Continued next column

In his book “All In,” pastor and author Mark Batterson says, “You are only one decision away from a totally different life.” I’d like to expand on his quote and offer this, “You are only one decision away from a totally different life, AND your decision may impact the lives of others for generations to come.” Think with me for a moment about a decision that was made by Benjamin Watkins and Daniel “River Daniel” Trabue. The year was 1817 and these two men lived in the area near Bethel and they worshipped at Spring Creek Church (now Bethlehem Baptist Church). They found that the distance they had to travel to church could often be difficult in those days. So in April of 1817 those two gentleman, along with 54 other people, made a decision to form The Bethel Meeting House where they would meet at 11 o’clock each Sunday for prayer and worship. This was the beginning of Bethel Baptist Church. Their decision to form Bethel not only impacted their lives, but it has impacted the lives of countless people for 200 years. On April 30

th at 10:30 a.m. we will gather as

a community of faith to celebrate their decision and thank God for all He has done for us these last 200 years. In the last two centuries God has helped countless people to make decisions that would shape the way they live. The greatest and most important of these decisions is the decision to ask Christ into your life. It is the decision to follow Christ, to love the Lord and to allow Christ to be the Lord of your life. This is why Bethel exists. We are here to help people make that decision and then to journey with each other as we live out our lives of faith as we commit to worship together, learn together and serve together. I’m grateful and humbled to be a part of a church with such a rich history and heritage.

The Outreach

A People of Hope.

A Culture of Grace

Vol. 49 No. 4 April 2017

Parish Nurse

Chick-fil-A Spirit Night

Musical Director’s Note

Ladies Lunch

Many Thanks

pg. 1

pg. 5

pg. 5

pg. 5

pg. 4

Inside

This

Issue

Message from Todd

Mission News

Chick-fil-A Devotional

Men’s Fellowship Lunch

Ben Cohen Speaking

pg. 5

pg. 2

pg. 2

pg. 4

pg. 6

Charlotte’s Pantry Schedule

Worship Schedule

Birthdays

A Note from the Library

200th Anniversary Invitation

pg. 2

pg. 2

pg. 4

pg. 2

pg. 1

Preschool News

Care Team

Calvary’s Mercy Concert

Wednesday Nights

Caritas

pg. 3

pg. 3

pg. 4

pg. 6

pg. 6

As we gather on April 30th to celebrate what God

has done, let us also reaffirm the decision of those original 56 members of Bethel. The decision to meet together for worship and prayer, to be bound together by our Lord and to reach out into our community. Let us help people to come to know our Lord and Savior so that our friends and neighbors may find the peace, hope, and purpose that only comes through knowing Jesus Christ our Lord. We hope to see each of you on April 30

th.

May God continue to bless Bethel Baptist Church. May God bless you and may God continue to help us to help others make the decision to follow our Lord. Amen.

Todd

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A Note From Your Music

Director: by Gayle Taylor

Easter brings us hope — hope for renewal on earth

and hope for everlasting life with Christ in heaven. As we

reflect on Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, we are

in awe as we think about the physical and emotional pain

that Jesus experienced, yet He followed His Father’s plan

until it was accomplished. His plan focused on one main

idea: to save us from sin’s consequences — eternal death.

A song that captures this message so eloquently is

“Because He Lives.” Written by Gloria and Bill Gaither in

1971, the song reminds us of Christ’s purpose: “He came to

love, heal, and forgive” and “to buy my pardon.” The chorus

of the song moves toward the renewal theme as it states,

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” Christ removes

pain and fear and He instills assurance. He gives us a life

that “is worth the living.” As we approach the Easter

season, may we remember that we all have a life worth the

living and may we be renewed by the message of Christ’s

death and resurrection.

Upcoming pantry schedule:

Wednesday April 12 (5 to 6:30 p.m.)

Friday April 28 (9 to 11 a.m.)

Wednesday May 10 (5 to 6:30 p.m.)

Friday May 26 (9 to 11 a.m.)

If you would like to help on any of these dates,

please contact Brenda Peck.

I am waiting for God’s world to wake up from its winter’s nap. I love to see the flowers bloom and the trees with their beautiful leaves. It’s hard to believe that schools are on their final days before summer vacations are being planned. Maybe the kids will do some summer reading. Everyone needs a break and a time to relax. This month our subjects will be on Spring, rain, etc. In May the preschoolers will prepare for their upcoming trip to the zoo. Our display window will be on zoo animals. The library books will cover many subjects, zoo animals, Mothers Day, Father’s Day and some books on summer too. Easter will be here soon. It is a most beautiful time for the church. The library staff hopes everyone will enjoy Easter and that the kids will have a wonderful spring break. Barbara Bell,

Media Library Director

The next Spirit Night fund raiser will be Wednesday,

April 19, between 5 and 8 p.m. The money raised will go

toward playground equipment for the Preschool so come

out and join us for some good food and great fellowship.

