August Newsletter

The Bethlehem Star

Volume 6, Issue 8 August 2008

Farewell Festival for Intern Paul

Bethlehem and St. Mark’s will celebrate a joint festival farewell worship for Intern Paul Amlin and family on Sunday, August 10 at 9:30 at St. Mark’s Lutheran. Following worship there will be a continental brunch in the dining room at St. Mark’s. A sign-up list will be posted on the bulletin board for people to contribute items for the brunch. The congregation councils of both churches will be presenting a farewell gift to Intern Paul. There will also be a basket available Sunday, August 10 at St. Mark’s if individuals care to share a greeting or gift. Intern Paul officially completes his work at Bethlehem and St. Mark’s on August 10.

Saying Farewell to an Intern

Saying farewell to an intern is not unlike saying goodbye to a pastor. After an intern’s year of internship is done, an intern’s ministry is completed. It is inappropriate to ask the intern to perform any pastoral duties for you or your family (such as participation in weddings, baptisms, or funerals). This is for the good of the intern and future interns. Although Bethlehem and St. Mark’s will not have an intern for the next school year, if we did, it would be the new intern’s opportunity for ministry without comparison to the former. Interns return to school for a final year that is busy and full, not only with classes but also with preparation for synod assignment. Interns simply do not have time to be engaged in the life of their internship congregation. It is also a rule that interns generally are never candidates for call to congregations in which they have interned. So when the intern leaves a congregation following internship, he or she really leaves.

Interns, like former pastors are invited back for special congregational events. Members can share greetings with interns at holidays and special events. If persons know that they will be in Dubuque and call ahead, Intern Paul or Lorice may be available to give brief tours of the seminary.

http://bethlehem.mylutheran.org/

Check out Bethlehem’s website above and pass the address on to family and friends where they can see what activities are happening and even listen to Sunday’s sermon.

You Are Invited

to the Installation of

The Rev. Michael Burk

as Bishop of the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Saturday, September 6, 2008

12:00 Noon

At St. Pius Roman Catholic Church,

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The installation of a Bishop is a grand and moving event. Persons who are interested in attending but do not wish to drive there alone or would like to carpool can talk with Pastor or Barb and we will try to get several cars full arranged.

Notice of Special Congregational Meeting

Sunday, August 17

Immediately following Worship

(approximately 10:30 a.m.)

The purpose of the meeting is to vote on the 2008-2009 Mission Endowment Budget. The proposed budget is found on the last page in this issue of The Star.

College Scholarships

Scholarship applications for all Bethlehem college students are available in the church office. All students enrolled in the 2008 - 2009 school term must complete an application and return it to the office on or before August 1, 2008. Students must be confirmed members of Bethlehem and must maintain academic eligibility. Scholarship money will be sent directly to your college at the beginning of each semester.

Note to those who will be high school seniors during 2008-9 – if you anticipate that you might graduate early and begin college during the 2008 – 2009 term, you should apply for a scholarship before August 2008.

Leave Taking with Gratitude…

Intern Paul Amlin

It's hard to believe that a year has nearly passed since I began my internship with Bethlehem and St. Mark's Lutheran Churches. I recall the first Sunday that my family and I worshipped with all of you and I recall the warmth with which you received us as a part of your extended church family. I still feel that same warmth as I have conversations with you following worship or as we meet at other times during the week. This warmth of welcoming will continue to serve you well as new worship guests join your ranks in the months and years to come.

During our internship briefing, our professors and contextual education staff members told us that one of the most difficult things would be our leave-taking at the end of internship. I can confirm that it is a difficult piece of my internship year and one that is being undertaken with the utmost respect and personal regard for the people of Lost Nation and Oxford Junction.

Lorice, Taylor, Uncle Stevie and I would like to extend to each of you our gratitude for all you have done to support us during the past year. We thank you for your kindness, for your gifts, your prayers, your support of all kinds, and your prayers as we move forward in the process of candidacy.

You are officially invited to mark your calendars for Sunday, May 17, 2009 which is set as the day I will graduate from seminary. You should all know that my internship with you has helped to shape who I am and will be as a pastor in Christ's church. Your ministry to and with me will carry far beyond the walls of these churches and into the lives and churches as yet to be revealed in years to come. Each time I call on a shut-in with communion, each time I preach in worship, each time I teach confirmation or a Bible study, there you will be with me.

