There are parts of scripture that I’ve heard many times with phrases that jump out the page at me, but I never remember the reference. One example is the phrase “jars of clay.” Many of us probably heard the band Jars of Clay before we heard the scripture about jars of clay in 2 Corinthians 4. (The only reason I know the reference is I inadvertantly read the chapter as part of The Verse of the Day in my Bible app a few weeks ago.)

In 2 Corinthians 4, the apostle Paul is talking about his struggles in life and ministry. First, their earthly bodies are not getting any younger (see verse 16). Second, their daily struggles—rejection, grueling schedules and journeys, critics and persecution—wear on them. However, these things do not destroy them.

This whole passage describes our sanctification process, reminding us that our bodies are always in an aging state of decay, our flesh always trying to pull us toward the comforts and pleasures of this life, but our souls have the option of being renewed day-by-day as we submit to God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. And we are reminded another time no matter how sancti-fied we may be on this earth, we still carry this tremendous life-changing power from God in our broken, fragile, earthly vessels—”jars of clay.”

In reading and pondering this, I thought about Humpty Dumpty. I know it seems childish, but when you take time to think about it, we who desire to walk on the “straight and narrow path” are one fall away from going over the edge to the left or to the right. It happens so easily for me in my home: I take something that my wife Becky tells me the wrong way and I get upset, Miriam does something to Abbie and I fly off the handle, Ella wakes up in the middle of the night and I’m upset that I’m on the one who has to get up with her again, there are things that “I need to do for myself” that I never get to do—all these (and worse) desires, when we submit to those immediate needs of gratification, they push us over the edge, and we hurl toward the ground. We know it’s going to happen, and what some of the initial consequences will be.

On Ash Wednesday, Pastor Brian talked about the distinction of being made in the image of God. We are made in His image, we are not God. He is “Other.” God made us in His image using the “dust of the earth”—matter that He made. He intentionally made us as jars of clay to show that the power that each of us, as Christians, have been gifted access to is from God and God alone. We don’t need to walk around like we have it all together. As Job, we need to have encounters with God to remind us that we don’t know it all and we’re not the center of the universe.

Another thing that the Apostle Paul does elsewhere in scripture is to boast in his weaknesses. I’ve spent some time thinking how embarrasing it would be to go around telling people my weaknesses like I go around boasting about the things I’m good at or known for. Paul has so much to boast about—he has an incredible pedigree—but he decides to boast about his weaknesses. I think it’s an opportunity to be introspective and remind ourselves of our weaknesses so we don’t go around boasting about all of our “good things” that we do. And that’s part of Lent. We come to the cross and realize that we are a mess and we can’t hold things together.

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CONTENTSLent 2

BethesdaWorldMissions 3

TouchedTwice 4

StephenMinistry 5

Women’sMinistries 7

Men’sMinistries 7

Children’sMinistries 8

YouthMinistries 9

LIFEgroups 10

AdultBibleFellowships 11

Sunday Service Schedule

Sanctuary9:00 am – Traditional 10:30 am – Contemporary

Walker Hall10:30 am – Eleeo

(Modern Worship)

Worship Schedule!

March/April 2013

WWW.BETHESDALUTHERAN.ORG

NEWSBethesdaLutheran Brethren ChurCh

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Jars of Clay Matt Hoage, Director of Worship Ministries

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LENT is the season of 40 weekdays leading up to and pre-paring for Easter Sunday. It begins on Ash Wednesday (February 13th), and ends on Easter Saturday (March 30th). Lent is a season intended for renewal, for introspection, for meditating on the love and sacrifice of Jesus, for repentance — the surrender of our idols,

and for fresh passion and commitment to follow Christ and share Him with others. As such, Lent has also historically been a season of Prayer and Fasting.

This year, Bethesda is being called to a Lenten season of Prayer and Fasting on behalf of our adopted people group from Chad, Africa, the Fulbe people, for missionaries to minister to them, and for the Gospel to reach them. We will (from Advent Conspiracy offerings) be digging fresh water wells for 10 villages in the Fulbe regions of Chad, and planning a mission trip in April with several people from Bethesda and sister churches interested in the Fulbe.

We will also be collecting (on the last Wednesday of Lent pri-or to Holy Week, March 20th), a “Lenten Conspiracy” offering to bless the ministry of our sister congregation, Bethany, in Colfax. These funds will help complete a long-needed church building roofing project, and encourage other ministries of Bethany.

Reflections on Lent, Bethesda and the Fulbe PeopleBy Dan Venberg

What does Lent have to do with the Fulbe people? What does Bethesda have to do with them? Who are the Fulbe people anyway? Let’s treat these questions one at a time, starting with the last one and working back. The Fulbe people are likely the largest nomadic people group in the world, with a population es-timated at around 20 million. Traditionally they are a nomadic, pastoralist people, ranging with their livestock (cattle, sheep and/or goats) across the sub-saharan grasslands of west and central Africa. Many are now transitioning to a more sedentary, agricul-tural lifestyle. The great majority of Fulbe claim Islam as their be-lief system. They are a people largely unreached with the Gospel, and have virtually no access to the Gospel message unless people from the outside enter their culture and proclaim it to them.

