Bethel Lutheran Church 1321 North Avenue Northfield, MN 55057 507.786.6674

bethel@bethelnorthfield.org www.facebook.com/bethellutheran http://bethelnorthfield.org/bethel-banner-newsletter/

Adult Ed 14

Befrienders 18

BWHF 5

Calendar 10

Children 4

Council 7

Finance 8-9

Library 18

Living Faith 15

Membership 2

Mission & Justice 12

Mission Interp. 13

Nursery 7

Thank You 19

WELCA 13

Worship Servants 16

YouthQuake 6

YES 7

Inside this issue:

The Bethel Banner

Volume #487 February 2012

… and much more!

Will You Be Our Valentine? The evening will still include top-notch entertainment (also with some new twists) from our talented teenagers and free childcare! Tickets are $20 per person (an optional $15 senior citizen rate is available) and are being sold between services on January 29 and February 5.

Please consider this way to support the Bethel youth and treat you and your Valentine all at once!

Bring your loved ones — friends, spouses, neighbors — for the 9th Annual Bethel Youth Valentine Dinner, set for Sunday, February 12, 5-7:30 p.m. in the Christian Life Center. There are several surprises awaiting our guests this year, including an elegant menu, a gourmet meal of seven mini-courses. (Foodies should think tapas and small plates; everyone else should think delicious!)

Lent 2012 You Shall Love the Lord Your God Prepare to be engaged in heart, soul, mind, and body during the season of Lent 2012. In Mark 12, a scribe comes to ask Jesus, “Of all the commandments with is the most important?” Jesus answers, “The most important commandment is this, ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord, your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’” Jesus responds to the scribe’s question with words from the Shema, the passage from Deuteronomy 6 that is recited daily by many of the Jewish faith. These words form a covenant between God and God’s people and show us a way to respond to this God who so extravagantly loves us through the cross. Plan now to join us for any and all of the following:

Our 5:15 Ash Wednesday service will be family friendly and will be the conclusion of the afternoon for our BAM children. Wednesdays, February 29-March 28 — Midweek Lenten Services at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. with soup at noon and 5:30 p.m. Watch for more details on our website and in our weekly Banner.

Sunday, February 19, 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. worship — Our children will help us “Bury the Alleluia” Sunday, February 19, 9:45 a.m. — A special Intergenerational/Family/Adult Sunday School experience that will guide us all as we prepare to enter into the season of Lent. Wednesday, February 22 — Ash Wednesday services at 11:30 a.m., 5:15 p.m., and 7 p.m.

Page 2 The Bethel Banner

brief program afterward. No monetary donation is required or expected to participate in the walk, but we do ask that you register as a participant with “Katie’s Cure Team” at JDRF.org. If you register online by February 4, we’ll order you a “Katie’s Cure Team” T-shirt. X Make a donation of any amount to

“Katie’s Cure Team” at JDRF.org. Click on the link for “Walk to Cure Diabetes”. There is no minimum, and any amount is appreciated! X Send a message of support and

encouragement to Katie at clradman@hughes.net or 1948 270th

“That was the most important thing I’ve ever done.” These were Katie’s words as I tucked her into bed last year a few days after the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. Katie loved having her friends and family at the walk. She loved the music and balloons. She loved having a T-shirt with her name on it! Most of all, she loved feeling like she was doing something to find a cure for diabetes. She understood that finding a cure is as important to other families as it is to ours. A cure would mean none of the children you love would have to go through what our family has to go through. When asked why someone should consider supporting her for the Walk to Cure Diabetes, Katie said, “I can’t describe it that easily. Having someone walk with me makes me feel awesome. I want to cure diabetes because it would be the best thing ever.” Would you like to help? Katie would appreciate your support in any of the following ways: X Join us for the Walk to Cure

Diabetes on February 25 at the Mall of America. Meet us at 7:15 a.m. at Best Buy (4th Floor West Side). We will walk from 8-9 a.m. There is a

Join Katie's Cure Team!

St. E., Randolph, MN 55065 or call 507-664-9668.

Thank you! Charlie, Leah,

Katie (6 ½) and Ellen (3)

Radman [Editor's Note: Bethel member Katie Radman, now a first-grader, was diagnosed with diabetes at age 4 on her first day of preschool.]

Be the Hero. Fight Hunger! That’s the theme that has been chosen by the Y.E.S. team (Youth Energized to Serve) for this year’s March Food Drive. If last year is any indication, we should have some fun adventures as we learn about hunger in our nation and this year’s drive! As has become our tradition, we’re looking forward to kicking off the drive on Sunday, February 26, when Jim Blaha, the director of the Community Action Center, will be a featured Temple Talk speaker during worship. The need continues to be great. Please plan to be a part of this important effort by bringing your donations of cash and non-perishable food items to Bethel during the month of March.

Are you considering making Bethel your church home? If so, note this date on your calendar: Membership Matters – Sunday, February 5, noon–1:30 p.m. in the CLC. Come and meet Bethel’s staff and learn more about Bethel while enjoying a delicious pizza lunch. On Sunday, February 5, from noon to 1:30 p.m., we will have Membership Matters, a time of information and

discussion for people who are considering joining Bethel. You are invited to join the Bethel staff for pizza and an informative gathering about our Bethel congregation, its mission and ministries, and our hopes and dreams for the future. You do not have to attend to join Bethel, but participation in Membership Matters will help you decide if Bethel is the right congregation for you.

Looking for a Church Home? Childcare will be available. For more information, please contact Pam Santerre, our Pastoral Minister, at 786-8951 or psanterre@bethelnorthfield.org.

confirmation classes attendance, support of fellowship events (especially Bethel Bistro), and strengthening of relationships through mutual support and care. Spiritual growth as well, I trust, has been enhanced and encouraged through our Sunday worship, Christian Education classes, adult education, retreats, and use of our excellent library resources. It hasn’t

been explosive growth, but more the kind I notice in my daughters when they back up to the measuring wall in our laundry room. Incremental. Steady. Now whatever goes up, as they say, must come down. Some congregations

experience a time “in the sun" only to decline after a period of growth. That may happen at Bethel. Or, maybe it won’t . Much depends on God’s plans for this congregation and how we, its members, respond to the challenges facing us. For one thing is certain: growth brings challenges. Already, in spite of our beautiful new building, we are space-challenged. The remainder of our mortgage (around two million dollars) must soon be incorporated into

February 2012 Page 3

[Ed. Note: The following is Pastor Tim's report from Bethel's Annual Report, distributed at the Annual Meeting of the Congregation on January 29. Contact the church office if you would like a copy of the entire report.] Dear Partners: A favorite ritual for many families with young children is a trip to the “measuring wall.” That’s the place in the basement or closet where careful recording of each child’s height has been tracked in inches and by date. It is exciting for kids and parents alike to note the constant, incremental, steady growth that has occurred through the years. The annual meeting of a congregation is a version of a trip to such a wall. And Bethel Lutheran Church, as this Annual Report documents, continues to experience growth. During 2011 Bethel has seen increases in its financial support, size of the congregation, attendance at worship, participation in BAM (Bible, Arts and Music ministry),

our operating budget. And the increasing number of members means that it is more difficult to know one another and care for one another in an effective way. We have work—good work—to do. I think that we are up to the task and ready to receive the grace from our Lord to meet these challenges. Our growth is a blessing. And so, as we have grown in size, we have grown communally. We have grown “into” each other’s stories in deeper and more meaningful ways. So many Bethelites have faced significant personal challenges this year—financially, physically, emotionally. We have accompanied each other through our journeys and challenges, joys and sorrows. The statistic that perhaps matters the most—care for one another—continues to increase. You are amazing people, and, together, you are an amazing congregation. It has been an honor and privilege to abide with you through illness, grief, joys, and triumphs -- and growth. Your Partner in the Gospel,

From the Senior Pastor...

