may 2014 beacon - bethany lutheran...
TRANSCRIPT
Bethany Lutheran Church’s Mission:
To glorify the Triune God,
Grow in our relationship with Christ,
Share His Love and care for each other.
May 2014
Lutheran Early Response Team (LERT) Training
will be held at Bethany on Saturday, June 7.
(See more details on page 6)
Page 2 Pastor’s Page
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of
the truth and reassure our heart before Him… I John 3:19-20
It was the Second Sunday of the Easter Season and I was home after our church services. Being a rainy day, my family was all inside as I sat down to take care of some paperwork before I fell asleep for my Sunday nap. But my work was interrupted and the nap never came (actually it was just delayed a few hours) when I hear the unmistakable wail of the local emergency sirens. Looking out the window, the weather didn’t look too bad where we were, but not wanting to take any chances I grabbed a flashlight and my cell phone and headed down into the basement with the rest of the family.
Now it feels like I have been waiting for Spring to arrive since Reformation Day. Living in the northern part of the country most of my life I’ve always enjoyed the change of seasons, but the seasons are supposed to change! This year it seemed we were stuck in a perpetual state of win-ter. So I’ve been thankful for the warmer weather of spring, but as I sat in the basement with the sirens blaring outside, I was reminded again that in Iowa, with spring comes the severe weather and the potential for disaster.
Of course, disasters can take shape in many different ways and happen anytime and any-where. Tornados usually happen this time of year in the Midwest, but there are blizzards here in the winter. Fires and floods can happen any time of year here in Iowa, as they can in California - where there aren’t too many tornados but plenty of earthquakes. Just reading or watching the news, it soon becomes apparent that wherever we are in God’s creation ruined by sin, disaster is never far away.
Thankfully, God has given us the victory over sin through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Easter celebrations acknowledge the fact that Christ has conquered sin and death, giving us the encouragement and strength to face the worst that the world can throw at us. When disaster strikes, regardless its’ size or nature, Christians may mourn and suffer, but we do not mourn as those who have no hope. We suffer knowing that God promises to heal. Prom-ises to give us something better in the future and to make the world that He made right again.
It is this Easter hope that we can share with others when they find themselves suffering from sin and disaster in their lives. It can be hard to remember all of God’s promises of mercy and grace when the storms and fires of life are raging around us. Therefore, God would have faithful witnesses of His love, to go to those who suffer so that they too might have hope in the midst of de-spair. But as John says in his first epistle, being a witness to God’s love often entails more than just words. What good is it after all to just say, “Jesus loves you”, to someone who just lost their home in a fire? Or does only saying, “Christ is risen!” mean anything when all of a person’s possessions have been blown away in a storm? To show God’s love and share the hope that we have in Christ, John tells us not to love with just words, but also “in deed”.
This is a main reason why Bethany is hosting a workshop to train volunteers who have that Easter hope to work as Lutheran Early Response Teams. While not everyone has the ability or gifts to muck out flooded homes or clean-up trees and debris after a storm, all Christians have hope
and know of God’s love in Christ. This training will help our church and the churches in our area to be organized so that we might love in deed as John says, regardless of our skills and abilities, and share same that love and hope that only comes from God. I hope to see many people from Bethany at the training in June, but even if you’re unable to join us, let us never forget that Christ is risen and to share His love in word and deed wherever we He puts us!
