with god’s help, we’ll get through this!...bethel lutheran church †believe belong † become...

BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH BELIEVE † BELONG † BECOME

20650 CUMBERLAND ROAD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46062 317.773.4315 BETHELLUTHERANCHURCH .COM

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BETHEL BELIEVES... WITH GOD’S HELP, WE’LL GET THROUGH THIS!

Things I Wish Jesus Hadn’t Said

Jun 6/7 Not Everyone is Fit to

Serve

Jun 13/14 You Must Love the

Unlovable

Jun 20/21 We are Forgiven

Only as We Forgive

Jun 27/28 Discipleship is Based

on Hatred

Jul 4/5 Heaven is Closed to

Some

WEEKEND OF 06/21

Things I Wish Jesus Hadn’t Said…

…We are Forgiven Only as We Forgive.

In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Forgive us our sins as

we forgive those who sin against us.”

A few verses later, Jesus sharpens the focus: “If you

refuse to forgive others, our Father will not forgive

your sins” (Matthew 6:15)

Is Jesus telling us that God’s forgiveness is

conditional, dependent on what we do?

Mark Twain is reported to have said, “It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t

understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” This summer, we will

explore several of Jesus’ statements that may make us squirm in our seats. Have we

domesticated Jesus and made him our BFF? His deeds AND words fundamentally

transformed the religious and social landscape of his day, and his transformative work

continues in us still. How will his sayings change us? How shall we rightly apply and

practice what Jesus says in our life of discipleship?

Pastor Al

http://www.bethellutheranchurch.com/



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PAGE – 4-5

Bethel Parking Lot

Did You Know?

Resources

Rummage Sale

Cancelled

PAGE – 6-8

Bethel Updates

Backpack Mission

Match Me Mission

Finances

PAGE – 1-3

In Person Worship

4th Saturday

Fellowship

Congregational

Meeting

Bethel Olympics/VBS

In-Person worship

Thank you to everyone who is coming to

celebrate in-person service with us on the

weekends at a safe personal distance.

#bethelbelieves




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4th Saturday Worship and Picnic is

resuming next Saturday!!

We will be meeting after the service at the shelter on

Saturday June 27th. Members are encouraged to

bring their own sandwiches or food and drinks for their

own family. We will not be providing any napkins, utensils

or cups. There will be no pitch in whatsoever, and social

distancing will be in place. Attendees are recommended

to bring their own chairs or sit at the picnic tables at the

shelter. This will be a 1st time to try and bring together

people again at a Fellowship Event. Hoping it is well

attended but also being sure we are taking extra

precautions.

Congregation Meeting Scheduled

Save the date! Congregation members are invited to join us for our semi-

annual Congregation meeting after services the weekend of June 27-28.

(safe distance measures in practice)

We will elect new Council members and hear some updates on our ministry.

Save the date…August 29

The Olympics are coming to Bethel

this summer!

While circumstances have caused us to cancel this

year’s Vacation Bible School in June, we are delighted

to offer this one-day intergenerational event for the

entire community! More information will be coming in

June, so save the date now and plan to join us for the

Bethel Olympics!




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ATTENTION!

The BETHEL PARKING LOT is CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC this week for RESURFACING and

will REOPEN at NOON on SATURDAY.

The FOOD & BABY PANTRY is CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY and will REOPEN from 1p to 4p on SATURDAY.

(Thank you for your patience!)

Sowers Sealcoating is repaving and painting the parking lot for Bethel. Sowers’

would like to extend their offer to help any Bethel families who need their services for their home or business. Their phone number is 317-502-7825. Just mention Bethel

Lutheran Church.

We enjoyed another casual

gathering after church on

Saturday with our own

food, physical distancing,

and a fire in the fire-pit!

All are Welcome!




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RESOURCES:

RUMMAGE SALE IS CANCELED

It is with deep regret that the Rummage Sale Committee with the agreement the pastors to cancel a rummage sale for this summer, but there are several things you can do instead:

1. GIVE: all those items you found when you cleaned during the lock down to the Salvation Army or to Third Phase.

2. OFFERING: Figure out what you might have spent at the sale and give it as an additional offering to the church for all the programs that we usually fund from the sale. Label your offering Rummage Sale.

3. STORE IT: some items that you think might be of good dollar value for next year's sale.

Thank you and we look forward to a HUGE sale next year 2021.

CHURCH OFFICE: The church office is now operating with normal

business hours Tuesday through Friday but the

office is still not open. Staff comes and goes

throughout the week so visitors will need to

make arrangements and deliveries and drop offs

will have to be arranged with the staff. If

things are left unattended at the doors they

may be put into the dumpster.

ONLINE WEEKEND SERVICE VIDEOS: Our Online Weekend Services are posted on the

website and on Facebook on Sunday afternoons.

FOOD PANTRY: Gleaners delivered a full box truck load of food

from Good Samaritan for our Food and Baby

Pantry! Update on a change in the pantry…they

will allow 1 person at a time and everyone must be

masked to come into the pantry. People can still

elect to order ahead.

* Questions? Speak directly with Sandy

Hanke at 317-773-4315 ext.10.

CALLING AND RESPONSE TEAM: Our Calling Team is reaching out to members and

regular attenders every 14-20 days; expect your

call soon. Feel free to share with that caller any

prayer concerns you might have or any hands-on

needs with which our Response Team might assist.

Click here for current worship service videos

including this week’s Healing Service… CHURCH

SERMON VIDEOS

CARE TEAM: The Care Team, Pastor Doug, and Pastor Al will continue to be available for pastoral care, either in person or by phone.

