Bethlehem June News

I recently saw a reel on Instagram that talked about something called the Surfer Mentality which says: “Enjoy every ride while it lasts, there’s always another wave coming soon.” Now, of course, blanket statements like this can’t be applied to every situation in life. But taken with a grain of salt, and not as the Gospel Truth, there is some incredible wisdom in looking at life this way.

Author Sahil Bloom summarizes the Surfer Mentality by saying: “When a surfer gets up on a wave, they enjoy the present moment, even though they know with certainty that the wave will eventually end. They fully enjoy THIS wave, with the wisdom and awareness that there are always more waves coming.” This is a call to be present in the moment. To savor and enjoy the blessings that are in our life now. Far too often we can get caught up in the future. We look ahead and see that even the best waves are going to die out eventually. And it can be all too easy to fall into the “well what does it even matter?” mindset. “What’s the point in trying to ride this wave? We all know how it’s going to end!” And while that’s true, if you think about it, everything in life is fleeting, temporary, and finite. That’s part of the deal when it comes to living this kind of mortal, earthly existence. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t still give it a go! There is joy, and exhilaration, and happiness to be had while you are riding that wave. And rather than become too preoccupied with the outcome, however inevitable it might be, we are called to savor and enjoy the present.

The other piece that can play a factor in this is how that wave ends. Sometimes you might be able to ride it until it dies out naturally, or bail out before it crashes down around you. But eventually we are all going to wipeout. And we need to realize that wiping out isn’t the end of the world. Sure, you’re gonna do some potentially disorienting underwater acrobatics, maybe get your sinuses cleaned out by nature’s Neti Pot. But if every surfer gave up after their first wipeout there would be no surfers at all. Failure is a part of life, and as the great Mike Ditka once said, it isn’t fatal. We all are going to mess up, fall short, wipeout. Luckily, there’s another wave that’s already forming on the horizon. There’s always going to be another chance for a killer ride for anyone who is brave enough to shake the water out of their ears and try again.

That lines up perfectly with our Lutheran understanding of baptism. There are going to be days where we just wipeout. Days where we fail to be the people that God knows that we can be. And thanks to God’s grace and unconditional love, there’s always tomorrow. Each and every new day is another chance to get things right, and to try again. Right after this wave is another, and another, and another one after that.

Dear people of God, enjoy whatever wave you are currently riding. Soak up every last morsel of joy, sunshine, and fun. And know that when it ends, whether you ride that wave all the way into shore, or you wipeout and go for a ride in the whitewash washing machine, there’s always going to be another wave right behind it that’s just waiting for you.

Surf’s Up, Pastor Sam

June Worship Schedule

Sunday Morning Worship:

June 4, 11, 18 & 25 - 9 & 10:30 am

Worship usually takes place in the sanctuary for both services, and there is the option to sit outside in the eco-narthex as well. The livestream usually takes place during the 10:30 am or as indicated.

Learning Circles take place during the 10:30 am worship service except during the summer. We have classes for ages 3 thru 6th grade and nursery services available, too!

Special Congregational Meeting - June 4

You are invited to a special meeting of the congregation. We are pleased to announce that Deacon Mindy Bugaj has accepted the call to serve as the Youth Director at Bethlehem and St. Andrews. Deacon Mindy comes with vast experience, wonderful skills, deep compassion and grace. Welcome Deacon Mindy!

Deacons in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are called leaders with significant education and are therefore considered rostered leaders in the ELCA. Because Mindy is a deacon, she must be called to serve Bethlehem, in the same way that a pastor is called to serve a congregation. Therefore we are calling a special meeting of the congregation on Sunday, June 4th, at 10 AM, between services. At that meeting we will cast a written ballot to call Deacon Mindy Bugaj as our youth director, and take a second vote to approve her compensation package. Your vote is needed and we invite you to come.

You must be a member of the congregation to cast a ballot, but all are welcome at the meeting to learn more about our new youth director.

Children's Ministry

Learning Circles - We will be taking a break from Learning Circles for the summer. Our last week of Learning Circles will be on Sunday, June 4th. Come and join us as we celebrate a "Kick-Off to Summer" party at the Learning Circle time during the 10:30 service. Our Learning Circles will start up again in September.

VBS - We still need volunteers for our Stellar VBS, June 26th-30th. If you are available to be a "Space Crew" Leader or Helper, please fill out the Stellar VBS Volunteer Form. Thanks for your help!

Bethlehem Serves - We will be collecting school supplies to fill backpacks for Lutheran World Relief and local schools in San Diego county. Plan on joining us at Bethlehem Serves on Sept. 17th to fill the backpacks. This is a great activity for families to participate in together.

If you have any questions regarding Children’s Ministry, please contact Jana Hegg at childrensministry@blcenc.org.

VBS 2023

Registration is now open!

Click this Link to Register!

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Vacation Bible School (VBS) 2023

June 26th - 30th

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Join our Stellar journey through space as we explore ways we can share the light of Jesus in our world.

Children Age 4 - 5th Grade

Cost: $75 ($30 for 2nd child)

925 Balour Ave.

Encinitas, CA

We are in need of volunteers for our Stellar VBS! If you would like to volunteer, click the link below:

VBS Volunteer Form

Questions? childrensministry@blcenc.org

Music Ministry

June Music Happenings - Bethlehem Music's Spring Concert "Songs of Joy" is on Sunday, June 11 @ 4 pm. The concert features music performed by the Good News Singers, JuBellation Ringers, World Music Ensemble, Chimers, Children's Choir, Solos and our newest ensemble, Band of Bethlehem. Enjoy the variety of talent that we have at Bethlehem! A free will offering will be collected for the music program.

Any congregational members who are interested in sharing their musical talents for our summer worship services should contact monagoetsch@yahoo.com. We love to offer a variety of musical talents for the special music slot.

We continue to advertise for a part time accompanist/organist to replace Kim Froke who retires at the end of June. If you have any recommendations please contact our Pastors or Mona Goetsch. Kim's last day will be June 18th .

ELCA Advocacy

“Advocacy in Quarantine” - “AiQ” is a 30-minute Zoom call on Wednesdays at 12:00pm with Regina Q. Banks, Director of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy – California. LOPP is currently following several bills that address issues of affordable housing, the climate crisis, food insecurity, and immigration and refugees, and more. Each week Regina will give us an update on the status of these bills and suggest a quick advocacy Action Item for us.

ELCA Launches Truth and Healing Movement - The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, has announced the launch of the ELCA's Truth and Healing Movement. The focus of the initiative is to increase the church's understanding of the impacts of colonization on Indigenous people in past generations and in the present.

In 2016, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly adopted the Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery. Following this action, Bishop Eaton commissioned a task force to lead the work outlined in the repudiation. The Truth & Healing Movement will enlist and empower members to become involved in the areas of focus started by the task force: development of appropriate settler narrative from a Lutheran perspective; encouraging the ritual practice of land acknowledgement; understanding Lutheran participation in Indian Boarding Schools; and support for communities impacted by murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. The movement will also offer ways to participate in the national Truth and Healing Movement.

ELCA Advocacy Action Center - Check out this site to see the latest “Action Alerts” on vital issues affecting our community right now: housing, assistance to Palestine, support for Augusta Victoria Hospital, and disaster relief.

ELCA Advocacy Monthly Update

United Nations and State Edition

Advocacy Connections

LOPP- CA: Facebook, Twitter

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton: Facebook, Twitter

Pacifica Synod: Facebook, Twitter

ELCA Advocacy: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

ELCA: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

For information or questions about Bethlehem’s Advocacy Team, contact Karin Kloehn at blcadvocacy@gmail.com.

ELCA Advocacy Opportunity

Full-Time ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellowship Opportunity - Do you know someone who would be interested in a year-long full-time hybrid position with benefits? The ELCA is looking for applicants for its Hunger Advocacy Fellowships in Arizona, Washington, D.C., New York City, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington State. The year-long position combines leadership development and faith formation with impactful advocacy that moves toward an end to hunger and a just world where all are fed. Find more information and applications at bit.ly/elcahungerfellows.

Lutheran Lobby Day

Lutheran Lobby Day Report — “We are mud creatures" - I returned from Lutheran Lobby Day in sunny Sacramento, California both tired and inspired, as one of 60 advocate participants who together visited over 30 legislative offices over the course of a Wednesday in mid-May. It was wonderful to be able to gather in person again for the first time since 2019. But before we went out to our meetings, Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda exhorted us in our opening remarks to remember that advocacy is central to our baptism as Lutherans. She reminded us the last of the five elements of the affirmation of baptism is to “strive for justice and peace in all the earth.” Then she left us with an indelible image, saying we are “mud creatures” — the dust of the earth mixed with the dew of the Holy Spirit and molded by the two hands of God, Word and Wisdom, to live into our destiny to bring abundant life to all.

With that we dispersed into our meetings for the day, advocating for affordable housing, clean drinking water, updated food labeling, and better methane emissions monitoring. Below are three photos from the meetings I attended with staff from different Assemblymember’s offices.

I hope you’ll consider joining us at Lutheran Lobby Day ’24 next May. And if you want to watch the full video of Dr. Moe-Lobeda’s talk, it is at Lutheran Lobby Day 2023 - YouTube. The opening remarks start at 7:50 and her talk starts at 15:20.

- Louise Julig

Pajama Project

The Pajama Project will meet in the Family Center on Saturday, June 24th, from 9 am to 2 pm to cut out PJ'S. Volunteers needed! Contact: Belinda Simonini (760) 822-9573.

New Columbarium Project

We are so excited to announce that plans to build our new outdoor columbarium space are underway! We are in the process of finalizing the design, contracting with a company to build both the niches and the supporting frame, and we have already begun working with a local artist who will be creating a mosaic installation to surround the columbarium.

We have also begun the presale of niches. Each niche has space for up to two urns. You do not need to be a member to purchase one - all are welcome here at Bethlehem. The price per niche is $2300 until July 1st, and $2500 after that date. Please sign up by contacting the church office, and payments can be made via check, or online here.

