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December 7, 2014 - Second Sunday of Advent


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Peace that Endures

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself,

because it is not here.  There is no such thing."

(C.S. Lewis)

 

     It seems to me that in this statement lies the key to a peaceful holiday. When a Christian looks at every aspect of the season first, through Jesus Christ then every gift is seen through our savior's love, every beautiful tree, through the beauty of Christ at creation, every kindness becomes seen through the compassion of Jesus Christ, every hope in the sureness of Jesus' "Thy will be done", every joy seen through his faithfulness and perhaps most importantly, every moment of love seen in what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. We have this special holiday, arguably the number one holiday in all the world, first and foremost because, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son."

     Does anything steal your peace this Advent season? Look at it through the lens of the best present we have ever received . . . Jesus the Christ. May God bless you and keep you.  Rev. Ellen

Has Christmas lost its significance?
Join us for the Advent Sunday School Video Bible Study
It's one of the most familiar stories in human history: the birth of Jesus in a lowly manger in Bethlehem. A Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Yet, how can we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of our Savior in our frantic, consumer-driven society? How do we make sure the Christmas holiday remains a Holy Day? In each of the Advent sessions in this video Bible study, viewers will experience cinematic short films that capture events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. Then Pete Briscoe will open up Scripture to bring us back to the roots and heart of our faith in Christ. To view the videos in advance or to catch up on one you missed, go to www.RightNow Media.org, login and type "Pete Briscoe - A Savior is Born" in the search box. If you still don't have a login for RightNow Media, call us at the church office or send your email address to [email protected] and we will make sure you get an e-mail invitation from RightNow Media. This week we will be studying Session 2 - Peace; and guess what? The lesson is on Ruth and Boaz which we just read in The Story. Another insightful perspective of how this "story" reflects the "Christmas Story!"
The deadline for items for the December 14th and 21st
editions of The Beth Page is this Tuesday, December 9th.
 
Flowers in the Church Sanctuary This Sunday
The flowers in the church sanctuary this Sunday are given by Betty Christy to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Ray Christy on the occasion of what would have been his birthday on December 7th.

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Deadline for Lights of Love orders is this Sunday, December 7th!
This Sunday, December 7th, is the deadline for ordering Lights of Love.  These lights are placed on the holly tree on the east side of the Sanctuary and cost $1.00 each with proceeds going to Cooperative Christian Ministry - Fuel Assistance. The Listing of Recognition will be included in the December 21st morning worship service bulletin and in the Christmas Eve worship service bulletin. Please fill out an order form and return with your payment to the church office. Extra forms are available here and outside the church office. Please make checks payable to Bethpage Presbyterian Church.
Testify Youth Choir Presents A Christmas Musical Program

Please join us in the BPC fellowship hall for a special G.I.F.T. Program on Wednesday, December 10th at 6:20 PM as the Testify Youth Choir will present a Christmas musical program. Testify Youth Choir is 150 members strong and represents approximately 35 churches in the Lake Norman area. Testify is a non-denominational group comprised of 7th through 12th graders.  Our beloved Mary McKnight's granddaughter was a member of this group. The youth involved with Testify believe that God gives us gifts and we are to use those gifts to the best of our abilities to praise Him and to share Him with as many as we can. Sometimes it is not easy to tell others about Jesus Christ. Testify is a way the youth can do this in their own way, through music, drama and dance. Come join us in our Spirit filled, life changing adventure! God is amazing!

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Ad Hoc Committee for Church Improvements
News! Good News! The session of Bethpage Presbyterian Church has created an Ad Hoc Committee to explore Capital Improvements to our beloved church. This committee will include Richie Goodman, Peggy Overcash, Gip Rumple III, Ellen Shore and members of the staff of BPC. The task: to identify the projects needed to revitalize our church buildings, classify these projects in phases, nominate and fill a committee to implement the changes after session and congregational approval. The time for these improvements has come! We look forward to this time of growth and renewal! 
Share in the Love of Christmas

The Communications Ministry Area invites everyone to share a Christmas card with the entire church family and save a stamp!  Bring a Christmas card and place it in the offering plate during Advent and it will be displayed for everyone to enjoy.
 

It's Time to Order Poinsettias!
White poinsettias will be placed in the church, Sunday, December 21st and 24th.  Please fill out an order form indicating who the flower is to be placed In Memory Of or In Honor OfThe deadline for turning in orders is Wednesday, December 10th.  Extra order forms are available here and outside the church office.
Church Contribution Statements
You should receive your contribution statement via email or postal mail by Wednesday, December 10th.  If you do not receive one or have corrections, please contact the church office.  If you wish to receive your statement via email and you did not OR if you have more than one email address and you are not receiving your statement at the preferred address, please contact the church office and let us know.
Christmas Program at Bethpage - December 14th

The annual Bethpage Christmas Program, The Greatest Story Ever Told, will be held on Sunday, December 14th at 9:00 AM in the church fellowship hall.

KAPM Selling Delicious BBQ Boston Butts for the Holidays
The Kannapolis Area Presbyterian Men are selling delicious BBQ Boston Butts to raise funds for Cooperative Christian Ministries' Fuel Assistance Program.  Tickets are available from members of KAPM and the cost per Boston Butt is $35.00.  You may pick up your order at the Bethpage Presbyterian Church Pavilion at 6:00 PM on Friday, December 19th OR on Saturday, December 20th from 10:00 AM until Noon at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 900 Klondale Avenue, Kannapolis.  We always appreciate your support of our efforts to help others!
Joint Choir Christmas Cantata at Bethpage - December 21st
The choirs of Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, Flow Harris Presbyterian Church and Bethpage Presbyterian Church will join together to present a Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 21st at 9:55 AM in the sanctuary of BPC.  All are enthusiastically invited to this musical offering.  The choirs are working very hard to make this a cantata to be remembered.  Instrumentalists have been invited to add more to the program and we are excited to be able to give this gift of music, song, Scripture and worship to all our congregations.  We will enjoy a covered dish lunch in the BPC Fellowship Hall immediately following the cantata.  So bring your favorite foods to share and join us for a time of delicious food, great fellowship, and wonderful music on Sunday, December 21st!
Would You Like to Place Flowers in the Church?
If you would like to place flowers in the church please contact Margaret Griffin at 704-932-7418.
   
