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February 8, 2015 - Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
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He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart: Isaiah 40:11
In an article on being a Ruling Elder, Rev. Dr. Peggy C. Hinds writes, "Spiritual leaders are first followers. Christ is the Head of the Church, and the great shepherd of the flock. We lead best when we first follow."
We remember that Jesus' last instruction to his disciples in the Gospel of John was to, "Feed My Sheep!" As the early Christian church grew, elders were selected from the people to serve the congregation. Again, these were people of good standing, spiritual maturity, and wisdom. Church leaders dedicated themselves to prayer, worship, and serving the people. The Book of Order reminds us that Ruling Elders are not thus called because they "lord it over" the congregation. Ruling elders are chosen "to discern and measure [the congregation's] fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life" (G-2.0301).
For too long the PCUSA admits it has seen the office of elder more as an administrative office - meetings and reports being their chief concern. But that is not what Jesus or our Book of Order set up as primary to the office of elder. As a result of this study, the session of BPC has chosen to take up the responsibility of shepherd - to hold you, the congregation, close to their hearts in prayer, encouraging an active, growing atmosphere of faith in our congregation.
You may have already heard from your shepherd. If not - you will very soon. They will be praying for you each day, calling you once a month to get to know you better, asking you how they can pray for you and answering any questions you may have about what is going on at BPC. Our prayer is that as you grow in your relationship with them, you will find encouragement to grow even more in your relationship with Jesus Christ - the Greatest Shepherd of all!
Blessings, Rev. Ellen
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"Dinner and a Movie" at BPC - Saturday, February 7th
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The Senior High Youth Group will be sponsoring a "Dinner and a Movie" evening on Saturday, February 7th at 6:00 PM in the BPC Fellowship Hall. Senior Highs will serve a meal followed by the Movie, "Singing in the Rain" for the adults and "Madagascar" for the children. The menu will include chicken parmesan, angel hair pasta, tossed salad and green beans. Ticket prices are $10.00 for adults (age 13 and up) and $5.00 for ages 12 and younger. If you would like to attend and have not purchased a ticket, there is still time! Call Sandra Cox to reserve your seat! Proceeds will go toward the Montreat Youth Conference.
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 This week - Chapter 16
"The Beginning of the End"
Personal Journaling
Adult Lessons
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Blood Drive at BPC - Monday, February 16th!
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Community Blood Center of the Carolinas and Bethpage Presbyterian Church are having a community blood drive on Monday, February 16th from 4:00 until 8:00 PM in the BPC Fellowship Hall. Cold and flu season are taking its toll on the blood supply. If you are healthy, please donate! Every drop stays here --- saving local lives. Please remember to bring a current officially-issued photo ID to donate.
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Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper - February 17th
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 You are invited! Join us for great food, enjoyable fellowship and an important message at the annual Bethpage Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner. Bring your friends and join other people from the community in the church fellowship hall on Tuesday, February 17th from 5:30 until 8:00 PM as we begin this most important holiday season. Donations will be accepted and will be used for the Stop Hunger Now event. |
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"Suds of Love" - Thursday, February 19th
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Bethpage Presbyterian Church continues its ministry with Fred L. Wilson Elementary School with a new Laundromat Ministry, "Suds of Love." We need volunteers to be at Harris Laundromat (1205 West C Street, Kannapolis) on Thursday, February 19th from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM and 6:00 until 9:00 PM. If you would be available on that day, please contact Christel Josey (704-706-5752) or Chris Ferguson (704-680-2783). If you can't volunteer on the 20th, but would still like to help, we need donations of quarters and laundry detergent. Thanks for your support!
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Lenten Bible Study - Coming Soon!
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 Romans: Encountering the Gospel's Power is the name of a six week Lenten Study I will be teaching beginning on Tuesday, February 24th at 10:30 AM in the Session Room. Lent is a wonderful time to look at our faith and all that God has lovingly done for us in Jesus Christ! We will be using John Stott's Study of Romans. You can order your own book or bring $9.00 on the 24th to cover the cost of the book! Please, e-mail me at ellen@bethpagechurch.org to reserve your spot and book! Blessings, Rev. Ellen |
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Wreath Making Party - February 28th
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Interested in making something beautiful for your home or as a gift? Please join the Fellowship Ministry Team on Saturday, February 28th at 9:00 AM in the BPC Fellowship Hall for a Wreath Making Party! No special skills required! We will have ladies on hand to teach or assist you in creating a beautiful wreath. Please bring a snack to share and the supplies for the wreath you want to make and join us for a morning of fun, fellowship and creativity. Please feel free to invite a friend!
