Happy New Year Bethesda!I am eager to face this new year with you, and to learn with you more of who God

is, and where He is moving, and how we can join Him in it! This is the season where we have our annual meeting, set renewed sights of vision on the path ahead. It also must be a time where we humbly pray; pray together; pray with our eyes wide open through the day discerning the leadings and opportunities and directions where God is sending us individually and as a church. We will of course be seeking and praying with you as we listen further to God and His people concerning facility needs serv-ing our mission which the church has identified and still exist. We will be called to a Lenten season of prayer and fasting on behalf of the Fulbe people as we plead with God for His Gospel to reach them, for a church to be planted among them, to pray against the spiritual opposition standing in the way, to pray for us to perceive again where and how God is moving in all this, and to pray for missionary witnesses to be raised up and sent.

Also, I am also enthused to call the church to a new 8-week discipleship course on how the Gospel changes everthing. Starting on Sunday, January 27th and for the seven Sundays following just prior to Palm Sunday and Easter, you are requested to join in an integrated sermon teaching series, personal study, and LIFEgroup engage-ment of a study authored by Tim Keller called ‘Gospel in Life’. Its core purpose is to lead people beyond our ‘signing-off’ on the Gospel as a matter of principle or cere-bral belief, to see how grace changes everything. Focus on our city, the centrality of the heart, the need to live by grace, the significance of idolatry, the importance of cul-tural engagement, the role of work in mission, the integration of social involvement, etc. This discipleship course will lead us to consider, soul-search, change how we respond to the Gospel activated in our own hearts, how that impacts our relationships in Christian community, and then how it releases us and propels us to impact our world with the love and truth of Christ. (You can see how well this will fit Bethesda’s C3 vision!)

Weekly themes will be:Jan 27: City – The World That IsFeb 3: Heart – Three Ways to LiveFeb 10: Idolatry – The Sin BeneathFeb 17: Community – The Context for ChangeFeb 24: Witness – An Alternate CityMar 3: Work – Cultivating the GardenMar 10: Justice – A People for OthersMar 17: Eternity – The World That Is To Come

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CONTENTSTouched Twice 2–3

Stephen Ministry 4

Women’s Ministries 5

Men’s Ministries 5

Bethesda World Missions 6

News from Camp 7

Children’s Ministries 8

Youth Ministries 9

LIFEgroups 10

Adult Bible Fellowships 11

Crossroads 11

Sunday Service Schedule

Sanctuary9:00 am – Traditional 10:30 am – Contemporary

Walker Hall10:30 am – Eleeo

(Modern Worship)

Worship Schedule!

Jan./Feb. 2013

WWW.BETHESDALUTHERAN.ORG

NEWSBethesdaLutheran Brethren ChurCh

Continued on Page 12

Grace Changes Everything

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Our next Touched Twice Clinic will be Saturday, April 20, 2013. Unfortunately after next year’s clinic we will be losing 5 coordinators. It would be great if we could get people to fill these coordinator positions now because then you can work with the current coordinator this year through next year’s clinic. It will be great training for you to work with these 5 great women and you will learn all you need to know regarding these areas. In all of these areas we have a list of volunteers from previous years to contact. We have been very blessed with volunteers returning year after year to serve this vital ministry so this makes your recruiting lots easier. We will be in need of:

Dental Coordinator — You would recruit a team of dental volunteers who will staff this area on clinic day. We al-ready have several signed on so not too many to recruit if any. You would coordinate this area. Sherri Russell is your contact.

Medical Coordinator — You would recruit a team of medi-cal volunteers such as doctors and nurses who will staff the medical services area on clinic day. You would also solicit donations of medical supplies and determine the flow of care on clinic day. Karen Peikert is your con-tact.

Optical Coordinator — You would recruit eye care profes-sionals to provide eye-care; seek donations for equip-ment, supplies and eye glasses. Karen Peikert is your contact.

Registration Coordinator — Early on clinic day you would be in charge with your team, of welcoming the guests and registering them and matching them up with the Advocates. You would be in charge of collecting the Guest and Volunteer Registration Forms and turning them in to the Clinic Coordinator. Sue Derfus is your contact.

Clothes Coordinator — You would be in charge of collect-ing and organizing along with your team all of the do-nated clothing. Brittney Malone is your contact.

We are also in need of one Gatekeeper Coordinator. We have one in place already but would like to find a co-coor-dinator. You would be in charge of recruiting and training the Gatekeepers who are the appointment schedulers for the individual service areas.

