The Bethlehem Star is published 6
times/year by Bethlehem United
Methodist Church, 4 Westtown
Road, Thornton PA 19373, (610)
459-3482, www.bethmeth.com,
Deadline for copy: the 7th day of
the month prior to publication.
Editor reserves the right to edit for
content and space. Unsolicited
material is welcome!
Bethlehem
United Methodist Church
PO Box 57
4 Westtown Road
Thornton, PA 19373
P: 610-459-3482
F: 610-459-0811
www.bethmeth.com
VBS & SPORTS CAMP 1
COMMUNITY FUN 2
SOUPS & GROUPS 3
40 DAYS OF COMMUNITY 3
GARDEN OF EATING 4
LIBRARY CORNER 4
Inside this issue:
The Bethlehem StarThe Bethlehem Star May/June 2015
“Journey Off The Map” takes your kids to uncharted territory where they will begin to understand that obedience to God can lead them beyond the expected. So, toss the map, stick close to your guide, and prepare to listen for God’s direction in this journey that is unknown to us, but known by Him.
To register, children should have completed kindergarten through seventh grade (as of June 30, 2015). Forms are available at www.bethmeth.com. Click on “BUMC Kids & Youth.”
Registration fee is $20 per child if received by June 30; $25 per child if received July 1-7; $35 per child if received on or after July 8. Maximum family payment is fee for 3 students based on time of registration ($60, $75, or $105). Scholarships available on a first come basis. Please make checks payable to Bethlehem UMC. Forms received without fee will be placed on waiting list.
Eligible participants need to have completed kindergarten through fifth grade (as of June 30, 2015). Registration forms are available on www.bethmeth.com. Click on “BUMC Kids & Youth.”
$70.00 Registration fee per child. Covers T-shirt and equipment. Checks payable to Bethlehem UMC. Forms received without fee will be placed on waiting list. Scholarships available on a first come basis. DISCOUNT: Registration fee decreased to $60.00 per child if received by June 30.
See! The winter is past;
… flowers appear on the
earth; the season of
singing has come
Song of Solomon 2: 11-12
SUMMER ACTIVITIES COMING UP!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
July 13-17
9:00 am—12:30 pm
SPORTS CAMP
July 27—31 9:00 am—12:00 pm
Basketball, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Soccer
2
BETHLEHEM GOES TO FOUNDER’S DAY
Join us for Thornbury Township’s Founder’s Day
celebration on Saturday, May 30, 2015 from 5-9 PM
at Thornbury Park. We will be giving away Rita’s
Water ice, showing off our Kenya-bound water
filters, and enjoying an opportunity to tell our
neighbors about our church. This fun evening will
include live music from the “Soul Cruisers,” food
vendors, activities for the kids including “Stubby the
Helicopter,” and fireworks. See you there!
COMMUNITY DAY, May 2015 — the best ever!
Thanks to all who attended and helped with our
May 2 Community Day. We made $2,500 at the
Kenya Raffle to support our 2015 mission trip to
Africa. Some photos to remind you of the day…
COMMUNITY FUN By Janice Butterworth
We will be giving away
FREE Rita’s water ice!
Stubby the Helicop-
ter is always a hit
Lots of kids activities . . . and kids
Woofi the gospel puppy
and his handler were a hit
Serious grillin’ going on
by our guys
Fireworks will close out
the event
3
Soups & Groups by Pastor Tom Wolff
Because building a sense of community is so vital to the life of a church, Bethlehem church places a great deal of emphasis on folks in our church meeting together regularly in small groups. It is in this environment that significant relationships are developed and spiritual growth is nurtured.
Because of their importance, we offer special training sessions for all Small Group Leaders, Crossroads Teachers (Sunday School) and anyone considering the possibility of leading or hosting small groups. On Monday, June 1 at 6:00 PM, we will have our second meeting of Soups and Groups, an informal quarterly training and informational meeting for anyone leading or teaching in a small group or Sunday School setting here at BUMC. You are also invited if you are just considering the possibility of leading a group.
With the 40 Days of Community Campaign (see below) coming to BUMC in the fall, this is a most exciting time to be a part of the small group ministry. Our desire is that
during the Campaign, every person in BUMC will be connected to a small group! This obviously means we will have a need for more groups to start. Have you considered that perhaps the Lord would have YOU step up to lead a six week group for the Campaign?
There are two more scheduled Soups and Groups meetings before the Campaign begins so please don’t hesitate to sign up in Agan Hall. I would love to see every small group leader in attendance as well as a host of new faces!
