Carols for Christmas Concert, Sunday, December 4, at 4:00 & 6:30pm. Shuttles will run from Dickerson Middle School for 4:00 concert only (3:15-5:45).
Service of Hope, Monday, December 5, at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. A service for those suffering from a loss of a loved one.
Bell and Orchestra Concert, Wednesday, December 7, at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary.
Prime Rib Dinner - a Mt. Bethel tradition - Wednesday, December 14, 4:30-7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. Adults $7; Children (ages 4-10) $4; Children (ages 3-under) $1.50. Tickets are available in the Bookstore or online. Purchase your ticket by December 11.
Live Nativity - Wednesday, December 14, from 6:00-7:30pm. Families are invited to participate as the characters who stand in the stable as we present the Christmas story that changed the world. We will have 4 rotations(6:00, 6:20, 6:40 and 7:00) with at least 3 families in each rotation beginning at 6:00pm. Please call Dianne Hylton to sign up at 770-971-5074 or e-mail dianne.hylton@mtbethel.org.
Christmas Eve Worship Services | Saturday, December 24* | 3pm | 5pm (traditional & Encounter) | 8pm | 11pm - *Nursery is available for the 3 & 5pm worship services only.
Sunday, December 25 - There will be just one worship service at 11am. No Sunday School or breakfast. Child care for infants through four-year-olds. No shuttle service.
Sunday, January 1 - There will be just one worship service at 11am. No Sunday School or breakfast. No shuttle service. Nursery and God's Garden for the little ones.
Would you like to visit the homeless under the bridges in Atlanta? On Tuesday night, December 6 & 20, meet at the church at 4:00. We'll grab a burger at US Café, tour the Garden and pick up our guides and sack meals to distribute. We will be back at the church around 10:00pm. Please make a reservation for the bus by contacting Ben Hornsby at 678-333-1871 or ben.hornsby@mtbethel.org for more information.
Women's Retreat - January 27, 28 & 29 - Chattanooga, Tennessee - Registration deadline has been extended so it's not too late to join us for a weekend of spiritual renewal and fellowship!! You can register online at www.mtbethel.org/womensretreat or by picking up a brochure in the church racks. If you are interested in giving the retreat as a Christmas gift to a special woman in your life, contact Kris Michaelides @ 678-560-7427.
Celebrate the Advent Season at Mt. Bethel:
Pancake Breakfast - Saturday, December 3, from 8:00-10:00amin the Fellowship Hall.
Pictures with Santa: Saturday, December 3, from 10:00am-12:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Get your picture with Santa and make Christmas crafts while you wait. We will also have a special Christmas painting you can participate in. (Cost is $10)- Pictures with Santa are $10 each. Proceeds will benefit the Aloha to Aging Ministry. Contact Dianne Hylton 770-971-5074 or dianne.hylton@mtbethel.org for more information. If you ordered a Christmas tree from our Student Ministry, please pick up your tree between 8:00 and 11:00am.
Communion will be available the first Sunday of each month. This Sunday, December 4, Communion will be served during the 8:15am Service in the Sanctuary and in the Chapel between the 9:30 & 11am Services & during the 12:15pm Healing Service.
A "BIG" Thank You to all for filling an Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box and to our tireless helpers who packed all those shoeboxes into cartons, moved them and delivered them to the Relay Station on Sunday, November 20! Each shoebox represents a child touched with caring and God's love. The journey has started to bring hope to the children and you have helped make that possible!
Ready to join Mt. Bethel? Do you have a few questions you would like answered before taking this important step? Our next New Member Class series is Sunday, December 4 & Sunday, December 11 at 11:00 a.m. in Room B116. We have designed these classes to help you figure out how to "navigate" Mt. Bethel & how to get you plugged into the life of the church. For more information or to reserve your spot, contact Krista Downing at 678-560-7226 or krista.downing@mtbethel.org.
Jim Chapman, author of The Night After Christmas | Sunday, December 4 | 3:50 & 6:20pm | Sanctuary - Right before the Carols for Christmas concert, please join author Jim Chapman as he presents his book, The Night After Christmas. The book at first draws the reader back to childhood and to imagining the sound of reindeer on the roof. Very soon, however, this contemporary collection of poetic couplets scrutinizes post-holiday exhaustion, mounting credit card debt, unrealistic expectations, and the lack of devotion paid to the Child whose birthday the holiday should celebrate. The relevance of the message, the read aloud nature of the text, and the photo-like quality of the illustrations will make this light-hearted look at a serious topic a new Christmas tradition for stressed out families everywhere.
