the star · 12/1/2019 · magi would have been some of the most unlikely converts and worshipers....

www.blcfamily.org 1 [email protected] www.blpaloha.com [email protected]

January 2020 volume 10 • number 1

The STAR 2 Sermons & Readings

3 School News

4 Youth & Children

6 Servant of the Month

8 Service Rosters

9 Calendar

11 Birthdays/Anniv.

A publication of Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Aloha, OR

Unlikely Savior, Unlikely Saints Taken from The Lutheran Witness blog from January 2019 by David H. Petersen

The world is long done with Christmas by January 6. The Church is not. In the Church, Christmas is celebrated for twelve days. It begins on December 25. It culminates on Epiphany.

Christmas Eve gave us Luke 2. Christmas Day gave us John 1. Epiphany gives us Matthew’s account of Our Lord’s birth. That is part of the goodness of observing Christmas Day and Epiphany along with Christmas Eve. The three Gospels work together to give us a fuller picture of God becoming Man in Bethlehem.

The Magi have often been called “wise men” in the Church. That is not because of their astronomy and great learning. It is not even because they were clever enough to recognize the significance of the star. They are thought of as wise because they worshiped the Baby Jesus. They were wise, while Herod and the religious leaders of Jerusalem were foolish. That Herod was foolish is not a great shock. The foolishness of those who

knew the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, and who had no need to search the Scriptures for this detail, is. Why didn’t they follow the Magi so that they could worship Him? Weren’t they impressed by the star?

The wisdom of the Magi is also surprising. They were worse than stock Gentiles: they were Magi. That is the root word for our English word “magician.” They might have been

astronomers, but it is more likely they were astrologers and sorcerers who worked for their pagan overlords in the East. The last we heard in the Scriptures about people in this line of work, they were failing to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

(Continued on page 2)

What’s INSIDE

Bethlehem Lutheran Church & Preschool

Phone: 503.649.3380

BLCfamily.org

[email protected]

Scripture of the Month

“There, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

Pastor

Youth & Children

Worship & Music

Preschool Dir.

Rev. Jeff Shearier

Eric Oswald

Kerry Bauer

Laiva Hoffman

Bethlehem Mission Statement

“Building the family of God

through relationship

with Jesus Christ.”

“God makes saints for Himself out of

sinners.”

mailto:[email protected]


1/2 Bethlehem Book Club 1/8 Senior Luncheon 1/15 Blood Drive 1/16 LWML Luncheon 1/17 Bunco Night

January Sermons

January 5 The God We Have

Jonah 1:1-9

January 12 God Rescues Us

Jonah 2:1-10

January 19 God’s Mercy is for Everyone

Jonah 3:1-10

January 26 A Compassionate Heart?

Jonah 4:1-10

and being openly hostile to Daniel, the prophet of God. Of all the Gentiles, the Magi would have been some of the most unlikely converts and worshipers. Yet they worshiped Him. In this they foreshadowed the mission to the Gentiles and the power of the Gospel. God makes saints for Himself out of sinners.

Consider the parallels with Christmas Eve. There we hear of the revelation of the Incarnation to Jewish shepherds. They discovered God as a Man, in the weakness of a Baby. He was lying in poverty, in a manger. There had been no guestroom available for Him. The shepherds were not the heads of state or business or leaders of religion. They were unlikely persons for this honor, yet they received it. So also it is unlikely that they were expecting the sort of Messiah they found that night. Nonetheless, they worshiped Him. God makes saints for Himself out of sinners.

Christmas culminates twelve days later with a similar revelation to the Gentile

(Continued from page 1)

January Readings January 5

Jonah 1:1-10

January 12 Jonah 2:1-10



Unlikely Savior, Unlikely Saints

The STAR volume 10 • number 1

Magi. Jesus was not what they expected either. He did not live in a palace. He was not loved by His people. He was anointed for a different sort of throne and He wielded a power

entirely distinct from that of Herod. Even though He was not what they expected, the Magi worshiped Him and gave Him gifts.

The Gospel confounds the wise and comforts the simple. Christ the Savior came not to rule us by the exercise of power, but by sacrifice and mercy. He became meek and lowly for the meek and lowly. Judged according to the ways of men, He is unlikely Savior, but so it is that in this way He makes saints out of unlikely people.

The Rev. David H. Petersen is the pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ft. Wayne, Ind.


BY: Laiva Hoffman

Blessings on your New Year from the preschool Upcoming Events: All day Monday, January 20th Papa’s pizza will donate 1/2 of the cost of your food purchases to the preschool when you present the fundraising flyer. Papa’s Pizza is a great place for kids of all ages to get together and enjoy a meal and play in their playroom. Come and join us for this fun time! Flyers will be made available at the what’s happening board in the narthex.

Enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year opens January 2nd. Children must be 3 by September 1st to enroll. If you would like to tour our building contact Laiva or Mary by email: [email protected] or phone 503-649-3380.

Preschool News

Bethlehem Lutheran Preschool

503.649.3380

blpaloha..com

[email protected]

Forest Hills Lutheran Christian School 503.359.4853

www.fhls.org

[email protected]

4221 SW Golf Course Rd

Cornelius, OR 97113

The STAR volume 10 • number 1 School News

BY: Mike Schiemann

Happy new year from your family at Forest Hills!! I recently heard a saying that I’ve heard before, but this time it was applied to the new year. Someone said, “I don’t know what the new year holds, but I know who holds the new year!” What a great thought to reflect on as we approach not just a new year, but a new decade! At Forest Hills, we are on the edge of our seats, waiting to see what God will do this year. He has brought us more and more students, and with that comes more opportunity to talk about God and His love to people who have not yet heard this message. The opportunity is also there to water the seeds of faith that have been planted before.

FHLCS is looking forward to this year to watch God at work as we explore what He wants us to do with the resources He has provided. We anticipate a capital campaign and the beginnings of a facilities renovation. While we don’t know what this looks like today, God sure does and we can’t wait to see Him at work! I look forward to continuing to serve you and Gods people through the ministry of Forest Hills. May your new year be filled with abundant blessings from above!

Forest Hills News

mailto:[email protected]


Dear Bethlehem, I did it! I completed my two new year’s resolutions! I didn’t eat any funions- (got to have an achievable goal) and I also ran

over a thousand kilometers. 1,039 kilometers- 645 miles- in 151 runs. That includes 2 half marathons! It’s only about 20k a week once you break it down. But did that make it a better year for me? I don’t know. It certainly made my breath smell better, didn’t seem to help my weight. May have helped my blood pressure. Yet I still look back and go – well I didn’t get married. I didn’t have a kid. And that bums me out. Yet I don’t know that achieving those goals would necessarily make my life better. I’d like to think so. At worst they’d make my life more difficult. At best they’d make my life very different. Goals that we make for ourselves are important, but they’re not everything and most of the time even my own goals come across as shallow, especially after having completed them. The work we do is good and important but the work God does is eternal. As I look back at what God has done at Bethlehem this last year I’ve seen Him bless the work done at Bethlehem with an incredible response to our capital campaign. I’ve seen Him grow not only our VBS but our VBS volunteers. We had the most kids and

the most volunteers ever this last year after a gift made VBS free to our community. We had an amazing dynamic of kids going deep with each other and the faith in our high school trip up to Camp Perkins and I got to do it with my moms. I saw God working through my mom and the two youth who went on the youth ministry trip this summer. We have a youth who will hopefully be baptized next month. These are things that matter. Some of them I would say were goals of ours at Bethlehem. But God gets the credit for making them happen. Our goals matter somewhat, but God’s goals matters more. God’s goal is to save you and those around you. He wants you to know that you’re loved and you matter. He wants to bring you his peace and joy and to grow you to be even better in 2020 as you become more like His Son. May we have His 2020 vision to make that happen. God bless, Eric Oswald DCE

Goals High School One Gathering: For those entering 9th- 12th grade this fall you’re invited to join lots of other LCMS churches and come to the One Gathering in Boise Idaho! Dur-ing the day we will go to serve the greater Boise area!

We went to the one gathering three years ago when it was in Portland and helped out lots of food banks, an after school care program, and even helped habitat for humanity. I would expect to do similar work in Boise! At night we will worship and enjoy comedians, magicians, and musicians sharing their faith in unique ways! We’re hoping to stop for some white water rafting on the way back!

Cost is $225 in two payments- first is due Feb. 9th of $100 second pay-ment of $125 is due May 3rd We will be gone July 7-13 and we will be raising funds for it at our Trivia Night!

Youth Ministry

Youth nights: January 5th is our next youth night from 5:30-7:30 with games, snacks, and Bible study Jan. 20th from 2:15-5:15 is archery at Archers afield- cost is $15. Winter beach retreat:

We're going to the Bernard beach house starting at 6pm Jan. 31st and returning Feb. 2nd around 1 or 2pm.


Youth & Children One Gathering

Cost is $40. We will do a service project, dig into John 3:16, and en-joy time away from home.

