Pastor`s Word - Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
VOL. 71 •Number 9 SEPTEMBER, 2015
Fall Sermon Series
We’re all familiar with the old adage that
says when the only tool you have is a
hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
Today’s world is increasingly complex and
living in it requires diverse tools and an
ever-expanding skill set. Each new day
brings uncertainty, but with thoughtful
reflection and faithful wisdom, we can get better at navigating challenging
times. Join us this fall as we bring some of the ancient wisdom of the book of
Proverbs to bear on today’s problems. Together we can build a better
toolbox.
SUNDAY Afternoon SCHOOL Begins on Celebration Sunday
September 13, 4:00-5:00 pm
Come for an hour of collaborative learning
and connecting with all ages. Interact with
the scripture of the day through drama,
art, song and conversation. When the
wisdom of the elder and the wonder of the
child come together, that energy creates a
sacred space to experience God. Have fun
with people of different generations while learning and growing in faith. And
stay for Worship at 5:00 pm!
7:00 pm Evening Worship Moves to 5:00 pm September 13
Beginning on Celebration Sunday, September 13, the 7:00 pm worship service
will move two hours earlier to 5:00 pm. We are committed to providing a
worship opportunity for those who cannot join us on Sunday morning. We are
excited about our new Sunday Afternoon School that will precede the
5:00 pm service and hope that many of you will take advantage of this
intergenerational opportunity. And if you’ve never experienced evening
worship, give it a try.
Helping Your Family Be Responsible Digital Citizens, with national
speaker and teacher ERIN WALSH, at Bethlehem Wednesday,
September 23, 6:30-7:30 pm. Read more on page 7.
Pastor’s Word
T
his past July, 53 youth and
adults spent nine days in
Mexico. It was a rich and wonderful
experience. Amazing relationships
were cultivated and there were lifechanging moments for many, if not
all of us. The interesting thing —
there really is no way of knowing
how or when this change will
happen. There is no way of
predicting how God will work in and
through these men and women.
There is no way of knowing what the
Spirit may awaken in them. There is
no way of telling when they will
realize that they met the crucified
and risen Jesus in those nine
days. But still, I am confident that
change has happened. It always
does with our God.
I am about to do a new
thing; now it springs forth,
do you not perceive it?
Isaiah 43:19
This is one of my favorite verses in
scripture. It seems the perfect verse
for life on the precipice of change,
for isn't that where we live most of
our days. It's where we stand as the
Bethlehem community. God is doing
something new in our midst, God is
inviting us to reimagine what it
means to be church. We don't know
what it will look like, or how it will
work exactly but we are confident
that God is with us. We will be
Pastor’s Word continued on Page 2 …
Pastor’s Word continued from Page 1…
Second Floor Renovation
challenged and pushed, maybe even
transformed, but my prayer for us is
the same one that I pray for our
young people each night on these
trips, that we would encounter Jesus
anew, that he would rend our hearts
and give us new eyes to see him at
work in the world.
Today and everyday!
The second floor renovation work, to be
completed in September, will usher in a new
chapter of serving better the needs of the
evolving ministry that takes place on site.
MANY thanks to those Bethlehem members
who have paid for these improvements through
their generous gifts to the Treasure in Clay Jars
appeal!
Pastor Ben Cieslik
Harrisville Hall
With new lighting, carpeting, walls, furnishings, and audio/video suitable for
the current era, Harrisville Hall will now have the capacity to serve a variety
of larger-group functions for people of all ages. A priority of the design is
that it offers great versatility. Offices and storage will be located on the
south end of the space, with youth offices strategically situated across the
hall from new children’s ministry offices. Moreover, roughed-in electrical
work will be added so that in the near future a video/audio feed from the
sanctuary can be offered.
New Multi-purpose Meeting Room located by the east stairway
This space will accommodate 18-25 people and will be used primarily for
youth and adult activities and meetings. Hospitality in the space is a high
priority and will be enhanced with a counter, sink, and compact refrigerator
at the west end of the room. A large smart TV, identical to the one being
added in Harrisville, is also planned along with new chairs and tables.
Staff News…
Art Room/Classroom/Children’s Ministry Offices
We celebrate and give thanks for
Pastor Rob Norris-Weber’s 25 years
of service with the Bethlehem
community. Rob began his ministry
at Bethlehem on September 10,
1990 as Youth and Family Director.
