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A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church

A member congregation of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

7171 Pearl Road, Middleburg Heights OH 44136-4946

(440) 843-6663

www.gobethel.org

Be heLight

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A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church

In This Issue. . . Prayer Concerns………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………..….3 Drama, Dessert, and Donations …………………………………..…….………………………………………………..……4 Bethel Happenings ……..…………………………………………………….………………………………………………....5-8 April & May Birthdays & Anniversaries .…………………………………………….….………..……………………..9-10 Calendars…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……11-12

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

Church Office 440-843-6663

Office Hours Mon – Fri 9AM – 1 PM

Fax Number 440-843-6664

Steven M. Krebill 440-785-9614

Pastor

Erika Haskell 216-409-9037

Director of Music

Kathy Victor 440-843-6663

Administrative Assistant

bethelstaff@sbcglobal.net

Christie Scott 440-243-6266

M.E.E.C. Director

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

The Congregation

Reporters

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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.

FROM THE PASTOR- SPRING 2015

Deadline for the Summer 2016 BeTheLight is May 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

Chuck Behm, Deborah Braun, Carl Burgess, Warren Burgess,

Marshall Camp, Jennifer English, Linda Hegwer, Robert Hintze,

Karen Horner, John Hura, Aaron Jardina, Carol Jones, Brigitte

Kern, Lynn Kostura, Joyce Larson, Cy Maszczynski, Pamela

Misischia, Donald O’Dell, Clifford Riedel Jr,

Mary Sollers, Janet Sopko, John Stefanik, Pat Sterba,

Bob Thompson,

PERSONS WHO ARE HOMEBOUND Norm Heger~Irene Miller~

Eleanor Olschewsky~Mary Reinke~Velma Wolff

Please keep these friends in your

thoughts and prayers.

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You are cordially invited to an evening of

Drama, Dessert, and Donations (to the youth fund) as members of Bethel Lutheran Church’s

Faith Explorers (Also known as the “Not-Ready-For-Any Time Players”)

Proudly Present

(A tale of adventure, bravery, bullying and

how to use a mop in battle situations)

Saturday, April 9, 2016 7 PM

in the Fellowship Hall of Bethel Lutheran Church

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B-W ALUMNI CONCERT COMING IN MAY

On Friday, May 6 at 7 PM, Bethel Lutheran Church will host a concert of music by a choir consisting of alumni of Baldwin-Wallace University. The concert is free and open to all and will include sacred and secular music. Mark your calendar and join us for an enjoyable evening of music.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS At the Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 26, we welcomed ten new members into our community of faith. Zachary Andrew Kelly became a member through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. We also welcomed Craig Campfield, Therese Campfield, John Hura, Holly Hura, Julia Kilkenny, Danny Kilkenny, Nancy Kilkenny, Pat Kilkenny, Granger Krebill, and Barbara Steffen who joined us through affirmation of faith. Be sure to check the Gathering Place hallway for pictures and biographies of our new members and warmly welcome them to our community.

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Tidbits from the Library…

Did you know there is a website dedicated to give you a Daily Bible Reading? Go to http://elca.org/Faith/DailyBible/ and check it out for yourself. I also found another useful website, http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/ , which will provide the lectionary (RCL) for every Sunday in the three year cycle. It will also give a variety of translations, prayers and hymns to accompany the lectionary readings.

Caring Support Group Aging can bring new challenges to our lives. Do you see yourself as a caregiver? Are both you and/or your spouse experiencing frustrations due to health or mobility issues? Our congregation’s “Journey Together” team is seeking to provide support to our members by encouraging participation in monthly gatherings where information, encouragement and prayers will assist you during this time of life.

Wednesday, April 20 at 1:30pm, Christ the Redeemer Lutheran on 9201 Brecksville Rd in Brecksville will host the 1st monthly gathering.

Do you have questions or concerns about government benefits, home assistance programs or other senior resources? A speaker from the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging will provide information on the many resources available in our area for help physically and/or financially. Parish Nurse Jill Koubal will facilitate our time together. Questions? Contact the church office or Jill, 216-573-1595.

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Camp Mowana It’s not too late to register for camp! Many people have already signed up for their week at Camp Mowana this summer. High School week is July 3-8 and Pastor Krebill will serve as chaplain for the junior and intermediate camp the next week, July 10-15. It’s not too late to register and as always, we have scholarship assistance available. See Pastor or Kathy for more information.

Know Your Thrivent Congregational Advocates For many of our fund raisers and events, Thrivent Financial has supported our ministries and helped us address our needs. Example: Congregation members have taken part in an "Action Team" for God's Faithful Followers, using $250 of seed money from Thrivent to lower our out-of-pocket costs. The February/March BeTheLight newsletter describes Thrivent's "Action Teams." The article notes that you can get information by calling 1-800-THRIVENT. Another way to learn how Thrivent can help you cut costs with an event you are planning is to talk with a Thrivent Congregational Advocate. Bethel has three Advocates: Ed Harbart, Karl Yanuzzi, and Ray Herzog. Like many of you, we are volunteers. In this case, spreading the word about Thrivent's giving back, helping people to live generously, showing God's love in amazing ways. See Ed, Karl, or Ray after Sunday service, call, or email. . . . Ray Herzog

