The BethlehemStar - February

The Bethlehem Star
Volume 8, Issue 2 February 2009


Season of Lights

The Time after Epiphany is a period of relative calm between the great Christian festival seasons of Advent – Christmas and Lent – Easter. This “green” season is when we consider how Jesus and Jesus’ followers reveal, make known, or show God to the world. In the beginning God proclaimed, “Let there be light,” and light and life came into being. At Christmas, we say that Jesus was ‘the true light coming into the world.” During this time after Epiphany, we consider how we as followers of Jesus spread that light to the whole world. Our Christmas tree has become a tree of lights reminding us that we carry the light of Christ to the world.

Our Sunday lessons are full of many stories of Jesus’ healing reminding us the church is called to be a healing presence in the world. On February 8, we will have special prayers for healing for any who desire and we will have special prayers of blessing for all who work in areas of healing and health.

All seasons of our church year begin and end with festivals. We began this season after Epiphany by remembering the Baptism of Our Lord on January 11. The season ends with the Transfiguration of Our Lord on February 22. Holy Communion is celebrated on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, February 1 and 15 and on the festival of the Transfiguration, February 22.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 25.


Ash Wednesday Worship
Wednesday, February 25
at Bethlehem 10:30 a.m.
at St. Mark, Oxford Junction 7:00 p.m.


Annual Giving Statements

Annual giving statements from Bethlehem’s
Financial Secretary are included in this month’s Star. These might be important tax documents for some members. Be sure to treat them appropriately.

Annual Meeting News

Bethlehem held its Annual Congregation Meeting on January 18. In business:
• Clay Ketchum, John Alden and Brent Ihns were elected to 3-year terms on the Congregation Council.
• Herold Rehmke and Marlene Hicks were re-elected to three-year terms on the Mission Endowment Committee.
• An annual budget of $99,165 was adopted.
• Pastor reported the following statistics:
Baptized Confirmed
Membership, Dec 31, 2007 265 184
Membership Received
Baptisms 8 0
Affirmation of Faith 4 4
Transfers 9 6
Total Received +21 +10
Baptized youth confirmed +2
Membership Removed
By death 0 0
By transfer to ELCA 2 2
By transfer to non-ELCA 1 1
Total Removed -3 -3
Membership, Dec 31, 2008 283 193

Council Elects Officers

The new Bethlehem Congregation Council met following the Congregation Meeting. The following officers of the Council and Congregation were elected: Brent Ihns – President; Dale Rickels – Vice President; Lynda Humphreys – Secretary; Scott Doll – Treasurer.

Friendship Party

Bethlehem’s annual Friendship Party will be held Sunday, February 15 at 5:30 at church. Invite some friends and join in the food, fun and fellowship. Sign up on the list on the bulletin board at the church entrance, or phone the office at 678-2301 to let planners know you are coming and to furnish food items.


Dining Room Rehab Begins

Workers began removing paneling from the north and south dining room walls in the church basement. In January, the Council authorized the re-plastering and painting of those walls. After removal of the paneling, it was concluded the walls were too bowed and irregular for plastering. Instead, sheetrock will be applied over furring strips after the wall is waterproofed. Much work can be done during the week so the room can be used on Sundays.

Summer Camp Planning Already!

Brochures and registration forms for EWALU Bible Camp summer programs have arrived in the office. It’s not too early to register. Lowest rates are in effect until March 1.




Worship Assistants and Weekly Servants

Greeters: Don Busch, Eleanor Sheldon
Ushers: Diana Ihns, Roger Kleppe
Lectors
1- Jone Paarmann
8- Jessica Ihns
15- Connie Kleppe
22- Clay Ketchum
Communion Servers:
1- Rochelle Busch, Marlene Hicks
15- Enos Ihns, Joan Kleppe
22- Darrel Hicks, Ron Christiansen
Acolytes:
1- Courtney Current
8- Noah Zeller
15- Ben Geerts
22- Corynn Bennett
Altar Care: Lola DeMoss, Sue Zeller
Bread Maker: Ellen Pithan
Tellers: Pat Hendrickson, Jone Paarmann
Fellowship Servers:
1- Joyce Feuss, Darla Fields, Kathy Duffey,
Donna Dosland
8- Diana Ihns, Becky Petersen, Marcia Kleinsmith
15- No Fellowship - Friendship Party preparation
22- Connie Kleppe, Joan Kleppe, Lynda
Humphreys, Jill Suthers

