September - October - 2004 Electronic Edition - Vol. 4 No.5 Pastor Ted Brust Pantry Needs Upcoming Events Music & Christian Ed. Student Ministries Women In Minstry Calendar

This Fall, our church will be participating in a 40 Days of Purpose Campaign, which will run for seven weekends beginning September 26 and ending November 7. This spiritual growth Campaign is designed to answer life’s most important question: “What on earth am I here for?” The events of the Campaign will give us opportunities to commit to habits of spiritual growth, memorize scripture, participate in a small group fellowship, serve in a ministry in our church, share our faith, and learn to live a lifestyle of worship to the glory of God. We are excited as we envision our entire congregation living in alignment with God’s purposes for their lives, and the impact this could have on our church and our community!

We have assembled a Campaign Team to facilitate the Campaign for our church. This team is responsible for:

• creating a prayer strategy for the Campaign
• coordinating the seven weekend services during the Campaign
• overseeing the weekly Bible studies that focus on the themes of the Campaign
• coordinating the major events that take place during the Campaign

1. NATIONAL SIMULCAST: The Campaign will kick-off on Sun., Sept. 19, with a National Simulcast hosted by Pastor Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, the book that forms the basis for the Campaign. The book is divided into 40 daily readings for the Campaign. During this inspirational time, Rick Warren will share his life message and set the stage for the Campaign events to come. During this National Simulcast we will be joining with hundreds of other churches that are also participating in 40 Days of Purpose Campaign.
2. JOIN A GROUP: At the beginning of the Campaign there will be an opportunity to join a Purpose Group which will be studying the Purpose-Driven Life curriculum. This interactive study allows for a deeper understanding of God’s purposes and allows us to build friendships with others in our church.
3. MINISTRY/MISSIONS FAIR: This event is designed to give people an opportunity to get involved in a church ministry or outreach by showcasing all our ministries, outreaches and missions, and welcoming new volunteers to serve .
4. CELEBRATION SUNDAY: The Campaign culminates with a church-wide party where we will rejoice together in all God has done in our midst during the Campaign.

If you would like to join one of the teams that are coordinating the various parts of the Campaign, we would love to talk to you! Please contact our Campaign Director, Clif Ivy.

We encourage you to join with us now to pray for this Campaign. The potential impact this could have on our lives will be increased if the soil of our hearts is prepared through prayer. We are excited to embark on this spiritual journey together this Fall, and we appreciate your prayers for the Campaign Team, for our church leaders, and for the impact of the Campaign in the lives of our people and the effectiveness of our church. So begin now to pray and prepare your own heart for the life-changing adventure of the 40 Days of Purpose.

Pastor Ted

I hear the word “campaign” and think fundraising. Will I be asked to contribute extra money to a cause?

The 40 Days of Purpose Campaign is a spiritual growth campaign which is designed to help us focus on and align ourselves with God’s purposes. It is not a fundraising campaign.

Is this Campaign something I can bring my seeker-friends to, or is it strictly targeted at believers?

This Campaign will have a powerful impact on both seekers and believers alike. The fundamental question of the Campaign, "What on earth am I here for?" is an ideal starting place for seekers. Everyone wants to know what their purpose in life is! There will be a distinct and strategic evangelistic emphasis throughout the Campaign. However, an equally powerful focus is on the growth of every believer, which will be evident with every God-ordained purpose presented. Believers who go through this Campaign will discover a clarity of purpose in their personal walk with God. They will be compelled to go the next level in each of the five purposes on their spiritual journey with Jesus.

What happens during the Campaign that will compel me to go to the next level in each of the five purposes?

1. Worship : If you think worship is all about singing, think again! Discover the full-orbed idea behind worship, and begin to practice real worship during the Campaign.

2. Fellowship: If you haven’t joined a Purpose Group yet, you will have a chance to connect with one for six weeks to study the five purposes in community with others.

3. Discipleship: If you need encouragement to grow by developing the personal disciplines of daily Bible reading and scripture memory, you will find inspiration during the Campaign as you read along in the Purpose Driven Life book, and memorize a weekly scripture verse about each purpose.

4. Ministry: If you haven’t discovered where you can use your gifts and skills to serve others, you’ll have a chance to explore opportunities and get plugged in to serve with a ministry that needs you. You will also be challenged to think beyond where you may be comfortable, and to have a servant’s heart.

5. Evangelism: If you feel fearful or ill-equipped to communicate your faith to others, you will learn how to share your own story, and develop an effective life mission statement. You’ll have a chance to investigate the various missions and outreaches our church is involved in, and see where you might like to serve.

