Church Office Office Hours Mon - Fri 9 AM 1 PM Fax Number Director of Music Kathy Victor

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1 Be helight A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church A member congregation of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 7171 Pearl Rd, Middleburg Heights OH (440)

2 fdlafjkl;fjkf Be helight A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church Let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matt 5:16 NRSV In This Issue... Prayer Concerns. 3 Schedule for Lent and Holy Week 4-5 Bethel Happenings 6-11 Birthdays & Anniversaries Calendars Church Office Office Hours Mon - Fri 9 AM 1 PM Fax Number Steven M. Krebill Pastor Erika Haskell Director of Music Kathy Victor Administrative Assistant bethelstaff@sbcglobal.net Christie Scott M.E.E.C. Director M.E.E.C. Office The Congregation Reporters 2

3 Deadline for the April 2016 BeTheLight is March 15 th The purpose of BeTheLight is to inform our members, friends and visitors of worship services and to encourage spiritual growth, Christian Education opportunities, missions and outreach, activities, fellowship events and volunteer opportunities. This newsletter is meant to be an information tool of Bethel Lutheran Church where we serve together as a family in Christ. The BeTheLight welcomes contributions and letters. Copyrighted material (including prayers and inspirational verses) cannot be published without written permission from the author. MISSION STATEMENT The people of Bethel Lutheran Church are called by God to be faithful to the word of God and proclaim it to all people. We share Christ's love and forgiveness by being Christ's hands, feet, arms and voice as we gather and as we scatter. ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS PERSONS IN NEED OF HEALING Chuck Behm, Deborah Braun, Carl Burgess, Warren Burgess, Marshall Camp, Jennifer English, Linda Hegwer, Robert Hintze, Karen Horner, Aaron Jardina, Carl Jones, Brigitte Kern, Lynn Kostura, Joyce Larson, Cy Maszczynski, Pamela Misischia, Eric Nemerovsky, Donald O Dell, Clifford Riedel Jr, Mary Sollers, Janet Sopko, Pat Sterba, John Stefanik, Bob Thompson PERSONS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND Norm Heger~Irene Miller~ Eleanor Olschewsky~Velma Wolff Please keep these friends in your thoughts and prayers. 3

4 EARLY EASTER MEANS EARLY LENT LENT BEGINS FEBRUARY 10, EASTER IS MARCH 27 Ash Wednesday February 10 Our 2016 Lenten journey begins with Ash Wednesday worship on Wednesday, February 10. Services will be held at 1 PM and 7 PM and will include confession, the imposition of ashes, and Holy Communion. Wednesdays During Lent February 17, 24, March 2, 9 and 16 1 PM- Mid-week Lenten using the theme Living Lent as People of the Resurrection. Sundays During Lent 9:45 AM "Two Roads" -Sermon series based on the Series C weekly lessons, highlighting a different road each week. Feb 14 Feb 21 Feb 28 Mar 6 Mar 13 Mar 20 THE ROAD OF TRUTH THE ROAD OF DANGER THE ROAD OF JUDGMENT THE ROAD BACK HOME THE ROAD OF ANTICIPATION THE ROAD OF THE CROSS 4

5 SUNDAY OF THE PASSION March 20 at 9:45 AM begins in the Gathering Place with the Procession with Palms and continues with the Lenten theme, Two Roads- Road to the Cross MAUNDY THURSDAY March 24 at 1 PM and 7 PM Remembering our Lord s command to love one another. Celebration of Holy Communion. GOOD FRIDAY March 25 at 1 PM and 7 PM Adoration of the cross, and reading of the Passion according to St. John. HOLY SATURDAY March 26 Easter Vigil worship begins at 6 PM This most ancient of liturgies celebrates our passover with Jesus from darkness to light, from death to life. It includes candle lighting, Bible stories from the Old Testament, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, and as a highlight involves the children decorating the sanctuary with Easter flowers as we make the symbolic move from Lent to Easter. EASTER SUNDAY March 27 Continental Breakfast served in the Gathering Place from 8:30-9:30AM. Festival Service at 9:45 AM THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, MARCH 28. 5

