Volume 8, Issue 7 August 2009
Festival of Shared Ministries
Bethlehem and St. Mark Lutheran Churches Together for Worship and Celebration
Sunday morning, August 30
Time to be announced
At Bethlehem
Bethlehem and St. Mark will gather for worship at Bethlehem (this year) to celebrate our shared ministries and to celebrate a Service of Beginnings with Intern Matt Masko. Holy Communion will be celebrated. A time of food and fellowship will follow as we welcome Matt and his family (wife Meganne and son Max).
Notice of Special Congregational Meeting
Sunday, August 16
Immediately following Worship
(approximately 9:25 a.m.)
The purpose of the meeting is to vote on the 2009-2010 Mission Endowment Budget. The proposed budget is found on the last page in this issue of The Star.
Church-Wide Assembly to Meet
The Evangelical Lutheran Church meets in Assembly August 17 – 23 in Minneapolis. This is the primary decision-making body of our church and it meets every two years. Important matters before the Assembly will be recommendations for:
- Full Communion with the United Methodist Church – this agreement will pave the way for more denominational cooperation as well the interchangeability of clergy;
- A social statement "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust" – a comprehensive statement on sexuality that has been 8 years in creation that will guide members on a whole variety of sexual matters;
- Changes in Ministry Policy – a controversial recommendation that involves 4 resolutions – that must be voted on successfully, in order, before the next one can be considered. Briefly, they say:
1 – the ELCA will work to find ways for congregations who wish to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships;
2 – the ELCA will work to find ways for people in such publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as rostered leaders of this church;
3 – the ELCA will work to make decisions, with respect to items above, so that all in this church bear the burdens of the other, and respect the bound consciences of all. (In other words, there will need to be ways so those who consciences oppose an action are not imposed up on;
4 – how the ELCA can move toward change in a way that respects the bound consciences of all, recognizing that such respect will lead to diversity of practice but will provide some structured flexibility in decision-making so that congregations and synods may choose whether or not to approve or call people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve on ELCA rosters.
Note: Whatever decisions are made by the Assembly, there may need to be time for interpretation and the development of specific guidelines. Therefore, immediate reports in media sources may not be complete or accurate.
Thanks!
The people of St. Mark Lutheran thank all from Bethlehem who attended and supported their Ice Cream Social. Over $450 was raised for the conference and synod Tour de Rev world hunger project. See article below.
Note from Barb:
I love summer. It is a time in creation where, if we choose, we can take time to really enjoy our physical surroundings. Spring and Fall are rather frenetic times of year because there is planting and harvesting to be done. But in summer, the work is pretty much done allowing for more time to take pleasure in watching things grow. In summer, we can be outside, visit with our neighbors, watch children play, and enjoy the incredible display of color in summer flowers.
The time after Pentecost in the church, like summer, is a long gentle season of growth. Images of the natural world are plentiful in our prayers and readings. It is no wonder that the liturgical color for this time of year is green. Many of the verbs we use in worship readings and prayers refer to life in the physical world: graft, nurture, preserve, feed shepherd, shine.
Last Sunday's Gospel lesson focused on Jesus saying to the disciples, "Let's find a quiet place to be alone and get some needed rest." Jesus could see that they were so busy they were losing focus and coming close to burn-out. Jesus wanted to allow the disciples some alone time to rest and re-focus on God, whose mission was theirs.
There are so many things scheduled in the summer it can be even more hectic than other times of year, if we let it. I know I have complained more than once about all the demands made on my time this summer. We need to take some control of our own time and be deliberate about centering ourselves once again in God. It isn't easy, but it is necessary.
Even in the busy-ness of going to kids' ball games, going to the fair, or traveling, summer is a great time to find a quiet place to let God refresh and renew our spirits. There is a beautiful, welcoming world out there that is much more inviting than it is in the dead of winter. If we allow ourselves some moments for reflection, summer offers us perfect time and space for beauty and solitude whereby we may hear what God has to say to us.
