Bethlehem Star. Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church. June 2018

Transcription

1 Bethlehem Star June 2018 Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church Editor: Lynn Bulger th St. W Billings, MT (406) bethlehembillings@gmail.com Facebook: Bethlehem Billings Bethlehem s Congregational Council Pastor Jean Hay President Lynn Bulger VP Andrew Smith Treasurer Darlene Fernelius Sec Johnna Voto Casey Anguiano Gayle Breding Jerry Bauck Barb Bohle Dave Brockman Shellie DeHoyos Pat Gum Newsletter Deadline Please submit your materials for the July newsletter by Friday, June 15th, to Lynn Bulger. You can leave the materials in her mailbox at church or Call/Text to the number above. Grace and Peace to you, Friends in Christ, I so often think of summer as Sabbath time. Maybe that goes back to childhood memories of having the summer off from school. It seems like a time of growth and renewal, and I always have so many projects I want to do, while the pressure of the school year s schedule is off for a little while. Sometimes the whimsical fancies of summer don t quite match the practicalities of the world around us. This is why the gift of Sabbath is offered to us, every week. Week in and week out, God again invites us to slow down, notice the world around us, separate from the frenetic energies that surround us. In that emotional space of God time, we can begin to appreciate the many gifts in our lives, pray for the changes we think the world arounds us needs, and feel God equipping us to be the change. We sometimes forget how present God is to us, individually, and also as a community. We can become anxious about our future. Will there be enough money to keep the doors open? If new people join, will we have to change? Yes, probably, in answer to both questions. God s mission has a church named Bethlehem and God always provides the things we need. God does this even when we don t know what we need. God does this even when we don t like what we need. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (NRSV Romans 8:28) When I show new people around the church building, I often nd myself saying, It s like the T.A.R.D.I.S; it s bigger on the inside. When I see how the congregation rises up to meet the needs of those people God sends to us, I nd myself thinking, it s not just the building that s bigger on the inside, the congregation is too. We re not just bigger on the inside, there is also room for growth, room for the whimsical fancies of childhood summers to take a hold of us again, as God equips us to be the change for which we pray. Pastor Jean

2 Bethlehem Star June 2018, Page 2 Next WELCA Business Meeting Wednesday, July 25th, 2018 at 7:00pm. Note: We are meeting on Wednesday, so not to con ict with the St. John s Summer Concert. As a Community of Women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit We Commit Ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world. Naomi Circle Naomi Circle will meet on June 12th, the second Tuesday of the month, at 1:00 pm in the downstairs kitchen. Mary and Martha Circle Mary and Martha Circle will meet on June 14th, the second Thursday of the month, at 7:00 pm in the downstairs kitchen. Note: We will meet each month this summer, instead of a combined study in August. The Bible Study is from the Gather magazine and this summer s study is on Prayers. June s study is The Paradoxes of Prayer (1 Samuel 12:16 23). All women are invited to come! *Update* Garage Sale Even with the rainy weather, the WELCA 2 Day garage sale raised approx. $1,000! Thank you to everyone who donated goods, helped set up or price or worked the event! Leftover items went to Dress for Success, Family Services, Habitat for Humanity and a few other organizations. Christmas in July Sunday, July 22nd 12:30 pm (Tentative) WELCA invites you to join us for a showing of the recent lm I can Only Imagine on Sunday July 22nd. Tentatively, we are planning the event to directly follow coffee hour with a light lunch and snacks of the Christmas variety (cookies, fudge, and more). Stay tuned for more details in the July newsletter! *Update* Lutheran World Relief Thanks to everyone who donated items, we were able to send 35 Personal Care Kits and 50 School Kits to Lutheran World Relief in May. Thank you to everyone who made this happen!

3 Bethlehem Star June 2018, Page 3 Highlights from the May 15th, 2018 Church Council Meeting (Person who presented report is in parentheses) Property (Johnna Voto): Johnna is wondering if anyone is available/interested to help mow the yard this summer. We have a riding lawn mover and a Weed Wacker. Education (Jerry Bauck): Vacation Bible School (VBS) will be four Wednesday evenings in July (11th, 18th & 25th) and August (1st). All ages are encouraged to come for dinner and various activities, including working on a new puppet show. Worship and Music (Pat Gum): Sunday services are planned until June 10th. The Saturday evening services will start at 5:30pm instead of the previously posted 6:30pm. Thank you to Barry Gum who paid for the banner to advertise the Saturday Evening services! The next meeting is Wednesday, June 13th at 10:00 am. Youth Group (Casey Anguiano): Looking ahead to summer, the Youth Group plan to attend Movie in the Park and Mustang games...stay tuned for details! Pastor s Report (Pastor Jean): While at Chico, Pastor Jason Asselstine, the Associate to the Bishop, invited Pastor Jean to join a cohort of pastors to explore Family Systems Theory as it applies to congregational life. Their rst gathering will be the Friday evening of Synod Assembly in June. April by the Numbers: Baptism 1, Christian Education Events 4, Church Business Meetings 2, Community Engagements 1, Funeral 1, Pastoral Visits 14, Professional Meetings 6, Worship Services 8 Treasurer s Report (Darlene Fernelius): There are some big expenses coming up in June with the MT Synod Conference and insurance. TOTAL INCOME TOTAL EXPENSES NET INCOME CASH BALANCE $10, ($10,140.83) $ $ Other: Pr. Hanson got us updated with All Are Welcome. The AAW III pledge campaign is ending this summer. At this time, we are not doing a formal pledge campaign. People can still donate using electronic payments or by using the Other line on their Offering Envelopes. We are asking that people give to the general fund rst and AAW as they are able to. Starting July 1st, 2018, our monthly payment will be $1,194 with our interest rate being 4%. Thank you to everyone for their support over the years! Our next council meeting has been re scheduled for Tuesday, June 12th. Our normal 3rd Tuesday of the Month would have coincided with Pastor being at Christikon.

