Christmas Eve Services Volunteers Needed:

Don't forget that this year we are inviting the community to come and join us on Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We are hoping that those of you who will be attending on the 23rd would return on the 24th to volunteer.  We are in need of Greeters, Ushers, Nursery workers and Parking Ushers to serve at or before all three services; 3:00, 5:00 and 11:00. Please go to our website at www.mtbethel.org and click on Volunteers to choose a spot to serve.  If you have any questions please contact Kibbie Jones at kibbie.jones@mtbethel.org or 678-560-7230.

Tuesday Nights Under the Bridges - Join us under the bridges of Atlanta with the 7 Bridges Ministry. Next dates is December 18. We depart Mt. Bethel at 4pm sharp. We eat a burger at US Café then meet our guides at The Garden. There is time for a quick tour for first timers. From The Garden, we head out under the bridges. WE GO RAIN OR SHINE! Dress according to weather & wear comfortable shoes. If led, bring stocking caps, gloves, scarves, etc. To sign up go to www.openingourdoors.com. See the tab, Tuesday Under The Bridges. Select, click to volunteer. Questions, please contact: Ben Hornsby at 678-333-1871, or ben.hornsby@mtbethel.org.    

"Raising Children Other People Will Like" - Parenting Nights with Catherine Hickem, family coach and parenting expert - Wednesday nights, January 9 & 16, at 6:30-8:00pm in F011. Age-appropriate childcare for children ages 6 weeks - 5th grade - Reservations necessary when you register online. $10 per couple, register online at http://mtbethel.org/event/parenting-event-raising-children-other-people-will-like/2013-01-09/

The Pecans are in! The Music Ministry is selling pecans again this year. Purchase fresh or candied pecans from a table in the Connector. All varieties are $10 and sales continue through Christmas.  Call Sandra Chapman at 770-971-2730 to pre-order or ask questions.

Bell and Orchestra Concert | Wednesday, December 12 | 6:30pm Sanctuary

Please come and hear our Adult Handbells and Orchestra as they share a variety of lovely Christmas and Advent music. A congregational sing-a-long of familiar carols will be included accompanied by handbells and handchimes.

Prime Rib Dinner | Wednesday, December 19 | 4:30-7pm | Fellowship Hall - Tickets are on sale in the Bookstore or on our website through December 17.

Live Nativity - Wednesday, December 19, from 6:00-7:30pm in the Sanctuary. Families are invited to participate as the characters; Mary, Joseph, Wisemen, Shepherds, Angels and the star of Bethlehem to stand in the stable as we present the Christmas story that changed the world. We will have 4 rotations(6:00, 6:20, 6:40 and 7:00) with at least 3 families in each rotation beginning at 6:00pm. Children's Ministry will provide the costumes and direct the characters into the stable while the story is read and songs are sung. Please call Dianne Hylton to sign up at 770-971-5074 or email dianne.hylton@mtbethel.org

Christmas Eve "Eve" Services | Sunday, December 23 | 5:00pm

A special Communion and Candlelight service for everyone serving or hosting visitors on December 24. We are inviting our special guests to join us on December 24. The December 23 service is especially for those giving up their seats on the 24th. The bottom line, let's all invite those "outside the church" to celebrate with us inside!

Christmas Eve Services | Monday, December 24

3:00pm | Candlelight | Sanctuary

5:00pm | Candlelight | Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall

11:00pm | Candlelight & Communion | Sanctuary

Families within our own congregation and community are suffering in these tough economic days. The Mike Sappington Helping Hand Fund assists them, in the name of Jesus Christ, with financial aid. Gift cards are available in the Bookstore for any amount to be given in honor or memory of loved ones. May Compassion into Action begin with our own Mt. Bethel family this Christmas!

An Invitation to Prayer Coaching: Would you like to "get off the bench" and on to the "praying" field? Then mark Sunday, December 30, 9:15am on your calendars. This is when the Living and Learning in Faith Sunday School class will "kick off" their 14-week study of Prayer Coach, by James L. Nicodem. Prayer Coach offers practical "game plans" to advance people's prayer lives "from T-ball to the big leagues." Living and Learning in Faith is a small class, singles and couples, ages 55+. We invite you to share in our fun, highly interactive discussions. You'll find us in F322, Christian Academy Bldg. Of course, you're welcome to visit sooner than December 30! Our current study is Where Heaven Touches Earth, an Advent book by Rob Weber. For more information, you may contact our class president, Sam Smith, at 770-565-8233 or samcatfish@bellsouth.net.

