Sixth Sunday of Easter
Heritage Sunday
Mother's Day
May 14, 2023
| Pastor: Ralph Wrightstone | Bulletin Insert Photos | Music Director: Travis Oaks |
This Sixth Sunday of Easter is special in several ways. For the disciples, it brings them
near the end of the 40 days that Jesus remained on earth after the resurrection. Thursday is the
40th day, the day of Jesus' Ascension. Next Sunday, observed as Ascension Sunday will have
more about that...but today is also the second Sunday of May,
Mother's Day
on the secular calendar and also hilited on our church calendar. The
Resource Page has links to the online services for Mother's Day in the past three years. This
service will also borrow from those earlier ones.
Today is also Heritage Sunday on the church calendar, a day for recalling our Methodist
Heritage reaching back to John Wesley's heartwarming experience on Aldersgate Day in
1738,
and the Christmas Conference in 1784 in the U.S...also, for Bethel, to the August 1834
"brush arbor" gathering at Bethel Pond that was the beginning of this congregation. It's natural
then that Heritage Sunday at
Bethel
is celebrated on the Banks of Bethel Pond...now in the "Wedding Chapel" shelter there, with a
covered dish dinner following the service.
If you have come to this online service early, we hope you will try to make
this year's Heritage Sunday observance at Bethel Pond.
for links to some Resource materials for today's service.
For those unable to attend the 11:00 AM Sunday 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 05/14/23 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.
symbol to play the audio file under a separate browser tab or in a new window. Then select the
"Bethel 05/14/23 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.
- . Verse - Prelude/Processional - "Sing Alleluia
to the Lord"
In a return to Pre-Covid practice, acolytes are bringing light to the candles on the altar to open this time of Worship. - . Slides -
Welcome and Announcements . (02:43)
- Opening Hymn
This is a favorite opening hymn for Heritage Sunday: .
Verses . "The Church in the Wildwood" . (CH 121)
:
Other Hymns
For Mother's Day, here are some hymns that are appropriate for this day. Please choose one or more to add to your worship experience. Take your time. We'll wait for you. . Verses - "Faith of Our Mothers" (from UMH 710, with words by
A.B.Patten)
. Verses - "Happy the Home When God is There
(UMH 445)
. Verses - "The
Gift of Love" . (UMH 408)
Let us know if you have a favorite hymn that you would like to have included in
an online service.
- Remembering some History of Bethel UMC - This set of Questions with answers presented at Bethel's 2001 Homecoming service may provide some memorable events to consider on this Heritage Sunday. (Click here for a printable list of the Questions and Answers.)
- . Slides - Call to Worship, Apostle's Creed and Gloria
Patria . (02:18)
We hope that you will participate privately or communally in this responsive reading as part of your worship service. - . Scripture Reading:
"Proverbs 6:16-23" .
(01:46)
......consider following along with a favored translation of your own. - .
Slides - Pastor's Thoughts, Prayers and Lord's Prayer .
(15:17)
The slides here include a list of those for whom prayers have been requested. - . Special Music:
"That's What Momma's Do", composed and sung by Travis for the May 5,2020 Mother's Day service
:
.
Youth Message: "I Love You, Mom" .
this comes from the same service as the special above during that early time of Covid
separation
- . Message: "Invincible" .
(14:31)
You may wish to follow the reading of John 14:15-21 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.) - Closing Hymn:
. Verses -
"More Precious than Silver" . (TFWS 2065)
- Closing Chorus & Benediction:
. Verse - "Bind
Us Together"
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