LENT AT BETHEL:
LENT: Today is the first Sunday in Lent. Modeled after Jesus’ forty days in the desert, Lent is a time to become more open to God through the vulnerabilities of life. It comes with an especially poignant invitation to join with others in bringing our doubt, fear, sorrow, loneliness, and dryness before God, hoping to taste God’s promised provision in the deserts of life. Lent’s invitation to slow down was made especially poignant amid the long months of global pandemic.
We already felt small and vulnerable, making the concern of ancient Israel resonate in our hearts: can God really spread a table before us in the presence of global and personal fears and sorrow? The answer, of course, is yes! God spreads a table before us in the wilderness, in the face of all our greatest fears (Psalm 23:5). This series highlights one biblical character each week along with the way God provided food for them in their wildernesses.
- First Sunday of Lent: Jesus (angel food cakes, Matthew 4)
- Second Sunday of Lent: Israel (manna and quail, Exodus 16)
- Third Sunday of Lent: Hagar (water, Genesis 21)
- Fourth Sunday of Lent: Elijah (bread and water, 1 Kings 19)
- Fifth Sunday of Lent: David (raisins and figs, 1 Samuel 25)
- Sixth Sunday of Lent / Palm Sunday: Hungry Crowd (fish and bread, Matt. 14)
- Good Friday: Our Savior (wine vinegar, Mark 15)
- Easter Sunday: Disciples on the Beach (fish, John 21)
VBS Spring Break
Babylon Spring Break Vacation Bible School
Mornings @ Bethel, March 13 thru 17, 2023
Join Daniel – he learned to be faithful to God even though the world around him was changing. Children and adults will find that they’re not much different from Daniel and his friends who kept their faith in a faithless country. Watch God’s Word come alive through engagvbspro.events/p/bethelcrcvbsing interaction with Bible history. See, hear, touch and taste what it might have been like to live during Bible times.
Christmas 2022
Here are some reflections of our Christmas services at Bethel.
Advent 2022
What Is God Like?
At Bethel, on November 27, 2022 we will embark on a Four-Week Series with Candle Lighting for Advent. The theme for the duration of Advent is “What is God Like?”
During Advent we anticipate Christ’s coming as an infant as well as Christ’s return, when the earth will be renewed and all will be well. We should be startled and amazed by that reality—that Christ, a member of the Trinity, God’s own self, came down from heaven to earth. What kind of God does that? Who is this God that became like one of us? What is God like?
In this series we take on the curiosity of a wondering child as we examine different aspects of God’s character. This series was originally conceived with weekly readings from What Is God Like?, a book by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner and beautifully illustrated by the Malaysian artist Ying Hui Tan (Convergent Books, 2021).
If someone were to ask you what God is like, what would your answer be? What descriptive and metaphorical images come to mind?
The weekly themes will include:
God Is Like a Fortress
God Is Like a Gardener
God Is Like Light
God Is Like a River
You are welcome to join us as we embark on this journey to Christmas together.
November 6 & 13 2022
Remembrance Sunday: A moment to think, reflect and pray for the future of humanity
Excerpts taken from https://www.veterans.gc.ca
Remembrance Day was first observed in 1919 throughout the British Commonwealth. Originally called “Armistice Day,” it was established to honor the armistice that ended World War I on Monday, Nov. 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.
Canadians departing for active service in Europe during the Second World War, 1940.
(Library and Archives Canada C-38723)
We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a collection of traditions they cherished and a future they believed in; they died for Canada.
A Canadian soldier kneels at grave of fallen comrade in the United Nations Cemetery, Korea, April 1951. (Library and Archives Canada PA 128813)
These wars touched the lives of Canadians of all ages, all races, all social classes. Fathers, sons, daughters, sweethearts: they were killed in action, they were wounded, and thousands who returned were forced to live the rest of their lives with the physical and mental scars of war. The people who stayed in Canada also served—in factories, in voluntary service organizations, wherever they were needed.
