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| December 21, 2014 - Fourth Sunday of Advent |
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In that region there were shepherds living in the fields . . .
an angel of the Lord said - "to you is born this day in the City
of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah" . . . Suddenly
a multitude of the heavenly host praised God saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven!!!!"
Adapted from Luke 2: 8, 10, 13-14
Have you ever felt out of the loop? Said, "I am the last one to know?" Then you can identify with the shepherds in the field. They were definitely out of the loop. The loop wasn't even in their vicinity. They weren't the people that sat in the temple talking over the decisions of the day - learning and "guess-ti-mating" when the Messiah was to come. That was the work of the church leaders.
The shepherds were out in left-field, so to speak. Yet it is to these, out fielders, that God sends his angel. Was it Gabriel? Don't know? Can you imagine that Christmas Cantata when the majesty, the holiness, the power and glory of those heavenly hosts joined in? It must have been truly overwhelming!!
In that moment, God was saying, "I am coming to everyone - these shepherds and (unbeknownst to them) wisemen from the east too. The news . . . that as of this very moment, the fulfillment of my promise, to end your bondage to sin and death has come." Pretty amazing!
But the story doesn't end there. No, God's message of love and faithfulness bid the shepherds to leave their safe field, to hit the road and meet this "Messiah child" in places they would normally never frequent and among people they would normally never associate with. What is at stake for the shepherds if they do not go? They will never see the fullness of God's wondrous love!
Do you feel out of the loop with God this Advent? Follow loves command, leave your familiar places, go to the places where God's message tells you to go . . . dwell in the Messiah's presence. Emmanuel, the fullness of God's love for you is waiting there.
Blessings, Rev. Ellen
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Flowers in the Church Sanctuary - December 21
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The flowers in the church sanctuary this Sunday are given by Betty Christy to the Glory of God and in loving honor of her daughter, Beck Eckels for her birthday on December 21st.
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Joint Choir Christmas Cantata at Bethpage This Sunday!
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 The choirs of Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, Flow Harris Presbyterian Church and Bethpage Presbyterian Church will join together to present a Christmas Cantata this 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!
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Christmas Joy Offering to be Received This Sunday!
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This Sunday, December 21st, Bethpage and Presbyterian Churches around the country are receiving a special offering, the Christmas Joy Offering. Your gifts to this offering are shared equally by the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions nd the Presbyterian-related Racial Ethnic Schools and Colleges in our denomination. Please consider a financial gift to this special offering. Please make checks payable to Bethpage Presbyterian Church and write "Christmas Joy Offering" on the memo line. To find out more about this offering, click on the graphic below.
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The deadline for items for the December 28th edition of The Beth Page is Monday, December 22nd. There will not be a Wednesday evening supper or G.I.F.T. Program on December 24th or 31st. The church office will be closed on Thursday, December 25th an Friday, December 26th. Wednesday evening supper and G.I.F.T. Program will resume on January 7, 2015!
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Christmas Eve Service This Wednesday at 8:00 PM
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 "For unto us is born . . . a Savior, Christ the Lord." Join us with your family and friends as we celebrate the wonder of "God with us." Our Christmas Eve Service begins at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, December 24th in the church sanctuary. Together we will explore God's plan of redemption from Genesis through Revelation with a service of Lessons and Carols. The evening will end with a Bethpage Church tradition, a candle lit singing of Silent Night. Don't miss this Holy Night; bring your friends and family. |
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Share in the Love of Christmas
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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.
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| 2015 Offering Envelopes are available for church members to pick up in the hallway outside the Sunday School office. If you have a mailbox in the church office, your envelopes will be there. Please double check the envelope number on the label with the number inside to make sure they match before you take the envelopes home. If you can't find your envelopes, please contact the church office. Thank you!
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Would You Like to Place Flowers in the Church?
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| If you would like to place flowers in the church please contact Margaret Griffin at 704-932-7418.
