Week of December 3, 2019
Midweek Message
Rev. Dr. Cathie Smith
Hurry Up and Wait...

The Season of Advent is upon us once again. It is time to prepare our hearts and homes to welcome Christ. It is time to nurture our Advent Souls- hearts that are ready, open, waiting, expectant, hopeful, and peaceful. Souls that long for Jesus, that seek after him, that welcome his coming with joy. I don't know about you, but I feel so rushed with it all this year. There is just something about Thanksgiving being so late this year that all of a sudden it was December 1 and the first week of Advent. All of sudden, Christmas concerts and parties are happening. Christmas Day is three weeks from today- and we just lit the first candle of Advent! The season feels so short this year. This time to slow down, to pause, to reflect, to get ready- feels rushed. I don't want it to fly by. I don't want to miss the moments of pause, of wonder, of awe. So this year, I want to think about what will be most important for my Advent soul, what will prepare my heart to welcome Jesus' birth with joy, with hope, with peace, with love- not with exhaustion, anxiety, and frustration. So for me, for what I know about my spiritual longings and hunger, what feeds me most, what keeps me calm and centered...I have determined to surround myself with music (not Christmas music so much, but music that speaks to light and longing and expectancy). I have determined to fill myself with Scripture. I have determined to set aside time to do those things that are most important to me in this season: time with family, baking because I want to, simple decorations but important ones- doing enough, but not too much. There just isn't time. There just isn't room in my calendar or in my soul. Christ is coming. It is time to get ready. Not to rush around, not to stress out...but to be readied with quiet and expectancy. All of a sudden, it is time. May we take time this season, as short as it is, to nurture our Advent souls.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6


You are loved ,

Pastor Cathie
Here are two resources I am using this season to nurture my Advent Soul. If they are helpful for you, I invite you to join me...

The first is a Spotify play list I've been adding to in these days and will continue to- those songs of light and expectancy I mentioned. The second is a link to a devotional written by and provided by folks from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. I encourage you to check these out, or to find what will speak to your heart and nurture your Advent soul. I'd love to hear what is helpful for you! May your waiting be blessed!
Support Our Youth Group!
PLEASE NOTE: So that gift cards can be purchased for Christmas giving, the deadline for the DECEMBER order is Friday, December 6th .
We are excited to roll out an easy way to help support our youth group as they prepare to attend the Montreat Youth Conference and the Inter-generational Mission Trip this summer!

Through our partnership with SCRIP, church members, family members, and friends can purchase gift cards from over 750 different stores, online retailers, hotels, movie theaters, restaurants, cruise lines and more.

Each gift card is purchased at face value, but a percentage of the amount comes back to the youth group from the company. So for example, say you buy a $25 gift card to Eat n' Park. You pay $25, you get a $25 gift card, and the youth group receives $2.25.

You can get gift cards to use for your weekly and regular shopping and use them instead of cash or debit card. For example, if you bought $150 in gift cards from Giant Eagle and used it for your groceries and gas for the week, the youth group would receive $6. Or you can get cards to give as gifts or for your vacations or date nights or all kinds of special occasions- even your trip to Disney!

Here's all you need to do...

  • If you prefer to do your shopping for cards online: Go to shopwithscrip.com and create an account. You'll need our enrollment code (5911E89D65629). You will be asked child's name and group- you can ignore these questions unless you are a parent of one of our youth group members. . Once you are enrolled, your account will be verified and ready to begin ordering. If you go to shopwithscrip.com on your phone, you will receive a prompt that allows you to place a link on your home screen like an app for quick access and ordering.

  • If you prefer to fill out a paper order and let us order the cards for you: Get an order form from the church office, fill it out and return it to the office.

A group order will be placed by the 20th of each month combining all online and paper orders received by the 15th, and we'll have the cards in the office ready for up just a few days later!

This is an exciting and so easy way that we can all help support our youth group! First orders are due October 15! Thank you for your support!
Sponsor a Hymnal (or a few)
Our new hymnals will soon be in use! You can help provide for these great new additions to our worship by sponsoring one or more hymnals in honor or in memory of someone who has been special in your life. Print the sponsorship form by clicking on the image to the left and return it to the church office.

A nameplate will be included in they hymnals you sponsor honoring those you honor with your donation. You can indicate how you would like the nameplate to be worded on the sponsorship form.

AN EASY WAY TO INVITE OTHERS TO CHURCH!!
in this newsletter to send to a friend or post to your social media and invite others to join us for upcoming worship and special events! Just right click on any image and select copy, or save as picture...
Sunday, December 15th
during the fellowship hour
Support our youth trips and ministries!

Choose a dozen homemade cookies of your choice for $6/dozen,
or $5/dozen if you contributed cookies to the sale! 

Cookies can be dropped off Sunday morning on your way into service. Thank you for your help & support to send these young people on an amazing trip!
Did you miss a sermon?
Past sermons are now available to listen to on our website!!  
Recordings include music, prayers and other parts of the worship service, too!

This Week
at Bethel Presbyterian
Wednesday, December 4
11:00 am Naomi Circle
7:00 pm Advent Study

Thursday, December 5
1:00 pm Pittsburgh Presbytery Meeting at John McMillan
6:30 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
7:45 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, December 8
9:30 am Sunday School and Small Groups
10:30 am Worship (Advent 2)
11:30 am Fellowship Hour
6:30 pm Bell Choir Performance at Bethel Retirement

Monday, December 9
11:00 am Staff Meeting: Facilities and Calendar Coordination
6:30 pm Mary and Martha Circle

Tuesday, December 10
10:00 am Quilters Group
7:00 pm Finance Committee Meeting
7:30 pm PW Board Meeting

Wednesday, December 11
10:00 am Wednesday Morning Bible Study
7:00 pm Advent Study

Thursday, December 12
6:30 pm Bell Choir Rehearsal
7:45 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal



Dec 15 Cookie Walk

Dec 24 Christmas Eve Services

Jan 10-12 Youth Retreat

Feb 2 Souper Bowl Sunday

Feb 7-8 30 Hour Famine

Feb 9 Skating Party

Feb 25 Pancake Dinner





DECEMBER
2 Emily Daschbach
6 Ann Lindsay
6 Holly Palumbo
7 Elma Black
8 Patricia Burford
8 Mary Lou Englert
8 Caden McKinley
8 Logan Virgin
9 Taylor Anderson
9 Danielle La Torre
10 Aaron Kloc
10 Margaret Valentine
11 Art Brandenburg
11 Scotty Webler
11 Bette Wetzel
12 Beth Mundsinger
14 Alan Crump
15 Russ Lautenschlager
17 Luke Zeiler
19 Amelia Palumbo
21 Gabriella Doring
25 Susan Davin
25 Carol McDonald
25 Jennifer Sinatra
25 Jill Sinatra
26 Martha Van Horn
29 Cory Kossan
31 Joshua Adomaitis

412-835-0405    www.bethelpresby.org