It’s that time of year when school supplies are at their best prices in stores.  Each Fall, Bethel collects supplies to send to Lutheran World Relief to distribute to the most needy areas around the world that are suffering from natural disasters, disease, and poverty. 

In conjunction with this effort, the women of Bethel sew school bags every year.  If you find a good bargain on any of these items, please consider donating them to the collection or fill a bag that has been sewn. Thank you for considering this ministry.

 Needed Items:

· Construction paper – 12 sheets, assorted colors

· Two or three 70-sheet ruled paper notebooks (8 ½ x 11)

· Blunt scissors

· Ruler with centimeters and inches

· Pencil sharpener

· 6 pencils with erasers

· 2 ½” -long eraser

· Box of 8,16, or 24 crayons

Collection boxes are available at both Downtown and Highlands.  The donation deadline is the first week in September.

The HOME meal is served at Bethel in the Fellowship Hall the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. The meal is served from 5:00-6:30pm and everyone is welcome. It is an outreach of many Hudson churches with each church serving on a rotating basis. Many of the people involved will show up for the meal and fellowship even if they are not serving that night. Transportation is also provided for the Senior citizens that are not able to get there by themselves. The meals first started in November of 2005 and have been increasing each week. At the Thanksgiving meal this past November, between 250 and 275 people were seved.  The contacts for H.O.M.E. are Chuck and Ruth Lewis.

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

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INFORMATION: 715-386-8821
EVENT DATE: September 16, 2010

Bethel Lights For The Cure Relay For Life Team wishes to thank the congregation for its overwhelming support again this year. A stormy, rainy Relay could not dampen the spirits and enthusiasm of the team. The tent was set up and decorated and won the prize for “Best Campsite” again this year!  The team brought in over $16,000 to help in the fight against this deadly disease. Team and church members came to enjoy some time together and after the opening ceremonies inside were able to go out and walk the track. For everyone fighting, grieving, or affected in any way by this disease, the Bethel Lights For The Cure Relay Team gives you heartfelt thanks for the support and generosity of this wonderful church family. God Bless.

 

Relay For Life® is a fun-filled overnight event designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer in our community. At the event, the team celebrates survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society in its mission to save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back. During the event, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.

But, Relay is much more than a walk around a track. It is a time to remember those lost to cancer and celebrate those who have survived. It is a night for people who have shared the same experience to comfort and console one another. During this event, survivors are honored during the Survivors Lap and those who have been lost to cancer are remembered during the Luminaria Ceremony. It is also a celebration of life, friendship, and a chance to work together toward a cancer-free future.

Most importantly, Relay gives you the power to help in the fight against cancer. By joining together as volunteers and donors, these combined efforts help the American Cancer Society strive toward a future where cancer doesn’t take the lives of our friends and family.

Call Sheri Yonash through the church office for more information.

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

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INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

For the past several months, the "First Monday of the Month" group has been bringing reading materials for Dorothy Day clients. Many clients are hungry to read and the books have been well-received. The group would like to continue this mission. Please leave your books, hard- or soft-cover, at either Welcome Center (marked for Dorothy Day). Books of any subject, fiction or non-fiction, are requested, including Bibles. Many clients are educated, so no book is a challenge.  Please contact Jane Dahlin through the church office with any questions. Thank you for supporting this new ministry. 

Grace Place is in Somerset and provides transitional housing for the “hidden homeless.” This ministry helps fill a need for temporary housing where rapid growth has escalated housing costs. The people of Bethel serve dinner every second Tuesday of each month at Grace Place. New volunteers are greatly appreciated! Why not sign up for a Tuesday with a group of family members, your confirmation group, your card or birthday club, or your neighborhood? Spaghetti is on the menu on Bethel’s night each month. A schedule for 2010 is posted at Bethel Downtown and instructions can be found near the Welcome Centers at both Downtown and Highlands for those wishing to volunteer.

