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6020 Mooresville Road | 704-933-2209
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Salvation
The feeling of terror began as I watched my ride drive away. It was Sunday morning, early, and I was left waiting outside a very closed, supposed to be open, bus stop in a rundown neighborhood of Washington, PA. This first semester freshman had just finished a 24-hour marathon of papers and tests, followed by an all night ride from Swannanoa, NC. I was tired, alone, with only enough money to buy a 27 dollar ticket to Erie, PA; over 175 miles away. It was a defining moment in my life? Have you had that moment in your life?
It is in these moments of clarity when our need for salvation becomes real. In all honesty, it is not until each one of us come to the end of our "capabilities" that most of us even bother to contemplate just how helpless we are without God's help, God's salvation. On an average day the illusion of self-sustainability clouds our vision, making us question if we really need God after all. We are good people, aren't we?
No matter if you are new to faith or have been in the church all your life, salvation is something that is done for us, not something we can do for ourselves. Jesus put it this way to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who visited him under the cover of darkness, "Unless you are (Literally translated) born from above, you can't enter the kingdom of God." Nicodemus' response might be ours today, "How?" Jesus' reply, By God's love for the world as seen through the sacrifice of his only son . . . belief then is the only requirement. Belief alone saves! The rest, all the effort on our part are just a part of a life of thankful praise.
As I stood in the December chill, I understood that it would have to be someone else's act of love that would save me, not my own. After a prayer to the Lord for direction, the Holy Spirit directed me, from above, to call for help. That day it was my sister Mary who answered the collect call that saved me. But on a grander scale, by God's grace, it was and continues to be Jesus Christ that has saved me eternally WHEN, not IF, I live my life in faith, conforming to the purpose of his will, trusting what God has already made real in my life from above - his perfect salvation. Have you come to the end of your capabilities? What is your story of salvation from above?
Blessings,Ellen
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The Sacrament of The Lord's Supper, This Sunday, October 4th
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Flowers in the Church This Sunday, October 4th
The flowers in the church sanctuary this Sunday, October 4th, are given by Ed and Cheryl Kusper to the Glory of God and in loving honor of Meghan and James Wally's first wedding anniversary. Congratulations on your anniversary of the day God joined you together for life. We wish you many years to come filled with God's blessings and grace. |
Deadline for Items for Next Week's Newsletter
The deadline for items for the October 11th edition of The Beth Page is this Monday, October 5th. Donna Moore will be out of the office on Thursday, October 8th and Friday, October 9th.
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CVAN Paper Products Offering in October
During the month of October, Bethpage Presbyterian Church will receive a special paper products and cleaning supplies offering for CVAN (Cabarrus Victims Assistance Network). Special needs requested by CVAN are paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, diapers (size 4, 5, 6), and laundry detergent. You may drop off your contributions in the sanctuary on Sundays or outside the church office on weekdays. CVAN provides safety, shelter and support for battered women and their children in Cabarrus County, NC. They appreciate your gifts and ask for your continued support and your prayers.
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Women's Bible Study Group Meetings
Women's Bible Study Group 1 meets Tuesday, October 6th at 10:00 AM in the Session Room.
Women's Bible Study Group 3 meets Tuesday, October 6th at 6:30 PM in the Session Room. Hostess - Sandy Gaskey. This group will begin the new study of the book, Twelve Women of the Bible: Life-Changing Stories For Women Today, by Lysa TerKeurst. Study books will be available for everyone.
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CVAN's Domestic Violence Awareness Month BBQ
CVAN's Domestic Violence Awareness Month BBQ will be held on Thursday, October 8th at 6:00 PM, program begins at 6:45 PM at City Club at Gibson Mill Village, 325 McGill Avenue, Concord, 28027. Our pastor, Ellen Campbell Gardner, will be giving the opening prayer. You are invited for great BBQ, great company, and a great cause. Please RSVP by October 1 st by email: info@cvan.org, phone: 704-788-1108, or sign up at www.cvan.org. (They need a head count for food!) The cost is a donation at the door (no set amount.) |
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"Suds of Love" Servants Needed!
Our "Suds of Love" laundromat ministry with Fred L. Wilson Elementary School continues on Thursday, October 15th. We need volunteers to be at Harris Laundromat (1205 West C Street, Kannapolis) on that day from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM and 6:00 until 9:00 PM. If you would be available, please contact Christel Josey (704-706-5752) or Chris Ferguson (704-680-2783). If you can't volunteer on the 15th, but would still like to help, we need donations of quarters and laundry detergent. Thanks for your support!
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Our Pastor Will Be Away
Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner will be out of the office to attend an ELI Elder Retreat beginning Thursday, October 15th through Sunday, October 18th. Please call the church office if you have a pastoral care emergency.
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Address for Hannah Jackson
If you would like to send Hannah words of love and encouragement, her address is: Carolina House, c/o Hannah Jackson, 176 Lassiter Homestead Road, Durham, N.C. 27713.
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Updating Our Church Directory
Please help us keep your information up to date by taking a moment to fill out a church directory information form for your family. Any changes to the following information needs to be updated for each member of your family:
name, address, phone numbers (home, cell & work), employment, school attending, e-mail address and birthday.
Forms are available in this Sunday's worship service bulletin or outside the church office. Completed forms may be returned to the church office or dropped in the offering plate. You may also submit your information via the link below.
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Recent Memorials
In memory of Robert "Sonny" Torrence Jr.
