BLC Weekly, June 3
Hello Bethlehem,
Thank you for helping us build our BLC ark where all are welcome! Stop by the narthex and see the ark put together by your Welcome & Inclusion Committee. Bethlehem is an RIC Congregation. Learn more about what it means to be RIC on our website or by visiting Reconciling Works.
LEADERSHIP
All Boards Meeting: Bethlehem’s All Boards Night is tonight Monday, June 3. We invite all board and committee members to join us at 5:30pm in Grounds for Joy for pizza and conversation.
We Want You!!
Bethlehem wants YOU to consider serving in one of several open positions for the next 3 years on our Council, boards and committees:
Vice-President/President-Elect/President
Stewardship Board (1 position)
Finance Committee (3 positions)
Check with Bob Ihrig (507-388-1953 robert.ihrig1@gmail.com) for more details about the responsibilities and time commitment expected for each position. This is YOUR opportunity to use your time and talents to serve the mission and ministry of Bethlehem. Thank you!
Family Faith Formation
Today your BLC staff was hard at work testing the scooters for VBS. We hope you will join us for the fun!
Our VBS Registration is now live! All youth ages 3 years to 6th grade are invited to join us July 22-25. Our theme this year is Wholly Holy and together we will remember Jesus’ words from John 10:10b, “I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.” We will learn about wellness and our connection to God. If you’re interested in donating to VBS, check out the donation tree in the narthex or visit our Amazon wishlist!
We are looking for 24 summer trip prayer partners for our kids and youth attending camp and the ELCA Youth Gathering. You’d send them a postcard and pray for them during the summer, and receive a response from your prayer partner before the summer is over. Email our Family Faith Director Anna at annawencl@blcmankato.org if you’d like to be a partner!
Service and Sun is coming up in June! Youth who are going into 6th-12th grades are invited to participate in this half-week of service and fun with Mankato-area ELCA youth. Cost us $20/day or $60 for all three days. Scholarships available. Please register by June 5th. https://blcmankato.breezechms.com/form/ServiceandSun
Monthly Mission
Monthly Mission Match! We are excited to share BLC Endowment will match your contributions $1 for $1 for the next four Monthly Mission Projects: May, House of Hope; June, Lutheran World Relief; July, Partners for Housing; and August, Crossroads Campus Ministry. Give to any or all of these missions and your donation will go twice as far!
Bethlehem’s June Monthly Mission Partner is Lutheran World Relief. Lutheran World Relief tackles global poverty by helping people adapt to the challenges that threaten their livelihoods and well-being. Werner Fick and Bethlehem members have donated over 100,000 school kits to this mission, as well as quilts and other donations. Our goal is to raise $7,000. You can give online or with a check.
REMINDERS
BLC Community Garden plots are now available for sign-up! Plots are available on a first come, first serve basis and plots are limited. Sign up online or contact Sarah Morgan to reserve.
Fraud alert: We want to remind all BLC community members to be aware of scams. Bethlehem’s pastors will never directly solicit you for funds. Please give in-person, online or mail to our office. If you have any questions, please contact the office.
June 19th, also known as Juneteenth, is a holiday to celebrate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. The Mankato Juneteenth celebration will take place on Wednesday, June 19th from 2-7 pm. We are looking for volunteers to represent Bethlehem by marching in the Freedom Walk and/or working the booth during the event. Help us show our community that when we say ALL are welcome, we mean it! Look for the sign-up sheet in the narthex. -Welcome & Inclusion Board
Congratulations!
Congratulations to our scholarship recipients! This year the Endowment Board awarded 17 scholarships to members of the Bethlehem community pursuing higher education.
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Marian Mallory Pete Wachtel
Les Biesterfeld Anna Moses Jim Freyberg
Barb Girtz Mark Woelfel Tracy Carter
Amy Grams Haugesag Jodi Orchard Don Grotta
Michael Buesing Shirley Davis Mark Krieger
LeSueur River Lutheran in New Richland First Evangelical Lutheran in Kenyon
St. Michael Lutheran in Waltham Kijota Lutheran in Tanzania
Mazoezi Mughamo Lutheran in Tanzania Mazoezi Nkhoiree Lutheran in Tanzania