BLC Weekly, Nov 7
Yesterday was All Saints’ Sunday, a day to honor and remember those who have passed on before us. We especially remember the members of Bethlehem listed above
Hello Bethlehem,
Tomorrow is election day. We want to remind and encourage our members to remember to get out and vote. Grounds for Joy is a polling location and will be occupied tomorrow. Thank you for voting!
You can make a commitment to eradicate our mortgage and support all the great things happening here using this online Commitment Form. Thanks, Bethlehem, for enabling us to imagine a future with hope!
Our Semi-Annual Meeting is coming up on Sunday, November 20th. We hope you will join us after worship in the dining room for this important meeting. You can review all relevant documents, including the Semi-Annual Meeting Agenda, 2022-23 Council, Board and Committee Goals, and the Proposed 2023 Budget, all available on our Council Documents page.
BLC youth (and the adults who love them!) are invited to attend Winter Warm up next Wednesday, November 16, from 6:30-7:30pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church. The theme of the gathering is Hope in a Hopeless World, featuring Pastor Angela Denker. Cost is $10 per person.
Bethlehem will host another blood drive with the American Red Cross on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in Grounds for Joy. Our last drive was a huge success: we exceeded our goal of donating 29 units and donated a whopping 41 units! Nice work Bethlehem! We hope for another great turnout in December and still have many time slots available. Please sign up here to donate. Thank you!
Come check out our Saint & Sinner Showcase in Grounds for Joy. Torchlight youth are sharing art they've created after interviewing a saint earlier this fall. After that, the rest of the congregation can find their creations in the Grounds for Joy throughout the month of November.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: We have received reports of unknown persons going door to door requesting donations on behalf of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. We do not solicit donations door to door and contributions to Bethlehem should only be made via official channels, such as through our website, via check, or in the offering baskets. We ask that you use caution and when in doubt, please contact our office. Thank you.
There is still time to preorder your lefse! Sold in packs of 3 rounds for $5, limit 2 packs per customer. Payment due at pickup. Lefse pre-orders can be picked up Friday, November 18th at noon, or Sunday, November 20th after worship. You can pre-order your Lefse online or by calling the office. Pre-orders are limited but don’t worry if you miss out: any extra lefse and more baked goods will be available for sale on Sunday at our…Bake Sale!
That’s right, this year we are adding more freshly baked goodies and Norwegian treats, and bringing you a Bake Sale just in time for Thanksgiving! We’ll be in the narthex after worship on November 20th with goodies available for purchase on your way to the semi-annual meeting. Thank you so much for the great response to lefse making! It goes to show, our Nordic Bazaar might be retired, but the spirit is still strong! Thank you, Bethlehem!
Connections Shelter is open for the season! Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22. 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.
“Thank you to Bethlehem Lutheran Church for providing Lunch for-a-Buck at Crossroads Campus Ministry on Tuesday, November 1. Sally Burdick, Kathy Piehl, and Karen Sandersfeld served a mouth-watering lunch of chicken alfredo, garlic toast, and pumpkin bars to 36 hungry students. They also collected $29.35 in donations that will help us fund the continued purchase of the lettuce salad, beverages and table supplies for future lunches. Students really look forward to these weekly hot lunches to help them get through the day. In fact some students have shared that this is their ONLY meal of the day. Thank you for your generosity and ongoing support of the students and our ministry at Crossroads” -Crossroads Campus Ministry
Congratulations to our member Todd Hanselman for winning second place in the Mankato Photo Contest! His photograph, Hockey Day Minnesota on a Starry Night, will be the January calendar page in Mankato’s 2023 calendar, and it will also be on the cover of the fall/winter edition of city news! Congratulations Todd!
Bethlehem's November Monthly Mission is Holy Grounds. A cornerstone ministry of Centenary UMC, Holy Grounds is an important resource in the community for food security and a place where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. What a wonderful way to live out the gospel call to love our neighbors as ourselves! There are many ways to help: through monetary donations, items such as underwear, tents, sleeping bags, and socks, as well as volunteering your time and talent. Our monetary goal for November is $1,500. Thank you, Bethlehem community, for your kindness and generosity!