It takes visionary leadership and a Spirit driven congregation to commit to helping the church to raise up leaders. You may count yourselves among these special folk now, and perhaps one day soon you will have another among you who will go to seminary, or perhaps you will have the chance to walk with another intern. Once again, I thank you for your commitment, your help, and your walk with me toward ordained ministry.

May God's face shine on you and may you be filled with the love of Christ now and always.

Intern Paul, Lorice, and Taylor Amlin, Uncle Stevie

Lightning Strikes Tree

It was another one of those summer thunderstorms so common this year. There was a hard rain for a while with some nasty weather north of Lost Nation and more south of Lost Nation, but nothing too unusual in town. However, from inside the church folks heard a tremendous “pop.” When visiting Pauline Schoop, she commented to Pastor that she had been looking out the window and had seen a very brilliant flash close by. It wasn’t until an hour later that Pastor wondered where all the bark came from in the parsonage front yard. Looking up he noted bark had been split off from the top to the bottom. Council members made arrangements through Bethlehem’s insurance company to have the tree removed the next day for safety reasons.

In consultation with the tree man and the insurance company, it may be decided that the other tree should also be removed for safety reasons. Anyone having stories or memories of those trees being planted is invited to write them down or share them with pastor.

Council Meets

Bethlehem Council met for its regular monthly meeting on July 8. In business they:

Learned that expected commitments and gifts to the Internship Account and expected liabilities were going to come out very close, but if there were obligations that were not met by contributions, money from the farm account could be used to meet the obligations if necessary;

In response to questions and concerns brought to the attention of Council members from others regarding Bethlehem’s Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) in light of recent failures of financial institutions and the fact that BLC’s investments exceed the amount covered by the FDIC, Council President reported that since the inception of the MEF, and the deposit of those funds at First Trust and Savings Bank (FTSB), FTSB has provided a special policy with an independent insurer of funds, at FTSB’s expense

heard the following Treasurer’s report:

Balance 5/31/08 -$111.35

June Income +9587.67

May Expenses - 9085.16

Balance 5/31/08 $391.17

Worship Notes

Holy Communion in August

Holy Communion will be celebrated on August 17 and August 24 at Bethlehem because Pastor’s vacation schedule and the fact that there will not be worship on August 10 at Bethlehem.

What’s With the Wine?

Bethlehem considered purchasing local wines for Holy Communion. Purchasing local is part of the “green’ movement to help reduce the carbon footprint we all leave. Wine purchased from large corporate vintners probably has criss-crossed the country in trucks many times the distance from where the grapes were grown to our place.

A couple of local wines were purchased and sampled. One was more popular than the other, but pastor has a hard time “wasting” even the less popular variety, so it will take a few weeks to get used up.

No worship will be held at Bethlehem on August 10. There will be worship with St. Mark’s at St. Mark’s on August 10 at 9:30. We will celebrate our ministries together and bid farewell to Intern Paul.

Sunday, August 10 Same Time! Different Place!

Barb's Article

I love having my grandchildren in our home. Maddie's gentle voice rings out throughout the house, "Grandma, where are you?" "Grandma, come look at this." "Grandma, would you help me?" "Grandma, can I have something to drink?" "Grandma, would you color with me?” "Grandma, can we go outside to see the kitties."

As Spencer is getting older, I can hear his voice, too – the fussing that says, "I am bored. Could you pick me up;" the crying that means, "I am hungry, right now;" and the fun screeches that just let you know he is around. It does make it difficult to get anything done that requires any amount of time. But the voices are welcome, nonetheless.

How much God must love to hear all our voices ringing out as well! God must be pleased as we seek his attention. "God, I need to tell you something." "God, watch me." "God, could you help me with this?" "God look at what I just did." "God, listen to my song." I bet God
particularly delights in hearing us say, "God, thank you." "God, I love you."

Even though God must be incredibly busy, I don't think God minds the interruptions at all. I think God loves to hear from us at all times, no matter what the circumstances. God didn't create us just so that he could sit and admire us. More than anything God wants us to be in
a relationship, one where we continuously call out God's name becausewe want God's attention; we need God; and we love God.

Sunday Schedule

Worship 9:30 a.m.

Fellowship time following.

Office Hours

Pastor Keith is in the office most mornings

Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – Noon

and Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Intern Pastor Paul is in the office most mornings Wednesday – Friday 9:00 a.m. - Noon

If you need to enter the church and do not have a key, always call ahead to be certain he or someone is here.