He has been the Pastor of Spirit
Garage for the past 10 years.
Congratulations Rob!
With reconfigured space, this area will serve three primary functions—
conventional classroom needs for children and youth, a space where
children’s artwork happens, and adjacent to it, a suite of offices for our
children and family ministry staff.
Juan Equihua, our lead custodian,
has resigned in order to further
pursue a business opportunity. Juan
and his wife own Francesca's
Cleaning Service and the business is
rapidly expanding. We thank Juan
for his four years of dedication and
hard work. We will miss his great
attitude and sense of fun.
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Contact Bob Wertz, [email protected], Pastor of Stewardship and
Planned Giving, if you want to learn more about or donate to the Treasure in Clay
Jars three-year appeal.
Your Giving Makes a Difference
by Bob Wertz, Pastor of Stewardship and Planned Giving
While the word “stewardship” is unfortunately understood by some to be a
euphemism for “fundraising,” a more full-bodied perspective from our
Christian tradition suggests that it pertains to the totality of our lives.
Stewardship involves the joy and privilege of managing all that God has
placed in our hands. It suggests a readiness and a responsibility on our parts
to act in ways that honor these gifts. On the heels of the Good Life Challenge
in which he helped raise funds through his beekeeping hobby, I asked longtime member Iver Iverson to reflect on how he first became involved with
beekeeping and whether or not he understood it as an act of stewardship.
4100 Lyndale Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55409
Phone: 612.312.3400
Fax: 612.312.3399
Email: [email protected]
J
eanne and I have always shared an interest in gardening and beekeeping.
Retirement a few years ago afforded more time to pursue these pastimes.
I took Marla Spivak's short course “Beekeeping in Northern Climates” at the
UofM and joined the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association for monthly
meetings at the St. Paul campus. I bought equipment, built hive stands and
boxes, found a site for a bee yard, and purchased
my first boxes of bees from a local supplier. They
arrived in late April and thus began my happy
pastime. One of the coincidental factors of getting
involved in beekeeping at this time was the growing
public awareness of bees and their (and all
pollinators) crucial place in our food supply
system. One-third of our fresh produce alone
requires bees for pollination. With the onset of
Colony Collapse Disorder, U.S. commercial beekeepers were facing 50% losses
and no one could explain its cause, but it became front page news. The loss
of bee habitat and forage to industrial agriculture practices of monoculture
row cropping and the rise of a nasty parasite called the Varroa mite (present
in every hive now) have combined to weaken the entire species.
Now to the question of stewardship. Author Wendell Berry once noted that
passing through farm country tilled by Amish with horses and simple
implements stands in stark contrast to industrialized agriculture. The one is
many families, working together in community and within the norms and
rhythms of a diverse and natural world, growing a variety of food crops. The
other is one lone farmer working an equal quantity of fields with enormous
equipment and technology and chemical substances to extract one or two
commodity crops where no diversity of plant or animal can exist. Marla
Spivak made a similar point that she would rather see a thousand beekeepers
with one hive than another commercial beekeeper with a thousand hives
because more people would become aware of the challenges faced by bees
(and ultimately us).
In my view, stewardship begins with appreciating and loving creation and
respecting the science of it. It is such a gift and privilege to visit my bees and
to keep them content in their places. They are as fascinating as other
magnificent works of God's creation. Today’s realities of climate change,
population growth and unsustainable consumption patterns call for more
understanding of the natural world God created. Physically, bees and
humankind need the same healthy environment to survive. I think God has
asked us to take responsibility for that.
bethlehem-church.org
Building Hours:


Monday-Friday 8 am-9 pm
Sunday 7 am-1 pm & 5-8 pm
Service Times:

Sundays—8:00, 9:00, 10:15,
11:30, 7:00 pm (evening
worship begins at 5:00 pm
beginning September 13)

Nursery available at 9:00,
10:15 & 11:30 am
Connecting people
with God, each other
and their mission in
the world.
Next Beacon Deadline:
September 10, 2015
[email protected]
Beacon now online
bethlehem-church.org
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You Are Invited
God’s Handiwork
by Mark Lucas, Stewardship Ministry team
But ask the animals and they will teach you;
whom among these does not know that the hand of the Lord
has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of every human being. Job 12:7-10
P
addling out of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (with a tail wind!) we
were greeted at the ELCA Wilderness Canoe Base by this Bible verse
written on a chalkboard. My four men colleagues and I had experienced five
days and four nights in the wilderness that offered both challenges, beauty
and especially the rewards of fellowship. The handiwork of God was evident
in the lush tree-lined shores, the crystal clear water, the eagles overhead,
beautiful sunsets, the starlight canopy, the cloud-filled sky to the horizon...
