Hello Bethlehem,
Thank you to the BLC Men and the youth for helping to Rake the Town on Saturday! Also over the weekend we held our 2nd Annual Women’s Event, with Fair Trade shopping, lefse, inspirational speaker, Darla Makela, and entertainment by the “Desperate Housewives.” Thanks to all who attended, decorated a table, volunteered and organized!
semi-annual meeting
Sunday, November 17: Semi-Annual Meeting - Dining Room. We need a quorum of 75 members to approve the 2025 budget & other agenda business, so please attend if you are able. The agenda and Council/boards/committees goals & activities report are available here, on the BLC website.
family faith formation
We are looking for 20 adults who would like to correspond with LIGHT & NightLIGHT kids as they share crafts they make during education at BLC. We would like the adults and kids to correspond roughly once a month Dec.-May. Please contact Anna or Kaitlin if you are interested.
There is no NightLIGHT Nov. 20 or 27. Kids are invited to attend the Rachel Kurtz concert in the sanctuary from 6:15-7:45 pm instead. The nursery will still be available.
announcements
Bethlehem members are welcomed to join in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association’s (LPNA) bi-monthly meetings, held here at Bethlehem. Meetings begin at 6:30pm in Grounds for Joy. Upcoming meetings are November 18th and January 20th.
Bethlehem is signed up to provide meals at Connections Shelter on December 5, 6, 7 and 8. Can you help? Please sign up online.
The Community and Global Missions Board will be hosting a drive to collect Period Products for women served at Crossroads Campus Cupboard. During the month of November, Bethlehem members are invited to drop off menstrual products - especially pads - in the metal basket located in the Narthex. Many thanks for helping to address this critical need of women in our community.
Thank you for turning in your pledge cards! If you have not had a chance yet, please drop off your paper copy in the office or feel free to complete the online pledge form.
Join us for Wednesday night suppers, served at 5:00pm in the lower level. Offering is accepted but the meal is free. All are welcome. This week we’re serving hamburger goulash with salad and rolls.
Join us for lefse making on Friday, November 22 at 9am. Join us for coffee and goodies as we roll out this delicious Nordic treat. Please contact Ginger Erlandson either by texting 507-380-5268 or email rerlandson2@gmail.com. Lefse pre-orders are now open! Pre-order now to pick up on the 22nd or at church on Sunday the 24th, just in time for fresh Thanksgiving lefse! Any leftovers not claimed in the presale will also be available for purchase after worship on Sunday the 24th.
VIGIL of PRAYER & LISTENING – final 2024 session, November 21, 7-8 PM, St. John the Baptist, Mankato School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato and North Mankato, together with SSND Associates, welcome you to join them for this hour-long gathering of “Prayer and Listening.” Given the realities of our country and world, enter the quiet, let your mind rest, and center in God with people of any faith tradition in the Mankato area. The method is simple: prayer and listening to each other and the Spirit. The final session in 2024 will be Thursday, November 21, 7:00-8:00 PM, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 632 S Broad St. No registration necessary. Bring a friend and come as you are.
ELCA SURVEY
Our congregation has the unique opportunity to participate in a national study of worship attenders. The study is being conducted by Faith Communities Today (FACT), a research partner of the ELCA. Since 2000, FACT has conducted research that provides religious leaders of all traditions with critical information about the changing nature of congregational life and how to respond effectively. For participating in this survey, our congregation will receive a $200 Amazon gift card and, if at least 10 people respond, a report of our responses.
Anyone 18 or older who is a regular participant can complete the survey. It should take between 12 to 15 minutes. To take the survey, please click this link. Please complete the survey by Friday, Nov. 22. If you are interested in learning more about this study, please visit: https://www.covidreligionresearch.org/attender-survey/
Thank you
“We are now past the midway point of Fall Term as we continue welcoming students through the doors of Crossroads! 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, November 5th, faithful servants Jan Blaisdell, Kathy Piehl, Sue Larsen, and Susan Brown, prepared and/or served a tasty lunch of chicken enchiladas and cheese & onion enchiladas over rice, garlic bread, and homemade bars to 39 hungry lunch-goers. They also collected $38.00 in donations that will be used to purchase the salad supplies, beverages, dinnerware, and other items for lunches during the school year. God bless you for your generosity and for supporting the students and our ministry at Crossroads. We look forward to seeing you again on Tuesday, December 3rd as we continue feeding the Lord's sheep. We couldn't do this without you!”
-Our friends at Crossroads Campus Ministry
Monthly Mission: THe reach youth resource center
Our November Monthly Mission is the REACH Youth Resource Center, a program of Lutheran Social Services. Located on the Liberty Street side of the Bethlehem campus, the REACH assists area unhoused and at-risk youth ages 16-24. Since opening in 2011, they have served over 5,500 youth by providing basic necessities, housing and shelter options, assistance with employment, access to support and education, and opportunities for recreational activities. The REACH has served 33,600 meals. Referrals are up 15% and the needs of our area youth continue to rise. Your financial support provides youth with the resources they need to live productive, healthy, and independent lives. You can give online or drop off a check written out to Bethlehem with the monthly mission in the memo line.
This Week in our Prayers
Curt Halvorson Marian Mallory Pete Wachtel
Anna Moses Barb Girtz Royce Elker
Joan Stoffel Paul Haugesag Amy Grams Haugesag
Wally Boyer Al Rossow Maxine Wagner
Gatchang Duach Donna Quick
Our Savior’s Lutheran in Kiester Faith Lutheran in Delavan
Sudanese Anyuak Community at Our Savior’s Lutheran in Austin Pulroaa Lutheran Parish in South Sudan
Mazoezi Songambele Lutheran in Tanzania Kisonga Lutheran in Tanzania
