CONNECT BETHEL CHURCH
WELCOME TO BETHEL Welcome to Bethel! We are so glad to have you here! As you look through this Connect Bulletin, we trust that you will quickly find that Bethel has something for you and your family. Our hope is that you will take the next step into our community and get involved. As you do, you will begin to see that Bethel is more than just a Sunday service, it is a family of everyday people following Christ to bring hope and change to the world one life at a time.
WWW.BETHELSARNIA.COM
SEPTEMBER 2019
COMING THIS MONTH
BETHEL NEWS RIDE TO CHURCH Transportation is available for Sunday morning services. To arrange for transportation, please call 519-542-7731 and leave a message, BEFORE 8AM on Sunday morning on the van voice message. The van will then be by your place between 9:30AM and 10:15AM for pick-up.
NEW MEMBERS INDUCTION We will be welcoming new members to Bethel on Sunday, September 15th as part of the morning service. We are thankful for each new member.
BECOME AN OFFICIAL MEMBER Do you desire to become an official member at Bethel? A membership class will be held on Tuesday October 1st at 7:00PM in the Community Room led by Pastor Tim Gibb. If you are not able to make the class, speak to the church office. Sign-up at the Connect Desk or call 519-542-7731.
HEART & SOUL ART PAINTING
COMING IN 2018
Heart and Soul is accepting all levels of practicing artists. We meet the first Wednesday of each month, beginning Wednesday September 4th at 9:30AM, to share ideas and to express our individualism in different mediums. Our inspiration comes from our love of God and our love of painting. If you are interested, please contact Gretchen Knapp (gdknapp81@gmail.com).
KIDS / STUDENT MINISTRIES CHILDREN’S MINISTRY NURSERY There is a volunteer staffed nursery open for babies 0-2 years (down main floor hallway). TODDLER 2-4 years are welcome in our toddler class (upstairs). We play, sing songs, read a story, eat a snack and make a craft. PRESCHOOL JK and SK children are welcome in our preschool class (upstairs). ELEMENTARY Grades 1-5 are welcome in our elementary class (upstairs).
STUDENT MINISTRY RESCUE Rescue is our program for grades 5-8. Rescue exists to create a fun place for pre-teens to learn about God and build relationships while having a fun time. You can look us up on Facebook by searching Rescue @ Bethel Sarnia (group).
Sept 18th Kick Off Sept 25th Rescue
REVO Revo is our high school program that is geared toward grades 8-12. We meet on Thursday nights from 7-9pm. Revo is a great place for students to belong to a youth group family while growing in their relationship with God. You can look us up on Facebook by searching Revo @ Bethel Sarnia (group) and follow us on Instagram @revosarnia
Sept 12th Parent Night Sept 19th Kick Off
Sept 26th Service Night
MEET KEVIN & JULIA GARRATT Kevin and Julia met at the University of Toronto and first went to China in 1984 as English teachers. Over the next 30 years they lived in 7 different Chinese cities and worked in various capacities including teaching English (ESL), starting consulting companies, a Training Centre, Translation Co. and a Family Centre. They also operated an orphanage in conjunction with Chinese authorities, founded a bilingual kindergarten as well as working with both House and Government churches. In 2007, they moved to the Chinese border city of Dandong on the China - North Korea border and started Peter’s Coffee House. They participated in aid projects in North Korea since 2008. On August 4, 2014, they were “arrested” by the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) – the FBI of China - and charged with spying and espionage. They spent the next 6 months in isolation being interrogated by 3 investigators up to 6 hours a day. Then Kevin spent the next 19+ months in a prison with 900 other inmates while Julia was placed in quasi house arrest - bail pending trial. They were detained for 775 days in China. Julia was released in August 2016 and Kevin, after being pronounced guilty of spying and espionage, was deported on September 15, 2016 - because of the prayers of many thousands around the world. The Prime Minster of Canada, Justin Trudeau upon their release, in a statement to the press, said; “We remain deeply impressed by the grace and resilience of the Garratt family, especially Kevin and Julia.” Their dramatic story is documented in their 285-page memoir, Two Tears on the Window, released in November 2018. The fastpaced descriptive and riveting account of their 775-day prison ordeal (2014-2016) at the hands of the Chinese Ministry of State Security is told as a parallel journey, artfully drawing readers into their experiences in a way that is both enlightening and deeply human. The book received all five star reviews from Goodreads and Amazon and is available in softcover, kindle and kobo versions. Now based in New Westminster, British Columbia, Kevin and Julia continue to share their hope story and work in restricted access nations including Myanmar, North Korea and restricted areas of northeast India. They assist with community development, social enterprise, and encourage pastors and national believers through training, mentoring and teaching on spiritual formation. They have four adult children and three grandchildren. Kevin and Julia Garratt will be our special guest speakers at Bethel on Sunday September 29th at the 10:30AM service. Their book, Two Tears in the Window, will be available for purchase that Sunday.
