- Due to the COVID-19 virus, we will not have worship service at church through April 30, at least.
- Preschool and Childcare are closed until futher notice.
- The church office and building are closed until further notice.
- Meals on Wheels will operate on a modified schedule beginning March 30.
- All activities, events, and meetings scheduled through April 30 are cancelled, including Easter Egg-stravaganza.
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Holy Week
This is one of those weeks we plan and practice and prepare for long in advance- one of those weeks we look forward to all year. And though this year the plans that had been in place for months are being reworked- this is still a special week- because this week we remember the amazing sacrifice and gift of grace Jesus gave for us, this week we celebrate that Jesus comes to us as humble king to save us, this week we remember and celebrate a truth we need so much right now- death does not win because Jesus rose from the dead! Whether or not we get to do our usual things to remember and celebrate- the truth and wonder of this week does not change. So we will do it differently this year- but though it is different, what is coming together for our Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday/Good Friday, and Easter is going to be very special. Here's what's on our plate this week...
Palm Sunday- the Palm Sunday service will be on the website late Saturday night so it is ready for you and your family when you are up and moving on Sunday morning. I'm super excited about the children's time in our worship video this week- starring Cliff, Noah, Kai, and Izzy the Donkey!! We have a special performance by our choir and great readings from our church family. Now, we won't be together to wave palms and process and sing in the sanctuary- but we
are all invited to join that moment of celebration as we sing in our home by finding anything you can to wave (a scarf, a towel, a napkin...). Or if you want to make your own "palm" here are two ways to do it...
- Here is a coloring page to color and cut out a palm branch- you can glue it to a stick or empty paper towel roll, or just use it as is!
- Make one out of rolled up newspaper or wrapping paper... see this video for how to do it!
Maundy/Thursday and Good Friday-Rather than try to replicate our usual services online, I am very excited about what is coming together for us. By Thursday mid-day I will post the video for this combined Maundy Thursday and Good Friday service on the website. This way, you can use it on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday as it works best for you. So many members of the church have come together, though apart, to make this a very special service. We will hear from six different individuals from the Bible who encountered Jesus in his last days, and will have moments in which we are invited to participate in the story or respond to their reflections. General Assembly has approved for PCUSA churches, and our Session has approved for us, to have at home communion. So, we will have a communion service as part of this online MT/GF worship. To fully participate in this service, you will want to have the following items with you- so you can start gathering or planning for them now:
- a small bowl or cup with a little bit of oil in it
- a bowl of warm water and a towel
- a small cross- cut out of paper, or even better, fashioned from sticks from your yard and tied with twine- or you may have a wooden or metal cross at home.
- a piece of black cloth- think about a napkin, a winter scarf, etc.
- a red heart cut out of paper or cloth
- something to use for communion- as close as you can get to bread and juice/wine- don't make a special trip out- be creative with what you have at home- saltines and water will do fine!
Easter Sunday-
This will be another special service- though we know it won't be the same as being together and having the brass and choir and filled up pews. That first Sunday was a quiet morning, with a dawning realization that Jesus was alive. Church bells did not ring, choirs did not sing- except maybe in heaven. But Jesus's followers gathered in homes and rooms to share the good news with one another and to marvel at it all. So, this year, we will do it like they did on that first Sunday. And then, later, when we are back together- what a celebration we will have! Jason and I are working on that even as we wait to know when that will be. I will be sending more information about Easter as it comes, but that service will be ready for you Saturday night so you can get up for a sunrise service or wait for later morning.
It is difficult to be apart this week- but my heart has been full as you have all embraced these new ways of being together and worshiping together, though apart, and how you have jumped in to help and how you have tried out new technology to make each week of worship unique and special.
May you know God's blessings in this Holy Week as we move from Hosanna to the cross and to Hallelujah once again.
You are loved,
Pastor Cathie
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This video gave me peace this week- which was a particularly difficult week.
30 studio singers from Nashville, in their homes, on their cellphones, recorded this hymn of hope and trust- and then a very talented engineer pulled them all together into this...
May it bless you and your heart today...