There was the welcomed silence
special to the wilderness and time
was seemingly set aside. Amidst our
completing the necessary chores of
wilderness camping, there were
moments for reflection—an
appreciation for the importance of
minimizing the impact of human use
on this space and the responsibility
I hold for my stewardship of God's gifts. I felt great gratitude and happiness
to be alive and in this place, even for a brief time.
One lesson I re-learned was letting go of control and just experiencing the
present. We plan and prepare for this trip over the months but the wind
blows as it will, the waves and tides are unscheduled and the bugs have their
way.
I return home spiritually renewed and with a stronger faith and commitment
of experiencing God's plan for my life each day. May you find and experience
special places / events that deepen your appreciation for what the hand of
the Lord does in your life.
to become a member
of Bethlehem!
Join us for the new member class
on Saturday October 10, 8:30 am to
12 noon. Make the commitment to
this community by connecting with
others as together we are God's
church here in Minneapolis and out
in the world. Register online at
bethlehem-church.org or contact
Wendy, [email protected], 612.312.3363.
CareerWalk Begins Sept. 24
Looking for a new job? CareerWalk
helps people learn new skills, gain
networking contacts, feel refreshed
and supported. Explore new
interests and land jobs using the
most effective tools and resources.
Sept. 24
Setting the Stage: Attitude and
Getting Ready
Oct. 1
Self Personal Assessment: The
Essential Starting Point
Oct. 15
The Most Powerful Resume for
Today’s Market
Oct. 22
Linked In: An Essential Career
Management Tool
Why did the Bethlehem
Foundation help this
teen mom buy a
laptop?
GREAT QUESTION: Find out at
bethlehem-church.org/giving/
bethlehem-foundation.
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Oct. 29
Networking: People Power is the
Path to your Next Position
Nov. 12
Bringing Your Best to an Interview
Nov. 19
Recap, Wrap
All are welcome. There is no charge.
Register at bethlehem-church.org.
Women’s Monday Evening
Bible Study
Garden to Garden—a Study of
Genesis to Revelation
Fall Women’s Retreat
Seeking the Holy in Every-Day Living
Saturday October 10
8:30 am-3:30 pm
at Mt. Olivet Retreat Center
Farmington, MN
Led by Sally Howell Johnson, Minister of
Mondays 6:30-8:30 pm
Begins September 14
We’re taking a year to read through
the Bible. (Yep...the whole thing!)
With the help of Pastors Danielle
Parish and Kevin Neuer of Spark
Church in Palo Alto, CA, we will
become familiar with the Bible’s
sweeping narrative as a whole, and
use it to come to better know God.
Register online at bethlehemchurch.org or call the church office.
Suggested pre-reading for the
course is the book “The Epic of
Eden” by Sandra L. Richter. Books
are available in the church library.
Join us on Monday evenings this fall,
and invite a friend! Contact Molly
Whitmore, 612.963.3918,
[email protected].
Evening Women’s Book Group
Wednesdays, 6:30-7:45 pm
Room 210 beginning Sept. 16
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel
James Brown celebrates the 1936
U.S. men’s Olympic eight-oar rowing
team—nine working class boys who
stormed the rowing world,
transformed the sport, and
galvanized the attention of millions
of Americans. All women are
welcome. For more information,
contact Helen Heitz, 612.238.2753,
[email protected]
Worship and Spiritual Formation at Hennepin
Avenue Methodist, author of the blog “Pause”
and the book, The Practicing Life: Simple Acts.
Sacred Living.
We tend to live our lives at speeds that keep us
from noticing and embracing the movement of
the Sacred in the midst of the whirlwind. How
does one pause long enough to be awake to one’s surroundings? How does
one take time to stop? In a day-long retreat at beautiful Mt. Olivet Retreat
Center, Sally Howell Johnson will help us slow down and practice “seeking the
holy in every-day living.”
Cost is $40. (Scholarships available.) Continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks
included. Sign up online at bethlehem-church.org or in the Gallery on Sundays,
September 13 or 20. Carpooling available. Invite a friend.
