Soap, Bibles, Rachel

Poll
I'd like to begin this week with an informal poll for those on email. The questions are simple:
1.) Do you use the weekly readings (right-hand column on the web site)?
2.) If you do use these readings, do you find the hymn suggestions helpful?

I have no idea how many people are using either feature and if there are very few I will probably not update them any longer... so let me know.

Soap
Our service project for this month is collecting soap for Lutheran World Relief. How many pounds of soap can we as a congregation collect? Please bring new bars, any brand, in their original wrapping (bath size (4-5 oz) is preferred but all sizes are accepted).

Bible in 90 Days
Our Bible in 90 Days group is off to a good start. There is still time to get into the game--but it probably be best to do so before this Wednesday. Call the church office immediately (419-287-4182) if you would like to put your name on one of the Bibles or participant guides; they are moving quickly.

For those who have already signed up and are still waiting on Bibles, our second shipment should be in on Wednesday. In a true testament to their devotion to this project, the Bible in 90 Days folks in Houston (still recovering from Hurricane Ike) shipped from one member's home the middle of last week. What a wonderful witness!

For those who are participating (or for anyone who is curious), periodic updates will be posted on the Bible in 90 Days website.

Youth-Led Service this Sunday, September 28
The youth of the congregation will assist in leading worship this Sunday at the 10:30 am service. As part of the service, they will share portions of their 2008 mission trip to Chicago with D.O.O.R. ministries.

Capital Campaign
Please continue to pray for discernment regarding the capital improvements being contemplated for the church building and for future ministry opportunities at Bethlehem

Bethlehem: Genesis 35
For a long time I have been reflecting on how our congregation's name might serve as a touchstone for the Vision and Mission of our congregation. This week I would like to reflect on Bethlehem as a place of grief, a place where tears are welcome, a place where we bring all of our "stuff" to God--even in the depths of our despair.

This conviction, of Bethlehem as a place of grief, is inspired by the story of Rachel. You will remember that Rachel was the favored bride of Jacob (Israel) and she bore him his two favored sons of 12: Joseph and Benjamin. She dies in childbirth as she bears Benjamin and is buried on the way to Bethlehem. And it is on the way to Bethlehem that we find a place for our grief, for Jacob and Rachel give us this grieving language. [Genesis 35:16-20 and 48:7 (cf. also Matthew 2:18 and Jeremiah 31:15)]

Perhaps you bear deep in your soul some grief that you have never let out. Perhaps deep within you is some unexpressed sorrow and pain. Go ahead and weep, for Bethlehem is a place in which it is okay to grieve.

Monastery Musings

I'm reading How to Be a Monastic and Not Leave Your Day Job by Brother Benet Tvedten. It is a fascinating invitation to the oblate life. Several years ago I read Spirituality for Everyday Living by Brian C. Taylor. Both books in different ways wrestle with how to apply the Rule of St. Benedict to those of us living outside the monastery: in our vocations as workers, family members, and friends.

Three things struck me as significant:
1.) The invitation to structure our lives around the "hours" of prayer (rather than vice-versa)
2.) The encouragement toward moderation in all things
3.) The desirability of work.

It strikes me that all of these practices are remarkably counter-cultural in North America these days. What a wonderful chance to be salt and light!

Bibles and Hurricanes

Bibles, Bibles, More Bibles
Our Bible in 90 Days program kicks off this Wednesday. There is still room if you would like to participate. We meet at two locations: Grace Lutheran in Luckey (216 Main St.) and Bethlehem Lutheran in Pemberville (220 Cedar St.). If you have already signed up, you may want to bring an interested friend... to show them what it is all about. It never hurts to plant a seed.

Speaking of Bible in 90 Days... I made a call this afternoon to order more Bibles and realized that Houston is "home base" for the Bible in 90 Days program. So I ask that you keep in your prayers all who work there as well as all who are struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Between Sundays
This past week we celebrated the Festival of the Holy Cross. Lift High the Cross is one of my favorite hymns. I always associate it with the grand celebrations of Easter in my home congregation.

Family Activity Idea: Go around your house and see (1) how many crosses you can find and (2) how many Bibles your family owns. Consider giving some of these crosses and Bibles away as gifts this week.

Looking ahead...
This coming Sunday (September 21) the readings are Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16. We continue reading through the Exodus journey of the Israelites out of Egypt and into the wilderness. St. Matthew gives us the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard to wrestle with. And we have now finished reading through St. Paul's letter to the Romans and now take up portions of his letter to the Philippians for the next several weeks.

September 21 is also the day we commemorate St. Matthew and rejoice in Christ who calls even tax collectors and sinners like you and me to his holy service.

Capital Campaign: Growing to the Future, Rooted in Christ
If you forgot to pick up your packet of materials (or happened to be out of town this past Sunday), be sure to pick up your Capital Fundraising Campaign packet next Sunday. This campaign is an important step in our life together as Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

The Whole Church
Below find some announcements that I am passing along about things happening in the church in this part of Ohio.

1. Introduction to Healing Ministry

St. Lucas Lutheran Church in Toledo is offering a class that has been the foundation of their Healing Ministry. Part of their mission is to provide training and support for other churches in developing their own healing ministries and outreach.

This one-day 8-hour course details the history of healing in Christianity with the opportunity to experience the laying-on of hands. The roles of prayer and belief and developing a healing presence are presented along with guided meditations that make this a truly inspiring day. CEU's available for RN's, Chaplains, and Massage Therapists.

Debra Reis is a certified nurse practitioner specializing in holistic health. She also holds certifications in holistic nursing from the American Association of Holistic Nursing and in Healing Touch as a practitioner and instructor from Healing Touch International, Inc. Deb has given many presentations on energy therapy and complementary health practices and is excited to be a part of a program aimed at restoring healing ministry to the Christian church. In addition, Deb is a NIA instructor, which is a form of holistic movement therapy. Spiritual ministry, Guided imagery and clinical aromatherapy are integral in her private healing practice. She recently obtained certification in aromatherapy and continues her studies in the healing use of essential oils. Deb is an active member at St. Lucas Lutheran Church in Toledo.

Location: St. Lucas Lutheran Church, 745 Walbridge Ave., Toledo, OH 43609

Date and Time: Saturday - October 4, 2008 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM)

Cost: $150 per person. Please make checks out to St. Lucas Lutheran Church

Coordinator for this Event: Jeannie Dennler, 419-343-4003, drjeannie1@aol.com

2. Installation of New Minister in Sylvania

We are pleased to announce to the Congregations, Pastors, and Associates in Ministry that on Sunday, September 28, Jennifer Molly Vasquez will be installed as Diaconal Minister at Olivet Lutheran Church, Sylvania, Ohio. The Service will be held at 11 a.m. at Olivet.

Olivet is located at 5840 Monroe Street, Sylvania.

We invite you to be present for this special service. We know that you will remember this ministry in your prayers, and will want to announce this service to your people. If you or a member cannot attend, we suggest that a letter be sent to the pastor and the congregation.

I give thanks to God for our continuing partnership in the Gospel.

Your brother in Christ,
Marcus C. Lohrmann, Bishop

3. December Renewing Faith Event

Reserve these dates now Dec. 5-6, 2008 for the Renewing Faith event: Revive Us Again, O Lord

This revival will be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Bowling Green.

Rev. Kathryn Love Asst. Director of Evangelism for the ELCA will be our worship director and speaker for the weekend leading us in revival. Worship Music will be provided by Eric Dickey and his band along with Rev. Lori Strang.

Watch for more details coming along with a poster and registration brochures.

4. Young Adult Symposium this Saturday: September 20

Learn how congregations can tap into their strengths to be a connecting point for young adults. Explore ways in which your congregation can be a place of energizing, effective and engaging ministry with young adults and a catalyst for intergenerational partnership centered around "What Really Matters" in the world.

Join Kristen Glass, Director of Young Adults Ministry, ELCA, as she offers an eye-opening presentation and discussion with Young Adults that will bring about the realization . . . “We’re all in this together!” Saturday, September 20th 9:00-3:00pm Trinity Lutheran Church, Findlay, Ohio.

For more information go to: www.nwos-elca.org click on the Lay Academy

5. Caregiver Support

Help and Hope Offered for Caregivers…

If you have responsibility for an ailing spouse, parent or other family member, you know already how difficult and demanding care-giving can be…even for someone you love deeply.

Help is available. You are invited to attend the Caregivers' Support Group, a ministry of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elmore. It is designed specifically to provide the support and encouragement for caregivers need. Amy Simkus, the group's facilitator, is a licensed social worker with significant experience in this field. Special guest speakers will also be invited from time to time, offering their special insights into the joys and trials of caring for those we love.

Group meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm in the church's Lounge. There is no cost to participate. For more information or directions, please call the church office at 419/862-3630 or email GraceELC@gmail.com.

