Men’s Bible Study

The men of this community meet regularly each Thursday morning for fellowship, Bible study and prayer at 7:00 a.m. Please watch the newsletter calendars and Sunday bulletins for reminders and weekly location.

Women’s Bible Study

The women of this community meet regularly each Tuesday morning for fellowship, Bible study and prayer at 8:00 a.m. Please watch the newsletter calendars and Sunday bulletins for reminders and weekly location.

Remember Our Homebound

J. Scott Buer, PO Box 351, 104 Washington Avenue, Atwater, MN 56209

Brian Robert Detlefsen, OID #223829, MCF Stillwater, 970 Pickett St N, Bayport, MN 55003

Carl Doerr, PO Box 464, 616 3rd St. S., Atwater, MN 56209

Harriett Johnson, PO Box 26, 406 2^nd St. N., Atwater, MN 56209

Dennis Laffen, Emmanuel Home, 600 S. Davis, Litchfield, MN 55355

Bernice Slinden, Bethesda Heritage – Room 227, 1012 East 3^rd Street, Willmar, MN 56201

From the Pastor’s Desk

Where has the summer gone? The County Fairs, the State Fair and the beginning of school are all right around the corner. Where has the time gone, it seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the end of Sunday School.

I’m starting to notice that time is moving more quickly. People have warned me about this phenomenon saying, “When you get older time starts moving more quickly.” I know that I am getting older, as we all are but I’m hoping it only appears to be going faster because I’m busy.

From a programming point of view, the Parish Education Committee is already working at setting up the Sunday School Calendar for the coming year, the Worship Committee is working on a number of things including a special music calendar for the year and discussing more opportunities for fellowship after Sunday services, and yes, the Confirmation program is being evaluated and a few changes are in the process of being made to the substance and the look of the program. And these three items don’t even include all the other things that have been going on in the congregation. So, I guess time passes more quickly when one is busy.

So what have you been busy with this summer?

Change

Once again the Church Council is looking for a Church Secretary/bookkeeper. Due to Tammy Moll’s memory loss, which also included many office and bookkeeping skill, the Church Council decided to terminate her employment at Bethlehem. It was a very difficult decision. We all like Tammy and thought she was the person for the job at the time. We came to realize, after the event, that she was no longer the same skilled person that we had hired.

I think all of us had hoped we could make things work. We have come to realize, that to best serve the needs and interests of the congregation, we need a skilled and competent person behind the secretary's desk to coordinate the work and ministry of this congregation.

I was very proud of the way the Church Council conducted the discussion of this matter and am equally confident that we will come to a successful resolution. Please offer a word of thanks to the members of our Church Council. They are doing a good job representing the trust you have placed in their hands.

Opportunity

For as much as many do not like change or to change or to change the way they think or act, change does offer us an opportunity to look at the world differently and maybe even to operate in the world differently. Actually, I’m beginning to believe change is even necessary for us to mature as a people of God. I think change has something to do with that, “being a new creation in Christ” stuff. Unless we see ourselves as being born anew each day in and through Jesus Christ, the opportunity to live in God’s amazing grace get’s lost in the busy-ness of the day.

So take the opportunity that is being offered this summer to, well, do more than just sit by the lake, or travel, or WORK. Change the way you enter and close the day: spend some time in reading through the gospels, spend some quiet time in prayer and meditation in order to listen and to hear where God is calling you to serve or maybe even where God is seeking to make a change in your life in order for you to more fully experience God’s amazing grace.

"Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25a)

Blessed to Be a Blessing

(Stewardship Devotion)

In spite of our unworthiness and our sinful ways, God blesses us physically and spiritually. He promises never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He loves us unconditionally. God gives and keeps on giving. Because Jesus gives us His love, grace, and goodness, we are enabled to be loving and giving people. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

God’s Word clearly directs us to use the blessings we receive from Him to bless others. We are blessed to be a blessing. In Christ’s name, we are to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and help the sick (Matthew 25:35-36). God blesses us not only to take care of our needs; He blesses us so that we can use what we receive to bless others. Paul wrote “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10). “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11).

The wonderful thing is that, as God blesses us to bless others, we are blessed again. When we give faithfully and generously, we will hear God’s words, “Well done, good and .faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). As people who are a blessing to others, we will enjoy intimate fellowship with our Father and His Son, Jesus. Is there any greater blessing than this?

Bethlehem’s Mission Statement

Our Mission is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to buildup the body of Christ in faith, unity, maturity, and knowledge.

Women of Bethlehem: The Thank-offering Coin Boxes are in your church mail boxes. Whenever you are thankful for something in your life put a coin in the box. The boxes will be collected in November. The Thank-offering will go to the Women of the ELCA for their mission projects.

From Shelter House: thank you for the gift of Quilts on 7-8-08. Your gift will be helpful to the women & children from our community who are working to end violence in their homes.

Because God gives, we receive, and then we can give. Interestingly, in giving, we receive even more. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

God is a loving and giving God. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Through His Word and Sacraments, God provides:
             • His grace that gives us this life and life eternal.
             • His love that didn’t spare His only Son.
             • His forgiveness.
             • His victory over sin and death.