That is where Bethesda fits in. As a church body, we have ad-opted the Fulbe people. What does that mean, you ask? It means that we have committed to invest of our time, our resources, and our prayerful intervention for the sake of engaging the Fulbe peo-ple with the Gospel. Why? So that they too may hear and respond to the good news, that Jesus, the Son of God came to earth, and suffered, died and rose again. God is patient, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to the saving knowledge of the truth. The Bible tells us that faith comes through hear-ing the message of salva-tion, and that message is heard through the Word of Christ. And the Bible challenges us with the question: “How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they be-lieve in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear with-out someone preaching to them? And how can they

preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14, 15). This is the essence of our engage-ment with the Fulbe people, so see to it that the Fulbe people do hear about Christ, so that they have a chance to believe in and call upon him as Lord and Savior.

So, how does the Lent-en season fit into all of this? This is a time of reflection on what Christ has done for us. God the Father sent his son into our world, in mis-sion, so that we may know and respond to the way of salvation that was made possible through Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection. Lent is a time of acknowledging our sinful state before a just and holy and gracious God, a time of repentance, a time of moderation and discipline, remembering the suffering that our Lord went through for our sakes.

And so, during this season of Lent, as you reflect, as you ponder, as you repent, as you prepare, as you pray, do so also on behalf of the Fulbe people. They know Jesus as a great man and prophet, but their reflection of him stops there . . . and so they are not able to call upon him as their Lord. They are a people loved by God, as we are. They are a people for whom Christ suffered and died, as we are. They are a people for whom Christ resurrected, a people for whom the curtain of the temple was torn, as we are. And so they and we have something in common . . . direct ac-cess to and forgiveness and grace and unconditional love from the God who desires all people to be saved. But there is a significant difference between us and them. We know this amazing truth of what we celebrate at Easter. The great majority of them do not. And so let’s encourage each other to lift up the Fulbe in prayer during this Lenten season, so that they too may celebrate the rea-son for the season.

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Contruccis: • Praise the Lord for Bethesda’s sustaining prayers for them!

Pray that they will continue to be strengthened in the battle for the souls of men and women with whom they come in contact.

• Pray that the three-year proposal to expand the Inside-Out Safety Program that Kent submitted to the MAF leadership will be approved in May, if it is the Lord’s will.

• Pray for Kent and Nancy, as they present the ministry of MAF at Trinity Church in San Diego on March 16th-17th. Pray specifically that God will move individuals to pray for them and provide financial support.

• Pray for Kent as he attends the Africa Area Managers meeting April 22nd-26th in Kenya. MAF Program leaders from the African continent meet once a year to plan mission strategy and encourage one another. Kent will be presenting one of the components from the Inside-Out Safety Seminar: ‘Valuing the Differences Within a Team’. Pray that Kent’s words will have the impact that Christ desires on the minds and hearts of those attending.

• Pray for Kent’s health as he travels. He has had challenges with illness on his last few trips overseas.

Gronseths:

• Praise the Lord for all that He is doing in the lives of the Coffee House staff and customers.

• Praise the Lord for the fruit from their daily prayer time with the Thomases at the Coffee House. The staff have been impacted, and one has become a Christian!

• Pray that the Lord would continue to work among their staff and customers in amazing ways.

Schroers: • Because Zachary and Alissa are expecting their first child in

August, they will not be able to depart for France to attend language school, as was planned.

• Pray that doctors will soon decide whether or not Zachary’s heart condition would endanger his health and hinder his work as a missionary in Chad.

• Pray that the Lord will make His will clear to Zachary and Alissa as they pray about whether or not to pursue going to Chad as missionaries.

Wiebes:

• Praise the Lord for the joy of spending time with both Papua New Guinea (PNG) and missionary friends in Ukarumpa.

• Pray that their mission station house in Ukarumpa would sell quickly.

• Pray for Brent as he consultant-checks for a PNG Bible translation team.

• Pray for Sandi as she prepares Bola Sunday School materials.

• Pray for the family as they go to the village on March 19th for a month to tear down their village house, and say goodbye to the Bola people. Some translators have had difficult experiences when they say goodbye.

• Pray for safety for the family as they travel in PNG.

• Pray that plans for recording several Bola men reading Scriptures might come together for late April.

• Pray that the Bola will grow in their hunger for God’s Word, and come into the Kingdom as they hear the Good News!

Wiles:

• Pray for John and Kathryn as they will be in Jacksonville, Florida with the Barnabas Leadership Team March 14th-March 22nd. The agenda for this time period includes oversight of the organization, interviews with potential staff members, planning for the annual staff gathering, and further development of the Barnabas School of Shepherding.

Venbergs:

• Praise the Lord that Rachel is finishing her nursing refresher course.

• Pray that Rachel would find a job that is a good match for her skills.

• Pray for wisdom for Dan, Rachel, and the Mission Committee as they plan a trip to Chad to visit Fulbe communities who are receiving wells from Bethesda’s Advent Conspiracy funds. There are many logistics to be worked out before the tentative mid-April trip departure date.

• Pray for renewed vision and engagement for Bethesda’s Fulbe mission.

Bethesda World MissionsPraise and Prayer for Bethesda’s Family Around the World

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Help Wanted! We Need You!We need many volunteers for our Touched Twice Clinic on

Saturday, April 20 from 9–2. If you filled out a sign up sheet you will be contacted soon. If you didn’t and you would like to vol-unteer you are still able to serve. Our biggest need is to be an Advocate. You will be a guide and friend to a guest who attends. You will navigate them around the building and make sure their needs are met. It is a great opportunity and an awesome privilege to be able to show the love of Christ to the guests who attend our clinic.

We are also in need of a clothing coordinator to work with Brittney Malone in the clothing area.

There may still be opportunities to serve in many other areas like medical, optical, dental, registration, kitchen, clothing, prayer team, delivering posters, set-up and clean-up, and scheduling ap-pointments.

Elaine Shiffer has offered to do daycare in her home for vol-unteers of Touched Twice. For more information please contact Elaine at 715-497-6962 or laneyshiffer@yahoo.com.

As we look forward to 2014, we will be needing fourpeople with administrative skills to be our Medical Coordinator, Optical Coordinator, Registration Coordinator and Clothing Coordinator. Thankfully God has already filled the need we had for a Dental Coordinator and a Photography Coordinator.

Please prayerfully consider volunteering in one or more of these areas. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Karen Biel at 715-577-6865 or ckbiel@gmail.com

Item and Clothing DonationsBoxes for item and clothing donations are now set out along

the hallway between the Fellowship Hall and the Gym. This year we are collecting only the following: baby items, toys, appropri-ate books/movies, as well as clothing and shoes for men, wom-en and children. No electronics, kitchen items, linens, bedding, decorations, or furniture. We will need volunteers for sorting and organizing the donations we collect during the week of April 14-19th. Please contact Brittney Malone at 715-878-4366 or malone.brittney@gmail.com.

We asked some of the people who have volunteered for Touched Twice in past years to share about their experience. Here’s what they told us:

“The first year we did TTU, I was an advocate and real-ly saw how God can orchestrate events to work for his glory and was struck by the power of his presence. As our event opened, I waited in line for a LONG time to be matched with a family. As I got to the back of the church, I was matched with a family that I already knew well from work. It was amazing how God worked that out! As we started chatting and moved into the sanctuary, the mom told me that she was kind of nervous because she had never been in a church in her whole life. As we made our way through (literally) hun-dreds of people in the busy sanctuary she got really quiet and after a few moments looked at me and said “I never imagined it would be as peaceful as this.” Since the sanctu-ary was anything but peaceful that morning, I know that she was responding to the presence of God that she could feel in our church that day. It was an amazingly powerful moment and a very moving, powerful day for that family and for me. I know I was changed forever by that experience and I pray that the family was as well.”

—Krista Johnson

“As a worker in registration it is such an encourage-ment to see the excitement and anticipation on the faces of the families as they come through the door to start the day. In a welcoming manner we feel a responsibility to expedite the process and set the tone for a wonderful experience at Bethesda as we share Jesus’ love.”

—Nancy Merkel

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Touched Twice Prayer Reminder!April 20th is the date for God to do a wonderful work

in us and through us and our guests who come to receive goods and services which will meet various needs they have. And more than that, we desire that they recieve the love and gospel of Jesus Christ.

Do not think that this will happen automatically just because it happened last year. Be diligent to ask the Lord to, even now,work in the hearts of our guests who will come, to prepare them to receive all that God has for them!

Ask God:• to give our coordinators wisdom and strength as they

are now in process of securing servant workers and supplies for their areas of ministry.

• to stir many of us to come forth to help, especially as advocates.

• how he wants you to participate.Pray as you feel led. Thank God for His marvelous work

and for your privilege to participate in His kingdom work. Then be ready to receive God’s blessing of joy!

An important theme of the Lenten season is the humanity of Christ. In Jesus, God became human and fully experienced the wide range of emo-tions we all encounter in life. Jesus ex-perienced times of loneliness, sadness, hurt, anger, disappointment, grief, and abandonment. That is part of being human. Another part of being human is needing help from each other. God never in-tended us to be completely self-sufficient. Part of God’s plan is for each of us to turn to others for help when we need it.

So when you are experiencing difficult times, don’t struggle alone. Our Stephen Ministers will walk with you, listen to you, encourage you, pray with you, and provide confidential one-to-one care to help you through tough times. Stephen Ministers can bring the love of Jesus back into your life.

