Weekly Email, Aug. 3
August 3, 2021
Bethlehem is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, August 31 from 1pm to 6pm. Sign up to give today!
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A note from Pr. Jay:
Some of you know Patrick Patterson, who served Christ the King before moving to Eau Claire a few years ago. When I asked Pastor Patrick how he was, he would always reply the same, “I’m thankful.”
That’s how I am feeling returning to you and your call to serve as your pastor. I am thankful for Pastor Collette and Pastor Kristin for leading you. I am thankful to the staff, sabbatical committee, and council for their dedicated work. I am thankful for the faith, and for the hope of resurrection, of those who have died since May 2. I am thankful for time away to rest, travel, read, and enjoy family and friends. I am thankful that despite the Delta variant, it’s feeling more and more like the ministry God called us to before the pandemic, (if you have not yet, please get vaccinated!). I am thankful for the opportunities God will put before us in the days ahead. I am thankful for you. I am thankful for what God is doing for us and the world through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It’s good to be back to share with you our thankfulness for God’s saving love in Christ, and for the gathering around that love that is Bethlehem.
--Pr. Jay
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A note from Council:
Council has voted to follow the CDC recommendations regarding mask-wearing. If Blue Earth County's Level of Community Transmission goes above Moderate (to Substantial or High), we will resume wearing masks indoors. This decision will be made on a week-to-week basis and will be posted on the doors as you enter church. You can follow along at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view
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We are so grateful to Pr. Kristin for her time here. See pictures and details on the blog.
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Don't forget to have August 22nd on your calendar to celebrate Pr. Collette's ministry at BLC on her last day. We'll have cake, coffee, and fellowship in the parking lot after worship.
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We need ALL NAME TAGS returned. EVERYONE is getting new ones made. Please do not hang onto them. You can drop them off in the office. PLEASE RETURN BY THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 8TH.
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The final organ recital is at Bethlehem next Tuesday and it's Christine! Put Tuesday, August 10th at 12:10pm on your calendar.
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The fall schedule is fast-approaching! How will you help? Read about the upcoming survey on the blog.
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The ALS Walk has been scheduled for September 11. It is a statewide walk, but Bethlehem still has a team and encourages fundraising. Find out more, including a link to donate, on the blog.
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August's Monthly Mission is Crossroads Campus Ministry. You can read about their mission here, and make a donation here or by sending a check to the church, memo line "August Mission."
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Our new website and church management system, Breeze, offers so many exciting ways we can streamline our communication with you. Using Breeze to send you weekly updates is one of the ways we can keep our email list consistent and accurate (it also saves time and money!).
Additionally, our new website features a "News & Updates" blog, which you can follow right from the home page (blcmankato.org). By including all the details there, you can easily reference it at any time.
News & Updates: https://www.blcmankato.org/news-updates
The website also integrates the Events Calendar from Breeze. You can view the calendar and event descriptions on the website, but you can also check into worship and register for events by using your own Breeze account (don't have one yet? Contact Emily in the office).
Church Calendar: https://www.blcmankato.org/calendar
"Bethlehem is an inviting community that is growing in Christ, loving our neighbors, and serving God's world."
blcmankato.org (507) 388-2925
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
720 S. 2nd St. Mankato MN 56001
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation