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Weekly Bulletin
December 8, 2024
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Sunday Worship
Prelude: Christmas Day
Call to Worship
Grace Alone
Welcome & Announcements
Bethany Family Prayer
Rejoice
Angels we Have Heard on High
The Lord is My Salvation
Sermon: A Sure Presence
Savior Like a Shepherd Lead us
Benediction
Weekly Schedule
View our calendar HERE for the weekly schedule.
Highlights
Christmas Night of Worship
Sunday, December 08, 6:00 pm
Come celebrate the joy of Christmas and the incredible gift of Jesus at our Christmas Night of Worship! Enjoy an evening filled with carols, Christmas classics, and beloved songs that help us reflect on the hope of the season. Stay afterward for a dessert reception with festive treats and fellowship.
Holiday Services Schedule
Check out our upcoming holiday services schedule.
Special Christmas Eve Service: Tuesday, December 24th, 4pm. No child care provided.
Combined Worship Services: Sunday, December 22nd and Sunday, December 29th will each be a single service at 9:30 am. We will also not have Sunday School or Children’s church but nursery is available (0-2yrs).
Upcoming Global Outreach Trips
July of 2025
The Global Outreach Team is excited to announce two upcoming short-term mission trips for 2025, open to everyone interested in participating. In July, a team will travel to Malawi for a mission trip, followed by an evangelistic outreach in New York City later that same month.
If you’re interested or want to learn more visit bethanycentral.org/gotrips. Don’t wait—the application deadline is January 15th!
Announcements
Staff & Pastors Christmas Gift
The elders are collecting gifts to express our love and appreciation for our pastors & staff at this special time of year. Envelopes are available at the welcome tables or give by going to bethanycentral.org/staffgift.
Upcoming Baptism Opportunity
If you are ready to publicly declare that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, baptism is your next step. If you are interested in baptism, or simply meeting with a pastor to talk more about the importance of and steps for getting baptized, go to bethanycentral.org/baptism.
Bylaw Change Q&A Session
Wednesday, December 11 at 6:00 pm
We have an important vote on proposed changes to our church bylaws coming up at the January congregational meeting. To help prepare, we’ve planned Q&A sessions to answer questions and discuss the details of these changes. The second session will be Wednesday, December 11 at 6:00 pm, with a final session on January 12 at noon. The proposed changes are posted on the office window.
Women's Ministry: The Table
The Table is an opportunity for the women of Bethany to build community with each other. It’s a time to chat, laugh and maybe make new friends. It consists of many individual small group gatherings, hosted by various women in the church. These gatherings occur at different days and times to accommodate as many schedules as possible.
There’s no agenda when you attend a Table gathering, just a desire to create a space for women to connect. Go to bethanycentral.org/thetable.
Dunlap Gives Back: Food Drive
December 8th & 15th
Bethany will host a food drive over the next two Sundays to benefit students in need within our local school district. A collection table will be set up in the foyer for your donations. We are seeking kid-friendly, individual-serving food items such as cereal bars, granola bars, single-serve cereal packs, snack bags, applesauce cups, non-refrigerated yogurt pouches, and other similar snacks. This is a great way to serve kids in need.
Thank you: Operation Christmas Child
A special thank you to Bethany for packing 417 OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD boxes. The boxes have been shipped to a processing center to be shipped to children in over 100 countries around the world. Thank you for blessing the life of a child with gifts and the love of Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions
Icebreaker
If you could wave a magic wand and have peace in any situation, with any person, or in any place “at all times,” what would it be and why? (Ex: a stressful co-worker, family get-together, or the DMV)
Discussion Questions
How does the nature of the peace that Jesus offers differ from the world’s definition of peace? How might the “Lord of Peace” give a peace that lasts “at all times in every way”?
Why do you think Paul emphasized the authenticity of his letters? What does this tell us about the importance of authenticity and personal connection in Christian ministry? Can you think of other ways Paul emphasized personal ministry (See 1 Thess 2:8)?
How does grace function as a foundation for Christian living? In what ways does understanding and experiencing grace impact a believer’s daily life and interactions with others? Why do you think Paul began and ended this letter with “grace and peace”?
Application Questions
Does Paul’s prayer for peace “at all times in every way” feel bold, impossible, or seem naive? What might hold someone back from experiencing a peace like that? What would it look like to claim a promise of that magnitude?
Does Paul’s personal ministry of authenticity, integrity, and personal nature resonate with you? Have you seen or experienced ministry that was done like this in your life? How can you serve and minister to others in a personal way?
Are there areas where you struggle to live out the reality of God’s grace in your life? Are there ways in which you struggle to share that same grace with others? Do you feel a daily sense of God’s grace and the power of the Gospel? If not, what do you think might be a barrier to that?
