W E L C O M E

Bishop Gary

Bethlehem is thrilled to welcome Bishop

Gary as pastoral leader while Pastor Sarah is

on family leave. The Rev. Dr. Gary Wollersheim

has been an ELCA pastor for over 40 years,

the last 18 of which he served as the Bishop

of the ELCA’s Northern IL Synod. Previously,

he was a deployed ELCA staff member,

assisting congregations in mission and

stewardship. From 1980-90, Rev. Wollersheim

founded and served at Hosanna! Lutheran

Church in St. Charles, as well as urban

congregations in Cicero and Chicago.

Bishop Gary married his high school

sweetheart, Polly, and they have three

grown children and five grandchildren.

During his time at Bethlehem, Bishop Gary

will preach and preside at some Sunday

services, relate to the Congregation Council,

participate in weekly staff meetings, and

be available in the church office two days

a week to offer pastoral presence and

counsel to staff and disciples.

Please introduce yourself to Bishop Gary

and Polly when you see them, and make

sure to come to the forum on Sundays,

Jan. 13 or 20 (during Education Hour) to

meet him and hear more of his story.

B E T H L E H E M L U T H E R A N C H U R C H • W I N T E R 2 0 1 9

OUR MISSION IS TO GO: together. forward, in faith.

New Year!

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AS WE BEGIN A NEW CALENDAR YEAR OF LIFE AND MINISTRY, we begin with the Epiphany promise that God’s light accom- panies us and leads us all of our days. In the midst of all that is yet unknown, in the midst of change and transition, in the midst of resolutions achieved and failed, we are always led by the light and power of the Holy Spirit, and by the conviction that God’s Spirit is calling us to move together, forward in faith.

In the pages that follow, you’ll find stories of togetherness from the Marriage Retreat, the experience of serving at Hesed House, and the upcoming “All Church Serve” at Feed My Starving Children―make sure to mark your calendars for the weekend of February 16-17! You’ll find important updates as to how we’re moving forward in the call process and our Council’s core priorities for this ministry year. And you’ll see the power and promise of our faith woven through it all―the stories of individual disciples, the reflections of some of the men that gather together for study and fellowship early on Friday mornings, the insightful questions our Confirmation students come up with in worship, and the art that enhances our worship space.

Our new Messenger format is intended to give us all a better glimpse of God’s work in and among us. Lives are being touched, possibilities explored, relationships formed all the time here at Bethlehem, all because of what God can do, and our hope is that this quarterly collection of stories helps bring it to light and celebrate it!

Enjoy! Pastor Sarah

Joyous Epiphany!Happy

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O N T H E M A R R I A G E R E T R E AT

Mike & Shelley W E I B L E

Shelley and I were prompted to attend the Marriage Retreat, “What’s Love Got To Do With It” for several reasons.

First, the title of the retreat is also the title of a favorite song by Tina Turner!

Second, the retreat was just weeks before we celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary.

Third, we lost our oldest child, Benjamin, just over six years ago and we know we are one of the lucky couples who have, thus far, survived that loss. Having read that over 75% of marriages fail after the death of a child, we felt compelled to take advantage of a resource that might help us in our continuing struggle to achieve a healthy relationship in the face of arguably the most challenging event to confront a marriage.

It was of great benefit to be with other couples and share experiences and observations. Learning other perspectives and sharing marriage experiences gave us perspective and helped us understand that there are common issues and yet many different approaches to conflict resolution as well as celebrating the good times.

A lasting image for both of us was how our ego’s work to “build walls and fire arrows” to keep from being hurt. We’re definitely more mindful of the tendency to be defensive when we should be looking for ways to uplift each other.

