Greetings Dear People of Bethlehem,
At its heart, a church is a community of people who gather together to hear the gospel proclaimed; to receive the promise found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and to surround one another with love and provide mutual encouragement. It’s a place where wonderfully imperfect people are welcomed and loved exactly as they are. A place where healing truth is spoken into the broken places inside of us, and into the world around us. And in the midst of countless stories about the demise of the Church, the failure of organized religion, and the futility of faith, stand you, the incredible people of this congregation. You who daily inspire with your steadfast faithfulness. Your dedication, and tireless desire to be God’s hands and feet in the world, can only be described as indefatigable.
In addition to being an excellent vocabulary word to impress your friends and family at parties (vocab is what impresses folks these days, right?), it is also the perfect word to describe our community. Persisting tirelessly, and showing sustained, enthusiastic action with unflagging spirit. It’s also the perfect word to describe the kind of hope that our faith provides. Hope that can see us through stormy seas, and sunny days. Hope that fills our hearts to overflowing, so that we cannot help but go out into the world to share it. Hope that never grows weary, that never runs thin, but is as steadfast as the God who inspires it.
As we do each fall, our attention turns to the coming year, and the financial resources that will be required to do the ministry that we are called to do for the sake of the world. We are grateful for your indefatigable support of this community – for the amazing work that we have been able to do, the lives we have been able to touch, and the hope that has been proclaimed. Our goal for the coming year is to increase giving by 4% – 5%, or around $30,000 total.
If you are able to increase your pledge from last year to help us reach this goal, we ask that you prayerfully consider doing so. If this past year has left you in a position where you need to take a step back, know that we fully understand, and if we can be of any assistance to you or your family please reach out and let us know. For those who give automatically online, we would still greatly appreciate it if you would fill out a pledge card, and prayerfully consider if increasing your pledge is something you are able to do at this time.
Please fill out a pledge card and bring it with you when you come to church for Commitment Sunday on October 8th. You may also return it to the church office by mail, or fill out your intended pledge using the Google Forms link below. Rest assured these responses will be safe and confidential.
https://forms.gle/TaEPidKQ2BBQ2hLCA
Thank you for being the indefatigable people of faith that you are. Thank you for your commitment, passion, and the witness that you bear to the indefatigable hope of the gospel. In a world filled with narratives of scarcity, Bethlehem exists as a place where God’s abundance can be seen around every corner, and for that we say thank you, and praise be to God!
With indefatigable gratitude,
Bethlehem Church Council
Pastor Laura & Pastor Sam