BLC Weekly, October 27

Hello Bethlehem,

Trunk or Treat is this week! Join us Wednesday, October 29 from 6:45-7:45pm. Grab your costumes and candy bags and join us for trunk alley, facepainting, hot cider and more. This year there will also feature a spooky sanctuary tour. We can’t wait to see you!

This week

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. Upcoming Menu:

October 29 Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, vegetables & roll
November 5 Chicken tenders, fries and salad
November 12 Hamburger goulash, vegetable, salad & 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, November 2, we will hear from the LSS Youth Resource Center (formerly the REACH). The Adult Forum schedule is available on our website.

We want YOU on an usher team! Some of our usher teams need a few more folks to help service run smoothly. Contact the office if you are interested in learning more or joining a team.

Please take a moment to complete your pledge from the Season of Gratitude mailing you received, or head to our website to complete a pledge online.

Announcements

Join the landscapers for Fall Clean Up! The landscaping crew would love for you to join them 9AM on Saturday, November 1 for raking and tidying up the landscaping. Bring your own rakes, clippers and supplies. Thank you!

Bethlehem will host a workplace safety training from 3-4:30pm Wednesday, November 5 in Grounds for Joy. All BLC members are welcome to attend to learn more about how we make Bethlehem safe. RSVP to Bob Ihrig at robert.ihrig1@gmail.com

Rake the Town is coming up on Saturday, November 8th.

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.

Bethlehem’s most delicious tradition lives on! We’re so excited for lefse season. This year we are once again offering a family lefse night. Join us Wednesday, November 12 in the lower level for lefse lessons. Children, youth, families and lefse learners are invited to roll, flip, taste and enjoy! Our usual lefse making day will be held on Friday, November 21. Volunteers are needed to help. Join us at 9AM for coffee, treats, and lefse making! There will be the usual pre-sales available and any leftovers will be available for purchase on Sunday, November 23, just in time for thanksgiving!

Monthly mission partner

Exciting news: Bethlehem’s Endowment Board is ready to double your monthly mission donation! Donations made in October and November will go twice as far. Our October Monthly Mission is Connections Shelter, and November’s will be the LSS Youth Resource Center (formerly The REACH). Donate this fall and your dollars will go twice as far!

Our October Monthly Mission partner will be Connections Shelter. Beginning their 9th year of operations, Connections is a 48-bed seasonal emergency shelter and year-round drop-in center. They offer assistance in obtaining housing, medical care, employment and other basic needs. They assisted in finding permanent housing for 61 individuals last year. Bethlehem has founding ties with this vital organization in our community. Please continue to support this work. You can give online or drop off a check written out to Bethlehem with the monthly mission in the memo line.

Bethlehem members are also invited to volunteer to prepare and/or serve meals at Connections. Please use this link to sign up.

Thank you to our Bethlehem volunteers who served meals this week!

This Week in our Prayers

Curt Halvorson Marian Mallory Pete Wachtel

Anna Moses Barb Girtz Paul Haugesag

Amy Grams Haugesag Pat Nelson Nikolas Perez

Tyler Ratcliff Garrett Paul

The family & friends of Sandra Birkholz

Zion Lutheran in Ellendale Chatfield Lutheran in Chatfield

Immanuel Lutheran in Wykoff Espiritu de Vida Lutheran in Colombia

Tyeme Lutheran in Tanzania San Marcos Lutheran in Colombia

Lectionary Readings

October 29, John 8:31-36

November 2 &5, Luke 6:20-31

Bethlehem LutheranOctober 27, 2025Comment

BLC Weekly, October 20

Hello Bethlehem,

Thank you TEC volunteers, youth and leaders! Teens Encounter Christ was at Bethlehem this last weekend. We are thankful for this opportunity for participants to deepen their faith, and we appreciate all the volunteers and coordinators who help to make these weekends happen.