You can dine in or drive thru, but please remember to

mention Spirit Night when you place your order. If you

are going to the Andy Stanley study, feel free to stop by

and pick up dinner on the way.

April 2 we meet in the Sanctuary

April 9 (Palm Sunday) we meet in

the People of Hope Center

April 16 (Easter Sunday) we meet

in the People of Hope Center

April 23 we meet in the People of

Hope Center

April 30 (200th Anniversary

Celebration) We meet in the People

of Hope for worship, followed by an

anniversary luncheon. We look

forward to seeing you there.

We look forward to our 200 YEARS OF WORSHIP Celebration on April 30th. We are asking everyone who can, to please bring a covered dish. The church will provide fried chicken, bread, beverages and dessert. Therefore, we ask our members to bring side dishes such as vegetables, salads, etc. that would complement the meal

Please remember to take your dishes when you leave the celebration. Many thanks to everyone for your participation and your willingness to help.

3

Where do these months go, it was just yesterday that I was writing the last article for our church newsletter. Everything is rushing by this year so quickly that we can hardly enjoy each day. First of all, how excited we all are to be celebrating our church's 200th anniversary together on Sunday, April 30th. We will all renew old friendships and have such a wonderful time sharing together the memories and love that has grown here at Bethel for all those many years. It is my hope that many of our elders that are usually unable to attend will be able to attend and celebrate with us. Surely they are some of the reasons for the peace and joy that fills our church history, they along with many who have received their rewards in heaven have walked the path before us to show us how to be a loving congregation. Let us pray for a beautiful day to celebrate!! I am pleased to tell you that our own Andrew Suddarth is doing well in his new home, his address is Brookdale Retirement at 12401 Gayton Road, Apt 220, Richmond, Va, 23238 and his phone is 338-2117 and he would love to hear from his friends at Bethel. Andy is 93 years young and is finding a new life, with new friends, and we wish him happiness in this new adventure in his life. Some of our other friends are suffering with different illnesses and accidents, but as your Bethel Care Team we are trying to minister to them as we can. Some will be awhile getting back home, but we wish each of them a quick recovery and we will be visiting as they can work us into their schedule. I think often of little things that take on different meanings as we age and the little child's meal prayer rings especially true at this time of year...Thank you for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat, thank you for the birds that sing, thank you God for EVERYTHING! This speaks to me of the world and all it's glory at this time of year, the food that will be planted and soon be available to us at the local outdoor stands and the birds building their nests and hatching their young. Do we thank our God for EVERYTHING, our health, our friends, our church, our families, every "little" thing. It speaks to me, how about you? Easter is upon us and we are thankful most for the cross and it's meaning to each of us, God loved us so much, he sent US his son, to die on the cross for our sins and to rise again for the promise of eternal life. Let us keep our blessings before us as we celebrate this month of April, may God bless us as we live for him.

Shirley Lewis/Team Leader

By Carter Cosgrove

Preschool Director

Hello Spring!!! April is always an exciting time for the

preschool. The children will begin to learn about Spring

and what it brings with it. The life cycles of animals,

insects and plants will be studied along with learning the

true meaning of Easter. Students will also learn ways to

take care of their environment and celebrate Earth Day.

Our Pre-K class will be getting ready for Kindergarten

Registration which will be held at all Elementary Schools

on Thursday, April 20th. April is a very busy month for

everyone here!

The preschool will be doing a lifecycle experiment with

the children. They will get to plant a small vegetable

garden that is self-contained in a clear box. This allows

the children to watch the growth process of carrots and

green beans! Maybe we can even encourage better

eating habits when they see how their vegetables grow!

The children will have fun this month learning about

Easter, having their class parties and participating in the

annual Easter Egg Hunt. Bethel Baptist Preschool will be

closed the week of April 10th through April 14

th for Easter

Break!

When we return from break, the preschool will host

our monthly Chick-fil-A night which will be held on

Wednesday April 19th from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. We

would love to see everyone there. Our March sales were

alright but I know we are capable of doing a whole lot

better since we have in the past so please come and join

us! Don’t forget to mention “Spirit Night” when you place

your order so the preschool will get the credit.