+ Pastor Erickson
May 2014 Calendar Page 3
Please submit June Beacon articles to
Roxanne Ross
at the church office, 364-6026 or by
email [email protected]
June Newsletter Deadline is May 20th
Thursday, May 1—National Day of Prayer
9:00a Adult Bible Study 9:00a PraiseMoves
7:00p Service of Prayer and Preaching Saturday, May 3
11:00a Wholy Fit w/Leah—FLC 8:00a—Noon “Serve the Lord” Day 10:00a Trojan Dash Training Sunday, May 4
6:00p Joyful Servants @ Anderson’s Monday May 5
8:00a—4:30p Professional Church Worker Conf.—Bethany 6:30p SM Class 7:30p SM Supv. Only—Adult Ed. Room Tuesday, May 6
8:00a—4:30p Professional Church Worker Conf.—Bethany 3:00p Prayers for the City 5:00p PraiseMoves 6:30p Handbells Wednesday, May 7
6:00a Men’s Bible Study 6:45p Confirmation 7:30p High School Bible Study Thursday, May 8
9:00a Adult Bible Study
` 9:00a PraiseMoves Noon Mission of Hope Meal 5:45p Board of Education Meeting Saturday, May 10
10:00a Trojan Dash Training
11:00a Wholy Fit w/Leah—FLC Monday, May 12
6:30p SM Class 7:00p Trustee Meeting—Adult Ed. Room 7:30p SM Cont. Ed. & Supv.—Adult Ed. Room Tuesday, May 13
3:00p Prayers for the City 5:00p PraiseMoves 6:30p Handbells Wednesday, May 14
6:00a Men’s Bible Study 6:45p Confirmation
7:30p High School Bible Study Thursday, May 15
9:00a Adult Bible Study 9:00a PraiseMoves 11:00a Senior Worship Friday, May 16
6:00p Confirmation Questioning 7:00p Questioning Celebration Saturday, May 17
TROJAN DASH! 11:00a Wholy Fit w/Leah—FLC
2:00-4:00p Bella Novitch Conf. Party—FLC
Sunday, May 18 CONFIRMATION SUNDAY
8:30a Barret Baptism 6:00p TLC Joyful Servants @ Freese’s Monday, May 19
10:00a Bingo @ Winslow House Tuesday, May 20
Beacon Articles Due 9:00a—1:00p Sewing Quilts—FLC 10:00a Staff Meeting
3:00p Prayers for the City 5:00p Praise Moves—FLC 6:30p Handbells 7:00p Council Meeting—Adult Ed. Room Wednesday, May 21
6:00a Men’s Bble Study
4:00p Cottage Grove Devos Thursday, May 22
9:00a Adult Bible Study 9:00a PraiseMoves 4:00—8:00p Preschool Graduation (Last Day of MMO & Preschool)
7:00p VIP—Adult Ed. Room Saturday, May 24
11:00a Wholy Fit w/Leah—FLC Sunday, May 25
9:30a Blood Pressure Screening Monday, May 26 OFFICE CLOSED Tuesday, May 27
1:00p Beacon Assembly 3:00p Prayers for the City 5:00p PraiseMoves 6:30p Handbells Thursday, May 29
9:00a Adult Bible Study 9:00a Praise Moves—FLC Saturday, May 31
11:00a Wholy Fit w/Leah—FLC
Page 4 Servants in Worship for May
Greeters N—Narthex
D—Front Door
May 4 8:30 N: Nancy Owens D: Pete & Kris Larson 11:00 N: Ken Elaine Cook D: Karen Swanson and Noah
May 11 8:30 N: Rollis & Shirley Deetz D: Ed & Gloria Schumacher 11:00 N: Velma Ziesemer & Karen Schmidt D:
May 18 8:30 N: Mark & Julie Elias D: Dale & Bernice Stonewall 11:00 N: Duane & Karen Pfeffer D: Donna Birkicht
May 25 8:30 N: June Loney & Dorothy Freese D: Joann Strang 11:00 N: Michael & Annie Prohaska D:
Lay Readers May 4 8:30 Rick Thorington 11:00 Jeude Landhauser
May 11 8:30 Mark Bornemann 11:00 Dave Christian
May 18 8:30 Mark Elias 11:00 Dave Johnson
May 25 8:30 Pete Larson 11:00 Sheryl Knutson
Nursery Schedule (11:00 Service)
May 4 Melissa Loney/Dustin Petrik
May 11 Rick & Erin Heller
May 18 Annie Prohaska/Debbie Mills
May 25 Amy Schweer/Karen Schmidt
Communion Sunday Prayer Rotation
May 4 8:30 John Hamm 11:00 Ronda Anderson
May 18 8:30 Pete Larson 11:00 Christine Erickson
Acolytes
May 4 8:30 Ethan Myers
11:00 Sophie Knudson
May 11 8:30 Nick Schumacher 11:00 Katheryn Holtz
May 18 8:30 Julie Holt 11:00 Meghan Prohaska
May 25 8:30 Samuel Strait
11:00 Bella Novtich
Elders & Ushers
Elders
May 4 Jeff Mellgren
May 11 Phil Hedtke May 18 Dave Karsten May 25 Rick Foreman
Ushers
May 4 8:30—Crew #2 11:00—Crew #7
May 11 8:30—Crew #3 11:00—Crew #8
May 18 8:30—Crew #4 11:00—Crew #6
May 25 8:30—Crew #5 11:00—Crew #7
Video Team May 4 8:30 Renee Riffey 11:00 Doug Knutson
