Take a tour of God’s Zoo from the privacy of your own home! MBUMC’S nursery, God’s Zoo, is finally in the 21st century. Watch the video below, which highlights all the amenities our nursery offers your precious little ones.
God’s richest blessings to you.
Cindy
Camp Infusion was held last week and was an incredible experience for all who attended. You can check out a few hundred photos here, or keep reading to hear some first-hand account of the trip.
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Oh what a mighty God we serve!
We watched upper elementary students build relationships with their upcoming student ministry leaders, we watched college interns connect with students, we watched parents that volunteered their service connect with their children and their peers. Several parent leaders ministered side by side with their adult child. God used different generations to build relationships at the foot of the Cross!
I am thankful for the opportunity to partner with Dianne, Sarah Beth, Justin and Chris in prayer, planning, and preparation for an amazing week of ministry at Camp Infusion! What a testimony to see the Holy Spirit at work!
Our prayer is that this week of basic training (2 Timothy 3:16) ignites each student’s desire to grow in relationship through a life of prayer, wisdom through study of the Holy Bible, continued fellowship with the Body of Christ, and an overflowing love that only our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can fill their hearts with.
To God be the glory!
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WOW!
What a fantastic week we had at Infusion Camp. I wish you all could have been there.
It was an inspiring week. A week where we invested our time with the students and made new friends and built new relationships.
Rob Perry, the speaker and Seraph, the band ingrained the work of God into our hearts and minds.
The students spirits were ignited to go and share the word of God with the world in service to our Lord.
My prayer is that we walked away with hearts, minds and souls ingrained with God’s word and joyfully commit to be contagious with our faith in Jesus. I believe that we accomplished that.
Thanks to Sarah Beth for leading a terrific team, the Sherri for an ultimate unit time where we work together in teams to make missions happen, to Justin who never fails to bring joy and fun to the group and to Chris for the games that will forever be in our memories.
What a pleasure being able to be a part of a new adventure in the Mt Bethel UMC ever expanding ways.
Love,
Dianne Hylton
In case you missed it at the end of VBS last week (or if you just want to see it again), here is the excellent video that was produced to show the highlights of the week. Enjoy!
Looks like we are having our biggest VBS or close to it. Last July we passed the 700 kids mark, and today, we show 706 kids registered for VBS. We have 174+teen helpers and 100+ Adult Helpers. We are close to 1000 people present and involved.
A HUGE thank you to our kitchen staff who graciously handled our overwhelming numbers for lunch and snacks. Again we are reaching out to the community with many kids from other churches or no church home. We registered over 43 walk in registrations this afternoon, many saying they have heard what a wonderful VBS we have.
THANKS to an outstanding Facilities staff and many other staff members who have pitched in and helped with greeting, directions, check in, and much more. It’s a group effort and we can truly be proud of how the Mt. Bethel Family works together.
We’ve posted 139 pictures from the week — check them out here!
There is no “season” of Compassion Into Action! It doesn’t begin and end with certain dates. Sometimes I think people honestly believe that their Christian responsibilities and duties follow the school’s calendar. When summer rolls around, it’s quitting time!!
Last week, one of the first weeks of summer, we had to close three children’s Sunday School classes. The reason was not because of a lack of students, material, or space . . . it’s because of a lack of volunteer teachers. One mother was most upset when she was told that she could not drop her child off for Sunday School, unless she volunteered to help teach the class. She stomped and she fussed, “You can’t do this! Someone should have announced this policy from the pulpit” We did. “Someone should have publicized this in the bulletin!” We did. “Someone should have mailed postcards to communicate this need!” We did. “How can we rectify this situation?” Well, you can volunteer to teach your child! Why is it that some parents want, expect, even demand that someone else teach their child the Christian Faith? Every Baptized child’s parents have vowed before God to do what the church is begging them to do. Amazing. “Compassion Into Action” is the motto regarding our discipleship and missions ministries. It never rests and it begins with our own.
Consider what some are doing with “Compassion Into Action” this summer. Just last week, our Girl Scout Troop 2033 made 2,400 lunches for MUST Ministries. Soon, the Abundant Life Circle will be packing 1,200 more lunches. For 30 years, Mt. Bethel has provided volunteers for the MUST overnight shelter. (We need volunteers immediately for this ministry to continue).
Other “Compassion Into Action” ministries include the Hope Center Baby Thrift Store, the USO, youth mentoring projects, Foster Care support, knitting and quilting for those most in need, Any Soldier packing, Katrina rebuilding and St. Philip missions. In addition, mission trips are heading for Kenya, Romania, Costa Rica, Austria and Ecuador. Amazing!
I invite you to consider the place God has in your life. Many of us are living as if the Heavenly Father has died! Oh, we may believe with our hearts and minds that He is alive and well, but our actions and behavior say that, as far as we are concerned, He is dead. Look at your calendar, look at your checkbook. How much time and money do you spend on yourself? How much time and money do you spend on God? There’s your answer.
Perhaps you do not believe in the Devil? Jesus did. He said, “Get behind me Satan.” He wasn’t speaking to an imaginary friend. He was speaking directly to the temptation to put self before God. The tactics of the “Evil One” are very simple. In order to convert us away from Christ, all he has to do is keep us out of church, keep us out of the Bible, and keep us off of our knees. If he can accomplish two out of those three, he’s got us.
The Church is dependent upon two things if it is to survive and thrive, the Holy Spirit and willing hearts. How willing is your heart? Your involvement is putting “Compassion Into Action” is your answer.
That’s how I see it. What do you think?
