Bethesda United Methodist Church

Mission Focus - January 2012

        Our Mission Focus for January is on The Gideons International. The Gideons International is an association of Christian business and professional men who work to share God's word with all people. With the help of Christian friends and many different churches Gideons have been able to place and distribute over 600 million Bibles and New Testaments. They place Bibles in night stands located in hotel rooms, motel rooms, hospital rooms and prisons. They distribute Scripture to the military, college students, and school age children, 12 and up. There are Gideon camps in many countries throughout the world. Scripture is printed in many different languages. Wives of Gideon men form the Gideon Auxiliary.

        The Gideons have a Memorial Bible Program as well as Thinking of You, In Memory of, and In Recognition of program. Gideons believe the Bible is God's Word. It is holy; its precepts are binding; its histories are true. Read it to be wise; believe it to be safe; and practice it to be holy.

        So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it.  - Isaiah 55:11

-- Mary Shiveler

 Red Bird Mission Hoagie Sales

Mark your calendars, one Saturday a month of no cooking and delicious hoagies.

Jan. 21 -- Feb. 25 -- Mar. 24 -- Apr. 21

Kings Things

1402 Kings Highway, Swedesboro, NJ 08085

(856)-467-1796

Monthly Communication - October 2011

        Thrift Store Operations - Several new volunteers have been added to our ever growing group of men and women. In addition to them, High School students are volunteering to complete their service hours for school projects. We thank them for their time and efforts. Clothing and Household Goods donations are arriving daily, sorted and placed on our shelves for sale. Stop in and see the new merchandise for sale. You will be surprised. Speaking of new merchandise, the Fall and Winter merchandise is on display. There is a nice assortment of winter coats for sale. Halloween and Thanksgiving merchandise is for sale. Take a look in the windows and see our display. If you can't come into the store and are driving by, just give us a wave to say hello.

       Food Operations - Last month's report indicated that we experienced an increase of 77% in the period of Mid-July to Mid-August. Well, in the period of Mid-August to Mid-September, Kings Things realized another additional increase of 47%, as you can see from the numbers below. The response for food donations was very good during September. Monetary donations were up also. Our plea this month is for monetary donations to provide food for fast-moving items such as pancake mix, pancake syrup, peanut butter and jelly, pasta sauce, etc. We ill buy these items in case lots. Donations are tax deductible and checks can be made out to Kings Things marked for Food Operations in the memo area of your check. They can be dropped off at the store or mailed to the above address and to the attention of "Treasurer."

     Monthly Statistics: Food Applications

     June/July, 2011:                 18 Families, 56 Persons

     July/August, 2011:              32 Families, 99 Persons

     August/September, 2011:    47 Families, 165 Persons

        If you are interested in being a volunteer in our store, please call the telephone number above and ask for Arlene. Only two or three hours a week at your convenience would be greatly appreciated.

       Enjoy the Holiday Seasons of Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. They'll be here as soon as you blink an eye. May God Bless all who read this newsletter.

How YOU Can Help Bethesda's Missions Right Now

• Volunteer or make a much-needed donation to Kings Things thrift store and food pantry
• See the list below for other items you can donate

          LOVE REACHES OUT         Thank you for Caring and Sharing

Things You Can Donate

Tabs from drink cans - goes to Ronald McDonald House

Cancelled Stamps - goes to Women's Assoc. of Methodist Hospital (please NO flag stamps or Liberty Bells)

Campbell Soup Labels - for the Red Bird Mission School

Education Box Tops - for the Red Bird Mission School

Used Ink Cartridges - for discounts on our church's office supplies

Aluminum Cans - for the Boy Scouts (they have their own container in the parking lot)

Food Items - for Kings Things Pantry

       All these can be dropped off Sunday mornings in the foyer of the church. We have one big basket that you can drop everything in, and we will sort it out and make sure it gets to the right place. Or, you can drop them off at the office during the week. 

Our previously featured missions include:

John and Kendra Enright

Young Life

One Great Hour of Sharing

Red Bird Mission

Neighborhood Center

Vacation Bible School

Women's Resource Center

Joy Phillips

Ranch Hope

Bill and Joanna Coppedge