To find out more about Stephen Ministry and how you or someone you know could be matched with a Stephen Minister, talk with Judy Draper at 715-831-0189 or Paul & JoDea Green at 715-839-9468. Our Stephen Ministers are ready to care for you!

Stephen Ministry

It’s Okay to be Human

Easter Sunday is March 31st. To truly appreciate this holiday of victorious celebration, a time of preparation is helpful. Check out these and other media from Bethesda’s church library:• Read and Share DVD Bible: Easter (book and DVD for

children) by Gwen Ellis. This story of Easter is an unin-terrupted half-hour presentation of Jesus’ last week on earth. (C, ELL)

• The Case for Easter (book) by Lee Strobel. The author examines the medical evidence, the evidence of the missing body, and the evidence of ap-pearances as proof of the resurrection of Je-sus. (232.9, STR)

• The Passion of the Christ (DVD) This mov-ie graphically portrays the final twelve hours of Jesus’ life. (F, PAS)

Library News!“The Bethesda community is the best thing the city of

Eau Claire has going. . . . Bethesda is a community of help-ers and believers. It is where I have truly come to appreci-ate what we do for anyone and everyone. We ask and we receive. We give and then find a way to give more. All of us. Behind the scenes or in the spotlight, we all play a part. . . . I am so blessed to see our members and members of the community donate their time, treasures, and talents to make a difference. Being a part of what we do makes me feel blessed. I may not have a lot, but what I have is what God has given me. And as Pastor Paul always says, ‘I am just doing Gods work. I love my job.’”

—Don Rydzik“Touched Twice has been an amazing experience to

be involved with! Over the past three years, my role has evolved from helping organize the Spa area, to cutting hair, to being a runner and helping with appointments in the spa area. I am so excited to see what God has in store for me this year! There are so many wonderful areas and ways to serve. Every single one is key to the success of our mission . . . to let God use us to touch people’s lives!

“My favorite memory that I will never forget is of a woman whose hair I cut. When finished, she stood and turned around with tears in her eyes, hugged me and said ‘Thank you and may God bless you through what you are doing here!’ He certainly has!”

—Nicole Kuhnert

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Bible Camp!We are offering parent–provided transportation to

the following Inspiration Point Bible camp weeks.• Pioneer 2 (incoming 3rd/4th graders)

June 23–27• Explorer 2 (incoming 5th/6th graders)

July 14–19Register your child for camp directly through In-

spiration Point (www.ipoint.org)Register for transportation by filling out the required

forms. Packets may be found by the resource room or on our website (Children’s Ministry > Bible Camp).$100 credit towards camp is possible by your child memo-rizing verses. These can be found on our website, also (Children’s Ministry, then Wednesday nights).

On April 7 Greg Anderson and other camp staff will be at Bethesda to share about camp in the church services and with the Sunday school kids. April 1 is the date that camp registrations need to be postmarked by to receive the earlybird discount. However, because Greg will be at Bethesda on the 7th, if you haven’t mailed in your form before then, you can give it to Greg that morning and still receive the discount!

Have you noticed that God is beginning to pour out a spirit of prayer on our congregation? This last call is by Pastor Paul, asking us to fast and pray over the spiritual warfare in Chad, our adopted Fulbe people, and the need for missionaries.

As a person who has been delivered by God “from the domain of darkness and transferred . . . to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1 ;18) you are drawn to various issues or concerns regarding His king-dom. God places these in your heart as part of His calling on your life.

What if you could snap your fingers and you could see transfor-mation in that very concern? Snapping fingers won’t do it, of course. Do you know that God Himself also wants to transform: lives, relation-ships, congregations, schools, government, culture and you name it. What hinders Him from doing so?

Here is a mystery. God does limit His working among us ac-cording to our prayers, tt has always been that way. God was about to destroy Israel because of their continued rebellion. He didn’t want to though. He said to Ezekiet (22:30), “I looked for a man . . . who would stand in the gap and there was none.” He looked for someone who was interceding on behalf of the nation and there was none. He couldn’t save the nation.

God is looking for intercessors—on behalf of every one and ev-erything! This is a mighty work that has been increasingly neglected by the Church in the Western World. BUT, we CAN answer that call!

You might say, “does it really matter? Does is really make a dif-ference? I’m tired of not seeing answers to prayer.” I also feel that many times. There are many things to learn about praying in order re-ceive answers to intercessory prayers. Jesus Himself teaches us several things. But for this article let me list only 3 things: 1) Pray together and in agreement (even 2 or 3), 2) Pray the will of God, based on Scriptural teaching, and 3) Believe. Have faith. Jesus made it very clear that He expects that of us.

The Elders and Pastors have endorsed and are backing a proposal that will, I believe, expand our vision for and our work of interces-sory prayer. I have volunteered to facilitate people coming together in small groups to intercede regarding a common concern or passion. Intercessory prayer is a step beyond our regular maintenance prayer. It is asking God to move in a powerful way in whatever ever it is that is our concern. It concentrates on one issue. It could be anything from our children, to our church leaders, to our civil government etc. etc.

