Our mission "To worship God as a loving community that grows in faith and shares the Gospel of Christ".

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 Pastor's Letter

… a loving community…

 

           In Concordia Seminary’s Spring magazine, Dr. Peter Nafzger writes: “The Christian life is always lived in community.” “It is impossible to be a Christian alone!” “We get a glimpse of this communal life every Sunday morning.”

 

“Community” is something that even those without faith are yearning for. It is a need that is lost in our society today. And, the Church is meant to be the place to bring it back.


Nafzger continues, “Many groups aspire to be a community, and many groups call themselves a community, and many groups look like a community to outsiders. But beneath the surface lurks division, disengagement or indifference.” These groups are called “mirage communities.” You have probably seen them or been a part of one.


Let me tell you that “Bethlehem Lutheran Evangelical Church” (BLC) of Monterey, California is definitely not one of them. It brings me great joy, inspiration, and admiration to see this building popping to life. Although it is not without its challenges, our facilities are empty no longer. Kids play outside almost every day. Addicts find a place to rest from the anxieties of the world. Homeless are housed. And, greatest of all, God’s people come to be together to hear His Word and receive His gifts of grace. Sunday is just the beginning of our worship as we praise Him every day in between.


Churches used to be the “community centers” of society. To build a city in Wisconsin all you needed was a church and a bar. Now, 800 Cass Street is living up to that potential. God is creating “a loving community” here between the doctors’ offices where our friend, the mailman, seems happy to see us every day. Musicians and members are buzzing through the doors, staying busy. Teachers are prepping their classes. Ali is answering the phone. We are becoming a place of refuge for the world and reflective time together; a home for all those around us to come and visit in Christian hospitality. We welcome all.


But, that is not everything.


That is not why we cannot be classified as a “mirage community.”

 

It’s Jesus.

 

The answer is always Jesus: God and His People.

 

The truth is that there are plenty of non-profits including YMCA’s, Rotaries, and libraries who have a similar goal. What sets BLC apart is the fact that our community is not just this building. It is the people who use it. We are not a “mirage” community because we are an “authentic” community. When someone is sick, we visit them. When someone is hurting, we help. If someone is lost, we find them.


We have the balm to heal the nations.


If we were limited to just a building, the world would be dark without Christ’s light shining through us. So, we come here to be encouraged, to grow in faith, to learn the Gospel in order to share the Gospel with others. Christian community is in the world, but not of it. It is a hope that the world sees and wants to be a part of. It is a star in the night sky beaming radiantly for the wise men to follow and the common men (the shepherds) to be mesmerized by.


Our Christian community might seem as if it starts and ends at the doors of our sanctuary, but it is those times in between that give me hope.


Recently, I traveled to Washington State for a wedding. We had pastors there from Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado—a deaconess from North Dakota—friends from Idaho and LA. And, there was me. Folks gathered from all over for one celebration. We spent time together, we were unified in faith, and we were able to find joy in community no matter what our background might be.


There was this authentic community of all different stripes rejoicing in compassionate harmony. This made me think of our church. How rare, how special, how true we are to what we believe. When you know our congregation, you know there’s love here. It’s beyond my understanding, but it is deep and real. There is no disengagement or indifference and whatever division we may have, we engage it and get through it together.


This is the way the Church should be: full of different peoples focused on faith—here, we have families with Japanese, Korean, Hispanic, Indian, Iranian, Iraqi, Russian, and even European backgrounds such as German. There are progressives, conservatives, and non-affiliates (besides everything in between). There are children, tweens, teenagers, young couples, singles, newlyweds, young families, old families, retired, widows, widowers, and homebound--all different types of people looking for community—looking for home—and, I think they’ve found a good one.


I am blessed every day to be a part of this wonderful community:

God’s beloved Church here on earth.


Thank you for being here with me.


Pastor Josh Schmidt






--Pastor Josh Schmidt

 

Check out our member directory!

Directory


Contact the office or reply to this email if you would like to be added.

