February 2017

3700 S. Casper Drive, New Berlin, WI (262)786-2900

www.starofbethlehem.org

“I am with you and will watch

over you wherever you go.”

Genesis 28:15

We are already approaching the end of January of 2017. It seemed like only a few days ago that the year 2016 passed into the year 2017.

What changes will we see in 2017? Will they fill us with deep uncertainty or dread? In God’s Word we find that his promises always go with us, and best of all, he does too!

As Jacob was leaving behind a father he had wronged and a brother who was furious enough to kill him, God’s promises never let him down. God himself would go with Jacob every step of the way. In a vision of angels who were ascending and descending on a ladder reaching up to heaven, God gave Jacob peace for his guilty conscience and assurance for his long journey.

You know how Jacob’s story came out. God went with him and enabled him to prosper in spite of his deceptive uncle, Laban, and returned to Canaan a very wealthy man.

Jacob’s story is the rule not the exception. God always works out difficult changes for our

good. You recall how the Lord called Abraham to leave his family for an

unknown place. You can remember the blessings for

Abraham that these changes brought about, including the promise

of a Savior through whom all nations of the earth would be blessed. Through whom we, too, are blessed!

Ruth, the Moabite woman, returned to the Land of Canaan with her mother-in-law, Naomi, following the death of her husband. When her future was very bleak, another unexpected blessing occurred. She was given a wealthy child of God for another husband and, as a result of that union, she became an ancestor of our Savior.

Or think of Joseph and the drastic change that entered his life when his jealous brothers sold him into slavery. Surely he would perish there in the Land of Egypt, or, perhaps worse, spend the rest of his earthly days in bitter slavery or in a dreary prison cell for just being faithful to God when tempted by Potiphar’s wife to sin against her husband, Joseph’s master. But no, God went with him and blessed him in most wonderful and sometimes mysterious ways.

The changes in our lives might not be that dramatic. Maybe the blessings they bring will not be that obvious, but know this: the changes that lie ahead of us will be controlled, guided and blessed by our loving Father in heaven. If he sees fit to permit drastic changes and shocking news to touch our lives, he knows that he can use them for our benefit and the welfare of his eternal kingdom. His promises to Jacob are ours to cling to when the earth is quaking, our knees are shaking, and our eyes are flooded with tears. “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.” He will bless us in whatever measure is good for us. He will still be leading us eventually safely through the valley of the shadow of death to dwell in his house forever!

That biggest and best change of all will come at just the right moment, too, and not a second too soon or a minute too late!

Lord, stay with us and bless us through any troublesome changes in 2017 just as you have promised. And may we enjoy your presence and blessings throughout eternity, for Jesus’ sake.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me. (CW 588:2)

Star to Adopt a 2017 Budget At our annual meeting next Tuesday Star Voters will be asked to adopt the budget shown below for 2017. The highlights include an increase for our workers, a full year budget for our third pastor (one half funded by parsonage proceeds) and a mid-year increase to a full time teacher position from a part time position due to growth in the day school. Other increases include affiliated mission agencies, half year of vicar, and other cost increases.

The voter’s will deliberate on a 9.1% increase in member offerings needed to fund the needs of Star’s ministry and with the Lord’s help the member offerings goal will be attainable. May the Lord continue to bless the efforts of our members in funding the work of our Lord in New Berlin.

STAR OF BETHLEHEM EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH

2016 Adopted 2016 Actual | 2017 Proposed %

RECEIPTS: Budget | Budget Actual

|

Member Offerings 1,020,411$ 1,029,916$ | 1,123,901$ 9.1%

Other Gifts 15,000 20,292 | 18,000

Tuition 358,165 373,054 | 414,959

Interest/Miscellaneous Income 1,450 5 | 200

Transfers 47,184 29,496 | 64,827

|

Total Receipts 1,442,210$ 1,452,763$ | 1,621,887$ 11.6%

|

EXPENDITURES: |

Affiliated Mission Agencies 212,836$ 212,836$ | 223,780$ 5.1%

Percent of Total Expenditures 14.8% 14.66% | 13.80%

Home Expenditures: |

Worship 213,603$ 205,815$ | 270,600$ 31.5%

Education 758,826 778,165 | 856,442 10.1%

Outreach 4,200 2,632 | 4,200 59.6%

Fellowship 1,800 1,515 | 2,900 91.4%

Spiritual Care 2,725 417 | 5,025 1105.0%

Finance 61,180 58,864 | 65,500 11.3%

Properties 35,000 39,057 | 37,400 -4.2%|

Total Home Expenditures 1,077,334$ 1,086,465$ | 1,242,067$ 14.3%

Percent of Total Expenditures 74.70% 74.86% | 76.58%

Debt Service 152,040$ 152,040$ | 156,040$ 2.6%

Percent of Total Expenditures 10.54% 10.48% | 9.62%

Total Expenditures 1,442,210$ 1,451,341$ | 1,621,887$ 11.8%

|

Expenditures (Greater Than) |

Less Than Receipts -$ 1,422$ | 0$

|

Annual

Voters’ Meeting

Our next Voters’ meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 6:30 p.m. The election of officers for our new structure, the first reading of any Constitutional changes and adoption of new Bylaws to go with the new structure; adoption of a budget for 2017, together with other reports are all on the agenda. We encourage all of our voters to come and do our Father’s business.

Call Updates Mrs. Darnell Anthony is presently holding two calls besides her call to Star of Bethlehem. She has been called by Bethlehem Lutheran School in Menomonee Falls, WI to teach 5th grade. She has also received a call to teach 1st grade at Siloah Lutheran School in Milwaukee. Mr. Timothy Mueller has received a call to serve as the Director of Education at Manitowoc Lutheran High School. Please keep both of them in your prayers that the Lord would lead them to decisions that will utilize their gifts in the best interests of the Lord’s kingdom.

This is My Body

This is my blood

The Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study topic for February 12th through March 5th will be the Lord’s Supper. Please join us as we review the blessings of this Sacrament. This class is being taught by Vicar John Schwartz.

The 10th Annual Star Bowling and Silent Auction at the New Berlin Bowl will be on Sunday, March 19, at 2:00 p.m. This event benefits the Star Student Fund which provides tuition assistance for students at Martin Luther College, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Wisconsin Lutheran High School, or Star of Bethlehem Lutheran School. Signup sheets are on the credenza by the bulletin board. The cost is $12.00 for two games. The Silent Auction could use items to put up for bid, and will be displayed prior to the event. To donate an item, please contact Dan Knoll at 414-526-3038 or daniel.knoll@graybar.com . Come out and support a good cause and enjoy the company of your Star of Bethlehem members and friends of Star of Bethlehem Lutheran School.

The Baptism of Jonah Paul Schwartz, son of Senior Vicar John and Erin Schwartz, was affirmed on Sunday, Jan.

1, 2017. Jonah was baptized in the hospital on Dec. 15, 2016. Aiden Max Menon, son of Kelsey and Das Menon, was baptized on Jan. 15, 2017 at Star of Bethlehem. May the Lord keep them in their baptismal grace throughout life to life eternal.

Pictorial Directory

Some more dates for getting your pictures taken have been scheduled for February 17 and 18. Please check the website to schedule an appointment. You will also have an opportunity to schedule a time on the sheets in the Gathering Area during the weekends. This project is a part of our of our 50th Anniversary celebration. It won’t be complete without you!

The 5th Annual Star Rummage and Bake Sale, hosted by the H.S.A., will be on Saturday, February 25, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Donated baked goods are greatly appreciated! Please package items in groups of 2, 4, or 6 on a paper plate either wrapped or in a large plastic bag. For puppy chow and chex mix items, please label your items but do not price them. We could really use whole pies or cakes. Baked goods can be dropped off anytime on Friday, February 24, in the gym kitchen. Sincere thanks from your Home and School Association! For questions, please contact Jamie Rodgers at 262-784-7889.

Adult Confirmations The following were confirmed on Sunday, January 15; Ben and Lauren Busch; Brian and Nicole Brasted; and Andy Hartung. May the Lord bless them with continued spiritual growth in their knowledge of God’s Word and in their relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ among us. Wecome to our Star of Bethlehem family!

MEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Your Star men are two wins and two losses at this early stage of the season. Games resume this weekend, Jan. 29. We play at 6:00 p.m. However, the league is off for Feb. 5, the Super Bowl. Good luck, Star men, for the remainder of the season. Thank you, Star members, for hosting the league again for our WELSmen of the area.

Save the Date Housing needed The Martin Luther College Choir from New Ulm, MN, our Worker Training College for those preparing to serve as pastors, teachers and staff ministers in our Wisconsin Synod, will be here to give a Sacred Concert at Star of Bethlehem on Friday, March 31, at 7:00 p.m. It is a rare privilege to be able to host such a concert in our beautiful sanctuary. Following the concert, 60 choir members will need to be housed overnight, and brought back to church with a bag lunch for the next day for concerts in Algoma and Neenah. There is a signup sheet on the credenza by the bulletin board for anyone who would like to have some of the choir members stay as guests in your home. Please invite family members, relatives and friends to join us for the concert on Friday night!

