NOVEMBER 2018 Volume #566

Sundays at Bethel 8:30 a.m. Worship

9:30 a.m. Coffee Fellowship

9:45 a.m. Sunday School and Bethel U

10:45 a.m. Worship

Th

e

In this issue… Adult Ed ............................ 14 Alt. Giving Fair ................. 5 BeFrienders ......................... 8 Bethel History ................... 4 Bethel U ............................... 8 Bistro .................................... 5 Calendar ............................ 15 Children ............................. 6 Council ............................... 13 Creation Care .................... 2 Feed My Starving Children . 4 Finance .............................. 10 Library................................. 2 Mission & Justice ................ 5 Mission Interp. .................... 7 News .................................... 5 Nursery ................................ 6 Poinsettias ......................... 16 Relevant Worship ..............3 Scrip ..................................... 4 Stewardship ....................... 2 Worship Servants............. 12 Youth .................................... 7

…and much more!

1321 North Ave., Northfield, MN 55057 • 507.786.6674 • www.bethelnorthfield.org • www.facebook.com/bethellutheran

Join your Bethel friends to celebrate the bounty of God’s grace at our Thanksgiving Eve services, Wednesday, November 21, at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Your Presence is Requested at A CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GENEROSITY

Who: The entire Bethel community

What: Stewardship Commitment Sunday

When: November 18, 2018

Where: Bethel Sanctuary

Why: To show our commitment to Share Christ’s Love with a Big Heart

THANGSGIVING

WORSHIP

Our stewardship theme this year is Celebrating God’s Generosity. As God has so richly blessed us, we get to be a blessing to one another and to those outside our community of faith.

As each of us come to the Altar returning our Commitment Cards on November 18, we signify our commitment to Bethel’s ongoing ministries and make possible additional

gifts of $85,000 to address other critical needs not addressed in our 2019 budget. Watch for details about this extended giving opportunity in your mailbox during the week of November 12.

Responding to God’s generosity by giving ourselves is surely a cause for celebration. We will see you in worship on November 18!

Page 2 THE BETHEL BANNER

WHAT’S NEW IN THE LIBRARY? “Thank you!” It does a parent’s heart good when we hear our children say this, especially when it is unprompted! One of the many ways to foster a thankful attitude in our children is by exposing them to children’s literature designed to promote moral development. The following titles featured in Bethel’s library were written with gratitude lessons in mind.

Peas and Thank You! by Mike Nawrocki (Board book)

Thank You, God from Kids Around the World by Allia Zobel Nolan

The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks by Jan and Stan Berenstain

Dear God, Thanks for Thinking Up Love by Annie Fitzgerald

Dear God, Thanks for Your Help by Annie Fitzgerald

Dear God, Thanks for Friends by Annie Fitzgerald

Thank You for This Day by Debbie Trafton O’Neal

Thank You for this Food by Debbie Trafton O’Neal

Thank You God! By Kathleen Long Bostrom (board book)

Veggie Tales: Madam Blueberry a Lesson in Thankfulness (Children’s DVD)

CELEBRATING GOD’S GENEROSITY beyond our normal operating budget and offer the gift and satisfaction of supporting those in need.

On Sunday November 18th we will be asking for your Statement of Intent and following up with friendly reminders for those not submitting these at that time. Our Finance Director Nicole Porath will also record the overall results so we know what level of commitment to expect this year and what to expect for our Ministry goals beyond normal operating budget.

Together we are on a journey to share the good news of God’s love with one another and serve those in need.

Thank you for all that you give!

Stewardship Committee: Randy Peterson, Noel Stratmoen, Kristin Haines, Gordy Olson, Shannon Schulz and Pastor Tim

By now you should have received an appeal letter asking you to prayerfully consider your giving for 2019 and submit a Statement of Intent in November at the conclusion of the campaign. In order to meet our goals we need 100% participation, please pray about this request and do your best to respond as the Lord leads you. This will be your Faith Based Statement to Bethel so we together can achieve great things.

Starting October 28, for three Sundays, messages regarding this year’s appeal will come to you through videos showing an interactive discussion about our ministry opportunities for 2019. We will be telling you about how we are lucky enough to support all of the wonderful things already happening at Bethel and how we will be able to do SO MUCH MORE with these Ministry Goals. The Ministry ideas will be

CREATION CARE CORNER Did you know…..once the Northfield City Compost/Yard Waste site on Armstrong Road closes in November, you can still bring organics for composting to another city site? It’s true! The City also has an organics dumpster/bins located on the east side of the Street Shop at 1710 Riverview Drive. You can compost all winter and spring! All food products can be composted including fruit, vegetables, bread, cereal, dairy, meat (including bones), coffee grounds, filters and tea bags. Non-recyclable paper too---paper towels, plates (no wax coating), napkins, and pizza boxes.

DO YOU EAT LUNCH? So do our homebound neighbors - and they need it delivered.

Every November/December, Bethel members deliver Meals on Wheels to folks around Northfield, seven days per week, for about 45 minutes at lunchtime. This year, our dates are November 18 through December 8, and we have many slots to fill! Can you help out by delivering a noontime meal once or twice - or more - during these three weeks? It’s a wonderful service opportunity for families, too! Look for a sign-up sheet at the Information Station or contact the church office.

The fun continues weekly as Bethel also does Meals On Wheels every Sunday during the school year. If you want to continue with the fun year around, contact Lonnie or Renae Schuster. More helpers are welcome any time!

NOVEMBER 2018 Page 3

COUNT ME IN! September Worship Attendance average per Sunday

2015 2016 2017 2018

473 479 424 377

Average Year-to-date Worship Attendance

2015 2016 2017 2018

428 460 430 421

more donations to this project for upgrading our audiovisual equipment. It is amazing that we have so many talented members here at Bethel!

