Bethlehem News:

Visit us at Facebook

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COME TO BETHLEHEM’S FAMILY FUN NIGHT

212 S. Broad Street, Middletown
513-423-1191
Pastor Michelle Terry
Date: Saturday, February 14
Time: 5:00
Everyone welcome!!!

Food! Fellowship!
Fun for all Ages
Hope to see you at Bethlehem!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m.
The next Family Fun Night at Bethlehem …. March 10, 2012

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interested in becoming a member of BLC?
Please contact Pastor Michelle or the church office! We are planning
a service to welcome new members in the near future. If you’re
worshiping with us but haven’t become a member yet, we’d love
to have you join as we worship and minister together!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Ministry Opportunity @ BLC
BLC is looking to expand its already existing "correspondence" ministry.
We send cards and packages to our shut-ins and our military, and we're
looking to stay connected through the good old "snail mail" with even more
people. Interested in being a part of this ministry? Contact Pastor Michelle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pastor Michelle’s office hours:
She will now be in the office from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Monday – Wednesday.
These are the times when, barring an emergency, she will be in the office.
If you need to meet with her and another time is more convenient for you,
don’t hesitate to contact her and arrange another time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday Worship Schedule @ BLC

• Worship @ 10:30 a.m
• 9:30 a.m. Adult Bible Study @ BLC on Sunday mornings.
• Communion offered every Sunday.
• Special offering received on the second Sunday of the each month for the needy.
• Special offering received on the fourth Sunday of each month for Utilities.
• LIGHT MINISTRIES WORSHIP SERVICE @ 12:30 P.M. Pastor Samuel J. Kelly

The church grows when you invite a friend to worship with you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's Happening @ BLC – February

BEGINNING OF LENT … FEB. 22, ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE @ 7 P.M.

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP – SUNDAYS @ 10:30 A.M.
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL – 9:30 A.M.
COMMUNION CELEBRATED EVERY SUNDAY

YOUTH are invited to join Pastor Michelle for Breakfast and Bible Study the first Sunday of each month at 9:00 a.m.
in the Sunday school room. The children will join their families for worship at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SPECIAL OFFERINGS RECEIVED ON THE
…. 2nd Sunday of the Month for the needy in our community.
….4th Sunday of the Month for Utilities.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Razor’s Edge Barbershop group meets on Monday evenings @ BLC.
The U.S. Bismarck meets in fellowship hall on the fourth Saturdays of each month.
Bethlehem Celebration Choir, directed by Jean Jordan, practices every Sunday following the worship service.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Light Ministries Calendar of the month
Worship Service @ 12:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary
Bible Study @ 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays of each month
Men & Women Study Group @ 1:00 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month
Men Study Group @ 7 p.m. on 3rd Friday of each month
Youth “Explosion” @ 7 p.m. on the 4th Friday of each month

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

YOUTH NEWS …
CONGRATULATIONS to Tyler Johns ….
“Middie of the Month for February 2012

Tyler Johns, the son of Amy and Wayne Johns, was selected as “Middie” of the Month for February
out of the entire Middletown High School student body. He was selected by the staff because he shows
exemplary qualities representing the best of Middletown High School. As a junior Tyler has also been
inducted in the National Honor Society, was 1 out 20 local high school students to receive the YMCA
Character Award and also had his Veterans Day essay about his great grandpa Web Newton selected
as the 2nd place winner in the Middletown Kiwanis Club Veterans Day Essay Contest. Keep up the
good work Tyler.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Wednesday, Feb. 1:
Confirmation Class 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 5: Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany.
The Gospel: Mark 1:32. “They brought to JESUS all who were sick.”
9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school
10:30 a.m. Worship Service. Installation of BLC Council Members and Officers
Lunch at the BLC Café following the worship service

Monday, Feb. 6: BLCW Circle Meetings
1:30 p.m. Afternoon Circle / Hostess: Jane Follmer
7:00 p.m. Evening Circle / Hostess: Jean Jordan – meet at BLC

Wednesday, Feb. 8:
Confirmation Class 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11: 5:00 p.m. Family Fun Night

Sunday, Feb. 12: Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany.
The Gospel: Mark 1:40-45. “Be made clean.”

Sunday, Feb. 12:
Breakfast and Bible Stories @ 9 a.m. with Pastor Michelle
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
Special offering for the Needy in our community.

Monday, Feb. 13 and Tuesday, Feb. 14. 5 p.m. -
SHALOM Dinner.

Tuesday, Feb. 14:
7:00 p.m. Church Council meeting

Wednesday, Feb. 15:
Confirmation Class 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 19: Transfiguration of Our Lord.
The Gospel: Mark: 9:2-9. “This is my Son, The Beloved, listen to him.”
9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school
10:30 a.m. Worship Service

Monday, Feb. 20: President’s Day.
Church office closed in observance of the holiday.

