Bethlehem October News

As we say every Sunday, thank you for your stewardship! It is because of your gifts of commitment, financial contributions, and service that we are able to be the church together and make a difference in our community and in the world. This year, we want to highlight and honor all that we are doing together, both in the ministries of this congregation, and in the ministries and organizations that you support in the world.

Members of faith organizations are significantly more likely to volunteer in the community and to financially support good causes than those who do not attend church. We are simply wired this way. Or to put it more theologically, we are called. That is why our theme this year is, “Giving Matters: Here and Away” which highlights our commitment to support the work of this congregation, and the work of so many organizations who are committed to making positive change in this world.

So this year, we are asking for your commitment to give to Bethlehem and to support one organization outside of Bethlehem. Most of us already do this, but this year we are asking you to let us know who else you support. During worship on Oct. 6th and 13th, there will be an opportunity to write down the names of those organizations you support and place them on the walls of the sanctuary, so that we can begin to see just how far our giving reaches together — likely around the world.

Your council is working on next year’s budget, and an increase of $30,000 over this year’s giving will be required to meet ministry needs. It is a stretch indeed, but one we can meet. A portion of that increase is due to increased costs and a portion is due to lower than expected giving in 2024. We are catching up significantly toward meeting this year’s current budget goal. At the writing of this letter, we are behind by $9,000. If every family or individual could increase their giving for 2025 by either $500 or 5% annually, whichever is more possible or meaningful for you, we could easily meet the ministry needs of the congregation. Please prayerfully consider giving at whichever level makes sense for you and your family. If you need to decrease or stop your giving for any reason, know that we are here to support you and your family. If you have never made a financial commitment to Bethlehem, please consider joining us this year.

Included in this letter is a commitment card. Please prayerfully consider what you can give, and return it by bringing the commitment card to church on October 13th, or by returning it to the church office, or by giving online by clicking on the link here. On the back of this card, please indicate what other organization you will joyfully be supporting in 2025. We intend to share all these worthy causes with the whole congregation, in celebration of just how far our giving reaches. A few organizations have been listed for you, you are welcome to support one of these or write in one of your own. Please give directly to that organization. Only your regular giving will go through Bethlehem.

However you give, and whatever you give, you make a huge difference in the world. What you do matters! In our current world, it matters more and more each day. As people of faith, let us be the example of what it means to live lives of generosity and grace.

Thank you for all you do,

Pastor Laura, Pastor Sam, and your BLC Council

October Worship Schedule

Sunday Worship

October 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th - 9 am and 10:30 pm

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 or as indicated.

Music Ministry

Choirs have begun their rehearsals and are working toward their first singing experiences in church in October. Here is the special music schedule for October:

10/6 - Good News Singers
10/13 - Second Sabbath
10/20 - JuBellation Ringers
10/27 - Good News Singers

Christmas Choir Retreat, October 20, 1-4:45 pm - If you are an adult and like to sing Christmas music but can't commit to singing with the Good News Singers all year, here is your chance to participate! The choirs will be performing their Christmas program on Sunday, December 8th @ 4 pm On Sunday, October 20th the choir attends an afternoon retreat where they are introduced to the 6 pieces of music they will sing at the concert. Rehearsals are in large group and sectional settings and are interspersed with a gift exchange and ending with dessert. Eight weekly rehearsals follow until the performance. Each singer receives recordings of the music to practice at home. Please contact monagoetsch@gmail.com if you are interested.

Children's Choir Begins on Sundays! The Children's Choir is a fun way for your child to participate in church. Our group meets on Sunday mornings from 10:00 -10:30 am in the multi-use room. Each child receives music and a recording of the songs that they will be singing in church. Their first performance will be on Sunday, November 3 during the children's time at the 10:30 service. This year's members are age 5- 12. The group will also be singing at the Christmas concert on December 8th @ 4 p.m. and during the Learning Circle programs on December 15th. Please contact monagoetsch@gmail.com for more information.

Children's Ministry

Learning Circles – Our Learning Circles/Sunday School continue weekly during the 10:30 service. We meet as one large group to begin in the Multi-Use/Library right after the Children's Message. The curriculum that we are using is designed to break into "buddy pairs" with older children helping the younger children to participate in discussions and complete activities together. This time is intended for children ages 3rd-6th grade. If you have any questions, or if you would like to volunteer to help with Sunday School time, please feel free to reach out to Jana Hegg at childrensministry@blcenc.org. We are excited to see you on Sunday!