Yet for many of us, war is a phenomenon seen through the lens of a television camera or a journalist’s account of fighting in distant parts of the world. Our closest physical and emotional experience may be the discovery of wartime memorabilia in a family attic. But even items such as photographs, uniform badges, medals, and diaries can seem vague and unconnected to the life of their owner. For those of us born during peacetime, all wars seem far removed from our daily lives.
Funeral service for Canadians at Bramshott during the First World War.
(Library and Archives Canada PA 4850)
We often take for granted our Canadian values and institutions, our freedom to participate in cultural and political events, and our right to live under a government of our choice. The Canadians who went off to war in distant lands went in the belief that the values and beliefs enjoyed by Canadians were being threatened. They truly believed that “Without freedom there can be no enduring peace and without peace no enduring freedom.”2
By remembering their service and their sacrifice, we recognize the tradition of freedom these men and women fought to preserve. They believed that their actions in the present would make a significant difference for the future, but it is up to us to ensure that their dream of peace is realized. On Remembrance Day, we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve.
During times of war, individual acts of heroism occur frequently; only a few are ever recorded and receive official recognition. By remembering all who have served, we recognize their willingly-endured hardships and fears, taken upon themselves so that we could live in peace.
October 16, 2022
FALL WINDS BLOW
(Taken from a blog by PASTOR DARON from Crosslife)
The weather report says it comes from the northeast or the southwest, but ask someone from there and they’ll say they didn’t send it—it came from somewhere else. No one, actually, can say where the wind starts. Yet everyone experiences its effects.
Which is why the word “wind” is such an appropriate word for the Bible to use for the Holy Spirit. We can’t see him but we can see his effects. We can’t pinpoint his exact location with GPS technology but we can experience his effects. We can’t harness his boundless energy but we can harvest some of it as our own source of power for energetic witnessing.
Jesus, clueing us more into heaven’s promises than nature’s laws, once explained, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). In other words, God’s wind blows.
Human understanding cannot comprehend him. Scientific technology cannot contain him. Yet he miraculously blows his life-giving breath.
- Sometimes God’s wind blows in the gentle whisper welcoming a little baby into God’s family through baptism, or nourishing your faith through Bible truths you learned as a child that you don’t think you remember but they’re still in your heart.
- Sometimes God’s wind blows in the breath of an inspiring sermon’s truth stirring your soul, or an enlightening Bible reading at home catches your attention like a stiff blast of wind, or when Holy Communion’s slight breeze embraces you once again.
- Sometimes God’s wind blows in the rushing whirlwind of a song groping for open ears and hearts to fill (and fulfill) with Christ-centered music.
The Holy Spirit fills the sails of each of us with faith and with special skills to be his witnesses and tell others about Jesus, filling us with knowledge and empowering us to speak. The Holy Spirit pushes us to the finish and breathes his energy into us to keep us strong to the end. So enjoy the air.
There will always be fresh air in our world where God is working, breathing, giving new life, filling, whispering, shouting, exhaling his powerful promises. God’s wind blows.
October 2, 2022
A Season of Thanksgiving
Published Nov. 22, 2017 by CALVIN SEMINARY
The leaves have changed, many have fallen from the trees. The air is crisp. Winter is knocking on autumn’s door.
This is the season of Thanksgiving. Canadians will celebrate this holiday shortly and those in the states are gearing up for the annual feast later in Nov.
This is a time when we gather with family to have good food and fellowship. We often have lists of what we are thankful for and we share them around the table.
But why? Why do we set apart a special day to be thankful?
Shouldn’t this be something we practice all year long? I am all for a party, but shouldn’t it be more than that?
The reality is that sometimes the daily schedules of life, the challenges we face and the worries we have take up much of our time and our heart that we find it difficult to be thankful
Perhaps we may feel like we don’t have much to be thankful for.
Maybe you have suffered loss. Maybe getting out of bed is a struggle. Maybe there is so much hurt in the world, it doesn’t feel right to be thankful.
