TopMay 24, 2015   |   Day of Pentecost
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A Word from Rev. Ellen

"In the Last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." Acts 2: 17

 

       Have you ever been in church and heard the Word read and preached in a new and exciting way? How about driving along the highway and an idea for ministry came to you? Have you ever looked at your child and seen hidden potential emerging or heard wisdom beyond their tender age coming from their mouths and wondered, "Where did that come from?" If so, then you have encountered the Holy Spirit at work in these last days.

       The modern world steals a lot of God's thunder saying, "I had a great idea." The world of the church is not much different. We sit in our meetings and except for the opening and closing moments, we rarely consult God, along the way, for any real counsel. Yet, always, that great idea, that dream of future ministry is the result of God's Spirit in action in our lives. This is the great hope for us, that God has "poured out his Spirit" upon all who call him Lord.

       How does that affect us? It allows us to step into the world and ministry to which Jesus Christ has called us with new hope, greater courage and purposeful certainty. It allows us to see God's vision for BPC, to embrace the dreams we are in the process of discerning in our Vision 2015: God's vision for Bethpage in FOCUS initiative as a partnering with God, a fulfillment of his Upper Story plan for the salvation of the whole world. No wonder 3,000 people answered Peter's call. How about you?  Blessings, Rev. Ellen  

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Flowers in the Church This Sunday, May 24th

The flowers in the Bethpage Presbyterian Church sanctuary this Sunday, May 24th are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Terry Shifflett by Sherry Childers with the following acknowledgment - When you think about the life of Terry Shifflett and what it stood for . . . how could Memorial Day not come to mind. Memorial Day is a day in which those who died in active military service are remembered. II Timothy 2:3-4 states "Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer." Terry was a man after God's heart and for that please join me in honoring him and those that have served. To this day I hope that my father can see the woman of God he has raised me to become . . . and that fight still continues.

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Join Us in Welcoming New Members!
Bethpage Presbyterian Church welcomes Hannah Gray, Ronnie Hall, Marsha Johnson, and William Garrett Scarborough as new members to our church family to be presented to the congregation this Sunday, May 24th.  Hannah and Marsha are joining by letter of transfer and Ronnie and Garrett are joining by reaffirmation of faith.  Please join us in giving them a warm Bethpage welcome!
Communion Service this Sunday, May 24th
Pentecost Offering to be Received Sunday, May 24th

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 will be sent to Barium Springs Campus of Children's Hope Alliance. 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.  Please give prayerful consideration to your contribution and place your envelope in the offering plate this Sunday, May 24thTo find out more about this offering, click the logo below.

 

 

The new Special Offerings logos highlight the connectional nature of our work.  We are individually strong, but can do more when we work together.  You will see the symbol repeated for each offering, as well as in our general Special Offerings materials.

--- from the PC(U.S.A.) web site 

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Sunshine Group Meets this Tuesday, May 26th
The Sunshine Group will meet this Tuesday, May 26th, 9:00 AM at Libby's Pit Stop, located at 1801 N Cannon Blvd in Kannapolis.  Everyone is invited!
Come Out & Support the BPC Softball Team This Week!
The Softball Team only has one game this week, Tuesday, May 26th, 7:00 PM at Safrit Park Field 1.  Come out and support the Bethpage team and enjoy a great time of fellowship!


CCM Mobile Food Pantry at BPC - Thursday, June 4th

Bethpage Presbyterian Church will sponsor the CCM Mobile Food Pantry on Thursday, June 4th, 9:00 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 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM. If you are interested, please contact Chris Ferguson at 704-680-2783.

 

 

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Quarterly Meeting of KAPM
The quarterly breakfast meeting of the Kannapolis Area Presbyterian Men (KAPM) will be held on Sunday, June 7th, at 8:00 AM in the Bethpage Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. All area men and women are welcome! We will begin with a wonderful breakfast, prepared by the Men of Bethpage Presbyterian, which is always accompanied by great fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. At this meeting of KAPM, we are pleased to welcome Patrick Coughlin, President and CEO of Cabarrus Economic Development, who will present our program. You are strongly encouraged to invite your fellowship church members, friends and neighbors to join us for this meeting which adjourns about 9:00 AM. For further information, contact Frank Melton at 704-279-7583 or 704-795-8114.
CE Committee Updating Children's Spaces
The Christian Education committee would like to make some updates to our spaces for children.  We would like to make the children's worship room more kid centered and inviting.  We also need to furnish and decorate the nursery in the fellowship hall.  We have some great ideas that we can't wait to put into place.  This is where you, as the congregation, come into play.  We will need some donations to make this happen.  If you feel led to donate, we have a few opportunities for you:
  1. We have a "giving tree" (located in the church sanctuary) with pictures and prices for the items we need.  (much like an Angel tree . . . you choose what you would like to purchase and then donate.)
  2. You could give monetarily to the Christian Education fund.
  3. You could give of your time.  This summer we will be doing some painting and other projects.
  4. You could donate used items that could be put in these spaces.

We, as a congregation, love our children so well.  It is so clear with how many of you volunteer for Sunday School, Children's Worship, Nursery, and Bible School.  Please pray about this and help to further your wonderful support of the Children's Ministry here at Bethpage!

