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The Bethania Blade “As a called people of God and as members of Bethania,
we will grow in our faith and share it with others”
April 2017
Many of you know that I grew up at the foot of the Shenando-
ah Valley of Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge and Appa-
lachian Mountains. You may not know that Lutherans aren’t
nearly as plentiful down there as they are up here. Baptists and
Presbyterians, yes. But Lutherans? Our Synod covered the whole
state.
Down there Lutherans (and our Episcopal sisters and brothers)
were mostly bunched in with Roman Catholics and, as such, were
targets of Evangelism by Southern Baptists and many others.
That is part of the reason I am familiar with several “evangelism
tools” employed by evangelicals… including one of the most pop-
ular: The Two Question Method.
The Two Question Method asks an individual two simple ques-
tions. By your answers are supposed to tell if you are really a
“Christian” or just think you are. (In other words, if you don’t give
the answer they’re looking for, you’re not “saved.”) Since Luther-
an Christians are, in fact, “really” Christians and we certainly are
“saved,” we should have little trouble, right? Right. Except…
A surprising number of Lutherans have trouble answering the
questions “correctly.” Let’s see how we do (don’t look ahead, just
look at the question and think what you would say)
Question #1: If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?
A large percentage on non-evangelicals answer this one “I
hope so,” “I think so,” or “I don’t know.” These are humble,
(continued on page 2)
2
non-presumptuous answers. But, although no answer is
“wrong,” it isn’t the one our evangelical friends are looking for.
It’s not quite the one your pastor is hoping for, either, because
I don’t want you to doubt your salvation.
Question #2: If you died tonight, found yourself at the
gates of Heaven, and Jesus asked, “Why should I let you in?”
what would you say?
Once again, you would have a lot of company if you said
something like, “Well, I tried to be a good person… most of the
time…” or “Well, I was confirmed so…” As someone who has
been on the receiving end of these two questions on a number
of occasions, let me assure you… if these are your answer: pre-
pare to be evangelized within an inch of your life. You’re about
to be told to accept Jesus into your heart as your personal Lord
and Savior and say the sinners prayer in order to “know” you
are saved and get into heaven.
So what are the answers the evangelists are looking for?
Well, you actually already know them! The answers are in our
hymns and our creeds. You hear them in the Scripture and (by
God’s grace) Preaching. But it’s a pastor’s calling to tell you
the answers as often as necessary. So, in short form, here they
are:
Question #1: Yes, when you die you should have every ex-
pectation of going to heaven. As John 3:16 reminds us “God
so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that all who
believe in him should not perish, but should have eternal life.”
Of course, this single verse begs the questions: Is doubt al-
lowed? Yes. Of course it is. Countless examples in the
scripture attest to this. Your faith doesn’t have to be perfect,
nor do you. But you are responsible for trying to nurture and
( the continuation of our pastors page)
27
The Racine Theater Guild is presenting Joesph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.
We would like to do a group event either Sun-
day May 21st at 7:00 p.m. or Thursday, May
25th at 7:00 p.m. Group Tickets are $12.50 for
Seniors and $14.50 for adults and $10.00 for
Youth 21 & Under. Please let us know if you
are interested by calling or emailing the church
office pr filling out the purple sheet on Sunday
and putting it in the offering tray.
March 15—Ed snowblowing that whop-
per of a Spring Snow Storm.
26
Caitlin’s Loaded Broccoli and Cheese Soup
Ingredients
2 - 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
2-3 large carrots, peeled and diced
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed into small pieces
1 tsp. onion powder
2 small heads broccoli (washed and diced small)
3 TB butter
⅓ cup flour
3½ cups milk
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. garlic pepper
6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
Instructions
1. In a large pot combine chicken broth, carrots potatoes and onion powder.
2. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. 3. Add broccoli, cover and simmer for an additional 10
minutes. 4. While simmering, melt butter in a large sauce pan. Whisk in
the flour and cook for another minute (or until golden brown). Whisk in milk and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
5. Add cheese and stir until it is all melted. Add salt and garlic pepper.
6. Pour cheese sauce into the large pot and stir until well com-bined.
7. Add more milk for a thinner consistency and add any addi-tional salt and pepper needed. Top with bacon pieces.
8. Serve warm.
3
grow it. But it’s not what we do, but rather our Faith in the one
who did do the what was necessary. Speaking of which…
Question #2 Speaking of what Jesus did, here’s the answer
the evangelists are looking for and I hope you understand… “I
don’t deserve to come in, but because you paid for my sins on
the cross – by your grace I am able to enter.”
