The Messenger SEPTEMBER 2018

Transcription

1 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH The Messenger SEPTEMBER 2018 LEMONT IL Pastor Reflection Dear friends and companions on this journey of faith, I know folks who have been around the church for years may have knee-jerk reaction to the word stewardship. It might be something like, Oh, the church is asking for money again. For others, maybe the word holds little meaning. Still others, know the concept deep in their being as they stretch for generosity and tender care in so many parts of their life. The ELCA resource, Stewards of God s Love, defines the s-word this way: Stewardship encompasses so much more than money. It is a way of life. It calls for integration between our faith and the way we live our lives Stewardship is a mindset, a culture, a discipline that can never be contained in an annual three-week financial response. According to Clarence Stoughton, former president of Wittenberg University, stewardship is everything we do after we say I believe. It is the way in which we use all of the resources that God has entrusted to our care so that we can love God and our neighbor. Stewardship is about love. Stewardship about love? I bet many haven t heard that definition before. Over the past year, the Church Council has been reading through the book Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship edited by Adam Copeland. It has chapters on the usual time, talent, and treasure that some of us have come to expect when we talk about stewardship. But it also stretches the reader to think in new and deep ways about the stewardship of technology, the body, end of life, privilege, community, and mind. As the editor says, stewardship is a lived theology founded on the claim that all resources begin with and belong to God Stewardship is a lived concept, most often resulting in sharing that surprises, compassion that complicates, and love that inspires. The book has led us through some great discussions as we ve considered our ministry, outreach, and personal journeys. Stewardship shouldn t be a word we re scared of. Although I understand why people feel that way. Hopefully, it can be a word that challenges us to think about how we use the various dimensions and gifts of life in careful service and love for our neighbor. I am hoping to find a few (more) people who may be interested in serving on our Stewardship Committee. Are you passionate about living generously and intentionally? Or maybe you d like to learn more? Bethany is looking for 1-2 more people who might want to serve on this Committee and learn and lead the congregation into greater understanding of stewardship. Please talk to me if this inspires or at least peaks your interest. God s peace and love be with you, Pr. Elaina Fall Kick-Off Join us Sunday, September 9 for our Fall Kick-off! 9:15am Sunday School gets started. Children gather in the updated cozy classroom. Parents gather in the Community Room for conversation, connection, and parent meeting. 10am Everyone is welcome to the Community Room for light refreshments and to renew connections after a busy summer. 10:30 Worship with Blessing of the PrayGround 5:45pm-10ish Volunteers to serve at South Loop Campus Ministry Visit us at Church Office

2 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 2 The New PrayGround is in place! Several members have been busy getting the new PrayGround ready for our young ones. A pew was removed and carried to the Community Room. A cozy carpet and pint size furniture was put in place and soft toys and books were added. Our quilters provided a beautiful and vibrant quilt as a backdrop. Bonfire Worship and Worship Walk We are continuing our Bonfire Worship into the fall. Join us on Wednesday, September 5 at 7:00pm for worship out on Bethany s back lawn. Please bring a chair if you are easily able to do so. Some seating will be available. As per our tradition, campfire treats will be served following worship! We will also experiment this fall with a new worship format called a Worship Walk. This idea was featured in one of the summer issues of the Living Lutheran Magazine and several people on the Evangelism Committee were inspired. During the course of a hike, worshippers stop at three to four stations for elements of liturgy. It seems natural, really, since so many people reflect on how they experience God in the beauty and magnificence of creation. Our first Worship Walk will be on Saturday, September 22 at 4:00pm. Further details will be announced soon. Additional gifts to the School Supply Drive were donated by St. Alphonsus Church and Dave Dykstra of Edwards Jones Investments. SEPTEMBER BOOK CLUB Not a reader? Join us anyway for lunch at a local restaurant and a social hour. Book discussion follows lunch so if you haven't read the book, feel free to leave. The September selection is Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. Book Club will meet at 1PM on September 19th at Next Mex.

3 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 3 Congratulations to Dustin Johnson upon his graduation from boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Station! He is now in the Navy Reserves stationed in Pensacola, FL. Thank you for your service, Dustin! Rev. Nadia Bolz Weber to speak in Chicago Finding God in All the Wrong People Rev. Nadia Bolz- Weber invites you into a surprising encounter with what she calls a religious but not-sospiritual life. This former standup comic turned pastor stubbornly, sometimes hilariously, resists the God she feels called to serve. But God keeps showing up in the least likely of people. As she lives and worships alongside these accidental saints, Nadia is swept into first-hand encounters with grace a gift that feels to her less like being wrapped in a warm blanket and more like being hit with a blunt instrument. Wednesday, October 3, :30 p.m. Old St. Patrick s Church Community Hall at 625 W. Adams Street Chicago, Illinois Admission: $10 If you d like to join some other friends from Bethany for this evening of storytelling, RSVP to Pr. Elaina Salmon by September 10. Chuck Martinkus for further securing flooring in sanctuary entry David Bergmark for setting up a changing area for worship leaders Richie Gotlund and Justin and Kara Berndt for donating gently used furniture Bill and Pam Laasch for purchasing a new Christmas tree for Bethany s Sanctuary Erin Kissick and Heather Nilles for their work to get Sunday School set-up and ready Ross Wakefield, David Bergmark, David Kissick, Kealy Schroeder for their work on our PrayGround Implementation team Todd Richardson, Ross Wakefield, David Kissick, Justin Berndt, Shawn Salmon, David Jaje, David Bergmark, and Scott Ahlberg for helping move the pew from Sanctuary to Community Room and the couch from Community Room to Sunday School classroom and other jobs as requested. September 9 September 12 September 16 September 19 September 22 September 23 September 26 September 30 CALENDAR First Day of Sunday School, 9:15AM, Worship, 10:30AM South Loop Campus Ministry Community Meal, 5:45-10PM Wednesday Worship, 7PM Sunday School, 9:15AM, Worship, 10:30AM Book Club, 1PM, Wednesday Worship, 7PM Worship Walk, 4PM Sunday School, 9:15AM, Worship, 10:30AM Wednesday Worship, 7PM Sunday School, 9:15AM Worship and Quilt Dedication, 10:30AM

4 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 4 GIFTS TO BETHANY Gifts to the General Fund from Thursday Night N/A meeting, Saturday Night N/A meeting and Leslie & Michael Hall. A gift to Open Pantry in memory of Dorothy Goushas by Rev. Glenn & MariLynn Bergmark. A gift to the Open Pantry in memory of Milton Olkiewicz by Bill & Pam Laasch. A gift to the Cemetery Fund from Phil & Sara Acton. Gifts to the new PrayGround from Ed & Glenda Anderson, the Kissick Family, Kealy Schroeder, the Salmon Family and the Berndt Family. Ginny Connelly Nancy Iwan Theora Kujawa Vivian Gunsaulus Leona Nelson Vivian Tiemeier Bethany Members IN OUR PRAYERS Peyton Kirk Frank Iwan Ben Sabourin Marie Heeren Norma Johnson The congregation of Bethany extends its sympathy and prays for the family of Milton Olkiewicz (father of Keith Olkiewicz). May light eternal shine on him and may God hold in his hands all those who mourn. Friends and Relatives of Bethany Members Joanne Bauer friend of Jim & Ginny Connelly Gary Cobbett friend of the Bergmarks Gene Sobba uncle of Carole & Jim Ross Will Pukula friend of the Olkiewicz Family Terry Wilder friend of Glenda Anderson MaryAnn Olkiewicz mother of Keith Olkiewicz Bernie Schroeder father of Cheryl Hagedorn Finley Engnell friend of the Olkiewicz Family Monica Johnson friend of Beth Howell Jim Driscoll friend of Gary Gray Stella Slowik friend of Kim Stowe Sue Bea Wright friend of Sue & Gary Gray Nancy Ludwig friend of Dave Staudt & Floyd Kujawa Kyle Williams friend of Sue Gray Jim McKeever colleague of Kris Falese Anita Bromberek friend of Sharon Ahlberg Sean Clark friend of Kelsey Schroeder Frank Roy friend of Barb & Michael Woods Rudy Cozzi friend of Glenda & Ed Anderson Maria Railey friend of Lori Olkiewicz The Halama Family friends of the Iwans JoAnne Bedar friend of Kealy Schroeder John Shea brother-in-law of Heather & Mike Nilles Janice Johnson relative of Pat Engwall Sue Lucheon friend of Ginny Connelly Mike Hoffman friend of Kerri & Corey Schroeder Pastor Melissa Kuemmerle friend of the Bergmarks Brenda Short friend of Kealy Schroeder Marianne Carlson friend of Ginny Connelly & Karen Rae Ranada Rymkus friend of Don Garling Justin & Stephanie Wormsley friends of Jodi & Bruce Taylor Beau Dowling friend of Kris Falese Bob Meisenheimer friend of Dave Staudt Rev. Glenn Bergmark Tim & Virginia Schroeder relatives of Jim & Carole Ross Sherri Vick cousin of Gary & Sue Gray David Gray brother of Gary Gray If you would like to add anyone to the Bethany Prayer List, call or the church office OR drop a note in the offering plate be sure to include your name. Conversely, if anyone listed is no longer in need of our prayers, please notify us as well.

5 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL SEPTEMBER 2018 MONETARY DONATIONS TO THE BETHANY OPEN PANTRY WERE GIVEN BY William & Geraldine Mills James & Janine Davidson Maureen Strube Craig Matthews Lois Miller Elsie Schultz Matthew & Elizabeth Clarage Chuck & Jean Martinkus Lemont Junior Woman s Club M. Kay Manning & David Miller Thomas & Ann Conway Stephen & Beverly Gehrt Lemont Lions Club Gloria Abboud Katie & Todd Quesnel Mark & Maureen Skowronski Lemont Lions Club Tyler Shane THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED FOOD STAPLES TO THE BETHANY OPEN PANTRY St. Patrick Church Jurgis Matulaitis Mission St. Alphonsus Church Ashley Vass Lemont Township Glenda & Ed Anderson Mary & Dave Staudt Starbucks patrons BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH 500 LEMONT STREET LEMONT IL 60439