Bethesda Lamplighter January 2012

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LamplighterTheTheTheThe

J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2Vol. 5 Issue 1

A New Year Challenge

As this politically charged presidential election year moves for-

ward, what really is our nations greatest need? A new president?

New legislators? All of the above? Regardless of the potential po-

litical changes that are needed, they will only be superficial if a

deeper change does not occur. A change of heartmy heart, your heart, all hearts,

beginning with Christians.

Let me borrow from Byron Paulus article in the latest edition of revive, a publication

of Life Action Ministries. Paulus quotes a pastor from Uganda: In Uganda we experi-

enced a nationwide revival as a result of severe persecution. The suffering of the peo-ple was beyond description, and no one came to our rescue. But God used the oppor-

tunity to wake a nation from its spiritual coma. What we learned is that revival will

come either through devastation or desperation. So my question is simply this: What

are you doing in America to make sure revival comes through desperation and not

devastation?

As we have observed recently around the world, Paulus continues, devastation

comes to nations suddenly and in many forms. The ravages of civil war, the chaos of

riots in the streets, and the losses of economic collapse have given us vivid glimpses

Continued on page 2

Our Church Staff

Gary BurdenSenior Pastor

919-631-6789

Landon OrrMinister to Students

919-229-9379

Debbe LangdonMusic Director/Pianist

919-410-0271

KathyWelchOffice Coordinator

Michele McLaughlinAdmin. Assistant - Finances

Pat Baucom Admin. Assistant - Publications

MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS

A Special Evening of Music Featuring

The TaylorsFriday, January 20th - 7:00 PM

A bother-sister quartet from Lillington - Jonathan, Suzanne, Christopher and Leslie -

are dedicated to stirring up the faith of the Christian community as well as reaching

people with the good news of Jesus Christ through Gospel music.

The Taylors grew up as members of Fellowship Baptist, a small country church,

where their father is a Southern Baptist pastor. It was around the church pianowhere The Taylors learned four-part family harmony.

The Taylors recently won First Place in the Talent Showcase of The National Quar-

tet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. They are also the 2008 NC State Singing Conven-

tion Grand Champions and were nominated "2010 Horizon Group of the Year" by The

Singing News Fan Awards!

Growing up in a Christian home has reinforced their faith and values and has cre-

ated in them a strong desire to proclaim their salvation through the ministry of music!

You can visit their website at www.thetaylorsmusic.com to hear their music.


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of the kinds of devastation that can suddenly grip na-

tions.And America is no exception.The storm clouds

are already gathering on the horizon. And it looks increas-

ingly likely that our society will experience a severe form

of devastation, whether economic, moral, or politi-cal.We have sown the wind, and we too must reap the

whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). Could it be that it will take devasta-

tion to bring us to our knees?

Not to be all gloom and doom, the thrust of the article is

that we should rather pursue and cultivate a heart of des-

perationnot panicbut crying out to God. That spirit of

desperation gripped the hearts of first a few and then

many in Uganda, and God began a transforming work in

that nation.

So, be informed, watch the political debates, and vote. Butmore than that, ask the Lord for a desperate heart for

Himcry out for His mercy. Gods first concern is not the

White House or the State House, but your house and

mineyour heart and mine. We need far more than politi-

cal solutions. We need revival in the House of God, the

same place where His judgment begins. We need solu-

tions that give Godnot any political candidate or

partythe glory!

As a starting point, be sure to spend some new-year time

with the Self-Evaluation printed in this newsletter. Its a

great way to begin the New Year!

Finally, Frances and I want to thank you for your many

expressions of love this past Christmas, and past years.

We so highly value you as brothers, sisters, friends in

Christ. We are blessed!Gary BurdenGary BurdenGary BurdenGary Burden

Fear Not!

The potential for fear is more and more real these days.

But Gods people should be differentand they can! Fol-

lowing his prequel on fear leading up to Christmas, thepastor now launches his Sunday morning sermon se-

riesFear Not!January 1. See schedule on page 6.

