The Bethlehem STAR December 2020 - Pride in Our Past - Faith in Our Future - Bethlehem United Church of Christ
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
The Bethlehem STAR
Pride in Our Past - Faith in Our Future
December 2020
The Bethlehem STAR
“How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a
foreign land?” -Psalm 137:4
These are the words of the Psalmist while the people of Israel are exiled
in Babylon, far from their homes and with the knowledge that their beloved
Temple has been destroyed. The people are deep in grief and wondering how
they are to adapt their religious expression to their new (undesirable and
unchosen!) circumstances.
We may feel a little bit this way when we think about the Advent season
of 2020. How are we to worship God during this most holy time of year, when
we cannot gather in our sanctuary together? When there will be no Family
Night (and we cannot press pause on the speed at which the children are
growing up)? When there will be no Christmas cantata? When our Christmas
Eve services will be so different?
Surely, our circumstances are not as severe as the Israelites in exile,
but we still might learn from their example. They did move past their grief and
sing songs in a new land. And they found new ways of expressing their faith.
If they couldn’t emphasize the sacrificial system anymore (since the Temple
was destroyed!), they would find new emphases (greater emphasis on
Sabbath-keeping and circumcision, for example).
One of the most important ways they maintained their faith in a foreign
land was by telling and retelling the stories of their faith. (And thank God they
did, because that’s how they came to be our stories too!) Surely, we too can
continue to tell and retell our faith stories.
There will also be other possibilities for adaptation during this unusual
year. You may create new ways of observing Advent within your own home!
Some of the ways we will be offering through the church include weekly
2
The Bethlehem STAR
worship, midweek vesper services on Zoom, interactive advent wreath yard
signs, and Sing-Along Sunday.
Even as we find new ways of celebrating this year, there’s something
else we can learn from the Psalmist’s question. Notice that the Psalmist is not
calling into question whether God is worthy of song or whether God is faithful in
the foreign land. No, it was a given that the truths of who God is remained
constant. The Psalmist’s question is not rethinking the faith he has placed in
God, but rather it reflects a procedural problem to be solved.
Likewise, ours are merely procedural problems this Advent season. The
truths of the Advent season (hope, peace, joy, love, . . . ) do not, will not, and
have not change(d). We can sing songs of the Lord and to the Lord this Advent
season. We just may have to figure out new ways to do it.
“O sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!” -Psalm 96:1-41
Pastor Emily will offer brief Zoom Advent Vespers every Wednesday night
during Advent (December 2, 9, 16, and 23) at 6:30. We will have a time of
devotion and then an opportunity to share in small groups about a “get to know
you” Christmas-related question. Curious? Come join us! The Zoom link will
be shared in Emily’s Edition each week. Feel intimidated by Zoom? I can help!
Call Pastor Emily at 812-967-2497 ahead of time and I’ll see what I can do to
get you set up!
3
The Bethlehem STAR
Bethlehem Worship Update
Refer to the chart below for the worship offerings at Bethlehem for the
next couple of months. Note that on December 27, we will be worshipping virtu-
ally along with the national UCC church, as they offer “A Very UCC Christmas.”
We are as intrigued by and as anxious to learn about this worship experience
as you are!
Date Virtual Worship Worship in the Park- Streaming Worship
(link will be provided ing Lot (link will be provided
via email) via email)
12/6 Weather Permitting
12/13 Weather Permitting
12/20
12/24 5:00 p.m. Weather Permitting Back-up plan for Park-
(Christmas Eve) ing Lot Service
12/24 9:00 p.m.
(Christmas Eve)
12/27
1/3
1/10
1/17
1/24
1/31
4
The Bethlehem STAR
There will be THREE options for worshipping on Christmas Eve this year.
Virtual service (pre-recorded): This service will allow you to worship any time
on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
5:00 p.m. parking lot service: If weather permits, this service will be held in
the parking lot. It will be a service of lessons and carols (you may even get to
choose the carols!) and will be about 30 minutes. We will also have
candle lighting for this service.
If the weather does not permit (basically, we’ll endure the cold, but not
precipitation of any kind), we will direct you to the Virtual Service.
