Fall GuideB E T H L E H E M L U T H E R A N C H U R C H • 2 0 1 8

Welcome to the beginning of another year of ministry, growth, learning, and

community here at Bethlehem! Martin Luther liked to say of faith that it is a “living, active, restless thing.” We believe faith is living and active because God is living and active! At Bethlehem this fall, we are taking on with new fervor our

commitment to living an active faith and growing in faith together! Inside this guide you will find opportunities for all ages to engage in community, to learn about the Bible and the practices of faith, and to be a part of important conversations that are sure to stretch our thinking, deepen our faith, and strengthen our connectedness to one another. I look forward to seeing you all as we grow together this fall!

PASTOR SARAH ROHDE

On behalf of the Congregation Council, I’m excited to welcome you all to the beginning of fall, and to the

exciting opportunities we have ahead of us! We, as your Church Council, have intentionally made some changes to our Sunday morning schedule (beginning Sept. 9) that will open up opportunities for fellowship and learning for all ages. Our new schedule will also allow us to slow down from the busy-ness

of our daily lives and meet others who are part of this amazing community of faith.

We look forward to sharing this time together as a congregation, to forming new connections and growing together as people of faith. See you on Sept. 9th!

COUNCIL PRESIDENT, GREG ANDREWS

1

2

Words from Pastor Sarah and Council President, Greg Andrews

New Worship Schedule &

Worship Calendar

3

Adult Ministry Opportunities

Adult Fellowship Activities6

Children & Family MInistry

7

Middle School Ministry (Confirmation)

High School Ministry (Youth Group)

8

Music Ministries &

Worship Opportunities

9

Adult Education Schedule

New Members & Baptism

Outreach Opportunities

10

Bethlehem Preschool11

Stewardship 2018

Fall Kickoff Celebration12

What’s Inside...

the Messenger Fall Guide B E T H L E H E M L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

Adult EducationS U N D A Y M O R N I N G S

Beginning on Sept. 9, 2018, our Sunday morning

schedule is changing to create an hour of time for

all ages to be engaged in learning, conversation, and

spiritual growth. On the following pages, you’ll see

the assortment of classes and topics that we’ll be

engaging in over the next few months. We

hope you’ll make this hour of learning a part

of your Sunday morning experience. Join with

Bethlehem disciples, with speakers and teachers

from our community and beyond, as we seek to

grow together in faith, love, and understanding.

“BUT GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE

OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.”

2 Peter 3:18

ADULT EDUCATION IS:

Open to all. Please invite your friends and

neighbors to attend alongside you. There’s no need

to register or prepare any material in advance.

Flexible. Some of the classes are part of a longer

series, but there’s no need to be able to attend

all of them or even most of them. Come

whenever it works best for you!

A value of our congregation. In these classes

we want to create a place where we can learn

together as a congregation, hear and respect

different perspectives, and grow in our faith and

sense of community. Come with open hearts

and minds, ready to listen, to share, and to

hear something new!

KICK-OFF WEEKEND, SEPT. 8 & 9: Join us as we celebrate the beginning of a new ministry season and worship schedule. Celebrate after the last service on the the back lawn with food and fun from 11:45-2:00pm!

REFORMATION WEEKEND, OCT. 27 & 28: On this day we celebrate the heart of our faith: the gospel of Christ—the good news—that makes us free! We pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to unite the church today as we celebrate with festive music and worship.

ALL SAINTS WEEKEND, NOV. 3 & 4: On All Saints Day we celebrate the victory won for all the faithful dead, but we grieve for our beloved dead as well, knowing that God honors our tears. We will remember saints in our community who have gone before us in the past year.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE, NOV. 22, 10:00AM: We gather on Thanksgiving Day to worship and give thanks for the countless blessings we receive from God and to share these gifts with others. Join us for this inspirational service of scripture, music, prayer, and Holy Communion, as well as a food offering for the hungry in our community.

THE SEASON OF ADVENT BEGINS, DEC. 1 & 2: Advent is both a wonderful and a challenging liturgical season. While society urges us to hurry and spend, scripture and tradition beckon us to slow down and wait. Join us as we take time to focus on the greatest gift of all: Jesus!

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL, DEC. 16: Join us at 8:30 or 10:45am in the Sanctuary as all of our magnificent music ensembles lead us in worship. These services include Holy Communion and last approximately 75 minutes. Invite friends and family to this wonderful event!

