New Adult Class - For the spring quarter, Pastor Hammond began teaching an important new adult Sunday School class entitled Introduction to Corporate Worship. In these lessons we learn the correct purpose of worship and God's instruction on how He wants to be worshipped. Please contact the church secretary for a copy of the class notes or recordings of the lessons.

Christian Valor Society - Bethel's men's group continues to meet on the third Saturday of each month for breakfast, fellowship, prayer and study. Early in the year, the group met together for a viewing of the movie Expelled followed by a time of discussion. All men are invited to attend; see Dan LaPre for more information.

Classical Conversations - This homeschool support group has completed its third full year of meeting at our building on Mondays and Tuesdays. Bethel is grateful for the opportunity to bless our community by opening our doors to this group of local parents and children. Enrolled students have the opportunity to memorize over 500 discrete pieces of information and earn the title of Memory Master.

Presbytery Meeting - The May meeting of Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic, of which Bethel is a member, was hosted by our church. Thank you Jean Withnell for organizing the meals for this event; it is an important ministry to the regional church.

Blessing the Community - As the members of Bethel strive to bless the community God has placed us in, we praise God for the opportunity he has given to Elder Alan Aubel, who has been elected to serve as chaplain of his local chapter of The American Legion.

Father-Daughter Dance - On February 21 the church basement was again transformed into a beautiful, magical place where fathers and their daughters danced, ate, and laughed away the evening. Thank you to Darcy Sabatino for all her hard work in making this important event a wonderful, memorable evening.

Memorial Service - Beloved church member and mother in Israel, Eleanor Hurd Peterman Kellogg, wife of the late Rev. Edward L. Kellogg, went to be with the Lord on February 6, 2009. Mrs. Kellogg was removed from the rolls of Bethel Church, her membership being transferred to the Church of the Firstborn who are enrolled in heaven; and while she awaits the resurrection of her body, she has taken her place with the spirits of justified men made perfect, and worships in the presence of Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant, having been washed clean through His sprinkled blood.

Missionary Dinner - On January 31 we were blessed by a visit from Sam Folta, OP missionary to China. Sam's presentation was intriguing and challenging; please continue to pray for his unique ministry opportunities.

Empty Nesters - A new small group started meeting at the beginning of the year. The Empty Nesters invite all who find themselves in this stage of life (or hope to soon) to join them on Saturday evenings every other week for a time of Bible study and fellowship. Contact the Taylors for more information.

 

This book was written by the prophet Amos to reveal the severity of divine judgment for covenant infidelity in Israel and Judah and to declare the hope of a great restoration. Amos vigorously challenged Israel's idolatry and social injustice because Israel had not repented, even after being judged. The Lord chastises those he loves, and his judgment was a sign of his commitment to his covenant people as a whole. In the end, Amos affirmed God's promise never to utterly forsake his covenant people, even in the midst of widespread disregard of Him by the people, such as what we face today.

Koinonia is derived from a Greek word that means partnership or fellowship. It is used in the Bible to describe the relationship within the early Christian church. Today it concerns the fellowship and community of Christians. At Bethel, this committee was formed to plan social activities to deepen that fellowship with one another. Recently, Koinonia events included our annual church picnic, date night, girl's night out, and a new year's eve pajama party. We're looking forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming activities.

Bethel Church hosts monthly fellowship meals on the second Sunday of each month, immediately following the morning worship. Visitors are welcome, and not expected to bring anything. On fellowship-meal Sundays, an afternoon worship service follows, usually about 1:30PM.

The Christian Valor Society is an organization open to all the men of Bethel Presbyterian Church.  It exists to foster and encourage valor, courage, manners, etiquette, and gentlemanliness in all spheres of life in those who join it.  It seeks to promote the biblical idea of covenant, and impress upon its members their spiritual, moral, and physical responsibility to their wives, families, church, communities, and country. CVS's goals and aims are accomplished through monthly breakfast meetings, and other gatherings as may be helpful. In a day when the societal ethos stands against responsibility and courage to do what is right, CVS endeavors to produce men that will stand as a lamp for Christ in a dark world, its motto standing as a polemic against the mistaken and deceived notion of the age:  virtuti nulla ignavia - cowardice is not a virtue.  CVS typically meets the third Saturday of each month.

Bethel's Dorcas Society consists of all the women of our church, and is named after a disciple from the town of Joppa who was always doing good and helping the poor. (Acts 9:36-39) The Dorcas Society meets the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at 7:30 pm.