Blair Fowler, Building Manager

Dear Bethel Members,

Your outpouring of volunteering after the tornado in our Oak Hills neighborhood with cutting down trees, hauling branches & logs, providing food, encouragement and more touched our hearts. Not only did you spend days working in our yard but also in neighbors who you did not know. You brought your children to help haul branches and it was so touching to see them working so hard with a smile on their faces and challenging themselves to see how big of a branch they could carry. What an example you are setting to “Share

Christ’s Love with a BIG HEART”. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are so blessed to be part of the Bethel community.

Denise & Rick Hucka

I would like to give a special thank you to Kelly Groenewold and his many hours of labor to install the A/V System. He saved Bethel several thousand dollars with his work. Also, many thanks to our carpenters, Lee Skaar, Bill Nelson, and Wayne Kivell, for their many hours building the new A/V platform and remodeling the A/V Room. Thanks to WELCA for their donation - hopefully we will see many

Dear Partners,

As I write this, it has been one month since several tornadoes tore through our county, including the one that took down part of our house. As Denise and Rick so eloquently describe (below), we were surrounded by the love and support of our Bethel community from 7 p.m. on that scary night to today. A crowd of folks, including members of the high school swim and cross-country teams whom we had never met, were at our house working on Friday morning until the

FROM THE SENIOR PASTOR... grass in our yard was once again revealed on Saturday. We have been continually surrounded by Christ’s love through the love of Bethelites and strangers.

In the last month, we have also celebrated Confirmation with a group of 39 delightful, bright young followers of Christ, including our two girls. The Bethel community filled Boe Chapel with their love, joy, and encouragement as our 10th graders took their first step into adult faith - although many of us can attest that this group has already

MANY THANKS...

been sharing Christ’s love with their big hearts for quite some time.

Christ’s love made manifest in two very different events - what a privilege it is to belong to this community. I extend Lisa’s and my deep gratitude for your support and love.

Your Partner in Christ,

RELEVANT WORSHIP Relevant Worship returns on Sunday, November 4, at 5 p.m., with Pastor Kathryn Tiede of Lutheran Social Services. Join us for music, worship, reflection, conversation - and dinner!

FROM THE SCRIP TABLE... Don’t forget to stop by the Scrip table this month to order Christmas gifts, as well as gas cards for going over the river to Grandma’s house, and Cub cards for those pies and turkeys.

Don’t have a kid going on a summer trip? Your purchases through Scrip can be designated for any Bethel kid, or for the scholarship fund, or for your own service trip! Stop by the table any Sunday morning to learn more, or contact Lori Cowdin.

Page 4 THE BETHEL BANNER

THE HISTORY OF BETHEL: 1992-1993 By Noel Stratmoen

Building Committee worked on a preliminary building plan, the design, and a strategic planning document. When the final plan was defined and estimated ($800,000), it was presented to the congregation. Bethel needed a vote of the congregation to proceed.

A special congregational meeting was called and the Building Committee presented the proposed project. The construction would include a new sanctuary and large narthex, a new kitchen and fellowship area, offices and classrooms. The Building Committee would negotiate a contract (now $875,000) with Knutson Construction from St. Paul. It was anticipated that construction would begin with groundbreaking in May with occupancy near the end of 1993…and so it did.

Space needs that Bethel has articulated for several years became more focused in 1992, and could not be ignored. The Building Committee consolidated their thoughts into plans to resolve the crowed space conditions, and to relieve the pressure on the staff to work in crowded spaces. Bethel is “bursting at the seams” and we must take action! What do we tell people coming to worship, “There is no room in the inn!?!”

During the winter and spring of 1993, the Building Committee interviewed architectural firms interesting in designing additional space. From the six firms interviewed, Rafferty, Rafferty, and Tollefson of St. Paul was chosen. From September through December, the architects and the

SMALL GROUP MINISTRY FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN If you’re looking for a family-friendly way to engage in the community, join us to pack meals at Feed My Starving Children! Children ages 5 and older are welcome.

We will gather monthly at Feed My Starving Children in Eagan, 9-11 a.m. Upcoming events are: November 24, December 29, January 19, February 16, March 16, April 13, , and May 11. Sign up for whatever dates work for you online (see the link below), at the Information Station, or by contacting Pastor Becca or Paula Mathison.

https://www.fmsc.org/join-group?joincode=V7E98G

On Wednesday, November 14, from 6 -7 p.m., Bethel members and friends are invited to come to the Fireside Room to learn about a new solar garden project being built in Rice County by MN Interfaith Power and Light (MN IPL). The presentation by Emily Minge, of MN IPL, will explain how a solar garden works - allowing households who aren't able to install solar on a rooftop to support renewable solar and gain some financial savings as well. Emily will provide background information, but she will also get down to the details a resident needs to know.

The Creation Care Team is pleased to sponsor the event. Not only does the MN IPL project offer clean, renewable energy, it also has a justice focus within it. No one will be denied a subscription to the solar garden based on income or on credit score. In addition, MN IPL is focusing on closing the racial employment gap, through their hiring practices.

The Creation Care Team is promoting the MN IPL solar garden now because the project will be filled before the end of the year.

SOLAR GARDEN PRESENTATION

And Bethel was active with another part of God’s work too. The Evangelism, Outreach and Witness Committee used the book Christian Caregiving as a Way of Life for a guide. The congregation was busy with Every Member Visit, developing a Men’s Ministry, developing a hospitality plan, planning a pictorial directory, implementing another phase of the Stephen Ministry, improving new member follow-up, expanding Heart to Heart visitation, and become more mission conscious…while continuing with ACTS, Christian Moms, and Meals on Wheels.

To be continued...

The semiannual Bethel Blood Drive is coming up on Sunday, November 18, 8:30-noon in the west parking lot. Contact Karen Mader or Lisa McDermott to reserve your time.

Fall Scrip Sale - The Fall Scrip Sale has begun and will continue through mid-December. Check out the great gift cards that are available at the Scrip table in the Narthex and plan to help our Bethel youth earn money toward their summer trips while you do your holiday shopping!

