bowling Archives - Bethesda Baptist Church

March 3, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA for March 3, 2014

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

This weekend marks the beginning of Daylight Savings Time. So, set your clocks FORWARD one hour (“spring ahead”) before going to be on Saturday evening.

Yes, we “lose” an hour of sleep!

Recent Prayer Requests

* Elijah Mueller
* Alicia as she is nearing her due date
* Alicia’s mother
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Prayer for the conversions of the lost, especially those in our community
* Our church and need for revival

Some updates: Alicia’s mom had a kidney removed today. All went well and she will be in ICU over night. No further cancer was found.

The Muellers are still awaiting the results of Elijah’s tests from last week.

Lastly, Brenda has returned home safely and appreciates all the prayers.

Upcoming Activities

1. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting,
Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Men’s Breakfast, Saturday, 8 a.m.
3. Science Center Trip, Saturday, Noon
4. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
6. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Mission Trip

Julie Brandel has a 10 week mission trip in San Diego this summer. If you wish to help with her financial needs, you may do so by writing a check to Bethesda and designating it towards her trip.

Bowling Fellowship

For those who signed up for our bowling fellowship, meet at Harvest Lanes on highway 94 at 12:30 p.m. We have lanes until 2:30 p.m.

Deacon Ordination

On Sunday, March 16, we will ordain Brother Steve Brook to the deacon ministry. Please plan on attending this special service.

This Sunday’s Message…

“Delay, Deception, Delusion” from
2 Thessalonians 2:5-12

LADIES Book Study

The next book study will begin the last week of March (date forthcoming) and will be on the Beatitudes. Pam has agreed to be the study leader. Make plans now to attend.

Bethesda Congratulations for the Week

Happy Birthday wishes this week to:

* Kyle Haag – Monday

Church Directory Correction

Rick Norvell
759 Homerun Drive
O’Fallon, MO 63366

Pastor’s Postscript

The weather “got us” again yesterday. Thankfully we never saw all the snow that was forecasted. But the sleet made the roads far too dangerous to be out and about.

This week was to begin our emphasis on North American Missions. It was also to be the week of prayer for North American missions. Nevertheless, we’ll start our mission emphasis this coming Sunday. We’ll also declare next week to be our week of prayer for North American missions!

The men and I had a good meeting this past Saturday morning. We began our study of J. C. Ryle’s “Holiness”. If you are interested in joining us for this study next month, let me know so I can be certain you have a book. We’ll look at what Ryle has to say about sin in chapter 1.

The Academy will begin again on Monday the 17th (wear your green!). This will be a very informal 60-90 minute study beginning on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.

Since I was not able to preach yesterday, I have no “sermon extras” for you today. Plus since I had my eye examination this morning, this edition of “Stirrings” is a bit late leaving the presses. My eyes were dilated much of the day and I couldn’t see well enough to type!

May Christ grant you a wonderful week! See you Wednesday evening!

February 24, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA

A weekly publication of Bethesda Baptist Church

February 24, 2014

Recent Prayer Requests

* Elijah Mueller
* Alicia as she is nearing her due date
* Alicia’s mother
* Brida, recovering from a fall
* Brenda Koelling, relative’s funeral
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Prayer for the conversions of the lost, especially those in our community
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Men’s Breakfast, Saturday, 8 a.m.
3. Science Center Trip, Saturday, Noon
4. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
5. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
6. Discipleship Training, Sunday, 5 p.m.

Mission Trip

If you wish to help Julie Brandel’s financial needs associated with her summer mission trip to San Diego, you may do so by writing a check to Bethesda and designating it towards her trip.

This Sunday’s Message…

“Delay, Deception, Delusion” from
2 Thessalonians 2:5-12

Deacon Ordination

Brother Steve Brook will be ordained to the deacon ministry on Sunday, March 16 in the morning worship service. Please plan on attending this special service.

Bowling Fellowship

This is your last week to sign up for the Bethesda Baptist Bowling fellowship on Sunday, March 9 at 12:30 p.m. We need an accurate head count no later than next Sunday so we can be sure we have enough lanes reserved at the Harvest Lanes Bowling Alley for Sunday, March 9. If you wish to go, please sign the sheet in the foyer during the week.

Science Center Trip

This Saturday is our outing to the St. Louis Science Center and a viewing of “Jerusalem” in the OmniMax Theater. If you are interested, please contact Karla as soon as possible and she will provide all the details.

Bethesda Congratulations for the Week

Happy Birthday wishes this week to:

* Steve Brook – Friday

“… none can be termed apostates, but … such as have previously made a profession of Christ and the gospel.”
John Calvin

Men’s Breakfast

Men, bring your breakfast and join us this Saturday, March 1 at 8 a.m. for our monthly fellowship. We’ll begin a new book, one of my favorites and one which greatly influenced my Christian walk many years ago. The work is by a 19th century believer named J. C. Ryle and is entitled “Holiness”.

If you are coming and have not notified the pastor, please do so. This will enable him to make certain we have enough books for everyone.

See you Saturday at 8 a.m.

