1

A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church

A member congregation of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

7171 Pearl Road, Middleburg Heights, OH 44130-4946

(440) 843-6663

www.gobethel.org

Be heLight

2

fdlafjkl;fjkf

In This Issue. . .

Prayer Concerns ............................................................................................. 3 Bethel Happenings ......................................................................................4-8 Birthdays & Anniversaries ............................................................................... 9 Calendars………………………………………………………………………………………………….10

Be heLight Let your light shine

before others so they may see your

good works and give glory to your Father

in heaven. Matt 5:16 NRSV

A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church

Church Office 440-843-6663

Office Hours Mon – Fri 9AM – 1 PM

Fax Number 440-843-6664

Steven M. Krebill 440-785-9614

Pastor

pastorstevek@sbcglobal.net

Christina M. Krnac 216-403-5349

Vicar

4krnacs@gmail.com

Erika Haskell 216-409-9037

Director of Music

erikah15@yahoo.com

Gail Gold 440-843-6663

Administrative Assistant

bethelstaff@sbcglobal.net

Christie Scott 440-243-6266

M.E.E.C. Director

christieatmeec@yahoo.com

M.E.E.C. Office 440-888-9922

The Congregation

Reporters

3

FROM THE PASTOR- SPRING 2015

MISSION STATEMENT

The people of

Bethel Lutheran Church

are called by God to be

faithful to the word of God

and proclaim it to all people.

We share Christ's love

and forgiveness by being Christ's hands,

feet, arms and voice

as we gather and

as we scatter.

Deadline for the October 2017 BeTheLight is October 15th

The purpose of BeTheLight is to inform our members, friends and visitors of worship services and to encourage spiritual growth, Christian Education opportunities, missions and outreach, activities, fellowship events and volunteer opportunities. This newsletter is meant to be an informational tool of Bethel Lutheran Church where we serve together as a family in Christ.

The BeTheLight welcomes contributions and letters. Copyrighted material (including prayers and inspirational verses) cannot be published without written permission from the author.

ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS

PERSONS IN NEED OF HEALING Carl Burgess, Warren Burgess, Marshall Camp, Bryan

Ciccarello, Robert Hintze, Marie Hvizdos, Ruth Kuhn,

Joyce Larson, Marie Link, Eric Nemerovsky,

Kirk Nemerovsky, Eleanor Olschewsky, Eric Whitsel

PERSONS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND Viola Dase~Jan Harmon~Esther Johns~Jean Kellmer

Phil Long~Ann Nemeth~Julius Nemeth~Mary Reinke

Please keep these friends in your

thoughts and prayers.

4

LECTIONARY BIBLE STUDY RESUMES. BEGINNING ON TUESDAY MORNING,

SEPTEMBER 5th, from 10:00 – 11:15 A.M. in the Gathering Place conference room, Pastor Krebill will be leading a Bible Class which will focus on one or more of the three lessons designated for the following Sunday. This study is open to all Bethel members and friends and will continue throughout the year. COME! ENJOY THE LIVELY, INFORMAL CONVERSATION! Don’t miss this chance to study the weekly readings from the Revised Common Lectionary that appear every Sunday in the Celebrate insert! This class will provide you with a fresh, new frame of reference when hearing, reading, or studying scripture. You are guaranteed to gain biblical insight and understanding as Pastor invites participants to discover and develop new perspectives and learn different ways of looking at biblical truths. BRING YOUR OWN BIBLES.

INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT MEMBERSHIP AT BETHEL? Beginning Sunday, September 10, group meetings will be offered on Sunday mornings at 8:30 AM for those who are considering membership at Bethel. Visitors who have been joining us at worship and our other activities, but who have not yet made the commitment to "membership" have been invited to come for 6 meetings, which will be held in the sanctuary in the space just to the left of the altar area as you face the front of the church. Letters of invitation have been sent to all of our visitors. If somehow we missed you or you would like to know more about membership, please contact Pastor Krebill at 843-6663. At the end of the class those who wish to join this community of faith as “members” will be invited to do so on All Saints’ Sunday, November 5th.