Remember we have these areas very well organized al-ready and so many things are in place for volunteers and supplies.

For more information about these areas, you can contact Karen Biel, Clinic Coordinator, at ckbiel@gmail.com or call 715-577-6865. You can also contact the current coordi-nators in these areas for more information. Medical and Op-tical Coordinator, Karen Peikert; Dental Coordinator, Sheri Russell; Registration Coordinator, Sue Derfus and Clothing Coordinator, Brittney Malone.

“Teacher, what is the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied: “‘Love The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

—Matt. 22:36–39

“And who is my neighbor?”

—Luke 10:29

Sunday, February 3, 2013 will be our launch of our 2013 Touched Twice Outreach. The purpose for spotlight-ing our Touched Twice Clinic is to bring this very important

service opportunity to the forefront of our hearts and minds. On this Sunday, we would like to have past volunteer sup-port to hand out and collect volunteer sign up sheets and at-tend to information tables. For more information or to help on Sunday February, 3, contact Jodi Flaten at 715-832-8312 or flatenmom@charter.net.

This outreach clinic is a perfect opportunity for this body of believers to make: knowing and growing in CHRIST, belonging and caring in COMMUNITY and serv-ing and sharing His CAUSE a way of life. “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells us in Luke 10: 30-37. Read what He has to say and “bring it to life” on Saturday April 20 when the Touched Twice clinic is held.

Touched Twice Outreach Event, 2013

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Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class will be starting up again on Feb. 3rd at Bethesda.

During this life-changing course, you will learn:• To put together a monthly spending plan that really

works!• The step-by-step process for getting out of debt for

good!• How to set financial goals and really communicate

about money. . . . and much more! Classes will be held every Sunday evening, from 6:00–

7:30 pm, in Room 313. To sign up, please contact Carol Cox at 715-861-4495, or c7w6c2200@charter.net

Below is an article from River Oaks Community Church, St. Augustine. I attend this church when I am in Florida. When I read this article written by our pastor here, Da-vid Posey, I couldn’t help but think of Touched Twice and what is meant to be accomplished with this ministry. We are called to help and love those in need and welcome them into our family. It is what Jesus would do and what He calls us to do. This is what we are to do daily, not just one time a year with a certain ministry. When we do this we are truly modeling Jesus.

Karen Biel

Mercy Matters is a ministry of River Oaks Community Church, St. Augustine, Florida that grew out of our study of the book of James. As we worked our way through the verses of that New Testament letter, it became very clear to our family that mercy matters to God. Those who have received mercy are to show mercy to others. God would have it no other way.

God is a compassionate person. You see this most em-

phatically in the way Jesus is portrayed in the Gospels. Time and again you see Jesus moved with compassion for the bro-ken world he entered. He not only took in the needy world through his eyes and ears, he also took it into his heart. He was touched by the desperation of a fallen world and was moved into action.

In addition to preaching the good news of God’s salva-tion, he was also very active in meeting the physical needs of those he encountered. The Gospels are full of stories that describe Jesus healing people of various diseases and pro-viding food for the hungry. He clearly was not indifferent to the physical condition of people. On the contrary, he felt for people and did something to help them.

As the body of Jesus in this world, we too must feel for the needs of people all around us. We cannot allow our hearts to be hardened so that we do nothing. Love, compas-sion, mercy, and goodness must drive us to be a people who care for the helpless.

Of all people, we should be the ones who give our re-sources to provide food, clothing, shelter, and medicine to those who are most needy in our community and in the world. In this regard, we cannot just care for our own who are inside the church. God himself is good to both the just and the unjust. To be like him, we must show compassion to those outside the church. When we do we are partnering with God to make him known in very practical ways among those who suffer. This is simply “the gospel in action”. To be fully invested in God’s mission we must serve people with the compassion of God.

We will begin collecting donation items for Touched Twice in February. So start rummaging through your clos-ets! This year we are collecting ONLY the following: baby items, toys, appropriate books/movies, as well as clothing and shoes for men, women and children. NO: electron-ics, kitchen items, linens, bedding, decorations, furniture! Please donate them to Hope Gospel Mission instead. Thank you!

If you are interested in helping with the clothing area, contact Brittney Malone at 715-878-4366 or malone.brittney@gmail.com. We will need volunteers for sorting and organizing the donations we collect during the week of April 14-19th.

