BLC Weekly, April 1
Hello Bethlehem,
Thank you for joining us for Holy Week and Easter! We hope you had a blessed holiday weekend.
Bethlehem’s Semi-Annual meeting will take place Sunday, April 21, with a Semi-Annual Meeting Preview set for Sunday, April 14.
Are you interested in serving Bethlehem on a board or committee next year? We have openings in the following groups: 3 in Finance, and 1 each in Stewardship, Welcome & Inclusion, and Youth Board. Contact Bob Ihrig at 507-388-1953 or robert.ihrig1@gmail.com for more information or to offer your services to Bethlehem next year. We welcome you!
This Week
Wednesday night suppers return this week with chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, vegetables and a roll, served at 5:00 pm in the lower level, followed by worship at 6:15 pm.
Launched this Week: Young Adult Discord Server Bethlehem young adults- would you like a way to connect with your church family even when you can’t be here in person? Now there’s a way! We have created a Discord server just for you. This is a space where you can chat with one another about things related to faith, ask questions, chat about whatever is on your mind, or even arrange hangouts and get togethers in person. Sign up to join the server using the invite link here: https://discord.gg/6fc6bc65
April 7 Adult Forum: What Can We Do About Climate Change? will be the topic of the adult forum next Sunday, April 7. Join community activist Leigh Pomeroy as he shares information with us about this important topic. Learn what you can do personally to make a real difference for our world.
This Month
Wishing our Muslim Neighbors a Blessed Ramadan! MAPS kids have school off on April 10th to allow time for our Muslim neighbors to celebrate Eid. Children, youth, their families and anyone interested are welcome to join Kaitlin and Anna in activities designed to help learn about Eid in order to continue our congregational goal of fostering a community of embracing and celebrating diversity.
We are kicking off our Flamingo Flocking Fundraiser. For $30 you can flock a friend or family member’s yard with flamingos. $10 gets you flamingo insurance to keep the flock off your yard. Proceeds from this fundraiser will help send our youth to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer. Head to the form on our website to sign up!
Please join us for the ALS walk, Saturday April 27th in Spring Lake Park. Check in is 8:30 and the walk starts at 10:00. Let’s honor Pastor Don and in memory of Jon Nelson! Let’s hope for a sunny April day! The walk around the lake is very easy and comfortable. If you can’t join us.. and would like to donate, please go on line at ALS.org or stop in the office and pick up a form and mail-free envelope. Please contact Ginger Erlandson with any questions.
Endowment Fund Scholarship applications are now open. Graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students are invited to apply online here by May 1st.
kato sleep out update
Join Team Bethlehem!
Last spring, 60 Bethlehem members and friends contributed $6,050 to the Kato Sleep-Out to earn the Top Fundraiser Award. A total of $22,000+ was raised by everyone in our community for the Connections Shelter. WOW! Thank you for your generosity!! We have the opportunity to REPEAT this year with the April 26 Sleep-Out. Thus far, we have received $2,255 from 25 supporters! That is wonderful!! We have 25 more days to match and exceed last year’s total. Will you help??
You can contribute $$$ with Cash or Check (Payable to Connections Shelter Ministry). Put these in an envelope with your name and give to Bob Ihrig at Bethlehem. You can contribute $$$ Online (Check Sleep-Out). Email Bob Ihrig at robert.ihrig1@gmail.com with your donation information to be credited to our team. Thank You!
NEXTREX CHALLENGE
We want your plastic bags! Bethlehem has entered the NexTrex Recycling Challenge with a goal to collect 1,000 lbs of plastic bags. Acceptable bags include grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, ziploc and cereal bags, case overwrap you’d find on cases of water bottles or toilet paper, salt bags, plastic wrap and produce bags. If Bethlehem reaches this goal, NexTrex will award us a bench for our Community Garden. A receptacle will be available in the library lounge near the TV.
Cruz Family Update
The Cruz family has a lot happening. Ariac is still working on getting a driver’s permit. The test is proving to be a little challenging for him, but this is not uncommon. He is still determined to keep trying and that is important. Randy is being signed up for summer soccer through Mankato United which is being paid for by a generous member of Bethlehem. He is very excited about this! The whole family has an opportunity to attend a family Bible camp at Camp House, which is a part of Green Lake Lutheran Ministries. Shellee Hinz from Grace Lutheran was going to bring the family up there for the week of June 30th-July 5th. The family was approved for financial aid through the camp to help cover the cost.
We have been told by the law office that the family’s asylum application has been received, and now it is a waiting game to hear about next steps. It is in the hands of the government now. Please continue to pray for this process. This month the Cruzes are now officially eligible to begin to apply for permission to work. We are working with the law office to file the appropriate paperwork for work authorization. We are told that once we file for that it can be up to five months before we hear any decision. If we do not hear back at that point we will have to file some additional paperwork to apply for an extension to keep the application open. So this is still a ways away yet, but we are able to officially begin this process.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support this family through prayer and financial assistance. We are grateful for your generosity and love for this family!
Look ahead
Blue Earth Taxi is now available for members in need of transportation to and from Sunday worship. Members can call 507-388-2227 on Saturday to arrange their pickup for Sunday. The ride will be billed to Bethlehem.
We are assembling a team to help plan our second annual Women’s Event! Contact Joy Dykema if interested: dykemajoy@gmail.com
Monthly Mission
Bethlehem’s April Monthly Mission Partner is the WELCOME Committee, a combined effort of five local ELCA congregations, including Bethlehem, with a mission of welcoming refugees into the community. The initial family sponsored by the group is the Cruz family. Since their arrival in December 2022, the WELCOME Committee has been assisting in helping the Cruz family navigate the complex process of seeking asylum, learning English, and filing paperwork to gain employment as non-citizens. Our goal is $3,000. You can give online or with a check.
SErVE
Home Care for Pr. Don: Bethlehem has been caring for and supporting Pastor Don and Bonnie Roberts since he was diagnosed with ALS in 1995, and now the Roberts need our help. Are you interested in helping with Pastor Don's home care? If you have experience as a caregiver, a good heart, and a willingness to learn, you are needed, as they are looking for more caregivers to round out their team. Let Pr. Don and Bonnie know if you can help! Connect with the Roberts by emailing dbroberts320@hotmail.com
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Brenda Goetsch Marian Mallory
Pete Wachtel Nikolas Perez Les Biesterfeld
Anna Moses John Engles Jim Freyberg
Barb Girtz Mark Woelfel Shirley Ruby
Amy Grams Haugesag Jerry Williams Jean Thompson
Pastor Don Roberts, Bonnie, & his caregivers
Peace and justice in all places