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Budget vs. Actuals, as of February 28, 2026 To demonstrate good stewardship and transparency with the whole Bethel community, the Church Board is providing this financial update. Since the overall spreadsheet is more detailed than many people find helpful, this is a very basic summary. If you have questions or would like more information, please speak with Pastor Mat or a member of the Board.

Prayer is one of the most powerful gifts God has given the Church. World Day of Prayer reminds us that when we pray, we join a global chorus of believers lifting their voices for justice, healing, and peace. Each year, Christians around the world use a shared liturgy written by women from a particular country, grounding our intercession in real stories and lived realities.

For Black History Month, today we remember James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938). He was an African American writer, civil rights leader, and key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. He is best known for co-writing with his brother, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is known as the Black National Anthem. He is also known for his leadership in advancing Black literature and equality in the early twentieth century.

Let Justice Roll Each year on February 20, people around the world pause to recognize the World Day of Social Justice. Established by the United Nations, this day calls attention to the urgent need for fair treatment, equitable opportunity, and the protection of human dignity for all people. Social justice is not only a global concern – it is deeply biblical.

Prayer Was Not Meant to Be Solo Most of us first learn to think of prayer as something we do alone -- heads bowed, eyes closed, just us and God. That kind of personal prayer matters. But from the very beginning, followers of Jesus also prayed together. The early church’s life with God is described like this: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, a forty-day journey (not counting Sundays) that leads us toward the cross and the empty tomb. On this day, we receive ashes in the shape of a cross and hear the sobering words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” The ashes are not meant to shame us but to ground us - reminding us of our mortality, our need for grace, and our utter dependence on God.

Black History Month invites us to not only acknowledge suffering and injustice, but to recognize and affirm that Black History is so much more than a story of suffering. Black History Month also invites us to celebrate survival, creativity, and God's abiding faithfulness. It calls us to tell the truth about history and to honor the roots that still nourish us.

Listen to Him Psalm 2 proclaims God’s sovereign authority and the promise of a chosen king. In Exodus, Moses enters the cloud of God’s presence on the mountain, where glory and mystery meet. Peter testifies to witnessing Christ’s majesty and affirms the trustworthiness of God’s prophetic word. In Matthew, Jesus is transfigured before the disciples, and God’s voice commands, “This is my Son, the Beloved… listen to him.” …

When You Feel Pulled in the Wrong Direction Life does not just give us easy choices. We face stress, pressure, and moments where we feel pulled toward things that are not good for us or for others: habits that numb us, shortcuts that harm people, patterns that slowly wear down our hope. Jesus teaches us to bring those moments into prayer:

At Bethel Church of the Nazarene, we believe the church isn’t just a building, it’s a family. Every week, people from different backgrounds, cultures, and life journeys come together to worship, grow, serve, and support one another. This blog series, Get to Know Us, is our way of celebrating the beautiful diversity within our congregation. Through a set of simple interview questions, you’ll meet the people who make Bethel what it is.

Black History Month invites us to remember that the Black Church has long been a site of both worship and resistance, a place where prayer and protest were never far apart. One striking example comes from a prayer written by Frederick Douglass and offered publicly by George Lawrence on January 1, 1813, at the African Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City.

Let Your Light Shine Psalm 112 describes those who fear the Lord as people whose lives shine with generosity, righteousness, and steadfast trust. Isaiah confronts empty religious practice and calls God’s people to a faith that loosens the bonds of injustice and brings light to places of need. Paul reminds the Corinthians that true wisdom comes not from human cleverness but from the Spirit who reveals the mind of Christ.

When Prayer and Pain Collide It can be hard to pray when we feel hurt, wronged, or weighed down by our own mistakes. Anger, disappointment, and guilt can make God feel far away, or they can make us feel unworthy to even start the conversation. Right in the middle of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to bring all of that to God:

Today, February 4th is World Cancer Day. World Cancer Day is a moment when people across the globe pause to remember, to grieve, and to stand in solidarity with all who have been touched by cancer. It is a day that holds both sorrow and hope, remembering those we have lost, supporting those who continue to fight, and lifting up the families who walk alongside them.

During Black History Month, we remember that faith has often shown up not only in sanctuaries, but in the streets, the newspapers, and the hard work of telling the truth. Ida B. Wells answered that call publicly. She confronted the terror of lynching head-on and named the deep moral contradiction of a nation that claimed Christian righteousness while allowing the violent destruction of Black lives.

The Way of the Blessed Psalm 15 describes those who walk blamelessly and speak truth from the heart, living with integrity in God’s presence. Micah famously declares what God requires: to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Paul points out to the Corinthians the surprising wisdom of the cross — God choosing what seems foolish to reveal true strength.

Trusting God with What We Need for Today In the middle of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus turns to something very ordinary and very real: “Give us this day our daily bread.”— Matthew 6:11 (NRSV) This short request reminds us that God cares about the things we need to make it through the day: food, shelter, time, energy, peace of mind.

A reflection from Pastor Brad. Today we remember the millions of victims of the holocaust. The horrors perpetrated by the Nazi party against Jewish individuals stand as a stark reminder of what happens when prejudice becomes public policy and when human beings become the victims of a cruel and oppressive ideology. We remember and commemorate those who suffered and died under the…

Light in the Shadows Psalm 27 proclaims the Lord as our light and salvation, the refuge who steadies our hearts in every fear. Isaiah promises that the people walking in darkness will see a great light. Paul calls the Corinthians away from division and back to the unity found in the cross of Christ. In Matthew, Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee, shining light into shadowed places and calling ordinary people to follow Him.

Church family, this is a gentle reminder that we will gather tomorrow to remember and give thanks for the life of our dearly beloved brother in Christ, Keith Hemmings. Celebration of Life Service Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026 Time: 10:30 AM Location: Granite City Church, 315 Whitwell Street, Quincy All are welcome to attend as we surround Keith’s family and loved ones with prayer, presence, and support.

Longing for Heaven on Earth When Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer, he invites us to pray for something much bigger than our own lives: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”— Matthew 6:10 (NRSV) This is not just a quiet, private line to whisper. It is a bold, hopeful prayer that God’s ways will shape our schools, workplaces, families, neighborhoods, and nations.

At Bethel Church of the Nazarene, we believe the church isn’t just a building, it’s a family. Every week, people from different backgrounds, cultures, and life journeys come together to worship, grow, serve, and support one another. This blog series, Get to Know Us, is our way of celebrating the beautiful diversity within our congregation. Through a set of simple interview questions, you’ll meet the people who make Bethel what it is.

On this National Day of Racial Healing, we pause as the people of God to acknowledge both the wounds of our past and the hope of our future. Healing begins not with avoidance, but with confession. It begins with the courage to name the sin of racism, the harm it has caused, and the ways it continues to traumatize our communities.