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
TRUNK OR TREAT 1
WOOFI NEWS 2
THE LITTLE CHURCH THAT
CAN DOES IT AGAIN! 3
GARDEN OF EATIN 4
THE LIRBARY CORNER 4
Inside this issue:
The Bethlehem StarThe Bethlehem Star October /November 2014
Calling all princesses, pirates and
parents! Outreach to the community
and spread THE WORD and the
CANDY to young families in our
area. TRUNK or TREAT is coming
on October 25th, 5-7 pm.
DID YOU KNOW?...
Last year, more than 250 people were
exposed to our church and our
message through this event?
Trunk or Treat visitors have gone on
to attend Bethlehem church services
and children’s ministry?
Parents have thanked Bethlehem for
providing a safe and fun event for
families.
But....
It can’t happen without you!
Email [email protected] and
offer to decorate a trunk (will you
win first prize?), provide candy,
work the parking lot,
or be a greeter.
Free food and hot drinks
will be provided,
and all participants and visitors
will be eligible to enter the raffle
for a $100 Target Gift Card.
2
Scripture tells us to “Remember his
(Jehovah God) marvelous works that he
hath done; his wonders…”, Ps 105:5 KJV
And so with joy I look back on this relatively
quiet period in the Woofi Ministry and can see his
hand working.
Events since the last report:
1. One member of the Kenya Team took two with
the book that shares the Gospel.
2. I revisited a family where I had given a little girl
and her brother each a Woofi and shared the Gospel
with them. Her mother told me she sleeps with it
every night and her brother still has his visible in his
room. I asked little 5 year old Kayli, “What does
Woofi want you to know?” and smiling broadly she
replied, “Jesus loves me!” This still warms my heart
since their father is ‘missing in action’, so to speak.
I wanted them to know they have a Father, their
heavenly Father.
3. One of our mission minded teens on a mission
trip this summer gave one to Knapps of Siloe Church
in Soyapango, ElSalvador South America for their
ministry there.
4. Traveling this summer, I had a God moment. On
a one night stop with a Christian missionary family, I
had hoped to have time to share with their two girls.
In the short 24 hour period, I relied on the Lord and
caught the moment. But it was only one little girl
who was up early enough before school and took
time to chat with me. She had already accepted
Christ, but she was excited to have Woofi and
confided that she would like to use Woofi to share
the Gospel with her friends. The interesting thing
about this is that the mother did not think it
necessary to give the other gal, a young teen, a
Woofi. I keep my own stock of Woofi and thought I
had two in the car. Lo, I only had one.
5. Your church bank gave one to our own Alice
Zweigle who is now in skilled care. She is not able
to communicate well. But she has been a
foundational giver financially to the Woofi ministry.
Alice has also bought her own stock and shared
God’s love with Woofi herself. The gift of a Woofi
was not really to remind her of God’s love because
she knows that, but to uplift her spirit as she might
be reminded of how the Lord had used her and
blessed others through her.
6. Your church bank gave out Woofi to one family
(church members) when one of their children was
hospitalized. Now that family had ordered three to
be given to their friends…and it is not even
Christmas or birthdays!!
7. Maris Grove has suddenly had an upswing in
orders (4) for their grandchildren. And one lady who
staffs our hair salon gave a donation.
8. At the May BethMeth Fair, two of our church
member’s children attended the Woofi booth. These
dear ones had saved their pennies and each bought
their own Woofi. This says a lot for their desire and
their parent’s good training.
9. But there is still more. My desire to find an outlet
for sharing ‘God loves you and wants you in His
family’ to children who are being placed in foster
homes or being adopted is one step closer. After
searching the internet and coming up with many
organizations that were too ‘politically’ correct to
allow sharing the Gospel with Woofi (but would
give them without the Gospel including faith based
hospitals), I have connected with one (Bethany) that
will. I desire prayer as I will be meeting with them
Oct. 21st.
Remember what God had done. But look forward
to what he will do. Woofi will again be available at
a table in Agan Hall in November for
Christmas presents.
Woofi Gifts available
in November
WHERE’S WOOFI?
Exciting News from the Mission Field By Harriet Widlund
3
Once in awhile you come across a recipe that is simple, but packs a great deal of
flavor, and this is one of those recipes. I made it last week for a party and it was a
hit! The best news is that it's also healthy.
This dressing can be served drizzled on thick slices of homegrown tomatoes and
slices of fresh mozzarella. I served it on roasted red peppers that I had prepared.( In
a pinch "Trader Joe's" jarred roasted peppers are very good). Use your imagination and be creative! Hope
you like it as much as I did.
