Our Lenten journey this year includes mid-week worship that emphasizes the I AM sayings of Jesus and Sunday worship that examines 1 Corinthians 13, the Love chapter in the Bible.  Thank you to BLC members who enrich our worship through music, dramatic reading, and other ways.  I encourage you to join us for worship during Holy Week that begins on March 28, Palm Sunday.

During this Lenten season, we focus on various ways to love God and our neighbors both near and far away.

Bethlehem members have responded to human need of earthquake victims in Haiti, and I mention here a few examples.  Individuals and families have provided financial gifts through the ELCA Disaster Response, the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans challenge program, and other charitable organizations.

BLC member and Elgin Noon Rotary Club president Mike Warren led a successful two-week effort to raise $10,000 in order to send Shelter Boxes to Haiti. The Shelter Box contains a 10-person tent, bedding, utensils, cooking equipment, water purification assistance, tools, books, radios and more.  Additional Shelter Boxes were sponsored by other Rotary clubs in the district.

Thirty or more BLC members participated in a major effort by the Salvation Army in Elgin to package one million meals for Haitian earthquake survivors.  The two day event on February 20 and 21 drew upwards of 5,000 volunteers to package the meals at the former Seigle’s Home and Building Center.  Each package included rice, soy protein, freeze-dried vegetables and 21 vitamins and minerals for shipment to Haiti. Volunteers worked in two-hour shifts on food preparation tables, met new friends in this valuable project, and enjoyed lively music.

A third event highlighting volunteerism in Elgin occurs on Sunday, March 7 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Judson University Lindner Center.  Sponsored by the Coalition of Elgin Religious Leaders, this event will bring twenty social service agencies to share information with potential volunteers how to help their community.  A hands-on experience in being a volunteer during the afternoon offers participants an opportunity to write a letter to a soldier in Afghanistan or Iraq, to prepare a relief kit for Haitian earthquake survivors, and/or provide on-site assistance to one of the participating social service agencies.  As a member of the planning committee for this event, I invite and encourage you to attend.

In these and many other ways Bethlehem members express our mission to be Together in Christ:  Growing, Sharing and Serving.  Thank you for your faithful commitment as together we do God’s work with many partners for the healing of God’s world.