June Upcoming Events

Jun 1st-3rd, Dr. Sanchez Conference

June 13th,Women,s I-Help, 5:30pm

June 18th, Fathers Day

June 27th, Men's I-Help

June 28th, Men's I-Help

June Birthdays


June 2nd, Ken Goebel

June 3rd, Hannah Hueffmeier

June 5th, Dottie Bolin

June 6th, Michael Blanco Bustos, 

June 12th, Mark Johnson

June 30th,Cameron Boone

President's Message


Board Report:


What a great voter meeting we had after Church on May 21 st , 2023. For those of you that could

not make it, here are some of the highlights.

* The Endowment Fund Document was reviewed, revised and unanimously approved by

the voters.

* The board presented the 2023 - 2024 fiscal year budget which was unanimously

approved by the voters.

* The Security Alarm System is installed, and we are adding users now. We pushed out the

Go-Live date to June 5 th . So, if you have a Church key, bring it in and get you User Code.

Don’t try to enter after the 5 th without training.

* We are looking at a $30,000 expense required by the city to install an above ground

water valve sometime in the next 1-3 years. So, we are going to start saving for it now

by starting an allocated fund for it. Please contribute if you are able.

* We are developing a Site Utilization Plan by working with a local architect, who is doing

it pro bono, specifically studying fences and play equipment

* The Board is about to start a By-Laws review.

* We have started a Human Resources Task Force (Marilyn Maxner and Jean Goebel)

* The Board and the Human Resources Task Force is also over ½ done building an

Employee Handbook

* We have also asked our Insurance company to look at our policy to ensure we have

ample coverage for the School and our Leaders, with regards to liability.

* The Policies and Procedures Manual is actively being reviewed and revised. It will also

be made available to members in a month or so

* The Organ project is still not complete, we are waiting on Bond Organ.

Pay attention to the Calendars and promotions as there are lots of activities and opportunities

coming up. Looking to jump into something? Ask a board member.

Ken Goebel, Board President


See the VOTERS ASSEMBLY MINUTES

A FAVORITE HYMN?



What is your favorite hymn? What hymn would you like to sing that we don't seem to sing very often? We and Pastor try to choose hymns that relate to the readings and theme for the day, but we can always fit in your favorites. We just need to know what they are. Please let Pastor or one of the Worship Committee know. Thanks.

Jean Goebel, Marilyn Maxner, Melody Nelson, Lindamarie Rosier

  


The Classical Christian Academy of Monterey Bay





Thank you, Bethlehem. Another CCAMB year is almost in the books! We are racing towards the end with a wonderfully full May. We are finishing our Science journals; enjoying a game board club on Tuesdays and had a great time at the 1stannual Classical Education and PJ Party for our families. This Tuesday, we will be at Merrill Gardens for a Game Day. A special chapel and honors for our children will finish out the year on June 1st.  Thank you, Bethlehem, for loving us so well, and being a sweet home to grow a group of children that are getting a Christ centered education. We look forward to our Carnival and Chess Camp in July, summer field trips, new families and a new school year with a five day Academy starting in August.






ALTAR GUILD


Who prepares the communion ware? Who puts the bread in the container? Who prepares the communion trays, fills the little cups with wine and grape juice? Who fills the common cup, the chalice, with wine? Who puts out the trays for you to put your little cups in? Who takes care of the trays and the chalice after the service?


The Altar Guild!


If you would like to be part of that, speak to Pastor Josh, Alan Laden, or Bob Zobel.


The Evangelism Committee is currently planning our efforts for the coming year and is working to follow God's lead on our priorities. We continue to see I-HELP as a very important mission of our church and are looking for congregation members to help in providing food once a month. Please contact Brynn if you feel called to serve in this way, as we need help for the months of June through December. Adopt-A-Family also remains an important priority, and we have budgeted to be able to provide support for families in crisis, and will be looking to support families during Christmas. We continue to build ideas around the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Volunteer Corps, and look forward to possibly supporting All In Monterey, and also to providing our congregation members with shirts and other gear they can proudly wear to spread word of our church's support for our community. In the coming year, we also hope to install a Little Free Library near our fire pit on Cass Street; if you can help with this, please let us know.

  

We ask for your prayers for our committee, and if you feel called to serve in any way - including joining our committee - we would be thankful for your help.  


You can contact committee chair Brynn Kaufman (209) 609-6271 or brynn.s.kaufman@gmail.com with any questions, concerns, suggestions, or comments.  