Item and Clothing Donations for Touched Twice, 2013

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Between now and January 31, 2013 there is the oppor-tunity for those in our Bethesda family who took a man-datory distribution from their IRAs in December of 2012 because they were at least 70½ years old to convert some or all of that distribution (up to $100,000) into a nontax-able charitable rollover by making a gift to Bethesda or the CLBA before January 31, 2013, then notifying us of the de-tails so we can send a letter to them upon receipt of the gift which they can file with their tax returns for 2012. Here is a brief summary of the new tax law which went into effect on January 1, 2013:

New IRA Charitable Rollover LawSince 2006, IRA owners age 70½ and older have been

able to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) up to $100,000 each year. ATRA extends and expands this option for 2012 and 2013. There are three categories of potential donors.

First, some individuals in 2012 made QCDs directly from their IRA custodian to charities with the hope that the law would be retroactive. These QCDs are qualified retro-active to January 1, 2012. Second, individuals who did not make a QCD in 2012 can do so during January of 2013. This is similar to 2011, when it was possible to do a QCD for the

prior year in January and a second QCD in the remaining 11 months of the year. If an individual has not made a QCD in 2012, this allows a generous person to make two $100,000 QCDs in 2013.

Third, many individuals had hoped to do a QCD in 2012, but in December of 2012 received their IRA required minimum distribution (RMD). If these individuals transfer those funds to charity during January of 2013, they will not report the IRA distribution as income. Effectively, the December 2012 RMD is converted to a January QCD that qualifies for 2012.

Donors who have taken an RMD in December will be able to make a cash gift in January to the charity. The charity will want to send the donor a letter of confirmation that the donor is electing the QCD. This is a superb opportunity to receive cash gifts this January. The opportunity will termi-nate on January 31, 2013, so it is crucial to move quickly.

There may be some of you who would much prefer to have done a rollover than receive a mandatory distribution but could not do it until now because Congress didn’t ex-tend the law until January 1.

If you have any questions, you are welcome to con-tact Roy T. Heggland, Associate for Biblical Stewardship at Church of the Lutheran Brethren. 218-739-3336.

For some people, Valentine’s Day is a painful reminder of a broken relationship, the death of a loved one, a recent relocation, a chronic illness, or another life challenge. If you are going through a difficult time, our Stephen Ministers can bring Jesus’ love (God’s “ultimate Valentine”) back into your life. Stephen Ministers provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care. They will meet with you privately on a weekly basis to listen, support and encour-age you, to pray with and for you, and to walk with you for the duration of your struggle.

To find out more about Stephen Ministry and how you or someone you know could be matched with a Stephen Minis-ter, talk with Judy Draper at 715-831-0189 or Paul & JoDea Green at 715-839-9468. Our Stephen Ministers are ready to care for you!

During the month of January & February our Stephen Ministers will be studying about death & dying.

Stephen Ministry

Sometimes Valentine’s Day Isn’t Happy

IRA Charitable Rollover Opportunity

Salsa(Salt and Light Single Adults)

Connect and Fellowship with other Single Adults(30s–50s+)

This small group is designed to provide Christian fel-lowship and the opportunity to experience community with other Bethesda single adults.

Join us Sunday January 13: Noon until 2:00 pm in the Fireside Room at Bethesda (Door 2 entrance, 1st room on left). We will enjoy lunch (provided) followed by games

Feel free to bring a favorite board game or Xbox/Kinect game

Any questions about SALSA, or to be added to the SALSA email group please contact: Carin at carin-rae@ho-tmail.com or Mary at mary.robinson@ahss.org

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Ladies Christmas Tea 2012What an amazing event! If you missed it, mark you cal-

endar for next year’s event on Saturday December 7, 2013. Karen Ratering took on the role of chair for this event with many new components. The committee that worked with Karen to put this together was comprised of Jenny Pangman, DeAnne Swenson, Beth Dietsche and Holly Hermann.

Women were invited to host a table, setting and deco-rating it as the creative juices lead them. The room was set for 300, with tables of 8, 10 and 12. All tables were hosted, and all tickets sold. The theme was “I Have Seen The Light” chosen from a song from a musical entitled “We Beheld His Glory”. The doors opened at 9:30 AM for the women to get a cup of tea and roam the room taking in all the beauty that had been created on each of the 34 tables.

Attendees were given three tickets to vote on their favorite table décor. They could put all three at one table or vote for 3 separate tables. The top three were Keri Baggs (Holly Her-mann’s daughter), Mary Ann Holman and Ellen Cedarblade.

