Dec. 18-Minimum Day…EDC available

Dec. 21-Jan. 1-Christmas Break

Jan. 4-School Resumes

Jan. 18-Martin Luther King Day-No School

Jan. 22-End Quarter 2

School Bulletin #13

Dec. 8, 2020

Typically at this time of year our campus is buzzing with Christmas concert and program rehearsals. My office window is right by the choir room, so I usually have a front-row seat to the sweet sound of children’s voices. There’s nothing better!

This year, I’m making do by listening to recordings. It’s a poor substitute, but it still brings joy to my heart. One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Mary, Did You Know?” There’s a great phrase in the song: “Mary, did you know this child you delivered will soon deliver you?”

It’s a life-changing idea: we are so precious to God that He sent His Son to become one of us, then suffer, die and rise again so we can be reunited with our Father in heaven.

“Thanks be to God for His gift that is

too wonderful for words.”

II Corinthians 9:15

Blessings on your Christmas preparations as you focus on “the Reason for the season.”

Be safe. Stay well.

You are SO. LOVED.

Dr. Fink

It’s our tradition to support Lutheran Social Services in the month of December, and this ministry is more important now than ever! For our December offerings, we’re asking each

student to create a hygiene

kit for LSS to hand out to folks in need. (You can make more than one, if you’d like.) Each kit is a gallon zip lock bag containing:

1 bar of soap

1 washcloth

1 travel tube of toothpaste

1 toothbrush

1 travel shampoo

1 comb

Stay tuned…we’ll let you

know when/where to

drop off your kits!

Bear Facts The Weekly Newsletter of Bethany Lutheran School

Long Beach, CA www.bethanylutheran.org Learn+Love+Lead+Serve

Celebrating 60 years of Christian Education

This year’s Scholastic Book Fair will be

an ONLINE EVENT! The Book Fair, hosted by the Bethany Youth, will

run Monday, December 7, 2020

thru Sunday December 20, 2020.

This is a great opportunity to check a name off your Christmas List, beef up

your home library, and encourage reading of all ages. All while sitting on the couch in your pajamas, sipping hot

cocoa!

ALL orders ship to your home!

Shop a thousand of bestsellers,

collections and more.

Free standard shipping on

book-only orders over $25*.

All purchases benefit the

Bethany Lutheran High School

Youth Group and earn rewards

for Bethany Lutheran Schools.

Use this LINK to shop the

Bethany Lutheran Book Fair

Editor’s note:

Our apologies to Kelli Palacios, who ALSO had a 4.0 GPA for the first quarter! (We left that off the list in the last newsletter.)

Way to go, Kelli!

https://youtu.be/ifCWN5pJGIEhttp://www.bethanylutheran.org/http://www.bethanylutheran.org/school/eslr.htmlhttps://www.scholastic.com/bf/bethanylutheran

The FISHin’ Hole Opportunities to Serve

Did you know you can report

your FISH hours right on the Bethany website OR on our app? Check it out!

Middle School Corner

The 8th graders share some

positive memories from 2020!

The birth of my cousin Playing knock-out during P.E. The RV trip my family took during the summer Getting our new dog and getting my braces off Riding my bike a lot Quarantine got me hooked on reading for fun Making new friends A trip to visit my grandpa and grandma in Arizona Starting 8th grade Completing my first escape room Technology, especially Zooms with teachers and classmates A trip to Palm Spring with a few friends Bonding with our community Spending time with family

Christmas is coming…

Support our Bethany Lutheran 8th Graders!

Check out our BOON SUPPLY fundraiser! “Beautiful items that are good for you,

good for the planet, and good for your cause.”

P.S. All fundraisers are optional here at Bethany, but we’re grateful for the

support for our oldest Bears and their trip to our nation’s capital!

The holidays are a great opportunity

to increase your tuition or ministry

rebate.

Shop and earn on over 750 brands. Give gift cards as presents, plus use them to buy decorations, food, beverages and so much more! ShopWithScrip.com and the RaiseRight app provide many more brands than what we can keep in stock. Order soon so you have your cards in time for Christmas. Orders are placed on Mondays and, for a limited time, on Thursdays too (orders must be received by 10am on order days)! A few new options are available on-hand in limited quantities: Panda Express ($25), Cold Stone Creamery ($5 / $10), Honey Baked Ham ($25). Some other favorites are temporarily available in smaller denominations: Amazon ($10), Taco Bell ($5), Starbucks ($5), Safeway ($10), Barnes

and Noble ($5). Happy shopping!

rlopez@bethanylutheran.org

Looking for an

Advent worship opportunity?

7:00PM Wednesday evenings Beginning Dec. 2

At-home Advent Worship

To Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88210795871?pwd=akRUSW5mdytSZ3hTWmIzNThVVkpzUT09

Meeting ID: 882 1079 5871

Passcode: Jesus OR

Facebook Live:

https://www.facebook.com/Bethany.Long.Beach/

PTL News:

Join us for ornament making with Mrs. Tucker on Saturday, Dec. 19th at 9 a.m.! Thank you to all who supported the PTL by purchasing ornaments. We look forward to crafting with you!

Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 988 5938 3036 Passcode: D7wXL2

https://www.boonsupply.com/collections/611521-the-schools-of-bethany-lutheranmailto:rlopez@bethanylutheran.orghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88210795871?pwd=akRUSW5mdytSZ3hTWmIzNThVVkpzUT09https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88210795871?pwd=akRUSW5mdytSZ3hTWmIzNThVVkpzUT09https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88210795871?pwd=akRUSW5mdytSZ3hTWmIzNThVVkpzUT09https://www.facebook.com/Bethany.Long.Beach/https://www.facebook.com/Bethany.Long.Beach/https://zoom.us/j/98859383036?pwd=ZzVKc1phQjJXS1ZiTGwrMGwyb2ptZz09

FAMILY MATTERS // VOL. 25, NO. 3 // NOVEMBER 2020 1

FamilyMattersA CHRIST-CENTERED RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES AND TEACHERS

IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES

SENT TO SERVE

Serving by Supporting

s the people of God, we know that we should help those who are less fortunate than we are.

We can do this in many ways. We can give money on a regular basis to organizations that offer services to those in need. We can collect items from around our houses and from within our neighborhoods to donate to an agency that provides services to the needy. We could join a society that supports a special need and volunteer regularly for that organization. We could also do special timely service projects by working locally or going overseas.

There are many ways in which we can give spiritual, physical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing unfortunate situations. As parents we want to instill the value of serving others in our children. Here are some guidelines, each inspired by a verse of Scripture, that can inspire us as we seek to be people who are “Sent to Serve” and to train up our children to be the same.

A Kind Approach — As we would attempt to support people in difficult situations, we can’t possibly know their entire story. However, starting with gentle words and genuine caring, we can serve them without rendering judgement. In so doing we follow the words of Jesus to support those who could be considered “the least of these” (MATT. 25:40).

A Timely Approach — Many times, support and service are needed immediately. A natural disaster takes place unexpectedly, a personal tragedy occurs or a long-term crisis hits a breaking point — and there is a need for supplies and monetary support. To be able to respond in the moment is critical. To give what is needed most is acting in accord with the words of Jesus to give someone “a cup of water” (MARK 9:41).

A Wise Approach — We need to be sure we are giving and supporting others for reasons that are not self-serving. There can be noticeable acclaim in our society for those who are generous. There are also those who offer support as anonymous donors. These are people who give to those in need in such a way as to “not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret” (MATT. 6:3–4)

Opportunities to serve others as the sent people of God are all around us! As we render service as adults, we model and teach the value of such service to the next generation. Children learn not just through instruction, but also by doing and by watching their parents.

May we all step forward, modeling for our children the use of the gifts and resources that God has blessed us with, to serve and support those who are less fortunate, through our kind actions, timely support and wise giving.

A

VOL. 25, NO. 3 // NOVEMBER 2020Family Matters

Published by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod // 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295 // 314-965-9000 // lcms.org

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. TO REPRINT: Permission is granted to reprint articles from this newsletter with the credit line “Reprinted with permission of LCMS School Ministry.”

Writer: Dr. Steven Christopher Designer: Erica Schwan

© 2020 LCMS

A RESOURCE OF LCMS SCHOOL MINISTRY

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY // Gather the family together in a comfortable space, with no electronic distractions, and enjoy the family activity outlined below.

IMAGES: LCMS COMMUNICATIONS/ERIK M. LUNSFORD

PROJECT TITLE: CHARTING OUR SUPPORT FOR OTHERS

PURPOSE To engage family members in an activity that allows them to intentionally plan how they will support, care for and assist those in need.

OPENER Ask the following questions in your family setting to get a conversation going.

›› What are some things you like to do for others? Why?

›› What are some things that need to be done around here? In our community or church?

›› Who are some people you know who might need some help?

BIBLICAL INSPIRATION: In your family, have an adult or older child read the following verses from the Bible: Matt. 25:40, Mark 9:41, Matt. 6:3–4.

What do these verses say about helping others? How do they inspire you to serve others?

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY: Reproduce the chart below onto a tag-board or piece of newsprint so that all the members of the family can easily see and participate.

DIRECTIONS: Talk as a family about service projects you might want to do, concerns or situations you can

pray for as a family and special financial support that you could offer in the six months ahead. Write them

down in the appropriate place on the chart. When done, hang the chart for all to see in your home and then highlight them with a marker when they are accomplished.

CLOSING PRAYER At the close of the family session, have an adult or older

sibling say the following echo prayer, phrase by phrase, with the rest of the family repeating the words.

Dear Jesus, You are the servant of all. Thank You for dying on the cross, saving us from our sins and giving us eternal life. Help us in this life to serve others, support those in need and love others, as You have loved us. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Pray For: Give To: Go and Do:Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Special Occasions