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A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church

A member congregation of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

7171 Pearl Rd, Middleburg Heights OH 44136-4946

(440) 843-6663

www.gobethel.org

Be heLight

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In This Issue. . . Prayer Concerns……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 Bethel Happenings ………………………….…………………………..……………..…………………………………….4-10 Ministries …….………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………..…10-11 Calendars ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12-13 Birthdays & Anniversaries………………………………..…………………………………………….….………………14-15

Be heLight

Let your light shine before others so

they may see your good works and

give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matt 5:16 NRSV A Publication of Bethel Lutheran Church

BeTheLight

Church Office 440-843-6663

Office Hours Mon - Fri 9 AM – 1 PM

Fax Number 440-843-6664

Steven M. Krebill 440-239-1818

Pastor

Erika Haskell 216-409-9037

Director of Music

Kathy Victor 440-843-6663

Administrative Assistant

bethelstaff@sbcglobal.net

Christie Scott 440-243-6266

M.E.E.C. Director

M.E.E.C. Office 440-888-9922

The Congregation

Reporters

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MISSION STATEMENT

The people of

Bethel Lutheran Church

are called by God to be

faithful to the word of God

and proclaim it to all people.

We share Christ's love

and forgiveness

by being Christ's hands,

feet, arms and voice

as we gather and

as we scatter.

OCTOBER ACTIVITIES AT BETHEL

*Deadline for the December/January 2015 BeTheLight is November 15th*

The purpose of BeTheLight is to inform our members, friends

and visitors of worship services and to encourage spiritual

growth, Christian Education opportunities, missions and

outreach, activities and fellowship events and volunteer

opportunities. This newsletter is meant to be an information

tool of Bethel Lutheran Church where we serve together as a

family in Christ.

The BeTheLight welcomes contributions and letters.

Copyrighted material (including prayers and inspirational

verses) cannot be published without written permission from

the author.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Persons In Need of Our Prayers

Chuck Behm, Deborah Braun, Carl Burgess, Warren Burgess, Marshall Camp, Richard

Coniglio, Jennifer English, Robert Hintze, Dorothy Holtz, Karen Horner, Aaron

Jardina, Carl Jones, Charlotte Karpinecz, Brigitte Kern, Lynn Kostura, Joyce Larson,

Cy Maszcynski, Eric Nemerovsky, Donald O’Dell, Clifford Riedel, Jr., Mary Sollers,

Janet Sopko, John Stefanik, Pat Sterba, Bob Thompson

Prayers for Our Homebound Members

Lilo Frey, Norm Heger, Ruth Jeckel, Irene Miller, Dorothy Myers, Eleanor

Olschewsky, Christa Wisbar, Velma Wolff

Please keep these friends in your

thoughts and prayers.

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OCTOBER ACTIVITIES AT BETHEL

BETHEL’S ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL OCTOBER 11, 2015

Please bring cans of meats, fruits, vegetables, box dinners or non-perishable items to worship

that day. Monetary gifts are welcome and are used to purchase food.

We will receive some matching funds from South Cuyahoga County Chapter #30769 of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Make checks payable to Bethel and earmark for Harvest Festival.

Our gifts will go to Redeemer Crisis Center at W. 30th and Walton, and will be distributed to the needy on Cleveland’s west side.

Let’s fill the sanctuary and show our thankfulness for all that God has given us.

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Stewardship Commitment Sunday is October 18

We are

At the beginning of October, a financial “snapshot” of where we are so far this year, as well as an estimate of giving card for 2016 will be sent to everyone in our congregation. On Sunday, October 18, we will all be invited to bring our cards forward during the offering as an act of worship, dedication and thanksgiving to God.

REFORMATION SUNDAY WORSHIP ON OCTOBER 25 TO INCLUDE AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM On Reformation Sunday, October 25, our festival worship will feature guest musicians and the rite of Affirmation of Baptism for two of our young people, Cole Nicholas and Emma Whitsel. Remember to wear red that day as we celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther and our other forebears in the faith and their witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

2015 ANNUAL REPORT BOOKLET Reports Due October 19 If you have a ministry report to be included in the 2015 report booklet which will be distributed in advance of the Annual Meeting in November, please email it to Kathy in the church office at bethelstaff@sbcglobal.net. Deadline for reports is Monday, October 19.

