july 2020 still living and sharing god’s love · pdf file 2020-07-06 · july...

JULY 2020

Living and Sharing God’s Love

Still Living and Sharing

GOD’S LOVE It’s been a challenging season adapting to a “new normal” of adjusted schedules and lifestyle changes as we all try to stay healthy and safe.

While things have looked a little different at Bethany over the last few months, God is still at work, and we are still part of God’s plan.

Please read this issue of the Beacon to learn about ministries that are still happening at Bethany. Whether you are still staying at home, or returning to Bethany as we start to gather in person again, there are ways for you to be in

God’s Word and be involved in our community of faith.

Members of the Bethany family are encouraged to continue to seek ways to live and share God’s love. If you are looking for ways to connect, please

reach out to the church office at 319-364-6026. Let us know how you have been finding ways to live and share God’s love!

2 PASTOR’S PAGE

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take

heart; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33

Jesus first spoke these words to His disciples in the context of His death, resurrection, and ascen- sion into heaven. Because they followed Jesus through these events and beyond, the disciples would face trouble in the world, including persecu- tion. But Jesus’ ministry, including His death, res- urrection and ascension, were all done so that He might overcome the world and its problems of sin and death. Therefore, those who believe and trust in Him as their Lord and Savior may truly live in peace, regardless of whatever tribulation or prob- lem they may face. This is Good News for us to- day, because as we all know, we face some really serious problems.

Over the last few months all of us have been navigating a new world that is being ravaged by the Coronavirus and its subsequent effects on our soci- ety. Regardless of whether or not we ourselves have become ill, lost employment, find ourselves wearing masks, or just staying at home more than usual, all of us have felt the effects of the current pandemic. The adjustments that we have had to make in how we worship, work, shop, or relax have lifted the veil on how fragile our lives and commu- nities can really be.

On top of the effects of this pandemic, we have recently seen over the last few weeks protests and discussions that are taking place in our nation, the world, and eastern Iowa concerning racial injus- tice in our country. While there seems to be no reasonable proponents speaking for racism today, along with the protests there are now conversations taking place, sometimes insincere and often conten- tious, as to the extent and the solutions for this scourge. How long all of this will continue to hap- pen and what the results will be, if any, have yet to be seen.

Thinking of these problems for too long can be frustrating or discouraging. Thinking of how we can help with them, or even just live or survive dur-

ing such turbulent times for another week or an- other month, can be overwhelming. Which is why it is so important to remember what Jesus told His disciples in the verse above. The troubles that the disciples would face would not necessarily be a vi- rus, racism, or civil unrest. But regardless of what form their tribulations took, Jesus had overcome them, just as He has overcome ours. As we’re con- fronted with COVID-19, racial injustice, or any other problem that we face in this world, remem- ber: Jesus has already overcome all the tribulations of this world through His death and resurrection.

This message of Jesus’s victory over sin, death, and the devil through the cross and empty tomb is the essence of the Christian Church, and therefore our congregation at Bethany. However, this does not mean that Christians can sit back in a world full of problems, talk about the Gospel, and wait for Jesus to return! Rather, just as Jesus didn’t just ap- pear out of heaven to die on the cross for our sin, but rather had a ministry of three years teaching and performing amazing works of mercy and heal- ing to show His Words were true (John 20:30-31), so too are Christians today called to teach God Word and show that it is true through their actions of mercy and love.

Therefore, as God’s people at Bethany, our lives and work will continue to center around the Word and Sacraments of the One who has over- come the world. Yet, as God’s redeemed people through Christ, each one of us must also be con- tributing to solutions to the problems and the alle- viation of suffering in this world and our communi- ties and neighborhoods. As you read this month’s Beacon you may not see as much of that as you would like because of where we have been with the pandemic over the last few months. And if that bothers you – good, it does me too. But let’s use that frustration and, most importantly, the hope that Christ’s victory gives us over the problems of

this world, to move us forward as His people Living

and Sharing God’s Love.