To put it another way, Good Friday and Easter are the an-
swer. We have a God who demands justice… which means
(since everyone HAS sinned and all sins are the same to God)
we should all be locked out of heaven for eternity. Thankfully,
we also have a God who is merciful loves us too much to con-
demn us to spend either this life or the next apart from him. So
how does God reconcile perfect justice and perfect love? The
Cross.
By dying on the cross Jesus made the final sacrifice to atone
for our sin. Once and one for all of us, he paid the price owed
to pay for our sins and earned our way into Heaven by what HE
did when he died on Good Friday. On Easter, when the The
Father raised him from the dead, he broke the power of death
and brought us all eternal life.
Our reservation was made, our ticket bought… never, ever
by ANYTHING we did or could do, but by Grace through Faith…
the gifts of Good Friday and Easter. Thanks be to God!
So, if you were a bit shaky on those questions… or even if
you weren’t… come and praise the one who has the answers
and offers us light, life, and salvation: our crucified and risen
Lord.
Blessings,
Pastor Heather Bumstead
4
APRIL WORSHIP LEADERS
April 23, 2017
Worship Assistant Bill Krause Acolyte Will Beaner
Communion Assistant Kurtis Webster Communion Bread (wafer)
Lector Anne Woodward Flowers Webster
Ushers Ed & Jacci Young Coffee Hour Brad & Bonnie
April 2, 2017
Worship Assistant Robin Barnes Acolyte Camren Mc Intosh
Communion Assistant Jacci Young Communion Bread (wafer)
Lector Robin Barnes Flowers
Ushers Brad Larsen &
Keith Webster
Coffee Hour Youngs
April 9. 2017
Worship Assistant Kristi Mueller Acolyte Logan Schoff
Communion Assistant Julie Hansen Communion Bread (wafer)
Lector Kristi Mueller Flowers
Ushers Vicki Thiery &
Karen Fernandez
Coffee Hour Altar Guild
April 16, 2017
Worship Assistant Jeff Alderson Acolyte Calaway Alderson
Communion Assistant Brad Larsen Communion Bread Anne Woodward
Lector Jerod Alderson Flowers Easter
Ushers Leo Miller & Jim
Leger
Coffee Hour
April 30, 2017
Worship Assistant Vicki Thiery Acolyte Seth Hultman
Communion Assistant Caitlin Webster Communion Bread Grete Loschenkohl
Lector Irma Anderson Flowers
Ushers Bill & Liz Krause Coffee Hour 25
Keith's Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Soup Serves: 10 Ingredients: 1 pound ground Italian sausage (or ground chicken, turkey or beef), browned* 1 onion, chopped 3 large carrots, chopped 3 stalks celery, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning ½ teaspoon salt 4 - 15 ounce cans beef broth (or chicken or vegetable broth I use low sodium) 1 tbs cornstarch 3 -12 ounce cans evaporated milk (or half and half) 1 -12 ounce package three cheese tortellini, frozen (may want more tortellini) 1 cup milk
Instructions:
1. Place the browned sausage, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, Italian seasoning, beef bouillon powder, salt, and broth in a 6 quart slow cooker bowl. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 7 hours. 2. Uncover and skim any fat that is sitting on the top of the soup with a spoon; discard. Stir in the cornstarch mixture with the evaporated milk (or half and half or cream). Add the tortellini and mix well. Cover again and cook on
HIGH heat setting for a further 45 minutes until the soup has thickened, and the tortellini is soft and cooked through. 3. Pour in milk in ⅓ cup increments, as needed, to reach your desired thickness and consistency (I needed 1 cup); taste test and season with extra salt ONLY if needed, and pepper to suit your tastes. Notes: *Italian sausage gives this soup an amazing flavor, but you can substi-tute it with ground chicken, turkey or beef sausage. OR use plain ground meats if you don't like sausage. For vegetarian options, leave the meat out all together. The soup thickens as it cools and absorbs quite a lot of liquid.
You can add 5 cups spinach, if desired. If you add in the spinach, do so before
adding the milk, press the leaves down to completely submerse into the liquid.
Cover again for a further 5 to 10 minutes until the leaves have wilted.
24
Schoff Taco Chili
1 - 3lb beef roast
3 - jars of salsa ( I used medium heat for the chili at soup supper)
1- 28 oz can of diced tomatoes with green chile’s
1- can of bush's chili beans
3 - cloves of chopped garlic
1/2 onion, chopped fine
2 tbsp chili powder
salt and pepper to tast e
Cook everything in slow cooker for 6-8 hrs on low
Serve with sour cream and shredded cheese
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the soup supper!
