J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 V O Y A G E U R VOYAGEUR

JANUARY 2013

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VOYAGEUR

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 V O Y A G E U R

From the Pastor’s Desk

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Proverbs 29:18 A few of our church members have had cataracts removed recently, and some express astonishment at seeing

something clearly for the first time in years, like the stop sign down at the end of the road or the detail in a

painting. Vision is not about what is actually in front of us; vision is about seeing or perceiving something

that has been there all along. Vision has to do with how our eyes—or the eyes of our hearts—are attuned to

and able to interpret the reality around us.

“Vision” is part of our faith vocabulary. The Israelites were led by a vision of a guiding, loving creator

through forty years of living in the desert. The “vision” itself was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire

by night. By these, the Israelites navigated a strange and dangerous place in order to reach the Promised Land.

The prophets gave God’s people a vision of God’s displeasure and God’s promise of restoration, especially

when the people were exiled and suffering. They said, “Look at the destruction around you. See what your

unfaithfulness has caused? Return to God and live lives that are good. God will take you back.” Jesus laid out

surprising visions of God’s reign using images of seeds and sowers, vineyard owners and employees, perfect

pearls, wayward children and forgiving fathers.

The biblical witness gives us a glimpse of God’s vision—how things really are and how things are really

meant to be—even when we can’t perceive it. We walk by faith and not by sight, thank God. Or, as Eugene

Peterson puts it in The Message, “It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.”

So here’s the tough question with which I (and perhaps you) have been wrestling, and for which I can’t yet see

a clear answer: What is God’s vision for Bemidji United Methodist Church? What vision of ministry does

God have for us—in this unique place, with the gifts that our gathered people bring—that no other church is

called to do? What is just down the road for this body of Christ?

Dr. Jim Benson, former president of BSU and a seasoned leader of corporate change, has graciously offered

himself and his time to us as a church. On Saturday, January 26, from 10 a.m. to noon, Dr. Benson will

meet with our Church Council and any other interested and engaged persons to get us thinking about our

“vision for the future” as a church. I hope that this will be just the beginning of an ongoing, productive con-

versation about who we are and why we are here! We are going to have opportunities for fresh conversation

about the life of our church and what it might look like in five, ten, and even twenty years.

We need to do this, for the sake of this church and perhaps—more importantly—for the sake of God’s people

beyond our four walls. For the love of God, we grow and we change. Led by Christ, we are shaped into new

people. We walk by faith and not by sight, thank God. Please be praying with me and thinking about where

God’s Spirit is leading you and leading us. And come for the beginning of this joyous journey.

Blessings to you,


ANNOUNCEMENTS, REMINDERS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, DATES,

Regular Church Office Hours

9:00am—3:00pm Mon—Fri

Phone: 218-751-3503

FOR AFTER HOURS

AND EMERGENCIES:

Rev. Gay Albers—766-7352

If you wish for a pastoral home visit or

hospital visit, or know someone

who needs or desires a visit,

please call the church office.

SUNDAY MORNING

WORSHIP SERVICE 10:30 / SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:45

JUST A REMINDER….

Articles for the February 2013

newsletter are due in the office no

later than 8:00am on Friday,

January 25, 2012.

Any announcements you

wish to have in the

Sunday bulletin must be

called in, emailed, or delivered to

the office by noon

on Thursdays.

THANK YOU!

Email Addresses: Church Office, Charity: [email protected]

Pastor Gay: [email protected]

Krista Coyle: [email protected]

Mailing Address: PO Box 607, Bemidji, MN 56619

Street Address: 924 Beltrami Avenue, Bemidji MN 56601

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OFFICE HOURS FOR PASTORAL AVAILABILITY: Tuesdays 1:00—3:00pm,

Wednesdays and Thursdays 10:00am—noon, or by appointment

Bemidji United Methodist Church

Revenue and Expenses by month (not including special offerings)

Jan* Feb* Mar* Apr* May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Totals

Income $30,560 $14,889 $15,810 $21,276 $20,126 $16,823 $19,160 $14,877 $20,702 $27,366 $13,602 $215,191

Expenses $25,407 $19,748 $18,513 $21,131 $22,415 $11,551 $17,320 $18,240 $14,938 $15,842 $16,174 $201,279

*monthly apportionment paid to conference

$500 deducted each month from Apple Blossom Day Care Building Use Income—pass through to missions

JANUARY 2013

924 Beltrami Ave

PO Box 607

Bemidji, MN 56619-0607

Office number (218) 751-3503

[email protected]

