BLC Weekly, September 4
Happy Labor Day, Bethlehem!
We saw a wonderful turnout at last week’s Night to Unite event in our parking lot, organized by the Lincoln Park Neighborhood. There was face painting, balloon animals, live music and more. Bethlehem’s table handed out treats. It’s always good to see the neighborhood!
This Week:
On Friday, September 8, our high school youth are invited to an ice cream sundae and pride swag making party!
The Welcome and Inclusion Committee is inviting everyone to participate in this year's Mankato Pride Parade on September 9, 2023! We will begin the day with a 9:30am worship service at First Presbyterian Church. More details on the flyer attached and on the Facebook event. 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.
Finally, 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. On Sunday after worship we will have brunch, school kit assembly, and a neighborhood cleanup. On Wednesday after supper and worship we will be working on service projects and painting the Bethlehem sign on Byron Street. Join us as we celebrate the ways God works through Bethlehem and the kick off of fall programming!
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.
Interested in participating in a SEMN Synod Border Immersion Visit. There will be an information meeting on upcoming 2024 visit via Zoom on 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.
Senior Fraud Awareness Seminar: Join South Point Financial Credit Union at 2pm on September 12 at Old Main Village for an informative seminar aimed at protecting older adults from common scams. Enjoy refreshments and treats and hear from the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Senior Financial Fraud Ombudsman, Martin Fleischhacker. Note: you do not have to be a senior to attend this useful seminar.
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.
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.
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!
The Family Friendship Program at MSU was relaunched in the spring of 2023 and has played a significant role at MSU for many years. There are over 1700 international students from 98 countries who call MSU home.This program connects international students to volunteers in the community. Many of these students have never set foot in an American home while studying in the United States, and this program hopes to create space for cultural exchanges and connection. Kristin Odland, Retention Specialist at MSU, will speak about the Family Friendship Program at our Adult Forum on September 24.
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
September Monthly Mission is Iambi Secondary School Scholarships. The school is a boarding school for both girls and boys. School capacity is about 200 students. ISS has a total of 20 staff. Academically, Iambi Secondary School has been doing very well in various exams. In the Mkalama district, it is a leading school, and in the Singida region it is among the top ten schools in regional and national examination results. ISS has a conducive environment for students to learn with a reliable power supply, enough books, and enough teachers for all subjects. They also teach computer studies courses and religion. Gifts from Bethlehem have been transformative for ISS, and our past generosity enabled the school to install electricity, allowing the students and teachers to study and prepare lessons after the sun went down. Test scores soared, and enrollment boomed. Please give prayerfully and financially to our friends at Iambi Secondary School. Our goal is $7,000 You can mail a check or give online throughout the month of September.
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Brenda Goetsch Marian Mallory
Pete Wachtel Carol Peterson Jim Norland
Shari Elbert Sarah Nelson Nikolas Perez
Pastor Don Roberts, Bonnie, & and his caregivers
The family & friends of Ruth Roberts
Red Oak Grove Lutheran in Austin Whalan Lutheran in Lanesboro
Epiphany Lutheran in Eagle Lake Nuru Itaja Lutheran in Tanzania
Banytic Lutheran Parish in South Sudan Mission of San Juan in Bucaramanga, Colombia