BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL The Messenger December 2013 Sunday School Christmas Pageant The annual Christmas Pageant presented by the Sunday School students takes place on Sunday, December 22nd at 10:30 AM. The title of this year s program is With Every Christmas Card I Write. Advent 2013 See the birthplace of Christ in a whole new way this Advent season as our Saturday evening and Sunday morning worship services focus on the theme The Bright Star of Bethlehem. Each week you will learn more about the little town where Jesus was born so long ago, and what Jesus, who is the Bright Star of Bethlehem, reveals to us even today. May the God of Advent days touch your lives with hints of a holy night... Pageant rehearsals will be on Saturday, December 14th from 10AM to 12 noon and Saturday, December 21st from 10AM to 1PM. Lunch will be provided on December 21st. Students need to be at church at 9:45AM on Sunday, December 22nd. There will be NO Saturday worship service on 12/21. Please show your support for the Sunday School children by attending this special program. A Candlelight Christmas Eve service of traditional carols, scripture readings and communion will be held at 5PM on Tuesday, December 24th. Celebrate the Reason for the Season at Bethany. Dec. 29th A Service of Lessons and Hymns to Welcome the New Year The Sunday just prior to the start of 2014, we will have a special worship service to Welcome the New Year. Readings from the Old and New Testament along with well-known hymns will serve to remind us that all time is in God s hands. The worship service on Saturday, December 28th will be one of Lessons and Communion to Welcome the New Year. Hope you will join us to begin another year with God!
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 2 Bethany Cleaning Day Was a Great Success Thanks to everyone who took time away from their weekend to beautify Bethany Sharon Ahlberg, Gary Gray, Kelly, John & David Jaje, Gerry Johnson, Ralph Johnson, Pam & Bill Laasch, Nancy Mason, Heather Nilles, Joy Semetulskis, Dan, Kim & Jessica Stowe, Marlynn Vavruska, Karen & Kristin Washagan, and Marilyn Molitor for providing babysitting services. A special thank you to Jodi Taylor for organizing this event! The Call Committee has set up interview dates in December with multiple candidates. The Committee looks forward to meeting with these potential candidates in order to find the best fit for Bethany. Thanks to all who participated in the Worship Feedback Forums. Giving much consideration to what was said, the Worship Committee recommended to the Church Council that on the first Sunday of each month a traditional worship service (i.e., Evangelical Lutheran Worship liturgical setting 1) be held. With eyes and hearts focused on Bethany s future, the Worship Committee recommended that a blended liturgy be used for the other Sundays of each month. The Church Council accepted and endorsed these recommendations. This new schedule format begins on Sunday, January 5th. New Church Council Members Newly elected members to the Bethany Church Council are: Gary Gray Zach Howell Alyssa Krakar Bill Laasch Thank you for giving your time and talent to serve the congregation. If you would like a copy of the Mission Site Profile, contact the Church Office at 630-257-7953 to request one.
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 3 Pastoral Call Timeline Update Light at the end of the tunnel? In Progress: Call Committee interviews with pastoral candidates Yet to Come: Call Committee site visits to hear candidates preach and lead worship Call Committee selection of the final candidate Council interview with the final candidate Preparation of Pastoral Compensation Package Constitution Re-Write Congregation Meet and Greet with the final candidate Congregational meeting to call the new pastor New Pastor s Office Preparation Completed: Council/Call Committee Retreat Call Committee Focus Group Meetings 2012 ELCA Parochial Report Filed Financial Resources Assessment Mission Site Profile Revised Mission Site Profile Approved by Church Council Final Approval of the Seven Reflections by the Church Council Call Committee Budget Approved by the Church Council Website Development Council Discussion on Pastoral Expectations Pastoral Candidate Names Given from Synod Staff to Call Committee Membership Update The 2014 Flower Chart is posted in the Narthex. If you would like to adorn the altar with flowers next year in memory or in honor of a loved one, please complete the flower card and place it in the offering plate. Flowers are purchased from Lange s Florist which bills The Bethany Quilters wish to thank the members of Bethany for the generous loose offering of $342.11 designated to their Quilt Ministry for Lutheran World Relief. It costs $2.25 per quilt to cover the cost of shipping so this offering is accepted with gratitude. Thank you. the church directly so payment is due to the church when your flowers are displayed. A single arrangement is $25.00. Please return the container the following weekend. Christmas Memorials If you would like to place a Christmas Memorial, please complete the form in the bulletin or contact the Church Office. The deadline is December 18th. Bethany is seeking handy individuals willing to volunteer their time to work on small projects around the church and education building. If you are available beginning in January, please contact Bruce or Jodi Taylor at 630-257-6281. Bethany Lutheran Mission Statement Bethany Lutheran Church works to be a growing, living, faith community focusing on outreach. Following the example of Christ, we will share love, grace and hope and commit the resources of time, talents and wealth to our church, our village and all of God s creation.