The realization that there is a “hurt child” inside each of us has helped us to be more mindful of marriage as a “work in process” that needs attention and nurturing. One way God is working in our marriage is through silence ―the silence that comes from really trying to listen to

each other before formulating a response. I find myself less willing to fire off a smug, snappy come-back, and from my experi-ence I can only attribute that realization to God, because I’ve never been able to do it on my own. Note: I still do it, but less often (I hope…)

This was our first marriage retreat, but based on the benefits we’re sure it won’t be the last. Marriage is an investment and must be nurtured in order to flourish. Anyone who values marriage cannot help but benefit from taking a few hours to reflect on the marriage process under the

guidance of a good leader. Kelly was excellent in that regard. Beyond his perspective and expertise, however, Shelley and I valued―and enjoyed―listening to other couples and how they approached the challenges and opportunities of building a good married life.

It should also be noted that having such an event at Bethlehem allowed us to “be at home” with our fellow

Reflections

together

“”

LEARNING OTHER

PERSPECTIVES AND

SHARING MARRIAGE EXPERI-

ENCES GAVE US PERSPECTIVE

AND HELPED US UNDERSTAND

THAT THERE ARE COMMON

ISSUES AND YET MANY

DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO

CONFLICT RESOLUTION.

parishioners as opposed to a group of strangers. The familiarity we had of each other, I think, added to the depth of the seminar and definitely added moments of levity, which are much needed, I think, when addressing such life-changing considerations such as what constitutes a healthy marriage.

Finally, Kelly Collins did an incomparable job in ensuring our comfort and safety. Creating such an environment is as at least as important as the leader and the topic.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a great venue, to be sure, but the real value lies in our church community and the willingness to share our experiences and beliefs with each other. That is a priceless gift and it’s available to us all.

Pete & Alyssa E L Z A

Pete and I believe it’s essential to set aside time to focus on your partner/spouse. However, this is usually easier said than done. Whether it’s in a private session or a public

forum, there’s something to be taken away and applied to your marriage, even if you consider your relationship healthy.

The retreat was a great opportunity to connect in a real way with others from different perspectives and backgrounds on interpersonal relationships/conflict resolution/etc. We benefit-ted from hearing from a variety of experiences.

One of the main things we took away from the retreat time with Kelly Flanagan was that we need to be more supportive of each other’s emotional work and day-to-day demands. We don’t always consider what the other person has been through and respond in the way we would want to.

We would definitely encourage others to come join us at the next retreat. There’s always something to be gained by learning from a skilled psychologist and speaker, as well as from the people who attend that help shed light on new ways of think-ing about your relationships and life.

Upcoming Workshop FEB. 9

LOOKING FOR PURPOSE IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES

Following a day long marriage retreat last

fall focusing on worthiness and belonging,

we are bringing back Dr. Kelly Flanagan,

clinical psychologist and author, to explore

“purpose” in a new refreshing way.

Welcoming you, your spouse, your friends,

your adult children, and other loved ones for

a morning of conversation with Kelly about

how to replace an exhausting purpose-driven

life with a revitalizing purpose-centered life.

Discover what it looks like when we pursue a

calling as an expression of our worthiness

rather than as a search for it. And find out

how you can support your people, and be

supported by them, as you clarify your

reason for being here. This workshop will

take place Feb. 9 from 9:00am-Noon, $10/

per person (includes materials and refresh-

ments). You can sign up on the Building

Community form found in Community Life.

Check out Kelly Flanagan’s book, Loveable, as a reflective read for the new year.

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Blessings of Serving at Hesed House BY JEFF SIBLIK

togetherFeed the NeedALL-CHURCH SERVE

Feed The Need!™ Illinois is the largest volunteer coalition of religious, educa-tion, civic, corporate and community organizations in the Kane/DuPage/Will county areas that come together each year to sponsor a Feed My Starving Children MobilePack. This year, Bethlehem is ALL IN to join the fight against hunger and YOU are invited to help accomplish this goal: Over 5,000 volunteers packing over 1.2 million meals!

Save the Date!On Sunday, Feb. 17 Bethlehem will

worship together as ONE community at

10:00am and serve together at various

shifts throughout the weekend. Watch

for sign-up details in Community Life!

Questions? Contact Dennis Finney

dennisrfinney@aol.com

Did you know?1 Pack feeds 6 Children 1 meal.

Each meal cost $.22.

