BLC Weekly, October 23
Hello Bethlehem,
Trunk-or-Treat is this week! Grab your costumes and join us Wednesday at 6:45pm in the parking lot for candy collecting in the trunk alley, face-painting, ring toss, hot cider, campfire and more! We will also be collecting donations for the Blessings Box. Bring your non-perishable food and personal care items to help us stock up for the fall and winter months. Let Anna know if you would like to host a trunk. See you Wednesday!
THIS WEEK
All are welcome to join us for Wednesday night supper. This week we’re serving ham, mashed potatoes, corn and rolls. Stick around for Trunk-or-Treat!
The Youth Halloween Lock-In is this Friday! Register here by Wednesday if your 5th-9th grader would like to attend.
Pastor Jacie here to remind you to wear your Reformation red this Reformation Sunday!
Lefse making is less than a month away, but it can’t happen without you! We’re making lefse on Friday, November 17… but we can’t do it alone! More volunteers mean more lefse. Confirm with Ginger Erlandson ASAP if you are planning to help. (507)380-5268 rerlandson2@gmail.com Once we have enough volunteers we will open pre-orders! Lefse will be available for pickup on Friday, November 17 from noon until 1pm and Sunday, November 19 after worship.
It’s a Fiesta de la Familia and YOU are invited! This celebration will recognize the Ariac and Andrea Cruz family on Thursday, November 9th 6 PM to 8PM at Christ the King Church located at 222 Pfau Street in Mankato. The WELCOME Committee invites you to a Nicaraguan-style supper: scrambled eggs wrapped in warm tortillas, Huevos Duros Y Tomate (eggs cooked in a wild tomato sauce) Chorizo, a simple but flavorful sausage, black beans and fresh fruits including bananas, papayas, mangoes and avocados. A short program will introduce attendees to the many adventures and accomplishments of the family since their arrival last December. Reservations required and limited! Use this form to sign up. Free will offering is gratefully accepted.
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
We invite anyone interested to sign the name or bring a photo of loved ones who have passed on at the All Saints altar, now up in the narthex.
If you’d like to help provide support for victims of the war in the Holy Land you can contribute to Lutheran World Relief or to the ELCA Disaster Response.
Adult forum - Sunday, October 29
Join us for coffee and conversation with our city managers Susan Arntz of Mankato and Kevin McCann of North Mankato. Learn from these members of our congregation what is involved in providing quality life in our communities. Ask that question you have had about issues and practices affecting our residents. Join your fellow BLC members for a stimulating morning in Grounds for Joy at 10:30 am. We look forward to seeing you!
Monthly Mission
Our October Monthly Mission is Connections Ministry. Connections is a low-barrier emergency shelter as well as outreach services. The shelter is seasonal and will open on October 2nd. There are 40 beds for unhoused men, women and children, and last year Connections served 115 shelter guests as well as 700 individuals in their outreach office. We can serve Connections through both monetary support and volunteering. The Connections vision statement says it all: “Walking with individuals and families experiencing homelessness by extending a radical welcome that provides dignity, shelter and community.” Our goal is $3,000.
Bethlehem is scheduled to serve at Connections Shelter Tuesday 11/28- Sunday 12/3 and the weeks of 1/15 and 2/26.
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Brenda Goetsch Marian Mallory
Pete Wachtel Carol Peterson Jim Norland Nikolas Perez
Pastor Don Roberts, Bonnie, and his caregivers
Elstad Lutheran in Peterson Saetersdal Lutheran in Harmony
Grace Lutheran in Peterson Nabii Elia Lutheran in Tanzania
Mading Lutheran Parish in South Sudan Casa La Paz in Medellin, Colombia