BETHEL BEACON S U N D A Y W O R S H I P. Pastor Mark Kindem. BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5232 Irvine Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN 56601

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1 October 2014 BETHEL BEACON BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5232 Irvine Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN Bethel Lutheran Church 5232 Irvine Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN Church Office bethelbemidji.org Bethel Child Care Center Rev. Mark Kindem Pastor Home Phone # pastorkindem@hotmail.com Patti VanCamp Office Admin./Fin. Manager adminsec@bethelbemidji.org Randell McKain Youth Director Abe Hanson Custodian Kathryn Shea BCCC Director PRAYER CHAIN - Day - Bob & Vi Evening - Judy S U N D A Y W O R S H I P 9:00 AM Worship Service Fellowship Hour 10:00 AM A long time member of my congregation in ND had a cross -stitched saying on her kitchen wall: For God so loved the world that he didn t send a committee. Certainly there is some tongue and cheek going on, but on a more serious note the quote is right on! God did something about his love for the world: He sent his son, God with skin on to everyone. In a similar way, Jesus said Go therefore.... It was a commission! This captures the majority report of the New Testament mission emphasis. In order for the church to grow, it needed to be out there in the world sharing the message that God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. The early church encouraged everyone to share in the labor and cost of spreading that message. St. Paul encouraged the congregational members in all of his churches to share in the giving in such a way that everyone could offer the same sacrifice. He instructed them to give in proportion to what they had been given. Today, we can do the same. Think of all that God has blessed us with. You and I are called to give not only as individual believers, but also as a congregation of believers. That is why we have our annual Consecration Sunday on October 5th. We are in this together! May we, through our giving and sharing, continue to share the Good news of Jesus here in this place and throughout the world. Pastor Mark Kindem What is stewardship? Some sample definitions Christian stewardship is the practice of the Christian religion. It is neither a department of life, nor a sphere of activity. It is the Christian conception of life as a whole, manifested in attitudes and actions. W.H. Greever (1937) Christian stewardship is the practice of systematic and proportionate giving of time, abilities, and material possessions, based upon the conviction that these are trusts from God to be used in his service for the benefit of all mankind in grateful acknowledgement of Christ s redeeming love. National Council of Churches United Stewardship Council (1946) Stewardship is what we do after we say we believe. Clarence C. Stoughton (1949) Stewardship is partnership with Christ, through the Holy Spirit, in fulfilling the purposes of God in the world. A.C. Conrad (1955) Stewardship is the re-enactment of Christ s life in Christ s people. T.A. Kantonen (1956) Stewardship is the management of life and all its resources for God and for the good of all. Robert Hastings (1961) Stewardship is receiving and sharing God s bounteous gifts and managing them for the best promotion of God s purposes in the world. Milo Kauffman (1975) Stewardship is taking care of the bounty that God continually provides us. L. David Brown (1978) Christian stewardship has come to mean what we do with what we have, all the time. John H. MacNaughton (1983) Stewardship is a philosophy of life and a theological form of self-management. John Brackett (1988) Stewardship is God s grace working God s purpose out in the world, in, with and through us, who, in grateful response to God and through faith in Jesus Christ, enter into a covenant relationship with the empowering Spirit of God that blesses all of creation. Rhodes Thompson (1990)

