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Calendar Pg. 2
Missions News Pg. 2
Upcoming Events Pg. 3
April 2009
The Bethlehem
Message from the Pastor
This month we celebrate Easter and the resurrec-
tion of our Lord. For some reason, actually for many
different reasons, our attendance will swell to almost
double its normal size. What a great thing to see so
many people in church. What a tragic thing that it only
happens twice a year (weddings and funerals aside).
What is it that makes people come to church once or
twice a year? I never quite understood that sort of think-
ing, but I guess that is because I grew up going to church
every week. But I seriously wonder: why come once or
twice a year? To try to appease God in some manner?
To try to get on His good side or maybe stay on His
good side? Is it out of guilt or shame? Perhaps it is
pressure from other family or simply expectation of soci-
ety. Who knows—maybe for some it’s just an opportu-
nity to play dress up and look nice in front of others.
Don’t get me wrong—it’s great that these “extra”
people come, but if it is important enough to come once
or twice, why is it not important enough to come on a
regular basis? Personally, I wonder: if you don’t come
regularly, why then bother to come at all? Do these peo
Word
ple think they are letting God know that they are alive?
God knows that already.
This issue gets to the question of what the church
is all about and what membership in a church really
means. This is something our leadership will be discuss-
ing in the near future. I am convinced that our thoughts
and ideas on membership—our theology of membership
if you will—is very important for the life and vitality
and health of the church. Churches with lax membership
policies and procedures often show many symptoms as a
result of that. When you expect and ask very little of
people that is exactly what you will get. When the
church asks little and requires little of its members, she
has no right to groan and moan when there are not then
people willing to help out and take an active role in lead-
ership. When the church makes her own bed she must
then lie in it. Thankfully we serve a Savior who when
laid in the tomb did not stay there—He rose victorious
from the grave and gives new life to those who desire it.
Perhaps our church in a manner of speaking can do the
same?
God bless,
Pastor Dave
 April 2009
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 NA Meeting 4
6:30pm

5 Worship 6 7 8 9 Maundy Thurs- 10 NA Meeting 11

10:30am day Communion 6:30pm
Youth Group service 7pm
7-8:30pm

12 Easter break- 13 Veritas Team 14 Church Board 15 Pastoral Rela- 16 Bible Study 17 NA Meeting 18 Baby Shower
fast 9:30am Mtg. 7pm Meeting 7pm tions Committee 7pm 6:30pm for Karin Johnson
Worship 10:30am Mtg. 7pm 1pm
Youth Group
7-8:30pm

19 Worship 20 21 Youth Group 22 23 NO BIBLE 24 NA Meeting 25

10:30am 7-8:30pm STUDY 6:30pm

26 Worship 27 28 Youth Group 29 30 NO BIBLE

10:30am 7-8:30pm STUDY

The following is an updated list of our church mem-

bers and friends who unable to attend church on a
Missions News
regular basis. Let us remember them in our
thoughts and prayers and with a note.
May 9, 2009 from 11:00 to 1:00 - Kid's Craft
Mr. Lee Randall Mildred Carlson Day - we will be making Mother's Day Cards
10 Hall Street 669 Washington St. Apt. 105
Webster, MA 01570 Auburn, MA 01501 and Crafts - lunch will be served. Children
508-943-0847
of all ages are welcome. There will be a
Mrs. Doris Anderson Paul Faler sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall.
667 Washington Street #225 321 Massasoit Rd.
Auburn, MA 01501 Worcester, MA 01604
508-832-5239
Mrs. Claire Poirier
Mrs. Lillian Ekstrom 63 Hudson Ave.
Notre Dame Du Lac Grafton, MA 01519
555 Plantation Street Apt. 327
Worcester, MA 01608 Mrs. Lydia Anderson
508-852-5542 Whitney Place
P.O.Box 935
Mr. & Mrs. Carl Werme 85 Beumont Dr. Apt. 10
24 Briarwood Circle Northbridge, MA 01534
Worcester, MA01606
508-856-7232

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 Birthdays and Anniversaries
April Birthdays May Birthdays
Steven Koller 4/2
Martha Connor 4/3 Richard Lindstrom 5/3
Stephanie Stockwell 4/4 David Bartkus 5/4
Doris Anderson 4/08 Julia Rose Elbe 5/12
Joy Monopoli 4/09 Sophia Grace Elbe 5/12
Jeffrey Stafinski 4/09 Nicole Bourassa 5/16
Hannah Zoulias 4/11 Thomas Bourassa 5/16
Russell Lindquist 4/12 Deborah Stockwell 5/20
Bethany Johnson 4/13 Jeffrey Stockwell 5/20
Steven Nordstrom 4/17 Jillian Meenan 5/21
Karin Jacobson 4/18 Lillian Stafinski 5/24
Kasey Remington 4/19 Mandy Warren 5/24
David Pope 4/21 Hannah Bartkus 5/28
Steven Pope 4/21
Avery Shepard 4/23 May Anniversaries
Thomas Johnson 4/24
Sarah Stafinski 4/26
Marjorie Anderson 4/30 Karin and Paul Ciance 5/2
David and Elizabeth Pope 5/3
Marjorie and Roland Carlson 5/4
April Anniversaries
Janet and Thomas Clawson 5/11
David and Annette Ahlin 5/16
Paul & Lucyann Swenson 4/30
Gordon and Marion Forsberg 5/19
Catherine and Roy Lindstrom 5/28
Maundy Thursday Service—Thursday at 7pm.
A service of holy communion and reflection. A burglar broke into a Christian family's home one
night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valu-
ables, when he heard a strange voice echoing from the
dark saying, “Jesus is watching you.” He nearly jumped
Easter Sunrise Service—at Greenwood Park at
out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.
6:30am on Easter Sunday morning with our friends
After awhile, when he heard nothing more, he shook his
from Quinsig United Methodist.
head and continued. Just as he pulled the stereo out so
Easter Breakfast—starting at 9:30 on Easter Sunday. he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard,
There will be a light breakfast served (coffee, juice, muf- “Jesus is watching you…”
fins, etc.) before the worship service. Please plan to join Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, look-
us. ing for the source of the voice and finally, in the corner
of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.
“Did you say that?” he whispered to the parrot. “Yep,”
ATTENTION LADIES: You are invited to Karin John- the parrot squawked, “I'm just trying to warn you.” The
son's Baby Shower on Saturday, April 18th @ 1pm in the burglar relaxed. “Warn me, huh? And what is your
Church Vestry. name?” “Moses,” replied the bird. “Moses?” the bur-
glar laughed. “What kind of people would name a bird
Moses?” “The kind of people that would name a Rott-
weiler, Jesus.”

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The Bethlehem
Word

Bethlehem Covenant Church

46 Greenwood Street
P.O. Box 70629
Worcester, MA 01607
(508) 752—1459
www.bethlehemcc.org