From the moment the doors opened the room was abuzz with laughter, hugs, conversations and oohs and ahhhs. The emcee, Jodie Flatten and had a challenge getting the wom-en to give up their viewing time to be seated to start the rest of the event. A full buffet of egg bakes, sausage, cin-namon rolls and cherry fluff was served, with holiday treats brought to each table at the end.

A trio comprised of Holly Hermann along with her daughter Keri Baggs and her sister Robin Michelsen com-menced the program portion. They sang the song titled the same as the event, “I Have Seen The Light”. The song was followed with guest speaker Melissa Pearce from Enduring Hope Ministries. She delivered an amazing message that touched our hearts and that all enjoyed. The event ended with singing of traditional Christmas carols.

If you would like to be a part of the planning committee for next year let the Women’s Committee know. Pictures of most of the tables are available on the website along with the recipes from the buffet. If you have any pictures to add, please get them to Holly Hermann.

Cedarcreek Community Church in Eau Claire is host-ing live webcast of a National Men’s Conference this Feb-ruary 2nd. No Regrets Men’s Conference is in its 20th year and is going to be hosted at over 150 satellite venues. This event is open to anyone and everyone who can make it.

February 2nd 8:30 am–4:00 pmCedarcreek Community Church3520 Eastwind Drive, Eau Claire

No Regrets:This is the 20th anniversary of No Regrets. It started as

a small group of men in Sheboygan, WI that wanted to get together and spend a day investing in their individual rela-tionships with Christ. It was a big success, and the next year they moved the event to Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, WI where it has been ever since. Over 3500 men meet each year at Elmbrook and last year 50 sites hosted the event via live web cast. This year that has expanded to 150 live web casts of the event all over the United States.

It will be a day filled with corporate worship, powerful messages centered around Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renew-ing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Kenny Luck is the keynote speaker, and he will be de-livering two messages, also James MacDonald, Dan Sea-born, Vince D’Acchioli, and Steve Sonderman will be giv-ing messages as well.

Coffee, hot chocolate, and donuts will be provided in the morning and a meal will be provided on site for lunch. (Please let us know if you have any special dietary needs)

There will also be an 8 week follow up bible study fol-lowing the event: Becoming a Fully-Devoted Follower of Jesus. The exact details of where and when for this are not yet determined.

The cost for the event is $15 This includes lunch on site. To register, call 715.835.2790 or online @ www.ccreek.org/no-regrets-mens-conference-2/ Event Website: www.menwithnoregrets.org. There are only 250 ticket available tickets are on sale now!

Women’s Ministries Men’s Ministries

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Gronseths:

• Praise the Lord for the arrival of John and Betsy’s first grandchild, Caleb, born to Anna and Peter.

• Praise the Lord for Betsy’s opportunity to spend part of November and all of December in the United States with family. She will return early in January.

• Praise the Lord for all that He is doing in the lives of the Coffee House staff and customers.

• Pray for their co-workers, the Thomases, who recently adopted a daughter, Jenna. She has heart problems and will have open heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic in the near future.

• Pray for John, who is managing the Coffee House without Betsy’s and the Thomases’ assistance at a very busy time of the year. He needs strength, wisdom, and encouragement.

Wiles: • Praise the Lord for the unsolicited encouragement that John

and Kathryn have received lately from those to whom they minister!

• Pray for John and Kathryn as they are in Chad and France from December 31st-January 10th. They’ll visit Paul and Teresa Szobody and family in Chad. They will also stop in France to see several missionary children and families, including Nathanael and Carrie Szobody, who are in language school.

• Pray for John as he speaks at Bethesda’s Mission Conference on January 20th.

• Pray for John and Kathryn as they spend time in Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan in February, providing pastoral care, speaking, and visiting with missionaries.

Contruccis: • Pray for Kent as he makes plans to connect with MAF base

staff in various parts of the world in 2013.

Wiebes:

• Pray for Brent, Sandi, and family as they return to PNG on January 8th.

• Pray for them as they finish up their 19-year ministry with the Bola people, translate Sunday school materials, record Scriptures for audio use, and consultant check other Bible translations.

• Pray for God’s grace as they keep their commitment to a nearby resort to remove their village house from the resort’s land. Pray that Brent and Sandi’s neighbors will also remove their houses from the resort’s land.

• Praise the Lord for the generous gift from the ladies who attended the Christmas tea.

• Pray that many Bola people’s lives and hearts will be changed as they hear God’s word on the solar powered MP3 players that Bethesda Sunday school students donated last year.

