January 18, 2021

"Unless an infection is diagnosed, named, and treated, healing cannot begin. Now we've come again to a time that has got the entire country's attention, where we should be able to name, diagnose, and begin to treat the infection that is racism, and to work on this together. Dr. King wrote, 'We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.'"
--Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton; listen to her entire (short) message here: https://www.facebook.com/ELCABishopEaton/videos/1102502956861058

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Our next week serving Connections starts TODAY. Please sign up here if you are able.

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Adult forums are back! Read about it on the blog.

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Pick up your offering envelopes in the vestibule during the month of January. Details on the blog.

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Time to think of Lent already! The Annual Fat Tuesday dinner has NOT been cancelled! Woo-hoo! Join the Facebook event to participate in the Silent Auction (no Facebook? Connect with someone to bid on your behalf.) and PRE-ORDER your dinners for pick-up at this link: https://blcmankato.breezechms.com/form/FatTuesday2021

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Our new website and church management system, Breeze, offers so many exciting ways we can streamline our communication with you. Using Breeze to send you weekly updates is one of the ways we can keep our email list consistent and accurate (it also saves time and money!).

Additionally, our new website features a "News & Updates" blog, which you can follow right from the home page (blcmankato.org). By including all the details there, you can easily reference it at any time.

News & Updates: https://www.blcmankato.org/news-updates

The website also integrates the Events Calendar from Breeze. You can view the calendar and event descriptions on the website, but you can also check into worship and register for events by using your own Breeze account (don't have one yet? Contact Emily in the office).

Church Calendar: https://www.blcmankato.org/calendar

"Bethlehem is an inviting community that is growing in Christ, loving our neighbors, and serving God's world."

blcmankato.org (507) 388-2925
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
720 S. 2nd St. Mankato MN 56001
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation

Offering envelopes are now available for those who requested them.  You can pick up your envelopes at the office entrance this Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm throughout the month of January.  If you are truly not able to pick up your envelopes or arrange for someone to pick them up for you, please let the office know.  If you did not request envelopes, but you would like a packet, there are extras which can be picked up during the same time frame. Simply take a blank one and note the number on the sheet provided.

blcmankato.org/adult-education for more details.

January 11, 2021

This past week has been hard. When we are weary and scared, we know we can always turn to the Lord. We seek answers and comfort and guidance for going forward amidst tragedy. In our search, however, we need to remember the Lord works through us. While you can certainly pray, and should, you can also reach out to each other, or call your pastors at church.

If you are action-based, driven by a need to do something to help, remember peace starts at home, with you. We are so lucky to be partnered with Connections in serving God's people. If you feel helpless about things happening on a national scale, remember that you are not helpless in your own community. Our next week serving Connections starts soon. Please sign up here if you are able.

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We need radio broadcast sponsors ASAP (this week!). Please find out how to sponsor a broadcast on the blog.

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Pastor Jay is taking a much-deserved sabbatical this year. Read all about it on the blog.

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Your offering envelopes are not in yet! So sorry for the delay. Find out more on the blog.

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Our new website and church management system, Breeze, offers so many exciting ways we can streamline our communication with you. Using Breeze to send you weekly updates is one of the ways we can keep our email list consistent and accurate (it also saves time and money!).

Additionally, our new website features a "News & Updates" blog, which you can follow right from the home page (blcmankato.org). By including all the details there, you can easily reference it at any time.

News & Updates: https://www.blcmankato.org/news-updates

The website also integrates the Events Calendar from Breeze. You can view the calendar and event descriptions on the website, but you can also check into worship and register for events by using your own Breeze account (don't have one yet? Contact Emily in the office).

Church Calendar: https://www.blcmankato.org/calendar

"Bethlehem is an inviting community that is growing in Christ, loving our neighbors, and serving God's world."

blcmankato.org (507) 388-2925
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
720 S. 2nd St. Mankato MN 56001
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation

Bethlehem is up next week again for serving with time and resources at Connections Ministry. Please use this link to sign up for Jan. 18-24.

If signing up for meals, please indicate in the comments section which of the four roles needed you’ll be providing. YOU CAN CHOOSE ALL FOUR if your family wants. But you need to indicate that. The four roles needed are: 1. Serve meal, 2. Serve meal (more than 2 people in the kitchen isn’t necessary unless the meal is somehow complex.), 3. Provide main dish, 4. Provide dessert. So, if you are providing all the food and two people from your household to serve it, take all four spots. If you want to have a meal delivered and pay for it, but can’t serve, take one spot (or two if you’re also providing dessert). It is helpful to all bringing food to also list what meal you’ll be providing, so we can avoid giving our guests sloppy joes three times in one week. (Please read what others are bringing before choosing your dish.)

