The Bethlehem Star
Worship in November
As one Christian Church year ends, and a new one begins, the focus is on judgment and the end of time. The year ends November 22 when we celebrate the Festival of
Christ the King – the King who sits at the right hand of God in eternity, as well as the King who reigns from the cross. Some thing special happens each Sunday. See articles below.
Thank Offering Service
Women of the ELCA Thank Offering Service is November 8. Bethlehem Women of the ELCA participate in worship and all women are invited to bring their Thank offerings from the year. Women are given thank offering boxes each year so set in an appropriate place in their home where they can remember to drop in coins and bills on occasions during the year when they are genuinely thankful for something.
Thanksgiving Eve Worship
Thanksgiving Eve worship will be at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25. Holy Communion will be celebrated.
If you are leaving town early, and wish to worship prior to Thanksgiving Day, community Thanksgiving worship is held in Wheatland on Sunday evening, November 22 and in Oxford Junction on Tuesday, November 24 and Union Presbyterian is having worship on Monday evening, November 23. There will also be materials for home worship activities related to Thanksgiving. These will be on the table at the church entrance.
Angels Available
The Lost Nation Area Food Pantry is again offering local residents in need of assistance the chance to sign their children up to receive angel tree" gifts. They will provide information about their child/ children's age, size and Christmas "wishes." Persons from area churches and from the community who wish to choose an angel will receive that information to help them buy one gift in $15 - $20 range. Angels will be available November 22 and need to be returned to church by December 6. Gifts are not to be wrapped, but you may donate gift bags or wrapping paper.
Bethlehem, Bagels and Blessings
We will inaugurate a new event on Sunday, November 15 at 10:00 a.m. – Bethlehem, Bagels and Blessings. In addition to normal fellowship fare we will have a selection of bagels and spreads (well what else goes with Bethlehem and Blessings? - Beets? Broccoli?) In small groups, we will share some of the blessings of being a part of Bethlehem, look briefly at some of the needs for the upcoming year and will be provided forms to make commitments of our time, talents and finances. We invite persons to return those commitments on Sunday, November 29.
Celebrating Long-time Faithful Servants
We will honor two lifetime servants of God on Sunday, November 29 – Joan Clapp and Pauline Schoop. While they have been servants of God their whole lives, we will recognize them for their long-time service as organist (Joan) and financial secretary (Pauline). While Joan has yielded the bench to Teryn and others, she will still be available to fill in, on occasion. Pauline will continue to record our financial giving – when she is in the country – she may make some more trips to Canada. While we will honor them with some special gifts, we will also honor them by returning our own personal commitments of time, talents and resources, even as they have given a special measure of their time and talents for many years.
Advent Begins
Advent begins on November 29. Advent is the preparatory time to the celebration of the birth of Christ on Christmas. The time is to prepare our spirits for the birth of a Savior, which includes recognition that we need a Savior. Thus there is a "penitential" nature to Advent, not unlike the nature of Lent. This is in marked contrast to our culture, which seeks to begin celebrating Christmas as soon as Halloween decorations are put away and certainly, before Thanksgiving Dinner has been finished. Save December 2 for the Advent Celebration, including potluck dinner at 6:00, worship at 7:00, and decorating to follow.
From AIM, Barb
Awhile back, my computer was in the "computer hospital" for a month. You would have thought that the world as I knew it had come to an end. I could use Glenn's computer for writing, but I didn't want to tie up his computer to be on the Internet. I don't do much actual socializing on the Internet, but I rely on it for many other things. I look up information when I am working on a sermon, or just when I am curious about something. I use our church internet work page to check for and disseminate information with staff, nearly every day. I get most of my news from MSNBC on the Internet. I loved watching the live-stream of our Church-wide Assembly. I get gift ideas and craft ideas on the Internet. I love to unwind by playing some favorite computer games. And of course I daily check my e-mail.
So there I was – without the Internet – horror of horrors. But before long, I reverted to doing things the way I used to, and it wasn't all bad. If I needed to get in touch with someone, I called them, and it was good to hear their voice, leading into conversations about a myriad of things. I read the newspaper, reading stories of substance and actually avoiding some of the tabloid stories that are common on Internet news. (Do I really need to know that Jon Gosslin took money out of his and Kate's joint account?) When I needed to make some shower invitations, instead of just going on-line, I actually walked around stores looking for ideas – challenging my mind and getting a little more exercise than I would have. Instead of playing "Bounce Out," a rather mindless game, I did more crossword puzzles and Sudoku puzzles, which are much more stimulating for the mind.
I didn't realize how much of my brain activity was tied to the Internet. I even found that, being away from the Internet, I took more time to be aware of my relationship with God. All we have is a gift from God, including our technology. But like so many inventions, like nuclear power for example, there are good uses and bad uses pertaining to that invention. When our technology keeps our mind so occupied that we don't have time for our own imagination or creativity that isn't good. When we depend on technology rather than face-to-face encounters or even phone conversations, where you can pick up voice nuances that you can't on-line, that isn't so good either. And when the technology with which God so graciously gifts us infringes on our devotional time with God, that really isn't good.
I am back on line; and, I'll be honest I am absolutely thrilled to be there. But that month away made me aware of what I could so easily lose track of if I spend too much time on-line.