Help MUST Make Christmas Merrier - Help children of all ages this Christmas, especially the "tweens" and teens by donating new and unwrapped clothes, sporting goods, personal care items, handheld games, etc.  to the MUST Toy Shop. Special collection bins will be placed throughout the church December 21. For additional information contact Dave Erwin @dterwin@bellsouth.net.

Dolls for the Foster Care Support Foundation - Mt. Bethel member, Cat Wynns is a Girl Scout of 10 years and working on her Gold Award project. She's collecting new and gently-used dolls to donate to the Foster Care Support Foundation (FCSF) in Roswell, Georgia. Her project includes cleaning used dolls, fixing their hair, and writing a manual on how to clean and restyle dolls for future volunteers at FCSF.  She needs your help in collecting at least 150 dolls to be given to girls in Foster Care.  The deadline for donations is December 30. This year, there has been a shortage of donated dolls. You can make a difference for these children by sending in gently-used dolls, new dolls, doll clothes and accessories or monetary donations that will be used to purchase dolls.  (Please make checks out to Girl Scout Troop 23200.)  Dolls of all kinds, colors and sizes are needed.  For more information go to www.fostercares.org.  To drop off dolls please put them in the Doll Donation Box located in Mt. Bethel's main office/Welcome Center.

Nursery, Preschool & Children's Ministries

Please note that the Mt. Bethel Nursery will be closed on the following dates for the Christmas holidays:

Thursday, December 20 - Nursery closed - No MMO

Friday, December 21 - Nursery closed - No MMO

Sunday, December 23 - Nursery is offered Sunday morning at 9:30 and 11:00 as always for regular services

Sunday Night, December 23 - Nursery will open at 4:15 for the Christmas "Eve" Eve Service from 5 to 6 pm

Monday, December 24 - closed during the day, Nursery will open at 2:45 for  Christmas Eve Services at 3 pm and 5 pm

Tuesday, December 25 - Church Closed

Wednesday, December 26 - Church Closed

Thursday, December 27 - Nursery closed, No MMO

Friday, December 28 - Nursery closed, No MMO

Tuesday, January 1 - Church closed

Wednesday January 2 - Mt. Bethel Nursery is closed for activities both during the day and Wednesday evening

Mt. Bethel Nursery will be open again for all regular activities on Thursday & Friday, January 3 & 4.  Merry Christmas!

The Mt. Bethel Nursery is in need of diapers sizes 2,3 4 and 5. If you have any to donate, please drop them by the office.  If you have questions, please call (678) 560-7285.

Mt. Bethel Day Care Center is now enrolling:

Children for the Pre-K class. For prices and tour information, please call Dee Stolz at 678-560-8005.

Special Needs Ministry

Georgia Special Olympics Winter Games | January 25-27 - Venues all over Cobb County. This is a great way to serve as a family!  Come volunteer and support the amazing athletes.  Contact Kim McGarr for volunteers forms and questions.

College and Young Adult Ministry

The College and Young Adult Ministry is hosting a retreat at Mt. Bethel December 20 & 21. The retreat is more of an old school lock-in that many of us attended in middle school. This is one reason it is called REVERSE, because we are taking a step back into our past. We will begin REVERSE with a PURSUIT at 7pm on December 20. After PURSUIT, we will take a step back into our younger days. We will eat, play games, have fun, stay up late and sleep at Mt. Bethel. The good part is there is no waking up early as we will get to sleep in late (late for most) and wake up to a pancake brunch. We will continue games and fun until around 2pm. We will go to Chick-fil-A for a late lunch. After our lunch we will load up the buses and head to downtown Atlanta to have a cookout with our friends at SafeHouse. We will serve dinner and share Christmas, music, food, and gift bags for all who come.