THE LONGEST NIGHT: A SERVICE OF REFLECTION,

DEC. 22: In the dead of winter, we need one another and we need signs that the sun (and the Son) will come again. We find solace in the stillness and beauty of a candle-lit Sanctuary as we pray, sing, and reflect together. This will take the place of our normal Saturday evening service.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, DEC. 24

• Impromptu Nativity Service at 4:00pm in Fellowship Hall: This service is family friendly and all children or children “at heart” are encouraged to act out the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem! The service lasts approx. 45 minutes and includes carol singing led with piano.

• Holy Communion Services at 6:00, 8:00, & 10:30pm: What better way to celebrate the traditions of Christmas than to sing carols and hymns led by the pipe organ and partake in Holy Communion with your faith family in our beautiful Sanctuary! Join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus with time honored traditions through word and song. This service lasts approximately 70 minutes.

GUEST PREACHERS We welcome guest preachers to Bethlehem on:

• Sept. 23 - David Novak, LSSI • Dec. 2 - Greg Pierce, Community Organizer

Weekend Worship Schedule2 0 1 8 - 2 0 1 9

After careful listening, discernment and prayer,

the Congregational Council has decided that our worship

schedule for the upcoming school year will be as follows:

SATURDAY5:00pm - Traditional Service in the Sanctuary

SUNDAY8:30am – Contemporary Service in Fellowship Hall

9:45am – Community Education Hour(Sunday School and Adult Learning)

10:45am – Traditional Service in the Sanctuary

Worship CalendarS E P T - D E C 2 0 1 8

COFFEE WITH COUNCIL, SEPT. 9 AND OCT. 28Join some BLC Council members for a cup of coffee and conversation. This is a great chance to learn what Council is working on as we go into another year of ministry at BLC, as well as a wonderful opportunity to share your thoughts and concerns.

PARENT ORIENTATION, SEPT. 9 After you’ve had a chance to step into your child’s Sunday School room, all parents of young children are invited to join Pastor Sarah in Fellowship Hall for a time of orientation to a new year of programming and ministry at BLC.

“AND HOW ARE THE CHILDREN?” LSSI FORUM LED BY MOLLY ARNOLDT, SEPT. 16 In several communities in Africa, one way of asking how things are going is to ask, “And how are the children?” This question suggests that a community or family are only as well as the children are. Join Molly Arnoldt, Director of Development at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, to learn more about how the children of God are in our community and state, and how we can join LSSI in caring for the most vulnerable among us.

“IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE” LUTHERAN THEOLOGY 101SEPT. 23 & 30 We’ll launch Adult Education classes for the fall with this 2-week class on the basics of Lutheran theology. This course will focus less on the historical course of our tradition, and more on Lutheranism as a way of life. We’ll explore the foundations of sacrament, Bible, and worship, all with the aim of helping us better understand what it means to be and live as Lutherans today. Pastor Dan Erlander’s “It’s all about love” resource will provide the framework for our discussion.

HOW DO LUTHERANS INTERPRET THE BIBLE? 7-WEEK SERIES BEGINS ON OCT. 7 Dr. Mark Allan Powell is a Lutheran pastor and Bible professor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. In this seven session video series, Dr. Powell will help us explore seven important questions about Lutherans and the Bible. Each session begins with a 15-20 minute video, followed by discussion and sharing.

Oct. 7 - The Word of GodOct. 14 - What Lutherans Say About the BibleOct. 21 - Where the Bible Comes FromOct. 28 - Interpreting the Bible in ContextNov. 4 - Determining Right from WrongNov. 11 - The Many Meanings of the BibleNov. 18 - Devotional Bible

PARENTING AND FAITH SERIES Parenting is a holy and confounding calling. Parents today feel the anxiety of trying to live faithfully in an increasingly secular, fast-paced, and confusing world. What role does our faith play in our parenting and in our families? How can we connect what we confess and practice on Sunday mornings with how we live and parent the rest of the week? What do we need to be doing as parents to spir-itually fill ourselves alongside raising our kids in faith? These four sessions on “Parenting and Faith” will begin to tap into those questions and to explore different aspects of faith and parenting. Join us for all or for one!

• October 7: Power of Ritual: Bringing Faith into Our Homes This class will explore how faith is learned as it is woven seamlessly into the fabric of daily life. Join Pastor Sarah and other parents in our church community as we explore the meaning and impact behind rituals at church and at home, and learn simple, daily ways to bring faith into our full, busy lives.

