B E T H E L S T A R

JUNE 2015

Newsletter

Inside this issue: Pastor’s Message 2

Maturing 3

All Church Rummage Sale

Chief’s Game

Lutheran Singles

Prayer Warrior

Serving Donation

4

Articles Deadline

Blood Pressure Screening

E– Church

Milestones

Membership Updates

Wednesday AM Services

5

Queenwood Campus Update

Thank Yous

6

Foundation

LWML

7

Youth Ministry 8

Bethel Lutheran School 9

Updated June Calendar and

Kingdom Helpers

Go to church website listed be-

low. Click on Calendar

Click on View Bethel’s

Calendar

Click on event for details

Church Off ice : 309 -263-2417 Church Website : www.blcmorton.org

School Off ice : 309 -266-6592 School Website : www.bethel lutheranschool .org

SUMMER MISSION TRIPS 2015

REPRESENTATIVES FROM BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

GUATEMALA Saturday, June 13—Saturday, June 20

Jesse Alexander Braden Bisping Todd Bisping Brittany Burk Jamie Burk Colton Buttrum Lexie Collins Lauren Day Nancy Duran Seth Hostetler Terry Johnson Kaylee Lichtenstein Pam Lichtenstein

Gabby Michel Magen Monson Mike Monson

CHICAGO Sunday, June 21—Saturday, June 27

Jared Brown and Brian Weick

ALASKA Saturday, June 12—Monday, June 22

Lily Bird Beckie Dickerson Del Dickerson Sharon Rumbold Jovon Snoke

NEW YORK Saturday, July 11—Saturyday, July 19

Ashley Bannan Jack Brennan Maggie Brennan Hayden Brown Micah Brown Scott Brown Tammy Brown Zack Collins Vanessa Doty

Greg Gould Noah Kraus Mollie Krueger Meagan Makuta Brenda Seggebruch, Mason Seggebruch, Philip Seggebruch

Trevor Seggebruch

Page 2

A recent architecture competition for High-Voltage Electrical Pylons produced images like these. The suggested landscape for such an architectural feat is Iceland, a largely barren land that is mostly uninhab-itable due to harsh climates and terrain. The only inhabitants of much of this land would be these gi-ants, wandering through the wilderness with these high-voltage lines in their hands, carrying electricity to distant towns and cities.

These figures form striking imagery compared to the landscape that surrounds them, and they are beauti-ful in comparison to the otherworldly environment in which they are to be placed. They are alien to their surroundings, yet they do something very powerful in changing the space in which they reside. Isn’t this the imagery of a Christian as well?

Paul wrote to the Church at Philippi: “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you be-fore and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny

is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we ea-gerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

who, by the power that enables him to bring

everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:17-21)

When Paul talks about joining together in following

his example, he uses a Greek word that has the root

idea of mimicking what has already been done be-

fore him (the example the he himself followed). The

idea and concept here is that those who follow in his

footsteps are essentially following in the footsteps of

the disciples before him, and thus ultimately, the

footsteps of Jesus. And thus, we become intimately

connected to the one who gives us power and will

ultimately transform our bodies and bring us from

this foreign land when he returns.

But while we are here, we are bearers of something

pretty incredible through a desolate and barren land.

We carry the power of the Holy Spirit that joins us

together as one people and unites us as a force to

be reckoned with. We carry the very thing that

transformed us and set us apart from the world. We

become carriers of God’s power in His Word. We

simply make our presence known in an unforgiving

landscape, and we as Christians bring an alien

beauty to what surrounds us by sharing what God

has given to us. We, through the power of Jesus,

change the landscape, simply by following in his

footsteps and those who have come after him. We

are high-voltage people by the power of Christ to

change the world.

High Voltage People

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MATURING ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

S u n d a y

June 7-June 28 9:30-10:30 am

Breakfast Bible: (Parish Hall)

BOLD / Pastor Mark

June 7-August 16 9:00-10:30am

Real Life Discipleship (Room 203)

June 14-August 23 9:15-10:30am

First Place 4Health (Room 101)

“Real Life Discipleship”

T u e s d a y

9:00—11:00 am

Ladies’ Bible Class begins June 2

(Room101)

“Becoming Myself”

by Stasi Eldridge.