Congregation Together in Mission 2009
Saturday, March 14
8:30 – 4:00
First Lutheran, Cedar Rapids

This annual resource event for church leaders has over 50 workshops on Christian education topics, curriculum, social ministry opportunities, prayer, worship, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, racism, Pare diocese, and for congregational officers. The event includes keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Stephan Bouman, ELCA Director for Evangelical Outreach and congregational Mission. Participants can choose up to 3 workshops and the day ends with worship. Cost is $20 per person (including lunch.) Register by February 22. Registration materials are in the conference room or talk to Pastor.

Note from Barb:

Lights are out on Broadway. Every night, on the six o'clock news, we hear a new list of businesses, in our state and country, which are closing due to financial hardships. It can be disheartening, even numbing. The other night on the worldwide news, the newscasters announced that half the Broadway shows had shut down permanently. Film footage showed huge boxes of scenery being carted away.

The announcement about Broadway saddened me. I have no special affinity for plays; I've never been to New York. But it seems that the fact that half the shows closed means that some of the joy is gone from peoples' lives. One expendable thing, in tough times, is the entertainment portion of our budgets.

Enjoyment is important, and we need to make a conscientious effort at having fun, in spite of hard times. I remember my mother telling me that the way they got through the depression was by facing it together. They were determined not to let the depression rob them of everything, so they made certain that having a good time was a priority in their lives. They couldn't afford to buy their fun; but, together with family and friends, they made their own fun.

We can discover and re-discover having fun in different ways. This would be a great time to organize old family photos. Involve the whole family – nothing says hilarity like looking at Dad in a leisure suit or Mom in a bouffant hairdo. Break out some of the old board games from the closet where they have been since the advent of video games. Have card tournaments, maybe a poker tournament, using little candy hearts, available this time of year, instead of poker chips. Invite neighbors over for a "clean out your refrigerator" dinner, with everyone contributing something that they have on hand. Have a "movie night" with friends, asking everyone to bring a favorite DVD that they already have. Make it a theme night – westerns, romances, suspense.

Above all, remember the One who offers us true and lasting comfort and joy. Jesus Christ is in control, even when we aren't. Christ is our constant, our rock, our very real help in all times. Tough times – Christ has seen them all. Over and over Christ has walked with us, through turbulence, and we always end up on the other side, together.

Broadway may have lost some of the lights that define it as "The Great White Way." But we have the Light that the darkness can never overcome.


Confirmation News

Confirmation students have begun their examination of the New Testament to complete their study of the Bible. We are studying the Gospels and the various aspects of who Jesus is; the Letters of Paul; and Revelation. It is very interesting to read the students' sermon notes, which help Pastor and Barb to be accountable as preachers. We remind students to continue to take sermon notes, on Sundays and at weekday Lenten services. Twenty sermon notes a year for two years, are required.

February Anniversaries

8 Joan and Bruce Von Sprecken
23 Lola and Clifford Berner
27 Darlene and Ron Christiansen


February Birthdays

1 Robert Beeck
5 Jim Barnette
6 Pat Hansen
8 Ryne Gruenwald, AJ Schroeder
9 Betty Rehmke
11 Ed Sheldon
12 Lorraine Wulf, Corynn Bennett
13 Darla Fields, Callie Petersen
15 Ruby Ketchum
22 Jenna Holtz
23 Becky Ihns-Petersen
25 Carol Christensen, Ethel Burmeister
26 Clay Ketchum
28 Margaret Betle


Bethlehem Lutheran Church
403 Pleasant Street
Lost Nation, Iowa 52254










February 2009
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. Tues
Phone 678-2302


Sunday Schedule

Worship 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School/ 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.