Care Ministries
What ' s Left : Lives Touched By Suicide
Multimedia exhibit coming to Bethlehem Twin Cities
March 1-30 at Minneapolis April 2-28 at Minnetonka
Suicide and mental illness are major health problems that affect everyone . The topic is often viewed as taboo , and family members left behind can feel stigmatized and unable to talk openly about their experience and grief . What ' s Left provides a space for both artists and the broader community to reflect on the impact of suicide and mental illness and explore the use of artistic expression in the process of grieving , healing and expressing hope .
What ' s Left is an exhibit of over 40 of Minnesota ' s finest artists in painting , poetry , sculpture , graffiti , glass , weaving , photography and more . Viewers of What ' s Left will also have the chance to listen to an interactive audio installation of stories from survivors and leave their own message of hope in the phone booth .
Please note : The phone booth audio is recommended for youth and adults 7th grade and older . It is recommended that youth under age 18 listen and discuss with a parent or other adult .
Refugee Sponsorship by Stephanie Kraynick
I ’ ve been thinking about refugees lately , perhaps you have , too . Before “ refugee ” became a politically charged word , it was simply a term that described people who had been dealt a very bad hand and needed help .
In the spirit of the latter , I reached out to Bethlehem ’ s leadership in late 2016 to ask if our congregation might be able to help refugees resettling in the Twin Cities . The stories of families fleeing wars and conflict zones , and often dying in the process , presented a challenge to me as a Christian . What had I done to make anything better in the face of so much suffering ? Frankly , nothing . What could I do ? Perhaps something …
I learned that our church , at both campuses , has a long and rich history of refugee sponsorship and would be glad to sponsor a refugee family or families again . With our abundant resources and our spirit of Christian generosity , we could make a difference for people who have endured more than enough hardship for a lifetime . Pastor Nelson steered me to Lutheran Social Services ( LSS ), where the volunteer coordinator , Cate , told me that a program existed just for churches such as ours . We met at the church to dive into the details at the end of January . While the timing seemed almost comically bad – the Executive Order halting all refugee entry into the U . S . had just been signed two days prior – we had a great discussion . Two key opportunities emerged : First , refugee families here in the Twin Cities right now need our help . In addition , at some point , the door to our country will open again for refugees , at least part of the way . We can be prepared to help .
If you are interested in learning more , come to one of the information sessions- Sunday , March 12 at Minneapolis or Sunday , March 19 at Minnetonka .
Both meetings will be held at 11:30 am . A light lunch of soup and salad will be served . Hear from Cate Anderson of LSS tell about the opportunities to help refugees in our community through simple but powerful acts of kindness : how to use the bus system , shop for groceries , enroll in public school and improve English proficiency .
Bring your questions and ideas . We ’ d love to see you there . Questions or for more information , contact Bob Rusert or Diane Waarvik , 612.312.3400 . RSVPs are preferred for lunch planning . RSVP online or to the church office .
Opening Reception
Friday , March 10 , 5:00-8:00 pm
John Bauer , What ' s Left Project Director , will be at Bethlehem ' s Minneapolis campus along with some of the exhibit artists on Friday , March 10 , 5:00-8:00 pm , with a program at 7:00 pm . The program will feature Mr . Bauer along with local musician Humbird ( aka Siri Undlin ). All are welcome to attend . No registration or RSVP necessary .
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Thank you from Starfish Ministries !
Thank you to everyone who purchased bus and grocery cards for Starfish Ministry through the Alternative Gift Fair . Through your generous donations , Starfish will be able to assist over 40 families in getting to work or job interviews and put food on the table for their families .