Staci explores “why the most im-

portant journey you can take is the

one becoming your true self

through the love of God.” The

companion guide invites you to

participate more fully in the process

of becoming who God created

you to be.” Please call the church

office (263-2417) to sign up for ma-

terials. We do have babysitting

available.

7-8:30pm

Real Life Discipleship Class

Pastor Jeff

W e d n e s d a y

6:00—7:00 am

Bethel Brother’s Bible Study (Room 101)

Led by John Lovell & Phil Zobrist

F r i d a y

6:30am

Men’s Bible Study

T.G.I.F. (Room 101)

Men’s class that meets each

week. Led by Ken Newman. A

great way to meet other men

and grow in God’s word.

Complimentary Devo-

tion Books

“Portals of Prayer” and

"Living the Gospel Life” are available at the Wel-

come Center. Please

pick one up. These are a

great way to begin a

daily devotion.

E-Mail Prayer Ministry

There are currently 64

people participating in our

Email Prayer Ministry

Twice a week an email will

be sent with prayer re-

quests from the congrega-

tion and those received

from the church’s website.

If you would like to join

now, there is a sign up sheet at the Welcome

Center or contact the

church office # 263-2417.

Binkies & Diapers KICK-OFF EVENT

Saturday, June 13th 9:30-10:30am at Church

All moms of children 0-3 yr old are

invited to attend. Bethel has had so

many new babies this year and new

families attending that have babies,

the moms all need to meet and con-

nect. Older siblings invited to attend

also. Coordinator is Tenneil Harms

( # 406-858-1697)

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LUTHERAN SINGLES ASSOCIATION

NATIONAL CONFERENCE JUNE 2015

A weekend of food, fellowship, & fun!

Lutherans Singles Association is holding their bi-

ennial Conference at Christ Lutheran Church,

Normal IL June 12 – 14, 2015. The keynote

speaker is Rev. Joel Cluver, assistant to the CID

President in the areas of Mission, Evangelism and

Stewardship, who will be telling us “Everything

You Wanted to Know about Prayer, but were

Afraid to Ask.” Cost is $90 for the entire confer-

ence (includes, snacks Friday, lunch Saturday,

and Dinner Theatre Saturday Evening and pro-

gram costs, does not include Hotel Accommoda-

tions). Can't make the entire weekend? Daily

Rates are Friday $10, Saturday Day $50, Satur-

day Dinner Theatre $40.00. Dinner Theatre is at

Conklin’s Barn II in Goodfield, IL. Come and

meet single adults from all over the country. Bro-

chures can be downloaded from our website at

www. l sal cms.org or emai l : confer-

ence@lsalcms.org or contact Jeanette James for

more info and registration forms 359-8222.

Facebook - Lutheran Singles Association page.

We are requesting prayer warriors for all of the individuals involved in our Summer Trips. If you are interested in committing to praying for those going on these trips please contact the church office to sign up or sign up on the sheet by the Library windows. Thank you for your prayers!

Thrivent is sponsoring 26 free tickets to the Peoria Chiefs!

Saturday – June 27, 2015 6:30 Game Time

Peoria Chiefs will take on the Kane County Cougars

If you are interested in tickets, please call or stop by the church office and sign-up on the door by June 14th. Please include your name, contact #, and number of tickets desired if you leave a message. They will be distributed on a 1st-Come-1st-Served basis. You will be contacted when we receive the tickets.

Hope you can join us for this night of fam-ily fun!

All Church Used but not Abused

Sale

All proceeds go to New Church Furnishings

Sale date is June 9th

8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Gather up your "extra's" and bring to the church Parish Hall starting Sunday, June 7. We can still use more volunteers to help with set up and dur-ing the sale. IN NEED OF PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS!

Questions Call: Sandie Bruns (263-0865)

Peggy Ratcliff (263-8206)

Building Bethel One Life at a Time The 2015-2016 church year which starts in July promises to be full of firsts for Bethel. We would love to have you share your gifts and bless the lives of all those that pass through our doors. The people of Be-thel make our church what it is and the amount of new lives we have the opportunity to reach makes discipleship a priority. Many of our ministries are in need of new volunteers. Please contact Julie Powell in the church office for more information on how you can help build Bethel.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit dis-tributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

There are different kinds of working, but in all

of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. -1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Summer Brochure Available at the Welcome Center. Pick one up to see all of the opportunities available at Bethel in June, July & August.