Congratulations Hector Torres and Lynn Mioskowski were united in marriage at Star of Bethlehem on Dec. 31. Courtney Giovizanno and William Denzer were married at Star of Bethlehem on Jan. 6. Jon Daley and Sarah Gruszka were married at the Pritzlaff Event Center on January 14. And Cody Fitzwilliams and Andrea Pico were married at Star of Bethlehem on Saturday, Jan. 21. May the Lord grant all of them much joy in his designed estate as husbands and wives.

A new session of classes for our Bible Information Course, a course in basic Christian teaching, will be held on Wednesday nights, beginning at 6:30 on Feb. 1. Each of the lessons goes for an hour and a half. The course is free. All materials are provided. To enroll, please call any of our pastors or the Administrative Assistants, Jodi and Julie, at 262-786-2900. Enroll today so that sufficient materials can be on hand. This course is required for any non-confirmed school parents or prospective members desiring to receive the Lord’s Supper in our Services.

WLC THEATRE The Wisconsin Lutheran College Theatre Department will be putting on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Wit,” on February 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25—at 7:30 p.m. The February 19th performance is at 2:30 p.m. Star of Bethlehem member Marah Nitz is in the lead role as Vivian Bearing, a renowned professor of English, who is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students.

Samaritan Partners

Submitted by Susan Abel, BSN, RN, Parish Nurse

Are you a caregiver? Do you have a family member, friend, spouse, parent of extended family for whom you:

o Take time off of work for their medical appointments or arrange family leave to help them

o Assist with grocery shopping, finances, household chores

o Call daily to see that they are okay (or they call you with questions)

o Experience sleeplessness due to worry?

You either are, were, will be, or will need a caregiver someday. There is a WELS Caregiver Support group call Samaritan Partners that meets monthly. Typical topics for the meetings include: Taking care of you, Stress Management, In-Home help, Community Services, Care Facility Decisions Depression, Memory Impairment, Funeral Planning, Home Remodeling and Respite Care for the Caregiver. The group meets at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa. Contact: Carol @ 414-543-7532 or Paula @ 262-782-0524. Questions? See me.

Free Pro-Life Movie Screening Invite your family and friends to join you on Friday, February 24th! Enjoy the powerful, positive film “Alison’s Choice” at Victory of the Lamb in Franklin! Doors open @ 6:30pm, Screening @ 7pm. A free-will offering will be collected for WELS Lutherans for Life RSVP/Info at ALife2.com or 414-727-8176.

Wine Tasting Night Out Christian Life Resources (CLR) invites you its 3rd Annual Wine Tasting Night Out on Friday, February 10, beginning at 6:00pm at the Chandelier Ballroom, 150 Jefferson Avenue, Hartford. This evening of wine, beer, assortment of delectable appetizers and desserts, as well as a raffle and silent auction will benefit the CLR ministry. Cost is $40 per person. Go to www.clrevents.com to register.

From the President Do you set goals at the beginning of each year?

For businesses, it’s pretty common to set goals based upon factors such as gross sales, number of new customers, and profitability – things like that. Typically, the next step is to develop a theme that will support those goals and then disseminate that theme throughout the company so that every employee knows what is going on.

For individuals, setting goals might incorporate weight loss, or updating the kitchen, saving money, or getting straight A’s on a report card. Although most individuals do not then develop a “theme” for themselves, it could nevertheless be done.

In my view, a church should do something similar each and every year.

Oh, I agree that perhaps something like “let’s make the church budget this year” or “let’s attract another 15 children to our school this year” might be worthy goals – but I’m thinking of something a bit different. For Star, I would suggest that the main goal for this year ought to be focused around “how can we strengthen the spiritual education of our members in 2017?”

Here’s what I mean . . . .

I’ve written a number of times about the thinking behind “The Best 105 Minutes Of Your Week.” I’ve tried to argue/persuade that carving out weekly time for church attendance PLUS bible study attendance is the very best use of the 10,080 minutes our great Lord gives to each one of us on a weekly basis. That is, let’s all of us take the time to praise our Lord in public worship (about 60 minutes per week) plus another 45 minutes to educate ourselves in furtherance of our personal Christian education.

In my opinion, it’s time to move this ball forward again.

Your Leadership Team is now working on revamping and upgrading the spiritual growth opportunities here at Star – especially as it relates to our Sunday School program for our youth. We understand that it needs a freshening so we’re going to do something about it.

We may even develop a theme to support this effort.

Meanwhile, if you would like to play a part in this process, please take the time to pull me aside and let me know about your desire to help. (Or, call me on my cell phone at 262-501-6537; leave a message.) Help as much as you are willing to do so. No commitments.

We need to get our youth excited again about the Sunday opportunities to learn even more about their Almighty Lord. If we’re successful in doing so, my hope is that excitement will become contagious to us “more mature” members!

Hope to see you in church – AND bible study!

Gene Szaj -- Church President