Every two years, for the past twenty years, my Mother and Father organize a family reunion. We have had it in Whitefish, MT. That’s where my Father spent his internship year, and his first call as a pastor was in Kalispell, only a few miles south of Whitefish. There are eight of us children: Four on the west coast from San Diego to Seattle; three in Minnesota; one in Boston; while our parents are in Apple Valley, MN. Some are driving, some are flying. Some will get in early Friday, while others won’t get in until late Saturday. Eventually, we all will get there, and while some were unable to be there in times past, we always look forward to the next reunion. Over the years, our children have enjoyed spending time with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Even though we all say that we’re “Going to Whitefish” what we are really going to isn’t a place at all, but a face! While I enjoy going to Whitefish, it’s the being with family, wherever we meet, that makes it so worth the effort. Jesus reminds his followers, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The significant part of that is that wherever that place may be, it’s Jesus who will be waiting for us, we will have a reunion! And while some of the family have left us and are with the Lord, we look forward to being reunited with them at the last day. We can do that, because we have the promise from the one who gave himself for us, the one that conquered death, the one that says: “Where I am, you may be also.” BETHEL BEACON BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH 5232 Irvine Avenue NW Bemidji, MN 56601 Bethel Lutheran Church Bethel Lutheran Church Bethel Lutheran Church Bethel Lutheran Church 5232 Irvine Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN 56601 218-444-4746 Fax 218-444-4789 bethelbemidji.org Rev. Mark Kindem Rev. Mark Kindem Rev. Mark Kindem Rev. Mark Kindem Pastor Home Phone # 444-8545 [email protected]Patti VanCamp Patti VanCamp Patti VanCamp Patti VanCamp Office Admin./Fin. Manager [email protected]Abe Hanson Abe Hanson Abe Hanson Abe Hanson Custodian Prayer Chain Prayer Chain Prayer Chain Prayer Chain - Day - Bob & Vi Swanson @ 444-3745 - Evening - Judy Thorson @ 444-6944 SUMMER SCHEDULE 9:00 AM Worship Service Fellowship Hour 10:00 AM S U N D A Y W O R S H I P Pastor Mark Kindem AUGUST 2013 "The Lutheran Campus Center (1221 Birchmont Drive NE) needs small potted plants to give away to incoming BSU freshmen! If you have any to spare, could you please just leave them on the back porch at the Lutheran Campus Center before Thursday, August 22 as the freshmen move in Friday, August 23."
Transcript
Every two years, for the past twenty years, my
Mother and Father organize a family reunion. We
have had it in Whitefish, MT. That’s where my
Father spent his internship year, and his first call
as a pastor was in Kalispell, only a few miles
south of Whitefish. There are eight of us
children: Four on the west coast from San Diego to Seattle; three in
Minnesota; one in Boston; while our parents are in Apple Valley, MN.
Some are driving, some are flying. Some will get in early Friday, while
others won’t get in until late Saturday. Eventually, we all will get there, and
while some were unable to be there in times past, we always look forward
to the next reunion. Over the years, our children have enjoyed spending
time with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Even though we
all say that we’re “Going to Whitefish” what we are really going to isn’t a
place at all, but a face! While I enjoy going to Whitefish, it’s the being with
family, wherever we meet, that makes it so worth the effort.
Jesus reminds his followers, “I go to prepare a place for you.” The
significant part of that is that wherever that place may be, it’s Jesus who
will be waiting for us, we will have a reunion! And while some of the
family have left us and are with the Lord, we look forward to being
reunited with them at the last day. We can do that, because we have the
promise from the one who gave himself for us, the one that conquered
death, the one that says: “Where I am, you may be also.”
BETHEL BEACON BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
5232 Irvine Avenue NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
Bethel Lutheran ChurchBethel Lutheran ChurchBethel Lutheran ChurchBethel Lutheran Church
5232 Irvine Avenue NW, Bemidji, MN 56601
218-444-4746
Fax 218-444-4789 bethelbemidji.org
Rev. Mark KindemRev. Mark KindemRev. Mark KindemRev. Mark Kindem
"Church is other people, a worshiping community. The worship, or
praise of God, does not take place only when people gather on
Sunday morning, but when they gather to paint the house of an
elderly shut-in, when they visit someone in the hospital or console
the bereaved, when the Sunday School kids sing Christmas carols at
the nursing home. If a church has life, its 'programs' are not just
activity, but worship."
Kathleen Norris, AMAZING GRACE
We are daily given opportunities for worship in the care we give our community. With Christ we gather with the "least of these" and embrace them and welcome them to share our worship.