Schroers:

• Pray that all of the final issues that need to be taken care of before Zachary and Alissa can go on Lutheran Brethren International Mission staff in July 2013 will be resolved quickly and without any problems.

• Pray that Zachary and Alissa would stay focused on their current mission here in Eau Claire.

• Pray that the Lord will bless Zachary and Alissa as they prepare to go overseas.

Bethesda World MissionsPraise and Prayer for Bethesda’s Family Around the World

John and Kathryn Wile, who serve with Barnabas In-ternational, will be featured at this year’s Mission Confer-ence at Bethesda. Their specialty, providing pastoral care for missionaries, has taken them all over the world for more than a decade!

The Conference Schedule is as follows: • Wednesday, January 16th, 6:30–7:45 pm, in the

Sanctuary. John and Kathryn will speak to the confir-mation classes, the middle school youth group, and high school small groups about what the lives of mis-sionary kids are like, and about what it is like grow-ing up with missionary parents. Others are welcome to attend!

• Sunday, January 20th, all services. John will speak on the topic “What is a Missionary?”.

• Sunday, January 20th, 12:00 pm. There will be a Pizza Potluck, with salad and desserts in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome! John and Kathryn will be available to answer any questions you might have.

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Auditions: January 14th at 7 p.m. at The State Theater in Eau Claire

Join us in presenting Procula’s Vision—the Passion of Christ 2013. Males and females of all ages are needed: ac-tors, adult choir, children’s choir, soloists, instrumentalists for the orchestra, instrumentalists and worship leader for the praise band, set builders, tech workers, and prayer team. Vocal and stage auditions will be held in the lobby at the State Theatre on January 14 at 7:00 p.m. Choir rehearsals will be held in The Loft of Valleybrook Church, downtown Eau Claire, on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Actor rehearsals will be Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (and possibly a few Mondays or Thursdays) in Eau Claire (location to be an-nounced).

Procula’s Vision will be performed at the State Theater in Eau Claire March 28-29 at 7:30 p.m. and March 29 at 3 p.m.

Whether you sing, act, sew, paint, play an instrument, or work tech, we invite you to join us on this blessed Easter journey!

Questions? Contact Community Arts at 715-877-3510 or contact@sceneandhurd.com Find more information at our website www.SceneandHurd.com

Animals included a bonus!I am available/very flexible to watch your home,

feed your animals, and/or stay on premises while you are away on vacations, etc. Have excellent church refer-ences. Please contact me: 715-861-3257(h) / 507-840-0352 (c)

God Bless,Vicki Bignell

Lots of “Loving” care will be given to your animals. A mutual blessing!

House Sitting Jobs Wanted

As the clock ticked towards midnight, the 2012 sum-mer staff huddled around a campfire on the east bay of In-spiration Point. Anxiously waiting to ring in the New Year, it was incredible to gather in one of the most beautiful spots at camp on a crystal clear night to celebrate what God had done on this tiny peninsula over the past 12 months. Here are some of the highlights of 2012:

• The completion of the Land Reclamation Project…No more sandbags!

• Record breaking summer youth camp attendance, plus new records for Sr. High Winter Weekend, Confirmation Retreat, and Middle School Mania.

• The addition of Winter Family Getaway, Marriage Weekend and a second Sr. High Winter Weekend to our winter line up of retreats!

• The remodel of the new Spruce Hill house and cab-ins.

• IPoint EQUIPS with Dr. Walt Mueller.• The introduction of Octaball as a summer recre-

ation option, which made it to #4 on the top ten summer highlight list.

• Plus the hundreds of lives that were eternally changed by the Gospel through time spent at The Point!

Reflecting on all of the ways that God was at work this past year makes it exciting to look forward to what He has in store for 2013. Will you please consider committing to pray for the ministry of Inspiration Point daily throughout 2013?

The Perfect Family GetawayLooking for an affordable family vacation that is close

to home? Family camps make the perfect summer vaca-tion. Our family camps are reasonably priced and are ALL-inclusive. Whether you are a laid back family looking for a place to relax in the sun at the waterfront or an action packed family looking for rock climbing, Octaball, and ca-noe excursions, we have plenty of activities for the whole family.

• Family Weekend 1 — July 4–7• Family Weekend 2 — July 25–28• Family Weekend 3 — Aug. 1–4Visit http://ipoint.org for more info!

News from:

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Children’s Ministries

ProgramsSunday School Bethesda offers two hours of Sunday School, during the 9:00 am and 10:30 am services.

