Do you ever have moments of déjà vu? Moments when you are sure you have been in the place you are now, said the things you are now saying or writing? That is how I feel this Monday before Lent begins. I am left wondering if I have asked the question before; what is lent? That mysterious period of forty week days (not including Sundays) that the church has created to help prepare us for our celebration of the death and the eternal life we find in Jesus Christ alone.

              Did you know, it was the council of Nicaea in 325 (where we get the Nicaean Creed) that first referred to Lent as a 40 day period that immediately preceded Easter? Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem described it as a time set aside as a "long period of grace, forty days of repentance"¹ for those converts (called catachumens) who were baptized each year on Easter morning.

              For almost 400 years, Protestants did not celebrate Lent. Our early Protestant forefather's saw it as "Popery" because the season was not set out by Jesus Christ in Scripture. They worried that Christians were participating out of duty and tradition rather than out of a call from our Lord. So why do protestant churches participate in it now? Good question, one that I am not sure has a right or wrong answer. I believe that with the decline of the denominational church, practices like Lent and Advent have become less tribal (i.e. Presbyterians do this! Catholics do that!) and more utilitarian. That is to say, if you practice Lent, you do it for a purpose other than, "We have always done it this way!" or "If we don't do it we are not good Christians!" If you practice Lent you do it because it draws you closer to your savior!

              I think this is helpful, because it frees us from obligation and allows us to participate, or not, solely for the reason that it will or will not aid in preparing us for Easter and Christ's ultimate act of sacrifice. My hope is that, so freed from any one camp or another, this Lent you will feel free to enter into a deep and meaningful season of repentance. Here is the question you might want to pray over on this first week of Lent, "What are the things in my life that are separating me from a deep and abiding union with Jesus Christ?" God Bless you in these next 40 days! May we all find ourselves present on Easter morning in ways we have never been present before!

Blessings, Rev. Ellen

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¹Bishop Cyril of Jerusalem, A.D. 350 

 

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Sermon from 2/15/2015

The Sunshine Group will meet this Tuesday, February 24th, 9:00 AM at Libby's Pit Stop, located at 1801 N Cannon Blvd in Kannapolis.  Everyone is invited!

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

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 each 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!

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 fellows 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.

Gilwood Presbyterian Church invites you to a Community World Day of Prayer Service on Friday, March 6th at 7:00 PM.  Refreshments and fellowship will follow the service.  Gilwood PC is located at 2993 Odell School Road, Concord, NC 28027.

Eat at Texas Roadhouse (7801 Gateway Ln NW, Concord, NC 28025) on Sunday, March 8th, anytime between the hours of 11:00 AM and 10:00 PM and the Bethpage Senior High Youth Group will receive 10% of your total purchase.  Be sure to let your server know that you represent "Bethpage Presbyterian Senior High Youth Group."  Cut your wait in half and CALL AHEAD, 704-979-3090.

Your prayers are important to God and they are important to us at BPC!  We know you probably have things you are praying about and we want to join with you.  If you have a CONCERN or JOY you would like to share during the Sunday morning worship service, please fill out the "Prayer Request" card located in the pew holders, pass it to the center aisle and an usher will collect them during the Prayer of Preparation.  Rev. Ellen will read these joys and concerns during the prayer.  At that time, you will have the opportunity to share more information if you wish.

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.

February 8

Joys: Joyce Deal - came through her treatment well (Jerry Deal), Calvin Rodgers - back home resting and healing (Sandra Cox), Corey Christy - doing well after surgery (Betty Christy)

Concerns:  Holly Young - continue praying (Joyce Deal), Helen Kasper's Family at her passing (Charlotte Penland), Jennifer Covington - lumpectomy (Vicki Gurley's co-worker), Ella Light and her son Michael Gibson - his is in critical condition with organ failure (Janice Morgan), Darlene Gantt & Family - cancer has taken over Darlene's bod and only has 4 to 6 weeks left to live (Becky Eckels), Ronnie Hall's family and friends who passed away - for the Lord's grace and love (Ronnie Hall)

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 Wilcox - 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 on 6th student death (Amy Ritchie), Allie Melton (Charlotte Penland)

BIG ELM RETIREMENT CENTER:  Paul Christy

TRINITY OAKS RETIREMENT CENTER:  Shirley Helms

ST. ANDREWS LIVING CENTER:  Eloise White

Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner's sermon from Sunday Morning Worship Service, February 15, 2015 Experiencing the faithfulness of God.   Thank you to Jean Brown for uploading the sermons.

 

OUR ATTENDANCE STEWARDSHIP
February 15th   Sunday Worship - 70 Sunday School - 47
OUR FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
	2/15/2015	Year-to-date
General Budget Giving   Weekly Budget Needs	$2,570.00   $4,620.95	$28,373.00   $32,346.65
10¢-A-Meal Offering received last Sunday: $550.70

            

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Sunday, February 22, 2015

• Morning Psalms 84; 150
• First Reading Jeremiah 9:23-24
• Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
• Gospel Reading Mark 2:18-22
• Evening Psalms 42; 32

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Monday, February 23, 2015

• Morning Psalms 119:73-80; 145
• First Reading Deuteronomy 8:1-20
• Second Reading Hebrews 2:11-18
• Gospel Reading John 2:1-12
• Evening Psalms 121; 6

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

• Morning Psalms 34; 146
• First Reading Deuteronomy 9:(1-3) 4-12
• Second Reading Hebrews 3:1-11
• Gospel Reading John 2:13-22
• Evening Psalms 25; 91

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Wednesday, February 25, 2015

• Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11
• First Reading Deuteronomy 9:13-21
• Second Reading Hebrews 3:12-19
• Gospel Reading John 2:23-3:15
• Evening Psalms 27; 51

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Thursday, February 26, 2015

• Morning Psalms 27; 147:12-20
• First Reading Deuteronomy 9:23-10:5
• Second Reading Hebrews 4:1-10
• Gospel Reading John 3:16-21
• Evening Psalms 126; 102

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Friday, February 27, 2015

• Morning Psalms 22; 148
• First Reading Deuteronomy 10:12-22
• Second Reading Hebrews 4:11-16
• Gospel Reading John 3:22-36
• Evening Psalms 105; 130

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Saturday, February 28, 2015

• Morning Psalms 43; 149
• First Reading Deuteronomy 11:18-28
• Second Reading Hebrews 5:1-10
• Gospel Reading John 4:1-26
• Evening Psalms 31; 143

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