Bethlehem May News

The theme for this year’s Easter Vigil was “Behold I Make All Things New!” God’s Spirit is always moving in the church and always making us new by pressing us forward into God’s grace. Here at Bethlehem many things are being made new. What a blessing!

We are in the midst of interviewing for our new youth ministry director position. We have several excellent candidates and are very excited for the new energy and ideas this person will bring. Initial interviews are complete and we will be moving forward with final interviews in the coming weeks. We expect to have a person in place by June 1st. Our high school students will be traveling to the border near El Paso this summer with our new youth director to learn more about issues of immigration and gather at tables with immigrant families.

After nearly 40 years of service to Bethlehem, Kim Froke will be stepping down as an organist and musician in our midst. We give thanks to God, not only for Kim’s musical gifts, but for his grace and joy and energy and all that he has added to the life of this congregation. His last Sunday with us in this position will be June 4th and we look forward to thanking him and honoring him on that day.

We are currently advertising for and seeking a new part-time organist to work with our organist Judy Collier to bring music to our worship life. In addition, Mark Weed has graciously agreed to take over the bell choir, and we have begun an instrumental group under his direction. Their first rehearsal was last week. Soon we will have another expression of music to add to our worship together.

Our new outdoor columbarium space, complete with ocean themed mosaic installation, is underway. Presale of the niches begins Sunday, April 30th and the list of those who would like to be placed in the columbarium is growing, including both pastors. This Sunday our mosaic artist will be on site to assist us in making pressed glass to be added to the mosaic artwork. We are a congregation surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.

The long awaited Employee Retention Credit (ERC) dollars are finally in the bank. Your council is in the middle of lively and faithful discussion of how to spend these significant dollars to secure the congregation’s future and move our ministry forward into all that God is preparing. Two forums are currently being planned to give you all the details and receive your input and wisdom. These dollars are an unusual grace and opportunity.

Finally, our greatest gift is one another. With energy and grace and faith, we are all being make new, as we are molded by the hands of the faithful potter. A community of believers is a living expression of the movement of the Spirit. Together, we will become who God would have us be, both as beloved children of God, and beloved community — for God is making all things new.

God bless you all, Pastor Laura

May Worship Schedule

Sunday Morning Worship:

May 7, 14, 21 and 28 - 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. We have classes for ages 3 thru 6th grade and nursery services available, too!

Teacher Appreciation Week

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Bethlehem Lutheran Church will recognize all teachers and educators in our midst to say thank you! We will recognize all those who help support our children and youth each week, as well as those who work in education outside of our church walls. Please join us to say thank you during both services on May 7th.

Dr. Mary Ann Horton Visit

We are overjoyed to announce that we will be hosting a special talk and book signing with local author and transgender activist Dr. Mary Ann Horton. Mary Ann Horton is the author of Trailblazer: Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America and her work to bring transgender equality and benefits to the workplace earned her the Trailblazer Outie Award. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.

This event will take place on Sunday, May 28th at noon. We will be providing a light lunch, so please RSVP using the link below so that we know how much food to prepare.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044dabad29a6fc1-lunch1#/

Part of our work as a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) congregation is to engage in ongoing education, reflection, and to lift up and center voices from the LGBTQIA+ community. Please join us for what will be an incredible event!

Children's Ministry

First Communion Class - Bethlehem Lutheran Church will be holding a First Communion Class for children in Kdg. - 5th Grade. The class will go over the history and meaning of communion and will give children an opportunity to ask questions at their level. The schedule for the class is as follows:

May 21 - 12 pm - First Class in the Multi-Use Room
May 28 - during worship - First Communion
June 4 - 12 pm - Follow-up Class

Please let us know if you are interested in having your child(ren) attend this class by emailing Jana Hegg at childrensministry@blcenc.org. Also, feel free to reach out to Pastor Laura, Pastor Sam if you have any questions.

We look forward to sharing this experience with your family!

Sunday School / Learning Circle Schedule - Our Sunday morning Learning Time continues each week during the 10:30 service. We are using a new multi-age classroom curriculum which emphasizes the use of peer buddies across all ages. Please note that Learning Circles will take a break during the summer months. Our last Learning Circle before the break will be on June 4th. Here is our Learning Circle schedule and themes for the month of May:

May 7 - The Road to Emmaus
May 14 - Jesus Ascends
May 21 - Music with Mona
May 28 - The Holy Spirit
June 4 - Saul to Paul

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

Holy Week was filled with music by our various ensembles. Thank you to all the talented musicians that chose to serve through music. We have started rehearsals again and will be working toward Pentecost and our Spring concert on Sunday, June 11th @ 4 pm.

The Band of Bethlehem led by Mark Weed, had their first rehearsal on April 23. Rehearsals will be 30 minutes to an hour depending on what they are working on. The group will be working toward performing a piece or two at the Spring concert on June 11th. For further information please contact Mark at weedster1@gmail.com or catch him at church after the last service in the family center.

As many have heard, Kim Froke will be retiring as our part time organist, choir accompanist and handbell director. After 43 years of providing music for Bethlehem he has decided it is time to have more free time. Thank you Kim for your faithful service!!! We have posted the job qualifications in the American Guild of Organists -San Diego website and letters have been sent to the music departments of local colleges. If you have any suggestions for any part of the job, please contact Mona Goetsch. A brief recognition of his service will be on June 4th at the 10:30 service. Kim's last day will be at the Spring Concert on June 11th. Judy Collier will continue her role as organist/keyboardist. Mona Goetsch will continue directing the choirs. Mark Weed will continue as director of the Band of Bethlehem. In addition, Mark has agreed to become the Director of the JuBellation Ringers beginning in September. Rehearsals for the bells and Good News Singers will move to Wednesday evenings in the Fall to accommodate Mark's schedule.

