25th Sunday after Pentecost
Christ the King Sunday
Thanksgiving Sunday
November 22, 2020

Pastor: Ralph Wrightstone Bulletin . Insert . Photos Music Director: Travis Oaks
This is the last Sunday of the "liturgical year", the last Sunday of "Ordinary Time". Consequently it is a "special day" designated "Christ the King Sunday". The calendar of the "Christian Year" has been designed to follow Christ's life, from the anticipation of Advent (beginning next Sunday) through Easter, Pentecost and his life through the church during the "Ordinary time" following Pentecost. It is then appropriate to end in heaven where we find him "King of kings and Lord of Lords". The day was added to the calendar in 1925 following WW1, acknowledging that "the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these had no place either in private affairs or in politics". This day is to affirm His rightful place in the church and in our lives.

This is also "Thanksgiving Sunday" as we look forward to that traditional day for family gatherings and how it can be celebrated safely at this time. But the day is really about "Thanksgiving", which can be practiced safely and at anytime, anywhere, in the presence of the One who is rightfully to receive our thanks.

Click on the graphics at the top of this page to find out more about these special days.
Click on the "Bethel United Methodist Church" script above
for links to some Resource material for this service
and for the 400 year history of Thanksgiving.
We are also having a service at 11:00 this morning in Bethel's sanctuary. An insert to the bulletin, provided by a link above, presents Bethel UMC's policy regarding these gatherings during the time of COVID-19 restrictions.
:
For those unable to attend the services at the church, a new service will be available here online before 10:00 am each Sunday morning, using the same format as the on-site service. So you may "gather" here for an "Early Service" at 10:00 or the traditional service at 11:00...actually it will be available here at any time all week. We hope that you will find it a refreshing place to come into God's house.
NOTE: Each part of this online service consists of an audio file and, for most, a Link to a pdf file of "projection slides". Click on the symbol to play the audio file under a separate browser tab or in a new window. Then select the "Bethel 11/22/20 Service" browser tab or return to this window to open the Link to the "slides". It is best to stop the playing of one Audio segment and close its tab or window before starting another.

We hope that you will fully participate in the service provided here, taking the time to raise your voice or read along with the hymns and responses, and listening to the recorded messages and songs that have been prepared for you. Realize that, though not meeting face-to-face, you are virtually gathering with many others for this time of worship, celebration and spiritual refreshment.

Thank you for coming. Our prayer will be that we will soon all gather again for worship in Bethel's Sanctuary, but intil then we'll be here for you on Sunday morning.
Please let us know of any problems you have with or suggestions about this site by sending an email to "bumctlh@gmail.com". If you have any announcements or prayer concerns you would like included next week you may contact Pastor Ralph Wrightstone directly at: 850-591-9785