Recent Memorial

In memory of Larry Drye

(Connie Goodman's brother & Richie Goodman's uncle):

Aubrey and Alice Tarlton

Prayer Joys & Concerns

November 30:

 

Joys:  Rick Mullinax is doing better - continued healing (Jenny Linebarrier), College care packages were great (A.J. Smith), McNeal Family reunion - they enjoyed the fellowship hall (Betty Christy)

 

Concerns:  Ron Morton - more cancer, Family of Judy Slesser in her passing (Rob Cox), Betsy Shore and family as she recovers (Kim Shore), Andrea Waters - the cancer has returned (Chris Ferguson), Glenda Kirkman's healing (Heather Kirkman), Joyce Deal's surgery at Duke this week (Jerry Deal), Lauren Shore's fianc� Brad - having headaches - have gone to the emergency room (Ellen Shore), Calvin Rodgers having surgery on the 4th of December (Margaret Griffin)

 

November 23:

 

Joys:  Maurice - Marcia's Father celebrating another birthday (Marcia Graybeal)

 

Concerns:  Leah Holt and Andrea Mathes - prayers for healing (Sherry Childers), Judy Maybry's passing (Jenny Linebarrier's sister-in-law), Rick Mullinax is with us this AM (Janice Morgan), Sarah Smith fell and is in hospital, former Hickory Ridge student died at Appalachian State last week (Marty Paxton), Al - my cousin's husband has taken a turn for the worse (Cheryl Kusper), Calvin Rodgers (Eric McKnight), Steven Brown has cirrhosis of the liver (Rhonda Jones), Marcia Johnson's husband is recovering well from surgery (Frances Hartsell), Kim Shore's mother broke her foot (Charlotte Penland), Jim McKnight (Eric McKnight), Harold Thompson - my cousin - was diagnosed with cancer (Susan Smith)

 

November 16:

 

Joys:  Many thank to BPC for the prayers and love you have shown us (Marty and Bick Bickerstaff), Zumbathon - especially Rob Cox and the youth group (Madison Cox)

 

Concerns:  Continued prayers for Joyce Deal and Rick Mullinax (Jenny Linebarrier), Helen Barnhardt had a serious blood sugar drop this week (Janice Morgan), Family of Danny Pike after his passing from a heart attack (Marty Paxton), Family and students of Appalachian State Student who killed himself this last week (Amy Ritchie), Louie Blackmon (Becky Eckels)

 

November 9:

 

Joys:  John and Tess Deal will be having a child on April 6 (Joyce Deal), Ed Hosack - blessings for CCM and thanks for being part of Consecration Sunday, Matthew Kusper got a job in his field near Hickory (Ed and Cheryl Kusper), Veterans and their families!
 

Concerns:  Judy Maybrey - stomach and liver cancer (Jenny Linebarrier), Frances - prayers pleas (Glenda Kirkman), Hannah Gray and Beth Hintz (Charlotte Penland), Police and Veterans (Janice), Goodman family in their loss (Marcia Graybeal), Dec. 4th Joyce Deal to have thyroid surgery (Joyce Deal), Rick and Diane and Thomas (Eric McKnight)

  

BIG ELM RETIREMENT CENTER: Paul Christy

BRIAN CENTER:  Glenn Bickerstaff

TRINITY OAKS RETIREMENT CENTER: Shirley Helms

ST. ANDREWS LIVING CENTER: Eloise White
ServingThisSundayServing This Sunday

  

USHERS

 

 

Head Usher

Roger Hamilton

 

Ushers

Jill, Eric & Kevin Hamilton

Aubrey Tarlton

 

LECTOR

 

Heather Kirkman

 

CHILDREN'S NURSERY
SUNDAY SCHOOL & WORSHIP

 

Kim Gibson & Betty White

 

CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

& CHILDREN'S WORSHIP

 

Christel Josey & Peggy Overcash

 

      

ServingThisSundayOur Attendance and Financial Stewardship

 

 

OUR ATTENDANCE STEWARDSHIP

Sunday Worship - 78

Sunday School - 41

 

OUR FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP

 

 11/30/14

Year-to-date

General Budget Giving

 

Weekly Budget Needs

$4,982.00

 

$4,854.43

$222,879.94

 

$233,012.64

10�-A-Meal Offering received for 2014: $3,620.79

   

Sermon from Sunday, November 23, 2014
Morning Worship, November 23, 2014 -sermon

Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner's Sermon from Sunday Morning Worship Service, November 23, 2014 - "Samuel tries to convince the Israelites they don't need any king but God."

 

 Thank you to Jean Brown for uploading the sermons.

   

DailyLectionaryLectionary for the week of December 7 - 13, 2014

Sunday, December 7, 2014


Monday, December 8, 2014


Tuesday, December 9, 2014


Wednesday, December 10, 2014


Thursday, December 11, 2014


Friday, December 12, 2014


Saturday, December 13, 2014

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We would love to hear from you!

 

  
photo by Jean Brown

Sunday School at 9:00 AM - Worship Service at 9:55 AM

 

6020 Mooresville Road - Kannapolis NC 28081
704-933-2209 (church office phone)
Church office hours: 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM, Mon - Fri

Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner: 704-431-3700
  
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