6 Tasty Fun for Everyone in March!! Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 12. We will hold our 7th annual chili and soup cook off and family fun night in the Fellowship Hall from 4 until 7 PM. There will be tastings of homemade chilies and soups for you to vote on the best, most unusual, etc. Games, kid s activities, prizes and more will round out the evening. Tickets will be sold in the Gathering Place and at the door. Proceeds will go to support our youth programs and activities including camperships to Camp Mowana this summer. Watch for more information in the Gathering Place and News and Views! We need lots of help to make this a great evening. Can you do any of the following? Chili or soup cooks make your favorite recipe to share and enter the competition Bread or dessert providers Soup/chili servers Games/activities coordinator or helper Contact Ed and Jane or ejamsalem@yahoo.com or Dan and Merri or bereafish@roadrunner.com for more information or to sign up to help. CAMP MOWANA SUNDAY COMING ON MARCH 13 On Sunday, March 13 during LIFE Together time, we will celebrate Camp Mowana Sunday. All who are interested in hearing about this ministry for young people are invited to come to the Gathering Place to hear information, see a video, and talk to Bethel youth who have attended camp before. There might even be a special guest or two. Mark your calendar now to come to Camp Mowana Sunday on March 13. 6

7 FIRST COMMUNION INSTRUCTION Instructions for all young people, grades 1 and above, who have not yet participated is coming in March. The meetings will be held in the Gathering Place conference room at 6:30 PM on the Wednesdays of March 2, 9 and 16. Letters of invitation have been sent to all students on our LIFE Together list. One parent or supporting adult is required to attend the meetings with their student. Please see Pastor Krebill for more information. INTERN UPDATE All of our application materials for an intern for the 22 month period beginning August 2016 have been submitted to Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus. At the end of January, Pastor Krebill attended a two day meet and greet at the seminary where he met with potential candidates. Assignments will be made by the beginning of April and we will share the news as soon as we hear it from the seminary. Interested in Learning about Membership at Bethel? Beginning Sunday, February 14, group meetings will be offered at 9am for those who are considering membership at Bethel. Visitors who have been joining us at worship and our other activities, but who have not yet made the commitment to membership have been invited to come for 5 meetings, which will be held in the sanctuary in the space just to the left of the altar area a you face the front of the church. Letters of invitation have been sent to all of our visitors. If somehow we missed you or you would like to know more about membership, please contact Pastor Krebill at At the end of the class those who wish to join this community of faith as members will be invited to do so on Easter Sunday, March 27. 7

8 How "We" Can Do More, While "Spending Less" from Our Budget "We" are the one out of four Bethel members who also are members of Thrivent Financial. "Spending Less" means reducing expenses incurred with congregation fund raisers and some budgeted items. We can reduce costs by participating in Thrivent's "Action Team" program which provides a $250 VISA credit card (called a "Community Impact Card") as "seed money" for purchases and expenses for a qualifying fund raiser or service event. The person applying for the Community Impact Card must be a Thrivent member and is the team leader. Other volunteers on the team do not have to be Thrivent members. For a fund raiser, the "Community Impact Card" could help to pay for publicity, props, decorations, snacks, food, materials, and supplies. This leaves up to $250 in our budget from just one fund raiser. A few fund raisers with the Thrivent card could leave hundreds of dollars in the budget each year. For an event such as our annual outdoor spring cleaning, the VISA card would help to pay for fertilizer, seeds, mulch, gloves, and landscaping-care tools. A bonus: Volunteers setting up, working at, or disassembling a fund raiser or service event may use the "Community Impact Card" to "send out for pizza" or buy refreshments for themselves while working at the event. Thrivent's "Community Impact Card" can also be used outside Bethel with other congregations, for qualifying charities, and for qualifying community needs. Although the person applying for the Community Impact Card must be a Thrivent member, any Christian can become an Associate Thrivent member ($20) and then apply for and lead an approved "Action Team" project. The $20 Associate member fee is a wise investment, yielding as much as a $250 return. Call THRIVENT to learn more about how you, whether a Thrivent member or a potential Associate member, can make a difference at Bethel and your community. Ask for "Action Team" when you call. Or go to and enter "Action Team" in the search box. Thrivent Financial is a Fortune 500 nonprofit financial-services organization that helps Christians be wise with money, live generously, strengthen communities, and change lives. Here's a partial list from Thrivent for fund raisers and service events: Check smoke detectors for the elderly, Build a wheelchair ramp, Hold a teddy bear drive for hospitalized children, Make tie-together fleece blankets for the homeless, Help make a house wheelchair-accessible, Clean up after a disaster, Hold a clothing drive, Hold a neighborhood food/toy/supply drive, Deliver/serve meals, Coordinate a care package drive for soldiers, Donate/assemble/distribute kits for new parents, Collect books/media for a library, Clean up a community park or highway, Hold a toy/gift/ birthday drive, Collect toiletry items for a women s shelter, Start a gardening program to benefit a food pantry, Establish a nursing home and/or school pen-pal project, Coordinate a drive for recycling electronic devices, Chili/barbeque cook-off, Community rummage/garage sale for charity, Create and sell recipe books, Walk or run for a cause, Art show or auction, Fashion show, Book fair, Aluminum-can recycling drive, Murdermystery dinner, Iron Chef-style cook-off, Local talent show, Mother s/father s Day brunch or high tea, Concert, Sleigh rides or hay rides, Holiday craft sale/bazaar, Photos with Santa, Holiday bake sale, Wreath/candle/decoration sale, Wrap Christmas gifts for donations, Poinsettia sale, and Valentine s Day flower/candy sale.... Ray Herzog 8

