bethlehem newsletter - Bethlehem Lutheran Church

BETHLEHEM NEWSLETTER
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 469
bethlehemlutheran@eccwireless.net
Elgin, Texas 78621
http://www.bethlehem-elgin.org/
512-285-5036
JUNE 2011
Worship Time: 10 AM
SS & Confirmation Summer Break/Adult Sunday School: 9 AM
SOME NOTES FROM PASTOR KLUMPP
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Somewhere Shakespeare wrote, “A rose by any other name would smell as
sweet.” That‟s probably true, but young couples expecting a child study name books
and try to select carefully a name that will fit, if not the child, then their expectations for the child. Family
traditions result in juniors and even „the third‟. I even know a man named “Tre” because he was the
third child. Biblical names used to be popular. That‟s not so true anymore. Teachers can tell you what
names are in vogue. Debbie and Jennifer had their day, as did Jeffrey and Brad. Fads are fickle, however, and that‟s probably fortunate. If “variety is the spice of life,” then a new batch of “in” names every
few years adds to the mix.
Names themselves have meanings. George, as I recall, pertains to farming or agriculture. I
can‟t think of any farmers I know named George. I told my grandson that his name, Jonas, means
dove. He wasn‟t impressed. His father dislikes doves, particularly the ones raiding his bird feeder continually, so there‟s a bit of irony. I have a granddaughter named Grace. I like the name Grace, but
“Gracie” not so much. Grace is one religious word that has kept its luster according to Frederick Buechner. Think of gracious and graceful. Of course, grace can mean several things—a prayer before meals,
a certain style or beauty of form, matter or motion. I think of ballet dancers. It also means favor or good
will as well as an attractive or pleasing quality or endowment. With all those positives, Grace is a tough
name to top. When asked if she would mind if her cousin was named Grace, she demurred. She wanted to keep the name solely for herself, though she said it could be a middle name.
I think I was about thirteen when I discovered that my name, David, meant „beloved‟ in the Hebrew original. Yuck, I though—that sounds kinda—well sissy. What did you expect? I was 13. I don‟t
feel that way anymore. Instead, I believe that everyone wants to be someone‟s beloved, and wants to
become the giver of love to another who then is “beloved”. Beloved works as subject and object, giver
and receiver. Read the obituaries and you‟ll find the word beloved used frequently. So and so, beloved
mother, wife, grandmother, etc. What does it mean to be beloved? I think the simplest explanation
would be to say, “cared for or about.” If we love something or someone, we care for them and care
about what happens to them.
Somewhere St. Paul writes, “Whether we live or die, we are the Lord‟s.” That picks up the
meaning of the words „grace‟ and „david‟. God pours out favor upon us because we are beloved children of the heavenly Father. It‟s comforting to believe that we are God‟s beloved, not just in death but in
life as well. It suggests that God cares for us and cares about what happens to us. That‟s about as
good as it can get. The dove of God‟s Spirit is involved in the movement toward accepting or believing
this. At least that‟s the symbol used in the New Testament for the coming of God‟s Spirit to Jesus at his
baptism.
So while a rose by any other name might smell as sweet, names have significance and meaning,
and we do well to know and honor this fact in our daily living. It will make it easier for others to find us
„beloved‟ and to value the relationship. So what‟s in a name? Much, if we live up to it. ~ Pr. Dave
CONGRATULATIONS
to our 2011 High School graduates, Sammy Bruce
and Justin Lundgren. Bethlehem wishes these two fine young men a bright and
prosperous future.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Plans are underway for VBS at Bethlehem to be held August 2-3 from 9 am - 3 pm, with a light breakfast &
lunch provided each day. The theme this year is “Shake It Up Café where kids carry out God’s Recipe.” Abby Grifno is the VBS coordinator; please contact her at 512-428-8868 for registration information
and/or to volunteer! A volunteer planning meeting will be held on Aug 1st.
More information will be announced in the July-August newsletter and in
the Sunday bulletins.
