Hello Bethlehem, 

Pastor Jacie’s official installation date is next Sunday, December 4th. Following worship, there will be a reception downstairs in the dining hall. We hope you will be able to attend and celebrate Pastor Jacie! 

Following worship this Sunday we will also have Fair Trade Holiday Shopping in the narthex from 10:30am to noon. Stop by for textiles, holidays and home decor, and more, all from Fair Trade vendors!

Torchlight and Confirmation youth, along with youth from Messiah and Grace, will take part in an interactive experience to learn about the experiences of migrants coming to our country. A Migrant Journey will be held in our dining hall on Wednesday, December 14th beginning at 6:15pm. Parents and adults are also welcome to attend. Please email our Family Faith Formation Director, Anna Wencl, at annawencl@blcmankato.org, if you would like to attend. 

Join us Sunday, December 18th for Gabe’s Angels: All in a Day’s Work, our 2022 children’s Christmas program! Join the event on Facebook for updates and reminders. We hope to see you there! 

Christmas can be complex. We invite interested members to join Rev. Collette Broady Grund for Blue Christmas, a service all about holding space for grief in this holiday season. This special service will take place on Sunday, December 18th at 6:30pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Mankato and will also be available livestreamed on Facebook. 

Bethlehem will host another blood drive with the American Red Cross on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in Grounds for Joy. Our last drive was a huge success: we exceeded our goal of donating 29 units and donated a whopping 41 units! Nice work Bethlehem! We hope for another great turnout in December and still have many time slots available. Please sign up here to donate. Thank you! 

SCAM ALERT: Please do not purchase gift cards or give money to anyone posing as one of the pastors online or via a text. This is a scam!  The pastors, staff, and no one from the church, will ever solicit money or gift cards in this way. If you ever have any questions or concerns about this, contact the church directly.

Connections Shelter is open for the season! Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22. There will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info. You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to the shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift. 

There are still a couple days to give to Bethlehem's November Monthly Mission, Holy Grounds. A cornerstone ministry of Centenary UMC, Holy Grounds is an important resource in the community for food security and a place where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. What a wonderful way to live out the gospel call to love our neighbors as ourselves! 

There are many ways to help: through monetary donations, items such as underwear, tents, sleeping bags, and socks, as well as volunteering your time and talent. Items for donation can be dropped off in the donation bin in the Narthex. Our monetary goal for November is $1,500. Thank you, Bethlehem community, for your kindness and generosity! 

Thank you Bethlehem for your faithful support of ELCA global missionaries and ministries. Our December Monthly Mission is God’s Global Barnyard. In this season of giving, we want to help fill hearts with joy, hope, love, and peace for Christmas. We believe that God is calling us into the world together and with generous, loving hands, we can make a difference. What do pigs, cows, goats, chickens and honeybees have in common? They are all part of God's Global Barnyard, a ministry to helps families who live in hunger and poverty around the world to become self-sufficient. These gifts keep on giving for years to come. Please consider "purchasing" an animal to support our Bethlehem mission. Our December goal is $8,000. Thank you for your prayers and generosity to this important mission. 

 Hello Bethlehem, 

It’s the season of giving and we are so thankful for your generosity! As we wrap up our Capital Campaign we hope to hear from you if we haven’t already. Bethlehem has already received commitments from 130 members, totalling $753,000. If you’d like to make a pledge, you can use our online commitment form on our website, or stop by the office for a physical form. Whether they are financial or in the form of time or talent, it is your gifts that make Bethlehem the incredible place that it is. Thank you for inspiring and imagining a vision of hope! 

Thank you to everyone who attended and weighed in at our Semi Annual Meeting! In case you missed it, you can view the livestream here, on our BLC Family & Friends page. All relevant documents are available on our website’s Council Documents page. 

Thank you to all the volunteers, rollers, flippers, packers and planners who pulled off our lefse-making event on Friday! We hope you and your family will enjoy this tasty and traditional treat this Thanksgiving. Check out more photos in the blog post below!

November 15th was our second Reconciling in Christ anniversary! Bethlehem is proud to be an RIC congregation. Learn more about what this means by visiting Reconciling Works or reading What We Believe. 

REMINDERS: 

• There will be no worship or meal served this Wednesday, November 23rd. Join us next week for dinner at 5pm in the dining hall and worship at 6:15pm. 

• Our office will be closed Thanksgiving day. We wish you and yours a blessed holiday! 

Bethlehem will host another blood drive with the American Red Cross on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in Grounds for Joy. Our last drive was a huge success: we exceeded our goal of donating 29 units and donated a whopping 41 units! Nice work Bethlehem! We hope for another great turnout in December and still have many time slots available. Please sign up here to donate. Thank you! 

SCAM ALERT: Please do not purchase gift cards or give money to anyone posing as one of the pastors online or via a text. This is a scam!  The pastors, staff, and no one from the church, will ever solicit money or gift cards in this way. If you ever have any questions or concerns about this, contact the church directly.

Connections Shelter is open for the season! Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22.

There will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info. 

You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to the shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift. 

Bethlehem's November Monthly Mission is Holy Grounds. A cornerstone ministry of Centenary UMC, Holy Grounds is an important resource in the community for food security and a place where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. What a wonderful way to live out the gospel call to love our neighbors as ourselves! 

There are many ways to help: through monetary donations, items such as underwear, tents, sleeping bags, and socks, as well as volunteering your time and talent. Items for donation can be dropped off in the donation bin in the Narthex. Our monetary goal for November is $1,500. Thank you, Bethlehem community, for your kindness and generosity! 

GALLERY: lefse making, 2022

Thank you to all the volunteers who joined us for Rake the Town this year! The BLC Men and Confirmation Youth cleaned several yards on Saturday.

Hello Bethlehem, 

Our Semi-Annual Meeting is this Sunday, November 20th. We hope you will join us after worship in the dining room for this important meeting. You can review all relevant documents, including the Semi-Annual Meeting Agenda, 2022-23 Council, Board and Committee Goals, and the Proposed 2023 Budget, all available on our Council Documents page. A quorum of 75 is required, so we hope you will attend! 

You can make a commitment to eradicate our mortgage and support all the great things happening here using this online Commitment Form. Thanks, Bethlehem, for enabling us to imagine a future with hope!    

Connections Shelter is open for the season! Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22. There will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info. You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to the shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift. 

Bethlehem's November Monthly Mission is Holy Grounds. A cornerstone ministry of Centenary UMC, Holy Grounds is an important resource in the community for food security and a place where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. What a wonderful way to live out the gospel call to love our neighbors as ourselves! 

There are many ways to help: through monetary donations, items such as underwear, tents, sleeping bags, and socks, as well as volunteering your time and talent. Items for donation can be dropped off in the donation bin in the Narthex. Our monetary goal for November is $1,500. Thank you, Bethlehem community, for your kindness and generosity!

It’s lefse season! Our team of volunteers will be meeting on Friday to start rolling out your order! You can pre-order your Lefse online or by calling the office. Pre-orders are limited but don’t worry if you miss out: any extra lefse and more baked goods will be available for sale on Sunday at our…Bake Sale! That’s right, this year we are adding more freshly baked goodies and Norwegian treats, and bringing you a Bake Sale just in time for Thanksgiving! We’ll be in the narthex after worship this Sunday with goodies available for purchase on your way to the semi-annual meeting. 

BLC youth (and the adults who love them!) are invited to attend Winter Warm up this Wednesday, November 16, from 6:30-7:30pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church. The theme of the gathering is Hope in a Hopeless World, featuring Pastor Angela Denker. Cost is $10 per person. 

Bethlehem will host another blood drive with the American Red Cross on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in Grounds for Joy. Our last drive was a huge success: we exceeded our goal of donating 29 units and donated a whopping 41 units! Nice work Bethlehem! We hope for another great turnout in December and still have many time slots available. Please sign up here to donate. Thank you! 

SCAM ALERT: Please do not purchase gift cards or give money to anyone posing as one of the pastors online or via a text. This is a scam!  The pastors, staff, and no one from the church, will ever solicit money or gift cards in this way. If you ever have any questions or concerns about this, contact the church directly.

Yesterday was All Saints’ Sunday, a day to honor and remember those who have passed on before us. We especially remember the members of Bethlehem listed above

Hello Bethlehem, 

Tomorrow is election day. We want to remind and encourage our members to remember to get out and vote. Grounds for Joy is a polling location and will be occupied tomorrow. Thank you for voting! 

You can make a commitment to eradicate our mortgage and support all the great things happening here using this online Commitment Form. Thanks, Bethlehem, for enabling us to imagine a future with hope!    

Our Semi-Annual Meeting is coming up on Sunday, November 20th. We hope you will join us after worship in the dining room for this important meeting. You can review all relevant documents, including the Semi-Annual Meeting Agenda, 2022-23 Council, Board and Committee Goals, and the Proposed 2023 Budget, all available on our Council Documents page. 

BLC youth (and the adults who love them!) are invited to attend Winter Warm up next Wednesday, November 16, from 6:30-7:30pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church. The theme of the gathering is Hope in a Hopeless World, featuring Pastor Angela Denker. Cost is $10 per person. 

Bethlehem will host another blood drive with the American Red Cross on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in Grounds for Joy. Our last drive was a huge success: we exceeded our goal of donating 29 units and donated a whopping 41 units! Nice work Bethlehem! We hope for another great turnout in December and still have many time slots available. Please sign up here to donate. Thank you! 

 Come check out our Saint & Sinner Showcase in Grounds for Joy. Torchlight youth are sharing art they've created after interviewing a saint earlier this fall. After that, the rest of the congregation can find their creations in the Grounds for Joy throughout the month of November.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: We have received reports of unknown persons going door to door requesting donations on behalf of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. We do not solicit donations door to door and contributions to Bethlehem should only be made via official channels, such as through our website, via check, or in the offering baskets. We ask that you use caution and when in doubt, please contact our office. Thank you. 

There is still time to preorder your lefse! Sold in packs of 3 rounds for $5, limit 2 packs per customer. Payment due at pickup. Lefse pre-orders can be picked up Friday, November 18th at noon, or Sunday, November 20th after worship. You can pre-order your Lefse online or by calling the office. Pre-orders are limited but don’t worry if you miss out: any extra lefse and more baked goods will be available for sale on Sunday at our…Bake Sale! 

That’s right, this year we are adding more freshly baked goodies and Norwegian treats, and bringing you a Bake Sale just in time for Thanksgiving! We’ll be in the narthex after worship on November 20th with goodies available for purchase on your way to the semi-annual meeting. Thank you so much for the great response to lefse making! It goes to show, our Nordic Bazaar might be retired, but the spirit is still strong! Thank you, Bethlehem! 

Connections Shelter is open for the season! Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22. There will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info. You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to the shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift. 

“Thank you to Bethlehem Lutheran Church for providing Lunch for-a-Buck at Crossroads Campus Ministry on Tuesday, November 1. Sally Burdick, Kathy Piehl, and Karen Sandersfeld served a mouth-watering lunch of chicken alfredo, garlic toast, and pumpkin bars to 36 hungry students. They also collected $29.35 in donations that will help us fund the continued purchase of the lettuce salad, beverages and table supplies for future lunches. Students really look forward to these weekly hot lunches to help them get through the day. In fact some students have shared that this is their ONLY meal of the day. Thank you for your generosity and ongoing support of the students and our ministry at Crossroads” -Crossroads Campus Ministry

Congratulations to our member Todd Hanselman for winning second place in the Mankato Photo Contest! His photograph, Hockey Day Minnesota on a Starry Night, will be the January calendar page in Mankato’s 2023 calendar, and it will also be on the cover of the fall/winter edition of city news! Congratulations Todd!  

Bethlehem's November Monthly Mission is Holy Grounds. A cornerstone ministry of Centenary UMC, Holy Grounds is an important resource in the community for food security and a place where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. What a wonderful way to live out the gospel call to love our neighbors as ourselves! There are many ways to help: through monetary donations, items such as underwear, tents, sleeping bags, and socks, as well as volunteering your time and talent. Our monetary goal for November is $1,500. Thank you, Bethlehem community, for your kindness and generosity! 

Happy Halloween Bethlehem! 

We had a blast at our annual Trunk or Treat event last Wednesday evening, as well as at our Halloween-Themed Youth Lock-In on Friday! Check out some of the fun pictures and great costumes. 

Thank you, Bethlehem, for an amazing commitment Sunday! For our Wednesday worshipers, we will again celebrate God's faithfulness to us as we conclude our capital campaign, and you are invited to bring your commitment card to worship on Wednesday night.  If you didn't get a chance yesterday, and can't be with us on Wednesday, you can make a commitment to eradicate our mortgage and support all the great things happening here using this online Commitment Form. Thanks, Bethlehem, for enabling us to imagine a future with hope!    

On Sunday our own Christine Schulz took some time to share her passion and expertise with the youth, with a demonstration of the organ. Christine will share her knowledge and calling again this Wednesday during NightLIGHT. 

Come check out our Saint & Sinner Showcase in Grounds for Joy. Torchlight youth are sharing art they've created after interviewing a saint earlier this fall.  Parents and NightLIGHT kids are invited to come to see them at the end of class this Wednesday. After that, the rest of the congregation can find their creations in the Grounds for Joy bookcases in time for All Saints Sunday & throughout the month of November.

Lefse is back thanks to you volunteers! We will be making lefse on Friday, November 18th at 9am in the downstairs kitchen. If you forgot to sign up, that’s okay, we may still have room for you!

Pre order your lefse today! Sold in packs of 3 rounds for $5, limit 2 packs per customer. Payment due at pickup. Lefse pre-orders can be picked up Friday, November 18th at noon, or Sunday, November 20th after worship. You can pre-order your Lefse online or by calling the office. Pre-orders are limited but don’t worry if you miss out: any extra lefse and more baked goods will be available for sale on Sunday at our…Bake Sale! 

That’s right, this year we are adding more freshly baked goodies and Norwegian treats, and bringing you a Bake Sale just in time for Thanksgiving! We’ll be in the narthex after worship on November 20th with goodies available for purchase on your way to the semi-annual meeting. 

Thank you so much for the great response to lefse making! It goes to show, our Nordic Bazaar might be retired, but the spirit is still strong! Thank you, Bethlehem! 

Connections Shelter is open for the season! Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22.

There will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info. 

You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to the shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift. 

Bethlehem will host another blood drive with the American Red Cross on Dec. 22, 2022. Our last drive was a huge success: we exceeded our goal of donating 29 units and donated a whopping 41 units! Nice work Bethlehem! We hope for another great turnout in December. 

Congratulations to our member Todd Hanselman for winning second place in the Mankato Photo Contest! His photograph, Hockey Day Minnesota on a Starry Night, will be the January calendar page in Mankato’s 2023 calendar, and it will also be on the cover of the fall/winter edition of city news! Congratulations Todd!  

Bethlehem's November Monthly Mission is Holy Grounds. A cornerstone ministry of Centenary UMC, Holy Grounds is an important resource in the community for food security and a place where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. What a wonderful way to live out the gospel call to love our neighbors as ourselves! 

There are many ways to help: through monetary donations, items such as underwear, tents, sleeping bags, and socks, as well as volunteering your time and talent. Our monetary goal for November is $1,500. Thank you, Bethlehem community, for your kindness and generosity! 

Hello Bethlehem,

Yesterday we welcomed Pastor Jacie Richmond to speak to the congregation for the first time. Check out the video of Pastor Jacie’s first talk here. Welcome Pastor Jacie! 

 Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday’s congregation-wide celebration dinner! We had a great turnout. We hope you will take a moment to view A Vision of Hope. In this video you will hear from Capital Campaign Chair, Carrol Meyers-Dobler, Information Team Chair, Bob Ihrig, and Council President, Mary Bliesmer. Learn more about the history of Bethlehem, the Capital Campaign, and why Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a Vision of Hope. View the video here!

Over the weekend Bethlehem hosted Teens Encounter Christ (TEC). We have overall 32 youth, including 5 of Bethlehem’s 9th graders.

Grab your costumes, donate some candy, and join us Wednesday, Oct. 26th from 6:45-7:45pm for a fun evening in Bethlehem’s parking lot! Our annual Halloween event has something for everyone and is open to the whole community! Trick or Treat down Trunk Alley, get your face painted, play ring toss, enjoy hot cider by the campfire, and more! Sign up here to host a trunk or donate candy! Donated candy should be dropped off in the main office by Oct. 23rd.

Bethlehem will host a Halloween-Themed Youth Lock-In for 5th-9th graders, coming up on Friday, October 28th from 7pm to midnight. There is no cost, friends are welcome! Register here by Oct. 26th. 

Lefse is back thanks to you volunteers! We will be making lefse on Friday, November 18th at 9am in the downstairs kitchen. If you forgot to sign up, that’s okay, we may still have room for you!

Pre order your lefse today! Sold in packs of 3 rounds for $5, limit 2 packs per customer. Payment due at pickup. Lefse pre-orders can be picked up Friday, November 18th at noon, or Sunday, November 20th after worship. You can pre-order your Lefse online or by calling the office. Pre-orders are limited but don’t worry if you miss out: any extra lefse and more baked goods will be available for sale on Sunday at our…Bake Sale! 

That’s right, this year we are adding more freshly baked goodies and Norwegian treats, and bringing you a Bake Sale just in time for Thanksgiving! We’ll be in the narthex after worship on November 20th with goodies available for purchase on your way to the semi-annual meeting. 

Thank you so much for the great response to lefse making! It goes to show, our Nordic Bazaar might be retired, but the spirit is still strong! Thank you, Bethlehem! 

Connections Shelter is open for the season! Some changes this year: there will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info. 

You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to the shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift. 

Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Oct. 17, Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22. Text Derek if you are interested in helping to coordinate Bethlehem’s weeks. 

Join this Wednesday, Oct. 26th for dinner and worship. We will be serving spaghetti with meatballs, salad and garlic toast!

Note: Your Congregational Services Coordinator, Molly Nelson, will be on vacation Oct. 27-30 following her wedding on Oct. 22nd. Thank you in advance for your patience during this busy and exciting time. Special thanks to the staff, volunteers and Bethlehem members filling in during her absence! 

Bethlehem's October Monthly Mission is Echo Food Shelf. Echo has been an important part of the Mankato and surrounding communities since 1981 when a group of concerned people recognized a crisis in the community and organized the collection of food in a church basement. The need for services has increased and Echo has expanded to meet the growing needs of our community. Volunteers bring food to local families who are unable to get to the food shelf and the summer feeding program fills the meal gap with many families. Many volunteer positions are available for those interested in helping Echo with their program. We have set a monetary donation goal of $3,000. We thank Bethlehem members for their commitment to our community.

Our goal is $3,000. Please give prayerfully and financially to our community. You can give online here. Thank you, Bethlehem! 

Hello Bethlehem,

Next Sunday, Oct. 23, we will welcome Pastor Jacie Richmond as she delivers her first sermon here at Bethlehem. Later that evening, from 5-7pm, we will enjoy a congregation-wide celebration dinner at the Courtyard by Marriott. See you there! 

Check out the latest installment of our Vision of Hope series. This week we heard from Chelsey Kunkel.

Connections Shelter is open for the season, and Bethlehem is signed up for this week! We are in need of a volunteer to provide a meal next Sunday, October 23rd. We know this conflicts with our celebration dinner that evening, but arranging catering is also acceptable! Interested in making it happen? Use this link. Thank you, Bethlehem!

Some changes this year: there will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info. 

You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to the shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift. 

Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Oct. 17, Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22. Text Derek if you are interested in helping to coordinate Bethlehem’s weeks. 

Due to MEA weekend, we will not be serving dinner this Wednesday, Oct. 19th. Join us the following Wednesday, Oct. 26th for dinner and worship. We will be serving spaghetti with meatballs, salad and garlic toast.

Grab your costumes, donate some candy, and join us Wednesday, Oct. 26th from 6:45-7:45pm for a fun evening in Bethlehem’s parking lot! Our annual Halloween event has something for everyone and is open to the whole community! Trick or Treat down Trunk Alley, get your face painted, play ring toss, enjoy hot cider by the campfire, and more! Sign up here to host a trunk or donate candy! Donated candy should be dropped off in the main office by Oct. 23rd.

Bethlehem will host a Halloween-Themed Youth Lock-In for 5th-9th graders, coming up on Friday, October 28th from 7pm to midnight. There is no cost, friends are welcome! Register here by Oct. 26th. 

Note: Your Congregational Services Coordinator, Molly Nelson, will be on vacation Oct. 27-30 following her wedding on Oct. 22nd. Thank you in advance for your patience during this busy and exciting time. Special thanks to the staff, volunteers and Bethlehem members filling in during her absence! 

Bethlehem's October Monthly Mission is Echo Food Shelf. Echo has been an important part of the Mankato and surrounding communities since 1981 when a group of concerned people recognized a crisis in the community and organized the collection of food in a church basement. The need for services has increased and Echo has expanded to meet the growing needs of our community. Volunteers bring food to local families who are unable to get to the food shelf and the summer feeding program fills the meal gap with many families. Many volunteer positions are available for those interested in helping Echo with their program. We have set a monetary donation goal of $3,000. We thank Bethlehem members for their commitment to our community.