• October 14: “All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood.” Award-winning journalist, Jennifer Senior, has written an insightful analysis of how parenting today is challenging in ways that previous generations never would have imagined. She helps us reconsider some of our culture’s most basic beliefs about parenthood, all while illuminating the profound ways children deepen and add purpose to our lives. We’ll watch a video of Jennifer’s thought and research, and spend the rest of the class in discussion.

• October 21: Gift and Curse of Social Media Facebook. Instagram. Snapchat. Much of our kids’ social worlds exist in the cloud, in the ever-changing, highly demanding, image-loaded world of social media. How is this affecting our kids? What’s our role and responsibility as parents? How can we as a church community both embrace and challenge our digital world? Join Kelly Collins, Director of Care and Connection, for this important and timely conversation.

• October 28: Children and Grief Grief is a normal reaction to losing someone we love, and children experience it, too, when they experience the loss of a loved one or the loss of a pet. As parents, we often feel unsure how to help children cope, how to respond to their questions about death, how to expose them – or not – to the realities of human mortality. Join Judy Hanson, fellow disciple and social worker who’s done a lot of work with children and grief, for this important conversation.

HOW TO SAY YES, WHEN TO SAY NO: HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, HEALTHY BOUNDARIES NOV. 4, 11, & 18 Led by Pastor Sarah Stumme, Associate to the Bishop of the Metro Chicago Synod, we will get a chance – over the course of 3 sessions – to learn the biblical basics and practical tools around living with healthy boundaries. This class will define what it means to have boundaries of your own and to respect the boundaries of others, why boundaries are important for healthy relationships and communities, and what tools are available for setting and holding good boundaries. The third class on November 18th – the weekend right before Thanksgiving– will focus appropriately on “Healthy Boundaries: Surviving and Celebrating the Holidays.”

WHAT IT MEANS TO “GIVE OUR ALL”: JUSTICE IN THE 21ST CENTURY DEC. 2 Like the widow with her mite, we are all called to give our all. But Jesus was not talking just about donations to the church, he was talking about his “big idea”--the Reign of God “on earth as it is in heaven.” In this sense, we are all called to give our “all” every day: on our jobs, with our family and loved ones, and in our community and civic involvement. Greg Pierce, a well-known speaker, author, organizer, and publisher on this topic will both give the sermon in worship and lead the adult forum between services.

Fall Guide B E T H L E H E M L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

Adult EducationS U N D A Y M O R N I N G S

WITH OPEN HANDS BY HENRI J.M. NOUWEN “ This is a book to be sipped in small doses. It is about

prayer, reflection, silence, hope and a longtime spiritual journey. As Henri says elsewhere, in day-to-day prayer you may not feel as if anything about your life is changing, but six months later, if you stay with it, you may find that something significant has changed.” -Ed Wojcicki

Come join in this time set apart at the beginning of the week. This 5 week “Nouwen” Reading Group will be facilitated by Kelly Collins on Mondays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 from 7:00-8:00pm. The cost of book and study guide is $11, payable to Bethlehem no later than Sept. 22.

SAFETY, SCAMS AND SELF- DEFENSE FORUMOCT. 20 Bethlehem’s Senior Advisory Team is hosting a forum on Saturday, Oct. 20, 8:30-11:00am to help edu-cate on these important topics, especially for older adults. Join us for this casual morning of learning together faithfully, for ourselves, neighbors and friends.

Four presenters will share their best tips from their knowledge and experience–Mike Corbett, financial scams; Joe Schelstreet, fire & safety homes; Jeff Burhop, self-defense; Jim Burden (police department) scams and safety. This event is open to the community. Feel free to bring a friend! Light refreshments will be served.

CULTIVATING STILLNESS NOV. 15 & 29 In preparation for the holidays, a time of year that’s often filled with doing more and moving faster, how about taking some time to reflect, to worry less, and to connect authentically to the wisdom found in stillness and waiting. Join Pastor Sarah for a time of reflection, prayer, and stillness on Thursday evenings – Nov. 15 and 29 from 7:00-8:30pm. We will draw upon the book, “Simply Wait: Cultivating Stillness in the Season of Advent,” but there’s nothing to prepare ahead of time.

