BETHEL WEEKLY NEWS BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH ONE CONGREGATION TWO LOCATIONS JANUARY 3, 2016

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1 BETHEL WEEKLY NEWS BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH ONE CONGREGATION TWO LOCATIONS JANUARY 3, 2016 FLOWERS The flowers on the altars at both campuses this weekend are placed by Bryce and Sheri Yonash in loving memory of Kaleb Aaron Yonash. BAPTIZED Receiving the Sacrament of Holy Baptism this weekend is Adelaide Josephine Gaffer, daughter of Tyrell & Jennifer Gaffer (Saturday, 5:30); Greta Jane Clymer, daughter of Jacob & Katherine Clymer (Sunday, 9:30 am) and Delaney Mae Quinn, daughter of Daniel & Megan Quinn (Sunday, 11 am). BETHEL UNIVERSITY OF HUDSON STARTS THIS WEEK Bethel s own Layton Skip James will present PEAKS OF SACRED MUSIC on Wednesdays, Jan. 6, 13 & 20 from 7-8:15 pm, Highlands Campus. Admission is FREE all are invited! No registration required. You won t want to miss this informative series! The topic for the first session on January 6 is The Cantatas of Bach, Sermons in Song. THANKS FOR A GREAT TEAM EFFORT AT BETHEL! We want to thank ALL the people who helped make our Advent and Christmas Eve/Christmas Day services so meaningful and run so well. Thank you to our: Advent wreath lighters, readers, greeters and ushers, acolytes, musicians, communion servers, videographers, song leaders, Holy Families, worship support people, welcome center hosts and hostesses, bell ringers, soloists, sanctuary decorators, cookie callers (and anyone else we ve forgotten!) You did a wonderful job and showed what successful teamwork can look like. Well done you good and faithful servants! ~ Pastor John WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT BETHEL! Bethel believes that God is at work in our life together to transform and renew the world by making followers of Jesus. You are welcome to be a part of this community of those who celebrate the forgiveness and hope that are God s gifts to imperfect people through Jesus Christ, to grow in your faith, and to join in serving human need in his name. The people and pastors of Bethel look forward to sharing your life-journey in any way that is helpful to you. If you are a visitor to this beautiful area, we hope your visit was refreshing; your travels are safe, and your homecoming joyful. If you d like more information about Bethel, please stop by our welcome center or speak to a pastor. NEW DISCIPLE CLASSES BEGIN JANUARY 12 Are you interested in learning more about Bethel? Do you have questions regarding the church, our mission, our beliefs, our programs, or something else? Maybe you've already been attending Bethel and are interested in becoming a new member/disciple. If any of these descriptions fit you, please plan to enroll in our next session of New Disciple classes. Dates are Tuesday, January 12th; Monday, January 18th; and Thursday, January 28th. (We highly recommend that you attend all three sessions). All sessions will be held in the children's theater at the Highlands campus, from 6:45-8:15 pm. Childcare will be provided. New disciples will be received on Sunday, February 14th at the 9:30 service. Please register online at bethelhudson.org, Juli at jhilding@bethelhudson.org or call , ext. 27 to enroll and also with any questions you may have. CHILDREN ARE WELCOMED AT BETHEL! Parents will find bags of soft toys for children at the entrance to the worship areas. Thank you for doing what you can to help in creating a worship environment where all can participate by keeping distracting noise and movement to a minimum. If you prefer, a nursery is available Sunday mornings at the Highlands campus (9:30 am).