5
Apr i l 2 , 2017 5 Lent
First Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm Psalm 130
Second Reading Romans 8:6-11
Gospel John 11:1-45
April 9, 2017 Palm Sunday
First Reading Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm Psalm 31:9-16
Second Reading Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel Matthew 26:14--27:66
April 16, 2017 Easter Sunday
First Reading Acts 10:34-43
Psalm Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Second Reading Colossians 3:1-4
Gospel Matthew 28:1-10
Apr i l 23 , 2017
First Reading Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm Psalm 16
Second Reading 1 Peter 1:3-9
Gospel John 20:19-31
This Months Readings
Apr i l 30 , 2017
First Reading Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
Second Reading 1 Peter 1:17-23
Gospel Luke 24:13-35
6
Were You There?
Did you Share?
Date Attendance Giving
March 1, 2017 20 $1,006.00
March 5, 2017 53 $3,186.00
March 8, 2017 22 $ 79.00
March 12, 2017 40 $3,719.00
March 15, 2017 16 ———-
March 19, 2017 53 $1,554.84
March 22, 2017 31 ———
March 26, 2017 40 $1,580.00
March 29, 2017 17 ———-
23
22
Adopt-A-Project Ideas:
Outside painting: Windows and exterior doors Inside paint-ing: Kid Zone wall, Post of Youth room, Kitchen bathroom, pastor’s bathroom. Worship Assistant/Acolyte Albs cleaning Cleaning of area fans (oscillating fans in sanctuary, box fans.) Take load of hazardous waster on collection day—every 3rd Saturday from April to October. Organize photos and other church archive items Office: Thin old records (according to a list of what to
keep and what to shred) ”Honey-Do maintence list
Do you have any other ideas???
March 8th—What happened on the windy day when the
neighbors left their trampoline home alone. 7
Bethania Lutheran Church
4120 Wright Avenue
Racine, WI 53405
(262) 632-7267
Email: [email protected]
Pastor’s Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bethanialutheran.org
Office Hours: Monday thru Friday –
2:30 to 5:30 p.m
(Please note: There may not be a car in the parking
lot but the office is open.)
Reverend Heather Bumstead, Pastor
Cathi Webster, Administrative Assistant Mike Imhoff, Custodian
Willy Mueller, Church musician Jeff Alderson, President
Kelly Imhoff, Vice President
Ed Young, Treasurer
Rob Borgardt, Council Member
John Barnes, Council Member
8
Jim & Shirley Woodward Joyce Woodward
Heather (Bonnie Jensen’s granddaughter)
Betty Hedstrom Richard
Dona Turner Bettie Liston
Danny Kristi Mueller
Jim Mueller Jim Thornton Karen Luxem
Grete & Jorn Loschenkohl Kennedi
Will Beaner Jeff L., Dakota
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Our first meeting will be Friday
April 7th at 9:30 a.m. We will dis-
cuss how the prayer shawl ministry
will work, what our name should be,
and a few other things. See you there.
Confirmation class resumes
Wednesday, April 26th at 6:00 p.m.
21
From the Pews
Don Rybarik and Hax his K-9.
Union Grove High Schools production of Beauty and the Beast. Sammie
Schoff (front row #73 shirt) was in charge of all the costumes and makeup!
Way to Go Sammie!!
Pastor
Heather’s
cat ,Triple,
tries to show
he’s a
Lutheran kitty.
20
Venture
Crew
242
clean up
& Fun
at Oh
Da Kota
Congratulations to Crew President Casey, Jason, Ian and Vice President Jaisyn who became members of the Order of Siam and they have earned the Venturing Award.
On Saturday March 4th the Venture Crew spent the day cleaning up the sticks and fallen trees at Oh Da Kota but they also found some time to enjoy themselves.
They are still looking for members who like to have fun and enjoy the outdoors. Any youth ages 14 to 21 are wel-come to join them. They meet at Bethania on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the Month in the Dorcas room.
9
(Please let us know if there are any changes or missed
birthdays or anniversaries. Thank You!)