9:00 p.m. service: This service will be very similar to past years. We will have
a string quartet (strings begin at 8:40 pm), do candle-lighting, and share
communion. It will be livestreamed (with no worshippers in attendance).
If you are having trouble getting sound to work on the Livestream, try checking
the volume on the video itself. Even if you have turned up the volume on your
device/speakers, it may be that the video itself is muted. You can usually find
the volume button (often looks like a little speaker) along the bottom edge of the
video itself. Try hovering over the bottom of the rectangle with your cursor and
see if you can find somewhere to unmute/adjust the volume!
5
The Bethlehem STAR
Virtual Christmas Parties
Children and Youth, please join us for a virtual Holiday Party. We will have a
little fellowship party with snacks, games, and stories for each group. Each
child or youth member will receive a party favor for the event, so please RSVP
by December 6th to Elizabeth at elizabeth@bethlehemucc.org. You will receive
the Zoom information once you RSVP.
Sunday, December 20th
Youth @ 9:00 am
2-5 year olds @ 4:00pm
K-5th graders @ 7:00 pm
COMPASS Stars
Congratulations to the children who completed a quarterly
COMPASS goal!
Eleanor Daywalt
Bethany Slade
Natalie Slade
The Zausch family
preparing the UCS
meal.
6
The Bethlehem STAR
We invite you to join us for worship each
week of Advent as we welcome the musical
gifts of Emily Fife (harpist), Leanne Hampton
(flutist), a string quartet, and offerings from
additional musical guests for everyone to
safely enjoy at home.
Kids (and youth! and anyone young at heart!), put on your favorite Christmas
PJs, grab some hot cocoa or your favorite snack, and Zoom with Pastor Emily
on Thursday December 17 at 6:30 p.m. She will read you her very favorite
Christmas book, Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree. The Zoom link will come out in
Emily’s Edition on December 16.
In lieu of our annual Christmas cantata, our music team will be bringing us a
special “Sing-at-Home” Sunday service on December 20. This service will offer
all kinds of special music, as well as plenty of our favorite Christmas carols for
you to sing along to at home. This service will be livestreamed at 10:15 a.m.
and then available for later viewing.
7
The Bethlehem STAR
For the Advent season, we have converted the vestibule by the church office to
a “Festibule!” Stop by to create an ornament for our tree (be sure to take a
selfie and send it to troy@bethlehemucc.org for future use in worship), and pick
up all the items you will need for Advent at home this year.
Items available:
Advent Yard Signs—We will add the flames onto the candles as the month
goes on. Don’t forget to grab the bag that has your flame stickers, as well as
your guide for “lighting” your candles!
Advent Devotionals This year, we are using And The Word Was God,
inspiration from Dutch Catholic theologian Henri J. M. Nouwen.
Candles—Grab enough candles for your whole family to be able to light on
Christmas Eve as you worship from home (even if you intend to come to the
5:00 p.m. service in the parking lot, you may want to grab some in case the
weather changes that service to livestream). We will ask that these be
returned after the new year (to hopefully use again TOGETHER in 2021!!)
8
The Bethlehem STAR
United Caring Services
COVID Information Update
For years, Bethlehem has provided dinner on the fourth
Sunday of the month at UCS. During this time of
heightened health concerns, many groups have opted
to prepare meals at home (or ordered carryout items)
and bring them to the shelter at dinner time, rather than
prepare them at the shelter. If your group is one that
serves, please consider this as an option. Be sure to communicate with the
shelter about your plans. If, for some reason, your group is not going to be able
to provide a meal for your scheduled slot, please let the office know at the
beginning of the month, so we can find another way to provide this meal to the
shelter. Here is the schedule for the next four months.
January, 2021 February, 2021 March, 2021 April, 2021
Youth Motley Crew Couples Small Group Youth
Flowers for the Altar
You might like to celebrate a special occasion, honor a special
person, or maybe you just enjoy seeing live flowers on the altar!
Dates are first-come, first-serve, so reserve early! Below is a list
of dates currently available. To reserve a weekend, email
judy@bethlehemucc.org.