Page 5

04/22/2015 to 05/20/2015

MEMBERSHIP INS

Infant Baptism Jacob Todd Chaffer

Nora Christine Stetzler

Adult Baptism Emma Elyse Clark

Jackie Raylynn (Cowell) Farris Scott Wayne Farris

Susan Elizabeth Grimm

Adult Confirmation Jeff Lawson Tony Skinner

Andrea Skinner

MEMBERSHIP OUTS

Transferred to Glory Viola May McConkey

William Merle Parlier

BETHEL STAR

ARTICLES DEADLINE DEADLINE: Please be reminded the article deadline for the July edition of the Bethel Star is Friday, June 19. Folders will meet at 8:15am on Friday, June 26 to assemble. Extra copies are made available in the church foyer and can also be accessed on our church website at www.blcmorton.org Go to multimedia then file downloads. Highlights are posted there each week, also.

REJOICING MILESTONES

Birthdays 80+ Years

06/12 Charles Moser 82 06/13 Mabel Miller 89 06/17 Rich Dallinger 88 06/25 Pat Wiseman 89

Anniversaries 50+ Years

06/08 Dave and Nancy Westermann 53 06/15 Jim and Dianne Fortman 57 06/16 Dean and Char Hauptli 52 A complete list of member birthdays with addresses is

outside the church office. Stop by and take a copy.

MIDWEEK TRADITIONAL HYMNAL SERVICES ON

WEDNESDAYS June 3, 10, and 17

Bethel’s Online

Media and Publications Want to listen to previous sermons or check out this

month’s publications, including the Bethel Star, Highlights,

and Kingdom Helpers? Simply go to www.blcmorton.org/

media. From there you can open the media player to listen

to previous sermons. Or on the right side bar (in the green

box) you can click “publications”, which will take you the

page where you can download this month’s publications

simply by clicking on them!

Communion is served the first and third weekends

of each month in all weekend services. Common

cup is made available.

Bethel’s Monthly Blood

Pressure Screening Blood pressure screenings are held

immediately following church ser-

vices in the Church Library on:

Saturday, June 13

7:00 pm

Sunday, June 14

9:00 am and 11:45 am

Page 6

A very special thank you to the following groups that provided meals during Lent for our congregation. We so appreciate the delicious food and time and effort you took to be servants to God’s people here at Be-thel. Stien Small Group x 2

Stock Small Group Ewald Small Group

Westermann Small Group

To Pastor Jeff and Bethel … Thank you so much for baptizing Ruth. We are so blessed to have you and the congregation to call our brothers and sisters. We ap-preciate the use of the church and accommodating our families’ schedule for the baptism. Your kindness and generosity are such a blessing to our family. Thank you for taking care of us!

Paul, Tenniel, Warren, Galen, and Ruth Harms

Lutheran Women of Greater Peoria had a very success-ful bake sale. Not only did our customers enjoy some yummy baked goods, but LWGP is able to donate $950 to the Benevolent Fund at Lutheran Hillside Village. Thank you so much for your support. May God bless your efforts! Pat Likeness

A THANK YOU was sent to Bethel from the Pregnancy Re-source Center, Pekin. "Thank you for sponsoring the Walk for Life. Almost $15,000 was raised to support the Preg-nancy Resource Center. Thank you for your generous help. God Bless You ! The PRC Team". These monies will be used to educate and support women and their babies. It was a great day for the Walk and everyone there had a great time.

Dear Bethel Congregation … It was so wonderful to see the response I got from my Mission Moment presenta-tion in May. On behalf of those precious lambs I would like to thank you for your generosity. God bless each and everyone of you for your support.

In Christ, Janelle Crump

Secretary of the International Board of the Shepherd’s Little Lambs

Thanks to the ladies that delivered a nice May Day bas-ket to me. Such a nice thing to do. Bless you for your thoughtfulness.

Shirley Lichtenstein

Here’s some news about our Queenwood building project… Cornerstone - The cornerstone event that took place on April 26

was well attended and a lot of fun. The old time capsule from the 1950 building was re-set in a new cornerstone and a new time capsule was put in a new cornerstone. After the ceremony participants enjoyed cookies and punch and tours of the new facility.

Sound Insulation – A question that was asked during the corner-

stone event was if the rooms in the new building will be insu-lated for sound. The facilities team reports that all of the walls in the new building will be insulated to provide sound-deadening barriers for all rooms.