NEWCOMERS CLASSES SEPT. 23, 30, & OCT. 7 Are you looking for a church home? Are you intrigued with what you’ve experienced at Bethlehem and discerning whether you’d like to grow deeper with others here? Our next Newcomers class – a class for those ready to join, or those considering membership at Bethlehem – will be held on Sundays, Sept. 23, 30, and Oct. 7. Through these three classes, you will have the chance to learn more about what it means to be Lutheran, how it is we practice our faith here at Bethlehem, and the various ministries and programs that can help you get connected and grow in your faith. We are inviting all newcomers to join with other Bethlehem disciples for the first two weeks of “It’s all about love,” which discusses the foundations of Lutheran life and theology. The third session of our Newcomers classes, held on Oct. 7 at 9:45am, will be a chance to learn more about our mission and life together at Bethlehem. Finally, we invite those joining our community to be welcomed into our congregation in worship on Sunday, Oct. 21 at the 10:45am service.

If you plan to attend the Newcomers classes, please register by calling the church office: 630.584.2199

BAPTISM AT BETHLEHEM Baptism joins us to the body of Christ and to the mission we share as followers of Jesus. It is a celebration of Christian community and our common calling to live out our baptismal promises every day of our lives. At Bethlehem, we always celebrate baptism within the context of worship, and we set aside specific weekends so that we can focus our worship services around baptism and explore more deeply the meaning it carries throughout our whole lives of faith. We tend to baptize infants and children, but baptism can be celebrated at all ages and stages of life. Those celebrating a baptism at Bethlehem for the first time are asked to attend an Introduction to Baptism class prior to the celebration of baptism.

Baptism classes: Sept. 23 and Nov. 18 at 11:45am

Baptisms celebrated on: Oct. 6 & 7 and Dec. 1 and 2

Please register by calling the church office: 630.584.2199

New Members & BaptismG E T T I N G I N V O L V E D

Adult EducationM I D - W E E K O F F E R I N G S

Fall Guide B E T H L E H E M L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

Women’s MinistryMOM’S MINISTRY All Bethlehem Moms are welcome to monthly Moms Ministry gatherings. Every 4th Thursday of the month at 7:00pm, moms will gather around a specific topic of conversation to share the journey of raising kids in faith. Watch the Community Life and the BLC website calendar for monthly topics and locations. Contact Shannon Von Essen or Kate Dockins for details.

Flyer/calendar will be available to hand out at Parent/Family Orientation on Sept. 9. Kate and Shannon will be in attendance for meet and greet.

WOMEN’S MINISTRY FALL KICK-OFF, “IN ALL THINGS” SEPT. 1 1 On Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 6:30pm we will gather as women of all ages for a causal evening of connection, fun and encouragement in our faith journeys. This year, in the midst of much change and transition in our community we will focus on what we know for sure - what we can do in times of uncertainty, how we can live faithfully despite feeling unsure or anxious. We are pleased to welcome a guest speaker from the Orchard Community in Aurora, Anna Hammond. Anna, a mother of two little ones, will bring an inspiring and fresh message that will connect with women of all ages and stages.

Invite a friend! Bring a family member! Enjoy a little DIY project, along with food and fun. Learn about opportuni-ties to serve, connect and learn in small groups, and grow all year. Light appetizers and dessert served. For more info, contact Kelly Collins at kelly@bethlehemluth.org.

MISSION QUILTS FOR LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF Women of all ages (kids & teens too!) are welcome to join this lively group in bringing colorful warmth, hope and love to others around the world. We gather monthly for “quilt-making” and all levels of experience are welcome. Drop-in dates are Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 8, and Dec. 6, 4:00-8:00pm. For more info, contact DeAnn Miller at deannmiller7@comcast.com.

Mission Quilt Blessing On Sunday, Sept. 23, over 50 quilts made by our very own quilt makers will be blessed in worship. Once blessed, these quilts will be sent to areas of need around the world due to poverty, displacement, violence, or natural disaster.

WOMEN’S ANNUAL ADVENT BUFFET DEC. 4 This annual tradition is open to Bethlehem women and guests and will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 6:30pm. We celebrate fellowship, friendship and service within the context of the Advent Season.

Men’s MinistryMEN’S SPIRITUAL DIRECTION This men’s group is held the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:15pm and is led by Jim Weaver (weaver7384@sbcglobal.net). This group shares conversation on “How are you with God in your life?” and “What are your challenges of the spirit today?” All men interested in spiritual growth and support are welcome to join. Come as you are. Come when you can.

FRIDAY MORNING MEN’S STUDY This men’s group is held every Friday at 6:30am and is led by Pastor Andrew Packman. If you’re an early riser, Bethlehem’s Friday Morning Men’s Study may be your landing place. It’s been meeting for decades; all are invited to participate.