Middle School Camp Perkins: For those entering 6th through 9th grade this summer we will get outside, ditch the devices, go to a lake in the mountains of Idaho, surrounded by people of strong faith, hear God’s voice, and sing praise to His name! Cost is $225. Online you could add

white water rafting or horseback riding for an additional charge. First payment is due Feb. 9th of $100. Second payment is due May 3rd of $125. More info here: http://campperkins.org/ For both trips, if your child can’t go but you get a friend of the same gender to take your kids spot, then we can work out refunds. Other-wise, we may not be able to get your money back.

http://campperkins.org/



Spinach Tuna

Soups Cream of Mushroom

Cream of Chicken Tomatoes

Tomato Sauce

savinggracematernityhome.org/

ITEM WISH LIST

BABY ITEMS:

Diapers: newborn & 1-2s Baby wipes

CLEANING SUPPLIES:

Lysol wipes Bruce's hardwood floor cleaner

Lysol toilet bowl cleaner Tile cleaner

Granite cleaner Laundry detergent

Spray N Wash Windex

Furniture polish Dishwasher tabs

PAPER PRODUCTS:

Paper towels Toilet paper

Napkins Garbage bags: tall kitchen draw-

string Ziploc: all sizes

Foil Saran wrap

Feminine napkins

CANNED GOODS:

Green Beans

Corn Soup Chili

Fruits

Saving Grace Maternity Home

suggestions to Barb Bernard, Mary Loseke or Greg Geist. Input from Bethlehem members is always welcome. Thanks once again to all who volunteered in our service ministries in 2019 and Happy New year! Peace be with you, Your Service team

has responded to Red Cross requests by hosting a blood drive Wednesday,January 15th 2:00pm to 7:00pm in our Community Center. There is always a shortage and an urgent need for blood after the holidays. Please consider Donating.

You may schedule your appointment at www.redcrossblood.org using the sponsor code “BethlehemAloha” or contact Greg Geist. Additionally, our first Family Promise Week of the year is January 12th-19. We are still in need of volunteers to provide food (Contact Ruby Twenhafel at 971-219-2473 or Lori Isaak at 503-887-3914); and Innkeeper/overnight hosts (contact Mary Loseke at 503-730-5267). Please consider helping out. As always, bring your questions or

Service Team Notes We want to start by thanking all those who made our advent and holiday service and outreach efforts a big success. Through our 2019 Christmas Food Box program, we were able reach out to 25 families with enough food

left over to benefit the Oregon Food Bank. We deeply appreciate all those who donated, shopped; assembled

delivered or brought side or desert dishes to the Food Box potluck gala. We also appreciate your suggestions that have helped make the program a little better each year. This advent was the first time in several years that we collected blankets and sleeping bags for the Union Gospel Mission to distribute to the homeless. The results were a stack of donations as tall as a Christmas tree that will keep many on the street warm this winter. Special thanks to our quilters for the big stack of warm and homey quilts. Even more Bethlehem generosity was expressed the Comforts of Home/love Inc. toiletry collection effort. All in all, we have had a very successful season. Looking forward to January, Bethlehem


Our Servant of the Month for January is Ron Hoffman. Ron has been very active at Bethlehem over the last 30+ years, dedicating a lot of his time and talent to God’s ministries here. He has recently had to cut down on his volunteering, but he continues to lead the Men’s Bible Study group on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of every month. He

also contributes to the STAR every month, providing us with a devotional and updates on Men’s Bible Study and Discipleship Team information. He was the head of the Discipleship Team until recently and has also served on the Board of Elders among many other things. Thank you Ron, for al the time you have you have given to God by serving your Bethlehem family. God has truly blessed us with you! Servant of the Month Logo Courtesy of Ron Hoffman

Servant of the Month–

Ron Hoffman

The STAR volume 10 • number 1 News

Giving Statements

2019 Giving

Statements

Please submit any receipts for

donations that you would like included

on your 2019 Giving Statements

to the office by Jan. 15, 2020.

LWML News .Next Meeting:

January 16, 2020

At 11:30 am in the Sonrise Room

Bring a salad or dessert

And JOIN US!

15



────January 5 (Epiphany celebration),

"The God We Have;"

January 12 (Baptism of Our Lord), "God Rescues Us;"

January 19, "God's Mercy is for Everyone;" and,

January 26, "A Compassionate Heart?"

