Bethlehem Connect January/February 2019 | Page 9

outreach Women's Day of Service Saturday, February 9, 2019 9:30 am - 1:00 pm (MPLS) “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” We think Rabindranath Tagore, the Bengali poet who wrote those words, had it right. Bethlehem women and girls of all ages will gather on Saturday morning, February 9 for Women’s Day of Service – a warm, joyful Bethlehem tradition on a cold winter morning. Service projects this year include finishing quilts, knitting baby hats, assembling Newborn and Hospice Kits, rolling bandages and more. You can find a list of items needed for our projects on Bethlehem’s website. This year we especially need 2-gallon size Ziploc or Hefty plastic bags for packing kits, and cloth diapers. We need more than 600 diapers for the number of Newborn Kits we’ll assemble! Both Target and Amazon have “Pre-folded” diapers – they’re the best. We’ve also been collecting plastic bags … stop by the tables in the Gallery on Sunday mornings in January to see our new projects. This year we’ll be hearing about The Gathering, which offers stimulating activities to engage the minds and bodies of people experiencing memory loss, while their caregivers have a day of respite. Bethlehem’s Minneapolis campus hosts The Gathering every Thursday. The joy starts at 9:30 in the Commons area outside the Sanctuary, Minneapolis campus. Bring some change, we’ll have a Noisy Offering again for the Women’s Day of Service Scholarship Fund. And stay for lunch! All items should be NEW or GENTLY USED. Thank you for your gifts, and for supporting Bethlehem’s Women’s Day of Service. Questions? Contact Ann Senne, [email protected] or Kim Dickey, [email protected]. Bridges for Peace - Al Amaan Center Saturday, January 26, 4:00 - 6:30 pm 5620 Smetana Dr, Hopkins, MN 55343 Beacon Interfaith's Congregations Convening Tuesday, January 29, 7:00 - 8:30 pm Bet Shalom Congregation Minnetonka, MN Beacon gathers leaders from collaborating congregations quarterly. At the September Convening, we asked, "Where is the power?" and the response from over 300 of us thundered back: "In our hands!" Together, we're using our power to create homes, shelter families, and impact policy. The power of our presence, the power of our united voices, the power of our vision - these will all be on full display at the Convening. We have invited Governor- elect Tim Walz and we'll be sharing the message loud and clear: communities of faith believe in home and expect action from our elected officials to end homelessness by creating affordable housing. Join others from Bethlehem and the 80+ collaborating congregations for an evening that informs and inspires! Register today at www.beaconinterfaith. org/congregation-convening Then, share this with others at Bethlehem and your neighbors who value a vision where all people have a home. Make sure they're registered, too, so we can update the governor on the ever-growing size of the crowd he can expect! Questions? Contact Pastor Meta. RSVP online at www. beaconinterfaith.org. Have you ever wanted to hear first-hand from Muslims about the deeply held tenets and daily practice of Islam? While we live in an era of quick sound bites, taking a bit of time to dig deeper can be illuminating. Come to the Al-Amaan Center for an informative talk, plenty of time for questions, the chance to experience congregational prayer, a tour of our worship space, and a meal with friends. RSVP online at www.alamaan.org/bfp. 9