Festival Services - Bethlehem Lutheran Church

The Bethlehem Star
Mission Statement
We are a Christian community rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
that gathers to worship, learn and share, and reaches out
to welcome, witness and serve.
DECEMBER 2015
Pastor Mark Gravrock
Inside this issue:
Pastor Mark
2
Tree of Sharing
3
New Members
4-5
Council
7
Calendar
8
Service Groups
9
Thank yous
10
Birthdays
10
Festival Services
Wednesday Advent Services
and Soup Suppers
December 2, 9 and 16
Soup supper begins at 5:30pm.
Worship service is at 7:00pm.
Christmas Eve Services
5:00pm Family Service
8:00pm Candlelight Service / Chancel Choir
10:00pm Candlelight Service / GosBells
KOFI Radio broadcast will be at 8:00pm.
Christmas Day Service
10:00am Worship and Communion
Sunday, December 27th
One service at 9:30am
The Bethlehem Star
2
Dear friends,
Each winter as the year grows older,
we each grow older, too.
The chill sets in a little colder;
the verities we knew seem shaken and untrue.
That’s the first stanza of one of our Advent hymns (ELW #252, text by William Gay). My guess is that the
writer was well past middle-age when he penned those words. “The chill sets in a little colder” – those aren’t
the thoughts of the young! They may, however, be words for all of us in the midst of the terror we’ve all been
facing: I write this, just five days after the Paris attacks. The holiday season we’re entering this year is overshadowed by the chill of senseless violence.
At the same time, the Advent and Christmas message slips in with quiet surprise. God’s response to our cries
of fear is not to send in a superhero. God sends a baby. God comes as a baby. And one of that baby’s first
experiences is to flee as a refugee from senseless violence and butchery (Matthew 2.13-18)! That same baby
will grow to become a man who will give himself over to violent death for us. God’s strange response to terror
is to defeat terror by suffering it.
Yet I believe beyond believing
that life can spring from death,
that growth can flower from our grieving,
that we can catch our breath and turn transfixed by faith.
Perhaps this year, in the face of terror, our Advent will be more truly Advent, and our Christmas truly
Christmas. The terror that we taste forces us to stand on the gospel, or not to stand at all. Advent and
Christmas, Lent and Easter: God-With-Us straight through the heart of fear and terror, all the way to
resurrection and all-things-made-new.
O Child of ecstasy and sorrows,
O Prince of peace and pain,
brighten today’s world by tomorrow’s,
renew our lives again; Lord Jesus, come and reign!
In Christ,
Pastor Gravrock
3
The Bethlehem Star
Gifts for our home-bound congregation
We will, once again this holiday season, be
distributing gifts to our members who are unable to
leave their homes. There will be a sign-up sheet in
the Commons for you to indicate to whom you
would like to deliver a gift. You’ll be able to get
their addresses from the sheet and are welcome to
contact the Church office if you need help with directions. Please deliver these gifts during the holidays and if possible plan on spending some time
visiting and sharing the season with these folks.
Thank you from your Fellowship Committee!
You’re invited!
The women of First Presbyterian Church, 540 S.
Main, invite all women from Bethlehem Lutheran to
join them for a holiday luncheon on Thursday,
December 3rd at noon.
Entertainment will be provided by the Flathead
High School choir.
Please bring cookies (Norwegian are especially
appreciated), or your favorite cookies or bars. Call
Margie Dornfeld, 752-8459, to let her know what
you can bring.
Tree of Sharing
The Fellowship Committee has decided to support
the following groups for our Tree of Sharing this
year:
The Heart Locker– grab and go snacks (granola
bars, etc.), teenage young men’s and women’s underwear, gift cards (Subway, Walmart, Target,
etc.).
Veteran’s Home– Forever stamps, greeting cards,
eye glass cleaner with cloth, body wash, white undershirts/t-shirts - men's large and X large, handkerchiefs, gift cards.
