BLC Weekly, June 15
Hello Bethlehem,
Service & Sun is next week and the registration deadline is today! BLC 5th-12th graders, join us June 22 - June 24th from 8:30am to 5pm for half a day of service at a local nonprofit, and half a day of fun! You can sign up for one, two, or all three days! Register today for Service & Sun.
Announcements
Friday is Juneteenth! The 9th Annual Greater Mankato Juneteenth Celebration is on June 19th at the Civic Center Plaza Front Lawn, from 3:00-7:00pm. The annual Freedom Walk begins at 2:30pm starting at the Shared Spaces Building (127 S. 2nd St.) and ending at the event site. Bethlehem’s Welcome & Inclusion Board will be tabling, so stop by and say hello! More details available on the Diversity Council website.
VBS Registration is now open! VBS I Spy: Operation Believe is July 20-23. Dinner is served at 5pm and programming runs from 6-7:30pm. Bethlehem will host this shared VBS experience with Centenary Methodist, First Presbyterian and First Congregational UCC. Learn more and sign up on the Facebook event. Support VBS: Check out the Amazon Wish List
Summer Sack Lunches: Meals are distributed from 5-6pm Sundays in the parking lot. Limit 1 per-person, must pick up in-person. We are collecting donations in the narthex and financial donations are accepted online. Thank you for supporting this ministry!
Mankato Fair Trade will host Afternoon Tea at Bethlehem on Saturday, June 27. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for children 10 and under. Bew Ulm’s Own will be there will Fair Trade goodies for sale and you’ll hear from speaker Kristen King, interfaith leader from Equal Exchange Fair Trade Co-op. Contact Paulette Bertrand to RSVP paulette.bertrand@yahoo.com
Support Bethlehem's artists! We invite you to view "A Retrospective of Works" by Brad Widness and Anne Kronlokken, on display at the Moline Gallery at the Arts Center in St. Peter, June 5 through July 25th.
Summer Hours Update: The BLC Office will close at 2:30pm on Tuesdays. Office hours will be 9am - 2:30pm Tuesday, and 9-5pm Wednesday and Thursday. Thank you for understanding!
Update your Breeze account: As summer travels take us on adventures near and far, we miss seeing each others faces. Now is a great time to update your Breeze profile and add a profile photo! Log in to your account, go to your profile and click the profile picture to upload your photo! Information on How to Use Breeze and the link to our Member login are available on our website. Having trouble accessing your account? Reach out to the office and we can help!
volunteer opportunities
The 4th annual Bike.Build.Home 500 is coming up! This five-day, fully supported cycling event benefits affordable housing organizations. Hosted in Mankato, MN, by Habitat for Humanity of South Central Minnesota, this ride is led by a volunteer steering committee composed of Habitat 500 veterans. Riders can participate in the full 500 km, five-day ride, select single-day options, or ride virtually. The event includes a Build Day, a Century Ride, and opportunities for volunteers to participate. Fundraising is encouraged: Five-day riders: $500 minimum, Single-day riders: $100 per day
Registration includes overnight lodging at Bethany Lutheran College, with dorm and camping options available. Riders are encouraged to arrive July 14 for evening orientation, with daily routes averaging 50–70 miles. Breakfast and dinner are provided each day.
In 2025, BBH500 riders raised $175,000 for affordable housing. Join us in 2026 for an unforgettable ride that makes a real impact—in person or virtually. More details and registration available on their Facebook event page.
Monthly Mission Partner
Our June Monthly Mission Partner is Iambi Secondary School. This boarding school serves 200 students. ISS has a total of 20 staff. Academically, Iambi Secondary School has been doing very well in various exams. It is among the top ten schools in regional and national examination results. ISS has a conducive environment for students to learn with a reliable power supply, enough books, and enough teachers for all subjects. They also teach computer studies courses and religion. Gifts from Bethlehem have been transformative for ISS, and our past generosity enabled the school to install electricity, allowing the students and teachers to study and prepare lessons after the sun went down. Test scores soared, and enrollment boomed. Please give prayerfully and financially to our friends at Iambi Secondary School.
Giving Goal: $8,000. You can give online, donate via Venmo @BLCMankato, 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
Roger Pipes
Loren Roberts
Pat Nelson
Jan Boyum
Jerry Williams
Ron Hawker
The family & friends of Gerald “Jerry” Bastian
Deer Creek Valley Lutheran in Glenville
Christ Lutheran in Byron
Bethlehem Lutheran in Lanesboro
Neema Mpipiti Lutheran in Tanzania
Isanzu Lutheran Church & Dispensary in Tanzania
Iguguno Lutheran in Tanzania