The Bethlehem Record the Official Newsletter of Bethlehem Lutheran Church
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The Bethlehem Record The Official Newsletter of Bethlehem Lutheran Church Email: [email protected] Phone: 785-526-7152 www.BethlehemSylvanGrove.org A family of God sharing Jesus The Pastor’s Page So then, how are you fighting the and serving Him faithfully good fight when you’re not at church? Well, it’s that time of year again. When have you set aside in your Summer is officially over. New shoes schedules to be more than just Sunday September 2017 have been bought. Various schedules morning Christians? It’s certainly not have been compiled onto the master easy, I’ll grant you that. But since Inside this Issue: calendar. Sanity is about to restored, when has God given us easy things to or thrown out the window depending do? on how things go. Pastor’s Page He certainly didn’t give His Son 1 That’s right, school has started up something easy to do. Thankfully, Stewardship Newsletter again. For many, this means putting Jesus saves us even when we’re pitiful 2 BOCL the nose back to the grindstone, fighters, and slow runners. He saves Flower getting ready for the marathon that is us even when our faith is weak. He the school year. For others, it means did the hardest thing for us when He LWML News 3 blessed relief at finally having the died on the cross. He took our sin, and Baptism Birthdays kids out of the house and at school gave us forgiveness for the times Acolyte Schedule finally. when we fall. Save the Date 4 LWML Fall Guest/ Fall Either way though, things are getting And we most certainly will fall. As a Event back to what most of us consider certain fictional boxer said, “It ain’t Blood Mobile ‘normal.’ You’re going to be getting about how hard you hit. It’s about back into the routine of things. It how hard you can get hit and keep 5 Harvey Relief reminds of a bible verse that you’re all moving forward.” We will get hit, and likely familiar with. 2 Timothy 4:7 we will fall down flat on our face in Coming Events reads, “I have fought the good fight, I the middle of fight, in the middle of 6 have finished the race, I have kept the the race. And every single time we do, faith.” Jesus is there to pick us up, and help us to keep going. As you get started this school year, do you feel like you are willing to say the It is only through Him that Paul was same? Are you fighting the good able to say that he had kept faith, and fight? Are you running the race? Are the same is true of us. If you expect to you keeping the faith? fight the good fight, run the race, and Our Mission Statement keep the faith, you need Jesus on your While part of that is certainly coming As members of Bethlehem side picking you up and forgiving you to church on regular basis, there’s Lutheran Church who have been every time you fail. Thanks be to our more to it than that. Being a Christian granted eternal life through Jesus Lord, that He is ready willing, and is not an hour a week thing. Imagine Christ’s death and resurrection, we there for you when this happens. worship Him as our Lord and seek only fighting for an hour a week, and to further His work of salvation getting beat up the rest of the week. May God bless you all, through word and sacrament Or preparing to run a marathon by ministry in our community and only jogging one hour a week. It Pastor Chris Craig world toward the goal of creating wouldn’t be very effective. and strengthening personal faith in Him 1 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ themselves to their preachers and teachers. They are LCMS Stewardship Ministry to support them by their prayers and their gifts. September Stewardship Newsletter Article Each of these callings from God places a duty on us. They make a claim on our presence, our prayers, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your and on our time, talents, and treasures. So, might” (Eccl. 9:10). “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your God bids us to be faithful in the tasks He calls us might” (Eccl 9:10). Pray for your family, for your to do. He calls us to be members of a family government, and your church. Give of yourself by (husbands and wives; fathers and mothers; sons and means of your time, your talents, and your treasures daughters). He calls us to be members of society to your family, your government, and your Church. (those who govern and those who are governed). That is what it means to be faithful in the tasks that And He calls us to be members of His family, the God has given us. That is what it means to do it with Church (those who preach and teach and those who all your might. hear and learn). Each of these callings from God places a duty on us. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ As members of a family, husbands are given the BLC BOCL duty to die for their wives as Christ gave His life for The BOCL met on Thursday, August 10 at 8:00 His bride, the Church; while wives are given the p.m. Members present were Ronda Watson, Tara duty to respect their husbands and submit Kubick, Tyler Gier, Brock Mueller, Ruth Mueller, themselves to them as the Church does to Christ. Barb Meitler, Dena Sorensen, and Pastor Craig. Fathers and mothers are to raise their children in the Pastor opened with a prayer and devotions. Minutes fear and admonition of the Lord, teaching them the from previous meeting were read & approved. Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Finalization of Midweek were made, first day and the Scriptures concerning Baptism, Confession, will be Sept. 20. Installation of Sunday School the Office of the Keys, and the Lord’s Supper. teachers is set for September 10. Marcy Hurlbut's Children are to honor their parents throughout their youth group is having a back to school bash on lives, and even when their parents are no longer August 27. A cook-out, potluck and games are also alive, serving and obeying them, loving and scheduled. cherishing them, and speaking well of them. For the upcoming Reformation celebration, As members of society, God calls those who Pastor reported on getting our committee together govern to bear the sword, that is, to punish those with Lincoln's for planning the event. who do evil—those who live contrary to God’s Annie Dohl stepped forward and volunteered to will—and to reward those who do good—those be a greeter. Everybody is welcome to do this whose lives are lived in conformity with God’s will. service and would be much appreciated. Those who are governed are to obey their leaders as Our church service at the Wilson Lake is to the Lord Himself, for their leaders bear the sword scheduled for Sept. 3 at 9:30 a.m. Following the of God’s temporal justice for a purpose. service will be a picnic and fellowship. Those As members of God’s own family, the Church, attending the picnic will have to pay a $5.00 fee per He calls those who preach and teach to do so in vehicle. faithfulness to His holy Word. To preach and teach The BOCL decided to order a study bible by the Law of God to convict the hearts of hearers of Henry Morris and donate it to the church library. their sin and to encourage, admonish, and exhort The time and date for our next meeting will be them to do good works in accordance with God’s Tuesday, September 12 at 7:00 p.m. will. They are to preach and teach the Gospel, the Pastor closed with a prayer. full forgiveness of their sins accomplished by Christ and received through faith, not by works. They are Respectfully submitted Ruth Mueller to administer the means of grace in accordance with the Gospel and the Word of God. They do all this for the young and old alike, for those who are near and far off. Those who hear and learn are to submit Guest night committee - Emilie Wacker and LWML Flower Committee Marmie Schultz plan a late afternoon walk, picnic September October and a Bible study at the Wacker farm on Sept 30. Bazaar : Shelly Keller announced Friday Oct 6 as Shelly Keller, Emilie Wacker date for setting up tables, cutting vegetables and Coleen Ancell Shirley Krueger preparing soup. Sat. morning Oct 7 members will finish making chicken soup and sandwiches. LWML August 6, 2017 Minutes LWML will welcome and greatly appreciate white LWML met in the Parish Hall of Bethlehem elephants, baked goods and pies for Oct 6. Lutheran Church at 7 pm, August 6, 2017. OLD BUSINESS After Euni Thaemert provided a delicious lunch, Coleen will purchase a commercial grade can opener Lorelei Dohl opened the meeting with a story from and a commercial grade stainless steel pot. the book, Then Sings My Soul, about the spiritual Members voted on the motion to buy 3 eight foot journey of businessman Horatio G Stafford. He tables and 10 chairs. Coleen volunteered to submersed himself in his work and by helping others purchase or order the extra tables and chairs. to get through his life's struggles.