BLC Weekly, April 8
Hello Bethlehem,
Bethlehem’s Welcome and Inclusion Board is working on a summer promotion for Bethlehem to increase our visibility within the community and we want pictures of Bethlehem’s members! Stop by the balloon arch near the entryway where Marian Mallory will be standing by before and after church to snap a photo of you and your friends and family. You can also feel free to send in your own selfies. If you don't like being in pictures, feel free to grab an animal mask! We want all of you to find a place on our Ark!
The kiddos made some Empty Tombs this week! Check out the photos:
Bethlehem’s Semi-Annual meeting will take place Sunday, April 21, with a Semi-Annual Meeting Preview set for Sunday, April 14.
Are you interested in serving Bethlehem on a board or committee next year? We have openings in the following groups: 3 in Finance, and 1 each in Stewardship, Welcome & Inclusion, and Youth Board. Contact Bob Ihrig at 507-388-1953 or robert.ihrig1@gmail.com for more information or to offer your services to Bethlehem next year. We welcome you!
This Week
Join us for Wednesday night supper at 5pm in the lower level. This week we will be serving meatloaf with mashed potatoes, veggies and a roll. Stick around for worship at 6:15pm with music from Joe & Missy Wagner, then education begins at 7pm.
Wishing our Muslim Neighbors a Blessed Ramadan! MAPS kids have school off on April 10th to allow time for our Muslim neighbors to celebrate Eid. Children, youth, their families and anyone interested are welcome to join Kaitlin and Anna in activities designed to help learn about Eid in order to continue our congregational goal of fostering a community of embracing and celebrating diversity. NightLIGHT kids will meet in the Gathering Room, TorchLIGHT and Confirmation kids will meet in the Youth Room after worship this Wednesday at 7pm, then all will gather in the Dining Room at 7:15pm for activities.
In case you missed Leigh Pomeroy’s presentation, What Can We Do About Climate Change during the Adult Forum this week, you can find a link to his presentation here on our website.
Flamingo fundraiser
Your favorite fundraiser is back. It’s a Flamingo Flocking Fundraiser! For $30 you can flock a friend or family member’s yard with flamingos. $10 gets you flamingo insurance to keep the flock off your yard. Proceeds from this fundraiser will help send our youth to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans this summer. Head to the form on our website to sign up!
kato sleep out
Join Team Bethlehem! The Second Annual Kato Sleep Out is coming up on April 26. You can contribute cash or check (Payable to Connections Shelter Ministry) in an envelope with your name and give to Bob Ihrig at Bethlehem. You can also contribute online (Check Sleep-Out). Email Bob Ihrig at robert.ihrig1@gmail.com with your donation information to be credited to our team. Thank You!
Young Adult Discord Server
Bethlehem young adults- would you like a way to connect with your church family even when you can’t be here in person? Now there’s a way! We have created a Discord server just for you. This is a space where you can chat with one another about things related to faith, ask questions, chat about whatever is on your mind, or even arrange hangouts and get togethers in person. Sign up to join the server using the invite link here: https://discord.gg/6fc6bc65
WALK TO DEFEAT ALS
Please join us for the ALS walk, Saturday April 27th in Spring Lake Park. Check in is 8:30 and the 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.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Endowment Fund Scholarship applications are now open. Graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students are invited to apply online here by May 1st.
NEXTREX CHALLENGE
Drop off your plastic bags in the library lounge receptacle for the NexTrex Recycling Challenge. Acceptable bags include grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, ziploc and cereal bags, case overwrap you’d find on cases of water bottles or toilet paper, salt bags, plastic wrap and produce bags.
Monthly Mission
Bethlehem’s April Monthly Mission Partner is the WELCOME Committee, a combined effort of five local ELCA congregations, including Bethlehem, with a mission of welcoming refugees into the community. The initial family sponsored by the group is the Cruz family. Since their arrival in December 2022, the WELCOME Committee has been assisting in helping the Cruz family navigate the complex process of seeking asylum, learning English, and filing paperwork to gain employment as non-citizens. Our goal is $3,000. You can give online or with a check.
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 for your compassionate and generous support of our monthly missions. In March, you helped Bethlehem raise $1,343 for THEE Alliance to help assist in canceling medical debt.
“Time sure flies. We can't believe that Spring Break is already over, and the second half of Spring Term is in full swing! We feel blessed to have Bethlehem Lutheran Church and your volunteers as partners in our ministry to feed hungry students through our Lunch For-a-Buck program. On Tuesday, April 2nd, your faithful volunteers, Jan Braisdell, Roberta and Gene Ganske, Sue Larsen and Kathy Piehl prepared and/or served a delicious lunch of roasted chicken over rice, egg salad sandwiches, bread, cake, and bars to 48 hungry lunch-goers. They also collected $37.51 in donations that will be used to purchase the salad supplies, beverages, paper plates, dinnerware, and other items for lunches during the term. We look forward to seeing you at your next Lunch For-a-Buck on April 16. God bless you for your generosity and for supporting the students and our ministry at Crossroads.” -Crossroads Campus Ministry
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Brenda Goetsch Marian Mallory
Pete Wachtel Nikolas Perez Les Biesterfeld
Anna Moses John Engles Jim Freyberg
Barb Girtz Mark Woelfel Shirley Ruby
Amy Grams Haugesag Jerry Williams Jean Thompson Tracy Carter
Pastor Don Roberts, Bonnie, & his caregivers
Saetersdal Lutheran in Harmony St. Paul’s of German Lake in Elysian
Little Cedar Lutheran in Adams Ushora Lutheran in Tanzania
Taasisi Kiomboi Lutheran in Tanzania Nkinto Lutheran in Tanzania