Health Department– There are two families who
need help. The first is a single mom raising an 18
month old and the second is a grandmother raising
8 and 6 year old grandsons and an 11 month old
granddaughter. (Cheryl Keith has a list of items)
Sinopah House– We will again give 8 quilts and 8
pairs of socks to the girls.
We’ve tried to price most of the items on the tree at
less than $20. If you can, take more than one item
and return it unwrapped to the church the week of
December 14th. If you do not want to shop you can
donate money and we will shop for you.
-The Fellowship Committee thanks you for your
support in our mission to help the needy in our
community.
Sunday School Christmas Program:
Sunday December 13th, 9:15am
in the Fellowship Hall.
We have a new program this year called the ABC’s
of Christmas. It will be a blend of modern and traditional music, engaging all the children and the congregation in lesson and song.
This year we will be serving Christmas cookies,
coffee, juice and non-alcoholic Mimosas!
Come and enjoy this festive time.
-your Christian Education committee
The Bethlehem Star
4
Welcome to our new members!
Marianne Gielow has been attending Bethlehem for a few years and is a very familiar face.
She has lived in the Flathead Valley for just over 2
years. She and her husband moved here from San
Francisco, where Marianne was born, to be close to
a son.
Marianne has three children and
three grandchildren. She is a retired middle school
science teacher and loves to cook and bake, quilt,
hike and attend Bible studies.
Marianne has played hand bells for close to
30 years and when her husband passed away last
year, she decided to give the lower register of bells
in memory of him. We enjoy having her as
a member of the Outreach Committee and the
Gosbells. Welcome!
Marianne Gielow
Harry and Sue Billingsley are recent transplants to the Flathead Valley. They moved here
from the Seattle area when Harry retired from the
aerospace industry.
Sue is a registered dietician and works for
WIC and is enjoying working with children. Both
were born in Canada; Sue in Toronto and Harry in
Vancouver.
Sue and Harry met in Kelowna, BC and
married in 1981. Their son lives in Los Angeles
and is an aerospace engineer and their daughter and
husband live in Seattle. Their first grandson is expected in early February and they are excited.
Harry and Sue Billingsley
Harry and Sue enjoy walking their dog,
working in their yard and garden and doing
car maintenance.
We welcome you to our church family.
The Bethlehem Star
Amber and Karl Brohn
Amber Brohn and Gaberiel
(Gabe) Durgan
Amber & Karl Brohn and Gaberiel Durgan are new members of our church. Karl is in construction and works for High Country Builders and Amber works as a buyer for KRMC. Amber is a native of
the Flathead Valley. Karl was born in Detroit, Michigan but he has lived in the valley for 10 years.
Gaberiel (Gabe) is eleven years old and in the fifth grade. He enjoys playing football and Karl
coaches him.
They all love visiting Glacier National Park. They shared that they were impressed with the
warm welcome they received at our church when they first visited. They are also impressed with all the
charity this church provides. We welcome you to our church.
5
The Bethlehem Star
Book Club
6
IMPORTANT TAX NOTICE
This month’s book is “Light from Arcturus”
by Mildred Walker.
“Stuck in the middle of Nebraska in the late nineteenth century, Julia Hauser felt restless. But what
could she do? She was married to a dull small-town
merchant and soon confined by children. Light from
Arcturus shows how Julia stepped beyond sacrifice
and duty, impressed herself on a larger scene, fed
her spirit, and grew in dignity. The milestones in
Julia’s progress are trips to the Philadelphia
Centennial Exposition in 1876 and to the Chicago
World’s Fair in 1893 and in 1933.” -Amazon
The book club will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 15th at
6:30pm in the Fireside room. Everyone is welcome!
Calling all BUFF and Confirmation kids!
On Friday, December 18th at 7:00pm we will be
baking cookies and then delivering those yummy
baked items to the hard working folks at emergency
services and other offices.
