P.T.’s (very) Random Thoughts

Thank You: 1. Thank you to all who supported our Giving Tree program. Your support helped

some needy families celebrate Christmas with gifts they could not afford. 2. Thank you for the continued support of the Bethlehem Emergency Fund and for the

gift cards given to the church office to help those in need of food. Your support helps the office give to those who often walk in and need help. Bethlehem also sup-ports the Central Cities Ministry, which is a ministry to the needy who are not con-nected to an area congregation.

3. Thank you from the Stoa family for the cards and gifts. We are truly blessed by your love and appreciation.

Building Security During Worship Hours: 1. For a number of months, the Worship Board has discussed adding security to our

building during worship times. Unfortunately, this has become a topic of concern in our world.

a. They have proposed that the north and west doors be locked 5 minutes after the start of worship (give or take a minute).

b. Signs will be posted announcing this security on the north and west doors. c. The east doors will remain open during worship since they are easily monitored

by the ushers. d. When the doors are locked they can still be used to exit the building. The north

and west doors will be reopened 5 minutes before the service is finished.

2. Please be patient with us as we implement this policy. Nobody really wants to do this, but sadly, this is a sign of our times. We have had some walk in traffic during worship and Christian Education, and we need to know who is in the building and what we can do to help them.

Winter Bible Study: The study begins February 13 on “Reading the Bible.” We will look at the Word of God as it was historically seen; how the life of the church has seen it; and then finally how we apply it to our world today. We will break the study into four broad categories:

a. A general guide to the reading/usage of the Bible. b. A guide to reading the Old Testament. c. A guide to reading the Gospels. d. A guide to reading the Apostle Paul.

The study runs for four weeks. Come at either noon or 6:00 p.m. Bring your Bible.

HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR IN 2020.

Volume LXIV, Issue 1 January 2020

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a faith community that gathers to hear, teach and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Inside This Issue

New Life Center 2

Library 3

Monthly Mission Motif 3

Voters’ Assembly 4

Circle Information 4

From the Church Records 5

Youth News 6

January Calendar 7

Worship Schedule — Page 2

Office Hours

8:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

Office Closed Wednesday, January 1

Worship Schedule

Wednesday, January 1 New Year’s Day

No Worship or Activities

Sunday, January 5 Communion at Both Services

No Christian Education 9:00 am Worship 10:45 am Worship

Wednesday, January 8 6:00 pm Worship in the Chapel 6:00 pm Christian Education 7:00 pm Confirmation

Sunday, January 12 9:00 am Worship 10:00 am Christian Education 10:00 am Communion in the Chapel 10:45 am Worship

Wednesday, January 15 6:00 pm Worship in the Chapel 6:00 pm Christian Education/ Large Group Family Event 7:00 pm Confirmation

Sunday, January 19 9:00 am Worship 10:00 am Christian Education/ Large Group Family Event 10:00 am Communion in the Chapel 10:45 am Worship

Wednesday, January 22 6:00 pm Worship in the Chapel 6:00 pm Christian Education 7:00 pm Confirmation

Sunday, January 26 9:00 am Worship 10:00 am Christian Education 10:00 am Communion in the Chapel 10:45 am Worship

Wednesday, January 29 6:00 pm Worship in the Chapel 6:00 pm Christian Education 7:00 pm Confirmation

A Letter from the New Life Center

Because of the prayers and support of your church, the New Life Center and those we serve have experienced a year of great blessing. I am eager for the opportunity to share details of how we saw God working in 2019 through our partnership. What was so special about 2019?

Launch of a new Christian Relapse Prevention program

The complete remodel of the mission was finished

Separate living spaces for guests based on accountability-based program partici-pation

Giving Hearts Day donations were record-breaking for any organization

Grand re-opening with more than three times the expected attendance

Unprecedented generosity from businesses especially in the area of food dona-tions

Tremendous thrift store success measured by volunteer involvement, voucher partnerships, and sales

The Untold Story dessert social with Ron Hall speaking to an audience of more than 700

It is important for the New Life Center staff to keep your church well informed. As we have more than 100 men — husbands, dads, sons — sleeping here each evening and serve approximately 200 plates of food each day to our guests and community members, we covet your prayers and involvement. God is using this ministry to change lives as folks move from merely surviving to truly thriving. In Christ, Jay Thoreson Community Outreach Officer

Monthly Mission Support: New Life Center

We are collecting coffee for the month of January. Donations may be left in the New Life Center basket outside the church office.

