Weekly Update
Bethesda UCC

November 11, 2022


This Sunday Reading and Themes


1 Chronicles 29:10-17

1 Peter 4:7-11

Stewardship Sunday


Coming Up in November

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Transgender Day of Remembrance

7:00 pm at BUCC


Join us and other faith communities as we remember our transgender siblings and affirm our love for them. 


Linda C. is organizing a soup and bread potluck after the service. Contact her or the office if you would like to contribute.


November 27, 2022

First Sunday of Advent

Hanging of the Greens

Join us as we decorate for Advent immediately after worship


Opportunities for Giving


Thanksgiving Baskets


Bring your items to the narthex by this Sunday, November 13th. 

Join us after worship to help pack the bags



You can also contribute money which will be used to buy Giant gift cards or additional groceries. 

Venmo or check - indicate it is for Linkages to Learning


Items for baskets:

Canned vegetables           Canned/dried fruit

Cooking oils (olive/canola)    Crackers

Dried beans                 Pasta           

Instant mashed potatoes       Soup, stew, chili 

Peanut or other nut butter      

Powdered/shelf-stable milk

Rice (whole grain/brown)


Christmas Toy Drive 2022


The BUCC Sharing Team is pleased to host the annual Christmas toy drive for the National Center for Children and Families. The local Greentree Road campus serves as Santa’s Workshop, providing an opportunity for families served by NCCF’s multiple programs to have access to Christmas gifts for kids age 0-18.

Please consider donating a new unwrapped item or gift card (for teenagers!). A collection bin will be in the narthex Sunday Dec 4 and Dec 11. If you want your donation picked up or need a shipping address let the church office know.

Gift ideas include books, Legos, arts and crafts supplies, blankets, sheets, clothes, blocks, action figures, baby dolls, gift cards for Target, Amazon, Westfield Mall, CVS. 


Last Sunday's

Sermon Synopsis

Ancestors and Our Heritage

Haggai 1:15b-2:9


On Sunday we looked at the words that the prophet Haggai had for the returning exiles.

Their beautiful temple had been destroyed and they were so discouraged by the thought of trying to return the temple to its former splendor, that they were unable to move forward.

Haggai asks the "who is left that remembers the temple in its former glory?" His question is aimed at those who are allowing their nostalgic look to the past to dictate their actions - and therefore, their future.

Haggai has several messages for them - (1) God is always with you, (2) God remembers the promises God made, (3) Whatever it takes, God is willing and able, and (4) resources may come from "other lands."

What can we at BUCC take from this? First, we must be honest with ourselves - do we let our memories of the glories of the past limit our actions in the present? Do we think that we no longer have the ability to grow?

God has promised to whatever it takes to help. Have we made the same promise? Are we willing, as God promises, to "move heaven and earth?"

What might it mean to consider that resources will come from other lands? Might that mean, for us, new relationships, new partnerships, and new connections?

On Sunday, we shared our fondest memories of BUCC with each other. Then I asked, "What core values are represented in those memories?"

Could we look at those values and envision how those might be lived out now? We move to the future, not with a goal to relive or recreate the past, but to create whatever it is that represents how we live and share our faith.

It may not look like the church of the past, but it might, if we are lucky, look like the church of the future.

Pastor's Message


 Passion and Love

This past Sunday I had the privilege of worshipping with CrossPointe, one of the church's that worships in our building. It was their anniversary, and they were celebrating with praise and prayer and preaching. It was an honor to be invited to join them and represent BUCC.

I tried to sit in the back of the sanctuary, but they insisted I be seated with the visiting clergy and other guests. Worship started with about 20 minutes of passionate praise music. We sang and praised God, accompanied by seven vocalists, keyboard, and drums. You could feel the passionate worship in God's house!

The guest preacher talked about how he resisted an invitation to church, over and over again, until one day he went, just to "tick off that box." He related how in the service he felt the presence of Jesus, urging him to start a new life as a believer. The whole time he was preaching, a very talented young man translated - and together they brought a wonderful message.

Pastor Claudine thanked us for hosting them over the years and asked if I would speak to the congregation. I thanked them for their heart-felt worship and told them we were so blessed to have them at BUCC. They are a fine example of a growing church that makes a difference in the lives of so many from the countries of East Africa who are here now in the United States.

I was so moved by this congregation. They were genuinely friendly and loving, they worship with a spirit that is passionate and in awe of God, and they practice a Christ-centered hospitality. I am so grateful for what they gave me in the way of welcome, love, and worship.

Let's think about how we give to others as a church. As a visitor I felt very cared for and lifted up. How do we treat our visitors? Do folks who come to our morning worship feel spiritually filled and cared for by us?

This Sunday is Stewardship Sunday, and of course, we'll be talking about giving of our time, talents, and tithes. But also think about how we give of ourselves, both to our visitors, and to God! Would visitors say that we were passionate about - God? Justice? Our neighbors? Each other? What...?

I pray that as we move into Advent and then the Christmas season that we experience the wonder and awe of the season, and pass that on to others so that they, too, may feel the love of God and this church.


May you have a blessed week,

Pastor Jill

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