New Pews – Samples of the pews that will be installed in the new sanctuary will be on display at the Missouri church building on May 9 & 10.

Moving plans – Bethel’s business manager, Al Hallberg, has de-

vised a moving plan for our transition from the old building to the new. He has divided the old building into zones. Each zone will be assigned a leader and team that will take on the responsi-bility of sorting, packing and moving the contents of their zone. Volunteers for this project will be recruited and trained over the summer.

School Roof – Plans are to replace the school roof in June. The

facilities team will be taking care of this project and will be seek-ing volunteers over the next few weeks.

Clean up – The facilities team will also be seeking volunteers to help with clean up at the construction site as work progresses on the building. More information will be made available as needs arise.

Possible Transition Events – More information about the fol-lowing events will be made available as details are finalized.

June - Blessings on the Floor: A meaningful and fun thing the

people of Bethel did when the new gym was built was to write blessings with marker on the concrete before the wood floor was laid. A similar event is being planned for the new facility where people will be able to write blessings on the concrete before the carpet is laid.

July - Facility Tours: A number of tours are being planned. Min-istry groups can conduct tours of the building related to their ministry. Sunday afternoon tours may be given with a light lunch following in the school cafeteria.

August - Pot Luck: A last pot-luck dinner is being planned for the Missouri building in August.

September - Sanctuary Cross: The cross in the sanctuary of the Missouri building is going to be used in the narthex of the new building. Plans are under way to physically carry this cross from the Missouri building to the Queenwood building after our last worship service in the Missouri sanctuary. This will involve a church-wide procession with the cross and possibly an open house with the community following.

Page 7

WHERE WILL YOUR LWML CENTRAL IL MITES GO FOR 2015-2016: (Total Goal = $85,000 – 75% will go to our District Mites & 25% will go to our National Mites) $25,000 - FOR STUDENT AID FOR CHURCH WORKERS Given the high cost of becoming a full-time church worker, many students find it difficult to complete their schooling. This grant will provide partial funding to students from the CID so they may realize their dream of becoming full-time church workers. These funds will be distributed through the LCMS-CID Scholarship Committee. $4,000 – FOR SOUND UPGRADES AND CHRISTIAN MATERIALS FOR CID DEAF MINISTRY - JACKSONVILLE. ILLINOIS This grant will allow for sanctuary sound upgrades for the hearing-impaired system at Christ Lutheran Church of the Deaf located in Jack-sonville. The grant will also enable the purchase of Bibles and Christian materials used in spreading The Good News. $5.000 - FOR PARTNERS IN MISSION - SPONSOR A SEMINARIAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF HAITI This grant will allow the Lutheran Church in Haiti to have a one-week class scheduled for winter/spring 2016. The cost of $100 for each of the 50 students includes transportation to the seminary (long bus rides), lodging and food. The men will receive training in two subjects. They are eager to spread the Gospel of the Savior to the people of Haiti. No pastors in Haiti receive a salary.

$25,000 – FOR FELLOWSHIP BUILDING FOR HISPANIC OUTREACH - CHRISTO REY LUTHERAN CHURCH, E. MOLINE, IL This grant will assist in offsetting the cost of a new fellowship building to be used for Hispanic Outreach for Christo Rey Lutheran Church, East Moline. The building will be used for outreach activities and include a large open gym-like area, a kitchen, restrooms and have a better organized clothing room and food pantry. The preliminary drawings for the new building estimate the cost at approximately $800,000 for 4,430 square feet if construction begins in midyear 2015. As Christo Rey continues to grow and be used by God, it is the goal to use the large area for worship and continue to reach the Hispanic people, many of whom do not know Jesus or anything about the Bible.

$4,750 – FOR PASTOR PETER KOLB SUPPORT (MISSIONARY TO SRI LANKA)

This grant will help Pastor Peter Kolb in his work of spreading God’s Word in Sri Lanka. His fundraising effort, required by Synod, will en-

able Pastor Kolb and his family often to live in Sri Lanka as he ministers to the people on this island off the southern coast of India. Pastor

Kolb has previously served Holy Cross in Vandalia.

