Greeting from Pastor Anne

Summer just hits different. I don’t know if it’s the long hot days, or the nostalgia for the days of no school but it just seems to flow a little differently from the rest of the year. Even in the church calendar there’s no major festivals after Pentecost all the way until Reformation Sunday.

Pentecost is a Jewish holiday, like Passover, that coincides with major events in the life of the early church. Pentecost is celebrated 50 days (therefore pent, like pentagon) after the first day of Passover, or in our case, Easter. Pentecost is a moving festival because it’s based on when Easter is. On Pentecost we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the church. This summer it’s going to be on June 8th.

June 8th, not coincidentally, is also the first of our three Sunday evening worship services we’ll hold over the summer. We’re hoping to gather outside, in the grassy space north and east of the church, but we’ll wait and see what the weather holds for us.

We’re offering evening worship this summer because summer is summer, and sitting out in the evening is awesome! And it’s nice to have options every once in a while.

So, mark your calendars. We’ll have Sunday evening worship on June 8th, July 13th and August 10th.

Did I mention the nostalgia of no school summer days? The other piece of ministry that Bethlehem commits to in the summer is helping out feed kiddos who take part in the summer meal program offered at Tilford. Bethlehem is responsible for providing two volunteers at Tilford on Wednesdays between 11 and 1 pm.

It’s not physically demanding work, and there’s need for all kinds of tasks to be done. If you can help one Wednesday this summer, we’d love to have you. For more information and to sign up, contact the church office.

Pastor Anne

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Musician Sunday May 4th

We would like to celebrate Lois Martin’s 25 years of musical service at Bethlehem on Sunday May 4th.  We are so blessed that Lois has shared her musical talent with us.  Thank you Lois!

Youth Corner

Ellen Olson, Coordinator of Youth Ministries

LYO

LYO served a delicious Easter breakfast between services on April 20. Over $200 was generously given to support their summer mission trip.

Sunday School

On April 6, Sunday school students packed 10 college care packages to our college students.  Our college students were most appreciative to receive this surprise gift. Sunday school classes ended on April 27 and will resume in September.  We are blessed to have members who always say yes to teaching.  On Sunday, May 11 we will recognize Katie Kuhn, Erin Heims, Roxann Harms, Emily Hanson, Stephanie Humiston and Joye Moore.

Noisy Offering

Thank you for your generous gifts of coins and dollars for the March Noisy offering. $117.87 was collected for ELCA Good Gifts.

EWALU Summer Camp

Camp brochures are available on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall.  Scholarships are available for all those wishing to attend.  Contact Ellen Olson and she will take care of the details.

Spring Carnival

Mark your calendars for our annual Family Spring Carnival to be held Wednesday, April 30 at Kiwanis Park from 5:30 – 7:00 pm.   The evening will begin with a sack supper for everyone.  Pastor will then share the story of Creation, Genesis 1:1-2:4.  Games and crafts will follow with the confirmation class, all with the theme of Creation.  Friends are invited to attend as well.  Please text Ellen or call the church office if you would like to attend.

Vacation Bible School

Mark your calendars for a week of FUN.  Vacation Bible School will be at the Vinton Presbyterian Church this year (and we are again partnering with Wesley United Methodist Church). We will be going TRUE NORTH as we learn in this wild world today that Jesus is always our true north.

The dates are Sunday, July 20 through Thursday, July 24 from 6-8 pm for those completing 4-year-old preschool through completion of the 4th grade.  An optional light supper for participants will be served at 5:30 pm each evening. Registration is open now. There will be paper registrations on the display table in the fellowship hall as well as a sign-up option on the website, vbspro.events/p/vinton2025

If you would like to volunteer to help in ANY way, please contact Ellen Olson.  

High School Graduates

There are three high school students that will be graduating from high school this May.

Zachary Klopping and Miles Neblung will be graduating from Vinton-Shellsburg High School and Ryan Sivola will be graduating from Center Point – Urbana.

The graduates will be recognized during the May 18th worship service with a reception to follow.

God’s blessing to our graduates.

Spring Cleaning – Garage Sale

It is time to think about spring cleaning. Are you wondering where you will go with your stuff?  Well, we have the answer.  Bring it to our church garage sale!

Bring your quality items for our garage sale to be held on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 (which also happens to be Vinton city wide garage sales).  We will have the Bethlehem garage sale on both days; 8 am – 2 pm.  It will be a free will donation with proceeds this year going to Vacation Bible School and children’s program expenses.

Please bring your items to church Monday, June 2 – Thursday, June 5 between 8 am and noon or Wednesday evening, June 4 between 5 – 7 pm or call the church office to make other arrangements.

There will be tables set up and marked so you will be able to place your items on the appropriate tables.

On sale days, there will be coffee and sweet treats for donations as well.      Happy cleaning!!!

Hello Summer Food Service Program

Help feed kids this summer! Our school district is looking for volunteers who can help with lunches Monday through Friday at Tilford and Shellsburg Elementaries. Our church will be providing volunteers on Wednesdays in June and July. All kinds of tasks need doing, so don’t worry if you can’t lift a giant soup pot! All volunteers need a background check (forms available from the church office) and training is provided. Sign up on the bulletin board in Augustana Hall or call the church office 319-472-3784.

Food for Thought Book Club

Meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Brickside Brew N Chew at 12:00 noon in Vinton.

May book will be “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano

June book will be “Lesson in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus

July book will be “Sold on a Monday” by Kristan McMorris

August book will be “Apples Never Fall” by Liane Moriarity

September book will be “Peace Like a River” by Lief Enger

October book will be “Trial of Innocents” by Michael Swiger

November book will be “Sisters of the Great War” by Suzanne Feldman

December book will be “Tales of a Paperboy” by Andrew J. Mair

Kernels Baseball Game

The Christian Life team is hosting an afternoon at the ballpark. Please see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall or call the church office and indicate your preference between Sunday, June 15th or Sunday, August 17th by May 18th.

Outreach Ministry

Volunteers are needed to participate in the outreach ministry at Bethlehem. 

On the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Mondays of each month (except holidays) from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm 2 volunteers are needed to deliver Meals on Wheels through HACAP.  Please contact Linda Wallace if you are interested in this ministry.

On the 3rd Thursday of each month, Pastor Anne offers holy communion service at the Lutheran Living Community chapel at 10:00 a.m.  Please come and join her. If you have any questions, please contact the church office or Pastor Anne.

The Vinton Area Ministerial Association churches have a rotating schedule to hold worship services on Sundays during the year at the Viriginia Gay Rehab Center at 1:15 pm and Windsor Manor at 2:15 pm.  The next time Bethlehem will be conducting the services will be on Sunday, May 25th. Please contact the church office if you are interested in this ministry.

On the 4th Thursday of each month, Bethlehem joins with the Lutheran Living Community residents from 1:00-2:00 pm to play dominos and cards in the dining room.  Please come and join in the fun.

Benton County Food Pantry

The Benton County Food Pantry could use the following items:  Noodle Mixes, Rice Mixes, Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, Jello, Pudding, Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Dish Soap, and Laundry Detergent.  Please bring these items to the church and deposit in the container by the north door or monetary donation please send it to: Benton County Food Pantry, PO Box 3,

Vinton, IA 52349 Thank you for your continued support.