Bethlehem November News

All Saint’s Sunday is coming up on Nov. 2nd and I am reflecting on what it means that we are both saint and sinner. In 2008, Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber founded a congregation in Denver called House of all Sinners and Saints. The name of the congregation worked so well, I think, because she put sinner before saint. I think it is our human nature to do so. We can readily identify ourselves as sinners. We can easily name our flaws and our failures, and we hold a check list of our imperfections close. That knowledge then compels us to run toward the saint we hope to be. Perhaps we are trying to outrun the sinner in us, and run directly into our sainthood. To balance the scales at least 50/50 — or perhaps to store up more and more saintly behaviors to compensate for the failure list.

I wonder if it works that way. Perhaps we are not a certain percentage saint and hopefully a smaller percentage sinner. Perhaps we are not a sinner one day, or one season, and a saint the next. — It may be that both sinner and saint are so woven together, so enmeshed in us, that they cannot be untangled. It may be that we have to give up our striving, and rest in the reality that this is the truth of us. We are Sainers. (Yes, I made that word up.) We are sinner and saint so woven together that we cannot separate ourselves. We cannot outrun ourselves. And that truth is both heartening and destroying. Destroying because we cannot undo the past. We cannot polish up the tarnished pieces, and cover the wear of the years. We cannot outrun ourselves. It is sad to be sure, and it is equally freeing. The same truth that saddens, is also life-giving — because we can stop running. Stop the endless, breathless pursuit of our own desire to make ourselves into a better version of who we are, than the one God made in the first place. It might be time, O Sainers of God, to stop running. To sit on a bench, and recognize the wholeness of it all. The wholeness God intended in each of us.

I write this letter to you having learned today, that I ruptured a disc in my lower back. Which does indeed explain the pain of the last week. I am now sitting still on my bed, with a heating pad on my back, and contemplating both my weakness and strength. I have decided to call it wength. (Yes, I made that word up too.) I am physically weak at the moment, and yet that is not my internal condition. There is a fortitude of spirit that comes pain. It is possible for two things to be true at the same time.

You and I are both failed and accomplished. We are bruised and healed. We have fallen short and caused hurt, and we have risen mightily to heal others. It is not a percentage, it is not a scale — it is the truth of us. The scripture says, “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.” What a work of artistic genius you are. Blessed All Saints Day dear friends, in all your tattered and beautiful complexity. You are the very one God wanted.

One on the journey, Pastor Laura

October Worship Schedule

Sunday Worship

November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th - 9 and 10:30 am

Worship usually takes place in the sanctuary for both services, and there is the option to sit outside in the eco-narthex as well. The livestream usually takes place during the 10:30 am Sunday service or as indicated.

Honoring Veterans

We would like to honor our Veterans on Sunday, November 9th. - If you are or know of someone in active duty or a veteran, please contact Rosemoldy@cox.net and give title, years and place served. Also, we would love to have a photo to display.

Music Ministry

Children's Choir First Performance - On November 2nd, the Children's choir will be singing their first anthem of the year ONLY at the 10:30 am service. Their song " All God's Creatures Got a Place in the Choir" will also feature our Pastors and other string instruments. Come enjoy the sound of children's voices!

Bethlehem Christmas Concert - December 7th - All choirs are preparing for Bethlehem's Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 7th at 4pm This year's concert is called "Stars and Angels" and will feature selections using that theme. Adult and children's choral groups, JuBellation Ringers and the Band of Bethlehem will be performing. Mark your calendars for this annual event!

November Special Music

11/2 - All Saints Day - Duet by Art Schmidt and Mark Reynolds,
Children's Choir first performance at the 10:30 a.m. service .
11/9 - Second Sabbath
11/16- JuBellation Ringers- Amazing Grace
11/23- Good News Singers - Down to the River to Pray
11/30 - First Sunday of Advent - to be announced

Youth Ministry

Youth Group - 6th- 12th grades.

We will meet from 6:30pm-8pm on Sundays in November. Deacon Mindy can provide details on locations and plans.

