Community of Faith Communication
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
“COLLECT MOMENTS NOT THINGS.”
Upcoming SERVICE… Lessons & Carols
WORSHIP - SUNDAY December 22, 2024 - Advent 4
Welcome to Bethlehem our final stop in this journey. This little town represents the best of Jesus’ character and values. It’s a place of compassion, mercy, and grace. How will we show this kind of humble love to others?
bLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2024 @ 7PM
NEW NOTICES
DECEMBER 2024
NEW MISSION & VISION STATEMENT ADOPTED, DECEMBER 2024
Mission:
Bethany United Church welcomes all people to participate in a diverse community of faith, to learn together, to recognize, experience, and share God’s transforming love.
Vision:
The people of Bethany United Church seek to be a compassionate, progressive faith community within The United Church of Canada, celebrating God’s presence with daring justice and deep spirituality, as we live with respect in Creation. We strive to be a Christ centered community as we embrace people of all ages, colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, and social and economic status in the full participation of all areas of our ministry.
We commit to doing our best to be a safe community of belonging and acceptance celebrating the gifts diversity brings; where faith is nurtured and reconciliation and justice is lived out, bringing hope, peace, love and joy to the world, as we listen and respond to the heart of the Spirit within us.
Agenda for Congregational Meeting - Sunday December 8, 2024
Congregational Meeting Announcement - Sunday November 26, 2024
Email circulated Thursday, November 28, 2024
An important question was asked by a community faith member recently, “where will an in-favour vote lead Bethany United Church as a community of faith?”
Please find below a link from the Bethany Affirming Working Group to a document outlining the plan of action. This plan of action was compiled from workshops and events that members of our community of faith participated in over the last two years. It is a living, breathing document to be reviewed annually. This review will be completed by a newly formed ministry group which will be overseen by Session. The focus for this group will be on an “I.D.E.A.” ministry or inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility for the kin-dom.
An announcement was first made on November 24th for a congregational meeting to take place Sunday December 8, immediately following worship. That information is also included below in a link. We encourage your involvement and engagement as we continue to explore being more intentional to our ministry work and expanding a message that God’s love is wider.
Also, due to the postal strike, Advent 2024 letters from Rev. Martha Martin and special Christmas collection envelopes will be available from the church beginning Sunday, December 1. Please plan to pick up your letter. As soon as the postal strike is lifted, a mail out will be completed with the unclaimed envelopes.
With gratitude.
Members of Bethany Affirming Working Group, Session, and Executive Board
BUC - Affirming Action Plan 2024