The Bethlehem Star Guiding us to God's presence in our lives - Bethlehem Christian Church
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
M a r c h 2 0 2 1
The Bethlehem Star
Guiding us to God’s presence in our lives
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I bring you joy filled greetings in the name of Jesus. I pray that everyone is doing well and finding
encouragement in the Lord during these unprecedented times. Ash Wednesday, February 17th, marked the
beginning of the Lenten season, a period of 40 weekdays leading up to Easter, the greatest celebration of the
Christian faith. The word lent is derived from the Old English word lencten, meaning springtime or spring.
I am thankful for the warmth and sunshine of spring as it leads us to the climax of God’s story, the resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ!
After his baptism, Jesus spent 40 days and nights fasting in the wilderness while being tempted by Satan.
The 40 days of lent provide us with an opportunity to focus on Jesus, to consider his life and death on a cross,
and to prepare our hearts to celebrate his resurrection. One way we do this is through repentance.
Our relationship with God begins with repentance, a turning away from sin to Christ to receive his for-
giveness. Lent is a time for personal reflection and repentance as we remember what Jesus has done for us.
Sin separates us from God and has a subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, way of creeping back into our lives.
As Christians, we not only repent of our sins when we first believe in Jesus, but our lives should also be
marked by repentance on a regular basis. God promises “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Over the weeks leading up to Easter, let us take time to
examine our hearts through the light of scripture and see if there are areas of sin that we need to confess and
surrender to Jesus. He is kind, merciful, and gracious to forgive us and he will restore and renew our relation-
ship with him. In the same way that Jesus was strengthened during his 40 days of fasting through times of pray-
er with his Father and through the words of Scripture, Lent is also a time for us to be strengthened in our
relationship with God through times of prayer, fasting, and the Word of God.
Prayer connects us with God as we share our hearts with him and hear from him through his Word and by
his Spirit. If you don’t have a time set aside each day for Bible reading and prayer, I would encourage you to
begin each day with prayer and end each day with prayer, even if it’s only for a few minutes. His Word is
living and active and feeds us spiritually. If you don’t have a Scripture reading plan, start with one book of the
Bible and work your way through it little by little. Reading a chapter in Proverbs and a Psalm each day is also
a great source of inspiration and guidance.
Finally, while Jesus fasted for 40 days, there are many ways we can approach fasting. You may choose to
fast for a day, fast a meal, or give up something such as a favorite TV show in order to spend time with the
Lord through prayer and Scripture reading. The practice of fasting is a sacrifice and can be challenging indeed.
However, it can yield wonderful results as it reminds us of our total dependence on God and our need for him
in every area of our lives. When we experience the pain associated with fasting, or giving something up, we are
reminded how Christ suffered and died for us on the cross.
I pray God will meet us as we turn to him in repentance and prepare our hearts to celebrate his glorious
resurrection. There is no greater joy than knowing Jesus and living for him. Spending time with him in prayer
and in his Word, while fasting, will strengthen us as a body of believers. May this season of Lent be a blessing
for us all!