This week

Exciting news: Bethlehem’s Endowment Board is ready to double your monthly mission donation! Donations made in October and November will go twice as far. Our October Monthly Mission is Connections Shelter, and November’s will be the LSS Youth Resource Center (formerly The REACH). Donate this fall and your dollars will go twice as far! 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 available online. Upcoming Menu:

October 22 Taco buffet with rice & beans
October 29 Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, vegetables & roll
November 5 Chicken tenders, fries and salad
November 12 Hamburger goulash, vegetable, salad & roll

Family faith Formation

Trunk or Treat is October 29th! Grab your costumes and candy bags and join us for trunk alley, face painting, hot cider and more. We are especially in need of candy donations to ensure every trunk has plenty of treats to hand out to all our neighborhood trunk-or-treaters. Sign up online to host a trunk or to donate candy!

Women of Bethlehem—Join us at the 2026 Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering in Des Moines Iowa July 16-19, 2026

The Triennial Gathering brings together 1500 or more WELCA leaders and participants to worship, hear inspiring speakers, sing, pray, engage in service projects and meet Lutheran women from across the country.

Quilters of all abilities are invited to create a quilt interpreting the Gathering theme of I Am Worthy, based on Psalm 139:14 “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Early Bird Registration until January 5, 2026: $475 full event or $250 one day
Registration after January 6, 2026: $525 full event or $275 one day
BLC Women do have some funds that could help with registration fees. The SEMN Synod WELCA has also offered scholarships to previous Triennials, especially for younger women and first-time attendees.

Visit the website below to learn more about the speakers, leaders and workshops, how to register and make hotel reservations.

womenoftheelca.org/new-triennial-event-page

I have attended two previous Triennial Gatherings and would be happy to share my experiences with anyone who would like to know more.

Kristen Simon-Frank kdsimon-frank@hotmail.com (507) 383-1952

Announcements

Bethlehem’s most delicious tradition lives on! We’re so excited for lefse season. This year we are once again offering a family lefse night. Join us Wednesday, November 12 in the lower level for lefse lessons. Children, youth, families and lefse learners are invited to roll, flip, taste and enjoy! Our usual lefse making day will be held on Friday, November 21. Volunteers are needed to help. Join us at 9AM for coffee, treats, and lefse making! There will be the usual pre-sales available and any leftovers will be available for purchase on Sunday, November 23, just in time for Thanksgiving!

Please take a moment to complete your pledge from the Season of Gratitude mailing you received, or head to our website to complete a pledge online.

A message from BLC’s Financial Secretary, Elizabeth Ruiz: Third quarter contributions are being sent out. Please reach out with any questions. Thank you!

Connections Shelter is open for the season! We invite you to serve in the ways and times that appeal to you. Head to their volunteer website to sign up.

Monthly mission partner

Bethlehem members are also invited to volunteer to prepare and/or serve meals at Connections. Please use this link to sign up.

This Week in our Prayers

Curt Halvorson Marian Mallory Pete Wachtel

Anna Moses Barb Girtz Paul Haugesag

Amy Grams Haugesag Pat Nelson Sandy Birkholz

Nikolas Perez Tyler Ratcliff Garrett Paul Pru Gushwa

Gol Lutheran in Kenyon St. Paul Lutheran in Conger

Highland Prairie Lutheran in Peterson Grace Lutheran in Peterson

Mazoezi Mwankoko Lutheran in Tanzania Issuna Lutheran in Tanzania

Lectionary Readings

October 22, Luke 18:1-8

October 26 & 29, John 8:31-36

Bethlehem LutheranOctober 20, 2025Comment

BLC Weekly, October 13

Hello Bethlehem,

Fall is in full swing! We had a blast yesterday at the Fall Family day on the Phillip’s Family Farm. Check out some more photos of the fun.

This week

“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the people whose lands we walk, whose Indigenous voices have always been spoken here and who share their gifts and contributions throughout our society. We pray that, in our relations with Indigenous neighbors and children of God, we will not waver in our commitment to repentance, reconciliation, healing and unity.” -ELCA

We will have no Wednesday night programming this week due to MEA. We invite you to attend the Healing of the Nations Community Prayer Service on Wednesday, October 15 at Christ the King. The service, sponsored by Bethlehem, Christ the King, and Messiah Lutheran churches, will begin at 6PM. All are welcome to join this contemplative service of prayer, gentle music and scripture to bring before God the suffering of the world and our lives.