2 Page 2 REFLECTIONS FROM NALC CONVOCATION pvm BETHE L LUTHERA N CHURCH On July the North American Lutheran Church, of which Bethel is a part, held its fourth Convoca on, in far-off Charleston, S.C. This was the 4 th. The previous 3, all of which we a ended, were held in Upper Arlington, OH (2011), Calvary Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, MN (2012), and at Sheraton Hotel in Pi sburgh, PA (2013). They have all been well a ended, with nearly 700 this July. It was held at The Citadel, which is the Military College of S.C. It was very friendly to this Chris an gathering. Like the three previous Convoca ons it was preceded by roughly 2 days involving a Convoca on of Lutheran Core and a Theological Conference. Ida and I represented Bethel Lutheran, a deligh ul and enriching me. Ida Marie spent much me at the CSV Display Table, mee ng with many people, while I a ended lectures and mee ngs. Ida par cipated in some of this too, including a Women s Mee ng at which she was the only woman from Minnesota present. It is good to be in an atmosphere where the Gospel has front place. The Core Values of the NALC, as we know, are Christ-Centered, Mission-Driven, Tradi onally-grounded and Congrega onally-focused. This is the first year, I believe, that the ELCA had no formal representa ve at the mee ng. A few overseas representa ves were present. I especially appreciated the 2 clergy from the Swedish Mission Province, leaders of a reforming movement seeking to bring Confessional Lutheranism back to Sweden, indeed to all of Europe. Bishop Bradosky, represen ng the NALC as a whole, spoke on the Convoca on theme based on Ephesians 6:10-20 where Paul encourages followers of Jesus to put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. So, when is the evil day. It is today. It is every day. Satan is always busy, not least when the days are good. The day of Jesus birth was a good day, the best ever, as was the resurrec on, but it was also a day of evil. This became clear some 30 years later on Calvary. Where is the evil today? Everywhere. Chaos and war in the Middle East, and many other places. The widespread persecu on of Chris ans rampant in many places, as much or more than at any me in history, not to men on the slaughter of others. The lack of human rights is even affec ng supposed democra c socie es in Europe and North America. In the name of democracy new defini- ons of moral values are imposed by crea ng new forms of discrimina on. To disagree with these new defini- ons becomes hate speech, not least in some churches, colleges and universi es. Elsewhere, in the name of freedom there are children being prohibited from wri ng Merry Christmas to the soldiers, senior ci zens being banned from verbal prayers over meals in a Senior Center, and some VA facili es have banned the men on of God in military funerals. It goes on and on. The shield of faith, the helmet of salva on in Christ, the sword of the Spirit and the Word, the whole armor of God is needed in our day, Bishop Bradosky made clear. And then there are the mega-millions wai ng to hear the Gospel. Our call is not to vigorously carry out a defensive strategy, but to use the tools of Word and Sacrament to make known the love of God in Jesus, who died because of the evil in his day and rose so that we might bring the Word of God s forgiveness and grace to all people, beginning with the person next door, including children in pre-school, and countless others. Such is our every day calling. I was deeply moved by the tes mony on Janet s life, the one we lost so recently. In a thank you card to all those who had a part in the worship and fellowship of Jan s funeral, Kirt included a short note containing words of thanks for making Jan s service so memorable. Her en re life, he writes, she made a conscious decision every day that it would be a good day. That decision was based on her faith in Jesus Christ. Even in her trials and pain, that did not waiver she was at peace with the LORD. This is what Bethel is all about. This is what NALC is all about. This is what it means to be Christ- Centered in a world that desperately needs the good, the good that only Christ, crucified and risen, can give to us as we live in community with all others throughout this world.

BETHE L LUTHERA N CHURCH Council Highlights Pastor Kindem complimented all who work to welcome visitors and new members. Consecra on Sunday will be October 5. Sunday School will start in October.

$12,928 is owed by the County as promised subsidies. When this is collected the BCCC will be in the black for the year to date. The Bethel Founda on has recalculated the Bethel Mortgage down $448.

