Welcome to Bethesda United Church of Christ

We welcome all without exception as we worship God together, journey in the spirit, and share our gifts with each other, our neighbors, and the world.

COME ALL YE FAITHFUL!  CELEBRATE THE ADVENT OF CHRIST’S BIRTH WITH BETHESDA UCC!

December 1st FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT AND COMMUNION Candle of Blessings. Worship 10:30 a.m., Rev. Dee preaching, “Standing at the Door: A Sermon for Sleepyheads.” Today we begin our Advent journey together in worship with candle-lighting and Communion as we reflectively wait the coming of Jesus. Our Advent Study begins after worship in library at 12 noon. We will reflect on Advent as Reorientation and Advent as Scandal using the following videos: “Learning How to Hope” with Brian Zahnd, and “Going to the Depth of the Manger” with Richard Rohr. No purchase required. Please join us for a lively discussion. 

December 7th 8 am PUTZ BUILDING Our joyful tradition of setting up the Putz, a three-dimensional storybook of the Nativity stories happens this day. Come join the fun! Great hands-on activity for children, adults, families of all ages. No experience required! Just show up! Please see Martha Knouss for further details regarding this event.

December 8th SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Candle of Miracles. Worship 10:30 a.m. Rev. Dee preaching, “Signal.” Special farewell coffee hour for Kathleen Meredith, Music Director.  Come join us in saying a more formal goodbye to Kathleen and thanking her for her service to BUCC!

December 12th HOLIDAY WALK ON THE LABYRINTH WITH SPECIAL HARP MUSIC AND OUR PUTZ DISPLAY, 7:00PM in Sanctuary. Please join us for a lovely meditative evening service to help you to pause during this season of waiting. Music will be provided by Kathleen Meredith on harp and our Christmas Putz (lighted manger scene) provides a beautiful backdrop to your walk.

December 14th 10-12 noon WOMEN’S SPIRITUALITY GROUP meets in Pastoral Counseling Office. Let’s look at Advent from a woman’s perspective; take a bit of time for reflection and personal sharing with other women of faith in our community. And as we close out this calendar year and usher in a new one, we would love to have you join us, even if you’ve never come before!

December 15th THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Candle of Hope. Worship 10:30 a.m. Special Children’s Pageant during Worship followed by a yummy ADVENT POTLUCK in Fellowship Hall with gathered friends. Invite a new-comer, neighbor, or friend!

December 22nd FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Candle of Love. Worship 10:30 a.m. Rev. Dee preaching, “When God Interrupts.” Our Advent Study continues after church in library at 12 noon. We will reflect on Advent as Poetic Imagination and Advent as Already, with the following videos: “A Womb for the Wounded,” with Malcolm Guite and “A Resurrected Christmas” with Rudy Rasmus.

December 24th CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE at 7:00 pm  Welcome the birth of Jesus Christ into the world with a joy -filled worship of music, singing, special readings, candlelighting, and prayers of hope and well-being for our times! Before the service there will be a Wassail Bowl in the Narthex. Come early and enjoy warm cider and cookies before the service.

December 25th A MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!
No formal worship this day. Please enjoy the holiday and lift up prayers for those who may feel alone this day.

December 29th FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS Worship 10:30 a.m. A special Guest Preacher TBA!

January 5th EPIPHANY CELEBRATION in Worship 10:30 a.m. Rev. Dee preaching, “Seeker.” Advent/Christmas Study concludes. We will reflect on Christmas as Embodiment with Barbara Brown Taylor’s “Matter Matters” video.

January 11th DISMANTLING THE PUTZ Today we gather to take down and put away our Christmas Putz but we keep building the faith it represents! Please join us from 8 a.m. until approximately 12 noon. Many hands make this fun and enjoyable for everyone, young and old.

January 12th BAPTISM OF CHRIST SUNDAY: SPECIAL ALL-CONGREGATION RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS Worship 10:30 a.m. Rev. Dee preaching, “Immersed” Do you remember your baptism? Whether baptized or not, join with your church friends and family for a special ritual renewal of the promises made at our baptism. All are welcome to participate and you do not have to have been baptized to receive a special blessing this day! If you are not baptized and wish to be baptized on this date, please contact Rev. Dee to arrange.

We Are Open and Affirming!  

As disciples of Jesus, we seek to embody Christ’s extravagant love, and share this love with everyone regardless of race, gender identity, income, age, orientation, or disability. Our building is wheelchair accessible, we provide assisted listening devices, and produce large-print bulletins for our members and guests with diminished vision. We fly a rainbow flag near our doors to boldly attract the attention of passers-by who see that a Christian church is declaring its welcome to LGBT persons.

We are proud of our history on the forefront of progressive change whether it be marching on the Mall with Martin Luther King, Jr., making a commitment to reduce homelessness and hunger around us, or becoming an Open and Affirming church.