Worship Leaders/ Servants for November
Greeters:
Elmer and Evelyn Petersen
Ushers:
Darrel Hicks, Enos Ihns
Lectors
8- Jone Paarmann
15- Elmer Petersen
22- Ellen Pithan
29- Eleanor Sheldon
Communion Servers:
1- Deanne Bennett
15- Rochelle Busch, Ron Christiansen
22- Tom Gerdes, Darrel Hicks
Acolytes:
Jenna Holtz
8- Halie Gruenwald
15- Hannah Gruenwald
22- Mari Merrick
29- Jo Theide
Altar Care:
Rochelle Busch, Marlene Hicks
Bread Maker: Tim Thiede
Children's Story Tellers:
1 - Jone Paarmann
8 - Melissa McChesney
15 - Deb Christiansen
22 - Becky Ihns-Petersen
29- Clay Ketchum
Tellers: Jessica and Brent Ihns
Fellowship Servers:
1- Ellen Pithan, Shelley Beeck, Carla Richmann
8- Eleanor Sheldon, Jody Holtz, Kelly Doll
15- Betty Rehmke, Jeannette Schroeder, Madge White, Jerry Pithan
22- Lorraine Wulf, Sue Zeller, Darlene Christiansen, Deb Christiansen
29- Pat Hendrickson, Leta Dunt, Deanne Bennett
BWELCA Hi-Lites
180 School Kits Assembled
A big Thank You to all who helped with assembling the school kits, 180 total!! There were 50 kits assembled at the Hope Cluster Retreat. That was a record!! HOORAY!! Thank you also to Pat Hendrickson for delivering them to Cedar Rapids.
A follow-up on the Chrismon-making workshop. We will continue work on finishing the chrismons on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. If anyone is interested in making any during fellowship just let Deanne know and she will help you.
Next BWELCA board meeting is Tuesday, November 3 at 6:00 p.m.
The booklet for 2010 is now in process, anyone finding any mistakes in last year's booklet or if there are any other additions or corrections please let Madge White know. Also anyone wishing to switch months on Altar Guild or is willing to be added please contact Lorraine Wulf as soon as possible.
Hope Does Not Disappoint
This month at BWELCA Circle Meetings
Rebecca – Wed., Nov., 11, 1:30 p.m. at Betty Rehmke's with Lorraine Wulf as Lesson Leader
Eve – Thurs., Nov.12, 7:00 p.m. at Pat Hendrickson's
Bethlehem – Sat. Nov.14, 9 a.m. in Conference Room with Diana Ihns as Lesson Leader
All women are invited!
November Birthdays
2 Les Paarmann
2 Ella Thompson
15 Earletta Mullins
15 Rosemary Stoll
16 Melissa Ford
18 Toby Mullins
24 Clint Bennett
26 Esther Dosland
27 Lisa Fields
There are no November anniversaries on record.
Bread for the Journey
Bread for the Journey is a daily devotional book that includes a daily scripture reading, prayer, suggestions for further reading, a hymn and suggestions for deeper devotional practices. It is based on the daily lectionary. The readings for Thursday – Saturday lead op to Sundays lessons in theme and the readings Monday – Wednesday reflect back on Sundays lessons. Books cost $9.00. They are available in the office or from Pastor. A sample copy is on the table.
Quilts, Quilts and More Quilts!
WELCA Donates Quilt- Bethlehem WELCA donated one of their quilts to a benefit for Elmer St. John. It will be held at the Prairie Hills Assisted Living in Tipton, Iowa, on Saturday, December 5. Elmer has two forms of leukemia. He is the son-in-law of Marilou Skinner. Marilou has been a faithful volunteer, sewing many quilt tops, for our BWELCA Quilt project.
Ewalu Quilt – Bethlehem WELCA donated a quilt to Ewalu for their annual quilt auction. It sold for $140. (Pastor Keith bid up until $125.00, but then dropped out. He spent more than his allowance that day!)
More Quilts to Be Made - Any one interested in helping to cut quilt squares for quilting can contact Lucile Schurbon. There are also packs of quilt blocks on the entrance table that can be sewn together. Help yourself.
Council News
Bethlehem Congregation Council met for its regular meeting on October 13. In business they:
- Made arrangements for final lawn mowing;
- Learned that Bobby Suthers had volunteered to do snow removal for the winter
- Set Christmas Eve worship for 7:00 p.m. and Christmas Day worship for 9:00 a.m.
- Set in motion plans for 2010 stewardship appeal – see page 1
- Heard the following Treasurer's report:
General Farm
Balance 8/31/09 $(1075.27) $31,223.19
Sept Income $6935.00 0.00
Sept Expenses $7491.54 $7654.43
Balance 9/30/08 ($1631.81) $23,68.76
Conference/ Synod Mission Support Event
Sunday, Nov. 15
Zion, Wyoming
2:30 - 4 p.m.
This is for all congregational leaders – officers, Council, WELCA leaders. Sign up on the bulletin board to carpool from BLC at 2:00 p.m.
November 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 563-487-2116
AIM@bethlehem.mylutheran.org
Intern Matt Masko
Office Phone 678-2301
Home Phone 563-663-6674
Intern@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. T
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.
Intern Matt is in the office most mornings
Monday – 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.
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