Church Calendar of events
Volunteer Schedule 2007
church officers

sp

Thank you to all of the church family who helped decorate our mitten tree in the fellowship hall.  Your generous donations will help to keep children warm at Rollingstone School and all ages warmer at the Corcoran and Bethany Homes.
 

Review of Bethlehem Village Christmas Program
     The congregation felt the true spirit of Christmas come alive as they watched and were a part of the annual Christmas program on Sunday, December 17.  Twenty-one children / youth participated in the program which featured the following:  six very cute sheep sang Away In A Manger , a chorus of eight sparkly voices sang energized Christmas carols, and seven senior high youth read the Christmas story from scripture to weave it all together.  A big thanks to Heather McRae for organizing and directing the program.

Following the program about 70-80 people enjoyed a sloppy joe lunch and Jesus' birthday cake in the fellowship hall.  Thank you to the Fellowship Committee who helped C.E. serve the lunch.

Fall Quarter Sunday School Attendance
     We had an average of 34 people each Sunday during the fall quarter 2006.  This is a wonderful attendance!!  This includes all ages, nursery -adult.
 

Saturday Night at the Movies
     Please plan to attend our special family movie and popcorn night on Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 6:30 p.m.  We plan to have two movies showing in different locations in the church, so people may choose their favorite.  Mark your calendars!
 

Upcoming Events:
     An intergenerational bowling party will be held in February. Check the February newsletter for details of time and date.

Did you notice how good the coffee tasted lately in the fellowship hall??  If you have noticed, it is because it is a special organic Fellowship Blend.  It is from the equal exchange fairly traded gourmet coffees being sold by the youth program in our church.  One-hundred percent  of  the profits goes to the youth program which is raising money for their summer mission trip.  Your support of this program is greatly appreciated.  The farmers who raised this coffee also get a fair price!!  Check out the display in the fellowship hall and ask any youth or Kathy Weiner if you have questions.

CIRCLE I will meet on Thursday, January 18 at 7:00pm at Jennifer MacAskill's,
307 E. Third St., 459-4308.
CIRCLE II -will not meet until April -
look for more information in future
newsletters

MISSION & STEWARDSHIP
Special Offerings and Projects for 2007
Listed below are special offerings and projects we have
scheduled for 2007. Please check out the list and choose those
that you wish to support. No one is expected to give to
everything that is listed. Other needs may come up during the
year that we feel need special attention. We will carefully
consider all causes before bringing them to the congregation.

February 4           Souper Bowl of Caring
March                  MN Food Share Month
Aprils                  One Great Hour of Sharing
May                     PW Birthday Offering
May                    27   Pentecost Offering
June                    Operation Christmas Child
July                     Presbyterian Hunger Fund
August              Project related to Value #5 - being caretakers of God's creation
September         AIDS Offering--
October             7 --   Peace Offering  --CROP WALK--Stewardship Drive
November         PW Thank Offering
December 23   Christmas Joy Offering
December 24   Christmas Eve Offering
 
 

PER CAPITA
Per Capita is our "extra mile"
giving to General Assembly, The Synod of
Lakes and Prairies and John Knox
Presbytery. These three governing bodies
support us locally in marny ways by
supplying support, information and
resources to help us do our best in meeting
our goals as Christ's disciples. They also
work iin many ways to help other churches
throughout the country in all aspects of
spreading Christ's word.
Per Capita payment - per
communicant member - is $23.90 for 2007.
 
 

New Year's Day is celebrated on January I in the Gregorian calendar. It is a time of renewal and many people people
resolve to break bad habits and begin good ones. These resolutions require people to examine their lives over the last
twelve months and plan for the coming year.

The earliest documented New Year celebration occurred in Mesopotamia around 2000
B.C.E. The celebrations typically occurred in the middle of winter in an attempt to
ensure the return of spring and fertility. Ancient Romans exchanged gifts of sacred tree
branches and, later on, gold covered coins imprinted with the face of Janus. Janus had
two faces: one looked forward and one looked backward. Giftgiving was extended to
the emperors who eventually demanded them. However, these and other pagan customs
were forbidden by the Christian church in 567 C. E.

In the United States, some of the early colonists fired guns into the air and frequented the local taverns. Others
attended church or open houses. The current celebration includes parades such as the Tournament of Roses parade,
college football bowl games such as the Orange Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.
 

Presbyterian Women News
*Thanks to everyone who helped make our Holiday Fair a success. We were able to add
$1,400.00 to the church general fund and $700.00 to the Presbyterian Women Presbytery
Mission and operating fund. $25 was given to the Christmas Eve Heifer offering. It is a joy
to have so many participate in this yearly event.
* Our hands on Mission boxes were sent to overseas hospitals in Africa, a home in Dubuque
for families in need, and Port St. Vincent, a home for homeless men. Your donations and help
were very much appreciated. A thank you note from St. Vincent was from a former resident
of La Crescent, MN, who is also a Viking fan. The note is on the bulletin board if you would
like to read it.
 

JOYS
Aven Jon Prodzinski was born Nov. 22 to Darei
and Brian and joins brother Avrey.
Abigal Kathryn Johanson was born Dec. 12 to
Michelle and John, She joins brothers Conner and
Jacob.
On December 16, 2006 Jennifer Rosendahl
Wagaman graduated from the University of
Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, receiving her Masters of
Music in music performance. Jennifer is presently
the Suzuki flute teacher for UNI and at U of I in Iowa
City
Mo Stark had hip surgery on Nov. 22.

Betty Hensel is at home after a stay in the hospital.
 

B.O.O.
Book of Order Study
G-6.000 The Church and its Officers
G-6.0100 Offices of Ministry
G-6.0107 Election by the People
The government of this church is
representative, and the right of God's people
to elect their officers in inalienable.
Therefore, no person can be placed in any
permanent office in a congregation or
governing body of the church except by
election of that body.
G-6.0108 Freedom of Conscience -
Individual and Corporate
It is necessary to the integrity and health of
the church that the persons who serve in it as
officers shall adhere to the essentials of the
Reformed faith and polity as expressed in the
The Book of Confessions and the Form of
Government. So far as may be possible
without serious departure from these
standards, without infringing on the rights
and views of others, and without obstructing
the constitutional governance of the church,
freedom of conscience with respect to the
interpretation of Scripture is to be
maintained.
 

CORPORATION
A special thank you to Walt Gilbertson for building new shelves in the
basement. I believe they are already in use! Thank you!
Thank you to Marty Jacobson, who has volunteer to keep our
sidewalks shoveled this winter. We appreciate it!
Everyone is invited to a winter Work Night on January 29th at 5:00 or
whenever you can get there. There will be food provided. ThiswiSi
allow us to get some work done inside the building. If you can come,
please let Jennifer MacAskill know so we know how many projects to
plan for.
 

John Knox Presbytery
We will be hosting the Friday evening gathering and the Saturday
meeting on February 16th & 17th. Many helpers are needed -
greeters, kitchen and dining help, bakers, etc. If you can
volunteer, contact anyone on the F&E Committee or Ellie Griesel
at 452-9225. Everyone is invited to attend the meeting. You will
find it interesting!