BLC Weekly, February 19
Hello Bethlehem,
Thank you for supporting our youth and joining us at Fat Tuesday! We hope you enjoyed the dinner and silent auction. Together we raised over $3,000 to help send our youth to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer.
Easter Flower order forms are now available! You can order online or pick up a form in the narthex. Please return forms by March 19th. Flowers will be available on Easter after worship on a first-come basis for all who contributed. If you’d like to get a photo with the Easter garden, please plan on doing so before the worship service. After flowers are paid for, any additional funds will go to supporting our music scholars.
This Week
Wednesday night supper this week is beef stew and biscuits, served at 5 pm in the lower level. Join us afterwards for Lenten worship with Pastor Dave Reedstrom of Calvary Lutheran in Rapidan, in the sanctuary at 6:15pm.
BLC children and youth are welcome to take home a pack of 40 beans to plant during the season of Lent. The beans serve as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice, as well as a sign of life.
Lenten Worship Schedule
February 14 — Ash Wednesday Worship at noon and 6:15
February 21 at 6:15 —Guest Preacher, Rev. Dave Reedstrom, Calvary Lutheran, Rapidan
February 28 at 6:15 — Guest Preacher, Rev. Sarah Deutsch, Epiphany Lutheran, Eagle Lake
March 6 at 6:15 — Guest Preacher, Rev. John Odegard, Grace Lutheran, Mankato
March 13 at 6:15 — Preacher, Pr. Jay
March 20 at 6:15 — Preacher, Pastor Jacie
March 28 — Maundy Thursday Worship at 6:15
March 29 — Good Friday Worship at noon and 6:15
Monthly Mission
Our February Monthly Mission is the ECHO Food Shelf. ECHO has been committed to addressing food insecurity in our community since 1981. Our February donations will be presented in March, which is Minnesota Food Share Month, doubling what you give! Our goal is to raise $3,500. This program depends on volunteers, and we encourage you to consider giving a gift of your time.
Adult Forum
February 25 Adult Forum: Representatives of the Mankato Public Safety Department will update us on the current challenges facing the safety of our community and how the city is addressing these. Join us at 10:45 am in Grounds for Joy to learn and process these developments. Coffee, donuts and conversation are free! We welcome you!
Look ahead
Please join us for the ALS Walk, Saturday April 27th in Spring Lake Park. Check in is 8:30 and walk starts at 10:00. Let’s honor Pastor Don and in memory of Jon Nelson! Let’s hope for a sunny April day! The walk around the lake is very easy and comfortable. If you can’t join us.. and would like to donate, please go on line at ALS.org or stop in the office and pick up a form and mail-free envelope. Please contact Ginger Erlandson with any questions.
The second annual Kato Sleep Out with Connections Shelter will take place on April 26th in the Bethlehem parking lot! Join a team and raise funds for this important work in our community. The online sign up is now open.
Have you been looking for a way to finally get on top of your money? This. Is. Your. Time. Text or call Danielle Johnson at 507-327-5921 for more information about joining our Financial Peace University class starting on Monday, March 18 at 7pm at Bethlehem. We’ll gather each Monday through May 13. Make today the day you decide to own your money—not the other way around. You've got this!
SErVE
Bethlehem will be serving at Connections Shelter the week of Feb. 26th! Sign up online to provide part of a meal or to serve.
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
THANK YOU
Thank you to our Tuesday morning school kit volunteers! On the first Tuesday of February, we loaded up a U-Haul and sent off 2,046 school kits to Lutheran World Relief to help students around the world. Thank you for your hard work!
Thanks to a generous donor, we have been able to upgrade our pew pads and pencils! Check them out next time you’re in the sanctuary.
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Brenda Goetsch Marian Mallory
Pete Wachtel Nikolas Perez Les Biesterfeld
Anna Moses John Engles Ollie Anderson
Jim Freyberg Barb Girtz
Pastor Don Roberts, Bonnie, & his caregivers
The family & friends of Ardis Grotta
Moscow Lutheran in Austin Trinity Lutheran in Owatonna
Cedar Valley Lutheran in Winona Zumbro Lutheran in Rochester
Gach Jal Lutheran Parish in South Sudan St. Augustine Ngamu Lutheran in Tanzania