Wednesday Adventure ClubJr. Adventure Club: (PreK–3rd Grade) 6:30–7:45 pmAdventure Club 4:5: (4th–5th Grade) 6:30–7:45 pm

Dawn RicoChildren’s Ministries Directordawn@bethesdalutheran.org

Karen RateringChildren’s Ministries Assistantk.ratering@sbcglobal.net

Bible Camp!We are offering parent–provided transportation to

the following Inspiration Point Bible camp weeks.• Pioneer 2 (incoming 2nd/3rd graders)

June 23–27• Explorer 2 (incoming 5th/6th graders)

July 14–19Register your child for camp directly through In-

spiration Point (www.ipoint.org)Register for transportation by filling out the required

forms. Packets may be found by the resource room or on our website (Children’s Ministry > Bible Camp).$100 credit towards camp is possible by your child memo-rizing verses. These can be found on our website, also (Children’s Ministry, then Wednesday nights).

Sunday School Mission Focus UpdateThis year’s mission focus for our Sunday School kids

is the Gronseth family, who operate a coffee house in east Asia. Our Sunday School kids have given $539.98 in offer-ing money the 1st semester towards the Gronseth family to be used as they minister to moms and their young children at their coffee house! Way to go kids! Let’s remember the Gronseths and this ministry in our prayers.

If you want to try out serving in Chil-dren’s Ministry we have a couple of possibilities for you! You could be a part-time (every other week) helper in one of our wonderful Kin-dergarten classrooms at 10:30 on Sundays. You could also serve a family that has children with special needs and be a one-on-one helper with these children in the 9:00 3 & 4 year old Sunday school class. Please contact Dawn with questions about these immediate openings!

Children’s CommitteeWe have a very committed group of people who meet

monthly to discuss and plan for our children’s ministries, along with spending time in prayer. They help to hold the staff accountable and are a huge encouragement and support. The committee has spent the past year developing goals based on what we believed God wants us to focus on this coming year or two. The four goals consist of helping parents to spend time in the Word with their children, establishing a method for tracking attendance to allow for consistent follow-up with families, figuring out how to support Life Groups, and plac-ing an emphasis on our Wednesday night programming. As we head into 2013 we are excited for all God has in store for the children and their families of Bethesda. The committee’s prayer is that these families will be strengthened in their faith and invite others along in the journey!

The dates for this year’s Vacation Bible School will be the week of June 17–21. We do not have a curriculum picked out yet but hope to soon! We’d love to have you join us in serving at this year’s VBS. Please contact Dawn or Karen if you are interested in leading or serving in one of many areas: guides/helpers, crafts, snacks, registration, nursery, playground, skit, music, decorating, etc. Talk to anyone who was involved last year — it’s a rewarding week of bringing the gospel message to the next generation.

Watch for more information in the coming months!

VBS Dates set for 2013 Children’s Ministry Opportunities

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Youth Ministries

High School CalendarSunday, Jan. 13 — ONE23: Rodney & Helen

VenbergWednesday, Jan. 16 — John & Kathryn Wile

(6:30pm Sanctuary)Sunday, Jan. 20 — ONE23: “End of the

Spear”Sunday, Jan. 27 — ONE23: Zachary &

Alyssa SchroerSunday, Feb. 3 — SuperBowl Party!

5–10pmSunday, Feb. 10 — ONE23: “UTurn”Fri–Sun Feb. 15–17 — Winter Camp!Sunday, Feb. 17 — NO ONE23Sunday, Feb. 24 — ONE23 “Yield”

Youth Ministries ONE23 High School Youth Group, Sundays at 7:00 pm

The Bridge Middle School Youth Group, Wednesdays at 6:30 pm

Chad ShifferDirector of Youth Ministireschad@bethesdalutheran.org

Todd WaldieMiddle School Youth Directortodd@bethesdalutheran.org

Our annual weekend getaway to Camp Forest Springs is coming up soon! It’s Feb 15-17 and will be loads of fun as always There will be opportunities to tube, skate, snow-shoe, broomball, ski/snowboard (costs extra), play games, hang out with friends, and learn! Our speaker this year is Eau Claire native and FCA leader Andy Draper! We’ll be praising God with the HS worship teams plus have a special worship set led by the dynamic duo of Jonny and Nick! Cost is $120 due by Feb 10. See Chad for more details.

