The Bethlehem Star is published 6

times/year by Bethlehem United

Methodist Church, 4 Westtown

Road, Thornton PA 19373, (610)

459-3482, www.bethmeth.com,

Deadline for copy: the 7th day of

the month prior to publication.

Editor reserves the right to edit for

content and space. Unsolicited

material is welcome!

Bethlehem

United Methodist Church

PO Box 57

4 Westtown Road

Thornton, PA 19373

P: 610-459-3482

F: 610-459-0811

www.bethmeth.com

VBS & SPORTS CAMP 1

COMMUNITY FUN 2

SOUPS & GROUPS 3

40 DAYS OF COMMUNITY 3

GARDEN OF EATING 4

LIBRARY CORNER 4

Inside this issue:

The Bethlehem StarThe Bethlehem Star May/June 2015

“Journey Off The Map” takes your kids to uncharted territory where they will begin to understand that obedience to God can lead them beyond the expected. So, toss the map, stick close to your guide, and prepare to listen for God’s direction in this journey that is unknown to us, but known by Him.

To register, children should have completed kindergarten through seventh grade (as of June 30, 2015). Forms are available at www.bethmeth.com. Click on “BUMC Kids & Youth.”

Registration fee is $20 per child if received by June 30; $25 per child if received July 1-7; $35 per child if received on or after July 8. Maximum family payment is fee for 3 students based on time of registration ($60, $75, or $105). Scholarships available on a first come basis. Please make checks payable to Bethlehem UMC. Forms received without fee will be placed on waiting list.

Eligible participants need to have completed kindergarten through fifth grade (as of June 30, 2015). Registration forms are available on www.bethmeth.com. Click on “BUMC Kids & Youth.”

$70.00 Registration fee per child. Covers T-shirt and equipment. Checks payable to Bethlehem UMC. Forms received without fee will be placed on waiting list. Scholarships available on a first come basis. DISCOUNT: Registration fee decreased to $60.00 per child if received by June 30.

See! The winter is past;

… flowers appear on the

earth; the season of

singing has come

Song of Solomon 2: 11-12

SUMMER ACTIVITIES COMING UP!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

July 13-17

9:00 am—12:30 pm

SPORTS CAMP

July 27—31 9:00 am—12:00 pm

Basketball, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Soccer

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BETHLEHEM GOES TO FOUNDER’S DAY

Join us for Thornbury Township’s Founder’s Day

celebration on Saturday, May 30, 2015 from 5-9 PM

at Thornbury Park. We will be giving away Rita’s

Water ice, showing off our Kenya-bound water

filters, and enjoying an opportunity to tell our

neighbors about our church. This fun evening will

include live music from the “Soul Cruisers,” food

vendors, activities for the kids including “Stubby the

Helicopter,” and fireworks. See you there!

COMMUNITY DAY, May 2015 — the best ever!

Thanks to all who attended and helped with our

May 2 Community Day. We made $2,500 at the

Kenya Raffle to support our 2015 mission trip to

Africa. Some photos to remind you of the day…

COMMUNITY FUN By Janice Butterworth

We will be giving away

FREE Rita’s water ice!

Stubby the Helicop-

ter is always a hit

Lots of kids activities . . . and kids

Woofi the gospel puppy

and his handler were a hit

Serious grillin’ going on

by our guys

Fireworks will close out

the event

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Soups & Groups by Pastor Tom Wolff

Because building a sense of community is so vital to the life of a church, Bethlehem church places a great deal of emphasis on folks in our church meeting together regularly in small groups. It is in this environment that significant relationships are developed and spiritual growth is nurtured.

Because of their importance, we offer special training sessions for all Small Group Leaders, Crossroads Teachers (Sunday School) and anyone considering the possibility of leading or hosting small groups. On Monday, June 1 at 6:00 PM, we will have our second meeting of Soups and Groups, an informal quarterly training and informational meeting for anyone leading or teaching in a small group or Sunday School setting here at BUMC. You are also invited if you are just considering the possibility of leading a group.

With the 40 Days of Community Campaign (see below) coming to BUMC in the fall, this is a most exciting time to be a part of the small group ministry. Our desire is that

during the Campaign, every person in BUMC will be connected to a small group! This obviously means we will have a need for more groups to start. Have you considered that perhaps the Lord would have YOU step up to lead a six week group for the Campaign?

There are two more scheduled Soups and Groups meetings before the Campaign begins so please don’t hesitate to sign up in Agan Hall. I would love to see every small group leader in attendance as well as a host of new faces!