For intercessory prayer to be effective (producing results) it must be frequent, fervent, focused, quite specific, and prayed in faith that God will answer. Can we do this? YES! James said that Elijah was “a man with a nature like ours” and he stopped the rain for 3 years by his prayer! James also said, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

SO, think about this. Pray about this. What is it you find yourself most thinking about? In just 5 minutes I jotted down 15 possibilities. Most likely there are others in our congregation who have the same concerns. Soon you will receive information regarding how you can covenant with others to intercede together.

In the book of Malachi, God rebuked the people for their lack of tithing. But then He said “...test Me now in this [and see] if I wilt not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for a blessing until it overflows.” I wonder if He might not say the same thing to us regard-ing our intercessory prayers.

I’m ready to check this out. Are you?Mary Ann Holman

Desire an even better marriage?FamilyLife “Weekend to Remember” marriage getaway

weekends will be held this spring in Minneapolis (March 8–10) and Rochester (March 22–24). These weekends are for all married couples who wish to reconnect with one another and rejuvenate and strengthen their marriage. Many Bethesda couples have attended these weekends and highly recommend them.

Please check out the following for more information:• FamilyLife.com • 1-800-FL-TODAY (1-800-358-6329)

A Call to Intercession

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Men’s MinistriesWomen’s Ministries

Ladies, this is YOUR weekend! Leave the laundry be-hind, close the cupboard doors, and prepare to be refreshed. This retreat is designed to care for you the way you so lov-ingly care for others, so come expecting great things! (How does a massage followed by a candlelight dinner sound?)

Things to do . . . Play volleyball, shop, walk the trails, play table games, paddleboat, nap, relax, hang out, fellow-ship, make crafts, and get a much needed massage!

Things NOT to do . . . Cook, clean, wash clothes, pick up after everyone, answer phones, chase kids, and anything else that causes you stress!

Women’s Retreat, 2013 will feature Far Above Ru-bies, with speaker Rebecca Meidinger from Fargo, ND. Far Above Rubies is a unique retreat event for women that will bring a powerful message of love, identity, and redemp-tion. discover anew the love of Jesus as we look at the lives of beautiful and courageous women in the Gospels whose lives were transformed when they encountered Jesus. You will continue to experience the warm hospitality, great food, precious times together to worship, the beauty of God;s cre-ation on Spitzer Lake, the rest and peace given as we “come away” and the sweet fellowship that you are accustomed to at Inspiration Point!

Women’s Retreat, 2013

Far Above RubiesInspiration Point Bible Camp

April 19-21, 2013Early Registration Deadline, April 5th

Go to www.ipoint.org for more information

Men’s Golf Retreat, 2013

Chula Vista ResortWisconsin DellsMay 18–19, 2013

Early Registration Deadline, April 7th

This year’s Men’s Golf Retreat will be at the Chula Vista Resort, just north of Wisconsin Dells. It’s sure to be a great weekend of fellowship and teaching. The accommo-dations, golfing, food buffet, golfing, meeting room, golf-ing, waterpark, and of course golfing will make this much more of an “event” experience than previous years.

The cost of the retreat this year is $170 if you register before April 7th. Afterwards, cost increased to $185 and is dependent on space being available, so register today!

Watch for more information on our speaker and sched-ule of events in the next couple weeks.

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Children’s Ministries

ProgramsSunday School Bethesda offers two hours of Sunday School, during the 9:00 am and 10:30 am services.

Wednesday Adventure Club (last day April 24th)Jr. Adventure Club: (PreK–3rd Grade) 6:30–7:45 pmAdventure Club 4:5: (4th–5th Grade) 6:30–7:45 pm

Dawn RicoChildren’s Ministries Directordawn@bethesdalutheran.org

Karen RateringChildren’s Ministries Assistantk.ratering@sbcglobal.net

Vacation Bible SchoolJune 17–21

Children’s Ministry Opportunities

Our Wednesday night 4th & 5th graders recently visited the Our House memory care facility just down the street from Bethes-da. It was a beautiful winter evening and we enjoyed our walk outside. When we arrived we crowded into the dining area where the residents were waiting for us. We introduced ourselves with each child and adult giving their name. Then we sang a few songs – including some old favorites like A Bicycle Built for Two and Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. The residents thoroughly enjoyed listening and several of them joined in with us! When we finished our last song they wanted to hear more so we repeated Blessed Be Thy Name. The children had spent the two weeks before this event making valentines for the residents so after we were done singing they were able to hand out their handmade valentines. The residents seemed very happy to receive the val-entines and many of them wanted to chat with the kids and adult leaders. During our walk back to church many of the conversa-tions we had were about the evening and how blessed we felt to be able to bring a bit of joy and God’s love to these people’s lives. The kids are eager to return so we are considering a return trip before we end our year in April. You can view pictures from the evening in the media section of Bethesda’s website under photo gallery.