Teens Encounter Christ returns to Bethlehem! This weekend we will share our campus with TEC. We pray for a safe and fun weekend of fellowship and faith formation and look forward to seeing the TEC youth at our worship service this Sunday!

Family faith Formation

Trunk or Treat is October 29th! Grab your costumes and candy bags and join us for trunk alley, face painting, hot cider and more. Sign up online to host a trunk or to donate candy!

Announcements

On October 4th, Rev.Yehiel Curry was installed as Presiding Bishop of the ELCA at a service in Minneapolis. You can now view the full service online.

A message from BLC’s Financial Secretary, Elizabeth Ruiz: Third quarter contributions are being sent out. Please reach out with any questions. Thank you!

Connections Shelter is open for the season! We invite you to serve in the ways and times that appeal to you. Head to their volunteer website to sign up.

Thank you

Fall semester started on August 25, and we were pleased to host the first Lunch For-a-Buck of the new school year on September 9. We were thrilled to welcome students back to Crossroads while they eagerly awaited the resumption of Tuesday lunches. We feel blessed beyond words to have Bethlehem Lutheran Church and your volunteers as partners in our ministry to feed students through our Lunch For-a-Buck program.

On Tuesday, October 7, faithful servants Gary Petersen, Lan Evenson, Dennis Sandersfeld, Frank Larsen, Al Dykema, Bob Ihrig, Gordy Larson, Roger Haug, and Pastor Jay served a delicious lunch of beef lasagna, cheese lasagna, garlic toast, coleslaw, garden salad, and homemade bars & cookies to 47 hungry lunch-goers. They also collected $82.32 in donations that will be used to purchase the salad supplies, beverages, dinnerware, and other items for lunches during the school year.

Also, if your congregation is interested in monthly food collections for the Campus Cupboard food shelf, we are in need of the following:

dish soap - laundry detergent pods - toilet paper - shampoo - conditioner - bar soap - paper towels - cornmeal - black eyed peas - flour - sugar - pasta - carrots - peanut butter - jelly - green tea - oatmeal - cereal - tuna - red beans - cooking oil - Menstrual products are always desperately needed - Ramen noodles are always a favorite!

God bless you for your generosity and for supporting the students and our ministry at Crossroads. We couldn't do this without you. We look forward to seeing you again on Tuesday, November 4!

Gratefully,

Crossroads Lutheran Campus Ministry

Monthly mission partner

Bethlehem members are also invited to volunteer to prepare and/or serve meals at Connections. Please use this link to sign up.

This Week in our Prayers

Curt Halvorson Marian Mallory Pete Wachtel

Anna Moses Barb Girtz Paul Haugesag

Amy Grams Haugesag Pat Nelson Sandy Birkholz

Kurt Burdick Nikolas Perez Tyler Ratcliff Garrett Paul

East St. Olaf Lutheran in Byron Grace Lutheran in Austin

Faith Lutheran in Winona Mungaa Lutheran in Tanzania

Nzega Lutheran in Tanzania Itigi Lutheran in Tanzania Ishenga Lutheran in Tanzania

Lectionary Readings

October 19 & 22, Luke 18:1-8

October 26 & 29, John 8:31-36

Bethlehem LutheranOctober 13, 2025Comment

BLC Weekly, October 6

Hello Bethlehem,

Thanks for joining us for the St. Francis Day Pet Blessing last week! More photos of the evening are available on our Facebook page.

This week

Tomorrow:

School Kit Assemblers and Quilters will gather at 9AM.
BLC Men will be serving Lunch-for-a-Buck at Crossroads. Contact Pastor Jay if you’d like to join!