We appreciate all of the support you have given to the

preschool and myself. We can’t thank you enough. You

are the reason we are the program we are today! Have a

Please welcome Lauren Moore into the role of our part time youth leader. Lauren is dedicated to building relationships with our teens and their parents and she is dedicated to help our teens grow in their walk with the Lord. Lauren taught Special Education in Chesterfield County for 7 years before deciding to stay home with her lovely children. She played and coached basketball for many years as well. We are looking forward to her new journey with Christ and with the amazing youth we have and the youth that the Lord is bringing to Bethel.

All children from preschool through 5th grade

are invited to come out from 1 to 3 p.m. for our

annual Easter Egg Hunt. In addition we will

have refreshments, crafts and a bounce house. Don’t

forget to bring your basket to put your goodies in.

4

2 Sarah Riley

3 Bob Worthy

5 Katy Bunting

5 Jack Surma

6 Deborah Acree

7 Charles Stump

8 Nancy Verne

10 Shawn Bowen

13 Beth Deyerle

14 Philip Dewire

15 Bruce Moseley

16 Irving Jamerson

16 Susanne Currie

16 Nancy Dewire

16 Brad Willis

17 Coleman Rogers

18 Anne Marie Justis

18 Lori Sherwood

20 Mary Longnecker

20 Deborah Patteson

20 Florence McLeod

21 James Heath, Jr.

21 Aleta Jenkins

22 Stephen Newman

22 Carter Cosgrove

22 Patrick Rodgers

24 Shannon Jones

24 Judy Moschler

25 Bernice Smith

26 Mary Lynn Smith

27 Schuyler Doughtie

28 Lewis Newman

28 Bob Speas

30 Jana Bridgman

Please join us on Thursday,

April 6 at noon at Carrabbas

Italian Grill, right next to

Chesterfield Town Center.

Everyone will be responsible for

the cost of their own meal. All

women are invited. If you have

any questions or you plan to

attend, please call or text Margaret Gillis at 804-305-6931

so she can make the appropriate number of reservations.

Hope to see you there.

Everyone is invited to join Global

Missionary Ben Cohen, on

Sunday, April 2 during the Sunday

School Hour (9:30 a.m.). He will

be speaking in the People of Hope

Center on his ministry to the

Sudan.

Join us on April 13, for our

Maundy Thursday Service in the

People of Hope Center.

Dinner: 6:30 p.m.

Service: 7:15 p.m.

5

Missions News by Frances Morris

Mission Opportunities

Monday, April 3: Adults on Mission Meeting: 10

a.m. at Bethel. The program will be given by Carolyn Davidson. See below for more information.

Children in Action: Sunday, April 30 at 10:30

a.m.

Kroger: Please re-register your Kroger card so Bethel

can continue to receive reward points toward Missions.

Re-registration, is required every year. Go to

www.Kroger.com and sign in. Then click on "Community"

Our next lunch is set for April 6, at 12 noon.

We will meet at the Italian Delight in South Creek

Shopping Center in Powhatan. Everyone will be

responsible for the cost of their own lunch. Please

call the church office if you plan to attend so we can

make the appropriate number of reservations. All

men are invited.

Mission/Ministry

Music Ministry/Choir

(See Gayle Taylor)

Adults on Mission

Charlotte’s Pantry and

Backpack Ministry

Sunday Morning

Nursery Ministry (see

page 2 for more info)

Friends of the

Homeless (5th

Mondays at 8:30 a.m.)

AA Meeting every

Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Puppet Team

Library Volunteers

Needed (See Barbara

Bell)

Above Division Jail

Mission (See Michael

or Shannon Gerace)

Care Team Ministry

(See Shirley Lewis)

Fellowship/Discipleship

Men’s Fellowship Lunch

(1st Thursday of each

month at noon)

Youth Group Meetings

every Wednesday night

at 7 p.m.

Bible/Discipleship Study

Wednesday evenings at

6:30 p.m.

Sunday School Classes

9:30 a.m. each Sunday

Zumba every Thursday

evening at 7 p.m.

Brotherhood Breakfast

(every 5th Sunday)

JIGSAW children’s

ministry, every Sunday

(See Tina McNeel)

Children in Action meet

every 5th Sunday, during

the Sunday School hour.

(See Frances Morris)

Cindy Luck, is available on the third

Sunday of each month from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. Feel

free to stop by on April 16, to get your blood

pressure checked or to ask questions. Cindy also has a

lot of helpful informational brochures that might be of

interest to you.

Join us at Chick-fil-A at Westchester Commons Shopping

Center each Monday morning at 8 a.m. We will enjoy

breakfast and a devotional time together. This is a

wonderful time of fellowship. For more information,

please contact Bruce Bartlam at 804-739-2936.

