BLC Weekly, Sept. 5
Hello Bethlehem,
Happy Labor Day! We have a lot of exciting events coming up, as well as the kick off of fall programming. Learn more and get registered below!
Rally Day, aka, God’s Work, Our Hands, is coming up on September 11th & 14th! The whole congregation is invited to join us for God’s Work, Our Hands as we reconnect with our church family and celebrate with worship, service, food, and fun! This is a great opportunity to learn more about our small groups, and sign up for musical, educational, and volunteer opportunities.
Sunday’s schedule includes a pre-worship Sunrise Stretch and Devotional at 6:51am. Service will begin at 9:30am followed by coffee in the library, school kit assembly in Grounds for Joy, and a whole host of interactive activities, including a scavenger hunt, bounce house, mural making, and outdoor beautification projects, including the painting of court lines by the basketball hoop! We hope you’re hungry: the picnic hog roast starts at 11:15am!
On Wednesday we will kick off Wednesday night programming with dinner at 5pm and worship at 6:15pm. We will have school kit assembly in Grounds for Joy from 6:45-7:45pm and outdoor beautification projects, a scavenger hunt, bounce house, mural making, and more!
Included in this year’s celebration, Hy-Vee will be offering Flu Shot Clinics in Grounds for Joy on Sunday from 10:45am to noon and Wednesday from 5-7pm. You can sign up in advance online, in the office, or at the Welcome Kiosk, but registration is not required and walk-ins are welcome! Hy-Vee will offer Flu Shots, Covid Boosters, and Take-Home Covid Tests. Please bring your ID, vaccine record card, and prescription insurance or Medicare card.
Get ready to show your pride! Members are invited to be a Reconciling In Christ presence at Mankato PrideFest 2022! Marchers are welcomed and encouraged to put on their Bethlehem and/or rainbow attire and join in the parade Saturday, Sept. 10th! Some important parade info:
Report to the staging area, in the parking lot of Bridge Plaza, 201 North Riverfront Drive, between 10:30-11am. The parade begins at 11:15am sharp!
We ask that you do not park in the library parking lot to avoid being towed. Arrive early so that you can find parking in the Old Town/Downtown area or in the surrounding residential areas.
While in the parade, please do not throw anything; you may hand items to the crowd.
No dogs unless they are certified service animals.
Parade safety volunteers will be present in yellow vests will be present to assist and direct should there be any changes (like rerouting for a passing train!)
Whether you show up to march or just watch the parade and enjoy the festival, we hope to see you there!
Groups are starting back up! 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:
??????? Name This Group! 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 or on our website by Sept. 13th to participate. You’re also invited to submit a name for this group. The winning name will be picked by staff Sept. 14 and the winner will receive a $10 gift card to the Coffee Hag!
BLC Men: The mission of our BLC Men’s Group is to grow closer to God as we grow closer to one another. We will begin again on Monday, Sept. 12, with grilling and a get together at Derek Brown’s home. RSVP to pastorjay@blcmankato.org for more information, or fill out the registration form to join. Other 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.
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.
New members welcome! Our New Member Orientation will be held September 18th at 10:45am. Click to learn more about Becoming a Member.
And finally… after 3 cancellations… the ALS WALK is going to happen! Please join the Bethlehem Gaitkeepers on Saturday, September 17th at Spring Lake Park Shelter #1. Check in begins at 8:30am and the walk begins at 10am. The walk is 2.5 miles and a great way to honor Pastor Don and walk in memory of Jon Nelson. Donation forms are available in the office or can be filled out at Spring Lake on the day of the walk. Don’t miss this chance to be the cheering squad and hop in that group photo! We are hoping for a great turnout for ALS. Questions? Contact Ginger Erlandson, Rerlandson2@gmail.com.
Bethlehem is in the news! Blood Drives hosted at BLC make a difference; check out this local story to learn more. Our next Blood Drive will be held December 22.
Our September monthly mission is Iambi Secondary School (ISS). This boarding school has a 200 student capacity and 20 staff members. Academically, ISS has been doing very well. It is a leading school in the Mkalama district and it is among the top ten schools in the Singida region.
Gifts from Bethlehem has been transformative for ISS: our past generosity has enabled the school to install electricity, allowing students and teachers to study and prepare lessons after the sun has set. As a result, test results soared and enrollment has boomed.
Our goal is $7,000. Please give prayerfully and financially to our friends at Iambi Secondary School. You can give online here. Thank you, Bethlehem!
REMINDERS:
Wednesday night worship will resume Sept. 14. Until then, join us for Sunday worship at 9:30am or check out our Facebook, YouTube, radio broadcast, and website to stay connected!
Our radio broadcast will be preempted by the Twins early start on the following dates: Sept. 18, Oct. 2. During these dates, our radio playback will be at 5pm instead of 11am.