Page 2T h e L a m p l i g h t e r

F R O M T H E P A S T O R ( C O N T D ) Music is a powerful thing. When

played well, certain note or chord

progressions have the power to move

ones emotions, inciting tears, laugh-

ter, anger, or love. Most all of us can

attest to experiencing this type of power at some point in

our lives. Music has more influence on our lives than wereally know.

Music also has a great influence on teens. Teen culture

is divided into a number of small sub-groups which are

normally referred to as clicks. In the past, these clicks

might have been divided by race, language spoken,

wealth, or athleticism, but today these clicks are more

defined by musical taste. Once divided off into sub-groups

a remarkable thing begins to happen. These sub-groups

become totally distinct and self reliant. Each musical

genre has its own clothing stores in the mall, it has its

own slang, it has its own hair styles. Essentially these

sub-groups become sub-cultures, so distinct from one

another that it can take as much planning to reach them

as it does to reach a culture in a foreign country.

In response to the appearance of all these new sub-

cultures, as Evangelical Christians we have a tendency to

create a sub-culture of our own. We have our own book-

stores, our own radio stations, our own cable TV chan-

nels, we look alike, we talk alike, we laugh at the same

jokes (that others really dont find that funny), and we

have our own musical genre. This genre, instead of beinglabeled rock, alternative, hip-hop, oldies, country, or in-

spirational, is simply labeled Christian. That leads me to a

question that I have been wrestling with for some time

now. Is it right for Christians to exist exclusively in sub-

cultures or should we exist everywhere, influencing all

cultures, in the same way that the gospel has influence

for all cultures?

Last year I observed an incredible thing at Liberty Winter-

fest. Looking around Liberty Universitys Vines Center, I

saw thousands of teens enjoying good quality music.

Representation from all genres were there. It was fun towatch as those who obviously were into the punk scene

listened politely to music that was more of the southern

rock persuasion. It was even more amazing to watch the

students forget about their musical taste and rise to wor-

ship together when the worship bands played. These stu-

dents had some major distinctions: some wore camou-

flage; some wore skinny jeans; some wore all black; some

had multi colored hair. However, they all had a common

bond: the Gospel.

Continued on pg. 6


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nday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1.Week l y

Sunday Service

No Evening

activities

2 3

Deacons

M e e t i n g

7:00 PM

4

Awana

Weekly Wed.

Schedule

5 6 7

8

Bfk. Fellowship

Week l y

Sunday Service

9 10 11

Awana

Weekly Wed.

Schedule

12 13 14

15

W e e k l y

Sunday Service

16 17

Board of Directors

Mee t i n g

7:00 PM

18

Awana

Weekly Wed.

Schedule

19 20

The Taylors i n C once r t

at B e t hesda

Baptist Church 7 PM

21

R e c i p e E xchange and Soup Luncheon

11 AM - 1 PM

22

Week l y

Sunday Service

Church Council

Mtg. 4:30 PM

23 24 25

Awana

Weekly Wed.

Schedule

26 27

28

29

Week l y

Sunday Service

30 31

The Lamplighter Page 4

W e e k l y W e d n e s d a y S c h e d u l eW e e k l y S u n d a y S c h e d u l e

6:30pm ....................................................................Awana, Youth Bible Study

6:45 pm ..............................................................Adult Prayer and Bible Study

Choir Rehearsal

9:15 am ..............................................................................Bible Study Fellowship

10:30 am ...................................................................Morning Worship Celebration

6:00 pm ..................................................LifeLine...Get Connected (Small Groups)

Student LifeLine

SPK CHOIR (Shout Praises Kids) - Grades 1-5


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T h e L a m p l i g h t e r Page 5