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 4 MEMORIALS AND GIFTS General Fund A donation in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Carl Anderson by Mr. & Mrs. Michael Naus. A donation in memory of John & Myrtle Kaser by Jane Kaser Golden. Cemetery Fund A donation in memory of Ruth Gotlund by the Olkiewicz/ Fandry Family. Building Care Fund A donation in memory of the birth of Harriet Gee by Virginia & Bob Hoster. The congregation of Bethany extends its sympathy and prays for the family of Ruth Gotlund who entered eternal life on November 23rd. Ruth was a lifelong Bethany member who was active in various ministries. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED FOOD STAPLES TO THE BETHANY OPEN PANTRY St. Patrick Church Rotary Club of Lemont/Homer Glen Presbyterian Church in Orland Park T.O.P.S. #2196 Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Catholic Mission Lemont Garden Club St. Matthew s Church Oakwood School St. Alphonsus Church Phyllis Kennedy Emmanuel Baptist Church Starbucks Coffee Lemont Township Old Quarry School Pam & Fred Schmitz Citgo Petroleum Corporation Old Quarry Boys & Girls Basketball Teams Hope & Friendship Ministries Old Quarry Sign Language Club Lemont Library St. Al s/st. Pat s School Clarage Family Lemont Lions Club Sandy Centers MONETARY DONATIONS TO THE BETHANY OPEN PANTRY WERE GIVEN BY Maureen & Mark Skowronski Pam & Fred Schmitz Roger & Geraldine Beck Debra Beck Lemont Junior Woman s Club George & Lorraine Repchak Louis & Ruta Smulkstys St. Patrick Church Donald & Patty Krengiel Doreen Bara & Kevin Lester Mary & John Davis Annette & Wayne Nyenhuis Presbyterian Church in Orland Park Elsie Schultz Lois Miller Sarah O Donnell Humbert Saenz Brian & Barbara Osborne St. Al s/st. Pat s School Sophie & Jesse Janociak Jay Hanrahan George & Geraldine Boyle Ed & Nancy Mason Mark & Pamela Mikrut Theresa Graham Julianne Kalata
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 5 IN OUR PRAYERS Bethany Members Ginny Connelly Karen Rae Peyton Kirk Slip Johnson Theora Kujawa Tom Pearson Ray Ludwig Janet Zingen Marie Heeren Leona Nelson Friends and Relatives of Bethany Members Joanne Bauer friend of Jim & Ginny Connelly Gary Cobbett friend of the Bergmarks Nancy Olin aunt of Heather & Mike Nilles Baithin Wiggins friend of the Bergmarks Mitchell Sikita friend of Ed & Glenda Anderson Jennifer Tessone friend of Glenda Anderson Blake Donegan friend of Glenda Anderson Ann Wirth sister of Wendy Peebles Heidi Dupont friend of Nancy Iwan Diane Reyes mother of Cheryl Sabourin Audrey Gee relative of Virginia & Bob Hoster Sherry DuTemple sister of Keith Olkiewicz Pat & Len Genardo friends of the Connellys Milton Olkiewicz father of Keith Olkiewicz Janet Kuchar daughter of Virginia & Bob Hoster Karl Knasiak brother-in-law of John & Kelly Jaje Debbie Hessert friend of Sue Gray Donna Laasch sister-in-law of Bill & Pam Laasch Rudy Cozzi friend of Glenda & Ed Anderson Julie Powell sister of John Howell Jane Lippner friend of Glenn & Rosemarie McAdam Sue Knight former member John Shea brother-in-law of Heather & Mike Nilles Marianne Carlsen friend of Ginny Connelly & Karen Rae Justin & Stephanie Wormsley friends of Jodi & Bruce Taylor If you would like to add anyone to the Bethany Prayer List, call or email the church office OR drop a note in the offering plate be sure to include your name.
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL NOVEMBER 2013 Swedish Potato Sausage Sale! The annual Swedish Potato Sausage Sale will be held on Sunday, December 15th from 9AM to 11AM. The sausage is 4.50 per pound and orders will be taken until December 11th. A limited amount will be made so place your order now by calling the Church Office (630-257- 7953) or Bill McAdam on evenings and weekends (630-257-0850). Men are requested to be in the Church Parlor by 6AM with a potato peeler in hand. Contact Bill McAdam for more information. DATES TO REMEMBER December 11 Potato Sausage Orders due December 14 Christmas Pageant Rehearsal 10AM Noon December 15 Potato Sausage Sale 9-11AM Church Council Meeting 11:30 AM December 18 Christmas Memorials due December 21 Christmas Pageant Rehearsal 10AM-1PM (Lunch served) December 22 Christmas Pageant 10:30 AM December 24 Christmas Service 5PM BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH 500 LEMONT STREET LEMONT IL 60439