Schedule a baptism, first communion, or wedding? Congratulations! Contact the church office at 786-6674; one of our pastors will meet with you and arrange a date that fits for you, your family, and the church. Arrange for communion delivery while I am homebound? Trained Home Communion Ministers can deliver communion to you on Sunday mornings, straight from the worship service. Call the church office at 786-6674 to make arrangements.

Our pastors can also offer communion to you at home or in the hospital. Volunteer at Sunday School? Thank you for being willing to share your time and faith! Contact Pam Vig (786-8878) if you would like to help with the younger kids (through 5th grade); contact Barb Farmer (786-8877) if you would like to help with our middle and high school youth. Like to teach an Adult Ed class? Contact Pam Santerre at 786-8951. Offer my musical talents? Rhonda Reece, our Director of

How Do I…? Worship and Music, is always happy to hear from musicians and singers. She can schedule an anthem for you to offer or give you information about our musical ensembles (786-8874). Find out more about Bethel? Membership Matters is a class offered three times per year. This is a great time to get all your questions answered (and enjoy lunch with Bethel staff and other leaders). The next Membership Matters class is February 5; contact Pam Santerre at 786-8951 for more information, or sign up at the information table.

Page 4 The Bethel Banner

X Find a family Lenten devotional book that is appropriate for all of the ages in your family and commit to spending time each day of Lent doing devotions as a family.

X Select a children's Bible or family Bible and read the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection together. Read just a piece of the story each time and wonder, "What does this mean?" and "What are we to do as a loving response to what Jesus has done for us?"

X Instead of giving up chocolate or desserts this Lent, add a gift of family service once a week. Perhaps you will visit an elderly relative (or someone you don't know who never has visitors) in a nursing home. This might be the time your family writes a letter to or draws a picture for a person serving far away in the armed services. Bring a dinner to a family with a new baby or sick parent. Offer to babysit for a single parent.

X Worship together as a family and enjoy a conversation about what you heard, what you still wonder about, and what it means for your life.

X As a family, learn to say, "I am sorry. Can you forgive me?" when you have done or said something that has hurt another person. Teach the response, which is not "Oh, no problem" or "It doesn't matter", but "I forgive you." In worship, point out the confession of sins and absolution, in which we all confess to the wrong we have done and receive God's forgiveness.

When I think of the Lenten Wednesday services of my youth, two things come to mind. The first is evening worship with darkness blanketing the outside of the church and warm light brightening the inside. The second is ice cream. It seemed every year our local Dairy Queen would open for the season sometime during Lent and Dad and Mom would often make a stop with us on the way home from the Lenten service. (You may have guessed that we never really went for the practice of giving something up for Lent.☺) These two things come back to me every year because they were the rituals of Lent for us. The habit of attending Wednesday Lenten services is a habit that I have carried from childhood into adulthood. (Eating ice cream has stuck with me too!) What are your rituals during Lent? Are there any that you carry with you from your childhood? What are the rituals your children will carry with them as they grow into adulthood? These might be good topics for conversation with your family during the season of Lent. It is our hope that during Lent at Bethel this year we will offer several ideas that you can take home with you to enhance and support the practices you already employ. If we want our children to grow up with a faith to support them in good times and bad, we need to model that faith and guide them and share with them in carrying out the rituals that sustain and grow this faith. Here are just a few ideas from Marilyn Sharpe, a nationally recognized author, speaker, and family ministry expert:

X Read a book, watch a movie, or have a conversation about what happens when we do not forgive one another. Ask, "How does it feel when you hold a grudge or stay angry with someone?" Forgiveness is as liberating for the one who forgives, as it is for the one who is forgiven.

X When your child tells you about someone who is hard to get along with or when you hear or read news of someone who has wronged another, pray for that person.

X Jesus came to reconcile humans to God and humans to one another. In prayer, invite Jesus to do that reconciling work in you too.

X Eat by candlelight each night of Lent, lighting a candle and saying, "Jesus is the light of the world" or echoing the words of the baptismal service, "Let your light so shine before others that they will see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (May this become your new family ritual.)

X Share a story about a person who has been the light of Christ in your life or a person for whom you have been that light.

May this season of living Lent be a wholly holy one for you and those you love.

Church and Home Ministry ~ Partners in Faith By Pam Vig, Director of Children’s Ministries

X Cost is $6 (regular price is $11.61) Come as often as your schedule permits. Bethel Women Having Fun is planning on having a hilarious time at the Plymouth Playhouse when we see “Church Basement Ladies: A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement.” This happens on Wednesday, February 22, when we leave Bethel at 10:15 a.m., have lunch at the Playhouse at 11:30 and enjoy the play at 1 p.m. All who are going need to have $36 to Lu Lindstrom before February 5. In March, we will be touring the beautiful State Capitol building in St. Paul. Because parking is at a premium, plans are being made to take a bus. There will be a charge for this, but the tour is free. Lunch will be in the Capitol cafeteria. Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary to Rolynn and Nancy Ensrud on February 9!

Remember! The deadline for the March issue of the Banner is February 15. If you would like to be added to the submission reminder email list, contact Lisa at lmcdermott@-bethelnorthfield.org. Thanks!

“Let’s Talk!” Once again, we’re making time during the Sunday school hour this year for youth, parents, and other Bethel adults to meet in the youth room for discussion groups. “Let’s Talk” is being held three times throughout the 2011-12 school year. A different topic is highlighted each session, and discussion questions are provided. Our second “Let’s Talk” discussion will be held during the Sunday school hour on February 5 and will focus on God & Sports. All high school and middle school youth and interested adults will meet in the Bethel Youth Center. Please join us for some great conversation around topics that affect and interest our youth!

The Monthly Senior Coffee will be on February 6 in the CLC.

Please come and enjoy some relaxing fellowship with Bethel friends! Calling all senior bowlers to join a fun bowling group. No averages, handicaps, or standings will be kept. Enjoy old friends. Meet new friends. Bring a friend! X Tuesdays, 2 p.m., through

March 27 X Jesse James Lanes, Northfield X Contact Henry Mueller, 663-0143,

or just show up.

