BLC Weekly, August 28
Hello Bethlehem,
We hope you will join us Sunday, September 10, and Wednesday, September 13, for the 10th annual God’s Work, Our Hands. There will be food, fellowship and service projects. Join us as we celebrate the ways God works through Bethlehem and the kick off of fall programming!
The Community and Global Mission Board has signed up to help with Sunday Suppers for the unhoused during the summer on September 24th, from 4-6 at Grace Lutheran Church. Simple meals of sandwiches, chips, water will be provided. We can use donations of water, Gatorade, 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!
Registration forms for LIGHT & NightLIGHT, Torchlight and Confirmation are now available on our website! Click here for registration. Torchlight & Confirmation Orientation will take place September 20th.
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
Family Outdoor Movie Night August 18, 2023
You’re Invited
The Lincoln Park Neighborhood will host their Night to Unite Block Party in our parking lot tomorrow, August 29, beginning at 5:30pm. There will be music by the Spoon Cherries, kids games and face painting, and a drawing for a Free Night Stay at the Moulin Rouge B&B. Stop by and say hello to our neighborhood!
Interested in participating in a SEMN Synod Border Immersion Visit. There will be an information meeting on upcoming 2024 visits via Zoom on Tuesday, August 29 at 6:30 pm or Thursday, September 7 at 6:30 pm. Here is the Zoom Link for the Border Immersion Visit Information Session. Plan on attending one of these meetings to receive an overview of a border immersion experience as well as get your questions answered.
The Welcome and Inclusion Committee is inviting everyone to participate in this year's Mankato Pride Parade on September 9, 2023! The parade is at 11:15. We also are looking for volunteers to staff the Bethlehem booth at Riverfront Park for an hour or two between Noon and 4:00.Volunteers who sign up and be one of the first to order a Bethlehem T-shirt for $10.00 Sign Up sheets are at the Welcome Kiosk.
You’re invited to the Connections Block Party and Shelter Shower on Thursday, Sept. 14. There will be music, food trucks, activities, shelter tours and more! You can help spruce up the shelter for the new season by purchasing items from their wish list.
Good news!
The BLC Blood Drive was a success. The goal was 34 Units and 40 Units were donated on Tuesday. Several BLC members donated and assisted with the donation process. GFJ is an excellent setting for this community service. The next Drive will be December 21.
The Cruz family Moondogs game fundraiser was a success.Together we raised $1,152 for the family. We hope you will join us for our next fundraising opportunity. On Thursday, Sept. 21, the Welcome Team will host a fundraiser at Applebee’s in Mankato. Just tell your server you are dining as guests of the Welcome Team and a percentage of your check will help our mission of welcoming refugees to our community. Ordering online? Just use code DOINGOOD at checkout.
Last call! Our August Monthly Mission is Crossroads Campus Ministry at Minnesota State-Mankato. Bethlehem’s ties to this ministry go back over several years, volunteering regularly with their Lunch-for-a-Buck program, and Pastor Jacie Richmond is currently on the Board. Crossroads has been without a pastor for the past year and is focusing on rebuilding their programming after Covid and finding a new pastor. You can send a check to Bethlehem with Monthly Mission Crossroads in the memo line, or give online throughout the month of August. Thank you for supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our area students!
Reminder: In lieu of the September issue of the Bethlehem Star, members can look forward to receiving a Fall Catalog of Bethlehem events! The Bethlehem Star will return in October.
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Brenda Goetsch Marian Mallory
Pete Wachtel Carol Peterson Jim Norland Shari Elbert
Pastor Don Roberts, Bonnie, and his caregivers
United Lutheran in Walters Vang Lutheran in Dennison
Cross of Christ Lutheran in Houston Sayuni Mipilo Lutheran in Tanzania
Iguguno Lutheran in Tanzania Jikmir Lutheran Parish in South Sudan