Flowers for the Church Sanctuary
Would you like to place flowers in the Bethpage church sanctuary for the Sunday morning worship service? Such floral beauty praises the life and resurrection Jesus has so freely given us. With your generosity, worship at Bethpage truly reflects our praise for the living word of God, as well as remembers a loved one or friend who has passed away, or honors a loved one or a special moment in your life. Some suggested days to recognize are birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, baptisms, holidays, etc. If you would like to commemorate a special occasion in this way, please sign up on the sheet in the hallway between the Sunday school office and the sanctuary, where you may add your name for a particular date, or contact Margaret Griffin at 704-932-7418. Colorful floral arrangements are only $33.11 and if you leave the flowers at the church or allow them to be distributed to our local retirement communities following the worship service, you will be bringing joy to many others AND your gift is tax deductible. Please remember to contact Donna in the church office at least a week before your reserved Sunday, to let her know how you would like your gift of flowers acknowledged in The Beth Page.
Bethpage PC Community Garden
As warm days begin to replace winter's cold, and daylight saving gives us more light in the evenings, perhaps you are thinking of growing green things.  Last year's Community Garden Project was successful for those who participated.  It would be GREAT if we have even more gardens in the fence this year.  Start thinking if YOU want to plant and grow some veggies for your table (and/or someone else's) this summer.  Speak to Dougie Kirkman, so he can let his committee know that more spaces will be needed.  Get GROWIN'!
Prayer Joys & Concerns

May 10

 

Joys:  Meghan Kusper Wally - graduated (Master) on May 8, 2015 (Betty White), Tom Griffin - for his continued improvement at Five Oaks Rehab (Eric McKnight)

 

Concerns:  Sean Riggs - pray for him as he continues to recuperate and undergoes further testing (Nelda Riggs)

 

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May 3

 

Joys:  Cheryl Kusper's birthday Monday - Cheryl & Ed Kusper's Anniversary Tuesday - Ed Kusper's birthday Wednesday (Betty White), Amanda Ritchie - exams and safe travels on Thursday coming home for the summer (Amy Ritchie), Bill Overcash - home from hospital and feeling much better (Linda VanPelt), I start my new job tomorrow! (Leigh Ann Allen), Murray Jolly - surgery successful and at home (Joyce Deal)

 

Concerns:  Doris & Darrell Ballard - healing and support (Frances Hartsell), Joe Ryder - discovered lung cancer - brother-in-law (Ann Ennis), Holly Young - chemo not working - meeting with Drs to plan other type chemo (Joyce Deal), Estelle Melton Family - Estelle died 4-30 (Frank Melton), Family of Craig Combs - grandfather of Megan Linebarrier - he is making his way to heaven (Jenny Linebarrier), James Drye - test came out positive, no amputation needed (Connie Goodman's brother), All college kids who start exams this week (Jill Hamilton), Tim - brain cancer, Big Gip - as he continues on at home with Eloise at Five Oaks (Jerry Deal), Kae Campbell - friend who found out about lung cancer this week (Marcia Graybeal), Betty & Parks - Betty (Linda VanPelt's aunt) under care of Hospice and Parks (uncle) who care for her (Linda VanPelt), Eloise Rumple - recovering from surgery after a fall last Monday - she is at Five Oaks Rehab for a few weeks (Gipson Rumple),
Sandra Rodgers Williams - blood clot in leg (Betty Christy's niece)
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April 26

Joys:  Diane Deal - much improved but still having treatments 3 times a week (Joyce Deal), Glenda Kirkman - surgery went well and she is home recovering (Heather Kirkman), Charlotte & Mallory - for safe travels this week (Marcia Graybeal), Ann Ennis - her birthday today (Ellen Campbell Gardner), Megan Knapp - successfully delivered baby girl (Marty Paxton)

Concerns:  Bill Overcash - prayer for additional surgery (Peggy Overcash), Tom Griffin and Ralph Smith - for their continued recovery and mission (Eric McKnight), Holly Young - chemo treatments continue (Joyce Deal), Murray Jolly - 4-artery bypass on Monday (Joyce Deal), Sherry Childers and Ernest - pray for safe travels (Hannah Gray), Dewayne Gillespy & Angie - serious heart surgery (Charlotte Penland), Betty Jean - stomach cancer - Linda VanPelt's aunt (Marty Paxton)

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April 19
 
Joys:  Doris Ballard - Joy that she was able to get care in time to help (Darrell Ballard, Anthony & Tommy), The Lord's love and grace through Jesus Christ (Ronnie)
  
Concerns:  Sandra Rodgers Williams - having a mastectomy at Duke (Betty Christy), Glenda Kirkman's surgery scheduled for this Thursday, Brooke & Mike traveling and my Dad's birthday celebrating with God (Glenda), Doris Ballard - Concern that she gets her strength and confidence back (Darrell Ballard, Anthony & Tommy), Miller Family - loss of their daughter (Ronnie), Tom Griffin - healing from pneumonia (Rick and Diane Mullinax), Leigh Ann Allen - still looking for work (Leigh Ann Allen), Holly Young - continuing chemo treatment this week, Diane Deal - out of hospital but continuing treatment 3 times a week (Joyce Deal), Sarah Parks - pray for family's peace and comfort (Rick and Diane Mullinax)
 
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BRIAN CENTER - CONCORD:  Edward Rodgers
FIVE OAKS MANOR REHAB:  Burch Thomas "Tom" Griffin
KANNON CREEK ASSISTED LIVING:  Paul Christy
TRINITY OAKS:  Martha "Marty" Bickerstaff
TRINITY OAKS ASSISTED LIVING:  Shirley Helms
ST. ANDREWS LIVING CENTER:  Eloise White
QuickLinksQuick Links
ServingSundayServing This Sunday
HEAD USHER
Linda VanPelt
 
USHERS
Rick and Diane Mullinax
Kim and Ellen Shore
 
LECTOR
Al Smith
 
CHILDREN'S NURSERY
SUNDAY SCHOOL & WORSHIP
Dougie Kirkman & Marty Paxton
 
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL & WORSHIP
Cheryl Kusper
LectionaryLectionary for the week of May 24 - 30, 2015

Sunday, May 24, 2015


Monday, May 25, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
Saturday, May 30, 2015

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photo by Jean Brown