Our mission "To worship God as a loving community that grows in faith and shares the Gospel of Christ."

BLC Family News & Events

Pastor's Letter

 The Season of Generosity Continues

On Monday, November 11^th, 2024—Veteran’s Day—a day full of rain and mud, I showed up and saw the community at work. Carmel-Valley recognized the need for an “inclusive” playground. They yearned for a place where even if you are a child in a wheelchair, you can go on the swings and the shaky bridge and race to the top of the treehouse to see the view.

They could have asked the county to hire contractors, but instead they asked us (and, I’m sure glad they did!). Over 600 volunteers chipped (including a few from Bethlehem!). I got to see what it looks like when the community shows up.

While I was helping out, I met Nicole, the founder of the “Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop.” Foundation. She shared her story with me: She had suffered from a coma and lost the gift of speech. It took her two years before she could speak again. Now, she wants to help the community as best as she can realizing that “you are either the one being helped or the one helping.”

In the Church, Christ serves us. He gives us mercy and grace and forgiveness—all the help we could ever need. Now, it’s our turn to show up and share that grace with others—helping when and where we can.

Thank you to those who “show up” every day to help the ministry of our Church!

Now, I commend you, BLC Family, to “show up” for your families and friends and neighbors this holiday season. Even if we get “a little behind” with the business of the Church, take the time to invite someone to the table who you might not have invited before. Add a chair. Buy that extra card. Send a little gift. Go out of your way to be there.

And, as always, keep them in prayer.

God’s richest blessings today and always,

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!!!

Pastor Josh Schmidt

PS: We would love to see you at Tatum’s Grand Opening at the Santa Claus Landing Parade in Carmel-Valley December 14. 

President's Report

Thanksgiving is upon us and the celebration of Christ’s birth fast approaches. Be sure to spend time with your family, friends and all of us at Church. By the way, have you looked around the Church lately? If so, you will see much that is happening. Our Lord and Savior is blessing us in many ways: the pews are filling up, new members coming on board, there is movement with our youth programs, great fellowship opportunities, a lot of outreach, volunteers are popping up and filling much needed empty roles, and our Sanctuary is full of wonderful music. Our Pastor flourishes, but he can always use your help and encouragement. 

In October, the current Board reported we were having some financial difficulties. The Board and many of you are working hard to turn this around. Pastor and others are studying the expenses and making good financial decisions that are having a positive impact. We hope to have a larger report showing the results of our work soon. I can report and would ask you to please recall we were borrowing from our Restricted Funds in order to pay bills. While it’s premature to report the actual numbers, it appears we have paid ourselves back or are close to doing so. We still need to be prayerfully focused on stewardship. 

Before the last Board meeting opened, the new Board took time to elect officers from the slate the voters approved in October. This way the new Board can spend time learning about their Board roles so that they may, effective on January 1, 2025, hit the ground running. Make it a daily prayer and pray for the Board and your Pastor. The new Board will be made up as follows:

Patti Johannsen – President

Marilyn Maxner – Vice President

Bob McCully – Financial Officer

Lori Glenn – Secretary

Alan Laden – At Large 

Abundant Blessings,

Ken Goebel

Service Opportunities

I-HELP

Bethlehem is a co-founder and longtime supporter of I-HELP (the Interfaith Homeless Emergency Program) right here in Monterey. Men and Women are housed at different locations of faith, provided a dinner, fellowship, and breakfast the next morning. On Monday, November 25, the California-Nevada-Hawaii District (CNS) of the LCMS (our church body) will be having a special worship service together at 2pm, at Monterey's Hyatt Regency and donating the offering to I-HELP!!!

Here's our I-HELP schedule coming up:

November 26th, Men's I-HELP at BLC covered by the Sunrise Rotary Club.

November 27th, Men's I-HELP, BLC now has funding for the meals, we just need hosts!! reply to this email or contact Ray if you can help!

December 8, Women's I-HELP, reply to this email or contact the office if you can help!

December 24th, Men's I-HELP at BLC covered by the Sunrise Rotary Club.

December 25th, Men's I-HELP, BLC now has funding for the meals, we just need hosts!! reply to this email or contact Ray if you can help!

Community Engagement

Here are some other ways you can "show up" in the community coming up:

December 1, Salinas' Parade of Lights is UNcanceled, reply to this email or contact Pastor if you would like to help!

December 8, Youth and their families are encouraged to join Our Savior's in Salinas at the church for a Taco Bar and Trip to Streets of Bethlehem. We will meet at 5 pm, enjoy tacos and fellowship and then walk across the street and be transported to Bethlehem! For those going to National Youth Gathering (8th through 12th graders), these Youth Members will also be joining our group for NYG. Exciting for everyone to come together and meet. A food signup sheet will be circulated as the date gets closer. 

December 14, Carmel Valley's Santa Claus Landing Parade--Thank you to the Zobels and Charlie Rega for representing Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the parade contact the office or Bob Zobel if you would like to be involved!

Monthly Meetings

December 2, 4:30pm, Worship Committee Meeting

December 3, 4pm, Youth Meeting

December 16, 4:30pm, BLC Board Meeting. The monthly BLC Board Meetings are open to all members. Contact our church president if you would like to be included.