New Life Center

New in the Library:

“Heart of Gold” by Robin Lee Hatcher

This story takes place in Idaho during the time of the Wells Fargo Express. A pastor is called to a church in Idaho from Virginia. His daughter accompanies him. She is not sure where she fits in. A stagecoach driver is moving his sister, who is dying, and her son to Idaho. The young lady soon finds her place in caring for this woman. God is at work helping everyone find the true desires of their hearts, deep conviction, and spiritu-al growth.

“Window on the Bay” by Debbie Macomber

This is a story of two career women, divorced and finding themselves empty nesters after near 20 years of juggling motherhood and careers. They have dreamed of and planned a trip to Paris since their college days. Will the trip finally come true? Or will unexpected situations change their minds? They learn to have faith and to embrace the unexpected in order to have the lives they have always dreamed of before it passes them by.

— Noreen Halvorson, Librarian

Monthly Mission Motif

The Fellowship/Evangelism Board would like to thank everyone who participated in our Monthly Mission Motifs throughout 2019. The Bethlehem community is a gener-ous one! Last January our congregation supported youth and young adults, with Red River Chil-dren’s Advocacy Center, NDSU Lutheran Center, and Bethlehem’s youth as our focus. In February we supported the YWCA and Churches United for the Homeless by provid-ing hygiene and cleaning items. Great Plains Food Bank and the Emergency Food Pantry got our support in March and September with groups of people volunteering at both locations and a food drive in Sep-tember ELCA Global Mission and Disaster Response was the focus for April, with Lutheran Social Services in May. During the summer months we supported Lutheran World Relief by collecting school supplies for distribution in September. We assembled 46 school bags. In October we continued with the school theme by supporting our neighborhood school, Jefferson Ele-mentary. November and December had a Christmas vibe with our annual Giving Tree to purchase gifts for deserving families, as well as Fraser, Ltd. Permanent Supportive Housing and ELCA Good Gifts. Also in November and December, we raised nearly $8,000 to purchase a new stove for Churches United for the Homeless. There will be no Monthly Mission Motif for January 2020. The Evangelism/Fellowship Board is working on projects for the upcoming year. Look for some new ones, along with some that are familiar.

Quilting The quilters meet each Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. — Noon, Septem-ber through May. They meet Janu-ary 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Please join them for another year of fun, fellowship, coffee and goodies. Come even if you don’t sew — we will find something else for you to do. New members are always welcome!

Need a Ride to Worship? Bethlehem makes available a taxi service for your assistance. Please call Lucky 7 Taxi at 235-1717 by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday to arrange pick-up.

If you have any questions, please call the office.

Trust Foundation Board It’s wonderful to see the Endow-ment Fund’s growth due to your envelope offering and memorial gifts. A Donation Request Form has been created and is now availa-ble in the church office. Please consider including Bethle-hem Lutheran Church Endowment Fund in your wills, estates and retirement accounts. Thank you.

Bulletins If you would like to give bulletins in honor or memory of someone on a particular Sunday, there is a sign-up calendar on the bulletin board by the office. The cost is $15 for Sunday bulletins; $5 for children’s bulletins.

Bulletin Slots Available Open slots are February 2, 16 & 23 and March 29. For children’s bul-letins open slots are February 2 & 16 and March 15 & 29.

Our Circle Bible Studies meet Sep-tember through May as follows:

Elizabeth: Tuesday, January 21 @ 3:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall Hostess: Linda Wilkie Chairwoman: Joyce Schepp 701-412-3244

Mary: Will not meet in January. Chairwoman: Barb Johnson 237-9878

Gather Magazine Gather, the magazine of Women of the ELCA, offers a mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions, and stories of comfort and challenge that lift up the mission of Women of the ELCA: to mobilize women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ. The magazine is published 10 times per year. The cost is $19.95 per year.

You may subscribe online at wom-enoftheelca.org or call 800-328-4648 to order a subscription.

* * * * *

Communing the Baptized All who are baptized are welcome to participate in Holy Communion. Does your child show interest in re-ceiving Communion?

Even if he/she is younger than 10 years of age, they are welcome to participate at the Lord’s Table. We offer early Communion preparation for baptized persons younger than 10 years of age and their families. If you and your child are interested in such a conversation, please contact one of the pastors. They would be happy to schedule a time to speak with you!

Christmas Progam

Our Christian Education students presented “The Joy of Christmas” on Wednesday evening, December 18, under the direction of Lexy Steine, Youth & Family Ministry. Following the program, students attended a Christmas party in Fellowship Hall. Thank you to the Education Board and the Christian Education teachers for all their work in making this a successful event. Photo courtesy Jess Smith.