Come and join in the fun and show your appreciation
to the night shift staffers around the valley!
911!
We need cookies!
To ensure the deductibility of your church
contributions, do not file your 2015 income tax
return until you have received a written
acknowledgment of your contributions from the
church. Some of your contributions may not be
tax-deductible if you file your tax return before
receiving a written acknowledgement of your
contributions from the church.
News from your Call Committee:
Your Call committee has met several times to
start the process of calling a new pastor. We met
with Jason Asselstine, Associate to the Bishop, to get
the outline of what is to be done. We have assembled data from past call committees and other
sources, and now we need your help.
Over the month of December, we will be developing a survey, and organizing times for several
small group meetings for the congregation to participate in. This will give us data to create a Bethlehem
profile that is to define us as a congregation, and indicate what pastoral needs we have here at Bethlehem.
Please stay tuned to additional communication from
the Call Committee in the coming months. Pray for
our work and our congregation.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Brosten, Chairman, Bill Pursell, Christie
Deck, Cindy Galvin, Rhonda Kalvig, Sean Patterson, Chuck Spain, and Rick Ulvin.
The Bethlehem Star
7
BLC COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
November 10, 2015
Pastor Gravrock listed some dates to be aware of: Nov. 22nd – New Members, 10:30 service; Nov. 25th
– Thanksgiving Eve service, 7:00; Nov. 28 – Decorate for Christmas; Nov. 29 – Advent begins; Dec. 2nd, 9th,
16th – Midweek Advent soup suppers and services; Dec. 13th – Sunday School Christmas Program; Dec. 24th –
Christmas Eve services at 5, 8, 10 pm; Dec. 25th – Christmas Day service, 10:00; Dec. 27th – one service only at
9:30 (Lessons & Carols); Jan. 30th – council retreat; Feb. 10th – Ash Wednesday; March 27th - Easter.
Pastor reported that the Same-Sex conversations have concluded. There were five Thursday sessions,
offered twice each Thursday. There were about 55 people, combined, that attended. Comments received were
positive.
President Duane Anderson discussed the web site and the need to upgrade it. He suggested hiring a
professional to rewrite it. Ross Johnson reported that MontanaSky could do it for about $80 per hour for building and training.
President Anderson also reported that the Grawe house has been rented, on a six month lease, for $850/
month.
Treasurer Bryan Gilbertson reviewed the Income & Expense Summary for October, 2015. Income was
$28,313, expenditures $32,744. Ending cash position was $19,128.
President Anderson read a report from Nancy Brosten regarding the Call Committee. Jason Asselstine,
Associate to the Bishop attended their first meeting and reviewed the entire process and the role and duties of
the call committee. He advised that they focus on a “lead” Pastor or possibly a couple. If the congregation
choses to go with a Senior/Associate team, the call process for the Associate would be separate following the
Senior selection. The committee also elected members for specific positions: Chair – Nancy Brosten; Vice
Chair – Bill Pursell; Recorder – Christie Deck; Reporter – Cindy Galvin; System Admin – Sean Patterson. At
their second meeting they reviewed the information from the Synod and discussed options for obtaining the
information needed for the Ministry Site Profile. They also discussed the possibility of updating the 2011 Vision survey. Their goal is to complete the Ministry Site Profile by the end of January.
Security issues were discussed because of the recent church break-in. Some video and sound components were taken, along with a small set of hand bells (which were recovered), two Acolyte crosses, and cordless mics. Various security options were discussed and will be explored further.
A motion was made, seconded, and approved to hire a professional to reconstruct the web site, for up
to $4,000, using funds from Marketing IT and Unrestricted Memorial Funds. Ross Johnson will take the lead
on getting this done.
A motion was made, seconded, and approved to close the church office Monday, Dec. 28th and Tuesday, Dec. 29th.
A request from the Funeral Committee for a new commercial refrigerator for the kitchen was discussed.