BETHEL NEWS

MARK YOUR CALENDAR... December 16 ~ Children’s Christmas

Program

February 10 ~ Valentine’s Dinner

NOVEMBER 2018 Page 5

Fellowship Fun SOUL SISTERS Join us at Monday night yoga, led by member Kristi Huettl, at Bethel followed by dessert at a local eatery! Yoga starts at 7 p.m. See you there!

VISION SEEKERS Enjoy fellowship with other Bethel men on Tuesday, November 13, at The Contended Cow. The "early to bed" group arrives at 7:30 p.m. and the "night owls" arrive around 8:30 p.m. Think of it as the Bethel fellowship hour for guys except during the evening at local establishments. Contact Zach Bahler at zachary.j.bahler@gmail.com with questions.

BETHEL WOMEN HAVING FUN Save Tuesday, November 27, for a

tour of the Minnesota Textile Center

in Minneapolis, with lunch at Surly’s

Brewery. The cost for just the tour is

$10, and for tour and hands-on make

and take, $25. Sign up with your

preference at the Information Station.

BISTRO MENU November 7 Tater Tot Hotdish November 14 Turkey Dinner November 28 Pizza Hotdish

If you are in need of a gluten-free meal, please contact our head chef, Roger VanVeldhuizen, by Tuesday at 5 p.m.

1st Corinthians, Bethel’s on-going confidential support group for support givers and receivers, meets on the third Thursday of each month at 2 p.m. in the Fireside Room (November 15). New participants are always welcome! Contact Barb Holm or Christi Bostwick for details.

The Face-It Men’s Depression Support Group continues to meet biweekly. For more information and the location of the meetings, please contact Dan at 763-218-9895.

FROM THE MISSION & JUSTICE COMMITTEE Thanks to all for the great series on Our Broken Prison System. We learned lots. Look for our next presentations in January.

Don’t forget to check out our “GET OUT THE VOTE” table in the Narthex, and be sure to vote on Election Day.

The Bethel Alternative Giving Fair begins on Sunday, November 18 and runs through December 9. How meaningful it is to both giver and receiver to know that we can, through our giving, share with someone in need here or around the world? The Alternative Giving Fair, now in its 10th year, is a great opportunity for Bethel Lutheran Church members and guests to share. Gifts range from a $1 donation to a $300 gift that will improve the lives of others who would genuinely benefit from your giving. And that gift can be given during the Holidays in honor of someone else who you love!

We urge you to read through the 2018

ALTERNATIVE GIVING FAIR COMING UP Bethel Alternative Giving Fair booklet. This booklet is designed especially for Bethel using projects from ELCA Good Gifts, Lutheran Partners in

Global Ministry (whose founders attends Bethel), and Alternative Gifts International (a national ministry who focuses on finding projects to support through local church giving fairs.) Carefully and prayerfully select one or more items that

are meaningful and priced right for your family and for your designated receiver. For your convenience, free cards will be available to send along with your Christmas greeting with an insert explaining the gift and the purpose of your giving.

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11

Come visit the Alternative Giving Fair in the Narthex, running until December 9, 2018. You will be truly blessed by blessing others.

Karna Hauck & Amy Narveson, Mission & Justice Committee

Limitless! (Matthew 19:26) ~ We are delighted to share that we have a few St. Olaf students volunteering during Limitless! Please introduce yourself if you see them on a Wednesday afternoon.

Children’s Christmas Program ~ Beginning November 7, our children will devote part of Limitless! to preparing our Children’s Christmas Program (December 16). If you are able and willing to help any Wednesday from November 7-December 12 between 4:25-5:45 p.m., please contact Brenda Atzinger.

Faith Building Exhibit ~ Check out the shelf on top of the coat rack between the Narthex and the Nursery for our Bethel Lego artistes! As our Limitless! children re-create part of a Bible story out of Lego, some are selected to share with our congregation each week.

Hands-On Sunday School ~

WHAT’S NEW IN THE CHILDREN’S MINISTRY?

Page 6 THE BETHEL BANNER

Children ~ Families ~ Disciples ~ Children ~ Families ~ Disciples

Brenda Atzinger, Director of Children’s Ministries

786-8878 batzinger@bethelnorthfield.org

Sunday FUN-days in November

November 4: Fantastic Friendships! "A good friend is a blessing from God" 1 Samuel 18:3 We have such a great group of Nursery kids that are all REALLY good friends! We will spend the morning celebrating the fabulous friendships that have been formed on Sunday mornings in the Nursery.

November 11: Under The Sea! Fishies, and Mermaids, and Sharks, Oh My!!! We might not be able to exactly go on a deep sea dive but we will get very close with a morning full of pretending we live under the sea!

November 16: We Give Thanks! There is so much to be thankful for but

NURSERY NOTES

Juley Jenkinson, Nursery Coordinator

786-6674 jjenkinson@bethelnorthfield.org

today we spend the morning celebrating all of the many things in our lives we are extra thankful for!

November 25: Time For Tea! We'll bring the china, finger sandwiches, and lace table cloths, you bring the frilly hats and bow ties (jeans and sweatpants work, too)! We're getting fancy in the Nursery and changing snack time into tea time!

Beginning November 11, our children will devote part of Sunday School to preparing our Children’s Christmas Program (December 16). If you are able and willing to help any Sunday from November 11-December 16 between 10-10:30 a.m., please contact Brenda Atzinger.

Text message communication with parents has received wonderful reviews! If you are not yet signed up for text communication regarding your child’s Sunday School class lessons, please email Brenda to get connected!

5th Grade Holy Communion Retreat ~ Our 5th graders have a special overnight retreat November 9-10 at Bethel, led by Pastor Tim and Brenda Atzinger. This meaningful Holy Communion Retreat is one you don’t want to miss! Contact Brenda if your child is not already registered.

Pirates and Princesses- Fundraiser Playdate will be held at Bethel on

November 3, 1-4 p.m. This $6/person event raises funds for scholarships for girls studying at College Monfant in Dapaong, Togo, West Africa. Organized by Northfield High School's French Students. Come enjoy fun activities for kids while raising money to help kids across the ocean!

