| Bethany Lutheran Church Red Lake Falls MN |
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August Newsletter
From the Pastor
A gardener once lamented how the deer were eating his vegetables. “Look how they nibble away at everything! I wouldn't mind it if they actually ate one whole pumpkin or one whole squash. Every creature needs its food. But the deer take one bite out of everything! They're nibbling my garden to death!” It isn't just deer who “nibble away at things”. People are notorious nibblers too. They try this, that, and the other, never really settling down on any one thing. It's always a new job, a new hobby, a new church, a new religion! And, like usual, everything is “wonderful!” at least at first. But then reality sets in, and suddenly the “grass looks greener on the other side of the fence”, so off they go, nibbling themselves into something new. There are some things that really take some time and effort to develop. You can't learn to play the piano in just five minutes a day. You can't develop good relationships if you always have one foot out the door. And you can't love God if your heart is always somewhere else. Jesus once said to potential disciples.. “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59–62, NIV) Jesus' words sound harsh, yet when addressed to a community of “chronic nibblers”, his words are saving. For in a world where nothing is a priority, sin and selfishness reign supreme. “63 years, 2 months, and 5 days”, reads my life's clock. And what am I doing with my life? Am I “nibbling”, or “feasting” on the “true bread from heaven”, Jesus Christ our Lord? (see John 6:33) Pastor Gary Thank you! A special thank you to all the leaders and children who made Vacation Bible School so special this year. We averaged about 30 kids each evening learning and celebrating our God who can be trusted in. Thank you to Peggy Miller, Linda Johnston, Mikayla Tabert, Kale Miller, Terri Hams, Mary Barnes, Gary and Linda Graff, Morgan Koshenina, Vicki Duden, the Men's Group and all our other helpers for a wonderful, awesome week of Vacation Bible School! Thank you to Kevin Reich for preaching in the last Sunday of July! A big thank you to our youth and leaders for a great trip to the National Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas. Fourteen kids together with chaperons, Jenny Schmitz and Nancy Hofstad, had an exciting and meaningful adventure as they discovered how God's grace, “makes all things new” (Rev. 21:5). Wedding! Lindsey Seng and Brandon Eckstein will be wed on August 18th at 4 pm. Congratulations Lindsey and Brandon! |
Newsletter PDFs
August
Birthdays 1 – Gunnar Broden 4 – Michael Klein Jarvis Kuznia Harriet Pearson 5 – Jim Gilbertson Randy Myhre 6 – Jana Sletten 9 – Katie Halvorson 10 – Rylee Engelstad 11 – Marie Seeger 13 – Linda Graff 14 – Brenden Larson 17 – Linda Hoffman Karl Kleven 18 – Mavis Arvidson ShyAnn Larson 19 – Margaret Lee 20 – Clyde Fering 21 – James Hanson 22 – Hannah Seeger 24 – Mark Peterson 25 – Dawn Halvorson Jordyn Knott Judy Lundeen 26 – Bob Harmoning Jim Roff Halle Vigstol 27 – Brent Guenthner 28 – Kurt Ellefson Lincoln Olson 29 – Nick Knutson Laurie Seng 30 – Sheila Reich August
Anniversaries 6 – Dano & Kelsey Stephens 14 – Peter & Rachelle Tydlacka 15 – Gary & Dawn Halvorson 21 – Kevin & Chelsey Pletschett 25 – Karl & Carly Kleven 31 – Mark & Susy Herberg | ||||||||||||
Walk to Remember
Compassionate Friends, a support group for parents grieving the loss of a child, will have a “walk of remembrance” on August 12th at 5:00pm. There will be a time for remembering, a short message, and a balloon release in memory of departed loved ones. A potluck picnic will follow. The public is invited to participate. Look for the gathering in the shelter at Sportsman's Park.
Midweek Worship
There will be no Wednesday evening worship during the months of June, July, and August. We resume Wednesday evening worship in September.
Women of Bethany
The next meeting of WELCA is Wednesday, August 15th. The board will meet at 6:30pm with the general meeting at 7:00pm. Open to all confirmed women of Bethany. Feel free to join us!
Sunday School Teachers Needed
Fall is just around the corner and we will once again be looking for several volunteers to teach Sunday School classes for preschool through 8th grade. It's nice to have a list of potential substitutes too, so if you aren't able to commit to teaching on a regular basis, ask to join our substitute list. If you are interested in helping in this capacity, please contact us at 253-2589 or bethanylutheranrlf (at) gmail.com.