4 Bethlehem Star June 2018, Page 4 Youth Group Saturday, June 9th 5:00 pm Time to lace up your skates! Anyone interested should meet at Skate World (off King Ave West, behind Famous Daves) at 5:00 pm. See you there! Community Garden Party Wednesday, June 6th 10:00 am Noon Billings Mustang s Community Day Monday, June 25th 7:05 pm The Billings Mustangs have donated 20 tickets to Bethlehem Lutheran Church for Community Day! The free tickets will be available on a rst come, rst serve basis. Look for the clip board on the table in the Narthex. Additional tickets can be purchased for $6. Don t forget the sunscreen! Join in, it s fun! Jeanne, Jan and Pr Jean have planted tomatoes, parsnips, leeks and chives. The ground along the chain link fence was prepped for pumpkins and work has been started on the third raised bed. Summer 2018 Lawn Care Did you hear the good news? Bethlehem now has a riding lawn mover! Who s able to take it for a spin around the church yard? Perhaps you would rather weed? Please contact Johnna at (406) for more information. Christikon Congregational Retreat Save the Dates! Bethlehem has reserved September 7, 8, & 9th for our congregational retreat at Christikon. It s a wonderful time to be together in the beautiful mountain setting.

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6 Bethlehem Star June 2018, Page 6 Bethlehem Ministry Calendar June 2018 June 3rd June 10th June 17th June 24th 2nd Sunday after Pentecost 3rd Sunday after Pentecost 4th Sunday after Pentecost 5th Sunday after Pentecost Fatherʹs Day Presiding Minister Guest Pastor Pastor Jean Hay Pastor Jean Hay Guest Pastor Assisting Minister Musician 10:30 Service Welcomer Usher (1) Usher (2)) Gayle Breding Readers Adult Lavonne Rice Gordon Sharon Uecker Youth Prayers Communion Assistants Adult Barb Bohle Maryls Hogg Barb Bohle Sharon Uecker Youth Maria Espinoza Altar Guild Flowers The Petersons Maryls Hogg Jan & Pastor Jean Barb Bohle Tellers Fernelius/Koch Fernelius/Koch Fernelius/Koch Fernelius/Koch Fellowship Host Shared Ministry at Bethlehem This years ministry calendar is available on the table in the narthex. Won t you consider signing up to be: A Greeter An Usher An Assisting Minister A Reader (Adult or Youth) A Reader of the Prayers A Communion Assistant (Adult or Youth) A Teller A Coffee Hour Host

7 Bethlehem Star June 2018, Page 7 June Birthdays Peace and Joy be with you! 5 Joe Splinter 6 Abigail Anguiano 9 Chuck Peterson 10 Cheryl Knepper 12 Josh Breding 18 Jeanne Weber 23 Kelly Hogg 24 Lynn Bulger 25 Gwen McClanahan 28 Barbara Bohle 29 Jeremy Hein Special Offering June Global Mission Your change can make a world of difference! During the month of June, please bring in your change (pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters) for Global Mission. There will be a special globe bank for colleting the change in the Narthex. If using cash or check, please use an offering envelope and mark Global Missions under Other. Thank you! Global Mission nurtures the ELCA s world engagement through the theology and practice of accompaniment by walking together with our global companions. Their work together has a multifaceted approach to mission, from sending missionaries and personnel, to offering grants and scholarships designed to strengthen global church leadership and to support the ministries of companions. A Prayer for Fathers Author Unknown God our Father, we give you thanks and praise for fathers young and old. We pray for young fathers, newly embracing their vocation; May they nd the courage and perseverance to balance work, family, and faith in joy and sacri ce. We pray for our own fathers who have supported and challenged us; May they continue to lead in strong and gentle ways. We remember fathers around the world whose children are lost or suffering; May they know that the God of compassion walks with them in their sorrow. We pray for men who are not fathers but still mentor and guide us with fatherly love and advice. We remember fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love. Amen. Father s Day Sunday, June 17th, 2018 An excerpt from Bishop Crist s letter regarding Global Mission was featured in the April 2018 newsletter. The complete letter and ELCA Missionary Pro le of Gustavo Driau are located on the Community Bulletin Board in the lobby.

8 Bethlehem Lutheran Church th St. W. Billings, MT Address Correction Requested All Are Welcome Save the Dates: July 11, 18, 25, August 1