SHORT-TERM OR LONG-TERM One Sunday morning, a few years ago my family was hurriedly trying to get out the door for worship. This did not distinguish it from many other Sundays, but the Holy Spirit grabbed my attention that day. As I was yelling for this child to put on shoes and then the other ‘what do you mean you didn’t eat breakfast??!!’, there was an epiphany. Is THIS what I want my children to associate with attending worship? Yikes!

We may have gotten there on time through those methods, but I was pretty sure I was missing the boat. As a mom of young kids, it often feels like herding cats, but they are loveable, smart, creative, precious cats that God has entrusted to my care. Where some days it feels victorious to simply all get out of the house with teeth brushed, my hope is that years from now, when the decision is up to them, that our children will desire a life rooted in Christ…whether their shoes are on the right feet or not.

Be blessed and know that we are just glad you showed up!

~ Brenda

During the afternoon, 6th graders and parents will learn more about the importance of key adults in their lives and will be led through a process to select five adults whom they will ask to be the child’s faith team. An invitation with further details has been sent – please plan to join us!

There will be no confirmation classes, 6th Grade Connections, or Hi League on Wednesday, November 21. Please plan to attend the Thanksgiving Eve service with your family that evening. Confirmation classes will resume as normal on Wednesday, November 28.

Bethel High School Seniors & Parents ~ Our first of three Faith Stepping Stones retreats is coming up on Sunday afternoon, November 18. This time for seniors and parents will be focused on looking back, assessing the present, and looking forward as families begin this busy transitional year. Watch for details in your email box.

The “Circle of Saints” Retreat is coming for 6th graders and parents. The retreat is aimed at creating a ring of supporting adults for each of our youth as they enter middle school. The retreat will take place in the Bethel Youth Center on Sunday afternoon, November 4, from noon – 3 p.m.

Youth DISCIPLESHIP: Serving, Growing, Welcoming, Caring!

Barb Farmer, Director of Youth Ministries

786-8877 bfarmer@bethelnorthfield.org

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUTH MINISTRY?

NOVEMBER 2018 Page 7

I recently received an email from our seminary President and think the exciting news about scholarships for study at the seminary is certainly worth sharing with you.

“In October 2017, when the board approved our new vision statement to lead faithful innovation for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ in a rapidly changing world, we had no idea of the adventure that lay before us. We knew there’d be adventure, that’s for sure. We trusted the Holy Spirit to guide us, and we believed that we were being called into groundbreaking work. But the precise details hadn’t come into focus.

Just nine months later, we’re starting to catch a glimpse of what the future holds—and it’s more exciting than we’d anticipated.

In July, we announced the largest single gift in Luther Seminary’s history—$21.4 million—to fully fund a five-year pilot of an accelerated

MISSION INTERPRETER By Lois Stratmoen

Master of Divinity program. The program, which we’re affectionately calling “MDivX,” comes through the generosity of Dean and Rosemarie Buntrock, long-time supporters of Lutheran higher education.

The program is a holy experiment to help the church re-imagine theological education in a time of tremendous change. Students enrolled in MDivX will complete their degrees in 24 months by participating in year-round classes and completing concurrent part-time congregational internships.

Our objective is to attract candidates who show the potential to be spiritually strong, theologically faithful, and entrepreneurially innovative in order to form Christian faith in a secular age. They will receive full-tuition scholarships and living stipends, and will be paid for their internships in accordance with ELCA standards. All told, this will save approximately

$100,000 per learner and will help students graduate without taking on additional personal debt.

We just completed our first major admissions cycle since introducing the Jubilee scholarship, where all incoming M.A. and M.Div. students receive 100% tuition scholarships. The results have exceeded expectations. The percentage of Jubilee scholarship recipients who have completely refused federal student loans has soared to 78%—compared to last year’s 45% refusal rate. What’s more, applications are up 54% over last year and for the first time in recent memory, we have a waiting list. With your continued generosity, we’ll be able to come alongside these prospective students, move them off the waiting list, and bring them into the classroom.

In peace and joy,

The Rev. Dr. Robin J. Steinke President

Youth Scrip Sale ~ Bethel Youth fall fundraisers are starting off with an established sale –the Fall Scrip Sale. This is a great way to earn money toward this summer’s trips - 8th Grade Mission Trip to Minneapolis, Christikon trip for 9th grade, and the HS mission trip. Details will be sent by mail and email.

BEFRIENDING By Marci Groenewold

Gary Chapman has identified five ways to show appreciation to others: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Acts of Service, Tangible Gifts, and Physical Touch. Chapman suggests that the way people feel appreciated varies depending upon the circumstances and the relationship. Since people are different and receive appreciation in different ways, understanding the various forms are necessary for it to be meaningful to the recipient.

Words of Appreciation recognize another’s accomplishments, character or personality. The emphasis is on the words that are sincerely said. Some people like one-on-one affirmation; others prefer a written note, while still others like public praise either in front of people they know or in front of a large group.

Quality Time gives others our focused attention. This focus is on the conversation and the relationship. We

listen carefully and give our undivided attention. The person is affirmed when their thoughts and feelings are understood.

Acts of Service occur when someone helps another accomplish a task. Their perspective is “Don’t tell me how much you care, show me.” It requires a willingness to serve others and must be done respectfully out of a true desire to help the other person.

Tangible Gifts are best given to people who really like gifts and value the gift that is given.

Physical Touch is a powerful communicator of love and concern. We can’t always change events but we can survive if we feel loved and appreciated.

Thanksgiving is a time set aside to gather with our families and reflect on the generosity of God. Perhaps this Thanksgiving holiday, you might consider giving thanks by showing

Page 8 THE BETHEL BANNER

appreciation and providing encouragement to your friends and family in ways that are meaningful to them.

Blessings from Bethel's Befriender Coordinators

†

A core Befriender principle: “Caring, not curing.” For more information, call Marci Groenewold, (507-649-0760), Knight Stanley (612-877-0893), Myrna Luehmann (507-951-7112), or the Bethel office (786-6674).

