The Bethlehem Star

Volume 1, Issue 2 February 2017

Council Elected

The Annual Congregation meeting was held on Sunday, January 22. Brent Ihns, Jerry Kapinski and Tim Thiede were elected to 3-year terms on the congregation Council. Enos Ihns was elected to a 3-year term on the Endowment Committee. The Council met immediately following to organize. The following officers were elected: Tom Gerdes, President; Brent Ihns, Vice-President; Deb Christiansen, Secretary; Jim Holtz, Treasurer.

Annual Cheer Brunch

Bethlehem Women invites

all to their Cheer Brunch on

Sat. Feb. 4 at 9:00 am.

Our Guest Speaker will be

Dave Soper from Wyoming.

He will be sharing highlights

from his trips to Haiti.

Mark your Calendars

Men’s Breakfast Sunday, February 19

After Worship

Annual Statement of

Contributions Enclosed

Your annual statements of contributions to Bethlehem Lutheran are enclosed. If you need them for tax purposes be sure to look for them. If you receive The Bethlehem Star electronically, your statements will be available to be picked up at church on Sunday, January 29, and if not picked up then, they will be mailed shortly thereafter.

You’re Invited

To: Bethlehem’s Annual

Friendship Party

When: Sunday, February 12

@ 5:30pm

Where: Bethlehem Church’s Social Room

Why: To share Food, Fun, & Fellowship

Childcare Provided

Please call 678-2301 to sign up

www.bethlehemln.com

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

has a new updated website. It

will stay current with activities

happening here at BLC.

Check it out, included is

Worship Assistants, Fellowship

Lists and Newsletters in the Newsletter and History

section

Want to know who the call process works check out

the Announcements page and click “Overview of

the Call Process for that information.

Were not able to attend during the Annual Meeting

you can find the annual report in the Newsletter and

History section.

Check out the section for Education and Activities

for al the great stuff the children have been up to

this past year.

Then check out the Pictures and Videos sections

for some really nice things. There is even a

Funeral section for information on our members

that have gone home to be with our Lord.

So lots of things to be seen on the web..

Interim Ministry by PT

Some look at membership in a congregation like being part of a civic organization. To be a member in

good standing, you must “pay your dues.” Occasionally you may be asked to serve on a leadership role,

but little more is expected.

Our church constitution reminds us that members are those who have been baptized in the name of the

Triune God. With this membership comes responsibilities. “It shall be the privilege and duty of

members of this congregation to make regular use of the means of grace, both Word and sacraments”

(come to worship and commune), “live a Christian life… and support the work of this congregation, the

synod and the churchwide organization of the ELCA…” (live the faith and give). The bylaws go further

by stating that this worship, living and giving is to be happening every year. If 2 years pass without

communing and giving, the resident pastor is to make a call and the Church Council may remove the

member from the role of active members.

During this time when I serve as interim pastor is a good time for all who claim membership in this

congregation to honestly consider whether you are fulfilling your responsibilities as members of this

congregation. I will be suggesting that ALL members be contacted by mail, asking each confirmed

member to reply by return mail to let us know that you have/have not communed and given in the past 2

years. We will take your word for this.

It may be that you have joined another congregation and are worshiping, living and giving there.

Great! Just tell us which church so we can send a letter of transfer. Be assured that you are always

welcome to worship with us when you are here. If you still want the newsletter, we can send that.

It may be that you have not acted as a member since you were confirmed a decade ago. We will respect

your honest answer (and not pester you for an offering).

The Council will weigh the “no reply” list and seek to deal with each case appropriately.

This will help the Call Committee to be honest with those interviewing to serve here. We do not have

280 adult members. We do not have 100 children under the age of 15. There was a day when that was

so, but it passed decades ago.

We need lots of partners in the ministry of letting all know the love of God in Jesus, our Lord. We do

not need to be collecting “dues” from folks who are not committed to proclaiming the gospel.