Every year when the kids come to Bethesda for VBS they head off to a new destination where they learn all about just how much God loves them, cares for them and sent His son Jesus for them. The kids have gone to places like Australia, the Holyland, an island in the ocean, way out west, New York City, flying in a plane, and south of the border in Mexico! Stay tuned for informa-tion on this year’s destination.

We invite you to come along with the kids! You can serve as a guide or helper with a specific group of kids as they travel to each rotation site. You can help with snacks in the kitchen, crafts in the craft rooms, games on the playground, music, skits, decorating, nursery, and other areas, too! Please be praying about where you can serve before or during VBS. Our co-director this year is Susan Pederson. Susan and I would be happy to talk to you about how you can get involved in VBS. Get ready for an awesome week where you can impact the life of a child for God’s kingdom!

Are you looking for something to do these last 3 months of Sunday school? Do you have a heart for young children? Do you like helping children with special needs? We have a spot for you every other week in our 9:00 3 and 4 year old class-room. Contact Dawn for more information on this rewarding position!

As we look ahead we realize that our Wednesday night pro-grams will be coming to an end in April. We’ll be off during spring break, have a special Jesus Celebration night in March, other activities, and end our year on April 24th. On Friday, May 3rd, our 5th graders will have a special graduation party night at church where they will be introduced to Todd Waldie, our middle school Director, play some fun games, go on a church-wide trea-sure hunt, eat (of course), and end the evening with a campfire and prayer time. This is always a bittersweet send off as we say good-bye to these kids we’ve seen grow up through the years, both physically and spiritually.

Adventure Club 4:5 Field Trip

Wednesday Schedule

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Youth Ministries

High School CalendarFri/Sat, March 8-9 Seniors Retreat in the CitiesSunday, March 3 ONE23: Q&A with Pastor PaulSunday, March 10 ONE23: UTURNSunday, March 17 ONE23: YIELDSunday, March 24 ONE23: Game NightSunday, March 31 Easter Breakfast FundraiserSunday, March 31 Easter, NO ONE23

Sunday, April 7 College Prep Night for Jrs/SrsTuesday, April 9 Dartball Dinner FundraiserSunday, April 14 ONE23: Ephesians 1Saturday, April 20 Touched TwiceSunday, April 21 ONE23: Ephesians 2Sunday, April 28 ONE23: Ephesians 3

Youth Ministries ONE23 High School Youth Group, Sundays at 7:00 pm

The Bridge Middle School Youth Group, Wednesdays at 6:30 pm

Chad ShifferDirector of Youth Ministireschad@bethesdalutheran.org

Todd WaldieMiddle School Youth Directortodd@bethesdalutheran.org

Bethesda HSM Summer Missions Trips are set! Please pray for the students and adults going, for funds to be raised, team bonding and unity, a servant heart, and God to do wonderful things in and through each of us.

Denver, CO, July 21–30 — $600/personYour Mission Denver

Team will experience a street level missions trip that will bring about transformation in the lives of people here and in your own lives as you serve in Denver. God has sovereignly chosen to work in the world by beginning with the weak that are on the ‘outside,’ not the powerful who are on the ‘inside.’ Mission Denver seeks to take each team on a journey into God’s heart for the poor. We will engage you in urban ministry train-ing, community development, work projects, bible clubs in low-income areas, and a poverty simulation. We desire this journey to begin a work in your own heart for those who are poor within your own community, and for you to begin to experience the great blessing of God when you are obedient to His Word.Point Leader — Mark MillerAssistant Leaders — Cindy Waller, Ali Pardun, Chelsea MillsStudents — Sydnie Burchell, Greta Mousel, Abbi Larson, Ash-

ley Knudtson, Molly Brunkow, Sam Flaten, Sawyer Brunkow, Justin Wiebe, Sam Wallenfelt, Connor Johnson, Isaac Mousel

Rockaway, NY, July 13–22 — $600/personSuperstorm Sandy devastated the east coast. Crashing into the

shoreline with historic force and quickly moving into the heart of New York and New Jersey, Sandy claimed over 100 lives on the coast, destroyed thousands of homes, left millions without power and even more without hope. Your team will have the opportunity to be a part of the long-term rebuilding from Superstorm Sandy while meeting the needs of families for whom first response was not enough. Students will work on remodeling jobs such as floor-

ing, drywall, painting, siding and roofing. But more importantly, your students will bring the mes-sage of Christ’s love to a hurting community.

Next Step is dedicated to provide work projects that make a real impact on a family’s home. We are set up in our communities so that we work on projects week after week, year after year. This allows your team to get involved in a bigger work project, something that might take more than four days, but your team can be challenged to be a big part of the change. Our skilled construction staff is on-site waiting for you in one of our awesome communities. We invite you to step up to the challenge. No matter what age, no matter what skill level, we are excited to work side-by-side with you . . . and build. Point Leader — Chad ShifferAssistant Leaders — Mary Graaskamp, Jonny Peterson, Miriam

RateringStudents — Kira Shiffer, Annika Shiffer, Claire Moore, Lily

Weaver, Liz Martin, Mariah Gray, Caitlyn Baird, Rebekah Anderson, Sam Graaskamp, Jared Rico, Daniel Wiebe, Lance Johnson, Alex Dye, Tanner Magruder, Nick Larson

Bethesda HSM Summer Mission Trips!

