BLC Weekly, November 10
Hello Bethlehem,
Bethlehem’s lefse tradition lives on! Join us this Wednesday for Family lefse night. We will gather in the lower level during dinner for lefse lessons. Children, youth, families and lefse learners are invited to roll, flip, taste and enjoy!
This week
This week, Bethlehem and the rest of the WELCOME Team pray for the Cruz family as they have their asylum meeting this Wednesday in Minneapolis. We pray for safe travels and a successful meeting as they continue their asylum journey.
Join us for Wednesday night suppers, served at 5:00 PM in the lower level. All are welcome and the meal is FREE. The fall menu is now available online. Upcoming Menu:
November 12 Hamburger goulash, vegetable, salad & roll
November 19 Roast turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, roll & salad
November 26 NO MEAL - there will be pie served after our Thanksgiving Eve worship service
December 3 Scalloped potatoes & ham, salad & roll
The Youth Lock-In is scheduled for November 14. Register online by Wednesday!
Newborn Baby Kits: So far in 2025, Bethlehem volunteers have assembled 46 Newborn Baby Kits to be distributed by Global Health Ministries. Volunteers will gather again on Saturday November 15th following Deborah Circle to assemble more kits. Interested in joining this ministry? Contact Kirsten Simon-Frank or Roberta Ganske.
2026 Budget Forum: Bethlehem congregation members are invited to preview the proposed 2026 BLC budget at a forum scheduled for next Sunday, November 16 at 10:45 am in Grounds for Joy. Get your coffee & donuts and hear from our Financial Secretary and members of the Council explain the details and priorities of the budget. Copies of the budget proposal are available on the narthex kiosk. We will also preview other agenda topics for the fall semi-annual meeting scheduled for Sunday, November 23 at 10:45 am in the Dining Room.
Family faith formation
The BLC Men’s group and BLC youth gathered on Saturday for Rake the Town!
Announcements
Bethlehem’s most delicious tradition lives on! Our annual lefse making day will be held on Friday, November 21. Volunteers are needed to help. Join us at 9AM for coffee, treats, and lefse making! Pre-order your lefse using this form. Any leftovers will be available for purchase on Sunday, November 23, just in time for thanksgiving!
Greater Mankato Area United Way Gathering: Join us on Monday, November 24 at 10am in Grounds for Joy to learn what the Greater Mankato Area United Way is doing to make a difference in our 4 area counties. Enjoy coffee and morning treats as you hear from representatives of United Way. Check out details below. Please RSVP as directed by Friday, November 21.
Bethlehem’s Fair Trade Bazaar is scheduled for November 30th before and after worship! Shop vendors including Global Mamas Ten Thousand Villages, New Ulm's Own and BLC's coffee, tea, olive oil, chocolate and soups. This is a great opportunity to stock up on ethically sourced holiday gifts!
We want YOU on an usher team! Some of our usher teams need a few more folks to help service run smoothly. Contact the office if you are interested in learning more or joining a team. We are also looking for volunteers interested in joining our Wednesday night supper serving teams.
Bethlehem is hosting a Blood Drive on December 18 from 12-6pm. Schedule your donation appointment online.
Not only does Connections Shelter appreciate donations of meal items to serve their guests, but also people to help serve the food. Please consider signing up to serve. The team of four service volunteers are provided with a brief orientation by Connections staff and an evening of fun and meaningful interaction with the very appreciative guests at Connections. Please use this link to sign up.
Thank you
From Crossroads Campus Ministry: We are already past the midway point of Fall Semester and quickly closing in on Thanksgiving and Winter Break. We couldn't be happier with how the school year has progressed. Students continue to join us for Lunch For-a-Buck every Tuesday, and they are always so polite and take time to thank volunteers and staff for the delicious, hot meals. We are thankful and blessed to have Bethlehem Lutheran Church and your volunteers as partners in our ministry to feed students through our Lunch For-a-Buck program. On Tuesday, November 4th, faithful servants Jan Blaisdell, Alex Blaisdell, Kathy Piehl, and Sue Larsen prepared and served a delicious feast of turkey and dressing, spinach alfredo, Italian bread, organic spring mix salad, and cookies to 48 hungry lunch-goers. They also collected $42.50 in donations that will be used to purchase the salad supplies, beverages, dinnerware, and other items for lunches during the school year.
God bless you for your generosity and for supporting the students and our ministry at Crossroads. We look forward to seeing you again on Tuesday, December 2. We couldn't do what we do without you!!
Gratefully,
Crossroads Campus Ministry
From MY Place: Thank you for your generous gift of 13 twin size quilts to MY Place. MY Place is committed to providing a nurturing environment that empowers youth to build the confidence, knowledge, and skills needed to reach their full potential. Thanks to generous donors like you, our members are able to participate in a wide range of programs including academics, arts, stem, life skills, healthy living, and FUN on a daily basis.
With your generosity we continue to work with youth who are not typically engaged in other programs and fill a critical gap in the Mankato area. Thank you for your support and for investing in the future of MY Place members.
With gratitude,
Erin Simmons - Executive Director at MY Place
Laura Stevens - Development Director at MY Place
Monthly mission partner
Exciting news: Bethlehem’s Endowment Board is doubling November monthly mission donations!
Our November Monthly Mission Partner is the LSS Youth Resource Center (formerly The REACH). Located on our campus and operating for 14 years, this vital organization serves youth ages 16-24 who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. They have served 5,600 youth, provided 38,000 meals, and distributed 76,000 health, hygiene and clothing items. The center provides basic necessities, housing and employment assistance, teaches independent living skills, provides recreational activities, support and education. They provide access to legal advocacy and community sex trafficking prevention education. This month is matching donations, so your contribution will go twice as far to make a difference to area youth. You can give online or drop off a check written out to Bethlehem with the monthly mission in the memo line.
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Marian Mallory Pete Wachtel
Anna Moses Barb Girtz Paul Haugesag
Amy Grams Haugesag Nikolas Perez Tyler Ratcliff Garrett Paul
The family & friends of Jim Rossow
Hosanna Lutheran in Rochester St. Paul’s Lutheran in Meriden
Ascension Lutheran in Albert Lea Isanzu Lutheran in Tanzania
Ihanja Technical School in Tanzania Jokow Wareda Lutheran Parish in South Sudan