Contact Pastor Kris Tostengard Michel with questions, [email protected] or 612.312.3410.
Bethlehem Quilters Begin September 28
Each year, the Bethlehem quilters make dozens of quilts to pass on to people
in crisis or transition. The quilts provide comfort and warmth, as well as a
reminder that someone cares about them. Last year the group made
110+ quilts and distributed them as follows:
21 – St. Joseph’s Home for Children
10 – Simpson Shelter
28 – Our Saviour’s Shelter
52 – Lutheran World Relief
Beginning in September, the Bethlehem Quilters will be stitching and tying
again on the last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the month. Whether
you’re an experienced quilter or new to the craft, available during the day or
prefer to work on projects at home, you are welcome to join the quilters.
Contact Avis Reed for more information: [email protected] or
612.824.9446. Thanks for caring for the stranger in this tangible, meaningful
way.
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Help in the Nursery
September through June
9:00 or 10:15am Worship times
The Nursery Team is looking for new
volunteers to play and read books
with the 3 and under crowd one
Sunday a month from September to
June. You may choose to volunteer
at either the 9:00 or 10:15 am
worship times. Contact Anna Michel
at [email protected]
for more information or to sign up.
Welcome to Sunday School!
How God comes to us matters! What we
DO, How we SPEAK and How we LIVE
matters. Our children matter.
Celebration Sunday is September 13
9:00 am or 10:15 am
We will celebrate our beginning program
year with the Christian Magician, Brian Richards. Brian will help us discover
that every day we can recognize our newness of life in Christ and how we live
that life is our GIFT back to GOD!!
Still need to Register?
Register by Sept. 1 so that we can honor your child’s “friend requests.”
Want to Help? Do not miss this opportunity to learn and share faith with
Bethlehem's youngest members. Consider joining the Sunday School team
today! If interested, please contact Ann Masica at [email protected].
Where to go on Sept. 13?
Join Children’s Choir!
Choirs begin Wednesday
September 16
All children are invited to join a
children’s choir this fall! Rehearsals
are held Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
beginning September 16. We hope
to see you there!
Sign up online via the Sunday School
registration form.
Sign up online for:
Little Lambs ‐ age 3
Kinder Choir ‐ age 4‐5
Cherub Choir ‐ grades K‐2
Choristers ‐ grades 3‐6
A taste of things to come!
Oct. 4 – Blessing of the Animals,
4:00 pm Bring your pet to church
Oct. 15 – Mystery Bus Tour for 4-5-6
Oct. 31 – Trunk OR Treat
Nov. 1 & 8 – Family S.S. 1st grade
Communion instruction
Dec. 5 – Baby’s First Christmas
Dec. 13 – S.S. Christmas Programs
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Lower Level
Age 2: Room 08
Age 3-Kindergarten: Classrooms
Second Floor
Grades 1-4: Classrooms near Cinema
Grades 5-6: Drama Room 207/208
Family Sunday School 3rd Grade Bibles
“Families Together in Faith” (for child and parent)
Sunday September 27 & October 4
Third grade students and parent/s or special adult will spend the Sunday
School class time together in the Cinema learning the first steps of navigating
this book of faith. Parents fulfill their baptismal promise and place the Holy
Scriptures in their child’s hand – a gift from Bethlehem, your church family.
SUNDAY Afternoon SCHOOL, September 13, 4:00-5:00 pm
Come for an hour of collaborative learning and connecting with all ages. We
will interact with the scripture of the day and with people of different
generations while learning and growing in faith with each other. When the
wisdom of the elder and the wonder of the child come together, that energy
creates a sacred space to experience God. And stay for Worship at 5:00 pm!
Questions? Contact Kirsten Patterson, [email protected].
Trunk or Treat Saturday, October 31, 6:00-7:00 pm
It’s a Halloween tradition! On October 31, the Bethlehem parking lot will be
lined with decorated cars. Friendly adults and youth will welcome children
from the neighborhood and congregation to their candy-filled trunks and
treat them with sweet surprises. You can help by hosting a car or donating
candy. Sign up online (Sign Up Genius link) or call the church office, and drop
off candy in the marked bins at church, beginning in October. Mark your
calendar!
