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"Caught in grace, created for service, called into community"
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Rev. Laura Ziehl
Senior Pastor
Ext 2
Pastor Sam Nelson
Associate Pastor
Constance Mithelman
Youth Director
Ext 12
Judy Foland
Office Administrator
Ext 1
Director of Children's Ministry
Ext 15
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June 2019
News and Events
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Dear people of Bethlehem,
Blessed season of Pentecost to you all. This is a time when we feel a new wind blowing in the air and blowing through the church. Summer is before us with less scheduled days and time to rest and travel and reinvigorate our spirits. In the church, it is a time of kindled fire and new Spirit and a renewed commitment to be church in the world in ways that make a difference.
At Bethlehem, I have felt it. I felt it on Sunday, at our annual choir concert and talent show. Our children sang, like nothing I have ever seen. Fearlessly, boys and girls of no more than 8 or 9, stood at the solo mic and each young voice FILLED the room. Theirs was a confidence in who God has made them to be, that gave me both courage and hope. Older voices sang as well, and in their voices I heard the wisdom of life lived, and hope both lost and restored in God's grace.
There is power and promise in being church together in this place. Each voice, each of our voices, coming together and changing what has been, into what will be. I have rarely been as moved as I was on Sunday. Thank you to our music director Mona Goetsch for making such a day possible. Thank you to all of you for making such a church possible.
We are excited to announce our new summer worship schedule:
In July and August we will worship at 8:30 and 10:00 am. There will be learning circles for children as well as education for adults from 9:30 - 10:00 am. Come to worship and meet new friends and find out who sits in your pew. We are looking forward to the energy and close community we will create. Come for education. Learning opportunities include:
| July 7 |
Centering Prayer
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| July 14 |
Getting Started with American Sign Language (ASL)
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| July 21 |
The Theology of Grace
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| July 28 |
Into the Wild: Entering the Wilderness in John and Isaiah
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| Aug 4 |
The Origin of the Universe: Astrophysics, Molecular Genetics and Creation
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| Aug 11 |
Luther's Theology of the Cross
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| Aug 18 |
Bethlehem Serves Day
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| Aug 25 |
Tai Chi as Spiritual Practice
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We have such a gifted congregation.
Bring your hands and your desire to make a difference on August 18th for Bethlehem Serves.
We will meet at church at 8:30 am and then disperse all over Encinitas and North County to make a difference.
Our high school students will be making a difference in New Mexico this summer.
Vacation Bible School will be making a difference in the lives of young children in our community, and you will be making a difference in every place you touch, with the voice God has given you.
Last Sunday, our cantors were 4 of our confirmation students. On this Pentecost Sunday we will be using a Creed written by those same confirmation students. The Spirit is blowing at Bethlehem and we are still being made new. Come and add your voice and gifts. It won't be the same without you.
In God's grace, Pastor Laura
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We are very excited to announce that during July and August we will be moving to two worship services at 8:30 and 10 am. From 9:30-10 there will be learning circles for the kids, as well as adult education classes taught by different members of the congregation. The only exception to this schedule will be on Bethlehem Serves Sunday which will be August 18
th
. Please mark your calendars and spread the word!
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New Member Sunday- June 16th, 2019
Anyone interested in joining BLC please contact the church office at 760-753-1026, ext. 1 or info@blcenc.org. There will be an orientation meeting on Wednesday, June 5th at 6:00 pm in the Multi Use Center. All are welcome to become a part of our church family. Please call with any questions or if childcare is needed for the evening
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Upcoming Events and News
"Roar" VBS July 1-3, and 5th: This year's "Roar" VBS will be the
"Mane event" of the summer! This epic African adventure engages the
whole herd. At Roar, kids will explore God's goodness and celebrate a
ferocious faith that powers them through this wild life. Registration forms
are now available at
blcenc.org.
Please submit registration forms
ASAP.
Roar Volunteers: If you would like to spend a week sharing "God's
Love" with the children of our community, there are many ways to be of
service! Please prayerfully consider being a part of the VBS Team!
Volunteer Registration forms are now available at
blcenc.org.
All
volunteers must submit a volunteer form, please turn in forms
ASAP.
VBS Volunteer Training: All volunteers must attend one of the two
training sessions. Training will be held on Saturday June 22 at 10 am
and Tuesday June 25 at 6:30 pm. Please mark your calendars. These
training sessions are critical to the success of this year's VBS!
Roar Donations: If you would like to help make our Roar VBS a
success but perhaps are unable to volunteer your time. Making a small
donation of materials is a great way to be involved! We will be collecting
various items in the coming weeks. Here are a few items that would be
helpful. These Items can be donated or borrowed and returned.
