Bethesda Butler Lutheran Parish PO Box 426 Bristol, SD 57219

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1 Bethesda Butler Lutheran Parish PO Box 426 Bristol, SD Pastor Chris Strohm Bristol Church Office Pastor s Cell Parish bethesdabutler@nvc.net Parish Website

2 Hello Everyone, We have survived the annual meetings and are now ready to enter into the new year. This year Lent begins in February, Ash Wednesday is on February 14, and we will be having our Lenten Services on Wednesday evenings. Lent itself, is a time of selfreflection and penitence, a time to acknowledge our sinfulness and need for God s mercy. Lent mirrors the forty days of Jesus temptation in the wilderness and so we are invited to enter a period of selfexamination, repentance, prayer, fasting, and self-denial. We are called to use these forty days as a time of reflection on our sins, the ways that we separate ourselves from God and from one another. So, it is easy to think of Lent as a somber, solemn time of the church year, but there is also joy to be found in the journey. This coming together of mortality and eternity, sin and grace, death and life, make the path to Jesus cross and tomb a rugged and exciting place to be. Lent can be a dangerous time, it is dangerous to meet Jesus in the dark places. To ask the same questions of ourselves that Jesus asks of his disciples, to accept the radical touch of Jesus. It is in these moments of utter truth and honesty that we find ourselves vulnerable enough to connect with the risen Christ as never before. Our Lenten services will follow the theme of Thy Will be Done the prayer that Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane right before he is arrested. We will look at how God s will impacts our lives through various biblical characters. There will also be a time of adult education before worship from 4:30 to 5:30 every Wednesday where we will look at and discuss the draft of a new social statement of the ELCA. ELCA social statements are theological and teaching documents. They assist the ELCA and its members to reach informed judgments on social issues from a perspective of faith. They are intended to cultivate individual and community discernment, as well as to guide moral formation. They govern the church s institutional policy and teaching in its social witness and guide its work as a public church. The social statement we will be discussing is titled Women and Justice. This is your chance to have an input on what our church has to say on this subject as there is a form to submit our thoughts to the task force that wrote this draft. It will be voted on at the 2019 Churchwide Assembly. I invite you to join me on this Lenten journey of discovery. reflection, and action. God s peace be with you all, Pastor Chris

3 Don t forget to direct Thrivent Choice Dollars - March 31 st Deadline Grant funding from Thrivent Financial through its Thrivent Choice program can help support organizations you care about. Don t let designated Choice Dollars expire. Eligible Thrivent Financial members who have been designated Choice Dollars have until March 31, 2018, to direct any remaining 2017 Choice Dollars. Help support Bethesda or Butler Lutheran Church. Go to Thrivent.com/thriventchoice to learn more and find program terms and conditions. Or call and say Thrivent Choice after the prompt. If your family or group is able to serve for a Lenten Supper please sign up on the sheet on Bethesda s bulletin board. Lenten worships will be Wednesdays at 6pm beginning February 21 st at Bethesda with supper following. ============================================== Ash Wednesday Service will be at Butler on Wednesday, February 14 th at 6pm. ***************************************** Thank you to the congregation of Bethesda and Butler for the wonderful Christmas gift that you have given me. I really appreciate it. It helps us out tremendously. It is serving people like you that makes my ministry here enjoyable. You are a Spirit filled people. Thank you and God Bless, Pastor Chris Bible Readings for each Sunday in February February 4 Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147: Corinthians 9:16-23 Mark 1:29-39 February 11 2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9 February 18 Genesis 9:8-17 Psalm 25: Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15 February 25 Genesis 17:1-7, Psalm 22:23-31 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8: Chocolate Fest at NeSoDak February 2 nd and 3 rd Arrive between 6-6:30pm Meal served at 6:30 All ages are invited to come to NeSoDak for an early Valentine s celebration. Come enjoy a 3 course meal including prime rib and a chocolate themed dessert buffet. Tickets are $30 each and reservations must be made in advance. Call or nesodak@losd.org

