|
| Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Early Childhood Center
 |
|
"Caught in grace, created for service, called into community"
|
|
|
|
Revolution
(7th - 12th)
10:30 am |
Rev. Laura Ziehl
Senior Pastor
Ext 2
Jonathan Garman
Youth Director
Judy Foland
Office Administrator
Ext 1
Director of Children's Ministry
|
|
October 2016
News and Events
|
|
Dear members and friends of Bethlehem,
I write to you today from Palolo Valley on O'ahu. I am here to lead a retreat for the congregation. As I live and work with the people of Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church, I am reminded of the common journey of God's people. As two congregations on opposite sides of the same water, we work to live out the gospel, to touch the world with grace, to bring healing as we are able, and to gather on Sunday to proclaim the hope that is within us.
I helped yesterday, with the Ohana Drop. All the feeding businesses on the island give away all the food they cannot use, on one Thursday a month. The feeding ministry at Calvary by the Sea was full to the brim. Flats of green beans, loaves of bread and a huge flat of watermelons. A young mother came through the line with an infant in her arms and her beautiful four year old daughter, shyly holding her mother's hand. We offered her a watermelon. The little girl's face lit up and she jumped up and down, "Watermelon, watermelon, watermelon!!!" Her face was pure joy. I felt so blessed to be a part of God's church. A simple thing, a simple grace, a simple act of love, makes all the difference.
Stewardship defines the whole of the gifts we offer the world. We are stewards of the land, something Hawaiians name aloha 'aina, and live as a sacred trust. We are stewards of the mysteries of grace as we lay hope in the world and stewards of the talents and abilities God has given each of us. With our unique gifts, we bless the world. We are stewards of the financial resources that have been entrusted to us. In the coming weeks, we will be speaking together of our ministry and our commitment together to financially support this ministry we love. Dick DuBois will be involved in the conversation, therefore a good time will be had by all! Thank you for all that you do at Bethlehem, for all of the gifts you offer. Together we are able to bless the world in ways that we could never do alone. Together we make a difference. And together we support one another through it all.
Our stewardship does indeed change lives. The quilts on our pews are headed to Lutheran World Relief and will warm children in need of simple shelter and comfort. On October 23rd, we will confirm a number of our young people in faith. Thank you for the part you have played in raising them in faith. We are blessed with exceptional young people in this congregation, who are living out their faith in service and commitment. They learned it from you. Our use of Fair Trade Coffee has placed us in the top 5% of all congregations across the country. Thank you for your stewardship of sustainable resources around the globe. Bethlehem Serves is not something you do one Sunday in August alone, it is something you do every day. Thank you for your stewardship.
May God bless you in your lives of grace. May God bless you in all that you do. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.
God's peace and aloha,
Pastor Laura
|
|
| |
|
|
| From Mary Shaima, Diaconal Associate |
Music and Children's Ministry Workshops, Podcast, and More
! Lutheran singer-songwriter Jonathan Rundman (
http://jonathanrundman.com/
) and his wife, Sparkhouse Development Director Dawn Rundman (
http://www.dawnrundman.com/
) will be with us the weekend of November 5-6 for workshops, concerts, and leading worship. WE ARE SEEKING SPONSORS AT ALL LEVELS for this event. See Diaconal Associate Mary Shaima for information or email her at
maryshaima@gmail.com
.
In Christ,
Mary Shaima, Diaconal Associate
|
A Bethlehem Women's Mini-Retreat is scheduled for the evening of Friday, November 4
th, 2016. Please join us at Bethlehem for an evening of faith and fellowship before the Holiday rush begins! More details to follow.
|
| Bethlehem Women of the ELCA |
Quilts on the Pews- October 2nd and 9th
Scraps and Prayers, the Bethlehem quilting group, has quilts on the pews in the sanctuary during the first two weeks of October. This year we will offer baby quilts and other specialty quilts to the congregation in exchange for a donation, which will be used to help us buy materials needed to make all the quilts during the year. If you would like one of the baby quilts or specialty quilts, please see Kim Oswald or any of the other Scraps and Prayers members on the 2nd or 9th. You may take your quilt home with you on those dates. Thank you for supporting this vital ministry!
The majority of the quilts from Scraps and Prayers are made for
Lutheran World Relief. In past years we have offered these quilts to the congregation in exchange for a donation to the Lutheran World Relief shipping fund. This year LWR has requested that we send them the quilts instead of money. So -
SOMETHING NEW this year. The LWR quilts will be displayed on the pews for all to see but will not be offered to the congregation. Instead, they will be blessed on
October 9th and then sent on their way to LWR for distribution around the globe.