Angel Tree runs through December 4. The "Angels" represent gift requests of children in foster care & adults who are being assisted by DFCS. Trees are in the connector, the F Bldg. lobby and the nursery hallway on Sunday mornings or in the connector on Wed. afternoons. Pick up your Angels & spread the spirit of Christmas to the least & the lost.
The Mike Sappington Helping Hand Fund gives to our fellow church members and community in need without the awkward part. It's making a difference without making a big deal about it. Cards can be purchased in the Bookstore for any amount and presented as gifts this season. Why not give to those right at home this year?
MUST Christmas Toy Drive - Bring joy this Christmas by donating new games, new dolls and other new toys. Drop off your unwrapped new toy in the main Church Office or the Preschool - by December 21. For more information contact Christie DeDona at dcrdedona@gmail.com - sponsored by the Discovery Sunday School Class.
ACSS (Samaritan House) Christmas Gift Donations - This the 7th year that Mt. Bethel has helped sponsor the ACSS Christmas Party to be held on December 16. A gift bag is given to each of our homeless guests, in addition to the great Christmas dinner that they enjoy. The need for donations for the gift bags is especially acute this year. Would you please consider donating any of the following items for men:
Gloves (heavy duty, insulated type work gloves - mostly large, some medium); Socks ( white, stretch-type for various sizes; Underwear shorts (briefs or boxers - mostly large 36-38 and a few 40-42; T-Shirts (mostly XL, some large and a few, XXL; Caps (knit, fits any size); Toiletry items (toothpaste, chapstick, deodorant, and bar soap). Note: ACSS also has homeless lady clients as well: similar lady undergarments and/or cold weather items (hats, gloves & scarves) for them will also be appreciated. Place your gift donations (unwrapped, please) in the ACSS Christmas box located at Mt. Bethel receptionist's desk, through Monday, December 12.
To All Nursery Parents: Although the Christmas Season is busy, please remember to contact the nursery office to make reservations. Please call for events such as Carols for Christmas and the Bell and Orchestra Concerts. Your reservations will help us staff better and provide the best care possible for your child. Call Debbie Ruth at 770-971-2588 or Evelyn Bosher at 678-560-7285 for more information.
Mom's Morning Out for children with Special Needs and their siblings, a service of Corrigan Care, Inc., Wednesday, December 7 & 14 from 9:30am-12:30pm. 2012 dates to come! Cost: $25 per child. If a child requires a nursing level of care during their morning with us, we will ensure that a nurse is present at no additional cost to you. Who: Children with special needs and their siblings (ages 6 months - 3 years)
Children can attend up to 2 times each week. Space is limited so register your child soon! Room D8 - Mt Bethel UMC Nursery - Corrigan Care will provide a nurturing, loving environment that focuses on the developmental needs of each special needs child enrolled in the program while providing regular opportunities for art, music and play therapies. Parents and caregivers will work closely with the child's current Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to maintain each child's daily routine while upholding their developmental goals. The child's IEP/IFSP goals will be used to craft a personalized care plan to enable each child to thrive. The time that children spend with Corrigan Care will be a fun-filled, learning environment that encompasses therapeutic play while stimulating their desire to learn. To register email Amy Corrigan at amy@corrigancare.org or call 404-434-7893.
Firewood for Sale - Pickup truck load is $100 plus $20 if you want us to deliver it. Can be purchased at the Bookstore. Proceeds go to benefit the Homeless and Men's Ministry. For more information, contact Ben Hornsby at 678-333-1871 or ben.hornsby@mtbethel.org.
Student Ministry
DNOW (February 10-12) registration is open online at mtbethel.org/dnow. Registration is $75 through the end of November, so hurry and get the best rate available!
Register for Spring 2012 Confirmation online now at mtbethelstudents.org; parent information meeting will be on Sunday, January 8.
Spring Break mission trip registration is open! Forms are in the student ministries hallway or online.
There will be no students life groups on Sunday, December 4, so that we can all attend Carols for Christmas.
Student Ministry Weekly Update
In addition to receiving news through the Church-wide weekly e-blast, you can also subscribe to the Student Ministry Weekly Update. To be added to this email list please send your email address to elise.bernhardt@mtbethel.org.
