children, Youth & Family
Opening New Doors for Children
Visitors to Bethlehem Twin Cities always comment on the bustling positive energy
that fills the building on Sunday mornings. The gallery is full of joyful children heading
to worship, Sunday School, and the nursery. Families hear that Bethlehem is a great
church home for children. They come, and they stay. This doesn’t happen overnight.
For decades, because of God’s love, the creative staff and supportive congregation,
Bethlehem has built a thriving, impactful and lasting children’s ministry.
Today, the strength in Bethlehem’s children’s ministry can be seen in its permeability.
The walls of Bethlehem get thin as love pours in and shines out. The incredible
Vacation Bible School experience brings little ones from all over. Many families are so
taken by the combination of great teaching, great care and great fun that they make
Bethlehem their church home. Children are little sponges. They absorb God’s love
as they grow and shine it out to make the world brighter and more beautiful. Every
Sunday there is a noisy offering of coins that go to organizations both local and global.
The children and youth sponsor five students in India through LPGM. Next year, one
Sunday a month we will be doing service, like making sandwiches for the Sandwich
Man. On March 24, when Bethlehem filled three buses going to March For Our
Lives, the youngest rider was two. These are kids who want to share God’s love they
experience at Bethlehem with the world. This is the faith of children.
Are you a foster or adoptive parent looking to network and receive additional
support for your family? Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities is starting
a foster and adoptive family group! Please join us for the first informational
meeting on Wednesday, May 2 from 6:30-7:30 pm (snacks provided) in
the Drama Room (208). We will introduce ourselves, plan frequency, and
brainstorm topic ideas for future meetings. Please email Kate Eckroth if you
are interested in attending or if you have questions at [email protected].
Opening New Doors for Youth
Bethlehem has a rich history of doing
transformational work with youth. Former
youth come back as adults to volunteer. We
have several parents who went through the
youth program and now are sending their
children. Gwenn Branstad, who preached at
this year’s confirmation service, tells the youth
that she leads small groups of youth because she was there at their baptism and she
promised God to help raise them in the community of Bethlehem. Every year over
the lefse griddle or decorating for our Lutefisk Dinner, our youth hear stories from the
Hi League members that let them know they are part of something bigger than this
moment, something richer, deeper, and wider than their immediate community. This
models for them the abundance of God’s love and commitment.
The youth team has made several changes recently that could not have been possible
without the strong foundation Bethlehem Youth Ministry has built over the years.
We moved from one youth staff member to several so more youth could have leaders
they feel connected to and more voices of love in their lives. We grew our confirmation
program from two to four years so that youth could mature in faith and deepen their
friendships even more before affirming their baptisms. We have also grown our
summer program to include more options so our young people can experience God
in nature, in society and with each other. Our newest partner, The Global Immersion
Project, offers youth training in how to become everyday peacemakers. Our youth are
seeing the intersection between God’s biblical story and their own lives in the context
of a hurting and beautiful world.
We give thanks for the work of faithful staff and families that came before us, and we
look forward to where the Spirit is leading the youth of Bethlehem next.
Looking Ahead
Programming for Children:
May 6 – Magic Show, 9:15 or 10:30 am
during Sunday School (MPLS)
May 20 – Pentecost celebration during
9:15 or 10:30 am Sunday School (MPLS)
Programming for Youth:
May 6 – Communion Bread Making (MTKA)
Meet Soren in the kitchen from
9:30-10:30 am to bake delicious
communion bread for the month.
Come, bring a friend and let’s bake!
May 9 – Senior Supper at 6:30 pm (MPLS)
For more information on each of these
events, visit bethlehem-church.org/events.
Summer 2018 Opportunities
This summer, there are many exciting
opportunities for children and youth:
Youth
• Israel/Palestine: June 17-27 (10th-12th)
• MPLS VBS Volunteer: June 25-29
(6th-12th)
• Camp Amnicon: July 8-13 (7th-12th)
• Serve Boldy: Chicago: July 22-27
(7th-12th)
• Green Lake Bible Camp: July 29-Aug. 3
(7th-12th)
Children
• MPLS VBS: June 25-29 (4 years-5th)
• MTKA VBS: June 18-21 (4 years-5th)
• Green Lake Bible Camp: July 29-Aug. 3
(1st-6th)
For more information, please go to our
website or pick up a brochure at the
hospitality desk.
Smash! Bang! Clink!
Bring your pennies, nickels, dimes, and
quarters to crash in the offering pot in each
Sunday School
classroom. We
also enjoy “quiet”
offering: bills
and checks.
Each month the
Sunday School
will collect for
different outreach partners.
During May our noisy offering will go to
buying bees through ELCA Good Gifts.
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