Order Your Wreaths and Poinsettias - November 2-23

Get your Christmas wreaths and poinsettias from your youth group! Both are a MUST HAVE for your Christmas décor! They make great gifts too! Proceeds help to fund the 2026 Youth Summer Service Trip.

22” Wreaths are $35 each
6” Poinsettias are $25 each

For more information and order form, click here.

Help at the Saturday-After-Thanksgiving-Breakfast - On Saturday, November 29th, youth and families are invited to help at St. Andrew’s Saturday Breakfast. All ages are welcome. From 8:30-10 am volunteers will help with prep, lunch packing, and set up. From 10-12:30 volunteers will help to serve and clean up. Contact Deacon Mindy if you plan to participate.

Children's Ministry

Learning Circles continue each week during the 10:30 service. All of our preschool and elementary aged children are invited to join us! We will leave the sanctuary right after the children's sermon and return during communion time. Decon Mindy and Jana Hegg will be teaching our 5th and 6th Graders and our younger children will continue with our wonderful Learning Circle teachers - Kelly and Noa, Audrey and Sarah, and Tricia. We will also continue with our monthly music time with Mona. If you are interested in finding out more about helping during Learning Circles or if you would like more information about Learning Circles, please contact Jana Hegg at childrensministry@blcenc.org.

Themes for November:

Nov. 2 - Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
Nov. 9 - The Sadducees Question (Luke 20:27-38)
Nov. 16 - MUSIC with Mona
Nov. 23 - The Day Jesus Dies (Luke 23:33-43)
Nov. 30 - NO LEARNING CIRCLES

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Sunday, December 14th! This will be our Inter-generational Christmas Program for all ages! Our theme this year will focus on the old favorite hymn, "The Friendly Beasts." Please contact Jana Hegg if you are interested in participating.

Stephen Ministry

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

As the holidays approach, we may face new and old challenges. Stephen Ministry understands. A Stephen Minister can listen and help you through this time. We are not professional counselors, but rather members of the congregation who have been trained to support, encourage, and pray with people who are facing life challenges.

It's Time to Sign Up! - Stephen Ministry is sponsoring two guest speaker events in November that are open to any and all who might be interested. You are invited to attend either one or both presentations.

If you, or someone you know, would like to attend, please see the information below for complete details and then click here to sign up.

Monday, November 3 at 7 pm at Bethlehem: Join us to learn about The Elizabeth Hospice - the type of services they provide, what Medicare covers, when and how to contact hospice, and the difference between hospice and palliative care. Please sign up using the link above so we know how many people to expect.

Monday, November 17 at 7 pm on Zoom: Join us for a presentation from the Faith-Based Mental Health Academy about Mental Health during the Holidays. Learn how to enjoy the holidays and maintain your mental health. Please sign up using the link above and we will send you the Zoom link.

If you would like to know more about Stephen Ministry please speak with Pastor Laura, Pastor Sam, or one of our Stephen Leaders: Molly Hall, Suzi Westmoreland, or Laure Reynolds.

Secret Santa

This year our Secret Santa Ministry season will be from Sunday, November 2nd to Sunday, December 7th. During this time, you will have three ways to participate:

Monetary donations to help either our Secret Santa program which supports local families in need or Es Por Los Ninos (Its For The Children). Es Por Los Ninos is an organization that helps families with HIV/AIDS in Tijuana. They are in need of baby formula. Mothers with HIV/AIDS must feed their babies formula to prevent them from contracting AIDS.
Gift cards towards the local Secret Santa Project. We are asking for either $40 or $50 gift cards from Target, Walmart, or any grocery stores.
Donations for the Teen Shelter program in San Diego. We are asking for for the following items to help create a gift for a foster teen.

Backpack - Black or Navy Blue
Hooded Sweatshirt - Black or Navy Blue - size L or XL
A deck of cards
Men’s Crew Length socks

You can make a monetary donations either by writing a check or donating online. Please make checks out to Bethlehem Lutheran Church then add either Es Por Los Ninos or Secret Santa in the memo section of your check. Online donations can be made to either Es Por Los Ninos or Secret Santa by clicking on one of the links listed below:

Gift cards and teen shelter items can be dropped off at church on either a Sunday morning or during the week.