That’s 7,776 Meals, $1,800.

ONGOING FOOD PANTRY Donation Opportunities

Bethlehem has a Food Pantry Ministry in conjunc-tion with The Salvation Army. We collect food do-nations in a designated space in the Welcome Center each week. Watch for suggested shopping lists in the Community Life to assist

you with your purchases. Volunteers collect the donations each week and deliver them to the Salvation Army on 7th Avenue in St. Charles. We have been a part of this important

ministry for many years. What seems effortless on our part is so important to those in need. Please contact Michelle Fisher in the church office if you have any questions.

DONATION REQUESTS:

January

• 4 boxes of Jello• 1 can of fruit cocktail

February

• 5 jars of baby food• 1 box of baby food cereal

A few years ago, I was invited to volunteer at Hesed House for a couple hours on a Friday night with a group of Bethlehem disciples. The experience was

eye-opening, heart-breaking, and life-changing. But first, a little about Hesed House: In the early 1980s, several concerned local leaders formed a grassroots coalition to shelter, feed and clothe the homeless. Over the years, Hesed House evolved into a campus of skilled professionals collaborating to provide tools to help people break free of the shackles of homelessness. Today, Hesed House is a national model for ending homelessness–one person, one family at a time. It is also the second largest shelter in Illinois, serving 1000 individuals annually.

Each night, an average of 175 men, women and children line up outside the doors of Hesed House seeking a place to sleep, shower, do laundry, eat a meal, and find other life- sustaining services such as assistance finding housing, establishing identification, obtaining medical services or legal assistance, substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, employment training, and more.

When Steve Grimm (who still leads the ministry today) invited me to join the Bethlehem team at Hesed House, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But shortly after I arrived, I knew I was doing something meaningful and much needed. I also remember being struck by the friendliness of the guests. These were people who found themselves

in unimaginable circumstances, yet I witnessed gratitude in their hearts for the service we were providing. Now, don’t get me wrong...not everyone there was cheery…these are real people with real problems. But that’s what also struck me. These were real people like you and me, with common

problems. I left that night thinking, “This could have been me.”

I encouraged my family to volunteer with me the next time. So, a couple of months later, I volunteered with my wife and two daughters, ages 12 and 14 at the time. Talk about an eye-opening experience for a teenager! Both of our daughters, while initially hesitant, jumped right in to help

with whatever was needed. It made us proud, but more importantly; we could see that their perspective and character were being positively altered by the experience. The harsh realities of that night were good for our girls to wit-ness, and we have volunteered together many times since. Each time we help out it is very rewarding, yet sobering and humbling at the same time.

Hesed House’s mission is to “feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give people the chance to hope again.” I strongly encourage anyone, especially parents of tweens and teens, to look into volunteering with our Bethlehem group in order to assist in Hesed House’s noble mission. We volunteer every other month, and there are plenty of time slots and “duties” to choose from. Feel free to contact the church office for more information.

“WHOEVER IS KIND

TO THE POOR LENDS

TO THE LORD, AND

HE WILL REWARD

THEM FOR WHAT THEY

HAVE DONE.”

PROVERBS 19:17

the

Jeff Siblik and family

An Introduction toLay Leadership

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Family Fellowship TeamBRINGING KIDS AND PARENTS TOGETHER

On Dec. 8, nearly 100 of Bethlehem’s children, parents, and friends came together for a Christmas Movie Night. The Star, an animated film told from the perspective of the animals in Jesus’ stable, brought home the message of the Christmas story for kids and adults alike. Dressed in Christmas jammies, families ate pizza, made Advent chains, and spent a care-free night together, remembering the “reason for the season.”

“ My favorite part of the night was meeting the baby Jesus,” says Meara Jirschele, age 4, who came to watch the movie with her mom Kelly, and brother Owen, age 6.

“ I appreciate how cartoons can gently emphasize adult themes like forgiveness, repentance, and stewardship without being too serious,” Kelly Jirschele says. “We enjoy the fellowship and community that church brings, especially as we work to raise our children in faith.”