Here is the schedule of groups leading worship in May:

May 7 - Second Sabbath
May 14 - Children's Choir and Children's Chimers
May 21 - Mona Goetsch, Mark Reynolds, duet
May 28 - Good News Singers

Vacation Bible School Dancers Needed - Vacation Bible School is coming up soon (June 26 -30) and we are in need of dancers to learn the moves for our VBS songs. The dancers will be teaching the moves to the kids each day as the band sings the songs. Eden LaClair will be teaching the dance moves to interested people with rehearsals on Sundays from 9:30-10:00 am. First rehearsal was April 30th. Future rehearsals will be scheduled to fit the groups availability. Please contact Mona Goetsch at monagoetsch@yahoo.com if you are interested. The opening and closing sessions are 9:00 -9:30 am and 11:30-12:00 Monday through Friday of that week.

ELCA Advocacy

Lutheran Lobby Day – May 17 – Register now!

Lutheran Lobby Day is fast approaching! Wednesday, May 17th. Free registration and details here.
The Lobby Day schedule is now available. 2023 Lobby Day Schedule.
Did you know that you can fly up and back to Sacramento for the day for less than $200? Southwest Airlines
Join us as we gather to pray, learn, and meet with our California legislators. We’ll teach you how to advocate for the issues that are important to you. It is a powerful experience to express our faith-based positions on policies to our representatives.

“Advocacy in Quarantine” - “AiQ” is a 30-minute Zoom call on Wednesdays at 12:00 pm 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.

Lutheran Lobby Day

Join us for Lutheran Lobby Day on Wednesday, May 17th, to advocate for housing and environmental justice for the most vulnerable communities in California. After three years of cancelled or virtual Lobby Days, we are meeting in Sacramento in person again! No previous advocacy experience necessary, as you’ll be trained and paired with an experienced facilitator for each meeting.

Traveling to Sacramento can be an easy one-day trip, not even requiring an overnight stay. The last time I went in 2019 it was a powerful experience meeting legislative staff in person and seeing Lutherans from around the state all with a common purpose. Photos below are from that event.

Registration is free and open until May 9th at https://lutheranpublicpolicyca.org/lutheran-lobby-day-2023.

If finances are a hurdle to attending Lobby Day, please contact Regina Banks of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy CA, Regina.Banks@elca.org, as assistance may be available.

Feel free as well to contact me for any questions at ljulig@me.com.

Adventure Ministry

Save the Date! - We hope you can join us for another water adventure:

Saturday, May 20

9 to 11 am on the water

11 am Lunch

Aqua Adventures in Mission Bay

1548 Quivira Way

San Diego CA 92109

https://www.aqua-adventures.com/

Parking - You will find plenty of free parking in the dirt lot across the street from Aqua Adventures.

Equipment - You can bring your own equipment and launch from Aqua Adventures. No cost, but they will ask you to sign a release.

Rentals - If you need to rent equipment, we recommend that you go online and reserve it early.

Single kayaks: $25 for the first 90 minutes. $5 for each additional 30 minutes.
Standup paddle boards and tandem kayaks: $30 for the first 90 minutes. $5 for each additional 30 minutes.
You can also rent hydro bikes, pedal kayaks, canoes, and more!

Lunch - Bring a lunch and we will picnic after the paddle.

Questions? Contact Dennis Astroth, Eileen Lajimodiere, or Suzi Westmoreland. Or send an email to blcsm@outlook.com.

Pajama Project

The Pajama Project will meet in the Family Center on Saturday, May 27th, from 9 am to 2 pm to cut out PJ'S. Volunteers needed!

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

Stressed? Discouraged? Lonely? Sad? Don’t Suffer Alone. - Sometimes we fall into a trap where we think it’s a sign of weakness to ask for help. So when we’re stressed, discouraged, lonely, or sad, we try to keep our struggles hidden and are reluctant to ask for help. However, that’s not God’s plan. Galatians 6:2 says, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." God wants us to care for others—and allow others to care for us in our time of need.

If you’re sad or struggling inside, don’t suffer alone. Ask for help. We’ve got a team of Stephen Ministers who are ready to provide confidential one-to-one care, encouragement, and support to help you through a tough time. Find out more about Stephen Ministry by talking with Pr Laura, Pr Sam, or one of our Stephen Leaders: Suzi Westmoreland, Laure Reynolds, or Molly Hall. Our Stephen Ministers are ready to bring God’s love and care into your life.

Food Pantry

THANK YOU for supporting St. Andrews Food Pantry. We collected aver 50 bags of groceries during our food drive and raised $1708 to send directly to St. Andrews to purchase necessary food items. The pantry is distributing groceries every Thursday to about 175 families. Thank you for all that you do for our community!

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.

COVID Vaccine Help

If you need help navigating the Covid-19 vaccine sign up process, we are here to help. Our Stephen Ministry/Parish Nurse team can assist with:

Finding out your eligibility to receive a vaccine.
Helping you find a vaccination site and make an appointment.
Assisting with transportation to the site.

Please call the church office, (760) 753-1026, and we will get you the help you need.

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