The Bethlehem Star
Volume 7, Issue 10 October 2008
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Fall Mission Support Gathering
The Southeastern Iowa Synod is hosting a series Mission Support Gatherings across the synod including one at Faith Lutheran, Eldridge on Tuesday, October 14 at 6:30 p.m. These events are for all Council members, officers of organizations and other congregation members. A highlight this year will be the opportunity for many to meet newly 
elected and installed Bishop Burke who will share thoughts about mission and stewardship in the church. People interested in attending and carpooling should contact the office or Council President Joan Kleppe.
(Council members should note that the regular monthly Council meeting is one week early on October 7, so all can attend the event at Faith.)
News from theBethlehem Mission Endowment Committee
· The current value of the Endowment Certificate of Deposit is $727,438.00.
· The Committee has donated $500.00 to Lutheran Services in Iowa to help with flood relief efforts in Iowa. This from the Mission Endowment discretionary funds.
· The Committee has authorized donating up to $350.00 to match contributions to the CROP Walk. This will be taken from the discretionary funds. (See later article about the Walk.)
· The committee received word from Global Health Ministries (GMH) that their shipping costs have increased by 50%. GMH is in the Bethlehem Mission Endowment Budget to receive $1500.00 this year, which will be designated to help with shipping costs. This dovetails with a Southeastern Iowa Synod project to ship a container of medical supplies to our companion Pare Diocese in Tanzania to help furnish and supply a hospital there.
Fall Opportunities to Serve/Help Others
CROP Walk
Sunday, October 5 at 1:00 p.m.
Wheatland
Walkers of all ages are needed to raise money for hunger in the world and community. Sign up in the office. The local portion of the funds raise supports the Carroll Assistance Center in Wheatland.
Persons may donate to the walk by
1. placing checks or gifts designated for “CROP” in the regular Sunday offering,
2. placing checks or gifts designated for “CROP” in the fellowship offering basket,
3. contributing to CROP with donations to people who walk in the CROP Walk.
Note that donations received via 1 and 2 will be matched up to $350.00
Treat the Pantries
We will “Treat the Pantries” on October 19 with a special noisy offering. Along with coins, make out a check payable to Bethlehem designated for “Treat the Pantries.”
If you forget that Sunday, put a check in the regular offering anytime during October.
The West Clinton County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans annually sponsors this Care Abounds in Communities project in the ten congregations of the chapter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans adds $800.00 to the amount collected. The money will be split between the four food pantries serving the area, including the Lost Nation Food Pantry.
VNA Flu Clinic
Wednesday, October 29
12:45 – 2:00 p.m.
At Bethlehem
Book Club to Discuss The Shack
AIM Barb Tobiason will lead a discussion of The Shack on October 14 at 6:30 p.m. The best-selling book by William Young has created a buzz among Christians and non-Christians alike. It is a fictional account of a man whose young daughter was brutally murdered, and then finds a note from God in his mailbox. “What happens next will move you to a greater understanding of God’s unfailing love for us all,” said the book’s review. If you have questions or need help finding the book see Pat Hendrickson.
Council Meets
Bethlehem Congregation council met for its regular meeting on September 9. In business they:
- Decided not to order a subscription of bulletin covers;
- Updated the Memorial suggestion list;
- Nominated people to serve on a faith formation (Christian education) committee;
- Agreed to dispose of two extra pews;
- Decided to continue purchasing Mogen David wine rather than purchase from local vineyards;
- Heard the following Treasurer’s Report:
Balance 7/31/08 543.23
August Income 7192.93
August Expenses 6463.15
Balance 8/3/08 1273.01
October Birthdays
3 Lynda Humphreys
7 KC Barnett
7 Madge White
13 Lorice Amlin
21 Brennan Hicks, Kristy Becker
22 Eleanor Sheldon
23 Lilly Keller
26 Sue Zeller
29 Jenn Dettbarn
31 Tracy Kleppe, Ruger Hute
October Anniversaries
5 Leta and Cornell Dunt
6 Evelyn and Elmer Petersen
14 Eleanor and Ed Sheldon
14 Kelly and Scott Doll
19 Betty and Don Hainstock
21 Stephanie and Matt Dosland
BWELCA Hilites
Hope Cluster Fall Retreat: 20 women from our cluster 9 of which were from Bethlehem gathered at the Owl’s nest for a relaxing seminar on Connecting with the Creativity of God. Led by our wonderful threesome – Pastors Donnita, Lisa and Lynn. Friday evening was a time to let our creativeness go as we enjoyed our hand at painting. The rainy evening prevented the usual campfire, but we enjoyed the fellowship as we tied fleece quilts as well as visiting with a friendly face from the past, Sandy McAvan.
Saturday brought breakfast supplied by Bethlehem, and the morning session we started with different ways we can pray for people with the use of paper, colors, markers and our creativeness in a design or they also had different types of mandales that we could use as a guide. We then had an hour to reflect on our own personal prays and creative coloring, then a scrumptious dump soup was served for lunch. After lunch, we then concluded the weekend with communion.
