17 days and counting

Confirmation begins tonight! As it does, parents are continuing to keep the promises they made for their children in Holy Baptism, promising to raise their children in the church, bring them to worship and to the Lord’s Supper, teach them the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, and nurture them in God’s Word, in prayer and in faith, so they may grow up to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Over the years, through Bethlehem’s 100 years of ministry, thousands of young people have affirmed the promises God made to them when they were baptized. We pray these students, too, might be nurtured in faith and in the love of this community as they come together tonight.

Prayer
We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give your daughters and sons new birth, cleanse them from sin, and raise them to eternal life. Sustain these young people with the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.

--Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 231

18 days and counting

Church is about being a Christian community together, and in worship this past Sunday, we had a wonderful opportunity to experience our connections to the Lutheran Church in Liberia. Two of our members who recently traveled to Liberia, brought words of thanks from people in area where a new mission field is beginning. Partnering with the ELCA and the Lutheran Church in Liberia, we will help the people there in their dream of building a church and school. During worship, our friends presented gifts to the leaders and pastors as an expression of thanks for our partnership. If you didn’t see the garments, come and look – they’re amazing. They were made by women in the village, who prayed for us at Bethlehem while they sewed. On Sunday our Bethlehem friends spoke about how light is beginning to shine in their home village in Liberia: lights from a generator to chase away the nighttime, the light of learning, and the light of Jesus Christ. Hmm. Maybe the light of Christ has been there already, and now it’s shining to us. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our teacher Jesus Christ, into every walk of life, together serving in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 75.

19 days and counting

It’s the first day of Bethlehem Lutheran Preschool for this new school year! It is so wonderful to see the children arriving for their first day of class, filled with excitement, energy, sometimes a little nervousness…..you can see all of these emotions on their faces. Parents are here too, filled with love and excitement and yes, a little bit of nervousness for their little ones as they take this big, new step. Both children and parents are at the start of a year of making new friends and learning through new experiences. They are all part of a strong heritage, because Bethlehem Preschool was started in 1965; that means we’re in our 43rd year, dedicated to making it possible for children and their parents to grow in the love of Christ.

Prayer
Dear God, as this new year of preschool begins, bless all of the children and parents who will walk through the doors of this church building. Strengthen our staff, our teachers, and all who will assist in this new school year. May your love be known and shared here in wonderful new ways. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

20 days and counting

It’s Rally Sunday! Today there will be a whole team of adults – staff, parents, and young people – ready to welcome our children as they come to Sunday School. The behind-the-scenes work that is done to get ready for this day is tremendous! It’s quite a bit different than it was when the congregation was organized! Back then, as the 1948 history puts it, “Some of the farm families would have to drive to church with horses during the winter months and they enduring much suffering to get their children to Sunday School and services on cold winter mornings. Many times they had to sit through the services with their wraps, overcoats, and overshoes on to keep warm.” Wow! As we come together here, we say “Thanks be to God!” for all of the people who made it possible for us to be here today!

Prayer
Almighty God, with a mother’s love and a father’s care you have blessed us with the joy and responsibility of raising the children of our church to grow as your disciples. As we encourage them in the faith, give us wisdom and inspiration. Bless all of our Sunday School teachers, staff, leaders, assistants, and parents, that the mind of Jesus Christ might be formed in all of us, whom you have claimed to be your disciples today. Amen.

21 days and counting

Now it’s starting to hit me: How can we have a Centennial celebration without Pastor Dick, without such an important person who inspired us in our efforts?! He needed to make it to the Centennial. We needed him to make it to the Centennial. Yet if we’ve learned anything from this pastor, colleague, teacher, and friend, it is that the church belongs to Christ, not to us; it is about all of the people whom God has called together to be this church. When Pastor Dick wrote

The Bethlehem Story, he began the narrative by stating his operating premise:
The approach to this history, our Bethlehem story, is a bit different. An effort is made to focus on the congregation, the developing disciple community, rather than leading personalities. As a result, names are not introduced once we leave behind the founders…A church community has its leaders, as does every community. But as Lutherans we confess that the church community is the creation of the Holy Spirit of God working through the Word and Sacraments. This leads to many ministries over the course of the years. Disciples are inspired and motivated to reach out in various aspects of mission and ministry. People familiar with the story will identify the leaders referred to in particular situations. (p. 2)

Prayer
Eternal God, your love is stronger than death, and your passion more fierce than the grave. We thank you for your servant, Dick, and for his leadership in this congregation in so many ways over so many years. Comfort those who mourn his death, and keep before us your promises of eternal life, until we join the saints of every people and nation gathered before your throne in your ceaseless praise, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

With Heavy Hearts: 22 days and counting

With heavy hearts: Today, Bethlehem lost the person who has been the guide, historian, and teacher for our 100th Anniversary. Rev. Dick Vangerud passed away today following a short hospitalization. A lifelong scholar and teacher, Pastor Dick served as a pastor of Bethlehem from 1960-66, 1969-75, and again as an Interim Pastor during 2004-05. He spent much of the past 2 years reading through Church Council minutes and looking at photographs from the past 100 years as part of his homework for The Bethlehem Story, the history narrative that he wrote. The book is available now as we get ready for this Centennial celebration. How we give thanks for Pastor Dick’s life and witness, and how we will miss his faith-filled presence!

Prayer
Eternal God, you gave your servant, Dick, a new birth in Baptism and entrusted him to us for a time that seems too short. As we thank you for the life we shared, help us now to release him to your mighty keeping. Bring us all to that day when we shall stand in your presence with all your saints in light eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--Lutheran Book of Worship, Occasional Services Book

23 days and counting

One hundred years ago, a small group of Norwegian families had spent the previous year praying, meeting, working, and planning, so that a Norwegian church could be formed in the area. On September 27, 1908, their hopes came true as this church was organized. The first members were the families of: Christian Knutson, Alfred Haugen, Nels Fuhre, Carl Iverson, Christ Hendrickson, Nels Johnson, and Bertha Quickstad.