There are no set measurements for this, you just have to "eyeball" it. In a fry pan add some good quality
olive oil. Add some finely chopped shallots to the warmed oil and sauté until soft with a little
color. When it is almost where you want it to be, add some finely minced fresh garlic (the finer the dice
of garlic, the more intense the taste), sauté a little longer. Add some Balsamic vinegar (a higher quality is
important). Up the heat a bit, and stir until the mixture is of a syrup consistency. Take pan off heat and
add the herb or herbs of your choice. I used FRESH oregano as I dislike dry (it tastes bitter), thyme
would also be very good.
Let the dressing cool, drizzle over select item and serve with crusty bread. Enjoy!
by Jan Samuelian
LIBRARY CORNER: by John McGrath, Librarian
We have been blessed recently by a donation of a
few books by George MacDonald. For those of
you unfamiliar with MacDonald, he was a Scottish
clergyman and prolific novelist who lived between
1824 and 1905. He is considered one of the great
novelists, Christian or otherwise, of the Victorian
period. C.S. Lewis once said “I have never
concealed the fact that I regarded him as my
master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book
in which I did not quote from him.” He was also a
mentor of Lewis Carroll.
MacDonald’s books are filled with Christian
heroes and heroines who struggle with the ups and
downs of everyday life in 19th century Scotland
and England. Although their adventures involve
some trying times, their Christian faith and values
see them through in spite of the cultural pressures
of the day, not unlike what we are going through
today. MacDonald’s characters have universal
appeal and the books have a timeless charm.
MacDonald’s books have long been neglected.
Part of the reason for this, I believe, is the fact that
he wrote in the Scottish vernacular. For example:
“Gien the man ‘at has her to see tilt dinna ken to
luik oot for a storm o’ iron shune or lang teeth ony
moment…” or “We maun be honest i’ that as
weel’s i’ cornor herrin’, or onything ither ‘at ‘s
coft an’ sell’t atween man an’ his neibor.”
Reading an entire book written in this style would
be exhausting, even for someone with Scottish
blood like me. But our editions of these
MacDonald’s novels are edited by Michael
Phillips who had a life-long passion to bring
MacDonald’s works to a modern audience. He
“translates” much of the Scottish brogue into
readable English and the results make for a more
enjoyable experience. Pick one up and give him a
try. I’m sure you’ll want to read more.
4
Would YOU wear a Chicken Hat to
recruit passing traffic on Glen Mills
Road? September 20 marked the
third recent Fall Chicken BBQ and
Flea Market outreach event, but it
was the first to use the “Chicken
Hat” technique to lure BBQ
enthusiasts onto the property.
Many, many thanks go to the over
50 enthusiastic folks from the
church that helped out that day
through their gift of time, and to the
many others who donated baked
goods and flea market items.
Our goal was to raise awareness of
the service we provide to the
community both directly and
through the organizations we
support. How did we do? For the
BBQ alone, out of over 200 tickets
sold, we welcomed 25 families/
individuals for a first time visit to
the church, as well as countless
others who shopped at the Flea
Market. We were successful in
getting the strong message of our
service activities to those that
attended through our strategically
located information table, signage at
the white elephant table, and slide
show in Agan Hall depicting past
service projects. Although we are
still awaiting a final tally, estimates
predict at least $1500 earned to
donate to service organizations:
Hands on Homes, Good Works, and
Samaritans Purse.
Possibly the best outcome from the
BBQ was just plain having some fun
for the whole church. There were
many compliments for all the
The “Little Church that Can”
Does it Again! by Charles Baker
activities: “the chicken was the best
ever, the bake sale table was great,
this is fun having folks come to our
church, I like getting to work with
folks from the other
service…” Some additional
benefits: One person saw the info
on a Bible study and attended the
next week, another provided a good
lead on a potential client for Good
Works home rehab. Even those not
directly involved in the service
organizations can feel the
satisfaction of their efforts in helping
raise over $1500 and increasing the
awareness of BUMC in the local
community. Who among you is
ready to wear the Chicken Hat…
September 2015?
Saturday, October 25 - Trunk
or Treat, 5:00-7:00 PM.
Saturday, November 1- Kenya
Dessert Talk Back
7:00-9:00 PM in Agan Hall.
Friday, November 7 - Friday
Fun Night; 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
Saturday, November 8 -
Service Saturday - 9:00 AM
Saturday, November 8 -
Hymn Sing 7:00 to 8:30 PM.
Sunday, November 9 - Church
Conference following the 10:30
service. Lunch will be served to
those who are planning to stay.
Friday, November 21 to
Sunday, November 24: Senior
High Retreat
Saturday, November 29:
Decorate the Sanctuary for
Christmas
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
December 12, 13 and 14
Christmas at Bethlehem
7:00 to 9:00 PM.
Watch for more details in the
next issue of the Bethlehem
Star.