Students of every age and teachers are invited to bring their backpacks to worship on Sunday, September 10th for the Blessing of the Backpacks during worship.

Prayer at Panera…

You are invited to join Vicar Christy for coffee and prayer at Panera Bread on Bagley

Rd, across from Southwest General Hospital on Wednesdays from 10am-12pm

beginning, September 6th. This is an informal time to discuss whatever is on your

mind and pray for what is on your heart. This ministry is also a way to be visible and offer pastoral care to the greater community. Spread the word!

Let Us Pray

5

High School Class during Life Together on Sunday Mornings

Our High School students are invited to attend this engaging class that will encourage youth to see similarities between themselves and their faith ancestors in Re: Form Ancestors– The Old Testament. During each class youth will meet unlikely people called by God to do amazing things. Each class follows a three-part sequence: Encounter, Engage, and Respond. During each class, youth gather to watch a hilarious animated video, tap their creativity for activities that involve doodling, connecting, and journaling, and then share thoughts and ideas about the session’s ancestor. This class is will

also be periodically working on items for the upcoming 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston. Re: Form Ancestors begins Sunday, September 10th at 9am on the stage.

Adult Study: Reformation Roots

Wednesdays at 7pm, September 6th – November 15th in the Gathering Place

With the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation upon us, adults are invited to journey with Vicar Christy and take a look at what really took place during the Reformation and gain insight into questions that many still ask today. Such as, why do we have so many Christian denominations? Is there really much difference between denominations? The answers to these questions lie in the dramatic and turbulent times of the Reformation. This series will bring to life the stories and struggles that still impact us today. Please let Vicar Christy know if you plan to attend

so that we have enough supplies for everyone.

Session 1: From Night to Dawn: the Stage is set for the Reformation Session 2: From bondage to Freedom: Luther Rediscovers Grace

Session 3: From Scholar to Provocateur: Luther Takes on the Church Session 4: From Priest to Outlaw Session 5: From Heretic to Hero

Session 6: From Scholar to Father: The Domestic Luther Session 7: From Simple to Complex: The New Church Finds Common Ground

Session 8: Luther’s Legacy Session 9: Swiss Reformation: A Rationalist’s Revolt

Session 10: Radical Reformation: Revolution and Withdrawal Session 11: English Reformation: The Political Reformation

Session 12: The Catholic Reformation: Reaction and Renewal

6

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2017 RECAP

Rome: Paul and the Underground Church Thank you to everyone who participated in making our Rome: Paul and the Underground Church a great success! We had 21 children, an average of 4 adults each night in the adult class and 32 volunteers throughout the week. We served about 200 people dinner over the five days. We had an amazing week together enjoying dinner, learning bible stories about Jesus, playing games, making crafts and having snack time. We would like to thank all of the volunteers who made this week possible. Our Vacation Bible School program continues to be a great outreach to our community!

VBS Director: Gail Gold

Preschool Class: Jenny Cajka, Marilyn Brown

Kindergarten Class: Kathy Morgan, Megan Pickens

1st - 3rd Grade Class: Carol Krajewski, Donnette Ipsaro

4th - 6th Grade Class: Holly Nicholas

Adult Class: Alan Bobrosky

Photography: Anthea Lindemann & Melissa Gold Powerpoint: Lindsay Bailey

Worship Leader: Vicar Christy Krnac Opening Skits: Ian Rescola, Emma Reardon, Melissa Gold, Abby Whitsel, and Noah & Naomi Linick

Crafts: Eliza & Merri Karp, Crystal Strobel, Kelly & Bridget Bartlett, Lauren Einheit, Debbie Breska, Naomi & Bethany Linick

Games: Becky Rescola, Ian Rescola, Abby Whitsel, Emma Reardon, Nate Krnac

Snacks: Bev Hughes, Gail Brophy, Maria Salmen, Cindy LoPiccolo

Dinner: Diane Hail, Jeanette Yauuzzi & Cindy LoPiccolo

Thank you to everyone who helped set up the Saturday and Sunday before VBS and to everyone who stayed afterwards on Friday evening to help clean up.