Small empty plastic water bottles, African themed art, African musical
instruments, yarn, string, twine, stuffed animals (lions, tigers,
giraffes, elephants, gorillas, monkeys, etc.), towels, African themed
fabrics, blankets and rugs, construction paper, rolls of butcher
paper, empty paper towel rolls, grass skirts, misc. vegetation (potted
plants, greenery etc.).
Blessings,
Chris Matthews
Director of Children's Ministries Bethlehem Lutheran Church
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Youth News
Confirmation Camp:
Next $100 payment is due June 15th. Watch your email for instructions on how to register your youth on the camp website!
Aren't able to make it to camp but know of a soon-to-be 7th grader that wants to be a part of our confirmation ministry? Email Constance at
cmithelman@blcenc.org
so she can add you to the mailing list!
High School:
Our first Wednesday night gathering at the beach will be Wednesday, June 19th from 3-6:30 pm at Moonlight and ending at Handel's for ice cream!
Summer Service Trip:
An additional $100 payment was due June 1st. Please make that payment ASAP. The last and final $150 payment is due July 1st
Mark your calendars! We will be selling cinnamon rolls and washing cars on VBS Sunday, July 7th!
Are you a Thrivent member and have Action Dollars still up for grabs? The youth can use them! Food is the second biggest expense on our service trips and $250 goes a long way in feeding 40 teenagers! Contact Constance at
cmithelman@blcenc.org
if you're a Thrivent member!
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| Bethlehem Women of the ELCA- Giving Tree |
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Bethlehem Women of the ELCA:
Mission Action and Giving Tree Schedule 2019
All through the year, the Giving Tree, at the entrance of the church, gives opportunities to help people. There are different projects, with different leaders, but the same heart.
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January
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ELCA World Hunger Appeal // St. Andrew's Food Pantry
Cheryl Monreal
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February
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T.A.C.O.
Lori Cook
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March
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College Care Packages
Skye Svenningsen
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April
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Celebration of Lent
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May
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June
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Center for Global Awareness
Dianne Nichols & Gail Winterbourne
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July 1st-8th
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Vacation Bible School
Chris Matthews
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July 9th-Aug 18th
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Bethlehem Serves
Beth Nelson
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Aug 19th-Sep 22nd
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Pajama Project
Belinda Simonini
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Sep 23rd-Oct 12th
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Lutheran World Relief Ingathering: Quilts & Blankets
Scraps and Prayers Quilting Group
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Oct 13th-November
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Secret Santa
Cheryl Monreal
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December
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Community Resource Center (CRC)
Sheri Burtt
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Ongoing
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T.A.C.O.
(soup kitchen)
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Give the Gift of Clean Water
June's Giving Tree is hosted by The Center for Global Awareness which continues to support Lutheran World Relief's focus on "Access to Clean Water". 884 million people in the world lack access to a safe water supply. Please donate through Lutheran World Relief and give the foundation for a better life. Your donation may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Memo line: CGA Water Project. Thank you. |
| Bethlehem Women's Retreat |
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Save the Date!
The next Bethlehem Women's Retreat is scheduled for May 1 - 3, 2020 at Luther Glen.
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| San Diego Habitat for Humanity- Upcoming Opportunities |
For those who are interested in volunteering onsite in the next month or so, San Diego Habitat has online registration here:
If you would like to volunteer with other people from Bethlehem, contact
San Diego Habitat is currently building in Logan Heights and El Cajon, with build days Tuesdays - Saturdays. The work day is 8:15 am - 3:30 pm with a 30 minute lunch break at 11:30 am. The minimum age to volunteer on the construction site is 16.
San Diego Habitat also has great volunteer opportunities in the ReStores with locations in Kearny Mesa, National City and Escondido. Volunteers are scheduled Tuesday - Sundays at each store. The ReStore shifts are 10am - 2pm and 2pm - 6pm on Tuesday through Saturday and overlapping shifts of 10am - 2pm and 12pm - 4pm on Sunday. Volunteer tasks at the ReStores include helping receive donations, organizing the store, pricing new items and helping customers to load purchased items. The ReStore is Habitat's biggest financial supporter and help is always needed there. The minimum age to volunteer at the ReStore is 14.
Women Build is coming up in May! This event promotes empowerment, solidarity, learning, and pride in our community. It encourages women (and men!) to give back and help San Diego Habitat make a difference in the lives of local families. It is San Diego Habitat's biggest event for the year, and each builder is asked to fund raise or donate $300, which helps Habitat build more here in San Diego. May 2
nd, 4
th, 9
th, 10
th, and 11
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still have slots available. More information can be found here:
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| Choose To Serve (Outreach Ministries) |
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Upcoming Opportunities to Serve Others
June 5, 12, 19, 26 8:30-11:30am
Scraps and Prayers
June 15 9:00-2:00pm Pajama Project
June 17 3:30-5:30pm
TACO
Scraps and Prayers
This group sews quilts, and assembles school bag and fabric kits for people in need. We meet each Wednesday morning from 8:30-11:30am in the Multi-Use Room. We need your help cutting, sewing and tying quilts. No experience necessary! Come along for an hour or the whole morning; we'd love to share our scraps and prayers with you. For more information, contact Kim Oswald at rdoswald@aol.com or Laure Reynolds at laurereyn@roadrunner.com.
TACO (Third Avenue Charitable Organization)
Socks & underwear are always needed for our friends at TACO, especially as the weather turns cooler. They need men's white athletic tube socks and men's briefs in all sizes. There will be a large black plastic tub labeled TACO in the Narthex for your donations. Let's see if we can fill that tub to overflowing!! Thank you so much!!
Alternates for Serving at TACO- We also need a few people who would be willing to be "on call" to come help serve the meal the 3rd Monday of the Month if we are short of people. We have to be there by 3:15 and are done serving at 5:30. I generally have room for a couple of people in my car and we do have a good time! If you are interested and/or have any questions, please call me, Lori Cook, at 760 207-0432. Thank you so much!
Pajama Project
The Pajama Project Kicks off it's 23rd Year!
We distributed 1235 pairs of PJ's and Sleep Pants last October and are ready to wash flannel and begin again!
We will begin our"Work Party Days" this month, our schedule for the year is below. Come to cut out PJ's and make "kits" to be taken home to sew. We Always need more sewers if you, or someone you know, would like to sew these cozy PJ's, which warms the heart, ours and the recipients!
We also always need volunteers to provide lunch on one of our Work Party Days for 8 to 20 hard working people. Please contact Belinda Simonini if you are willing to help with this.
2019 Work Part Days: Drop in and stay as long as you would like between 9:00 and 2:00 on these Saturdays:
February 23, March 30, April 27, May 18, June 15, July 27, August 24 and September 28
Thank you for your support of The Pajama Project Bethlehem!
Warmly Yours,
Belinda Simonini
760-822-9573
belindasimonini@gmail.com
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Five new beautiful shawls were added to our inventory. We have already distributed three shawls this year. If you know anyone who would benefit from receiving a prayer shawl (if he/she is going through a particularly difficult
or joyful time), please contact
janet.mastrogany@gmail.com, Please continue to create at home at your own pace - & if you are interested in learning how, we will pair you with an experienced knitter/crocheter! We meet every other month 9-11 at church (before or after your favorite service) for a casual drop in opportunity to knit/crochet and visit together.
Patterns are available at
www.shawlministry.com
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Here is a quote from their website: "Shawls...made for centuries universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles."
St. Andrews Food Pantry
St. Andrews food pantry needs our help.
Every Thursday morning
a team meets at Gelsons market in Carlsbad to pick up food and transport it back to the food pantry. If you can devote one Thursday a month to this project your help would be appreciated. If interested please contact Bob Moran at St. Andrews at 760-487-1630 or
bobpatmoran@cox.net
CRC (Community Resource Center)
Last year, 138 homeless individuals obtained permanent housing through CRC's case management and housing assistance?
Over 500 households visit CRC monthly to receive healthy food, nutrition resources, benefits assistance and education?
Last year, 150 people found safety in CRC's domestic violence shelter, receiving help and counseling to get back on their feet?
CRC works to end hunger, homelessness and domestic violence in North County San Diego. As a provider of integrative services, CRC's programs include a domestic violence emergency shelter, hotline and prevention/education outreach; a Therapeutic Children's Center; professional counseling; legal advocacy; food and nutrition distribution center; homelessness prevention; and rental and housing assistance. All of CRC's programs are designed to assist participants to successfully navigate their paths of safety, stability & self-sufficiency. CRC relies on our community support.
Click here to see the many ways in which you can help CRC to help those in need!
Es Por Los Ninos
Es Por Los Ninos is a binational non-profit organization helping children, women and adolescents infected with the AIDS virus in Baja California Mexico. Lacking financial resources and education, this vulnerable population is struggling to survive. For 20 years, the members of Bethlehem have supported Es Por Los Ninos, by donating clothing, supplies and money, including gifts from our Secret Santa program and school bags assembled during Bethlehem Serves. Donations are welcome at anytime; please call Cheryl Monreal for more information.
Contact: Cheryl Monreal 760-942-1482
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What Do Our Stephen Ministers Do?
At Bethlehem Lutheran Church we have thirteen Stephen Ministers: Frank Belock, Molly Hall, Mea Hall, Dan Halvorson, Linda Inskeep, Marla Keith, Mark King, Blair Lindberg, Beth Nelson, George Orness, Laure Reynolds, Annmarie Robbins, and Suzi Westmoreland. Stephen Ministers are assigned a care receiver by one of our leaders who serves as our referrals coordinator. The Stephen Minister will visit with his or her care receiver usually for one hour each week. During this time they will listen to the care receiver, pray, and offer support. Between visits the Stephen Minister is available by phone if needed. Twice a month all Stephen Ministers gather for Supervision and for Continuing Education.
At Bethlehem the Stephen Ministers also perform other tasks. A Stephen Minister may be called on in times of crisis to assist the pastor or a member of the congregation. They may be called on to visit the sick, hospitalized, or home-bound and sometimes to bring them communion. Stephen Ministers are present at all funerals. On the first Sunday of each month a Stephen Minister is available in the back of the church during communion to offer healing prayer for you or your loved ones. If you would like a prayer at another time, our Stephen Ministers are always happy to share a prayer of joy, healing, or thanksgiving with you. Look for us on Sundays with our blue name tags.
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Lutheran Lobby Day - California
LOPP-CA Lobby Day
was a big success! Karin Kloehn and Louise Julig, from our congregation, joined more than 100 Lutherans from all over California for a day of advocacy at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Prior to the visits to the hill, Rev. Amy Reumann, ELCA Director of Advocacy, spoke in her sermon about our biblical imperative to fight for justice. Small groups met with over 50 Legislators and staff to share our concerns about deep childhood poverty, access to health care for undocumented adults, and the need for access to clean, safe, and affordable water in every community in our state.
Bishop Eaton addresses well-being of children in detention centers
Read ELCA presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's message on children in detention centers and on international policy choices that harm children and families.
Letter on Abortion from Bishop Eaton
In this letter, Bishop Eaton addresses recent legislation to restrict access to legal abortion, "We must remember that this church supports ongoing access to legal abortion as well as access to abortion services and reproductive health care that is not restricted by economic factors." Here is the full ELCA Social Statement on Abortion.
Rick Steves' Donates $100,000 to ELCA World Hunger
This funding will support projects in more than 60 countries around the world. In the United States, gardens and farms can help provide food-insecure families with healthy foods - while building community among neighbors. In Senegal, an animal husbandry center helps dairy herders increase their cows' milk production, so they have more milk for their families and to sell at market. In India, agricultural innovations, disaster-preparedness training, and irrigation improvements help communities become more resilient.
ELCA Advocacy Updates
Follow us!
For information or questions about Bethlehem's Advocacy Team, contact Karin Kloehn at blcadvocacy@gmail.com.
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CANCELLED
June 8 Bike and Hike Event
The trails in Penasquitos Canyon have been closed to bikers and hikers until further notice so, unfortunately, we will need to cancel our June 8th Adventure Ministry event. Look for information about our next activity on the Adventure Ministry board in the narthex.
For more information about Adventure Ministry, contact:
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| Feed the Homeless Program |
Bethlehem has volunteered to help with "Feed the Homeless Program"
at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on the 4th Saturday of each month from 9:00 am to 12 noon. We are in need of volunteers. If you are able to participate please sign up today outside or contact Naida Malchiodi at
naidalouise2@yahoo.com
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Looking for New Acolytes
We are currently recruiting new acolytes to help with the church services each Sunday morning. Children from 2nd to 6th grades are welcome to become an acolyte. A training session will be scheduled to instruct and practice exactly what an acolyte does. It is a fun way for the children to become more involved in the church service. Please contact Julie Draskovic at
juliedraskovic@yahoo.com
if you are interested.
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| Church Property Maintenance Requests |
Notice something on our church campus that needs fixing? Concerned about lighting, air conditioning/heating, water, etc.? We have a property manager who can take care of your concerns. Please call or leave a message with the church office (760-753-1026) or email
property@blcenc.org
and someone will get back to you.
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| Newsletter Now Available on Our Website |
Have you missed one of our monthly e-newsletters? Have you wished you could open up that newsletter again to get that bit of information you were looking for? Well, now you can. On our Newsletter Archive
page there are links available to view current and past newsletters.
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| 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 sbreding@cox.net. |
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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. |
Choice Dollars
The Thrivent Choice® program lets eligible members recommend where some of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' charitable outreach funds go by directing Choice Dollars®. Bethlehem Lutheran is an eligible recipient of these funds.
For more information click on the link below,
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| 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 Stewardship page. 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. |
| Dear , Thank you for registering with our e-mail announcement and update service at www.blcenc.org. Yours in Christ Bethlehem Lutheran Webmaster webmaster@blcenc.org |
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