Along with the quilts, school bags, and fabric kits which we send to Lutheran World Relief we are also collecting
full size bars of soap through
October 11. Bring one, bring ten, bring all the full size soap bars you want - please put them in the Women's Basket under the Giving Tree Table. As always, your support is very much appreciated.
Scraps and Prayers Saturday Quilting Workshop
For those of you who have been interested in Quilting with Scraps and Prayers but cannot make our regular Wednesday morning gatherings, we are now holding a special
Saturday morning quilting workshop. Join us on
Saturday, October 15
from 9 am to 12 noon in the Multi-Use Room. We will show you how to lay out a quilt, sew the quilt top, and then tie the quilt. Non-sewers as well as sewers are welcome. No previous experience is necessary.
The 2016 Pacifica Women of the ELCA Convention and Gathering will be in Los Alamitos on November 4-5, 2016. The theme is A Family of Faith, with Pastor Kathryn Zurcher as Chaplain and Bible Study Leader. Pastor Kathryn is the pastor at St John Lutheran Church in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. If you would like any information on the convention, please contact Kim Oswald at
rdoswald@aol.com or 760-634-2995
Looking Forward
Women's Christmas Bazaar -
Sunday, December 4th from
8:30 - noon in the Family Center. Bring your Christmas shopping list. What will be available - handcrafted items, baked goods, jam and jellies, special baskets full of Fair Trade products, Scholastic Books and pre-ordered SERRV products to mention a few items.
Crafters and Cooks Please consider contributing your beautiful handcrafts, delicious preserves and baked goods or any special skill you may have to sell at the Christmas Bazaar on December 4th. Please deliver baked goods or craft items to the Family Center on
Saturday, Dec. 3rd between
10:00 a.m. - noon or on
Sunday, Dec. 4th before
9:00. For information or to make alternative arrangements, please contact Kim Oswald,
rdoswald@aol.com or 760-634-2995. Proceeds will benefit the ministries of the Bethlehem Women of the ELCA. Thank you for your support.
|
What if I am Unsure About Asking for a Stephen Minister?
Upon asking about Stephen Ministry the first step is a visit from one of our Stephen Leaders, Molly Hall, the Referrals Coordinator. She will explain exactly how Stephen Ministry works, answer any questions you may have, and help you find out whether Stephen Ministry is right for you. Any personal information you share will be held in strict confidence, regardless of whether or not you decide to pursue Stephen Ministry at this time. To request a visit please contact Pr. Laura, or one of our Stephen Leaders, Molly Hall or Laure Reynolds.
|
Giving Tree After October 12th through November 30th: Our annual Secret Santa Project will be starting. We will have the same giving opportunities as in past years. Also, as with last year, we are going to reach out and help raise money for a building project for a center to support those living and discriminated against with HIV/AIDS in Baja California. Please check the Giving Tree for more information.
Any questions please call Cheryl Monreal at (760) 942-1482.
|
With all of the blcym programs in full swing, don't forget to mark your calendars for
Confirmation Sunday. It is scheduled for Sunday, October 23
rd and is a fantastic experience not only for the students and their families but for all of us to remember our public profession of faith and our appreciation for the support our community of faith provides. We look forward to seeing you there!
|
|
San Dieguito Interfaith Ministerial Association
|
The San Dieguito Interfaith Ministerial Association (SDIMA) invites you to
its next Speaker Forum on
Sunday, November 20, 2016
. David Murphy, the Executive Director of San Diego's International Rescue Committee (IRC), will focus on refugees resettling in the San Diego area. The meeting will be held at the U.S. Bank Conference Room, 131 N. El Camino Real, Encinitas,
on
Sunday, November 20 at 4:00
For more information, contact Dianne Nichols at
diannenichols86@gmail.com
The San Dieguito Interfaith Ministerial Association (SDIMA)
invites you to their
monthly meetings
to explore and learn about other religious beliefs and to openly discuss their doctrines and teachings. Our membership includes individuals drawn from all major faith traditions, who not only benefit from personal spiritual growth through interfaith engagement but are also part of a movement promoting understanding and the importance of spiritual life in our community.
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month
at Seaside Center for Spiritual Living 1613 Lake Drive, Encinitas, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00. A lunch is provided. If you would like further information, please contact Dianne Nichols, the representative for Bethlehem Lutheran Church at
diannenichols86@gmail.com
.
|
The Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade program is a commitment to our church's faith. It also means delicious coffee, chocolate, tea, soup mix, olive oil at reasonable prices that benefit others who are in need around the world. You see these items twice a month displayed on the patio and organized by Arlene Skoor who has directed this program for the past 14 years. She needs to step aside from her role and the Fair Trade Program needs people to commit to continuing this program in her absence. The Center for Global Awareness (CGA) is willing to be the support for this project and is
in need of volunteers---men and women--to help set up and take down the Fair Trade tables and staff them twice a month.
