Waiting Matters

 

 

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time waiting when I don’t know the outcome. On the other hand, when I know what’s coming, waiting is something to be relished. Buying the ticket for a flight, making a packing list, finally packing all the things, even waiting in the airport is fun for me, especially when I know who’s picking me up at the end of the flight.

 

For Christians, advent is a time of waiting, but not the nervous, stressful kind. But the anticipatory, fun kind. We are waiting not because we don’t know who is coming, but precisely because we do. We know that in and through Advent God is reminding us that God comes to us continually, in a baby we call Immanuel, in the family, friends and traditions that fill our days in November and December, in the work and preparation for our celebrations, even in the travel and delays that inevitably arise.

 

Waiting, as a spiritual practice strengthens our faith “muscle” because faith is trusting God, not only when we know what’s going on, but especially when we cannot see what God is doing. So, waiting, the good kind, the kind we have in Advent is practice, it’s a fun way to give our faith a workout with celebration and lights and food and the people we love.

 

Waiting, not only teaches us trust in our God who keeps showing up. It gives us room to listen without needing an answer right this second. We know the answer is coming, it arrives each year at the same time, but we might need to hear something new this Advent.

 

And for those who have someone to miss or have situations keeping them from the joy of Advent and Christmas, waiting makes room for longing, giving room and space for grief while leaning on the God who has shown up every year so far, and will, even in the midst of our pain and sorrow.

 

In the season of Advent, we act all this out in our worship: we light more and more candles each week until, on Christmas Eve, we light the sanctuary with candles held in each hand. By starting with one and letting the light grow each week we acknowledge the darkness in the world and in our own hearts and with each candle lit we trust in the One who is coming.

 

We at Bethlehem celebrate the Long Advent, this ancient practice of making Advent as long as Lent, to mirror Lent’s long sorrow with the long joy of Advent anticipation. Our Advent wreath will be lit on November 8th and shine brighter each week until December 20th. We will celebrate the lighting of the first candle with breakfast that morning after worship. Join us for fellowship; for shared waiting, shared anticipation and shared hope.

 

In Christ, Pastor Anne

 

 

Youth Corner

Ellen Olson, Coordinator of Youth Ministries

Sunday School

We are off to a great start with two months of learning, crafts, and fun together.   Please join us for Sunday school each Sunday morning, 10 am – 10:30 am.

The preschool and kindergarten class meet in the nursery room with Morgan and Didrik sharing the teaching this year.

Grades 1,2,3,4,5, & 6 meet in Augustana Hall classroom with brand new curriculum.  Katie, Erin, and Debbie will be sharing the teaching this year.

 

Noisy Offering

Thank you for your generous gifts of coins and dollars for Noisy Offering. 

Our September Noisy Offering ($155.18) went to Virginia Gay Hospital, Gifts of Hope program.

 

Confirmation

Pastor will be meeting with the seven students and their parents monthly for “Worship and Learn” time.  The first class was Sunday, October 4 from 10:30 am – noon.  Sermon note taking was introduced and discussed, topic discussion was baptism and fellowship family time ended with lunch.

November 8 is the next “Worship and Learn” class.  The topic will be Holy Communion.  Again, the parents will be joining their students.

 

LYO

LYO met Sunday, October 25 at 10:15 am to pack the 16 college care packages.  They also had devotions with Pastor.  The LYO is preparing the Advent breakfast on Sunday, November 8 (with the assistance of the confirmation families) at 10 am.  Please plan to attend.

 

Christmas Program

Yes, you are reading that right.  It is time to start preparations for the Christmas program to be held Wednesday evening, December 16.  I always welcome your assistance and attendance on this very special evening.

 

 

Congregational Annual Meeting

The Bethlehem congregation annual meeting will be held on Sunday, November 15th following 9:00 a.m. worship service.  All voting members of Bethlehem are encouraged to attend. Thank you to council members Chelsea Erhardt, Sondra Gates, and Gregg Sampson who will be leaving the Church Council.

​

 

Advent Breakfast

Advent Breakfast will be on Sunday, November 8th after worship service.  The youth will be serving egg bakes, pastry bar, yogurt bar, coffee, and juice. 