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Quarterly Meeting of KAPM - March 1st
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The quarterly breakfast meeting of the Kannapolis Area Presbyterian Men will be held on Sunday, March 1st, 8:00 AM at Second Presbyterian Church, 1578 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis. We shall begin with a wonderful breakfast which is always accompanied by great fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. At this meeting of KAPM, we are honored to welcome Darrell Hinnant, Mayor of the City of Kannapolis, who will present our program. We encourage you to invite your fellow church members, friends and neighbors to join us for this exciting meeting. ALL are welcome! For further information, contact Frank Melton at 704-279-7583 or 704-795-8114.
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Worship Service with Communion - March 1st
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Remodeling your home? Upgrading your appliances or furniture? Please consider donating your gently used appliances, furniture and building materials to the Habitat ReStore. When you donate to the Habitat ReStore, four thing happen:
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You get rid of unwanted items in your home.
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You keep items from being thrown into our already overflowing landfills.
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You receive a tax deduction.
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You help Habitat raise money to build affordable homes in Cabarrus County!
Donations may be dropped off at the Habitat Cabarrus ReStore, 2902 S. Cannon Blvd. in Kannapolis. Items too big to haul? Give us a call at 704-786-4000 to schedule a free and easy pickup.
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In memory of Dot Brown:
Harry and Sharon Vanpelt
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Would You Like to Place Flowers in the Church?
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Do you have a special day in your life or your family's lives that you would like to commemorate? You may want to place flowers in the BPC sanctuary during the Sunday morning worship service to honor that day. If you would like to place flowers in the church, please contact Margaret Griffin at 704-932-7418.
There is also a sign-up sheet in the hallway between the Sunday school office and the sanctuary, where you may add your name for a particular date.
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February 1:
Joys: Calvin Rodgers - healing well from surgery (Rob & Sandra Cox)
Concerns: Calvin Rodgers - healing from loss of sister (Rob & Sandra Cox), Family of Susan Wilson - she passed away due to brain aneurysm on Friday night (Marty Paxton), Holly Young - meeting with doctors to plan radiation treatments (Joyce Deal), Bobby Wise Family - Dad, Walt Wise in critical condition after emergency aorta blockage surgery (Rick Mullinax), Nicole Averett - pregnancy complications and delivery soon (Kirkman Family), Leigh Ann Allen - lost her job (Amy Ritchie), Duert Cress passed away Thursday, father of George Cress (Sarah Parks), Sam Thomas, Curry Fields, and Babe Duval passed away this week (Fred Helms)
January 25:
Joys: Birthdays: Betty White (Cheryl Kusper), and Ethel Overcash (Betty White), Holly Young - brain tumor removed successfully - radiation yet to come (Joyce Deal), Calvin Rodgers is doing well (Rob Cox), Aaron Melton's surgery went well (Rev. Ellen), Ellen Shore's mom - her surgery went well (Ellen Shore), Michael Gunter - Sherry Childers' six month old grandson - home from hospital - healing from pneumonia (Sherry Childers)
Concerns: Cory Christy - surgery with two surgeons involved (Betty Christy), John Stiff - Second Presbyterian Church member in hospital with pneumonia, Sergio and Carla as they await Carla's delivery (Charlotte Penland), Family of Earl Lentz, Sr. on his passing, Appalachian State community on6th student death (Amy Ritchie), Allie Melton (Charlotte Penland)
January 18:
Joys: Ronnie Hall - stomach issues (Rev. Campbell Gardner), Calvin Rodgers - home from surgery and recuperating (Rev. Campbell Gardner), Mrs. Tate - Glenda Kirkman's mother (Glenda Kirkman), Dot Brown's completion of her baptismal vows and resurrection to Eternal Life (Rev. Campbell Gardner), Jean Brown's birthday (Rev. Campbell Gardner), Terry Suther is home and recuperating well, Walter and Lacy are well (Fred Helms), 51st Wedding Anniversary of Phil and Ann Allen (Amy Ritchie), Amy Ritchie was hired by Shoe Show (Amy Ritchie), Suds of Love served six families this last Thursday (Chris Ferguson)
Concerns: Aaron Melton to have reconstructive surgery this week at CMC-Main (Jimmie Melton), Clayton Family - diagnoses of friend Brantley's father with stage four cancer (Matt Josey), Holly Young - Ken and Jan Young's daughter - surgery for brain tumors on 1/21/2015 (Joyce Deal)
January 11:
Joys: Rick Mullinax blood cells are growing and he is feeling stronger. Praising God. (Jimmie Melton)
Concerns: Faye Rodgers fell and has black eyes and sore - healing at home (Fred Helms), Dot Brown in hospital with pneumonia (Jimmie Melton), Terry Suther - recovering after open heart surgery (Fred Helms), Nichole - complications of pregnancy (Glenda Kirkman), Al Tarkington Family in his passing (Cheryl Kusper), Marty's father - Mike in hospital with lung infection (Carrie Paxton), Calvin and Sara Rodgers in his recovery (Eric McKnight), Fred Helms' son-in-law recovering from cancer surgery and his grandfather Laci has been sick
BIG ELM RETIREMENT CENTER: Paul Christy
TRINITY OAKS RETIREMENT CENTER: Shirley Helms
ST. ANDREWS LIVING CENTER: Eloise White
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Highlights of December 15th Stated Session Meeting
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Kim Shore made a motion to call the meeting to order, voted on and approved. A quorum was declared by the moderator, Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner. Christel Josey had devotions and shared her story of faith with the Session. Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner opened the meeting with prayer. Diane Mullinax 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 November 17, 2014.