Here is our Learning Circle schedule for October:

10/6 - Creation
10/13 - Parable of the Rich Man
10/20 - Music with Mona
10/27 - Reformation

First Communion Class - Bethlehem Lutheran Church will be holding a First Communion Class for children in Kdg. - 5th Grade. The class will go over the history and meaning of communion and will give children an opportunity to ask questions at their level. The schedule for the class is as follows:

November 4th - 6:00 - 7:00 pm - First Class in the Multi-Use Room
November 9th - 2:00 pm - Second Class in the Multi-Use Room
November 10th - First Communion during services

Please let us know if you are interested in having your child(ren) attend this class by emailing Jana Hegg at childrensministry@blcenc.org. Also, feel free to reach out to Pastor Laura or Pastor Sam if you have any questions.

We look forward to sharing this experience with your family!

Youth Ministry

Confirmation Sunday, October 20th - Don’t miss this special day at worship when three of our young people will celebrate their rite of confirmation. The students will share their statements of faith. You won’t want to miss this!

Parent Book Discussion, Monday Evenings in October - Parents (and others with parental roles) are invited to join a new book discussion. The book is “3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager." It offers practical and proven strategies to improve conversations and connections to teenagers.

Join us at St. Andrew’s on Monday evenings beginning October 7th from 7-8:30pm. Sign up now by clicking the link here.

Youth Meetings, Thursdays from 6:30-8pm -

Dinner is served. Homework is welcome.

6th-12th grade students meet together!

Contact Deacon Mindy for sign up link and information. mindybugaj@blcenc.org

Provide Meals for Youth Group! - With the new format of providing dinner to the youth on Thursday evenings, we would love to have some help from parents and other adults to cook for or donate meals to the group. Contact Deacon Mindy to get involved.

Youth Fundraising for Summer Trip 2025 - Cinnamon roll sales begin on Oct. 13 between services. Wreath and Poinsettia presale will begin on November 1. Watch for additional ways to support the next youth summer service trip. We are always grateful for your support!

Bethlehem Adventure Ministry (BAM)

Please join Bethlehem Adventure Ministry (BAM) for a day trip to the San Diego Maritime Museum on October 5th. Our own Bill Dabbs is a docent there and has offered to lead a tour. Thank you, Bill! We hope you can join us.

Please join Bethlehem Adventure Ministry (BAM) for a day trip to the Maritime Museum of San Diego. Our own Bill Dabbs is a docent there and has offered to lead a tour. Thank you, Bill!

Click here to view (and print out) a lot of interesting information that we hope will entice you to join us and experience these beautiful, historic vessels.

Maritime Museum of San Diego Tour

1492 North Harbor Drive

San Diego CA 92101

Saturday, October 5, 2024

9:30 am

Sign up here so we can send you notifications and updates. When you sign up, let us know if you're interested in carpooling.

By signing up early, Bill will know how many tickets/wristbands to pre-purchase to get the discount price of $18 for adults and children over 12. Children 12 and under are free in October. Pre-purchasing our tickets will expedite our entry. Please bring exact cash to repay Bill and place it in an envelope with your name on it.

Please arrive on time. Bill will hand out the wristbands. He has a special treat for the start of the tour. When you have your wristband, you can stay all day.

If you have not signed up by September 30, you will need to buy your tickets at the entrance. Please, however, do sign up anyway so we know you are coming.

Parking along the Bayfront is $7.50 for 3 hours. If you want to take the trolley or Coaster, Union Station is about 4 blocks away. More transportation and parking information is available here.

Accessibility: The Maritime Museum will do all it can to assist those of us who need accommodations. Most of the tour will be walking and standing. The ships have two or three decks with stairs. The Dolphin and San Salvador have ladders. Restrooms are available on the Berkeley and the lower decks of the Star of India and the Surprise. Ships have tight quarters. Canes or tripod canes are recommended for those who need some stability support or a place to sit. This link here provides more information and a contact number for the museum.

Questions? Contact Dennis Astroth, Eileen Lajimodiere, Lori Wolf, or Suzi Westmoreland at blcsm@outlook.com.

Scraps and Prayers

Quilts on the Pews - It’s that time of year when we pull our quilts out of storage in anticipation of shipping them to Lutheran World Relief and to other local charities. Join us on Sundays October 6 and 13 when we display the quilts before sending them off. You may take a quilt home with you in exchange for a donation to our ministry. We will accept cash, checks, and credit cards or you may pay through the church’s Vanco website. The money we raise is used to purchase fabric, batting, and other supplies. Thank you for your support!

