BLC Weekly, February 23
Hello Bethlehem,
Lenten Wednesday worship services begin this week with a rotation of area pastors exploring the theme, “I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
February 25 - Pastor John Odegard “Where Are We Going From Here?”
March 4 - Pastor LaDonna Thomas “Where Does It Hurt?”
March 11 - Pastor Sarah Deutsch “Where Are You From?”
March 18 - Pastor Jacie Richmond “What Do You Need?”
March 25 - Pastor Jay Dahlvang “What Are you Looking For?”
Wednesday night worship services begin at 6:15pm and will be livestreamed on the Bethlehem Facebook page during Lent.
This Week
Easter Flower Order forms are now available! Pick up at the Welcome Kiosk or order your flowers online by March 29th.
VITA Tax services are taking calls and working in our building this season. If you or someone you know needs to schedule an appointment, call the tax line, which is a separate phone number not affiliated with Bethlehem. Their number is (507) 386-5570
No NightLIGHT or TorchLIGHT this week! NightLIGHT and TorchLIGHT will not meet this Wednesday, February 25. Lent mentors and mentees will still meet after worship.
Wednesday Night Suppers: served at 5:00pm in the lower level dining hall. Upcoming meals:
February 25 — Taco buffet with rice & beans
March 4 — Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, vegetable & roll
March 11 — Scalloped potatoes & ham, salad & roll
March 18 — Hamburger goulash, salad & roll
Adult Forums: Join us Sundays at 10:45am in Grounds for Joy for coffee, donuts and conversation. This Sunday's adult forum will feature House of Hope with Mark Johnson as our guest speaker. This is your opportunity to learn about all of the good work performed by this vital community asset. House of Hope is the March monthly mission of the BLC Community & Global Mission Board. YOU can show your support by attending Sunday's forum and providing $$ to fund its work. Every $$ makes a real difference! The Bethlehem Endowment Board will be matching funds in March, so donate in March and your dollars will go twice as far! See you on Sunday, March 1 at 10:30 am for coffee and conversation and at 10:45 am for Mark's presentation. We look forward to seeing you!
Thank you
Thank you for joining us for another successful Fat Tuesday Dinner & Silent Auction! We had a great evening of food, music and laughs while raising funds for BLC Youth. Thank you to all the youth, volunteers, organizers, and auction donors and bidders!
Announcements
Synod Assembly Delegates Want to learn more about the work of our ELCA synod in so many vital areas? Want to connect with ELCA members from other congregations in southeastern Minnesota? Want to meet and hear from Bishop Regina Hassanally? Want to make a real difference for your church? Sign up to be one of 3 BLC delegates to the Saturday, May 2, 2026 SE MN Synod Assembly at the Mayo Civic Center here in Mankato! Contact Bob Ihrig at robert.ihrig1@gmail.com by Friday, March 13. We want YOU!
The Spring Worship Volunteer schedule is now available on our website!
Online giving just got easier. Bethlehem now has Venmo! You can find us @BLCMankato to pay for tickets, fundraisers or make your offering online. Just note what your giving is for in the transaction description. Please note, online and automatic giving through Breeze is still available and not going anywhere!
We are collecting COPAL donations in the narthex! COPAL invites you to join the Shared Table program to feed immigrant families in the Mankato area.
Requested donations include: white rice, dry beans, lentils, pasta, corn flour, canned beans, cooking oil, shelf-stable milk, cereal, salt, spices, canned tomatoes or sauce, hot chocolate, instant coffee, eggs, popcorn packets, tortillas, fruit cups, tuna packets, laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, bar soap, wipes, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, and finally, small notes of encouragement or greeting for the families with just your first name.
Bethlehem, we are headed to the Boundary Waters with the Wilderness Canoe Base once again this summer! This time, we’re opening the trip up to youth AND adults to join. Registration is now open with a $150 deposit due by March 11th. Please contact Anna with any questions. Here is the link to sign up: https://blcmankato.breezechms.com/form/BWCA2026
NEW! For adults and families who might want a BWCA experience while staying cabins, we're going to try offering a separate Intergen Camp on the same dates. I haven't confirmed those details yet, but we'll have more info soon. Stay tuned! Contact Anna or Pr. Jacie with any questions.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT More and more members of our community are stepping into caregiving roles. Without support, caregiving can be difficult and isolating. VINE Faith in Action offers four Caregiver Support Groups that are open to anyone caring for a loved one. Groups are limited to 10 participants, so pre-registration is required. There is no charge; donations are appreciated. Please feel welcome to attend one of the following monthly groups:
1st Tuesday, 10:00-11:00 am
2nd Wednesday, 1:00-2:30 pm
3rd Wednesday, 5:15-6:30 pm
3rd Thursday, 3:00-4:00 pm
If you prefer to meet one-on-one rather than in a group, VINE also offers Caregiver Consultation. Call or email VINE for consultation and to pre-register for one of the groups, (507) 387-1666, joycek@vinevolunteers.org.
Give the gift of time! Whether it is over the holidays or into the new year, Connections Shelter warmly welcomes the volunteer time that you, your family, or small group are able to provide for the guests at Connections. To sign up to be a Meal Server, please follow this link. Please follow the link to sign up for providing dessert or any other meal option.
Monthly Mission Partner
Our February Monthly Mission Partner is ECHO Food Shelf. Born out of a church basement in 1981, ECHO has addressed hunger and food insecurity in our community for decades. In 2025, ECHO distributed 2.5 million pounds of food and tallied over 35,000 family visits. As needs continue to rise, so must our support. February contributions will be amplified with a proportional match during MN FoodShare’s March Campaign. Join us in our goal of raising $5,000 for this vital resource. You can give online or via check made out to Bethlehem with the monthly mission in the memo line.
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson
Marian Mallory
Paul Haugesag
Amy Grams Haugesag
Nikolas Perez
Gerry Morris
Barb Girtz
Lori Ruthenbeck
Tom Sanger
Fred Gruhlke
St. John Lutheran in Elkton
Trinity Fellowship ELCA in Rushford
Root Prairie Lutheran in Chatfield
Ruruma Lutheran in Tanzania
Bishop Regina Girls Secondary School in Kititimo, Tanzania
Mission of San Juan in Bucaramanga, Colombia