GOD WITH US
They shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us.”
Matthew 1:23
STEWARDSHIP FOR MAY
$
Member Offering
Non-Member
Garage Sale
Total
-
$ 3,399.00
292.20
1295.70
$ 4,986.70
Balance, 5-1-11
May Income
May Expenses
Balance, 5-31-11
Building Fund
-
$ 700.00
Average Attendance:
- $ 365.16**
4,986.70
-2,735.11
- $ 2,616.75
$
31
**Please note that this is a corrected amount from that reported in the May newsletter.
Adopt-a-Month: June has been adopted by Dolores Lundgren in memory of Robert Lundgren. It was
not reported in the last newsletter that Luther and Evelyn Draehn adopted the month of May.
ALTAR FLOWERS FOR JUNE
June 19 - Family of Orvis Moore
All other June Sundays are OPEN
JUNE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
6 - Merv Krause
26 - Stephanie (Samuelson) Cabral
17 - Lisa Olson
27 - Electra Owens
29 - Caitlyn McLean
REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYER the following who were in nursing homes, are homebound, ill, have
been lifted up in prayer, called, or sent cards of cheer or sympathy during May. Please call Glenda
Samuelson at 281-4031 if you would like to place someone on our prayer chain.
Loraine Kessel
Dietrich Kessel
Mary Ann Gustafson
Sarah Larson
We also remember our service personnel: Josh Kimberly & Matthew Helgren
SUNDAY SCHOOL Although the children’s Sunday School and Confirmation program will take a break
until Rally Day in early September, the adult class will continue to meet over a cup of coffee to discuss the
Bible readings for the day. Any and all…..youth and adult alike…..are most welcome to join this informal
group at 9 a.m. each Sunday morning.
MEN’S BREAKFAST The monthly men’s breakfast will be held on Saturday, June 11th, at 8 am at the City Café.
All men are encouraged to attend and enjoy the fellowship of men from New Sweden and St. Peter’s. Tables are set
up for the group, and it is pay-as-you-go (or dutch treat).
YOU ARE INVITED by the Bruce family to a graduation party at church honoring Sammy Bruce on
Saturday, June 4th, at 2:00.
ALL ABOUT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE!
Nicholas Maio was commended on his reading and math TAKS 5th grade. For the summer he will do
some fishing and visit the beach.
Sammy Bruce was voted Prom King and received Most Outstanding Percussionist in the EHS Band for
the marching season as well as Purple Heart award. He will start school on July 21st.
Tara Bruce will be going to driving school during the summer and has been selected Drum Line Lieutenant with the EHS Band in the fall.
Kasey Coffey took a field trip to the Witte Museum in San Antonio with the Gifted and Talented class.
She is involved in UIL in her school for her creative writing talent. She also won several ribbons at her school
for her field day competition. This summer she will start swimming lessons and will enjoy horseback riding.
Kasey will be joining 4-H this year after her 9th birthday in November.
Kalli Coffey will be doing some horseback riding this summer with Dad plus some swimming and lots of
playing. She’ll also be helping her Po-Po with the chickens and vegetable garden.
Gabby & Abby Grifno participated in the Texas State Science Olympiad held at A&M in early May as
part of a homeschool team. Gabby placed 1st in Ecology, 3rd in Microbe Mission, and 6th in Anatomy. Abby
placed 6th in Disease Detectives. Their team placed 5th overall. Both girls continue to be active in Girl Scouts
as Cadettes and are involved in leadership projects this summer to earn the Silver Award. The girls played
YMCA soccer this spring, and are looking forward to Camps Chrysalis and Ebert in June.
Justin Lundgren won Baseball MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the second year in a row. He will be
farming with his Dad during the summer and then begin his college career in the fall at A&M Kingsville where
he received a full baseball scholarship.
Kaylee Lundgren is attending Coupland ISD, maintaining an A average. She's also participating in private gymnastic lessons and is playing on a select volleyball team for the summer.