​

 

All Saint’s Sunday November 1st

Let us remember all the saints before God,

For the saints baptized:

Emrey John Welper, son of Cory & Katelyn Welper        

Alaia Lou Wagner, daughter of Dylan Wagner & Alivia Klein    

Crue Alan Schueler, son of Andrew & Morgan Schueler 

Larkin Lance Radeke, son of Luke & Maddux Radeke    

Autumn Marie Burian, daughter of Jerrad & Jaimie Burian     

Johnathan Jeffrey Burian, son of Jerrad & Jaimie Burian      

For all the saints in our hearts:

Jonathan Clingman

Kay West

Paul McClintock, father of Ryan McClintock

Gabriel John Olson, son of Ben & Amy Olson, grandson of John & Ellen Olson

Charles (Pete) Peters, husband of Carol Peters

Evelyn Bland, by Ronald Bland

Anna Flexsenhar, mother of Jan Bearbower

Dell Hanson, husband of Mona Hanson, father of John Hanson

Lyle Bolton, by Elaine Bolton

Mel & Marian Renken, parents of Kimmit Renken and Dandi Armstrong

Leonard Stoulil, father of Judy Renken

Dorothy Stoulil Junkman, mother of Judy Renken

Duane Mangold, husband of Sue Mangold

Ernest & Hazel Mangold, by Sue Mangold

Jerry & Abbie Smith, by Sue Mangold

Darby Stein, by The Stein Family

Ken & Darlene Struve, parents of Shirale Hanson

Dick Dreesman, father of Brenda Krull

Velma & Kenneth Fry, by Marlyn & Ann Jorgensen

Vera & James Jorgensen, by Marlyn & Ann Jorgensen

Forrest & Sarah Nudd, parents of Larry Nudd

Sam Nudd, brother of Larry Nudd

Elmer Nudd, brother of Larry Nudd

Dena Cornell, sister of Larry Nudd

William & Marilyn Wolfe, parents of Kindra Nudd

Donald Wolfe, brother of Kindra Nudd

Bonnie Sanders, friend of Ellen Olson

Marsha Olson Robles, sister of John Olson

Luke Wilson, friend of Steve Wallace

Devesh Singh, friend of Steve Wallace

Charlie Lough, father of Ray Lough

Roger Tucker, father of Trish Lough

Ron & Pat Roushar, parents of Jackie Bear

Pastor Anne, by Jackie Bear

Our Parents, by Dave & Lisa Vermedahl

Denny Thole, by Dave & Lisa Vermedahl

William & Bernita Stock, parents of Roxann Harms

Ray & Sally Harms, parents of Randy Harms

Melva Metcalf, sister of Roxann Harms

James Williams, brother of Pastor Anne Williams

​

 

Veteran’s Day November 11th

Members of Bethlehem Lutheran will be busy in November, with a calendar full of worship services, prayer groups, council and committee meetings and the day-to-day business of the living church. 

 

We begin with All Saints Day on Nov. 1 (Daylight Savings Time ends so remember to set your clocks back an hour) and the First Sunday in Long Advent on Nov. 8. Next is our congregational meeting on Nov. 15 and Sunday services Nov. 22 and 29, with Thanksgiving in between.

 

This month, we’ll also remember the men and women who make our freedom of worship possible on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

 

There are an estimated 19 million veterans of the armed forces, about 10 percent of them women, in the United States. Only about seven percent of all American adults served in the military, so it’s a select few of our family, friends and neighbors we owe so much to.

 

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, representing the armistice that began at the 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month of 1918 and unofficially ended hostilities on the Western Front of what was then referred to as The Great War.

 

It was first celebrated in 1919, became yearly in 1926 and became a holiday in 1938, ironically just a year before a Second World War began in Europe. On the brink of that war, President Franklin D. Roosevelt would spell out his four freedoms … the freedom of speech and expression, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

 

Congress and President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954 to recognize all veterans and not focus on the end of one specific war; the date we observed Veterans Day has also changed, to late October and back to Nov. 11 since, but the intent of the day remains the same: To thank our veterans for preserving all the freedoms we enjoy today and every day.

Bill Martin

 

Thank you Veterans

 

Thank you Veterans and Active Service Members for you Service: Maurice Gardner, Terry Henkle, Darin Humiston, Stephanie Humiston, Chris Jorgensen, Jim Kelley, Toni Parizek, Steve Wallace, Matthew Uthoff, Stoner Nudd, Dalton Hill, Bob Dahl, Emily Oldfather, MacKinsie Severide, Jim Johannsen

 

 Food for Thought

**Meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 12:00 noon @ Brickside Brew n Chew in Vinton**

November – A Day to Pick Your Own Cotton by Michael Philips (#2 in the Shenandoah Sisters series)

December – Christmas in Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle (#2 in the Chestnut Ridge series)