Bethlehem Star. Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church. March Why Go to Church?

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1 Bethlehem Star Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church March 2018 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 Jerry Bauck Barb Bohle Gayle Breding David Brockman Shellie DeHoyos Pat Gum Newsletter Deadline Please submit your materials for the April newsletter by Thursday, March 15th, to Lynn Bulger. You can leave the materials in her mailbox at church or Call/ Text to the number above. Perhaps you have had this sent to you? Or have seen something similar on Facebook? Thank you to Jerry Bauck for passing along this story for the newsletter. (Note: the original text has been modified for space) As we are in Lent and will soon be entering Holy Week, we will have multiple worship services available at Bethlehem, in addition to our two Sunday Services. So... Why Go to Church? If you re spiritually alive, you re going to love this! If you re spiritually dead, you won t want to read it. If you re spiritually curious, there is still hope! A church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. He wrote: I ve gone for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can t remember a single one of them. So, I think I m wasting my time, the preachers and priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all. This started a real controversy in the Letters to the Editor column. Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this, they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today! Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment!

2 Bethlehem Star March 2018, Page 2 WELCA Pie Social Sunday, March 11, 2018 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 Naomi Circle Naomi Circle will meet on March 13th, 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 March 8th, the second Thursday of the month, at 7:00 pm in the downstairs kitchen. The Bible Study for January, February, March and April will be by Mark Allen Powell. It explores what Biblical stories mean to people around the world. Session Three: The Good Samaritan All women are invited to come! Pie will be served during Coffee Hour on Sunday, March 11th. A good will offering will be held with the funds raised going to the different ministries WELCA supports. Next WELCA Business Meeting Thursday, March 22th, 2018 at 7:00pm. Lutheran World Relief - Care Kits Collecting though Sunday, April 15th WELCA will be collecting items for Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief until April 15th. You can bring all or part of a kit. The collection basket, with full list of items needed, is located in the Narthex. Our goal is to send 20 kits. You can also donate money to pay for the shipping of the kits. It costs $2.65 to ship one Personal Care Kit. Daylight Saving Time Sunday, March 11th Be sure to Spring Forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday, March 10th!

3 Bethlehem Star March 2018, Page 3 Highlights from the February 20th, 2018 Church Council Meeting (Person who presented report is in parentheses) Outreach (Lynn Bulger): Our next Family Promise commitment is April 22nd & 23rd. We are still looking for a coordinator for this important ministry! Our monthly benevolence for February is the Montana Rescue Mission. During Lent, the Wednesday offering will go to support Bethlehem, with 75% going to current expenses and 25% going to the youth group. Fellowship (Lynn Bulger): Last year s Corned Beef event was such a success, so we are doing it again this year on Saturday, March 17th. We will take reservations until March 11th so we know how much food to purchase. A free will offering will be taken. Worship and Music (Pat Gum): The committee met on January 30th and has services planned through March 11th. The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 13th at 9:30am. Pastor s Report (Pastor Jean): By the Numbers: Christian Education Events: 2 Worship Services: 4 Pastoral Visits: 13 Church Business Meetings: 6 Professional Meetings: 7 Treasurer s Report (Darlene Fernelius): In February, we received an anonymous donation of $10,000! $9,000 to go to current expenses and $1,000 to go to All are Welcome. What a blessing! TOTAL INCOME TOTAL EXPENSES NET INCOME CASH BALANCE $9, ($9,458.75) $ ($5,455.92) Other: At this meeting Committee leaders were allocated COMMITTEE LEADER Financial/Treasurer Darlene Fernelius Worship & Music Pat Gum Property Johnna Voto Education Jerry Bauck Fellowship Barb Bohle & Norma Severance Youth Group Casey Anguiano Outreach Shellie DeHoyos WELCA Lynn Bulger Membership Andrew Smith Note: Pastor Jean and President (Lynn Bulger) are ex-officio members of all committees and task forces (except the Nomination Committee)

