Bethlehem December News

Advent is upon us, the waiting and expectation of what is before us. As I wait in my own expectancy, I hear in my heart the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined.” God is coming again. And it does feel essential, renewing, and necessary this year. It feels important this year, for we who live in shadowed hope, to know that the light is near. Emmanuel is coming. And somehow, the fact that it comes every year, does not diminish our need, or our yearning. I am looking to the heavens these days and praying for peace on earth, and in this nation. I am eagerly looking for the mangers in my community, where young families are still seeking shelter. I am giving thanks for every joy in our midst.

I have a Bethlehem story of Advent shelter and joy. As you know, we have been hosting an after school learning program for immigrant students for the past year. It is a joy to behold. The program serves close to 40 families. The current directors asked if the program could become a ministry of Bethlehem beginning in January 2025, and we were overjoyed to say yes! It is an answer to prayer. Like our preschool families, we now have new families to embrace, all of whom are families in the deepest need. If you would like to help, please let me know. We noticed recently that the parents of these English language learning students are waiting on our benches, in the cold and dark, for their students to complete class. So, in this time of Advent, we are beginning hospitality for them, so that these parents can be welcomed indoors and offered warmth, coffee and shelter in our stable. Thanks be to God. What a gift and blessing to have an actual stable we can offer.

I don’t know if this is true for you, but I am ready for Christmas. I say, bring it! Bring all the lights, and all the carols, and the tinsel and bells, and even all the Santa Clauses in the stores. It is time for light. It is time for peace and hope and good will for us all. It is time for Emmanuel. May your Christmas be filled with light. May you know warmth and joy, on even the darkest night.

Blessed Advent to you all,

Pastor Laura

December Worship Schedule

Sunday Worship

December 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd - 9 am and 10:30 pm
December 29th - 10:00 am

Christmas Services

December 18th - Comfort at Christmas Service - 7 pm
December 24th - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - 10 am, 7 pm, 9 pm
December 24th - Christmas Eve Children's Service - 4:30 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 Sunday service or as indicated.

Music Ministry

Catch the Christmas spirit filled with carols and special music on Sunday, December 8th @ 4pm. Enjoy the choirs, organ, bells,woodwind ensemble and band as they highlight the themes of Hope, Peace, Love, Joy! A free will offering will be taken to support the music program. All are welcome!

December Special Music/ Reader's Theater

Dec 1- Mark Weed & Mike Lindberg - Trumpet duet
Dec 8 - World Music Ensemble; Concert @ 4 p.m.
Dec 15- Children's Choir and Learning Circle program
Dec 18- Comfort at Christmas Service @ 7 p.m.
Dec 22- The Christmas Carol presented by Ursula Meyer and Jaime Newcomb
Dec 24- 10 am- Emily Moldenhauer, solo

4:30 pm- Chris Matthews - the Music Man

7 pm- Eden LaClair, piano solo

9 pm - Good News Singers

Dec 29 - 10 am service only - Carolin Meinhardt, solo

Children's Ministry

All children and youth are invited to participate in our Children's Ministry program, The ABC's of Christmas on December 15th. We will share the program at both services. We will have a short practice on Saturday, December 14th at 9 am.

Join us as we retell the story of Christmas using each letter of the alphabet. We need readers, letter holders, candle lighters, Biblical characters... there is something for every age! If you are interested in participating, please let Jana know.

In between services, there will be activities and treats during the BLC Christmas on the Coast.

Learning Circles: Our Sunday morning Learning Time continues each week during the 10:30 service. We are using a multi-age classroom curriculum which emphasizes the use of peer buddies across all ages. Here is our Learning Circle schedule and themes for the month of November:

December 1 - A Good Ruler (Jeremiah 33:14-17
December 8 - Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79)
December 15 - The ABC's of Christmas Children's Program
December 22 - Jesus is Born (Luke 2:1-20)
December 29 - No Learning Circles

Christmas on the Coast

Attention Bakers, Makers, and Crafters - Help us supply the Christmas Market with baked goods and craft items. Please sign up at church or text us. Craft Items and baked goods can be dropped off on Saturday, December 14 from 1:00 to 3:00 in the Multi-Use room. Baked goods will also be accepted at the Food Booth on Sunday morning before the 9:00 service. For other arrangements or if you have questions please contact Laure 760-271-3359 or Cynthia 760-525-3519.

Youth Ministry

Summer Service Trip - Registration begins on December 1 and will close on January 1. Current 8–12th grade students are invited to participate. Details and deadlines can be found by clicking here. The trip includes service and learning opportunities on the Island of Maui in response to the wildfires of 2023. Travel dates are July 15-July 22. The registration form will be active on Dec 1. Click here to register.