Yours in Christ,
Rob
M a r c h 2 0 2 1
(4) Russell & Debbie Chappell—49 years (1) Bert Morris
(11) Wayne & Judy Gardner—59 years (2) Barbara Warren
(13) Robert & Jean Brinkley—17 years (3) Pat Correll
(15) Lindy & Sherry Turner—18 years (4) Janet Britt, Jimmy Heffington, Henry DeGroff
(20) Ben & Joyce Bracey—62 years (6) Linda Carol Masters
(7) Tracy Porter
(8) Shirley Allsbrook, Jeremy Clinton, Ronnie Crumpler
(9) Heather Holleman, Shirley Walker
Spring Forward on Sat. Night Easton Clayton Leeman (Bill & Cathy Rissell’s great grandson)
(10) Luke Kawasaki
March 13th (12) Philip Barber
Daylight Savings Time Begins on (13) Matthew LaPoint, Angie Salerno
Sunday, March 14, 2021 (15) Bert Jones, Randy Tew
(16) Martha Wilkins, Leslie Moring
(18) Billy Nelson, Nicole Speight Matzen,
Bobby Smith
Pastor Rob’s Office Hours:
Monday—Thursday (19) Kenzie Jo Conner Davenport
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (22) Kayla Culbertson, Susan Lewis
(There will be times that he will have (23) Nathan Neblett
appointments away from the church (church (24) Travis Masters, Amy Yost
related) during these hours.) (25) Kentley Porter, Carl Crumley
Pastor Rob’s # at church 757-539-7306
Email: pastorrobbcc@gmail.com (27) Russ Greene, Jeremy Neblett
(29) Caroline White
(30) Paula Thornton
Blanket Fund:
These blankets are so versatile that they are used
as makeshift tents, partitions in refugee camps, totes, body
coverings, etc. Your $10.00 donation will buy one blanket
for use by the Church World Service. Any amount will help with this ministry.
Make checks payable to Bethlehem Christian Church with memo “Blanket Fund”.
There will be a box provided for you to drop your donation into, or you may put in the offering
plate. Thank you to everyone who contributes to this worthy project!
We will collect for this fund until Sunday, February 28, 2021.
You ladies are AWESOME and I am blessed to be able to service with you!
In His Service,
Diane Talley
P a g e 3
M a r c h 2 0 2 1
BCC Kidz BCC Youth BCC Teenz
Ages 3-5th Grade 6th—8th Grade 9th—12th Grade
Leader: Phyllis Hedgepeth Leader: Leader: Dawn Turner
BCC Kidz & Youth Ministry
ALERT: Keep your eyes and ears open!
The Easter Bunny is supposed to show
up on March 28th
More information coming soon.
Youth News:
The youth had a cookout on Saturday, January 30th at
Pastor Rob and Kim’s home. They had 21 in attendance
and all enjoyed the time of fellowship together. It was
reported that they had a roaring fire after adding the dried
out Christmas tree.
NOTE: The Youth & Children’s Committee will be meeting this Sunday, February 28th
to brainstorm new ideas and begin planning for the future.
Fred and Janet Brinkley are happy to announce the marriage of their daughter,
Jill Brinkley Mizelle, to Mr. Brian McWithey of Yorktown, VA.
Their wedding took place on Saturday, February 13, 2021.
Rev. L.T. Wilkins officiated the ceremony in the presence of immediate family members.
The newlyweds are making their home with their children,
Emily Mizelle, Stephen McWithey, and Thomas McWithey
at 303 Brokenbridge Road, Yorktown, VA 23692.
P a g e 4 M a r c h 2 0 2 1
COLIATION AGAINST POVERTY IN SUFFOLK
C.A.P.S.
Still planning on helping with CAPS overnight stay the last 4 evenings of
March, (28th through 31st), with dinners each of those four nights plus
either breakfast or lunch packed for the next day and a gift card for the other
meal. We are still asking for donations for the meal cards and need one
more night for someone to prepare the meal. Please contact either
Lynne Johnston or Laura Carter if you can help with a meal.
Thank you so much for your support!
Thank you!
Laura Carter
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR THE
6:30 p.m. CHURCH COUNCIL EASTER BUNNY
In Old Fellowship Hall
Sunday, March 28th
(More information coming soon)
7:00 a.m.
Easter Sunrise Service
April 4th
At Hillcrest Baptist
Come out to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior and Lord!
Pastor Rob will be doing the message.
The service will be outside and no breakfast will be served.
Board of Christian Education News
We are aggressively planning for Sunday School to reopen the Sunday after
Easter. (April 11, 2021). Details coming soon.
We are going to need your support to follow the guidelines and keep
everyone safe. If you are contacted to help with different groups,
PLEASE SAY “YES”! Thank you for your support!
