Sermons and Special Music
from services during the pastorate of Ralph L. Wrightstone

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From Bethel UMC Services of
January 5, 2020 thru December 27, 2020

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NOTE: Because of restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, formal sevices in Bethel's sanctuary were suspended after March 22, 2020. After that, "virtual" online services using pre-recorded audio segments were provided with links from the "Service Page" of this web site. These continued even after unrecorded "open-air" and later inside services began at the church. Links are provided to those "online" messages in the following list.

Recordings of the church messages began again on June 28 however their placement into the Sermons page was not begun until Sept 27. (Processing of the June 28-Sept 20 church recordings is a future project.)

On Sept 27, the "Youth Message" of the online service became a more general "Message" in the Church Service with a different theme. The overview "Message" then became an overview "Bible Study" in both services. Recordings of the Church Messages were then provided here.

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Click on the symbol to begin playing an audio recording.

January 2020

05 - (14:07) Message: Grace Upon Grace
12 - Today's service was led by Tina Rucker, a licensed speaker who works with our youth and has a heart for mission and evangelism. Pastor Ralph will return soon as he is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
.... - (00:53) A Challenge
.... - (00:23) Prayer for the Service
.... - (25:29) Message: What Kind of Dirt are You?, Scripture: Luke 8:4-8,11-15 (Parable of the Sower)
.... - (00:40) Closing Prayer
19 - This is the first of a series of sermons on the books of the New Testament.
.... - (05:39) Introduction to Sermon Series
.... - (21:08) Message: A Journey in the Book of Matthew
.... - (00:32) Closing Prayer
26 - (01:09) Introduction
.... - (29:14) Message: Overview of the Book of Mark
.... - (00:57) Closing Prayer

February 2020

02 - (20:40) Message: Overview of the Book of Luke
09 - (01:46) Introduction
.... - (22:40) Message: Overview of the Gospel of John
.... - (02:47) Conclusion of the Gospel
.... - (01:49) Closing Prayer and Invitation
16 - (00:39) Introduction
.... - (26:02) Message: Overview of the Book of Acts
.... - (01:44) Closing Prayer
23 - (25:44) Message: Overview of the Book of Romans
.... - (01:37) The "Roman Road", an Invitation and Closing Prayer

March 2020

01 - (16:21) Message: Overview of 1st Corinthians
.... - (01:14) Closing Prayer and Invitation
08 - (21:32) Message: Overview of 1st & 2nd Corinthians
.... - (02:35) Closing Remarks, Prayer and Invitation
15 - (13:01) Message: Overview of the Book of Galatians
.... - (03:31) Closing Remarks, Prayer and Invitation
22 - (This was the first Sunday following restrictions on gatherings imposed by the coronavirus. Only 8 were present in this service and there was a lot of apprehension about what lay ahead.)
.... - (19:53) Message: Overview of the Book of Ephesians
.... - (03:05) Closing Remarks and Prayer
29 - (09:00) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Philippians
.......This was the first of the pre-recorded "online" messages after suspension of live services.

April 2020

05 - (12:39) Palm Sunday - Online Message: Overview of the Book of Colossians
12 - Easter Sunday (Online)
.... - (10:20) Sunrise - Message: I Have Seen the Lord
.... - (04:13) Worship Scripture: John 20:1-9, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
.... - (15:45) Message: Should We Believe in the Resurrection?
19 - (10:12) Online Message: Overview of the Book of 2 Thessalonians
26 - (08:09) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Hebrews

May 2020

03 - The first "open-air" service was held at Bethel this Sunday. The online messages will be continued here as long as the live message is not being recorded.
.... - (13:30) Online Message: Sheep Just Wanna Have Fun!
10 - Mother's Day (Online)
.... - (02:47) Opening and Scripture
.... - (15:39) Message: "The Dance of Love"
.... - (01:08) Closing Prayer
17 - (15:50) Online Message: Overview of the Books of 1st and 2nd Timothy
24 - (15:45) Online Message: Overview of the Books of Titus and Philemon
...... (A live service was held at Bethel Pond on this Heritage Sunday.)
31 - (13:13) Online Message: Overview of the Book of James
...... (the live service held inside today was the first since March 22 but was not recorded)