COMING IN OCTOBER
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES In addition to these opportunities on the left, the following are on-going ministries in our community that are looking for volunteer assistance. Neighbourlink and The Pregnancy Centre are two local agencies that Bethel supports financially. Missions Thrift Store is a ministry that Bethel supports in promotion and encouraging volunteer participation.
NEIGHBOURLINK
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
Neighbourlink provides an opportunity to be a meaningful part of our community through love in action. There are various ways to help the ministry of Neighbourlink: by providing rides for seniors to medical appointments, doing yard work or small maintenance / repair jobs, assisting with grocery shopping, delivering beds and other practical needs, and work in the office. For more information or to volunteer, please call 519-336-5465.
PREGNANCY OPTIONS & SUPPORT CENTRE The Pregnancy Options & Support Centre provides support and counsel to women who find themselves pregnant and also to dads. Support also comes in the form of assisting with practical needs. There are many different ways to volunteer. For available opportunities to help or more information on this ministry, please call 519-383-7115.
MISSION THRIFT STORE SARNIA Mission Thrift Store Sarnia has been operating for the past 20 years by a dedicated group of volunteers. Volunteers are needed to help in receiving donated items and managing the store. All the net revenue is dedicated to the joint ministry of BFM Foundation (Canada) and Bible League Canada in getting Bibles into the hands of those who do not know the Gospel. For information or to volunteer, call 519-337-1614.
FROM ME TO YOU
By Pastor Tim
I trust that each of you had a wonderful summer season and look forward to a new fall season.
YEAR OF THE BIBLE We set 2019 as the Year of the Bible. In the first part of 2019, I took several Sundays to teach on how the Bible came to be, why we accept it as the authoritative Word of God, and answering some objections to the Bible as God’s Word. All of these messages are available through our Bethel website (www. bethelsarnia.com). This September, I will be addressing some cultural issues in relation to the Bible. These teachings will include: What is true Bible salvation?, the Bible and the issue of slavery (often one of today’s objections to the Bible), and the Bible and the issue of sexuality. These teachings will speak right to the questions many have today as it relates to the Scripture. I trust these messages will be a blessing and will help us give a defence for the hope we have in the Gospel.
40 DAYS IN THE WORD In addition, as part of our Year in the Bible, this October we will be launching a 40 Day Church Campaign called “40 Days in the Word”. This Church Campaign will include Sunday messages, a daily devotional and
small groups. These teachings sessions are designed to help you love the Word, learn the Word and live the Word. Teachings will include: Why I can trust the Bible, How to study a Bible passage, Understanding a Bible text, and Integrating God’s Word into your life. Make plans now to be a part of this exciting series.
PASTORAL CARE
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Merle & Shelly Hazzard C - E
We want to welcome all the new international students to Bethel! I want to encourage each new student to Sarnia to make Bethel their home church while away from home. I also want to encourage our church family to do all that we can to make the international students in our city and church feel welcome and at home.
