Embracing Our Purpose
Ministries
Youth
We love our Youth Ministry here at Bethel Reformed Church. We have an intimate relationship with our youth and celebrate them by showing love on birthdays, with school events, hobbies, milestones, and graduations. We try to incorporate out youth in worship and service whenever we can.
Our Sunday School classes take place from the beginning of September through the end of May. We meet in 4 different groups at this time from 11:00-11:45. Our littles enjoy singing time and lessons with crafts while our older youth enjoy deep dives and fellowship. We kick-off the Sunday School year with Rally Sunday. On this day, we come together as a church to eat together, splash on big water slides together, and compete with our annual watermelon contest. We collect an offering of food pantry supplies that goes to First Christian Church in Rock Falls each week. Youth also collect points throughout the year to "buy" items from out prize store, which is the last Sunday of each month. All of our youth get to grow in fellowship together and mentor each other.
During the year, our older youth go on a Fall Retreat, while all our youth are involved in our annual Christmas Program. There are always pop-up events like youth breakfasts, cook-outs, and swim days with church members inviting us into their homes.
As the summer begins, we focus on CommUNITY Vacation Bible School as we collaborate with 7 other churches in our Sterling/Rock Falls area. Each year, a different church is the host as we all combine our gifts and talents to show God's love to all kids in our community. We offer dinner each night with a bible story, crafts, games, and music all while learning scripture and learning about the love of God. We end this 5-day VBS with a CommUNITY Worship Service at Grandon Civic Center which has quickly become one of our favorite collaborations
The Vibe
The Vibe is an after school club for students from Challand Middle School. Bethel partners with Open Door Community Church to sponsor and run the Vibe. The Vibe takes place on Thursday afternoon from 3-4:30 September through May at Open Door Community Church, across from Challand Middle School. Students receive snacks, help with homework, opportunities to learn life skills, and a safe place to hang out with friends and play games. If you would like to volunteer or register your child for the Vibe click on the links below.
Coffee Break
Coffee Break Bible Study is a ladies Bible study that meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month from September to May at 9:00. They study various books of the Bible.
Strong Leaders
Strong Leaders is a small group that meets every other Saturday at 7:00 a.m. It is open to both men and women.
Food Pantry
From September to May our children's Sunday School classes collect food for the food pantry at First Christian Church. On the second Sunday of the month a box is set up to collect offerings for anyone who wishes to donate financially to the food pantry.
Red Cross
Blood Drive
Every other month Bethel hosts a blood drive through the Red Cross. Call for more information.
Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child-In the fall the people of Bethel fill shoeboxes for children around the world. In our basement there is a workshop where members of Bethel make cars to put in the shoeboxes.