It is in these times that God provides for us the most. He is the one who carries us through these times of uncertainty. It is easy to forget all that God does for us each day. His biggest blessings shine brightest in the darkness and chaos.
We have a choice every day to give him thanks. In all circumstances, we must allow ourselves to be bathed in his blessings and to allow him to work in our heart and make it grateful, not just in October and November, but throughout the year.
Jennifer Settergren, Calvin Seminary Director of Financial Aid and Alumni Engagement
September 18, 2022
Living Ideas for the Fall
Fall is right around the corner! And I don’t know about you, but the beginning of the autumn season ushers in a new academic year. What says “fresh start” better than opening a new notebook and writing in it with a newly-sharpened pencil?
While we all enjoy the slower pace of summer days, by the end of August, most of us are ready to refresh our rhythms of life, renew our commitments, and return to a more orderly way of life.
Living Ideas for the Fall
So how do we live into the days of autumn? Here are four ideas to help us fall into a beautiful rhythm of faith-filled autumn days.
1. Recommit to prayer.
If summer’s lack of routine caused your prayer time to fall by the wayside, now is the time to start anew!
Recommit to spending time with the Lord everyday. It’s okay if you have to start with a few minutes and grow from there. It is simply important to get back on track and work on consistency.
2. Learn something new.
There is something in the crisp autumn air that reminds us of our love of learning. Whether you are still in school or it has been years since you stepped foot in a classroom, God invites us to continuously learn, grow, and discover.
3. Focus on gratitude.
As we move into Fall, it is important to intentionally slow down. One way to stay present to the moments of this beautiful time of year is to focus on gratitude. Here are a few ways to cultivate an attitude of gratitude this fall (and beyond):
Keep a list // Every day, jot down one, three, or five things you are grateful for.
Say thank you // Send a thank-you note to someone who has blessed you practically or spiritually. Be specific in your words of gratitude.
Pray the Scriptures // Find a Bible verse that exudes gratitude to the Lord for who He is and all that He does. Write it out, and post it prominently in your home. Pray it daily and make it personal.
A Time of Renewal
After the relaxed season of summer, we enter fall ready to refresh our routines and return to a more consistent schedule. Fall’s ordinary days invite us to learn something new about our Faith, deepen our relationship with God, and cultivate a greater sense of gratitude in our lives.
September 4, 2022
How to Welcome the Fall Season
Excerpts from Universal Life Church Ministry
Fall can be a gorgeous time of year. Here in Ontario it means the leaves will be changing from their verdant greens to more fiery shades of red and orange. While it is a beautiful season for the senses, autumn can also be an important time of year for spiritual purposes. With summer ending and winter right around the corner, fall acts as a transitional period during which people can take stock and make improvements.
HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED?
As the leaves shift from green to gold, you may also have noticed some important shifts in your life. As summer winds down, now is a great time to start thinking about how far you have come over the last couple of months. Think about how spring and summer have shaped you. You may even want to think back to autumn of last year and consider what changes have taken hold of your life since then.
One great way to monitor change is by sitting down with a pen and paper and writing it all out. Make a list of positive things that have come your way and a list of what you feel might be negative shifts. Each season comes with a fair share of ups and downs. By keeping track of where you stand at the start of a new season, it can help you make the right adjustments moving forward so that you feel like you have more control over the direction your life is headed.
SAYING GOODBYE
Autumn is also a season of dying and decay. Though the world can be beautiful this time of year, the bright colors are a sign that the leaves are dying and ready to fall to the dirt. Soon, the winds of winter will blow through and cause all life to slow down as the chill arrives. Though thinking about death and dying can be a downer at times, there are also many ways you can use this mindset to your advantage as you move through autumn.
Use fall as a chance to say goodbye to specific parts of your life. Maybe you ended a bad relationship over the summer or you discovered that the job you were at for years is not turning into the opportunity you had expected. Reflect upon all of these changes and start saying goodbye to whatever is weighing down your soul. Allowing these topics, thoughts, and feelings to “die” can help with the coping process and allow you the chance to move on.
