On Sunday, March 30th, Bethesda hosted a New Member Gathering after worship in the Crossroads for both Saturday and Sunday worshipgoers. This inclusive event was open to individuals interested in joining Bethesda or members who had recently joined. It was an excellent opportunity for everyone to meet with the other members and Pastor Bryan, get to know each other better, and learn about how they could get involved at Bethesda. We discussed the diverse activities Bethesda offers for all ages, the support and community you can find here, and the opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.

Within the small group, individuals actively participated by sharing where they were from, what attracted them to Bethesda, and how long they had been worshipping with us. As members got to know new people, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and lively conversation. Attendees also got their photos taken for the online directory, enjoyed snacks, and received a new member packet with valuable information about the church and our service times, the most recent postcard detailing community events, and the latest issue of The Wellspring Quarterly Magazine. The packet also included a new member registration form, allowing those attending to become an official member of Bethesda that day if they had not already done so. We also launched a digital New Member Registration form on our website, making it easier for individuals to join the church if they did not have the time that day to sit and fill out a physical sheet of paper.

As members chatted with the new faces at the gathering, friendships were formed, and plans were made for new members to join events like Ladies Wind Down, the Book Discussion Group, and more. Other new faces expressed their interest in potentially joining Bethesda’s A/V team for weekend worship and volunteering with our youth.

After all was said and done, attendees remarked about how welcoming Bethesda is and how congregation members at both Saturday and Sunday services are incredibly friendly and include others they have not met in conversations. This reinforced that all are welcome at Bethesda, and we have our congregation members to thank for helping make this environment one that fosters friendship, warmth, and most importantly, personal and spiritual growth. This is not just a church, but a community that inspires and motivates.