Bethel Women Having Fun Calendar

Bethel News

February 2012 Page 5

All Bethel women are invited to join in the fun with this traveling monthly fellowship group!

Wednesday, February 22 - “Church Basement Ladies: A Mighty Fortress” (with front row seats!) Tuesday, March 20 - State Capitol, St. Paul Tuesday or Wednesday, April 17 or 18, Theater (TBA) May - No event (working on the Garage Sale) Tuesday, June 19 - Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis Tuesday, July 17 - Boat Ride Tuesday, August 21 - Potluck at Judy Code’s house

Share your art work with a narthex display Have you admired the art work – paintings, photography, weaving, sculpture, wood carving – that has been on display in our narthex and wondered if you would ever have a chance to share some of your artistic work with our congregation? The Visual Arts Committee is interested in providing that opportunity. The work should be thoughtful and spiritual and show a faith-based concept as its basis. Anyone interested in a chance to display their work is encouraged to submit a proposal to the Visual Arts Committee. This could be YOU. We’d love to hear from you.

~ Wendell Arneson, Chairman Visual Arts Committee

On Sunday, February 26, Bethel welcomes speaker and writer Dorothy Bass. Dorothy will preach at both services and lead our adult forum on the topic of Living Faith: Practicing the Presence of God in Daily Life. Come and hear how to live out your Christian faith with vitality and integrity in these changing times. Dorothy Bass directs the Valparaiso Project on the Education and Formation of People in Faith (www.practicingourfaith.org), a Lilly Endowment project based at Valparaiso University. She is the author of Receiving the Day: Christian Practices for Opening the Gift of Time and the editor of Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People and several other books. She is a member of Christ Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Valparaiso.

February 8 and 29, this month. Plan to join your Bethel friends for some fun, relaxation, and faith talk! wePOD meets on Sunday, February 19, immediately after the second service (noon-ish). If you’re good with people and like making a difference in the lives of others, come and find out what wePOD is all about. Another plus – you’ll be fed! 9ers & Mentors ~ Mentor Bowling is coming up! Plan to join us at the Jesse James Lanes at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, February 20. More information will be sent by email in the next few weeks. Put the date on your calendars and watch your emails for

good discussion among youth, parents, and other Bethel adults. A different topic is highlighted during each “Let’s Talk” session and discussion questions are provided. All high school and middle school youth will meet in the Bethel Youth Center. Join us on the 5th for discussion around the topic, God & Sports, with some of your favorite Bethel adults (Feel free to invite some.)! Middlers Movie Mob is back! We had a great first movie night in January so we’re looking forward to another this month. Our next “mob” will be held in the Bethel Youth Center on Friday, February 3, from 7–9 p.m. This is a great time to hang with your Bethel friends, catch a movie, have a few snacks, and even play a few games, if time permits. All 6th – 8th grade youth are welcome – join us for a cozy, fun night with your Bethel friends! Please RSVP by Wednesday, February 1. Hi Leaguers ~ Hi League will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday,

Valentine Dinner ~ Our next Bethel fundraiser is the Valentine Dinner which is scheduled for Sunday evening, February 12. The dinner will take place at Bethel in the Christian Life Center. Information has been sent to all youth about the work shifts that are available. A sign-up sheet is at the information station in the Bethel Youth Center. You may stop in, call, or email Barb to sign up for a shift. Don’t miss out on a chance to earn some money toward your summer trips and have a lot of fun at the same time! 6th Grade Connections ~ 6th Grade Connections will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, February 1 and 15, this month. A parent planning meeting will take place on both those nights at 6:30 p.m. in room #61A. “Let’s Talk!” Our second “Let’s Talk” discussion will be held during the Sunday school hour on Sunday, February 5, and will be led by our Bethel 8th grade youth. Our “Let’s Talk” sessions always provide much

Page 6 The Bethel Banner

Bethel Youth News

Barb Farmer, Director of Youth Ministries

786-8877 bfarmer@bethelnorthfield.org

article, Berry makes the case for creating space for one-on-one time with our children. He recognizes that much of that time will be nothing special, just an established routine. But every once in awhile those very regular, often monotonous, routines are what pave the way for deeper conversation and connection. They also give us openings for simple, but on occasion, deep faith talk. We frequently hear that, as parents, we have the greatest influence on our children. And because of that influence, we are most able to encourage our child’s faith growth. Knowing how to start can be difficult. Many of us mistrust our own ability to

Monday afternoon, I order a hazelnut Americano. Jake, my 9-year-old, gets an ice cream sandwich. Wednesday morning, I order a hazelnut Americano. TJ, my 14-year-old gets a Gatorade. Thursday morning, I order a hazelnut Americano. Tyler my 12-year-old, gets a blended vanilla chai. We exchange wisecracks with the owner of the local java spot. It’s the same every week. Jake and I just wing it and talk about weird stuff. To earn his ice cream, he has to ask me two questions about anything. We pray. I take him home.

This is the start of an article titled “The Non-Negotiable Power of Monotony” written by Brian Berry for the most recent issue of Group Magazine. In the

Extraordinary in the Ordinary By Barb Farmer, Director of Youth Ministries

YouthQuake, continued on Page 7.

teach our children about faith. After all, we’re not ordained and maybe never even had a high school or college course covering faith and religion. We aren’t the experts. We are, however, the ones our children trust most to be truthful, to know what’s best for them, and to pass along our wisdom and values. Initiating a weekly date with each child is one place to begin. Talk about your week, your highs and lows, ask and answer two questions of each other about anything, and say a short prayer together. Sounds easy, right? It is simple, but it could also become a precious and life-changing gift to you both. Try creating some monotony – together.

Get ready for the next Parents’ Night Out! Schedule that date night, painting project, or nap for

Saturday, February 25, 3:30-7:30 p.m. Drop off your children ages six months to 10 years old; a sign-up sheet can be found in the nursery. Watch the weekly Banner for more details.

February 2012 Page 7

Be sure to check out this month's nursery Picasso: Lucy Ruud is the February Artist of the Month! Stop by to see her beautiful masterpieces on the nursery bulletin board.

Nursery News

Juley Jenkinson, Nursery Coordinator

786-6674 jjenkinson@bethelnorthfield.org

Highlights of the December Church Council Meeting The Trustee reports various projects are being completed on the building

The Personnel Officer reported that his committee is setting up a retreat to look at the future staffing needs and priorities.

The Treasurer reported that they remain optimistic and confident that necessary funds for the end of the year will come in.

The Steward reported the recipients of the Christmas offering will be LSS Camp Noah and ELCA Disaster Relief earmarked for tornado victims in Joplin, MO.

Church Council discussed the need for congregational notification for the proposed changes to the constitution at the annual meeting.

Annual reports are due to the office by January 2.

Church Council will ratify nominations for the annual meeting at a special meeting at 8:00 a.m. on January 29.

further details. Please RSVP to Barb Farmer by Wednesday, February 15. This is a great chance to get to know your mentor/mentee better in a very casual setting! The Youth Fundraising Team will meet in the Fireside Room at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, February 27. General summer trip information was sent in January to all youth who are participating in summer trips. A few dates to

YouthQuake, continued from page 16.

You can continue to sign-up in the youth room or on this link: www.volunteerspot.com/login/entry/732345631841830094 March Food Drive ~ Be a hero! Help fight hunger! That is the new theme for the Minnesota March Food Drive. Will you help us? We need you! There will be a meeting to talk about plans on Wednesday, February 8, at 6:30 p.m. If you are interested in helping with the March Food Drive, please let Barb Farmer or Cindy Kreis know. Watch for more details in the Weekly Scoop.

The Y.E.S. team wants middle and high school youth to take part in opportunities to help others in our community and beyond. Current Y.E.S. opportunities are: Meals on Wheels ~ We have just seven Sundays in 2012 to fill up! Please give this service a try and help us complete our YES team commitment to deliver the BLUE Route each Sunday after the second service. Grab a friend or go with your family. It takes less than 30 minutes delivering to people who live in the retirement centers around Bethel. They truly appreciate your service!

Just Say Y.E.S. … (That's Youth Energized to Serve)

remember: February 15 will be the final cancellation date – after that date you will be responsible for the total cost of your trip even if you should have to cancel; March 15 is your next payment date when half of your balance is due. Families will receive a recap of your fundraiser earnings and balance at the end of this month. Summer trip meetings will be held in March – check the March Banner for the dates of those meetings.

Page 8 The Bethel Banner

Year-to-date Benevolences

SE MN Synod 25,000 Cannon River Conf.-ELCA 262 Community Action Center 3,300 Lutheran Social Services 11,000 Nfld. Retirement Center 2,400 Seminary Student Aid 1,000 CAC Thursday's Table 1,200 Nfld. Ministerial Assoc. 50 Global Mission/Justice 7,000 Benevolence Contingency 800 ELCA World Hunger 3,738 Sunday School- ISLA 587 Sun. Sch.- Christmas Sharing 778 Sun. Sch.- 8th Gr. Mission Trip 574

Total Sunday School 1,939 CAC Food Shelf 18,503 Soup Suppers 744

Total CAC Food Shelf 19,247 Easter Offering 2011 Ruth's House 3,025

Habitat/Humanity 3,025 6,050

Thanksgiving Offering 2011 Horn of Africa 2,825

2,825 Christmas Offering 2011 ELCA Disaster- Joplin 2,530

LSS- Camp Noah 2,530 5,060

Tanzania 100th Anniversary 740 Horn of Africa 692 Malaria 25 ELCA Disaster- Tornado 220 World Vision (30 hour famine) 348 Good Samaritan Funds used 2,587 Youth Scholarship funds used 1,619 Alternative Giving Fair 2011 3,421

100,523

As of December 31, 2011

X Offerings to the “Keeping Our Promise” building fund totaled $556,033, enabling additional loan principal payments in 2011 of $414,461, saving thousands of dollars of interest. X Gifts for benevolences totaled

$100,523. X In January 2012, the balance of gifts

to the Building Fund plus the $61,000 in the Debt Reserve Fund

Thank you to all who gave financial gifts in 2011. Together we moved Bethel forward and provided for the faith-filled mission of Bethel. A few highlights: X Offerings and other income to

support the daily work of Bethel exceeded direct expenses by almost $61,000, which was moved to the Debt Reserve Fund.

From the Finance Committee...

February 2012 Page 9

Enjoy the convenience of electronic giving Bethel Lutheran Church offers electronic giving, which allows you to make donations on a scheduled, automatic basis. If you are writing checks and preparing envelopes every week, you will especially appreciate electronic giving. It is convenient for you and provides much-needed donation consistency for Bethel. Simply Giving can be used for your regular faith-based giving and/or building fund pledge. How to get started ~ To set up electronic donations, simply complete the authorization form which can be found on Bethel’s website (bethelnorthfield.org) or on the information table in the narthex. Donations can be debited automatically from either a checking or savings account. Return the completed form to the church office, attention Gloria West. If you have any questions, please contact Gloria at 786-6687 or gwest@bethelnorthfield.org.

Financial News and Notes

Gloria West, Church Accountant

786-6687 gwest@bethelnorthfield.org

Capital Campaign Stock Donations If you are considering or planning to donate stock to Bethel, please contact Gloria at 786-6687 or gwest@bethelnorthfield.org before you make the transfer. When stocks are transferred to Bethel's brokerage account the name of the donor is not always available, so it is very important that you contact Gloria so she can credit your giving statement correctly and record your contribution per your instructions. If you need the delivery instructions to make the transfer from your account into Bethel's account, Gloria has that information also. Thanks for your generosity.

Capital Campaign 07/01/10 - 06/30/13 Results as of 12/31/2011 Pledges 1,746,659 Pledges Received (1,071,681)

Pledges to be Received 674,978

Non-Pledges Received 71,000

1/15/2009 Building Debt 3,500,000 Scheduled Principal payments (237,939) Additional Principal payments (1,278,361)

12/31/2011 Building Debt 1,983,700

Building Debt

were used to pre-pay an additional $90,000 of loan principal.

2012 is a new year with more members to serve, children and adults to educate, fellowship to flourish, and service to others to continue. We ask that you prayerfully consider your financial gifts to Bethel for both daily needs and to the “Keeping Our Promise” fund.

~ Barb Fowler, Treasurer

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February 2012 Page 11

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Page 12 The Bethel Banner

added new plastic items to the list of recyclable items. In the past, only items with the number codes 1 (soft drink & water bottles - leave the caps on the bottles) and 2 (milk cartons, detergent bottles) could be recycled. Now plastic items with codes 3 (cleaning products, salad dress bottles), 4 (plastic bags, food storage containers), 5 (yogurt containers, margarine tubs), 6 (small plastic flower pots, plastic cups) and 7 (misc. plastic containers & packaging) can be put inside your single sort recycling cart for curbside pickup. All containers must be rinsed and clean. For more information to www.co.rice.mn.us/waste. Because you can now recycle your prescription medicine bottles at home, we will no longer be collecting them at the Donation Station at Bethel.

After a brief discussion, we will write prayer petitions to display in the church. On February 15, we will watch “Lives for Sale,” a documentary that explores trafficking over the U.S./Mexico border. We’ll discuss the MN Girls Are Not For Sale campaign and write letters of support for the Minnesota Safe Harbor Law. On February 22, we will watch excerpts from “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Born into Brothels” and hear more from Lutheran Partners in Global Mission about how we might directly impact the lives of at-risk children in India.

Creation Care Tip ~ Good news for recycling in Rice County! On January 1, 2012, Waste Management

The Mission and Justice

Sojourners Study on Human Trafficking/Slavery concludes on Wednesday, February 1, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., in Bethel Classroom 62. Materials are provided. Learn. Reflect. Respond: A Human Trafficking Film Series, Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. During three Wednesday afternoons in February, we will watch and discuss a 40-minute video and then respond with a specific action or practice. Bethelites are welcome to attend just one session or all three. On February 8, we will watch “Bought and Sold,” an undercover documentary exposing the trafficking of women in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

From the Mission and Justice Committee Vision Statement: Since we believe that service is both an obligation and a privilege of the Christian life,

we seek to provide opportunities for Bethel members to learn about the needs of others in our world and to put their knowledge into action, heeding Christ's call to "Love your neighbor as yourself."

LPGM Minute for Mission The Arcot Lutheran Church, one of LPGM’s partners in India, is located in the center of one of the most destructive cyclones hitting South India in recent history. Cyclone Thane pummeled the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu on December 30, 2011, seven years after the same region was devastated by the massive 2004 tsunami. Many lives will be affected for quite some time due to the devastation. Please keep our brothers and sisters in Christ in your prayers. To contribute to relief efforts, send a check to LPGM, 122 West Franklin Avenue Suite 319, Minneapolis MN 55404.

ISLA News (Interfaith Services to Latin America) As winter really sets in, our thoughts more naturally turn to warmer climates and our friends in Jalapa. Thank goodness there's still time to get aboard ISLA's March 15-27, 2012, trip to Nicaragua! This should be an especially exciting service learning opportunity. In addition to the team's ongoing medical work with the women, war vets, and others, ISLA team members are looking forward to rehabilitating the Jalapa public library side by side with Nicaraguan workers. The results will open up a world of new learning and cultural opportunities at the library which has already been upgraded by Jalapa with new books, learning materials, shelving, and lighting. So don't miss out! Look for more

information and applications at the website, www.isla.cc in the "Trips" section. Deadline for applications is February 5, 2012. While you're at the website, click on our Facebook link and "Like" us at

www.facebook.com/ISLA.Nicaragua to catch up with old ISLA friends and to see updates and photos from the team who were recently in Jalapa. Virtually or in physical reality, Nicaragua is calling!

February 2012 Page 13

From Our Mission Interpreter... By Lois Stratmoen

Caregivers' economic well-being declines as funding for older adult services is cut. Wages already lag behind for nursing home

and assisted living caregivers and nurses. Unfortunately, in Minnesota there is a significant gap between caregivers' wages in nursing homes as compared to similar positions in hospital settings. The state's chronic underfunding of older adult services puts providers at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to attracting and retaining talent.

~ The Long-Term Care Imperative, information provided by the Northfield

Retirement Community

From Across the Parking Lot...

All are invited to the WELCA birthday party at the Northfield Retirement

Community on Monday, February 6, at 2:45 p.m. Meet the residents, share a smile, a kind word, and a cup of coffee. Good music will be provided also! Contact Elaine Deim at 645-9285, or Caryl Vohs at 645-6009, for more information.

WELCA Notes

our congregation to be a part of the solution to the life-threatening situation for innumerable people whom we will never meet or know but whose lives will be sustained because we cared enough to help.

largely held in livestock and crop production, have drastically hurt the average family’s ability to buy what necessities may be available locally. Thousands of people have resorted to selling material possessions, removing children from school, and even leaving their homes in search of food and water. Half of the ELCA’s distribution of emergency funds will be used to respond to the immediate needs of Somali refugees arriving at the Dadaab camps. In addition to food for survival, these needs include tents and tarps for shelter, clothes, shoes, and sanitary kits. The funds will also be used to educate the local staff allowing them to provide the best care possible for the refugees.

The article continued by adding that the ELCA will also provide relief through the Lutheran World Federation and that the ELCA is a member of the global ACT (Action by Churches Together) Alliance through which we work for positive and sustainable changes in the lives of people affected by poverty and injustice. Thank you, Bethel members, for your Thanksgiving offering contributions which allowed

When looking through newsletters and internet sources for this month’s Mission Interpreter article, I found the announcement that the ELCA had contributed $400,000 to Horn of Africa drought relief as of last September. Because individuals and congregations have continued to send contributions to the ELCA, as Bethel did with our Thanksgiving offering, this amount will be increased. The announcement shared the following information:

For the second year in a row, the rainy season has failed, resulting in the worst drought conditions the region has witnessed in 60 years. “Rain is the lifeblood of everything in the region,” according to Megan Bradfield, program director for International Disaster Response with the ELCA. “Without rain, crops fail, livestock perish, and the security of families is jeopardized, because they are unable to adequately protect themselves from the harsh realities of famine.” The current drought situation affects more than 11 million people throughout Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, and calls for urgent action. Rapidly shrinking household assets,

YUM! Sign Up for ACTS Do you like to eat dinner? Want to get to know other Bethel members better? ACTS is for you! Adult Christians Together Socially allows Bethel members to become acquainted over a friendly, casual meal. ACTS consists of a group of six people, couples and/or singles, meeting together in one another’s homes on three separate occasions over the course of two or three months for a potluck brunch, lunch or dinner. Join an ACTS group today – all adult Bethel members are welcome! The sign-up deadline is February 12 - look for a sign-up sheet at the information table. Questions? Call Mary Nystuen at 645-4011.

Adult Ed, continued on Page 15.

The Bethel Banner Page 14

Mission and Justice Films - Human Trafficking and Slavery - Wednesdays, February 8, 15, and 22, 2012, 4:30–5:30 p.m., Bethel Classroom 62.

What's So Amazing About Grace - with Jill Eastman, 9-10:30 a.m., Saturdays,

February 18-March 31, in the Fireside Room. Join a book study on What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey in which we will explore this question in depth. In 1987, an IRA bomb buried Gordon Wilson and his twenty-year-old daughter beneath five feet of rubble. Gordon alone survived. And forgave. He said of the bombers, “I have lost my daughter, but I bear no grudge. . . . I shall pray, tonight and every night, that God will forgive them.” His words caught the media's ear—and out of one man's grief, the world got a glimpse of grace. Grace is the church's great distinction. It's the one thing the world cannot duplicate, and the one thing it craves above all else—for only grace can bring hope and transformation to a jaded world. If grace is God's love for the undeserving, he asks, then what does it look like in action? And if Christians are its sole dispensers, then how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy? Contact Jill Eastman for details at 507-301-2822. ‘James’ a Book of Faith Study – with Lisa McDermott, Wednesdays, February 29 - March 21, Bethel Classroom 62 The key to understanding and appreciating the New Testament Letter of James is wisdom - the creative gift of God that enables God's people to live and grow in responsible maturity. As you participate in this four-session Book of Faith Bible study, you may well find comfort, strength, and power in the letter of James.

Bethel is committed to building and equipping disciples for Christ and His Kingdom through our Adult Education offerings. We encourage every adult in our Bethel community to participate in the forums, classes, and retreats that are offered this year.

For all Adults on Sunday For all Adults on Sunday MorningsMornings

Adult Ed Classes

Mathetes with Pastor Tim, 9:45-10:30 a.m., Fireside Room Learn through Scripture what it means to be a disciple of Christ, with a focus this winter on the Lord’s Prayer. Membership Matters, February 5 and April 15 – 12 to 1:30 p.m. If you are a Bethel visitor who is thinking about joining Bethel, you are invited to join the Bethel staff on one of the above dates for a casual pizza lunch and an informative gathering about Bethel congregation, its mission and ministries, and our hopes and dreams for the future. While not required, MM may help you decide if Bethel is the right congregation for you. Adult Faith Forums Sunday Mornings, 9:45 – 10:30 a.m. February 26: speaker and writer Dorothy Bass, on Living Faith: Practicing the Presence of God in Daily Life, in the sanctuary. (See details on page 5.)

Adult Ed Opportunities Adult Ed Opportunities during the Weekduring the Week

A class on the overview of the Bethel Bible Series Old Testament meets every other Wednesday in the Bethel library from 10 to 11:15 a.m. This series helps us understand the Bible’s lessons by first understanding the historical and cultural context in which it was written. This class is led by Kris and Caryl Vohs. For more information, contact them at 645-6009.

Ongoing and Upcoming Adult Education Genesis to Revelation – Wednesdays, April 4 – May 16, 2012, 4:30 – 5:30 pm, Bethel Classroom 62. A fun snapshot view and discussion of the Bible from cover to cover led by Pastor Charlie. Bethel Women’s Study, Thursdays, 8 – 9 a.m., Bethel’s Fireside Room. Women of Bethel meet each Thursday for good coffee and rich conversation. We are reading The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg. New attendees are welcome to join us at any time and can pick up a copy of the book at Monkey See, Monkey Read in downtown Northfield. For more information, contact Pam Santerre at 786-8951. Men of Bethel (MOB), Thursdays, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m., Bethel Classrooms 61 A&B. New participants are always welcome. Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA) Bible Study The 2011-2012 Bible study is To Follow and To Serve: The Gospel of Mark by Patricia Lull. This study is an invitation to discipleship in the 21st century, emphasizing what it means to follow Jesus Christ today. Barb Holm will be leading a monthly study for WELCA circle leaders and anyone else who is interested. They will meet most months on the first Monday of each month, from 7-8 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Please contact Barb at 301-8184 if you plan to attend and need the study materials. Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA) Circles Women gather together in their WELCA Circles monthly for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. They are

Living Faith

Pam Santerre, Pastoral Minister

786-8951 psanterre@bethelnorthfield.org

personal relevance today. This is God's direct message to ME. It is full of understanding, compassion, truth and love. Judy Narhi My chosen scripture was Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Having memorized this Psalm in grade school, it has always come to me in times of uncertainty, fear, and trouble when I will recite it—sometimes over and over again. Using Kushner's book in our book study further deepened my love of the Psalm. It takes me through the dark times and back into the light. It is especially meaningful for me this week as I face a crucial medical procedure the results of which could significantly affect my life. I will use it as a source of strength during my procedure and as I await diagnosis. Group Participant If there is a passage of scripture where God has been present to you, I invite you to consider sharing with others a short reflection of how this verse has sustained you.

Email your reflection to psanterre@bethelnorthfield.org or drop it off at the church office.

Over the last few months, the focus of these Living Faith articles has been on those verses or stories that have special meaning for us in our daily lives. Bethel’s Thursday Women’s Book Study group is currently reading Marcus Borg’s The Heart of Christianity. In chapter 3, Borg encourages us to experience the Bible as sacrament, “the way that God speaks to us and comes to us.” One of our study questions was to share a passage of scripture through which we have been particularly aware of God's accompanying presence. I am privileged to share the following responses from women in the group. For three days, sleeping on the Earth, and listening, I entered a deep state of humility by the time the morning star finally appeared on the fourth morning; God had given the Gift to me described in Romans 8:38: " For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Ina Mae Lovsness Christopherson My most meaningful verse(s) are 1 Timothy 1: 12-16: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Paul may have written this centuries ago, but I feel its very

February 2012 Page 15

open to all women; Bethel has several to fit any schedule. If you are interested in joining a circle, or would like to begin a new group, please contact Marcia Omdahl at 664-9052.

Workshops, Retreats, Workshops, Retreats, Events, Support Groups Events, Support Groups

Via de Cristo is a Spanish phrase meaning "Way of Christ." A Via de Cristo weekend is a three-day retreat designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christian people and bring them to a new awareness of living in God's grace. Via de Cristo is open to all adults, single or married. If you are interested in attending, or have already attended one and want to volunteer to work a weekend, please contact Mike and Sandy Ahrens or Roger and Vikki VanVeldhuizen for more information. Upcoming Via de Cristo Retreats at Bethel: March 8-11, Men's weekend March 15-18, Women's Adult Winter Retreat, Saturday, February 25, 8:30 a.m.—5 p.m., Mt. Olivet Retreat Center. See page 19 for details.

Bethel Seniors Bethel Seniors Together At Together At Retirements Retirements (STARS) (STARS) Quarterly eventsQuarterly events

Luncheon and Program at Bethel, Thursday, March 22, 2012, 12 – 2 p.m. at Bethel – Save the date! Luncheon and Program at Bethel, Thursday, May 10, 2012, 12 – 2 pm at Bethel – Save the date!

Adult Ed, continued from page 14.

The Bethel Banner Page 16

February Worship Servants

February 5 February 12 February 19 February 26

Assisting Minister (8:30 a.m.)

Carol Lysne Mike Ahrens Lu Lindstrom Noel Stratmoen

Assisting Minister (10:45 a.m.)

Libby Glimsdal Mike Ahrens Christina Schwietz Knight Stanley

Reader (8:30 a.m.) Jim Holden Carol Cole Bethel Youth Rosann Brawley

Reader (10:45 a.m.) Elizabeth Leer Kristi Huettl Bethel Youth Carol Lysne

Acolytes (8:30 a.m.) Grace Peterson, Sam Hegseth

Liv Sorenson, Mikhail Geissler

Danielle Haines, Anders Johnson

Linnea Larson, Spencer Luecke

Acolytes (10:45 a.m.) Vera Paton, Maddy Meyer Gabriella Vargas, Isabel Aylin

Andrew Baumgartner , Grace Carlson

Kayla Greden, Garrett Sawyer

Sacramental Ministers (8:30 a.m.)

Mike & Sandy Ahrens, Wendell Arneson & Beth Christenson, Kitty Runzheimer

Carol Cole, Jill Eastman, Connie DeGrote, Sandy Ahrens, Rose Turnacliff

Bethel Youth Abbie Meierbachtol, Dot Swanson, Marcia Omdahl, Kristi Huettl, Sandy Reiman

Sacramental Ministers (10:45 a.m.)

Jean Mueller, Dan Foley, Pam Vig, Barb Farmer, Marci Groenewold

Barb Neitzel, Pam Vig, Marci Groenewold, need 2 more

Bethel Youth Cindy Kreis, Roger & Vikki VanVeldhuizen, Barb Henwood, Barb Farmer

Ushers (8:30 a.m.) Ellis Lysne, Bob Vanderhoof, Roger Glasgow, Dale Turnacliff

Char & David Jacobsen, Mac Gimse, Roger Glasgow

Bethel Youth Steve Meierbachtol, Kyle Nordine, Jim Moberg, Tony Huettl

Ushers (10:45 a.m.) Gerry & Carol Gengenbach, Steve & Carol O’Neill

Tony Huettl, Juley & Chad Jenkinson, Roger VanVeldhuizen

Bethel Youth Marv Farmer, Ryan Blumhoeffer, Juley & Chad Jenkinson

Greeters (8:30 a.m.) Myrna Johnson Marc & Misty Westergren

Gary & Sonia Johnson Jill Fisher

Mac & Jackie Gimse Jim Dimick

Peggy Fink Jill Fisher

Greeters (10:45 a.m.) Gene & Barbara Holmgren Gary & Laura Greenlund Kelly Groenewold Barbara & Gene Holmgren

Gary & Laura Greenlund

Nametags (8:30 a.m.) John & Marion Dragelin Bill & Ruth Hoekstra

Bonnie Kurt Barb Fowler

Mike & Mary Graff

Eric & Patty Christianson Jim Dimick

Nametags (10:45 a.m.) Kelly & Marci Gorenewold Jon & Brenda Lund

Michael & Patricia Smith Marc & Misty Westergren Karen Mader John & Marion Dragelin

Coffee Servers Bill & Ruth Hoekstra Chris & Caroline Bussmann Mike & Mary Graff Barb Fowler Karen Mader

Kelly & Marci Groenewold Gary & Sonia Johnson Myrna Johnson Chris & Caroline Bussman Karen Mader Mark & Bonnie Johnson

Mac & Jackie Gimse Jon & Brenda Lund Laura Berdahl Shirley Larsen Clayton & Linda Bliese Eric & Rebecca McMullen

Eric & Patty Christianson Peggy Fink Kelly & Marci Groenewold Myrna Johnson Jean Miller

The Bethel Banner The Bethel Banner

February 2012 Page 17

A Measure of Our Commitment January Worship Attendance average per Sunday

2009 2010 2011 2012

509 502 475 *443

Average Year-to-date Worship Attendance

2009 2010 2011 2012

509 502 475 *443

*Not including January 29, 2012

The Bethel Banner is published monthly as a ministry of Bethel Lutheran Church of Northfield, Minnesota. The congregation is invited to submit articles to the church office. Articles are due by the 15th of each month. Questions, suggestions, or comments? Contact editor Lisa McDermott at lmcdermott@bethelnorthfield.org, by phone at 645-0740, or call the church office at 786-6674.

February 2012 February 2012

February 5 February 12 February 19 February 26

Altar Care Tammy & Randy Christel Lu Lindstrom Pastor Tim McDermott Rosann Brawley

Communion Angels

Alice Dale, Arlene Neil Sharon Stoeck, Kay Gredvig Carol Cole Elaine Deim, Dick and Orpah Johnson

A/V Room (8:30 a.m.) Seth Hanson V Jack Beaumaster A

Jordan Ett V Liam Fisher A

Seth Hanson V Ben Coleman A

Nathan Dahlen V Ruth Nelson A

A/V Room (10:45 a.m.)

David Kreis V Joe Kreis A

Mark Lewis V Andrew Kivell A

Jordan Ett V Patrick Walker A

Mark Lewis V Rose Mibus A

Service Group Chairperson: Brenda Lund (507) 202-2301

Trained AARP Tax-Aide Volunteers will prepare and electronically file individual income tax returns for taxpayers of low and middle incomes, with special attention to those age 60 and older. Call 664-3700 for an appointment, which will take place at the Northfield Senior Center, Monday through Saturday, 8:30-11:30 a.m., February 6 through April 14. Please bring with you: X A copy of your 2010 tax return X Social Security and ID cards,

including one photo ID for taxpayer

Tax Preparation Help Available X W-2 forms from your employer X All 1099 forms that show social

security income for 2011, pension income, interest or dividend income, and sale of stocks or mutual funds

X Other miscellaneous income X If a renter, a copy of your 2011

Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP) X If a homeowner, a copy of property

tax paid in 2011 and, when received, a copy of tax payable in 2012.

Have an Urgent Pastoral Care Need? Our pastoral team seeks to be responsive to church members’ needs at all times. If you experience an immediate need for help (death in the family, health crisis, etc.) the Pastoral Care staff is available 24 hours a day: Daytime, Monday through Friday: Call the church office at 786-6674. Nights and Weekends: Call the Pastoral Care phone at 649-0323. Pastor Tim, Pastor Charlie, and Pam Santerre, Pastoral Minister, are available on a rotating basis via this cell phone number.

Ministry training. This is a condensed training offered Friday night, Saturday morning and afternoon, and concluding with a Sunday afternoon session. Core Befriending principles such as confidentiality are taught as well as good listening skills, and understanding loss and grief issues. Befriender training is offered to all Bethel members at no charge and with no obligation to join the Bethel Befriender team after the training is taken. If you are interested in this training, please call the church office or contact one of the Bethel Befriender coordinators.

Blessings from Bethel's Befrienders

Some time ago, a long-time Bethel Befriender shared a poem entitled “The Secret”

by Emily Dickenson: You told it to your friend, His oath was deep, Now here’s a question for your wisdom shelf, How did you expect some other one to keep the secret you could not keep yourself? This little poem serves as a reminder of the importance of confidentiality in our Befriender Ministry relationships. It is one of the key principles that define Befriender ministry. This month, Bethel will again team up with the Befriender ministers at St Dominic to provide Befriender

in the library. Patrons must sign a form accepting responsibility for the replacement cost if the Nook is lost, stolen, or damaged. If a Bethelite under 18 wants to check out the Nook, the form must be signed by a parent. Nooks must be returned within three weeks of being borrowed, or a late fee of $1/day will be assessed. When returning a Nook, it must be given to Sandy, Paula, or Darla Dahl in the library, NOT left in the drop boxes or elsewhere in the library. This may be a good opportunity for:

The Library Ministry Team is excited to announce that two Nook eReaders have been purchased for use by Bethelites! Books are preloaded onto the Nook, and you'll be ready to start reading with the touch of a button! Choose from selections such as Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo, What's So Amazing About Grace? by Phillip Yancey, and twelve others. Basic instructions come with each Nook. In order to check out a Nook, Bethelites must go through Sandy or Paula in the church office or someone

X winter travelers who love to read, but would rather not lug heavy books along; X anyone who has been wondering

what it is like to use an eReader but didn't want to make an investment; X anyone who wants well-written,

thought-provoking Christian writing in one neat package!

Happy reading!

Library Corner

Befrienders By Marci Groenewold

The Bethel Banner Page 18

Leave the rest of the world behind and enjoy some quality time for just the two of you on a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend. You’ll spend two nights in a comfortable hotel and enjoy five delicious meals from Friday at 7 p.m. to Sunday at 5 p.m. Engaging presentations give you valuable tools which are followed by exercises and

questions the two of you discuss in the privacy of your hotel room, There is no counseling or required sharing. The spring Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekends are March 23-25 in Duluth and May 4-6 in Walker. For more information, visit www.godlovesmarriage.org.

A Valentine Gift!

† A core Befriender principle: “God is present." For more information, call Marci Groenewold, (649-0760), Knight Stanley (612-877-0893 ), Jean Miller (645-5353), or the Bethel office (786-6674). Befriender Calendar at a Glance:

Befriender training: Friday-Sunday, February 17-19, at St. Dominic's in the Devney-Hughes Room.

Follow-up training: March 6, 7 p.m., “Making Meaning” and a welcome to the newly trained Befrienders, at St. Dominic's in the Devney-Hughes Room. This is a joint meeting of the Bethel and St Dominic Befrienders. Mental Health First Aid Training Session: March 8-9, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day, at St. John's Lutheran Church. The National Alliance on Mental Health - Minnesota office will hold this session. Lunch will be served. Due to a government grant, there is no cost for the training session.

My thank you to Pastor Tim and Mike Graff for handling the situation. Pastor Tim later visited me at the hospital. My thanks to the four doctors, the ushers, and many congregational members who assisted in the transporting of Joyce and me to Northfield Hospital. I was treated at Abbott Hospital and am home now and fully recovered. Our sincere thanks to all involved.

Ken Snede [Ed. Note: When Ken collapsed during the 3 p.m. Christmas Eve sermon, he was blessed by the quick and expert help of several Bethelites, including doctors, nurses and first responders, and whisked to Northfield Hospital for evaluation. The service continued, after a brief time, with special prayers for Ken and his caregivers.] Thank you for your $625 gift to Bread for the World. The financial support of faith communities like yours is very encouraging. Your contribution is very helpful during this time of continuing famine

in the Horn of Africa and increasing poverty here in the United States. Thanks in large part to you and other Bread for the World members, Congress recently passed the agricultural appropriations -without any cuts to food aid for Africa or to WIC, the nutrition program for mothers and young children in our own country. But many other programs vital to hungry people are at risk. To find out how you can help create a circle of protection around these life-saving measures, visit www.bread.org. Thank you again for your generosity.

May your celebration of Christ’s birth be a sourc eof joy and hope throughout the New Year.

David Beckmann, Bread for the World

X Bethel often receives more thank you notes than we have space available. Some of those published are edited due to space constraints. Thank you for all you give!

We have so much to be thankful for...

February 2012 Page 19

beliefs, values, and blessings to future generations. Legacy writing may lead you to write a Spiritual Ethical Will, an affirmation letter to a child or simply become a practice you continue to enjoy in private. This is not a creative writing seminar; it is about heart work. No one is expected to share any writing on this retreat but you will have an opportunity to share how this practice feels to you and/or what you discover about yourself in the process. Some free time will be set aside in the afternoon to enjoy this beautiful setting by relaxing inside or hiking/skiing 5 miles of groomed trails.

Saturday, February 25 8:30 a.m.—5 p.m. Mt. Olivet Retreat Center Cost: $35 (includes lunch, morning & afternoon snacks)

What will be your spiritual legacy? During this retreat, we will mine our memories for stories rooted in the past, reflect on how our values have been shaped by people and events, consider our lives of significance in the present, and find the wisdom, love, and blessings we want to share. We will be introduced to the spiritual practice of legacy writing and led in a variety of exercises to express our

Presenter Judy Young is a nationally certified Legacy Writing Facilitator. Judy enjoys working with adults of all ages to mine memories of those people, places, and events that shaped them. She also loves working with parents to write love letters of affirmation to children. Brochures and registration forms are on the Information table in the narthex. For more information, contact Pam Santerre, Pastoral Minister at 507/786-8951 or psanterre@bethelnorthfield.org. Please register by February 13.

Bethel Adult Winter Retreat

Sharing Your Spiritual Legacy

Many thanks to our outgoing Councilmember:

Sandy Reiman

Thank you for your service and dedication!

Bethel Lutheran Church is a body of believers redeemed by Christ who Call and welcome all people; Act to serve our neighbors in need; Respond with God’s love to one another; and Encourage spiritual growth.

Bethel Staff Timothy McDermott, Senior Pastor .................................786-6674...........tmcdermott@bethelnorthfield.org Charlie Ruud, Associate Pastor..........................................786-6674...........cruud@bethelnorthfield.org Barb Farmer, Director of Youth Ministries .....................786-8877...........bfarmer@bethelnorthfield.org Rhonda Reece, Director of Music and Worship.............786-8874...........rreece@bethelnorthfield.org Sandy Peterson, Office Administrator..............................786-6674...........speterson@bethelnorthfield.org Pam Santerre, Pastoral Minister.........................................786-8951...........psanterre@bethelnorthfield.org Pam Vig, Director of Children’s Ministries .....................786-8878...........pvig@bethelnorthfield.org Gloria West, Church Accountant ......................................786-6687...........gwest@bethelnorthfield.org Paula Mathison, Secretary/Receptionist...........................786-6674...........pmathison@bethelnorthfield.org Mike Graff, Custodian.........................................................786-6674...........bethel@bethelnorthfield.org Ken Hu, Janitor ....................................................................786-6674...........bethel@bethelnorthfield.org Dan Kallman, Adult Choir Director .................................786-6674...........bethel@bethelnorthfield.org Jill Mahr, Youth Handbell Director ..................................786-6674...........bethel@bethelnorthfield.org Elizabeth Shepley, Children’s Choir Director .................786-6674...........bethel@bethelnorthfield.org Juley Jenkinson, Nursery Coordinator..............................786-6674...........jjenkinson@bethelnorthfield.org Tim Freeland, A/V Room Manager .................................786-6674...........bethel@bethelnorthfield.org Ruth Bolstad, Kitchen Manager.........................................786-6674...........bethel@bethelnorthfield.org Church Library......................................................................786-6674...........library@bethelnorthfield.org Bethel Banner submissions................................................. ...........................lmcdermott@bethelnorthfield.org Pastoral Care Emergencies .................................................649-0323

Bethel Lutheran Church 1321 North Avenue Northfield, MN 55057 ● ● ● Phone: 507-786-6674 Web: www.bethelnorthfield.org

www.facebook.com/bethellutheran Email: bethel@bethelnorthfield.org ● ● ● Return Service Requested

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