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Youth Resources
Hello Everybody,
I have been scrambling to keep up with what is going on and trying to figure out how to do Sunday School and Confirmation over the internet. For right now, I have a couple of resources that I would like to share with you.
The first is two "Talk Sheet" lessons for 5th - 8th grade youth. These simple lessons can be done in about ten to fifteen minutes (or longer if the spirit leads!). I would suggest down loading and printing the lesson and instructions, having a Bible and pencil ready, and then going through the lesson with your youngster. You can take as much time and answer as many questions as you feel will be helpful.
One lesson is about using your free time wisely "Footloose". The other lesson is about worship "Looking Up". Both of these might be helpful in our present context. You can do them at any time you wish and in any setting. Use the instructions to get you going. I included two of these talk sheets so that if one doesn't work well you can use the other, or use them both if you have the time! I'm hoping this will work for ages 5th - 8th grade. For confirmation kids, these will count for one Sunday school class session each. Let me know when they are completed and how well the "Talk Sheets" work.
For confirmation kids I have also attached a "sermon note" which can be downloaded and printed. My Sunday and Wednesday evening Lenten Sermon can be found on our Web site (under News, Pastor's Message). Website address is below. Please collect and keep these as they can be handed in when we are through this.
Our second resource is for younger kids and is a worship bulletin for children. Don't be fooled by its size. There's a surprising amount of content here for younger kids that can be done in one session or scattered throughout the day! Again, let me know how this works.
I love our present confirmation material but it doesn't seem to lend itself very well to copying and sending out. Even the book is written in orange print which scans and copies very poorly. It is also very teacher dependent and will need a lot of work to adapt to the internet and home setting.
These are exhausting times. Take care of yourselves. Watch for emails and more information on our website and Facebook page. In the meantime all activities at Bethany are cancelleduntil further notice.
God's Blessings
Pastor Gary
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Confirmation Lessons and Sermon Notes
Please collect and keep these as they can be handed in when we are through this. 
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Sunday School Lessons for 5th graders and Younger
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| easter-week3.pdf |
| 5th_grade_and_older.pdf |
| 5th_grade_and_olderb.pdf |
Do you like refinishing old furniture?
I've seen people take a beat up old coffee
table, and after a few hours of sanding,
and staining and varnishing, “Viola!”
they have a beautiful new coffee table!
All it took was a little elbow grease and
imagination.
So many things look like junk to the
untrained eye. A crudely painted and
scratched up old coffee table doesn't
look worth saving. “Set it out on the curb
next to the garbage can. Maybe someone
will pick it up for their cabin.” we say.
But then along comes someone who can
see the potential. With a little bit of work
and sacrifice, one woman's trash
becomes another woman's treasure.
In his explanation to the second article of
the creed, Luther wrote in the Small
Catechism,
“Let the fields be
jubilant, and
everything in them;
let all the trees of
the forest sing for
joy.”
Psalm 96:12
“He (Jesus) has redeemed me, a lost and
condemned human being.. not with
silver and gold, but with his holy,
precious blood, and innocent suffering
and death.. that I might be his own and
serve him in everlasting righteousness,
innocence, and blessedness.” (Luther’s
Small Catechism)
Jesus sees the potential in all of us. And
he's not afraid of putting a little “elbow
grease” into our restoration. Maybe
that's why some of us like restoring old
furniture. We're taking after our “life
restoring” God! Have you turned any
“trash” into “treasure” lately? Can you
think of some ways in which Jesus is
“restoring” you?
Evening Online Bible Study
Last month I put out some information
on Facebook concerning an online
evening Bible study. Although there was
some interest in having such a study, the
timing was not good. We will try again
in August when scheduling might be a
little easier. Look for more info in our
August newsletter.
No Computer?
Have you considered buying a used
computer? Right now there are tons of
old desk top machines and portable
laptops for sale for about half the price
of a new one. You might have to ask a
friend to purchase it for you because
most are available only online from
office supply or electronics stores such
as “Best Buy” or “Office Max”. These
machines have been used in stores and
offices but are usually still good for
many years to come. Talk to Pastor for
more info.
Zoom Bible Studies
Looking for some good fellowship and
Bible study? Join the Men's Zoom Bible
Study at 9 am on Thursdays or Women's
Zoom Bible study at 9:00 am onWednesdays. You'll need a
computer capable of running
Windows 10, a “webcam”, and an
internet connection. In August,
putting our some information on an
evening Bible study that anyone
interested in might join. Call or
email Pastor Gary for more
information.
Worship While Pastor is on
Vacation
As I write this monthly newsletter,
I am planning a two week vacation
in the middle of July. The plan for
worship during these Sundays (July
19th and 26th) is to have our
services taped and available on our
church website and Facebook page.
That’s plan “A”. If I can get some
supply preachers to fill in, we will
also have outdoor worship on the
“point” behind the church at 10 am
on those two Sundays. Watch for
emails and regular mail for more
information as we get further into
the month. In the event of rain, we
would have worship via our
Website and Facebook page.
Who to Call
While I'm away on vacation, Pastor
Joy Grainger in Climax Mn has
volunteered to be available for
emergencies. Her number is 218-
857-2215 or email her at
joygrainger@hotmail.com . She is
also good friends with Pastor John
Ahola, chaplain at Altru Hospital
and will arrange for visits with him
for anyone admitted to Altru in
Grand Forks.
Vacation Bible School
Most of the churches in our area
have cancelled Vacation Bible
School this summer. We too will
not be having our regular VBS. We
will however be offering unused
Sunday school materials for
families wishing to do some “in
home” Sunday school lessons with
their children. These are lessons
that were not used in previous years
but have all the material available.
Our board of Ed members have
gone through this material,
arranged in the proper grade order,
and put it on tables in the parish
hall. Parents are invited to stop by,
browse for what they need, and use
these materials at home. There is no
charge for the materials and lots of
materials available. The church will
be open 6-8 pm on Wednesday
evenings and 9-4 pm Tuesday -
Thursday
afternoons
(except
during July 16th - 30th).
Church open for Prayer
Individuals wishing to spend some
time in prayer in our church are
invited to do so Tuesday - Thursday
9-4 and Wednesday evening 6-8
pm (except during July 16th -
30th). Bibles and other devotional
materials can be found on the table
by the north entry. Please sign the
book on the table as well.
Benevolence
In April we donated $1000 to our
Northwestern Minnesota Synod.
In May we donated $1000 to our
local food shelf to aid in outreach to
struggling families in our area.
In June $1000 was donated to
Trinity Lutheran Church in North
Minneapolis. This was donated to
Trinity for the purpose of aiding the
community in rebuilding after the
recent riots.
2
1 – Jim & Bev Gilbertson
3 – Perry & Laurie Duden
8 – Dean & Lorri Ann Hartel
16 – John & Sandy Klein
19 – Fred & Tandra Landman
24 – Tim & Peggy Nord
30 – Jerod & Wanda Olson34
