1279 Higheet

Auburn, California95603

We Are on the Web

www.bethlehemlutheranauburn.org

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP

SCHEDULE

CHRISTMAS EVE

6:00 PM

7:30 PM

11:00 PM

CHRISTMAS DAY

10:00 AM Worship

2:00 PM Community Christmas Dinner

December 29

One Service 9:30 AM

Worship Services

Saturday Evening 5:00 PM

Sunday Morning 8:30 AM & 11:00 AM

Evening Service of Meditation , Prayer

and Peace– Second and fourth Sun-

days a month at 5:30 PM

Phone: 530-885-4515

Fax: 530-885-2287

E-mail: officemanager@bethlehemlutheranauburn.org

In Advent- What are you Waiting For?

Bethlehem Lutheran Church The Herald December 2013

CHURCH

STAFF

PASTOR

Bryon Hansen

DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRY

Casey Tinnin

OFFICE MANAGER

Joy Johnson

WORSHIP

COORDINATOR

Denise Nelson

FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE

Randi Olson

DIRECTOR OF

CHILDREN’S

MINISTRY

Kathye Hamm

CHURCH

COUNCIL

President

Karen Stein

Vice President

Amos Olson

Secretary/Treasurer

Don Schultze

Members at Large:

Laura Hesse

Scott Smith

Christie Sonmez

In the days of Advent, Christians prepare to celebrate the presence of God’s Word among us in our own day. During these four weeks, we pray that the reign of God, which Jesus preached and lived, would come among us. We pray that God’s justice would flourish in our land, that the peo-ple of the earth would live in peace, that the weak and the sick and the hungry would be strengthened, healed, and fed with God’s merciful presence. During the last days of Advent, Christians welcome Christ with names inspired by the prophets: wisdom, liberator of slaves,

mighty power, radiant d awn and sun of justice, the keystone of the arch of hu manity, and Emmanual- God with us.

TABLE PRAYER

FOR ADVENT

Blessed are you, O Lord our God,

the one who is, who was, and who

is to come. At this table you fill

us with good things. May these

gifts strengthen us to share with

the hungry and all those in need,

as we wait and watch for your

Welcoming All

Making Disciples

Serving Neighbors

CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE

CHRISTMAS EVE

6:00 PM

7:30 PM

11:00 PM

CHRISTMAS DAY

10:00 AM Worship

2:00 PM Community Christmas Dinner

December 29

One Service 9:30 AM

Page 2 coming among us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Advent Service of Unity and Peace

AND

Sunday, December 1, we will gather together as a church family to begin the season

of Advent with a joint worship service at 9:30 am.

After we worship together in a blended service with Holy Communion, we will move

to the fellowship hall for an All Church Advent Celebration at 11:00 am - 12:00

pm. There will be devotions, a chance to make an Advent calendar for your family, a

prayer collage, and of course, treats!

This Advent Celebration will repeat on Wednesday, December 4, starting with dinner

at 5:30 pm and ending with a short worship from 7:15 - 7:30 pm

The Guemmer & Myers Trio.......In Concert

CHRIST IS BORN!

A Christmas Concert

December 13, 2013 at 7:00 PM

Christ the King Lutheran Church

5811 Walnut Ave. Orangevale, CA

A Freewill Offering will be taken in support of the ministries & mission of Christ the

King Lutheran Church

Page 7

Thank you, thank you, so very, very much for supporting our craft

and bake sale. Because of you out total sales were $950.51. All will

be given away, some of our favorite charities are Acres of

Hope, Lutheran Navajo mission in Arizona, Gathering Inn, Au-

burn Food closet and others, that decision will be made in Janu-

ary. Also thanks to you who baked and made crafts and also the

lefse makers. And there were those who came in and set up tables

and decorated and then you took down and put away. Because of

all of you our sale was a successful success, so thank again. Women of the ELCA.

Quilting Plus will meet only once in December on the 3rd. We will be having a Taco salad

lunch following. If you have forgotten what to bring call Ruth. We will resume on Tuesday Janu-

ary 7th. All women are more than welcome, we are the best little support group at Bethlehem

COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS DINNER Bethlehem Lutheran is hosting

the 24th Annual Community Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. The Adopt-

A-Turkey roll program will be available for those that wish to make a donation

to support this event. Please put your donation in the offering plate designated

for the Christmas Dinner. We will also need volunteers to help prep food, set-

up, serve, deliver and clean up. If you would like to be part of this community

celebration call the church office (530)-885-4515.