“Go, love, and serve” This is what it’s all about, being obedient to God and following Jesus example. Our mission trips this coming summer will help us accomplish those things! We’ve got 2 great mission trips and a youth conference planned: July 13–22 a team will be travelling to Rockaway, New York to help Next Step Ministries with Superstorm Sandy cleanup/rebuild; July 21–30 a team will travel to Denver, CO to experience a week of urban ministry training and serving with Mission Denver; and July 30–Aug 2 a combined group of MS and HSers will be attending YC13, the biannual youth convention of the Lutheran Brethren, in Estes Park, CO. Please see Chad or Todd for more info.

We’re taking the month of January to focus on missions at our Sunday night gathering of high schoolers (ONE23). We’ve got special guest speakers Rodney & Helen Venberg and Zachary & Alyssa Schroer talking to us about mission experiences and purposes, and we’ll be watching and dis-cussing the film “End of the Spear” which chronicles the journey of Micayani, from the Wadoni tribe in Ecuador, who was involved in the killing of 5 missionaries including Jim Elliot and Nate Saint. Then in February we’ll continue our “Signs” series, discussing what it means to “U-Turn” and why we should “Yield.”

WINTER CAMP 2013 Summer Trips

Middle School Calendar

Wednesday, Jan. 16 — John & Kathryn Wile (6:30pm Sanctuary)

Wednesday, Jan. 23 — Who is Jesus? (Pt. 1)Wednesday, Jan. 30 — Who is Jesus? (Pt. 2)Fri–Sun Feb. 15–17 — Winter Camp!

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LiFEgroups LEARNFROM GOD’S WORD

APPLYIT TO LIFE

CONNECTWITH ONE ANOTHER

MondaysGroup Demographic: Men’s Bible StudyMeeting Location: Bethesda, Fireside RoomMeeting Time: Mondays, �:�0 am–�:�� amContact: Mark Miller, �1�-���-����

Group Demographic: Older AdultsMeeting Location: Bethesda, Fireside RoomMeeting Time: Every other Monday, 1:00 pmContact: Jerry and Louise Kooiker, �1�-���-01��

Group Name: Solid Rock Café —WomenMeeting Location: Bethesda, Rooms �11 & �1�Meeting Time: Mondays, �:�0 pm–�:00 pmContact: Jane Louden, �1�-���-�0��

Group Name: Empty NestersMeeting Location: Bethesda, Fireside RoomMeeting Time: 1st and �rd Mondays, �:00 pm–�:00 pmContact: Brian and Janet Amundson, �1�-���-0��1

TuesdaysGroup Name: Rachel Bible Study — WomenMeeting Location: Bethesda, Fireside Room, 1:00 pmNext Meetings: November �th, December �thContact: Louise Koxlien, �1�-���-����Current Topic/Curriculum: “Life Lessons from Joshua”

Group Name: Solid Rock Café —WomenMeeting Location: Bethesda, Room �1�BMeeting Time: Tuesdays, �:1� pm–�:�� pmContact: Sue Hennemann, �1�-���-1���

Group Demographic: MenMeeting Location: Bethesda, Room �0�Meeting Time: Tuesdays, �:�0 pm–�:�0 pmContact: David Verhaagh, �1�-���-�1��

WednesdaysGroup Demographic: WomenMeeting Location: Bethesda Fireside RoomMeeting Time: Wednesdays, �:00 am –11:�0 pmContact: Vicki Tjelta, vickitj@charter.net Current Topic/Curriculum: Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything, by Timothy Keller

Group Name: Common Ground Group Demographic: Singles, Couples w/school-age kidsMeeting Location: Bethesda, Room �0�aMeeting Time: Wednesdays, �:00 pm–�:00 pmContact: Jay and Andrea Anderson, �1�-���-����

Group Name: Wednesday Night Bible StudyMeeting Location: Bethesda, Room �11Meeting Time: Wednesdays, �:00 pm–�:00 pmContact: Pastor Venberg, �1�-��1-��0�

ThursdaysGroup Demographic: WomenMeeting Location: Bethesda Library (�0�)Meeting Time: Thursdays, �:�0 pmContact: Dawn Rico, dawn@bethesdalutheran.org

FridaysGroup Name: Men’s Bible StudyMeeting Location: Bethesda Room �0�Meeting Time: Fridays, �:�0 am–�:�0 amContact: Nathan Dietsche, �1�-���-��01

Group Name: Rise Up! —WomenMeeting Location: Bethesda, Fireside Room, beginning

Sept. 1�thContact: Jackie Vold, �1�-���-����Current Topic/Curriculum: Life Changes Bible Study on

the Book of Romans

Group Name: Circle of Friends —WomenMeeting Location: BethesdaMeeting Time: Fridays, �:1� amContact: Mandy Heard, �1�-���-����

LIFEgroups are small groups of people who meet regu-larly to grow in their relationship with Christ, discuss how their faith intersects with their daily lives in caring commu-nity, and encourage one another as they find ways to serve Jesus’ cause.