Wednesday, Feb. 22: Ash Wednesday
Worship Service @ 7 p.m. The Beginning of Lent
9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school
10:30 a.m. Worship Service

Sunday, Feb. 26: First Sunday in Lent.
The Gospel: Mark 1:13 “Jesus was in the wilderness forty days.”
9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school
10:30 a.m. Worship Service
Special offering received today for Utilities.

Wednesday, Feb. 29: Lenten Worship @ Zion Lutheran Church
6:15 p.m. Dinner ~ Worship @ 7:00 p.m.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prayer Requests: February 2012

This list is presented in the hope that our members will remember to pray, to visit, and to send cards to our shut-ins.
This is one way to show our love and concern for our shut-ins, and to let them know that they are a vital part of our church family.

Prayers and Sympathy to the family of Max Sommers. Max died Friday morning (Dec. 2) at his home.
Please keep the Sommers family in your prayers. The service will be held at BLC on Monday.

Prayers for Jim Blevins. Prayers for Rose Bond, requested by Barbara Klapper.
Prayers for Mark Robinson (diagnosed with brain cancer, underwent surgery,)
and family, requested by the Sawtelle Family.

Prayers for Don Philpot. Offer a prayer for Don and the Philpot family.
Prayers for Marianne Sabato, heart surgery on Wed, 11/9, requested by Kelly Schultz.

Prayer request from Shirlee Banzhaf...Please pray for my sister Beth and my sister Carol, for me, and for children.
I want everyone healed and whole. Miracles, Peace on earth, Love to All.

Prayers for Pastor David Moreland . . . recovering from knee surgery.
Prayers for Jym and Sarah … requested by Ildiko.

Please pray for my mom-in-law Jean….requested by Ildiko.
Prayers for Ethel Lawson, Michelle’s grandmother, with several medical issues.
Prayers for Betty Westercamp …. Recovering from falling. Prayers for Rosie Henderson.
Prayer request from Missy Mika … Chaia and her family (3 month old girl with a VERY rare heart defect.
Prayer Request from Ildiko… Prayers for James, my grandson.
Special prayers for our dear friend Mildred Sommers.

The Holy Spirit to guide us . . . Requested by Barb Coppock. Please pray for our Country.

Prayers for our shut ins: Tom Charles, Fran O’Connor, Virginia Pardonner, Mabel Thompson,
Phyllis Jean Philpot; Betty and Virgil Westercamp and Bea Truman. (Bea is not doing very well).

Prayers for Friends & Family: Barbara Nicholas, Marilyn Hatfield, Kim and Eric, Mary Spencer,
Rebecca, Chris, Victor Fox, Scott, Paul, Brent, Joe, Gale, Thomas, Marianne, Shawn, Joan, Stephanie,
Lyle & Sharon, Seth, Charles, Jesus J, Janice, Brooke, and Bill.

Addition to our current list: Added Sept. 11: Zach and family. Newly diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma.
Wayne (Toby) Young, Jessie Sommers’ brother, triple bypass surgery; David Hartman (Jim Hartman’s son in Atlanta)
receiving treatment for cancer; E. J. Fitzpatrick; Jordan Lamb; Elley Ferrell… request from Tracey Dykes.
Elley is a little girl recovering from multiple surgeries. (11/6/201) Update on Elley .. She had her final surgery 10/25.
Doing very well and should be back at school full time soon. She’s in the 4th grade. Stephanie (brain tumor);
Don D. (non-member of BLC) . . . diagnosed with Parkinson’s and inoperable brain tumor.

Offer “special” prayers for the following: Jared Coppock serving our country. Pray for all Members
of the Armed Services serving our country and their families awaiting their safe return. Prayers for Cory, diagnosed
with bone cancer; Dr. John Cowden; Anne; Mary Ross, Carol Melton’s mother; Ted Swearengin, requested by Kelly Schultz;
Avery Mathews; Ella Mae, requested by Carol Melton; Ginger Camp, requested by Jessie & Keith Sommers; Will Davis,
requested by Alison Fox; Laurie Howard; Charles Harmon; Libby Austin (Jane Follmer’s sister); and family members
who are considering going to a church.

Our Thanks to God for our church family, friends and neighbors in our community.

Pray for the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Believers as they go about the work
commissioned by God.