February Birthdays 6 Pat Hansen 8 Ryne Gruenwald, AJ Schroeder 9 Betty Rehmke 11 Ed Sheldon 12 Corynn Bennett 13 Darla Fields, Callie Petersen 15 Ruby Ketchum 22 Jenna Holtz, Clara Ihns 23 Becky Ihns-Petersen

February Anniversaries 8 Joan and Bruce Von Sprecken

Council Highlights

Bethlehem Congregation Council met for its regular meeting on January 8. In business the Council:

discussed PT’s report on congregations membership and updating records

decided to take $10,000 from savings and buy a CD

worked on the 2017 budget;

decided to contribute 8%, $4,000 to the Synod for the year; Heard the following Treasurer’s report Balance 12/1/16 $ 5024.30 December Income 4954.86 December Expenses 2887.40 Balance 12/31/16 $ 7091.76

BWELCA HILITES

Quilting

Quilting continues on Monday’s from

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Please join us for

a few hours or all day. A noon pot luck

will take place.

Cheer Brunch

The BWELCA board will be

hosting their annual Cheer

Brunch on Sat. Feb. 4 at 9:00

a.m. Following a delicious brunch,

Dave Soper will be sharing his

work/experiences from several

trips to Haiti. We will also be

packing cheer plates.

Friendship Party

Plans are underway for the annual

Friendship party on Sun. Feb.12 from

5:30- 8:30 p.m. A signup sheet will be

posted, so plan to attend and bring a

friend. Babysitting will be provided.

Baby/Personal Care Kit Collection

Check out the table in the back for the display and

lists of needs for the baby and personal care kits.

If needed we can shop for you, let us know!

OUR GOAL IS 50 LAYETTE 50 PERSONAL KITS

We will be packing layette kits during the soup

supper on Wed. March 22.

We will also pack health care kits on Wed. April 5.

Next in line to serve: Bethlehem Circle

BWELCA Board meeting in March to be

announced.

February Joint Circle Meeting GALATIONS

CHRISTIAN FAITH AND

CHRISTAIN FREEDON

Children of God through faith

by Kathryn A. Kleinhans

Saturday, Feb. 11 at 9:00 a.m.

Hostess/Leader: Jone Paarmann and

Rochelle Busch

Winter 2017: Galatians:

Christian faith and Christian freedom

Kit Kleinhans, a professor at

Wartburg College in Waverly,

Iowa, will share a four-session

Reformation anniversary Bible

study on “Galatians: Christian faith

and Christian freedom.”

"Biblical scholars describe Paul’s

letter to the Galatians as the Magna Carta of

Christian freedom," Kleinhans writes. "Martin Luther

called it 'my Katie von Bora.' Like his marriage to

Katie, Luther’s relationship with Galatians was a

rich and lasting one: over a period of 20 years, he

published six commentaries on the epistle. Luther’s

reformation was centered in the doctrine of

justification by grace through faith for Christ’s sake,

which he saw as the heart of Paul’s letter to the

Christians in Galatia. It is also the heart of Paul’s–

and–Luther’s message for us today."

Session 1: No other Gospel (Galatians 1:1-2:21)

Session 2: Children of God through faith (Galatians

2:19-3:29)

Session 3: Heirs of the promise (Galatians 3:24-

4:31)

Session 4: For freedom Christ has set us free

(Galatians 5:1-6:18)

Baby Kit Shopping List 9 dozen diapers

46 hand towels

150 (3.2 oz.) bars of Ivory soap

Personal Care Kits 48 tooth brushes

36 bath towels (dark, 20x40 to 27x52)

47 nail clippers (with or without file)

100 (4-5 oz.) bars of soap any brand

50 sturdy combs (wide tooth)

Worship Assistants

Greeters: Scott Doll, Bill Pithan Ushers: Tim Thiede, Tom Gerdes Lectors 5- Brent Ihns 12- Jessica Ihns 19- Connie Kleppe 26- Jone Paarmann Communion Servers: 5- Rochelle Busch, Kelly Doll 19- Scott Doll, Brent Ihns Bread Maker: Tim Thiede

Altar Care: Sue Zeller Communion Set Up: Diana Ihns

Tellers: Brent Ihns, Tim Thiede

Fellowship Servers: 5- Diana Ihns, Becky Ihns-Petersen, Carol Kapinski 12- Friendship Party No Fellowship 19- MENS BREAKFAST

26- Coffee on.. Bring Treat to Share..

