Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church 2515 Madison Ave.

Burlington, Iowa

Phone: (319) 752-3621

www.bethanyburlington.org

Pastor’s Cell: (360) 623-2184

Bethany Lutheran Church Mission Statement

Reaching out in Worship, Fellowship, Learning, and Love - We Are God’s People.

Our Staff

Rev. Paul Hermansen, Pastor Cory Byrne, Choir Director/Organist

Amanda Stevenson-Cosgrove, Dir. of Youth & Family

Sue Hermansen, Admin. Asst. Michelle Huppenbauer, Financial Sec’y

Mike & Tammy Morris, Custodians

Volume 58 Issues 7 & 8 July-August, 2018

PENTECOST - THE SEASON OF GREEN

Have you noticed that, in our sanctuary, we have different colored

cloths that drape our altar, pulpit, and lectern during different times of

the year? Sometimes we have blue, red, purple, gold, white, and green.

We have just begun the season we call Pentecost. This season is called

Pentecost because it was on the day of Pentecost that God poured out the

Holy Spirit on the followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the power and in-

spiration the disciples needed to be able to proclaim Christ.

In a way the Holy Spirit is kind of like putting fertilizer on grass,

plants, trees, and flowers. Fertilizer helps living things to grow. The uni-

versal color that reflects growth is green. Green is the color for Pentecost

to remind us that the Holy Spirit works in our lives to cause us to grow. A

central reality of being a Christian is to grow in Christ. We grow our faith

and knowledge of God. We grow individually and as a community in

Christ. We grow in becoming more thoughtful and considerate of others.

We grow in seeking justice and doing more for the less fortunate. The

Holy Spirit creates many kinds of growth in our lives. Where would you

like to be the “greenest” in your life?

Continuing in June on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., in the fellowship

hall, we meet for one hour to read and share what God is saying to us for

the blessing of Bethany and our greater community. I believe this could

be just what Bethany needs right now to develop an even more effective

ministry for the work of God’s Kingdom. We already have a Wednesday

morning study that has become more than “just a Bible study” for those

who attend. A sense of family, where we nurture one another, is taking

place each week. The Holy Spirit is definitely moving among us. Pray

about coming to our new Wednesday night study.

HOMEBOUND CARD

MINISTRY Please help remember Bethany’s mem-

bers who are in nursing homes or home-

bound by sending them a card. A birth-

day or a “thinking of you” card is a spe-

cial way of showing God’s love. During

the summer months, take a minute to

send a card with a short note - these

folks would love to hear from you.

Names and addresses are available on

the table in the fellowship hall. Please

remember to mark the spreadsheet if

you send a card.

PIANO RECITAL

On Sunday, July 22, at 2:00 p.m., our own Cory Byrne has graciously offered to give a piano recital of classical and contemporary works, free of charge, to introduce new peo-ple to Bethany. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to this wonderful musical event. Thank you, Cory!

2018 - OUR 130th ANNIVERSARY

This year is a special occasion for Bethany!

Thanks to God’s benevolent provision we cele-

brate doing Kingdom work for 130 years in

2018. I feel this is a milestone worthy of recog-

nition. We do not have an official committee

set up to make plans, but if you would like to

see that we have some kind of observance be-

fore 2018 slips away, please contact me.

JULY AND AUGUST ACTIVITIES The Retired Nurses will be taking a hiatus in the sum-

mer and resume meeting in September.

. Boy Scout Troop #25 has their regular weekly meet-

ings on Tuesdays.

RIDES TO CHURCH

The Social Ministry Committee is organizing a

program to match up members who are willing

to provide rides, as time and schedules allow,

to and from Sunday services for members who

do not drive or may need temporary transpor-

tation assistance. If you are interested in ei-

ther providing rides as you are able or, if you

or anyone you know is in need of a ride,

please let Kim Engle know at (319) 372-1887 or

keengle@q.com.

BISHOP BURK ON JULY 29

There is a tradition that has been

around for hundreds of years that,

when your Bishop comes to preach at

your church, it is a significant event.

Our own Bishop Burk will be at Bethany

on July 29. I am looking to have us put

our best foot forward on that day to let

our Bishop know what a God-focused

community Bethany really is. Perhaps

we can have a cake or any of a number

of ways to make his visit to us extra

special.

WHEN: Monday, July 16

TIME: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Bethany Lutheran Church

To schedule an appointment, email

Jeff Engle at jengle@mvrbc.org or

online at www.bloodcenterimpact.org.

“Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come. And what I say to you I say

to all: Watch.”

Mark 13: 33, 37

ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

One of the things that nearly all of us do is take for granted what tomorrow is going to bring. Two years ago, when we began our ministry together at Bethany, I made the assumption that I would have perfect health for years to come and be fully capable to fulfill all the duties of being your pastor. Then, last year during a routine physical, I learned I had prostate cancer. One year later my doctor has informed me that my health is great! While I am very happy to know this good news, I cannot expect to have perfect knowledge that I will have a future with no challenges. We have several other examples of this. A few weeks ago I learned the Chelfs are moving. I did not see that coming! In May I was told that our financial administrator, Dennis Wohlers, was resigning his position with us. How blessed we are that Michelle was willing to come back! On June 12 I heard the tragic news that Terry Steen-berg had died. I had visited with Terry less than one week before. I never expected him to die. Since January 7 we added the Hope service and have met every week. Now, in the midst of sum-mer and unexpected events taking place, I cannot automatically assume that we will always have folks leading this service. While we do not plan on them, life still has its surprises. Someone once said, “Expect the un-expected.” Jesus probably said, “Always expect the unexpected.” Early on in His ministry Jesus probably thought everything would go just the way He thought it would. Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, raised the dead, and cast out demons. Jesus conquered the darkness and released the light! But not everyone was for Jesus. However, because of this unexpected rejection from His own people, Jesus’ salvation became a reality for everyone beyond His own Jewish community. This may not have been what Jesus initially expected, but it became a blessing for us. What do we learn from this? That we be open to the blessing that God works in both the ex-pected as well as the unexpected. I certainly hope and pray that my expectation to have many won-derful years serving Bethany will be fulfilled. But, if something happens that we do not expect, we need to see God’s hand in that as well. Praise God that we have a Savior who works for good, for our blessing, in all things. In Christ,

Pastor Paul

1 - Pastor Paul; Jim Martindale

2 - Carol Steenberg; Warren

Tharp

3 - Sydney Cox; Savanna Jackson;

Katelyn Reichelt

6 - Sandra Sandy

8 - Amy Bloomer; Debbie Hoxie;

Jackie Marion

9 - Todd Morehead

13 - Pamela Schwerin; Vanette

Wooldridge

14 - Brody Johnson

15 - Jenna Miller

16 - Claus Benninghoven

19 - Stephen Reichelt

25 - Carol Dodge

26 - Jeff Engle

28 - Kathy Beach; Aletha Carter

30 - Melissa Hopp; Michelle Hup-

penbauer; Bonnie Rosenberg;

William Ward, Jr.

July

Birthdays

Head Ushers: Dan & Julie Wischmeier

July Team Captain: Jeff Engle

Ushers

1 -

8 - Mark & Bonnie Rosenberg; Steve & Sue Rogers

15 - Morris Family 22 - Vanette Wooldridge; Marlys McClurg; Dan &

Ruth Harken 29 - Lynda Johnson; Chelf

Family

Communion Assistants 1 - Todd Chelf; Steve & Sue Rogers

8 - Amy Unglaub; Teresa Morehead; Julie Chubb 15 - Bob Hoxie; Dan

Harken; Mike Hopp 22 - Mike Morris; Jeff & Kim

Engle 29 -Bill Mundt; Sue Her-mansen; Sharon Martindale

Fellowship 1 - 8 - 17 -

22 - 29 -

Missionary Support 1 - 8 - 15 -

22 - Vanette Wooldridge 29 -

Acolytes 1 - 8 - Aaron Morehead

15 - David King; Jonathan Chelf 22 - Tyler Burch

29 -Benjamin Chelf

Lector 1 - Pam Taylor

8 - Bob Hoxie 15 - Kim Engle 22 - Carlene Woodside

29 - Bob Sogard

Greeters 1 - Susanne Adam; Donna

Miller 8 - Dan & Julie Wischmeier

15 - Scott & Jan Creighton 22 - Ginny Mesecher; Sue Hermansen

29 - Mark & Bonnie Rosenerg

Flowers 1 - Sue Hermansen

8 - Ginny Mesecher 15 - Bill Mundt

22 - Julie Wischmeier 29 - Richard & Holly Wil-liamson

Altar Guild Marlys McClurg; Ann Zaiser; Geneive Hingst; Marilyn Ward; Donna Engington

July 2018 Lay Leaders

August 2018 Lay Leaders

Head Ushers: Dan & Julie Wischmeier

August Team Captain: Bob Hoxie

Ushers

5 - Scott & Jan Creighton;

Mark & Bonnie Rosenberg 12 - Ron Kastner; Lynda Johnson; Dan & Julie Wisch-

meier 19 - Mike & Tammy Morris; Jim & Sharon Martindale

26 - Dan & Ruth Harken; Jim & Barb Morris

Communion Assistants 5 - Amanda Stevenson-

Cosgrove; Rachel Lindeen; Jessica King

12 - Scott & Jan Creighton; Julie Wischmeier 19 - Bob Sogard; Sue Swan-

son; Sue Hermansen 26 - Mark Rosenberg; Jim &

Sharon Martindale

Fellowship 5 - 12 -

19 - 26 -

Missionary Support 5 -

12 - 19 -

26 -

Acolytes 5 - Sam Morehead 12 - Lucas Chelf

19 - Aaron Morehead; Mason Fritz 26 - David King

Lector 5 - Jessica King 12 - Melissa Hopp

19 - Shelley Wallace 26 - Dan Harken

Greeters 5 - Jeff & Kim Engle 12 - Sharon Martindale 19 - Lynda Johnson

26 - Marlys McClurg; Vanette Wooldridge

Flowers 5 - Shirley Mundt

12 - Marian Chaddock 19 - Pastor & Sue Herman-

sen 26 -

Altar Guild Marlys McClurg; Kathy

Beach; Jackie Marion; Ginny Mesecher

August

Birthdays

3 - Bill Taylor

4 - Gary Coleman; Jane

Ward

5 - Joan Dawes

6 - Tara Rosenberg; Abbey

Timberlake

7 - Ron Kastner

8 - Erin Mafra

9 - Susanne Adam

12 - Laurenn Beach; Addi-

son Shepherd

14 - Dorothy Hopson; Tim

Ruberg; Bessie Weak

15 - Randy Tharp

16 - Jeffrey Peterson

18 - Steven Rogers

20 - Nancy Mower

21 - Robert Roy

22 - Lila Janssen

23 - Justin Ward

26 - Barbara West

28 - Tyler Bloomer; Pat

Blume; Brenda Kastner;

Bailee Morris

ELCA YOUTH GATHERING WRAP-UP

Boy, it is hard to put into words what

we experienced in Houston but I will do

my best. Our trip was FANTASTIC!

We worshipped with over 30,000 youth,

donated toward ELCA World Hunger,

picked up trash in the historic 3rd

Ward District, learned about inclusivity

in the church, how immigrants are fam-

ily, and just how hard it is to believe

that the grace that saves us, also saves

our enemies. This trip opened our

youth’s eyes to how the church can and

does fit into this world and how our

faith should be leading us into action to

stand up for those who cannot stand up

for themselves. I encourage you to talk

to our kids (Isaac, Tyler, and Madison).

Ask them where they saw God, what

was their favorite part and make sure

to ask Tyler and Isaac about their giant

cowboy hats! Your donations and

prayers helped these youth to experi-

ence something they will never forget

and hopefully have spurred them into

action here at home. A “thank you”

doesn’t do justice to what y’all have

done for them, but I’ll say it anyway.

Thank you.

The meetings for July and August that have been scheduled as of the publishing of this newsletter are listed below. Watch the bulletins for any date and time changes or additional meetings sched-uled. WELCA TBA Social Ministry Committee TBA Men’s Breakfast Saturday, July 21, 8:00 a.m. Saturday, August 18, 8:00 a.m. Executive Committee Wednesday, July 11, 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 14, 6:30 p.m. Church Council Sunday, July 15, 10:15 a.m. Sunday, August 19, 10:15 a.m. Property Committee Monday, July 16, 6:30 p.m. Monday, August 20, 6:30 p.m. Worship & Music Committee Sunday, August 12, 10:15 a.m.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

JUNE ATTENDANCE

June 3 111 June 10 88 June 17 89 June 23 15 June 24 96

JUNE GIVING

June 3 $ 5,322.25 June 10 2,292.00 June 17 2,321.25 June 24 2,038.91 Total $11,974.41

Thank you for your generosity and

faithful trust in God to provide your

needs! God believes in you and has a

great future planned for Bethany.

PLEASE NOTE The deadline to submit information for the monthly Chimes is the 25th of the month.

You’re welcome to email your submissions, leave a note on the desk in the office, or call

the church office.

ALSO! Because of Federal Privacy laws, if you or a

member of your family are hospitalized and

would like the Pastor to visit, you must con-

tact the church and let us know.

If you change your mailing

address, please let the office know ASAP.

For every returned piece of mail we get for

an incorrect address, we are charged 75