(Barbara Whitaker's brother):
Aubrey and Alice Tarlton
Jerry and Joyce Deal
Ed and Cheryl Kusper
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Prayer Joys and Concerns
Joys: Suggs Family visiting today (Connie Goodman), Thank you God (Aiden Paszli), Diane Deal - on donor list to be a recipient of liver/kidney (Jerry Deal), Charlotte's brother - returned from China (Charlotte Penland), Prayers of thanks to Bethpage for taking care of her after her brother's death (Barbara Whitaker)
Concerns: Hannah Jackson - that she may find the help she needs and the courage to endure being away (Jimmie, Frank & Adam), Jean Eberline - tumors on her spine causing extreme pain (Marsha Johnson), Donna Sossman - childhood friend on kidney dialysis - last port in least viable part of her body (Janice Morgan), Trinity Power - improving but still in intensive care (Joyce Deal)
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September 20
Joys: Rick Eckels - celebrates his 65th birthday on Tuesday (Becky Eckels), God blessings and love (even when things seem bad, they are not as bad as they seem because God is there. Amen. Be thankful in all things (Ronnie)
Concerns: Trinity Leigh Power - born 5 weeks early - surgery to repair blockage - presently at CMC - Levine Hospital - parents Tony & Angie Parks Power (Joyce Deal), Dalton Miller - he broke his femur bone playing football (Cameron Mullinax), Louie Blackmon - at home - prayers for flesh eating bacteria (Becky Eckels), Wally Kitchens - healing for colitis (Becky Eckels), Sandra Williams - healing for breast cancer, Jan & Holly Young and Karen Winecoff - chemo and radiation treatments continuing (Joyce Deal), Rick Mullinax - chemotherapy Tuesday (Diane Mullinax), Barbara Whitaker & family - in the death of her brother - Robert "Sonny" Torrence Jr. (Joyce Deal)
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September 13
Joys: Fred Helms - feeling better - need for continued healing (Rev. Ellen)
Concerns: Wally Kitchens - continued prayers for colitis (Becky Eckels), Yvonne Smith - leukemia - not doing well (Jenny Linebarrier), Joyce Dayvault - brain cancer - have called in Hospice care - pray for Bobby as he cares for her (Jenny Linebarrier), Tim Teresak - recovering from vascular surgery and a serious setback (Eric McKnight's nephew), George Blackburn - complications from surgery for flesh eating disease (Betty Christy's nephew-in-law), Sandra Williams - chemo Thursday - she has a rough time for the first week after (Becky Eckels)
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September 6
Joys: Children's Worship Room - punch and snacks after church, Congregation - thanks from Suggs Family, Congregation - prayers of thanks from Jerry Deal and Barbara Whitaker, Rick Mullinax - continued good blood results (Diane Mullinax), Jeff and Lisa Ward - new daughter, Vivian, from Uganda - she is 5 years old - this has been a three year process - Jeff is a co-worker of Jill's (Jill Hamilton), David and Nancy Hale - travel to China - 1 month
Concerns: Hannah Jackson, Teresa Coy - breast cancer treatment starts soon (Chris Ferguson), Karen Winecoff - fighting breast cancer and continuing chemo (Joyce Deal), Jan and Holly Young - please pray as they continue chemo treatments (Joyce Deal), Paul Robert Tucker - stage 4 throat cancer - my nephew (Janice Morgan), Norman Shifflett - pray that his eye sight in his one eye will return (Barbara Shifflett), Fred Helms - had a fall and kidney stones are breaking up (Ellen Campbell Gardner), Sylvia Ryder & Family - my brother-in-law passed away - Joe Ryder (Ann Ennis)
BRIAN CENTER-CONCORD: Edward Rodgers
KANNON CREEK ASSISTED LIVING: Paul Christy
ST. ANDREWS LIVING CENTER: Eloise White
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Serving This Sunday
Head Usher
Margaret Griffin
Ushers
Wayne & Christel Josey
Dougie & Heather Kirkman
Lector
Dennis Graybeal
Children's Nursery (Sunday School & Worship)
Susan Smith & Leslie Gibson
Children's Sunday School & Worship
Jill Hamilton & Rhonda Jones
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Our Attendance and Financial Stewardship
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OUR ATTENDANCE STEWARDSHIP
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9/27/2015
Worship Service - 92
Sunday School - 40
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OUR FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
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9/27/2015
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Year-to-date
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General Budget Giving
Weekly Budget Needs
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$2,700.00
$4,620.95
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$159,741.84
$180,217.05
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10¢-A-Meal Offering received for 2015: $2,655.42
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Sermon - September 27, 2015
Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner's sermon from
Sunday Morning Worship on September 27, 2015.
"God Is A Personal God Who Loves Us" |
Daily Lectionary for October 4 - 10, 2015 Sunday, October 4, 2015Monday, October 5, 2015Tuesday, October 6, 2015Wednesday, October 7, 2015Thursday, October 8, 2015Friday, October 9, 2015Saturday, October 10, 2015 |
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We Welcome Your Input!
Please drop us an e-mail 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
Bethpage Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis 6020 Mooresville Road | Kannapolis, N.C. 28081 704-933-2209 (church office phone) Church office hours: 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM, Monday - Friday
Rev. Ellen Campbell Gardner, pastor 704-431-3700 (cell) 704-934-3457 (home)
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© 2015 Bethpage Presbyterian Church, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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