Men’s Bible Study

Family Promise

Men’s Bible Study. In December, we will not meet due to Christmas activities. Our next Bible study will be January 13. We will finish Colossians. Then, on January 20 we will begin a new study on 1 Thessalonians. As always in the Inn at Bethlehem at 7 pm. Remember all men are invited. Remember to bring your Bible! We hope to see you too, God’s grace and peace. Ron

Family Promise Week January 12- 19! Bethlehem’s service to Family Promise of Washington County returns in Janu-ary! We need volunteers to provide dinner for up to three families each night be-ginning on Sunday, Jan. 12 through January 19. Interested volunteers should contact Ruby Twenhafel at 971-219-2473 or Lori Isaak at 503-887-3914. Ever want to have a sleepover at church? We also need one female and one other to spend each evening dur-ing our host week. You get a free din-ner and a fine air bed to sleep on. Inn-keeper’s serve from 6:00 pm to 7:00 am. Families are encouraged and wel-come! What a great way to keep the Christmas spirit alive. Contact Mary Loseke at 503-730-5267 if you have questions or are willing to help. Sign up on the Family Promise Board near the Fellowship Hall. Any questions about the Family Prom-ise program, please contact Joe or Barb Bernard at 503-459-1397.



Eleanor Olson In loving memory of her daughter Beverly Ann and her husband Harley.

Jan 5 Jan 12 Jan 19 Jan 26

Eternal Candle

Altar Flowers Marjie Johnson

8:30 11:00

Wayne Moses Harvard Isaak

Wayne Moses Terry Beale

Mark Vosseler Ivan Weichbrodt

Kevin Harding Bob Baker

8:30

11:00

Liam Sandeen Ella Hoffman Analise Boelter

Ellianna Bauer Enoch Chen Isaac Chen

Liam Sandeen Trevor Hoffman Ryan Boelter

Andrew Healy Austin Zimbrick Ben Harwood

8:30 11:00

Joel Prusi Tom Faszholz

Heather Cammack Joe Bernard

Dave Cook Jeff Hoffman

Richard Danielson Greg Hjelmeland

8:30

11:00

Konrad Isaak Lee Kauth Greg Hjelmeland Mark Prince

Lil Harn Mary Loseke Charles Finster Lorna Zimbrick

Hank Modro Erik Sandeen Larry Laws Valorie Laws

Mark Temme Sue Temme Rick Refsland JoAnna Refsland

8:30

11:00

Steve Finney Greg Starts

Bob Baker Matt Boelter

Steve Finney Keith Harn

Matt Boelter Harvard Isaak

Set Up Clean Up

Kathryn Sandeen Kathryn Sandeen

Karen Summerall Jean Faszholz

Lisa Siewert Lisa Siewert

Karen Summerall Jean Faszholz

8:30

11:00

Dave Cook Kathy Cook Lorna Zimbrick

Roger Lindquist Marilyn Lindquist Sherryl Boitz

Jim Kauth Lee Kauth Barbara Henson

Karen Summerall Christ Meinicke Donna McMeekan

Organist @ 8:30 Dwight Siewert Phyllis Murken Dwight Siewert Phyllis Murken

Epiphany

Celebration Baptism of Our Lord

2nd Sunday After Epiphany

3rd Sunday After Epiphany

Bethlehem Lutheran Church Service Roster for January 2020

Elder on Duty

Acolytes

Lay Reader

Ushers

Communion Servers

Altar Guild

Greeters



January 2020

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 Office Closed

2 11:00 AM Bethlehem

Book Club (Inn)

3 6:30 PM Choir Pot-

luck

4

5 8:30 AM Traditional Communion

Worship 9:45 AM Discipleship Classes 11:00 AM Morning Song Worship 2:00 PM NA Group (Sonrise) 4:30 PM Women's NA Group

(Sonrise) 5:30 PM Youth Night

6 9:30 AM Quilting 5:30 PM TOPS Meet-

ing (Inn) 6:30 PM Young Adult

Bible Study (Yth Rm)

7 6:15 PM Scout Pack

723 (Dbl Clsrm) 6:30 PM Men's AA

(Sonrise) 7:00 PM Elder's Mtg

(Inn)

8 7:00 PM BSA Troop

868 (Dbl Clsrm, Mtg

Rm, MSYR) 7:00 PM Trivia Night

Meeting (Inn)

9 9:00 AM Aloha Gar-

den Club (CC) 6:30 PM Adult Choir

(Sanc)

10 5:30 PM Girl Scout

Troop 40040 (Dbl

Clsrm)

11

12 "Mite Box" Sunday Family Promise 8:30 AM Traditional Worship 9:45 AM Discipleship Classes 11:00 AM Morning Song Communion