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. Upcoming Menu:

October 8 Sub sandwich, cold pasta salad and chips
October 15 No Supper - MEA Break
October 22 Taco buffet with rice & beans

Bibles & Brews meets this Thursday. Join Pastor Jacie from 6-8pm at Weggy’s for meaningful conversations on faith and culture.

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.

Adults Forums Join us Sundays at 10:45AM in Grounds for Joy for coffee and speakers selected by your Adult Education Board. This Sunday, October 12, we will hear about the YMCA Brother & Sister Mentoring Program. The Adult Forum schedule is available on our website.

Family faith Formation

Thanks for joining us at ValleyScare on Friday!

Trunk or Treat is October 29th! Grab your costumes and candy bags and join us for trunk alley, face painting, hot cider and more. Sign up online to host a trunk or to donate candy!

Announcements

There will be no Wednesday programming next week over MEA. We invite you to attend the Healing of the Nations Community Prayer Service on Wednesday, October 15 at Christ the King. The service, sponsored by Bethlehem, Christ the King, and Messiah Lutheran churches, will begin at 6PM. All are welcome to join this contemplative service of prayer, gentle music and scripture to bring before God the suffering of the world and our lives.

Teens Encounter Christ returns to Bethlehem! Over MEA weekend we will share our campus with this group. We pray for a safe and fun weekend of fellowship and faith formation.

Connections Shelter is open for the season! We invite you to serve in the ways and times that appeal to you. Head to their volunteer website to sign up.

Monthly mission partner

Bethlehem members are also invited to volunteer to prepare and/or serve meals at Connections. Please use this link to sign up.

This Week in our Prayers

Curt Halvorson Marian Mallory Pete Wachtel

Anna Moses Barb Girtz Paul Haugesag

Amy Grams Haugesag Pat Nelson Sandy Birkholz

Kurt Burdick Nikolas Perez Tyler Ratcliff

Faith Lutheran in Wabasha Scheie Lutheran in Mabel

Oakland Lutheran in Albert Lea North Blue Earth Lutheran in Bricelyn

Jikmir Lutheran Parish in South Sudan Mijuhu Lutheran in Tanzania

Kaselya Lutheran in Tanzania

Lectionary Readings

October 8, Luke 17:5-10

October 12, Luke 17:11-19

Bethlehem LutheranOctober 6, 2025Comment

BLC Weekly, September 29

Hello Bethlehem,

We will host a St. Francis Day Pet Blessing this Wednesday! Join us for an outdoor worship service at 6:15pm in the parking lot. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier for the safety of all pets. We know not all pets enjoy travel or crowds, and some pets have already crossed the rainbow bridge: please feel free to bring a photo or your pet’s collar to receive the blessing if that is more comfortable.

This week

There will be an ISAIAH House Meeting at Bethlehem this afternoon from 2-3:30pm in Grounds for Joy. ISAIAH is a statewide values based nonprofit. Join them to discuss how to shape local policies and attitudes and envision a society that matches YOUR values. Join Bethlehem’s Mary Bliesmer and her ISAIAH friend, Barb Keith, to discuss values and priorities to discuss with local elected officials at a summit in Mankato next month.

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. Upcoming Menu:

October 1 Spaghetti, garlic toast and salad
October 8 Sub sandwich, cold pasta salad and chips
October 15 No Supper - MEA Break
October 22 Taco buffet with rice & beans

5th-12th graders are heading to ValleyScare this Friday! The deadline to register was last Friday but there are still a few spots available. Use this form to register. If the form is live, there is still room!

The Installation of the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA will take place in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 4th. No tickets are required. More details are available here for anyone interested in attending.

Adults Forums Join us Sundays at 10:45AM in Grounds for Joy for coffee and speakers selected by your Adult Education Board. This Sunday, October 5, we will hear from Connections Shelter Ministry. Join speakers Jenn Echevarria, Executive Director, and Liz Paul, Director of Development. The Adult Forum schedule is available on our website.

As of this last weekend, Connections Shelter is open for the season! We invite you to serve in the ways and times that appeal to you. Head to their volunteer website to sign up.