“ The evening was a good family night for the kids and me,” says Julie Grimm, who brought three of her children to the movie, ages 4 to 13. “I think it helped to remind us about the true meaning of the season.”

This movie night is one example of the work of Bethlehem’s Family Fellowship Team. This group of men and women come together several times a year to plan meaningful yet simple events that bring Bethlehem families with children together, forging friendships and helping to form faith. While meetings often revolve around logistics – craft supplies, food

purchases, the best times for families to meet – all their efforts come together to make a big impact for families.

“ I love seeing the families who attend our programs just be able to enjoy time together and get to know other families through the events we plan,” says Juliane Such, who has been a part of the team since 2016.

Throughout each program year, the team puts together half a dozen fellowship events, including game nights, movie nights, the Easter Egg Hunt, Trunk or Treat, and more. All of our team members have families, jobs, and busy schedules, and their goal is to be efficient, with the often-used motto of “working smarter, not harder.” A lot of work is done over email and text for ease of involvement.

Jennifer McIntire is the Fellowship Team’s Lay Leader, and she’s been a part of the team since it began four years ago.

“ My favorite event that our team does has got to be the annual Trunk or Treat in the church’s back parking lot!” Jennifer says. “It is a lot of fun and so relaxed. I love how the kids are comfortable enough to go from trunk to trunk asking for a treat and socializing with others.”

And while the team is off and running, its members say more members would mean even better events. Adults or youth who are interested in event planning or just mingling with and meeting people might enjoy this opportunity. If you’re interested in getting involved with the Family Fellowship Team, please contact Eva Richards, eva@bethlehemluth.org.

forward

One of the priorities for this next year of ministry is to develop lay leadership in our congregation, and to invest in training that will help us understand how

it is we do that.

Why do we want to focus on this? The premise of this model is that the church cannot thrive if it is based on the sole leadership of a few―the few that are leading burn out and go to the sidelines. Meanwhile, those who are waiting to be asked to be leaders wonder what it is they have to contribute.

This new model expects that an essential aspect of any leadership position is the development of leaders-to-be to journey alongside us, which creates a leadership pipeline so that no ministry, no program is sustained solely by one individ-ual. This shift increases participation and moves us from watching others perform the work of the church toward a church as a body of co-collaborators, co-creators, co-leaders, rather than a body of consumers.

We are working with Intentional Impact, a consulting group of Naperville that has trained churches around the country in the model of developing lay leaders to be better at reproducing leadership. Our first training session for council and

staff occurred on Nov. 10 and we had great participation with both staff and much of our council working together to understand how to make this change. This was not simply a semi-nar on how to be better at recruiting volunteers. Instead, this all day event helped open the eyes of

staff and council to how this new approach would slowly build more lay leaders.

There is no overnight quick success to be found in this approach and this process will take time, first through education and then

as we begin to journey together to develop more lay leadership. Stay tuned for more on this in the coming year!

Written by: Greg Andrews

“THIS SHIFT MOVES US FROM

WATCHING OTHERS PERFORM

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH

TOWARD A CHURCH AS A BODY

OF CO-COLLABORATORS,

CO-CREATORS, CO-LEADERS,

RATHER THAN A BODY OF

CONSUMERS.”

WHAT WE MEAN BY IT AND

WHY WE ARE ENGAGING IN

IT AS A TOP PRIORITY

Watching The Star for Christmas Movie Night

Spring BirthdaysBob Goodwin - 1/3

Katherine Balek - 1/3Terry Colegrove - 1/4Russ Peterson - 1/6Carole Halling - 1/7

Char Landmeier - 1/10Olive Leckbee - 1/11Marc Thorsen - 1/15Barb Herman - 1/16David Simon - 1/17Bob Schaefer - 1/18