August 21, 2022
The What 4’s and How 2’s of Summertime Church
Excerpts taken from the July 9, 2014 article by Dr. Shaun King, Senior Pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church.
It’s no secret that when Summer hits, traffic patterns change.
They just do.
Pools open. Grills fire up. And (God willing), families are able to make and honor plans for much anticipated (and long overdue) vacations.
It is a season, like no other, that beckons the body to rest and play; to baste and bask in the rejuvenating splendor of the Sun.
There is a way to BOTH enjoy the gift of summer, AND remain fully, completely, vibrantly engaged in the life of our church.
How? By committing to remain connected, formed and mobilized in creative ways, all summer long.
Here, I offer few simple (yet vital) what 4’s and how 2’s of Summertime Church.
Be Connected…
- What 4:
When we disconnect from one another (even for a season) our spiritual health is at risk. It just is. And yes, I will be the first to say a person can commune with Christ in solitude. Or on the beach. Or in the boat. Yes. Entirely possible. But we make a tragic error when we assume solitude is all we need.
The biblical mandate to “fail not to assemble yourselves” in Hebrews 10:25 was not given to confine us, but to free us. To free us from the myth that we can make this journey alone. The longer we are disconnected from church during the summer (or any time) the easier and easier it becomes to neglect the kind of soul-care and spiritual attentiveness we need to remain faithful. There is great strength in gathering together. And now, there are more ways than ever to do so through the summer. - How 2:
First, make a family commitment: “If we are in town…we are in church.” It’s that simple. Prioritize the importance of worship attendance, as that primary jumpstart to the week.
Second, if you are out of town, make a similar family commitment. “If we cannot be at church in person, we will watch the live video stream of worship together as a family.
Third, watch us on the website, “like” us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram. We frequently share reflections, links, inspirational quotes. It is yet another simple way to remain fully engaged.
Be formed!
- What 4:
We are never meant to stop growing. Our spiritual formation in Christ is a four-season journey. I think, we sometimes think of our discipleship and growth as one more thing from which we need a break. But it’s flawed to think of it this way. Our Christian formation is not one more thing. It is the only necessary thing. At least, that’s what Jesus told one distracted friend of his.
Fortunately, here too, we have ways to remain formed even through the summer. - How 2:
First, make a family commitment: “If we are in town, we will be in Church.”
Second, continue to explore devotional resources, tools and books that can become a source of continual growth and formation during the summer.
Our prayer for you is to enjoy the summer. Live fully and freely in it. And as you do, take these simple steps to remain fully, completely, vibrantly engaged.
August 7, 2022
2022 All Ontario Camporee
August 1 to 6, 2022
Camp Whispering Pines
Trust in God’s Plan
It was held in Innerkip, Ontario.
Pastor Frank attended as well as several of Bethel’s Cadet Club boys.
July 24, 2022
Summertime…What’s not to love about this time of year? The striking sunrises and warm still evenings, simpler clothing and simpler meals, the chance to garden, go kayaking and hiking, spend hours reading or just sitting watching waves and clouds and stars. Summertime is a time to relax and re-create and reflect, a time to be intentional about taking Sabbath moments and Sabbath days.
And, busy though we all still are, it’s true that there is something about light nights and sunny weather that can lift our spirits, lighten our mood and put us in a more relaxed frame of mind. Out comes the lawnmower, garden furniture and barbecues overflow with people.
With the opportunities longer days afford, summer is a great time to be with family and friends.
It is a good time to be spontaneous – taking those opportunities that naturally come along day to day as we listen for and follow the voice of the Holy Spirit. Opportunities to get to know people, express interest in their lives, show kindness and love in practical ways, eat together, laugh together and share our lives and faith.
