Welcome to Bethel Evengelical Church, Spon End, Coventry

1 John 5:10-12
‘Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.’

We give you a warm welcome today. Tea and coffee are served before and after our services.

10.30 am Morning Service Railway Club
Our Pastor Keith Foster will be leading our service this morning, the title for the service is ‘Treasure the thought’.

6.30 pm Evening Service Bethel Church Hall
Ed Manning will be speaking at our service this evening.

Members of the Prayer Team will be at the front of the room immediately after the services today if you would like someone to pray with you.

Party in the Park 2010 is on Saturday 11th September. This is a really worthwhile community event, please think about how you can be involved.

Posting flyers locally
Bake cakes
Setting up from 9.30am
Tea tent
BBQ
Bouncy castle
Information stand
Facepainting
Craft
General helper
Gospel Choir workshop
Sport
Clearing away after5pm

Please speak to either Matt Wood, Lou Peet or Jane Rubacki if you want to know more.

The latest edition of Nexus News is now available, get the latest news and reports at the end of another academic year. Nexus News can also be found on the Nexus website www.nexustrust.co.uk.

Some ministry/departmental leaders would like to set up email addresses for their Departments e.g. pastoralteam@bethelcoventry.org.uk. If you would like to set up a Bethel email address for your ministry or for you personally, please let Andy Hall know.

Catering teams are in the final stages of being put together to support the increasing catering needs of the Church. Anyone working in the Church kitchen as part of Church activities must by law have completed a basic food hygiene course. A food hygiene course is being planned for Bethel regulars, if you are involved in catering or think this could form part of your ministry please let Lindsey Pearce know.

Please could all ministry team leaders ensure that someone in their team has completed basic first aid training. This is a legal requirement, if you do not have a first aid trained member of staff then please nominate someone and let Andy Hall know. A basic first aid course is being planned for Bethel regulars, if you would like to attend let Andy know.

There will be no formal evening service on Sun 31 October (Halloween), as an alternative the November Church lunch will follow the morning service, this in turn will be followed from 4pm by a time of fellowship, praise and sharing for the whole family.

The food bank collected at the last Harvest Celebration has now been distributed. The provision of a food bank has been a useful outreach and evangelistic tool to the local community and is in continual need of replenishment. If you are able to contribute financially or by providing food for distribution, please let the Pastor know.

Lou will be organising the distribution and collection of shoe boxes for Romania this Christmas time. More information will follow..

Items for Bethel News should be forwarded to Barbara Parnell, Andy Hall or John Grundy.

Group leaders are asked to consult the church’s Online Calendar, accessed through www.bethelcoventry.org.uk before planning church activities or events. Enquiries about booking the church premises should be made through John Grundy.

Julian Owen manages our ‘Bethel Members and Friends’ list with contact details of those who attend Bethel regularly. An electronic copy of the list is available at any time, and printed copies are made available periodically. Contact Julian for more information

September can be an unsettling time for many children – those starting school, moving schools, new teachers/classes – and for their families. Pray that our children and students as they adjust to their new term.

Pray for Junior Church, Youth Group and Outlook leaders as they adjust to new groups and plan for the next term.

Praise God for the Youth Camp, and the great time had at the Youth Group and Outlook end of term BBQ’s.

Bernard & Jayne, having been called to the Pastorate of Westgate Chapel, Bury St Edmunds, have so far been unable to find suitable accommodation there. Pray that they would be able to rest in the Lord and be conscious of his guiding hand.

Pray for Joy and Steve Phipps, who need to find new rented accommodation by the end of August.

Your Money or Your Life!
In some of those ancient movies involving villains and robbers - someone would often be held up by a notorious highwayman with the words, 'your money or your life!'. That statement demands a trade off, either the handing over of all of one's money - or forfeiting one's life. Whilst it may seem obvious to many that to risk one's life (especially in that situation) by holding onto one's money, would be foolish - there are many people today who in a sense, are trading their 'lives' in the pursuit of wealth. Their motivations and subsequent moods are controlled by their 'success' or not, of doing so.

The Ecclesiastes writer tells us: “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless” (Eccles 5:10).

Jesus said: "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matt 6:24).

Whilst money may be important - it should never be 'central' in our thinking. God never demands that we 'trade in' our lives for it's pursuit.

The investment God seeks is lives that invest in Him and His things. What are we doing with the more precious commodity of time? Are we 'spending' it pursuing pointless things, clinging onto our wealth - or are we 'investing' in eternity?

Jesus Said: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt 6:19-21).

Men's Weekend:
The Men's ministry team are organising a men's weekend on Sat 16th-17th Oct. This will be a challenging weekend of canoeing and camping - along with a guest speaker. The cost for the weekend is £60. For any who would like to come but do not wish to canoe - there will be other options available - with a reduced cost (tba). All interested - please see Tom Owen or the Pastor.......or CLICK here........More details to follow.