We will meet in Agan Hall where we will share a simple meal of soup and homemade bread. The information shared is designed to be very practical, i.e. “What do I do if someone in my group won’t stop talking?” YIKES! Well, you get the picture. A subsequent meeting will be held on

August 31st. We meet from 6:00 pm until 7:30. See you there!

For more info, please contact Pastor Tom, Jan Samuelian, or Charles Baker

Save the date of September 26th. This is the date of the church-wide “Kick Off” of 40 Days of Community!

The goal of 40 Days of Community is to open our hearts to a deeper and closer relationship with Christ by deepening relationships within the church, and through service to the community around our church.

We will partner with Christ as He begins a new work at Bethlehem United Methodist Church.

Your participation in a Small Group will be an essential part of 40 Days of community. In your group, you’ll not just learn how to build community, but you will actually experience it. We will practice some of the best ways to help each other grow spiritually, such as accepting each other and affirming each other.

Just as a baby needs a family in order to grow, so do we all need a spiritual family to grow and become all that God intends us to be. As Christians are made to live in community, we grow better together.

Did you know that that your talents were not given to you solely for your benefit?

God gave them to you for the benefit of others. And he gave others talents for your benefit. In God’s perfect plan, none of us can arrogantly claim that we are completely self-sufficient. During 40 Days of Community, many of us will experience the joy of serving others in our community for the very first time. Just as we grow better when we grow together, so also do we serve better when we serve together.

Our time during these 40 Days will be built on prayer, and on God’s power that is released through prayer. We urge you to hold our Ministry Leaders and our church in your prayers for insight and revelation as we prepare for this time of spiritual growth in our church family.

4

It’s that time of year again when vine-ripened strawberries will be available locally. This is a great salad recipe that you can enjoy often this season.

SUMMER STRAWBERRY SALAD

1/4 C apple cider vinegar 1/4 C sugar 1/4 C vegetable oil 1/4 t paprika A dash Worcestershire sauce 1 T butter 1/2 C slivered almonds 1 qt strawberries, sliced or chopped 2 Romaine hearts chopped into bite-size pieces In bowl mix first 5 ingredients. Cover; refrigerate at least 6 hours. Melt butter in a skillet over medium to low heat. Stir in almonds; cook until golden brown. Remove from heat; cool. In large bowl, toss greens, strawberries, and almonds. Mix with dressing just before serving.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Monday, June 1 -

Soups & Groups at 6:00 PM

see page 3

Monday, June 1 thru Friday,

June 5 - Preschool Camp

Tuesday, June 2-

Pick up Volleyball - meet at

6:30 PM at the courts behind

the parsonage.

Thursday, June 4 - Ministry

Steering Committee Mtg at

7:00 PM

Sunday, June 7 -

Confirmation at 10:30 AM

Service

Sunday, June 14 -

Graduation Recognition at

9:00 AM and 10:30 AM

Service.

Friday, June 19 -

Men’s Campfire in the Grove

at 7:30 PM.

Sunday, June 21 Softball at Thornbury Park

All are welcome.

First Pitch at 6:00 PM

Wednesday, June 24 thru

Sunday, June 28

Creation Festival

Saturday, June 27 - Phillies

Game at 3:00 PM

LIBRARY CORNER by John McGrath

GARDEN OF EATING by Jan Samuelian

Among new additions to the library is a must read, David Platt’s A Compas-

sionate Call to Counter Culture.” Just in time for our 40 Days of Community,

this book provides a blueprint for getting involved in your community in the

area of the most important cultural issues of our day. Everywhere we turn,

battle lines are being drawn—traditional marriage vs. gay marriage, pro-life

vs. pro-choice, personal freedom vs. governmental protection. Seemingly

overnight, culture has shifted to the point where right and wrong are no

longer measured by universal truth but by popular opinion. And as difficult

conversations about these issues continue to inject themselves into our

workplaces, our churches, our schools, and our homes, Christians every-

where are asking the same question: How are we supposed to respond to all

this? In Counter Culture, New York Times bestselling author David Platt shows

Christians how to actively take a stand on such issues as poverty, sex traffick-

ing, marriage, abortion, racism, and religious liberty—and challenges us to

become passionate, unwavering voices for Christ. Drawing on compelling

personal accounts from around the world, Platt presents an unapologetic yet

winsome call for Christians to faithfully follow Christ into the cultural battle-

field in ways that will prove both costly and rewarding.