Featured in this Issue...
Calendar Pg. 2
Pg. 3
Pg. 5
New Adult Sunday
School Class Pg. 5
September 2009
The Bethlehem
Message from the Pastor
I am not sure about others, especially those who
are back in school, but I for one am glad that summer is
over. Of course there are things I like about summer, but
the heat is not one of them. Summer seems to be a time
for people to “check out” for a while from some of the
realities of life and the normal day-to-day routines. So
we aren’t as excited about going to church or even work
for that matter (or was that just me?). Summer is a
“down time” in the church year—so many people are on
vacation or just simply any place else besides in church
on a warm Sunday morning.
But then comes the Fall and many of us seem to
get back in the habit of going to church. We of course
have forgotten that we are the church, the church is not a
building. The Fall is probably my favorite time of the
year. I love the cool weather and of course the changing
leaves in beautiful New England. And Fall usually
means we are blessed to have our Red Sox playing in the
playoffs at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark. :) Play-
off baseball and the cool weather—it is exciting and in-
vigorating. So is the “start” of the church season. As
the baseball season is winding up, church is ramping up
Word
for the year. It does my heart good to walk into the
sanctuary on a Sunday in the Fall and see a larger group
than in the summer months. We’re not about numbers,
but we are about people, and so the more people to wor-
ship and fellowship and learn and grow and laugh and
cry and pray together, the better.
I invite you re-commit yourself to the church this
year. This is an important time in the life of Bethlehem
Covenant. Changes are taking place in our world and in
our community and even on our own street as I write
this. Quinsigamond Village itself is currently undergo-
ing a process of revitalization and change. Newly paved
streets, new sidewalks, storefront improvements and a
new Super Walmart among other stores are a taste of
what is happening. Some have pointed out that it may
be ironic that as businesses in the Village get grant
money to fix up their storefronts and make them look
aesthetically pleasing, a new Walmart is going up. So
these small businesses fix up their property and look
good just in time for Walmart to come in and put them
all out of business in a matter of months! Let’s hope that
is not the case, but judging from the past…..
So what lessons can we learn from all of this?
(Continued on pg. 4)
 September 2009
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

NA Mtg. 6:30pm

6 7 8 Board Meeting 9 10 Bible Study 11 12

7pm 7pm NA Mtg. 6:30pm

13 Adult Sunday 14 15 16 17 Bible Study 18 Veritas Mtg. 19 Veritas Mtg.

School 9:30-10:15 7pm 6-9pm 9am-1pm
Worship 10:30 am
NA Mtg. 6:30pm

20 Adult Sunday 21 22 23 24 Bible study 25 26 BCC Tag Sale

School 9:30-10:15 7pm 9am –1pm
Worship 10:30 am NA Mtg. 6:30pm

27 Adult Sunday 28 29 30
School 9:30-10:15
Worship 10:30 am

The following is an updated list of our church mem-

bers and friends who unable to attend church on a
Starting this Fall….
regular basis. Let us remember them in our
thoughts and prayers and with a note. Adult Sunday School Class
Mr. Lee Randall Mildred Carlson
10 Hall Street 669 Washington St. Apt. 105 This Fall Pastor Dave will be leading a Sunday
Webster, MA 01570 Auburn, MA 01501 School class before the morning worship. We
508-943-0847
will meet starting Sept. 13th from 9:30 to 10:15.
Mrs. Doris Anderson Paul Faler
667 Washington Street #225 321 Massasoit Rd. This will be a class based on a series of short
Auburn, MA 01501 Worcester, MA 01604 videos which feature different topics that apply
508-832-5239
to the Christian life. It will be primarily group
Mrs. Claire Poirier discussion. Some of our youth and a few adults
63 Hudson Ave.
Grafton, MA 01519 Mrs. Lydia Anderson have watched some of these and found them
Whitney Place
P.O.Box 935 very helpful and thought provoking. All are in-
Mr. & Mrs. Carl Werme 85 Beumont Dr. Apt. 10 vited to come and be with us for what will be a
24 Briarwood Circle Northbridge, MA 01534
Worcester, MA01606 spiritually rewarding time where we get to better
508-856-7232
know each other and our God.
Continued on pg. 3.