Do you still need help on the Campaign Team?

Of course! The most important area we need help with is prayer! Without the prayer of our people, the Campaign will be just a set of activities. Pray together with us for the impact of the Campaign on the lives of our people and our church. We also need Host Home volunteers. Please consider opening your home for this ministry.

Adult Christmas Program

Yes, it’s that time again! You remember the old Gaither song, “He Just Needs a Few Good Men.” Well, we are looking not just for a few, but for many good men and women for our Christmas Musical. We all understand that God gifts each of us to serve in different areas of ministry. So, if God has gifted you with the ability to carry a note, then you need to be singing in the choir (yes, men, it is macho to sing in the choir!). The following is the schedule of practice times:

Tuesday, October 5 @ 7 pm

Tuesday, October 12 @ 7 pm

Tuesday, October 19 @ 7 pm

Tuesday, October 26 @ 7 pm

Tuesday, November 2 @ 7 pm (Soprano/Alto only)

Tuesday, November 9 @ 7 pm (Tenor/Bass only)

Sunday, November 14 @ 5 pm

Tuesday, November 16 @ 7 pm

Tuesday, November 23 @ 7 pm

Sunday, November 28 @ 5 pm

Tuesday, November 30 @ 7 pm

Thursday, December 2 @ 7 pm

Saturday, December 4 @ 10 am

We will then be presenting this musical on Sunday Morning December 5 th.

We need YOU to be a part of this ministry.

The Indiana District “Heart of Worship” Seminar

Friday and Saturday, October 22 & 23, will be the annual Indiana District A/G Worship Seminar. This year will feature guest speaker, Lindell Cooley. Lindell served for a number of years as the music minister at Brownsville Assembly in Pensacola, Florida. He is now pastor at Grace Church in Nashville, and founder of Music Missions International. Friday night will be a worship concert with Lindell and the Calvary Temple Choir. Saturday will feature seminar sessions that cover many areas of worship in the church. The seminar will be held at Calvary Temple A/G in Indianapolis. The cost is $15. If you are presently involved in our worship ministry or you would like to learn more about worship, call the church office to make your reservation .

Bethel Student Ministries

Women in Ministry

Ladies,

The kids are back in school, and the craziness of summer is beginning to subside. I don’t know about you, but for me the summer went by in a blur. I had so many plans to spend time building relationships with individuals and God, yet all my wonderful plans seemed to get shuffled aside in the busyness of life. It is so easy to get overwhelmed by what seems to be urgent and at the end of the week, month or summer, look back and ask what did I truly accomplish for eternity.

If you have a similar feeling coming out of the summer, I want to encourage you. The church is getting ready to embark on an exciting 40 day campaign: the Purpose Driven Life. Even if you’ve read the book once or twice, be prepared for an incredible corporate opportunity to push toward the mark of Jesus Christ. During the campaign, we will all be focused on learning and applying the seven principles to achieve a life that has meaning as we seek to serve God whole-heartedly.

At the end of the campaign look for information on women’s Bible studies. We plan to do another Beth Moore study this fall. If you are interested in attending a Bible study, but Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings don’t work for you, please let Heather Peercy or me know. There are people interested in starting studies at other times, and we would love to help you in that process. One of the most important things we can do is study and pray together.

On September 18, the Munster Calvary Community Church ( 9900 Columbia Avenue, Munster, IN) will host an Energize “Her” Tea. The cost is $6 a person and includes brunch. The Indiana Women’s Ministry has been hosting these around the state this year. If you are interested in attending please contact Heather Peercy in the Church office or myself. We will try to coordinate who is attending for car-pooling purposes.

On October 8-9 from 6 p.m. to 11 a.m., there will be an overnight craft evening at the church. This is an opportunity to work on some of those projects that have been languishing and have a fun evening of fellowship, too. We hope to have a time of worship as well. More information will be coming, but please let Jolie McCartney, Heather Peercy or me know if you would like to attend. Bring your scrapbooks, Christmas cards, cross-stitch, quilts, etc. Anything that you enjoy doing.

Finally, on December 11 th from 10.a.m. to noon, we will have our second annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. More information will be coming, but mark your calendars now. Those of us who attended last year had a lot of fun and I hope to see you there.

Do you see a need in the church? Has God given you an idea but you haven’t been sure what to do about it? Let Sue Brust or me know. We’d love to have your ideas and vision!

Pressing toward the Mark!

Cara Putman

Bethel Calendar