Bethel is also responsible for stocking the pantry at Grace Place. Friends of Bethel may contribute groceries each month. The third Wednesday of each month, the groceries are collected from Bethel and brought to Grace Place. The most needed grocery items are: Canned tuna, canned beef stew (Dinty Moore, for example), Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper and Chicken Helper, Complete Meals (located in the same section as the “Helper” meals), Canned Spaghettios & Ravioli, taco kits and cream of mushroom and cream of chicken canned soup. Your help with these items would be greatly appreciated. Please remember Grace Place by bringing some of these requested items by the third Sunday of each month. You can place them in the cupboard marked for Grace Place near the Welcome Center.

Please give this worthy and fulfilling cause much thought and prayer and volunteer just one evening a year and/or bring in some needed groceries to the church.

Thank you, so much for volunteering your time, talent, groceries and energy toward this very worthy cause of providing a meal for the temporary residents of Grace Place.

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Grace Place Team Needs Your Help!

Have you ever considered spending a Tuesday evening volunteering at Grace Place?   It’s a wonderful ministry!   Plans are now being made for the 2011 volunteer list. You can sign up for one Tuesday with your family, a group of friends, neighbors, or confirmation group, or come on your own.  If you would like to help, please call Kathy or Lee Jeska at 715-749-3525 or at  landkjeska@yahoo.com.  

 

INFORMATION: 715-749-3525

Email Leroy and Kathy

The Outreach Team knocks on doors and invites newer residents in Hudson to visit  Bethel. For those interested in joining the next scheduled set of visits, please contact either Pastor Kari at 386-8821, ext. 23 or email her at the link below.

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821 x. 23

Email Pastor Kari

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

Click here to email Pastor Bob

In recent decades there has been a rediscovery of a striking fact—all Christians have a ministry because they are Christians, whether or not they are ordained!  They have a vital, unique ministry to the world beyond their church—to their neighbors, business associates, friends, enemies, and especially to the disadvantaged.

The unmet human needs in every church and community are so numerous and varied that the pastor working alone cannot possibly meet more than a small fraction of them.  Reaching out to a church’s bereaved, home-bound, stranger, institutionalized, exploited, and socially and economically oppressed, can be quadrupled by fully involving trained laypersons in caring work.  When dedicated lay persons become informal pastors, they become the church----the body of Christ serving those in need.

A quote from a lay training program:

“We believe lay pastoral care manifests the very nature and foundation of the church as a caring community with its common priesthood of all believers.  It provides a place in the life and ministry of the church for those who hear and believe, and want to put their faith into practice in a visible, tangible way.”

Recently, 11 Bethel members made a commitment to a 10-week study to become a part of Bethel’s Care Ministry. The purpose of the training was to awaken God’s call on their lives and to help discover their spiritual gifts for ministry.  Each person was encouraged to make this experience a journey into wholeness, to use this time to explore Silence, Christian Meditation, Compassionate Listening, and Pastoral Identity.  This experience was intended to build community and develop spiritually centered pastoral caregivers.

If you would like to speak with one of Bethel's Caregivers, please call the church office.

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

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Through the LWR Coffee Project, a partnership between Lutheran World Relief and Equal Exchange, Lutherans can enjoy delicious fairly traded products while supporting small-scale farmers across the world. Farmers earn a fair price for their crops, have access to affordable credit, and can invest in education, health care and sustainable agriculture, building a better future for their families.

In addition, for all fairly traded coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, and snacks purchased through the LWR Coffee Project, Equal Exchange gives $.20 per pound back to Lutheran World Relief for projects supporting small-scale coffee farmers.
            
Lutheran World Relief works with partners in 35 countries to help people grow food, improve health, strengthen communities, end conflict, build livelihoods and recover from disasters.