Reminder: Christian Education classes resume Wednesday,

January 8, and Sunday, January 12.

Voters’ Assembly

A Voters’ Assembly will be held Tuesday, January 21, at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. This is our annual budget meeting. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

(As of 11/30/19)

Sweep (Operating Loan) Balance 65,358.00

Memorials Received Thank you to everyone who gave me-morials to Bethlehem.

Bulletins In honor of Erv’s 91st birthday De-cember 7 and our 65th wedding anni-versary December 11, given by Erv & Jean Beilke. In honor of our grandchildren’s birthdays, given by Hank & Noreen Halvorson.

Kitchen In memory of Barbara Spieler, given by Art & Lillian Kopperud. In memory of Dallas Monson, given by Joyce Monson. In memory of Bud Rindahl, given by Rindahl family.

Library In memory of Charlie Gast, given by Hank & Noreen Halvorson. In memory of Lois Johnson, given by Hank & Noreen Halvorson.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is grateful for your consideration of a memorial gift for your loved one. The list of me-morial needs has been established to guide families in their options and inter-ests. It is also based on priority needs of the congregation. Although our prefer-ence is to accept memorials for these established funds, you may contact the Property or Worship Boards if you wish your memorial to be considered for an-other purpose. Thank you for this op-portunity to honor your loved one.

Memorial Needs

1. Debt Reduction 2. Emergency Fund 3. Endowment Fund 4. General Fund 5. Kitchen Update (Sinks/Fixtures) 6. Library 7. Organ Fund 8. Parking Lot Fund 9. Roof Fund 10. Shrubbery

Baptisms 12/22/19 — Mason James Mueller, son of Alex & Amanda Mueller. Sponsors: Josh Holmes, Brooke Gorder.

* * * * *

5th: No Christian Ed, God Squad 1-2 pm

8th: Christian Ed and WNA Resumes

12th: Christian Ed

15th: Christian Ed Large Group Family Event

and WNA 19

th: Christian Ed Large Group Family

Event, God Squad 1-2 pm 22

nd: Christian Ed and WNA

25th: 3

rd-5

th Grade Mini Lock In, 4-9 pm

26th: Christian Ed

29th: Christian Ed and WNA

31st-Feb 1

st: 6

th-12

th Grade Lock In, 8pm-8am

Regular: 1 Meat + 1 cheese

Deluxe: Both Meats + 1 cheese Meat Options: Ham or Turkey

Cheese Options: Cheddar or Pepper Jack All on Erbert and Gerbert’s Wheat Bread

All proceeds go toward youth events and individual youth accounts. If you are a youth who would like to earn money toward your individual account, please sign up on the youth board for a time to help sell!

January 25, 4:00-9:00 pm 3

rd-5

th Grade Mini Lock In!

Bethlehem Youth and any friends are wel-come to join us for the “mini” version of our Lock In! We’ll have worship, games, food, and a movie!

January 31-February 1, 8 pm-8 am 6

th-12

th Grade Lock In!

Bethlehem Youth and any friends are wel-come to join us for our annual Lock In! We fill the entire night with worship, games, food, crafts, a service project, and lots of fun! Please fill out a Health/Behavior form (found on the youth board) prior to the Lock-In.

Sign up for both the Mini Lock In and Lock In

are on the youth board - please sign up so we know how many to expect!

As always- both events are FREE!

Lexy wants to come have lunch at school with YOU! Sign up on the document in the Facebook group, or email Lexy to claim a date! This is open to Bethlehem youth of any age!

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Pastor of Bethlehem Tim Stoa Youth & Family Ministry Lexy Steinle Visitation Ministry Ann Schutz Administrative Assistant Sonja Lougheed Custodians Tammy & Mike Binder Treasurer/Organist Judy Coughlin Librarian Noreen Halvorson Youth Choir Director Lexy Steinle Asst. Youth Director Liz Erber Music Coordinator Sonja Myhre Senior Choir Director Dale A. Lammi Bell Choir Director Alexander Chubaty Senior Choir Accompanist Alvina Deyle Video Technicians Liz Erber Lexi Binder

Missionaries: Willie and Anne Langdji Madagascar, West and Central Africa

Sunday: Worship at 9:00 & 10:45 a.m.

Christian Education at 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday: Worship at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel Christian Education at 6:00 p.m.

Holy Communion Weekly

Office - 235-6522

Warm Line - 235-6548 Website - www.blcfargo.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED