Bethlehem News

Sunday Worship at 9:00 am

Every second Sunday of the month, Bethlehem offers dinner worship we call The Table at 4:00 pm. 

Join us for a family friendly evening of worship, simple meal and faith formation. The Table includes a short worship service, holy communion, and guitar-led songs.
The next bible study will meet on January 6. We are reading The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage by Richard Rohr
Deacon Amy Schmuck offers a weekly text study via Zoom every Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. We’ll explore the readings for the upcoming Sunday, following the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The Zoom link stays the same each week, and everyone is welcome—feel free to invite friends and family from near or far to participate. If you have any questions or experience issues accessing the Zoom meeting, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Deacon Amy. To receive the Zoom link, contact the church office.
We typically study the text for the following Sunday to follow the RCL. This week’s texts are:

Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

 

Bible in A Year 2025-2026

Join Deacon Amy and your faith community for an endeavor to read the Bible in a Year beginning with our liturgical new year: November 30th, 2025.  

If you wish to participate, the reading plan is a downloadable pdf: BibleProject_Reading_Plan_2025.pdf  The plan includes links to online resources from “The Bible Project.” 

There is also a very helpful website that expands each day’s learning opportunity, BibleProject: One Story That Leads to Jesus

Deacon Amy plans to gather us for community and discussion about once a month throughout the year to commiserate, support each other, and share our new insights and learnings. 

"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path."- Psalm 119:105

 

To learn more go to:  https://www.lsmacademy.org/program

Enrollment is now open for Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) 2026 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN! LSM is a faith-based residential music academy for high school students who come together to immerse themselves in musical excellence and build a supportive and fun community. 
Musical experiences include large ensembles (band, choir, orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, and electives like handbells, jazz, musical theatre, composition, conducting, church music, and more.
Priority enrollment deadline: December 1
Standard enrollment deadline: March 1 

2025 Synod Assembly: Follow-Up Resources

Want to read more about what happened at the 2025 Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly? The following website provides slides, some of the videos shown at the Synod Assembly meeting, links to information from the workshops, and other information about specific ministries and topics: https://rmselca.org/synod-assembly-2025-dios-está-aquí-god-here

A congregational synopsis is available in PDF form at: https://rmselca.org/sites/rmselca.org/files/media/2025_synod_assembly_overview-2.pdf

In addition to the events taking place in the main assembly there were a number of workshops and a few have more information available:

Below you can also find more information about what was discussed at the Pre-Assembly Immigration Summit Event:

  • Border Immersion experience Nov. 1-7 with Bishop Meghan Aelabouni. 
  • Many women and children are leaving the US and attempting to live in Mexico at the border until immigration issues clarify or change in the US.  They need uniforms, shoes, supplies to attend school. 
    • https://www.columban.org – click on red donate button and in the comment/memo space type in “For Juarez Migrant Ministry”
      • Funds will go to enable students to attend school
    • Or make out a check to the Missionary Society of St. Columban, send in and write “For Juarez Migrant Ministry” on the check’s memo line.
      • Missionary Society of St. Columban
      • 1902 N. Calhoun St.
      • St. Columbans, NE 68056
  • Current Landscape of Immigration & AMMPARO information can be found at:

Faith Beyond Fear”
– An Ecumenical Message from the Bishops

Click here for video

Click the link to watch: https://vimeo.com/1125678786/7e896cc1e9

Supporting and Learning More About Young Adults in Global Mission

YAGM is part of the Young Adult Ministry of the ELCA, which offers inspiration, opportunities and resources for young adults and for people who facilitate young adult ministry in their communities of faith. YAGM is shaping the present and future of this church. The program develops passionate, faithful leaders by providing volunteers with space to consider their sense of identity, God’s work in the world and their place within it all. Here are some ways you can support YAGM and Young Adult Ministry:

  • Do you know a young adult who might be interested in a year of service? The YAGM program invites ELCA young adults ages 21-35 into a transformative, yearlong journey in international service. As they offer themselves in service, ELCA young adults are shaped by the witness of our global neighbors. They share in the journeys of companion churches and organizations in one of our many country programs. We invite you to share the application link with young adults in your church or with your congregation’s young adult ministry.
  • When you give to ELCA ministries through Where Needed Most, you make a difference in the lives of young adults who live and serve around the world and are becoming leaders in the church at every level. Not only do gifts to ELCA Where Needed Most fund YAGM, they also make possible the ministries that nurture young adults and foster callings to service in many different forms.
  • Support Young Adult Ministry more broadly. There are ELCA ministries for young adults around the country, with more in development all the time! We invite you to get in touch with a local campus ministry or Gather community, which are always looking for volunteers, board members, meals, advocates, supportive mentors and more. They would love for you to connect them to the college students and young adults in your life!
  • Tell your friends about this work. YAGM reminds us that God continues to raise up people who serve and care for others, fight for justice and deeply love Christ’s church. Please tell the stories of YAGM alums to encourage others! By sharing these stories in your congregation (or inviting an alum to share in a service or small group), you spread hope and excitement throughout the ELCA for a new generation of leaders who step up year after year. Young Adult Ministry is important to our church! Our YAGM volunteers inspire us to be bold and to use our voices for the sake of this church and the world.

 

November 2, 2025 https://ladailypost.com/all-shall-be-well-for-such-is-the-kingdom-of-god/

November 23, 2025 https://ladailypost.com/all-shall-be-well-give-thanks-in-all-circumstances/

December 14, 2025 https://ladailypost.com/all-shall-be-well-advent-is-paradox/

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