Women of Welcome (WoW) and Men of Bethlehem (MOB)

The Women of Welcome (WoW) and Men of Bethlehem (MOB) invite everyone to join us for Trivia Night!

Potluck and Trivia Night

Thursday, October 10 at 6 pm

The Family Center

Bring your favorite appetizer, party food or dessert.

Bring your own wine, beer any other beverage as you like.

This will be super fun and not too competitive! We will form random teams, load up our plates and dig into some crazy facts and unknown mysteries. Bragging rights will ensue!

As usual ALL ARE WELCOME.

Please sign up here in case we need to change the plan.

Questions? Ask Pastor Sam, Pastor Laura or Cynthia Heigold.

SAVE THE DATE!

Women’s Retreat

January 31 to Feb 2, 2025

Luther Glen

Questions? Contact Laure Reynolds.

BLC Advocacy

Lutheran Office of Public Policy Ballot Propositions Webinar October 10th - Register now to attend the Vote Your Conscience webinar with Lutheran Office of Public Policy director Regina Q. Banks on Thursday, October 10th, 7 pm.

Every ballot cycle the LOPP Policy Council faithfully examines the ballot propositions, keeping in mind ELCA Social Statements and Social Messages, and presents its recommendations based on those guideposts. The Vote Your Conscience webinar will present the reasoning behind any recommendations on ballot propositions, but, as Director Banks often reminds us, “rational minds may differ.” Please use the webinar as one resource to faithfully consider how you will vote on November 5th.

Register for the webinar by emailing Edie Lott at thelotts@gmail.com with your name, city, and congregation. You will receive a Zoom Meeeting Invitation the week before the event.

Secret Santa

This year our Secret Santa Ministry season will be from Sunday, October 20th to Sunday, November 24th. During this time, you will have three ways to participate:

Monetary donations to help Es Por Los Ninos (Its For The Children). This 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 Program. We are asking for either a $40 or $50 gift card from Target, Walmart, or any grocery store.
Donations for the Teen Shelter program in San Diego. We are again asking for for the following items:

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

Beginning Sunday October 20th, you will be able to make a monetary donation to either Es Por Los Ninos or Secret Santa by going the website and clicking on the contribute page. If you would like to write a check to Bethlehem Lutheran Church please write either Es Por Los Ninos or Secret Santa in the memo section of your check.

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

If you have any questions, please call Cheryl Monreal at (760) 942-1482. Thank you for your many years of support!!

Bethlehem Serves

Bethlehem Serves 2024 - Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Bethlehem Serves Sunday. We had the largest group (130) and enjoyed a wonderful meal from La Napilito served by Cynthia Heigold and her crew. A video of the event put together by Carolin Meinhardt can be found here in the September 22nd Worship Service video.

For final thoughts by the Group Leaders on their projects, click here.

Stephen Ministry

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

Galatians 6:2

Our next Stephen Ministry Training Class will begin in January, 2025

Could You Become a Stephen Minister? Please consider these steps:

The first step is to pray. Prayer is one way we learn what ministry God is calling us to do. As you pray, ask God whether Stephen Ministry is the right ministry for you.

Look at what spiritual gifts God has blessed you with. Stephen Ministers need to be loving, patient, non-judgmental, confidential, prayerful, and encouraging. They need to be good listeners. Five spiritual gifts valuable to Stephen Ministers are Faith, Mercy, Teaching, Encouragement, and Knowing.

Next, assess your current responsibilities. Stephen Ministry is a big commitment. If you are stretched too thin already, now is probably not a good time to become a Stephen Minister.

Last, consider your life circumstances- is now the time? For instance, if you are in the middle of a grief process, it is probably better for you to receive care at this point in your life than to become a caregiver.

New Stephen Ministry Training Class - We will be offering a new Stephen Minister Training Class in January, 2025. In addition to offering this class to new Stephen Ministers, we are also opening up the class to anyone in the congregation who would like to improve the listening and caring skills that you use in your own life- either in your personal life or in the ministries you are part of within the church or community.

The class will take place on Monday evenings beginning mid-January and continuing through June. If you are interested, speak to a Stephen Minister who can answer your questions and share their own experiences. Our current Stephen Ministers are Frank Belock, Dan Halvorson, Linda Inskeep, Mark King, Blair Lindberg, Beth Nelson, or Annmarie Robbins. Or speak with one of our Stephen Leaders: Molly Hall, Suzi Westmoreland, or Laure Reynolds This is an amazing ministry and we would love to have you join us.

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