Information on a Norlake commercial fridge for $2,942 was reviewed. Mike Galvin will visit with Donna Tice
about the committee’s needs.
A motion was made, seconded, and approved to cancel the December committees and council meeting.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, January 12, 2016.
December Calendar 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
2
6:45am Men’s
Bible Study
9:00am Pastors’
10:30am Spinners
text study
5:30pm KAMP,
5:30pm Irish
dance class, HB ABC, BUFF
5:30pm soup
supper
7:00pm Advent
service
7:30pm Chancel
Choir
3
4
5
8
9
6:45am Men’s
Bible Study
9:00am Pastors’
11:00am
text study
Visitation mtg
10:00am
5:30pm KAMP,
Dorcas
ABC, BUFF
Ruth Circle,
Buffalo Hill
5:30pm soup
supper
5:30pm Irish
7:00pm Advent
dance class, HB service
7:30pm Chancel
Choir
10
9:00am PSF, FR
9:00am Quilts, FH
15
16
9:00am Pastors’ 6:45am Men’s
Bible Study
text study, FR
9:30am
Full Staff
5:30pm Irish
dance class, HB 10:30am Guild, FH
5:30pm KAMP,
6:30pm Book
ABC, BUFF
Club
5:30pm soup
supper
7:00pm Advent
service
7:30pm Chancel
Choir
17
22
24
1
Abbreviations
ABC– Affirmation of Baptism
BUFF- Bethlehem "Uth" For Faith
FTF– Feed the Flathead
GSA– Girl Scouts
HPB- Highlanders Pipe Band
KAMP- Kid’s Activity Ministry
Program
PSF - Prayer Shawl Fellowship
6
2nd Sunday of
Advent
7
8:00am Worship/
Communion
9:15am Education
Hour/ Sunday School
10:30am Worship/
Communion
5:00pm BUFF
6:00pm,
FTF
13
14 Newsletter
Deadline
3rd Sunday of
Advent
8:00am Worship/
Communion
9:15am Sunday school
program
10:30am Worship/
Communion
6:00pm HPB,
HB
6:00pm,
FTF
6:00pm HPB,
HB
20 4th Sunday of
Advent
21
8:00am Worship/
Communion
9:15am Carol sing
10:30am Worship/
Communion
5:00pm BUFF
6:00pm,
FTF
27
28
1st Sunday of
Christmas
9:30am Worship /
Communion
5:30pm Irish
dance class, HB
23
6:45am Men’s
Bible Study
7:00pm Choir
6:00pm HPB,
HB
29
Office closed
5:30pm Irish
dance class, HB
Locations:
CM-Commons
FH -Fellowship Hall
FR-Fireside Room
HB-Hjortland Bld.
9:00am PSF, FR
9:00am Quilts, FH
5:00pm GosBells
6:30pm GSA, HB
11
12
18
19
11:00am Terrace
lunch, (Buffalo
Hill residents)
5:00pm GosBells
9:00am PSF, FR
7:30am
Men's
Prayer
Breakfast
@Perkins
9:00am Quilts, FH
1:00pm East River
Circle, FR
5:00pm GosBells
6:30pm GSA, HB
Christmas Eve
5:00pm Family
Worship service
8:00pm Worship w/
Chancel choir
10:00pm Worship w/
Gosbells
Noon
Women on
the Go, Wheat
Montana
6:00pm HPB,
HB
8
30
31 New Year’s Eve
6:45am Men’s
Bible Study
9:00am PSF, FR
9:00am Quilts, FH
25
26
Christmas
Day
10:00am
Worship
Office
closed
1/1
New
Year’s
Day
Office
Closed
9
December Service Groups 2015
December 27
ONE 9:30am
service
December 6
December 13
December 20
8:00am
Margaret Mohl
Chuck and Jane
Spain
Sandy Lindlief
Lillian Hammer
10:30am
Lorna Hauser
Sally Devine
Marj Nelson
Diane Wiggin
Patti McEntire
Bill and Jana
Pursell
Larry and Char
Kaber
Sandy Lindlief
Sherry Baker
Anne Taylor
Linda Geisel
Linda Geisel
Peggy Ellingsen
Marianne Gielow
Chuck McCoy
Bev Taylor
Ross, Mitch, Andrew
and Jacob Johnson
John Erfle
Ted Berg
Glenda Skeim
Toth Mendius
Pauline Sjordal
Tony Nelson
8:00am
Larry Kaber
Margerette and
Gary Dahlgren
Janet Veidt
Linda Geisel
10:30am
Judie Cundy
Debbie Snyder
Brenda Bernard`
Captains
Greeters
Ushers
8:00 am
Dan Paschke
10:30am
Bev Taylor
Worship Assts.
