BLC Weekly, March 20
Hello Bethlehem,
Happy first day of spring! Our week at Connections Shelter begins today. There are still meals available to sign up for on Friday and Saturday. Sign up here. Thank you!
Join us on Lenten Wednesdays as we explore five spiritual practices rooted in Jesus' own walk with his Father. Based on Adam Hamilton's book, The Walk, each week we will explore how we walk with Christ, grow in our love for God, and faithfully serve our neighbor. This Wednesday we will serve a Swedish meatball dinner at 5pm and then worship at 6:15pm, exploring the topic Here I Am Lord, Send Me: Serve, led by Pastor Jay.
The annual application for Endowment Fund Scholarships is now open! Current college undergraduates and high school seniors can apply online or pick up an application in the office. Scholarship applications are due May 1.
Thrivent Action Grants & Choice Dollars
Are you currently a Thrivent member? Do you own one or more Thrivent financial products? If so, you may be eligible to financially benefit Bethlehem with a Thrivent Action Plan or with Thrivent Choice Dollars. Curious? Interested? Read on.
Check out the attached document for more details on how you can make this happen. This is your opportunity to serve Bethlehem with a financial gift at no cost to you. Please give these options your serious consideration! Thank you. Contact Bob Ihrig with your questions: 507-388-1953 or robert.ihrig1@gmail.com
Connections Shelter Sleep Out Fundraiser:
The BLC Tuesday morning Bible Study group has enthusiastically accepted the challenge from the Connections Ministry Overnight Shelter to sponsor a fundraising team in the Kato Sleep Out on Friday, March 31. Check out details on the Connections website: www.connectionsshelter.org/kato-sleep-out-2023 Jeannie Phillips has offered, on behalf of our team, to sleep out that evening to raise awareness of homelessness in our community and to raise financial pledges to support the vital work of Connections.
Our goal is to raise $3,500 from our team and other members of Bethlehem. We welcome your contributions and support of this vital community project. Help us to make a difference! If you are interested in financially supporting Bethlehem's team for Kato Sleep Out, contact team coordinator Bob Ihrig at: robert.ihrig1@gmail.com 507-388-1953.
You have 3 donation options for helping us meet our $3,500 goal:
•Cash
•Check (Make payable to Connections Shelter)
•Online (See option on site. Be sure to designate Sleep Out)
Cash and checks (in envelope) should be given directly to Bob Ihrig. Make sure you identify your name on the envelope so we can properly credit you on our team record. I will present all of these on March 31 with our team record.
Donation Update:
We have raised $825 thus far toward our Sleep-Out goal of $3,500. Wow! Thank you! Everyone at Bethlehem can help Jeannie Phillips end her March 31 sleep-out early by adding to this total. Help Bethlehem be the #1 team for Sleep-Out donations. We only need $2,675 more! Let's make it happen for Jeannie and Connections Shelter! Please let Bob Ihrig know via email of any online donation you made. We need your name and donation amount for our team donation record.
Sunday Adult Forum: Ready for a walk? How about 2,200 miles this summer? Enjoy visiting other U.S. states? How about 14 states from Georgia to Maine? Want to meet other people? How about 3 million other hiking enthusiasts? This coming Sunday, March 26, you have the opportunity to hear from our own Jeannie Phillips share her summer 2022 walk on the renowned Appalachian Trail. Join us at 10:45 am for the adult forum in Grounds for Joy and learn all that is involved with this “stroll” out east. It’s story-time at Bethlehem!
Save the date! The ALS Walk is coming up on April 29 at Spring Lake Park. Check in begins at 8:30am, walk starts at 10am.
While the search contintues for treatments and a cure, the ALS Association advocates for the support of caregivers and family members. Did you know that $35 can provide one hour of respite for a caregiver? Learn more and donate on the ALS Association website.
The SE Minnesota Synod Assembly will be held on Saturday, May 6 at the Mayo Clinic Event Center in Mankato. See link for details: https://semnsynod.org/pages/synod-assembly
Bethlehem is entitled to 3 adult delegates & 1 youth/young adult delegate to represent us. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the work of the synod and to participate in church decisionmaking and worship service.If you are interested in being a delegate, contact Bob Ihrig at robert.ihrig1@gmail.com. The deadline to submit your name is March 20. The Council will act on all delegates at its March 21 meeting.
Bethlehem members interested in serving on the BLC Council or a board/committee during the next 3 years should contact Bob Ihrig at robert.ihrig1@gmail.com Identify your specific interest so we can match you up with the right group. We have open positions and welcome your service to Bethlehem!
Community & Global will be collecting new and gently used items to create newborn kits though the end of March. Each Kit includes 1 Regular 52" bath towel, 1 washcloth (not microfiber), 1 bath-size-bar white ivory soap (in original packaging), 1 newborn cotton t-shirt or onesie (sizes 0-3 months), 1 newborn stocking hat, 2 cloth diapers, and 2 diaper pins. You can drop off donations in the collection bin in the narthex. Contact Amy Haigh (507) 720-2148 with any questions. Thank you!
We apologize for any technical difficulties you may notice during our worship livestream. We are experimenting with new livestream equipment to improve quality. Thank you for your patience and feedback as we continue to make improvements!
ECHO Food Shelf is Bethlehem's March Monthly Mission. The need for services for local families continues to rise and ECHO expands and provides their services to meet the growing needs of our community. Please consider supporting this important program via a monetary donation. Our March monetary goal is $3000. We thank Bethlehem members for your continued commitment to our community and to ECHO Food Shelf.