Young Adult MinistryNEXTGEN YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY If you have graduated from high school and are under 25, you are encouraged to be a part of our Young Adult Ministry. It’s important for our young adults to have ways to stay involved in the life of the church after high school. We seek to provide opportunities for our young adults who are passionate about serving the community, growing in faith and fellowship, having fun, and staying connected. Please contact Bobbi Cyr, bobbi@bethlehemluth.org to get connected with this ministry.

FRIENDSGIVING NOV. 23 Join us as we give thanks for the things that are happening in our lives and connect with each other over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Adult FellowshipA C T I V I T I E S

Adult MinistryO P P O R T U N I T I E S

Young Adults Continued...

WINTER RENEWAL & SERVICE DEC. 28 Join us over winter break for a fun night. We’re looking to do dinner and serve together at the Hesed House. Maybe even go bowling! Whatever we plan, it’s sure to be a fun night to reconnect and serve others.

BREADBREAKERS 2.0 Eager to get better acquainted with others? Desiring opportunities for developing deeper relationships? Wondering…How? When? Who?Introducing “Breadbreakers 2.0” – a fun, purely social way to get to know others in small gatherings.

Sign up to be grouped with three to six other individuals, couples or families. Rotate hosting/planning casual get-togethers, Sept-May. Groups of 3 will meet 3 times, groups of 6 will meet 6 times, etc. Contact Emily Bicking, emily.bicking@gmail.com, Sarah Belinski, sbelins3@hotmail.com or Kelly Collins, kelly@bethlehemluth.org for more information.

OCTOBERFEST SEPT. 29 Join us on Sept.29 from 5:00-9:00pm at the Crossing’s Condos in Geneva for a social event featuring Rick Beato’s “world famous” Trivia and to test your taste buds sampling various German beers. We’ll provide brats, you bring a German themed appetizer or dessert to share as well as BYOB. Please sign up by Sept. 23 so that we can plan food and seating.

HOLIDAY PROGRESSIVE DINNER DEC. 1 Save the date for this favorite Bethlehem annual tradition. Partic-ipants “progress” from various host homes for appetiz-ers, entrees and dessert. A fun, festive way to get to know one another. New this year, limited childcare available at church. Watch for hosting information and other details coming early October.

HOMELESS MINISTRIES Our ongoing ministries of serving with neighbors who are homeless are always open to new faces and helping hands. A variety of hands-on and behind the scenes serving opportunities are available. Orientation and support is available to all.

Hesed House - Aurora Service Dates: Aug. 24, Oct. 26, Dec. 28

Lazarus House - St. CharlesService Dates: Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 8

HUNGER MINISTRIES

CROP Walk CROP Hunger Walks are community-wide events sponsored by Church World Service and organized by local congregations or groups to raise funds to end hunger at home and around the world. Bethlehem is the host for our area walk, on Saturday, Oct. 13.

Food Donation Drive Our congregation-wide food drive is held in conjunction with our Thanksgiving Day worship on Nov. 22 to benefit our local Salvation Army food pantry. All are invited to participate.

LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF Lutheran World Relief Quilt Project Quilt Making projects are held monthly. (See Women’s Ministries)

MENTAL HEALTH NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Health) Kane-Kendall County 5K Walk/Run Join with others and raising money on Saturday, Oct. 6 to provide education, support and advocacy for mental health issues. More information to follow soon.

CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE Benefitting Lutheran Social Services, Ecker Center for Mental Health, Hesed House. Our Christmas Tree will be up with gift tags on Nov. 25 and concludes on Dec. 10.

HEARTLAND BLOOD DRIVE We will hold a blood drive here on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 1.

OutreachO P P O R T U N I T I E S

Fall Guide B E T H L E H E M L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

Children’s Education

SUNDAY SCHOOL SUNDAYS, 9:45-10:40AM Sunday School resumes Sept. 9, and Bethlehem is ready for another exciting year! New this year, we will be meeting during our Education Hour, from 9:45-10:40am each Sunday. K-5th Grade will meet in Education Hall for Opening Music and Message, and then be dismissed to classrooms within Education Hall. Preschool Sunday school classes will meet in Bethlehem Preschool classes on the 200 level each week during this time. Again this year, our Deep Blue curriculum focuses on important Bible stories chronologically through the year, beginning with David and moving through to Jesus’ death and resurrection and beyond in the spring. Our 5th Graders will continue using Deep Blue’s “Submerge” curriculum, specifically for preteens. This is a FREE program.