Upcoming:

Bethel Companion Training: Saturday, November 3, 9:45 a.m. - noon at Bethel

BeFriender Training: February 18-April 8, 2019, Monday nights 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St Peter’s Lutheran Church

BETHEL U FOR NOVEMBER

All adults and teens are welcome on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. You can find a complete listing of our Bethel U offerings on the Information Station in the Narthex.

Explore: Psalm 23, Fireside Room, with Wendell Arneson and Mac Gimse Presenters will discuss and illustrate a number of Christian and Universal/Cultural signs and symbols used in visual imagery throughout the world. In weeks 2-3 the presenters will guide participants to create signs and symbols that interpret the diverse and engaging verses of the 23rd Psalm. Week 4 we will collect and mount each participant's imagery into a "framed format", followed by a discussion of the Psalm and its visual interpretations.

Aging Gracefully Takes a Neighborhood, CLC Classroom, with Bruce Roberts Neighborly grace flourishes as we reciprocally help and are helped in return, listened to and called on to tell our stories of the good noticed in everyday life. As we age and engage others in the neighborhoods of our life (our church itself would be such a neighborhood), emotionally positive, truth-full and grace-filled conversations can nourish the honeycombs of well-being in those places. In class we will share our experiences of noticing “what works” for bringing that sense of well-being to the fellowship of our neighborhoods.

November 4 - The Health-giving Benefits of Positive Emotions

November 11 - The Well-Being Created Through a Sense of Belonging and Contribution

November 18 - Expressing “Gracious Gratitude”; You make a Difference!!

November 25 - Wrap-up based on previous weeks’ class discussions

Can I Ask That? Bethel Youth Center, Cindy Baumgartner, Paul Beaumaster, Tom Nelson and Kristin Kivell Do you ever have hard questions about your faith? Or doubt? It’s not uncommon for many of us. We’re learning that questioning isn’t what is toxic to faith but silence is. In this class, we will uncover some of those hard questions (and learn how to talk about them openly, honestly, and as people of faith.

NOVEMBER 2018 Page 9

CELEBRATION SUNDAY TALKS

Here are the remaining Celebration Sunday talks. You can read Simon McDonald’s talk in the October Banner.

Anders Larson 9th grade Christikon Trip

Hi, my name is Anders Larson and I had an unbelievable week at Christikon.

Christikon is unlike any other experience I have ever had. It was a week full of fun memories, finding God in nature, and blisters, but in the end it was all worth it.

Throughout the week my fellow group members and I were tested both physically and mentally, but we just kept walking and walking and climbing and walking and climbing and walking and eventually, we made it to the top. Our goal was to reach the peak of a mountain named Baboon, and on the fourth day we achieved our goal and reached the 10,600 ft peak.

When we made it to the top, the view was breathtaking. There was a full 360- degree view of endless mountains and forests. The view really made me realize that God is everywhere. He is among the trees that we walked through and on the top of the mountain we peaked. It was a comforting thought that God was always with us, guiding us and protecting us. He was light unto our feet throughout the week.

One of my goals for the week was to catch a fish in one of the many mountain streams we passed. Although Barb informed me that there would be almost no time to fish out on trail, on the last night I may or may not have snuck away from camp during quiet reflection time and caught a few of the cutthroat and rainbow trout in the boulder river. It was a magical evening filled with some magical fish.

Looking back on the trip I feel very proud of all of my group members and

counselors who made it all the way to the top. I think the rest of my group would agree that there were also some tough times. Blisters, headaches and spilled cheesecake mix would all fall into this category, but apart from our counselor almost being swept away by

a whitewater river, there were no serious injuries and we kept up the historic 100% return rate.

Overall the week was amazing and it is one that I

will never forget. I have a short video that I created that shows some of the amazing views my group was privileged to see.

Thank you.

Liv Sorenson Hi-League National Youth Gathering Trip

Hi! I’m Liv Sorenson, and I’m going to be a senior this upcoming school year. In June, I had the opportunity to go on the trip to Houston for the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering.

If you aren’t already familiar with the Gathering, 31,000 Lutheran high school students meet up in a different city every three years and participate in different activities during the day and pack a stadium floor to ceiling for worship at night. During the week, we had a day at the interactive learning center inside the convention center, a day with our local synod, and a service day in the Houston community. For service, most groups were outside in the 90° weather. Our group certainly lucked out; we were in air conditioning helping a small church create an mural out of recycled plastic water bottles.

For many kids on this trip, the best part of every day was the nightly worship services. These showcased famous speakers, blaring music, and dancing. But the coolest part was

hearing 31,000 kids say “and also with you” out of instinct, all at the same time.

Outside this huge gathering, our Bethel group participated in a 17-hour bus ride, visited Johnson Space Center, cheered on the Houston Astros, spent a day on the beach on Galveston Island, and stayed at an awesome hotel downtown with a rooftop pool shaped like Texas, which might be one of the most Texas things ever.

Besides all of those cool things, these trips are meaningful, important, and memorable for all Bethel youth that go along. Through this spectacular event put on by the ELCA, we learned what it means to be a Lutheran in relation to the rest of the world and outside of the

Midwest, and why to take pride in being a part of the ELCA. As a group together, we learned more about each other and our leaders who volunteered to chaperone - thank you! As a whole, we grew together in faith and in

fellowship, which was sure to carry on as we returned home, and will remain strong as we continue to see each other at Bethel and in school.

Along with this strengthened fellowship we experienced and the worship speakers presented an excellent opportunity to grow closer to God. Every night we listened to a wide variety of speakers discussing God’s call, love, grace, and hope. The theme of the week was “this changes everything,” and I believe that we as a group definitely felt that becoming true as we were in Houston and as we returned home. This trip changed how we saw ourselves, each other, the ELCA, God, and the world around us. So, Bethel, thank you for supporting this trip and many others. They never fail to show us God’s love, along with many other things. Thank you!

Page 10 THE BETHEL BANNER

OPERATING RESULTS SUMMARY Expenses exceeded revenue by $5k in September. We budgeted for a net loss of $6k.