May 11 8:30 Jeff Gebert 11:00 Greg Dunn/Elianna Novitch
May 18 8:30 Greg Dunn/Ellen Holt 11:00 Doug Knutson
May 25 8:30 Renee Riffey 11:00 Mike Diers/Steph Hedtke
Page 5 Prayer Page
Cancer:
Minde (friend of *Freese family)- Cancer treatment
Kelly (friend of *Foreman family)- Cancer treatment
Dawn (sister in law of *Dave Karsten) cancer treatment
Ruth (sister of *Bonnie Bubke) cancer treatment
Barbara (relative of *Bonnie Bubke) cancer treatment
Carl Barshinger (former member) bone marrow transplant
Randy (cousin of *Carol Grimminger) cancer treatments
Alanna (friend of *Cindy Goerdt)- treatment
Nicholas Devereaux (friend of *Bentons) treatment
Kara Birren (cousin of *Lynn Duve)
Kathy Harshbarger
Local/National:
Safety for the neighborhood surrounding Bethany
National tragedies
*member of Bethany
PRAYERS AT BETHANY
To submit a prayer request you may: ► Email [email protected] ► Online at www.bethanycr.org, “prayer requests” or, ► Call the church office at 319-364-6026
. Thanksgiving:
Jean (mother of *Kristi Montague– healing after surgery
Barb (sister of *Linda Patten)- cancer treatment completed
Vi Carlson (friend of *Larsons) kidney transplant completed
Greg Holtz (husband of *Louise) recovering after surgery
Illness, injuries, health issues:
Marianne (friend of *Larsons)- hospitalization
Jim (father of *Gary Landhauser) recovering after surgery
Denise (daughter of *Virginia Kurtz) back fracture
Pam Williams (former member) MS diagnoses
Carl (Cottage Grove friend of *H Bern) back pain
Chloe (niece of *Keslars) diagnosed with diabetes
Kurt (br. in law of *Julie Gutman) tx of blood disorder
Jeff Astor (brother of *Donna Birkicht) transplant needed
Carol Glass (friend of *Rita Tiedt) strength & healing
Rod (nephew of *Bonnie Bubke) Parkinson’s Disease
David (great grandson of *June Loney) born 10/2 with
health issues
Steve Patten (brother of *Linda) recovering at home
Patty Pann (friend of Nancy Brown) Lung cancer, brain
tumors
Josh (nephew of *Sheryl Knutson) healing for ankle
Tim Tschopp (brother of *Patty King) health concerns
Todd (br in law of Carolyn) recovering after stroke
Rita (friend of *Shirley Kellogg) vision treatment
Jenifer Smith (grdaughter of *Betty Price) medical issues
Carolyn Lathrop (friend of * Pete Larson) health concerns
Rosemarie Smith (relative of *Bob Benton) health issues
Personal/Strength/Comfort/Wisdom:
Henry (father in law of Carolyn the organist)- Hospice Care
Preschool family who lost everything to a fire
Nancy (friend of *K Montague) double murder/suicide survivor
Bradley Akey- Adopt a Seminary Student (Ft. Wayne)
Paul Albers– Adopt a Seminary Student (St. Louis)
*Pat Kane- Vicar at Zion Lutheran
Chelsea & family (*Loney’s relative) personal growth issues
Esther Anderson & family life issues
Grief:
*Larry Schlehuber - Died 4/28
Robert (brother of Jeff * Cooling) - Died 4/25
Eleanor Thomson (aunt of *Dick Hass)- Died 4/8
Edwina Walk (friend of *Pauline Marohn)- Died 3/28
Robert (brother of *Wayne Schilling)- Died 3/17
Nancy (friend of *Pauline Marohn)- Died 3/13
Betty (aunt of *Doug Knutson)- Died 3/9
Ruth (grandmother of *Heidi Thalacker)- Died 3/9
Michael (step father in law of *Erin Crawford)- Died 3/9
Homebound members of Bethany:
*Patty King– Crestview Acres
*Betty Price– Hiawatha Care Center
Safety:
Justin & Emily Stoll (*daughter of *Dennis & Jennifer Egel)
serving our nation at its embassy in Djibouti City, Africa
Page 6 Bulletin Board
Page 7 Bulletin Board
National Health Observances For May:
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Better Sleep Month Correct Posture Month Healthy Vision Month
National Arthritis Month National Mental Health Month
_____________________________________________________
The Mayo Clinic Health Letter Topics For May:
Cataract Surgery Whole Food Smoothies
Oxytocin CHADS2 Score
This brown 3 ring binder can be
found on the Human Care table.