9 How "We" Can "Add Money" to Bethel's Budget "We" are the one out of four Bethel members who also are members of Thrivent Financial. "Add Money" means putting dollars directly into Bethel's bank account, without costing a Thrivent member anything other than a phone call or online transaction. Here's how: With its "Thrivent Choice" program, Thrivent Financial provides charitable grants to nonprofit organizations and churches. Through a vehicle called "Choice Dollars," eligible Thrivent members can recommend where their "Choice Dollars" go, and this includes Bethel Lutheran. "Choice Dollars" are not "seed money" for a fund raiser or event, like "Action Team" funds. Rather, these member-directed dollars go directly into Bethel's bank account. Thrivent members can call THRIVENT to see how many Choice Dollars they have and how to direct them to Bethel. Ask for "Choice Dollars" when you call. Or go to and enter "Choice Dollars" in the search box. Thrivent Financial is a Fortune 500 nonprofit financial-services organization that helps Christians be wise with money, live generously, strengthen communities, and change lives.... Ray Herzog It is MEEC Auction time! Tickets are now available for the annual MEEC Dinner and Auction. Join us at Old Oak Bible Church on February 27, 2016 for a Surfin' Safari. Old Oak Bible Church is located at 7575 Old Oak Blvd., Middleburg Hts. The doors will open at 5:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. Early Bird ticket price is $35.00 per person. Tickets will be available after church January 24 th and 31 st or call the MEEC office at If you are unable to attend, a $20.00 ticket only may be purchased for a chance to win a door prize. 9

10 Middleburg Heights Food Pantry The following items are needed now and year round: ramen noodles, skillet dinners, tuna. Your donations of other nonperishable foods are also welcomed. On January 10, the following persons have been elected and installed by our congregation to serve in positions of leadership in 2016 in ongoing service in their areas of ministry. Congregation Council President Fred Sauvey Secretary Bev Riehl Yvonne Hoelter Learning Jackie Bailey Support Becky Johnson Rescola & Karl Yanuzzi Vice President Diane Hail Treasurer Mary-Ellen Leidy Witness Laura Elewski Service Jane Salem MEEC Marty Cool Lois Minut Ed Salem Marilyn Sommerfield Nancy Kuder Fran Walsh (community member) Anita Holtz Merri Karp Matt Klein (community member) ontribution to the q Bethel Soap Box Ministry Thank you to our generous donors in 2015! We were able to deliver 32 personal hygiene toiletry bags and another cash donation of $ to the Woman s Community Re- Entry program in November. Our efforts are making a positive contribution to the quality of life for the participants of this program. Please continue to drop off your donations in the Gathering Place coat room. Ed Harbart 10

