To Lift you up - above is our music player with a little music from our Jan 12, 2020 service - this is "Down to the River to Pray", with Deanna Morrison on vocals, Sandy Gunn on guitar, and Pastor Sylvia on viola.
Welcome to Bethel Congregational Church, UCC
We are an Open and Affirming UCC Congregation!
To make an offering online - just click on the Donate button on the right side of the page! (In the "Donate Here" widget. Or visit the Donate page...)
YOU are invited to join us in Worship, Community, & Celebration
Sundays at 10 am
May you be blessed and stay well, especially during these times of escalating health concerns, and the constantly changing scenario.
Sunday April 5, 2020 - 10 AM
Palm/Passion Sunday - Communion
Pastor Sylvia will be live and in person this Sunday, and the service will be live-streamed on our Facebook page - so VISIT our FB page for a live stream!
By the way - our FB Page is public - so you do NOT have to have a FB account to view it!
If you prefer to try Periscope - we are hoping to also have that available (it will be from a slightly different angle/phone camera - hope it works well). Here is our Periscope TV link: https://www.pscp.tv/BethelOntario1/
(Have you been visiting and thinking about joining? Today is a good day for that!)
Sermon - "End of the Road?" - Rev. Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann
Get Ready for this Sunday's Service!
Click HERE for a PALM COLORING PAGE, to color and enjoy. Take a pic or video of you and your family and send it to Pastor Sylvia so we can share with each other ....
Check back HERE for a PDF of the "Bulletin" - it has all the songs, prayers and readings, so you can follow along! We will post it for you soon!
VISIT our FB page for a live stream! (Tune in at 10am on Sundays)
See us Live on FaceBook: We try to "Go LIVE" every Sunday at 10am on our Facebook Page @BethelOntario (Bethel Congregational UCC).
Communion -
On Sunday, April 5, Palm (and, for some, Passion) Sunday we share together Holy Communion in our online interactive worship.
Before the time of the service you will want to prepare some bread, a slice or a small loaf of any kind of bread. In some parts of the world tortilla, rice cake, cassava are used as this element which is defined not as a wheat product but as the most common food of the people. Let it be something you alone or you with others in your house may break and share. Prepare a cup or cups of juice -- perhaps grape or cranberry -- or wine, with or without alcohol.
Set these elements in the living room or kitchen where you experience worship electronically with our faith community. Perhaps you want to put them on a lovely cloth or fabric that reminds you of a special time or a person deeply connected with you in the communion of saints. Perhaps you will light a candle or place a flower or plant or the photograph of someone you wish to bring into the circle of faith beside the bread and the cup.
Thank you for your preparation
Pastor Sylvia
Click this pic for a nice pdf of these instructions!
Here are some tips for ways to fully participate in our online worship! (click this pic to get a pdf of these to save)
Sunday April 5, 2020
All readings for the week:
Liturgy of the Palms:
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Matthew 21:1-11
Liturgy of the Passion:
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54
Focus Questions:
1. Why do you think the powers-that-be feared Jesus?
2. What is the power of fear in your life, and in the life of your community?
3. What does it mean to you that "Jesus died for you"?
4. When have you ever felt like Peter, in that courtyard?
5. Why do you think Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sat there, opposite the tomb? What were they waiting for?
What are we doing about Covid-19?
Bethel Congregational UCC worship will be available on FB live Sunday mornings at 10am. (And the recording will remain accessible through our page). We are also looking into making our services available on other platforms as well. We expect to also be accessible soon through Periscope (Twitter video platform) We are a small congregation, and are, most Sundays, under the 50 person threshold. Nonetheless - things have changed rapidly since last week. So - Sunday March 22, our worship service will be online only. I encourage you to remain at home, and join in worship online. Here is the link to our FB page, where you can find the live stream. https://www.facebook.com/BethelOntario/
You will also be able to access our live stream and archived services through our media center page.
In addition, we will be making Bible Study available through Zoom (the link for the recurring meetings is posted on the Bible Study Page), and other important meetings will also use Zoom. Don't hesitate to reach out by phone, text, FB message, or any other way that works for you. Support each other. Pray for one another.
Please know, that as much as I want to see all of you in the pews every week - this is an unprecedented time. We are blessed to have the ability to stay in fellowship with each other, even if we are not all in the same building at the same time. We are the church. The building is not the church. It is time to hold each other up - and we can do that, even if via virtual and remote methods.
Blessings,
Pastor Sylvia
If you are looking for a church where you are welcome, and where you can make a difference - please join us!
In the face of division and fear, let us resolve to truly "Be the Church"..
Please - Plan to join us to have a great Sunday morning, and - Feel free to bring your family and friends as we continue celebrate the triumph of Love...and contemplate our response
"Bethel Congregational UCC is church that does God’s work in the world, nurtures spiritual growth, and helps to build a loving community.”
After worship, stay for a fellowship - snacks, coffee, tea, etc... something we always enjoy!
The Reverend Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann is Bethel's Pastor and Minister of Music. She serves on the Committee on Ministry for the Eastern Association of the Southern California-Nevada Conference of the UCC, provides coaching to clergy and laity, She is the Music Director & Conductor of the Southland Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, is a member of the music faculty of Chaffey College, and serves on the faculty of St. Teresa's Open Catholic Seminary. In addition to her work as our Pastor, she is widely known as musician, artist and inspirational speaker. To learn more about Dr. Mann, visit her personal site, http://sylvialeemann.com
Welcome! Bethel United Church of Christ is a church that does God’s work in the world, nurtures spiritual growth, and helps to build a loving community.No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here. Bethel UCC Ontario is an Open and Affirming congregation.
Donate Here
Please support Bethel in our ministries.
You can now use Zelle to send you offering! Our associated email for Zelle is info@betheluccontario.org (If you use Zelle, we do not have to pay a fee. If you use PayPal, we do pay a small fee - but it still works!)
Send an offering or donation here.
If PayPal is better for you (especially if you need to use a card) - just click the donate button. below.
Vital Info
Sunday Service 10am. Everyone is welcome.
Address: 536 N Euclid Ave. Ontario, CA 91762
Office Phone: (909) 984-9111
Pastor's message line: (909) 457-7893
Music line: (909) 283-0237
Pastor and Minister of Music:
Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann
Bible Study: NEW - Lenten Bible Study begins Thursday March 5th, 2020. Thursdays at 9AM - via ZOOM CLICK HERE FOR A STUDY GUIDE
Choir (on brief "break - watch for our return))
Regular Rehearsal when meeting:
Wednesdays 7:30 pm (at the parsonage) & Sun at 9:15am in the Sanctuary
Membership Inquiry Class (Bethel/UCC 101) : Available most Sundays following worship or upon request.
Office Hours: TBA, by appointment.
Generally available:
Tues 10 - 1 / Thurs 11 - 2
(Other also by appointment).
Call to confirm (sometimes Pastor is out for off-site appointments/visitation).
Email Dr. Mann to arrange an appointment
Office and Parking lot are in the rear of the building - enter off of F Street.
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Sermon Videos
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