Missions Committee Updates
Greetings from the Mission Committee:
Even though opportunities for Mission Projects is still limited, we did deliver
Valentine candy and snacks to the staff in the ICU, ER and Step-Down Unit at Obici
Hospital. We wanted them to know we haven’t forgotten them and how much we
appreciate their hard work and dedication.
We are still delivering meals every Friday to our shut-ins and what a blessing it is
as this keeps us in contact with our church members.
The Mission Committee would like to thank Yvonne Johnson for her service
on this committee for the past 4 years and welcome new committee member
Stephanie Mikels.
Also, the committee would like to send a big THANK YOU to everyone who has
made and continues to make monetary donations to the Missions. When the pandemic
is lifted we will be able to complete more Mission Projects because of your generosity.
As always, we thank all of you for your support and prayers!
May God bless each and everyone of you!
Mission Committee: Jean Brinkley, Laura Ehrenzeller, Stephanie Mikels,
Angie Salerno
Coffee Class Roast Beef Dinner
If you purchased tickets for the Roast Beef Dinner, back in
March 2020, check with the person you brought them from
and your money will be refunded.
Thank you for your support!
Food Pantry
Bethlehem’s Food Pantry has been able to open on 2nd, 3rd and 4th Tuesdays;
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Volunteers are needed. If you would like to serve others, this is a great
opportunity. Please contact Joyce Bryant or Janet Brinkley to volunteer.
Feb. 9th Closed due to COVID
Feb. 16th 23 families with 75 people
Feb. 23rd 16 families with 42 people
If you know of anyone that could benefit from food at our Food Pantry, please let them
know about out days of operation. They need a Suffolk ID.
P a g e 6
Bethlehem Christian Church Reopening Committee Update
Thursday, February 18, 2021
The Bethlehem Christian Church Reopening Committee met on Thursday, February 18, 2021
at 6:00 p.m. in the Graham Hall.
Agenda:
Closure of the church for 2 weeks after a Covid exposure (Change approved 2/18/21)
Congregational singing (Change approved 2/18/21)
The Committee had a good discussion regarding the current state of Covid in our
community and the impact of closing the church for two weeks if there is an exposure to
Covid within the facility. Currently the Covid numbers, hospitalizations, and deaths related
to Covid have trended down. This is a good sign for our church family as well as the
community. Also, many of our church members and community are receiving the Covid
vaccination as an additional layer of protection. We all realize the importance of having
our church open as much as possible and on a consistent basis so that we can fellowship
together and have our spiritual needs met. With the Covid numbers trending down, the
Pastor and those in attendance felt that we should consider making changes in our current
CDC and Virginia Department of Health protocols that have been in place since our
reopening in October 2020. A recommendation to change the current protocol is as follows:
If a person has an exposure to Covid, the church will no longer close for 2 weeks as we
have done in the past. The church will remain open, as well as all church functions will
continue as planned. In the event of a known Covid exposure within the church the
congregation will be notified by email of the date, time, and location of the exposure.
If you are not able to receive email please let the church office know the best method to
contact you. Each person in attendance will decide if they want to self-monitor for
symptoms, quarantine, or get a Covid test. No names will be disclosed in the notification
unless permission is received from the individual(s). If the exposure occurs in the
Sanctuary the location will be described as Right/Left side of church and Front, Middle, and
Back. (Example: Individual who tested positive was sitting on the front- left side of church).
Please have an awareness of your surroundings when attending any church functions.
Members can decide if they want to continue to attend church after a known exposure or
if they would rather stay home for a period of time.
We are still encouraging anyone who does not feel well or has any symptoms to remain
at home. We will continue to livestream all worship services. Our goal continues to keep
our congregation healthy and safe during this time. We will still require mask to be worn,
hand sanitizer to be used, and social distancing to be practiced. All church areas that have
been used will continue to be cleaned and sanitized as they have been done in the past.
Music and singing are an important part of the worship service. The Reopening
Committee recommended several weeks ago that we temporarily cease congregational
singing as an additional measure to prevent the transmission of the Covid virus. After
discussion by the Pastor and Committee the recommendation was made and approved to
resume congregational singing effective February 21, 2021. Members can make the choice
if they would like to engage in congregational singing.
If there is any type of massive outbreak of Covid within the church, the Reopening
Committee and Pastor will have a called emergency meeting to discuss next steps.
Pastor Rob, the Reopening Committee, Moderator, and Chair of the Deacon Board
appreciate your cooperation during these unprecedented times. Our focus is to keep our
congregation healthy and safe so we can continue to worship and be together. If you have
any questions, please feel free to contact Cathy Allsbrook (Chair), Pastor Rob, or any
member of the Reopening Committee
There being no further discussion or agenda topics the meeting was dismissed with pray-
er by Pastor Rob.
Members in attendance at this meeting:
Cathy Allsbrook Martha Wilkins (House Committee)
Jean Brinkley Sylvia Porter
Pastor Rob Slingluff Joyce Bryant
Rev. Mugsy Wilkins Mike Miller (Guest)
Lent Offering 2021
February 17—April 3
Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter. The forty days of
Lent, represent Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days; and during the season we too are called
to a time of reflection. We all know how difficult 2020 was. We made many sacrifices. Now as we look
forward to Easter, our Church will collect a special “Lenten Offering” during the time of Lent. This year the
offering will support the Mission Committee. Please support this project by saving a little each day. Lent is
(February 17 – April 3). Please indicate “Lenten Offering” on your envelope and drop it in the offering
plate or send it to the Church office when Lent ends. Thank You.
Worship and Intercession Go Together!
IT’S TIME TO PRAY!
May we be active intercessors at this time of uncertainty for our
Pray List, Shut-Ins, and Church.
Blessings,
Deaconry Board
BETHLEHEM’S PRAYER LIST March 2021
Cotton Holland Brian Bracey Caroline Hurley Shirley Robertson Ruby Warren
Stan & Patsy King Mark Greene Mildred Jackson Tom West Jim Pearce
Art Holland Terese Neblett Arlin Peeples Shirley Allsbrook Delores Duplissey
*Aldine Duck (Antnette Harrell’s cousin), Charlene Dunne’s *Granddaughter,
*Phillip Hamilton (cancer/Charlene Dunne’s family), *Nolan Derby (Regina Thacker’s grandson),
*Billy Piland (cancer) , *Thomas Carr (LuAnne LaPoint’s Uncle/cancer),
*Logan Morean (Wanda Crumpler’s Grandson), *Mary Joyner (Bill & Edna Daniel’s daughter)
*Kaitlyn Ellis (Randy & Linda Burk’s daughter)
*Michael Warren (Ruby Warren’s son), *Roger Leavister (Keith Carr’s uncle), *Sean Burke (Shannon Conrad’s Brother)
*Anita Schoolcraft (Wanda Schoolcraft’s daughter-in-law) *Bonnie Averitt (Shannon Conrad’s sister-in-law/cancer),
*Tommy Lanthorn (Jennie Lanthorn’s brother), *Mark Culbertson (Lee Culbertson’s Dad)
*Geraldine Speight (Bennie Speight’s mother), *Robert Whitmore (Jay Whitmore’s Dad)
*Jane Pearson (Cathy & Greg Greene’s neighbor’s sister/cancer), Eliese DeGroff’s *Mother, & *Grandmother
,*Paul Carr (Keith Carr’s Uncle), *Karen Farrier (Jessica Winters’ Mom), *Richard Edgecomb (Eliese DeGroff’s Dad)
*Mary Stevens (Meghan White’s Grandmother) *Scott Michael (Jean Brinkley’s God-son),
Hospitalization:
Recuperating at Home/Nursing Home after Hospitalization
Charlene Dunne
Mary Agnes Byrd *Dennis Burke (Joyce Bryant’s Niece’s husband/kidney transplant)
Karen Hedrick’s *Dad Lily Blankenship (Joyce Bryant’s Great Granddaughter)
Antnette Harrell *Barry Hedgepeth (Phyllis Hedgepeth’s brother-in-law/auto accident)
Mary Greene (back) *Willis Eley (Wanda Crumpler’s Dad /shingles)
Sharon Hawkins Greg Greene
Carolyn Williams (ear problems) *Helen Greene (Greg Greene’s mother)
Nancy Williams Fred Nelms
Stan & Patsy King Shirley Robertson (Knee Surg.)
Lynne Johnston (kidney disease) Janet Turner
Ruby Warren (back) Edna Earle Carter (cellulites)
Linda Ward (hip surgery 2-17-21) Michael Shelton (chemo)
Wayne Gardner Brian & Bonnie Maki (COVID)
Jean Smith (problems with eyes)
*Richard Warren (Ruby Warren’s son/surg. 8-25-20/ 4 to 5 months recovery)
*Jack & Alisha Carr (Laura Carter’s son & daughter-in-law)
*Lorelei Ayres (testing & evaluation at Children’s Hospital, DC/Don & Melba Ayres’ Granddaughter)
*Jane Pritchard (Laura Carter’s Mother/ eye-Macular Degeneration) Jim Pearce (stress test 1-20-21; angiogram 1-28-21)
*Arthur B. Harris, Jr. (Laura Ehrenzeller’s father/with Home Health Care) Wayne Stancell (procedure at Obici 1-25-21)
Maurice Copeland (early stages of Parkinson) Halley Whitmore (testing)
Archer Taylor (convulsions/CHKD) Fran Smith (home from Obici)
*Peyton Balo (Girl Scout at BCC brian surgery on 11-2-20 went very well))
*Elizabeth Sanchez (had surgery then fell)
*Joe Copeland (Yvonne Johnson’s step-father—back to Nansemond Pointe)
Tom Shirk (car accident 2-23-21)
Feb. 7th offerings Feb. 14th offerings Feb. 21st offerings Feb. 28th offerings
Cur. Expenses: $ 2,260.00 Cur. Expenses: $ 4,885.00 Cur. Expenses: $ 4,640.00 Cur. Expenses: $
Building Fund $ 50.00 Building Fund $ 00.00 Building Fund $ 70.00 Building Fund: $
(Memorials Leola Smith)P a g e 9 M a r c h 2 0 2 1
BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN CHURCH SHUT-INS
EAST PAVILION NANSEMOND POINTE
100 Fairview Drive 200 West Constance Road
Franklin, Virginia 23851 Suffolk, Virginia 23434
Miss Kathy Carr - Room 107 B Mrs. Corine Carr – R-220
Mrs. Helen Greene – R- 211
LAKE PRINCE WOODS (Greg Green’s Mother)
100 Anna Goode Way
Suffolk, Virginia 23434
Mark Culbertson – Room 434
(Lee Culbertson’s Father)
SHUT-INS (Home)
Mrs. Edna Earle Carter Mrs. Florence DeArment *Mrs. Karen Farrier
318 Sherwood Drive 203 Edward Avenue 207 Remington Drive
Suffolk, Virginia 23434 Suffolk, Virginia 23434 Ruther Glen, Virginia 22546
(Jessica Winters’ Mother)
Lloyd & Judy Gatling Mrs. Antnette Harrell Mrs. Rose Heffington
276 Country Club Drive 4613 Holland Road 2120 Holland Road
P.O. Box 272 Suffolk, Virginia 23437 Suffolk, Virginia 23434
Gasburg, Virginia 23857
Mrs. Betty Moore Fred & Christine Nelms Mrs. Nancy Williams
106 Joyner Street 1212 Parker Drive 413-532-0693
Suffolk, Virginia 23434 Suffolk, Virginia 23434 Loomis House – Room 109
298 Jarvis Avenue
Holyoke, MA 01040P a g e 1 0
Dear Bethlehem Christian Church Family,
I do not have the words to express my gratitude to each one of you! So many get-well cards,
and they are a bright spot when you are not feeling too well. Thanks for all the birthday cards. It’s so
nice to be remembered. All the people that bring meals on Fridays, you have all been such a blessing to
me. A special thanks to those who have brought me food and checked on me to see how I was doing. I
just don’t know how I could have managed without all this support! And most of all I appreciate all the
prayers you have showered on Linda (my daughter) and me. Linda is doing so much better and we
know that is an answer to prayers. THANKS FOR ALL THE LOVE!!!
In Christian Love,
Audrey Patten
Dear Bethlehem Christian Church,
A special thanks from the Bayview Physi- Dear Bethlehem Christian Church,
cian Group for your generous help with providing Thank you so much for all the food, pray-
chairs for our COVID vaccine clinic. We are all in ers, and kindness extended to us on the illness and
this together and your Christian generosity is much passing of our mother. It is not such a lonely walk
appreciated! when you are surrounded by love. We will be for-
Shirley Masters ever grateful!
Sandy Oliver During a time like this
we realize how much our friends and relatives re-
ally mean to us.
Dear Bethlehem Christian Church Family, Your expression of sympathy
HAPPY NEW YEAR! We pray all are healthy will always be remembered.
and doing well.
We would like to welcome Pastor Slingluff and Arlene Smith
his family to Bethlehem. SO HAPPY FOR ALL! Lisa Tarkington and
Wishing everyone a safe and healthy year! Family of Leola Smith
God Bless You !
Love,
Alex, Jenny
& Matt
We pray for all our students whether
they are staying at home doing online classes or going to elementary,
middle, high school or college.
(saw this in Suffolk News Herald)
Benjamin Salerno
Emory & Henry College
Fall 2020 Dean’s List
(3.6 GPA for the semester)
If you know any news about our students and would like to share, please let us know.
Thank you to all the teachers (parents as teachers) that have put so much into making sure our kids could con-
tinue on with their learning. One teacher’s comment “I am enjoying teaching online! It has been a challenge,
but I enjoy it!” No matter what is thrown at them they take it and make the best of the situation.
A BIG THANK YOU to all the teachers!!!March 2021
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6
Office hours
Monday—Thursday
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Office Closed
7 3rd Sunday of Lent 8 9 10 11 12 13
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m. CHURCH COUNCIL
11 a.m. Worship Service Board of Christian Ed.
In Old Fellowship Hall
Sanctuary Old Fellowship Hall
Office Closed
14 Daylight Saving Time Begins 15 Presidents’ Day 16 17 St. Patrick’s Day 18 19 20
11 a.m. Worship Service 6:30 p.m.
Deaconry Board
Sanctuary 6:30 p.m.
Old Fellowship Hall
Finance Meeting
Office Closed
21 5th Sunday of Lent 22 23 24 25 26 27
11 a.m. Worship Service
Sanctuary
Office Closed
28 Palm Sunday 29 30 31 Easter Sunrise Service
On Sunday April 4th
At Hillcrest 7:00 a.m.
11 a.m. Worship Service The service will be
Sanctuary outside and no
Communion breakfast served.Bethlehem Christian Church
1549 Holland Road
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: 757-539-4274
E-mail: suffolkbcc@yahoo.com
Web site: www.bccsuffolk.org
Facebook: Bethlehem Christian Church — Suffolk VA
Office Hours:
Mondays—Thursdays— 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fridays: Office Closed
Easter Lily Sale
The church will be taking orders for Easter Lilies. The cost is $12.00 each. Make checks payable to
Bethlehem Christian Church. Orders will be taken until Sunday, March 28th. Please fill out the form
and put it in the box in the back hall or the offering plate with a check or cash for your order.
In Memory of ________________________________________
____________________________________________________
In Honor of __________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Given By
________________________________________
Amount of cash____________
Amount of check___________
Please take your Easter lily home after the 11:00 worship on Easter Sunday, April 4th.
Thank You!!!You can also read