Web Site: www.bemidjiumc.com

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BEMIDJI

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

30

9:00 Adult Forum

10:30 Worship Service

31

1

NEW YEAR’S

DAY

OFFICE CLOSED

2

10:00 ROMEOs at

Sanford Health

6:30 Youth Group

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

3

5:00 Soup

Kitchen

4

9:00 Faith and

Fellowship

Noon Peace

Prayer Group

6:30-8:00

Lotus Zen

Meditation

7:30 Square

Dance

5

9:30 Yoga

6

COMMUNION SUNDAY

FOOD SHELF SUNDAY

9:00 Adult Forum


7

1:00 Staff

Meeting

8

Noon and 5:30

Yoga

5:30 AA

6:30 Faith and

Fellowship

6:30 Trustees

Meeting

9

10:00 ROMEOs at

Sanford Health

6:30 Youth Group

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

10

5:00 Soup

Kitchen

6:30 Finance

Meeting

11

6:30-8:00

Lotus Zen

Meditation

12

9:30 Yoga

10:00

Prayer

Shawl Mtg

13

9:00 Adult Forum


CRADLE ROCKING

10:45 Sunday School

11:30 Charge Confer-

ence Meeting and

Potluck

14

1:00 Staff

Meeting

6:00 Relay

For Life Com-

mittee Kick

Off Meeting

15

Noon and 5:30

Yoga

5:30 AA

16

9:15 BMW

10:00 ROMEOs at

Sanford Health

6:30 Youth Group

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

17

5:00 Soup

Kitchen

6:30 SPRC

Meeting

18

6:30-8:00

Lotus Zen

Meditation

7:30 Square

Dance

19

9:30 Yoga

20

9:00 Adult Forum


10:45 Sunday School

11:30 BUMC 101A

21

1:00 Staff

Meeting

6:30 Adult

Cub Scout

Planning

Meeting

22

Noon and 5:30

Yoga

5:30 AA

6:30 Square

Dance Lessons

23

10:00 ROMEOs at

Sanford Health

6:30 Youth Group

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

24

5:00 Soup

Kitchen

6:00 Stamp-

ing Group

25

6:30-8:00

Lotus Zen

Meditation

NEWSLETTER

DEADLINE

26

9:30 Yoga

27

9:00 Adult Forum


10:45 Sunday School

11:30 BUMC 101B

28

1:00 Staff

Meeting

29

Noon and 5:30

Yoga

5:30 AA

6:30 Square

Dance Lessons

30

10:00 ROMEOs at

Sanford Health

7:00 Choir Re-

hearsal

NO YOUTH GROUP

31

5:00 Youth

serving at

Soup Kitchen

1

Noon Peace

Prayer Group

6:30-8:00

Lotus Zen

Meditation

2

9:30 Yoga

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READERS

Worship Service Volunteers January 2013 If you cannot fulfill your Sunday of volunteering please find a replacement and let the

church office (751-3503) know who your replacement is.

January 6

January 13

January 20

January 27

Reader Coordinator Becky Lueben

USHERS and GREETERS

January 6

Dave and Nancy Holles

January 13

LeRoy and Diane Morris

January 20

Lorne and Verna Lofberg

January 27

Marcia Roline and Elizabeth Bellefy

January 6

Victor Mosser and Sandra Kranz

January 13

Carol Larson and Mindy Bowman

January 20

Tony and Carla Nicholson

January 27

Vince and Betty Freborg

January 6

January 13

January 20

January 27

Coffee Servers Coordinator Skippy Larson

COFFEE SERVERS

Usher and Greeter Coordinator: Karren Clark

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NURSERY

January 6

Michelle Crow

January 13

Nellie Kimble

January 20

Dacia Dauner

January 27

Tricia Jessen

Nursery Coordinator Dacia Dauner

COMMUNION STEWARDS: Dahlberg family


JANUARY BIRTHDAYS Please celebrate and pray for these people on their birthdays

January 6

David and Sandra Sterr

JANUARY WEDDING

ANNIVERSARIES

1 Richard Burghart

2 Maggie Dahlberg

Barb Fellman

Verda Murray

Ginger Tibbetts

3 Madisen Malterud

4 Spencer Jessen

5 Trey Johnson

Alice Larkin

Sandra Sterr

7 Shirley Bruers

9 Aaron Fellman

Shayna Fellman

Thomas Lohstreter

11 Madalynn Frenzel

Michelle Seibel

Linda Smith

12 Darlene Schoonover

14 Ardis Gillett

16 Summer Crow

Dana Danielson

If your birthday or anniversary or the birthday or anniversary of a parishioner is missed here,

please call Charity at the office so it will be included in the Sunday bulletin and future Voyageurs.

