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1279 HighStreet

Auburn, California95603

We Are on the Web

www.bethlehemlutheranauburn.org

Phone: 530-885-4515

Fax: 530-885-2287

E-mail: bethlutheran@yaoo.com

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Sharing Christ’s LoveSharing Christ’s LoveSharing Christ’s LoveSharing Christ’s Love

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

The Herald

Inge Henderson’s recent submission to Bethlehem Lutheran Connection is reprinted below:

My favorite coffee mug shows a Christopher Robin-like figure all bundled up, walking through a winter storm with thick snowflakes whirling all around. Above this scene, a four-line poem lists additional adverse, wintry conditions before concluding in the last line: Still this heart of mine will sing. I love this statement, it speaks to me because it is so affirming, so optimistic, so spirited. What an amazing thing to say when physical or mental adversity engulfs us! What strength it takes to let the world around us know: Still this heart of mine will sing. I look around our congregation and I see how it has made and continues to make that very statement for all to see. We are here to sing to the glory of God and his amazing work among us. God has put us on this road for a rea-son and he is leading the way to renewal and joy. It has not been an easy road for some among us, but when we feel too weak and too uncertain, we need only look to Romans: 8: 26-27, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” How much comfort I have found in this text over the years, because it means that adversity will never have the last word. And so I give thanks, thanks to our gracious God, thanks to all who are mak-ing such a great effort to lead this congregation, and thanks to my fellow pa-rishioners. I have never felt more at home at BLC than during the last few weeks because I witnessed so many acts of kindness and caring for this church and its people. It has been amazing to watch how many people have walked up to others saying, “I am so glad to see you” and meaning it whole-heartedly. There are more hugs all around and it seems a new appreciation for what others do for this congregation in the way they serve the Lord and all of us. A recent example would be one couple giving a jar of jam to each lady in the Prayer Shawl ministry. What a lovely gesture. There were many thank-you’s and compliments directed among others to the choir and our mu-sicians for the joy they bring to the service, to the organizer of our beautiful sanctuary decorations, and on and on. We are witnessing a new beginning, renewal is tak-ing place all around us. It is an Advent season to remember. Inge Henderson

Bethlehem Lutheran Church January 2014

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

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MT CROSS DAY CAMP IS COMING TO BLC!

We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting Mt Cross Day Camp July 21 – 25, 2014.

Day Camp is an exciting program that facilitates a unique partnership between Mt Cross Minis-

tries and congregations throughout Northern California and Northern Nevada.

Mt Cross will be sending 4 counselors and everything they need to provide programming for 30

kids who have completed kindergarten – 6th grade.

Camp will be from 9 am – 3 pm, Monday – Thursday,

and 9 am – noon on Friday. The 2014 theme is

“Living in God’s Time.” Each day begins with worship

and includes age group activities, all camp activities,

sing-a-longs and more!

Our dream is that we offer this camp for free! What

does that mean for BLC? We will be looking for peo-

ple to sponsor the 30 campers ($85 each), provide

homes and meals for the 4 counselors, provide daily

lunch and snacks for the campers and counselors; and

volunteers to help each day.

I have coordinated Day Camp in the past, and my daughter was a counselor for several years. We

hosted the counselors in our home and really enjoyed getting to know these young Lutherans! I

am so excited to bring this program to Bethlehem at the encouragement of Pastor Art and can’t

wait to see what this week will bring. Soon we will be asking for sponsors and providing sign ups

for the rest of the needs. Talk to me if you want to learn more. Mrs Kathye Hamm

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’ve started 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?

3 FOUR IN A ROWS

Cindy and Kylie Bowman Denise and Charles Nelson

Mt Cross Day Camp

Advent Lutheran Church 2009

Daily Lectionary for January 2014

January Birthdays

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Jan 1 Psalm 8

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:15-21

Jan 2 Psalm 72

Genesis 12:1-7

Hebrews 11:1-12

Jan 3 Psalm 72

Genesis 28:10-22

Hebrews 11:13-22

Jan 4 Psalm 72

Exodus 3:1-5

Hebrews 11:23-31

Jan 5 Psalm 72

Joshuah 1:1-9

Hebrews 11:32—12:2

Jan 6 Epiphany of Our Lord

Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14

Ephesians 3:1-12

Matthew 2:1-12

Jan 7 Psalm 72

1 Kings 10:1-13

Ephesians 3:14-21

Jan 8 Psalm 72

1 Kings 10:14-25

Ephesians 4:7, 11-16

Jan 9 Psalm 72

Micah 5:2-9

Luke 13:31-35

F Psalm 29

1 Samuel 3:10—4:1a

Acts 9:10-19a

Sa Psalm 29

1 Samuel 7:3-17

Acts 9:19b-31

The Baptism of Our Lord

Isaiah 42:1-9

Psalm 29

Acts 10:34-43

Matthew 3:13-17

M Psalm 89:5-37

Genesis 35:1-15

Acts 10:44-48

Tu Psalm 89:5-37

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Acts 8:4-13

W Psalm 89:5-37

Isaiah 51:1-16

Matthew 12:15-21

Th Psalm 40:1-11

Isaiah 22:15-25

Galatians 1:6-12

F Psalm 40:1-11

Genesis 27:30-38

Acts 1:1-5

Sa Psalm 40:1-11

1 Kings 19:19-21

Luke 5:1-11

Second Sunday after Epiphany

Isaiah 49:1-7

Psalm 40:1-11

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

John 1:29-42

M Psalm 40:6-17

Exodus 12:1-13, 21-28

Acts 8:26-40

Tu Psalm 40:6-17

Isaiah 53:1-12

Hebrews 10:1-4

W Psalm 40:6-17

Isaiah 48:12-21

Matthew 9:14-17

Th Psalm 27:1-6

1 Samuel 1:1-20

Galatians 1:11-24

F Psalm 27:1-6

1 Samuel 9:27—10:8

Galatians 2:1-10

Sa Psalm 27:1-6

1 Samuel 15:34—16:13

Luke 5:27-32

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Isaiah 9:1-4

Psalm 27:1, 4-9

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Matthew 4:12-23

M Psalm 27:7-14

Judges 6:11-24

Ephesians 5:6-14

Tu Psalm 27:7-14

Judges 7:12-22

Philippians 2:12-18

W Psalm 27:7-14

Genesis 49:1-2, 8-13, 21-26

Luke 1:67-79

Th Psalm 15

Deuteronomy 16:18-20

1 Peter 3:8-12

F Psalm 15

Deuteronomy 24:17—25:4

1 Timothy 5:17-24

Inge Henderson

James Anderberg

MaryAnn Collins

Elfrieda Branch

Taylor Brady

Jim Sizemore

Ron Lindstrom

Jeff Dillon

Howard Leal

Kevin Darling

Abigael Untalan

Jennifer Bayer

Lois Hoffmann

Denise Nelson

Alex Houston

Tim Tweitmeyer

Marge Johnson

Mike Brady

Lorraine Clark

Jerry Guerreiro

Laurel McFarland

Susan Wren

Lindsay Leichliter

Mary Duncan

Lou Hummel

Richard Reid

Ben Riswold

The 24th annual Community Christmas Dinner, hosted by Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Wednesday, December 25, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., again fed hundreds of people, as well as provided the comfort of conversation and community. Auburn merchants such as The Flour Garden Bakery and Cafe, Machado Orchards, Hilda’s Bakery, SaveMart, Raley’s, and Bel Air were among the local merchants contributing the desserts for the dinner. The Elks Lodge # 1691 and the Rotary Club of Auburn supplied material support and volunteers that prepared the meat for the meal. Dozens of volunteers from Auburn Pioneer Methodist Church, Auburn Presbyterian, Combie Bible Church and Bethlehem Lutheran Church, members of the Vintage Oaks Home Owners Association, and neighbors in Grass Valley, Newcastle and Meadow Vista provided the bulk of the food, meal preparation, delivery drivers, meal serving and clean-up. Together they united in service to community that allowed hundreds to come together in friendship around a Christmas Day dinner of turkey, ham, homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, rolls and a stunning array of desserts. The meal looked and felt like that of a giant extended family, with young to elderly and a true cross section of the Auburn area all eating a meal together.

