Lamplighter

Vol. 7 Issue 1 January 2014

The

Our Church Staff

Gary Burden
Senior Pastor 919-631-6789

LIFELINE STUDIES STARTING JANUARY 12th - 6:00 PM

Adult Studies:
A continuation of the series on

Landon Orr
Assoc. Pastor of Discipleship & Evangelism 919-229-9379

David: A Man After Gods Heart and Protecting Your Family In A Technological World
We live in a rapidly advancing technological world. We are surrounded by wifi, cell phones, social media, and mobile devices. There are many advantages to the increase in technology, but there are also dangers to avoid. In this study, we will look at a biblical response to technology, and then look at ways we can safeguard our families from potential hazards.

Chastity Comeau
Admin. AssistantFinances

Pat Baucom
Admin. Assistant - Publications

Youth Study: True U: Is the Bible Reliable?

During a 10 week study, our youth will be looking at facts and insights from philosophy, cosmology and biology to help them engage others about the reliability of the Bible. For centuries, people have questioned biblical inconsistencies. True U examines ancient texts and archeological evidence to build a compelling case for the accuracy of Scripture and why the Bible is more trustworthy than ever.

This Months Highlights

January Highlights Note from the Pastor Note from Landon Upcoming Events January Calendar Financials Extended Session Birthdays Anniversaries Bd. of Directors Letter p. 1 p. 1 p. 2 p. 3 p. 4 p. 5 p. 5 p. 5 p. 5 p. 6

All Things New

Then He Who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new (Revelation 21:5). Let each word from our great Lord sink into your heart. He Who speaks, speaks from His position of authority His throne. And note that it is Him, not we, that does this kind of making. Furthermore, its not just a few things that are made new by His hand, but ALL things. Finally, His kind of new doesnt eventually grow old. How, then, can we link up with this God Who makes all things new? If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). All we who have called upon Jesus Christ for salvation are in Christ and therefore can claim this great word. Even in the contradictory contexts in which we livewhere all things around us are subject to the aging, declining process (called the Fall)Christ is doing a redemptive work of restoration. Although it will not be finalized until the time announced in our verse in Revelation, we (as His) are a work in progress. But what does newness look like? Whats the end game? That answer is simple. It looks like Jesus. He being formed more and more in me is the only new thing that qualifies for genuine newness.
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As we enter this new year together, my prayer is that we each, and we collectively, allow Him Who rightfully occupies the thronenot only of the universe, but also of the universe of my lifeto freely do whatever it takes to renew us. The more He renews us, making Jesus more real through us, the more we act like Jesus, talk like Jesus, plan and play like Jesus. And thats really what the world needs to seenot more of us, but more of Jesus. Ask yourself the serious question: Have I truly trusted Jesus alone for my salvation? If so, am I now trusting Him to do in and through me what only He can do? Then we can all be in a position for the God of new things to guide us boldly into and through this new year, facing gracefully and joyfully all the new challenges He has on His agenda for us. As a church we face the real challenge of trusting Him to use us in repaying the loan on our new building (now four and a half years old) as well as supporting our ongoing ministry action budget for this year. We have new opportunities for reaching more and more folks with the saving Gospel of Christ, and for discipling them for His ministry. We will be challenged to move forward with new ministries by faith, such as the potential WEEOnes preschool ministry. And only the Lord knows what He plans to place before us. So, Happy New Year? Im thinking more along the lines of Holy New Year. I find that the more newer I grow in holiness the more I find new happinessactually (and better) I find new joyfulness!

Over the next few months I plan on spending more time working with Bethesdas Mens Ministry. Manhood is something that often gets neglected in our churches today. The tendency is to ignore the need to raise up strong Christian men or over emphasize masculine qualities, telling men that they must portray certain characteristics (that often involve grunting) if they wish to be a real man. My goal is to work together with the mens council to develop a robust ministry, that raises up men who can lead their families as we continue on in our Gospel work. In light of this, I am going to use my next few articles to articulate the primary characteristics of manhood. I am pulling this material from a paper I wrote about a year ago. This version is abridged; if you would like to read the unabridged version, please let me know! This month contains a brief introduction after which I will flesh out the individual points. So, then, what does biblical manhood look like? In Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, John Piper gives biblical masculinity three main characteristics: leadership, provision, and protection. Men do these things as they relate to women. However, what should men do when they are not relating to women? A biblical manhood born out of scripture certainly includes right relationship with women, but also clearly describes what God generally expects from men whether they are with women or without women. Turning to scripture to find a definition of biblical manhood logically starts at one place: creation. It is logical to assume that the account of creation and fall in Genesis 1-3 should be sufficient, in itself, to develop a robust definition of manhood. At the end of Genesis 1, God creates mankind, and according to the specific account of creation in Genesis 2, creates man first. God then places man in the Garden with two specific purposes: to work it and to keep it. In Genesis 3, after the fall, God seeks out man to answer for both man and womans sins, as they shamefully hide from their Lord. Once God expels man and woman from the garden, it becomes mans responsibility to provide food, and he will labor with the ground for the rest of his existence to do so. These elements give great insight into what God expects of man, and what biblical manhood should look like. Genesis 1-3 creates the foundation for biblical manhood and its most important responsibilities: being leaders; being worshipful, cultivating, cultural workers; being protectors; being bearers of primary responsibility; and being providers.