It is also good to be intentional – allowing the Holy Spirit to remind us of those who are on their own, or who are coping with the kids over the long school holidays. Remembering those who are new to our church family or the neighbours who have just moved in near us. It’s a good time to renew or deepen our friendships with neighbours, who we often don’t see through the dark winter months. Summer is a time when people are perhaps more open to chat; a good time to have those conversations you have been meaning to have but never got around to. If you are feeling radical, then maybe even rise to the challenge Jesus gave to one surprised dinner host – to think beyond our usual list and invite someone who might not be able to invite you back? (Luke 14:12-14)
Let’s be like Jesus – he loved people and he loved a good party…and still does! Seize the moment – make that invitation! Let’s open the doors – of our hearts, our homes, our diaries and maybe the gates of our gardens, and make this summer one of purposefully investing in relationships. The summer weather may come and go (hoping that it comes in the first place) but relationships are of lasting value.
Jonathan Lloyd
July 10, 2022
Summertime: We’re here every Sunday!
Excerpts from Pastor David Robers, June 4, 2019
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy” – or so said George Gershwin when he wrote that classic song from “Porgy & Bess” back in 1934. Summer is indeed a time to which many of us look forward. Students (and parents) anticipate a break from school, and many of us take time for vacations and other breaks from our routines. The age-old question that pastors and church treasurers and other congregational leaders worry about is whether people will also take a break from church.
How can you learn to love if no one else is around?
Can you learn humility if you are living alone?
Is it possible to learn patience, kindness, or gentleness in isolation? Pachomius
We all hope for time to rest and relax during the summer, and many of us will enjoy trips together with family and friends. But don’t forget that we will still gather for worship each and every Sunday this summer. It’s an important time to gather together to worship, to build up one another, to enjoy fellowship as we strengthen existing relationships and forge new ones, and to grow in our faith and in our relationship with God. If you are in town and it’s a Sunday, I hope you will join us as we gather together as a community here at Bethel.
June 26, 2022
Happy Canada Day!
On June 26, 2022 we celebrate Canada Day…
Canada Day is a great day to rejoice and be glad in the gift God has given us. Canada is a good country to live in, a good country to raise children in, to work in, and to minister and serve others in. She is stunning in her beauty, valiant in her history, and well-formed in her founding. We have more religious, expressive, and associational freedom, economic opportunity, and social security than many other countries.
“Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law,” says the opening sentence of our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This foundation is also reflected in three Bible texts etched into our iconic Peace Tower: two from Psalm 72 and one from Proverbs 29.
On the east side of the tower, in the arch over the stained-glass window, is inscribed, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea.” That statement comes from the first half of Psalm 72:8 and is a prophetic part of the Psalm referring to the reign of Christ. Christ the King shall have dominion from one end of the earth to the other. When Canada was founded in 1867, she was called “The Dominion of Canada,” an allusion to Psalm 72.
On the south side of the Peace Tower, is inscribed the opening prayer of Psalm 72, a prayer for the king of the nation: “Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son.” The prayer of Psalm 72 is carved as a banner in the sky, a reminder to Parliamentarians as they approach and enter those hallowed halls, to enact the just judgements and righteousness of God for the good of the nation.
And finally, on the side looking toward the going down of the sun, is this proverb from Proverbs 29: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” At the time those words were carved into Parliamentary stone, the vast majority of Canadians would have known the rest of the proverb: “But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Excerpts from REFLECTIONS FROM A CHRISTIAN PATRIOT ON CANADA DAY
JUNE 30, 2020 | ANDRE SCHUTTEN
June 19, 2022
A Sunday to Celebrate Fathers
Today we share this modification of a quote from Amy Young:
To those who celebrated a birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you
To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
To those who are foster dads, mentor dads, and spiritual dads – we need you
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
To those who lost their fathers this year – we grieve with you
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own father – we acknowledge your experience
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of fatherhood – we are better for having you in our midst
To those who are single and long to be married and fathering your own children – we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be
To those who step-parent – we walk with you on these complex paths
To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren -yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
To those who placed children up for adoption — we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart
And to those who celebrate new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you
This Father’s Day, we walk with you. Fathering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.