Overall this year "giving" continues to be about 6% below what was

budgeted. With August, September, and October expenses right at

budget, borrowed funds jump to $10,705 because of the significant

drop in October's giving. The Finance Committee and Council are

closely monitoring

BLC's giving/

expenses as we pre-

pare for the 2014

budget.

Please contact me should you have any ques-

tions,

Don Schultze, BLC treasure (916-276-4880)

Romans 14:13.”Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”

REACHING OUT TO ALL PEOPLE

This last month’s Lutheran magazine is full of articles on AC-

TIVISM: how churches are reaching out into the communities

which surround them to do God’s work. Things are changing

big time! How refreshing it is to know that each Christian who

has compassion and love is finding a way to share the Good

News to so many people…often outside of the walls of their

church. As author Bob Sitze states, “If you want to be hope-

ful, you have to work toward what you hope for”. The articles zero in on “Congregation-based

organizing” as an approach to mission that is based on people relationships…a “proven meth-

od of moving from thought to action” with a spiritual core.

In waking from sleep a couple nights ago, the thought came to me…why do we not

serve God by intergenerational help and visits to the elders and children in the neighborhoods

around our church ? The Montessori Preschool located in the Fairgrounds might need adult

help either inside or outside the classroom. The Rock Creek Senior Center on Racetrack Drive

might love to have children and teens visit and read or sing to the residents. A monthly bible

study or sing-a-long might really be enjoyed by the folks who live there. I would be more than

happy to approach these two neighbors and ask if they would want us. But I will wait upon the

Spirit to move YOU.

Right now, there are members who are backing away from personal commitments in

Bethlehem’s ministries that were made months or years ago. It is not God’s wish to leave peo-

ple in need of help hanging without spiritual support they have been given in the past. So we

first will continue to cover the requests we have in place and visit those who are awaiting visits.

Then we will look outside High Street to help other adults and children. Thank God He sus-

tains and supports us with His grace. In the meantime, pray for spiritual vision for those who

are stepping aside from Bethlehem’s ministries; a clearing of the mind of fear, panic, and un-

certainties. Let God do the leading and let His grace feed us with strength and love.

Have a blessed Christmas and a New Year of renewal.

Randi, Bethlehem’s Faith Community Nurse

Page 6

Wholistic Health For the Soul

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Last month I took our young people to a Christian concert in the Arco arena. I was so excited because I re-membered as a young person one of my first experiences of Christianity and the power of the Gospel came to me in an event much like this one. With thousands of young peoples hands lifted high and eyes focused on the rafters as if they could see the Angels praising God, I felt the spirit in a way I had never experienced it before. I was ecstatic, and as “every head bowed and every eye was closed”, I went forward and sat at the cross and committed my life to Gods call. So, as I sat in line with our young people I was eager to see how they would respond. The first thing our young people noticed was the T-shirts. Lots of young people were wearing “Jesus” shirts, hats, and even jeans. One of our youth was shocked by the shirt that said, “I choose Jesus.” When I asked this young person why they were so bothered by it he said, “Jesus picks us, we don’t pick Jesus!” I was amazed at his answer, and so I pushed further, “well how does Jesus pick us?” Our bright young man said, “we are chosen in our baptism correct?” My jaw dropped, I was so impressed with this young person, and his ability to at such a young age articu-late his faith. After the concert our young people talked about the commercialization of Christi-anity and how “industrial” the whole experience was. They of course had a great time, but they knew that their faith was built on something different, something deeper, than most of the people they had gathered with. This is the work of our church, this is the impact that we make collectively on our young peo-ple. They have been deeply rooted in something beyond ecstatic worship, catchy tag line sermons, and alter calls. I was proud of them, and you should be too. Our faith is formed in the sacra-ments that God has given to us as promise. We are deeply rooted in grace, and formed in a faith that has been tested over time. Praise God! May you be blessed and formed in new ways during this Holiday Season. Blessings, Casey

ALTERNATIVE GIFT GIVING As you’ve begun planning your holiday shopping list, perhaps you’re thinking of the

latest gadgets, newest toys or other popular gifts. But what if you could give a gift

that makes a real, life-changing difference? What if you could gift something that was

not only thoughtful and valuable, but that would also transform the life of someone in

need? This year, you can do just that. The ELCA Good Gifts contains more than 50

different gift-giving options that help grow our church, support new leaders and care for those around the

world who live with hunger and poverty. The gifts represent projects carried out by our church and sup-

port ministries and people that need them most. Visit ELCA.org/goodgifts for a wide selection of gifts

that really make a difference in peoples lives.