June 2020

07 - (10:08) Online Message: Overview of the Book of 1st Peter
...... (live services are continuing inside the church)
14 - (09:40) Online Message: Overview of the Book of 2nd Peter
21 - (09:50) Online Message: Overview of the Book of 1st John
28 - (07:10) Online Message: Overview of the Book of 2nd John

July 2020

05 - (07:49) Online Message: Overview of the Book of 3rd John
12 - (05:45) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Jude
19 - (07:22) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 1)
26 - (08:06) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 2)

August 2020

02 - (11:31) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 3)
09 - (06:43) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 4)
16 - (08:27) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 5)
23 - (09:12) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 6)
30 - (07:55) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 7)

September 2020

06 - (06:59) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 8)
13 - (09:27) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 9)
20 - (06:45) Online Message: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 10)
27 - Church Message - "The Politics of True Faith"
...... Today, recordings of the Church Message began appearing on the Sermons Page. The "Youth Message" of the online service became a more general "Message" in the Church Service with a different theme. The overview "Message" of the online service then became an overview "Bible Study" in both services. Recordings of the Church Messages were then provided here.
...... (02:49) - Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32
...... (14:49) - Message
...... (01:40) - Affirmation of Faith
...... (09:07) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 11)

October 2020

04 - Church Message - "God's Quality Control Crew"
...... (01:36) - Introduction
...... (02:14) - Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46
...... (13:02) - Message
...... (10:04) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 12)
11 - Church Message - Homecoming - "Run Away Bride"
...... (01:03) - Introduction
...... (01:44) - Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14
...... (18:11) - Message
...... (07:48) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 13)
18 - Church Message - "Keep Your Eye on the Ball"
...... (00:57) - Introduction
...... (02:36) - Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22
...... (15:12) - Message
...... (07:28) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 14)
25 - Church Message - "Faith for Today"
...... (02:56) - Introduction and Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46
...... (15:20) - Message
...... (06:04) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 15)

November 2020

01 - Church Message - "God Sees You"
...... (02:00) - Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12
...... (10:02) - Message
...... (06:31) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 16)
08 - Church Message - "What is Your Fuel?"
...... (02:44) - Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13
...... (13:43) - Message
...... (06:27) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 17)
15 - Church Message - "The Old, Old Story"
...... (03:24) - Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30
...... (13:21) - Message
...... (09:13) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 18)
22 - Church Message - "Good and Bad"
...... (01:14) - Introduction
...... (02:55) - Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46
...... (13:54) - Message
...... (07:59) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 19)
29 - Chrismon Service
...... Online - there was no Church Message or Bible Study Overview this week

December 2020

06 - Church Message - "Jesus Straightway"
...... (01:42) - Introduction and Scripture: Mark 1:1-8
...... (15:44) - Message
...... (08:11) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 20)
13 - Church Message - "The Christmas Star"
...... (02:14) - Introduction and Scripture: John 1:1-15
...... (19:20) - Message
...... (07:45) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 21)
20 - Church Message - "Surprise! It's Christmas."
...... (02:20) - Introduction and Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
...... (14:20) - Message
...... (07:26) Online Bible Study: Overview of the Book of Revelation (Chpt. 22)
(This is the last in the series of New Testament book overviews begun back on January 19. We hope you have found this to be an invitation to delve more deeply into the messages of the New Testament writings.)
24 - Christmas Eve
...... (01:31) - Introduction and Scripture: Matthew 4:12-17
...... (12:59) - Message: "A Great Light"
27 - (04:01) - Introduction and Scripture: Matthew 4:21-40
...... (18:10) - Message: "Sword of Truth"

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