Gary Burden

Building on the Past for the Future

You should have received a special letter recently from the pastor and your Board of Directors outlining the next exciting phase of our current building fundretiring the debt. We still have a long way to go, but with God all things are possible. And the joy is ours in the participating. If you have been giving toward the indebtedness through the His Vision-Our Mission campaign, please continue! And if you are a newer face in the Bethesda family, we hope you will jump right in and experience the joy as we all assume our stewardship responsibilities. The sooner we fulfill our payment obligation, the sooner we can move forward with more mission/ministry opportunities. We hope to roll out the next phase of the campaign very soon. So be on the alert!

Landon Orr

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SUNDAY MORNING SERMON SERIES

The Church: One Body United on Purpose (The Book of Ephesians) The pastor is looking forward to beginning this new Sunday morning sermon series on January 5, 2014. Pauls letter to the Ephesians is both profound and practical. As we journey through this letter we will scale the heights of Gods glory in the exaltation of Christ, and we will traverse the valleys of real life with practical application for the individual, the family, and the church. We will be encouraged as a church in our worship, in our witness, in our work, and in our warfare. We are indeed One Body United on Purpose. Read through the Book of Ephesians over the holidays, and come prepared for a blessing from Gods Word!

2013 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering For Foreign Missions

National Goal: $175 Million Bethesdas Goal $5 Thousand Are weall of usup to the challenge to do what is required of us as believers in Christ? This isnt your average give-a-few-bucks-onSunday-morning, pray-every-now-and-then kind of challenge. This is giving your everything so people can know the love of Jesus.

MEN - MARK YOUR CALENDAR Bethesda Mens Breakfast January 11, 2014 8:00 AM - Fellowship Hall
Bethesda men of all ages are encouraged to attend this meeting. Points of discussion will be: interest in a Baptist Mens Organization and a discussion pertaining to the Disaster Relief Trailer.

We will continue receiving this offering through the month of January.

Sunday, January 5th: Un-decorating the Worship Center 6:00 PM

Your help will be needed to un-decorate and store the Christmas decorations in the Worship Center and give it a fresh new look for the coming year.

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Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday

8 AWANA Deacons Meeting 7:00 PM and Weekly Wed. Schedule 15 AWANA and Weekly Wed. Schedule

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11 Bethesda Mens Breakfast 8:00 AM

Breakfast Fellowship Weekly Sunday Service

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Weekly Sunday Service

Board of Directors Mtg. 6:30 PM

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22 AWANA and Weekly Wed. Schedule

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Weekly Sunday Service Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Church Council Mtg. 4:30 PM 26 27 28

29 AWANA and Weekly Wed. Schedule

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Weekly Sunday Service

Sunday Schedule
9:15 am .................................................................... Bible Study Fellowship 10:30 am ......................................................... Morning Worship Celebration 6:00 pm.......................................... LifeLine...Get Connected (Small Groups)

Wednesday Night Schedule

6:30pm ........................................................... Awana, Youth Bible Study 7:00 pm ...................................................... Adult Prayer and Bible Study Choir Rehearsal

Student LifeLine SPK CHOIR (Shout Praises Kids) - Grades 1-5

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JANUARY EXTENDED SESSION AND KIDS CHURCH