4 Butler WELCA The Butler WELCA met at the church on Saturday January 6, 2018 at 9 am with 10 present. Noon lunch was potluck with quilting in the afternoon. Bible Study was John 15: 1-8 titled "I AM The True Vine: Purpose." Lorraine Anderson had Offering Meditation. The group recited the WELCA Purpose Statement. Secretary s report was read and approved as read. Treasurers report: December Offering - $75.00, General Fund - $ , Altar Fund - $ Total monthly offering for 2017 was $ Discussion was held on dispersal of funds for A motion was made and seconded to give NeSoDak $ Motion carried. A motion was made and seconded to approve to give $ for donations for Motion carried. Discussion was held on final Thrivent reports for Our new Bible Study will be "Christian Disciplines". The book as 12 lessons and the coast is $10.50 per book. Our next meeting will be Saturday, February 10 at 9am at the church. Julie will have the Offering Meditation. Noon lunch is potluck and the group will quilt in the afternoon. The Prairie Coteau Conference Assembly Have you ever wondered about the greater church? Do you ever think, How can I serve the church beyond my local congregation? Here is your chance!! Our church, the ELCA, is divided up into Synods, our synod, the South Dakota Synod, is further divided up into conferences. We are members of the Prairie Coteau conference which encompasses the Northeast corner of the state. Currently I am serving as the president of the conference. We will be having our annual assembly on March 4 th at 3pm, at NeSoDak. This meeting is open to everyone. If you have ever asked the questions I listed above to yourself or others please come we have 10 non clergy positions that need to be filled. See me, Pastor Chris, if you are interested. We closed with praying The Lord's Prayer. Carol Flattum, Secretary

5 2/04 2/11 2/18 2/25 At Butler Rylee Huwe At Butler February BETHESDA WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Ushers Reader Organist Altar Guild Deacon Acolyte Sign-up Sheet in the Narthex Gail Kathryn Pam Dylla Gayle Horter Janel Lone February BUTLER WORSHIP ASSISTANTS 2/04 2/11 2/18 2/25 Ushers Reader Acolyte Michael, Tammie, Kaleb Michael & Tammie Steve Julie Bethesda Financial Report Needed weekly to meet the budget: $1, DATE OFFERINGS OTHER 1/07 $ $45.00 Thrivent $ /14 $1, As of January 18, 2018 Total 2018 yearly receipts: $1, Total 2018 yearly disbursements: $7, Thank you for sharing your time, talent and financial offerings for the glory of God. February 1 Kaedynce Bonn February 1 Nick Hubsch February 2 Wes Nolte February 3 Janel Lone February 3 James B. McKane IV February 8 Tucker Wickre February 10 Raegan Horter February 12 Lyle Busch February 12 Chezney Williamson February 13 Colt Williamson February 13 Damon Witt February 13 Jenilee Wickre February 17 Nathan Duerre February 17 Ayden McKane February 19 Larissa Hansmeier February 20 Deb Henrichsen February 21 Kiera Olsen February 22 Shirley Huwe February 23 Alyssa Shoemaker February 23 Lila Erickson February 23 Derek Wickre February 24 Karin Bartell February 26 Allison Duerre February 27 Hayden Ferguson February 28 Bill Dylla We apologize if we missed your birthday. Please let us know and we will include it on our list for next year. Birthday blessings to you!

6 FEBRUARY 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 9am Bible Study 6:30pm 6:30pm Chocolate at Bethesda Chocolate Fest at NeSoDak Fest at NeSoDak 5 th Sunday after Epiphany (green) 4 9am Communion Worship at Butler Transfiguration of Our Lord (white) 11 9am Communion Worship at Bethesda 1 st Sunday in Lent (purple) 18 9am Worship at Butler 2 nd Sunday in Lent (purple) 25 9am Worship at Bethesda with Runner s Club Noisy Can Offering 2-4:30 Better Health Workshop in Webster :30 Better Health Workshop in Webster March Newsletter items due Pastor s Office Day Confirmation Pastor s Office Day 6pm Ash Wednesday Communion Worship at Butler Valentine s Day 20 Pastor s Office Day 21 4:30-5:30 Adult Education Hour at Bethesda 6pm Lenten Worship at Bethesda with Supper following. Confirmation meets during supper Pastor s Office Day 28 4:30-5:30 Adult Education Hour at Bethesda 6pm Lenten Worship at Bethesda with Supper following. Confirmation meets during supper. 8 9am Bible Study at Bethesda 2pm Pastor at Sun Dial 6:30 Bethesda Council Mtg. 15 9am Bible Study at Bethesda 22 9am Bible Study at Bethesda am Butler WELCA with potluck lunch and afternoon quilting

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