Beatrice Sutton - 1/20Jule Beckstrom - 1/28Ingrid Clauson - 2/2

Caryl Van Overmeiren - 2/4Barbara Wittenstrom - 2/9

Fred Schrauth - 2/11Tom Anderson - 2/11

Janice Ellis - 2/14Clair Schwerdtfeger - 2/17

Pat Geaman - 2/19Jean Swenby - 2/22Karen Simon - 2/24

Melvin Peterson - 2/26Lois Fystro - 3/1

Henning Windel - 3/2John Urness - 3/2

Evelinde Windel - 3/4Anne Matthys - 3/4Judith Carlson - 3/7

Marlene Thanepohn - 3/13Bill Herman - 3/15

Christine Soderstrom - 3/17Carol Clark - 3/20

Martha Miller - 3/24Margaret Stearns - 3/27Donna Vanselow - 3/27

Mary Murphy - 3/30Nancy Warner - 3/30

Marlene Pawlowski - 4/2Carolyn Olsen - 4/3Barbara Faron - 4/4

Karen Scheufler - 4/10Jim Geaman - 4/14

Marilyn O’Neal - 4/17Judy Price - 4/17

Jerry Conn - 4/24Arlene Schrock - 4/26

the Messenger

Last May, Bethlehem’s Church Council authorized the formation of a Call Team to search for a new Lead Pastor. The Call Team has been meeting regularly since June preparing for this important task. The Call Team is comprised of Megan Baxter, Linda Bell, Joe Boyle, Craig Collins (chair), Steve McIntire, and Ryan Soule.

A critical step in the call process was the completion of the Ministry Site Profile (MSP), a document that summarizes the life and the work of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Think of this as our church’s resume, providing prospective pastoral candidates with a first impression of who we are and where we are going as a congregation. The MSP also provides the Call Team with direction regarding the qualities to be sought in a new lead pastor. The MSP is available on the church website (click on the New & Events link and then Call Committee Update link).

The pastoral vacancy notice and Ministry Site Profile have been accessible on the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s website since late October, informing pastoral candidates throughout our Metropolitan Chicago Synod

and the entire country of our pastor vacancy.

In early November, the Call Team met with a representative from the Chicago Metropolitan Synod to review the first group of candidates and to learn more about how the Synod will support the Call Team throughout the call process.

The Call Team has now begun to interview pastoral candidates. While the Call Team has no specific timetable for making a recommendation to the Council and the congregation regarding a new lead pastor, we trust the Holy Spirit will be present throughout the entire process and in each of the interviews that will be taking place over the next several months.

In the event that you would like to nominate a pastor for the Call Team to consider and/or learn more about the call process, you are welcome to contact any member of the Call Team.

The Call Team requests your continued prayers now as we move into the interview phase of the call process.

forwardCall Team U P DAT E

PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION

Preschool registration will soon be upon us. Church members/ alumni or siblings will be able to register starting Jan. 22. Registration for the general public will start on Feb. 4. Please pass the word to neighbors and friends if they are looking for a wonderful preschool for their children! They are welcome to tour the preschool as well. Just give us a call at 630.584.6027.

SPAGHETTI DINNER/SILENT AUCTION

Our Annual Spaghetti Dinner/Silent Auction & Raffle Night will also be here before we know it! Please mark your calendar to attend this event on Friday, Mar. 15, from 4:30-7:30pm. If you would like to support the Preschool in some way for this event, please contact Pong Sayasane at 630.58.6027, or email the Preschool at blcpreschool@bethlehemluth.org.

Preschool U P DAT E

PonderingsO F T H E C O N F I R M A N D S

BY BOBBI CYR

When parents bring their children to be baptized, they make promises to raise their children in faith: to bring them to worship, to teach the basics of faith, to empower them to work for mercy and justice and to love each child as God

loves the world. The community at Bethlehem supports parents and families in these promises through Confirmation because we love the good news of Jesus and love to see it at work in the lives, hearts, and questions of our youth.

You may notice a student sitting next to you listening intently to a sermon and filling out a worship response form during the service. One of the questions on the form asks: “What questions do you have about the message you heard today?” Time and time again, the questions our students come up with are profound and thoughtful, and I wanted to share some of them with you.

Please encourage our youth and their faith development when you see them! And I’d also encourage you, even if you’re not filling out a form, to ponder each week what questions come to your mind as we worship, listen, and learn together. It’s what keeps faith exciting and new!

• Why are people surprised that Jesus can do

this stuff? (in regards to miracles)

• How should I invite people to our church?

• Why is religion so hard to talk about?

• How can we get along with rude people?

• Why don’t people invite others to church more?

• How do I serve seniors?

• How can I help more?

• What can we do to serve God?

• Will Jesus guide me to make the right decisions?

• What do you have to do to become a servant?

• What can adults and kids accomplish together?

• What about the people in the middle

(the first will be last and the last will be first)?

• How does Jesus welcome everyone even though

we are bad sometimes?

• Do atheists belong to Jesus?

• Why are people afraid to talk about their

religion now but not in past decades?

• As a kid how can I do more to be part of

God’s community?

• How do you get yourself to invite people

you would not normally invite to church?

• Could bad things that happen in our world

also be a gift?

• How else can we be grateful to God?

• How do I learn to be last when we are

pressured to be first?

• Why do people hate people who are

different from them?

• How do I learn to look past our divisions

and see God’s love?

Men’s Bible Study

the Messenger

Faith StoryQ & A WITH MICHAEL PALMER

in faith

QTell us a bit about your faith background as a child.

A I wasn’t raised in a very religious household, so I was never involved in the life of a church in the way that

we are now. That means that there is a lot that I don’t know yet, but it also means that as my children learn what faith is all about I get to learn with them. As a parent, I’m used to having all the answers (or at least thinking I do), but these days I find the simple and innocent questions my children ask lead to deeper, more meaningful answers.

QHow did you find your way to Bethlehem Lutheran? What

was it about Bethlehem that drew you and your family?

A We spent a long time looking for a church that was a good fit for our family. What was most important to

us was finding a church that we were comfortable in, but I don’t think we really understood what that meant until we came to Bethlehem. Everywhere else we visited people were friendly and welcoming, but from the first service at Bethlehem we noticed a difference―and it came out most of all in our children who were engaged and interested. For a long time we had been looking and coming home disappointed or uninspired, but right away at Bethlehem we knew we had found the right place for us.

QWhat do you find intriguing about worship, the messages,

the community you’ve found at Bethlehem? What do you

find puzzling, or what do you find yourself wanting to learn

more about in regards to the Christian life and message?

A In the short time we have been members, we seem to have found something for everyone in our family

at Bethlehem. We attend the contemporary service partly because of our kids but mostly because we all love the music. It is nice for us that worship is easy―the kids look forward to it each week, and the sanctuary services give them a chance to see another side of worship, too. What has been great is all of the different opportunities for each of us. The kids have had so much to do, and as parents we have had opportunities to grow individually and as a couple.

What I like about our contemporary service is that is has a nice balance of fun mixed with a meaningful message each week. I have been a big advocate for the changes that were made for worship time to not only include more children, but also provide an educational hour. It is good for us to show our children that they are an important part of worship and to make time for ourselves as adults to focus on learning in the same way that we give them time to learn.

And, for me, there is always so much to learn. Because my background wasn’t based around faith, I have the chance now to learn all of this like a child. I feel so lucky to have found a place where I can learn and grow with a community that is focused on educating its members.

Q So far, what have been the gifts of your family becoming

part of this community?

A There have been so many gifts in this short time already―the friends we have made, the faith we have

grown into, the community we have become a part of―but the most meaningful gift for me is music. I have had the opportunity to help make music for both Sunday school and Kid Quest, and it has been amazing. I have been musician my whole life, so it is a good fit for me and a chance to use my own talent to encourage and inspire the children and the whole congregation. I’ve watched a group of kids learn a song in German faster than I could believe, and stayed up late with good friends in the Sanctuary playing every song we could think of. Music has been the best gift of all because it brings together so many pieces of our faith life.

QAny goals for your faith life in the new year?

A My own goal for the next year is simple―keep growing. I am so excited to be a part of this community and to

grow into it in new ways. My hope for the coming year is that we find just as much wonder and excitement, joy and inspiration as we did over the last year.