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17 Dave Danielson

Courtney Frenzel

Kambria Lee

Nick Thompson

18 Linda Bradley

Krista Coyle

Delma Jacobson

19 Kiera White

Virginia Youngdahl

22 Hayden Pirkl

23 Jan Grimm

24 Betty Freborg

25 Barbara Johnson

Cal Mattfield

26 Lillian Douglas

27 Ben Kostamo

Janice Moberg

28 Joey Trego

30 Nicole Lyren

31 Brady Johnson

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS THOSE. . .

… at Sanford Hospital: Walt Scott … at Neilson Place: Henrietta Britton, Trudy Ditty, Howard Blehm, and Ardis Gillett … at Trillium: Nelle May, Marjory Beck … at Windsong: Margaret Skinner, Bill Britton, Will and Jean Leaf, Verona Haluptzok, Wag and Alice Collins, Tom Hill, Eunice Flynn, Marian Blehm … at Birch Haven: Lois Statton, Betty Howard … at Havenwood Care Center: Patty Boyer, Ruth Blackburn … at Goldpine #4: Laura Hays, Dorothy Sathre … at ElderCare: Pearl Mock … at Eagle’s View Foster Home: Robert Ray … at Touch of Home: Don Mook … in nursing care in Staples: Betty Roline (Marcia’s mother in law) … undergoing cancer treatment: Chris Shomenta, Robert Smith … recovering at home: Danny Stowe, Mary Hoody, Hedi Deeter … serving in the military and veterans … those rebuilding their lives after Hurricane Sandy … our country’s leaders and people, that we might be a blessing to all nations … Crystal Whitson … Kris Gebhard, son of Rev. Duane & Jennifer Gebhard, who is in critical condition following a biking accident.


BEMIDJI METHODIST WOMEN

The Bemidji Methodist Women (BMW) will meet at 9:15am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 in the church

lounge. Refreshments will be served.

Our purpose: The BMW shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and experience

freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ, to develop a creative, supportive fellowship, and to ex-

pand the global ministries of the church.

All women of the church are invited to join. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Program—Memories Off the Wall by Jean Slinkman. Guests are asked to bring a favorite memory to

share. Call Jean at 444-4846 if you have questions.

Devotions—Carol Rieke

Meeting—Verna Lofberg, our new president, will conduct a short

meeting

Hostesses—Jean Slinkman and Lois Jessen

BMW Sunday will be April 14, 2013


DO YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE? If so, we need to

know in the office! The Trustees and office staff are reviewing our

key and building use policies, and we need everyone who has a key

–for any part of the church—to let us know in the office so we are

able to keep our records up to date. Please call, email, or stop by!

a big thank you to mike Albrecht FOR SHARING HIS TIME AND

ARTISTRY! MIKE BUILT A BEAUTIFUL CABINET FOR THE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE, WHICH

IS NOW SITTING UNDER THE SIGN-UP BULLETIN BOARD IN THE NARTHEX.

THANK YOU to Mindy Bowman and Minnesota Woods

Products for donating fresh evergreen sprays for our church

building. Thanks, too, to Sandra Sterr, Sandra Robinson, and

Patti Kastella for decorating the sanctuary for this Advent sea-

son. Your gifts are visible signs of your love!

23RD ANNUAL

CRADLE ROCKING CEREMONY

On Sunday, January 13, 2013, we will

hold our 23rd Annual Cradle Rocking

Ceremony. This is an adaptation of a Swedish

custom brought to this country by immigrants

many years ago to celebrate the life of infants

born during the previous year. John and Sandra

Herath donated an antique Swedish cradle for

the rocking ceremony at Bemidji UMC. The

rosemaling on the cradle was hand-painted by

the late Erma Fruetel. Each child is placed in the

cradle and offered a blessing during the worship

service. Please join us for this special occasion of

blessing the youngest in our congregation.


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If you are interested in learning more in general about the United Methodists – our history, tradition,

theology, and social commitments—and about this congregation in particular, join us for BUMC 101.

