Bethlehem Connect Novmeber 2016 | Page 5

CLASSES/SMALL GROUPS A Confession from a Recent New Member... Stephanie Kraynick A confession: We’ve been attending Bethlehem for more than five years. Our kids were tiny – an infant and a toddler – when we first started worshipping at the Minneapolis campus. Now, they are six and eight, and we finally became members in October 2016. What took us so long? Well...life. Too many commitments, not enough time, no babysitter…you get the idea. We showed up to the new member class recently feeling a little sheepish, but the Bethlehem pastors, staff and fellow new members quickly put us at ease. Apparently, we aren’t the only people who’ve taken our time to become members. No problem! The class was fun, engaging – and inspiring. Listening to presentations and sharing stories with fellow new members, we were struck by the depth and breadth of Bethlehem’s good work. We also realized that Bethlehem is a community that needs us as much as we need it. It is our place, and we are there to not just receive God’s grace, kindness, love, forgiveness, renewal and so much more – but also to give. We felt energized to hear about all of the ways that we can help Bethlehem express Christ’s love, both inside and outside the church’s walls. We are filled with gratitude to be part of it. We are members! Join us for the Next Class... Saturday November 12 8:30 am to 12 noon Discover Bethlehem New Member Class Register online or contact Wendy [email protected] 612.312.3363 Danielle Parish 'LIVE' at Bethlehem-Both Campuses ‘Garden to Garden’ Bible Study Minnetonka campus – Wednesday, November 16, 6:30 pm Minneapolis campus – Thursday, November 17, 6:30 pm All are welcome, whether you are participating in the study or not. Thanks to a generous grant from the Bethlehem Foundation, ‘Garden to Garden’ leader, Pastor Danielle Parish, will teach one of the sessions live on both campuses. This will be Danielle’s second visit to Bethlehem Twin Cities, having delighted an audience in January when she taught about the period between the Old and New Testaments. Danielle and her husband Kevin Neuer are founding pastors of Spark Church in Palo Alto, CA. They developed ‘Garden to Garden’ as a study for their own congregation years ago and repeat it each year, also making it available for distance learners. Danielle is passionate about teaching the Bible in historical and cultural context and leads an annual study tour to Israel. To learn more, visit sparkchurch.net/garden-to-garden. Danielle Parish pictured here with Garden to Garden leaders Ingrid LeMunyon and Deb Conover. EcoFaith Factoid Ecofaith Network: An earth-keeping Initiative of the MPLS Area Synod (ELCA) Caring for the earth that cares for us through CONNECTION, AWARENESS, and ACTION The Mississippi is North America’s greatest river. But in Minnesota, home to its headwaters, sweeping changes in the landscape are putting water quality at risk. Star Tribune recently published a three-part series on the degradation of Minnesota's watershed. It is well worth the read. http://tinyurl.com/jdl657k 5