We will meet in Agan Hall where we will share a simple meal of soup and homemade bread. The information shared is designed to be very practical, i.e. “What do I do if someone in my group won’t stop talking?” YIKES! Well, you get the picture. A subsequent meeting will be held on
August 31st. We meet from 6:00 pm until 7:30. See you there!
For more info, please contact Pastor Tom, Jan Samuelian, or Charles Baker
Save the date of September 26th. This is the date of the church-wide “Kick Off” of 40 Days of Community!
The goal of 40 Days of Community is to open our hearts to a deeper and closer relationship with Christ by deepening relationships within the church, and through service to the community around our church.
We will partner with Christ as He begins a new work at Bethlehem United Methodist Church.
Your participation in a Small Group will be an essential part of 40 Days of community. In your group, you’ll not just learn how to build community, but you will actually experience it. We will practice some of the best ways to help each other grow spiritually, such as accepting each other and affirming each other.
Just as a baby needs a family in order to grow, so do we all need a spiritual family to grow and become all that God intends us to be. As Christians are made to live in community, we grow better together.
Did you know that that your talents were not given to you solely for your benefit?
God gave them to you for the benefit of others. And he gave others talents for your benefit. In God’s perfect plan, none of us can arrogantly claim that we are completely self-sufficient. During 40 Days of Community, many of us will experience the joy of serving others in our community for the very first time. Just as we grow better when we grow together, so also do we serve better when we serve together.
Our time during these 40 Days will be built on prayer, and on God’s power that is released through prayer. We urge you to hold our Ministry Leaders and our church in your prayers for insight and revelation as we prepare for this time of spiritual growth in our church family.
4
It’s that time of year again when vine-ripened strawberries will be available locally. This is a great salad recipe that you can enjoy often this season.
SUMMER STRAWBERRY SALAD
1/4 C apple cider vinegar 1/4 C sugar 1/4 C vegetable oil 1/4 t paprika A dash Worcestershire sauce 1 T butter 1/2 C slivered almonds 1 qt strawberries, sliced or chopped 2 Romaine hearts chopped into bite-size pieces In bowl mix first 5 ingredients. Cover; refrigerate at least 6 hours. Melt butter in a skillet over medium to low heat. Stir in almonds; cook until golden brown. Remove from heat; cool. In large bowl, toss greens, strawberries, and almonds. Mix with dressing just before serving.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Monday, June 1 -
Soups & Groups at 6:00 PM
see page 3
Monday, June 1 thru Friday,
June 5 - Preschool Camp
Tuesday, June 2-
Pick up Volleyball - meet at
6:30 PM at the courts behind
the parsonage.
Thursday, June 4 - Ministry
Steering Committee Mtg at
7:00 PM
Sunday, June 7 -
Confirmation at 10:30 AM
Service
Sunday, June 14 -
Graduation Recognition at
9:00 AM and 10:30 AM
Service.
Friday, June 19 -
Men’s Campfire in the Grove
at 7:30 PM.
Sunday, June 21 Softball at Thornbury Park
All are welcome.
First Pitch at 6:00 PM
Wednesday, June 24 thru
Sunday, June 28
Creation Festival
Saturday, June 27 - Phillies
Game at 3:00 PM
LIBRARY CORNER by John McGrath
GARDEN OF EATING by Jan Samuelian
Among new additions to the library is a must read, David Platt’s A Compas-
sionate Call to Counter Culture.” Just in time for our 40 Days of Community,
this book provides a blueprint for getting involved in your community in the
area of the most important cultural issues of our day. Everywhere we turn,
battle lines are being drawn—traditional marriage vs. gay marriage, pro-life
vs. pro-choice, personal freedom vs. governmental protection. Seemingly
overnight, culture has shifted to the point where right and wrong are no
longer measured by universal truth but by popular opinion. And as difficult
conversations about these issues continue to inject themselves into our
workplaces, our churches, our schools, and our homes, Christians every-
where are asking the same question: How are we supposed to respond to all
this? In Counter Culture, New York Times bestselling author David Platt shows
Christians how to actively take a stand on such issues as poverty, sex traffick-
ing, marriage, abortion, racism, and religious liberty—and challenges us to
become passionate, unwavering voices for Christ. Drawing on compelling
personal accounts from around the world, Platt presents an unapologetic yet
winsome call for Christians to faithfully follow Christ into the cultural battle-
field in ways that will prove both costly and rewarding.