OCTOBER 2023

I am writing the October 2023 newsletter article! Just saying that out loud as I type it grabs my attention. The anticipa-tion of summer feels like it was just a couple of weeks ago. Now, I am anticipating our week of winter. The saying “time flies when you’re having fun” is certainly true for me in 2023. What an amazing year so far. God has richly blessed Bethel Baptist Church during the first three quarters of this year. Thank you, Jesus, for the great things You have done for us this year.

As we draw nearer to the Holiday Season, we all fill up our calendars with events. We have several upcoming events at Bethel I want to bring to your attention. October starts with Homecoming on the 1st. I look forward to visiting with you all and enjoying dinner on the grounds. Bethel will host our Association’s annual meeting on Sunday, October 22. The annual meeting begins with a very brief business meeting, followed by a wonderful time of worship through song and the Word. Austin will be leading the music that night. God continues to bring new people to our church. Sixty-two people have joined our fellowship since our last New Members Meal. I will not be surprised if that number grows before our next meal. If you are one of those new members please mark your calendars for Thursday, October 26 at 6:00PM. We will enjoy our New Members Meal on that night. We will have our annual Fall Festival from 6:00PM-8:00PM at the end of the month on Tuesday, October 31. We had an amazing turnout last year. Mark that night on your calendar, and join us for a great time of fun, food, and family. As you can see, October’s calendar is full. We thank God for all the amazing blessings, events, and opportunities to worship the Lord, grow in our faith, and fellowship with our church.

I also want to make you aware of two events in November. One, the Widows and Widowers Luncheon will be on Sun-day, November 5 immediately following the morning worship service. We love our widows and widowers and want you all to know how special you are to us. Two, our Lottie Moon Kick Off Dinner will be on Sunday, November 26 at 5:00PM. I thoroughly enjoyed last year’s dinner. Please come join us on that night to learn more about what God is doing all over the world.

I want to give you a wonderful Psalm to read and ponder as we begin a busy time of the year. Psalm 90 1 Lord, You have been our refuge in every generation. 2 Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, You are God.

3 You return mankind to the dust, saying, “Return, descendants of Adam.” 4 For in Your sight a thousand years are like yesterday that passes by, like a few hours of the night. 5 You end their lives; they sleep. They are like grass that grows in the morning—6 in the morning it sprouts and grows; by evening it withers and dries up. 7 For we are consumed by Your anger; we are terrified by Your wrath. 8 You have set our unjust ways before You, our secret sins in the light of Your pres-ence. 9 For all our days ebb away under Your wrath; we end our years like a sigh. 10 Our lives last seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty years. Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow; indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.

11 Who understands the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear that is due You. 12 Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. 13 Lord—how long? Turn and have compassion on Your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us rejoice for as many days as You have humbled us, for as many years as we have seen adversity. 16 Let Your work be seen by Your servants, and Your splendor by their children. .

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us; establish for us the work of our hands—establish the work of our hands!

-Pastor Clint Miller