This fall, Bethlehem Youth Ministry is very excited to be presenting a four
week speaker series titled Let’s Talk About... to compliment the Proverbs
sermon series. Speakers will talk to our youth and their parents about college,
social media, money and sex. These four topics are on the minds and hearts
of our youth and their parents, and we think the events will deepen our study
of Proverbs as we build a better toolbox for life. Although it is geared to our
youth and parents, everyone is welcome!
The speaker series will kick off on Sunday, September 20 at 10:15 am with a
panel about college. Akoni Garcia, a college student, will speak first hand
about the college experience. Jon Vaughn-Fier, a counselor at Augsburg
College, will address the pressure he sees young people under in the process
of applying to and transitioning to college. Sarah Brock will talk about the
YAGM program and Mary Pechauer will speak to her experience as a mom
walking kids through this stage of life. It seems students are starting to visit
campuses sooner, apply to more schools and scholarships, and worry more
about debt than ever before. What is the path?
On Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30 pm, Erin Walsh will present: Is There
An App for That? Thriving in the Digital Age.
In this interactive and energizing presentation, Erin
Walsh will use brain science, stories, and humor to
explore how technology is changing the way we spend
our time, relate to one another, and make decisions.
Erin will help families engage in conversations about
both the possibilities and challenges associated with the
digital age and brainstorm strategies that will help all
generations build on their strengths. In addition to her
work with Mind Positive Parenting, Erin is a speaker
with the Bolster Collaborative and teaches
undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota and the Higher
Education Consortium for Urban Affairs where she teaches a program called
Making Media, Making Change. She has consulted with schools, school
districts, parent groups and other youth serving organizations throughout the
country on issues related to digital media, children, youth.
On Sunday, October 4 at 10:15 am, Gwenn Branstad of Thrivent Financial will
talk to our youth about how to be good stewards with money. Youth are
working for money, gaining purchasing power, thinking about college tuition
and will start being courted by credit cards soon. It is never too early to think
about how to earn, save and spend wisely. Gwenn Branstad of Thrivent
Financial is here to help. What are you worth?
Thank you for your continued prayers
and support as we learn and grow
with each other. Find more
information about opportunities for
youth, go to our website at
612bym.org. Also, please follow us on
Twitter, Instagram and Facebook!
facebook.com/612bym
Instagram:
@612bym
Twitter:
@612bym
And on Sunday, October 11 at 10:15 am, Ellie Roscher will talk about sex.
Youth are bombarded by images of sex every day. Meanwhile, we believe
God created us to be in relationship and seek intimacy. Ellie Roscher will offer
some guidelines to help young people think about how to pursue that
intimacy in a healthy, life-giving way.
Please invite other youth and parents who would be interested in this
series!
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Let’s Fill the CES
Pantry for Fall!
As we stock our pantries for fall
cooking, let’s remember our
neighbors in need. Please bring a
non-perishable food item to church
in September to benefit the
Community Emergency Service (CES)
foodshelf.
The need is great, but we make a
difference. Even as 3,500 Minnesota
children a day are served by
foodshelves, we—Bethlehem—are
one of CES’ largest supporters,
donating over 1,000 pounds of food
a year! Think about all the pantries
stocked and the families nourished
through that work – wow, what a
mighty blessing!
Here are 3 ways you can help:
DONATE FOOD: Bring a nonperishable food item to one of the
shopping carts in the Commons or
hallway. Please avoid food in glass
containers, if possible.
MAKE A CASH GIFT: Write a check
to Bethlehem, noting CES in the
memo line, and drop it in the
offering plate
VOLUNTEER: Help us sort food at
CES on Saturday, September 26
10:00 am-12 noon. Please email
Britta Iwen, [email protected], to
sign up. All are welcome!
Wednesday Church Night Kicks Off September 16
The fall sermon series takes us into the Book of Proverbs, ancient wisdom
aimed at character formation and a spiritual guide for everyday life. On
Wednesday nights, we’ll engage several questions about how to live well in
today’s context. Join us for one or all sessions, and add your voice to the
conversation.
HOW MUCH SPACE IS ENOUGH? Sept. 16, 6:30-7:30 pm
Bethlehem member Mike Myhrom is a husband and father of two young
children who works in Research, Analysis and Consulting at Thrivent Financial.
He’s been thinking about what brings joy in life, and in that context pondering
what ‘enough’ means. He’s particularly intrigued by the question, ‘what is the
minimum number of square feet a family of four needs to thrive?’