3 BETHE L LUTHERA N CHURCH Council Highlights Pastor Kindem complimented all who work to welcome visitors and new members. Consecra on Sunday will be October 5. Sunday School will start in October. Teachers are needed! The church steeple has been cleaned. Burnt out lights in the Fellowship will be replaced this month. The BCCC has $17, 889 in pending payments owed. $12,928 is owed by the County as promised subsidies. When this is collected the BCCC will be in the black for the year to date. The Bethel Founda on has recalculated the Bethel Mortgage down $ per month. The church will con nue to pay the amount budgeted un l the new year. The excess will go toward the principal. Page 3 The Church in Mission Commi ee welcomes Lorrane Thorson as its newest member and seeks at least two more. Thirteen old paperback Good News Bibles from the church library will be donated to Churches United to be given to those asking for a Bible. Pastor Kindem commends Bethel for con nuing to support Churches United when several area churches have failed to do so. Monies from the Paulson and Fenske Funds were transferred to Thrivent for investment. The BCCC is at or near capacity for infants, young toddlers and old toddlers. Due to a rearrangement there are 10 open spots in the pre-school age group. Miriam Kindem is the new chair of the BCCC Advisory Board. Official minutes will be available in the narthex after they are approved. Submi ed by Sally McIntyre Raffle Tickets for 2 Quilts are available for sale! Table set-up = Thursday, Oct. 9 th Sale items set-up = Friday, October 10 th Please have LABELED baked goods and crafts to the church on Friday, Oct. 9th! Coffee & donuts starts at 8:00 a.m. Soup, bread & dessert 11am ~ 1pm Bethel Lutheran s BAZAAR Sat., October 11, :00 am 2:00 pm Please join us to browse homemade crafts, bake sale, farmers market, homemade lefse and rommegrot, & silent auction!

4 Page 4 BETHE L LUTHERA N CHURCH WELCOME To Our Newest Members! Birthdays 01 Jamie Eidsmoe 03 Kris Berndt Caleb Schotzko 05 Brian Rinkenberger Laurie Wood 06 Carol Johnson 07 Ronald Vietor Marilyn Workman 13 Joseph Casper 14 Elmer Sand 15 Rick Berndt Bruce Norrgard Morgan Powell 16 Harold Janssen 17 Nickolas Seitz 18 Tim Johnson 26 Dallas Anderson Kathleen Eidsmoe 29 Lorraine Pemberton Anniversaries 20 Clarence & Ardella Lindseth Jan & Gloria Veiss Harlan & Violet Charon Hank & Patricia Moen Ray & Vi Suther Funerals: Janet A. Dreyer 09/09/1937 to 09/10/2014 Funeral: 09/15/2014 Lutheran Campus Ministry "Lutheran Campus Ministry in Bemidji is once again collec ng Manufacturer's Coupons. We will clip them, sort them, and send them in to a clearinghouse which ships them overseas to army bases so they can be used by families of deployed servicemen and servicewomen. "Manufacturer's Coupons" are good for up to six months PAST their expira on date on these bases. This spring many local churches collected these coupons for LCM and at their spring retreat in April several LCM campus ministries sent in a total of over $4, in coupons! We will be doing our fall coupon clipping project in November!" "Saturday, October 18 Bemidji Lutheran Campus Ministry is celebra ng our Lutheran Campus Center facility (which will be 100 years old in 2017) and Pastor Jim's 14 years of service as Lutheran Campus Pastor here. "PJ" will be re ring next summer so this is a chance for alumni and friends to enjoy a FREE supper together, highlight the improvements made to our facility over the past decade, and roast PJ. The supper will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church in Bemidji but we need everyone planning on a ending to RSVP by October 14 by calling the LCM office at PJ has threatened to use his "rebu al" me following his roast to share his favorite puns with the group, so be warned."

BETHE L LUTHERA N CHURCH 40 DAYS FOR LIFE Page 5 THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF ABORTION 2014 Fall Worldwide Campaign: September 24 November 2 In support of 40 Days for Life, an interna onal effort to

