From the Pastor for September
Our Koinonia Leadership Team at Bethlehem (Margaret Drafall, Marti Jernberg, Cindy Lange, Carin Manbeck, Sue Quick and Pastor Art Puotinen) thanks all BLC members who participated in focus group sessions with us during the first half of 2011. We appreciate your insights and information that we have reviewed during our KL team meetings twice a month.
Our listening and learning activity has resulted in our development of a statement on the Core Values and Mission of Bethlehem that we presented to the Church Council at its August meeting for further discussion.
Presently we are preparing a brief description of “Where We Are” as a congregation according to the guidelines from Stephen Ministries of St. Louis. The October issue of the Crossings will provide you with a fuller report of all three written statements.
Looking ahead we plan on additional focus group discussions and other activities that emphasize the “Opportunities” we have as a congregation. Your ideas and information are essential in shaping a Vision of “Where We Need to Go” at Bethlehem. Announcement of these sessions will be forthcoming.
We are also excited to announce that Stephen Ministries welcomes additional BLC members to participate in the same kind of training we received last year. The three Friday evening-Saturday morning/afternoon leadership training sessions will be held at Westchester Community Church (UCC) in Westchester IL on the following weekends: September 30-October 1, October 21-22, and November 11-12, 2011. This offering is part of our two-year agreement with Stephen Ministries so there is no additional tuition charge for participating. Please let one our six team members know if you might be interested in this opportunity.
I write this column in mid-August and already it seems like the fall program has started. Three Baptisms are happening at Bethlehem on August 14 and 21: Blake Chovancek, Lucas Resener & Hayden Jernberg. Three Weddings are being celebrated here in the next three weeks: Kathy Drommerhausen & Karil Castelyn 8.20, Amber Deere & Ron Ross 8.27 and Ellis Anderson & Josh Lester 9.3. Congratulations and God’s Blessings are extended to these persons and their families.
Planning for the Fall programs and ministries at Bethlehem is well underway and it is a time to fire up with gifts from the Holy Spirit to fulfill the promise and possibilities God has in store for us. Welcome to one and all to catch the Spirit and join us for worship, witness and work for Christ and his church in the coming weeks.