On December 21, we will have a Christmas cookout at SafeHouse Outreach Ministries in downtown Atlanta. We are going to have dinner and share community with the homeless. We are also going to give a gift bag to each person that comes that will include socks, gloves, hand warmers, a mini flashlight and a hat. A night full of community and fun, not for service, but to lovingly spend time with our friends downtown. All are welcome to join us at SafeHouse. It will begin at 6 and end when the last person leaves. If you will not be able to attend, we would love for you to be a part by making a donation of the five items in the yellow barrels placed inside the doors at the CAC and in B207.

We will be having Winter PURSUITS December 13 & 20. The on one 20th will begin REVERSE but you don't have to attend REVERSE if you are only able to make PURSUIT. PURSUIT will begin at 7pm in the Upper Room. If you have any questions, please contact Taylor Pair or Gaylyn Kelly.

Recreation Ministry

2013 Spring Sports:  Registration is underway. Register online or in the CAC for:

*        Boys baseball, grades K - 3

*        Boys and girls soccer, grades Pre-K thru 6 (Pre-K must be 4 years old by March 1, 2013)

*        Boys flag football, grades 1 - 7

*        Girls Volleyball, grades 4 - 8

*        Co-ed T-Ball, Pre-K (must be 4 years old by March 1, 2013)

CAC Hours beginning Dec. 19:

12/19-12/21   830am-5pm  open Saturday

12/22-12/29  9am-4pm

12/24-12/26  CLOSED,

12/27-28          830am-5pm

12/31-1/1 CLOSED

1/2       830am-830pm

2013 High School Co-Ed Volleyball:  Registration has begun in the CAC. Games begin February 11. Get your team together and register or contact Melissa at melissa.sneed@mtbethel.org or 678-560-7438 for more information.  Registration forms available to print online.

2012/13 Youth Winter Basketball: Picture week is scheduled for December 10-15.  Wear your uniforms!

Chair Massage:  Wednesdays from 8:30-12:00 in the CAC. Will Graham of "Unseen Touch" is giving relaxing chair massages for $1 per minute - no limit.  Stop by or call 770-971-5280 to schedule your time.

Recreation Facebook: Join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MtBethelRec. We have posted Fall Sports pictures.

Fitness: Join us for one of our many fitness classes. Now offering Barre Class ($6/class). Go to www.mtbethel.org/fitness for complete schedule and pricing.

Aloha to Aging

Monthly Education

Growing Through Grief - Monday, January 14 at 2:30pm. Come experience an uplifting and interactive approach game show style. Join Sandra Karem of Crossroads Hospice as she shares an engaging program focused on strategies for growing through the grief of losing a spouse or elder loved one. Whether your grief is new or experienced, this program is for you. Please RSVP to 678-439-1177. Meeting held at Aloha To Aging, Inc. 4608 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30068.

Virtual Dementia Tour - Thursday, January 10 - 10:30-12:00 (30-min. time slots)

The Virtual Dementia Tour, a personal experience for those individuals who would like to better understand the world of dementia. The simulation of dementia will help you better appreciate and care for a loved one with this disease. RSVP by 1/8 to reserve your 30 minute time slot. 678-439-1177 or info@alohatoaging.org. Please call for location.

Brain Health Game Day Lunch & Learn - Thursday, January 17, from 11:00-1:30

If you are 55+, come learn ways to revitalize your brain while having fun!  There will be a healthy lunch served and multiple brain building games and prizes. Limited seating!  RSVP by Tuesday 1/15. Cost is $15. Please call for location.

Alzheimer's/Caregiver Support Group Meeting: Monday, January 7 at 10:30am. Open to family members who are assisting an aging loved one both inside and outside of the home. Free respite care is provided for your loved one while we meet, but must call in advance to 678-439-1177. Meeting held at Aloha To Aging, Inc. 4608 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30068.

Parkinson's Disease Support Group: Parkinson's Disease Support Group: Tuesday, 1/8 at 10:30 a.m. This month's meeting will be open just those diagnosed with Parkinson's to discuss coping strategies for lifestyle changes. Caregivers are welcome to meet for fellowship in another room during program. Program held at Aloha To Aging, Inc, 4608 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30068.