BLC Weekly, Dec. 5
Hello Bethlehem,
In this season of giving, we want to help fill hearts with joy, hope, love, and peace for Christmas. We believe that God is calling us into the world together and with generous, loving hands, we can make a difference. What do pigs, cows, goats, chickens and honeybees have in common? They are all part of God's Global Barnyard, a ministry to help families who live in hunger and poverty around the world to become self-sufficient. These gifts keep on giving for years to come. Please consider "purchasing" an animal to support our Bethlehem mission. Our December goal is $8,000. Purchase your animal in honor or memory of a loved one by December 20th to have their name displayed on the screen during worship. Thank you for your faithful support of ELCA global missionaries and ministries!
Torchlight and Confirmation youth, along with youth from Messiah and Grace, will take part in an interactive experience to learn about the experiences of migrants coming to our country. A Migrant Journey will be held in our dining hall on Wednesday, December 14th beginning at 6:15pm. Parents and adults are also welcome to attend. Please email our Family Faith Formation Director, Anna Wencl, at annawencl@blcmankato.org, if you would like to attend.
Join us Sunday, December 18th for Gabe’s Angels: All in a Day’s Work, our 2022 children’s Christmas program! Join the event on Facebook for updates and reminders. We hope to see you there!
BLC Mugs are in! You can pick up your mug in the office during office hours. Mugs are $8 each and make perfect stocking stuffers!
It’s official! Pastor Jacie Richmond was installed at Bethlehem yesterday. Pastor Jacie has already proven to be a super addition to our congregation, and members and the call committee gave her an appropriately Marvel-ous gift during the celebration. Thank you to Rev. Bard Streed with the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, to the Richmond family and friends, and to all who assisted and celebrated the installation! Continue to lift up Pastor Jacie in your prayers as we look forward to a long and happy future together serving God’s mission.
“LEFSE SUCCESS! Thank you all so much! Our lefse making day was a huge success! We made over 450 pieces of lefse and sold every one! The new addition of a bake sale only enhanced the fun on Sunday! Should we do it next year?? Thanks again for your wonderful volunteering and to the people that purchased the goodies!” -Ginger Erlandson
Christmas can be complex. We invite interested members to join Rev. Collette Broady Grund for Blue Christmas, a service all about holding space for grief in this holiday season. This special service will take place on Sunday, December 18th at 6:30pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Mankato and will also be available livestreamed on Facebook.
Be the gift! As we wrap up the year, please consider filling out a Time and Talent form if you have not already. We are in specific need of Sunday morning coffee servers, and volunteers to run the worship slideshow on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. Thank you, volunteers, for all you do!
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!
Thank you to the members who volunteered and fulfilled our needs for Connections Shelter this week! 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 40 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift.