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Sing and Pray as You Wash the Germs Away...
We are reminded in this time to wash our hands for a full 20 seconds. While Happy Birthday and the Alphabet Song are good ways to help monitor that amount of time, we also have the opportunity to use that time in praise and prayer. Each of these songs or prayers take about 20-30 seconds to sing or say. After all, cleanliness is next to Godliness!
Holy, Holy, Holy (one verse)
Amazing Grace (one verse)
This Little Light of Mine
The Lord's Prayer
The Doxology
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Worship and Learn at Home
Though we may not be together in person during these weeks, we can still learn and worship along with one another. Here are resources to help us in this new adventure in discipleship...
Worship: Here are the
video
s
for online worship for Sunday, March 15th, 22nd, and 29th.
Make A Difference:
- If you venture to the store, grab a few extra items for SHIM to help provide for our neighbors in need.
- Go to FREERICE.COM to play a fun game and help feed hungry populations around the world through the World Food Program. You can play from "easiest" to "hardest" so all ages can play. Choose categories ranging from vocabulary and geography to the arts and world languages. Download the app and play on your tablet or phone!
Kids Activities:
- For the week of March 30: Here is a packet for the fifth week of Lent.
- For Palm Sunday: Here is the packet for this celebration day.
Parent Resources:
- Here is helpful article on talking to children about the coronavirus and all that is happening in their world.
- Here is another helpful article on how children can be a blessing to others in this time of isolation.
I will be updating and adding to these links as the weeks go by- let me know if you have any you have discovered to share!
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Some other fun things to do and check out...
- The Pittsburgh Symphony has introduced an online series of videos they are calling "Extraordinary Measures." Musicians play music from their homes, on stage concerts are available to watch, educational videos for children, and rehearsal tips for middle and high school musicians are all there for us to enjoy! CLICK HERE
- The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is giving access to watch the penguins on webcam! CLICK HERE
- The National Parks also have webcams set up to watch wildlife in their natural habitats. CLICK HERE
Let me know what other fun things you have found to share!
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This year, as a church family, we are focusing on how we can engage in our life of faith in new and fresh ways. One of the ways I encourage all of us to focus on our spiritual growth is to spend intentional and consistent time in God's Word. I'd like to invite you to join me this year in reading through the Bible- all of it!- in 2020. A helpful and refreshing way to read the Bible is chronologically- which in some cases will be in the way it is ordered in our Bibles, and in other cases will be a "little here, little there" order. To help us with this challenge, I'll put together a packet for each week with the readings that will move us chronologically through scripture at a pace that will get us through the- whole Bible in a year. I"ll post the packet on my Midweek Message and on the website each week. I'll also have a couple of hard copies available at the church. I'm excited about this challenge and hope you will join me!
The most current reading packets are below (all packets are available on the website). You can attack them however works best for you- either a little each day, or big chunks on one or two days.
Let me know if you are joining the challenge!
May God bless unto us the reading of His Holy Word!
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PLEASE NOTE:
The deadline for the
APRIL
order is
April 15
.
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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!
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Sponsor a Hymnal (or a few)
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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.
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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!
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This Week
at Bethel Presbyterian
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All activities, meetings, and programs are cancelled this week. Pray for a quick return to learning, serving, and worshiping together in person!
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we hold our plans in the palm of God's hand...
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1 Allene Crossman
1 Stacey Lucidore
2 Jared Pratt
3 Ian Cashman
4 Caleb Selle
5 Paula Barr
7 Paul Pantano
7 Hunter Schaff
8 Kenneth Niemeier
8 Jeffrey Zimmerman
12 Jameson McKinley 14 Marilyn Kunkle
14 Brad Lucidore
14 Alicia Ericson
16 Abigail Schultz
17 Thomas Hultz
17 Leslie Toci
18 Russell York, Sr.
19 William Brown
19 Sarah Holt
21 Gabriella Sinatra
24 Emily Smith
24 James Hannigan
24 Asher Stroech
25 Meredith Goodwin
25 Cody Long
28 David Ericson
29 Barbara Jay
29 Tony Palumbo
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