Bethlehem September News

Fall has always been my favorite season. When I was really young, it meant cool crisp Chicago days, beautiful fall colors, and jumping in freshly raked piles of leaves. In my teens it meant the beginning of marching band, water polo season, and of course, the world-famous Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival. Half Moon Bay is the unofficial pumpkin capital of the world, and last year’s winner of the pumpkin weigh-off topped the scales at a staggering 2,471 pounds! Throughout all of that, fall also signaled the start of school. As a life-long learner, I always loved when school started back up. I was the kid who would have his binders prepped and ready far in advance of that first bell. I loved the opportunity to challenge myself, to question and wrestle with difficult topics, and to gain new wisdom and insights.

I think that’s one of the reasons I feel so strongly drawn to our Lutheran tradition. We are not a church that expects people to check their brains at the door, or to simply believe what we tell you “because we said so!” Martin Luther set the tone for our denomination when he applied his critical reasoning skills to the book of Romans and dared to question some of the key theological beliefs of the Catholic Church at the time. This means that critical thinking, questioning and pushing back against religious doctrine, and being open to the idea that we may be wrong or have missed the mark regarding something, these things are all integral to our understanding of what it means to be Lutheran.

Fall here at Bethlehem also means a whirlwind of activity. We’ve got an adventure ministry camping trip coming up next weekend. Bethlehem Serves is on Sept. 21st. Confirmation resumes on Sept. 23rd at 5:30 for all students in 7th or 8th grade. Learning circles start back up during the 10:30 AM service on Sept. 28th. Many of our musical groups (Good News Singers, JuBellation Ringers, and the Children’s Choir) will all resume their rehearsals in September. Deacon Mindy will be leading a parent discussion group around the book Reconnected by Carlos Whittaker. We’re also beginning a couple of different property projects to improve the preschool playground, Dot’s Garden, and other corners of the campus. Be on the lookout for more information and work party invitations in the coming weeks. And that’s all just in the month of September! Come October we will have Confirmation Sunday, Reformation Sunday (perhaps some of these themes of learning/questioning will make a repeat appearance), as well as our Fall Stewardship emphasis (our stewardship committee is very excited about this year’s theme), and a whole lot more. It’s a wonderfully busy time of the year around here at Bethlehem!

So, we invite you to come as you are. Do not check your brains at the door, but rather bring all of who you are to this All Are Welcome place.

Fall Blessings,

Pastor Sam

September Worship Schedule

Sunday Worship

September 7th, 14th and 28th - 9 and 10:30 am
September 21st - Bethlehem Serves - Short Service at 9 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.

Bethlehem Serves

Bethlehem Serves will be on Sunday, September 21st. This is a Sunday where congregational members of all ages come to church and participate in a community service project for the morning. There will be a short service at 9:00 am. at church before leaving for the service projects. At the end of the morning, participants are encouraged to stay for a catered lunch and some fellowship with each other! Please bring a lawn chair for lunch.

Also, please bring one food item listed below to help support the St. Andrew's Food Pantry as part of our day of service.

Dry pinto beans
Dry black beans
Peanut Butter (smaller jars please)
Cereal
Canned fruit
Canned green beans, corn
Canned tomatoes
Pasta
Empty egg cartons that hold 1/2 or 1 dozen eggs. (Egg cartons are used to send eggs home with families.)

Onsite projects: School Kits, 1st Responders Gift Baskets, Eco-friendly plants for neighbors, Car Wash, One Safe Place Laundry Kits, Hygiene Kits and Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Offsite projects: Community Resource Center Resale Shop, Community Resource Center Food Pantry, Ocean Knoll Garden, Beach Clean-up and Chimes for the Seniors.

In person sign-ups for the various projects begin this Sunday after both services. You can also sign-up by clicking on the link here.

You can pick up a new Live Generously Thrivent T-Shirt to wear on September 21st at the sign-up table each Sunday mornings before.

If you have any questions, please contact Mona Goetsch (mona.goetsch@gmail.com) or Jana Hegg (rjjhegg@gmail.com).

Adventure Ministry (BAM)

We are going camping! - Friday, September 5th through Sunday, September 7th.

We will be tent camping at the El Prado group campground near the town of Mount Laguna. Our site is the Big Sage campsite. Parking will be limited to 15 vehicles so we will be requiring signups in advance. Maximum vehicle length of 45 feet.

