Bulletin

Order of Worship | Sunday, October 12, 2025

Worship in Song
Be Thou My Vision
I Pray
All The Poor and Powerless

Welcome & Announcements
Prayers of the People
Kids Blessing and Dismissal

Hearing The Word | Genesis 16

Sermon - “The God Who Sees”
Pastor Phil Rushton

Prayers of Healing

Respond in Worship
He Is Among Us
Nothing to Fear

You Have Shown Us

Benediction

Next Week’s Scripture | Genesis 50:15-21

Welcome and thank you for joining us today! Guests, we invite you to fill out the Connection Card found in the pews and place it in the offering boxes in the foyer. We would like to know you were here!

Our Baby Room is available in the back of the sanctuary for families with babies.
The Nursery is open for kids 2 years old and under; it is located between the Library and Café Fika.
If you would like to connect with a small group or to serve God with us, you can find information on the Next Steps Kiosk in the Foyer or on our website.

Hearing devices for those who might need them are located at the tech booth (center aisle).

Today at BCC

Worship Service: 9:30-10:30 am

Kids Program: Kids (Preschool to 5th grade)
are dismissed around 9:45 and continue to 11:45. Parents have the option of picking up their kids after the service.
Kids Lesson: The Story of Sarah and Hagar.
Family Wondering Question:

I wonder what stands out to you in this story?
I wonder what you notice about God in this story?

Life Together Hour: 10:45-11:45am

Middle Schoolers - Youth Room
High Schoolers - The Den (Classroom 6)
Connect with others in the foyer or Cafe Fika
Visit the Library

Adult Classes:

Sermon Discussion — Classroom A
“It’s Not Easy Being Green (in the Church)!” — Classroom C

Next Steps

Women’s Ministry Meeting, Monday, October 13, 7:00 PM in Classroom C. All women are invited to join the meeting and learn what the Women’s Ministry is all about!

Religion and State Forum

* Wednesday, October 15: Discussion of the Doctrine of Discovery — Resources: a document adopted by the Covenant Annual Meeting in 2021, including background on the Doctrine of Discovery, and an article about the decision to repudiate this doctrine. Copies are available on the kiosks in the lobby or online at bellinghamcov.org/adult-events.

Wednesday, November 5: Book Discussion - Money, Lies, and God by Katherine Stewart

Sessions are in Classroom C from 6:30-8 PM. Questions: contact Mark Olson, markolson48@gmail.com.

Newcomer Class Date Change: If you are new to BCC in the last few months, we want to invite you to a class on Sunday mornings, November 2, 9,16, and 23, during our Life Together from 10:45-11:45 AM. This is a great opportunity to get to know others, learn about the vision, values, and theology of BCC, and discover some next steps you can take to get connected. Following the class, there will be an opportunity to become a member of the church if desired. This will be facilitated by Pastor Phil and will meet in Classroom C. RSVP to phil@bellinghamcov.org.

Community Work Party — Join the wider Bellingham community and others from our church on Saturday, October 25, from 9 to noonish for a work party to plant native trees and shrubs at Whatcom Falls Park. This well-planned, fun event is a satisfying and worthwhile way to care for the salmon in our watershed. It is a good event for families with children over about 9 years of age. Get details and register individually at https://cob.org/event/madd2025, and please let Nancy Lewis (Creation Care team) know so we can work as a group (NancySLewis85@gmail.com). This event fills up quickly, so register now!

Building Hosts — We are looking for a few responsible individuals who could serve as hosts for groups and events that meet in our church building outside office hours. Training provided. If you are interested, contact Pastor Adria at adria@bellinghamcov.org.

One Community, Many Cultures Fundraiser - Saturday, November 1, 2-4:30 PM at BCC - Join us for an afternoon of celebration and community as we honor the many cultures that make our city vibrant. This special fundraiser will support the launch of a new immigrant resource center--a place where newcomers can find connection, support, and opportunity. Come experience the richness of our community and help us build a welcoming home for all. Tickets are free, but please RSVP at OneCommunityFundraiser.eventbrite.com.

BCC 43rd Annual Holiday Bazaar, Saturday, Nov. 8, 9am-4:00pm.

*Volunteer Sign-Up will be on Sunday after service on October 19, October 26, and November 2. If you have questions ahead of time, please contact Gladys Clancy, gladysbonnerclancy@comcast.net

*We are in need of all sorts of plates – dinner plates, salad plates, seasonal, or just pretty. We can use other decorative containers as well! We’d be delighted to receive your contributions at the church library on Sundays or at the office on weekdays. Please mark them “Bazaar Bake Sale.”

Financial Update

We want to thank you as a congregation for your ongoing generosity and support of the mission and ministry of BCC! Your financial partnership enables us to continue our work of creating a biblical community that is growing deeper in Christ for the good of our neighbors!

We aim to provide a monthly budget update. Our budget runs from March to February every year, so we are 7 months into our budget year. After a strong start to our budget year, we’ve fallen a bit behind in our finances in August and September. At the 7 month mark our income has been $425,601 and our expenses have been $474,467, leaving a deficit of $48,866. We are spending under our year to date budget of $497,803. Giving does not divide equally across the twelve months of the year. We often make up ground financially during the last quarter. We invite you to prayerfully discern how you might help us meet our financial needs as we finish out 2025!

Tithes & Offering

You can place your offering in one of the offering boxes outside each of the sanctuary doors as you leave, mail checks to the church (1530 E. Bakerview Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226), or give online at bellinghamcov.org/giving.