5 BETHE L LUTHERA N CHURCH 40 DAYS FOR LIFE Page 5 THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF ABORTION 2014 Fall Worldwide Campaign: September 24 November 2 In support of 40 Days for Life, an interna onal effort to end abor on, local pro-life people of all ages are encouraged to pray and fast on their own in unison with thousands of others during the 40-day campaign. Bemidji is not a registered affiliate in the na onal realm of 40 Days for Life this fall. Prayer hours will not be tracked. Prayer is the answer to ending abor on. Prayer works! It has already been proven worldwide... let s see what more God can & will do. PRAYER AND PEACEFUL PRESENCE AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD (2504 Hannah Ave NW, Bemidji) at any me during the campaign dates. 7th - 9th Grade 6:30-8:00 p.m. OCTOBER 1st ~ 08th ~ 15th ~ 22nd Reformation Sunday Sunday, October 9:00 am Worship Service THOSE WANTING TO PRAY AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD ARE ENCOURAGED TO INVITE OTHERS. *Two people each hour, if possible. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst. (KJB) - Ma. 18:20 COORDINATE PRAYER HOURS AMONG OTHERS (family members, friends, within acquaintances at church, etc.). ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE SAME HOUR/SAME DAY EACH WEEK OR THE SAME HOUR EVERY DAY. BRING YOUR OWN SIGN/S. If a sign is needed, call Karen (218) KEEP CITY ORDINANCE IN MIND: REMAIN ON THE GRASS BOULEVARD (city property) in front of Planned Parenthood and do not place anything into the ground or obstruct traffic. Be respec ul of city property. STAY IN FRONT OF THE LIGHT POLES toward the west (in respect of Simonson property guidelines). PRO-LIFE LITERATURE for use while at Planned Parenthood IS AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP AT ST. PHILIP S CHURCH IN THE PARISH OFFICE. FOLLOW THE WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN AT Ques ons: Call Karen ( ), Lisa ( ) or Mary ( ). Our prayers DO make a difference! Start spreading the word and gathering people to pray! OCTOBER 01 ~ 6:30 P.M. STUDY NIGHT: DUET 6: THE SCHEMA! OCTOBER 08 ~ 6:30 P.M. STUDY NIGHT: LOVE THE LORD WITH YOUR HEART OCTOBER 15 ~ 6:30 P.M. SERVICE PROJECT: CARE PACKAGES FOR GRADS OCTOBER 22 ~ 6:30 P.M. STUDY NIGHT: LOVE THE LORD WITH YOUR SOUL OCTOBER 29 ~ 6:30 P.M. GAME NIGHT AT THE MCKAIN S

6 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :00am Bethel Quilters 8:00 am - 3:00 pm 9:30am Pastors H. Conf. BCCC Garage Sale 7:00am Men's Group 10:00am Bible Study Start Setting Up for Bazaar 8:30am Weight Watchers 4:30pm Finance Meeting in the Trinity Room 6:00pm Wednesday Supper 4:30pm Weight Watchers 6:30pm Confirmation CONSECRATION SUNDAY 7:00am Men's Group FOOD SHELF SUN- DAY 12:00noon Senior Fellowship Group 10:00am Bible Study 9:00am Bethel Quilters 8 am to 2 pm Bethel's Meeting in Fellowship Hall BAZAAR 5:00pm Weight Watchers 5:00pm Church in Society Committee Mtg. 6:30pm Council Meeting 6:00pm Wednesday Supper 4:30pm Weight Watchers 6:30pm Confirmation in Trinity Room 6:30pm Youth Group BAZAAR SET-UP 8:30am Weight Watchers in Trinity Room 13 "Go the Extra Mile" for World Hunger 8:30am Weight Watchers 7:00am Men's Group 9:00am Bethel Quilters 10:00am Bible Study 1:30pm Mary Martha Circle 5:00pm Weight Watchers [ MEA WEEK ] 6:00pm NO Wednesday Supper 4:30pm Weight Watchers 6:00pm Confirmation/Youth Group :00am Men's Group 10:00am Bible Study 8 am BEACON DEADLINE 8:30am Weight Watchers 9:00am Bethel Quilters 2-6 pm Benefit for 5:00pm Weight Watchers Kelly Fuhrman

