First Sunday of Lent
February 26, 2023

Pastor: Ralph Wrightstone Bulletin Insert Photos Music Director: Travis Oaks
Today is the First Sunday of the Season of Lent which actually began on Ash Wednesday last week and is understood to last 40 days...representative of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert combating the temptations he endured there. It is to be a solemn time for us to experience personal denial, rededication to God and reflection on that inevitable date with the cross...But there are actually 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter, which includes 6 Sundays and, for the early church as for us, every Sunday is a time for celebration of the Resurrection...so they were excluded from the 40 somber days of Lent.

For others, noting that 40 days after Ash Wednesday is Palm Sunday, the first day of the week that is designated as the "Holy Week" before Easter, that week is treated as a separate 7-day "season", with each day having its own special emphasis, including: Maundy Thursday with the Last Supper, "Good" Friday with the crucifixion, and a Saturday of Separation with Jesus' burial in the tomb.

In either case, these days before Easter are to be days in which we remove ourselves from the temptations in this world that threaten our relationship with God...or as in the message today, it is a time to "Protect Your Spirit!" from the wiles of the world.
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. 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 at the traditional service time...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 02/19/23 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.

We hope that you will fully participate in the service provided here, taking the time to raise your voice or read along with the hymns and responses, and listening to the recorded messages and songs that have been prepared for you. Realize that, though not meeting face-to-face, you are virtually gathering with many others for this time of worship, celebration and spiritual refreshment.

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