Pastor Laura and I were talking the other day about the shift in seasons.  This year, because of the tremendous amount of rain we've received, the shift into spring is likely to be most obvious in the desert.  The desert will blossom like we haven't seen in a couple of decades, if not longer.
  

Of course, I'm the weird one who LIKES winter!  That's because I'm a skier - the more snow, the better.  There's something so invigorating about standing outside and breathing in cold, crisp air.  It's like an air duct cleaning for your lungs.  The reward for me in that cold, other than the great exercise, is "sparkle snow" - fresh snow that's light and low in moisture, so when it is touched by the sun it sparkles like diamonds on a field of white velvet.
  

But even as the snow still heavily coats our Western mountains, the seeds are springing to life in the desert and all around us.  This so beautifully reflects our Lenten journey.
  

On our own road to Jerusalem, we take time in Lent every Wednesday evening to gather for supper and sing Holden Evening Prayer, and spend some time in learning.  Luther was a great proponent of education.  This year we are considering what it means to be a Lutheran in our world; specifically, "What Would Luther Do Today?"  We're enjoying some video from travel writer Rick Steves (a Lutheran!) and our presiding bishop, Elizabeth Eaton as we consider how we engage publicly as Lutheran Christians in the world.
  

As we step each day closer to spring and to Holy Week, I invite you to look for subtle changes in the church entryway décor.  It's a visual way for us to mark the time as we, like the seeds that are sprouting, break through the hard earth's crust in life and reach our hands towards the sun.  Where else might you see signs of God's renewing love this Lent?
  

What a privilege and blessing it is to walk this road with you.
Mary Shaima, Diaconal Associate

Join us in meeting the needs of our north county community. The new Resource Book in the church office has resources that can help those in need. Be equipped to help those who may be experiencing hard times. If you know of a helpful resource or are having difficulties finding the help you need, please contact Sarah Breding at [email protected].

We have also put the resource listings on our website. Click here to check out the many resources available to assist you. 

Bethlehem is now participating in the AmazonSmile program. This is a great way to easily benefit our congregation when you are shopping online. Bethlehem will receive 0.5% of the price of eligible online purchases automatically when you use the smile.amazon.com website. See the website for more details.

Online Giving, a Green Path to Stewardship

We are always looking for ways to make giving more convenient and environmentally friendly. With today's online financial tools, it has never been easier to set up and track regular giving, special offerings and donations to specific areas. Just follow the easy steps provided with our new online service and you will be surprised at how easy it is to be a regular giver at whatever level seems right. We have expanded on the services provided by the same Minnesota-based online service that has managed our electronic giving for a number of years. They serve thousands of churches, and the service is secure, maintaining privacy. 

How to get started...
You may access the online service by clicking on the link on Bethlehem's web page http://www.blcenc.org/id218.html. Once you are on the site, you may use your checking account, or your debit or credit card information. If your cards are on a mileage program, you can gain frequent-flier miles while helping support the ministries of Bethlehem.