A special thank you goes to the Ciccarello family who, on the Saturday before VBS, beautifed the courtyard by pulling weeds and re-staining the cross.

Another special thank you to everyone who made donations of food, gift cards and money! We could not have done all of this without your donations.

Thank You,

Gail Gold

7

Kindness and Greeting Cards Brighten the Day Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Kindness is compassion in action. Kindness is a way in which we respond to human emotions of empathy, sympathy, and caring. We do this by channeling these feelings into our own suffering or our observing suffering in others. Kindness is a learning process, one in which we learn more and more about ourselves. And, of course, "It is better to give than receive." At first glance, kindness may seem wimpy, a cop-out, or an excuse to do just a little bit to try to make a difference -- when so much needs to be done. But kindness is what really helps us "walk the talk" of love and caring, qualities so easy to say, but often so hard to make real. When kindness we show to those around us is flowing from God through us, it is much more than the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. It is life transforming. People who receive kindness feel like they are someone deserving of love, someone who can accomplish something, and make it through the travails of life. Sending cards is one way to show kindness. Though simple, cards are more than just words. Mailing a card is like sending a small part of yourself. Sending a card is a way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart. A card assures recipients that they are not alone and are not struggling for nothing. This feeling is so great that you just must be a part of it. A card is also more than a means of communication. It is a gift and, sometimes, a legacy. Your gift is time, encouragement, hope, prayers, hospitality, laughter, and service. Nothing feels so inspiring to people as knowing that someone, somewhere, is thinking about them. As Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up." A handwritten card is all the more appreciated because it says, "I care enough about you to take time from my busy day and spend it with you." And unlike a phone call, a card can be read over and over, with a continuing warm embrace of your words, written with your unique penmanship. Moreover, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said about letters (and this applies to cards): "The tongue is prone to lose the way. Not so the pen. For in a letter we have not better things to say, but surely say them better." Bethel's Adopt-a-Member ministry team mails cards to our congregation members who are home-bound, shut-in, on the "Prayer List," in rehab, in a nursing home, celebrating a special event, in the military, or are in college. There are also opportunities to send cards to those outside Bethel, such as to men at the Men's Shelter, male inmates at the Grafton Correctional Institution, women entering a re-integration program, children at Laura's Home (The City Mission), and more. The first three groups of people are in conjunction with the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. Our team welcomes you to join with us to brighten the day of folks you know and strangers. Or you can send cards without being on the team! Ask Ray Herzog.

8

BETHEL’S THIRD ANNUAL

STRONGSVILLE CITY JAZZ SWING BAND CONCERT

SUNDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 22, 2017, 3:00 p.m.

The Strongsville City Jazz Swing Band is one of the most versatile big bands in the Cleveland area, playing

everything from jazz classics to swing music from the big band era. The fine musicians who make up the band

bring a variety of musical experience to their performances that include entertaining at Playhouse Square, The

Front Row Theater, Kenley Players, and The Coliseum. Some members of the band have performed with some

well-known ensembles, including The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Warren Covington, Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson,

Jimmy Dorsey big bands, and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. The band performs during the summer as part of

the Strongsville Community Band Summer Concerts and in other area communities. During the winter the

band has been featured at a number of Cleveland area high school jazz festivals and will, on occasion, play for

some dances.

Vocalist Kim Wasielewski complements the band with her refreshing vocal renditions of many

pop favorites. Kim, a dance instructor and yoga teacher, has been singing with the band for a

number of years.

The Strongsville City Jazz is co-directed by Ken Mehalko and James Wonnacott. Ken founded

the band in 1992. He is retired from the Strongsville City Schools where he successfully directed the high

school band for 29 years. Presently he directs the Strongsville Community Band, and is the

former Director of Athletic Bands at Baldwin Wallace College.