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MondaysGroup Demographic: MenGroup Facilitator: Mark Miller, mamaflac@yahoo.com,

�1�-���-����Meeting Location: Fireside RoomMeeting Time: Mondays, �:�� am–�:�� amCurriculum/Description: Gospel in Life, by Timothy Keller

Group Name: Solid Rock CaféGroup Demographic: Multigenerational women. Group Facilitator: Jane Louden, janelouden1�1�@gmail.com,

�1�-���-�0��Meeting Location: Rooms �11 & �1�Meeting Time: Mondays, �:�0 pm–�:00 pmCurriculum/Description: Life Application Study:

Philippians and Colossians

Group Demographic: Older adultsGroup Facilitator: Jerry and Louise Kooiker,

jlkooiker@sbcglobal.net, �1�-���-01��Meeting Location: Room �0�aMeeting Time: Every other MondayCurriculum/Description: Gospel in Life by Timothy Keller

Group Name: Empty NestersGroup Facilitator: Brian & Janet Amundson, �1�-���-0��1Meeting Location: Fireside RoomMeeting Time: 1st and �rd Mondays, �:00 pm–�:00 pmCurriculum/Description: The Truth Project

Group Demographic: Young AdultGroup Facilitator: Matt Schweitzer Contact Information: matts@bethesdalutheran.orgMeeting Location: Bethesda, Room �0�aMeeting Time: Mondays, �:00 pmCurriculum/Description: Gospel in Life, by Timothy Keller

LEARNFROM GOD’S WORD

APPLYIT TO LIFE

CONNECTWITH ONE ANOTHER

LiFEgroupsLIFEgroups are small groups of people who meet regu-

larly to grow in their relationship with Christ, discuss how their faith intersects with their daily lives in caring com-munity, and encourage one another as they find ways to serve Jesus’ cause. If you are interested in joining one of the current LIFEgroups listed below, you are encouraged to contact them directly.

TuesdaysGroup Name: Rachel Bible StudyGroup Demographic: WomenGroup Facilitator: Louise Koxlien. �1�-���-����Meeting Location: Fireside RoomMeeting Time: First Tuesday of each month, 1:00 pmCurriculum/Description: “Life Lessons from Joshua”

Group Name: Solid Rock CaféGroup Demographic: WomenGroup Facilitator: Sue Henneman, suehennemann@att.net,

�1�-���-1���Meeting Location: Room �1�BMeeting Time: Tuesdays, �:1� pm–�:�� pmCurriculum/Description: Varies throughout the year.

Group Demographic: MenGroup Facilitator: David Verhaagh, dverhaagh@hotmail.com,

�1�-���-�1��Meeting Location: Room �0�Meeting Time: Tuesdays, �:�0 pm–�:�0 pmCurriculum/Description: We study different sections of scripture

with help, at times, from Max Lucado’s books.

Group Demographic: MenGroup Facilitator: Chris Vall, �1�-���-��1�Meeting Location: 1�0� Fenwick Ave.Meeting Time: Tuesdays, �:00 pmCurriculum/Description: Uncommon Man, by Tony Dungy

Group Demographic: College-agedGroup Contact: Gabe Larson, �1�-���-����Meeting Location: ���� S. Mission Dr.Meeting Time: Tuesdays, �:�0–�:�0 pm

WednesdaysGroup Name: Open DoorGroup Demographic: WomenGroup Facilitator: Vicki Tjelta, vickitj@charter.netMeeting Location: Fireside RoomMeeting Time: Wednesdays, �:�0–11:00 amCurriculum/Description: Gospel in Life, by Timothy Keller

Group Name: Common Ground Group Demographic: Singles, Couples with school-age kidsGroup Facilitator: Jay & Andrea Anderson, �1�-���-����Meeting Location: Room �0�a (Fireside Room during Lent)Meeting Time: Wednesdays, �:�0 pm–�:00 pm

Group Name: Wednesday Night Bible StudyGroup Facilitator: Pastor Venberg, �1�-���-�0��Meeting Location: Fireside Room (on hiatus during Lent)Meeting Time: Wednesdays, �:�0 pm–�:00 pmCurriculum/Description: Varies throughout the year.

ThursdaysGroup Name: Healthy women’s studyGroup Facilitator: Kristin Verhaagh, �1�-���-����Meeting Location: Fireside Room Meeting Time: Thursdays, �:�0 pmCurriculum/Description: If You Have a Craving, I Have a Cure, by

Sheri Rose Shepherd

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Adult Bible Fellowships (ABFs) are small groups within our larger church community. We are committed to deepening our relationships, as well as growing new relationships. ABFs meet during one of our two worship hours. We invite you to spend part of your Sunday morning in worship, and then gather with others in an ABF setting for fellowship and to help you grow in your relationships to God and with each other.