Page 2
 Birthdays and Anniversaries
September Birthdays October Birthdays
Cody Ellis 9/4 Elizabeth Pope 10/2
Alden Anderson 9/13 Elizabeth Quinn 10/5
Gabriel Johnson 9/18 Mildred Carlson 10/11
Paul Nyquist 9/19 Colleen Elbe 10/12
Karoline Ciance 9/27 Jeanne Bartkus 10/19
Janet Clawson 10/23
Lydia Anderson 10/29
September Anniversaries

Lillian and William Stafinski 9/6 October Anniversaries

Susan and Paul Strozina 9/7
Jeanne and Frank Bartkus 9/17
Joy and Nicholas Monopoli 10/4
Esther and Robert Elbe 9/21
Carol and Carl Nordstrom 9/22 James and Jennifer Zoulias 10/9
Mark and Susan Fellion 9/28

Adult Sunday School (continued from previous page)

Here is a portion of a review of the video series
which is called Nooma...
All ten to fourteen minutes in length, the
NOOMA videos feature Rob Bell, pastor of
Michigan’s Mars Hill Church, one of the fastest-
growing churches in America, and a leader in the
"emergent church." From a production stand-
point, the NOOMA videos are excellent. But it
isn’t just technical merit that has catapulted the
NOOMA videos to such popularity. Nor is it
simply Bell’s natural ability to communicate and
tell a story, though that may be part of it. At the
end of the day people are watching these videos
because they believe Rob Bell is teaching them
about Christianity and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Please join us starting on September 13th!
Saturday, Sept.
26th from 9am
to 1pm at BCC
Tables are available for
$10 each. Set up begins
at 8am. We are looking for volunteers to help
get everything ready beforehand and also to
serve food at the sale (hotdogs, soda, coffee,
muffins, etc). There are sign up sheets at church
in the vestry.
Donations are welcome. Drop off at church or
call the church office. Proceeds will benefit
those going to Camp Squanto in 2010.