Our goal is $3,000. Please give prayerfully and financially to our community. You can give online here. Thank you, Bethlehem! 

Blessing of the BLC confirmation students, Wednesday, Oct. 5th.

Hello Bethlehem,

Today is the RSVP deadline for our congregation-wide dinner at the Courtyard by Marriott on Sunday, October 23rd at 5pm. There is no cost to attend. RSVP using this form. The link to RSVP is also available on our homepage. We hope you can join us in celebrating all the great things God is doing at Bethlehem. 

Check out the latest installment of our Vision of Hope series. This week we heard from Charlie Leftridge. 

The Inspiration Team invites you to enter a time of prayer for our church and congregation as we move into a time of discernment. On Saturday, October 15th, Bethlehem will host a Prayer Vigil in the sanctuary from noon to 4pm. You can sign up for half hour increments online or at the Welcome Kiosk. There is no maximum number of participants and you can register as an individual, family, or group. You may come into the sanctuary or pray from home or wherever you feel most comfortable. 

Next Sunday ECHO Food Shelf will be presenting the adult forum on Sunday, October 16 in Grounds for Joy following the service. We want to encourage members to bring food and/or financial donations at this time. See you at the forum!

Following service, Bethlehem will also host a Covid Bivariant Vaccine Clinic with HyVee in the library from 10:45am to noon. If you wish to receive your booster, please bring your ID, insurance card, and vaccine card. 

Grab your costumes, donate some candy, and join us Wednesday, Oct. 26th from 6:45-7:45pm for a fun evening in Bethlehem’s parking lot! Our annual Halloween event has something for everyone and is open to the whole community! Trick or Treat down Trunk Alley, get your face painted, play ring toss, enjoy hot cider by the campfire, and more! Sign up here to host a trunk or donate candy! Donated candy should be dropped off in the main office by Oct. 23rd.

Connections Shelter is open for the season, and Bethlehem is signed up for the week of Oct. 17th! Some changes this year: there will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info. 

You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to Connections Shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift.  Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Oct. 17, Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22. Text Derek if you are interested in helping to coordinate Bethlehem’s weeks. 

A huge THANK YOU to all that either walked/donated to the ALS Walk! A great turnout and even a nice weather day! The Bethlehem Gait Keepers donated $1300.00! These monies help to find a cure plus helps the individuals that need help with material items. Thank you so much!!

Our hearts are with all those affected by Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Florida with near Category 5-strength winds, record rain, and catastrophic flooding. Lutheran Disaster Response works with its partners to provide immediate relief, including water, clothing, gift cards, tarps, and more. Since many hurricanes also require long-term response, Lutheran Disaster Response provides support on the long road to recovery with disaster case management, construction management, and emotional and spiritual care. Gifts to “Hurricane Response” will be used in full to assist those affected by hurricanes. Join us in supporting the ELCA in this important work; click here to donate. 

Bethlehem's October Monthly Mission is Echo Food Shelf. Echo has been an important part of the Mankato and surrounding communities since 1981 when a group of concerned people recognized a crisis in the community and organized the collection of food in a church basement. The need for services has increased and Echo has expanded to meet the growing needs of our community. Volunteers bring food to local families who are unable to get to the food shelf and the summer feeding program fills the meal gap with many families. Many volunteer positions are available for those interested in helping Echo with their program. We have set a monetary donation goal of $3,000. We thank Bethlehem members for their commitment to our community.
Our goal is $3,000. Please give prayerfully and financially to our community. You can give online here. Thank you, Bethlehem!

Happy October Bethlehem,

You are also invited to join Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the Imagine: A Vision of Hope congregational-wide dinner event at Marriott Courtyard on Sunday, October 23 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM. You’ll enjoy dinner, fellowship, and a short presentation on the campaign. No commitment will be requested at the event and there is no cost to attendees. Please RSVP by October 10th using this form. The link to RSVP is also available on our homepage. We hope you can join us in celebrating all the great things God is doing at Bethlehem. 

Check out the latest installment of our Vision of Hope series. This week we heard from the Renberg family. 

The Inspiration Team invites you to enter a time of prayer for our church and congregation as we move into a time of discernment. On Saturday, October 15th, Bethlehem will host a Prayer Vigil in the sanctuary from noon to 4pm. You can sign up for half hour increments online or at the Welcome Kiosk. There is no maximum number of participants and you can register as an individual, family, or group. You may come into the sanctuary or pray from home or wherever you feel most comfortable. 