HOW DO WE THRIVE IN THE DIGITAL AGE? Sept. 23, 6:30-7:30 pm
Erin Walsh, nationally known speaker and teacher, uses brain science, stories,
and humor to explore how technology is changing the way we spend our
time, relate to one another, and make decisions. How do teens and parents
talk about the possibilities and challenges of living in the digital age? How do
we honor the gifts and perspectives of all generations in the conversation?
WHAT’S AT STAKE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BALANCING
WORK AND LIFE? Sept. 30, 6:30-7:30 pm
Siri and Tom Fiebiger are empty nesters who recently moved from Fargo to
Minneapolis to live closer to their grandchildren. When they made the move,
they took a sabbatical to decide what comes next for them professionally.
What are the issues to consider when making career and life choices at this or
any stage of life?
HOW IS CHARACTER DEVELOPED? Oct. 7, 6:30-7:30 pm
In his recent book, The Road to Character, David Brooks focuses on the deep
values that inform a person’s life. He distinguishes between “resume virtues”
– the skills that lead to external success – and “eulogy virtues” – the things
that exist at the core of our being like honesty, bravery and kindness. He
claims contemporary culture fosters the former more intentionally than the
latter and challenges us to consider whether it’s time to rebalance. We’ll view
a short video and talk about cultivating character and how that leads to joy.
Wednesday Night Dinners are Back!
Beginning September 16, 5:30-6:30 pm
One of the best things about Wednesdays is the ability to come to
Bethlehem for a wonderful meal that is cooked just for us. We start serving
at 5:30 pm. The cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children 10-3 years and
2 years and under are free. Each week we have a different family friendly
meal prepared by Iverson Foods’ cooks Connie and Carol. Drop by any week
to see what’s cookin’ before you head off to class or choir. No reservations
needed.
Want to volunteer with Wednesday Night meals (cashier, set up, serving and
clean up), contact Wendy, [email protected], 612.312.3363.
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Community News
Deaths
Karen L. Thompson, 8-9-15
Senior Communion Service and Luncheon– Oct. 8
by Diane Waarvik, Director of Congregational Care
Save the date for the fall Communion Service and Senior Luncheon!
I want to share with you the history of this
event. We first held our “Homebound
Communion Service and Luncheon” in 1999.
We held the event to give individuals who had
not been to church in several years and those
who had difficulty in getting there on a
regular basis an opportunity to come to
church. Volunteer companions were assigned
to pick up members and bring them to the
church and sit with them during the service
and luncheon. I will always remember the first
couple of events as members would enter the
church with tears of joy as they often said;
“I never thought I would get here again.”
Births/Adoptions
Amelia Yang Peterson, 7-8-15
Parents: Branden and Nancy Peterson
Caleb Max Nelson, 8-3-15
Parents: James and Carly Nelson
Big Brother: Alexander
Grandparents: Pastor Chris Nelson and
Deborah Carbaugh
Baptisms
July 26, 2015
Simeon Cooper Starr, 5-6-14
Parents: William and Ashley Starr
August 2, 2015
Mark Henry MacIver, 3-19-15
Parents: Rob and Colette MacIver
Thank you for all the expressions of
sympathy on the death of my brother, Bill
Egbert. It is comforting to be a member
of this community. - Helen Heitz
That event in 1999 was the beginning of a new tradition at Bethlehem
Lutheran. We have held the service and luncheon two times a year (in the
spring and fall) ever since. We did change the name to SENIOR LUNCHEON in
2014. The new name reflects the invitation that is extended to all of our
seniors— not just the “homebound.” This event gives seniors an opportunity
to meet with old friends and to meet new friends in a more intimate way than
at Sunday morning worship services.
The Luncheon is a great opportunity to meet with others.
We hope that you will join us on Thursday, October 8,
for the fall Communion Service and Senior Luncheon.
Volunteers Needed
It takes many hands to make the Senior Luncheon a success. Volunteers are
needed to help transport seniors from their residence to Bethlehem, greet,
usher, prepare and serve the meal or be a companion to a senior.
If you are interested in volunteering for this event or if you are a senior
interested in attending, please contact Meghan Anderson at 612.312.3413 or
email at [email protected].
Managing Expectations– September 14, 5:45 pm
Did you know...
Mental illness is more
common than grey cars.*
If you, or someone you know,
struggles with mental illness call
the Mental Health Navigator to
learn more about mental health
treatment options.
