BLC Weekly, May 1
Hello Bethlehem,
Happy May! Check out April in Photos on the BLC Blog to see some of our favorite photos from the month. Have photos of your BLC family, friends and events you’d like to share? Send them to blchurch@blcmankato.org
We had a great turnout at the ALS Walk this weekend! Thank you to the Bethlehem Gait Keepers and all the members who show up and support the Walk to Defeat ALS. We want to thank Teens Encounter Christ for being such great guests during their weekend in our building and for sharing with us during worship on Sunday. Thank you also to the Minnesota Boychoir for sharing their music with us during worship on Sunday. If you missed their 1pm concert don’t worry, you can still check out their recordings on their website.
This week
We invite you to help pack school kits tomorrow morning, May 2nd, at 9am in the basement.
This Wednesday, May 3rd will be our last Wednesday night supper at Bethlehem until we start up again in the fall. We hope you will join us for hamburger rice hotdish, salad and rolls at 5pm, followed by worship at 6:15pm. The youth will hold an Ask the Pastors session after worship, and then you are invited to check out the Kingdom Arcade the youth created!
This Sunday is Confirmation Sunday. Help us celebrate the youth as they affirm their baptism! It is also the last day of Light. We will plan to meet outdoors if weather permits, otherwise we will gather in the dining room.
This Sunday is also our Cinnamon Roll Camp fundraiser, taking place before and after worship. There is a suggested donation of $3 per roll or $10 for 4. Rolls are available to-go!
Our Adult Forum this Sunday will be Teachers: Challenges and Changes Panel, with Todd Hanselman & Educators. Meet in Grounds for Joy after worship.
Last call: 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 TODAY, May 1st.
Our May Monthly Mission is Global Health Ministries. Bethlehem continues to be a strong supporter of GHM through projects such as newborn kits, quilting, and other hands-on projects. GHM believes all people should have access to a healthy life and focuses on helping some of the most vulnerable people in the world through strengthening health systems, leadership, medical supplies, and grassroots efforts. Our goal is to raise $6,000 for this important ministry. You can give online or with a check to Bethlehem with GHM in the memo line.
Coming up
VBS registration opens on May 7th! This year’s theme is RENEW! Together we’ll discover the hope we have in Jesus through the Parable of the Sower.
May 10th is the last day of NightLIGHT, Torchlight and Confirmation. We will meet at Spring Lake Park on the corner of Webster and Lake St. for food, worship, and games! Bring the whole family!
Because we did not reach a quorum at our Semi-Annual Meeting, we will have a very brief meeting on May 14 in the sanctuary at 10:30am to elect this year’s council, boards and committees.
On May 21st we will hold a celebration of 100,000 School Kits made!
Bethlehem will host a Blood Drive on May 25th. Donors will receive a full-size microfiber American Red Cross towel! Register here to give blood!
FLIGHT event: Join us for a School’s Out Party on Friday, June 9, at Wheeler Park. There will be water games, food and fun!
Home Care for Pr. Don: Bethlehem has been caring for and supporting Pastor Don and Bonnie Roberts since he was diagnosed with ALS in 1995, and now the Roberts need our help. Are you interested in helping with Pastor Don's home care? If you have experience as a caregiver, a good heart, and a willingness to learn, you are needed, as they are looking for more caregivers to round out their team. Let Pr. Don and Bonnie know if you can help! Connect with the Roberts by emailing dbroberts320@hotmail.com
Bethlehem Youth are putting on a Flamingo Flocking Fundraiser to raise money for their Montana trip this summer! For $25 you can have a flock of 12 fabulous yard ornament flamingos visit a friend’s yard. For $10, you can buy anti-flamingo insurance, which will keep the birds from flying to your house. You can do it to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or just because! The flamingo migration will begin in May, fill out this form to sign up!
A message from Pastor Kristin Engstrom:
Happy Easter dear siblings in Christ,
Here in Zambia, I gathered with five congregations in the Lusaka city area for Easter weekend celebrations. There were workshops, shared meals, worship, singing, and on Easter morning, we even marched on the side of the highway in front of the church to share the good news that Jesus is risen! Yesu, a uka!
Read Pastor Engstrom’s April 2023 Newsletter here.
This Week In Our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Brenda Goetsch Marian Mallory Pete Wachtel
Laurie Bentdahl Carol Peterson Cherryl Eigen Bonnie Torgerson
Lorenzo Blaisdell Sarah Nelson Bev Alley Kelli Woelfel
Pastor Don Roberts, Bonnie, and his caregivers
The family and friends of Amos Forseth
The family and friends of Judy Backstrom
LECTIONARY May 3 | John 10:1-10 May 7 | John 14:1-14