Equal Exchange is a democratically organized worker-owned co-operative dedicated to building a new model of trade based on fairness, environmental sustainability and strong relationships between farmers and consumers.  Equal Exchange buys directly from small-scale farmer co-operatives, owned and run by the farmers themselves.  They are paid Fair Trade prices above the market value for their crops and thus are able to make investments in community projects, educational programs and technical trainings.  Equal Exchange is committed to supporting sustainable farming methods that help green the earth through reforestation, natural resource conservation and organic practices.

Equal Exchange Fairly Traded coffee, tea and cocoa will be sold between services on the first Sunday of every month at both Bethel Downtown and Highlands.  We will have a variety of organic coffees in drip grind and whole bean, as well as organic teas, hot cocoa mix and unsweetened baking cocoa.  The coffee sells for $6.00, the tea is $3.00 and the cocoa is $5.00.  Treat yourselves, your families and your guests to delicious coffee, tea and cocoa while helping small-scale farmers in Latin America, Africa and Asia as they build a better future for themselves and their families.  With the Holidays coming, keep in mind that these products make great gifts, as well.  (Please note:  If you want to pay for your Equal Exchange purchases by check, make them payable to Bethel Lutheran Church-WELCA .)  We also welcome your comments and feedback about which Equal Exchange products you enjoy and would like to purchase year round.

Visit the Equal Exchange website

Would you be willing to help sell Fair Trade products one or two times per year at either location?  It’s fun, and it’s a great way to support this ministry.  Purchasing these products demonstrates compassion to  vulnerable communities around the world.  Your name would be added to the volunteer schedule by Bethel’s Volunteer Coordinator, just like our ushers, greeters, etc.  If you'd like to sign up, contact Jackie Hugdahl through the church office at 715-386-8821.

 

Bethel Quilters meet in the Downtown Fellowship Hall at 9:00am the 2nd Friday and the 4th Tuesday of each month to assemble quilts that are shipped all around the world. Anyone wishing to help assemble is invited to join in this mission as help is always needed to finish quilts throughout the year. No experience is necessary. If you can't come to the meetings, you may take some blocks home, sew them together and return them to the church for finishing. The quilt blocks and instructions are in the church lobby. These quilts are all warmly received and greatly appreciated wherever they go.

 

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

The Hardanger group meets in the Downtown Fellowship Hall at 1:00pm the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month.  Everyone is welcome to join this Scandinavian needlework group!

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

The Knit-Wits gather every Wednesday at 10:00am in the Bethel Downtown lounge to knit caps and sweaters for Lutheran World Relief.  Patterns are available.  Feel free to join the group any time your schedule allows.  Questions?  Call Carol McConaughey or Joan Sorensen through the church office. The group does not meet during the summer.

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

Prayer Shawl kits are available at both Welcome Centers.  Join the Knit-Wits on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 in the Downtown lounge to knit shawls, baby sweaters, etc. or knit on your own with a Prayer Shawl kit.   If you are a  beginner, no problem as there is someone here to help.  If you'd rather crochet, we have directions. Questions? Call Joan Sorensen or Jackie Hugdahl through the church office at 386-8821.

 

 

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

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Global Health Ministries (GHM) was founded in 1987 in response to Lutheran health care missionaries overseas whose ministries were hindered by shortages of supplies, equipment and financial support.  GHM has continued to grow steadily through the years.  Increasing emphasis has been given to primary health care in rural areas, under the leadership of local persons, and in providing training for doctors, nurses and other health care workers.

In a recent newsletter, GHM emphasized that the need for AIDS/Hospice Kits grows in Tanzania:  "A year ago, our total number of clients served was 500; today they approach 5000.  We'd like each one to receive a hospice kit."  They also note that the cost of shipping one container overseas is $12,000.  That's a lot, but so is the growing number of suffering people.  They ask, "Will you help us?"

The Women of Bethel are answering that call by collecting items to assemble AIDS/Hospice Kits and Midwife Kits to help meet these needs.  Your help is requested to provide some of the resources and supplies needed by our medical missionaries to help these people live the best life possible.  The specific items needed for each of the kits is as follows:

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

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Women of Bethel Mission Project

    

Project Newborn – Joann Jewitt, Project Chairman

 

 

Project Newborn is the distribution of a basic layette of all new items for those in need born at Hudson Hospital.