Sunday, Jan. 5 - AM Birthdays Landon Orr Sarah Murphy Dorothy Langston Elana Sasser Robin Keefe Nathan McLamb Darlene Holt Andrew Tart Andrew Lee Nicole Langdon Jordan Murphy Jessica Peedin Sondra Gatewood Louise Gilmore Anniversaries Mac & Vickie Beasley Landon & Sara Orr Chris & Sharon Johnson Larry & Ann Harper Husel & Linda Lee 5th 9th 20th 25th 27th 1st 2nd 3rd 3rd 10th 13th 16th 17th 17th 22nd 23rd 26th 30th 30th Babies: Kathleen McLamb & Cherilyn Murphy 2s: Heather Henry & Tori Smith 3s/4s: Julie Brueggen & Lewis Chong K-3rd Kids Church Frances Burden & Robin Hotakey Sunday, Jan. 5 - PM Sharon Johnson & Sharon Levin Wednesday, Jan. 8 Brittany Arant & Ginger Starling Sunday, Jan. 12 - AM Babies: Brigitte & Larkin Creech 2s: Missy Urban & Tara Baker 3s/4s: Mandy & Brianna Windham K-3rd Kids Church Ginger Starling & Angel Duncan Sunday, Jan. 12 PM Jane & Johnnie Gatlin Wednesday, Jan. 15 Brittany Arant & Ginger Starling Sunday, Jan. 19- AM Babies: Sondra Gatewood & Jane Gatlin 2s: Brittany & Andrew Arant 3s/4 s: Wendy & Chris Gatewood K-3rd Kids Church Terry Gatewood & David Duncan Sunday, Jan. 19 - PM Nicole & Seth Langdon Wednesday, Jan. 22 Brittany Arant & Ginger Starling Sunday, Jan 26 - AM Babies: Faye Wells & Jan Culpepper 2s: Wendy Beasley & Sara Orr 3s/4s: Kristol & Nick Flanigan K-3rd Kids Church Leigh & Will Smith Sunday, Jan. 26 - PM Sarah Jay & Sondra Gatewood Wednesday, Jan. 29 Brittany Arant & Ginger Starling

Sherman & Darlene Holt 26th

Facts & Figures for December 2013

Date S.S. AM Worship 143 141 129 413 138 Budget Offering 4,306.42 6,741.88 5,198.32 16,246.62 5,415.54 His Vision Our Mission 1,640.00 1,480.00 590.00 3,710.00 1,237.00

Nov. 24 Dec. 1 Dec. 8 Total Avg.

95 106 82 283 94

Average Attendance & Offerings for December 2012 Avg. 110 170 6,094.31 1,564.00

Preschool Regis. Desk Diane Duncan

Dear Bethesda Family and Friends, For the past four and a half years we have been privileged to enjoy the benefits of our new church building. Our first three- year capital campaignLet Us Arise and Buildbegan before the building project began. And as of this past November, we completed a three year commitment toward debt retirement under the banner of our current campaign: His VisionOur Mission. Your faithfulness in giving to this campaign over and above your regular church tithes and offerings is a testimony of your commitment to Evangelize the Lost, Edify the Saved, and Exalt the LordBethesdas Mission Statement. Furthermore, you have supported many of our campaign fundraisers which have netted several thousand dollars that have helped reduce the principle amount of the debt. To all of you we extend our sincere appreciation. But with a 1.2 million dollar debt, we certainly must continue our commitment toward ministry by continuing to retire our building debt. As good stewards, we want to retire this debt as soon as possible so as to engage in more mission/ministry opportunities. Buildings are not a substitute for our own personal ministry and outreach, but they are a valuable tool. And we have certainly experienced the practical benefits of our new facilitiesa great place to gather for worship, fellowship, and equipping ourselves for ministry in our needy world as we serve our Wonderful Savior! So whats next? Early next year we plan to present our next phase of commitment to the campaign. We will enjoy an I Love My Church banquet where we can gather to give thanks to our Great God, and where we can commit to joyfully fulfill our privileged responsibility to give toward the building debtwhich in reality, is to give toward even greater mission/ministry opportunities for now and for future generations! So, be on the alert for the upcoming announcement. In the meanwhile, please continue giving toward the building campaignHis VisionOur Mission. This is critical during this interim time. And continue to faithfully give your tithes and offerings to the church. Remember, a sizeable portion of our church budget goes toward the building loan. And also, why not consider a generous end-of-the-year gift toward the building fund! Would you begin now to pray about your part in His ministry regarding the building indebtedness? The Lord knows exactly what He wants you to trust Him for! Thats where the blessings of faith-building giving start. Just trust and obey the Lord! If you are new to the Bethesda fellowship, you are equally a part of the family. If you havent yet given toward this building ministry need, now would be a great time to begin. Consider this your invitation to be a vital part of His VisionOur Mission. As we begin a new year together, lets begin with a renewed commitment to our wonderful Lord and to His church! By His Grace and for His Glory! Pastor Burden and the Bethesda Board of Directors