11 Sunday, February 14 5:00 6:30 PM Join us for an evening of fun, learning and a chance to think about our own Lenten journeys. Whole group time and activities for all ages, break-out sessions for kids, teens and adults and take home packets for all Everyone welcome! Bring a friend!! Sign up by February 7 th in the Gathering Place or bethelstaff@sbcglobal.net Redeemer Crisis Center It s a new year and super cold outside! Guess that means you have decided to clean out your closets?!! Well, when you do, please don t forget to bring the following items in for donation to the Redeemer Crisis Center box. The need is always there, and always appreciated!! Can openers Silverware Dishes Glasses/Coffee Cups Pots/Pans CLEAN sheets, pillowcases, etc. Thank you for helping this ministry!! 11

12 Birthdays and Anniversaries 1 Margaret Gutwein 1 Richard and Victoria Bobey (Happy 47 th ) 3 Helmut Link 4 Robert Pickens Jr 6 Ruth Kuhn 8 Ruth Bemer 8 Cole Nicholas 10 Mitch Ciccarello 11 Ginny Markus 15 Thelma Bradnan 15 Erika Haskell 15 Lisa Weaver 17 Kathy Maszczynski 17 Aubryana Kolomijez (Happy 1 st Birthday!) 22 Ray and Wanda Herzog (Happy 41 st ) 24 Cindy LoPiccolo 12

13 Birthdays and Anniversaries 1 Linda English 4 Kelly and Alex Bartlett (Happy 16 th ) 7 Gloria Neumann 8 Ray Herzog 8 Bev Riehl 9 Karl and Jeanette Yanuzzi (Happy 42 nd ) 10 Emma Whitsel 13 Sandy Sauvey 14 Ken Feuerstein 14 Riley Vata 16 Linda Harshman 16 Anthony English 20 Phil and Genny Long (Happy 62 nd ) 20 Fred Sauvey 26 Lauren Einheit 28 Holly Nicholas 30 Carol Dershau 13

14 February 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Bible study 3 Choir 7:30pm 4 GFF 7pm 5 AA 8:30pm 6 Men s Bible study 8am 7 9:45am 8 9 Bible study Men s Luncheon 11:30am Council Mtg 7pm 10 Ash Wednesday Service 1pm & 7pm 11 GFF 7pm 12 AA 8:30pm 13 Men s Bible study 8am Council Retreat 9am-3pm GP 14 9:45am Bible study 17 Lenten 1pm Choir 7:30pm 18 GFF 7pm 19 AA 8:30pm 20 Men s Bible study 8am 21 9:45am Bible study 24 Lenten 1pm Choir 7:30pm 25 GFF Birthday Dinner 7pm 26 AA 8:30pm 27 Men s Bible study 8am MEEC Dinner & Auction 6pm 28 9:45am 29 14

15 March 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Bible study 2 Lenten 1pm First Communion Mtg 6:30pm Choir 7:30pm 3 GFF 7pm 4 AA 8:30pm 5 Men s Bible study 8am 6 9:45am 7 8 Bible Study Council Mtg 7pm 9 Lenten 1pm First Communion Mtg 6:30pm Choir 7:30pm 10 GFF 7pm 11 AA 8:30pm 12 Men s Bible study 8am Chili/Soup Cook Off 4-7pm 13 Camp Mowana Sunday 9:45am (Daylight Savings Time - Don t forget to Turn your clock Forward!) Bible Study 16 Lenten 1pm First Communion Mtg 6:30pm Choir 7:30pm 17 GFF 7pm 18 AA 8:30pm 19 Men s Bible Study 8am 20 9:45am Palm Sunday Bible Study 23 Lenten 1pm Choir 7:30pm 24 NO GFF Maundy Thursday 1pm & 7pm 25Good Friday MEEC Spring break begins 1pm & 7pm AA 8:30pm 26 Holy Saturday 6pm 27 Easter Sunday Breakfast 8:30-9:30am 9:45am 28 Easter Monday Church Office closed 29 Bible Study GFF Easter Service & Birthday dinner 7pm 15

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