News from St. Mark’s

NO SOUP / SOUP SUPPER FUNDRAISER

In February 2017, the WELCA members will be

contacting all members of the congregation for a

donation of $10. This is an important fundraising

project by the WELCA members to help them to be

able to serve others on the synod, churchwide

ministry and local community events.

Please help WELCA help others by participating

and donating your $10. It is a joy to be able to do

God’s work and help others and who doesn’t need

more joy in their lives.

(BLC – there will be an envelope at the ushers

stand for anyone who would like to contribute, if

you happened to be someone who attended.)

Summer Camp Planning Already!

Brochures and registration forms

for EWALU Bible Camp summer

programs have arrived in the

office. It’s not too early to

register. Lowest rates are in

effect until February 28. Or go

online to www.ewalu.org. Camp is available for

kids of all ages from mini-camp (for kids finishing

2nd grade) through high school. Adults can even

register to be a camp “grandparent.”

Call Committee News

The Call Committee has had their first initial

meeting together with St. Mark with the leadership

of Pastor Paul Ostrem from the Synod office. They

learned the responsibilities of the Call Committee.

Many reports are needed to be filled out and

completed before the end of February. The time

line for February is so we can include those

graduates from the First Call list. On Sunday,

January 22 we distributed a survey to those

attending the Annual Meeting to help the committee

know what we as a congregation are looking for in

a new pastor.

The Committee will continue with making a Ministry

Site Profile (MSP) which will aid in the Synod

matching what is needed as a congregation. Any

questions feel free to contact any of the committee

members: Jessica Ihns, Chair, Ellen Pithan, Darla

Fields, Deanne Bennett, Scott Doll and Enos Ihns.

Rick Steves’ Luther and the Reformation

The 500th anniversary of the

Reformation is not only a time for

reflection on the rich history of this

church, but also a chance to look

forward to what lies ahead for all of us.

It’s an exciting time to be Lutheran as

we come together with the Roman Catholic Church

on the foundation of our common heritage.

Rick Steves’ Luther and the Reformation, is a

wonderful resource for all of us – pastors and lay

people alike – to better understand our Lutheran

roots and help us in our continued journey of

understanding the gospel. We invite you to join us

on Tuesday Feb. 20 at 7:00 p.m. for a viewing and

discussion on this video. Bring a snack to share

and lets enjoy the show..

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

3

4

Cheer Brunch

9 AM

5 Holy Communion 8:45 AM Sparks/Fellowship 9:45 AM

6

7 Parish Health Nurse 9:00-10:30 AM

8 Confirmation

1:30 – 3 PM

9

10

11

JOINT Circle

H/L: 9 AM

Jone Paarmann,

Rochelle Busch

12 Worship 8:45 AM Sparks/Fellowship 9:45 AM

Friendship Party

5:30 PM

13 14

Council 6:15 PM

15 Confirmation

1:30 – 3 PM 16

17

18

19 Holy Communion 8:45 AM Sparks 9:45 AM

Men’s Breakfast

following worship

20 Newsletter Items Due

Movie Night Luther and the

Reformation

7 PM

21 Parish Health Nurse 9:00-10:30 AM

22 Confirmation

1:30 – 3 PM

23

24

25

26 Worship 8:45 AM Fellowship 9:45 AM

27

28

1 Ash Wednesday

Worship

BLC 10:30 AM

St. Mark’s 7 PM

2017

February

Bethlehem Lutheran Church 403 Pleasant Street

Lost Nation, Iowa 52254

January 2017

Interim Pastor Tom Reuss

Office Phone 678-2301

Home Phone 515-290-2517

revreuss@yahoo.com

Office Secretary Deanne Bennett

Church Phone 678-2301

secretary@bethlehemln.com

Parish Nurse Carm Schneider

Office Hours 9:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m.

1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Phone 678-2302

Sunday Schedule Worship 8:45

Sparks/Fellowship Following

Office Hours Interim Pastor:

Wednesday Mornings: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Secretary Hours: Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

If you need to enter the church and do not have a key, always call ahead to be certain she or

someone is here.

Bethlehem’s Website:

www.bethlehemln.com