Free Lutheran Youth (FLY) Convention July 3-8 our Youth will be heading to Estes Park, Colorado for a faith building Youth conference. Please keep Caitlin, Christopher and Crystal Lesher, Sara and Julian Brandt, and Pastor Josh in your prayer as we prepare for the trip. We are still in need of funds to cover the costs, and ask that you would also consider giving financially towards this trip. Please reach out to Pastor Josh or Crystal Lesher



Vacation Bible School: Our Vacation Bible school program will be held July 17-21, in the evenings. Please spread the word to your friends, neighbors and co-workers with children.

With “Twists and Turns”, kids will learn through games, crafts, and bible lessons that “Following Jesus Changes the Game”!

We will be serving Dinner at 5:30 for the whole family, and VBS will start at 6:15. There are lots of ways to be involved, so please consider helping with this amazing ministry, either before or during the week of VBS

Late last year, the board approved designating Room 1, AKA the Bible Study Room, as our Youth Room. This will be a space where, hopefully in the not to distant future, teens will come to hang out, learn God’s word, grow in their faith, and discover how to share that faith with their peers.

We are looking for furniture that will help make the room feel more comfortable and inviting to the youth. Specifically, we are looking for a couple of couches, at least one book shelf, and maybe some bean bags. If you know anyone looking to part with these items, please let Crystal or Pastor know. 

Let's Go to Bethlehem

Would You Be My Neighbor?

What sort of impact could a color-blind vegetarian who grew up shy, introverted, and overweight have on society? I would say a lot. One person can change the world.

 

This person is Mr. Rogers.

 

Mr. Rogers rarely spoke about his faith on air. He thought that teaching through example was just as powerful as preaching. He considered his faith as a fundamental part of his personality and he was called a “unique television star with a real spiritual life.” He emphasized the values of patience, reflection, and silence in a noisy world.


And, I think all of us have learned something from him.


As we study the Gospel of Matthew together this summer, we will see how God’s love calls us into the community, in order to ask them, “would you be my neighbor?”

 

Relational God

June 4th | Trinity Sunday

Genesis 1:26-31

Acts 2:22-36

Matthew 28:16-20


LSB 507 Holy, Holy, Holy

LSB 649 Blest Be the Tie That Binds

LSB 922 Go, My Children, with My Blessing

 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19.

 

Relational God

It has been true ever since the beginning, man should not be alone.


After He spoke the world into existence, God said, “Let us…” Triune in nature—One God, three persons—our Lord makes us as a reflection of who He is—people who need to be able to depend on each other. He is the God of relating to others and we are called to go out and bring Him to them.

 

Make A Friend

June 11th | Pentecost

Hosea 5:15-6:6

Romans 4:13-16

Matthew 9:9-13


LSB 688 “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake

LSB 609 Jesus Sinners Doth Receive v.1-5

LSB 632 O Jesus, Blessed Lord, to Thee

LSB 770 What a Friend We Have in Jesus

 

“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” Matthew 9:9.

 

Make A Friend

It would have been so easy for Jesus to walk right past Matthew without saying a word. But, instead, His simple words, “Follow Me” change the Gospel-writer’s life forever.


Do you ever walk past someone who might need you?

Share some good words with them. You might even become friends!


Labor Together

June 18th | Pentecost

Leviticus 19:1-4, 9-10, 15-19

Romans 5:6-11

Matthew 9:35-10:4

 

LSB 833 Listen, God Is Calling

LSB 826 Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying

LSB 632 O Jesus, Blessed Lord, to Thee

LSB 643 Sent Forth by God’s Blessing

 

“Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:38.

 

Labor Together

God calls us to labor together, sowing seed, planting and watering, dependent on His Spirit to grow faith in others.

 

Give Credit

June 25th | Pentecost

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Romans 6:12-23

Matthew 10:16-33


LSB 729 I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

LSB 537 Beautiful Savior

LSB 632 O Jesus, Blessed Lord, to Thee

LSB 685 Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus

 

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32..

 

Give Credit

It feels good to have someone on your side. It feels great to know that God is. Give credit to Him for the blessings in your life. As you serve and look to the light—wise as serpents and innocent as doves—don’t forget where your blessings come from!

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