Mental Health Navigator
Kristina Swanberg
Contact:
(612) 312-3377 or
John Reardon, therapist, returns to discuss ways to help students manage the
pressures and expectations school can bring. A light meal will be served at
5:45 pm followed by John’s presentation at 6:45 pm.
[email protected]
This presentation is part of the collaborative Mental Health Ministry with St.
Joan of Arc Catholic Church. This event will be held at St. Joan of Arc.
*Fact source: www.healthpartners.com/ucm/
groups/public/@hp/@public/documents/
documents/entry_143053.pdf
mhconnect.org
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Bethlehem and Vail Place
My Tale– One Member’s Experience at Vail Place
Mental Health Connect, Bethlehem’s
T
Mental Health Ministry, is a
collaborative ministry with Vail
Place. Kristina Swanberg, the Mental
Health Navigator is the Outreach
Specialist at Vail Place. Vail Place will
also be hiring and supervising a
Certified Peer Specialist for the
Mental Health Connect program.
Bethlehem also partners with Vail
Place to provide Healing Touch
sessions to their members.
by Larry Jones, a Vail Place member
he voice within me kept telling me that my life wasn’t worth living, that I
was a useless alcoholic who, without using, would naturally wish to die.
My best friend, the wine I consumed each day, was dead, and the lack of him
not only produced intense loneliness but a longing to be somewhere else—
anywhere else where there was not the penetrating
anxiety and panic which consumed my days and the
disturbed and depressed nights during which I could
not sleep. I was barely getting by on my Social Security
Disability— paying most of my income to rent. I needed
housing I could afford. After questioning Hennepin
County Social Services for the fifth time about
affordable housing, with no luck, I received a referral to
Vail Place.
I visited Vail Place, went on a tour and had an intake. It
was that simple. I was a member. But what did that
mean? It meant I would receive help finding affordable
housing. After a mix-up over my records showing that I had serious and
persistent mental illness (SPMI), I started driving in to Vail Place each day.
Vail Place has a monthly newsletter which I was able to become involved in.
I had previously worked for almost 30 years as a reporter and editor for five
different weekly suburban newspapers. I threw myself into these things and
began to notice that I started to feel better about myself and my life. I was
doing something other people valued. Meaningful relationships were
developed along the way.
When I came to Vail Place, I was intrigued and fascinated by the “Clubhouse”
model. I found it was valuable in that staff and members work side by side in
the various tasks necessary to keep the Clubhouse running. By giving
everyone a unique stake in what they were doing, members and staff were
both taking ownership in Vail Place.
I immersed myself in the Vail Place Clubhouse, but something else very
amazing also happened along my path of recovery. I became part of a weekly
writers group, a member of the St. Louis Park Human Rights Commission and
started volunteering regularly for the National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI) Minnesota as a peer-to-peer support group facilitator, a resource
representative, a legislative advocate and an In Our Own Voice (IOOV)
presenter to groups about anti-stigma and my mental health experiences.
Mission / Outreach Donations for
September:
Every month, money is designated to
go to our mission partners. This
month’s mission partners are:
HMCHA and Vail Place
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I now live in an affordable and beautiful public housing building. I continue to
be an IOOV presenter and legislative advocate. I was a speaker at Mental
Health Day on the Hill this past spring and the Mental Wellness 5K Walk this
summer through Anoka County. I also started the Facebook group “End the
Stigma Now.” I am the biggest fan of Vail Place and the Clubhouse model.
A Life-Changing Trip to the Market
by Carol Pfleiderer
L
ast December, HMCHA’s part of the Alternative Gift Fair was chickens,
lambs and donkeys. Animals make a huge difference in the lives of
subsistence farmers. A local committee assesses need in several
villages where HMCHA (Holistic Ministry of the Children of the Horn of
Africa) works, identifying those who will benefit most from the
animals. I had the heart-warming experience of being in Ethiopia
when the families went to the animal market to choose their donkeys and
lambs. It was noisy, aromatic and very joyful as they came to put their
fingerprint or signature by their name and start their two or three-hour proud
walk home with the new animal that would make such a difference in their
lives.
Here are the stories of a few of the families who received the animals...
Zerihun and Itenesh, a farmer and his wife with
four children, received a donkey. Their children are
Mashila (13), Mitu (6), Abatu (4), and Daru (2).
