Bethel 11/07/21 Service

This First Sunday of November is the occasion for several special observances. Of course, as for all First Sundays at Bethel, Communion will be celebrated both in the church and here online. But this is also "All Saints' Sunday", a delayed observance of "All Saints' Day", the second day of the 3-day "Season" of "Allhallowtide". The real "All Saints'Day" is on November 1st every year, but the first Sunday of November is the day chosen by the UMC for its observance (to avoid competing with "Reformation Sunday", observed last week).

Now "All Hallowtide" is designated a "time to remember the dead, including martyrs, saints, and all faithful departed Christians" and "All Saints' Day" is "in honour of all the saints, known and unknown". The word "Saint" itself may be somewhat unclear in our minds. For some it refers to ones who have died under persecution for their faith or who have lived holy lives marked by miracles. Within Methodism, Saints are all who follow Christ. (Click on each graphic at the top of this page to find out more about this day.)

The first Sunday in November is also designated as the "International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church", recognizing the persistence of persecution of Christians in many parts of the world today. The "Voice of the Martyrs" is an organization "whose mission is to defend the human rights of persecuted Christians". They publish a "Global Prayer Guide" that describes the condition and work being done in each of the identified areas of oppression. Copies of the 2021 Prayer Guide are available on a table in the narthex of the church.
(Click here to view the 2020 version of the Global Prayer Guide.)

Finally, this very late First Sunday of November opens a week with another very special day on Thursday when our nation honors those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
(Click Veterans Day for a reminder of the significance of this special day.

Click on the "Bethel United Methodist Church" script above
for links to some Resource materials for today's service.

We are also having a service at 11:00 this morning in Bethel's sanctuary. An insert to the bulletin, provided by a link above, presents Bethel UMC's policy regarding these gatherings during the time of COVID-19 restrictions.
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For those unable to attend the services at the church, a new service will be available here online before 10:00 am each Sunday morning, using the same format as the on-site service. So you may "gather" here for an "Early Service" at 10:00 or the traditional service at 11:00...actually it will be available here at any time all week. We hope that you will find it a refreshing place to come into God's house.

NOTE: Each part of this online service consists of an audio file and, for most, a Link to a pdf file of "projection slides". Click on the

symbol to play the audio file under a separate browser tab or in a new window. Then select the "Bethel 11/07/21 Service" browser tab or return to this window to open the Link to the "slides". It is best to stop the playing of one Audio segment and close its tab or window before starting another.

. Verse - Prelude/Processional - "Sing Alleluia to the Lord"
During normal times...acolytes would bring light to the candles on the altar, followed by the pastor and other worship leaders...today, it simply provides an opening for this time of Worship.
. Slides - Welcome and Announcements . (04:51)
Opening Hymn
. Verses - "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" . (UMH 384,vs 1,2,4)
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Other Hymns for you (There are more at the bottom of the Resource Page )
These hymns are traditional for this day:
. Verses . About - "For All the Saints" . (UMH 711)
This one is from Charles Wesley:
. Verses - "Come Let Us Join Our Friends Above" . (UMH 709)
This is another classic:
. Verses - "Sing with All the Saints in Glory" . (UMH 702)
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and, for Veterans Day we offer the following Charles Wesley hymn from the Methodist "Book of Hymns":
. Verses - "Soldiers of Christ, Arise"
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(Let us know if you have a favorite hymn that you would like to have included in an online service.)
. Slides - Call to Worship, Apostle's Creed and Gloria Patria . (02:39)
We hope that you will participate privately or communally in this responsive reading as part of your worship service.
. OT Scripture Reading: "Psalm 127" . (01:17)
......consider following along with a favored translation of your own.
Special Music
. The Gift of Love, sung by Judy Wrightstone (from the "Church" service today.)
. Slides - Pastor's Thoughts, Prayers and Lord's Prayer . (11:24)
The slides here include a list of those for whom prayers have been requested.
Please continue to include this prayer for the youth among your prayers for Bethel at this time.
"All Saints' Day" - Memorial List of Recently Departed
It is a tradition in "All Saints Day" observances to have a time to collectively bring forth the names of ones who have passed away in the previous year. In this online service, we are offering a series of "slides" for this purpose. If you have not yet been able to provide input to this, we hope you will send your remembrances to us to be added to this list. The growing list will be available in this "service" for continued review during the week ahead.
Click on ...Remember...to join with others in recalling their memories.
. "Youth" Message: "Sustaining Faith" . (18:31)
Though addressed to the "Youth", whom we truly miss seeing on Sundays, this message is for all of us. You may wish to follow the reading of Mark 12:38-44 in your own Bible. (The "Church" message on this day, with the same topic, will be on the "Sermons" page of Bethel's web site later this week.)
. About - Holy Communion (02:29)
We normally use consecrated crackers and grape juice during the service but you may use other elements for the acts of remembrance as you participate. During this time of "social distancing", the church service uses individual packets for communion taken in the pews.
Closing Hymn:
. Verse - "Give Thanks" . (TFWS 2036)
Closing Chorus & Benediction:
. Verse - "Bind Us Together"

Thank you for coming. Our prayer will be that we will soon all gather again for worship in Bethel's Sanctuary, but until then we'll be here for you on Sunday morning.

Please let us know of any problems you have with or suggestions about this site by sending an email to "bumctlh@gmail.com". If you have any announcements or prayer concerns you would like included next week you may contact Pastor Ralph Wrightstone directly at: 850-591-9785