7 BETHE L LUTHERA N CHURCH Page 7 Church in Mission This month I want to tell you about some of the non-profits that we help with on our Second Sunday Go The Extra Mile offering. These are not ones that we currently are doing with our benevolence money, so the needs are just as great with the Go The Extra Mile offerings as are those we support other wise. EVERGREEN YOUTH & FAMILY services (June Extra Mile offering) is a mul program youth and family services organiza on which provides a comprehensive safety net of services to strengthen youth, preserve families, and help support successful transi ons to adulthood. They provide emergency food and shelter, mentoring, leadership development, independent living skills training, counseling and transi onal housing to our community s most vulnerable children, youth and families. ( See the brochure for more about this on the bulle n board.) MEALS ON WHEELS IS A PROGRAM that delivers meals for those who no longer are able to get out and eat at the Senior Nutri on Center at the Senior Center. They also deliver to people that no longer cook for themselves or have physical disabili es that prevent them from feeding themselves. We quite o en call them shut-ins. We help with this by people signing up to deliver these meals on a weekly bases. Bethel has been involved with this program for a long me, and I personally thank each and every one of our people that are helping with this program. We have a person from there talk to us about this in January every year. NORTHWOOD'S PREGNANCY CARE CENTER offers a variety of services and support for all kinds of issues involving pregnancy, including pregnancy tes ng, consulta on on all op ons, support a er an abor on and referrals for community services (health care, legal advice, adop on, etc.). The representa ve from this agency talks to us in February. There are more and I will write about them in the future. The food shelf con nues to be busy with having served 1,040 families in August. This amounted to 75,006 pounds of food given out. The number of new families coming in for their first visit was 512. They con nue to need help and we con nue to seek more volunteers for them. The food needs are peanut bu er, cold or hot cereal, pancake mix, Mac and cheese, canned fruit, and canned meats. You can con nue to bring things to the church and you can start to think about November being STUFF A TRUCK and what you want to put on the truck. As usual you can bring things to the church and we will see that they get to the truck. CHURCHES UNITED has also had a busy month. They served 128 clients with bus tokens for $40.50, clothing vouchers for $110.00, gas vouchers for $671.00, groceries were $914.00, bus ckets for $52.50 and laundry vouchers for $ They s ll need volunteers for certain days of the week also. Our church con nues to be generous and I hope some of you are ready to do some volunteer work in your newly acquired re rement years. Call me if you want to get started on this for the winter. I need volunteers for the Food Shelf, Churches United and Meals on Wheels. CHURCH LIBRARY Did you know that your Church has a library? It is located at the end of the hall to your right when you come into the church. It has been arranged into categories. They are Fic on, Theology, Biographies, Bible Resources, Bibles, Devo onal/inspira onal, Ministry Resources and Children's bible story books, etc. If you want to take a book out, please sign the card and put it in my mail box. Any ques ons, I will try to answer them at church or call me at home Nancy Streigh ff

Bethel Lutheran Church 5232 Irvine Avenue NW Bemidji, MN 56601 Return Service Requested Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Bemidji MN Permit No.

8 Bethel Lutheran Church 5232 Irvine Avenue NW Bemidji, MN Return Service Requested Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Bemidji MN Permit No. 60 BETHEL BEACON Monthly Publication - Volume # Issue # 10 OCTOBER Arise, Shine, for Your Light has Come The 88th Annual Concordia Christmas Concert returns to Memorial Auditorium A end Friday s concert on December 5, 2014 at 7 p.m.! The Concordia Christmas Concerts join approximately 350 singers in five choral ensembles and a 72-piece symphony orchestra to create the most beau ful collec on of Christmas music you ll hear during the holiday season. Please join us for a bus trip leaving Bethel at 2:00 p.m., ea ng supper at the dining service at Concordia College (on your own) and then the concert. We will leave for Bemidji a er the concert. Tickets for the motor coach and concert will be $25.00 each. Please sign up in the office. Pastor Kindem will order the ckets on October 20th when they go on sale.

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5232 Irvine Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN Go the Extra Mile

OCT/NOV 2018 BETHEL BEACON BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5232 Irvine Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 Bethel Lutheran Church 5232 Irvine Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 Church Office 218-444-4746 bethelbemidji.org