We will meet twice: Sunday, January 20 and Sunday, January 27 after church

and have a potluck meal and conversation. New folks and those interested in membership are encouraged to

come, though anyone is welcome! Questions? Call Krista at 751-3503.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “UNITED METHODIST”?

What do Methodists believe? What are our commitments as a

family of faith? Who are the Bemidji United Methodists?

CHARGE CONFERENCE IS: AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE

MINISTRIES OF THE PAST YEAR AND TO LOOK FORWARD WITH JOY AND HOPE!

January 13, 2013

On Sunday, January 13, we will share a meal after church and have our annual church

meeting and charge conference. A charge conference is the annual meeting to account for

our ministries here at BUMC as well as to tend to the business of the church. Members will

vote on proposed membership changes (additions, removals, and members whose re-

involvement we seek), elect leadership for the church for the coming year, as proposed by

the Nominations/Lay Leadership Committee, and receive the reports of local and certified

lay speakers. We will lift up and celebrate the ways in which God is moving among us!

We will also receive reports from the various committees and ministries of the church.

Your presence as a member is very important. Come for the potluck and fellowship and

stay to share in the ministry that God has blessed us with.

Starting this month, we are asking families to

volunteer to serve communion. And we

mean “families” in the broadest sense: your

family might be mom and dad and two kids,

or three widows who are dear old friends, or

house-mates, or two single parents and their

kids! If you don’t have biological family or

chosen family here, we can team you up with

someone. “Families” may buy or bake bread

together, cut and prepare it, and have option of serving the sacraments together in worship on a First

Sunday. When we break bread, we share in the Body of Christ and are fed by God’s love. Our worship

liturgy calls the bread and the cup “the gifts of God for the people of God.” Consider doing this with

people you love! For more information, call Pastor Gay or Krista at 751-3503.

breaking

bread

BUMC’s Youth and Families accomplished so much in 2012 and did many fun things. But we also experienced many changes in 2012... Some changes are fun and exciting, but many changes are challenging to accept and difficult to adjust to. The saying “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end” comes to mind for this New Year. The celebration of the beginning of a New Year is a reminder that we are able to cast off the old, ineffective, or undesired aspects of our lives. The New Year is a perfect time to evaluate priorities and make big or small adjustments in order to live out our true

values and be good stewards of God’s peace and love. What do you and your family value? What does it mean to live out true peace and love? How did that look in 2012, and how would you like it to look this year? What would you like to see change or grow at BUMC this year? What are you most looking forward to for this New Year?

There is so much to look forward to in 2013! We have new and traditional events already in the works—but one of the most exciting things BUMC is planning is an visioning process set to begin in January! YAEC and Youth Group will have a chance to participate in their own visioning processes, and the ideas we come up with will be brought to the table for the entire church to hear about, discuss, and incorporate in to the overall vision of where we’re headed as a church community. Start thinking creatively and share your vision!

Looking Back...

Looking Forward...

Youth & Family News January 2013

UPCOMING EVENTS

Youth Group Visioning Process Wed Jan 16

Youth Group Soup Kitchen Service Thurs Jan 31

Annual Chili Take-Out Fundraiser Orders Beginning Sun Jan 20

BUMC Youth Group Buena Vista Tubing Trip & Lock-In (Date TBA)

WANTED: SSS

The BUMC Youth and Education Committee (YAEC) is searching for a Sunday School Superintendent. This role sounds huge but in reality is fairly simple. The position could be shared between two people, and its major duties include collection and counting of Sunday School (SS) offering, acting as SS and YAEC liaison, keeping tabs on SS supplies, and tracking SS attendance. The time commitment would be the first part of SS each Sunday during the school year, and again, could be split into two roles, so the volunteer need only commit to every other Sunday from Sept to May. Thank you for consider-ing this very important ministry role! BUMC could not function without its awesome volunteers!

924 Beltrami Ave PO Box 607 Bemidji, MN 56619-0607

B E M I D J I U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

open hearts open minds open doors

The people of the United Methodist Church

Office number (218) 751-3503 [email protected] Web Site: www.bemidjiumc.com

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit Number 8

Bemidji MN 56601

Return Service Requested

JANUARY 2013 VOYAGEUR

Published Monthly

Church Staff Gay Albers Pastor Krista Coyle Ministries Coordinator Charity Yoder-Smith Secretary/Bookkeeper Perry Schack Caretaker/Custodian Cynthia White Organist Linda Wagner Chancel Choir Director Virginia Youngdahl Parish Nurse

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3 V O Y A G E U R VOYAGEUR

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