SEWING QUILTS FOR
WORLD RELIEF
On Tuesday, May 20, the Spe-cial Projects Committee will be tying quilts for Lutheran World Relief in the Family Life Center. We will start at 9:00 a.m. and end around 1:00 p.m. Stop in for a hour or stay the whole time. We appreciate any time that you can give. If you plan to stay through the noon hour, bring a sack lunch. If you have any questions, call Betty Hap-pel at 393-9497 or Donna Bogner at 364-1266.
Ashley Freese 5/1 Nancy Boddicker 5/2 Benjamin Conrad 5/2 Julie Holt 5/2 Dennis Akers 5/3 Andrea Prohaska 5/3 Donald Bryant 5/4 Jakob Bulicek 5/4 Emily Long 5/4 Jordan Birkicht-Carr 5/5 Shirley Deetz 5/5 Howard LaForce 5/5 Caleb Pfeil 5/5 Steve Wolf 5/6 Emily Duve 5/8 Kaleb Diers 5/9 Lindsey Savel 5/9 Richard Pfeil 5/10 Casey Christian 5/11 Brad Crawford 5/11 Chris Frampton 5/11 Michael Diers 5/12
Brianna Prohaska 5/13 Wendy Christian 5/14 Mashell White 5/19 Amy Diers 5/20 Madelyn Nauman 5/20 Leonard Tiedt 5/21 Trisha Brink 5/22 Lori Dohrmann 5/23 Karen Swanson 5/23 Serena Knudson 5/24 R.A. Neuhaus 5/24 Julie Elias 5/25 Lindsey Rutz 5/25 Maggie Conrad 5/28 Tom Larson 5/28 Elizabeth Bricker 5/29 Bill Hohensee 5/30 Lauren Bricker 5/31 Alexis Brink 5/31 Josh Dohrmann 5/31 Sage Duve 5/31
David & Wendy Christian May 2 Michael & Andrea Prohaska May 13 Jon & Lynn Duve May 14 Daniel & Kristina Alpers May 19 Doug & Diana Long May 19 Jeffrey & Lynn Madsen May 21 Jake & Tami Vande Weerd May 23 Mark & Catherine Hovda May 28
Page 8 Children’s Ministry/Youth Group
Youth Sunday School
Ages 3 to High School
Last day of Sunday School is May 18.
Have you noticed the Kids’ Creative Collections on the wall? The kids are so proud to show off their Sunday School work, So don’t forget to ask the Bethany children about their art on the wall. This month the theme is “He is Risen.”
Our FAITH is on FIRE at Bethany. All summer we have fun and fantastic events. Join us for all the FAITH on FIRE. Summer Sunday School is for age 3 to 5th grade. The kids will have one big opening together to learn the fiery Bible story and then rotate to crafts and games. We would like the Middle School and the High School to help. We also need adult leaders to help. Bethany Family Camp-Out is for all ages. The are tons of fun events all weekend including a church service on Sat., August 9 and a great meal to follow. We hope everyone in our Bethany family can attend!
Vacation Bible School
Monday, June 16th– Thursday, June 19th
From 6pm-8pm
Please register online at www.bethanycr.org
Friday, June 20 is the Zip Line Celebration. We will meet at camp for a jungle safari, food
and a 35 foot zip line. All members are welcome to attend this event.
If you are interesting in helping at VBS or would like to donate supplies, please see page 10.
FAITH ON FIRE
EVENTS
Summer Sunday School
July 6– Aug. 2
Bethany Family Camp Out
Aug. 8-10
Camp IoDisECA
Page 9 Youth Group
High School
May Sunday School Times
Sunday at 9:45am @ Bethany May 4, 11, 18
Thank you for all who helped and participated in
our fundraisers. We made $3,800 at the Todd Anderson Memorial Cake Bake Auction and $400 at Easter Breakfast . The youth will use the
money in July on their youth trip to Minneapolis.
May Youth Group Times Wednesday @ Goerdt’s
At 7:30 pm
Bethany Lutheran Church is so proud of our 4 confirmation students.
Congrats!!
Katheryn HoltzKatheryn HoltzKatheryn HoltzKatheryn Holtz Jada McGinnisJada McGinnisJada McGinnisJada McGinnis Bella NovitchBella NovitchBella NovitchBella Novitch Sam StraitSam StraitSam StraitSam Strait
Last confirmation class for 7th and 8th graders is May 14th.