KIDQUEST WEDNESDAYS, 4:30-6:00PM KidQuest is our midweek Bible Study and Music program for K-3rd Graders that meets on Wednesdays, Sept. 13-May 16. Kids learn meaningful Bible stories and discuss how these apply to their own lives, while supplementing lessons with lively music, original crafts, games, service projects, science experiments, and tasty snacks. Led by dedicated Bethlehem’s disciples and directed by Monica Corbett (Music Coordinator) and Eva Richards (Child-hood Education Coordinator), this ministry will allow children to experience the Word of God by rotating through exciting stations and finding the love of Christ in one another. This is a FREE program.

“LAUNCH” 4TH & 5TH GRADE MINISTRY 4th and 5th Grade students will learn to love serving others while finding their strengths in this exciting new preteen pro-gram. Kids will take part in off-site service projects twice a month at local nonprofits and worthy organizations. The rest of the time will be filled with fun games, mean-ingful small group discussions, and worshipful music. This is a brand new ministry this year, and we are looking for dedicated leaders to guide the children on their projects. This group meets from 4:30-6:00pm most Wednesdays, Sept-May. This is a FREE program.

Stepping Stones3RD GRADE: THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION This Stepping Stone will be held on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 9:00-11:00am. In 3rd Grade, children prepare for their First Communion, learning about the sacrament of Communion, Jesus’ Last Supper, and our Lutheran foundations for the Eucharist. First Communion will take place at any service the weekend ofOct. 27-28. The cost is $20 per child for materials.

3 & 4 YEAR OLDS: WORSHIP This Stepping Stone will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 3:30-4:30pm.In this NEW milestone event, children are invited to explore the sanctuary with their parents, using their senses to learn more about what it means to worship God! The little ones will have an opportunity to splash in the baptismal font, learn about the pictures in the stained glass windows, and see the altar close up, among other exciting experiences! There is no cost for this program.

* Watch for the upcoming mailing or check online for 2019 Stepping Stones dates and information.*

Family FellowshipE V E N T S

Children’s MinistriesI N F A N T S – 5 T H G R A D E

At Bethlehem, we believe our children offer us

a glimpse of God’s love on earth, and we empower

them to make a difference in the world around them,

serving God in their own lives. Please register for all

of these programs online - www.bethlehemluth.org.

FALL KICK-OFF CELEBRATION SEPT. 9 Bring the whole family on Sunday, Sept. 9, 11:45-2:00pm to celebrate the start of another program year here at Bethlehem. There will be catered main dishes, and families are asked to sign up to bring a side or dessert. Face painting, dunk tanks, and bouncy houses are sure to make it a fun time for the kids, while adults catch up after an eventful summer. We encourage you to invite your friends to join in on the fun!

TRUNK OR TREAT OCT. 28 Children and their families are invited to celebrate Halloween with our Bethlehem brothers and sisters in the church back parking lot on Sunday, Oct. 28, 3:00-4:15pm. Disciples are encouraged to sign up to be “trunks,” which means they will hand out candy from their decorated car trunks. Children can dress up in their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat amongst the cars. There will be story time for little ones as well as playtime at the playground. Registration will be available online in October.

KIDQUEST & LAUNCH FAMILY CHRISTMAS CAROLING AND DINNER DEC. 5 All Bethlehem families and children are invited to go Christmas caroling with the KidQuest and Launch gang on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 4:30pm. After caroling, there will be a family dinner in Fellowship Hall. We hope you are able to join us! Registration will begin online in November.

CHRISTMAS MOVIE NIGHT DEC. 8 In anticipation of our Advent season, families are invited to come for an indoor drive-in movie of The Star from 4:00-7:00pm. A popcorn and candy bar will be served. Register online in November.

IMPROMPTU NATIVITY DEC. 24, 4:00PM As in past years, we will have an impromptu reenactment of the nativity scene, with real-life Marys, Josephs, angels, stable animals, and other characters. This fun and meaningful event will take place on Christmas Eve! No registration required.