June 12, 2022
A Sunday to Celebrate
Baptism
June 12, 2022 is a Sunday when we celebrate the sacrament of baptism on a baby born to a Bethel Family. It is such a privilege to witness this celebration so many times during the year at Bethel as families bring their children to receive the sacrament.
What is Baptism?
The sacrament of baptism reminds and assures us that “as surely as water washes away dirt from the body, so certainly [Christ’s] blood and his Spirit wash away . . . all [our] sins” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. and A. 69). And because “infants as well as adults are in God’s covenant and are his people,” they, “no less than adults, are promised the forgiveness of sin” and thus “by baptism . . . should be received into the Christian church. . . .
What Does the Sacrament of Baptism Mean?
This sacrament is much more than a mere symbol of being united with Christ, or a testimony of one’s personal faith, or the dedication of a child to God. The sacrament of baptism is a sign and seal of God’s promise to claim us as his own, unite us to his Son, wash away our sins, and give us the gift of the Holy Spirit as we embrace these promises by faith.
We are to teach our children that they have been baptized and prayerfully encourage them to affirm the promises of their baptism by professing their faith in Jesus Christ.
All these blessings of baptism become ours through faith. “In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27, NRSV). While our faith is in Christ alone, the Heidelberg Catechism (Q&A 69) teaches that baptism assures us that Christ’s salvation is personally ours.
June 5, 2022
A Sunday to Celebrate
The pouring out of the Holy Spirit
June 5, 2022 is Pentecost Sunday when we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. For Bethel, this coincides with Public Profession of Faith
What is Profession of Faith?
Public Profession of Faith, though not a specific Biblically mandated practice, is nevertheless an especially important milestone by which persons affirm their baptism, express personal trust in Jesus Christ, and indicate their pledge to follow Christ. It marks a time in which a believer is ready for new responsibilities and roles in the life of the church. It also offers the Christian community rich opportunities to express gratitude for the work of God in the lives of His children. The opportunity for public Profession of Faith is a gift, then, both for individuals, and for God’s Church.
Public Profession of Faith “is primarily the personal response of faith to God’s promises made in baptism. In our baptism, God brings us into his covenant family in Jesus Christ, and in Public Profession of Faith we respond by declaring our personal faith and commitment as baptized members in Christ.” (www.crcna.org)
“Here are some thoughts about the additional blessings that come to us by way of profession of faith.
You make a public commitment. Making a public commitment is an important step toward accepting that my identity is found in being baptized into the family of God. Even though I always knew Midland Park was “my church,” it became more real to me when I stood up and said so.
You celebrate with your congregation. Celebrating milestone moments like this with a congregation gives everyone an opportunity to reflect on God’s faithfulness in our lives and in those of the people around us.
You witness to others. Even though I did not make any sort of verbal statement other than “I do,” I was saying that I accepted the promises made to me at my baptism. I knew that others would look at my actions, listen to my words, and expect them to glorify Jesus.
You learn. I continued to learn what it means to be a member of the church. Much of this learning happened before I made profession of faith, but afterward my church continued to invest in me, teaching me what it means to be a young Christian adult.
You serve. In addition to raking leaves and doing other things as a member of the youth group, being placed on a committee was a way for the church to show that they valued my gifts….
Marking faith milestones in the lives of congregants young and old is one way to pause and reflect on God’s work in our lives. Giving young people lots of opportunities to participate actively in worship will allow them to feel a sense of truly belonging to the congregation and the larger church of Christ—and encourage them to make ongoing professions of faith.
- What do you remember about your profession of faith? How was it significant to you?
- How important is it to make a public commitment of one’s faith? How does it help your faith grow?
- What are some ways to encourage our youth to make a profession of faith?
- What other milestones of faith can we identify, encourage, and celebrate with our young Christians?”
