Announcements
*** Please note: we are currently closed to in-person worship services.
The safety of the people who worship with us and our staff is important to us. We are assessing our situation and how we can safely begin in-person worship again while adhering to guidelines outlined by Alberta Health Services.
Please join us online for worship Sunday mornings at 9:45 am. ***
CIAM Radio Broadcasting
Ft. Vermillion, AB
Updates On Yard Maintenance ...
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Blood Donor Clinics ...
Lutheran Hour Broadcast ...
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Your support of CIAM will help to rebuild the CIAM station in Ft. Vermilion which was destroyed by a "once-in-a-hundred-year flood" on April 27, 2020. In spite of all efforts, the building sustained $102,000 damage and the loss of the station's broadcast equipment and contents ($44,900).
Info
GOING FORWARD
Lord willing, we will open for in-person worship on Sunday, September 13. Two worship services: 9:00 and 11:00 am.
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We will follow AHS guidelines and protocols such as social distancing, masks, etc.
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9:00 and 11:00 because we need to provide the time in between the services for all to leave the 9:00 service before the worshippers arrive for the 11:00 service.
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The 9:00 and 11:00 times may change because we don’t know how many are ready to return for in-person worship.
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We anticipate being able to accommodate 100 worshippers per service (following social distancing guidelines).
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Those who wish to worship in-person will have to pre-register – either online or by calling the office. Remember we expect we can only safely accommodate 100 per service.
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We are going to experiment with 2 Wednesday evening services in August so that we can orient greeters and ushers with the procedures and protocols. It will give us an opportunity to test the procedures.
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We are planning to prepare a video that will help you understand the process you will see when you arrive for in-person worship.
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We will continue with worship online.
Regarding the Lord’s Supper – we may try experimenting with a process for in-person communion during one of the August Wednesday evening services. In the meantime, the Lord’s Supper will continue to occasionally be offered online. And, is also available for private in-person by appointment. Please call Pastor James, Pastor Matt, or me and we will gladly schedule it for you.
Regarding Sunday Children’s Ministry and Youth/Confirmation Ministry – Roxanne and Michael are working on “how that might look” – stay tuned.
Regarding Re-opening for Bethel’s groups and organizations – procedures and guidelines are being outlined by the “Re-opening Task Force”. They will be sent to the leaders of these groups.
Some Additional Changes:
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The Cry Room has been converted to a sound room…..needed for streaming the worship services.
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Additional lighting has been installed in the sanctuary to provide for streaming the worship services.
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Cameras are being installed in the sanctuary for streaming services online.
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Plexiglass is being installed at the office doors and will be present for the musicians and vocalists.
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Touch-free hand sanitizers are present.
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Worshippers will be ushered in the sanctuary to available seats.
You’ll notice these and many other changes. We may understand this change with our heads, but processing it with our hearts may be something entirely different. It has been said that the longest distance in the world is from one’s head to one’s heart. I’m anticipating that transformational change at Bethel will continue on into the future. This means that not only are activities changing, but in some cases, the very nature of Bethel - and the character of our worship community - is changing. This will certainly trigger a sense of loss and of grief, for you and for me. I can assure you that things will not be the same as pre-covid. For many of us, this may be discouraging and a huge disappointment. We’ll experience the loss of the familiar and of the routine; of fellowship and community and connection. In the midst of it all, I need to keep reminding myself: God has not changed. He is worthy of our worship, thanksgiving, and praise. His purposes for Bethel are still the same… ”to share the love of Jesus with a hurting world.” God knows the changes we are dealing with (at Bethel and personally) and he is waist-deep in them with us. He loves us and is for us!
WE’RE HERE TO HELP!
As we navigate the CoVid-19 situation please know that we are here to serve our Bethel community, and beyond. If you have a need or know of someone who does, you can contact us and we’ll do our best to assist you. We have people on a list who are ready to help. Also, we have about 20 people who are making phone calls to our Bethel community to ensure that everyone is doing ok, that they have what they need, and that prayer requests are heard. Please continue to pray for those in the health care field who are working tirelessly and putting themselves at risk as they triage and treat others, those with compromised immune systems and other underlying health issues, and also those who have been laid off work and left with an uncertain future. In the midst of the uncertainties we’re facing, it is our hope and prayer that you are doing well and that you know the peace and hope that is ours in Jesus.
BLOOD DONOR CLINICS
Canadian Blood Services is an essential service and they are still in need of blood donations. If you are healthy and meet the criteria for donation please call 1-888-2DONATE for more information. Or come by one of their blood donor clinics here at Bethel:
August 4 (2:30 - 7:20 pm)
August 22 (9:00 am - 2:00 pm)
August 25 (2:30 - 7:30 pm)
Connect
For August 9
"Over The Darkness, God Hovers" (Genesis 1:2-3)
Guest Speaker of the Lutheran Hour: Rev. Dr. Dale A. Meyer
A 5-year-old boy once observed, "God has the whole world in His hands-but sometimes He drops it." Hear how Dr. Dale Meyer responded to that young philosopher in a classic message titled "Over the Darkness, God Hovers". It's "Archives August".
At 7:30 am on 1260 am and 8:30 am on 98.5 FM. Streaming audio and podcasts at www.lutheranhour.ca
To listen to sermons visit our website - www.bethelchurch.com/sermon-faith -
and scroll down for a list of podcasts and to subscribe via iTunes.
Sundays at 9:45 am
Visit www.bethelchurch.com/worship-live
We will stream on Vimeo, Facebook and YouTube
Pastors: Matt Ziprick
Worship Coordinator: Normay Wiebe
Director of Youth Ministry: Michael Gillingham
Children’s Ministry Coordinator: Roxanne Theroux
BLESS Preschool Coordinator: Tamara Avery
BLESS Preschool Teacher: Heather Book
Office Staff: Ann Nelson, Heather Lademann
Youth Ministry Assistant: Adrianna Blitterswyk