CLASSES/staff news
Great Expectations: How How We Successfully Build a Staff
the Book of Acts Tells
by Pastor Ben Cieslik
the Church What It Is
One of the facets of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities staff that has
Sunday, May 21 (MPLS)
11:45 am Salad Lunch
12:15 pm Presentation by
Dr. Matt Skinner
The Acts of the Apostles encourages
us to have larger imaginations about
who God is and what the gospel
means for the world. When our ideas
of what's possible get too small, Acts
can offer a welcome remedy. Come
and learn more about Acts and how it
can expand our vision. Dr. Skinner is a
New Testament scholar and teacher at
Luther Seminary.
All ages invited. RSVP for lunch to the
MPLS office, 612.312.3400, by May 19.
made it effective and healthy over a number of years is that we continually
reassess the roles that individual team members occupy. We hire talented people
who bring a number of skills and gifts to bear on the mission that God has called
us to be about in this time and place. A team member might be initially called
to do one thing within the organization; but as individuals come and go and the
nature of the work evolves, they might embrace a new role on the team. This
creates a dynamic environment where we are cognizant of getting the right
people into the right places. In my nearly 7 years here, I have three different
expressions of my call to Bethlehem. Very quickly after the consolidation,
Pastor Bob Rusert took on some new challenges to help with our congregation's
outreach ministry and to develop a meaningful small group experience. Again,
after the consolidation, it became clear that we needed to add an additional
pastor and one with the ability to help us reach out into the Minnetonka
community to develop relationships with young families, all while partnering
with Pastor Bob to continue to care for the existing community that gathers in
Minnetonka. While not exclusive of other people who are hungry for a church
home, we believe we need to be intentionally connecting with people in their late
20’s and early 30’s to bolster the vibrancy that already exists in Minnetonka.
This is why we’re thrilled to be welcoming Meta Carlson to our team. Here are a
few words from Meta.
I look forward to spring every year, grateful for the signs of new
beginnings. This spring I rejoice in the opportunity to begin serving
Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities, with principal duties on the
Minnetonka Campus! I come with nine years of experience serving in
small congregational settings. My leadership at Zion Lutheran Church
has developed expertise and passion for creative collaboration and mission
redevelopment. After having worked alongside both campuses through ZOOM House
and Mental Health Connect, I look forward to new expressions of bold and faithful
ministry together! I live in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis with my
dashing husband Matt and our three loud and sticky children: Jasper (6), Solveig (3),
and Tove (3). Together these three consume approximately 85 pounds of Goldfish
crackers per worship service, so it's no wonder their favorite part of the liturgy is Holy
Communion. Matt works at TRIA Orthopedic Center in Sports Medicine Services, so we
both found work that invites us to love people and help them heal.
Wednesday Wonderers Meditation Group
Congenial Conversations
on Contentious Issues
Immigration (MTKA)
Thursday, May 18, 6:00 pm
IMMIGRATION is the topic for this
evening's congenial conversation on a
contentious issue. Dinner at 6:00, with
conversation during the meal. Free will
offering. RSVP online by May 15. All
are welcome!
by Marshall Pechauer
Want to become a part of a prayer group and not have to go to another meeting?
Since December there has been a group meeting in the Bethlehem Chapel on
Wednesdays at 10:00 am for 20 minutes of meditation and intercessory prayer,
especially to focus on prayer support for Pastor Chris Nelson and his family, and
including other prayer concerns as well. Some have been present in the chapel,
others “attend” from wherever they find themselves on that morning. Going
forward we hope to widen our circle of prayer. Want to give it a try? You will be
strengthened by the realization that there are many reading the same scripture
and in prayer at the same time, regardless of location. All participants will
receive via email a scripture reading, a meditation suggestion and a list of prayer
concerns. If you are interested, connect with the group through Bethlehem’s
InFellowship. If you have not yet used InFellowship, go to bethlehem-church.org
and follow the infellowship link in the top right corner. Search for “Wednesday
Wonderers Meditation Group.”
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