Habitat for Humanity -- After a rainy beginning to the summer, the footings are poured and work has begun on the first of two houses to be built this season. The Women Build house is to be on Gemmel Ave. and the Faith Build home on 12th Street. A Brush with Kindness projects are ongoing; house painting, and bringing another home up to code so that the
homeowner may return, siding and roofing other homes and creating an additional bedroom for a paraplegic on the main floor are among the projects being tackled by volunteers. If you have time to give to this work, please contact Roy Blackwood or call the Habitat office.
Food Shelf – The Food Shelf was closed so that the floor of the shopping area could be repainted. The humidity kept the paint wet longer than anticipated so clients were served out of the warehouse last Friday. Things are back to normal again but volunteers are needed to help the first Monday of each month. There are several folks that are our regulars but the new shopping system requires a few more folks to make it run smoothly. Call Jan Beil to sign up.
Soup Kitchen – George Stowe is the new President of the Soup Kitchen and is working with a board of directors to formalize that organization. Changes have been made at the two locations to create a more restaurant like atmosphere. The Food Shelf and Soup Kitchen are working together with the food bank in Crookston to get supplies for the Soup Kitchen that had not been available before. Volunteers are always welcome. Contact Laurie Buehler or Ardella Lindseth to help out.
Bike and Build – Thirty young people peddling 3774 miles cross county will have spent the night at Bethel on July 26th. It is always great to support these folks as they get close to the housing needs in the communities they pass through. They participate in work projects as they travel and contribute to affordable housing efforts across the county.
Thank you again to all of you who "worship" out in the community each week. It surely is God's Work, Our Hands.
Laurie Buehler
Page 7 BETHE L LUTHERAN CHURCH
“The one I love
The one I hate,
But the one I feed
Will dominate.”
“What Seeds Are
You Watering?
Page 8 BETHE L LUTHERAN CHURCH
SALVATION ARMY, CHURCHES UNITED &
BI-CAP YOUTHBUILD
PACK FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED Pack for School is a program to help low income families provide backpacks
and school supplies to children who attend school in
Beltrami County SUPPLIES NEEDED:
PENCILS, PENS, COLORED PENCILS, PENCIL SHARPENERS, CRAYONS, GLUE STICKS , 2 POCKET FOLDERS, WIDE RULED PAPER, ERASERS, HIGHLIGHTERS, COLORED MARKERS, SCISSORS, WATER COLOR PAINTS, CALCULATORS, SCHOOL GLUE, RULERS
Supplies must be donated by Monday, August 5, 2013.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
One of the most exciting promises that Jesus makes is that He will “give you brothers and sisters and
mothers and fathers” a promise that he will never leave us alone but will surround us with family. As a
family in Christ we care for each other, encourage each other, and pray for each other. But as a family, we
also experience conflict and may struggle to understand each other. Here at Bethel we have and are
experiencing conflict. The way that conflict has become most visible is in the movement to separate from
the ELCA. The first formal vote to disaffiliate passed with a vote of 66 to 29. Only a few votes either way
make the difference. Please check with Patti to confirm your voting status.
The second vote will take place September 8, 2013. If that vote passes with a 2/3 majority, there is a
final step. The Synod Council will consider the disaffiliation. As a former LCA congregation, this
provision, a condition of the LCA merger with other bodies to form the ELCA, governs us. If members
wanting Bethel to stay with the ELCA petition to remain, that request will be taken into consideration in
the decision. The opinions voiced by the Synod Council members present at the meeting held in June
suggested they had a better understanding of where the majority of Bethel council members stood, but the
Council’s decision has not been made.
September 8th is also the day congregations across the United States will join together to
communicate the ELCA’s mission, “God’s Work, Our Hands.” It will be an opportunity for Bethel to
communicate that even though many disagree with decisions made by its fellow members, God’s mission
is our shared purpose. Let’s join hands and be a visible presence in service to the Bemidji community.
The Church and Society committee will plan opportunities for service for that day. Look for the sign up
sheets.
Together in mission,
Laurie Buehler, Church and Society Chair
Page 9 BETHE L LUTHERAN CHURCH
August 07 Eve Sumsky, horn St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church 1800 Irvine Avenue NW
August 14 Muff Magelssen, organ; The Other First Presbyterian Church
Mountain Remnant Band: Jean DeSmidt, 501 Minnesota Avenue mandolin/flute; Jim DeSmidt, guitar; James
Ellerston, violin; Libby Sorenson, soprano; The First Bottle Band
August 21 Wayne Hoff, piano Aardahl Lutheran Church
Carol L. Johnson, piano 2+ miles E. Paul Bunyan Drive on Roosevelt Road, 1+ mile S. on Van Buren
August 28 Sarah Carlson, organ First Lutheran Church 900 Bemidji Avenue
THE BEMIDJI AREA CHURCH MUSICIANS PRESENTS
The 2013 SUMMER RECITAL SERIES
Our 26 th Season
Wednesdays, Noon to 12:30 p.m.