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January 2015 calendar.
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Facilities reservations requests presented.
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Session received a letter from Ann Measmer stating that Comfort Keepers will not reserve the fellowship hall for Coffee Perks meetings at this time.
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Moderator's report was received by Session and discussed.
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Session approved a recommendation from the Education Ministry Area to hold a Children's Sunday School teacher's meeting after the morning worship service on Sunday, January 4, 2015, to hear suggestions for improvements and an outline of class schedule for 2015.
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Session reviewed the November 2014 Financial Reports.
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Session reviewed completed totals of Estimate of Giving cards.
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Session approved a recommendation from the Stewardship Ministry Area to process all Senior High fund raising proceeds and donations through church accounts.
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Kim Shore made a motion to approve staff gifts for 2014 - total amount $1,100.00. Voted on and approved.
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Recommendation and discussion of 2015 Budget.
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Christel Josey made a motion to use up to $20,000.00 out of the money market account balance $72,858.94 if needed to address 2015 Budget. Voted on and approved. After the vote, more discussion was requested by some of the Session members because they did not feel comfortable with this motion and action.
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Christel Josey made a second motion to use up to $20,000.00 out of Long Term Maintenance to deal with financial issues of 2015 Budget if needed. Voted on and not approved. Motion rescinded.
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Steve Gaskey made a motion to accept 2015 Budget as amended. Voted on and approved.
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Worship Ministry Area - Four elders needed for Christmas Eve Service - Communion/candle lighting - Kim Gibson, Steve Gaskey, Kim Shore, Cheryl Kusper agreed.
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Recommendation from Chris Ferguson to have Baby Shower for Carla Schmidt.
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Annual meeting - Sunday, January 25, 2015. Annual reports due to church office by Thursday, January 8, 2015.
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Shepherding - review and tweek assignments training in "How to Shepherd."
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Discussed visioning with Rev. Shawn Barkley - Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church.
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Church Renovations Ad-Hoc update - working on creating plan and time frame. Committee has done a particle walk thru to identify needs.
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Moderator Recommendation to have vision process by June 2015.
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The next stated session meeting will be Monday, January 19, 2015 at 7:00 PM.
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The meeting was closed with prayer by Diane Mullinax.
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 Serving This Sunday |
HEAD USHER
Dennis Graybeal
USHERS
Rob and Sandra Cox
Larry and Nelda Riggs
LECTOR
Al Smith
CHILDREN'S NURSERY
SUNDAY SCHOOL & WORSHIP
Kim Gibson & Roger Hamilton
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL & WORSHIP
Christel Josey & Linda VanPelt
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Our Attendance and Financial Stewardship
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OUR ATTENDANCE STEWARDSHIP
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February 1st
Sunday Worship - 77
Sunday School - 49
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OUR FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
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2/1/2015
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Year-to-date
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General Budget Giving
Weekly Budget Needs
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$4,844.00
$4,620.95
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$20,098.00
$23,104.75
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10¢-A-Meal Offering received last Sunday: $278.00
10¢-A-Meal Offering received for 2015: $524.00
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| Rev. Ellen's Sermon from Sunday, February 1st |
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Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner's sermon from Sunday, February 1st.
Elijah's triumph and trials. God's love and care.
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Our thanks to Jean Brown for uploading the sermons!
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Lectionary for the week of February 8 - 14, 2015
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Sunday, February 8, 2015
Monday, February 9, 2015
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Saturday, February 14, 2015 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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