January, 2021 February, 2021 March, 2021
3, 10, 17, 24 14, 21, 28 7, 14, 21, 28
9
The Bethlehem STAR
Welcoming Area “Refresh”
Team Proposal Is Ready!
At the end of 2019, the Spiritual Council commissioned a team to create a plan
for freshening up our Welcoming Area. After some pandemic-induced delays,
we are so excited to finally share with you our full proposal! Our primary
objective centered on replacing the temporary folding tables and furniture with
quality constructed items that will enhance the look and feel of our Welcoming
Area, making it even more beautiful and inviting.
Our proposal also comes with some really good news! A donor has offered to
cover almost all of the expenses, but this means the proposal needs to be
approved before the end of the calendar year. So when we say we can't wait to
share the proposal with you...We mean it! The committee will offer five Zoom
calls and two in-building (socially distanced) meetings to share all aspects of the
proposal. Please join us for one of the dates listed below. If none of these dates
fit your schedule, you can contact the church office for more information on the
proposal.
Zoom (virtual) meeting (see login link below):
Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 pm
In Person in the Welcoming Area:
Wednesday, December 2 at 7:00 pm
We will include the link in Emily’s Edition in advance of the meeting as well.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3848475903
Meeting ID: 384 847 5903
10The Bethlehem STAR
After our informational sessions have been completed, we will hold a
congregational vote on this project. Most people will vote via a link sent out by
the council, so look for that in your email in the coming weeks. If you are
someone who does not receive electronic communication, please contact the
church office and you will get to vote via phone call or a mail ballot.
We hope to see you soon in person, or on screen.
Dee Carithers
Chris Champion
Ann Goodman
Pam Hirsch
Brent and Tracey Stevens
11The Bethlehem STAR
Please be sure to stop by the Festibule to pick up your lawn
sign, a bag of flame stickers as well as your guide for
“lighting” your candles!
Address/Email Updates
Please contact the church office.
12The Bethlehem STAR
Dear Bethlehem Family/Congregation,
We, the Bethlehem UCC Staff, would like to give our thanks to
you during these trying times. We are so grateful for being able
to keep us working at Bethlehem when so many places have
been forced to close. We thank and appreciate all of you and what you do for us.
Many blessings and prayers,
The Bethlehem UCC Staff
Thanks to all for prayers, good thoughts, food, transportation, calls and cards
during my recent recovery from hospitalization. Pastoral calls were uplifting
. . .“See you all in Church”.
Carl Schofield
Dear Bethlehem Friends,
Thank you for the $500.00 donation to support my ministry efforts with the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes! FCA’s mission is “to lead every coach and
athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Chris and His church.” We could
not do this without the financial support and prayers of God’s people. Thank you
so much!
Bart Blalock
13The Bethlehem STAR
Dear Bethlehem Church Members,
Thank you for the cards, notes and words of support in the
loss of my sister Debby Carr. Your words provided such
comfort, and I’m grateful for my church family during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Jean Hunt
Thank you so much for the Bethlehem UCC’s generous $500 gift to Teacher
Locker. We are so grateful for the church’s commitment to supporting our
Teachers and students. You all are amazing!
Jeffrey
Bethlehem UCC,
Thank you for the generous donation of the benches for our outdoor track area.
The students and teachers really appreciate it. It’s made recess this year easier
to navigate. This is such a blessing for our school!
Oak Hill Wildcats
Breanna Black, PTA President
The church received a thank you note from church member and groundskeeper
Marvin Durnil for the arrangement sent for his daughter’s funeral:
“To the staff of BUCC, in remembrance of my daughter. May God be with you
all. -Marvin Durnil”
14The Bethlehem STAR
Evansville, Ind. - Barbara Jean (Parker)
Wessel, 87, of Evansville, Indiana, passed
away Saturday, November 21, 2020 at
Bethel Manor.