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NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES AT BETHEL

Sunday, November 1, All Saints’ Sunday All Saints’ Sunday Remembrance On All Saints' Sunday, November 1 we will remember in the prayers the names of all of our friends and loved ones who have died in the Christian faith in the past year. In the church office, we have the names of all members of Bethel who have died, but not the names of non-members whose funerals that Pastor Krebill may have conducted. So, if you have names you would like included in the list that day, please call the church office at 843-6663 by NOON Friday, October 30 to have them included. This year, we will be projecting names on the screen as part of this remembrance, so that is why it is important to call the church office with the correct spelling AND pronunciation of the name you would like to be included, and also to keep the deadline. Remember, these are the names of those who have died in the last year. Also, again this year, we are inviting worshipers at both services on November 1, to bring a flower to place in front of the altar at the processional at the beginning of the service. Bring one flower for each loved one you wish to commemorate. This can be anyone, and does not have to be those who have died in the past year

ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 15 This year our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, November 15, immediately following worship at 9:45 AM. The agenda for the annual meeting includes ministry and staff reports, the election of council and other ministry members, and the presentation of the 2016 budget for congregational approval. Copies of the Annual Report, including the proposed budget will be available in the Gathering Place or in the church office on November 8, one week before the meeting, so that you may have a chance to look over the reports and figures before the meeting. Several ministry leadership positions are up for election this year. If you are interested in serving on council or in a position of leadership, please contact our congregation president, Fred Sauvey for more information.

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ONE WORSHIP SERVICE FORMAT TO CONTINUE YEAR-ROUND At their September meeting, the members of the congregation council voted to continue a one service worship format year round. The vote was unanimous and followed two hours of discussion and reflection about mission and ministry needs, as well as taking very seriously the feedback they received from those who shared their thoughts with council people. Addressing our worship format and time was one of the most important issues identified at the three congregation meetings which were held this past summer during our sabbatical time. The service time will continue to be 9:45 AM. Council members also spent much time discussing our commitment to Christian education ministries for children, youth and adults. LIFE Together for children from pre-school age to grade 6 is offered at 9AM and began on September 27. The adult Bible study class continues to meet on Sunday mornings in the Gathering Place conference room at 8:30 AM. The shape of what it means to “be church” is constantly changing and this is not the first change that the people who are Bethel Lutheran Church have experienced in our 66 year history and it most certainly will not be the last. Members of our congregation council feel confident that as long as we gather as a community of faith around Word and Sacrament and seek to serve the Gospel of Jesus Christ that God will continue to direct our days and our deeds in peace.

FROM THE PASTOR—WHAT’S A “ROSTERED LEADER” ANYWAY?

In the September issue of the “BetheLight,” we reported that Lindsay Bailey was given a scholarship as she begins her studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus. The article mentioned that by supporting a seminary student that we would be venturing into new territory because we had never had a “rostered leader” at Bethel before. It turns out that that statement is only partially correct and some explanation might be in order. The term “rostered leader” has its roots in the formation of the ELCA in the mid-80’s. The ELCA was a merger of the American Lutheran Church (ALC), the Lutheran Church in America (LCA), and the remnant of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod which was called the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC). Bethel was a member of the AELC. The ALC and LCA counted for 96% of the people and congregations who formed the ELCA and apart from a small LCA deaconess community, the only “roster” that these two churches recognized was “ordained ministers of word and sacrament....i.e. “pastors.” The folks from the AELC, however brought with them from their time in the Missouri Synod a deaconess

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community from Valparaiso University in Indiana This is the community that Deaconesses Jeanette Rebeck and Judy Hoshek are members of. The Missouri Synod also had the tradition of including Lutheran school teachers as “ministers” in their church. Even though the AELC only represented 4% of the membership of the new church, great care was taken to include the piety and traditions that those folks were bringing to the table. So, a new category, called “Associate in Ministry” was designated for the new church, which included all of the ways of serving that were not “ordained ministers” and welcomed new ways of honoring service to the church through education, music and administration. The term “rostered leader” refers to ordained ministers and associates in ministry and people who attend seminary are encouraged to discern what “roster” they are called to. For Lindsay Bailey, that call is to “word and sacrament” ministry, that is a pastor. Interestingly enough, after nearly 30 years, the ELCA is in the process of trying to simplify our rosters to two categories: “word and sacrament” which is pastors, and “word and service” which is any other kind of service ministry. That process continues with all of the groups affected trying to work out issues surrounding, history, tradition and ways of well.....rostering those who serve! It also turns out that Bethel has had several people from our congregation enter ministry as pastors, all who started in the Missouri Synod and some who eventually joined the ELCA. The ones we know of are Robert Novak, Jon Paulus, Michael Volk, Peter Raquet and Paul Elbert, all of whom at one time or another had ties to Bethel. What we can celebrate about Lindsay Bailey is that she represents the first woman from our congregation to study to be a pastor, and she represents the first person to go through the ELCA candidacy process that we have been hearing about for so many years because of Pastor Krebill’s involvement in the ministry. We also hold up and celebrate all of those with roots at Bethel who have answered the call to serve the Gospel of Jesus Christ in any way. To God be the glory! Pastor Krebill

