BLC Weekly, July 28
Hello Bethlehem,
It’s camp week! BLC Youth along with Pastor Jacie and Family Faith Formation Director, Anna, arrived safely at the Shores of St. Andrew last night, and while they had to spend some time in the storm shelter, there was a beautiful rainbow waiting for them afterwards. We pray for a safe, fun and blessed week at camp.
VBS 2025
We had a great week of VBS, with a record-breaking 54 kiddos in one day! We want to thank all of our volunteers, staff, donors and organizers from both Bethlehem and Centenary. Your hard work and love helped create an incredible week. The smiles speak for themselves. Thank you! Check out even more photos in the Facebook album.
Announcements
Bethlehem will be hosting a Blood Drive on August 19. The Red Cross is offering an August Community Health initiative: during the month of August, the Red Cross will include A1C testing, commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes, on successful donations. No fasting is needed! Head to the Red Cross website to reserve your donation time slot.
SUMMER ORGAN RECITALS Recitals move to Bethlehem this week! The Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents its annual Summer Noontime Organ Recitals at 12:10 pm on Tuesdays. Come and enjoy performances by Kraig Windschitl (7/29), Elisabeth Urtel (8/5) and Christine Schulz (8/12). Each recital is free. Visit www.agosiouxtrails.org for more information.
Bethlehem T-Shirt orders are open once again! For 10$ you can have your own shirt with Bethlehem's logo on the front and a rainbow heart on the back. A sign-up sheet is available at the Welcome Center. -Welcome & Inclusion Board
Summer Sack Lunches: Community members can pick up a free sack lunch Sundays from 5-6 PM in the parking lot. We’ve already had a great deal of success with this program, serving meals until supplies run out. We are deeply grateful for your support. Thank you for continuing to fill the donation bin in the narthex, collecting bottled water, sandwich bags, lunch packs of chips, cookies and fruit cups. You can also financially support this new mission with online giving. Thank you for helping us to feed our neighborhood this summer!
Stewardship Board Wants You The Bethlehem Stewardship Board has a member vacancy which we would like to fill with an interested and dedicated BLC member. We seek someone who would like to participate in the following activities:
Monthly thank-you notes to BLC members and others for their services to the church
Planning and facilitating the 2025 fall stewardship campaign
Promoting future legacy giving by BLC members
Reading & learning about promoting stewardship & generosity for the congregation
Getting to know and working with fellow BLC members
Contact Bob Ihrig at 507-388-1953 or robert.ihrig1@gmail.com with questions or if interested in joining this dynamic and active Bethlehem group. YOU can make a difference for Bethlehem!
Monthly mission partner
Our July Monthly Mission partner is Lutheran World Relief. For 80 years LWR has been working to improve the lives of the poor, provide disaster relief and recovery, and create jobs and agricultural economies, with special interest in production and fair marketing of cocoa and coffee around the world. Their mission is to “end poverty, injustice, and human suffering in the world, until your love reaches every neighbor.” Bethlehem’s long relationship with LWR includes the production of school kits and quilts. Our giving goal is $7,000. Thank you for supporting this important work. You can give online or drop off a check written out to Bethlehem with the monthly mission in the memo line.
Our August Monthly Mission partner will be Crossroads Campus Ministry at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Bethlehem has a long and close relationship with Crossroads and Pastor Jacie currently serves on their board. Led by Pastor Jenna Couch, the mission of Crossroads includes building community, deepening faith, growing in the understanding of God, and encouraging service. Crossroads is home to Campus Cupboard, a food support ministry, and offers Lunch 4-a-buck, a weekly meal prepared by local congregations. The majority of students utilizing these resources are international students. With increased costs and increased need, these resources are more important than ever. Your generous support is appreciated.
Crossroads Lutheran Campus Ministry is seeking passionate, dedicated individuals to serve on its Board of Directors. If you care about supporting college students in their faith journeys and want to help guide a vital ministry in our community, we’d love to hear from you! Board members provide leadership, vision, and support to the ministry’s mission on the Minnesota State Mankato campus.For more information or to express interest, please contact Pastor Jenna Couch at pastorjenna@gmail.com, or 507-200-8096.
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Marian Mallory Pete Wachtel
Anna Moses Barb Girtz Paul Haugesag
Amy Grams Haugesag Pat Nelson Lisa Hagen
Ron Orchard Jan Boyum Ross Hall
Cross of Christ Lutheran in Houston United Lutheran in Red Wing
St. Luke Lutheran in Goodhue Our Savior’s Lutheran in Rochester
East Freeborn Lutheran in Albert Lea Mkiwa Lutheran in Tanzania
Maria Mission in Bucaramanga, Colombia