Reminder: Please give circle hostesses, leaders and officers for next year to Madge for the booklet.
Stamp Out Poverty: One Cell Phone at a Time
World Poverty Day on October 17 is an opportunity to focus on the world’s attention to those living in poverty – acknowledge their struggle, hear their voices, and demonstrate our solidarity. Between now and World Poverty Day, the Women’s Funding Network is embarking with the Good Deed Foundation on a “One Simple Act” campaign to recycle old and used cell phones to raise critical funds that will be invested in accelerating sustainable solutions that move those most vulnerable – women and children – toward economic security.
With one simple act, you can create lasting solutions for women and families in poverty.
There will be a box for your cell phones in the back of church or feel free to contact any confirmation student to get your cell phone to the church.
Hidden Hand of God
Ruth: The Journey Begins
October Circle Meetings
Rebecca – Wed. Oct. 8 at 1:30 p.m. at Marge
Long’s with Betty Rehmke as Leader
Eve – Thurs. Oct. 9 at 7:00 p.m., Elenor Bentrott’s
with Deanne Bennett as Leader
Bethlehem – Sat. Oct. 11 at 9:00 a.m. in the conference room with Marlene Hicks as Leader/Hostess
Note from Barb:
I think almost everyone has a particular food or dish that they consider comfort food – that food you want when, for one emotional reason or another, you need a special touch of home and family. The food that fills the requirement of comfort food for our family is just about as far from a delicacy or as far from gourmet as you can get.
For Kim and Kyle and I, our go-to meal for comfort has always been, oddly, I admit - tuna casserole. I have no idea how tuna casserole came to be of such importance in our family. It just did. Whenever one of the kid's would be sick, as soon as they felt like eating, they craved tuna casserole. If they had had a particularly tough day at school, tuna casserole rescued the day. When they would come home for a visit from college, they almost always requested tuna casserole. Much to Ryan's chagrin, one of the first birthday supper requests he had from Kim was tuna casserole.
My children made certain I was well-cared for after surgery. Kim was visiting when I came home from the hospital, so my first meal at home was tuna casserole. Later on in the week, Kyle and Melinda and Maddie came out to fix supper for me and Kyle wanted to fix tuna casserole. Tuna casserole is like an edible hug from one member of our family to another.
God blesses us with the ultimate in comfort food – the Eucharist. Like simple comfort food, bread and communion wine are not, in and of themselves, particularly considered an epicurean delight. In fact, the significance of bread and wine is that they are very basic, very natural, foods. What exalts bread and wine, is that Jesus Christ is intrinsically woven in and around them.
The Eucharist is the comfort food that we share as a church family – all family of all times and places. Whenever we need a serving of reassurance or whenever we want a special celebratory meal, we have it in the body and blood, of Christ. Whether we are attending our weekly worship or worshipping in a different church or coming back to worship after being gone, the Eucharist always says, "Welcome home." Like the particular comfort food that many families serve at special times, the bread and wine are an "edible hug" from God in Christ Jesus.
Worship in October
Celebrating the Rite of Confirmation
Sunday, October 28
9:00 a.m.
Worship Assistants/ Sunday Servants
Greeters: Clay Ketchum, Lorraine Wulf
Ushers: Tom Gerdes, Pat Hendrickson
Lectors
5- Joan Clapp
12- Pat Hendrickson
19- Tim Thiede
26- Jone Paarmann
Communion Servers:
5- Deanne Bennett, Matt Gerdes
19- Ron Christiansen, Elenor Bentrott
26- Tim Thiede
Acolytes:
5- Corynn Bennett
12- Emily Horst
19- Dylan Rickels
26- Jo Thiede
Altar Care: Deanne Bennett, Kelly Doll
Bread Maker: Deanne Bennett
Tellers: Pat Hendrickson, Jone Paarmann
Fellowship Servers:
5- Wilma Adrian, Kathy Becker, Joan Clapp
12- Rochelle Busch, Betty Hainstock, Marlene Hicks
19- Elenor Bentrott, Lola Berner, Lola DeMoss
26- Joyce Feuss, Darla Fields, Kathy Duffey, Donna Dosland
Pastor Keith Larson
Office Phone 678-2301
Home Phone 678-2303
E-mail keith.larson@ecunet.org
or pastor@bethlehem.mylutheran.org
Pastoral Associate Barb Tobiason
Office Phone 826-2761
Home Phone 319-465-3124
AIM@bethlehem.mylutheran.org
Office Secretary Deanne Bennett
Church Phone 678-2301
secretary@bethlehem.mylutheran.org
Parish Nurse Carm Schneider
Office Hours 9:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
Phone 678-2302
Sunday Schedule
Worship 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School and Fellowship 10:00 a.m..
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.
If you need to enter the church and do not have a key, always call ahead to be certain he or someone is here.
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