 

 

            1 sleeper

            1 onesie

            6 disposable diapers (newborn size)

            2 diaper pins

            1 bar of bath size Ivory soap

            1 washcloth

            1 receiving blanket

  

Many people are suffering the effects of natural disasters, poverty, or war and Lutheran World Relief assists those in need in over 50 countries worldwide. Our congregation provides clothing, quilts, layettes, and school, health and sewing kits to LWR to be sent to comfort those people in far away places. PROJECT COMFORT provides the necessary funds needed to process and ship these mission projects to the places they are needed.

In refugee camps, hospitals, and villages around the world, gifts of Lutheran World Relief layettes convey a warm welcome to newborns and their mothers.  In order to complete the layettes, new or gently used receiving blankets and sleepers (size 3-24 months) are needed. Donations may be placed in the Women of Bethel section of the Downtown cabinet or at the Highlands Welcome Center.  Thank you for your generous assistance in this important project.  Questions? Call Joann Jewett through the church office at 386-8821.

 

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

The Altar Care team takes care of the altar paraments (cloths and colored fabric hangings), changing them for the different church seasons, hanging banners, and decorating the churches for Christmas and Easter.  The team has made all the banners which hang at Bethel Downtown and plans to make new paraments for both campuses. The group also makes the baptismal banners given to each family and embroiders the baptismal towels.

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

Email the Bethel Office

Email Linda Johnson Ladd

 

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

Bethel provides dinner for Loaves and Fishes in East St. Paul on the third Monday of every other month. Volunteers are always welcome to work a shift with our friends at Loaves and Fishes. Contact Kathy Jeska through the church office at 715-386-8821.  Other opportunities for this mission are dessert bakers, grocery shoppers and miscellaneous collections such as special holiday treats and needs of the guests. Watch for your chance to be involved!

The mission of Loaves & Fishes is to provide nutritious meals to the hungry of the Twin City Metro area in an atmosphere of hospitality at site locations where the need is greatest and develops joint ventures/partnerships with like-minded organizations to assist guests with additional basic needs key to becoming self-sufficient.

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

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Bethel, along with the Loaves and Fishes Organization, provides a supper at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in West St. Paul, six times per year. Guests are always thankful for the variety of homemade desserts that Bethel provides. At this time we are in need of more people to provide these desserts. If you are interested or have any questions, please call Kris Larson through the church office or Kathy Jeska at 749-3525.

 

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

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Bethel participates in the St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity by providing hand hours, food, tools and prayer. A group works every Tuesday year round, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Currently, homes are being built in Woodville, New Richmond, and Spring Valley.  You are welcome to join this group as they continue this important community mission work.  Please contact Roger Pavlis through the church office or at the link below to sign up, or for more information.

 

WHAT IS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY?  Habitat for Humanity seeks to eliminate poverty housing and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  We offer a home ownership opportunity to families unable to obtain conventional house financing, generally to those whose income is 25-50% of the area median.  St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity works in Pierce and St. Croix Counties.   

Habitat is not a giveaway program.  In addition to the monthly mortgage payment, homeowners make a 1% down payment and are required to contribute hundreds of hours of their own labor on the construction of their home and the homes of others. Because these homes are built utilizing donations of cash, land, material, and labor, the mortgage payment, property tax, and insurance payments are reasonable, typically $550-600 per month.  The average, simple 3-bedroom home will cost the family about $65,000 in the St. Croix Valley area .

INFORMATION: 715-386-8821

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E-mail Roger Pavlis

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ELCA NEWS

Click  below for news and information from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, including information on how you can help with the ELCA Disaster Response to the Pakistan Flood.  To make an online donation for the Pakistan Relief Fund, also click below.

Pakistan Flood Relief Fund