CONFIRMATION SEPT. 16-APR. 28 The Middle School Ministry at Bethlehem is focused on charging our student’s faith through learning what it means to belong to a community of faith. Through a variety of lessons and weekly activities–from eating and praying together, to playing games, we explore the foundations and expressions of our relationship with God and one another. Students not only grow in their faith through studying the Bible and the Catechism, but also through an assort-ment of ministry opportunities. This journey of spiritual growth brings the students to their Confirmation at the end of their eighth grade year. Please contact Bobbi Cyr, Youth Director, bobbi@bethlehemluth.org, with questions.

Weekly ConfirmationSundays 12:00-12:30pm Fellowship and Food 12:30-1:30pm Lg and Sm Group, Reflection and PrayerWednesdays 6:45-7:45pm Make-up Confirmation

6TH & 7TH GRADE RETREAT OCT. 5-7 This retreat is offered to 6th and 7th grade students and mentors at Camp Timber-lee in Wisconsin. The cost is $100, and you can register online. This retreat is designed to help us jumpstart our year and get to know each other. It is focused on students and mentors bonding together through team-building, dynamic worship, great activities, and most importantly, God. The weekend will include time to join together to set goals, make commitments, pray together, and focus your year on God. This retreat is optional, but highly encouraged as friendships will be formed that will last a lifetime.

8TH GRADE BONFIRE OCT. 26 This free event is offered to 8th grade students and mentors (friends are welcome) on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 5:00-6:30pm at Primrose Farm. The 8th Grade Bonfire is a fun evening full of Fall festivities, including games, hay-rides, hot cocoa and apple cider. 8th grade students can come together and build lasting relationships that will carry through their confirmation and into high school.

Middle SchoolM I N I S T R Y

Fall Guide B E T H L E H E M L U T H E R A N C H U R C H

YOUTH GROUP SEPT. 16-APR. 28 The High School Ministry at Bethlehem seeks to connect our students closer together, to our community, and to God. At Sunday night youth group, we look to challenge what the students know, believe, and question. The curriculum is developed by our Leadership Team, a group of students who work together with the adult leaders on issues relevant to their lives. From our Sunday night small groups to our different mission trips and service projects, we always seek to challenge ourselves to grow closer to God and one another, as we explore young adulthood as people of God. Please contact Bobbi Cyr, Youth Director, bobbi@bethlehemluth.org, with questions.

Weekly Youth GroupSundays 6:00-6:30pm Fellowship and Food 6:30-8:00pm Lg and Sm Group, Reflection and Prayer

LEADERSHIP TEAM WEDNESDAYS, 5:30-6:30PM Leadership Team is a group of high school students that meet weekly in a small group setting where discussions involve decision about Youth Group and input is sought about the on-going life of our church. It is a great way to be a leader and have your voices heard; making decisions that involve the different trips and activities really show the students that they can make a difference in the lives of their peers and at church.

WINTER “XTREME”RETREAT This retreat is offered to 9-12th grade students (friends welcome) on Jan. 25-27 at Camp Timber-Lee in Wisconsin. The cost will be $100 and studens can register online. The Winter Xtreme Retreat is an awesome weekend full of winter activities, bonfires, and worship all designed to bring us closer to each other and to God.

Music MinistriesSENIOR CHOIR Bethlehem’s Senior Choir frequently participates at the traditional worship services in the Sanctuary. This adult ensemble (high school+) rehearses at 7:00pm on Wednesday nights in the choir loft and we are always looking for new singers. Contact Joshua McClure if you’d like to learn more.

PRAISE TEAM Bethlehem’s Praise Team leads our 8:30am “contemporary” worship service each Sunday morning. Led by Joshua McClure, the Praise team consists of singers, instrumentalists and audio/video technicians. If you’re a strong singer, have experience playing drums, guitar, bass, keyboard, or other instru-ments in a contemporary worship setting, you should contact Joshua to learn more about joining this ensemble.

SOUNDS OF JOY HANDBELLS This ensemble is led by Michelle Fisher and participates in Bethlehem’s traditional worship approximately once each month, as well as special and festival services. Contact Michelle Fisher, michelle@bethlehemluth.org for more.

FESTIVAL CHOIRS Bethlehem “pulls out all the stops” on special seasonal occasions and invites anyone who is interested to join a choir. Be on the lookout for these special music invitations to sing in our Advent/Christmas Festival Choir on Dec. 16. Contact Joshua McClure, joshua@bethlehemluth.org for more information.

YOUTH BELL ENSEMBLE If you are in grades 6-8 and have a basic knowledge of music, we would love to have you “ring” with us! Members will build friendships, learn teamwork, and grow as musicians together--all while having a lot of fun in rehearsal and worship. Rehearsals begin on Wednesday, Sept. 12 and go from 5:00-5:45pm. If you are interested, contact Linda Culley (linda@bethlehemluth.org) for more information.