Remember! Bethlehem is in the top 5% of churches across the US in supporting Fair Trade products. It's an easy commitment! Thank you for your generosity. If you are interested in joining the Fair Trade team, please contact Dianne Nichols:
diannenichols86@gmail.com
or (760) 804-0129.
|
| Interfaith Homeless Shelter |
Bethlehem will be partnering with Seaside Center for Spiritual Living
- Community Church (SCSL) this December in hosting the
Interfaith Rotational Shelter.
Bethlehem will coordinate the first week (12/4 -12/11) and SCSL the second week (12/11 - 12/18). Blair Lindberg and Diane Langager will be the Bethlehem coordinators this year and attended training in September through Interfaith Shelter Network. Stay tuned for more information on how you can volunteer in fulfilling this important stewardship effort.
|
|
Lutheranism 101 Coming Soon!
Join us on the first three Wednesday nights in November (November 2, 9, and 16) for a short course on "Lutheranism 101." We'll look at Lutheranism both from a historical perspective - where did we come from - and in terms of what it means for us to be Lutheran today - where we're headed. We'll share dinner at 6 PM and then at 6:45 begin what Luther called "Tischreden" - Table Talk. Mark your calendars! Signups for dinner and Table Talk coming in October.
|
|
SAVE THE DATE!!
TACO's Fall Fundraiser
will be Oktoberfest with Craft Beers, Brats 'n Tacos at Calvary Lutheran Church, 424 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach
Saturday, October 15
from 3-7 PM. $35/person, $40 at the door. Any questions, call Lori Cook, 760-207-0432.
|
Please join us for a fun-filled, delicious
Bethlehem Pizza Night Fundraiser
on Saturday, October 22nd between 4 - 8 pm
@
Rosati's Sports Pub in Encinitas
. Just mention that you are with
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
when you order your dine-in or carry-out meal and we get a 15% portion of the proceeds back to us. Check out their menu online @ MyRosatis.com or pick up a menu in the entry. Bring your family - Bring your friends - Bring your neighbors! See you there!
|
| Newsletter Now Available on Our Website |
Have you missed one of our monthly e-newsletters? Have you wished you could open up that newsletter again to get that bit of information you were looking for? Well, now you can. On our home page,
www.blcenc.org, there are links available to view current and past newsletters.
|
| Join us in meeting the needs of our north county community. The new Resource Book in the church office has resources that can help those in need. Be equipped to help those who may be experiencing hard times. If you know of a helpful resource or are having difficulties finding the help you need, please contact Sarah Breding at sbreding@cox.net. We have also put the resource listings on our website. Click here to check out the many resources available to assist you. |
| Bethlehem is now participating in the AmazonSmile program. This is a great way to easily benefit our congregation when you are shopping online. Bethlehem will receive 0.5% of the price of eligible online purchases automatically when you use the smile.amazon.com website. See the website for more details. |
Choice Dollars
The Thrivent Choice® program lets eligible members recommend where some of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' charitable outreach funds go by directing Choice Dollars®. Bethlehem Lutheran is an eligible recipient of these funds.
For more information click on the link below.
or contact your Thrivent congregational advocate, Dennis Astroth, at 858-354-3566, or dennis.astroth@gmail.com
|
| Online Giving, a Green Path to Stewardship We are always looking for ways to make giving more convenient and environmentally friendly. With today's online financial tools, it has never been easier to set up and track regular giving, special offerings and donations to specific areas. Just follow the easy steps provided with our new online service and you will be surprised at how easy it is to be a regular giver at whatever level seems right. We have expanded on the services provided by the same Minnesota-based online service that has managed our electronic giving for a number of years. They serve thousands of churches, and the service is secure, maintaining privacy. How to get started...
You may access the online service by clicking on the link on Bethlehem's web page http://www.blcenc.org/id218.html. Once you are on the site, you may use your checking account, or your debit or credit card information. If your cards are on a mileage program, you can gain frequent-flier miles while helping support the ministries of Bethlehem. |
| Dear , Thank you for registering with our e-mail announcement and update service at www.blcenc.org. Yours in Christ Bethlehem Lutheran Webmaster webmaster@blcenc.org
|
|
|
