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!
Visit our Sunday Morning Worship Livestream - Every Sunday at 9:58AM
on Bethel's Facebook Page, Pastor Sylvia's Facebook Page, YouTube, Periscope, or Twitch
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. .
ONLINE - Worship Sundays at 10 am (Video starts a couple of minutes before 10 with some music)
(We have suspended in-person worship during the current Covid-19 crisis)
May you be blessed and stay well, especially during these times of escalating health concerns, and the constantly changing scenario.
This Sunday - September 27 , 2020 - 17th Sunday after Pentecost
This Week's Sermon - "Water from the Rock" - Dr. Mann
Special Music
Also - tune in early(at 9:55am) for the Pre-Service music!
Special Kids' Video - The story of the Two Sons
Our worship service will be online at 10AM on our Facebook page (we will start with some prelude music a few minutes before 10 - this week for our pre-service music at 9:58am, so VISIT our FB page (CLICK) for a live stream at 10am on Sunday!
Online Service Bulletin (PDF) - CLICK HERE to get it! (note - this weeks bulletin includes sheet music for the songs!)
Complete Family Bundle - Service Bulletin, Resources & Children's Bulletin (PDF) CLICK HERE to get it! (Includes Regular Bulletin, Kids Bulletin, Family Learning Activity, Coloring Page)
CLICK the ICON for your favorite social media spot below to visit us on Sunday at 9:58am for worship - we are live on all of these platforms!
Prepare for worship!
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Please consider sharing stories (written or video) of experiencing God and connection (to God - to each other) during the quarantine. Some of these may be included in our worship video (with your permission). If you want to share on a particular Sunday be sure to send it in by noon on Friday so that Pastor Sylvia can place them into our video! If you don't make it in time for this week - don't worry – we love to share the presence of God in our lives, so send when you can. Here is an uplink so that you can upload your video directly to Pastor Sylvia. https://spaces.hightail.com/uplink/sylviamann
- Prepare your worship area – This week – include some water, and a rock! As always – if you wish, include a candle, flowers, and a cross… Think about a memory – a time that you did not realize God was there with you – and then later saw the hand of God in that moment. If you have a photo, or some kind of reminder - include that in your worship area – or just write down a brief sentence of phrase about it on a small card or piece of paper, and include that…Thank you for your preparation
By the way - our FB Page is public - so you do NOT have to have a FB account to view it! If for any reason you prefer not to use Facebook, try YouTube, CLICK HERE OR - try Periscope - we also have that available. Here is our Periscope TV link: https://www.pscp.tv/BethelOntario1/
We are now also streaming on TWITCH! Check it out here:https://www.twitch.tv/bethelontario
NEW - We now offer channels/apps on Amazon Fire TV and Roku. Both channels have been built and approved! These channels do NOT broadcast live feeds, but they will have all of our services and activities available on demand.
(Note:Amazon Fire TV is only viewable on compatible devices (Amazon fire stick or cube, Fire TV)
Our Channel name for either one is "Bethel UCC Worship Services"
(Have you been visiting and thinking about joining? Today is a good day for that! - just send a message to Pastor Sylvia! - we CAN do a membership ceremony online!)
See us Live on FaceBook: We "Go LIVE" every Sunday at 10am on our Facebook Page @BethelOntario (Bethel Congregational UCC).
After Worship - Join us at 11:15 on Zoom for the virtual fellowship hour: - here is the vital info
Bethel Fellowship Sundays
Time: 11:15am - about 12:45.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 869 4578 4663
Password: 977939
THIS WEEK:
Sunday September 27th, 2020:
All readings for this Sunday:
- Exodus 17:1-7 with Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 or
- Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 with Psalm 25:1-9
- Philippians 2:1-13
- Matthew 21:23-32
Focus Questions:
1. Is it unfaithful to question God? Why or why not?
2. What should Israel have done in its thirst?
3. Does God feel more present in good times or in bad?
4. Has "wilderness" been a positive or negative faith experience in your life?
5. What are the mirages that we have wandered toward as a culture?
NEW SONG THIS WEEK! - We will be singing "Rain Down", by Jaime Cortez this coming Sunday, Sept 27th. Check out this YouTube video cover of the song - a great tool to learn it ahead of time!
Here are the words for Rain Down:
(Chorus):
Rain down, rain down,
rain down your love on your people.
Rain down, rain down,
rain down your love, God of life.
1. Faithful and true is the word of our God;
all of God's works are so worthy of trust.
God's mercy falls on the just and the right;
full of God's love is the earth. (chorus)
2. We who revere and find hope in our God
live in the kindness and joy of God's wing.
God will protect us from darkness and death;
God will not leave us to starve. (chorus)
3. God of creation, we long for your truth;
you are the water of life that we thirst.
Grant that your love and your peace touch our hearts,
all of our hope lies in you (chorus)
SIGN UP FOR OUR TEXT NETWORK just text BethelUCC to 84576 or fill out this form!
Here are some tips for ways to fully participate in our online worship! (click this pic to get a pdf of these to save)
What are we doing about Covid-19?
Bethel Congregational UCC worship services are available on FB live, YouTube Live, and Periscope Sunday mornings at 10am. (And the recordings remain accessible through our pages). 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/
In addition, our Bible Study is 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. Send an offering or donation here.
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!)
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.
Worship with us online during the "Stay-at-home" orders...
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 Email Dr. Mann
Bible Study: Thursdays at 9AM - via ZOOM CLICK HERE FOR A STUDY GUIDE
Membership Inquiry Class (Bethel/UCC 101) : Available upon request. Contact Pastor Sylvia to arrange an appointment
Office and Parking lot are in the rear of the building - enter off of F Street.
TEXT MESSAGES
text BethelUCC to 84576 to join our text network. Get all the latest info ASAP!
Furry Friends Pet Food Bank - Pepsi Refresh Grant Winner
To donate to Bethel's Furry Friends, go to our Donation Page and scroll down to Furry Friends (Click)
OPEN AND AFFIRMING
We are an "Open and Affirming" congregation of the United Church of Christ.
Our Open and Affirming Statement is :
"We declare ourselves to be open and affirming. With God's grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, as well as racial, ethnic, or social-economic background. We welcome all to share in the life and leadership, ministry, and fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities and blessings of participation in our congregation."