Net Income

September: $5k net loss vs. $6k net loss budgeted. YTD $9k net loss vs. $5k net loss budgeted.

Revenue

September: $64k actual vs. $69k budgeted. YTD revenue is $679k. vs $710k budgeted. Summer contributions have been lower than in previous years, pulling YTD revenue $27k below our seasonally adjusted budget.

Expense

August: $69k actual vs. $75k budgeted. YTD $689k actual vs. $716k budgeted. Drivers include:

Hourly employee cost less than budget because of lower clerical and custodial hours, lower Adult Formation and Administra-tion because of cost savings, and Congregational Life revenue that exceeded expenses. 2018 snowplowing expenses were $5k more than budgeted, causing the Trustee over-run.

Mortgage balance as of September 30, 2018: $291,324. Nichole Porath, Director of Finance

786-6687 nporath@bethelnorthfield.org

FISCAL HEALTH as of September 30, 2018

ACTUAL Sept 2018

YEAR TO DATE

Actual Budget Fav (Unfav)

Variance Annual Budget

Revenue

Total Revenue $64,365 $679,465 $710,945 $(31,480) $974,000

Expenses

Personnel $55,106 $504,089 $521,523 $17,434 $708,653

Trustee 2,968 58,336 55,689 (2,647) 77,385

Benevolence 4,483 42,127 42,158 31 61,075

Mortgage/Reserves 3,231 29,081 29,079 (2) 38,776

Youth Formation 640 25,913 26,696 783 35,650

Administration 2,464 19,569 23,810 4,241 30,281

Adult Formation (negative denotes income) 106 2,140 5,625 3,485 7,485

Worship 123 5,439 5,486 47 7,050

Stewardship 180 2,719 3,780 1,061 5,045

Congregational Life (negative denotes income) (144) (684) 1,944 2,628 2,600

Total Expenses $69,157 $688,729 $715,790 $27,061 $974,000

Net Income (Loss) $(4,792) $(9,264) $(4,845) $(4,419) 0*

*We always budget our revenue to meet expenses.

NOVEMBER 2018 Page 11

ARE YOU AN AMAZON SHOPPER? Your purchases on Amazon can benefit Bethel, too! Bethel now has an Amazon Smile account. By ordering through Amazon using the link below, .5% of the purchase price will be donated back to Bethel. How great is that?! As one Bethel shopper said - It’s such a quick, easy way for Bethel Amazon customers to allocate funds to their church!” https://smile.amazon.com/ch/41-6049270

The Bethel Banner is published monthly as a ministry of Bethel Lutheran Church of Northfield, Minnesota. The congregation is invited to submit articles to the church office. Articles are due by the 15th of each month. Questions, suggestions, or comments? Contact editor Lisa McDermott at lmcdermott@bethelnorthfield.org, by phone at 645-0740, or call the church office at 786-6674.

Budgeted Benevolences YTD $

SE MN Synod 24,374

Cannon River Conf.-ELCA 377

Community Action Center 2,475

Lutheran Social Services 8,550

Nfld. Retirement Community 1,250

CAC Thursday's Table 600

Global Mission/Justice 4,500

Total Budgeted Benevolences $ 42,126

Non-Budgeted Benevolences

ELCA World Hunger 2,352

ELCA Disaster Relief - South Sudan 495

Total ELCA $ 2,847

Sunday School- 8th Gr. Mis-sion Trip

390

Total Sunday School $ 390

CAC Food Shelf 1,579

March Food Drive 19,489

Total CAC Food Shelf $ 21,068

Easter - South Sudan Lutheran Church 7,015

Total Offerings $ 7,015

TORCH care packages 121

Good Samaritan Funds used 3,912

Youth Scholarship Funds used 1,214

Quilts: LWR & Christmas Sharing -

*175 quilts given. Monetary value of gift impossible to estimate.

Total Other $ 5,246

Total Non-Budgeted Benevolences $ 36,566

Grand Total Benevolences $ 78,692

% of revenue 11.6%

BENEVOLENCES as of 9/30/18

November 4 November 11 November 18 November 25

Assist. Minister (8:30 a.m.)

Carol Lysne Mike Ahrens Grace Casson Noel Stratmoen

Assist. Minister (10:45 a.m.)

Krista Middlebrooks Christina Schwietz Ellen Haefner Dani Haines

Reader (8:30 a.m.) Rick Roberts Sandy Reiman Bethel Youth Jim Holden

Reader (10:45 a.m.) Janelle Johnson Dale Halverson Bethel Youth Sarah Marohl

Acolytes (8:30 a.m.)

Andy Amundson, Oliver Waterss

Abby Atzinger, Stellan Freeman

Eloise DeBus, Edythe Malecha

Abby Atzinger, Need 1 more

Acolytes (10:45 a.m.) Mason Muench, Tyler Holz

Evelyn Bauer, Sam Mathews

Annika Johnson, CoCo Schuster

Annalisa Larson, Logan Kraby

Sacramental Ministers (8:30 a.m.)

Mike & Sandy Ahrens, Wendell Arneson & Beth Christensen, Kitty Runzheimer

Rose Turnacliff, Connie DeGrote, Sandy Ahrens, Carol Cole, Wayne Kivell

Bethel Youth Abbie Meierbachtol, Marcia Omdahl, Sandy Reiman, Lois Stratmoen, Candy Nordine

Sacramental Ministers (10:45 a.m.)

Dan & Jan Foley, Renae Schuster, two needed

Sharon Stoeck, Ben Chadwick, Renae Schuster, Cindy Kreis, Michael Sparby

Bethel Youth Roger Van Veldhuizen, Ben Chadwick, Renae Schuster, two needed

Ushers (8:30 a.m.) Dale Turnacliff, Bob Vanderhoof, Harley Foster, Daryl Kuyper

Gordon & Marilyn Kelley, Dave & Char Jacobsen

Bethel Youth Steve Meierbachtol, Kyle Nordine, Roger Glasgow, Larry Narhi

Ushers (10:45 a.m.) Steve & Carol O’Neill, Denise Halvorson, one needed

Gerry & Carol Gengenbach, Denise Halvorson, one needed

Bethel Youth four needed

Nametags (8:30 a.m.) Missy & Josh Spitzak, John & Kay Arndt

Missy & Josh Spitzak, John & Kay Arndt

John & Kay Arndt, Wade & Shannon Schulz

John & Kay Arndt, Danielle Amundson

Nametags (10:45 a.m.)

