describes how at age nine she was diagnosed with a potentially terminal cancer. When she returned to school with a third of her jaw removed, she faced the cruel taunts of classmates at her disfigured face. Grealy tells her story of great suffering and remarkable strength without sentimentality and with considerable wit. She captures with unique insight what it is like as a child and young adult to be torn between two warring impulses: to feel that more than anything else we want to be loved for who we are, while wishing desperately and secretly to be perfect.

Missions News Missions Soup Luncheon Sunday, January 11th following the morning worship service. All are welcome to attend this free lunch. We will be taking an offering to help the Covenant Church and their world mission work in the Congo, Sudan and India. Here below is an article from the president of the Covenant, Gary Walter, and the head of World Mission, Curt Peterson. CHICAGO, IL (December 23, 2008) – Although the global financial crisis has challenged most families in the United States, it has devastated families in other parts of the world. The call to the Covenant is clear – real people in real places are hurting and are looking to us for help, says Gary Walter, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, who along with World Mission Executive Minister Curt Peterson have issued a special Year-end Appeal for help. “As hard as we have been hit economically, areas in which we work around the world are being hit even harder,” Walter says. Examples: • Congo - one of the Covenant’s largest areas of international mission with more than 200,000 Congolese sharing in ministry . . . a country suffering economic and social chaos amid an escalating and devastating war. • South Sudan – some 40,000 brothers and sisters in Covenant churches are caught in the cross-fire of conflict and violence that has torn apart families and communities, leaving tens of thousands of people destitute and struggling to find a ray of hope. • India - persecution of Christians continues to escalate – one Covenant pastor was murdered and numerous churches and homes have been burned as believers stand firm in their faith. “In each of these situations – and others too numerous to list – our brothers and sisters are reaching out to us for help,” Peterson notes. “Although the financial situation in the United States is serious, we cannot allow our economic downturn to result in any disruption of our personal engagement on their behalf.”

Covenant missionaries are involved in partnerships in more than 30 countries. “Never before have we been in so many places,” Peterson adds, “and never before have so many places been so vulnerable at the same time. Our presence is critical.” “My colleagues and I are already implementing plans limiting other expenses and deferring other budgetary projects to make certain we are fiscally responsible in light of economic realities,” Walter says. “But, we are unwilling to do so at the expense of our friends around the world who need us now more than ever.” Walter and Peterson request that individuals and churches support a special year-end appeal, making “a careful and prayerful decision about an especially important and sacrificial year-end gift in response to these challenging and unprecedented times.” They point out that all gifts will go toward meeting the Covenant’s international budgetary commitments, “particularly as it relates to personnel being on the ground where they are needed most.” Generosity is encouraged in support of local church, conference, and other ministries similarly engaged in important Kingdom work. “You will hear me say that the name Covenant actually means ‘in it together,’ ” Walter says. “This is an opportunity to live into that spirit. Never underestimate the importance of a single gift, the impact it makes, and the encouragement it brings.”

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The Bethlehem

Bethlehem Covenant Church 46 Greenwood Street P.O. Box 70629 Worcester, MA 01607 (508) 752—1459 www.bethlehemcc.org

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