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Bethel’s Annual

Pork and Sauerkraut Dinner Saturday, November 7, 2015

4:30-7:00 PM

$10 – Adults $5 – Ages 7-13

Free – Ages 6 and under

Take-outs available

Tickets on sale October 11, 18, 25 & November 1 in the Gathering Place

Tickets will also be available in the

Church office weekdays 9AM-12PM until October 30.

Call Jean Jarancik @ (216) 676-8721 to volunteer.

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Holiday Craft Workshop 2015 We will be having our 9th annual Holiday Craft Workshop on Saturday, November 14 from 10:00am to 1:00pm. This will be held at Bethel in the Fellowship Hall. This is for any children ages three through 6th grade. There will be 12 craft stations and a cookie station. We ask that you sign up as soon as possible. Due to limited space, we only have room for 50 children. We also need to have an adult or older sibling stay with the children you sign up, for any assistance they may need. We need about 26 people to work the tables. The fliers with all the information and the signup sheets were sent home on Sunday, September 27. You can also register by filling out a registration form in the Gathering Place. There is a brown envelope in the kiosk with the forms in it or you can call Jackie Bailey and register over the phone or through email. The registration deadline is Sunday, November 8. You must preregister for this workshop, no walk-ins will be accepted. We will be accepting donations to help cover the cost of the workshop instead of doing a fundraiser this year. If you are interested in helping or have any questions, please contact Jackie Bailey at 440-842-5034 or jackiembailey@sbcglobal.net.

Calling All Bethel Ladies!! Do you like BLT’s? If you are interested in occasionally meeting other women of Bethel for lunch, (Bethel Ladies Together – BLT’s), then meet me in the Gathering Place on Tuesday, October 13th at 11:30am (following Pastor’s Bible study) and we will have a lively discussion about who, what, where and when. A light lunch will be served. For questions, please contact Sandy Sauvey at 440-268-8040 or sandysauvey@yahoo.com Bethel Soap Box Ministries The Soap Box Ministries is in need of the following:

*small cosmetic bags * personal hygiene items (sample size) Perhaps you have an unopened bottle at home? Or, can you pickup an extra one at the store? Please bring all donations to the Gathering Place coat room? Thank you for helping our Ministry ~ Ed Harbart

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Redeemer Crisis Center The Redeemer Crisis Center is in need of the following:

Can openers * Silverware * Dishes *Glasses/coffee cups

Pots/pans *CLEAN bedding items *towels Please take the time to clean out your closets and donate today! New items are always welcome. Please bring your items to the Gathering Place coat room. Thank you for helping our Ministry ~ Ed Costa, George Dietz Middleburg Heights Food Pantry Did you know? The month of September was National #NoKidHungry month? Let’s continue to help that effort and bring donations of cereal, cereal bars, fruit snack cups, and canned fruit. Please bring your donations to the Gathering Place coat room. Thank you for helping our Ministry ~ Sue VanStraaten Annual Coat Drive (for Love, Inc.) It’s that time of year again! Time to clean out those closets and donate your new or gently worn coats and jackets to Love, In the Name of Christ. We are asking you to bring your coat to church during the first 3 Sundays of October (10/4, 10/11, 10/18). The coats will be picked up, cleaned, put on a hanger, hung in a plastic bag and given to the homeless and poor throughout Cuyahoga County. As you can imagine the need this year is great. Help us reach out the hand of hope in a practical way as we extend, Love, In the Name of Christ. September Council Tidbits A couple of highlights from our meeting included

an annual report of income derived from our Endowment Fund. Of note here, is that council approved the rolling over of this income back into the fund.

