BLC Weekly, April 28
Hello Bethlehem,
Thank you for attending the Semi-Annual Meeting yesterday after worship! A recording of the meeting is available on our BLC Family & Friends Facebook group. There are still open positions on the ballot, including Council Vice-President. If you are interested in serving, please contact Bob Ihrig.
This week
Supper this week is Hamburgers/Cheeseburgers with pickle, chips and pasta salad, served at 5:00pm in the lower level. All are welcome! This is the last Wednesday night supper at Bethlehem of the year. Thank you to our Dinner Coordinator, Amy Haigh, and to all our Wednesday night servers for a fantastic year! Join us next week for the Year-End Picnic at Spring Lake Park!
Endowment Fund Scholarship applications are due this week! Students in or entering college must apply online by May 1st.
This Sunday: BLC youth will hold a Cinnamon Roll Fundraiser on May 4th. All proceeds support BLC kids and youth who are going to camp. Individual rolls can be purchased that day without a pre-order. Thank you for supporting the youth!
Family faith formation
The Flamingo Flocking Fundraiser is underway! Sign up to flock the yards of friends, family or foes with these flamboyant birds. $30 sends the flock, $10 gets your flamingo insurance to make your yard unflockable! Proceeds help send BLC youth to the Boundary Waters this summer. Happy flocking!
Join us next week for the Year-End Picnic at Spring Lake Park on Wednesday, May 7th. We’ll gather at Pavilion 1 at 5:00 PM for dinner, followed by worship. Come celebrate the end of another great program year!
Announcements
Bethlehem is hosting another Blood Drive on May 8th from 1-6pm in Grounds for Joy. Sign up online to save lives!
Church Cleaning Part Two! Join us Tuesday, May 13, at 9:00 a.m. Volunteers are needed to help wipe down the pews and hymnals. Please bring a pail and cloth; the Murphy cleaner will be provided. Thank you!
What could be better than ROSES and CHOCOLATES for Mom on Mother's Day? How about FAIR TRADE roses and chocolates? Please visit the Fair Trade table located in the Narthex following the church service on Sunday, May 11th to find these and many more beautiful items to browse and purchase. All sales support FAIR TRADE artisans and vendors.
Join the BLC Landscaping Crew! Help keep Bethlehem beautiful. Your next volunteer opportunity is coming up on May 17th at 9:00 AM. Join Sarah Morgan and the rest of the Landscaping Committee in a clean up and adding fresh mulch to the grounds.
Come and Celebrate with Rae! Rae Allen will turn 100 on May 13, and you are invited to celebrate with her. The Bethlehem Care Ministry is hosting a 100th party for Rae at 2 p.m. that day at Pathstone. All are welcome!
Connections Shelter Fundraiser Update
The 2025 Connections Shelter was cancelled due to a lack of community team support. This was disappointing news to Team Bethlehem since we had already raised almost $2,500 for this major fundraiser.
However, there is still good news for Connections Shelter. They are planning a new fundraiser - A Midsummer Soiree - on June 20 at the Arboratem at Gustavus Adolphus College. See attached flyer for details. We have arranged with Connections to serve as the Entertainment Sponsor by providing $3,000. See attached sponsor flyer. We will be recognized with the musician group scheduled for the evening. What great PR for Bethlehem and our partnership with Connections!
We only need $557.48 to reach our $3,000 goal. Cash or check donations can be given to Bob Ihrig. Make checks payable to Connections Shelter. Contact Bob with questions about this new opportunity to support Connections!
Monthly mission partner
Our April monthly mission partner is the WELCOME Team, formed with members from five area ELCA churches assisting with an asylum seeking family in our area. They have been working on their education, language skills, obtained driver’s licenses and have gained employment. Support this organization’s mission of welcome.
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 Gail Ihrig
Trinity Lutheran in Spring Grove St. John Lutheran in Kasson
United Redeemer Lutheran in Zumbrota Jokow Lutheran Parish in South Sudan
Maiwut Lutheran Parish in South Sudan San Pedro Lutheran in Colombia