Bcc Newsletter Nov 08 Final

Featured in this Issue...

Missions News

Pg. 2

Ladies Christmas Tea

Pg.3

Meatball Supper

Pg. 4

Women’s Book Club

Pg.4

Movie Night

Pg. 5


ovember 2008

The Bethlehem Message from the Pastor I wasn’t sure what to write this month. Sometimes that happens. So I figured I would keep things simple and just pass on a good joke that someone sent me. The couple was 85 years old and had been married for sixty years. Though they were far from rich, they managed to get by because they watched their pennies. Though not young, they were both in very good health, largely due to the wife's insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last decade. (Some of you can relate, I am sure). One day, their good health didn't help when they went on a rare vacation and their plane crashed, sending them off to Heaven. They reached the pearly gates, and St. Peter escorted them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion, furnished in gold and fine silks, with a fully stocked kitchen and a waterfall in the master bath. A maid could be seen hanging their favorite clothes in the closet. They gasped in astonishment when he said,

Word 'Welcome to Heaven. This will be your home now.' The old man asked Peter how much all this was going to cost. 'Why, nothing,' Peter replied, 'remember, this is your reward in Heaven.' The old man looked out the window and right there he saw a championship golf course, finer and more beautiful than any ever built on Earth. 'What are the greens fees?,' grumbled the old man. 'This is heaven,' St. Peter replied. 'You can play for free, every day.' Next they went to the clubhouse and saw the lavish buffet lunch, with every imaginable cuisine laid out before them, from seafood to steaks to exotic deserts, free flowing beverages. 'Don't even ask,' said St. Peter to the man. This is Heaven, it is all free for you to enjoy.' The old man looked around and glanced nervously at his wife. 'Well, where are the low fat and low cholesterol foods and the decaffeinated tea?,' he asked. That's the best part,' St. Peter replied. 'You can eat and drink as much as you like of whatever you like and you will never get fat or sick. This is Heaven!' cont. on pg. 3

November 2008 Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat 1

2 Worship 10:30am

3

4 Election Day

5

6 Acts Bible Study 7pm

7 NA meeting 6:30 Meatball Supper preparation

8 Meatball Supper 4:30 & 6:15 Xmas room opens at 1pm

Go Vote!

9 Worship 10:30am

10

11

12

13 Acts Bible Study 7pm

14 NA meeting 6:30

15

16 Worship 10:30am

17

18 Board Mtg.

19 Meal with the Minister 12pm

20

21 NA meeting 6:30

22 Movie Night 5:30 at parsonage

26 Community Thanksgiving Eve Service 7pm

27 Happy Thanksgiving!

28 NA meeting 6:30

29

7pm

23 Worship 24 10:30am Annual Mtg. after service

25

30 Worship 10:30am

Missions News On October 18 Missions/Deaconate hosted a Children's Cookie and Craft Class. The event started at noontime with 18 kids— some from Bethlehem and a lot from the neighborhood. The kids had a great time mixing the cookie dough and baking the cookies to a sweet perfection!! A pizza lunch was provided and they settled down into making Halloween crafts. After visiting the Sanctuary everyone went outdoors to enjoy the beautiful Fall day and join in some games. All of the kids happily left at 3:00 p.m. with a dozen cookies and a bag of goodies. Special thanks to the volunteers: tweens Michaela and Karoline, Pam, Sue, Michele, Deb, Frank and to Jeanne and Beth for their efforts in getting the neighborhood kids to come. The Angel Tree (a program for children who have one or more incarcerated parent) gift tags will be available on Sunday,
ovember 23, 2008. Please take one or two gift tags for

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this wonderful program - the joy for the child and parent - and for the givers is indescribable.

Canned Food Drive &Turkey Donations Canned goods collection for the Village Pantry continue. Please pick up a food slip or two at the canned good table in Fellowship Hall. Money for Thanksgiving turkeys is being collected - $15.00 per turkey - the last day to donate money for turkeys is Sunday, November 9. Children's Christmas Party - Sunday, December 14 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. *More Missions & Diaconate news on pg. 5

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mt. 28:18-20

Birthdays and Anniversaries
ovember Birthdays December Birthdays Delbert Smith Robert Leach Catherine Lindstrom Carl Nordstrom Beverly Gosselin Sue Fellion Corrine Wennerstrand Karin Ciance Roy Lindstrom Robert Salmonsen Margery Carlson Susan Strozina

11/4 11/6 11/6 11/11 11/19 11/19 11/19 11/20 11/23 11/24 11/25 11/27


ovember Anniversaries Amy and Kenneth Malo 11/4 Eric and Kathleen Thompson 11/23

Carl P. Werme Paul Swenson Lillian Ekstrom Astrid Randall Algot Ekstrom Robert Thyden Amy Berg Eric Nordstrom

12/04 12/11 12/16 12/18 12/26 12/30 12/31 12/13

Ladies Christmas Tea Saturday, December 13 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Please try to attend this tea—it is a great time to catch up with each other, relax and reflect on the blessings of Christmas.