The Bethesda Academy

The Academy is returning! Our first session will be on Monday, March 17 (wear your green!) beginning at 6:30 p.m. We’ll meet in Fellowship Hall for an hour to an hour and a half. More details in next week’s newsletter.

This will be a very informal study so bring your Bible and enjoy our time together.

Sermon Extras

Verse 1 of our text yesterday described the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. The New Testament utilizes multiple Greek words to describe the second coming. In verse 1 (as in 1 Thessalonians 4), the word “coming” is parousia (“being alongside”) and describes the Lord’s coming as his presence with his people.

Verse 8 of this chapter is an interesting one from this perspective. Three of the words frequently used to refer to Christ’s second coming are used in that one verse.

“And then the lawless one will be revealed (apokalupto), whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance (epiphaneia) of his coming (parousia).”

While used in this verse to describe the revelation of the Antichrist, apokalupto is used to describe Christ’s coming elsewhere (Luke 17:30). This word views the coming as a revelation, a revealing of God’s purpose and plan.

The word epiphaneia is sometimes translated manifestation and is used for the second coming more than once (e.g., Titus 2:13). Epiphany views the 2nd coming as a manifestation of the power and love of God.

Pastor’s Postscript

We have several upcoming events which consume much of our newsletter this week. So, I will be brief (if you can believe that!).

I am grateful to be the pastor of such a group of saints that make up Bethesda Baptist! March 15 makes 5 years since my first sermon from this pulpit. It is a humbling and challenging responsibility to be a pastor. But, church members such as you have made these 5 years a true blessing. May the Lord continue to bless each of you and our church as we strive to serve Him in all we do.

May the Lord protect you this week and permit us to worship together once more next Sunday.

February 17, 2014

STIRRINGS AT BETHESDA

Weekly Newsletter of Bethesda Baptist Church

February 17, 2014

Recent Prayer Requests

* Elijah Mueller
* Alicia as she is nearing her due date
* Alicia’s mother
* Brida, recovering from a fall
* Brenda Koelling
* Meghan Bartner
* Zachary Mueller
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Marilynn Norvell
* Debbie, recovering from foot surgery
* Prayer for the conversions of the lost, especially those in our community
* Our church and need for revival

Upcoming Activities

1. Bible Study & Prayer Meeting,
Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. Discipleship Training, January Bible Study,
Sunday, 5 p.m.

Science Center Trip

Join us for a fellowship outing to the St. Louis Science Center and a viewing of “Jerusalem” in the OmniMax Theater on Saturday, March 1. We hope to see the 1 p.m. showing on that day. Tickets are $10 for adults. If you are interested in going with us, please contact Karla as soon as possible.

“Glory is the end; grace is the means to it. There can be no glory without grace.”
J. R. W. Stott

Bowling Fellowship

Bethesda Baptist has reserved some lanes at the Harvest Lanes Bowling Alley for Sunday, March 9. We have lanes from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. One of lanes will be designated a “child’s” lane with bumpers.

Please sign the sheet in the foyer indicating how many bowlers will be coming. This headcount will allow us to adjust the number of lanes we reserve.

Bethesda Congratulations for the Week

Happy Birthday wishes this week to:

* Marilynn Norvell – Monday
* Jeff Mueller – Saturday

This Sunday’s Message…

“The Day of the Lord and the Man of Lawlessness” from 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 and the Lord’s Supper

Deacon Ordination

We will ordain brother Steve Brook to the deacon ministry on Sunday, March 16 during our morning worship service. Please invite your friends and family to this special service.

Men’s Breakfast

Our next men’s breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, March 1. We will begin a new book study on that day. I encourage all of the men to participate. Yes, the hour is early for some of us. But by meeting together early your other Saturday plans are not interrupted.

We meet at 8 a.m. with a time of fellowship and then begin our study. Our time together ends at 9 a.m.

If you are considering attending our breakfast, please contact Pastor Bruce and let him know so he can have the correct number of books available.

Sermon Extras

The final phrase of verse 12 reads “of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ”. It is grammatically possible that Paul is referring to only one person, namely, our God who is named Jesus Christ. However, the insertion of the word “Lord” makes it more likely Paul has two persons in mind: God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. The former understanding would provide an additional proof of Jesus’ deity. However there are plenty of “proof texts” of that truth already!

By the way, the gent to the left preached 7 sermons on the text I used yesterday! Thomas Manton (1620-1677) was an English Puritan and a Presbyterian pastor in London. His works fill 22 volumes, most of them sermons. Spurgeon highly valued Manton and called his works “A mountain of sound theology.”

Since I am very much inferior to my brother Manton, I will move on in the text to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 this Sunday!

Directory Update

Brenda Koelling
206 Donner Pass, Apt. B
St. Peters 63376

Mission Trip

Julie Brandel has a two month mission trip to San Diego this summer. If you wish to help her financial, you may do so by writing a check to Bethesda and designating it towards Julie’s trip.

Pastor’s Postscript

The Lord is good and has blessed our church in a number of ways. We thank Him for making Bethesda what it is and continuing to grow our church. Let each of us pray that our Lord would make us worthy of His calling and fulfill every desire for goodness we have and every work of faith which we attempt!

And we will give Him all the glory for His abundant grace!