August Birthdays
- Wilma Adrian, Mindy Stoll
5 Farrie Ihns
- Levi Dosland
8 Tom Gerdes
- Ashley Alden
13 Ellen Pithan
14 Lola Berner
17 Velene Merrick
18 Lucile Schurbon
20 Emma Thiede
24 Dan Balichek
25 Jone Paarmann
26 Anna Weiss, Jill Suthers
Kari Rigg
27 Ginger Anderson-Larson
30 Herold Rehmke
31 Xera Tubbs
August Anniversaries
2 Ginger Anderson-Larson and Keith Larson
18 Joyce and Bob Feuss
19 Lorice and Paul Amlin
25 Shelley and Robert Beeck
26 Donna and Charles Stoll
27 Sue and Dana Zeller
Worship Assistants
Greeters: Pat Hansen, Joan Kleppe
Ushers: Warren Ihns, Jessica Ihns
Lectors
2- Jone Paarmann
9- Elmer Petersen
16- Ellen Pithan
23- Eleanor Sheldon
30- Tim Thiede
Communion Servers:
2- Elenor Bentrott, Ron Christiansen
16- Tom Gerdes, Pat Hansen
Acolytes:
2- Cassie Suthers
9- Courtney Current
16- Noah Zeller
22- Ben Geerts
30- Corynn Bennett
Altar Care: Elenor Bentrott,
Lynda Humphreys
Bread Maker: John Alden
Children's Story Tellers:
2 - Melissa McChesney
9 - Deb Christiansen
16 - Becky Ihns-Petersen
22 - Clay Ketchum
30- Diana Ihns
Tellers: Bill Pithan, Tim Thiede
Fellowship Servers:
2- Ellen Pithan, Shelley Beeck, Carla Richmann
9- Eleanor Sheldon, Jody Holtz, Kelly Doll
16- Betty Rehmke, Madge
White, Jeannette Schroeder
22- Lorraine Wulf, Sue Zeller, Darlene Christiansen, Deb Christiansen
30- Internship Committee
Confirmation Classes Resume
Confirmation classes resume soon for those in grades 7, 8, 9, ad for a few in grade 10. First year students will meet at Bethlehem on Wednesday, August 26 at 6:15, along with a parent or parents for a time of orientation. All first and second year students will meet Wednesday, September 2 and on each Wednesday following at 6:15. Third year students, who wish to affirm their baptisms on October 26 will meet for 8 hours at times yet to be determined.
Council Meets
Bethlehem council met July 14 for its regular meeting. In business they:
- Agreed to enter a contract with Eastern Iowa Propane for purchasing 3500 gallons of propane for the upcoming heating season at a cost of $1.18/ gallon with no prepayment or prorated monthly payments (strictly pay as we fill) and no penalties for unused gallons.
- Appointed members for the internship committee – see article next column.
- Began looking at what is necessary for video recording worship for replay on the local access cable channel.
- Heard the following Treasurer's report:
Balance 5/31/09 $ 916.99
June Income $ 8896.17*
June Expenses $ 8988.16
Balance $ 825.00
* See article below on Summer Slump.
Operation Backpack Needs Volunteers
Midland Elementary Principal Marilyn Jackson recently announced Midland School was the recipient of a grant for Operation Backpack. Operation Backpack will provide backpacks that will be sent home with students on Friday afternoons packed with nutritious snacks and supplemental food for the weekend when family circumstances might warrant it. Volunteers are needed during the school year to pack the backpacks and to pick up food. Backpack packers will need to work for an hour or less on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Friday mornings each week. Persons able to pick up food in the Cedar Rapids area periodically will need a van or pickup bed that can be covered. If you can volunteer, call Principal Marilyn Jackson at 826-2091 or Pastor Keith Larson at 678-2301. Leave your name, phone number, and how often you might be available.
Internship Committee Named
At recent Council meetings, the following were named to the 2009-2010 internship committee:
Bethlehem – Madge White, Darlene Christiansen, Herold Rehmke, Carla Richmann, and Scott Doll
St. Mark – Jamie Slouha, Scott Andresen, Breanna Derynck, and Brenda Vacek.
The Internship Committee will meet in August for orientation and to elect officers. Thereafter it will meet monthly with the intern. The committee serves as a sounding board and as the primary evaluators. The committee also plans a welcome for the intern and family, and arranges for an appropriate farewell. When the intern relates to the committee, the intern is learning how to relate to congregational leadership in a pastoral leadership way.
