|
Bethlehem Blast ~ June 16, 2017
|
|
|
Introducing Interim Senior Pastor Bill Hutchison
|
Bethlehem is pleased to introduce and welcome Pastor Bill Hutchison as our new Interim Senior Pastor. Pr. Bill started with us last Monday, attended Council and Finance Team meetings on Tuesday night, joined the staff for day of offsite work on Wednesday, and has met many of you as you've come through the church this week. We hope you can join us this weekend for worship as Pr. Bill will be preaching at all four services.
Born in Ohio, raised and educated in Pennsylvania, and seminary trained in Chicago, he was ordained in February 1988, and has served multiple parishes in the Metro-Chicago Synod. Ten years ago, he returned to school full-time for three years at IIT to complete a Master of Architecture degree that answered a love of architecture. Upon graduating in 2010, Pr. Bill began his architecture internship program alongside of part-time interim pastoral duties. Most recently, he served a full-time interim pastorate at St. Paul Lutheran in Wheaton.
Pr. Bill and his wife, Dr. Cristina Traina, Professor of Christianity and Ethics at Northwestern University since 1992, recently celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary. Since becoming empty-nesters, they downsized from a six-bedroom bungalow in Evanston to a three-bedroom ranch in Skokie in 2014.
Their three children are scattered far and wide: Kate (29) in Philadelphia studying medicine, Maggie (26, married to Brandon) in Minneapolis studying Spanish-English elementary teacher certification, and David (22) in Bologna, Italy, following a junior year abroad studying Italian. Two pets, Kory (Tortie cat, and the boss) and Boone (a very timid, but lovable rescue Doberman) round out the picture at home.
Pr. Bill has received additional training for his interim pastoral work through the Interim Ministry Network. IMN is a multi-denominational institute based in Maryland that trains and supports intentional interim ministry for congregations in the midst of leadership transition. As one whose own journey has undergone numerous transitions since ordination, Pr. Bill looks forward to accompanying Bethlehem during its own journey of transition.
|
|
Mom's Mixer ~ Thursday, June 22
|
|
All moms are invited to a "Service Mixer" from 7:00-8:30pm on
Thursday, June 22. We'll meet in Bethlehem's main kitchen
to do a service project of preparing (100) breakfast sandwiches
for Hesed House while making new "mom friends".
Click the link below to sign up and also tell us which
ingredient(s) you'll be bringing.
Click here to sign up.
|
|
|
|
|
BETHLEHEM VBS REGISTRATION
|
|
If you haven't signed your children up for VBS this summer, do it today! Space is limited and we want to make sure that all kids who want to participate are able to join in the fun and festivities. It promises to be a wonderful week!
VBS is July 17-21 (8:30-11:45am) and is open to children age 3 through 5th grade. Cost is only $25 per child.
Adults can volunteer to help on the registration page. We expect nearly 200 children to be with us that week so we need many adults to make everything happen.
|
|
|
JULY 4 HOLIDAY WEEKEND WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Summer worship times will normally be the same as during the school year. However, on holiday weekends like July 1 & 2, we will have have our Saturday evening worship but will have just ONE TRADITIONAL SUNDAY SERVICE AT 9:00AM in the sanctuary.
We look forward to having you with us in worship this summer.
|
|
|
Bethlehem Rummage Sale
August 17-19
|
|
Start gathering your lightly-used clothes, toys, tools, and other household items and get them ready for a Bethlehem Rummage Sale on August 17-19. Proceeds of the sale will benefit LSSI's Foster Child Camp Fund.
You can pick up an informational flyer in Connection Cafe, and you can also sign up to help sort and display the items on the days of the sale.
|
|
|
HESED HOUSE DESPERATELY NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Please sign up today to help at Hesed House on June 23 & 24.
Click the link below to quickly and easily sign up to work a shift or provide food donations. Organizers will be automatically notified of your willingness to serve.
Remember that we are no longer using paper registration forms in worship so PLEASE use this quick and easy online signup opportunity. Thank you!
|
|
Volunteer at Feed My Starving Children
Saturday, June 24 ~ 9:00-11:00am
|
|
Click the link below if you would like to join a group of Bethlehem friends at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora on Saturday morning, June 24th. We will be packing food for children and families in over 70 countries around the world. This is a great family activity so bring a group (minimum age 5). You will have a great time!
|
|
|
Comments from the Cloud of Witnesses
You are like stones of a temple of the Father, prepared for the building of God the Father, hoisted up on high by the crane of Jesus Christ, that is, the cross, using the Holy Spirit for a rope. Your faith is your windlass, and love is the road that leads up to God. So you are all traveling companions, carrying God and temple, and Christ and your sacred things, and being fully arrayed in the commands of Jesus Christ. Pray constantly for others. Permit them to be instructed by you, at least through your deeds. To their anger, be meek; to their boasts, be humble; to their abuse, utter your prayers; to their error, be steadfast in faith; to their savagery, be gentle. Let us be zealous to imitate the Lord, so that no plant of the devil may be found in you, but with all purity and sobriety you may remain in union with Jesus Christ, in both flesh and spirit.
—Ignatius of Antioch
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