(from http://www.TheBanner.org)
If you are interested in publicly professing your faith, feel free to contact Pastor Frank: mc4bethel@dunnvillecrc.ca
May 29, 2022
A Sunday to Celebrate GEMS
2021-2022 THEME
Each year, a theme is chosen based on a Bible verse or verses.
This year’s theme is Unshakeable.
The theme verse is from Psalm 62:2
“Truly He is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Fortress, I will never be shaken.”
WHAT IS GEMS?
GEMS is the go-to ministry for girls’ spiritual growth, providing real answers to the challenges girls face. We understand the adversity that girls face today and know you’re looking to guide the girls in your life successfully. You’re not alone! GEMS walks alongside moms, mentors, and ministry leaders to equip you to understand today’s problems. With GEMS resources you can provide a safe, welcoming environment to learn about God and remind your girl she’s seen, known, and loved. Through our club programs, one-on-one Bible studies, and girls’ activity kits, girls will find a place to belong and be loved. Through monthly Webinars, weekly Coffee Chats, podcasts, and annual training programs, moms, mentors, and ministry leaders will be equipped to understand and guide their girl through life’s challenges.
This worship service is heavily influenced by that season’s theme. Watch this video to see learn about GEMS….
If you are interested in joining or having your daughter(s) join the program, feel free to contact Pastor Frank: mc4bethel@mc4bethel
May 22, 2022
A Sunday to Celebrate Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven
This Sunday evening we celebrate Ascension Day…
“And Jesus sat down on the throne. He is the Lion of Judah who appears like the Lamb who was slain. He is the one who is worshiped by the church. At his feet, every knee will bow. This is our confession. Ascension Day celebrates the truth at the core of the present universe.”
“….the celebration of this day can be a wonderful occasion to shape our identity in Christ. To confess Jesus is Lord is to remind ourselves of this truth we so easily forget in the day to day demands on our lives.
To confess Jesus is Lord also means that when he speaks we need to listen….”
He makes a difference for how we live. “Listening to Jesus, Lord of our lives, is vital to our well-being.
To say “Jesus is Lord” means our hearts and minds get directed to him. Our lives are called to serve the Kingdom. Our hope is in the one who knows our needs as we serve.
So we remember: Jesus ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God. Remembering we order our lives accordingly.”
Taken from a POST BY Neil de Koning
May 13, 2022
OUR THEME FOR 2021-2022
A Sunday to Celebrate Cadets
This year’s theme is based on Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
This worship service is heavily influenced by that season’s theme. Watch this 2 minute video to learn more about Cadets this year….
If you are interested in joining or having your son(s) join the program, feel free to contact Pastor Frank: mc4bethel@dunnvillecrc.ca
May 6, 2022
Mother’s Day
This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day. Today we share this quote from Amy Young:
- To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you
- To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you
- To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you
- To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you
- To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
- To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you
- To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you
- To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
- To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you
- To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience
- To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst
- To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children – we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be
- To those who step-parent – we walk with you on these complex paths
- To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren -yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you
- To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
- To those who placed children up for adoption — we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart
- And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.
April 29, 2022
This coming Sunday we open the downstairs Fellowship Hall to the sounds of many voices and the smells of delicious soups. Chairs and tables will be set up, waiting patiently while the God’s people have their souls filled with the bread of life and then come down to fill their bodies with the food that God has provided.
We are reminded, as Paul writes in Hebrews 10:23-25, to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
There will be plenty of Soup, buns, coffee, tea and juice for everyone to come and join!
April 19, 2022
Saturday Morning Prayer Walk in Dunnville
For the past four weeks, a few of us have got up early on a Saturday morning to spend some time together in devotion, to brave the elements walking in and around the Town of Dunnville, to enjoy each others’ company, and to listen to the Holy Spirit’s prompting as we lift our intercessory prayers to our LORD God.
Our devotional guides have been Andrew Kuyvenhoven and Louis Tamminga – both pastors and writers who have a Reformed perspective on life. We huddled together under the roof of the market building or near the flagpole. We listened to God’s Word and began with a prayer.