James Wonnacott is also a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace. He retired from the Strongsville City

Schools in 1996 where he had success teaching at Center Junior High School. He has

performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and has toured with singer, Al Martino. On June

27, 2011 Jim performed with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra at Lake Chautauqua, New York. From July 13-15,

2016 he performed with THE PLATTERS playing five shows over the three days. He is the founder and former

Musical Director of the Baldwin-Wallace College (now University) Alumni Jazz Orchestra. Awards include

the 2009 B-W Conservatory Alumni Achievement Award, the B-W Alumni Association Merit Award, and

inclusion in the Euclid High School Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame.

Currently he is the Music Director of the Cleveland TOPS Swingband.

These musicians donate their time and talent and love to come to Bethel to play in our acoustically live space.

All proceeds from a free-will offering will go to Middleburg Early Education Center’s “Marilyn Edwards

Scholarship Fund”.

Please mark your calendar and come out on October 22nd to enjoy the concert and support a worthy

cause. Bring a friend. A time of refreshment and fellowship will follow.

9

September Birthdays and Anniversaries

2 Michael Salem 2 Sy & Kathy Maszczynski

4 Ed Harbart 6 Mary Stiene 6 John Hudak 6 Donnette Ipsaro 6 John and Bev Riehl 7 Gerald Neumann 9 Bob Pickens 10 Maria Salmen 12 Ron Zelina 12 Nancy Kuder 12 Gary & Lauren Einheit 13 Danny Kilkenny 13 Fred & Anita Holtz 14 Hannah Zwolenik 16 Sharon Vasil 17 Marilyn Brown 18 Ardane Ross 19 Jim Bondor 19 Konrad & Giesela Stiene 21 Ian Rescola 22 Laura Zwolenik 22 Beth Strobel 23 Julius Nemeth 24 Karl Yanuzzi 24 Nate Haskell 25 Ed Salem 26 Jane Salem 26 Gail Gold 26 Kayla Geraci 26 Bradshaw & Becky Johnson Rescola 27 Beatrice Hovanec 30 Alice Forsthoffer

10

September 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 AA 8:30pm

2 Men’s Bible

study 8am

Altar Guild

Picnic @ Noon

3 Worship

9:45am Adult Catechism

8:30 & 11:30 am

Choir party

@Haskell home

5pm

4

Church Office

Closed

5 Office Hours

Resume

9am-1pm

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

Internship

Comm. Meeting

7 pm

6 Vicar Christy @

Panera Bread

10 am – Noon

Reformation

Adult Study

Class starts 7pm

7 Al-Anon

10am

Bible Study

11 am

8 AA 8:30pm

9 Men’s Bible

study 8am

GP in use

4-8 pm

10 Worship 9:45am blessing of backpacks

Adult Catechism

8:30 & 11:30 am

L.I.F.E Together

begins 8:45 pm

New Member

Class begins

8:30am

11

Patriot Day

12 MEEC’s 1st Day

of School

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

Council Mtg

7pm

13 Vicar Christy @

Panera Bread

10 am – Noon

Reformation

Adult Study

Class 7pm

14 Al-Anon

10am

Bible Study

11 am

GFF 7pm

15 AA 8:30pm

16 Men’s Bible

study 8am

17 Worship 9:45am

Adult Catechism

8:30 & 11:30 am

L.I.F.E Together

8:45 pm

New Member

Class 8:30am

18

19 Lectionary

Bible study

10am

20 Vicar Christy @

Panera Bread

10 am – Noon

Reformation Adult

Study Class 7pm

21 Al-Anon 10am

Bible Study

11 am

GFF 7pm

22 AA 8:30pm

23 Men’s Bible

study 8am

24 Worship 9:45am

Adult Catechism

8:30 & 11:30 am

L.I.F.E Together

8:45 pm

New Member

Class 8:30am

GP in use 2-5pm

25

26 Lectionary

Bible study

10am

27 Vicar Christy @

Panera Bread

10 am – Noon

Reformation Adult

Study Class 7pm

28 Al-Anon 10am

Bible Study

11 am

GFF Birthday

Dinner 7pm

29 AA 8:30 pm

30 Men’s Bible

study 8am

11