BLC Weekly, Oct. 3
Happy October Bethlehem,
You are also invited to join Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the Imagine: A Vision of Hope congregational-wide dinner event at Marriott Courtyard on Sunday, October 23 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. You’ll enjoy dinner, fellowship, and a short presentation on the campaign. No commitment will be requested at the event and there is no cost to attendees. Please RSVP by October 10th using this form. The link to RSVP is also available on our homepage. We hope you can join us in celebrating all the great things God is doing at Bethlehem.
Check out the latest installment of our Vision of Hope series. This week we heard from the Renberg family.
The Inspiration Team invites you to enter a time of prayer for our church and congregation as we move into a time of discernment. On Saturday, October 15th, Bethlehem will host a Prayer Vigil in the sanctuary from noon to 4pm. You can sign up for half hour increments online or at the Welcome Kiosk. There is no maximum number of participants and you can register as an individual, family, or group. You may come into the sanctuary or pray from home or wherever you feel most comfortable.
Connections Shelter is open for the season, and Bethlehem is signed up for the week of Oct. 17th! Some changes this year: there will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info.
You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to the shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift.
Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Oct. 17, Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22. Text Derek if you are interested in helping to coordinate Bethlehem’s weeks.
Our hearts are with all those affected by Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Florida with near Category 5-strength winds, record rain, and catastrophic flooding. Lutheran Disaster Response works with its partners to provide immediate relief, including water, clothing, gift cards, tarps, and more. Since many hurricanes also require long-term response, Lutheran Disaster Response provides support on the long road to recovery with disaster case management, construction management, and emotional and spiritual care. Gifts to “Hurricane Response” will be used in full to assist those affected by hurricanes. Join us in supporting the ELCA in this important work; click here to donate.
Groups are gathering once again! Bethlehem is blessed with many wonderful opportunities to connect with one another and grow our faith. Here’s a quick look at some of our groups and what they have to offer:
BLC Men: The mission of our BLC Men’s Group is to grow closer to God as we grow closer to one another. BLC Men’s Fall Events will include serving Lunch for a Buck at Crossroads Lutheran Campus Ministry on Oct. 4, Rake the Town on Nov. 12 with Bethlehem Youth, and the 3rd Annual BLC Men’s Bowling Championship on Dec. 1.
Book of Faith: this group meets each Wednesday morning at 10:30am in Grounds for Joy to open Scripture and join in conversation. This fall will focus on Jeremiah and Lamentations. Cost of the 8-session book is $12. There is no need to sign up in advance, but feel free to register online.
Life in the Spirit: this long-standing Bethlehem group meets on the second Thursday of each month to learn and develop classic Christian practices like contemplative prayer. Meetings take place at 6:30pm and there is no need to sign up in advance.
Meet and Eat! We’re forming a new group on a familiar idea. Three BLC couples/individuals will be matched up and set up three different get togethers over a meal, each hosted by a member of the group. Have these three “eats and meets” before Jan. 1 and we will pair you up with a new group after the holidays! Sign up here to participate.
Tuesday Morning Lectionary Study: Each week a group of Bethlehem members and friends gathers online at 7am to study and discuss the coming week’s preaching text. If you are interested in participating, use this Zoom link to join in.
Women of the ELCA: The Bethlehem Women of the ELCA (BWELCA) is a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world. The Circles that make up BWELCA include:
Deborah Circle: meets 10am third Saturday of the month in Grounds for Joy
Rachel Circle: meets 9am second Tuesday in the Library
Sarah Circle: meets 9am on the fourth Wednesday of each month
Eve Circle: meets 6:30pm on the third Monday of each month
Interested in joining a musical group here at Bethlehem? Learn more about our musical opportunities on our website and contact Charlie Leftridge at cleftridge@blcmankato.org to join us in making joyful noise!
Bethlehem's October Monthly Mission is Echo Food Shelf. Echo has been an important part of the Mankato and surrounding communities since 1981 when a group of concerned people recognized a crisis in the community and organized the collection of food in a church basement. The need for services has increased and Echo has expanded to meet the growing needs of our community. Volunteers bring food to local families who are unable to get to the food shelf and the summer feeding program fills the meal gap with many families. Many volunteer positions are available for those interested in helping Echo with their program. We have set a monetary donation goal of $3,000. We thank Bethlehem members for their commitment to our community.
Our goal is $3,000. Please give prayerfully and financially to our community. You can give online here. Thank you, Bethlehem!
REMINDERS:
Fall is in full-swing! Check out the calendar to see the latest music, worship, and event schedules. Volunteers can now reference our serving schedules online!