Can you briefly describe the study?

We meet in the Fireside Lounge at 6:30am every Friday morning. We open with news of the day from our lives or what is most on our minds. The lesson is then hosted by one of the men, we rotate responsibility for this. Andrew Packman facilitates the group and contributes a lot of biblical and historical insight. -R.B.

How has this group shaped your life and faith?

You become who you hang out with. The group is filled with good men who care. When I miss a session, like missing a church service, the worst in me begins to rise up. I become little less patient with those around me. A little more selfish with “my stuff.” We are called to be like Christ. This does not happen without practice. Practice is not a thing you do for one hour a week. We must practice every day. I found the Men’s Bible Study is the place where I am strengthened to go out into the world and be a good example. -E.K.

What have you studied lately? What’s something you’ve learned over the past year?

We studied the books of Paul along with Andrew as our leader. I now have a much greater appreciation of Paul’s life and what he went through. -R.B.

Now we are beginning to examine the ELCA Social Statements. These documents address the relationship of the church with the world as prompted though God’s Holy Word. I am looking forward to these statements to see how they stack up against my views of the world. -E.K.

Hopes for the year to come?

It would be nice to have some younger men from Bethlthem join the group. -R.B.

New members’ viw points would strengthen us all. -E.K.

REFLECTIONS BY DICK BAKER AND ERNIE KLAPMEIER

The cross that serves as a focal point in the Fellowship Hall

is called the Resurrection Cross. I created this cross several

years ago and it was first used in the sanctuary at Wellington

Avenue United Church of Christ in Chicago.

The Bible is alive with references to light. In the beginning God

said, “Let there be light and there was light.” In Isaiah, “The

people who walk in darkness will see a great light.” Jesus said,

“I am the light of the world. Those who follow me will not walk

in darkness, but will have the light of life.” We are told that,

“The Lord is our everlasting light.” And we are called “to let our

light shine,” “to be the light of the world,” to “walk as children

of light.” We also remember that when Jesus was transfigured,

“His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as

light,” and when Mary walked to Jesus’ tomb, she found it empty,

and an angel in radiant clothes told her that Christ was risen!

I considered these beautiful images in the crafting of this piece.

About the piece I wrote, Jesus has broken through the cross of

pain and death. Christ has broken through the superficial and

irrelevant. God has transformed the cross of despair and torture

into a symbol of light and hope. This cross, created from broken

and discarded mirrors, is like all of us, redeemed in the resurrection,

reflected in that resurrection light, and transformed through the

love of Jesus, the light of the world.

I am overjoyed that I can share this piece with Bethlehem. May

we all embrace the light of Jesus, the Christ and may we live and

reflect that light bringing hope, healing and joy to our world.

Resurrection Crossthe

B Y J O H N VO L K E N I N G

1145 N 5TH AVE / P.O. BOX 3850ST. CHARLES, IL 60174-9085630.584.2199 • WWW.BETHLEHEMLUTH.ORG

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

January 12 Kdgtn/1st Grade Stepping Stone, Bible & Stewardship

25-27 HS Winter Retreat

26 Family Game Night

27 Annual Meeting

February 9 Looking for Purpose Workshop with Kelly Flanagan

17 Feed the Need All-Church Service Weekend

22/23 Confirmation Retreat

March 6 Ash Wednesday

15 Preschool Spaghetti Dinner/Silent Auction/Raffle

16 2nd Grade Stepping Stone, Prayer

April 6 4th/5th Grade Stepping Stone, Bible & Values

14 Easter Egg Hunt & Potluck

21 Easter Sunday

May 5 Affirmation of Baptism by Confirmands

6 1 & 2 Yr Old Baptism Party

19 Annual Meeting

Baccalaureate Service for HS Seniors

June/July 16-23 JUNE - 6-12th Grade Workcamp Missions Trip

15-19 JULY - Vacation Bible School (VBS)

Upcoming Events

Detailed information about any of the above can be found in the Spring Guide or online at www.bethlehemluth.org.