Tour de Revs
Southeastern Iowa Synod
Christ the King Lutheran Church,
325 Mormon Trek Blvd, Iowa City
Meal and Program
August 6, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Please join folks from the Southeastern Iowa Synod in welcoming three Lutheran pastors from the Western Virginia - Western Maryland Synod who are putting foot to pedal and seat to saddle to travel over 13,000 miles to raise awareness and donations to help eliminate world hunger. Our synod is stop #57 on their tour that includes all 65 synods of the ELCA, the 2009 Youth Gathering in New Orleans, and the Church-wide Assembly in Minneapolis. Stop by to meet the Revs, check out their bamboo bike made for three, and support the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
Summer Slump
It is as common as summer thunderstorms and sweet corn in Iowa. It's called summer slump – and it affects congregations around the country. Sunday attendance lags and so do the offerings. In July, $1500 had to be "borrowed" from the farm account to pay bills, with the hope and expectation that it might be repaid.
When you know you will be gone, try to bring your offering when you return for the Sundays you missed, or mail to the church. As the summer continues, the problem is sometimes magnified as expenses sometimes increase as we gear up for fall activities.
BWELCA HILITES
We had a beautiful day for our Ice Cream Social and served about 180 people. Good food and fellowship were enjoyed. Thanks to Pat Hendrickson and Jone Paarmann for organizing this event and to all who worked, furnished food or gave monetary donations. We netted about $850.00 plus $200.00 from Thrivent.
The outdoor carpeting on the north and east entrances has been installed and the wrought iron railings have all been painted as well as the outside entrance overhang ceilings. Thank you to Connie and Rochelle for their hard work at getting this job accomplished.
The Ecumenical Service was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Sun. July 19. A delicious brunch was held following the service. Volunteers from the 3 churches donated food and helped with the serving and clean up. Thanks to those of you from our congregation who provided food and worked. It's great to have this special joint worship service with our sister congregations in our town.
Reminder: Out going officers are on the nominating committee for the 2010 ballot. They are the Presidents, Treasurer, and Mission Growth. Nominations are needed by September circle meetings.
Upcoming Events
Joint Circle Bible Study is July 30 with AIM Barb Tobiason, leader. Barb has invited us to her new home for the Bible Study. We will meet at the church at 5:15 p.m. to car pool. We are also bringing a light supper along (we have volunteers for the food) so we are looking forward to a fun evening.
Next BWELCA board meeting is Tuesday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m.
An overview for the Lutheran Women Today Bible Study for 2010 will be held Sat. Aug.15 at Grandview University Campus in Des Moines - details on bulletin board.
Hope Cluster Women's Fall Retreat at the Owl's Nest at Camp Wyoming will be Friday - Saturday September 11 – 12Pastors Donnita Moeller, Lisa Dietrich, and Lynn Thiede will share "Latte, Laughter, and Love." There is a poster on the bulletin board with information. Come join us for a fun and memorable weekend. Register by Wednesday, September 2.
School Supplies on Sale Now!
School kits provide the only supplies for children returning to school after the disruption of war. School kits help parents continue their children's education even while living in a refugee camp. Some kits are used in adult literacy classes.
The stores have great prices on "back to school" items now. The quilters have "oodles" of bags ready for us, so lets start collecting the following items:
- 8 x 10 ½ padded or spiral notebooks of wide or college ruled paper totaling 150-200 pages (If using 70 sheet notebooks, please include three.) Do not include loose-leaf paper.
- one blunt scissors
- one 30 centimeter ruler, or a ruler with centimeters on one side and inches on the other
- one pencil sharpener
- six new, unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers
- one eraser approximately 2 ½ in long
- one box of 16 or 24 crayons.
We have plenty of bags and construction paper. We will be collecting school supplies thru the month of August, packing the kits in Sept. and shipping to LWR in October.
Check Out the Carroll Assistance Center
For over 40 years, the Carroll Assistance Center on the corner of Toronto and Washington Streets (in the former 1st Presbyterian Church building) has served the people of our corner of Clinton County and parts of 3 other counties. People who need emergency assistance with food, fuel, electricity, rent, medical prescriptions or school supplies can stop there. It is open on Tuesdays from 6:-7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Even if you have no special needs, there is a resale shop at the same location with racks of wonderful clothing and a few household items. Anyone can purchase items there. In these days when everyone is looking for a bargain, CAC has some wonderful bargains on clothing. Sale of items in the resale shop helps fund assistance for those in need. So stop by and find some real bargains and help support the organization.
August 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. T
Phone 678-2302
Sunday Schedule
Worship 8:30 a.m.
Fellowship 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.
If you need to enter the church and do not have a key, always call ahead to be certain he or someone is here.