Connections Shelter is open for the season, and Bethlehem is signed up for the week of Oct. 17th! Some changes this year: there will be no morning shifts and only meal providers and servers are needed. Meals will be served daily from 5:45-7:30pm. Grocery donations will be needed for our weeks and a wish list will be sent out the weekend before the week starts. There is also an afternoon cleaning session once a week. Call or text Derek at 210-863-4202 for more info. 

You can sign up to prepare food and bring it to the shelter, sign up just to serve the meal, or do both. We serve up to 35 guests every evening. If that number changes, we will notify you beforehand. Sign up here for a meal shift. 

Bethlehem is signed up for the following weeks: Oct. 17, Dec. 5, Jan. 23, Mar 20, May 22. Text Derek if you are interested in helping to coordinate Bethlehem’s weeks. 

Our hearts are with all those affected by Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Florida with near Category 5-strength winds, record rain, and catastrophic flooding. Lutheran Disaster Response works with its partners to provide immediate relief, including water, clothing, gift cards, tarps, and more. Since many hurricanes also require long-term response, Lutheran Disaster Response provides support on the long road to recovery with disaster case management, construction management, and emotional and spiritual care. Gifts to “Hurricane Response” will be used in full to assist those affected by hurricanes. Join us in supporting the ELCA in this important work; click here to donate. 

Groups are gathering once again! Bethlehem is blessed with many wonderful opportunities to connect with one another and grow our faith. Here’s a quick look at some of our groups and what they have to offer: 

• BLC Men: The mission of our BLC Men’s Group is to grow closer to God as we grow closer to one another. BLC Men’s Fall Events will include serving Lunch for a Buck at Crossroads Lutheran Campus Ministry on Oct. 4, Rake the Town on Nov. 12 with Bethlehem Youth, and the 3rd Annual BLC Men’s Bowling Championship on Dec. 1. 

• Book of Faith: this group meets each Wednesday morning at 10:30am in Grounds for Joy to open Scripture and join in conversation. This fall will focus on Jeremiah and Lamentations. Cost of the 8-session book is $12. There is no need to sign up in advance, but feel free to register online. 

• Life in the Spirit: this long-standing Bethlehem group meets on the second Thursday of each month to learn and develop classic Christian practices like contemplative prayer. Meetings take place at 6:30pm and there is no need to sign up in advance. 

• Meet and Eat! We’re forming a new group on a familiar idea. Three BLC couples/individuals will be matched up and set up three different get togethers over a meal, each hosted by a member of the group. Have these three “eats and meets” before Jan. 1 and we will pair you up with a new group after the holidays! Sign up here to participate. 

• Tuesday Morning Lectionary Study: Each week a group of Bethlehem members and friends gathers online at 7am to study and discuss the coming week’s preaching text. If you are interested in participating, use this Zoom link to join in.

• Women of the ELCA: The Bethlehem Women of the ELCA (BWELCA) is a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world. The Circles that make up BWELCA include: 

Deborah Circle: meets 10am third Saturday of the month in Grounds for Joy

Rachel Circle: meets 9am second Tuesday in the Library

Sarah Circle: meets 9am on the fourth Wednesday of each month

Eve Circle: meets 6:30pm on the third Monday of each month

Interested in joining a musical group here at Bethlehem? Learn more about our musical opportunities on our website and contact Charlie Leftridge at cleftridge@blcmankato.org  to join us in making joyful noise! 

Bethlehem's October Monthly Mission is Echo Food Shelf. Echo has been an important part of the Mankato and surrounding communities since 1981 when a group of concerned people recognized a crisis in the community and organized the collection of food in a church basement. The need for services has increased and Echo has expanded to meet the growing needs of our community. Volunteers bring food to local families who are unable to get to the food shelf and the summer feeding program fills the meal gap with many families. Many volunteer positions are available for those interested in helping Echo with their program. We have set a monetary donation goal of $3,000. We thank Bethlehem members for their commitment to our community.

Our goal is $3,000. Please give prayerfully and financially to our community. You can give online here. Thank you, Bethlehem! 

REMINDERS: 

• Fall is in full-swing! Check out the calendar to see the latest music, worship, and event schedules. Volunteers can now reference our serving schedules online!