BLC Weekly, July 17
Hello Bethlehem,
VBS is just one week away! We are so excited to be partnering with Centenary Church this year, and we are thrilled to share that we have over 50 kids signed up for VBS! July 24-27 we will gather to learn and grow, with a focus on our theme of RENEW and the parable of the sower.
We are still looking for dinner servers to serve dinner from 4:45-6:15pm in the evenings. Please use this form to sign up, or contact the office. Head to our website to register your child, or to sign up to volunteer as a youth or adult. We pray for a fun, exciting, and meaningful Vacation Bible School 2023!
Also this week: on July 18, from 3-5pm, Connections will host an Ice Cream Social Send Off at their Front Street location. Pastor Collette will be moving on to new adventures and our own Elizabeth Paul will be taking over as Development Director at Connections.
Deborah Circle would like to invite all interested persons to join us for a summer bible study. We will meet on the 3rd Saturday in June, July, and August in Grounds for Joy from 10:00-11:00 am. We will use the summer study found in Gather Magazine. Copies of the study will be available for those who don't have a subscription. Hope to see you there!
This week! You’re invited to a fun night of fellowship and baseball and meet the Cruz family! Join us at the MoonDogs game on Thursday, July 20th for a fundraiser to help support our mission of welcoming refugees to our Mankato community. For $16 you’ll get a hot dog, chips, a beverage, and premier VIP seating behind home plate in section 202 with your ticket. Half of the ticket price goes to the fundraiser. We would love it if you can wear the colors of Nicaragua, which are white and royal blue. Join the Facebook event for updates. Gates open at 5:35pm and first pitch is at 6:35pm. Tickets available online, use Promo Code: WELCOME.
Want to be a host family? The Center for English Language Programs (CELP) at MSU is seeking families to host Japanese students in their homes while they are engaged in academic and social life at MSU. Students from Chuo University in Tokyo will be in Mankato from August 19 - September 9th. Apply online to be a host. Contact Ben Robinson with any questions: benr@usahomestays.org
Bethlehem will host another Blood Drive on August 22. Sign up with the Red Cross to give blood, donation hours are from 1-6pm. And mark your calendar, another Blood Drive has been scheduled for December 21st!
Head to ucdir.com to sign up!
It’s time for a new directory! Directory photos will be taken Aug 8-12 at Bethlehem. Head to the UCDIR website enter our church code, mn379 and password: photos to schedule your appointment.
We will also need hosts to help facilitate the directory photo process. We are looking for folks interested in helping with check-in, especially from 1:45-6pm and 5:45-8:30pm on Friday, and 9:45am to 1pm or 12:45-4pm on Saturday. Please contact the office if you are interested in assisting!
The Community and Global Mission Board has signed up to help with Sunday Suppers for the unhoused. We are doing this as there are no other meals being served on Sunday’s at other locations ( Salvation Army, Connections, Centenary United Methodist etc.) during the summer. BLC dates are July 23rd, August 27th, September 24th, from 4-6 at Grace Lutheran Church. Simple meals of sandwiches, chips, water will be provided. We can use donations of water, gator aid, individual packages of chips, bars, paper plates, paper bags for take home. Please, contact Dee Bennett 317-679-3277, deebennett@mac.com to coordinate a donation. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
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
Our July Monthly Mission is Partners for Housing. P4H works by providing emergency shelters at Theresa House, Union Street Place, and the Welcome Inn. They provide transitional housing, rapid re-housing and long-term housing in collaboration with many other supportive services. Bethlehem’s goal is to raise $1,300 for Partners for Housing. Please consider supporting this important mission!
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Brenda Goetsch Marian Mallory
Pete Wachtel Carol Peterson Jim Norland
Pastor Don Roberts, Bonnie, and his caregivers
Community Lutheran in Geneva
First Lutheran in LeSueur
Little Cedar Lutheran in Adams
Lutheran Campus Center in Winona
Crossroads Campus Ministry in Mankato
Gumanga Lutheran in Tanzania
Maria Mission in Bucaramanga, Colombia