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Communion - Sunday, January 4, 2015
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Highlights of October 20, 2014, Stated Session Meeting
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Dennis Graybeal made a motion to call the meeting to order, voted on and approved. A quorum was declared by the moderator, Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner, followed by devotions and prayer.
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Christel Josey made a motion to approve the agenda. Voted on and approved.
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Session approved:
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Minutes of the Stated Session Meeting of September 15, 2014.
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November 2014 calendar.
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Facilities reservations requests presented.
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Moderator's report was received by Session.
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New Member Class will stay in the Nurture Ministry Area.
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Roger Hamilton made a motion to provide a nursery in the Fellowship Hall Building. Motion voted on and approved. Offer to move Rev. Sergio Schmidt's office to Education Building for office choice options. Approved.
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Roger Hamilton made a motion to accept 61.0304 of the Book of Order as Bethpage Presbyterian Church's standards of church membership. Voted on and approved.
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Session reviewed the September 2014 Financial Report.
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Stewardship Ministry Area updated the Session on Consecration Sunday stewardship program.
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Recommendation from Worship Ministry Area to form an Ad-Hoc Committee to explore, propose defining scope of renovation to Bethpage Presbyterian Church in phases. Report back in one month's time. Phase I - Sanctuary. Proposed Ad-Hoc Committee members: Richie Goodman, Peggy Overcash, W.G. (Gip) Rumple III, Ellen Shore. Voted on and approved.
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Communications Ministry Area brought recommendation to offer www.FaithStreet.com for BPC. Voted on and approved.
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Communications Ministry Area brought recommendation for placement of frames on wall in hallway behind choir loft for photographs of current BPC elders, clerk of session, and pastor. Voted on and not approved.
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Mission/Evangelism Ministry Area brought recommendation to have an Angel Tree for 25 students from Fred L. Wilson Elementary School to be completed by December 10, 2014. Voted on and approved.
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Cemetery proposal received by Session. Leadership to report back at Stated Session Meeting on November 17, 2014.
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Session received a proposal from John F. "Jack" McKinley regarding the approximate 18 acres the church owns known as the old manse. The Session decided not to partner with listing property at this time and to notify Jack McKinley of this action.
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Tim Bostick will make a Triennial visit to BPC from Presbytery of Charlotte Church Cluster Group.
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Steve Gaskey made a motion to adjourn. Meeting was closed with prayer.
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December 7:
Joys: Bethpage Young People lighting the Advent wreath (Connie Goodman), Rick Mullinax, Frank and Jimmie Melton and Glenda Kirkman's presence in worship, Kannapolis Area Presbyterian Men donation of $1,000 to CCM (Ed Kusper), Christy family as they celebrate Ray's life (Margaret Griffin)
Concerns: Linda Blum as she fights cancer, Laudington Family's loss (Carrie Paxton), Joyce and Jerry Deal as Joyce recovers from surgery (Charlotte Penland), Calvin Rodgers and his whole family - recovery from surgery, Exams for college students, Ernest as he seeks a call (Roger Hamilton)
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 fiancé 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)
BIG ELM RETIREMENT CENTER: Paul Christy
BRIAN CENTER: Glenn Bickerstaff
TRINITY OAKS RETIREMENT CENTER: Shirley Helms
ST. ANDREWS LIVING CENTER: Eloise White
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 Serving This Sunday |
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USHERS
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Head Usher
Roger Hamilton
Ushers
Jill, Eric & Kevin Hamilton
Aubrey Tarlton
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LECTOR
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Choir Cantata (no lector needed)
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CHILDREN'S NURSERY
SUNDAY SCHOOL & WORSHIP
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Marty Paxton & Al Smith
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CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL
(No Children's Church)
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Sandra Cox & Heather Kirkman
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Lectionary for the week of December 21 - 27, 2014
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Sunday, December 21, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Friday, December 26, 2014
Saturday, December 27, 2014 back to top |
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Please drop us an email and let us know if there is something you would like to see included in the newsletter.
We would love to hear from you!
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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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