8:00am
Paul Gregory
10:30am
Marcia Siblerud
Jan Ulvin
Communion
Bill Harris
Susan Mueller
Lorna Hauser
Delphia Blumenthal
Jeanie Haugestuen
Judie Cundy
Anne Taylor
Larry Kaber
Acolytes
8:00am
Pastor Mark
McKenyze Fabeck
Brynlie Johnson
Dawson Woeppel
10:30am
Pastor Mark
Brandon Bernard
Isabelle Burkett
McKenyze Fabeck
8:00am
Linda Erfle
Mike and Cindy
Galvin
Donna Tice
Susan Mueller
Peggy Aagenes
Cheryl Keith
Sandy Lindief
10:30am
Christie Deck
Sheryl Saverud
Bev Aronson
Judie Cundy
AuRaya Azure
Coffee Servers
Thank you for your service!
Christie Deck
The Bethlehem Star
10
to Donna Tice and Becky Croucher and their kitchen
team and clean up crew and to the congregation.
Dear members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church,
Duane would have been very grateful to all of
you who took time for his celebration of life.
Fondly, Betty and the Bitney family
You have surrounded us with your prayers
and many acts of kindness in the loss of our
daughter, Diane. For this we are forever grateful.
The Lindsay family
Dear Congregation,
Just a note of thanks to those who have kept
in touch with me this summer and fall.
I’m still here! I’ve been listening on the radio; enjoying each Sunday’s sermons.
I shall return soon!
Thanks, Diane W
Dear Friends in Christ,
Thank you so much for your gift of $1,000.00! Your
donation will help us provide shelter, meals and
basic needs to families and individuals who are in
crisis. Because of generosity like yours, we were
able to help 56 individuals last month.
Sincerely,
Chris Krager, Director
Samaritan House
Thank you for your generous gift of $165.15
received in early November. Your gift will go to
help less fortunate members of our community.
Sincerely,
Lori Botkin, Director Flathead Food Bank
Dear Bethlehem,
A special thank you from Duane’s family to
our church family for your continued support, your
prayers, cards, calls, visits and memorials. It is truly
appreciated.