Questions? You can contact Derek Brown, Carrol Myers-Dobbler ,or Emily Heinis in the office. Here is the sign-up link one more time.

The offering envelopes were delayed. They are not ready for pick-up. Please watch the announcements for pick-up time and location coming very soon.

Your year-end contribution reports will be emailed unless you request otherwise. Contact Elizabeth to make this request. You can also log in to your Breeze account and access it yourself at any time.

We are excited for Pr. Jay to get some very well-deserved rest time. Stay updated at blcmankato.org/sabbatical.

January 3, 2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Bethlehem!

We're so happy and grateful to be in this new year with you. Our boards and committees are starting back this week after a well-deserved break, our children and youth will begin meeting again (online) this week, and our mission and ministry to all God's people never stops. We are praying for you in this new year, for whatever it may bring. If you need more connection than is currently being offered right now, please reach out and see if we can help. Did you know you can send a confidential Prayer Request Form right to our pastors? Check it out here.

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We need radio broadcast sponsors ASAP (this week!). Please find out how to sponsor a broadcast on the blog.

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The Evangelism Board has a new name! Read all about it on the blog.

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Did you catch the video announcing the year's new mission partners during Sunday's worship? If you missed it, check it out here: https://youtu.be/hCq1GYRNQu0

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VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED THIS WEEK AT CONNECTIONS! It's not "our week" at the shelter, but they are still in need. Link to sign up to serve at Connections Shelter click here.

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Our new website and church management system, Breeze, offers so many exciting ways we can streamline our communication with you. Using Breeze to send you weekly updates is one of the ways we can keep our email list consistent and accurate (it also saves time and money!).

Additionally, our new website features a "News & Updates" blog, which you can follow right from the home page (blcmankato.org). By including all the details there, you can easily reference it at any time.

News & Updates: https://www.blcmankato.org/news-updates

The website also integrates the Events Calendar from Breeze. You can view the calendar and event descriptions on the website, but you can also check into worship and register for events by using your own Breeze account (don't have one yet? Contact Emily in the office).

Church Calendar: https://www.blcmankato.org/calendar

"Bethlehem is an inviting community that is growing in Christ, loving our neighbors, and serving God's world."

blcmankato.org (507) 388-2925
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
720 S. 2nd St. Mankato MN 56001
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation

We are truly fortunate indeed in this difficult time to be one of the few churches in town that already had a secure radio broadcast schedule and ministry. That ministry is more important than ever and we need your help.

©skitterphoto

Paying for the air time has been a generous way to support the church for many years. Traditionally, when a new year begins, the new sign-up sheet is placed outside the office and remains there until all slots are filled. Absent of your presence in the building, the sheet is not being filled. But we still need $100/week to buy radio time! Here are three ways you can sponsor a radio broadcast:

1. Use this new online form. You have the option to pay via credit card or send a check.

2. Call the office during open hours (or leave a message). You can talk to Christine, Emily, or Elizabeth, and they will take your information. Current office hours are Tues.-Thurs, 9am-4pm. (507) 388-2925.

3. Just mail a check. Send a check to the church for $100 with the memo line “radio broadcast” and a note listing who you are honoring/memorializing and a list of dates you’d be okay with (for specific dates, you really should call to make sure they’re available).

Thank you so much. Our radio listeners are an important part of our church.

In November, the Evangelism Board voted to change its name to the Welcome & Inclusion Board. After an approval from council in December, they’ll be meeting for the first time under their new name on January 12th (they have also changed their meeting time in the new year; it’s now the second Tuesday at 6:30pm).

The change comes after the successful passage of the Reconciling in Christ vote on November 15th, 2020. Welcoming visitors and new members has always been the responsibility of this board, so it falls under their umbrella of jobs to make sure our welcome is warm and open for all. The entire church is responsible for upholding the Welcome Statement passed at the semi-annual meeting, but the Welcome & Inclusion board will lead the way.

“It’s much more representative of what we actually do as a group, even before the vote,” the group agreed. The board also hopes the clearer name will encourage more people to be involved. The board does have one open position. Please contact board chair, Kathryn Freyberg-Wills, or nominating chair, Bob Ihrig, if you’re interested in joining.