Thank You! - Our youth are so grateful to all who ordered poinsettias and wreaths in support of the summer trip. Items can be picked up on Saturday, Dec. 7 in the Bethlehem parking lot between 9:30am and 12:30pm. Look for our signs and Santa hats.

Winter Retreat - The Winter Retreat for Bethlehem and St Andrew’s youth will be at Camp Stevens in Julian. The dates are Saturday, Feb.15 through Monday, Feb. 17 (Presidents Day weekend.) Youth in 6-12th grades are welcome to participate! Registration is now open and filling up quickly.

A few of the things you can look forward to: Two nights’ accommodations at Camp Stevens, five delicious Camp Stevens meals, campfires, games, activities, star gazing, worship, friends, laughter and more!

Payment of $175 is due at the time of registration. To register visit the website by clicking here.

Camp Stevens is located at 1108 Banner Road (Hwy 78), Julian, CA 92036

For more information click here.

Once registered, please let Deacon Mindy know.

Border Chruch and Chicano Park Tour - Sunday, Dec 15, 12:30-4pm - Youth and parents are invited to go to the border for worship and a Posada celebration led by Pastor Maria Santa Cruz. Following worship, we will have a tour of Chicano Park led by Pastor Manuel Retamoza. We will not be crossing the border, so no passports needed. Sign up NOW with Deacon Mindy.

Women of Welcome (WoW)

2025 Bethlehem Women’s Retreat

We are Wonderfully Made- A Journey of the Heart

Join us for a weekend of faith, fellowship, and fun!

The 2025 Bethlehem Women’s Retreat will be held at Luther Glen Retreat Center in Yucaipa, CA from January 31 – February 2. We are excited to announce that the retreat will be led this year by Pastor Molly Knutson Keller.

Registration will begin on January 5. The cost for all participants is $250 and includes a shared room in the Retreat Center, including bedding and towels, and 4 meals, Saturday breakfast through Sunday breakfast. More details about registration will be available in January.

For information about the Retreat Center, you can visit the Luther Glen website at: https://lrcchome.com/retreat-center

If you are interested in a full or partial scholarship, or, if you would like to sponsor a scholarship, please contact Pastor Laura, Laure Reynolds (laurereyn@roadrunner.com), or Rose Moldenhauer (rosemoldy@cox.net).

Bethlehem Adventure Ministry (BAM)

Save the dates! - Bethlehem Adventure Ministry (BAM) is already planning more fun for 2025. Mark your calendars! All dates are Saturdays and are subject to change. Check the newsletter every month for updates.

February 8: Walk at Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad
March 29: Biking on San Luis River Trail
May 10: Walk at Cabrillo National Monument
July 26: Water event
September 5 - 7: Camping in Mt. Laguna

If you have an idea for an event, please contact one of the BAM leaders. We love to work with you to schedule and support events. Most of our events in 2024 were thanks to your suggestions and support:

March: Old Encinitas Tour, thanks to Lori Wolf

April: Pickleball, thanks to Carla Stoner

June: Antique Gas and Steam Museum, thanks to Ron Hegg

September: Camping in Mt. Laguna, thanks to Dennis Astroth

October: Maritime Museum of San Diego, thanks to Bill Dabbs

Maritime Museum tour on October 5, 2024

BAM Leaders: Dennis Astroth, Eileen Lajimodiere, Lori Wolf, and Suzi Westmoreland. Find us at church or send an email to: blcsm@outlook.com

Stewardship Stream

Once again Bethlehem has rejoiced in a Fall stewardship conversation – THANK YOU! Special thanks to Jennifer Nelson and Dick Dubois for their insights into stewardship beyond Bethlehem. Such generosity was incredibly evident in the many different organizations whose names were captured on the post-it notes displayed in the sanctuary.

We thank the many families who have responded to the message through their commitment cards. The preliminary results are encouraging about our funding of the robust ministry plans for 2025. If you have not yet communicated your intentions, please go to the Bethlehem website or simply click on this link.

Stephen Ministry

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

Galatians 6:2

New Stephen Ministry Training Class - We will be offering a new Stephen Minister Training Class in January. In addition to offering this class to new Stephen Ministers, we also are opening 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 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Multi-Use Room beginning on January 27 and continuing to June. The cost of the class is $50 which covers the cost of books.

Can You Become a Stephen Minister? - Have you ever wondered whether you could be 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.

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.

If you are truly interested, speak to a Stephen Minister who can answer your questions and share their own experiences. Then speak to one of our Stephen Leaders: Suzi Westmoreland, Molly Hall or Laure Reynolds.

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