Marilyn & Tom Nelson, Ted & Marge Vessey

The Schuster family, Scott & Linda Cloud

Marilyn & Tom Nelson, Sharon Stoeck

Kurt & Christine Larson, Scott & Linda Cloud

Greeters (8:30 a.m.) Ted & Marge Vessey, Danielle Amundson

Blair Fowler, Pat Stahly Randy & Heidi Muller Peterson

Mark Amundson,

Greeters (10:45 a.m.) The Schuster family, Greg & Nancy Carlson

Gerry & Carol Gengenbach Scott & Linda Cloud, Lisa McDermott

Barb Fowler, Lisa McDermott

THE BETHEL BANNER Page 12

NOVEMBER WORSHIP SERVANTS

NOVEMBER 2018 Page 13

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEPTEMBER CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING…

CHURCH COUNCIL Brian Jermeland, President -

bjermeland@charter.net

Jill Fisher, Trustee - jillsberyl@gmail.com

Kevin Fink, Financial Officer - kpfink@outlook.com

Maren Bahler, Personnel Officer - marenbahler@gmail.com

Randy Peterson, Steward - randypeterson221@gmail.com

Zach Bahler, At Large for Mission & Justice - zachary.j.bahler@gmail.com

Peder Jothen, At Large for Visual Arts - Jothen@stolaf.edu

Wade Schulz, At Large for Kitchen Committee - woodyschulz@gmail.com

Jen Rauk, At Large - jbrauk02@me.com

November 4 November 11 November 18 November 25

Coffee Servers Josh & Missy Spitzak, Nancy Rechtzigel, Sharon Stoeck, Greg & Nancy Carlson, Mark Amundson

Kurt & Christine Larson, Gerry & Carol Gengenbach, Blair & Barb Fowler, Ted & Marge Vessey

Sharon Stoeck, Wade & Shannon Schulz, Randy & Heidi Muller Peterson, Pat Stahly, Dennis Vinar

Mark Amundson, Bridget Renlund & Frank Wergin,

Altar Care Rose & Dale Turnacliff Bob & Edie Quam Jerry & Andra Hamilton The McDermott family

Communion Angels

Needed Sharon Stoeck, Carol Cole Needed

NOVEMBER WORSHIP SERVANTS

The new sound mixing board and microphones have been delivered. Kelly Groenewold is working on getting them set up and working.

Relevant Worship will be on September 23 and our guest will be Scott Wopata from the Community Action Center. The next Relevant Worship is scheduled for November 4 and Lutheran Social Services will be our guest.

Brian Jermeland has requested that a new Facility Use Policy be written. There are templates on the ELCA website that can be used to make sure all appropriate items are covered in the use agreement.

Mission & Justice have requested approval to put together a table with non-partisan voting information in the Narthex.

In January we will have 2 open council positions; Steward and At-Large for Mission & Justice/Creation Care. The Nominating Committee will start working on possible candidates for those positions.

Wednesday,

November 21

Assisting

Minister

Reader Sacramental

Ministers

Ushers Altar Care/

Comm Angel

11:30 a.m. N/A Paula Mathison Kristin Haines, Candy

Nordine

N/A Wayne & Alice Kivell

7 p.m. Anton Armstrong Bob Kaul 5 needed 4 needed Wayne & Alice Kivell

THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP SERVANTS

Page 14 THE BETHEL BANNER

JOIN US FOR ADULT ED THIS MONTH! many distinctions between sharing a loaf of sourdough and Holy Communion with the Body of Christ.

Bethel Enneagram Group ~ 9:30-10:30 a.m., meeting on November 8, in the Fireside Room On Thursday, November 1, 10 a.m. to noon, author and enneagram expert Katy Taylor will join us to share her insight of the instincts and their relationship to the types. There is a $25 fee (cash or checks payable to Katy Taylor) for attending the Katy’s presentation. All are invited to join us; some knowledge of the enneagram is very helpful. We will also meet on Thursday, November 8, to learn more about type 5, the Observer by listening to The Enneagram and Grace CD by Fr Richard Rohr and Russ Hudson.

FRIDAYS

The Bethel WoW (Women of the Word) Bible Study group ~ in the

Fireside Room, 8:30-10:15 a.m. weekly.

Women of the Word are continuing

their study of David. We will conclude

this Beth Moore study the end of

November, so come join us at any

time. Contact Myrna Luehmann if you

have any questions.

All of these discipleship opportunities welcome you to attend regularly, or as your schedule allows. If you would like to lead a group or have a good idea for a class or topic, please contact the church office.

WEDNESDAYS

Let Us Pray ~ Wednesdays, 6:15-6:45 p.m. Prayer Chapel, with Pastor Becca Learn to practice Lectio Divina, a traditional Christian way of cultivating a relationship with Christ and listening to Scripture as if we were in conversation with Christ. There are no requirements for attendance. Come as often as your schedule allows. May this be a time of trust and transformation as we receive what God wants to give us through Christ’s living word.

THURSDAYS

FaB ~ in the Fireside Room, 8:15-9:15 a.m. weekly The FaB ladies continue their study of Gregory Boyle's Tattoos on the Heart every Thursday morning except Thanksgiving. Between reading and also listening to audio sermons actually delivered by our author, we continue to learn about compassion and buried differences. The book is available downtown at Con*tent. Please join us every or any Thursday for coffee and conversation! Questions? Contact Judy Narhi or Kitty Runzheimer.