Page 3
 Sunday Worship Volunteers
Sept. 6th
Worship Leader—Tracy Ellis
Scripture Reader—Sarah Strozina
Ushers: Michele Koller and Denise McGinley
Media Tech: John Schonning
Sept. 13th
Worship Leader—Sarah Strozina
Scripture Reader—David Ahlin
Ushers: Beverly Gosselin and Jeanne Bartkus
Media Tech: Steven Quinn
Sept. 20th
Worship Leader—Mark Fellion
Scripture Reader—Stephanie Stockwell
Ushers: Delbert and Eleanor Smith
Media Tech: Steven Quinn
Sept. 27th
Worship Leader—John Schonning
Scripture Reader—June Rice
Ushers: Phyliss Conder and David Ahlin
Media Tech: Steven Pope
A Prayer For Those Who Live Alone
I live alone, dear Lord, stay by my side
In all my daily needs be my guide. Grant
me good health, for that indeed, I pray,
to carry on my work from day to day.
Keep pure my mind, my thoughts, my every
Deed; let me be kind, unselfish in my
neighbor’s need. Spare me from fire,
from flood, malicious tongues, from
thieves, from fear, and evil ones.
If sickness or an accident befall, then
humbly Lord, I pray, hear my call. And
when I’m feeling low or in despair, lift
up my heart, and help me in my prayer. I
live alone dear Lord, yet have no fear
because I feel your presence ever near.
Amen.
Page 4
From the Pastor…...Continued from pg. 1
Well, the plan is to spruce up the neighborhood
with newly paved streets, new sidewalks, decorative
street lamps, refurbished storefronts, etc. An article in
the T &G mentioned that many of the storefronts in the
area are “showing their age or appear out of place given
the historic character of the neighborhood.” The costs
associated with recommendations of the revitalization
plan total about $1 million all of which will come from
revenue generated through landfill tipping fees.
I wonder if our church is in a similar situation.
We can do all the repair work we want, all the work in
the world to make the church look good, but if we are
going to be put out of business by a “Walmart” what is
the point? Is our goal to look good, to survive; or is our
goal to thrive?? What are the costs associated with our
revitalization? Not a million dollars, but perhaps some-
thing even more costly. We live in a neighborhood that
looks vastly different than our congregation—those of
you who were at the hotdog social saw some of that di-
versity. How do we reach out to the diverse group of
people in our neighborhood? If we don’t want to, if we
don’t see that as our mission, we should move and let
another group take up the challenge. If we decide we are
called to still minister here in the Village, we need to act
like it. We need to make changes, step out of our com-
fort zone and reach those who are different from us yet
similar in so many basic ways. That may scare some of
us (perhaps most of us). That’s ok. Will some not be up
for it and leave? Sure...and that will be perfectly ok as
well. There are other churches who will gladly take in
those who want to be stuck in the past. That is why
many churches resemble museums rather than vibrant
outposts of Christian service and ministry.
A church that truly follows Jesus is not comfort-
able, not status quo; rather it is messy and difficult and
yet worth every bit of the struggle. There is pain and
suffering and hardship but joy comes with it. Changed
lives come with it. We are at a pivotal time in the life of
Bethlehem—a major crossroads of sorts. We can stay
on our past course of simply trying to survive—remain
on autopilot until the plane finally goes down (ie. the
finances run out)—that is one option. The other would
be to move our ministry somewhere else. The third op-
tion would be to remain here and try to reach our
neighborhood, which is why the church was started in
the first place. These are not easy decisions or decisions
to be made quickly or without much thought and prayer.
But know that they are decisions that must be made
sooner rather than later. May God bless us all.
Pastor Dave
 classes, and workshops. He has published essays and
articles on spiritual and church issues, has served as an
adjunct faculty member at Drew University and speaks
at regional and national conferences about the opportuni-
ties facing the 21st century followers of Jesus. He un-
derstands the complexity, skepticism, and spiritual
yearning of the emerging church, and speaks the lan-
guage of his culture. He brings energy and insights, pro-
PILGRIM PINES MEN’S vokes thinking, and encourages questioning. Rick and
FALL RETREAT his wife and best friend, Leslie, love Pilgrim Pines and
have two amazing, tall children, Alex and Caitlin. Rick
OCTOBER 9-11 2009 likes to fish, draw, read, work in the yard, think about
new ways to follow Jesus, and play with his family. He
Renew, Rest, Worship is untidy and is the luckiest man in the world.

Wrestle with God Retreat Schedule

Things to do: Friday
Relax on a canoe Hike the surrounding area
Sit, relax, drink coffee Run the lake 5:00 Registration
Participate in: 6:00 Dinner
Archery Trap Shooting 8:00 Session 1
9:30 Announcements, coffee, snacks
Horseshoes Volleyball
Tennis Bocce Ball Saturday
Basketball Football 7:30 Early Bird Devotions
Golf Ping Pong 8:15 Breakfast
Foosball Board Games 9:00 Session 2
10:30 Discussion Groups
Come and be refreshed. Come and be renewed. 12:30 Lunch
1:00 Free Time
Our weekend will begin with registration
5:30 Dinner
at 5:00pm Friday evening followed by 7:00 Session 3
dinner at 6:00pm in the Pilgrim Pines 8:45 Coffee and snack in dining hall
Dining Room. 9:00 Optional reflection & sharing
Sunday

Our Featured Speaker: 7:30 Early Bird Devotions

8:15 Breakfast
Rick Diamond
9:00 Discussion Groups
Rick is the lead Pastor of Journey, 10:15 Session 4
Imperfect Faith Community in 12:00 Lunch
Austin TX. He is a sought-after
See Pastor Dave for registration if you are interested or
preacher, teacher, and speaker,
download the registration online at:
having led hundreds of church,
http://www.pilgrimpines.org/content/forms/CovenantMen
denominational, and community groups in retreats,
2009OL1.pdf

Page 5
The Bethlehem
Word

Bethlehem Covenant Church

46 Greenwood Street
P.O. Box 70629
Worcester, MA 01607
(508) 752—1459
www.bethlehemcc.org