The weather has been typical for spring – it has shifted between snow and rain, cold and not as cold, cloudy and sunny. The market building has anchored our walks through town. One week we walked east to the Canadian Reformed Church through a bitter wind. We prayed for the unity of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Town of Dunnville. We walked back and enjoyed a coffee and a few Timbits. All totaled, we took about 9200 steps, had a good conversation about the history of the various properties on the east side of Dunnville and broke even on the calories because of our stop at Tim Horton’s.
Another week, we walked north from the market centre through the many subdivisions and streets of the area. We picked up some cans along the way — always looking for an opportunity to recycle and spruce up the streets where we can. We prayed for the children and families of our town wherever and however they received their education. We asked our Good Shepherd – Jesus Christ – to lead us in the way everlasting. It was a sunny Saturday and we took about 8800 steps that morning.
Another weekend, we took a turn to the south. From the market centre, we walked across the bridge into the hamlet of Byng. We walked through the spaces and places, turning this way and that, and said ‘good morning’ to a couple of dogs who may or may not have been happy to see us. We took a slight turn into the Conservation Authority and agreed that we would return again to this place. While in Byng, we felt God’s Spirit urging us to pray for our government in Canada, Ontario and Haldimand County. We didn’t complain; we just placed our governance in God’s hands. Our walk was surprisingly shorter than the last two – we took about 7500 steps and may have burned off about 500 calories each.
We will not be having a walk this coming Saturday (April 23), but continue again next Saturday, (April 30). It is good to begin the day with devotions. It is good to walk and talk with each other. It is good to listen to the LORD … and it is good to support our local Christian School as we start out there, so we can enjoy a wonderful breakfast upon completion of our walk.
Hope to see you soon —
April 1, 2022
The Fellowship Hall filled up with life and laughter following the morning service this past Sunday as we shared in food and fellowship at our Soup Sunday. Soup Sundays are Sundays that are looked forward to and we are so happy to have begun them once again.
Each Soup Sunday is carefully planned and organized by a faithful group of volunteers who coordinate a variety of soups to be made and prepare buns to go alongside the soup. Following the morning worship service, the entire congregation is invited to join in the Fellowship Hall for Soup and Fellowship.
We are looking forward to the next Soup Sunday…keep posted for details!
March 19, 2022:
If you were a duck, this morning would have been a perfect day. A few of us weathered the rain and went for a prayer walk beginning at the Dunnville Market, west along the Grand River waterfront, skimming past the Grandview Lodge, touching the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, walking east along the old rail-line, standing in the front entrance of Grace Reformed Church, walking along the old rail-line once again, making our way downtown to the Dunnville Youth Impact Centre, and then returning to the safety of our dry vehicles parked next to the market pavilion. Our devotions were based upon Romans 9: 2: “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.” Rev. Andrew Kuyvenhoven in his devotional book ‘Daylight,’ reminded us of how the sorrow of God and the sorrow of Christ were reflected in the life of Paul. We were reminded that the call to follow Christ will sometimes bring us suffering. When the Holy Spirit moves into our lives, we will share in the sorrow of God just as we share in the love of God. This is so true, isn’t it?
We prayed for our stewardship of God’s Creation, the people of Grandview Lodge, our Bethel Church community and the relationship with our sister church – Grace Reformed, the staff, the students and the board of the Dunnville Youth Impact Centre and finally for the well-being of our Town of Dunnville. We walked in the rain and were warmed by each other’s presence. We took about 7,400 steps this morning and burned up about 600 calories.
Next week, LORD willing, we’ll walk east from the Market along North Shore Drive, then north on Ramsey, then east on Broad Street to the Canadian Reformed Church and then back again to the market pavilion. If we feel up to it, we might even indulge ourselves in a refreshment at TIm Horton’s along the way.
Everyone is welcome to join us at 7:30 am Saturday … come snow, rain or shine.
Pastor Jeff
Bethel Christian Reformed Church, Dunnville 