6. Luther Fest 2008 @ Zoar, Perrysburg

Jesus, Justice and Jazz: A Jive Musical Festival
Zoar Lutheran Church
Sunday, October 19, 2008

4:00 p.m. Battle of the Praise Bands followed by local musical acts
-Enjoy casual atmosphere with grazing tables between acts
-Free-will donation for food and festival acts

7:00pm Afterglow Concert with Lori LeFever and Eric Dickey's Jazz Trio
-Casual with grazing tables for dining
-Tickets available for $25 by calling Glenwood Lutheran at 419-255-0886
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO ASSIST TOLEDO INNER-CITY YOUTH IN ATTENDING THE
ELCA 2009 YOUTH GATHERING

If you need more information on any of these events, please see Pastor Matt or Pastor Dave.

Lifting High the Cross,
+Pastor Matt

Matthew 18

Restoration
I thought Pr. Wietelmann did a remarkable job yesterday of weaving together Matthew 18 and what it means to be the reconciling community of the church, especially in light of the original act of forgiveness in the Garden of Eden. Matthew's version of the Lord' s Prayer pushes us even further to consider our acts of forgiveness in light of God's forgiveness (Matthew 6:9-15).

You may also want to read the rest of Matthew 18 (verses 23-35), which further details our little acts of forgiveness (or lack thereof) in light of God's big act of forgiveness.

Pr. Wietelmann also spoke of the thrust of the text being restoration and wholeness, not only individually but as a community. There is a store I used to visit when my parents lived in Michigan called Restoration Hardware. That got me thinking: What is the "restoration hardware" of the church? Certainly, it must begin with Confession, where we are reconciled with God and one another. It also happens in the sharing of the Peace. Probably the first person you should share the Peace with is the brother or sister in Christ with whom you are most at odds. And finally and most fully restoration happens in Holy Communion, where we are knit together into one Body, no longer Jew or Greek, no longer slave or free, no longer male or female, but ONE in Christ Jesus.

Holy Cross
This coming Sunday we will celebrate the Festival of the Holy Cross. Here is what one source says about this festival: "Helena, mother of [the Emperor] Constantine, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and found what may be the actual site of Jesus' crucifixion. Her son built two churches there, and the dedication of one of them gave rise to this celebration of our Lord's victory on the cross." For all Christians the Cross is absolutely central and essential to our faith and identity. For in the Cross we see simultaneously the humiliation of Christ and his victory, the depth of human sin and the enormity of God's love, the ugliness of evil and the beauty of redemption.

How does the image of the Cross feature in your life, your place of work(or school) and your home? Perhaps you wear a cross (sometimes over your clothing, sometimes tucked in your shirt). Perhaps you make the sign of the cross before or after prayer. Perhaps you mark the sign of the cross on your childrens' foreheads before bedtime.

One of my favorite services of the year is the service of promise and commitment for 6th graders that we had yesterday where parents mark their children over and over again with the sign of the cross. Here is the text from that service:
+Receive the sign of the cross on your ears, that you may hear the voice of the Lord.
+Receive the sign of the cross on your eyes, that you may see the glory of God.
+Receive the sign of the cross on your lips, that you may respond to the word of God.
+Receive the sign of the cross over your heart, that Christ may dwell there by faith.
+Receive the sign of the cross on your shoulders, that you may bear the gentle yoke of Christ.
+Receive the sign of the cross on your hands,that Christ may be known in the work which you do.
+Receive the sign of the cross on your feet,that you may walk in the way of Christ.

As we prepare to celebrate Holy Cross Day, we take great comfort in these words from the baptismal service: "You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the Cross of Christ forever."

Happenings
There is a lot happening in the next weeks. Next Sunday we present Bibles to the fourth graders in fulfillment of promises made to them in Holy Baptism. There is a youth luncheon/fundraiser following 10:30 am worship. The public phase of the capital fundraising campaign program will begin. And the Bible in 90 Days program begins a week from this Wednesday.

New Testament in a Month

For our catechism program this year, the 7th and 8th graders will be working through the New Testament. Many members of our congregation will also be embarking on the Bible in 90 Days journey. These two things got me thinking about how we as Christians can be "in" the New Testament on a regular basis.

For those that want to read the New Testament over a longer period of time, begin today and read one chapter a day. Since there are 260 chapters in the New Testament, you should finish it by the end of May 2009.

For those that are looking for a more intense workout, consider reading the whole New Testament each month. It works out to about 9-10 chapters a day: 5 in the morning and 4-5 in the evening.

See you in the New Testament this year!