Sundays • 9:00 amBranches

Room 204c (Fellowship Hall), Ages 30-60Contact: Deb Hubbell at 715-839-0594 or dahshop@yahoo.com

SojournersRoom 305, Ages 30–50

Contact: Allen or Jeanne Sternke at 715-597-3526 or jeannesternke@yahoo.com

To Be DeterminedFireside Room, 20s–40s

Contact: Mike and Alissa Amundson, mna95@hotmail.com

Sundays • 10:30 amKingfolk

Room 204c (Fellowship Hall) Retired, nearing retirement

Contact: Augie Wirkus, 715-831-0460

Seekers of GodFireside Room, Room 102, Retired, nearing retirement

Contact: Beth Smith, 715-875-4553, or Dennis and Diane Peterson, 715-839-8648.

Bible StudyRoom 305, All ages!

Group Demographic: College-agedGroup Contact: Gabe Larson, �1�-���-����Meeting Location: ��1 Heather Rd.Meeting Time: Thursdays, �:�0–�:00 pm

Group Demographic: WomenGroup Facilitator: Dawn Rico, dawn@bethesdalutheran.orgMeeting Location: Caribou Coffee, MegaFoods EastMeeting Time: Thursdays, �:�0 pm–�:00 pmCurriculum/Description: Gospel in Life by Timothy Keller.

FridaysGroup Name: Rise Up!Group Demographic: WomenGroup Facilitator: Jackie Vold, mjvold@gmail.com, �1�-���-

����Meeting Location: Fireside RoomMeeting Time: Fridays, �:�0 am–�:�� amCurriculum/Description: Varies throughout the year

Adult Bible Fellowships

LiFEgroups Continued

Group Name: Circle of FriendsGroup Demographic: WomenGroup Facilitator: Mandy Heard, Chris Strasburg.

mandyheardu@gmail.com, �1�-���-���� (Mandy), �1�-���-0��1 (Chris)

Meeting Location: BethesdaMeeting Time: Fridays, �:1� amCurriculum/Description: Varies throughout the year

SundaysGroup Name: SEYAL EastGroup Demographic: Young AdultsGroup Contact: Renee Kavanaugh, renee_kavanaugh@hotmail.

comMeeting Location: 1�0� Mitchell AvenueMeeting Time: Sundays, �:00 pm (Babysitting available at

Bethesda starting at �:�0 pm.)Curriculum/Description: Gospel in Life, by Timothy Keller

Group Name: SEYAL WestGroup Demographic: Young AdultsGroup Contact: Anne Yoder, yoder_anne@yahoo.comMeeting Location: ��� E. Tyler AvenueMeeting Time: Sundays, �:00 pm (Babysitting available at

Bethesda starting at �:�0 pm.)Curriculum/Description: Gospel in Life, by Timothy Keller

1�

BethesdaLutheran Brethren ChurCh

123 W. Hamilton AvenueEau Claire, WI 54701715-835-5073www.bethesdalutheran.org

C3Christ … Community … Cause

A vision for clarifying who we believe God is leading us to become.

We need the Savior to redeem us from our checkered past and show us the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Becky is reading one of the seven books that I started (and it takes me years to finish): Crazy Love by Francis Chan. She is farther along than I am, and she happened to show me this quote while I was writing this article: “If one person ‘wastes’ away his day by spending hours connecting with God, and the other person believes he is too busy or has better things to do than worship the Creator and Sustainer, who is the crazy one?” Chan later goes on to talk about how people who are “obsessed” with Jesus realize how quick pride and other sins and creep up, and they stay close to the Master. It’s not legalism, it’s for our benefit—living a pure and holy life before God to enjoy Him on earth (through blessing and brokenness) and eternally in Heaven.

This time of year, when the busyness from Christmas and New Years is over, we settle into the normal busyness and routine of life. Lent and Easter give us an opportunity after the busyness of “year-end things” to recalibrate, almost like a laptop or phone battery. We empty ourselves and reflect on the earthly life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We ask God to break us of old and new sins and for a passion to be more like Him. Then, on Easter, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection—”And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” (Romans 8:11). We are recharged and renewed in our faith, motivated to run the race with endurance and to share the light.

Jars of Clay Cont. from Page 1 NEW DAY

EASTER at BethesdaGood Friday Worship Services

Good Friday Services • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ü 1:00 pm 6:30 pmMovie: “The Passion of the Christ” • • • • • • • Ü 7:30 pm

Easter Morning Worship ServicesTraditional (Sanctuary) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ü 7:45 amTraditional (Sanctuary) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ü 9:00 amEleeo (Walker Hall) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ü 9:30 amContemporary (Sanctuary) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ü 10:30 amEleeo (Walker Hall) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Ü 10:45 am