Thank You Dear Bethlehem Family, Thank you so much for the beautiful Chrysanthemum plant David Ahlin delivered. It was so nice to visit with him. Thanks for your thoughtfulness, Carl and Esther Werme Dear Diaconate and Members of Bethlehem, Al and I want to thank you for the beautiful plants Phyllis brought to us and for the visit with us. We also thank you for the discs we receive each week to keep us in touch. We miss all of you so much. Sincerely, Al and Lil Ekstrom

Message from the Pastor (Cont.) The old man pushed, 'No gym to work out at?' 'Not unless you want to,' was the answer. 'No testing my sugar or blood pressure or...' 'Never again. All you do here is enjoy yourself.' The old man glared at his wife and said, 'You and your bran muffins. We could have been here ten years ago!' Humor is good, isn’t it? ☺ God bless, 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 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 234 Auburn, MA 01501 24 Briarwood Circle Worcester, MA01606 508-856-7232

Those participating in worship this month are: Nov. 9th Ushers: Delbert and Eleanor Smith Scripture Reader: Karen Anderson Worship Leader: Tom Johnson Sound Ministry: Steven Pope Nov. 16th Ushers: John Schonning and Jeff Stafinski Scripture Reader: Jeanne Bartkus Worship Leader: Pam Johnson Sound Ministry: John Schonning Nov. 23rd Ushers: Beverly Gosselin and Jeanne Bartkus Scripture Reader: John Schonning Worship Leader: Mark Fellion Sound Ministry: John Schonning Nov. 30th Ushers: Phyllis Conder and Dave Ahlin Scripture Reader: Denise McGinley Worship Leader: John Schonning

Sound Ministry: Steve Pope

Swedish Meatball Supper Saturday, November 8th 4:30 and 6:15pm Adults $8 Children under 12 $4

Women’s Book Club Interested in reading more? Want to discuss thought-provoking books with other women?

Tuesday, November 4th, at 7 PM At the parsonage

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Archeologist finds 3,000year old Hebrew text

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- An Israeli archaeologist has discovered what he says is the earliest-known Hebrew text, found on a shard of pottery that dates to the time of King David from the Old Testament, about 3,000 years ago. Professor Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem says the inscribed pottery shard—known as an ostracon—was found during excavations of a fortress from the 10th century BC. Carbon dating of the ostracon, along with pottery analysis, dates the inscription to time of King David, about a millennium earlier than the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, the university said. The shard contains five lines of text divided by black lines and measures 15 by 15 centimeters, or about 6 inches square. Archaeologists have yet to decipher the text, but initial interpretation indicates it formed part of a letter and contains the roots of the words "judge," "slave," and "king," according to the university. That may indicate it was a legal text, which archaeologists say would provide insights into Hebrew law, society, and beliefs. The researchers say the text was clearly written by a trained scribe. The shard was discovered at the Elah Fortress in Khirbet Qeiyafa, about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem. The fortress, measuring 2.3 hectares (about 5.7 acres), is the earliestknown fortified city of the biblical period in Israel. Excavations began there in June. So far, just four percent of the site has been excavated, the university said. Because the ostracon is similar to that found in other Israelite settlements, and because no pig bones were found at the site, archaeologists say the site was likely part of the Kingdom of Judea. Jewish dietary laws forbid the eating of pork.

Missions & Diaconate News (Cont.) Thanks to part of the proceeds from the church tag sale held in October we were able to donate new clothing to the Quinsigamond Village Community School for the children in the early grades. A heartfelt thankyou to the Missions Committee members who manned the kitchen serving coffee, donuts, hotdogs, chips and cold drinks and generously agreed to outreach to our community by giving a monetary gift of $160 for the purchase of the clothing for the kids. The Quinsig School is very appreciative that this need has been met. Also, we are collecting jackets for the South Worcester Neighborhood Center. Any jackets you have that are in good condition that you no longer used would be appreciated. If you have any questions, please speak with Jeanne Bartkus.

Movie Night “The Spitfire Grill” Saturday, November 22nd We will meet at the parsonage for pizza at 5:30pm and start the movie around 6pm.

To a town with no future, comes a girl with a past. Percy, upon being released from prison, goes to the small town of Gillead, Maine to find a place where she can start over again. She is taken in by Hannah, to help out at her place, the Spitfire Grill. Percy brings change to the small town, Among the artifacts found at the site are more than 100 jar stirring resentment and fear in some, and growth in others. handles bearing distinct impressions which may indicate a link to royal vessels, the university said. Such a large quantity The film is 2 hrs. long and is rated PG-13 (mild profanity, found in such a small area is "unprecedented," the university mature themes). The film will shown in high definition. said. The site of Khirbet Qeiyafa is located near the place where the Bible describes the battle between David and Goliath—the Elah Valley, which shares its name with the fortress.

Garfinkel said it is the only site in Israel in which to investigate King David. "The chronology and geography of Khirbet Qeiyafa create a unique meeting point between the mythology, history, historiography and archaeology of King David," he said. The Dead Sea Scrolls are the earliest-known copies of the Bible, some dating back about 2,000 years. It is widely believed that the first set of Dead Sea Scrolls was discovered

*Please note the change in venue—we will meet at the parsonage (14 Victoria Ave).

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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

Word