Lamplighter

Vol. 5 Issue 6 June 2012

The

Our Church Staff

Gary Burden
Senior Pastor 919-631-6789

BETHESDA NIGHT OUT Connecting with our neighbors

Wednesday Evenings this Summer June 6 August 22 6:30 PM

Landon Orr
Minister to Students 919-229-9379

MOST WEDNESDAYS (3 Options)

Debbe Langdon
Music Director/Pianist 919-410-0271

Join deacon-led teams walking designated neighborhoods meeting, greeting, praying Join teams at designated local parksmeeting, greeting, making new friends Or, join the team at church praying for outreach groups and for other prayer needs (Note: no childcare at church these nights)

Chastity Comeau
Admin. Assistant - Finances

Pat Baucom
Admin. Assistant - Publications

OTHER WEDNESDAYS Music Ministry (All Invited7:00 PM)

This Months Highlights

Bethesda s Night Out Note from the Pastor Announcements Calendar A Note from Debbe Financial Page Extended Session Birthdays Anniversaries VBS & A Note from Landon p. 1 p. 2 p. 3 p. 4 p. 5 p. 5 p. 5 p. 6 p. 6 P. 6

June 13 July 11 August 8

Brian Center, Clayton Barbour Court, Smithfield Clayton Senior Center

Vacation Bible SchoolJune 20 No ActivitiesJuly 4th SummerFest Business MeetingAugust 15 Special Notes: Although we encourage participants in outreach events to wear special Bethesda t-shirts, its not necessary to have these shirts to participate. Neighborhood, park, and music ministry locations will be printed in weekly bulletins.

THINK OUTREACH!

The Lamplighter

Page 2

Our oldest son Timothy pastors the Eau Claire Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Co lumbia, SC. His latest church newsletter article (summarized) gets to the heart of the value of maintaining healthy relationships in the church. A good read for all churches.

Relationships are Messy...and Worth It

Before moving here we were part of a newer church plant in Garner, NC. And before that we were at a larger established church in Cary, NC. In each of these places we developed significant relationships with others. Some of those were cordial working relationships, some were never more than casual acquaintances, and others grew into deep and lasting friendship. But in all those places and in all those connections, one thing was very clear: relationships are messy. Each one of us carries around certain ideals about what our various relationships ought to do for us and what they ought to look like. And yet each one (from the most intimate to the most casual) will eventually and inevitably disappoint us. We had hoped that this friend would be a better listener and show more empathy with our situation. We expect our spouse to see our quirks as endearing, not irritating. This person just seems to complain too much. And that one is too opinionated and bossy. No matter how we look at it, all relationships move quickly from ideal to messy. Why is that? Its because all earthly relationships are made up of sinful, self-centered people. Thats the bottom line... Just because these relationships are fostered within the context of a church doesnt change the score. We are still broken people who are called to love, and support, and serve, and live with, and work with, and bear with, and worship with other broken people. Thats the reality. But its also true (and this is the even deeper reality) that we are bound to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ... Each one of us, as those who have embraced Christ as Savior and Lord, is united to Christ. And so that means that we are also, by virtue to our common union to Christ, united to each other. We could not get any distance from another Christian if we wanted to. And remember, we will be spending eternity together. So the work of cultivating healthy, loving, mutually-serving relationships here and now will bear eternal benefits there and then... Jesus certainly knew the joy, yes, but also the challenges of close relationships. Imagine what it must have been

like to spend about three years with the same twelve meneating, sleeping, walking, talking, living in close quarters with one another. Do you think there were ever interpersonal conflicts among the disciples? (The gospel accounts tell us there certainly were). But what about Jesus?... How easy it would have been to turn and yell at them with some sharp, cutting words. Or to roll His eyes, throwing up His hands, and dismissively walk away. Was Jesus ever tempted to speak judgmentally of one person to another in confidence? Dont forget that one of those disciples was Judas, no less, the one whom Jesus knew really was a thief and a betrayer! Yet in every instance Jesus refused the easy path of succumbing to relational temptations. Temptations to write people off, to clam up rather than to gently address conflicts, to get something off His chest with a few choice jabs, to gossip about how so-and-so had slighted Him, to quickly become defensive and hurt when He was challenged. Jesus may have been tempted in every one of these ways at some point but, praise the Lord, He refused to give in and remained without sin. So what does this mean for us? Two things. First, Jesus really does understand the challenges of relationships. He knows what its like to live with overly sensitive people, or argumentative people, or passiveaggressive people... And second, He richly gives us mercy and grace to help us when tempted. Because Jesus remained sinless, He opened the way for us to have access to God through Him. He became our perfect High Priest as well as our spotless sacrifice. So now He invites us, those who are saved by Him and united to Him, to come boldly to Him for help. His very presence, His throne, is characterized by grace! When relationships get messy, He offers us bountiful resources to move toward one another in love. This is what our life together in Christ is meant to look like. Not some pretended ideal of people who never have any problems with each other, but rather broken people who are learning to love and serve other broken people in the power of Christ. Do you expect Him to be at work in your difficult-to-love acquaintances? Do you expect Him to be at work in you? Do you honestly expect to see him bring about supernaturally-restored relationships? Our High Priest has committed Himself, at great cost, to the relationships within His Church. They may not always be neat and tidy in this life. But theyre well worth it!