Family faith Formation

Trunk or Treat is October 29th! Grab your costumes and candy bags and join us for trunk alley, face painting, hot cider and more. Sign up online to host a trunk or to donate candy!

Announcements

Shared from the Nebraska Synod, we are invited to join Deacon Ross Murray, the author of The Everyday Advocate: Living Out Your Calling to Social Justice, to talk about how to be an effective Christian advocate. You can find more information and register online. The cost of this 3 session series is $30 with classes Oct. 6, 13 and 27 from 7-8:30PM.

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.

Bethlehem members are also invited to volunteer to prepare and/or serve meals at Connections. Please use this link to sign up.

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 Nikolas Perez Tyler Ratcliff

The family & friends of Autumn Paulson

The family & friends of Mary Clark

Lands Lutheran in Zumbrota St. Olaf College Student Congregation in Northfield

Good Shepherd Lutheran in Rochester Kisiriri Lutheran in Tanzania

Mwangeza Lutheran in Tanzania Nabii Elia Lutheran in Tanzania

Banytic Lutheran Parish in South Sudan

Lectionary Readings

October 1, Psalm 104; Matthew 6:25-26

October 5 & 8, Luke 17:5-10

Bethlehem LutheranSeptember 29, 2025Comment

BLC Weekly, September 22

Hello Bethlehem,

5th-12th graders are invited to ValleyScare next week! Please register online by this Friday to let us know you’re coming. We will leave Bethlehem on Friday, October 3rd and stop at the Eden Prairie Center to have dinner in the food court before we head to the park. Cost includes the cost of entry into the park, the haunted attractions, and transportation to and from Valleyfair.

This week

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 from Holly Schoettler, the Mankato Community & Homeowner Outreach Manager for Habitat for Humanity. The Adult Forum schedule is available on our website.

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. Upcoming Menu:

Sept. 24 Chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and roll
October 1 Spaghetti, garlic toast and salad
October 8 Sub sandwich, cold pasta salad and chips
October 15 No Supper - MEA Break

It’s Stewardship season at Bethlehem, a time to consider the gifts, energies and talents we get to entrust to one another in this community. Each week the BLC Stewardship board will share a Value of Stewardship. Look for these in the BLC Weekly and on the screens within the building.

Family faith Formation

Announcements

Bethlehem will host a Pet Blessing on Wednesday, October 1st!

The Installation of the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA will take place in Minneapolis on October 4th. No tickets are required. More details are available here for anyone interested in attending.

A Letter from thee alliance forgiving medical debt

To Members and Friends of THEE Alliance,

I am excited to announce that Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato, MN has become the 32nd member to join THEE Alliance Forgiving Medical Debt! The Bethlehem congregation joins our other 31 members in providing Awareness of the critical issue of medical debt on financial hardship families, making a difference through gifting and showing that together we can make a bigger difference.Since 2020, Members have provided $950,000 which has forgiven nearly $117 million of medical debt for 119,000 families in financial hardship.

THEE Alliance Forgiving Medical Debt is the largest group of faith communities forgiving medical debt, through our Partner UNDUE Medical Debt, in our Country. Please welcome Pastor Jay Dahlvang, Pastor Jacie Richmond and the Bethlehem congregation!

Skip Lieser

Lead Advisor

THEE Alliance Forgiving Medical Debt

THEEAlliance.org

Monthly mission partner

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

John Jates Tyler Ratcliff

Trondhjem Lutheran in Lonsdale West St. Olaf Lutheran in Byron

Trinity Lutheran in West Concord Peace Lutheran in Eyota

Neema Mpipiti Lutheran in Tanzania Deng Hoth Lutheran Parish in South Sudan

Nkonkilangi Lutheran in Tanzania

Lectionary Readings

September 24, Luke 16:1-13

September 28, Luke 16:19-31

October 1, Psalm 104; Matthew 6:25-26

Bethlehem LutheranSeptember 22, 2025Comment

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

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 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

