outreach
Let’s Go Big! We Can Make a Difference!
Donate to the MN Foodshare March Food Drive
March is the month where churches across Minnesota come together to give big,
donating food and resources to help reduce – or even end – hunger in Minnesota.
Here’s a recent story from Community Emergency Service (CES):
"Growing up in Mississippi, Jeanice moved to Minnesota with her daughter in
1994. She worked until 42 benign tumors were discovered in her spine. Surgery to
remove them was a success, but the cancer had spread, requiring more surgeries and
chemotherapy. Jeanice was given only 3 months to live. She tried one last treatment
and it worked – Jeanice was declared cancer-free.
With all her surgeries and an eventual hip replacement, a motorized chair became
Jeanice’s transportation. Unable to work, Jeanice went on food stamps. She would
often run out around the middle of the month, but fortunately she lives close to CES.
Each month she makes her trek to CES in her motorized chair to get bread, free produce
and staples like stew, flour and oil, along with eggs, cheese and chicken. She especially
loves the produce, which can be expensive. “CES is a beautiful place!” she said, “Not
only do I appreciate the food, but those [volunteers] who meet with me are wonderful.
Having someone to talk to, listen to me and even share advice is so important! I
appreciate the prayers and love how much people at CES love God.”
Over 500,000 Minnesotans are food insecure on a regular basis: children going
to school hungry, seniors skipping meals to afford medications, and parents who
skip meals so their children can eat.
Here’s how to help at the Minneapolis campus:
· Bring a bag of non-perishable groceries to Bethlehem, to one of
the carts in the Gallery. Canned or boxed items are best. Please avoid
glass containers and please check expiration dates on food items.
· Make a check out to “Bethlehem Lutheran,” note “CES” on the memo line
and place in the offering plate.
· Pray for the work of CES and those who are served
· Volunteer at CES on Sat, March 24 from 10:00am to Noon to sort food.
Contact Britta Iwen at [email protected] or at 612-721-2842 to sign up.
Looking For Refugee Family Sponsors
Bethlehem has an ongoing partnership with Lutheran Social Service of
Minnesota to sponsor refugee families in our community. We are hoping to
sponsor new families in 2018 and we are looking for volunteers to get involved!
To sponsor a new family or families in 2018, Bethlehem must commit to:
- providing rental assistance to a family for several months
- forming a Mentor Team to get to know the family personally and support them
as they adjust to a new life in Minnesota.
If you are interested in supporting a family as a Mentor Team member or through
financial assistance, please contact Stephanie Kraynick at stephanie.kraynick@
gmail.com. Stephanie will be glad to address your questions or ideas about how
you'd like to get involved.
Thank you to Women's
Day of Service!
You tied quilts, knitted baby hats,
sorted medical supplies and brought
cans of soup for our local food shelves.
Here is what else you did … 374 rolled
bandages for mission hospitals and
clinics in underdeveloped countries;
330 Newborn Kits, and gifts of
devotionals (in Kiswahili and English)
to celebrate God’s gift of life; 279
Hospice Kits for Lutheran palliative
care and hospice programs overseas.
That’s 609 total.
Women’s Day of Service is never “one
and done.” Next year’s Women’s Day
of Service will be February 9, 2019.
Items for Women's Day of Service
projects can be dropped off any time
at the offices of both campuses. A
list of needed items can be found on
Bethlehem’s website.
2018 Spring Tool Kit for
Lay Le aders
Saturday, March 10, 9:00-Noon
Check in begins at 8:30.
Hosted by the Minneapolis Area Synod
at Bethlehem’s Minnneapolis campus.
Lay leaders and rostered ministers
are invited to join presenters from
around the synod for a morning of
learning and time with Bishop Ann
Svennungsen. Workshop topics include
“Moving from Welcoming Church to
Inviting Church,” “Islam 101: Engaging
our Muslim Neighbors,” and more.
Register online at http://mpls-synod.
org/event/spring-tool-kit/.
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