Questioning with the elders is Friday, May 16 at 6pm.
Confirmation will take place May 18th at the 11am service.
Page 10 Outreach to the Community and Beyond
WholyFit - is a program to enhance the fitness of our bodies and strengthen our faith in Christ. Each Saturday, 11am - 12 noon, Leah Welter, Concordia DCE, will be our live in-structor! Wholyfit works out in the Living Room. Invite your friends to join you! No fees, wear comfortable clothing.
Praisemoves
Christian stretch & relaxation is being held twice weekly at Bethany. Tuesdays- 5-6 pm in the Living Room and Thursdays- 9-10 am in the Family Life Center. Bring a friend, yoga mat and wear comfortable clothes to move in! Most ages welcome, no experience necessary, no cost!
Bethany’s VIP (VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE) Ministry. The next monthly meet-ing is Tuesday, May 27, from 7:00pm—8:30pm. VIP attendees do not have to be Bethany members. There will be fellowship, devotion, music and refresh-ments. Transportation can be arranged. Contact Rita Tiedt at 721-7900, or Doug Knutson for more information. Volunteers are needed to assist with trans-portation.
Vacation Bible School needs your help. We need supplies and volunteers. Supplies Needed: 200 Pencil size twigs, 70 gallon milk jugs, 70 large tin cans (16oz or lar-
ger), 4 bags of uncooked rice, 2 big containers of bubbles, 300 straws, 5 dozen fabric markers. We need volunteers to help too! We need safari leaders to help transport the kids from one station to the other. There is no prep but we ask that you sign up for at least 2 nights. We need station craft leaders and helpers. The craft are or-dered and at Bethany. We just need volunteers set up and clean up each night. A craft leader can volunteer 1 night or even 4 nights.
We also need help cooking our family meals. VBS is a great event for our Bethany kids and it is also great for pulling others kids into God’s word too. Please pray fully consider helping.
Mission of Hope Meals Served on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Please look for sign-up sheets each month to donate items to help prepare the meals. Any questions about the Mission of Hope ministry, see Sara Mellgren 319-310-4561.
What is The Lutheran Witness?
The Lutheran Witness is a magazine of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod which offers syndical news, reports from Lutherans around the world, feature articles, columns, Q&As, a Bible study, and more. The Lutheran Witness is a monthly publication (11 issues per year).
You may subscribe to The Lutheran Witness as an individual or receive the magazine through the church. Those who purchase their subscription through the church pay less currently $15.60 instead of $24 (July-June). Pick up an envelope at the Welcome Center and turn it in to the church office May 30th.
If you wish to subscribe to The Lutheran Witness as an individual (not through your church), you can go to the Concordia Publishing House website at https://www.cph.org/witness .
Adult Discipleship Page 11
BETHANY SMALL GROUPS & BIBLE STUDIES
Christian Parenting Class– The class will end May 4.
Wednesday Morning Men’s Bible Study– each Wednesday at 6 am in the Adult Ed Room Bethany men study a Lutheran Hour Ministry Bible study- “The Deceiver”. Contact Norm Rutz at 393-2929 or Dave Johnson at 363-9299.
Thursday am Bible Study is held in the Adult Education Room each Thursday at
9:00am with Pastor Erickson leading. The current study is The Minor Prophets.
LWML– (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League) “Serve the Lord with gladness” Psalm 100:2. There are four Women’s Circles that meet at a variety of times, in homes or at Bethany. Contact Joyce Church at 721-7723.
Bethany is a Stephen Ministry Congregation
April 6 was commissioning for our 5 new Stephen Ministers, congratulations to Ken Armbrecht, Julie Elias, John Hamm, Kris Larson, & Dee Rose.
Bethany now has 11 Stephen Ministers and 5 Stephen Leaders. May God bless the Christian caring that is done through Stephen Ministry.
Julie Elias, Dee Rose, Ken Armbrecht, Kris Larson & John Hamm
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U. S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit #118
CEDAR RAPIDS IA
BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH
2202 FOREST DR SE
CEDAR RAPIDS IA 52403-1654
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
CHURCH OFFICE: (319) 364-6026
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Mon-Thurs)
8:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. (Friday)
Email: [email protected]
BETHANY PRESCHOOL: (319) 366-4897
www.bethanycr.org
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES & EDUCATION HOUR
8:30 a.m. Traditional 11:00 a.m. Contemporary
9:45 a.m. Education Hour