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

Lectionary Readings

September 17, Luke 15:1-10

September 21 & 24, Luke 16:1-13

Bethlehem LutheranSeptember 15, 2025Comment

BLC Weekly, September 8

Hello Bethlehem,

Thanks for joining us at God’s Work, Our Hands yesterday! The fun continues this Wednesday, September 10. This year’s theme is Share, Receive, Be Blessed. Supper will be served at 5:00PM, worship will begin in the sanctuary at 6:15PM, projects and stations will begin at 7:00PM and we will wrap up with music and dessert at 7:45PM. Additional God’s Work, Our Hands details are available in the Facebook Event. Come and enjoy a chance to reconnect with your church family!

This is a great time to bring in your extra garden produce for the Farm Stand or nonperishable items to help restock the Blessings Box pantry! This will also be your time to complete a Time & Talent form, so begin to think about where you feel called to share your passions and gifts.

Let us reunite for a new season to share, receive, and be blessed!

This week

BLC Men’s Vikings Football Watch Party is today, Monday, September 8th. Contact Pastor Jay to join BLC Men!

Book of Faith- Genesis begins Sept. 10. Join this 8-session study exploring the book of Genesis from a historical, literary, Lutheran, and devotional perspective, 10:30AM Wednesdays. Sign up here.

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. 10 Hamburger/cheeseburger with cold pasta salad and chips
Sept. 17 Ham, macaroni and cheese, salad and roll
Sept. 24 Chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and roll

Bibles & Brews meets Thursday, September 11th at Weggy’s beginning at 6:00PM. Join Pastor Jacie for meaningful conversations on faith and culture.

Adults Forums resume this week! Join us Sundays at 10:45AM in Grounds for Joy for coffee and speakers selected by your Adult Education Board. We kick off the season with Jerry Gale, founder of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, Minnesota, to discuss, “Understanding and Responding to Christian Nationalism.” The Adult Forum schedule is available on our website.

Family faith Formation

LIGHT & NightLIGHT are starting up again! Join us Sunday Sept. 14th or Wednesday the 17th for the first classes of the year.

Our Confirmation Orientation and Blessing will be held on Sept. 17th.

Announcements

The Good Counsel Learning Center (GCLC) is a program that promotes literacy. THE GCLC does that by providing tutors who help students, mostly in grades K-12, to learn to read. They also provide tutoring services for people new to the U.S., or who are learning to speak and read English, regardless of age. Many, if not most, of their students cannot afford the cost of the tutoring services. GCLC tutors are people with an education background who have the skills necessary to teach people to read. The GCLC pays tutors at a rate consistent with each tutor's level of educational attainment. Some members of BLC already work as tutors for the GCLC but more tutors are needed. The GCLC, a not for profit organization, needs funding so that it can provide tuition assistance and so that it can continue to perform its' mission so, donations are welcome. People can also contact the GCLC to request services, and/or to make referrals for people who need services. People can contact the GCLC through their website at www.gclearningcenter.org, or can call on them at 507-389-4229.

New Meet & Eat groups are forming! We 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. Sign up here.

Thank you!

Thanks for joining Bethlehem’s Welcome & Inclusion Board at SEMN PrideFest over the weekend!

Thank you Christine!

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.

A note from Your congregational Services coordinator

Hello Bethlehem,

I have begun my studies at Wartburg Theological Seminary, a four year program in pursuit of becoming an ELCA pastor. As Pastor Jay Dahlvang said on Sunday, no one becomes a pastor in a vacuum. Discernment was a journey that I would not have taken without the faith, support and inspiration of this precious congregation. Thank you.

It’s an exciting time, and a busy time. I am attending class live zia Zoom throughout the week. While I may take a bit longer to respond, I will still be here, and I will still be your Congregational Services Coordinator. The office will remain open 9-5 on Tuesdays, however, to accommodate my class schedule, my Tuesday office hours have changed to 9-1 & 2:40-5pm.

Thank you for your understanding and thank you for walking with me. Blessings to all.