In addition to those attending the meal, vol-unteer drivers fanned out across the Auburn area delivering over 100 meals to those una-ble to travel to the dinner. One of the vol-unteer drivers, Dean Jacobson, said, “It gave me a true sense of happiness to bring a meal to an elderly woman who was clearly grateful for the food, but also the human contact that came with the delivery. She wanted someone to talk to, and I was able to be there.” This sentiment was echoed by the dozens of volunteers who served to make this meal possible, making it clear that they were given something themselves through the process of giving to others.

Event coordinator and vice president of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Amos Olson, said, “This is Auburn at its finest. Here we see that we are a community that has compassion and is willing to step up and do something meaningful for those who need a little kindness.” He also said, “The Buckalew Family began the Community Christmas dinner 24 years ago, and the Raught Family continued this tradition with the dream that BLC would continue this dinner for as long as the community was able.”

Therefore, one of the exciting aspects of this dinner was the number of people in their teens and twenties who stepped up to serve as volunteers. “This is the next generation taking ownership of an Auburn tradition, ensuring that it remains with us for another 24 years,” Olson said. Tia Desplancke and Roberta Forbes, volunteers who spearheaded much of the meal preparation and service said, “We are so thankful for all the support we received from the community. We are ready to do this again next year.” Happily it seems that this Auburn tradition is one that will con-tinue.

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24th Annual Community Christmas Dinner—the Tradition Continues! WHAT’S THE BUZZ????

A Killer is on the loose!

In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a disease that kills

more people than war or malnutrition. Each year 200

to 300 million people become infected, many multiple

times, and 655,000 people die. What is this dreaded

disease? Malaria.

Malaria has been a worldwide epidemic for thousands of years, but recent developments have made

it possible to stop deaths from this disease – for good. We know what causes malaria, and we know

how to treat and prevent it. More importantly, a global movement is underway to do just that.

The ELCA Malaria Campaign joins with thousands of other faith-based organizations, businesses,

nonprofits and government agencies to contain this deadly disease by 2015.

In February, the children and youth of BLC will be asking you to help wipe out a swarm of mosquitos

and raise money to help stop malaria! Watch for more information – the swarm is on the way…

WHOLISTIC HEALTH FOR THE SOUL

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a

bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine

before men, that they may see your good deeds, and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

What a beautiful surprise to walk into our church sanctuary and see all of the faux

stained glass stars surrounding the audience, chancel, and choir, allowing colored

light to shine through on our services throughout the advent season! Many BLC

members, young and old, were a part of designing these windows, lead by Kathy

Ryan. We are a family that enjoys creating together, and with the decorations of the tree and hang-

ing of garlands rounding out the rest of the church, we were surrounded with God’s love.

Stained glass windows remind me that Jesus takes our broken, imperfect pieces and somehow fits

them together, just so, to form a new person who is beautiful and useful. When God’s light shines

through a stained glass window—or through us—comfort, hope, and the glory of God can be the

perspective that shines through. Stained glass symbolizes the Care Ministry calling of piecing to-

gether the broken parts of another’s life, trusting that God’s grace and mercy will shine through. I

pray and trust that God will arrange the imperfect bits of our lives into an example of his ability

to create wholeness from brokenness. Peace be with you as you enjoy life with its abundant colors.