Worship 2:00 PM NA Group (Sonrise) 4:30 PM Women's NA Group


13 Family Promise 9:30 AM Quilting 4:00 PM Daisies Mtg

(Dbl Clsrm) 5:30 PM TOPS Meet-


Bible Study (Yth Rm) 7:00 PM Guide Dog

Orientation (CC) 7:00 PM Men's Bible

Study (Inn)

14 Family Promise 6:15 PM Scout Pack


(Sonrise) 7:00 PM Admin

Council (Inn) 7:00 PM Trustees

Mtg (Mtg Rm)

15 Family Promise 11:00 AM Adult Bible

Study (Inn) 2:00 PM Blood Drive

(CC) 6:30 PM Women's

Ministry Meeting (FH) 7:00 PM BSA Troop

868 (Dbl Clsrm, Mtg

Rm, MSYR) 7:00 PM Youth

Squad! (Inn)

16 Family Promise 11:30 AM LWML

Luncheon (Sonrise) 6:30 PM Adult Choir

(Sanc)

17 Family Promise 5:30 PM Girl Scout

Troop 40040 (Dbl

Clsrm) 6:30 PM WM Bunco

Night! (FH)

18 Family Promise

19 8:30 AM Traditional Communion

Worship 9:45 AM Discipleship Classes 11:00 AM Morning Song Worship 2:00 PM NA Group (Sonrise) 4:30 PM Women's NA Group

(Sonrise) 5:30 PM Archers Afield

20 9:30 AM Quilting 4:00 PM Daisies Mtg



Bible Study (Yth Rm) 7:00 PM Guide Dog

Orientation (CC)



(Sonrise)

22 11:00 AM Adult Bible

Study (Inn) 7:00 PM BSA Troop

868 (Dbl Clsrm, Mtg

Rm, MSYR) 7:00 PM Trivia Night

Meeting (Inn)

23 6:30 PM Adult Choir

(Sanc)


Troop 40040 (Dbl

Clsrm)

25

26 8:30 AM Traditional Worship 9:45 AM Discipleship Classes 11:00 AM Morning Song Communion

Worship 2:00 PM NA Group (Sonrise) 4:30 PM Women's NA Group


27 9:30 AM Quilting 4:00 PM Daisies Mtg



Bible Study (Yth Rm) 7:00 PM Men's Bible

Study (Inn)



(Sonrise) 7:00 PM Stephen's

Ministry (Mtg Rm)

29 11:00 AM Adult Bible

Study (Inn) 7:00 PM BSA Troop

868 (Dbl Clsrm, Mtg

Rm, MSYR)

30 6:30 PM Adult Choir

(Sanc)


Troop 40040 (Dbl

Clsrm) 6:00 PM Beach Re-

treat

1 6:30 AM Beach Re-

treat

www.blcfamily.org 10 [email protected] www.blpaloha.com [email protected] Turn this coloring page in to the office for a sweet treat!

Name:



Jan.

Anniversaries

Birthdays 1 1 1 6 7 8 9 9 10 12 12 13 15 15 17 18 18 19

Lee Kauth Jane Rosato Kathy Wagner Iven Bellamy Erik Refsland Kerry White Michael Browning Noah Carter Adriana Schappacher Kathy Gray Emma Hansen Kay Hoke Lilian Loseke Katie Quick Nick Braem-Baker Wayne Moses Rae Nelson Mandy Gray

19 20 21 21 23 23 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 30 31

Lonnie Norris Steve Bindewald Martha Browning Janice Healy Sterling Nelson Julie Ryan Christina Hansen Jose Arreola Pam Finney Kayla Carter Keith Harn Violet Pierce Joan Rayburn Ken Feldhaus Mary Ann Heldt

Jan.

No Anniversaries


Bethlehem Lutheran

Church & Preschool 18865 SW Johnson St. Aloha, OR 97003-3164 www.blcfamily.org


We Worship

Sunday Morning Schedule: Traditional Worship Service 8:30am Sunday School/Bible Class 9:45am

Morning Song Worship Service 11:00am

As a congregation, we will be spending "January with Jonah" on Sundays. The Sunday messages will take their themes from a chapter of Jonah and on Sunday mornings, during the Bible class hour we will look at each chapter in more depth. Our topics will include: January 5 (Epiphany celebration), "The God We Have;" January 12 (Baptism of Our Lord), "God Rescues Us;" January 19, "God's Mercy is for Everyone;" and, January 26, "A Compassionate Heart?" Pastor Jeff will be the preacher and the Bible class leader.

the star · 12/1/2019 · magi would have been some of the most unlikely converts and worshipers....

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