-Molly Nelson, CSC

Monthly mission partner

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

St. Matthew Lutheran in Harmony Moland Lutheran in Kenyon

Epiphany Lutheran in Eagle Lake Kinakumi Lutheran in Tanzania

Ikhanoda Lutheran in Tanzania Iglesia San Lucas Lutheran in Colombia

Lectionary Readings

September 10, Luke 14:25-33

September 14 & 17, Luke 15:1-10

Bethlehem LutheranSeptember 8, 2025Comment

BLC Weekly, September 1

Hello Bethlehem,

We will gather for God’s Work, Our Hands this Sunday, September 7 & Wednesday, September 10. This year’s theme is Share, Receive, Be Blessed. Join us for a meal, music, community art and service projects, and a chance to reconnect with your church family.

On Sunday we will gather for 9:30AM worship, 10:30AM projects and stations, then share a meal in the dining hall at 11:30AM. On Wednesday supper will be served at 5:00PM, worship will begin in the sanctuary at 6:15PM, projects and stations will begin at 7:00PM and we will wrap up with music and dessert at 7:45PM. Additional God’s Work, Our Hands details are available in the Facebook Event.

Let us reunite for a new season to share, receive, and be blessed!

Events

Werner needs help loading 2,400 school kits into a U-Haul at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2. The kits will be taken to Lutheran World Relief in the Twin Cities.

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 at 9:30 AM. 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.

BLC Men’s Vikings Football Watch Party is Monday, September 8th. Contact Pastor Jay to join BLC Men!

Bibles & Brews meets Thursday, September 11th at Weggy’s beginning at 6:00PM. Join Pastor Jacie for meaningful conversations on faith and culture.

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 on 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. Please RSVP by Sept. 12.

New Meet & Eat groups are forming! We 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. Sign up here.

Announcements

Adults Forums resume soon! Join us Sundays at 10:45AM in Grounds for Joy for coffee and speakers selected by your Adult Education Board. We kick off the season with Jerry Gale, founder of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, Minnesota, to discuss, “Understanding and Responding to Christian Nationalism.” The Adult Forum schedule is available on our website.

BLC Vice-President: Good news! Jason Bruns has accepted our invitation to serve as BLC Vice-President for this year. He will then step into the role of President-Elect for 2026-27 and President in 2027-2028. We are grateful for his continued service to Bethlehem since he recently served in these 3 roles from 2021-2024. Thank you!

The BLC Farm Stand: Located inside the narthex, this is a place to share your garden extras and pick up delicious produce grown by members of the congregation. Stop by Sunday mornings or during office hours throughout the week. Just like the Blessings Box, the Farm Stand is free and you do not need to bring in produce before taking some home.

Staff will regularly check the table to make sure produce is fresh and any produce that isn’t taken home quickly will be brought out to the Blessings Box. The Farm Stand will be up until the end of God’s Work, Our Hands on Sept. 10th.

The final Summer Sack Lunches of the season will be distributed this 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.

September Menu:

Sept. 10 Hamburger/cheeseburger with cold pasta salad and chips
Sept. 17 Ham, macaroni and cheese, salad and roll
Sept. 24 Chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and roll

Monthly mission partner

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

Connections Shelter Church in Mankato St. Ansgar’s Lutheran in Cannon Falls

St. Paul Lutheran in Le Center Mazoezi Kitusha Lutheran in Tanzania

Nguony Keel Lutheran Parish in South Sudan Sudanese Nuer Community at St. Olaf Lutheran in Austin

Lectionary Readings

September 7 & 10, Luke 14:25-33

September 14 & 17, Luke 15:1-10

Bethlehem LutheranSeptember 1, 2025Comment

BLC Weekly, August 18

Hello Bethlehem,

Bethlehem’s Fall Catalogs have been mailed! Check your mailbox or pick up a copy from the Welcome Kiosk to see all the exciting new offerings at Bethlehem this season, including a Pet Blessing, Thanksgiving Eve worship, and more.