Worship OpportunitiesIf you have questions or are interested in any of the worship opportunities below please contact Joshua McClure, Director of Worship & Music (joshua@ bethlehemluth.org) and he will put you in contact with the area coordinator.

COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Congregation members are invited to participate as communion assistants at both of our Sunday services. There are no special qualifications. It is a joy to share God’s grace and forgiveness with others when serving the bread and wine in communion.

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Bethlehem encourages lay leadership in worship, and the role of Worship Assistant is a great way to get involved. Worship Assistants lead the prayers and may also assist with serving communion.

LAY READERS We invite all of our disciples to share God’s word at our worship services. Lay readers volunteer to read Bible verses during the service.

USHERS Probably the largest of Bethlehem’s volunteer teams, we need ushers to distribute bulletins, receive registrations and offerings, assist with communion, and care for our congregation during worship.

GREETERS Our greeters welcome members and guests to worship but also are available to provide direction and answer questions for newcomers.

ALTAR GUILD Bethlehem’s Altar Guild is a dedicated group of disciples, both women and men, who prepare the altar and chancel area at all services to assist our pastors in serving God’s meal.

SEASONAL WORSHIP PLANNING If you’re interested in being part of long-range seasonal planning, including themes, art and environment, and overall worship design, contact Joshua.

-PRESCHOOL PROGRAM Welcome to another school year! Bethlehem Preschool is excited to begin another year of learning, making friends, and continuing our relationship with God. We are thankful and blessed to be able to nurture the 120 students and their families attending our school this year!

All our all-day preschool classes are full this year, but we do have limited spots in 4’s half-day preschool program. If you are interested or know anyone who is looking for a quality preschool for their children, please call the Preschool at 630.584.6027 as soon as possible.

50TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR Our preschool officially turns 50 years in September! We will have a special recognition service at the church “Fall Kickoff Celebrations” Sunday on Sept. 9. The preschool will also be hosting some activities at the celebration.

In addition, there will be another opportunity for you to purchase engraved bricks for our “Pave the Way to Play” fundraiser if you have not done so. These bricks will be incorporated into the bike area of our playground. Please be sure to join us at the Kickoff on Sept. 9th!

PRESCHOOL BOOK FAIR Please “save the date” to support the Preschool Book Fair set for Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 29 & 30 from 5:00-6:30pm on Wednesday, and 9:00-11:30am & 5:30-7:30pm on Thursday in Fellowship Hall. If you’re in the area, stop on by and grab some books!

Bethlehem PreschoolM I N I S T R Y

High SchoolM I N I S T R Y

Music & WorshipM I N I S T R I E S & O P P O R T U N I T I E S

Living Gratefully: THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF GIVING THANKS!

Our stewardship theme this year is “Living Gratefully.” As a lifestyle, living gratefully is measured by our care, compassion, and service to others. It is how we chose to nurture our relationships and live out our neighborliness.

THE AROMA OF GRATITUDE OCT. 7 (2 Cor. 2:14-16)Gratitude is not about repayment of debts. It is about relationships. Gratitude is social. It is about presence, participation, and partnership. It is about being with one another, in life together. It is the thread of nature and neighbor, the seemingly fragile strands of gifts and goodness that weave our lives together.

THE PRACTICE OF GRATITUDE OCT. 14 (Luke 14:15-24) All around us, every day, there are gifts; how might we become better at recognizing them? Whether we are facing a crisis or not, no matter our challenges or feelings, there are gifts. Sometimes they take us by surprise–we experience the “aha” of being helped, or we suddenly see a beautiful sunset, and gratitude wells up in our being!

A TABLE OF GRATITUDE OCT. 21 (Luke 19:1-10) Jesus imagines a place where oppressed and oppressor leave their “stations” and meet as friends, where forgiveness is practiced and gratitude expresses itself not in debt payment, but in passing on generous gifts to others.

A CALL TO THE GRATEFUL WAY NOV. 11 (Recommitment Sunday) A few disciples will join Pastor Sarah and Deacon Heather for a conversation about how being grateful calls us to sit together, to imagine a world as a table of hospitality. Gratitude makes all things new. It transforms how we understand what is broken, and gives us the ability to live each moment with more joy and hope.

StewardshipS E R M O N S E R I E S