4/1-Tom Nielsen
4/6 –Aaron Baclawski
4/6 –Bruce Burrow
4/6 –Alita Fernandez
4/6—Harold Fricke
4/7—Celieta Gardner
4/7—Gilbert Jensen
4/8—John Zeni
4/9—Kia Genrich
4/12—Irma Anderson
4/13—Karen Davis
4/14—Molly Hultman
4/14—Patrick Imhoff
4/15—Kaylin Donaldson
4/17—Jessica Schoff
4/18—Jeanne Kutka
4/21—Dominic Shawhan
4/27—Mary Genrich
10
To Sam and Karen Fernandez and family on the
death of his sister Yolanda Trinidad on Saturday
March 4th, 2017. Her funeral was held at Maresh
Meredith on Saturday March 10th, 2017.
From “50 Solutions to Everyday Mistakes: And How to Fix Them” in Reader’s Digest, April 2017
Mistake “#50: Neglecting Your House of Worship. Women who get out to attend religious services at least once a week have 20 percent reduced risk of death, re-gardless of whether they smoke, drink, or exercise, says a study of more than 92,000 women by Yeshiva University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Researchers credit the emotional support and respite from stress that going to regular services can provide. Amen to that.” (“Reader’s Digest” Vol. 189, Issue 1129, April 2017, p. 73)
Church Council meeting deferred to May.
19
HOSANNA!
Don’t miss Palm Sunday; Sunday of the Passion Worship at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 9th. We will be using a dynamic
new dramatic reading of the passion using several readers.
“This Is My Commandment”
Maundy Thursday Worship with Holy Communion will be held at 7:00 p.m on Thursday, April 13. This service pre-pares us for Easter by focusing on the Last Supper and Jesus’ preparation of his own disciples for the trials ahead.
“Jesus, Remember Me When You Come Into Your King-dom.”
We honor Jesus’ sacrifice for our sake by remembering his crucifixion at Good Friday Services: Friday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. We will once again use the Tenebrae service of gathering darkness as we read the scriptures
marking the seven last words of Christ along with prayers and hymns. Come to not only fully appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for you but also to truly feel the joy of Easter Sunday!
18
Heartfelt Thanks
Austin, Dakota, Aaron and Timothy (with cup) goof around on a break from bussing tables at this year’s AEbleskiver brunch
Many Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the “Fat Sunday” AEbleskiver brunch a success! Planning, set-up and prep, cooking, bussing tables, clean up, and too many things to mention. Thanks for sharing your time and talent to honor our Danish founders and celebrate our Danish Heritage with the community.
11
OUR HOMEBOUND MEMBERS
Janet Kintzler
c/o The Woods Of Caledonia
5737 Erie St.
Racine, WI 53402
(262)639-7573
Lyman Larsen
c/o St Monica’s
3920 N. Green Bay Road
Racine, WI 53404
Helene Wasik
c\o Oak Ridge Care Center—Rm #3
1400—8th Street
Union Grove, Wi 53126
Bernard Wasik
c\o Becker Shoop Memory Care Campus
6101 16th St,
Mt Pleasant, WI 53406
12
Shawhan Family
1901 Wustum Avenue
Racine, WI 53404
A sign of Spring ….
17
Our theme for the month of March was team building and leadership. Mr.
Alderson spoke to us about what being a leader is , what it means and did
some leadership exercises with us.
We held a quarterly court of honor and inducted new troop leadership.
Our new patrol leaders are: Will Beaner and Teddy Hoffman. Our quar-
termaster is Calaway Alderson. Yash Luba is our chaplains aide.
Jacob Spotts earned the life rank and 3 merit badges.Carter earned a
merit badge also.
We played team building games which were a lot of work and fun.
Troop 242 got the honor of being the color guard at Gateway’s merit
badge tech this year.
16
LIBRARY CORNER BOOK REVIEWS – Mary Lou Miller, Librarian
April, 2017
The Spring Wind by Gladis DePree - Margaret Madsen Collection listed by author
The story takes place in Hong Kong. The names of the streets are strange. The people have daily rice instead of daily bread, the language sounds as though someone were singing a tune. This book is a deeply personal account of the
search for meaning in intercultural relations in1970.”
