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A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church

A member congregation of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

7171 Pearl Rd, Middleburg Heights OH 44136-4946

(440) 843-6663

www.gobethel.org

Be heLight

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In This Issue. . . Prayer Concerns……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..5 Bethel Happenings ………………………….…………………………..……………..…………………………………….6-11 Life Together News…………………………………………………………………..……………………………………..11-12 A Note from the Treasurer………………………………………………………………………………………………..……13 Birthdays & Anniversaries………………………………..…………………………………………….….………………14-15

Be heLight Let your light shine

before others so they may see your

good works and

give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matt 5:16 NRSV A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church

BeTheLight

Church Office 440-843-6663

Office Hours Mon - Fri 9 AM – 1 PM

Fax Number 440-843-6664

Steven M. Krebill 440-239-1818

Pastor

Erika Haskell 216-409-9037

Director of Music

Kathy Victor 440-843-6663

Administrative Assistant

bethelstaff@sbcglobal.net

Christie Scott 440-243-6266

M.E.E.C. Director

M.E.E.C. Office 440-888-9922

The Congregation

Reporters

2014

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BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7171 PEARL RD., MIDDLEBURG HTS., OH 44130

Worship @ 8:30AM & 11:00 AM Life Together @ 9:45AM

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 7:30PM Choir

2 10:00AM Al Anon 7:00PM GFF in FH

3 7:00 PM Northern Ohio Railway Museum in GP 8:30PM AA

4 8:00AM Men’s Bible

Study

5 Stewardship Campaign Begins

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8 7:30PM Choir

9 10:00AM Al Anon 7:00PM GFF in FH

10 8:30PM AA

11 8:00AM Men’s Bible Study

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14 7:00PM Council Mtg.

15 MEEC Picture Day 7:30PM Choir

16 10:00AM Al Anon MEEC Picture Day 7:00PM GFF in FH

17 8:30PM AA

18 8:00AM Men’s Bible Study

19 Stewardship Commitment Sunday

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21 6:30PM MEEC Bd Conf Room

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23 10:00AM Al Anon 7:00PM GFF in FH 7:30PM Choir

24 8:30PM AA

25 8:00AM Men’s Bible Study

26 One Worship Service 10AM Affirmation of Baptism

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29 7:30PM Choir

30 10:00AM Al Anon 7:00PM GFF Birthday Dinner

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2014

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BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 7171 PEARL RD., MIDDLEBURG HTS., OH 44130

Worship @ 8:30AM & 11:00 AM Life Together @ 9:45AM

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2

All Saints Day 1:30PM Seasons of Light Hospice

3 4 MEEC Parent/Teacher Conferences NO SCHOOL

5 7:30PM Choir

6 10:00AM Al-Anon 7:00PM GFF

7 MEEC Parent/Teacher Conferences NO SCHOOL 8:30PM AA

1 Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner 4:30-7:30pm

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9 Harvest Festival

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7:00PM Council Mtg

12 7:30 PM Choir

13 10:00AM Al-Anon 7:00PM GFF

14 8:30PM AA

15 Holiday Craft Workshop 9-2pm

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18 7:00PM Cleveland South Cluster

19 7:30PM Choir

20 10:00AM Al-Anon 7:00PM GFF Worship Service & Birthday Dinner

21 8:30PM AA

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23 10:00AM One Worship Service & Annual Meeting

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26 MEEC—No School 7:30PM Choir

27 Happy Thanksgiving

OFFICE&MEEC CLOSED

28 Office Closed MEEC No School 8:30PM AA

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2014

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Please contact the church office for information on how you can sponsor an upcoming edition of The BeTheLight.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

MISSION STATEMENT

The people of

Bethel Lutheran Church

are called by God to be

faithful to the word of God

and proclaim it to all people.

We share Christ's love

and forgiveness

by being Christ's hands,

feet, arms and voice

as we gather and

as we scatter.

*Deadline for the December/January 2015 BeTheLight is November 15th*

The purpose of BeTheLight is to inform our members, friends

and visitors of worship services and to encourage spiritual

growth, Christian Education opportunities, missions and

outreach, activities and fellowship events and volunteer

opportunities. This newsletter is meant to be an information

tool of Bethel Lutheran Church where we serve together as a

family in Christ.