If you have any questions, or would like to inquire about payment plans, please contact the church office. If you would like to simply donate to this project, but do not wish to purchase a niche, your generosity and stewardship would be so appreciated.

As Christians, we know that we are connected with all who have come before us in the faith – a great cloud of witnesses. Through this columbarium space we bear witness to that fact, and will provide a much needed place of final rest for members of our community.

Women of Welcome (WoW)

Save the Date!

Bethlehem Women’s Retreat

September 8 – 10

at Luther Glen in Oak Glen, CA

more details to follow!

Stephen Ministry

Do You Have Challenging Older Parents? - As part of our continuing education for our Stephen Ministers we are currently studying the book Coping With Your Difficult Older Parent, A Guide for Stressed-Out Children by Grace Lebow and Barbara Kane with Irwin Lebow. The book describes practical advice for grown children dealing with aging parents who are extremely unreasonable, controlling, negative, or critical.

The advice given throughout the book is similar for most situations: Don’t try to please them; you cannot. Be direct, calm, and reassuring, Have compassion for their fears and their situation. Set limits and don’t forget to take care of yourself.

Remember that our team of Stephen Ministers is here to support you when you are going through difficult times in your life. If you would like to know more about Stephen Ministry, please speak with Pr Laura, Pr Sam, or one of our Stephen Leaders, Molly Hall, Laure Reynolds, or Suzi Westmoreland.

Stewardship Stream

Celebrating Pentecost Generosity - Christmas is the time in the church year when we typically think of gift giving. Rooted in the example of the Magi gifts to the baby Jesus, we shower family, friends and sometimes others with generosity.

We just celebrated Pentecost and it is sometimes called the Church’s birthday, yet another reason for gift giving! But there’s another reason to think of Pentecost as a gift-giving event. . The bestowing of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and, in turn, on all of us who follow in the Christian tradition is tremendous gift to us. And what does that gift bring? According to Galations chapter 5, verses 22 and 23, “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” As Pentecost climaxes the mission of Jesus and begins our mission, let us be thankful for these gifts of the Spirit and, in turn, put those fruits – including generosity – into action!

Volunteers Needed for Sat. Breakfast at St. Andrews

Volunteers Needed! Saturday Breakfast at St. Andrews - Our mission to feed the hungry a hot breakfast each Saturday is starting back up again, and the kitchen at St. Andrew’s is now open for business. Bethlehem will be preparing breakfast on the 4th Saturday of each month. We need 6 volunteers to crack and scramble 6 doz. eggs, cook 60 hash browns, 13 lbs. of bacon, make 80 pancakes and serve up plates with a smile! Click below to volunteer!

Opportunities to Engage

Qigong/Tai chi -The weekly Qigong/Tai chi practices at our church is available by Zoom. You are able to join online from your computer on Wednesdays at 6 pm. Also, Chacha is having a Friday at 9 am practice by Zoom.

These practices are moving meditation practices that focus on relaxation, breath, and visualization while carrying out gentle movements. Everyone is welcome, no previous experience is necessary. If you are interested in joining please e-mail Chacha at chachapinillap@gmail.com. Please let her know which of the practices or if you would like to be invited to both practices. She will send an e-mail invitation with the zoom link.

Scraps and Prayers - This ministry sews quilts for people in need of comfort and care. We meet each Wednesday morning from 9am-11am in the Multi-Use Room. We need your help sewing and tying quilts. No experience necessary! Stop by for an hour or stay for the whole morning; we'd love to share our scraps and prayers with you. For more information, contact Bobby Allen at roberta798@aol.com or Laure Reynolds at laurereyn@roadrunner.com.

Pastor Sam's Sermon Blog

Did you miss one of Pastor Sam's sermons? Want to double check if he actually said what you think he did? Accidentally fall asleep and want to go back and read the section you missed? Check out all of Pastor Sam's sermons on his blog at: https://sinningboldlywithsam.wordpress.com/

Global Mission "Global Links" E-Newsletter

Rooted and built in Jesus! This is the core of our work as the ELCA walks with more than 80 companion churches in other countries to participate in God's reconciling mission through proclamation and service. Participating in these relationships, ELCA members see how people's lives are touched by the gospel, how their lives are transformed and renewed, and how their communities live in hope. If you would like to receive the ELCA Global Mission e-newsletter "Global Links", please click on the following link to subscribe: https://community.elca.org/elca-email-subscriptions

Bethlehem Cares Fund

Bethlehem Cares Fund: For members of Bethlehem, we have a fund to assist you with temporary financial needs such as medical, home, family or personal needs.Contact Pastor Laura, Pastor Sam, Rose Moldenhauer or Molly Hall. If you are able to contribute to the fund please mark your gift to BLC with the notation Bethlehem Cares.

Newsletters Available on Our Website

Have you missed one of our monthly e-newsletters? Have you wished you could open up that newsletter again to get that bit of information you were looking for? Well, now you can. On our Newsletter Archive page there are links available to view current and past newsletters.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

www.blcenc.org