BLC Weekly, September 15
Hello Bethlehem,
Welcome back! Fall programming is underway and we are excited to kick off a wonderful new season of faith and fellowship together.
The 53rd Annual Traditional Mahkato Wacipi honoring the 38 Dakota is September 19-21 at Dakota Wokisuye Makoce (Land of Memories Park). A BLC group will leave the church at 6PM this Friday, Sept. 19 to attend the first evening of the weekend together. Grand Entry begins at 7PM and the cost is $7 to enter for the weekend. If you plan to attend but have not sent an RSVP to us, please do so ASAP using our online form or by calling the office this week so we know to expect you. Thank you!
This week
The Connections Block Party is this Tuesday.
Last call to join New Meet & Eat this season! We will match 3 couples/individuals to each host and share a meal with their group throughout the season. Let us know if you’d like to host your meal here at Bethlehem. Groups will be contacted tomorrow, so sign up here today if you’d like to join Meet & Eat!
Prayer Shawl Makers gather on the third Thursday of each month. Join them this Thursday in the Library from 6-8PM. Knitters, crocheters, and learners welcome: grab your project and join us for a friendly casual evening of crafting and conversation!
Join us for Wednesday night suppers, served at 5:00 PM in the lower level. All are welcome and the meal is FREE. The fall menu is now available online. September Menu:
Sept. 17 Ham, macaroni and cheese, salad and roll
Sept. 24 Chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and roll
Adults Forums Join us Sundays at 10:45AM in Grounds for Joy for coffee and speakers selected by your Adult Education Board. This Sunday we will hear about Iambi Secondary School in Tanzania with Pastor Jay and fellow Tanzania travelers. The Adult Forum schedule is available on our website.
Family faith Formation
Our Confirmation Orientation and Blessing will be held this Wednesday, Sept. 17th. NightLIGHT programming also begins this Wednesday.
Announcements
Newborn Baby Kits: So far in 2025, Bethlehem volunteers have assembled 46 Newborn Baby Kits to be distributed by Global Health Ministries. Volunteers will gather again on Saturday November 19th following Deborah Circle to assemble more kits. Interested in joining this ministry? Contact Kirsten Simon-Frank or Roberta Ganske.
Shop Fair Trade: Save the date for fair trade shopping! Bethlehem’s Fair Trade Committee will be selling goodies like chocolate, coffee, tea and olive oil on Sunday, October 12 after worship.
Time & Talent forms are available on the Welcome Kiosk. Stop by to fill one out and let us know how you want to be engaged with Bethlehem this season!
Introducing the Office Drop Box! Located outside of the office, you can use this drop box to securely deliver checks and envelopes to office staff, even if the office is closed. Located outside the office doors, this box will be checked by staff throughout the week.
Thank you!
Thank you for joining us at God’s Work, Our Hands! Check out more photos of the fun in the Facebook album.
Thank you to Jerry Gale of Christians Against Christian Nationalism MN for joining us for our first Adult Forum of the season.
Thank you Christine!
This month marks 35 years of dedicated service at the Bethlehem organ and piano as well as in our office for Christine Schulz. Wow!! How blessed we have been with her many talents over these years! She has the longest tenure of service among our pastoral and lay staff in the 150+-year history of Bethlehem. What an impressive accomplishment!
Christine has shared her outstanding musical skills at our worship services in guiding our singing, accompanying our choirs, guest musicians and contemporary band and performing at many special church events and celebrations. Every occasion has been a marvelous concert of expertise, experience, inspiration and dedication at the keyboards.
Christine has also made her impact in our office every day as the creative editor of our STAR monthly newsletter; scheduling worship readers, greeters, ushers and so many other volunteers; maintaining our membership directory; facilitating mailings to our members; creating worship bulletins; assisting our pastors and lay staff with special requests and so much more. She has been the dedicated anchor in the office.
Thank your for all you do for Bethlehem! We would not be the dynamic church we are today without your many contributions and faithful service.
Monthly mission partner
Bethlehem’s September Monthly Mission partner is Iambi Secondary School Scholarships. This church-managed boarding school serves 200 students in the Mkalama district, Singida region in Tanzania. Academically, 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. 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 Pat Nelson Lisa Hagen
Sandy Birkholz Kurt Burdick Mary Clark Nikolas Perez
Bear Lake Concordia Lutheran in Albert Lea United Lutheran in Walters
Spring Garden Lutheran in Cannon Falls Kinyangiri Lutheran in Tanzania
Venezuelan Ministry in Colombia El Salvador Lutheran in Colombia