Bethlehem Connect January 2017 | Page 6

Bethlehem Foundation Grants Total $ 132,280 by Rianne Leaf , Foundation Grants Chairperson
The Bethlehem Foundation is pleased to announce that grants awarded in 2016 totaled $ 132,280 ! 1 . $ 21,253 ( 16.1 %) to Luther Seminary for two members ’ tuition , one internship , and scholarships for other students .
2 . $ 63,677 ( 48.1 %) to staff , building and equipment needs , and programs at Bethlehem
• Four staff members received funds for enrichment and education .
• Purchased eight computers , a panel to display confirmation pictures , a keyboard instrument for Harrisville room , and landscaping work .
• Six programs were funded : curriculum for baptism and first communion ; restarting Wednesday night suppers at Minnetonka ; upcoming exhibit on suicide prevention ; Cathy Wurzer / Bruce Kramer grief presentation ; Mental Health Connect team ’ s educational outreach model and resources ; and Women ’ s Bible Study Group bringing Pr . Danielle Parish twice for teaching and inspiration .
3 . $ 47,350 ( 35.8 %) was granted for nine outreach projects sponsored by Bethlehem members : Evangelical Lyceum in Bratislava ; Intertwine Northeast ( mission church ); Seeds of Support Mission for Haitian relief ; beds for boys in the foster program of Division of Indian Works ; Peace of Mind second phase program ; upgrade of organ at Christmas Lutheran Church in Palestine ; Lydia Place ( mission church ) in St . Paul ; HMCHA community center in Ethiopia ; and ELCA Abundant Life Together Program .
The Foundation wishes to thank Bethlehem members and friends who continue to give so generously through gifts , memorials and honorariums , as well as wills , trusts , and bequests . With current assets of $ 3 million , the Foundation is thrilled to be able to award so many grants with the interest and dividends earned each quarter . Please check out the website for more information about the Bethlehem Foundation or about how to sponsor an organization or project for a grant request .
EcoFaith Factoid
Ecofaith Network : An earth-keeping Initiative of the MPLS Area Synod ( ELCA )
Americans spend $ 1.2 trillion annually on nonessential goods — in other words , items they do not need ( The Wall Street Journal ).
Over the course of our lifetime , we will spend a total of 3,680 hours or 153 days searching for misplaced items . The research found we lose up to nine items every day — or 198,743 in a lifetime . Phones , keys , sunglasses , and paperwork top the list ( The Daily Mail ).
We live in a world of finite resources . There is only so much stuff to go around , and with the global population expected to exceed nine billion around the middle of this century , competition over resources can be expected to intensify greatly . One obvious way to share with others , then , is simply to take less , to try to take only what one needs to live a dignified life , and no more .
Does a New Year ’ s resolution come to mind ?
THANK YOU , JOHN
Thank you to John Winberg for 18 dedicated years of service as the Financial Secretary of the Minnetonka campus . John ’ s interest in finance began at the age of five when his school was having a sale , and he served as cashier because he could make change for a dollar . John states , “ I have always had a good relationship with numbers and money .” Graduating from Carleton College with a history major , he worked for 40 years in the retail business , originally at Dayton ’ s for 20 years in merchandising , leaving as a Vice President in 1984 . He spent the next 20 years specializing in logistics and systems at several other Minneapolis retailers .
When asked why he has served as Financial Secretary for so long , he commented that he has always been a very organized person in both his professional and personal life , and believes that continuing to work with numbers has kept his mind sharp . John says “ just like with your physical self , or your spiritual self , your mental self needs to be exercised – use it or lose it .” John ’ s analytical and forecasting skills have been his most valuable assets in his duties as Financial Secretary . Over the years , he recounts times when people felt anxious about finances . He was the calm voice of reason when times were tight and would reassure the church leadership that his forecast would be accurate , and always was “ within a few percentage points .”
These days , John enjoys being retired , and says he lives on “ senior standard time .” He loves to golf , reads the Wall Street Journal every day and likes to travel with Donna , his wife of 47 years . John and Donna have two children – Jennifer ( Steve ) and their two children Desmond and Winona , and son Robert and his fiancée Sarah who will be married next June .
6