VIRTUAL GROUP MEETINGS: Small groups who wish to continue to meet may use online group collaboration tools (Google Hangouts, Zoom, Skype, etc.) to meet “virtually”.


https://www.bethellutheranchurch.com/sermons1

https://www.bethellutheranchurch.com/sermons1



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UPDATES ON OUR STAFF SEARCHES

The Call Committee had an online interview with

a pastor last week and have invited him to meet

online for a second interview on July 1. The Youth

and Family Minister Team had their organizing

meeting this week and will meet again on July 2.

They have six resumes they are reviewing and will

begin interviews in early July. God is present and

working in our search processes, and we trust that

God will bring the right people to partner with us

in our ministry at just the right time. Please keep

our two staff search teams in your prayers as they

continue their hard work!

CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO COUNCIL

Rochelle Lemieux (currently on Council)

Maddie Herr

Ashley Mandery

Linc Schneider

*Thank you to Tom Hooper, Jennifer Luce, and

Mike Score for their service to Bethel.*

PRAYER

We are a praying community... we pray with expectation! Send your prayer requests to our prayer warriors (who actively pray for each and every submitted request) at [email protected].

If you would like to receive emails with current prayer requests from the community, simply send your request to Trudy at the same address.

ANNUAL REPORT

There is an article about the annual report

is avai lable on the website and there wil l

be l imited copies available in the church

office.

WOW BIBLE STUDY

Bethel’s WOW Bible Study resumed on Wednesday June 3! If you have not been out this would be a good way to begin. Our study is held in the sanctuary. Using a mask if you wish, walk into the sanctuary and choose a seat. We sit every other row and one at each end of the pew. We would at the most be 15 people in a room that holds 200 plus. It is a chance to get together and share our spiritual lives at the same time being safe. Please let me know if you can come.

BETHEL SOFTBALL STARTS

Our Co-Ed Softball league starts on Friday June

19th. Practice starts this Friday the 12th. We still

need a female player or two if you would like to sign

up or you know someone who might.

ADULT CLASSES RESUME Bethel Adult Sunday Classes started again

on June 7 th , led by the Pastors. The Study is

for adults only and wil l be focused on the

June Sermon Series “Things I Wish Jesus

Hadn’t Said”

ADULT CLASS (In Person and Online through Zoom video conference platform)

Sundays at 10a

A companion study to the weekend sermon series:

“Things I Wish Jesus Hadn’t Said” taught by the pastors. We will offer this class in a “hybrid” fashion: those who wish may attend in person in the Fellowship Hall, while those who prefer may connect online through Zoom.

*To register, call or email Pastor Al, who will get you connected into the Zoom platform either by computer, phone, tablet, or phone. We are also meeting in person if you feel comfortable.

BETHEL UPDATES


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bethellutheranchurch.com



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The link for the Amazon list is: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/JDU7YG2SKKLI?ref_=wl_share

We are living in difficult times for us, but as bad as they are here, it is even worse in the developing countries around the world where resources are limited and the ability to help the people is scarce. In particular, the Missions Committee is concerned about our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian nation is facing a crisis. Without help, starvation is likely.

As a symbol of solidarity and of Christian compassion, our Mission Committee decided to send some financial help to our brothers and sisters at the Lutheran seminary in Ethiopia. We will match any gift, dollar for dollar, up to $2,500 for this relief aid. For every $1 you give, it will become $2 to help the seminary, which in turn helps the community! To date we have received approximately $6,000! If you would like to donate by cash, check, or online, please put

“Match Me Missions” in the memo line. Checks may be made out to: Bethel Lutheran Church. Whether you are able to give or not, please keep these good friends and mission partners in your prayers and ask for the Holy Spirit to work healing and care to one and all. Thank you, as always for generously sharing your blessings. Indeed, we are blessed to be a blessing! The last opportunity for this Match Me Mission is the end of June.


https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/JDU7YG2SKKLI?ref_=wl_share



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CHALLENGING WORDS

Our June sermon series “Things I Wish Jesus Hadn’t Said” is exploring some of Jesus’ hard sayings;

comments like “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5.44) and “Not everyone

who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 7:21). As I’ve looked at those

statements this Spring, the overarching message to me is about commitment: am I “all in” or not? That’s

what he wants for me, to be a “fully devoted disciple of Jesus Christ.” There’s no room for half measures.

His words are challenging words for me because they’re so clear. They don’t allow for much “wiggle

room.”

It isn’t any better when we look closely at what Jesus says regarding our time, talent, and treasure:

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12.34)

For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16.25)

Give and it will be given to you. (Luke 6.38)

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. (Luke 12:15)

No, Jesus’ challenging words are painfully clear. We are not masters and mistresses of our own destiny;

we need God. God blesses our lives with the resources to live faithfully and fruitfully as disciples. And God

expects us to use these gifts of time, talent, treasure, and testimony wisely, to give back from the bounty

we’ve received. If the life of a river depended solely on the rain that falls within the confines of its own

banks, it would soon be dry. If the life of an individual depended solely on one’s own resources, it would

soon fall. Be grateful for your tributaries.

Pastor Al

BETHEL January February March 2020 year-to-date

Giving 70,668 75,500 47,959 194,127

Expenses 53,517 53,787 55,834 163,138

Surplus/ (Shortfall) 17,151 21,713 (7,875) 30,989

click here to

give now.

FINANCE UPDATE…


https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=wWsk24ZWJSTZKsGd1RMKlg0BDvsSG3VIWQCPJNNxD8upkiY7JlDavDsozUE7KG0nFx2NSo8LdUKGuGuF396vbe0oRHMaInh2GtXD7YKaZEOXHubq5Z7ap5JVmPErc4ZeYHCKCZhESjGNQmZ5B-6dx8104EFKvpQmI51junfTC2A=&ver=3




with god’s help, we’ll get through this!...bethel lutheran church †believe belong † become...

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