Cole Lundgren continues going to Blinn at College Station majoring in Agronomy and has a 3.0 GPA.
His plans are to transfer to Texas A&M next year and major in Agronomy.
(continued next page)
BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH - LUND
JUNE 2011
Church Telephone - 512-285-5036
17808 Lund Carlson Road
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Bring food or dry goods items
for food pantry any time!
5
7th Sunday of Easter
6
7
8
9
Friday
3
4
Elgin
High School
Graduation
Bruce Graduation
Party 2 pm - Hall
10
11 Men’s Breakfast
Lundgren
Graduation Party Hall
(White)
Day of Pentecost
9:00 Adult Sunday School
10:00 Worship Service - Dale Kessel
11:00 Church Council
JUNE DUTIES
City Café 8am
9:00 Adult Sunday School
10:00 Worship Service
Holy Communion - Pr. Klumpp
12
Saturday
13
14
15
16
17
18
ACOLYTES
June 5 - Gabby & Abby
June 12 - Madison Krause
June 19 - Savannah Olson
June 26 - Volunteer
USHERS
Sammy Bruce
Volunteer
Flag Day
GREETERS
(Red)
Volunteers
19
The Holy Trinity
9:00 Adult Sunday School
10:00 Worship Service - Dale Kessel
20
21
(Green)
24
25
Bring something to share!
Lynette Peters
Summer
begins
(White)
2nd Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 Adult Sunday School
10:00 Worship Service - Pr. Klumpp
23
ALTAR GUILD
Father’s Day
26
22
27
28
July Newsletter:
Submit Info
by Noon
29
Julie Lundgren
30
COMMUNION
ASSISTANTS
Dale Kessel
Cathy Close
Server: Ron Remmert
Wyatt Peters has learned to write his name. He’ll be going to the beach this summer for vacation
and plans to sign up for soccer. He’s proud of a big catfish he caught recently.
Sarah Krause is working at Subway this summer and taking college ACC classes. She is also
taking part in a movie being filmed at Elgin High School.
Madison Krause was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. She will continue her
competitive cheerleading and was chosen to be an 8th grade cheerleader in the fall.
Kyndall Krause will continue toddler explorations and fascination with life. She’ll celebrate her
third birthday in July.
Electra Owens will be taking an ACC course this summer.
Jayme Prinz is looking forward to finishing her last year with Camp Coca Cola and she will be
farming as needed with her dad and brothers. She will also be getting a little golf in every chance she
gets.
Kayln Prinz will be going to the lake a lot with her daddy in their new boat and taking a trip to
California with her mom to visit family there.
Emerson and Amery Prinz are getting excited about taking a family vacation to Padre Island
later this summer.
Note: Any updated input about youth or happenings, please let us know so that we can print it in
the July-August newsletter.
DO YOU KNOW YOUR HYMNS?
Dentist's Hymn..............................Crown Him with Many Crowns
Weatherman's Hymn....................There Shall Be Showers of Blessings
Contractor's Hymn........................The Church's One Foundation
The Tailor's Hymn.........................Holy, Holy, Holy
The Golfer's Hymn........................There's a Green Hill Far Away
The Politician's Hymn....................Standing on the Promises
Optometrist's Hymn.......................Open My Eyes That I Might See
The IRS Agent's Hymn..................I Surrender All
The Gossip's Hymn........................Pass It On
The Electrician's Hymn..................Send The Light
The Shopper's Hymn.....................Sweet Bye and Bye
The Realtor's Hymn.......................I've Got a Mansion, Just Over the Hilltop
The Massage Therapists Hymn.....He Touched Me
The Doctor's Hymn........................The Great Physician
AND for those who speed on the highway - a few hymns:
45mph.......................God Will Take Care of You
65mph........................Nearer My God To Thee
85mph........................This World Is Not My Home
95mph........................Lord, I'm Coming Home
100mph......................Precious Memories
BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH
LUND COMMUNITY
P.O. BOX 469
ELGIN, TEXAS 78621