Bethlehem Connect August/September 2019 | Page 5

Your Giving Makes a Difference... If you’re a Thrivent member, you can apply online for an Action Team Grant that benefits Bethlehem’s mission and ministry. Peggy Doten applied for an Action Team Grant to help fund the hot dogs and brats for the 2018 Lyndale Open Streets event raising over $1500 for our mission partner ZOOM House. Jean Westberg used her Action Team Grant to help pay for the pancakes at the Mother’s Day breakfast which defrayed costs for youth participating in the summer mission trip this year. If you’re a Thrivent member you can apply for an Action Team Grant of up to $250. Apply online -- Here’s your next step: 1) Let Katy in the Stewardship office know if you are a Thrivent member. Letting us know that you’re a Thrivent member helps us communicate when there’s a project that would benefit from an Action Team Grant. Bethlehem youth and mission ministries anticipate more than 25 projects that would benefit from receiving your action grant. 2) If you need help to set up your online grant request we have Stewardship Team members ready to help. Contact Katy and we’ll have someone from the team follow up with you to walk you through the process. Thrivent Financial is a non-profit financial services business providing unique benefits to its members to share Thrivent’s financial success with non-profit organizations in their community and beyond. An Action Team Grant is a gift that keeps on giving: it provides seed money to leverage the success of service and fundraising projects benefitting our community mission work and as a result assists other non-profit organizations that you are passionate about. Staff Updates Peter Carlson (MDIV) joined the staff as the Director of Student Ministries in August. He will be responsible for overseeing faith formation for children ages 0 - 12th grade and will focus on the fifth - 12th grade programs, including confirmation and student engagement. He has over 13 years of experience working with youth in Nashville and Minneapolis, and he volunteers in the Southwest High School media arts program. Peter lives in South Minneapolis with his spouse Whitney and son Monroe. They love watching superhero movies, camping, canoeing the BWCAW, and exploring new places together. Jennifer Harris began with Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities in May as Administrative Assistant. She takes care of building scheduling, works with the Front Desk volunteers, but also manages Care Ministry communications. Jennifer has a degree in Urban Studies from Northwestern College. Before joining the staff of Bethlehem, Jennifer was the development and communications director at a national disaster relief non- profit, traveling to Puerto Rico multiple times in the last year. Jennifer is married to Travares and has two beautiful girls, Aaliyah and Layla. They have a pup named Mario Jose who was rescued after the hurricanes in Puerto Rico. Leah Johnson joined the staff as the Marketing and Publications Coordinator in July, and will handle the bulletins, weekly email, and Connect newsletter. For the last 12 years, she held communications positions at Redeemer (Fridley) and Shepherd of the Hills (Shoreview) Lutheran churches. She is a writer and graphic designer with a BA in writing/English who enjoys telling stories, music, being outdoors and traveling. Leah is married to Jaired, a talented songwriter/musician and artist, who grew up in outreach ministry. They have one child, Otto (7), who is spunky, precocious, and loves God. New Member Gathering October 10, 7:00 - 8:30pm Bethlehem has been re-imagining how we welcome people into this community. Do you want to make a deeper connection here? Has the time conflict been a barrier for you? We are trying something new and hope that this is the right opportunity for you. We are a much fuller expression of God’s church with you here, thank you for your involvement. This new member gathering will be an informal time to meet and connect with other Bethlehem people and pastors. Please let us know you want to come. Contact Wendy, [email protected], 612.312.3363 or sign up online. Once we know you are on board for this date Wendy Osman or Steph Smith will be in touch to answer any questions. If you have recently started attending Bethlehem or if you have been coming for years but never found the right opportunity, put this date on your calendar and join us for a fun and energizing evening of beverages, snacks and conversation. The gathering will be off-site at Harriet Place on 46th and Bryant Ave., not far from the Minneapolis campus. Mark Lucas 5