How thankful we are to Pastor Mark for all
his visits, prayers and services. Also to Ted Berg,
Paul Gregory, Brenda Corbin, and Kent Gunderson;
GRIFFIN FISCHER
ELMER WHITCRAFT
CLARICE AMUNDSON
JANAN BELLER
GORDON HELLAND
JOHN AHLES
BEV ARONSON
JEFF LITTLE
POLLY NIKOLAISEN
DONNA TICE
EILEEN AYRES
JASON BURKETT
HELEN DOLLAN
AURAYA AZURE
JAMES BROWN
KEATON JOHNSON
BRYNN MASON
ISAIAH NOLAN-HEWITT
LYNAE WEST
BILL HARRIS
DENISE GULLICKSON
DOROTHY JOHNSON
DUANE NELSON
BETTY AADSEN
PRUDIE EAKINS
KELLY BERNARD
LAURIE MORRISON
BLAIR BUCKLEY
EMMETT MESKIS
MARY RECKIN
DON WORKING
MICHELE HADLEY
KEN KALVIG
ETHAN WEST
12/01
12/01
12/02
12/02
12/02
12/03
12/03
12/03
12/03
12/03
12/04
12/04
12/04
12/05
12/06
12/06
12/07
12/07
12/07
12/08
12/10
12/10
12/10
12/11
12/11
12/12
12/12
12/17
12/18
12/19
12/19
12/20
12/20
12/20
The Bethlehem Star
NATE SPOKLIE
JUDY OLSEN
BOB LaSTOFKA
MARILYN PETERSON
CHRISTOPHER BECCARI
JADEN WOEPPEL
ANNIE PATTERSON
GLENDA SKEIM
JULIE ANDERSON
GEORGIA SAVERUD
MARJ NELSON
DIANE WIGGIN
TED HENDERSON
JASON GERBOZY
CHARLOTTE KABER
KATHY SCHENCK
12/22
12/23
12/24
12/24
12/25
12/25
12/26
12/26
12/27
12/27
12/28
12/28
12/29
12/30
12/30
12/30
11
For:
Jim Eakins; Betty Anderson (Duane’s mother);
George McMurray (Marj Nelson’s uncle); Irene
Rodger (friend of Cindy Galvin); Betty Davidson
(Ted Berg’s sister); Ken Field; Arlene Hern-Erickson
(cousin of Dorothy Alstad); Eileen Ayres; Bart Close
(Heidi Lane’s father); George Thorson; Al Hauser;
Diane Trout; Gordon and Virginia Gregory;
S. G. Mac; Bob LaStofka.
Our shut-ins, who remain at home, Immanuel
Lutheran Home, The Retreat, Buffalo Hill Terrace,
Lakeview Care Center, Heritage Place, WelLife,
Prestige Assisted Living, Expressions and Edgewood
Vista.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Larry and
Margie Simpson upon the death of Larry’s mother
and
to the Lindsay family upon the death of
Carol Lindsay.
The deadline for the January
newsletter is December 14th.
Thank you- Brenda
Church
Committee Chairs
Wednesday Advent Soup Suppers / Worship Services
Soup suppers: 5:30 followed by Worship at 7:00pm.
President:
Christian Education:
Lydia Bunten
250-8501
Date Committee Serving Director
Phone
Dec. 2 Youth
Libby Zimmerman 270-2387
Worship and Music Marlene Anderson 257-6393
Vice Presidents:
Dec. 9 Fellowship
Property
Outreach
Jana Pursell
Mike Galvin
Marj Nelson
261-1162
257-4018
837-0182
Dec. 16 Christian Ed
Stewardship
Lydia Bunten
Wayne Saverud
250-8501
257-4018
Duane Anderson
Nancy Brosten
Ross Johnson
257-6393
752-2357
608/516-3027
Secretary / Treasurer:
Bryan Gilbertson
756-9229
Fellowship:
Jana Pursell
261-1162
Outreach:
Marj Nelson
837-0182
Property:
Mike Galvin
756-6414
Stewardship:
Wayne Saverud
257-4018
Worship and Music:
Marlene Anderson 257-6393
Youth:
Libby Zimmerman
756-0067
12
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
603 South Main Street, Kalispell, Montana 59901
406/752-6140TEL-406/752-6145FAX
[email protected] / www.beth-luth.org
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Kalispell, MT 59901
Permit #11
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
We're on the web:
www.beth-luth.org
The beauty of the Sanctuary will be enhanced by a display of poinsettias during the Christmas season.
You are invited to participate in this project by contributing $20 in memory or
in honor of someone special, which will be noted in the Christmas bulletins.
Fill out this form, include payment and place in the offering plate
or mail to the church office by December 14th.
Name (s) _______________________________________________________________________
Phone number ___________________________________________________________________
Given in memory of ______________________________________________________________
Given in honor of ________________________________________________________________