Join us on Monday April 3, at 10 a.m., for our next Adults on

Mission meeting. Carolyn Davidson will be speaking about

a ministry that benefits Nepali women who are widowed,

abandoned, rescued from the sex trade, physically

handicapped or mentally ill. These women received no

support from the government or charities, their situation was

pretty hopeless. Now they are employed with Emmanuel

Crafts as well as other ministries and the sale of their

handmade jewelry returns to them the dignity and security

of being able to provide a simple living for themselves and

their children. 100% of the money from the sales is returned

to pay their salaries and to assist the Nepali women with

health care, children’s schooling and other needs of their

families. The support from the sale of their beautiful beads is

all the more important now, since it is also helping them to

recover from the devastation of the two earthquakes last

spring. On April 3, you will have the opportunity to find out

more about these women and to look at their beautiful jewelry

and purchase a piece if you’d like. Everyone is welcome.

6

Dear Bethel Church,

Thank you for the telephone calls, prayers and cards I received while I was receiving treatment for Trigeminal neuralgia. So far I am pain free.

God Bless, Ramon Bookman

Join us on Wednesday nights in April as

we continue the DVD study entitled “Faith,

Hope and Luck” by Andy Stanley.

Through this Study, Andy explains what

we can expect of God every time we

come to him with a request. This content

is foundational for everyone who desires

to be an informed, active follower of

Christ.

April 5—Andy Stanley DVD Bible Study—6:30 p.m.

April 12—No Bible Study

April 19—Andy Stanley DVD Bible Study—6:30 p.m.

This is also Chick-fil-A Spirit Night from 5– to 8 p.m.

April 26—Andy Stanley Study Concludes—6:30 p.m.

CARITAS IS COMING!!

Each year Bethel helps support CARITAS by providing

food, shelter and fellowship to homeless women. Please

mark your calendars for the week of June 3—10. Right

now we are looking for coordinators in each of the areas

below as well as people who are willing to help in these

areas.

Food—need a coordinator for meals and lots of helpers

Laundry—Jeanne Yeager (coordinator) need people

willing to do laundry

Set Up/Take Down—need a coordinator to organize set

up and take down.

Overnight Hosts — need a coordinator to ask volunteers

to spend the night

Crafts—need a coordinator for crafts

Evening Activities—Cheryl Grubbs (coordinator) please

contact Cheryl if you would like to help with activities.

General Information—Frances Morris 804-794-6130

We are in need of the following items:

BINGO PRIZES and personal item such as toothbrushes,

toothpaste, dental floss, hand sanitizer, shower caps,

finger nail files, women’s deodorant and feminine

products. Please bring items to the church and put in the

box marked CARITAS.

Dear Bethel Church,

Thank you for providing the wonderful meal for Grace Fellowship. A special thank you to those who came to help. We always look forward to your visit.

Blessings, Charlene Duling

Dear Bethel Friends,

Thank you so much for the visits, phone calls, meals, cards and especially for your prayers while I was out with my foot surgery. Your thoughts and prayers meant so much during this time. We are so blessed to be part of this wonderful church family.

Love, Donna Lewis

Dear Bethel Church,

Frances and I want to thank our Bethel family for all the prayers, visits, calls, cards and meals during my recent stay at St. Francis and Sheltering Arms Hospitals. It means so much to know you have such a great group of people concerned about your well being. I know I have our Heavenly Father's grace to thank for my recovery. But I also know he heard prayers from a lot of people on my behalf.

Thank you all, Jimmy Morris

Dear Bethel Church,

The words “thank you” are not adequate to express our appreciation for all our church family has done for us at the passing of my sweet momma. The out pouring of all the cards, calls and food have been such a comfort to us. The reception following the memorial service was amazing. We are truly humbled by the love and support we have felt since we joined this wonderful fellowship.

May God Bless You All, The Kagels Family

Dear Members of Bethel Baptist Church,

On behalf of the residents housed at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women, I am grateful for your generosity. The donations of hygiene products, postage, composition books, cards, calendars, pens and pencils, stationary and monetary contributions, helped make the Christmas Season more meaningful.

With Gratefulness, Karen Powell, Chaplain

7

Bethel Baptist Church 1100 Huguenot Springs Road Midlothian, VA 23113 Change Service Requested

Non Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit 2133

Midlothian, VA 23112

WORSHIP TIMES

9:30 Sunday School | 10:30 Worship

For more information, please call Carter

Cosgrove at 804-794-8590 or go to our website

at www.bethelchurchmidlothianva.org and click

on preschool.