The Lamplighter

Page 3

ALL MEN NEEDED

Sunday Night, June 3 - What goes better with a campfire than s'mores and hotdogs? Terry Gatewoods stories! Come out for an old fashion campout featuring our own Terry Gatewood sharing his gift of storytelling! You will also have a chance to register for VBS. So bring the family, friends, and neighbors. We will meet behind the church at 6pm. (No sleeping bags please - we won't really campout.) Sunday Night, June 10 - Kid's Movie Night MondayFriday, June 18 -22VBS Sunday Night, June 24 - VBS Celebration at Johnston County Wildlife Center. Special entertainment!

Playground Preparation Saturday, June 9th7:30 AM

We need men to help with moving the playground, installing fence, pouring concrete and laying mulch. Please bring wheel barrows, pitch forks, hoes, shovels, rakes, post hole diggers and cordless drills. Sign Up sheet will be provided on the foyer table. Also, we need someone to spray Round-Up in the play area and to pressure wash the play equip-

SUMMER SUNDAY NIGHT SERIES July 1August 19 6:00 PM Selected Sessions from The American Heritage Series and The Truth Project Series Powerful, and Timely for Our Times!

Sunday Nights in July

We will start a special study for kids K-5th grade on Sunday July 1, Jesus, The One and Only Part 2. If you would like your child to participate please let Wendy Gatewood know by June 15 so we can ensure there are enough materials for all students.

The Lamplighter

Page 4

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
1

Friday
2

Saturday

Art of Marriage

3 Brkfst. Fellowship Weekly Sunday Service 10 Weekly Sunday Service Graduates Sunday 17 Weekly Sunday Service Fathers Day No Evening Service 24 Weekly Sunday Service Church Picnic Johnston County Wildlife

5 Deacons Meeting 7:00 PM

9
Playground Preparation 7:30 AM

Bethesda Night Out

11

12

13 Bethesda Night Out

14

15

16

Music Ministry At 18 19 20 21 22 23

Vacation Bible School 6:008:15 PM

25 26 27 28 29 30

Bethesda Night Out

Weekly Sunday Schedule

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

Weekly Wednesday Schedule

6:30pm........................................................... Awana, Youth Bible Study 6:45 pm ...................................................... Adult Prayer and Bible Study Choir Rehearsal

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

The Lamplighter

Page 5

Summer-time what does that word bring to mind for you? Warmer weather. schools out. front porch rockers vacations catching fireflies flip-flops Vacation Bible School picnics baseball games fire-works FUN!!! Summer often brings a change in our daily and weekly schedules, and Bethesda Summer 2012 will certainly offer some new opportunities for outreach and ministry. As youve heard, we will be shifting our Wednesday evening focus from inside our doors to out in the community. The choir will be leading our outreach once/month by leading a Song Service in three assisted living centers. But dont be fooled into thinking these are only for the choir ---- actually, we invite everyone to join us! Bring your family to share some sweet Bethesda fellowship, and enjoy lifting our voices together in song. Mark your calendars for:

JUNE EXTENDED SESSION AND KIDS CHURCH

Sunday, June 3 - AM Babies: Kathleen McLamb & Cherilyn Murphy 2s: Heather Henry & Tori Smith 3s/4s: Wendy Beasley & Diane Duncan K-3rd Kids Church Frances Burden & Angel Duncan Sunday, June 3 - PM Sharon Johnson & Sharon Levin Wednesday, June 6
No Childcare