Advent & Christmas Celebrations!

The entire month of December: During the Christmas season (starting December 1st), we will be reading "25 Prayers to Christmas" together on Sundays and during our mid-week dinners. If you would like a copy, we have plenty for you at church or you can order online at: 25 Prayers to Christmas: Praying through the Christmas story: Paavola, Chris: 9798359499521: Amazon.com: Books

Wednesdays in Advent: We will be having our special Wednesday Advent dinners with Christmas carols and devotions together every Wednesday in December leading up to Christmas!!! Thank you to the Goebels for providing the first dinner; Marilyn for the second; and Pastor and Amber Schmidt for the third!!!

December 4, 11, and 18: Advent Dinner, 5:30-6:30pm.

December 18: After the Advent dinner, join us for Christmas Caroling at Merrill Gardens.

December 24 and 25: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are both great opportunities to celebrate "Christ with Us" together. Please, join us at 6pm, December 24th for a special service, and 10am December 25th for a service with Communion.

Sunday Worship Notes:

December 8, we will be welcoming the talented flutist, Jennifer Kennedy, back to play for us! Don't miss this! AND...

Congratulations to Hannah Hueffmeier, Hunter Kaufman, and Izzy Shaddock who are celebrating their First Communion on Sunday, December 8!

December 15, we will be welcoming the wonderful Madregalia Choir back to sing with us! You won't want to miss out!! ALSO.....

We will be welcoming Andrew Radcliffe, Maya Tice, and

Rose Marie Dunsford as new members!

Congratulations and Welcome!

December 29: Eagan Johnson's Baptism Birthday Party!!! Congratulations to Eagan and the Johnson family on Eagan's Baptism the week of Christmas!!! We will be celebrating together during Coffee Hour on Sunday, December 29! 

100 Years and Counting!!!

We are getting excited to celebrate our Centennial Year!!! Starting in July, 2025, we will have trips and conferences and other ways to celebrate. If you have ideas on what we should do, feel free to contact the Chair of the Centennial Year Team, Diane Kabat, and/or Pastor.

As part of the event, Dr. Chad Lakies, with the Lutheran Hour Ministries and Concordia Seminary St. Louis, will be with us next summer, July 10 -13, to teach us how to engage the world with Christ's Light. Copies of his book, "How the Light Shines Through," are available at church or online (How the Light Shines Through: Resilient Witness in Dark Times: Lakies, Chad: 9780758674500: Amazon.com: Books).

Where were you ten years ago?

Endowment Fund Yearly Fundraiser

You should be receiving a pretty blue envelope in the mail like the one pictured above. Please take time to sit down and read what is inside! The Endowment Fund Committee hopes that you will find the information inside to be educational and helpful.

Why give? The interest from Bethlehem's Endowment Fund is used each year, when prudent, to fund special projects, activities, youth activities, and/or improvements. It is not used to pay monthly church bills which are budgeted expenses. So, the more money that is in the Fund, the more interest there is potentially to give to special church activities or improvements!

There are many ways for you to participate in the Endowment Fund’s

activities, depending on your desires and financial resources. The more common methods include:

• Special Occasion or Memorial Gifts - Gifts of any amount may be given in honor of or in memory of friends and loved ones or in celebration of a special event, such as a birthday or anniversary.

• Direct Gifts - A gift of cash, stocks, bonds, or other personal property can be given outright.

• Bequest in a Will - Through a Will, a person may make a gift of a specific asset, a percent of the estate, or a stated dollar amount.

Many of us have a required amount that must be taken out of our IRA investment accounts every year. The BLC Endowment Fund provides a perfect place to receive those funds! In addition to personal satisfaction, your gift offers the opportunity to minimize federal and state taxes.

Individuals find planned gifts to be a meaningful, lasting way to benefit their favorite charitable organizations. For many, it is significant to know their gift has an impact beyond the life of the donor. The money in the Endowment Fund is held in perpetuity, forever, faithfully managed and respected by the Endowment Committee. Thank you for your contributions to this important fund.

The Endowment Fund Committee,

Chair, Sonja Johnson

Secretary, Sally McCully

Member at Large, Zach Kaufman

President, Ken Goebel

Financial Officer, Bob McCully

Pastor Josh Schmidt

Financial Report

Feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Bob McCully

After we all give thanks on Thanksgiving, then shop 'til we drop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, don't forget:

Giving Tuesday!

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday is a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. It has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Join the movement and give, whether it’s some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local community. Or right here at Bethlehem! Volunteer to help! There are lots of volunteer jobs available! See Pastor and ask to be part of the movement!

Many of us wouldn't make it very far without a little extra help!!!

Do you know any caregivers that go above and beyond to help those that they care about? HFC's Scotty Caregiver Award is back, honoring the unsung heroes—both family and professional caregivers—who bring patience, creativity, and a whole lot of heart to the dementia journey. Award recipients will be recognized at HFC’s 5th annual CareCon on Valentine’s Day.

Submissions close on January 15, 2025.

In closing...

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend! We would also love to hear what you would like to see next! Click the button below to email us. Thank you! May God richly bless you and your family.