Prayer
We thank you, O God, for all your servants and witnesses of times past: for Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Miriam, Deborah and Gideon, Samuel and Hannah; for Isaiah and the prophets; for Mary, mother of our Lord; for Mary Magdalene, Peter, Paul, and for all the apostles, for Stephen and Phoebe; for the families who formed this congregation; and for all the martyrs and saints in every time and in every land. In your mercy, give us, as you gave them, the hope of salvation and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

--Adapted from ELW, p. 73.

24 days and counting

By now, all students, K – Gr. 12, have gone back to class. In some of our school districts, the youngest classes were the only students in the school building on the first day of classes yesterday so they could learn their way around and become accustomed to their building. Today, all of the classrooms of our community are filled with excitement and activity. A new season of learning has begun!

Prayer
O God, source of all goodness: We give you thanks for the gift of reason and the opportunity for education. Bless our schools, that they may be places of learning and safety where teachers challenge the minds and nurture the hearts of students. Grant that teachers and students may work together in mutual respect and find joy in the challenges of academic life; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

--Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 78.

First Day of School

So did you see the school buses today? Ah, the memories! Hey, wait a minute; now that I think about it, some of those memories weren’t all that great! Going to school can be exciting, scary, freeing, intimidating, and yes, all of the above. Bethlehem has always placed education and ministry with children and youth as a high priority. In fact, when the church building at 4th Avenue South was designed, the classrooms on the lower level were made extra large so they could be used by the school district when space was short. As children head back to school today, please pray for them. And when you see our children and youth at worship, please – talk to them! Ask their names. Get to know them. They are amazing!

Prayer
Lord God of our ancestors, we thank you for what you have done and will continue to do with our daughters and sons. Bless all students, teachers, administrators, and staff as they begin a new school year today. Walk with our young people in life, and keep the evil one from obstructing their path… Keep them from danger. Order their steps and guide their faith while they run the race of faith. May the good work that you have begun in them be brought to completion at the day of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Adapted from ELW, p. 83

It's Labor Day

It’s Labor Day, the day that always signals the official end of summer. This federal holiday originated as a day to provide a day off for workers, and was officially recognized by Congress in 1894.

Here at Bethlehem, we pause to give thanks today for the labors of all who built this congregation during the past 100 years.

And for every Christian, this is a weekend to consider the vocation, or daily calling, that God has given to each of us. Whatever shape our “daily work” may take, our first calling came to us in Holy Baptism, when God called us to be children of God. Whatever else we do in life, that calling comes first and informs everything we do. No matter where we go, that promise goes with us.

Prayer
O God, give us grace to set a good example to all among whom we live, to be just and true in all our dealings, to be strict and conscientious in the discharge of every duty; pure and temperate in all enjoyment, gracious and generous and courteous toward all; so that the mind of Jesus Christ may be formed in us and all may know that we are his disciples; in whose name we pray. Amen. ELW, p. 82

Notice something familiar about our Centennial logo?

The star of Bethlehem, the rainbow of God’s promises - these are images inspired by the stained glass window in the sanctuary that rises before worshipers every week. The star that led Magi to worship the Christ child, the Son of God, reminds one of the cross by which the Father has promised to draw all people to God’s very self.

Prayer
O God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives, and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer for the Epiphany of Our Lord, ELW p. 21

Twenty-eight days and counting!

So - have you made your reservation for the Centennial banquet and picnic yet? Someone from out of town stopped by the church office the other day and said that she and three of her friends from confirmation are planning their own mini-reunion for Sept. 27-28. How about you? Is there someone with whom you would like to reconnect over the Centennial weekend? Is there someone to whom you would like to introduce this congregation? Why not contact them and make arrangements to get together? Or If you have adult children who grew up in this congregation, have you shared all of the Centennial information with them so they can come back home and enjoy the festivities?

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the unity of heart and mind is like to that above. ELW 656

What’s in a Name?

The names of those first people of Bethlehem were Knutson, Haugen, Fuhre, Quickstad, Iverson, Hendrickson, and Jensen. Today, you can still find names like those on our roster, and you will also discover there Moralez, Puotyual, and O’Hara. What a great reflection of how, over the years, God shaped Bethlehem by blessing it with people of all nationalities and cultures. Where did your family heritage begin? How was it that you or your family came to live in this area?

Prayer
Lord of all nations, thank you for the streams of heritage that formed this congregation. Thank you for those the ancestors in my family. Show me how to embrace all people, even as you in your great love have welcomed me into your family.

Grateful for Hospitality

When the Norwegian immigrants first started talking about forming a congregation, it was the German Lutheran Church of St. Cloud that provided the hospitality and the space in which the Norwegians could meet. Services were held at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoons in order to save fuel, because the church was already heated for the German services. Services were held in this manner about every six weeks for over a year.

Prayer
Loving God, thank you for the hospitality of others that provided space and support so that this church could assemble and worship. Give us such a spirit of welcome and hospitality for all people today.

One Month and Counting

Get ready for the birthday party! In exactly one month, the Centennial weekend celebration will be upon us. On September 27, 1908, Rev. Peder Langseth organized the Norwegian Lutheran Congregation in St. Cloud. The Spirit was blowing, and Bethlehem was born.

Prayer
Almighty God, thank you for forming your church at Pentecost so long ago. Thank you for forming this congregation, now called “Bethlehem Lutheran Church.” May this church today glorify you as our forebears prayed it might. Amen.