Randy
We have a great night for the campout! Over 170 campers enjoyed fishing, eating at the cookout, cooking S’mores over the campfire, and playing on the Field of Dreams. The kids had a blast playing with each other and their dads / grand fathers. I heard from several fathers who stated that their child had been asking about the next campout already. After lights out, the dads got to enjoy a relaxing time sitting around and swatting mosquitoes. Look for the next campout this fall.
Brad Gorski
Here are some areas around the church that need you to come volunteer.
Sunday School
Did you know that Children’s Ministry will need over 85 volunteers every Sunday from June 1 - August 10 to minister to the children who will arrive to hear the Word of God at Mt. Bethel? To volunteer, contact Janis Caverlee (preschool) or Sherri Juliani (elementary) to join the team this summer.
VBS Volunteers Needed
Youth and adult volunteers are vital to the success of Vacation Bible School. Contact Dianne Hylton if you would like to volunteer your time. A free lunch is provided.
Parking Shuttle
Our parking lot shuttle, “Toby” the golf cart, runs on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 12:30. There are 2 shifts from 9:15 to 10:45 and 10:45 to 12:30. This is a once a month or every other month commitment. Toby is very helpful to members who park far away with small children and senior members, too. We also need parking ushers to help direct members and visitors to available spots. Contact Kibbie Jones for more information.
Greeters on Sundays
Welcome church members and visitors for a 30-minute shift for a month and rotate with two other teams every 3rd month. We rely on greeters from 9:00am to 9:30am and 10:30am to 11:00am. Substitutes are available. This is an easy way to get to know other church members. Contact Kibbie Jones for more information.
Older Adult Center - Youth or Adult Volunteers Needed
Share Your Special Talent: Come sing, come perform, share your hobby, or share your pictures from a favorite trip or special collection. Whatever you choose, we make for a great audience. Contact Dawn Reed for more information.
Infusion Camp for rising 5th through 8th graders
We need adult men over 25, preferably married with children who can be a chaperone in a cabin with 10 boys ( rising 5th - 8th ) grade for the week.
There will be 2 chaperones, one adult and one teen or college male. The chaperones are responsible for knowing where the boys are at all times, leading a small group and general helping out with camp activities.
Cost is $350 to cover the cost of room and board. It will be a wonderful time for spiritual growth for all involved as well as making new friends in Christ. Please contact Dianne Hylton if you are available to help.
This spring the children at Mt. Bethel UMC have put their “compassion into action” during children’s Sunday School programs to support both local and global mission projects. Children are sharing an attitude of SPLATitude (serving, praying, loving and teaching the word of God) through age appropriate mission projects and sharing the love of Jesus with children all over the world. Look and see where we have been since January 2008…
This month children will work on salvation bracelets for the children in Costa Rica and cards for our soldiers serving far from home. Give the children a mission and an opportunity and they are ready with an enthusiasm only children can bring to a project. Our children are touching lives and sharing the love of Jesus through their attitude of SPLATitude! Oh what a mighty God we serve!
Sherri
This past school year we have been blessed to have 125 teachers from 85 families share their time and talents to Serve, Pray, Love and Teach our precious children ages 2 – 5th grade in Sunday School. These families have been committed to faithfully share God’s stories. What a blessing these teachers have been to the hundreds of children who come to Mt. Bethel each week to learn and grow in their faith journey. For your outstanding ongoing display of SPLATitude, we THANK YOU.
Our school year teachers take a break in the summer. Consider honoring these teachers by offering your time to teach children during our 11 week summer program. For more information contact Janis Caverlee, preschool Sunday School or Sherri Juliani, elementary Sunday School.
Our 2007-2008 Sunday School teachers
Alison Anderson
Ben & Carmen Baggett
Buddy & Jennifer Bell
Lee Best
Tommy & Cindy Birdsong
Wes & Laurie Blackwell
Laura Braswell
Tom & Randi Brooks
Betsy Brown
Brad & Lesley Brown
Marti Bryan
Brian & Vicki Bunke
Keith & Kim Chandler
Grey & Julie Cleveland
Buzz Coirini
Jeff & Lisa Conn
Carrie Danbom
Brock & Nanette Davis
Faye Davis
Kerrie Davis
Michael & Stephanie DeWitt
Scott & Michelle Dios
Lisa Dolan
Bill & Renee Doolittle
Chris & Georgia Dunagan
Jim Edwards
Tom & Natalie Epperson
Mark & Allison Fischer
Dawn Fletcher
Bruce & Donna Foust
Dan & Nancy Freeman
Robin Freeman
Linda Frickey
Scott & Debbie Galloway
Kim Glover
Fred & Mandy Godbee
Trina Griffiths
Stephanie Guglielmo
Stuart & Mindy Gurr
Phil & Kelley Hamilton
Edie Harlin
Judy Harper
Scott Hasty Kirk
Jake Hill
Sheri Johnson
Blan Jordan
Dale & Tamara Karrh
Amanda Kirk
Jean Kisling
Phillip & Jennifer Kleiss
Angel Kytle
Brian & Ann Lane
Frank & Celia Lawton
Neysa Lee
Julie Linde
Cathy Long
Jeff & Ginger McCoy
Matt & Karen Miller
B. A. Montague
Jamie & Terri Moore
Ken & Jennifer Morge
Trish Morrison
Tricia Nodar
Josh & Melissa Packman
Dina Marie Parks
Debbie Pelerose
Todd & Angela Pinniger
Craig & Shannon Reed
Juan Rose
Rachel Rose
Amy Sanders
Jeff Schoen
Cliff Shepherd
Paul & Kimberly Sherk
Sawyer Shirley
Diana Sjostrom
Scott & Christie Slay
Kari Squire
Cathy Stebbins
Erin & Morgan Sumrell
Melody & Todd Swierski
Laurie Tarlton
John & Leslee Tennant
Matt & Bobby Trevathan
Amy Wiseman