Randi, Bethlehem’s Faith Community Nurse

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Dear Members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church,

We have been through some challenging moments in recent months. I believe we have taken some good steps, and we have taken some missteps. I want to thank you for your trust, and I want to as-sure you that in the upcoming months your church council will be focusing on 1) approaching each question and situation with kindness and compassion, with a keen interest in congregation feedback, 2) healing relationships and trust, and 3) continuing to get our finances in order.

I’ve been thinking a bit about the role and responsibilities of the church council. I believe our primary responsibility is to make decisions regarding use of our church’s resources for the optimal functioning and implementation of God’s mission of love in the world.

How have we done with that this last year or so? And what would we include as our church’s re-sources? We’ve been quite focused on making decisions regarding money that is and isn’t flowing, and are very interested in congregation ideas and feedback. We’ve also been fairly diligent about looking at ministry team progress toward vision goals. How have we been doing in terms of supporting our staff for their optimal functioning and implementation of God’s mission of love in our community? I am very thankful that as a body we have many gifts, and I pray that God will use us for the health of this congregation and our church staff.

The council is looking at ideas to improve communication regarding decisions being made and ideas being considered. We are trying to have council meeting minutes posted on the BLC web site each month. You are also welcome to attend the monthly council meetings any time you like (each month on the second Tuesday at 6:30 pm). Additionally, we’re considering having Congregation Meetings more frequently than once a year, and we’re considering having a monthly issue discussion between services.

I welcome your thoughts and opinions regarding anything that’s on your heart and on your mind.

In His Love,

Karen Stein, President of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Council

Hello Bethlehem Family, I want to express my sincere thanks for the many ways that you served

during the past year. Each month as I make the schedule, I am so grateful that so many of you

want to serve. I especially want to thank Betty Sandland, who has faithfully found the assistants

and readers for the 8:30 service. She has been doing this for about 10 years now. She has asked to

step down at this time, so I will be calling you to fill those spots each month. As we move forward

in 2014, I ask that you continue to serve as best as you can.

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year! Denise Nelson

Notes from the Council President

A Message from the Worship Coordinator

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Treasurer’s Report The income for November was $3,588.85 below budget and expenses exceeded budget by $1,730.37. The Giving & Expense graph reflects a reduction of $985.97 in borrowed funds. For YTD, support is 6.2% below budget; howev-er, support this quarter is running about 10% be-low budget. Overall, this year has a surplus due to salary savings. Please contact me if you have any questions from the first of the year. Don Schultze (916-276-4880) BLC Treasurer

A New Wednesday Night Class (The Well) is Starting January 22: Making Sense of Scripture is a book about the Bible that explains enough of its history and nature to make it more accessible to you. It describes how to read the Bible in the first place. The idea is that you will become confi-dent about exploring the actual content and claims of the Bible on your own or in study with oth-ers. Denise Nelson will be facilitating this class. Please call the Office in order to sign up, so that supplies can be purchased.

Women’s Ministry

GOOD NEWS GIRLS Who are we and what are we? We

are a group of women who meet on the 4th Thursday of

every month in the fellowship hall at 10 a.m. for bible study,

discussion, and fellowship. All women are welcome! Our

studies are simple and very easy, plus enlighten-

ing. This month, we are studying Abigail from 2nd Samuel 25:1-42. Study leader this month is

Delores Amaro, hostess is Sue Beeck. If you have questions, see/talk to Donna Larson or Ruth

Dugan.

QUILTING PLUS will resume Tuesday, January 7th, in the fellowship hall. For you who are

curious, we are a group of women who gather on the first and third Tuesdays, September through

May, at 9 a.m., to make a very basic quilt. If you can tie knots or cut squares, you are very

qualified. Rumor has it that we are the best support group around. We always have a coffee

break, where we discuss anything and everything. Our quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief,

the Navajo mission in Arizona or locally. Please join us, we would love to have you. If you have

questions call Donna Larson. Hope to see you there on January 7th.

FAITH FORMATION