Zerihun, a laborer, has no ox or land or any other
thing in his house. He collects branches from the
forest and sells them in the Godino market. This
donkey is very meaningful for him. He doesn’t carry
the wood on his shoulders anymore. He is so
grateful to the people who provided for his need.
Itenesh Abera received two sheep. When HMCHA’s social worker went to
her house, she smilingly told him that the
sheep became three. One of the sheep had
one baby lamb. Itenesh is married but
separated from her husband years ago. She
has 3 children—Kukule (14), Derartu (11)
and Wubalem (8). She is forced to feed
these 3 children alone. She earns some
money from making tela(alcohol). Her house
is very old. Her plan is to multiply the sheep
and to improve her life, to build a new
house. She is so grateful to the people who supported her and to HMCHA.
Aster Tefera received four chickens. She has three
children, and her husband is Lema. He is a farmer but
they don’t have enough land to plow. She hopes to
multiply two of the chickens and to feed her children
from the eggs of the chickens. Instructions were given
about the importance of using the eggs to feed the
family instead of selling all of them. She is so happy and
thankful to the people who provided her with the
chickens. It will make a big difference in their family’s
diet.
Galetoma! (Thank You)
Thank you so much for your
generosity in contributing 146+ pairs
of new and gently used shoes for
children in the Yerer
region of Ethiopia.
HMCHA social
workers/evangelists
will be distributing shoes to some
very excited and happy children and
a few adults. Collection of children’s
used tennis shoes, either tie or
velcro, will continue through
September 15.
Walking through uneven fields with
rocks, where there are animal feces
and parasites, is unhealthy. Having
closed shoes is important for safety
and health. Your contributions will
make a big difference for the many
who will be the recipients of your
wonderful gifts.
Our Saviour’s Benefit
Mark the Date—October 2
"There's No Place Like Home" is a
phrase we hear often and its
meaning differs for each person who
utters it. For our neighbors who
struggle to find housing or have
moved to Minneapolis from another
country, this statement arises from a
deep longing for a better life. On
October 2 Our Saviour's Community
Services is holding their Annual
Benefit in the Central Library (300
Nicollet Mall) from 6:00 - 8:30 pm.
There will be silent and live auctions
as well as the Fund-A-Need event to
help support the Housing and
English Learning programs which
impart hope and improve lives in
south Minneapolis. Refreshments
will be served and there is dedicated
parking (only $3) for the event.
Come learn how your support will
make a difference. More details can
be found at oscs-mn.org.
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4100 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55409
September 6—Images of Jesus
Jesus By Faith Hebrews 11:1-16; 12:1-2
September 13—CELEBRATION SUNDAY
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
September 20—Building a Better Toolbox
What’s the Path?
Proverbs 1:1-19
September 27—Building a Better Toolbox
How Were You Made? Proverbs 8:22-36
Service times: Sundays – 8:00, 9:00, 10:15, 11:30, 7:00 pm
(change: Evening worship at 5:00 pm beginning Sept. 13)
Nursery available at 9:00, 10:15 & 11:30 am Sundays
Visit us at www.bethlehem-church.org or
Email at [email protected]
Telephone 612.312.3400 Fax 612.312.3399
Bethlehem Music Series Kicks Off 34th Season 
The Bethlehem Music Series’ 34th season
kicks off in great style on Sunday, October 11,
4:00 pm when the Bethlehem Senior Choir
and the House of Hope Presbyterian Church
Motet Choir joins the audience in a RAISE THE
ROOF Hymn Festival, featuring renowned organ
improviser and performer, Aaron David Miller.
Aaron is winner of numerous awards, including
the top prize at the AGO National Improvisation
Competition. His orchestral works have been
performed by the Zurich Symphony, Seattle
Symphony, Chicago Symphony, and the St. Paul
Chamber Orchestra. Aaron serves as Director of
Music and Organist at House of Hope
Presbyterian Church in St. Paul.
Tantalus Guitar Quartet
November 15, 2015
Rebecca Davis, Concert
Pianist
January 24, 2016
Sotto Voce Tuba Quartet
February 21, 2016
Klezmerica—Jewish Music
from the American
Heartland
March 13, 2016
Raise your voice in song, hear choral anthems and the winning entry from a
nation-wide hymn competition.

Ken Cowan (celebrating the
50th Anniversary of our
Casavant Organ)
April 10, 2016
All concerts at 4:00 pm
3:30 pm Pre-Concert
Conversation.