2 BETHEL S VISION FOR MISSION To WELCOME all people to know Jesus Christ and come to faith in him. To provide the means for growth for Christian maturity, EQUIPPING people with the power of faith in Christ for everyday life. To challenge each member to take a personal share of God s mission, SENDING them to bring Christ s compassion, hope and joy into the world, our communities and homes. ONE CONGREGATION TWO LOCATIONS bethel@bethelhudson.org DOWNTOWN CAMPUS 920 Third Street Hudson, WI (Administrative Office) Office Hours: M-F: 8:30 am-4:30 pm Sunday: 8 am-10 am HIGHLANDS CAMPUS 504 Frontage Road Hudson, WI BETHEL S PASTORAL STAFF John Lestock, Senior Pastor Alicia Hilding, Assoc. Pastor Ben Hilding, Assoc. Pastor Bob Bipes, Visitation Pastor BETHEL HIGHLANDS PRESCHOOL 504 Frontage Road Hudson, WI , ext. 401 Kari Jo Fore, Director B E T H E L H A P P E N I N G S BETHEL BOOK CLUB MEETS THIS WEDNESDAY All are invited to join the Bethel Book Club this Wednesday, January 6 from 1-3 pm at the Downtown campus. Shirley Halyburton will lead the discussion of A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. TAKING DOWN THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS A group of volunteers will meet on Wednesday, January 6 at 10 am at the Downtown campus to take down the Christmas decorations. Extra hands are needed, so please join in if you are able to help! BELL ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS RESUME THIS WEEK The Bethel Bell Ensemble will resume rehearsals this Thursday, Jan. 7. FRIENDSHIP NOT FEAR/ UNDERSTANDING OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS With a growing wave of Islamophobia in our country and a fear-based prejudice directed at those of the Muslim faith, it s important to learn the facts, not the rumors, about our Muslim friends. Many of us have never met a Muslim, or had a conversation with one of these brothers and sisters of faith... So plan to join us here at Bethel for an informal time NEXT Sunday, January 10th at 9:15 am (Downtown) or 11 am (Highlands). Pastor John and Janet s long-time Muslim friend, Abduhl Azziz (born in Somalia) will be with us to share a few words AND to answer questions you may have about the Muslim faith. Please come so you can be informed and help dispel so many of the nasty misconceptions and half-truths that seem to be circulating. Help demonstrate the respect, love and discourse the Gospel demands of us! FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY BEGINS NEXT SUNDAY Financial Peace University will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more! Classes consist of video teaching, discussions and small group activities. Classes will meet weekly on Sundays from 1-2:30 pm, Jan. 10 Mar. 6 in the children's theater at the Highlands campus. Registration and payment are taken through the Dave Ramsey web site; for a link, visit Bethel s web site (Adult Ministry/Small Groups). Please contact Bethel members and course leaders, Kelly and Kevin Carrier at kcarrier2000@msn.com or visit for more information. You don't want to miss this opportunity! Start the new year off on a good note! *If you would prefer not to register online, please contact Pastor Alicia ( , ext. 23 or ahilding@bethelhudson.org). SENIOR LUNCHEON STATE OF THE CHURCH ADDRESS Presented by Pastor John, church staff members, and church council representatives. Plan on great food, music, and interesting conversation! (Special music to be announced.) Monday, January 18, Noon to 1:30 pm, Downtown fellowship hall. Cost: $ You may register in the church office (Downtown) or at bethelhudson.org.