Sunday, June 17 - AM Babies: Sondra Gatewood & Jane Gatlin 2s: Diana Lee & Sis Godwin 3s/4 s: Leigh Smith & Jennifer Harrison K-3rd Kids Church Terry Gatewood & David Duncan Sunday, June 17 - PM No Evening Gathering Wednesday, June 20 No Childcare

Wednesday, June 13, 7pm: the Brian Center, Clayton Wednesday, July 11, 7pm: Barbour Court, SmithfieldWednesday, August 8, 7pm: Clayton Senior Center O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. (Psalms 95:1) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. (Psalms 100:2) Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. (Psalms 135:3) Summer-timewhat a gift! Lets share our praise! God bless Facts & Figures for May 2012
Date April 29 May 6 May 13 May 20 Total Avg.
S.S. AM Worship Budget Offering His Vision Our Mission

Sunday, June 10 - AM Babies: Brigitte Creech & April Lengel 2s: Brandi & Tobi Sauer 3s/4s: Kristol Flanigan & Kristen Duncan K-3rd Kids Church Nicole & Michael Ritchie Sunday, June 10 PM Jane & Johnnie Gatlin Wednesday, June 13 No Childcare

Sunday, June 24 - AM Babies: Faye Wells & Shalee Sams 2s: Laura & Shane Benson 3s/4s: Julie Brueggen & Sara Orr K-3rd Kids Church Wendy & Chris Gatewood Sunday, June 24 PM Church Picnic Wednesday, June 27
No Childcare

106 102 99 101 408 102

151 142 190 161 644 161

5,065.15 6,958.71 5,484.83 6,602.00 24,110.69 6,027.67

1,150.00 1,635.00 825.00 605.00 4,215.00 1,054.00

Preschool Regis. Desk Diane Duncan

Average Attendance & Offerings for April & May 2011 Avg. 96 169 5,613.81 955.00

The Lamplighter

Page 6

4967 Highway 70 West Business Clayton, NC 27520 Phone: 919-553-7678 Address Service Guaranteed

JUNE 1822, 2012 6:008:15 PM

Theme: Sonrise National Park Annual Church Picnic and VBS Wrap-Up Sunday Afternoon, June 24th Johnston County Wildlife Association
I am so excited about the Bethesda Night Out we will be having during the Summer. What an opportunity. We get a chance to get out in the community and get to know people. We have the opportunity to share the Gospel with others. Hopefully, this summer will show us how easy it is to share Christ with the world so that we will make evangelism and out reach a huge part of our lives. Part of me wishes that Bethesda Night Out was more than just a summer initiative. Somehow, over many years, Christians in America have become Church-Goers. We, along with the world, have embraced this label and we wear it proudly on our chests. Our neighbors can set their clocks by our church going habits. Sunday morning and evening, Wednesday evening, and several days in between Christians find themselves going to church. Is there a problem with being Church-Goers? Yes. When we become Church-Goers, we begin to totally neglect the Going-Church. In the Great Commision, Christ instructs his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing the nations in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching the nations to obey all that Jesus has commanded. (Matthew 28:19-20). This Commission then applies to us. We are to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. However, if we read the NT in its original language (and Ill summarize to spare you from a lesson on the Greek verbal system) we see that when Christ says to go, what he is actually saying is as you are going. Christ assumes that his Church will be be constantly going, not only to foreign countries as career missionaries but also to the parks, neighborhoods, and nursing homes that surround it, so that all people might hear Christ proclaimed and that disciples would be made. Christ did not come so that we might be Church-Goers, but so that His Bride might be an active, Going-Church. As we spend time out, away from our church building, this summer let us remember that we are not playing, goofing around, or neglecting our Christian duties. We are doing serious Church work. We are acting as the Church that Christ wanted. We are working in a way that is pleasing and honoring to God.

Were on the web!

www.bethesdaclayton.com

June Birthdays

Jennifer Harrison Brian Murphy Sarah Dawson Elaine Forman Bobby Jones Sonja Bustos Carole McNeece Vickie Beasley Joy Bryant Misty Carroll Shalee Sams John Farr

4th 4th 5th 8th 8th 11th 13th 19th 19th 28th 29th 30th

Landon Orr Johnnie & Jane Gatlin Seth & Nicole Langdon Charles & Sue Wilson Nicole & Michael Ritchie Terry & Sondra Gatewood June 1 June 11 June 12 June 13 June 14 June 18 June 27

Happy Birthday

Brian & Cherilyn Murphy Robert & Sharon Orchard