Ministry to Homebound Members and Friends
With a number of our Bethel family members unable to attend worship and other church activities due to heath and/or aging concerns, we send messages of God’s love to them several times a year including birthday cards, an Easter card with a palm cross blessed at our Palm Sunday Service, a copy of the Advent Devotional to welcome the Lenten season, and a Christmas basket filled with small gifted and goodies from the congregation. These are mailed or delivered with a brief visit and prayer.
Ministry to College Students
Each November as Advent begins, our college students face final exams. To encourage them and remind them of God’s love and our care for them, we pack boxes filled with treats and well wishes that are mailed to their college residence. We include the Advent Devotional booklet and cards written by the congregation.
Advent and Lenten Devotional Booklets
Each Advent season, Bethel members and friends write stories of faith about a Christmas memory, an encounter with God, or an experience with God’s grace. The stories are short like the Upper Room Devotional and include scripture and a prayer. These booklets are distributed to the Bethel community on the first Sunday of Advent. We have grown closer in our faith journeys through sharing how God has impacted our lives.
Prayer List
We have an active prayer life. During our joys and concerns each week, many concerns are raised and our weekly, published prayer list allows us to provide intercessory prayer for those whose names are raised. In addition, our pastor and lay leader send immediate prayer requests through email as needed.
Home Communion
Each time we celebrate Holy Communion in worship, we have laity teams that take the consecrated elements to those who were absent or homebound. This ministry has been critical during the COVID pandemic as many worshiped at home via our online service. In this way, we can share this means of grace with all members and friends who are unable to attend.