Mark your calendars: We will gather for God’s Work, Our Hands on Sunday, September 7 & Wednesday, September 10. This year’s theme is Share, Receive, Be Blessed. Join us for a meal, music, community art and service projects, and a chance to reconnect with your church family. This will also be your time to complete a Time & Talent form, so begin to think about where you feel called to share your passions and gifts. Additional God’s Work, Our Hands details are available in the Facebook Event.

It’s not too soon to start signing up! Head to the BLC website to check out our Small Groups, take a look at the Wednesday Night Supper Menu and Adult Forum schedule, and register for youth programming. We are so looking forward to a great year of growing in Christ, loving our neighbors, and serving God’s world!

Events

Join us for the Blood Drive tomorrow, 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 this Sunday, 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.

Night to Unite: Join the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association in the Bethlehem Parking lot on Tuesday, August 26 from 5:30-8:30PM for their annual Night to Unite! Enjoy a meal, live music, open stage, games and more. Come on out and meet the neighborhood!

The new and improved Blessings Box has been a great success! Several social media posts in local neighborhood groups have helped spread the word, and community members enjoy stopping by to chat, peruse and restock the Blessings Box, which inspired this year’s God’s Work, Our Hands theme: **Share. Receive. Be Blessed!**

Announcements

Invitation to the 2025 GHM Symposium: Healing in a Wounded World is going to be taking place on September 27th, from 9-11:30, followed by lunch, at Normandale Lutheran Church! We are going to spend a morning together in community, learning from three incredible speakers. We will welcome two notable international guest speakers, Archbishop Rev. Dr. Musa Pantl Filibus of the Lutheran Church in Nigeria and Dr. Rebecca Duerst from the Lutheran World Federation, as well as Rev. Doug Cox - GHM's Executive Director. We would love to have you all attend and to spread the word to your congregations about this event! I have attached an image that you can share, and we also have invitations available for pick up at the front desk at GHM.Registration is $20, and is now open at https://www.ghm.org/healing!

Thank you for an awesome first year of Summer Sack Lunches! We want to especially thank Amy Haigh for all of her work spearheading this work. 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.

It’s been a summer of adventure! Stop in and see the photo wall outside the library lounge with memories from VBS, Camp, and the Boundary Waters.

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 Ross Hall

Red Oak Grove Lutheran in Austin Hayward Lutheran in Hayward

Mabel First Lutheran in Mabel Solo Por Fe Lutheran in Colombia

Emanuel Cathedral Lutheran in Tanzania Casa La Paz in Medellin, Colombia

Lectionary Readings

August 24, Luke 13:10-17

August 31, Luke 14:1,7-14

Bethlehem LutheranAugust 18, 2025Comment

the BLC blog

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Lectionary Readings

October 29, John 8:31-36

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October 22, Luke 18:1-8

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Lectionary Readings

October 19 & 22, Luke 18:1-8

October 26 & 29, John 8:31-36

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Lectionary Readings

October 8, Luke 17:5-10

October 12, Luke 17:11-19

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Lectionary Readings

October 1, Psalm 104; Matthew 6:25-26

October 5 & 8, Luke 17:5-10

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A Letter from thee alliance forgiving medical debt

Monthly mission partner

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Lectionary Readings

September 24, Luke 16:1-13

September 28, Luke 16:19-31

October 1, Psalm 104; Matthew 6:25-26

This week

Family faith Formation

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Thank you!

Thank you Christine!

Monthly mission partner

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Lectionary Readings

September 17, Luke 15:1-10

September 21 & 24, Luke 16:1-13

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Family faith Formation

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Thank you!

Thank you Christine!

A note from Your congregational Services coordinator

Monthly mission partner

This Week in our Prayers

Lectionary Readings

September 10, Luke 14:25-33

September 14 & 17, Luke 15:1-10

Events

Announcements

Monthly mission partner

This Week in our Prayers

Lectionary Readings

September 7 & 10, Luke 14:25-33

September 14 & 17, Luke 15:1-10

Events