We approved a request from the Altar Guild to install new carpeting in the sanctuary.

Diane Hail is preparing this year’s stewardship campaign. Watch and listen for details coming your way.

Most of you are aware that we have had some electrical issues with the lights in the sanctuary of late. We have a temporary fix in place. Karl is working with our contractor to permanently repair this issue.

You can read about these and other details of your concil’s actions posted in the monthly minutes posted at several places around the congregation. Fred Sauvey – Bethel Council President

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October 2015

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Al-Anon

10am

GFF 7pm

2

AA 8:30pm

3

Men’s Bible

study 8am

4

Worship 9:45am

5 6

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

7

Choir

7:30pm

8

Pastor leaves

for Germany

Al0Anon

10am

GFF 7pm

9

AA 8:30pm

10

Men’s Bible

study 8am

11

Harvest Festival

Sunday

12 13

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

GP in use 11:30pm

Men’s luncheon -

11:30pm

MEEC Board Mtg -

6:30pm

Council Mtg 7pm

14

Choir 7:30pm

15

Al-anon 10am

GFF 7pm

16

AA 8:30pm

17

Men’s Bible

study 8am

18

Stewardship

Commitment

Sunday

19

Annual

Reports Due

20

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

21

Choir7:30pm

Pastor returns

from Germany

22

Al-anon 10am

GFF 7pm

23

AA 8:30pm

24

Men’s Bible

study 8am

25

Worship 9:45am

MEEC Benefit

concert 3pm

26 27

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

28

Choir7:30pm

29

Al-anon 10am

GFF 7pm

30

AA 8:30pm

31

Men’s Bible

study 8am

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November 2015

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

All Saints

Sunday

2 3

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

4

Choir 7:30pm

5

Al-anon 10am

GFF 7pm

6

AA 8:30pm

7

Pork &

Sauerkraut

Dinner

4-7pm

8

Worship 9:45am

9

10

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

Men’s luncheon

- 11:30am

Council Mtg–

7pm

11

Choir 7:30pm

12

Al-anon 10am

GFF 7pm

13

AA 8:30pm

14

Holiday Craft

Workshop

9-1pm

15

Annual Meeting

After Worship

16 17

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

18

Choir 7:30pm

19

Al-anon 10am

GFF

Thanksgiving

Dinner &

worship

service7pm

20

AA 8:30pm

21

Men’s Bible

study 8am

22

Worship 9:45am

23 24

Lectionary Bible

study 10am

25

NO CHOIR

REHEARSAL

26

Happy

Thanksgiving

27

Church office

closed

NO GFF

AA 8:30pm

28

Men’s Bible

study 8am

29

Worship 9:45am

30

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October Birthdays 3 Irene Miller 4 Dan Karp

4 Max Reardon (Happy 18th Birthday!) 5 Wanda Herzog 6 Doris Smith 10 Inge Schuster 11 Jackie Bailey 11 Laura Elewski 11 Courtney Kolomijez 12 William Karp 13 Jeanne Whitsel 15 Clifford Riedel

17 Yvonne Camp 17 William Hughes (Happy 93rd Birthday!) 18 Marshall Camp 22 Tyler Zwolenik (Happy 16th Birthday!) 29 Carolyn Riedel 30 Gary Einheit

………….. and Anniversaries

2 Ryan & Jennifer English ~ 5 years 5 Wayne & Carol Derschau ~ 52 years 6 Julius & Ann Nemeth ~ 64 years

14 Jim & Jackie Kottke Bondor ~ 26 years 19 Dan & Merri Karp ~ 24 years

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November Birthdays

2 Eileen Miller 3 Marty Cool

3 Bonnie Fitzer 3 Bradshaw Rescola

5 Alan Nemerovsky 7 Joyce Lange 7 William Spiegelberg

7 Pam Ciccarello 7 Bridget Bartlett 8 Konrad Stiene 9 Abby Whitsel 15 Rose Carradine

17 Dick Larson 19 Talia LoPiccolo 20 Del Drier 21 Mark Pamer 23 Alan Bobrosky 28 Eleanor Olschewski

…………and Anniversaries

4 Bill & Bev Hughes ~ 65 years 30 Marshall & Yvonne Camp ~ 52 years