BLC Weekly, Jan. 30
Hello Bethlehem,
Thank you for tuning in and joining us for Camp Sunday and R.I.C. Sunday. Special thank you to the members of our Welcome & Inclusion committee for hosting Reconciling in Christ: More Understanding after worship. Thank you for the great discussion!
We also want to thank everyone who picked up a s’more on Sunday. The S’more Fundraiser to help send our youth to camp will continue this Wednesday, Feb. 1. Grab a tasty camp treat for a good cause! Bethlehem will be at Green Lake this summer from July 30th-August 3rd. Youth must register by February 1st to guarantee a spot with your BLC friends. Registration is now open on their website.
The Fat Tuesday form is now live! Order your Fat Tuesday Dinner tickets by Feb. 12th to help us plan. Tickets will also be available at the door. This year we are offering two dining options: an in-person dinner in the dining room and a drive-through takeout meal. Order your choice of jambalaya or mac and cheese, both served with sides of salad, roll, and traditional king’s cake. Our Silent Auction opens online on Facebook on February 12th and will close February 19th. NOTE: some baskets will only be available for in-person bidding. Baskets can be picked up during the celebration on February 21st. Sunday, February 5th is the deadline to drop off baskets for the annual Fat Tuesday Silent Auction. Please drop off in the office. All proceeds go to supporting future youth programming. Thank you!
BLC Men will gather again February 11th at 4:45pm for snowshoeing! RSVP to Pastor Jay, pastorjay@blcmankato.org.
KNITTERS and CROCHETERS — PRAYER SHAWL MAKERS: These still winter months are a great time for quiet knitting and crocheting to replenish the supply of BLC prayer shawls. Bundles of soft, new yarn (not Homespun) with patterns/instructions for prayer shawls are available in the office. BE A PRAYER SHAWL MAKER. See Marcia Nagel or Kathy Croswell for more information. Knitting lessons available. Crochet teachers wanted.
A note from our Financial Secretary, Elizabeth Ruiz:
Contribution reports for 2022 were emailed last week. Please check your spam folder if you did not receive it. Members who do not have an email in the Breeze system will receive their report by "snail mail." Please let the office know if you have not received your report by the end of the month.
Offering envelopes for 2023 are available in the narthex. If you would like a packet of envelopes, please feel free to take one. Envelopes do not have an assigned number on them, so please be sure to write your name on the envelope when contributing. If you would like a packet of envelopes but are unable to pick it up, please let the office know and a packet can be mailed to you.
Updates from WELCOME, a collaboration of Bethlehem, Grace, Messiah, Calvary and Christ the King churches:
1. Thank you to all who are helping to donate household items for the family! Contact Pastor Jacie for information on dropping off donations. You can use this form to purchase needed items and gift cards for the family.
2. An update on donating money: The finance committee for WELCOME is asking that donations be taken by each individual church. This is so that we can keep track in order to thank people who are donating. If you are donating money through a check write the check to Bethlehem and write "WELCOME- Nicaragua" in the memo line.
3. A note about information on the family- as needs for the family are being made known to us we are doing our best to communicate them with you. Things are happening and changing really fast, so there are some times where by the time communications have gone out something may have already changed. Apologies in advance for this, and thank you for your flexibility!
There are still a few days to support Bethlehem's monthly mission for January: the REACH Resource Center. This important organization reaches out to youth who are experiencing homelessness or other life trauma and provides them with a safe, nonjudgmental place to receive a variety of services centered on their individual needs. Youth ages 16-24 gain knowledge from caring staff to be healthy, independent and successful - looking beyond their past and planning for hopeful futures. You can support The REACH through the "wish list" on Amazon, through volunteering and donations, and financially to help provide basic necessities, shelter, education and preparation for employment and healthy, independent living. Your generosity is welcomed and appreciated. Our goal for The REACH is $6,000.
Bethlehem’s monthly mission partner for February will be Green Lake Lutheran Ministries.
Green Lake Lutheran Ministries (GLLM) has been a part of our Bethlehem fabric for many years. Many of us have sent our children to the beautiful shores of Green Lake, Spicer, MN to experience this important ministry. Green Lake's mission is "To invite all to experience the life-changing love of Jesus through vibrant settings in community and creation." The ministry celebrates everyone to let you be who you are:
Who is this YOU?
We welcome you – your race, ethnicity, and cultural background.
We welcome you – your unique physical and mental abilities.
We welcome you – your sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, including all members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
We welcome you – your religion, your faith, and wherever you are in your believing and unbelief.
We welcome you – your generation, political affiliation, and socio-economic status.
Please consider supporting this very important ministry for our youth to develop their spiritual life and learning. Our goal is $1,000.