In Christ’s Service,

T Pastor Erickson

3

Thanksgiving:

Christian fathers

Don & Carol Loesch (parents of *A Pfeil)- 60th anniversary 6/18

Jill (daughter of *Dick & *Karen Hass)- Recovering after surgery

Illness, injuries, health issues:

Those affected by COVID-19

Gene (husband of *K. Schmidt)- Recovering after surgery

Lyla (relative of *Sheryl Knutson)- Health issues

Andrew (relative of *B Heims)- Recovering after surgery

Barb (friend of *Pat Krekeler)- Health issues

Zoe (granddaughter of *Mary Nanke)- Recovering after cornea

transplant

Mary Lou (mother of *Becky Thur)- Recovering after surgery

Seth (son-in-law of *Zenors)- Health issues

Carolyn (mother of Mary Vezina)- Recovering from shingles

Joyce (mother of *A. Segebart)- Recovering after surgery

Carol (mother of *Angie Pfeil)- Recovering after fall

Jennifer (daughter of *Pat Krekeler)- Life challenges

Jeff Mellgren (former member)– Recovering after stroke

Steve (brother of *L Patten)- Health issues

Hayden (relative of *Bonnie Bubke)- Brain disorder

Gwendolyn- (friend of *Karen Swanson)- Terminal illness

Susan (niece of *Bonnie Bubke)- Health issues

Pastor Renfro (Trinity)– Health issues

Steve (friend of *Pete Larson)- Recovering after stroke

John (nephew of *Bonnie Bubke)- Health issues

Ruth (friend of *Velma Ziesemer)- Health issues

David (relative of *Melissa Loney)- Health issues

Rod (nephew of *Bonnie Bubke)- Parkinson’s Disease

Safety:

Tailor (grandson of *Kim Neuhaus)- Marines, Deployed

Charlie (grandson of *Kim Neuhaus)- Army, Deployed

Local/National/World:

Local, state, and national leaders

Victims of floods, hurricanes, fires and disasters

Homebound members of Bethany:

*Rollis Deetz– at home

*Wayne & Darlene Schilling– at home

Candi Engel– at home

*Ann Meyer– Terrace Glen, Marion

*Del & *Dee Block– Summit Pointe, Marion

*Larry & *Sharon Easler– Summit Pointe, Marion

Cancer:

Oz (father of *Dathan Hinrichs & *Josie Hester)- in patient cancer

treatment at U of I

Pat (niece of *Bonnie Bubke)- cancer

Jerry (father of Missy Gingrich)- cancer treatment

Glen (brother of *Rob Sieck)- cancer

Jim (friend of *Sheryl Knutson)- cancer surgery

Carol (sister of *Lori Dohrmann)- cancer treatment

Tony (friend of *Mike Thomas)- cancer

David (relative of *Hasses)- cancer

Gene (husband of *N Owens)- cancer treatment

Julie (friend of *Brenda Heims)- cancer

Janet (friend of *Brenda Heims)-cancer

Judy (godmother of *Jim Novitch)- cancer treatment

Chad (son of *Vicki Huschka)- leukemia

Rita (friend of *Shirley Kellogg)- cancer

Grief, family and friends of:

Yonne (mother-in-law of *Doris Baker)- Died 6/24

Eleanor (mother of *Ken Cook)- Died 6/22

Ashley (friend of *Ronda Anderson)- Died 5/19

Connie (friend of *Knutsons)- Died 5/19

DeWayne (father of *Steve Hanchera)- Died 5/17

MaryEllen (mother of *Tina Freese)- Died 5/12

Bob (friend of *Pat Krekeler)- Died 5/9

Submit a prayer: Email: [email protected] or call the

church office at 319-364-6026

Bethany Prayers

Do you have prayer requests? Let us know if you would like your request added to the prayer list, the email prayer chain, or both. Call 364-6026 or email requests to [email protected]

PRAYER PAGE

4 CALENDAR

7/1 Ben Mims 7/3 Elaine Cook Rick Foreman John Siebenmann 7/5 Corey Stackhouse 7/6 Arlen Breiholz Rachel Henderson 7/7 Barry Smith 7/9 Landon Oja 7/10 Phil Hedtke 7/12 Carol McGinnis

7/13 Myriah Blazicek Tristan Bond 7/14 Jeff Bulicek 7/15 Bill Freese Chris Knudson Jake Sturtz 7/16 Mindy Thies Bryce Wilson 7/17 Jim Heitland 7/19 Nicole Deetz Mark Holt

7/20 Christine Erickson 7/21 Jo Godbey 7/22 Carson Theriault 7/23 Jodi Strait 7/24 Isaac Corey Lainie Olson Renee Riffey 7/27 Meghan Prohaska 7/28 Ken Coo