Pentecost was originally a day when the Jews celebrated the first fruits of harvest. Fifty days after Passover, Pentecost was one of the major religious festival in the Jewish faith. Pentecost for Christianity is also one of our major faith days, but the first fruit we celebrate is the giving of the Holy Spirit. Essentially, Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian Church. This year at BPC we will also be celebrating the first fruits of our 2014 communicants' baptism. We say that on this day, they claim their faith and enjoy full admittance into the membership of Christ's Church. This year's communicants class includes:

Madison Hailey Cox

Leslie Anne Gibson

Joshua Raymond Sholly

Jacob David Smith

For the last 44 days, as of this writing, we have been meeting together and studying God's plan for the world; the Creation, Fall, Redemption and Restoration, The Trinity, Scripture, Prayer, Church History, The Book of Confessions, Presbyterian Worship and the Book of Order. On June 1st the session examined these young Christians and voted that they be accepted as members with the right of full inclusion in the life of our church. Congratulations communicants and your families! We invite you to celebrate their membership with the whole church, this Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, at Bethpage Presbyterian Church.  Don't forget to wear red!!!

Blessings, Rev. Ellen  

The Pentecost Offering provides a direct way to meet the needs of children at risk, youth, and young adults.  Forty percent of this offering collected at our 9:55 AM worship service this Sunday, June 8th, will be sent to Barium Springs Home for Children.  Since 1891, this organization has been committed to a safe and nurturing family life for every child.

To learn more about Barium Spring Home for Children, please visit their web site.  

The remaining 60 percent will go to the General Assembly to provide leadership development opportunities for Presbyterian youth and young adults and support children-at-risk programs at the national level.  Since 1998, Presbyterians of all ages have raised over $7 million for these ministries that benefit younger members of God's family. Special envelopes will be provided for this offering.  Please give prayerful consideration to your contribution and place your envelope in the offering plate this Sunday, June 8th.  

The remainder of the Bethpage Men Softball team's Spring season schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, 6/10 - 9:00 PM at Bakers Creek Park

Tuesday, 6/17 - 7:00 PM at Bakers Creek Park

Playoffs will start Thursday, June 19th and Friday, June 20th. Come out and support the Bethpage team and enjoy a great time of fellowship!

We will receive our Father's Day Offering for the Grandfather Home for Children next Sunday, June 15th at the 9:55 AM Worship Service.  The children served by Grandfather Home are recovering from the consequences of severe abuse and neglect.  Grandfather Home provides a safe environment, loving caretakers, needed treatment and education, and opportunities for spiritual growth.  The caretakers at Grandfather Home also recognize that only God can truly heal these children's trauma.  Your prayer support is essential to this ministry.  The government provides about 60 - 65% of the cost to care for each child.  Supporting churches of all denominations help to bridge this gap through financial contributions and in-kind gifts.  Your gifts are a powerful witness to God's Love for these children!  In honor of your father on Father's Day consider giving a gift to help a child who has never known a good and loving father.  Your gifts help dedicated Christian staff show the love and acceptance of our Heavenly Father to children who desperately need God's love and healing.

To learn more about Grandfather Home for Children, please visit their web site.  

Bethpage Presbyterian Church will sponsor the CCM Mobile Food Pantry on Thursday, June 19th, from 8:00 AM until 12:00 Noon in the BPC parking lot.  Cooperative Christian Ministry conducts Mobile Food Pantries on a monthly basis in neighborhoods of high need.  These highly effective food distribution programs overcome the absence of transportation for many struggling families, and provide supplemental groceries at a very efficient cost to CCM.  Bethpage needs to provide volunteers to help that day from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM.  If you are interested, please contact Chris Ferguson at 704-680-2783. 

Spares and Pairs will meet Monday, July 7th at 6:30 PM in the BPC Fellowship Hall.  Everyone is asked to bring a snack and drink.  See you there! 

Mark your calendar for Vacation Bible School at Bethpage to be held July 28 - 31, 2014.  At Workshop of Wonders (WOW), kids will discover how to imagine and build with God!

"You are the God who works wonders."  Psalm 77:14a

At WOW VBS, discover how the ordinary becomes extraordinary with God.  Experience the love of Jesus.  Start an adventure.  Use your imagination and creativity to build your faith.  Meet people from the Bible who used what they had to produce something amazing with God.  use your heart, mind, and imagination to participate in the creative life of God, the one who works wonders! 

Dear Bethpage Church Family,

I would like to express my grateful appreciation for the loving and caring prayers, many calls and cards from you.  It meant so much to know you missed me and were concerned about my recovery following my recent surgery.  God's blessings to you!

Sincerely, Sheila Grey 

• The meeting was called to order and a quorum was declared by the moderator. Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner opened the meeting with prayer and devotion.

• Motion to approve the agenda was made and approved.

• Session approved:

  • the Stated Session Meeting Minutes of February 17, 2014

  • request from Sherry Childers to join Bethpage Presbyterian Church by transfer of letter from The Bridge Church. Sherry will join on Sunday, March 23, 2014, during the 9:55 AM Worship Service.

  • Facilities reservation requests as presented by Sheila Grey.

  • recommendation from Leadership Ministry Area to replace church office computer, up to $2,000.00. Funds for purchase to come from Memorials/Special Projects Fund.