3 F A I T H FORMATION FAITH FORMATION UPDATES SUNDAY SCHOOL No class January 3. Enjoy worship and the holidays with your family! WEDNESDAY NIGHT LESSONS 6th Grade Does God still create stuff today? 7th Grade What if my friends aren t Christian? 8th Grade Discipleship &Stewardship with Ralph Van Keulen 9th Grade Jesus KEY DATES IN FAITH FORMATION: January 6 Grades 6 & 7 and Confirmation resumes January 10 Sunday School resumes; Kindergarten Faith Milestone classes begin January 24 Faith Milestone Sunday Kindergarten Beginners Bible FAITH MILESTONES Kindergartners will be celebrating their Faith Milestone, The Beginner s Bible, on Sunday, January 24, at the 9:30 am worship service. To prepare for this, kindergartners will meet in classroom #6 during the Sunday School time on Jan. 10 and 17. SENIOR LEAGUE, 7 PM, DOWNTOWN CAMPUS Following student-led worship, Senior League will learn about the 30 Hour Famine event and then load the Bethel bus for the Dollar Tree to purchase essential items & goodies for new residents at Grace Place in New Richmond (a safe haven that provides emergency housing, services and programs for men, women, and children). ATTENTION, CHIMERS! Rehearsals for the Children s Chime Choir will resume NEXT Sunday, January 10th at 10:40 am at the Highlands campus. See you then! UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS MIDDLE SCHOOL LOCK-IN Friday, Jan. 29, 7 pm midnight Downtown Campus Come one, come all middle school students for a lock-in complete with pizza, snacks, games (Salvation!), devotions, Ga-Ga and more! Cost $10/student. Registration deadline: January 27. Sign up, pay through bethelhudson.org/youthministry. MIDDLE SCHOOL SKI TRIP (GRADES 6-8) February 26 28, 2016 Middle School students will travel to Spirit Mountain in Duluth for a fun weekend of skiing with friends! For details and to sign up, go to bethelhudson.org/ youthministry. Registration deadline: January 27. BETHEL YOUTH STAFF Pastor Ben Hilding, Pastor of Youth and Family Jean Elliott, Director of Youth Ministry (Confirmation & Senior League) Cindy Halunen, Director of Faith Formation (Sunday School and 6th & 7th Grade Faith Formation) Missy Austreng, Coordinator of Faith Milestones Marcie Andrews, Youth Ministry Communications Assistant

4 WORSHIP SUPPORT TEAMS 8 AM SUNDAY, DOWNTOWN & 11 AM SUNDAY, HIGHLANDS Acolytes 8 am Jack Berdusco 11 am Tahnee Klewicki, Ben Warren Ushers 8 am Jeff Maki, Dave Benson 11 am Tom & Jackie Hugdahl Greeters 8 am Inge Bleier, Evelyn Christensen 11 am Bonnie Knutson, Bettie Peterson Communion Assistants 8 am Jeff Maki, Karen Pavlis 11 am Tom & Jackie Hugdahl Welcome Center Downtown June Waalen Cookie Caller Downtown Sheri Marnell 9:30 AM SUNDAY, HIGHLANDS Worship Support Team *team leader(s) *Craig Bichrt, *Dan DuPuis, Dave & Marie Heikkila, Alan & Jill Burchill, Patti Thacker, Diane Wolf, Gretchen DuPuis, Kressa Burt, Darrel & Becky Schoeberlein, Rick & Janet Wilson, Matt Wolf Greeters Dan & Gretchen DuPuis, Ron & Cindy Smith Videographer Alan Park Confirmation Students Kye Bartlett, Peter Erickson, Hana Hellmers, Annika Lewis, Jack Schultz, Ella Stein, Alivia Tennant, Hannah Vickery, Isabelle Wiste Welcome Center Kim Romness Nursery Eliza Jorgenson, Lily Jorgenson, Sarah Roach Hospitality/Coffee Jorgenson family 5:30 PM SATURDAY, HIGHLANDS Projectionist Vicki Datt Ushers Liz Whitchurch, Dave Miller P O W E R O F P R A Y E R THOSE WHO ARE SICK OR IN NEED OF HEALING Laura Bankes, Pastor Bob Bipes, Andrea Deacon-Jones, Allen Ecker, Pat Eich, Doris Fondroy, Gaye Frye, Shirley Halyburton, John Haugo, Ken Heiser, Aaron Hilke, Jessica Johnson, Harvey Keene, Cheryl Klanderman, Kim Lagerstrom, Ruth Lewis, Herbert Lidtke, Dan Lindquist, Sarah Lockbaum, Andrew Mack, Augusto Perez, Sr., Terri Pomeroy, John Richmond, Rosemary Riemenschneider, Kay Shager, Borgie Sherva, Tim Smith, Chuck Stene, Marilyn Whitchurch, Chris Wolfgram, Jason Yndestad. THOSE SERVING OR DEPLOYED Jeffrey Berg, Charles Burns, Jordan Kein and Steven Moreus. SYMPATHY We offer our sympathies and prayers to Timothy Smith and Craig Smith and families at the death of their father, Craig Smith, Sr. God bless and comfort these friends with the promise of Christ: Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. HEALING MINISTRIES PRAYER Gracious God, thank you, for sending Christ to live among us; to be our light, our teacher and the perfect example of how to live our lives. I must say, a lot of celebration happened this past week. Time spent attending church, traveling, visiting family and friends and exchanging gifts and greetings. While all this celebration has been wonderful, I admit, I have not personally, privately and prayerfully celebrated the significance of Jesus birth. I have been caught up in the appearances of Christmas and not allowed you to dwell within. God, I ask that you dwell in my heart and help me to celebrate each day the greatest gift ever given, Jesus birth. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 TODAY S QUOTE You don t have to be any more talented, any richer, any slimmer, any smarter, any more or less of anything to partner with God. All you have to be is willing to be used by him in everyday ways. ~ Bill Hybels WORSHIP ATTENDANCE, DEC , 2015 Christmas Eve: Highlands, 2 pm 510; 4 pm 668 ; 6 pm 304 Christmas Eve: Downtown, 8 pm 184; 10 pm 146 Christmas Day: Downtown, 10 am 80 Saturday, Dec. 26: Highlands, 5:30 pm 33 Sunday, Dec. 27: Downtown, 8 am 83 Sunday, Dec. 27: Highlands, 9:30 am 204; 11 am 68 Sunday, 1/3 Monday, 1/4 Tuesday, 1/5 Wednesday, 1/6 Thursday, 1/7 Friday, 1/8 Saturday, 1/9 8 am Celebration worship DT 9:15 am Adult Bible Cl. DT 9:30 am New Song worship BH 11 am Great Awakening worship BH 12:15-3:15 pm Cookie caller pick-up DT 1 pm Youth Team mtg. DT 4:30 pm WELCA Bible study leaders training DT 5 pm Outreach cmtee. DT 5:30 pm Young Adult Bible study BH 6:30 pm Monday Funday Activity 6:30 pm Dorothy Day food prep DT 7 pm Boy Scout #140 and Venture Crew DT 7 pm Holy Yoga/Gentle BH 7 pm Property cmtee. DT 8:15 am Habitat for Humanity 9:05 am Preschool Community Chapel BH 10 am Journey mtg. DT 12 pm Offering counters DT 12:35 pm Preschool Community Chapel BH 7:30 pm Bethel Chorale rehearsal DT 6:30 am Men s Fellowship 8:30 am Morning Fuel BH 8:45 am Watson study group DT 9:05 am Preschool Community Chapel BH 10 am Staff meeting DT 1 pm Bethel Book Club DT 2 pm Prayer team DT 4 pm Education mtg. DT 5 pm Class, gr. 6 & 7 DT 6 pm Conf., gr. 8 & 9 DT 7 pm Forever Praise Choir rehearsal BH 7 pm Senior League worship and activity DT 7 pm Bethel U/Skip James BH 9 am Women s Bible study BH 1 pm Hardanger DT 5 pm HOME meal DT 5:30 pm Bell Ensemble rehearsal BH 7 pm New Song rehearsal BH 9 am Women of Bethel Quilters DT 7 am Men s Bible study DT 9 am HHQ DT 5:30 pm Gathering worship BH

5 BETHEL HAPPENINGS BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 3, 2016 CHRISTIAN WOMEN S RETREAT REGISTRATION OPENS NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 10! The 3rd Annual Christian Women's Retreat will be held April 29-May 1, WHO IS THIS FOR? For any woman of any age, stage of faith or life. Invite your friend, sister, mother, daughter. COST? $185 pay online at bethelhudson.org plus optional $25 retreat t-shirt (gray, long sleeve). Sorry, no refunds. REGISTRATION: Beginning Sunday, Jan. 10, at bethelhudson.org. ASANTE SANA! Thanks to everyone who donated to the Tanzania student scholarship fund this year! We received pledges of $19,360 from Bethel members to send Tanzanian students to secondary school in This will allow 50 (or more!) students to attend secondary school in These donations not only benefit the individual students, but also the Cathedral congregation, the city of Iringa, and the country of Tanzania. Every entity becomes stronger as more and more students have the opportunity to obtain an education. A Bethel group will be traveling to Tanzania in late February/early March of They will have the opportunity to meet many of our sponsored students at that time. Asante Sana! (Thank you very much!)

6 BETHEL HAPPENINGS BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH JANUARY 3, 2016 Jearlyn Steele and Billy Steele share their talent on Sunday, 1/17, 9:30 and 11 am at the Highlands campus. On SUNDAY, JANUARY 17th we have two joint services planned at the Highlands campus at both 9:30 and 11 am. Nationally known musicians JEARLYN AND BILLY STEELE will be back as our special guests, along with some of our own talented musicians. We ll be celebrating the life, ministry and impact of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. These will be our only worship services that weekend, so please invite neighbors, friends and family for this special and inspirational time. Sunday, January 31st 4:00-6:30pm Highlands Sanctuary Meeting at 4:00pm; dinner at 5:30pm. This is an all-family event, with childcare provided! 6