Prayer Requests and Concerns: Please share your prayer concerns by e-mailing the church office,
writing them on the “pew card” when you are in church on Sunday, or calling the church office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked ???
HAVE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE / GLUOSE CHECKED
Ron and Ildiko Sherman will be checking blood pressure and glucose checks on the 4th Sunday of the month.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
LUNCH PROVIDED THE FIRST SUNDAY OF
MOST MONTHS FOR 2012

Members of BLCW will prepare and serve BRUNCH at the BLC Café on Feb. 5, 2012
 
JOIN US for good fellowship among friends and fellow church members.
Invite a friend, or relative, for lunch @ BLC. Freewill donation!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Your support is needed for . . .
2012 Pennies for People
God’s Global Barnyard
A Mission Service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Flowers on the Altar for February

Feb. 5: Presented by Kitty Blattner … for all who serve at BLC
Feb. 12: Presented by Andy Mittenholzler …. In memory of Millie
Feb. 19: Presented by Harry Pratt …. In memory of Dorothy Pratt & Mr. & Mrs. George Davies
Feb. 26: Presented by Audrey Slade…. In memory of Imo Schubert, and George Slade

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

February Birthdays

Feb. 5: Angie Wrather
Feb. 7: Missy Mika
Feb. 11: Shirlee Banzhaf
Feb. 20: Phyllis Jean Philpot
Feb. 26: Nancy Charles

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SERVING @ BLC – February

Minister @ BLC: Pastor Michelle Terry

Church Council President: Karen Mehl
Church Council Vice-President: Kitty Blattner

Organist & Choir Director: Jean Jordan

Ushers & Counters for January: Dick & Suzanne Boehm
Lay Reader: Amy Johns
Worship Leader & Communion Assistant: Keith Sommers

Sound Technicians: Richard Mehl, Richard Hatfield and Ron Sherman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Simple and Convenient Way to Give

This winter, consider signing up for electronic giving. Bethlehem Lutheran Church relies on the financial support
of the congregation and electronic giving offers an easy way to give on a recurring basis. Please contact the
church office for details. Thank you!

Enjoy the convenience of electronic giving. Bethlehem wants to remind you that we offer electronic giving as a
way to automate your regular weekly offering. Electronic giving offers convenience for our members and
much-needed donation consistency for our congregation.

There are two ways to set up electronic donations. You can visit the church website at www.blcmiddletown.org, locate
the donation link and follow the instructions or, if you wish, you can simply complete a paper authorization form and
return it to the church office.

As you contemplate future contributions, please consider electronic giving.
Authorization forms and additional information are available from the church office.
Thank you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
THE BOOK NOOK @ BLC ….
has some very interesting biographies, novels, and inspirational selections available for your reading pleasure.
Pick up a couple of books on Sunday or during the week when the church office is open.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The church grows when you invite a friend to worship with you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our Mission...

Is to serve the living God through Jesus Christ, His Son, through worship, fellowship and harmony,
to enable us to grow as a congregation and serve others.

Our Vision…

Is to be a Purpose Driven Church (PDC) and become a magnet to draw others
into a dynamic relationship with Jesus.

Our Purpose …

• To lead people to Christ and membership at Bethlehem
• To grow people to spiritual maturity
• To equip people with the skills they need for ministry
• To enlist people to the worldwide mission of sharing Christ
• To empower people to live a life of magnification to the glory of God.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COLLECT AND SAVE
your aluminum cans for Youth projects. Bring your cans to the church and we will take them
to the recycle location to redeem for cash!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Church e-mail address: blcoffice@cinci.rr.com

Pastor Michelle’s email address: pastormichelle@cinci.rr.com

BLC’s Monthly calendar is now posted on the website

To receive a copy of BLC’s weekly e-mail, notify the church office with your current e-mail address.

Report e-mail and other address changes/phone numbers to the church office @ 423-1191

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Electronic Giving Available

Bethlehem offers a giving option that may be more convenient for many of our
members and friends.  Electronic giving works in the same manner as electronic payments
that are automatically withdrawn from your bank account.

To sign up for this giving option, all you need to do is fill out an authorization
form and return it to the church office. You choose the donation frequency, amount,
and fund the donation goes to . . . and the rest is automatic!

Benefits for You

• The satisfaction of giving to God first
• Easier to fulfill stewardship commitments
• Strengthens participation and support in the church
• Allows you to contribute even when you are away
• Easier personal budgeting
• More secure than bringing cash or checks to church

Benefits for Bethlehem

• Cultivates consistent giving
• More predictable cash flow for better planning
• Less work for office staff
• Secure and easy cash maintenance

Our traditional envelope and collection system will remain in place for those
members and friends who are not involved in the Electronic Giving Program.
Quarterly and Annual statements will be prepared for donors by the Church Office.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Relive Our History – Historical Picture DVD!

A historical picture DVD consisting of over 200 pictures throughout Bethlehem’s history is available! 
This wonderful presentation has pictures from the old church to our recent past and is set to favorite hymns. 
It is available for a donation of $15.00, please telephone or email the church for your copy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Community Events at BLC

Family Fun Night

Each month, BLC hosts a “Family Fun Night”, open to everyone. 
While the events vary, there is always a free meal and lots of fun! 
Check the calendar for specifics on date and time for this month!

Razor’s Edge

The Razor’s Edge barbershop group meets on Monday evenings in the fellowship hall to practice. 
They also do several concerts throughout the year.

Poetry Club