Caregiver Discussion Group
Do you provide the primary care for a family who is elderly, has a disability or chronic condition? If so, this meeting is for you. We will be meeting at Bethany Lutheran Church on every second Thursday of the month starting on August 9th at 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. There is no cost to attend the meeting. Presented by Lutheran Social Services. For more information, contact Julie Praska-Moser, LSS Caregiver Respire Coordinator, at 686-6228.
August Blood Drive
United Blood Services is planning its annual Blood Drive at Bethany for Wednesday, August 29th 1:00 to 6:00 pm. They are seeking volunteers to help with these tasks:
▪ 1-2 people to call donors to invite them in (typically takes place the week prior to the blood drive). Calls are always better received when coming from a local phone number.
▪ 1-2 volunteers to simply sign in donors at the blood drive.
▪ Volunteers to move tables/chairs the night before or morning of the event to provide a quick set up process so the staff start the blood drive on time.
If you are able to help out, please contact Katie Bartelson at 701-365-8928 or talk to Pastor Graff. To get an appointment to donate during the drive, visit bloodhero.com.
Benevolence 2018
▪ January - $500 to Fosston Christian Radio, $500 to “Sat 7” a Middle East radio station
▪ February - $1000 to Care and Share Shelter
▪ March - $1000 to Bethany Youth Group, National ELCA Gathering
▪ April - $1000 to Lutheran Disaster Relief, aid for Syria
▪ May - $1000 to Northwest Minnesota Synod
▪ June - $500 to Seminary Scholarship; $500 to National ELCA Youth Gathering Special Offering
Compassionate Friends, a support group for parents grieving the loss of a child, will have a “walk of remembrance” on August 12th at 5:00pm. There will be a time for remembering, a short message, and a balloon release in memory of departed loved ones. A potluck picnic will follow. The public is invited to participate. Look for the gathering in the shelter at Sportsman's Park.
Midweek Worship
There will be no Wednesday evening worship during the months of June, July, and August. We resume Wednesday evening worship in September.
Women of Bethany
The next meeting of WELCA is Wednesday, August 15th. The board will meet at 6:30pm with the general meeting at 7:00pm. Open to all confirmed women of Bethany. Feel free to join us!
Sunday School Teachers Needed
Fall is just around the corner and we will once again be looking for several volunteers to teach Sunday School classes for preschool through 8th grade. It's nice to have a list of potential substitutes too, so if you aren't able to commit to teaching on a regular basis, ask to join our substitute list. If you are interested in helping in this capacity, please contact us at 253-2589 or bethanylutheranrlf (at) gmail.com.
Caregiver Discussion Group
Do you provide the primary care for a family who is elderly, has a disability or chronic condition? If so, this meeting is for you. We will be meeting at Bethany Lutheran Church on every second Thursday of the month starting on August 9th at 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. There is no cost to attend the meeting. Presented by Lutheran Social Services. For more information, contact Julie Praska-Moser, LSS Caregiver Respire Coordinator, at 686-6228.
August Blood Drive
United Blood Services is planning its annual Blood Drive at Bethany for Wednesday, August 29th 1:00 to 6:00 pm. They are seeking volunteers to help with these tasks:
▪ 1-2 people to call donors to invite them in (typically takes place the week prior to the blood drive). Calls are always better received when coming from a local phone number.
▪ 1-2 volunteers to simply sign in donors at the blood drive.
▪ Volunteers to move tables/chairs the night before or morning of the event to provide a quick set up process so the staff start the blood drive on time.
If you are able to help out, please contact Katie Bartelson at 701-365-8928 or talk to Pastor Graff. To get an appointment to donate during the drive, visit bloodhero.com.
Benevolence 2018
▪ January - $500 to Fosston Christian Radio, $500 to “Sat 7” a Middle East radio station
▪ February - $1000 to Care and Share Shelter
▪ March - $1000 to Bethany Youth Group, National ELCA Gathering
▪ April - $1000 to Lutheran Disaster Relief, aid for Syria
▪ May - $1000 to Northwest Minnesota Synod
▪ June - $500 to Seminary Scholarship; $500 to National ELCA Youth Gathering Special Offering
Electronic Newsletter
Want this newsletter sent to you via email? Zap us an email stating so at bethanylutheranrlf (at) gmail.com.
Please include the above address in your email address book or your spam filter will automatically “bump” our mailings into your garbage folder.
Want this newsletter sent to you via email? Zap us an email stating so at bethanylutheranrlf (at) gmail.com.
Please include the above address in your email address book or your spam filter will automatically “bump” our mailings into your garbage folder.
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