From our Director of Youth

Page 4

Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]

Dec 25

Isaiah 62:6-12

Psalm 97

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:[1-7] 8-20

Dec 26 Psalm 148

Wisdom 4:7-15

Acts 7:59—8:8

Dec 27 Psalm 148

Proverbs 8:22-31

1 John 5:1-12

Dec 28 Psalm 148

Isaiah 49:13-23

Matthew 18:1-14

Dec 29 Psalm 20

Jeremiah 31:15-22

Luke 19:41-44

Dec 30 Psalm 20

Isaiah 26:1-9

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Dec 31 Psalm 20

1 Kings 3:5-14

John 8:12-19

Tu Psalm 42

Ezekiel 47:1-12

Jude 17-25

W Psalm 42

Zechariah 8:1-17

Matthew 8:14-17,28-34

Th Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Galatians 3:23-29

F Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

2 Samuel 7:18-22

Galatians 4:1-7

Sa Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

2 Samuel 7:23-29

John 3:31-36

Sunday December 22

Isaiah 7:10-16

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Romans 1:1-7

Matthew 1:18-25

Dec 23 Luke 1:46b-55

2 Samuel 7:18, 23-29

Galatians 3:6-14

Dec 24

Isaiah 9:2-7

Psalm 96

Titus 2:11-14

Matthew 3:1-12

M Psalm 21

Isaiah 24:1-16a

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Tu Psalm 21

Isaiah 41:14-20

Romans 15:14-21

W Psalm 21

Genesis 15:1-18

Matthew 12:33-37

Th Psalm 146:5-10

Ruth 1:6-18

2 Peter 3:1-10

F Psalm 146:5-10

Ruth 4:13-17

2 Peter 3:11-18

Sa Psalm 146:5-10

1 Samuel 2:1-8

Luke 3:1-18

Sunday December 15

Isaiah35:1-10

Psalm 146:5-10

James 5:7-10

Matthew 11:2-11

M Psalm 42

Isaiah 29:17-24

Acts 5:12-16

Sunday December 1

Isaiah 2:1-5

Psalm 122

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:36-44

M Psalm 124

Genesis 8:1-19

Romans 6:1-11

Tu Psalm 124

Genesis 9:1-17

Hebrews 11:32-40

W Psalm 124

Isaiah 54:1-10

Matthew 24:23-35

Th Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Isaiah 4:2-6

Acts 1:12-17, 21-26

F Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Isaiah 30:19-26

Acts 13:16-25

Sa Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Isaiah 40:1-11

John 1:19-28

Sunday December 8

Isaiah 11:1-10

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Romans 15:4

Daily Lectionary for December 2013

Jon Tribur

Linn Tjornhom

Ann Leitze

Susie Beeck

Bob Thiessen

Tom Larson

Heather Campbell

Dora Sather

Frank Hampton

Sue Gonella

Sophia Campbell

Don Schultze

Conrad Brower

Diane Williams

Rod Stoltenburg

Hannah Lane

Jane Vanenhoff

Diane Allison

Lucas Suter

Page 5

In our busy world, it is hard to find the motivation to participate regularly in

faith formation opportunities at church – especially as a family. So, to help

you find the motivation to join us Wednesday Nights at “The Well,” we’re

starting FAMILIES 4 FAITH! If your family comes to dinner, class and

worship on Wednesdays 4 weeks in a row, you will earn prizes! The more

times you come 4 weeks in a row, the “bigger” the prizes. What if someone is

sick, or you have a family vacation? You have the opportunity to make up any 2 Wednesdays by

completing an activity from Vibrant Faith @ Home, or by coming to worship as a family.

We have our first 4 in a row families! Have you seen their pictures on the bulletin board?

2 FOUR IN A ROWS

Cindy and Kylie Bowman Denise and Charles Nelson

Art, Linda and Ella Otto Paul, Alexa and Linn Tjornholm

DATES TO REMEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER

Sunday, December 1

9:30 Worship & Advent Celebration

Wednesday, December 4 – All Church Advent Party

Wednesdays, December 25 and January 1 – No Classes

Sunday, December 29 – No Classes

WHAT’S THE BUZZ????

Did you know that mosquitos can carry dis-

eases??? I wonder how we can help?