Barbara was born in Princeton, Indiana on January 4, 1933 to
the late Elvis and Evelyn (Powell) Parker. She was a 1951
graduate of Princeton High School. Barbara served as the
secretary to the principal at Thompkins Middle School for over
20 years. Prior to working at Thompkins she was the secretary for the EVSC
Warehouse, Bosse High School, and Columbia School. Barbara enjoyed
golfing, cross-stitching, and was a faithful member of Bethlehem United Church
of Christ. Her greatest joy came from being a grandmother. She loved attending
her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's events and would do absolutely
anything for them. Barbara will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Barbara is survived by her husband of 68 years, Edward M. Wessel of
Evansville, IN; daughter, Debbie Ann Carnes (Mark Christian) of Evansville, IN;
son, Eddie M. Wessel (Cindi) of Evansville, IN; grandchildren, Brian Wessel
(Sheliah), Brooke Beard (Andy), and Justin Carnes (Kat); great-grandchildren,
Brendon Smith, Aedon Smith, Hayley Wessel, Amberly Wessel, and Liam
Wessel; many nieces and nephews; and loving family friends, Cory Smith and
Jenny Powell.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Loretta Nell and Liz
Foster; and her brother, Dr. John E. Parker.
A private graveside service was held at Bethlehem United Church of Christ
Cemetery with Rev. Emily Slade officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bethlehem United Church of Christ,
6400 Oak Hill Rd., Evansville, IN 47725 or to Bethel Manor, 6015 Kratzville Rd,
Evansville, IN 47710.
15The Bethlehem STAR
In this year of fires, hurricanes, rising sea levels
causing flooding, and COVID-19, reducing these
problems seems impossible, yet “Hope springs
eternal”. Scientists are exploring many
impressive solutions taking a fresh approach to
the climate change crisis. In response, scientists
and engineers are opening another front in the battle to combat climate change
by developing technologies that can help us cool the planet — from enhancing
our atmosphere’s natural ability to reflect sunlight, to sucking carbon dioxide
right out of the air, to enlisting plants. This is WAY more than just planting trees
and also offers HOPE for the future. A documentary on PBS titled “CAN WE
COOL THE PLANET?” (Season47, Episode 16) is available for free on pbs.org.
See what Evansville is doing with their climate action plan. Go to
climateevansville.com. Have you seen the solar covered
parking lot the Evansville Airport installed?
Habitat News
The pictures and information on the front page of last week’s
Courier were from the UCC/DOC Habitat House. That was
not included in the article. There were several pictures of
students from the Southern Indiana Career and Tech Center
working on the house. It is located at 105 E. Iowa. Drive by
and check the progress.
16The Bethlehem STAR
1st Dave Powell 12th Doug Chinn Lois Durnil
3rd Cindy Goebel Lucas Eckert Kurt Stahl
Jane Work 14th Rich Steedman Christian Andersen
4th Sandy Bell Emily Ozete Niki Traylor
5th Grant Carey 15th Brenda McCandless 21st Kyle Hirsch
Karen Chinn 16th Cherie Bourland Camille French
Bambi Wilzbacher Greg Eberhart 22nd Wayde Jones
7th Beth Phelps 17th Bob Suhrheinrich 24th Gregg Bailey
Sherry Bernal Dave Crow 26th David Goodman
Alexis Bosecker David Fries 27th Alex Damm
Emily Shreffler 18th Montreva Calhoun 29th Mary Mueller
8th Joe Kaufman 19th Brian Allen 30th David Klass
Wil Gaslin Jennifer Ewers Let’s fill the
9th Stephanie Bosecker Danielle Davis mailboxes of our
11th Sarah Loane Sydney Williams Special Senior
on her
Katelyn Sheneman 20th Mary Miller (94) birthday.
12th Jeff & Julie Wickham 28th David & Sharon Morgan (30)
14th Gretchen & Larry Byers 31st Fred & Wilma Mason
18th Elaine & Scott Shreffler Jay & Suzy Picking (50)
21st Gene & Norma Hartz
24th Betty & Ray Cashen
17ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
(812) 867-2497 (Office)
Email — church@bethlehemucc.org
Web Site—www.bethlehemucc.org
Office Hours 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Please contact the church office if you are aware of any address changes.
OUR VISION STATEMENT:
Striving to welcome all who seek God; to grow in faith;
and to love neighbor as self through action.You can also read