Lifeworks:
What is Christianity all about? What is a Christian? Get answers to these questions and more on our upcoming 'Lifeworks' course. The course will be held over 5 Monday evenings -commencing around the middle of October (date to be confirmed). Several folk have signed up already - come along and enjoy the food and discussion! For more info see Matt W or Lou P.

Membership:
It was a thrill to welcome Karen Richards into membership last week. Karen has been with us for a number of years but felt the call to commit in this way. If you consider Bethel your spiritual home and would like to discuss becoming a member -please see the Pastor or one of the Elder or Core Leader team.

September - Gift Month toward the Church Vision:
In September - we will all have the opportunity to give 'as the Lord has prospered' - to the recently approved Church Vision. During our September services - any gift toward this specific cause should be placed in an envelope marked 'Church vision' - and either given in with the general weekly offering or handed directly to Hannah Hall or John Grundy - thank you.

Seminar at Bethel - Preaching and Pastoral Ministry:
We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting a Saturday seminar on the 27th November - where Basil Howlett will be delivering two sessions - one in the morning for all those who wish to develop their preaching and teaching; the other in the afternoon for all of those involved in Pastoral visitation. Basil has recently retired as the Senior Pastor at Carey Baptist church in Reading and also lectures at LTS and internationally. Please see the Pastor for more details.

Elder & Core Leader Day Away:
The Elders & Core Leaders will be taking a day to discuss and pray over the church strategy and vision. Please pray for the team as they meet on Sat 6th November.

Church Vision:
We continue to progress in many of the areas that we discussed and approved in our recent meetings:

Pastoral Team - is up and running and doing some great work - please pray as they meet this evening for prayer & updates. If you would like to know more about this ministry or would like to be involved in some way - please see either Keith, Simon Turner or Lindsey Pearce;
Prayer Ministry Team - Pauline Simpson & Aruna Sidhu are heading this up and have already called us all to an evening of prayer, with more to follow. If you would like prayer - either after the service or in your home, please see Pauline or Aruna;
Midweek Teaching - A number of taster sessions have already been held - these were v well attended. The midweek teaching sessions will commence again mid September.
Buildings development - There was a recent visit to Chessington Evangelical Church - the team will be bringing a report of this plus an outline of the next steps in our buildings development at our next members meeting on 4th October - details will of course be published for all our valued members and friends.
Inter-Church - A number of inter church teaching sessions will take place between Sept-Dec this year. The first one is to be held on Monday 20th Sept - 8pm at Hillfields Evangelical Church - details to follow. This will be a great opportunity to hear some great teaching plus enjoy fellowship with our brothers and sisters across the city;
Church Worker - The Elder & Core Leader team will be looking for someone to help us fulfill our vision - the area of focus will be those areas of Local Outreach, Worship Academy, Welcome ministry, Inter Church activity and development - with a significant input into all areas of the life of the church, including amongst our children & youth. A job specification is expected to be available within the next few weeks - detailing the role and application process - for more information - please speak to John Grundy;
Community - Lou P has is now focused on this and continues to make great inroads into the local area. Lou would be encouraged by your prayers and practical support - if you would like to know more or would like to get involved - please speak to Lou.
Discipleship - A number of people are already involved in helping others take the next step in maturity in Christ, through one to one studies. If you feel you would benefit from this, or would like to 'disciple' or 'learn to disciple' someone - please see Chris Page or the Pastor.

Prayer:
Please pray for:

Grace Rimmer - as she copes with the changing circumstances in hers and Edwin's life;
For the Hopkins family - as Mark & Emma are on a weekend break - plus then travelling to comfort close friends through their recent loss;
That the Lord will bring the right person to us as we seek an additional worker to help fulfill the vision;
For those battling daily with frailty or pain;
For those on holiday - that they will return refreshed and ready to serve the King
That the Lord will change each of us as He ministers through His Word, His people and circumstance.

BIG MINISTRIES

The Summer 2010 newsletter is now available with all the latest news and details of recent and upcoming events, including Bethel’s Party in the Park in September. Pick up your copy today.

big1

On Monday 25 October 2010, several of the BIG Ministries team including Steve and Jo Squires, James Rubacki, and Damian Herbert are undertaking the unenviable task of running the Dublin Marathon. Although often called the 'Friendly Marathon' don't be fooled into thinking this will be easy. The BIG Team are into a preparation schedule now and it's already a challenge.

Charities tend to be awarded grants for specific projects so the aim is to raise £10,000 to help with the general ongoing costs of BIG Ministries. Please generously support the BIG Runners. John and Brenda have ‘sponsor forms’ or you can donate via www.bigministries.co.uk