Bethel 10/08/2023 Service

Topics for Today
Wikipedia is a frequent source
for information in these articles.

Homecoming
Homecoming Pictures
Photo album pages from Homecomings in 1959-2022
A Look at Years Past
a "slideshow" prepared for Homecoming 2000
Were You Here?
Look at the directory photo pages for 1994-2020

A History Lesson (08:15)
This recording of a children's talk in the 1999 Homecoming service
provides anecedotes about some of Bethel's ministers
This 1999 Minister's Poster
is the one used in the "History Lesson"
20 Questions/Answers about Bethel
This document provides several questions (with answers) about Bethel's history.
Some are whimsical, but hopefully most will be interesting and enlightening.

Introducing the 20 Questions (17:15)
This recording from the 2001 Homecoming service
introduces the 20 Questions document about Bethel's history
Bethel's Photo Albums
One feature at Bethel's Homecoming for many has been an opportunity
to browse the photo albums laid out on a table in the fellowship hall.
This link from the History page of Bethel's web site offers that same opportunity
to those coming to this online service.

Columbus Day
October 11 has been the traditional date for recognizing Christopher Columbus' arrival in this "New World" in 1492. In recent years there has been controversy about the significance of the day. The following Wikipedia articles document the day and the controversy.
Columbus Day
Indigenous People's Day

Bethel Worship Planning Documents
2023 Monthly Worship Calendar
2023 RCL 2 page Summary
Bethel Weekly Worship Planning worksheet
2023 Annual Program Planning worksheet

Guidance from UMC Discipleship Ministries
Weekly Worship Planning Series

Note: This material from UDM is not the basis for today's message
but is provided here for your personal study and reflection.

Click here for suggestions about how to use this material.

Worship Series: "For the Long Haul"
from umcdiscipleship.org

The Sundays after Pentecost can seem to drag on and on at times. This is where we learn again that our faith journey is a marathon and not a sprint. Sure, we’ve heard that before and maybe even could say we know it. But what does it mean? The first thing it means is that we won’t get too far in our discipleship journey on enthusiasm alone. There will be times when we’ve hit a dry spell, or when we find ourselves in a desert. And as the examples in our chosen texts for the next four weeks show us, grumbling and fear will be ever around us and even within us at times. Enthusiasm wanes and emotions come and go. It takes discipline to sustain the pace as we walk our faith journey. It takes commitment and the will to keep putting one foot in front of another. This is not, however, a self-generated discipline, though the self is involved. But the other truth before us is that we are not alone as we continue along our discipleship path. First of all, there is the ever-present Spirit of God who sustains and enlivens us the more we seek God in our daily lives, as we proceed on the long haul of faith. God is with us. Secondly, there is a community of faith that encourages us, mentors us, learns with us and even from us at times. We are in relationship with the church in the long haul. Indeed, we might argue that the only way we can make it for the long haul is together. There’s a saying that sums it up: “if you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.” We are in community as we journey, especially for the long haul.

This is the third service of a 4 service Worship Series from the Discipleship Ministries.
The graphics at the top of this page list the topics for the services of the Series.
(Click on another graphic to see that session's resource page)

This Service's Theme: "Fruit of the Kingdom"
Liturgical Resources

How do we view the commandments? We honor them; we treasure them; we wish there was more obedience to them in the world out there. But do we see them as descriptive of our lives? Rather than seeing them as normative to everyone, what if we decided to see them as something we chose to be the guide for our lives?

Worship Planning Notes
Preaching Notes

Lectionary Scriptures:
Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20; Psalm 119; Philippians 3-4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46;

Sources of Music for the following hymns are:

- UMH CD.....UDM - DM Accompaniment..... MM/DD/YY - Recorded Service

Hymns Considered For this week: