join us for the bethlehem block...
TRANSCRIPT
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STAR September, 2019 Issue 428
Join us for the Bethlehem Block Party!
Sunday September 8
10:30 worship, 11:30—1:00 food,
bounce houses and more!
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From the Children’s and Families Pastor
Rev. Kari Dubord
Thank You! This summer we had a blast each week during 2 Days
of Play! We learned more about Jesus, how much He
loves us, we served others and we played!
A special thanks to: Sonja Swanson for giving of your
time to engage with a group of kids and encourage
fun during the first session of 2 Days of Play. And
Lars Markson for helping to lead the 2 Days of Play
weeks!
New Volunteers Are Always Welcome Are you interested in spending time with some of our
youngest Bethlehemites? Check with Pastor Kari to
see if spending time in the nursery or Children’s
Church would be a great fit for you.
Sundays at Church Nursery
Nursery care is available for children birth-2 (turning
3) year olds for both services and Sunday School. For
parents volunteering or in Sunday School, there is
childcare available during the Sunday School hour
too.
Alejandra will be the point person for each service.
On October 6th, we are looking for a volunteer to join
her.
Sunday School
If you are interested in leading a group of upper ele-
mentary kids, please contact Pastor Kari. Preschool (3
by 9/1/19) - 5th grade meet from 9:50am-10:50am for
age appropriate bible memorization, large group sto-
ry time, reflection and then break into smaller groups
for snack and age level activities.
Worship Tools
Kids’ Sermon Notes, fidgets, color sheets/crayons and
children’s Bibles are available during both services to
help children engage in the worship service.
Children’s Church
Children age 3 (by 9/1/2018)- Kindergarten are invited
to attend Children’s Church during both services for a
short Bible lesson and play time.
Wonderful Wednesdays
We have been in a period of transition, so we are
pausing the Wonderful Wednesday meal and Chil-
dren's Programming. We are going to regroup in ear-
ly September to talk about how to revamp Wonderful
Wednesday's with the hope of rolling out a new plan,
beginning October 23. If you are able to volunteer to
help with the meal portion or the kids' programming,
please let the office at [email protected].
(Adult choir and Confirmation will still be meeting.)
Praying For Our Children We will begin gathering again once a month in Sep-
tember. For more information please email Pastor
Kari or Jerry Erickson.
As a church family, we believe that it is important to
pray for one another. One way we do this is through
a monthly gathering where a group from church
meets to pray for the kids who have birthdays that
month. Prayer requests are given by family members
and we spend time praying for each child (birth-
college).
Summer Baptism On Friday, July 26th Beatrice Sanka was baptized by
Pastor Kari during Trailblazers III at Covenant Pines!
May God’s blessing rest upon her.
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September 8 September 15 September 22 September 29
Themes to Pre-
pare for Worship
Luke 14:25-33 Luke 15:1-10 Luke 16:1-13 Luke 10:17-20
Contemporary Service
Greeter Lowery Smith Lowery Smith Lowery Smith
Gathering
Sunday
Block Party
Scripture Reader Evelyn Ramgren Becky Ramgren Andy Reeher
Ushers x4 Peter and Kathy
Parten
Deidre and Taly
Gentolizo
Rhonda and Alyssa
Isaacs
Children’s Church Frasch Family Jennifer Anderberg Holty Family
Nursery Care x2 Alejandra Correo &
Miriam O’Bert
Alejandra Correo & Ade-
la Dubord
Alejandra Correo & Ad-
ela Dubord
Early Coffee Hour Jenny Hokanson Terri Stromberg Christine O’Bert
Adult Sunday
School
Same Sex Attraction I
with Dr. Gary Strauss
Same Sex Attraction II
with Dr. Gary Strauss
Same Sex Attraction III
with Dr. Gary Strauss
Classic Service
Greeter Lowery Smith Lowery Smith Lowery Smith Lowery Smith
Scripture Reader Sally Sundberg Sue Johnson Rick Johnson Linda Solie
Ushers x4 Mike, Cheryll, and Ethan
Fong Kaarina Kotkavouri
Mike, Cheryll, and
Ethan Fong
Kaarina Kotkavouri
Mike, Cheryll, and Ethan
Fong Kaarina Kotkavouri
Mike, Cheryll, and
Ethan Fong
Kaarina Kotkavouri
Nursery Care x2 Alejandra Correo &
Adela Dubord
Alejandra Correo &
Beatrice Sanka
Alejandra Correo &
Adela Dubord
Alejandra Correo &
Adela Dubord
Children’s Church Lars Markson & Youth Lilla Family Chris Simon Lars Markson
Late Coffee Hour Block Party Juli Swanson Nancy Lindquist Mary Jones Morris
Sunday Preparations Sign up to volunteer at: bethlehemcov.org/find/sign-up-to-help;
Or contact the office at [email protected]; 612.721.5768
*All blank spots are open for volunteers, as of September 3,2009
September Birthdays
1 Peter Dubord
2 Rita Johnson
Dick Sundberg
Walter Abramson
4 Elizabeth Camozzi
5 Nan Briesemeister
9 Linnea Thompson
10 Laura Sanka
12 Toni Brezina
13 Tracy Paige
David Johnson
Maya Kaczor
14 Joyce Johnson
Becky Ramgren
Ellis Newhouse
15 Katie Elden
Sophia Verdoorn
17 Dan Kaczor
18 Ralph Anderson
Cheryll Fong
Arissa Krongard
Ellory Johnson
19 Berit Parten
20 Miriam O’Bert
25 Anjali Krongard
Rebekah Peterson
26 Joe Merriam
Yaphet May
Greta Christiansen
27 Nina Abramson
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Bethlehem Bulletin Board
Wonderful Wednesdays During this period of transition, we are pausing the
Wonderful Wednesday meal and Children's Program-
ming for a few weeks. There is a plan to regroup in
early September to talk about how to revamp Wonder-
ful Wednesday's with the hope of rolling out a new
plan, beginning October 23. If you are able to volun-
teer to help with the meal portion or the kids' pro-
gramming, please let the office
at [email protected]. (Adult choir and Confir-
mation will still be meeting.)
October STAR Deadline The October STAR deadline is September 23.
Bible Encounter Begins September 26 Bible encounter will resume Thursday, September 26
at 10:00am.
Finance Update As of the end of July, contributions to Bethlehem are
behind the approved budget and also behind the
amount that has been spent. To continue to meet our
financial obligations it's important that we
each make sure that our giving is in line with our com-
mitments. The numbers below show the state of Beth-
lehem church finances.
Actual Income (through 7/31) $ 301,879
Budgeted Income $ 331,999
---------------------------------------------------
Deficit in Income -> 9.0% ($ 30,120)
Total Expenses (through 7/31) $ 319,934
---------------------------------------------------
Amount of Expenses over Income -> 6.0% ($ 18,055)
Please prayerfully consider your own financial situa-
tion and your ability to bring your giving up to date.
Thank you.
The Finance Commission
Adult Sunday School Adult Sunday School Returns September 15!
We kick off our fall semester with a four-part series by
Dr. Gary Strauss: “Same-Sex Attraction: Individual,
Family, Marital, and Congregational Realities.” In re-
sponse to Bethlehem‘s important discussions on these
issues – issues that spark a multitude of emotions –
this series offers us a safe place to openly and lovingly
continue the conversation. Over four sessions, Gary
will consider each area affected by the realities of
same-sex attraction: the individual, the family, the in-
stitution of marriage, and our own congregation, ad-
dressing hopes and fears in the light of Scripture and
God’s will for the creation.
Please join us for this timely series on Sundays, Sep-
tember 15, 22, 29, and October 13, at 10:00am in the
Community Room.
A CALL FOR QUESTIONS: If you have questions you
would like Gary to address, please send them directly
to his email before September 15 is
Harp Music on October 6 Cathy Victorsen will be playing harp music on October
6 during worship. There will be one service that Sun-
day due to the church retreat. Worship will begin at
10:30.
Senior Happenings—
Phantom of the Opera The Senior happenings group will be attending the
Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera at the
Orpheum Theater, Thursday, November 21st. There
will be a buffet lunch at 11:30 and the play will begin at
1:00. Tickets are $53. If you are interested in attending
contact Joyce Hanson soon
at: [email protected] or 612 729 2047. Feel free
to leave a message.
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Bethlehem Bulletin Board
Thanks From Ace In The City The Back2School Bash was held Saturday, August 24th
in Powderhorn Park. Here’s a note from Tim Ander-
son.
THANKS! We couldn't have done it without the gener-
osity of our church partners. Thank you for pushing
the Backpack Drive each and every week, and for
those from your churches that came and served.
Saturday was a huge success, we thought! The meas-
ure of success? I think Tim said it best in his Monday
Minute this morning:
Our 7thAnnual Back2School Bash was on Saturday,
definitely taking advantage of a perfect Minnesotan
summer afternoon. Before jumping into the event, we
huddled together our volunteers, encouraging them to
be present during the event. Presence, as I had de-
fined it, was maintaining a posture that was
both generously able to give AND generously able to
receive.
As a volunteer, it’s easy to come into spaces like this
as the generous giver—which, of course, is partially
true, but if left unchecked, can lead down some dan-
gerous lines of thinking (savior complex, othering,
etc). I contend most of us can grow the most as we
develop postures that are generously able to receive—
seeing those around us as having something we need.
So much to celebrate from Saturday—the hundreds of
backpacks and thousands of school supplies distribut-
ed with dignity into our neighborhood, the haircuts
and giant inflatables and bike raffles and delicious
grilled food. But it was a team of volunteers who
shared with me, with new eyes, their fresh and more
dignified discoveries of community involvement that
may have been the biggest win.
As we grow and mature, everyone around us wins. As
we realize we have so much to give AND so much to
receive, belonging is cultivated. And in so many ways,
belonging was cultivated on Saturday.
THANK YOU to everyone who gave and received gen-
erously.
All Church Retreat at Covenant Pines Bible Camp! October 4-6 Registration forms and more information are available in the narthex. Contact the office with questions.
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Fall Kick-off
This Fall is the start to a lot of new things. Youth group, Confirmation, Sunday School and more school-year
activities! Here is a list of new changes to the weekly schedule we will be testing out this Fall and how you
can get your students involved.
Sunday morning we will have Sunday School for all 6th-12th grade students between services. Meet in the
newly repainted youth room upstairs for some doughnuts, laughs and lessons taught by Lars, Blake and
Sara.
That same night (Sunday) we will be switching to Sr. High youth group at 6:30 pm till 8. This is available to
all students 9th-12th grade and our first Youth Group of the year will be Sept. 22nd. This will be a time of fel-
lowship, learning and leading together. I am excited for all the new freshman to be able to join us!
The last big change in with the confirmation class. I, Lars, will be teaching confirmation this year for any
and all 7th and 8th grade students. We will meet Wednesday nights at 6:30 and spend the year learning about
the Bible and how the Old Testament can be used to help us guide our lives of faith.
This should be an amazing year. I love the excitement that comes from new things starting and for the op-
portunity to spend time with all the students this school year. As always, if you are interested in volunteer-
ing with any student event please contact Lars Markson. Thanks and God bless.
Also, here is a before and after shot of the new youth room!
Before After
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Contact Information
Telephone 612-721-2290
Website www.bethlehemkids.org
Email [email protected]
From the Childcare Director
Jill Ravensborg
It always amazes me how quickly the start of another school year seems to arrive. We had a wonderful
group of children in every classroom this summer. I love hearing the staff share a funny story or comment
that one of the children in their care professed that day. It’s a joy to spend time with staff who love to en-
courage the children to be curious, ask questions, make guesses, to make friends, to learn to share, and
learn to play with another child (or even a group of children).
This summer our children had many field trips around the community. Both Preschool and School Age had
weekly swim lessons at the YWCA as well as weekly Summer Games at Cooper Park. Preschool children
went to East Lake Library, and ventured off to local parks like Longfellow, Brackett and Hiawatha. The
School Age group had trips to the Mississippi River, Minnehaha Falls, as well the area parks. This older
group also traveled to the Alexander Ramsey House, Mill City Museum, and the MN Lynx game. We had an
excellent all school outing to Tamarack Nature Center in Woodbury. Overall, there was a nice blend of days
enjoying the wonderful toys and playground at the center and exploring our community.
Our staff had a wonderful time meeting with families at open house and have enjoyed getting to know our
new groups of children here this fall. This year we are pretty much at capacity in every classroom! It is un-
fortunate to turn families away - at the same time I feel blessed that we continue to be chosen by so many
families in the neighborhood to care for their little ones.
Thank you for your continued support. If you remember us in your prayers, I’d love it if you pray that our
children’s hearts would be open and curious about Jesus and the staff would be both attentive and inten-
tional as they nurture those curious minds.
Blessings,
Jill Ravensborg
Director
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Bethlehem Covenant Church
3141 43rd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Bethlehem Covenant Church Staff:
Rev. Kari Dubord, Associate Pastor
Jacquelyn Dell’Arciprete, Director of Contemporary Worship
Lars Markson, Director of Youth Ministries
Kelly Piatt and Terri Stromberg, Office Staff
Dr. Dennis Port, Adult Choir Director
Cindy Bergstrom, Children’s Choir Director
Dianne Jelle, Organist/Pianist
Jill Ravensborg, Childcare Director
Weekly at Bethlehem
Bethlehem Covenant—Minneapolis
@BethlehemCov
612.721.5768
www.bethlehemcov.org
BethlehemCovenant
SUNDAY 8:45 am Contemporary Worship
9:45 am Coffee and Conversation
10:00 am Sunday School
11:00 am Classic Worship
12:15 pm Coffee and Conversation
MONDAY 7:00 pm Community Activities Evening
TUESDAY 8:00 am Breakfast at Bakers Square for 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month
9:00 am Properties Work Day at Church
6:30 pm Gathering for Prayer
WEDNESDAY 10:00 am Women’s Bible Study
12:30 pm Staff Meeting
6:30 pm Confirmation in Youth Room
6:30 pm Adult Choir
THURSDAY 10:00 am Bible Encounter
FRIDAY 6:30 am Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study (Romans)
9:00 am Walk and Coffee at Mall of America