Men Of Bethel ~ in Room 62, 8:30-9:30 a.m. weekly. MoB is continuing to discuss Jesus Freak by Sara Miles. New participants are welcome at any time. The book is a memoir about the author’s life and ministry, and manages to inspire without sentimentality - to be serious and funny, sacred and profane. You don't have to be a Bible scholar to know that Jesus hung out with the wrong people - lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, crazy people. Whereas some Christians like to keep a comfortable distance from the poorest of the poor, Miles founded the Food Pantry at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, where they set up the food bank at the altar and don't make

New members and drop-ins are always welcome at our adult education opportunities. Look for a complete listing of all of our groups in the Adult Faith Formation booklet on the Information Station. Here is a list of our weekly and monthly groups:

SUNDAY EDUCATION HOUR 9:45-10:30 a.m.

Bethel U ~ in various locations Bethel U is our offering on Sunday mornings for Bethel 9th-12th graders and adults together. Look for the complete Bethel U catalogue on the Information Station and a description of this month’s offerings on page 8.

MONDAYS

Martha Circle ~ 9:30 a.m. on the third Monday of each month, Fireside Room.

Monday Evening Women’s Study ~ Every 1st and 3rd Monday, 7-8:30 p.m., Wanda Playter’s house. The group continues The Book of Joy by Desmond TuTu and Dalai Lama. For more information, please contact Wanda or the church office.

Yoga with Kristi ~ Mondays, 7-8 p.m. East Pod Yoga with Bethel member Kristi Huettl continues on Mondays. Beginners and advance practitioners are welcome! No experience, fitness level, or pretzel-like flexibility are required. Come dressed to move, and bring a blanket or a yoga mat; a mat is helpful but unnecessary.

TUESDAYS

Lois Circle ~ 12 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month in the Youth Room.

Lydia Circle~ 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Fireside Room.

NOVEMBER 2018 Page 15

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 8:15 a.m. FAB 8:30 a.m. MoB 10 a.m. Enneagram Group 12 p.m. Troubadours 5 p.m. Personnel Committee meeting

2 8:30 a.m. WoW (Women of the Word)

3 9:45 a.m. Bethel Companion Training 1 p.m. Pirates & Princesses Playdate

4 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 10:45 a.m. Worship 12 p.m. Circle of Saints Retreat 5 p.m. Relevant Worship 6 p.m. Dinner & Discussion

5 11 a.m. Pam Santerre 3:15 p.m. Northfield Youth Choir 7 p.m. Yoga

6 6 a.m. Election Day 1 p.m. Bethel Staff meeting 6 p.m. Stewardship Committee meeting

7 See schedule above 7 p.m. 6th Connections

8 8:15 a.m. FAB 8:30 a.m. MoB 9:30 a.m. Enneagram Group 12 p.m. Troubadours 7 p.m. Church Council meeting

9 8:30 a.m. WoW (Women of the Word) 6 p.m. 5th Grade Holy Communion Retreat

10 5th Grade Holy Communion Retreat

11 8 a.m. Bethel Blood Drive 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 10:45 a.m. Worship

12 3:15 p.m. Northfield Youth Choir 7 p.m. Yoga

13 12 p.m. Staff Birthday Lunch 1 p.m. Bethel Staff meeting 7 p.m. Lydia Circle 7:30 p.m. Finance Committee meeting

14 See schedule above 6 p.m. Solar Garden Community Event

15 8:15 a.m. FAB 8:30 a.m. MoB 12 p.m. Troubadours 2 p.m. 1st Corinthians Support Group

16 8:30 a.m. WoW (Women of the Word)

17

18 Commitment Sunday 8:30 a.m. Alt. Giving Fair 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 10:45 a.m. Worship 12 p.m. Senior Stepping Stones Retreat #1

19 9:30 a.m. Martha Circle 3:15 p.m. Northfield Youth Choir

20 Bethel Women Having Fun 1 p.m. Bethel Staff meeting

21 11:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service 7 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service

22 Thanksgiving Day

23 Bethel Offices Closed

24 9 a.m. Feed My Starving Children

25 8:30 a.m. Alt. Giving Fair 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 10:45 a.m. Worship

26 3:15 p.m. Northfield Youth Choir

27 9 a.m. Bethel Mission Quilters 12 p.m. Lois Circle 1 p.m. Bethel Staff meeting

28 See schedule above 7 p.m. 6th Connections

29 8:15 a.m. FAB 8:30 a.m. MoB 12 p.m. Troubadours

30 8:30 a.m. WoW (Women of the Word)

CALENDAR - NOVEMBER 2018

On Wednesdays:

3:30 p.m. Limitless! 5:30 p.m. Bistro 6:15 p.m. Ring Forth 6:15 p.m. Let Us Pray 7 p.m. Resonance 7 p.m. Adult Choir 7 p.m. Hi-League 7 p.m. Confirmation 8 p.m. Brio

Bethel Lutheran Church 1321 North Avenue Northfield, MN 55057 ● ● ●

Phone: 507-786-6674 Web: www.bethelnorthfield.org www.facebook.com/bethellutheran Email: bethel@bethelnorthfield.org

● ● ● Return Service Requested

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Northfield, MN

55057 Permit No. 138

CHECK OUT OUR UPDATED WEBSITE!

HELP DECORATE THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS BY PURCHASING A POINSETTIA!

Poinsettias are available in red or white this year. Please indicate how many of each you would like to order. Poinsettias will be used to decorate our church through December 25. All poinsettias can be picked up anytime after the Christmas Day service. Thanks for helping beautify our building in celebration of the birth of the Messiah.

_____ Red x $10.50 each = $__________

_____ White x $10.50 each = $__________

TOTAL = $__________

Please indicate how you would like the information to appear in the bulletin:

Person(s) ordering:_______________________________________________________________________________

In Honor of:_____________________________________________________________________________________

In Memory of:____________________________________________________________________________________

Please attach your cash or check (made payable to Bethel Lutheran Church). You may place your order in the offering plate or mail it to: Bethel Lutheran Church, Attention: Kristin Haines, 1321 North Avenue, Northfield, MN 55057 by Sunday, December 2.