FAMILY FUN DAY Our annual Community Outreach, Family Fun Day, is happening again this year on Saturday September 21st. Each year we see over 2,500 people attend this event (see pages 6 & 7). It is such a great way to show our love for our community of Sarnia. Please mark this day on your calendar and be available to help us this day. This is our event. Each volunteer is needed and valued.
I am very thankful for the following couples who are helping our staff with pastoral care in our church. Each couple has been given a list of regular attenders at Bethel (based on last names). They are here for you in pastoral care support: Darwin & Angela Armstrong A - B, O Doug & Joan Jibb F - K Ken & Marti Steenwyk L - N Steve & Jennifer Wolfe P - S Perry & Sandy Routley T - Z
BETHEL PODCAST New this fall to Bethel will be a Bethel Podcast that will be coming out this September. These podcasts will include encouraging teachings from Pastor Tim as well as inspiring testimonies from guest speakers, our missionaries and members at Bethel. A great listen while you are working, driving to work, out for a walk, or cleaning the house. Looking forward to a great Fall season at Bethel, Pastor Tim Gibb
SEPTEMBER 2019 Sun SUN
Mon MON
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2
10:30AM Service Pastor Tricia Gibb
LABOUR DAY
Tue TUE
Wed WED
Thu THUR
FRI Fri
Sat SAT
3
4
5
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
20
21
9:30AM Prayer GroupSanctuary
9:30AM Heart & Soul Paint Group-Lobby
2:00PM Church Picnic at Suncor Park
NO EVENING SERVICE
8 Family Service
9
10:30AM Service Pastor Tim Gibb Lambton College Student Lunch
9:30AM Prayer GroupSanctuary
6:30PM Service Pastor Tim Gibb
6:00PM Young Adults@ Dave & Gwen Bette
15
16
17
6:30PM Service Pastor Tim Gibb
6:00PM Young Adults@ Dave & Gwen Bette
6:30PM Bible Study & Hymn Sing-Prayer Room
7:00PM Bible Study“Grace & Forgiveness”
7:00PM REVO-Kickoff
22
23
24
25
26
10:30AM Service Pastor Tim Gibb New Members Induction Service
7:00PM REVO Parent Night 9:30AM Prayer GroupSanctuary
18
19
6:00PM Rescue
10:30AM Service Pastor Tim Gibb
9:30AM Prayer GroupSanctuary
6:00-8:00PM Family Fun Day Set Up
27
FAMILY FUN DAY 12-5PM (Volunteers arrive at 9:45AM)
28
6:00PM Rescue 6:30PM Documentary on the Movie “Unplanned”
6:00PM Young Adults@ Dave & Gwen Bette
29
30
6:30PM Movie “Unplanned”
6:00PM Young Adults@ Dave & Gwen Bette
10:30AM Service Kevin & Julie Garratt Communion
6:30PM Bible Study & Hymn Sing-Prayer Room
7:00PM Bible Study“Grace & Forgiveness”
7:00PM REVO
OUR PASTORS PASTOR TIM & KIM GIBB
Lead Pastor pastortim@bethelsarnia.com
PASTOR TRICIA GIBB Connections Pastor tricia@bethelsarnia.com
PASTORS KEITH & PATRICIA PATRICK
PASTOR JENNIFER WINKLMEIER
Pastoral Care pastorkeith@bethelsarnia.com
PASTOR BROCK WRIGHT Youth Pastor brock@bethelsarnia.com
Children’s Pastor jennifer@bethelsarnia.com
CONTACT US
1565 London Line Sarnia, Ontario N7T 7H2
/bethelsarnia 519.542.7731 bethel@bethelsarnia.com
WATCH A SERVICE NEED A RIDE DOWNLOAD LIVE ONLINE TO CHURCH? THE BETHEL APP Can’t make it to church on Sunday morning? You can watch the service LIVE online at http://www.bethelsarnia.com/live or through the Bethel App.
Need a ride to Church on Sunday? Just call the church office before 8:30AM Sunday morning & follow the instructions to leave a message.