Date S.S.AM

Worship

Budget

Offering

His Vision

Our Mission

Nov. 27 117 171 5,060.20 605.00

Dec. 4 103 152 4,141.50 675.00

Dec. 11 132 169 8,955.73 2,325.00

Dec. 18 121 188 6,867.94 7,283.00

Total 473 680 25,025.37 10,888.00

Avg. 118 170 6,256.34 2,722.00

Average Attendance & Offerings for December 2010

Avg. 97 151 5,256.64

Facts & Figures for November/December 2011

JANUARY EXTENDED SESSIONAND KIDS CHURCH

Sunday, Jan. 1Sunday, Jan. 1Sunday, Jan. 1Sunday, Jan. 1 ---- AMAMAMAM

Babies: Kathleen McLamb &

Cherilyn Murphy

2s: Heather Henry &

Robin Hotakey

3s/4s:Wendy Beasley &

Diane Duncan

KKKK----3rd Kids Church3rd Kids Church3rd Kids Church3rd Kids Church

Frances Burden &

Angel Duncan

Sunday, Jan. 1Sunday, Jan. 1Sunday, Jan. 1Sunday, Jan. 1---- PMPMPMPM

No Activities

Wednesday, Jan. 4Wednesday, Jan. 4Wednesday, Jan. 4Wednesday, Jan. 4

Frances Burden &

Louise Gilmore


Babies: Brigitte Creech &

April Lengel

2s: Missy Urban &

Mandy Windham

3s/4s: Kristol Flanigan

& Kristen Duncan

KKKK----3rd Kids Church3rd Kids Church3rd Kids Church3rd Kids ChurchNicole & Michael Ritchie

Sunday, Jan. 8Sunday, Jan. 8Sunday, Jan. 8Sunday, Jan. 8 ---- PMPMPMPM

Jane & Johnnie Gatlin


Jessica Peedin &

Shannon Coomer

Sunday, Jan 15.Sunday, Jan 15.Sunday, Jan 15.Sunday, Jan 15. ---- AMAMAMAM

Babies: Sondra Gatewood &

Jane Gatlin

2s: Diana Lee & Sis Godwin

3s/4 s: Leigh Smith &

Jennifer Harrison


Terry Gatewood &

David Duncan

Sunday, Jan. 15Sunday, Jan. 15Sunday, Jan. 15Sunday, Jan. 15 ---- PMPMPMPM

Larkin Creech


Terry Gatewood &

Shannon Coomer


Babies: Faye Wells &

Shalee Sams

2s: Laura & Shane Benson

3s/4s: Julie Brueggen &

Sara Orr


Wendy & Chris Gatewood

Sunday, Jan. 22Sunday, Jan. 22Sunday, Jan. 22Sunday, Jan. 22 ---- PMPMPMPMBob & Brenda Jones


Bobby Lonas &

Shannon Coomer

Sunday, Jan. 29 AMSunday, Jan. 29 AMSunday, Jan. 29 AMSunday, Jan. 29 AM

Babies: Faye Parrish &

Elvis Farr

2s: Sondra Gatewood &

Louise Gilmore

3s/4s: Sharon Orchard &

Stephanie Johnson


Sabrina & Trenton Seagroves

Sunday, Jan. 29 PMSunday, Jan. 29 PMSunday, Jan. 29 PMSunday, Jan. 29 PM

Bill & Julia Stephens

Wednesday, Feb. 1Wednesday, Feb. 1Wednesday, Feb. 1Wednesday, Feb. 1

Frances Burden &

Louise Gilmore

Preschool Regis. DeskPreschool Regis. DeskPreschool Regis. DeskPreschool Regis. Desk

Diane DuncanDiane DuncanDiane DuncanDiane Duncan

Some people may say, another Christmas hascome and gone but they must have missed the

truth of Christmas. When we celebrate the birth of

Jesus, we must be careful not to pack away our

Christmas spirit with all the ornaments and leftover

gift-wrap!We celebrate a living Christ, whose gifts

of hope, peace, joy, and love remain with us all

year long. As a matter of fact, this carol sums it up

best:

Good Christian folk, rejoice,

with heart and soul and voice;Now ye need not fear the grave:

Jesus Christ was born to save!

Calls you one and calls you all,to gain His everlasting hall.

Christ was born to save!

Christ was born to save!

So, as we begin another new year, remember that

we have a reason to sing, and lets truly rejoice

with heart and soul and voice!