We will share a potluck dinner on Saturday night. Last year we had a Mexican themed meal, this year (thanks to a suggestion from Alisa Wolf) we will have a Mediterranean themed meal – hummus, pita bread, tabouleh salad, tzatziki sauce, shawarma, falafel. The rest of the meals will be your responsibility. There’s a fire pit and several picnic tables at the site. There is also a pit toilet at the site. Showers and flush toilets are available in the larger campground. We can go hiking, biking (e-bikes are not allowed on the trails but can be used on the paved roads), play games, or just relax.

Signup early to reserve your spot here. Questions? Contact Dennis Astroth

Music Ministry

CHOIRS BEGIN AGAIN! - September is the month when all ensembles start again for the school year. Here are the first rehearsals/time/ place for each group. We welcome new members.

Groups:

Second Sabbath - First Rehearsal: Saturday, Sept. 13 - 10 am-noon - in the Sanctuary, First performance - Sunday, Sept. 14 - both services
Children's Choir - First Rehearsal - Sunday, Sept. 14 at 10 am in the Multi-use Room
JuBellation Ringers- First Rehearsal- Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 6 pm in the Family Center
Good News Singers - First Rehearsal - Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7:22 pm in the Sanctuary

Please contact the directors if interested in joining the various groups:

Second Sabbath- mstenoien@aol.com
JuBellation Ringers and Band of Bethlehem - weedster1@gmail.com
Good News Singers and Children's Choir - monagoetsch@gmail.com

We are in need of more Children to be part of the Children's Choir. Ages 5- 13 are welcome. Rehearsals are 1/2 hour on Sunday mornings at 10 am but kids get music and recordings to practice at home even if you can't make every rehearsal. WE REALLY NEED GIRLS!!! Contact monagoetsch@gmail.com if you're interested.

"BETHLEHEM SERVES" Music Group -Join the Chimers group for Bethlehem Serves on Sunday, September 21. No experience necessary, if you can read you can play. Only one day - we practice and perform the same day. We play and sing old time favorites for senior citizens. We need at least 8 people and more are welcome!

Health and Wellness

Qi Gong practice with Chacha - Sunday, September 14th at 12 pm - Qigong and sound bath by Tracy Teregis (We will be practicing and enjoying the sound bath inside the sanctuary.) Bring a yoga mat or a blanket.

Youth Ministry

Sunday Meetings - We’ve been having a lot of good fun at our weekly meetings. Join in the fun if you can! We meet Sundays at 6:30-8pm. Meetings alternate between Bethlehem and St. Andrew’s. Contact Deacon Mindy for the latest schedule.

Confirmation Classes - For all 7th and 8th grade students, Bethlehem’s Confirmation Classes begin on Tuesday, September 23rd from 5:30-6:30pm. Confirmation is a two-year program led by Pastor Laura, Pastor Sam, and Deacon Mindy. We are happy to answer any questions, and even happier to include your student.

Parent Book Group - Parents, grandparents, guardians, empty-nesters, not-yet parents, and all others are welcome to join Deacon Mindy in a 3-week series of gatherings as we read Carlos Whittaker’s book:

Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human

On Monday evenings, 7-8:30pm, September 15, 22, and 29, we will gather for discussion and fellowship. Sign up here so I know to expect you. Location TBA.

WoW - Women of Welcome

Women’s Ministry Gathering September 28 - If you would like to know more about the Women’s Ministry at Bethlehem you are welcome to join us in the Multi-Use Room on Sunday September 28 after the second service. We will discuss the history of women’s ministry at Bethlehem, talk about ideas for upcoming events, and brainstorm for new activities. We will provide light snacks. Feel free to bring your lunch if desired. For more information speak to Pr Laura or Laure Reynolds.

Children's Ministry

Learning Circles will begin again on September 28th. Our theme for this day will be Parable of the Rich Man. All of our preschool and elementary aged children are invited to join us in the Multi-Use/Library each week during the 10:30 service. We will leave the sanctuary right after the children's sermon and return during communion time. Decon Mindy will be teaching our 5th and 6th Graders every other week and we will also continue with our monthly music time. 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.

LEAP - Our after school tutoring program will begin again on September 8th! The "Learning Education Assistance Program (LEAP)" is now under the ministry of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and we are so excited to be able to support our community through this afterschool support program. If you are interested in learning more about our program, or if you think you might be interested in volunteering as a tutor or a facilitator, please contact Jana @ childrensministry@blcenc.org.

Bethlehem Advocacy

On August 1, the ELCA Curchwide Assembly adopted a social statement on faith and civic life. This has been a five-year effort after the 2019 Churchwide assembly voted to move forward on it, and the result is a “big-picture document” that “systematically mediates between broad theologial, ethical, political, and social principles and analysis to provide reasoning that responds to questions about and obstacles to the flourishing of civic life in U.S. society.”

A preliminary one-page summary can be found here, and the full text as adopted is here. A finished document including graphic design, proofreading and embedded links will be available at the main Social Statement page as soon as it is available.

As ELCA Lutherans, we believe civic life should be faithfully engaged with just as other areas of our family and community lives. We are encouraged to explore this document that has been thoughtfully created using widespread participation across the church over the last five years.

Stewardship Stream

What the New Tax Law Means for Your Giving - 8 Things You Need to Know - Changes to the tax law, some beginning this year could affect how - and when - you choose to give to Bethlehem and other nonprofits.

What’s new:

Tax benefit for non-itemizers - Even if you don’t itemize, you can deduct up to $1,000 (single filers) or $2,000 (married couples). So even smaller donations can make an impact. Note 1: Gifts to donor advised funds are excluded. Note 2: You may begin to itemize in 2025 and beyond because the deductibility of state and local taxes has increased by $30,000!
New floor for itemizers - Starting in 2026, you will need to give at least 0.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) to claim a charitable deduction. Consider maximizing your giving in 2025 before the new rule takes effect.
New limit for top earners - Currently, top earners get a 37-cent tax benefit for every $1 deducted. Starting in 2026, that drops to 35 cents. If you are in the top tax bracket, consider giving more this year to avoid losing tax benefits next year.

What stays:

Income tax brackets - The new law permanently extends the current tax rates.
Standard deduction - For 2025, it will be $15,750 for single filers and $31,500 for married couples filing jointly. If you don’t itemize, you may still benefit if you give appreciated stock, real estate, or, if you are 70½ or older, from your IRA.
Deduction limit for cash gifts - You can still deduct cash gifts of up to 60% of your AGI. Consider combining your cash and non-cash assets (often called blended giving) to maximize your tax benefits and impact.
Estate and gift tax exemption - It will increase to $15 million per individual and $30 million per married couple filing jointly. Your estate is likely under this amount, so focus on current giving to receive tax benefits.
Qualified Charitable Distributions - Individuals aged 70.5 or older can transfer funds directly from their IRA to a qualified charity like Bethlehem. They count toward Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and lower your taxable income. They also eliminate the negative effects of 2 and 3 above under What’s New.

Want to make the most of a gift to the Bethlehem or other ELCA ministries in 2025? Contact Lisa Higginbotham, Regional Gift Planner, at 773-380-2477 or lisa.Higginbotham@elca.org . She’d be happy to discuss the best ways you can create a legacy. And as always, consult your tax advisor when making tax-related decisions.

Stephen Ministry

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

Galatians 6:2

The end of summer means that vacations are over, your visitors have returned home, and college students are gone again. If this time of year is difficult for you consider turning to a Stephen Minister. A Stephen Minister can listen and help you through this time. They 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. If you would like to know more about Stephen Ministry please speak with Pr Laura, Pastor Sam, or one of our Stephen Leaders, Molly Hall, Suzi Westmoreland, or Laure Reynolds.

Food Pantry

Opportunity to Serve - The St. Andrew’s Food Pantry provides groceries to about 220 local families each week. We have a few volunteer slots available:

Food Rescue Driver- We need able bodied drivers who are will pick up, load and deliver boxes of donated food from Encinitas grocery stores Thursday mornings 8:30-10 am.

Produce Gleaner- This involves sorting and repacking rescued produce. Thursday mornings, 10 am- noon.

Distribution Line Clerk- Clerks assist our clients during the shopping hours. Thursday afternoons, 1:30-4.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact Cynthia Heigold at 760-525-3519.

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