All About the Months by Maymie R. Krythe – Margaret Madsen Collection listed by author
MONTH OF APRIL
“In April in old calendars, is drawn a gallant hawker, pacing a lawn,
Holding a bell’d and hooded fowl of prey, ready to loose him in the airy way,
For daily now, ascends the solar beam, and the warm earth seems in a waking dream;
Insects creep out, levees burst, and flowers rise, and buds enchant the woods
and wing the skies…
*Edmund Spenser
“Much of this book is devoted to the months’ symbolic jewels, from semi-precious stones to the fabulous 44.5 carat “Hope diamond, and flowers from the common field daisy to the most resplendent rose. Their origins and their often bewitching
roles in history are all here.“
Garden to Order by Ken Kraft – Margaret Madisen Collection listed by author "This book was written in 1962 and the reader will find a wealth of gardening information that had received the full endorsement of the W. Atlee Burpee Seed Company back in that day. What the Burpee folk did is the exciting story of a scientific and experimental organization, constantly dreaming up and perfecting new hybrids and growing them on their own farms. It is written with all of Ken’s wit and wisdom, with dividends of anecdotal Americana and portraits of two remarkable American seedmen – W. Atlee Burpee, the company’s founder, and
David Burpee, it’s President year’s ago – thrown in."
13
Sunday,
April 16th, 2017
Following worship
Bring your basket so
you have something to
pu t your eggs in.
Aaron Kechter checks out his haul of Easter Eggs during the 2016 Egg Hunt. How many eggs will your little one find? Egg Hunt will be held after worship on Easter Sunday!
14
Sun Mon Tue Wed
2 3 4 5
9 10 11 12
16 17 18 19
23 24 25 26
30
April 2017
6-8 p.m. RC Band Rehearsal
& Prayer Mtg
6-8 p.m. GS troop 31524
6-8 p.m. RC Band Rehearsal
& Prayer Mtg
9:00 a.m. Worship
10:00 a.m. Coffee Hr.
11:30 a.m. to 7p.m. Restora-
tion Worship Service & SS
9:00 a.m. Worship
10:00 a.m. Coffee Hr. /
Easter Egg Hunt
11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Restoration Worship Service, SS
6:30 p.m. Restoration
Worship & SS
11a.m.-1:30 p.m. TxT OPEN
6:00 p.m. Soup Supper &
Lenten Worship, fh
6:30 p.m. RC Worship
6-8 p.m. RC Band Rehearsal
& Prayer Mtg
6-8 p.m. RC Band Rehearsal
& Prayer Mtg
6-8 p.m. GS troop 31524
11:00-1:30 Txt OPEN
NO. Confirmation
6:00 –7:30 TxT OPEN
6:30 p.m. Restoration
Worship & SS
7:30 a.m.– 3:00 p.m.
Racine Unified
6:00 p.m. Boy Scouts, fh
6:30 Thread by Thread
7:30 a.m.– 3:00 p.m.
Racine Unified
6:00 p.m. Boy Scouts, fh
6:30 Thread by Thread
8:00 p.m.—Crew 242
NO Racine Unified
6:00 p.m. Boy Scouts, fh
6:30 Thread by Thread
9:00 a.m. Worship 10:00
a.m. Coffee Hr./SS 11:30
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Restoration
Worship Service, SS
4:00 to 6:00 Venture Crew
242, Dorcas rm
9:00 a.m. Worship
10:00 a.m. Coffee Hr.
11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Restoration Worship Service,
SS
Easter Sunday
9:00 a.m. Worship
10:00 a.m. Coffee Hr.
11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Resto-
ration Worship Service, SS
4:00 to 6:00 Venture Crew 242,
Dorcas rm
7:30 a.m.– 3:00 p.m.
Racine Unified
6:00 p.m. Boy Scouts, fh
6:30 Thread by Thread
8:00 p.m.—Crew 242
6:30 p.m. Restoration
Worship & SS
15
Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
6 7 8
13 14 15
20 21 22
27 28 29
April 2017
6:30 p.m. Restoration
Worship & SS
1:30 p.m. TxT OPEN
6:00 p.m. Soup Supper &
Lenten Worship, fh
6:30 p.m. RC Worship
6:00 –7:30 p.m.
ADRC Alzheimer Sup-
port Group, hearth room
7:00 p.m.—Maundy
Thurday Service
1:30 Txt OPEN
NO. Confirmation
7:30 TxT OPEN
6:30 p.m. Restoration
Worship & SS
10—Noon ADRC Alz Sup-
port, hearth rm
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Girl Scout
troop 9351
6-7:30 p.m. Girl Scout
Troop 9351
NO Racine Unified
7:00 p.m.. Good Friday
Service
7:30 –11:00 a.m.
Racine Unified
7:30 –11:00 a.m.
RUSD
9:30 a.m. Prayer Shawl mtg
RC Anniversary Dinner &
party set up
NO Racine Unified
6:30 p.m. Restoration
Worship & SS
Restoration Church
Anniversary Dinner &
party
2-6 p.m.—birthday
party , fh
Confirmation Party
3-10 p.m.
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