Bethlehem Lutheran Church

November 2021 Newsletter

Bethlehem Family and Friends,

November is often a month where we focus on taking time to give thanks, and this year, I don’t

know about you, I have found that I have a lot to be thankful for.

I am thankful that we are back together in person for worship, meetings, and Bible Studies. I am

thankful that we have new folks coming to church, and a new family joining Bethlehem. I am

thankful that we have had warm weather as long as we have and that, so far, we have kept the

snow and freezing rain away. I am thankful that I was able to have some time away at the lake

to rest, refresh, and renew. This past month I was thankful for new ways of doing education,

new pets at our pet blessing, and new friends made at outreach and fellowship events.

Most of you have heard by now that my foot surgery ended up getting postponed so that I

could focus on a couple of health concerns I didn’t know about. In the meantime, I have clung

onto this verse from First Thessalonians: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all

circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” Even in the midst of that challenge

and disappointment, I am thankful for good doctors that are helping me to be a healthier leader

for you all. I am still hoping to have foot surgery down the road, but I am thankful that I am

getting to a healthier place in the journey first.

This November I invite you, too, to spend some time thinking about what you are thankful for.

Maybe you can join us for Thanksgiving Worship and give thanks and praise to God there.

Maybe God has blessed you with an ability to serve and you want to join us for our next all ages

service day on November 21. Maybe you are thankful you can learn your whole life through,

and you will join us for our next Tables of 6 Education Day on November 14. However you

spend time this month, I pray that you can find time to think about what you are thankful for

and give thanks to God for your blessings.

And in the meantime, know that I truly give thanks for you and for the privilege it is to be your

pastor and partner on this journey of faith. Many blessings to you all, dear friends. See you in

church.

Your partner on the journey,

Pastor Amy

To the Bethlehem Church Ladies,

Thank you for the beautiful prayer shawl!, Love Janene

********************************************************

Look at how hard the knitters

are working for the community!

Thank you for bringing comfort

to so many!

Thank you so much to everyone who donated candy for Trunk or Treat and the Threehouse Treat Trike, and to all who helped with Trunk or Treat event. It is because of you that these activities were a success!

Thanks to all who lent a hand on clean up day at the church!

You helped our church look even more beautiful!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34

All Team Meeting Project Night!

Tuesday, Nov 9, 7:00 pm, in the Sanctuary

We invite you to join us for our November All Team

Meeting! Whether or not you served on a team

previously, we invite you to come to All Team if you are

interested in any of the following this month:

EDUCATION-Come and give your feedback on the first round of Tables of Six Intergenerational

Sunday School, hear about how Confirmation classes are going this year, and help us plan for

our winter season of education at Bethlehem. If you love to learn, or love to teach, then

EDUCATION is the breakout for you!

CONGREGATIONAL HOME/PROPERTY-Do you like to help with projects around the church?

Do you want a say in the property insurance that we carry? Would you like to learn how you

could be more involved in behind-the-scenes happenings? Do you have time to volunteer to

help set up and take down events when needed? Then CONGREGATIONAL HOME/PROPERTY

is the breakout for you!

FELLOWSHIP/OUTREACH -This group is the place to meet with Heather and talk about

activities that are coming soon. Activities this group are currently working on include: Live Na-

tivity, Snow Day, and Christmas Families! Want to know more? Then this FELLOWSHIP/

OUTREACH breakout is for you!

Still confused about how all of this All Team stuff works? No problem! Come and join us on

November 9th at 7 pm in the sanctuary and we will figure it out together!

Pastor’s Office Hours in the Community: Pastor Amy will once again be holding office

hours out in the community. This month she will be at Panera from 1-3 PM on Nov

1, Nov 15, Nov 22, and Nov 29. Let her know if you would like to meet her there!

We need your help as we work to set the best Christmas Eve

Worship Schedule that we can. Would you take a moment, if

you have not already, and complete the Christmas Eve Worship

Time Survey at the link below? Thank you for your help!

https://forms.gle/rUakSZNpnsDNFtT37

Bethlehem will be having a Live Nativity on December 5 from 4:30-6pm. We are in need of many of volunteers to help with the cast, kitchen help, and parking lot crew. Another way you can help is to “adopt a prop.” In the next few weeks, there will be a list of props we will need and you can purchase that prop for the event. Thanks for all your support!