FREE WILL OFFERING
Supports our Music Scholarships
LUNCH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOLLOWING EACH RECITAL
COST TO BE ANNOUNCED
• Trinity Lutheran Church of Laporte is hosting its annual Chicken Dinner on Wednesday, August 7 from 5:00—7:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to enjoy this delicious meal. No reservations are needed. A free-will offering will be collected. The proceeds are given to local, state, and worldwide charities.
• Taste of Turtle River , New Salem Lutheran Church, Saturday, August 10, 2013 from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. Menu includes: turkey, pulled pork sliders, wild rice, coleslaw, corn on the cob, cookies & ice cream. Prices: $12 Adults, Children (6-12) $6, children under 6 are free. Door prizes awarded during the event - Must be present to win. A beautiful hand pieced quilt will be raffled. Raffle tickets are $1 in advance or at the door. Need not be present to win the quilt. • Meatball Dinner / Trinity Church, Debs, MN / August 11 from 11am—2pm / Music, Bake Sale, Raffle / Free will offering
• Charitable Garage Sale - Accepting donations of items in good condition until August 14. All dona-tions are tax deductible. Sale is Friday, August 16 & Saturday, August 17 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Intersection of 12th Street and Norton Avenue NW, Bemidji. Sponsored by Command Bond, your Bemidji chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association. All proceeds support missions. Call Joanne at 218-308-3648, Marcy at 218-556-0788 or Sandy at 218-760-6512 to donate items or for more information. • Ice Cream & Pie Social / Our Redeemer’s, Puposky, MN / Sunday, August 18, 2-5pm / Free will donation / Homemade Ice Cream, Pies, Craft Sale, Silent Auction / Raffle. • A Special August Evening Out / Music with “Free Indeed Singing Group” / Speaker Lynn Ross from Sun Prairie, WI talks about “Finding Joy … when your Life is Quite the Contrary” / Monday, August 19—6:00 p.m. / Cost inclusive $10.00—MN Nice Café, 414 Beltrami Avenue NW / Reservations: Elaine 333-3544, Dorothy 751-4499, Alverna 335-7838 / Stonecroft Ministries—Bemidji Christian Women’s Connection www.stonecroft.org.
BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Page 10
Bemidji
Community
FOOD SHELF
COME TO THE FAIR!!!! The BCFS will have a booth in the commercial
building this year. Please stop by and learn about our garden project
and how it can be sustained through community involvement. Pick up
a bumper s'cker that shows you are a proud supporter of our efforts
to feed the hungry. The fair runs from July 31-August 4th.
A grant has been received from Neilson Founda'on in the amount of $5,000.00. This amount,
along with in-kind contribu'ons from Dicks Plumbing, Lakes Concrete, and Hills Plumbing and
Hea'ng have go6en the garden project off to a good start. When completed, the farm will
encompass approximately 4 acres. The mission will include growing fresh fruits and vegetables for
BCFS families while providing meaningful employment for Developmental Achievement Center
clients, giving new opportuni'es to community volunteers, and promote local sustainable
agricultural prac'ces.
Since our move to the larger facility, the pounds of food served has increased 43%. We are no
longer serving walk-ins and are more accurate in weighing of each family's order. Our local food
shelf has the dis'nc'on of having the only "clean room" in a food shelf in Northern Minnesota.
This was made possible by a generous dona'on from Calvary Lutheran Church, and keeps many
volunteers busy breaking down bulk foods into smaller por'ons.
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union employees raised $2,381.50 during their auto loan promo'on for
May-June. They donated the amount to BCFS and volunteers from Affinity also donated 'me to
help out at the food shelf in June.
Two members of our congrega'on were honored recently by the Bemidji Area United Way. They
are Loren Hoyum and Roy Blackwood. Loren manages the warehouse, supervises the dona'ons,
and facilitates storage and distribu'on. Roy picks up dona'ons every Wednesday and is
instrumental in helping with remodeling projects. We are so grateful for their contribu'on.
We are always looking for volunteers to help in any way they wish, with 'me or money dona'ons.
Please contact me for further informa'on if interested. My # is 218-751-1321.
Thank you all for your con'nued support and dona'ons.
