BLC Weekly, August 11
Hello Bethlehem,
They’re back and they brought some great photos with them! The BLC group returned safely from the Boundary Waters after a week in the wilderness. Check out more photos in the Facebook album.
Events
Don’t miss Bethlehem’s own, Christine Schulz, performing this week! The Summer Organ Recitals finale will be this Tuesday, August 12, at 12:10 pm in the sanctuary, presented by the Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Come and enjoy incredible music with Christine! Each recital is free. Visit www.agosiouxtrails.org for more information.
Bibles & Brews meets this Thursday! Join Pastor Jacie for meaningful conversation on faith and culture, 6PM at Weggy’s.
Bethlehem will be hosting a Blood Drive on Tuesday, 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.
New Member Orientation: New members, we hope you will join us August 24th to be welcomed during worship. After worship we will gather for an orientation at 10:45am. If you or someone you know is interested in joining Bethlehem, please contact the church office or indicate your interest in the pew pads.
Bethlehem’s Welcome & Inclusion Board invites you to participate in SEMN PrideFest on Saturday, September 6. Saturday’s events will begin with a worship service at First Presbyterian, start time TBA. Then, we’ll head together to the 2025 Pride Parade at 11:15 am. Wear your BLC shirt and join us! We also need volunteers to staff a table in Riverfront Park from 1:00-4:00 pm that day as well. A sign-up sheet is available at the Welcome Center.
Announcements
Thank you for an awesome first year of Summer Sack Lunches! We want to especially thank Amy Haigh for leading this make and making sure our community is welcomed and fed all summer long. The final Summer Sack Lunches of the season will be distributed on Sunday, Sept. 7th at 5:00 PM in the parking lot, and then we will return to Wednesday Night Suppers. The fall menu is now available online.
We Want Your Ideas for Adult Forums
The Bethlehem Adult Education Board wants to know what YOU would like to learn about in our Sunday morning adult forums. In addition to promoting our monthly missions, we seek to contribute to BLC member lifelong learning by addressing topics of interest to YOU! Help us to develop a robust 2026 calendar of forum presentations. Are there topics near and dear to you? Are you involved with groups and organizations that connect to Bethlehem's mission and ministry? What would you like to share with members of our congregation? Send your forum ideas to Bob Ihrig at robert.ihrig1@gmail.com We will connect with you to develop future forums in 2026.
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 August Monthly Mission partner is 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. You can give online or drop off a check written out to Bethlehem with the monthly mission in the memo line.
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
Mary Clark Scott Volz
Shiloh Lutheran in Elmore Grace Lutheran in Nerstrand
Principe de Paz Lutheran in Colombia Merya Lutheran in Tanzania
Bethlehem Lutheran in Mankato