College Ministry
Weekly happenings:
Sundays - we are studying the book of Ephesians, 9:30am in the CAC
Tuesdays - we meet at Gaylyn Kelly's home (1480 Brookcliff Drive, Marietta) from 7-10pm and are completing our reading and discussion of Isaiah.
Special events:
The 1st & 3rd Friday of each month at THE GARDEN at 6:30 pm, join us to serve, worship and participate in Bible study that we lead.
The 2nd Thursday of the month- SAFEHOUSE- downtown Atlanta, day shelter;
serve over 300 meals, share worship and a message.
UPCOMING:
January 1 is College and Young Adult Ministry SUNDAY!! New Year's Day we get to serve for the one service that day. There will be a coming together of all services at 10am in the Sanctuary. We get to be the ushers, speakers, worship leaders, prayer warriors... all of it. Let me know your interest and availability.
Passion 2012 conference - January 2-5
DNow2012, Feb 10, 11 & 12 - your opportunity to lead students grades 6-12, all weekend long and help them define who Jesus is to them personally.
Questions, or if you are ready to sign up to serve at one of our many
opportunities, please respond by contacting me Gaylyn.kelly@mtbethel.org
Active Senior Adults
Pep Club Christmas Dinner | Tuesday, December 13 | 5:30-7:30 in the Fellowship Hall - $15 per person. RSVP and pay by December 5 to kim.mcgarr@mtbethel.org or 770-579-9224, ext. 25. Please bring hats, gloves and scarves to donate. Our entertainment is Atlanta Theatre-to-Go, performing the play "Connections." Menu - Greek Salad, Chicken Argentinean Style, Rustic Brazilian Style Beef Kabobs, Orzo with Roasted Vegetables, and assorted desserts.
Career Ministry
Mt. Bethel's Career Ministry will meet on Tuesday, December 13 to discuss "Branding." No meeting on December 27.
Recreation Ministry
Youth Winter Basketball - Games begin this weekend, December 2-4. Check your team's game time with the master schedule online at www.mtbethel.org/sportsregistration. This weekend is also when we will be collecting gift cards for less fortunate children. Please drop your team's card off at the front desk. We will also be collecting gently used coats for the homeless.
Boys High School Basketball - Games have begun. Call Adam Sheffield in the CAC if you need a schedule - 770-971-5280.
Youth Spring Sports - Registration begins December 5. Go online or register in the CAC. Football (1st-7th grade) Baseball (ages 4-3rd grade), Softball (K-5th grade), Soccer (ages 4-7th grade), Volleyball (4th-8th grade)
Fitness: Join us for one of our many fitness classes. New - Zumba. Go to www.mtbethel.org/fitness for complete schedule and pricing.
Prayer Ministry
"Voices United"- Join us on Thursday nights at 7:00 in B106 as we pray for every facet of the Church. Contact Bette Cardell at bettecardell@gmail.com for information or ministry prayer requests.
Aloha to Aging - Programs located in the Mt. Bethel Community Center, 4608 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA.
Alzheimer's/Caregiver Support Group Meeting: Monday, December 5, at 10:30am. Open to family members who are assisting an aging loved one, both inside and outside of the home. Free respite care is provided for your loved one while we meet, but must call in advance. For more information call 678-439-1177.
Parkinson's Disease Support Group: Tuesday, December 6, at 10:30-11:30am. Have you been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's? You are not alone. Learn how to cope and live with the diagnosis. Helpful tips and resources provide comfort and encouragement. This program is specifically geared for a person diagnosed with Parkinson's and their caregiver. RSVP by December 5 at 678-439-1177 or info@alohatoaging.org.
Bereavement Support Group: Tuesday, December 6 at 10:00-11:00am. Specifically for those that have lost an aging loved one. If you are dealing with the grief of losing an aging loved one, please contact us at 678-439-1177 or by email dawn@alohatoaging.org.
Making the Most of the Holidays: For Family Caregivers with Aging Loved Ones: Tuesday, December 13 at 10:30am-12:00pm. With the changing needs of your loved one, it's time to alter your holiday tasks and traditions. Join us as we review the Holiday Checklist and share planning strategies and techniques for a "Meaningful and Happy Holiday" season. RSVP 678-439-1177.