The BeTheLight welcomes contributions and letters.

Copyrighted material (including prayers and inspirational

verses) cannot be published without written permission from

the author.

ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS

PERSONS IN NEED OF HEALING

Gary Baratko, Bob Breska, Carl Burgess, Warren Burgess, Richard

Coniglio, Norm Heger, Robert Hintze, Dorothy Holtz, Karen

Horner, Donnette Ipsaro, Charlotte Karpinecz, Bridgette Kern, Lynn

Kostura, Brian Krajewski, Joyce Larson, Marie Link, Cy

Maszczynski, Pamela Misischia, Donald O’Dell, Eleanor

Olschewsky, Irene Peters, Clifford Riedel Jr, Mary Sollers, Janet

Sopko, Carol Spensley, Chris Wisbar, Christa Wisbar

PERSONS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND

Lilo Frey ~ Ruth Jeckel ~ Dorothy Myers ~ Alma Schmidt

George Schwark ~ Velma Wolff

Please keep these friends in your

thoughts and prayers.

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OCTOBER ACTIVITIES AT BETHEL

FAITH EXPLORERS

Meetings Resume on October 5 Faith Explorers participants and their adult leaders will meet in the Gathering Place for the first time this year on Sunday, October 5 from 6-7:30 PM. Young people in FaithX meet three times a month to study Martin Luther's small catechism, to meet with adult guides to pray and discuss faith issues, and to share in fellowship and service activities. Please remember all of the FaithX participants in your prayers.

REFORMATION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 One Worship Service to Include Affirmation of Baptism On Reformation Sunday, October 26, we will gather as one community of faith at 10:00 AM. This festival worship will feature guest musicians and the rite of Affirmation of Baptism for four of our young people, Eliza Karp, Emma LaGuardia, David Weaver and Tyler Zwolenik. Remember to wear red that day as we celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther and our other forebears in the faith and their witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2014 ANNUAL REPORT BOOKLET Reports Due October 19 If you have a ministry report to be included in the 2014 report booklet which will be distributed in advance of the Annual Meeting in November, please email it to Kathy in the church office at bethelstaff@sbcglobal.net. Deadline for reports is Sunday, October 19.

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Stewardship Commitment Sunday is

October 19

Living Each Day as a Steward!

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Peter 4:10

As Christian stewards, we seek God’s wisdom and strength

for the purpose of doing his will. By God’s grace, we

acknowledge that God is the source of all things, and we

live with the awareness that all things are owned by him.

When we understand that what we have is on loan to us

from God, we live our lives with a different perspective.

As we live each day as stewards, we understand that

stewardship is more than a part-time activity. It consists of

much more than just isolated deeds of stewardship. We are

God’s stewards each and every day, throughout the day. Our stewardship is incorporated into a

lifestyle. It is what we are. It is our vocation, involving our total devotion. Through our

Christian stewardship, we express who we are both in character and conduct.

The Holy Spirit, through Word and Sacrament, transforms us through his work of sanctification

so that we become like our Chief Steward, Jesus. Through his gift of faith, we live to honor the

Lord and seek to follow his ways so we can live each day as stewards.

The particular themes for the three Sundays are as follows:

Sunday October 5- “The Steward’s Identity”

Sunday October 12 “The Steward’s Purpose”

Sunday October 19 “The Steward’s Lifestyle”

On Sunday, October 19, we will be invited to bring our estimates of giving for 2015 to the altar

as an act of worship.

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NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES AT BETHEL

Sunday, November 2, All Saints’ Sunday Reception of New Members

We will welcome new members into our community of faith on Sunday, November 2 as part of our All Saints Sunday observance. Their names, pictures and biographical information will be posted in the hallway outside the Gathering Place. Please give a warm welcome to these new members of our community in Christ! All Saints’ Sunday Remembrance

All Saints' Sunday, November 2, at both services of worship, we will remember in the prayers the names of all of our friends and loved ones who have died in the Christian faith in the past year. In the church office, we have the names of all members of Bethel who have died, but not the names of non-members whose funerals that Pastor Krebill may have conducted. So, if you have names you would like included in the list that day, please call the church office at 843-6663 by NOON Friday, October 31 to have them included. This year, we will be projecting names on the screen as part of this remembrance, so that is why it is important to call the church office with the correct spelling AND pronunciation of the name you would like to be included, and also to keep the deadline. Remember, these are the names of those who have died in the last year. Also, again this year, we are inviting worshipers at both services on November 2, to bring a flower to place in front of the altar at the processional at the beginning of the service. Bring one flower for each loved one you wish to commemorate. This can be anyone, and does not have to be those who have died in the past year.

ONE WORSHIP SERVICE ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23 Annual Meeting to Follow

This year our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, November 23. On that day there will be ONE WORSHIP SERVICE at 10 AM and the meeting will immediately follow. The agenda for the annual meeting includes ministry and staff reports, the election of council and other ministry members, and the presentation of the 2015 budget for congregational approval. Copies of the Annual Report, including the proposed budget will be available in the Gathering Place or in the church office on November 16, one week before the meeting, so that you may have a chance to look over the reports and figures before the meeting. Several ministry leadership positions are up for election this year. If you are interested in serving on council or in a position of leadership, please contact our congregation president, Fred Sauvey for more information.

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Bethel’s Annual Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner

Saturday, November 1, 2014 4:30-7:30 PM

Adults, $10, Ages 7-13, $5

6 and under free

Take-outs available

Tickets on sale October 12, 19 & 26 in the Gathering Place (Tickets will also be available in the

Church office weekdays 9AM-12PM)

Call Jean Jarancik @ (216) 676-8721 to volunteer.

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BETHEL’S ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL

NOVEMBER 9, 2014

Please bring cans of meats, fruits, vegetables, box dinners or non-perishable items to worship that day.

Monetary gifts are welcome and are used to purchase food. We will receive some matching funds from South Cuyahoga County Chapter

#30769 of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Make checks payable to Bethel and earmark for Harvest Festival.

Our gifts will go to Redeemer Crisis Center at W. 30th and Walton, and will be

distributed to the needy on Cleveland’s west side.

Let’s fill the sanctuary and show our thankfulness for all that God has given us.

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PASTOR LUBER TO RETIRE AT END OF YEAR Recently we received word that Pastor Elwyn Luber will be retiring at the end of the year. Pastor Luber has faithfully served as an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church for 40 years. He served here at Bethel for 23 years, and for the last 17 years, he has been the pastor at First Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas. If you would like to send wishes for a happy retirement to Pastor Luber, his address is:

Rev. Elwyn J. Luber First Lutheran Church 1234 Fairlawn Road Topeka, KS 66604

Life Together News

Welcome to the Life Together Staff for the 2014-2015 School Year

Coordinator: Jackie Bailey

Preschool/Kindergarten Class: Jenny Cajka

1st - 3rd Grade Class: Russ Bailey

4th - 6th Grade Class: Holly Nicholas

High School Class: Pastor Krebill

Adult Class: Alan Bobrosky and Ed Costa

Invitation to Discipleship Class: Pastor Krebill

Vacation Bible School Mission Project: We collected 279 items for the Middleburg Hts. Food Pantry. We also donated a check in the amount of $310.90. Due to an accounting error with Gospel Light our donation ($212.90) for last years’ mission project was returned. We decided to put that money toward this years’ mission project. Thank you for all of your donations!

L.I.F.E. Together Fundraiser The Life Together children and their families will be having their annual fundraiser. It will be

through Celebrating Home. They have a variety of candles, gourmet mixes and other misc.

items. We will be receiving approximately 50% profit on all sales. The money will be put into

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the Holiday Craft Workshop account to be used for next year's workshop. Last year's workshop

cost was $632. This was paid for from the money we raised during the 2013 candle fundraiser.

We had a profit of $217.80 from the items sold and we had cash donations of $210. We need to

make about $500 from this year's sale so that we can continue to offer this craft workshop at no

cost to the families next year. The money we made last year is being used for this year's

workshop which will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014. The fundraiser order forms

were sent home on Sunday, October 5 and are due back on Sunday, November 16. There

will be a table in the Gathering Place where you can place orders after each service. There will

be extra order forms available if anyone would like to take one to work and get additional

orders. The orders will be available for pick up at church on Sunday, December 7 from

9:30-12:30 p.m. These items make great gifts for teachers, family members, friends, gift

exchanges, raffle baskets and much more. If you have any questions please contact Jackie

Bailey at 440-842-5034 or jackiembailey@sbcglobal.net.

Holiday Craft Workshop 2014 We will be having our 8th annual Holiday Craft Workshop on Saturday, November 15 from

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This will be held at Bethel in the fellowship hall. This is for children

ages three through 6th grade. This workshop is for the Life Together children, friends,

grandchildren etc. There will be 12 craft stations and a cookie station where they can frost and

decorate cookies to eat. We ask that you sign up as soon as possible so that we can be sure to

have enough crafts for everyone who plans on coming. Due to limited space, we only have

room for up to 50 children. We also need to have an adult or older sibling stay and help

supervise the younger children, who will need additional help. We need about 26 people to

help work the tables. The fliers with all of the information and the sign-up sheets were sent

home on Sunday, September 28. You can also register by filling out a registration form in the

Gathering Place. There is a brown envelope in the kiosk with the forms in it or you can call

Jackie Bailey and register over the phone. The registration deadline is Sunday, November

9. You must preregister for this workshop, no walk-ins will be accepted. If you are

interested in helping or have any other questions please contact Jackie Bailey at 440-842-5034

or jackiembailey@sbcglobal.net.

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A NOTE FROM THE TREASURER REGARDING ELECTRONIC PAYMENT OF

CONTRIBUTIONS

I would like to thank all of those who use electronic deposit for their contribution. If you are not an electronic

giver, please consider it for 2015. You are able to choose the frequency of your electronic giving as follows:

Weekly on Monday’s

Semi-monthly 1st & 15

th

Monthly on the 1st

Monthly on the 15th

There are a few changes for the end of the year/beginning of next year. I will be putting a stop as of 12/31/14

on all current electronic contributions. Please follow the instructions below to continue or start your electronic

contribution:

If you plan on using a “Commitment Card” during the Stewardship campaign and are a current electronic user,

simply mark the electronic giving box on the commitment card. If there are no changes to your account

information or frequency, that is all you need to do. If you need to change your account information or

frequency, please complete a new Authorization form and submit to me by using one of the methods listed

below.

If you plan on using a “Commitment Card” and are a NEW electronic giver, please mark the electronic giving

box on the commitment card AND complete the attached Authorization form and submit to be by using one of

the methods listed below.

If you are NOT using a “Commitment Card” and are a CURRENT or NEW electronic giver, please send me a

written note by using one of the following methods below along with the Authorization Form.

1. Put in a sealed envelope in the Treasurer’s box, Att: Mary-Ellen Leidy

2. Fax to 330-220-1400. This fax goes straight to my desk in my home office

3. Email to marecpa@roadrunner.com

4. Hand it directly to me at Church on a Sunday.

5. Mail to the Church Office to my attention, marked personal and confidential

6. Mail directly to me at home at 3189 Winsted Drive, Brunswick, OH 44212

One of these methods must be used in order to continue or start electronic giving for 2015.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mary-Ellen Leidy, Treasurer

***** Please note, the” commitment cards” will be available in the Gathering

Place and in the Church Office.

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October Birthdays and Anniversaries

2 M/M Ryan English 2010

3 Irene Miller 4 Daniel Karp~Max Reardon~M/M Edward Pickens 1997 5 Wanda Herzog~M/M Wayne Derschau 1963 6 Doris Smith~M/M Julius Nemeth 1951 8 Jon Paulus 10 Inge Schuster 11 Jackie Bailey 12 William Karp 13 Jeanne Whitsel 14 M/M Jim Bondor 1989 15 Clifford Riedel

17 Yvonne Camp 18 Marshall Camp 19 M/M Daniel Karp 1991 22 Tyler Zwolenik 23 Gerhard Wisbar 29 Carolyn Riedel 30 Gary Einheit

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November Birthdays and Anniversaries

3 Marty Cool~Bonnie Fitzer~Bradshaw Rescola 5 Alma Schmidt~Alan Nemerovsky 7 Joyce Lange~William Spiegelberg~Pam Ciccarello 8 Konrad Stiene 9 Abigail Whitsel 15 Rose Carradine

17 Dick Larson 19 Talia LoPiccolo 20 Del Drier 21 Mark Pamer 23 Alan Bobrosky 28 Eleanor Olschewski

30 M/M Marshall Camp 1963