The Bethel Lutheran Foundation wishes to thank the following Bethel Church members and School families for their memorials and special gifts during January, February, and March 2015:

Jeff and Renata Anderson Dave and Nicki Bailey

Wayne and Suzanne Brinkmann Bob and Jo Eicken

Eleanor Jacob Dave and Janice Kinsinger

Ilona McDonough Harold and Ellen Mooberry

Ruth Nohl Bob and Ruth Reinken

MEMORIALS WERE GIVEN IN MEMORY OF . . .

1. William Dallinger (Brother of Richard Dallinger)

2. Dan Donahue (Brother-in-law of Ruth Reinken)

3. Lucille Kenney (Grandmother of Pastor Mark Anderson)

4. Arlette Lange (Mother of Linda Abts)

5. Shirleymae Alice Le Baube

6. Jesse Metzger (Father of Janice Gleason)

7. Donald Meyer

8. Stephen O. Wolpers

GIFTS WERE DESIGNATED FOR . . .

Bethel Lutheran Church

Bethel Lutheran Church New Construction

Bethel Lutheran School

Bethel Youth Ministry Page 8

Don’t forget to check out the new Camp CILCA brochures. They are located in the maga-zine racks in the Narthex and by Scott Brown’s office door. Scholarships are available to help send kids to camp! Call the church office for details.

Page 9

Psalm 147:1 How good it is to sing praises to our God, How pleasant and fitting to praise Him! We would love for YOU to share your musical talents with Bethel this summer! We are currently scheduling special music for the months of June, July, and August, and many weekends are still avail-able. We ask that you play/sing for both Sunday services of your weekend, and playing/singing at the Saturday evening service is optional. This is a great opportunity for young musicians, from Jr. High through college to get involved in our music ministry! We'd enjoy hearing solos, duets, or ensembles, as well as old songs, new songs, or favorite songs. Just make a joyful noise for our God! If interested, please contact Miki Farwell at mouse299@hotmail.com or (309) 263-8278

OSF Home Care Services is seeking volunteers

for many areas of serving opportunities. Please see the hallway bulletin board for ways to help and who to contact.

Bethel Lutheran Church will be hosting a Blood Drive in the Parish Hall on Tuesday June 2 from 1:30 – 6:30pm. If you are wanting to donate blood con-tact the church office at 309-263-2417 or log-into www.redcrossblood.org or call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS. We are in need of volunteers for this day as well and you can contact Dave Lohnes to volunteer. Dave’s phone is 309-291-0307 and his email is lohnesdl@icloud.com

We have an opening for the Bethel Lutheran

Operation Christmas Child Coordina-tor. You can find more information out about

this ministry by visiting the Samaritan’s Purse website http://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child. This is a great out-reach that has been steadily growing in partici-pation for the last few years and we would love to see Bethel’s involvement continue to grow. If you would like more information or have any questions about this ministry, please contact Julie Powell in the church office. 309-263-2417 or jpowell@mtco.com

The March issue of The Lutheran Witness has a very thought pro-voking article A Contraceptive Culture. What is the dark reality of Planned Parenthood? It outlines the start and mission of Planned Parenthood. The article is eye opening to anyone not familiar with the working of this organization. It tells how it was formed and by whom. Planned Parenthood has been successful in infiltrating the church and society in general with their message of overpopulation control. They are most successful on doing business on college campuses. If you are interested in reading the whole article go to witness.lcms.org. We, as Christians, need to be more aware of what is being taught and passed on as truth to our college and high school students. The information that is presented will definitely not be found in the Bible, yet is accepted as truth without proof. Be sure to know what is being passed on to your children!

Autumn Wagner, 8th grader at Bethel Lu-theran School, was named the first place winner at the Lutherans For Life State Es-say Contest. Way to go Autumn! It is so important to get our young people to un-derstand the importance of all LIFE issues and the effect they will have on lives around them, now and in the fu-ture. CONGRATULATIONS AUTUMN! JOB WELL DONE.

Pizza with the Pastors

All new visitors, regular visitors, and

newer members are invited!

Sunday, June 14 Noon

Parish Hall

Come visit with the Pastors and enjoy some pizza, too!

Bring the kids!

Please RSVP Church Office by

Friday, June 12 309-263-2417

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Bethel Lutheran Ministries

425 N. Missouri Avenue

Morton, IL 61550

(Return Service Requested)

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Morton, IL

Permit #50

VBS TEAM MEMBERS NEEDED blcmorton.org/vbs2015/volunteer