Worship Announcements

• On November 30th, the Bethany Christmas Card Postal Service will be in place in the fellowship hall. Skip the stamps and leave your cards for your Bethany family members and if you choose, a small donation that will go to our next Friend of Barnabas Mission Team. This card exchange area will stay in place until Sunday, January 6.
• Hanging of the Greens – Fellowship Hall. Come out and catch the Christmas spirit on Sunday evening November 30th at 5:00 pm. as we decorate our Chrismon Tree, play some Christmas song trivia, sing a few Christmas tunes and begin our celebration of the birth of Jesus! Pizza and salad dinner with ice cream sundaes for dessert will be provided. This is an event for ALL ages. No bah, humbug! It’s a time of joy and fun! Hope to see YOU there!
• Please plan to attend our Bethany Family Christmas program on December 14th during our regular service time. “Christmas Present” will include a shortened version of the Christmas Carol with ole’ Scrooge himself, as well as special music, the retelling of the Christmas story and more. Plan to arrive a few minutes early as our Praise and Worship band will perform some favorite Christmas tunes! Following the program, stay for a wonderful finger food brunch as we celebrate together. Food sign ups for the brunch can be found in the Welcome Center. What a great opportunity to invite a friend or neighbor, share the joy of the season and allow them to experience the gift of Jesus’ love for them!

Dates to Know

• Church Office Closed – November 26th and November 27th for Thanksgiving
• Hanging of the Greens – Sunday, November 30th at 5:00 pm
• Advent Book Study, Monday, December 1st at 10:00 am and 6:30 pm
• Laura Out of the Office, Monday, December 1st
• Young at Hearts, Tuesday, December 2nd at Noon, Christmas Gift Exchange – Mrs. Rowe’s, Staunton
• Choir Practice, Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:30 pm
• Blood Drive, Friday, December 5th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm – Fellowship Hall

• Advent Book Study – Somehow, someway, Advent is just a week away! During the Advent Season we will be reading Matt Rawle’s “The Redemption of Scrooge” as we journey through the Advent Season together! The study will be on Mondays December 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd at 10 am AND 6:30 pm. Pickup your book in the Welcome Center and mark your name off the list. If you would like to donate $10 for a book you may, but this is not required.
• Thank You! The Children’s Ministry team would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our congregation for your generous support. Together, we raised $590 for our Fruit of the Spirit Service Project! We are grateful for your kindness and partnership as we help our children learn to serve with love.
• We are less than 10 days away from being able to come together as a community to spark a movement of compassion! Sign up for our Winter Blood Drive and be the beacon of hope that brings joy and life to those in need this Christmas season. The Blood Drive will be on Friday December 5th from 9 am through 2 pm. There is a Sign-Up sheet in the Welcome Center OR you can sign up at Bethany UMC December 5th Blood Drive.
• There is a sign-up sheet for Ringing the Bell for the Salvation Army on Saturday, December 6th from 10 am to 6 pm at the Shenandoah Valley Heritage Market. The 2:00 – 3:00 pm slot is the only time slot left open. If you can’t do this day, please let Lori Mooney know and you can choose another day and time.
• The “Pew-ew” challenge is a get to know your neighbors sitting on your pew at church. Get together with your pew partners and purchase a sleeve or box of diapers. Please put these on the table in the front hall. For every sleeve or box donated, a pew will get a bow, and we want all 33 pews to have a bow. These diapers will be donated to our Food Pantry neighbors that need them. According to our diaper buying guru, Carrie Ashton, Walmart (Parent’s Choice diapers) has the best price for most diapers. Most used sizes are 5, 6, and 7. The ribbons are placed on the pews in a random fashion because we don’t know which group of people have donated. So, to remedy this mystery keep the donations coming! There are only 10 sleeves/boxes needed to have a ribbon on every pew!
• “Happy Birthday, Jesus” project with the Gideons. In the front hall, there is a small Christmas tree on the table. If you are making a donation, please place the money in the box. Take a purple ornament and write your name on it and hang it on the tree. Every $5 donated buys 3 small testaments to be handed out by the Gideons. Please make your donations to help this worthwhile group today.
• Young At Hearts Annual Christmas Party, Tuesday, December 2nd at 12:00 pm at Rowes Restaurant in Staunton. The cost will be $27 for the 3-meat buffet, salad, pie and a drink. Please bring a wrapped gift for the gift exchange. If you need transportation, please call Leslie at 540-470-8603. There is a sign up sheet in the Welcome Center. Please be prepared to pay Leslie by check or cash on December 2nd.
• The Weyers Cave Community is having its annual Christmas Parade on December 14th and the suggestion came out that Bethany could put together a float for the parade. We have plenty of stuff to use for a manger backdrop or a frame of a gingerbread house. If you are interested in heading this up please let Laura Lucas know in the office.

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