H appy New Yea r and God b l ess Debbe LangdonDebbe LangdonDebbe LangdonDebbe Langdon


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4967 Highway 70 West Business

Clayton, NC 27520

Phone: 919-553-7678

Address Service Guaranteed

January BirthdaysJanuary BirthdaysJanuary BirthdaysJanuary Birthdays

Landon Orr 1st

Dorothy Langston 3rd

Nathan McLamb 13th

Andrew Tart 17th

Nicole Langdon 21st

Jordan Murphy 23rd

Tyler Gordon 24th

Jessica Peedin 28th

Sondra Gatewood 30th

Louise Gilmore 30th

Were on the web!

www.bethesdaclayton.com

Landon & Sara Orr 9th

Mac & Vickie Beasley 14th

Chris & Sharon Johnson 20th

Larry & Ann Harper 25th

Husel & Linda Lee 27th

Youth Pastors Article continued: God is going to get so much glory when all na-tions, or all cultures, gather together to worship him. We dont need to be scared of

other cultures or separate from other cultures. Instead we need to hold fast to our

Christian convictions and head out to penetrate these cultures with the gospel. Apart

from the Gospel, those teens at Winterfest probably would not have spent much time

together. But with the Gospel they have reason to fellowship, as the Church united,

and serve as a motivation for us to do the same in our community, reaching all cul-

tures for Christ.

LandonLandonLandonLandon


SUNDAY MORNING SERMON SCHEDULE

2012

Series

Fear Not!

(Continuation from prequel during Christmas time)

January 1 How to Get Ready for Christmas-Part Two

Luke 2:25-35

January 8 No Fear for the New Year

James 4:13-17

( Lo rd s Supper obse rved )

January 15 Facing Financial Fears

M a t t h ew 6 : 2 5 - 3 4

January 22 Rejecting the Fear of Rejection

P r o v e r b s 2 9 : 2 5

January 29 Overcoming the Fear of Failure

Ma t t hew 2 5 : 2 5 - 2 6

February 5 The Fear of Facing an Unexpected Crisis

M a r k 4 : 3 5 - 4 1

February 12 Breaking Free from Fear by Faith 2 T imo t h y 1 : 6 - 8

Happy Birthday


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Pitfalls to Avoid(A Self-Evaluation)

By Nancy Leigh DeMoss

1. [LOSING THE WONDER]

Do you have a genuine passion for Christ and for ministry? Have I lost the wonder of my relationship with Jesus and of the call to ministry?

Am I just going through the motions?

2. [NEGLECTING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST]

Do I have a vital, growing, intimate, love relationship with the Lord Jesus?

Am I cultivating Gods presence through daily times in the Word and in prayer?

3. [PROCLAIMING TRUTH WERE NOT LIVING]

Is there any issue God has revealed to me in His Word that Im not obeying?

Is my private lifestyle consistent with what I proclaim to others?

Can I say to others, Live your life as I do, and God will bless you?

4. [RELYING ON THE NATURAL]

How does my life evidence a dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit?

What is there about my life and ministry that cannot be explained apart from the Spirit of God?

5. [LEAVING THE PATHWAY OF HUMILITY]

Do I have a teachable spirit?

Do I have a servants heart, or do I look to other people to serve me?

Do I esteem all others as better than myself ?

Am I amazed that God would use me ?

6. [SETTLING FOR THE STATUS QUO]

Am I exercising faith in Gods power?

Am I seeking God for fresh vision and opportunities to glorify Him?

What am I believing God for that only He can do?

7. [SERVING WITHOUT LOVE]

Is my service motivated by genuine love for God?

Do I genuinely love others?

8. [LOSING PERSPECTIVE]

Does my life demonstrate a conviction that God is powerful and in charge?

Do I act as if I believe He is big enough to solve every problem I face?

9. [SEEKING COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE]

Am I self-seeking or self-denying?

Am I surrendering my right to comfort and convenience?


Bethesda Lamplighter January 2012

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