Ways to get involved at Bethlehem in the next few weeks...

Joyful Times will be hosting a lunch with the

Amish community on Thursday, November

4th, at 12:00 pm. This will be at the Plainview

Country Store outside of Hazleton. Our next

meeting will be Weds, Nov 15, @ 9:30 am.

Last month at our prayer breakfast, we discussed Jesus’ command for us to love each other and the different faith traditions, and excellent conversation was the result. Let’s plan to continue this conversation on November 20 and share perspectives on love, families, and faith traditions. Google for things like Jesus love, family, faith practices, etc. Broad searches like this are better than worldadvocacy.org

The Funeral Lunch Committee is looking for new members; our current list is short and we hope not to “burn out” those who are helping so much. If you would like to be added to our list to: 1) prepare and serve food 2) wash dishes 3) bake a cake please contact Judy Hill at jmhill@cfu.net or 319-266-0855. A special thanks to those who have been helping so regularly. You are such a positive and hard working group! And we have a good time, too! -Kathy, Judy, and Nancy

Nov 13, 5 pm: Men of Faith Dinner

The men of Bethlehem are invited to attend an evening out. November 13, at 5:00pm, we will have a Men of Faith Dinner. David Welter will be the guest speaker and a delicious meal will be served. Please sign up on the Welcome Table or contact Heather by November 3 if you plan to attend.

Make sure to get your applications in

if you want to attend next summer’s

Youth Gathering! Forms are due to

Pastor Amy by November 14!

Congratulations to this year’s students who were confirmed on Sunday,

October 31.

Emma Halvorsen, Kaleb Larson, and Sam Smith

On December 12, following worship, we will be celebrating

Bethlehem’s Danish heritage with a Danish brunch and dancing

around the Christmas tree. If you would like to help with this

event, please contact Heather at heather@bethlehemcf.net

Our next Tables of 6, all ages

Sunday School, will be happening

on November 14 following worship.

Come for the goodies, learning and

conversation!

Calling all Confirmation Students! Our next class will be held on November

14. Join us for worship and Tables of 6, and then we will be taking a field

trip to learn more about death, dying and supporting those who grieve.

Parents, if you are willing to help drive from 11-1, please let Pastor Amy

know.

We will be helping some families have a nice Christmas by providing some gifts and food to them. The Christmas stars will be posted by November 28. Gifts must be returned to the church by December 12. Monetary donations are also welcome.

Events coming to Bethlehem this

holiday season:

Proposed Budget for 2022

Benevolence (Giving to Others)

ELCA Mission Support $35,000

Benevolence Growth 0

Benevolence Total $35,000 (up $375)

Administrative (Formerly Admin, Congregational Home, Ministry Partnership) Synod Assembly/Meetings/Convent. $600

Copier $7,020

Office Postage $2,750

Office Supplies $2,800

Telephone $1,100

Bank Service Fees (Simply Giving) $600

IT Support $3,220

Covid/Emergency Expenses $1,000

Office Supply Total $19,090 (down $340)

Building Repairs/Maintenance $5,000

Grounds Maintenance $8,000

Insurance $7,800

Parking Lot Maintenance $8,000

Utilities $12,500

Building/Maintenance Total $41,300 (up $1,073)

Pastor Salary $58,000

Pastor Housing $17,000

Pastor Self-Employment Tax $5,738

Pastor Insurance/Pension $19,844

Pastor Continuing Education $1,000

Pastor Travel/Expense $2,500

Pastor Cell Phone $900

Pastor Student Loan (1/year) $1,000

Office Manager Salary $37,380

Office Manager Health Benefits $14,213

Office Manager Continuing Ed $250

Dir of Fellowship/Outreach $15,780

Dir of Fellowship Continuing Ed $250

Organist Salary $11,850

Organist Continuing Ed $600

Choir Dir Salary $6,400

Contemp Music Salary 0

Contemp Music Continuing Ed 0

Custodian Salary $15,500

Worship Tech Salary $2,660

Visitation Pastor Salary $14,000

*Accompanist Salary $2,400

Employer FICA $8,514

Staffing Total $235,779 (up $3,104)

Worship and Music

Devotional Material $300

Worship Supplies $1200

Sundays & Seasons (Worship Planning) $600

Choir Music $550

Org/Piano Maintenance $1000

Worship Copyright Licenses $1500

Contemporary Worship Supplies $200

Guest Musicians $400

Choir Robe Cleaning 0

Worship & Music Total $5,750 (down $750)

Youth and Education (formerly Faith/Learning, Youth Ministry, and Vibrant Faith) Curriculum & Supplies $500

Adult Education $500

Vacation Bible School/Camp Bethlehem $1500

Confirmation Camp/Mission Trips/NYG $1000

Retreats $500

Teacher Education/Volunteer Appreciation $200

Christmas Program $100

Cradle Roll Ministry $100

Elementary Youth Group $500

Middle School Youth Group $500

High School Youth Group $500

UNI Programming $750

Family Ministry $1000

Youth & Ed Continuing Ed $1000

Milestone Ministry $1300

Youth and Education Resources $300

Youth & Education Total $10,250 (down $1,025)

Fellowship/Outreach (formerly Nurture, Service, Spiritual Renewal) Fellowship Activities $1770

Nurture Meals (some in milestones) $300

New Members $150

Advertising $2000

Harvest Dinner/Men of Faith $500

Picnic/Bounceback $3250

*Easter Outreach Event $2760

*Live Nativity $2500

Stewardship/Envelopes $450

Fellowship & Outreach Total $13,680 (up $7,230)

Total Proposed 2022 Budget $360,849 (up $11,974)

BETHLEHEM STAFF

Church phone: 319-266-3541

Pastor Amy Eisenmann-Lead Pastor Pastor Amy’s cell phone: 218-290-3982

pastoramy@bethlehemcf.net

Cayla Morris- Office Manager office@bethlehemcf.net

Heather Hurd-Schneider Director of Fellowship and Outreach

heather@bethlehemcf.net

Noah Anderson-Worship Tech worshiptechbcf@gmail.com

Leah Gibbons-Choir Director

gibbonsl@uni.edu

Hudson Lourenço - Organist

Patty Nelson-Custodian

GIVING MADE EASY!

Scan the QR code with your smart

phone to share your offering with

Bethlehem.

2021-2022

CONGREGATION COUNCIL MEMBERS

Mardy Holst-President

319-277-0328

Theresa Elverum-Vice President

319-277-3306

Jill Schulte– Treasurer

319-290-5725

Joan Christiansen- Secretary

319-269-5634

Reed Hunemuller: 319-277-6381

Brendan Alexander: 319-290-1237

Ellen Hermanson: 319-573-0719

Kurt Leistikow 319-269-7178

Mindy Fisher 319-290-4365

Are you still not

comfortable

coming to

worship in

person? Are you

unable to join us,

but still wishing

you could have

communion?

Call the church office and Pastor Amy will be

glad to bring communion to you! Call the

office at 319-266-3541 and we will have

communion brought to your residence. May

God bless you and keep you in these days

apart.

Not able to join us for worship in person?

No problem! All of our worship services can be

found online on our church website at:

http://www.bethlehemcf.org/online-worship.html

To add yourself to the

prayer chain team:

Email Cayla

(office@bethlehemcf.net)

or call Cayla at the church office (319-266-

3541) and let her know that you would like to

receive prayer chain emails.

To add a loved one to the prayer list:

Email Pastor Amy pastoramy@bethlehemcf.net

or call Pastor Amy at the church office.

Did you know you can now worship with us live??

When you aren’t able to join us in person, we hope

you will join us on Sunday mornings at 9 am on our

YouTube page at:

https://www.youtube.com/c/BethlehemLutheranCF

Volume 21, Issue 11 November 2021

4000 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613

Our YouTube Channel:

Bethlehem Lutheran CF

Our website:

www.bethlehemcf.org

Our Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/Bethlehem-Lutheran-Church-

ELCA-451552121584266

Our Pastor

Rev. Amy Eisenmann

(218) 290-3982 cell phone

(319) 266-3541 work phone

pastoramy@bethlehemcf.net

Our Instagram page:

@bethlehemcf

Bounce Back to Bethlehem

Our next congregational quarterly

meeting will be on Sunday, Nov. 7,

following worship (also daylight

savings)! Come and join us as we

dream about our next year together!

We have much to be

thankful for this year!

Come and join us on

Wednesday, November

24 at 7:00 pm for

Thanksgiving Worship as

we give praise to God for

all our blessings!