4 Bethlehem Star March 2018, Page 4 Peace in the Parish (Work Shop) Saturday, March 10th 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Corned Beef* Dinner Saturday, March 17th 5:30 pm We will be hosting a workshop called Peace in the Parish on Saturday, March 10th from 9am to 2pm. It is being offered by John Mundinger, in cooperation with the Montana Synod. The workshop will focus on Matthew 18 and the book "Getting to Yes". The agenda will likely include a presentation with discussion, time for small group work and report outs, and a closing discussion. Somewhere in there, we'll take time for some Pita Pit lunch. Mr Mundinger is volunteering his time and the Synod has offered to sponsor his travel. Ideally he would like to work with 20 to 30 people. Youth Group Saturday, March 10th 9:00 am Noon The youth group will meet at church at 9:00 am on Saturday, March 10th. From there they will head to the Lutheran Center for some light housekeeping. At noon, they will return to church for lunch. Reminder: Youth group is open to anyone young of age or young at heart. The more the merrier! Pancake Breakfast Easter Sunday, April 1st (Between worship services) The youth group will host a Pancake Breakfast between worship services on Easter Sunday. A free will offering will be taken. Thank you to Joan Heser for donating the food! Reservations will be taken until Sunday, March 11th. Please RSVP with: Barb Bohle or Norma Severance A free will offering will be taken. *baked cod & hot dogs are also available We will have a St. Patrick themed Bingo game. Remember, this is a great event to invite a friend to Bethlehem! Volunteers Needed Bethlehem's turn to clean the Lutheran Center is in March. Jeannie Weber is looking for volunteers to help with some light housekeeping. Jeannie can be contacted by phone ( ) to arrange dates and times. The Lutheran Center a Christian based facility that is a home away from home for medical patients and/or families. They rely on the support of the local Lutheran churches and their members.

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6 Bethlehem Star March 2018, Page 6 Mar-18 March 4th March 11th March 18th March 25th 3rd Sunday of Lent 4th Sunday of Lent 5th Sunday of Lent Palm Sunday Presiding Minister Pastor Jean Hay Pastor Jean Hay Pastor Jean Hay Pastor Jean Hay Assisting Minister Musician Denise Boettcher Kathy Pfaffinger Kay Hanson 8:30 Service Welcomer Usher (1) Usher (2) Margie Shea Johnna Voto Readers Adult Johnna Voto Kevin Hegland Youth Prayers Communion Assistants Adult Youth Margie Shea Jonna Voto Jeanne Weber Johnna Voto 10:30 Service Welcomer Usher (1) Gary Koch Usher (2)) Jan Harper Readers Adult Sharon Uecker Barb Bohle Sharon Uecker Youth Prayers Barb Bohle Communion Assistants Adult Barb Bohle Sharon Uecker Barb Bohle Sharon King Sharon Uecker Youth Altar Guild Flowers Maryls Hogg Maryls Hogg John & Darlene Fernelius Tellers Fernelius/Koch Fernelius/Koch Fellowship Host WELCA Pie Social Descheemaeker/Molyneaux

7 Bethlehem Star March 2018, Page 7 March Birthdays! Peace and Joy be with you! 4 John Fernelius 4 Dale Vernon 7 Morrgan Gibson 12 Cammie Bell 19 Barb Bonini 23 Drew Drinkwalter 25 Shellie DeHoyos 29 Marlene McCave Thank you! My appreciation to Jean Hay for the pastoral care and to all the Bethlehem Saints for their well wishes. I ve got a ways to go, but will keep you in my prayers as well. Thank You. Arnie Uecker Trinity Lutheran School Trinity Lutheran School will soon be enrolling students for the school year. They offer Christian education from preschool to 8th grade. They also have an onsite daycare program (ages 3 and up) For more information: Phone: (406) school@trinitybillings.org Address: 2802 Belvedere Drive (59102) Family Promise April It will soon be time again for our Family Promise commitment. Won t you consider volunteering for this important ministry? Sign up is located in the fellowship hall. Sunday, April 22 Evening Meal Sunday, April Overnight Host: Margie Shea 2. Overnight Host Jeannie Weber Monday, April 23 Evening Meal Monday, April Overnight Host 2. Overnight Host We also need someone that will pick up our share of bedding (sheets and towels). The linens will need to be laundered and taken back to Peace Lutheran.

8 Bethlehem Lutheran Church th St. W. Billings, MT Address Correction Requested All Are Welcome Lenten Schedule Through March 21, 2018 Wednesday Worship at Noon Wednesday Soup & Bread Supper at 6:00 pm followed by Holden Evening Prayer at 7:00 pm. Maundy Thursday, March 29th Good Friday, March 30th Easter Vigil, Saturday, March 31 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm Easter, Sunday, April 1st 8:30 am & 10:30 am Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Youth Group (between services)