BLC Weekly, Feb. 13
Hello Bethlehem,
We hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather!
The online portion of the Fat Tuesday Silent Auction is now live! Head to the Facebook event page and comment to bid. You can also view Sneak Peeks at items available only for in-person bidding on Fat Tuesday. Happy bidding!
VITA free tax preparation service has returned and is providing free tax preparation, by appointment only, in Grounds for Joy. Tax preparation service for seniors, low-to-moderate-income taxpayers, and those with disabilities, is available Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from February 2 - April 14. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 386-5570 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. Thank you for welcoming these guests into our building!
Bethlehem youth will head to Green Lake this summer from July 30-August 3. Bethlehem’s own Evalyn Altmann created this great video about Why YOU should go to camp! Check it out on our YouTube channel and if you haven’t yet, head to the Green Lake website to get signed up.
For years Betty Groth has blessed Bethlehem with her flare, vision and artistry by decorating the church entryways for each season and occasion. It’s one of those seemingly small things that makes a huge difference. Betty has helped make so many people feel welcome here at Bethlehem. We cannot thank her (and Brad!) enough for their time and talent. This year Betty is retiring from this duty and we want to thank her for all the warmth and welcome she has brought to our building. Thank you, Betty!
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 Crossroads Campus Ministry:
Thank you to Bethlehem Lutheran Church for providing Lunch for-a-Buck at Crossroads Campus Ministry on Tuesday, February 7. Jan Blaisdell and Kathryn Sargent served a delicious feast of turkey & gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetable primavera, rolls and cake to 37 hungry lunch goers during this fifth Tuesday of the new semester. They also collected $40.01 in donations that will help us fund the continued purchase of the lettuce salad, beverages and table supplies for future lunches. Students look forward to these weekly hot lunches to help them get through the day. Thank you for your generosity and ongoing support of the students and our ministry at Crossroads.
WELCOME, a collaboration of Bethlehem, Grace, Messiah, Calvary and Christ the King churches, invites you to continue using this form to purchase needed items and gift cards for the asylum-seeking family from Nicaragua. If you are donating money through a check write the check to Bethlehem and write "WELCOME- Nicaragua" in the memo line. Thank you for your prayers, support and flexibility as this situation develops.
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.
Providing food for 35 can feel like a daunting task. Is your group up to the challenge? Our next weeks at Connections Shelter are 3/20 and 5/22. During our last week we were short one meal. The BLC Men’s group rose to the challenge and sponsored a meal from Pub500. With their gift of $180 they provided turkey sandwiches for dinner. Now, they’re challenging your BLC group to skip the cooking and consider sponsoring a meal for our neighbors in need. Contact Derek Brown at 210-863-4202 or sign up online if your group is up to the challenge!
The Lunch 4-a-Buck program has seen increasing numbers each week of this Spring semester. We are especially thankful for the support of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the volunteers who offer their time and culinary talents to provide a hot meal to hungry students and faculty. We look forward to seeing your Lunch 4-a-Buck volunteers this coming Tuesday, February 7 as we continue feeding the Lord's sheep.
Please read the following. I've included some new information:
If you already know what you are serving, please let me know ASAP so we can post the menu on our Facebook page and Instagram. The most recent meals served since you last visited us include all-beef hotdogs, broccoli & cheese soup, beef & vegetarian chili, roasted chicken & fried rice, and baked chicken with mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese.
The meal "officially" runs from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, but we are seeing more and more students arriving between 1:15 and 1:30, all of them looking for a hot meal. We know it is a big ask, but if you could have your volunteers stay until 1:30, it would make a lot of students happy.
You may arrive at 10:30 to set up
Please try to carpool as parking is limited. We will provide parking passes to park on Dillon Avenue in front of the building. You may also park in spaces #1 and #2 in our parking lot if they are open.
Plan on serving a minimum of 35-40 people. Today we had 44!
Please avoid serving pork products. Students also enjoy having vegetarian options.
Bethlehem’s monthly mission partner for February is 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.