The goal and purpose of our LIFEgroups is spiritual and personal growth in Christ. We are confident that par-ticipants and leaders alike will be transformed, as we learn and process together, serve together, pray together, and support each other in our journeys with Christ.

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Adult Bible Fellowships (ABFs) are small groups within our larger church community. We are committed to deepening our relationships, as well as growing new relationships. ABFs meet during one of our two worship hours. We invite you to spend part of your Sunday morning in worship, and then gather with others in an ABF setting

for fellowship and to help you grow in your relationships to God and with each other.

Bethesda has a number of ABFs available. Although ABF goals are similar, each group has its own identity. Though contact names are listed, groups are open, and anyone is encouraged to just “drop in.”

Sundays • 9:00 amBranches

Room 204c (Fellowship Hall), Ages 30-60Contact: Deb Hubbell at 715-839-0594 or dahshop@yahoo.com

SojournersRoom 305, Ages 30–50

Contact: Allen or Jeanne Sternke at 715-597-3526 or jeannesternke@yahoo.com

To Be DeterminedFireside Room, 20s–40s

Contact: Mike and Alissa Amundson, mna95@hotmail.com

Sundays • 10:30 amKingfolk

Room 204c (Fellowship Hall)Retired, or nearing retirement

Contact: Augie Wirkus, 715-831-0460

Seekers of GodFireside Room, Room 102

Retired, nearing retirementContact: Beth Smith, 715-875-4553, or Dennis and Diane Peterson, 715-839-8648.

Bible StudyRoom 305, All ages!

New Session of Crossroads, Starting Jan. 16thCrossroads, our Wednesday night series for

adults, will return Wednesday, January 16th. Cross-roads meets from 6:30–7:45pm in room 201, fol-lowing the Wednesday night meal.

Our new 4-week series is, “Why Jesus?” and uses video and discussion to help seekers and be-lievers understand more about who Jesus is and how he matters in our lives. Join us, and invite a friend!Session Topics:Jan. 16th: What’s the Big Deal about Jesus?Jan. 23rd: Was Jesus God, or Just a Good Man?Jan 30th: Were Jesus’ Miracles Just an Illusion?Feb. 6th: Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?

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BethesdaLutheran Brethren ChurCh

123 W. Hamilton AvenueEau Claire, WI 54701715-835-5073www.bethesdalutheran.org

C3Christ … Community … Cause

A vision for clarifying who we believe God is leading us to become.

‘Gospel in Life’ holds promise of being profoundly transformative in the disciple-making of our church! It will also be a relevant compelling series for a friend consider-ing Christ. Please pray about whom you might include in a LIFEgroup or our Sunday worship.

I encourage you — I urge you to join a LIFEgroup, or to consider forming a new one. There are excellent resources for the groups. The study guides are thorough, engaging, and sol-idly biblical, leading people in personal study of key scriptures. There are solid group facilitator helps in the back of the study guide. Each LIFEgroup session will be further invigorated by a brief 10 minute video teaching segment by Tim Keller. The ser-mons preached on Sunday mornings will be Bethesda’s own, but will dovetail with the themes from week to week.

Study guides may be purchased for $8 in the church foyer and at a table outside the gym. Please sign up for a LIFEgroup at the LG registration table. Call or email Pastor Brian if you have ideas or questions about launching new LIFEgroups

I look forward to this opportunity together and to 2013 being a year where Bethesda grows closer to God, to each other, and is more effective as His presence in our world.

—Pastor Paul

PS: For a brief 2-minute trailer introducing Gospel in Life, go to http://vimeo.com/9330463

Grace Changes Everything Cont. from Page 1 Desire an even better marriage?

FamilyLife “Weekend to Remember” marriage getaway weekends will be held this spring in Minneapolis (March 8–10) and Rochester (March 22–24). These weekends are for all married couples who wish to reconnect with one an-other and rejuvenate and strengthen their marriage. Many Bethesda couples have attended these weekends and highly recommend them.

Please check out the following for more information:• FamilyLife.com • 1-800-FL-TODAY (1-800-358-6329)