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Bethel's Ministry Teams Working on Thirteen Programs In January, forty-three people signed up for Bethel's "We Are Bethel, Ministry Teams" program. On February 1st, more than thirty of these folks met in small groups to discuss the first steps for the top thirteen ministry ideas identified at our congregational meetings during our sabbatical. Enthused for the great things the ministries can accomplish, the highly energized groups discussed how they would carry out identified goals. For some of the ministries, Bethel's teams might partner with sister congregations who are already providing services in the "Journey Together" program. Ideas include a Bethel Block Party, new ways to look at LIFE Together, increasing involvement in service ministries (such as Habitat for Humanity and Redeemer Crisis Center), increasing use of social media for Bethel, and intentional connection ministries with those who can’t be at worship on Sundays or those who are experiencing difficulty or life changes. The groups will continue to meet and develop the ministries, overseen by a council member. Volunteers and new helpers are always welcome. The table shows the ministry teams and their council leader. To be part of these teams and better serve our congregation and community, please contact the council member and she will connect you with the appropriate group. We need many hands to develop and grow our ideas that we created as a congregation. We need you and would love your help and input. . . . Jane Salem, Ministry Sabbatical Committee Chair . . . Ray Herzog, Ministry Teams Reporter

Service Jane Salem

Witness Laura Elewski

Learning Jackie Bailey

Worship Yvonne Hoelter

Improve participation with local food banks, Redeemer Crisis Center, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, etc.

Improve and extend use of social media

Develop alternatives to LIFE together

Build on Media Team and its usage in worship and other events

Increase participation with Habitat for Humanity

Adopt a member who cannot be in worship: college student, military, shut in, and provide intentional connection

Consider possibilities of alternative worship

Consider possibilities of alternative worship

Provide rides for members to worship and other needs

Bethel Block Party

Social/Fellowship groups

Intentional outreach ministry for women, men, couples in need/crisis/life transition

Community Garden

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Birthdays and Anniversaries

2 Russ Bailey

3 Velma Wolff (Happy 95th Birthday) 3 Gail Brophy 4 Jackie Kottke Bondor 5 Elsie Petrov (Happy 91st Birthday) 5 Adelaide Rescola

5 George & Elfie Schuster (Happy 30th) 8 Giesela Stiene 9 George Schuster

10 Jennifer Stiene 10 Eliza Karp (Happy 16th Birthday) 13 Molly Weaver 13 Mitch Harshman 14 Nik Schuster 14 Fred & Sandy Sauvey (Happy 43rd) 15 Esther Johns 15 Nick LoPiccolo 15 Lena Tuffner 15 Joan Colon 16 Marie Link 18 Isabel Haskell 25 Alex Salem 25 Sam Haskell 25 Tara Gray 26 Robert F. Breska 28 Nancy Kilkenny 29 Victoria Bobey 30 Neal & Thelma Bradnan (Happy 56th)

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Birthdays and Anniversaries 1 James Sandine

2 Darlynne Eberhart 2 Linda & Anthony English (Happy 24th) 3 Emma Reardon 4 Sophia Schobel 4 Barbara Steffen 6 Wayne Derschau 6 Olivia Karp

7 Lori Sandine 8 Mary Reinke 8 Lynn Foster

8 Betty Powers 8 Melissa Gold 9 Chase Leidy 9 Debbie Breska 10 Jessica Stiene 11 Mary-Ellen Leidy 11 Carol Pickens 12 Bob & Lois Minut (Happy 55th) 13 Sue Van Straaten 14 Ruth Sindelar 15 Diane Hail 16 Brittany Kvasager 16 Rachel Gray 19 Martha Scott 22 Cliff & Carolyn Riedel (Happy 62nd) 23 Ed Costa 26 Alina Bondor (Happy 21st Birthday) 27 Joyce Larson 28 Susan Mohnickey 30 Craig Campfield 31 Jutta Zwingleberg

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April 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 AA 8:30pm

2 Men’s Bible

Study 8am

3 Worship

9:45am

4 Spring

Break

ends—

MEEC

classes

resume

5 Lectionary

Bible study

10am

6 Choir 7:30pm

7 Al-Anon 10am

GFF 7pm

8 AA 8:30pm

9 Men’s Bible

study 8am

Drama,

Dessert and

Donation

Event 7pm

10 Worship

9:45am

11 12 Lectionary bible

study 10am

Men’s

Luncheon

11:30am

MEEC BD Mtg

(FH) 6:30pm

Council Mtg

7:00pm

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14 Al-Anon 10am

GFF 7pm

15 AA 8:30pm

16 Men’s Bible

study 8am

17 Worship

9:45am

18 19 Lectionary

Bible study

10am

20 Choir 7:30pm

21 Al-Anon 10am

GFF 7pm

22 AA 8:30pm

23 Men’s Bible

study 8am

24 Worship

9:45am

Seasons of

Life Hospice

Memorial

12:30-4pm

25 26 Lectionary

Bible study

10am

27 Choir 7:30pm

28 Al-Anon 10am

GFF April

Birthday

Dinner 7pm

29 AA 8:30pm

30 Men’s Bible

study 8am

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May 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Worship

9:45am BW Alumni

Choir Concert

Rehearsal 7-

10pm

2 3

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

4

Choir 7:30pm

5 Al-Anon 10am

GFF 7pm

6

AA 8:30pm

BW Alumni

Choir

Concert 7pm

7

Men’s Bible

study 8am

8 Worship

9:45am

9 10

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

Council Mtg 7pm

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Choir 7:30pm

12

Al-Anon 10am

GFF 7pm

13

AA 8:30pm

14

Men’s Bible

study 8am

15

Worship

9:45am

16 17

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

18

Choir 7:30pm

19

Al-Anon 10am

GFF 7pm

20

AA 8:30pm

21

Men’s Bible

study 8am

22

Worship

9:45am

23 24

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

25

MEEC

Graduation

(Sanctuary)

26

Al-Anon 10am

GFF Talent

Show & Birthday

Dinner 7pm

27

AA 8:30pm

28

Men’s Bible

study 8am

29

Worship

9:45am

30

31

Lectionary Bible

study 10am