  • recommendation from Property Ministry Area to obtain a physical survey of the church property. Received quote of $3,000.00 from Thompson Surveying. Voted to table the recommendation to June or July 2014 and get additional quote.

  • recommendation from Christian Education Ministry Area for a Senior High fundraiser on May 18, 2014. The group will receive 10% of church members' meal receipts from Texas Roadhouse on that date.

  • recommendation from Christian Education Ministry Area to support 30-Hour Famine on March 21 and 22, 2014, with a $500.00 donation, with the understanding that the monies used now will be replaced to Mission/Evangelism's Budget later this year.

• Session reviewed and approved the April 2014 calendar with changes:

  • committee request change to CPR, Heimlich Maneuver & Defibrillator training in BPC fellowship hall to April 26, 2014, 9:30 until 11:30 AM.

  • request from Leadership to move Session meeting to Monday, April 28, 2014, at 7:00 PM.

• Pastor's Report was received by the Session.

• Session reviewed the February 2014 Financial Report.

• Session received the Nominating Committee report and motion from committee to reduce the number of session members from the current 12 members; sighting the reduction in membership and resulting reduction in the candidate pool as the reason for their motion. The committee also recommended that the session discuss re-implementing the office of Deacon to meet the pastoral/service needs of the church as well as offering an office for those with spiritual gifts for the diaconate not the session. Discussion of the motion was had and three nominees from the session came forward. The session voted down the Nominating Committees motion and instructed the committee to continue their discernment to fill the original four slots needed for the class of 2017.

• discussed filling the slate for Class of 2017 Elders. Session voted on and approved for Nominating Committee to continue to fill nominations slate for Class of 2017.

• The next Stated meeting of the Session is Monday, April 28, 2014, at 7:00 PM.

• The meeting was adjourned and closed with prayer.

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• The meeting was called to order and a quorum was declared by the moderator. Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner opened the meeting with prayer and devotion.

• The agenda was voted on and approved as amended.

• Session approved:

  • the minutes from the March 17, 2014 Stated Session Meeting, the March 23, 2014 Called Session Meeting and the April 6, 2014 Congregational Meeting.

  • a recommendation from the Stewardship Ministry Area to accept the 2013 Audit Report.

  • a recommendation from Nurture Ministry Area to purchase an additional defibrillator.

  • a recommendation from Nurture Ministry Area to donate $50.00 to Kannapolis Fire Department to show appreciation for recent CPR and defibrillator training.

  • a recommendation from Nurture Ministry Area to create a column of different crosses on a single board placed in the church narthex..

• Session reviewed the May 2014 calendar.

• Session received updates from Sheila Grey on Facilities Reservations Requests.

• Session elected Dennis Graybeal as elder representative to Presbytery of Charlotte meeting on May 20, 2014 at Mr. Olive Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, N.C.

• Session received Pastor's Report.

  • Session discussed all the Easter services held.

  • Rev. Anne Hilborn will be the guest minister on Sunday, May 11, 2014.

  • Cluster 4 meeting will be held at BPC on Thursday, May 8, 2014.

• Session reviewed the March 2014 Financial Report.

• Worship Ministry Area passed around the communion sign-up sheet.

• Session was informed of upcoming Mission/Evangelism events:

• Planning Stop Hunger Now participation in September, 2014

• CCM Food Drive in May, 2014

• Red Cross Blood Drive on May 19, 2014 in BPC Fellowship Hall

• CCM Mobile Food Pantry at BPC on June 19, 2014

• Old Business: Christel Josey updated the Session on Fred Helms, Jr. receiving Outstanding Older Adult Award from the Presbytery of Charlotte on May 8, 2014, at Sardis Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, N.C. Voted on and approved.

• The next Stated meeting of the Session is Monday, May 19, 2014, at 7:00 PM.

• The meeting was adjourned and closed with prayer.     

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Monday, June 9, 2014

• Morning Psalms 62; 145
• First Reading Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
• Second Reading Galatians 4:12-20
• Gospel Reading Matthew 15:21-28
• Evening Psalms 73; 9    

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

• Morning Psalms 12; 146
• First Reading Ecclesiastes 8:14-9:10
• Second Reading Galatians 4:21-31
• Gospel Reading Matthew 15:29-39
• Evening Psalms 36; 7    

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

• Morning Psalms 96; 147:1-11
• First Reading Ecclesiastes 9:11-18
• Second Reading Galatians 5:1-15
• Gospel Reading Matthew 16:1-12
• Evening Psalms 132; 134     

Thursday, June 12, 2014

• Morning Psalms 116; 147:12-20
• First Reading Ecclesiastes 11:1-8
• Second Reading Galatians 5:16-24
• Gospel Reading Matthew 16:13-20
• Evening Psalms 26; 130      

Friday, June 13, 2014

• Morning Psalms 84; 148
• First Reading Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:14
• Second Reading Galatians 5:25-6:10
• Gospel Reading Matthew 16:21-28
• Evening Psalms 25; 40     

Saturday, June 14, 2014

• Morning Psalms 63; 149
• First Reading Numbers 3:1-13
• Second Reading Galatians 6:11-18
• Gospel Reading Matthew 17:1-13
• Evening Psalms 125; 90 

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