What is a Good Gift? It is a possible alternative Christmas gift you give to honor or remember someone who is special to you. We have enough “stuff!” A Good Gift - of chicks, bees, goats - is a statement that you care for the less fortunate in our world and are willing to support that caring with a financial gift. When you give a Good Gift, your name and the honoree will be listed on-screen before the online Christmas Eve worship. Deadline to be included on the list is December 21st. These gifts become a blessing both to you and to the person whom you honor. This year, you can submit your honoree names and make your payment online. Find the ELCA Good Gifts form on our website at blcmankato.org/forms. Or send a check to church with a note indicating your honoree.

It sounds a bit bold to say, but because of you, this day, a child in Africa will get enough to eat – and a chance for a better life. World hunger, need for clean water and sanitation, training for health workers in poorer countries – the needs are obvious and are among those addressed by the ELCA Hunger and Disaster Division. If you purchase a Good Gift, 93% of the dollars given will be used for direct aid to our brothers and sisters in need. Thanks in advance for your generosity.

~ Your Community and Global Mission Board​

Sign up is now available for volunteering at the shelter. You need to have an email address to sign up, as you will get training videos sent to you. If you do NOT have email, you will need to have a training with Pastor Collette.

If you sign up to bring a meal, you will be told the week before how many to cook for, but it is important there is enough for our guests to have seconds or leftovers. You can choose to cook the meal (it must be delivered to Connections ready to eat, as the kitchen is not yet finished) or you can support a local restaurant by buying the meals.

If this is not the season for you to volunteer, you can donate coffee, napkins, paper towels, or monetary contributions. Please mail checks to Connections Shelter, 220 E. Hickory St., Mankato MN 56001 or donate online at connectionsshelter.org. There is also a list of items you can purchase from Amazon and have sent directly to the shelter. All support is appreciated.

On Thursday, November 19, the Mankato Free Press published a full page ad with an Antiracist Statement written by a group of Mankato clergy. Both our pastors as well as our Family Faith Formation Director signed the statement. The Racial Justice Ministry at Bethlehem has started meeting monthly to find ways we can actively create change in our church and our community.

Director of Family Faith Formation, Anna Wencl, is pairing children and youth with older members of our congregation to serve as pen pals during this difficult season. There is plenty of love to go around! If you are interested in being a Faith Friend to someone, young or old, let Anna know by emailing her at annawencl@blcmankato.org.

Shirts will be dark royal blue in a 60/40 cotton/ poly blend (read: SOFT) with the simple version of our new logo on the front in white. Available in sizes Youth Small to 4XL, each shirt will be $9, delivered the week of Christmas. Order and pay online (preferred) at blcmankato.org/forms or call the office with order and mail a check. Order forms and payment due by Dec. 6th. Help us feel connected, even when we're apart.

Join your Bethlehem church family on Wednesday, December 16th at 6:30pm for “A Night of Christmas Music (on Zoom!)” What better way to celebrate the birthday of Jesus than to come together and raise our voices in special songs of Christmas. Together we can share in the joy of Christmas during this sing-along. Mark your calendars and watch your email for the zoom link for what promises to be a Christmas to remember!

This is your invitation to tune your voices (and/or your musical instruments!) and share your musical gifts with your Bethlehem family this Christmas . if you or members of your family would like to be part of this by singing or playing your favorite Christmas carol, please email Laurie at 1jam@hickorytech.net or call (507) 779-9914 for details. The deadline to be including in the program is Monday, December 7th.

Join the Adult Ed board for a forum this Wednesday the 18th with Pr. Heather Hammond from Crossroads Campus Ministry (https://crossroadsatmnsu.org). Find out how the ministry is engaging their community during these unprecedented times, and how you can help!

Click here to join the Zoom conversation on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 6:45pm.

Bethlehem was awarded an Outstanding Service Award for our continued support of the American Red Cross during the pandemic. The blood drive in August collected 22 pints of blood. Our next drive at Bethlehem will be on December 28th. You can sign up to donate at https://www.redcrossblood.org

Bethlehem’s Shelter weeks are Dec. 14-21 and Dec. 28- Jan. 3, including an all-day shelter on New Year’s Day. There are no-contact options available. In the new location, the jobs are a little different, too. Please put those dates on your calendar and stay tuned for details and the sign-up link/form. Thank you!

It is with great joy we announce the approval of our new Welcome Statement (below) which passed with 97% approval at our Semi-Annual Meeting on November 15, 2020.

“Bethlehem is an inviting congregation with its doors open to all people. We joyfully affirm that every person is a Child of God. We believe we are one body with many diverse members.

We welcome all who desire to learn more about Jesus—seekers, doubters, and inquirers alike. We strive to include people of every race, age, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, nationality, spoken language, ethnicity, immigration status, physical condition, size, level of chemical use/abuse/dependence, neurodiverse function, mental health condition, appearance, marital status, family configuration, political affiliation, criminal history, economic circumstance, level of education, housing situation, theological background, and other intersection of life. 

The world can be an unloving place, and the experience of alienation is all too common. To those who have felt excluded here or elsewhere, we are deeply sorry, and extend our warm welcome in Christ's love. Everyone is invited to join and fully participate in the daily life and mission of the Bethlehem community.

Together we are better able to love our neighbors and serve God’s world. Together we are better able to learn and share God’s word. Together we are better.”