Thank you for your many years of support!!

If you have any questions, please call Cheryl Monreal at (760) 942-1482 or Carolin Meinhardt at (760) 803-4926

Stewardship Stream

Thank You! - In October we had two Sundays focused on Stewardship including temple talks about the joy of volunteering time to important causes and the opportunity to submit Grant Requests to the Endowment to support new Bethlehem ministries. Resources regarding our Stewardship Emphasis are available on the Church website.

Thank you to everyone who has completed and submitted a pledge card. If you haven’t yet, you can find the virtual Pledge Card here. And if you haven’t completed the Ministry Involvement Form, click here. Both of these can be so important to helping us grow the impact that Bethlehem has in our communities, here and far away.

THANK YOU!!

Prayer Chain

Are you or someone that you know and love in need of prayer? The BLC Prayer Chain is a virtual space where we can share prayer concerns with one another, hold each other in prayer, and support one another during times of need. You can share your prayer requests by clicking here. On that same page you can also sign up to receive prayer requests when they are sent out, so that we might hold one another in prayer, light, and love.

Volunteers Needed for Sat. Breakfast at St. Andrews

Volunteers Needed! Saturday Breakfast at St. Andrews - Our mission to feed the hungry a hot breakfast each Saturday is starting back up again, and the kitchen at St. Andrew’s is now open for business. Bethlehem will be preparing breakfast on the 4th Saturday of each month. We need 6 volunteers to crack and scramble 6 doz. eggs, cook 60 hash browns, 13 lbs. of bacon, make 80 pancakes and serve up plates with a smile! Click below to volunteer!

Opportunities to Engage

Qigong/Tai chi -The weekly Qigong/Tai chi practices at our church is available by Zoom. You are able to join online from your computer on Wednesdays at 6 pm. Also, Chacha is having a Friday at 9 am practice by Zoom.

These practices are moving meditation practices that focus on relaxation, breath, and visualization while carrying out gentle movements. Everyone is welcome, no previous experience is necessary. If you are interested in joining please e-mail Chacha at chachapinillap@gmail.com. Please let her know which of the practices or if you would like to be invited to both practices. She will send an e-mail invitation with the zoom link.

Scraps and Prayers - This ministry sews quilts for people in need of comfort and care. We meet each Wednesday morning from 9am-11am in the Multi-Use Room. We need your help sewing and tying quilts. No experience necessary! Stop by for an hour or stay for the whole morning; we'd love to share our scraps and prayers with you. For more information, contact Bobby Allen at roberta798@aol.com or Laure Reynolds at laurereyn@roadrunner.com.

Pastor Sam's Sermon Blog

Did you miss one of Pastor Sam's sermons? Want to double check if he actually said what you think he did? Accidentally fall asleep and want to go back and read the section you missed? Check out all of Pastor Sam's sermons on his blog at: https://sinningboldlywithsam.wordpress.com/

Global Mission "Global Links" E-Newsletter

Rooted and built in Jesus! This is the core of our work as the ELCA walks with more than 80 companion churches in other countries to participate in God's reconciling mission through proclamation and service. Participating in these relationships, ELCA members see how people's lives are touched by the gospel, how their lives are transformed and renewed, and how their communities live in hope. If you would like to receive the ELCA Global Mission e-newsletter "Global Links", please click on the following link to subscribe: https://community.elca.org/elca-email-subscriptions

Bethlehem Cares Fund

Bethlehem Cares Fund: For members of Bethlehem, we have a fund to assist you with temporary financial needs such as medical, home, family or personal needs.Contact Pastor Laura, Pastor Sam, Rose Moldenhauer or Molly Hall. If you are able to contribute to the fund please mark your gift to BLC with the notation Bethlehem Cares.

Newsletters 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.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

www.blcenc.org