The CHIMES

BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

P O Box 606, Portage, WI 53901-0606

Office (608) 742-8502 Fax (608) 742-7715

bethluch@merr.com

www.bethlehemportage.org 2008

Pastor Dick Inglett Volume 70 Number 3

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Sunday, March 16 – 9:00 a.m.

Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday)

With Procession with Palms Liturgy

Sunday School invites the congregation to walk through Holy Week

Thursday, March 20 – 6:30 p.m.

Maundy Thursday Liturgy

Including the Stripping of the Altar

Friday, March 21 – 1:00 & 5:30 p.m.

Good Friday Liturgy

Prayers at the Cross

Sunday, March 23 – The Resurrection of our Lord

6:30 a.m. Sunrise Worship with Communion

7:30 a.m. Continental Easter Breakfast

8:30 & 10:30 a.m. Festival Worship with Communion

God’s Family Serving Christ with Love.

SEASONS OF THE FIELD ...

The month is March. The season is the beginning of mud and thaw. We will still get snow and cold weather but the melting will begin. Until now whenever melting takes place and the ugliness is exposed a blanket of white covers the dirt and once again we are comforted that all is pure and clean. That is not the case in March. That is not so in Lent.

It has been a record for snow fall on the field where the church rests. This is obvious as we drive in and see the mountains of snow that circle the valley of the parking lot. Even so as we near the end of this record setting winter we know the snow and cold will not last.

Eventually sometime this month the thaw will take hold and the dirt and garbage will be exposed for all to see. Only in the farthest reaches of the field and in the grove of trees that surround the field, where people have not trod, will all remain pure, untouched, clean. Even when the thaw and melting occurs garbage and dirt will not be found.

Where we have passed, though, there will be revealed layer by layer the grime and grit and dirt. With each melting thaw a new layer will be revealed until all that is left is the grime and piles of salty sand and the garbage that got away from us or that we left out on purpose. My grandpa Noble Inglett, especially in his later years, loved to move snow around the home place with the tractor. This was a sight to behold according to my grandma Helen who used to say each winter. “We won’t know what Nobe hit until spring comes.”

This is true of you and me as well. We scatter garbage around and dirty the lives of other people and at times we do not know the damage until sometime later. It is true of each of us and is true about each of our lives. Until both we and the landscape are washed clean with the waters of baptism or the spring rains.

A melting will be taking place in the church of the field. A thawing of hearts will expose sin and dirt and uncleanness in the people of the Field. Where we have trod on each other and our world will be shown as ugly scars. Layer by layer the sin will be exposed and the truth about us revealed.

Forgiveness, the journey to the Cross, Lent is about thawing. It is about the melting away of our lies and our shame. As we journey to the Cross the brilliant warmth of Jesus will reveal our sin, our utter depravity before God. Melting will take place in our lives and the garbage will be exposed and it will be washed away and we will be made clean again. Washed as white as the snow in the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The month is March the Season is Lent. May melting and thawing begin to take place in our lives.

In Christ

Pastor Dick

Holy Week Update, Information and Help Needed

Walk Through Holy Week

On Palm Sunday Bethlehem Lutheran Church Sunday School invites the congregation to a Walk Through Holy Week. There will be four stations: Palm Sunday, Upper Room, Garden of Gethsemane and Good Friday. Please join our Sunday School Youth in this journey.

Easter Breakfast

This year we are starting what we hope will become a Bethlehem Tradition. After the Easter Sunrise Service there will be a congregational breakfast. Eggs, Sausage, Bacon and Biscuits are on the menu. There will be a clip board to sign up for those wishing to attend the breakfast so that we can plan for the appropriate amount of food. Thank you to Dick Olson and Marj Margelowsky for organizing the breakfast.

Your help is needed for these and other activities during Holy Week.

For the Walk through Holy Week activity we need two more people to direct others through with the Palm Sunday and Garden of Gethsemane stations. We could also a couple more people for the

Upper Room station to help with the pretzel making.

In connection to the Easter Breakfast we need people to help cook, setup, serve and cleanup. There will be coffee hour after the 8:30 a.m. Easter Service so if you can’t help with the Breakfast

please sign up to do coffee hour.

Please contact the church office or sign up on the clipboards at church to indicate your willingness to help. Time is short before Easter arrives. Your taking the initiative to let us know where and how you can share in these events will be most helpful to the people who are organizing them.

Energizing and Empowering Our People

for Ministry in the Church

Are too few people doing the work of the church? Do you serve in the church out of guilt instead of joy? Are you as a church leader burned out, drifting away, or stuck in ruts?

There is hope! Change can occur!

April 12, 2008

Saturday 9 am-4pm

At Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Portage, WI

Judy Urban, Consultant for Shared Ministry Systems from Eagan, MN, will be the presenter of a Saturday workshop on building church volunteer systems based on a theology of gifts. Judy has extensive experience in church and community organizations, including past Chair of the Association of Directors of Church Volunteer Ministries in Minnesota, which she now serves on it’s educational board, presenter for workshops for MN State Conference on Volunteerism, International Catholic Dioceses of Saginaw MI & Winona MN, Plymouth Congregational Church of Seattle WA, and United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. She has a background in business management and health counseling, and a degree in nursing, allowing her to bring a breath of vision and experience.

Shared Ministry is based on a belief God blesses all people with gifts for ministry both within the walls of the church and out in the family, workplace, and community. Ms. Urban’s personal mission is to release the gifts of God’s people for service to the mission of the church.

COST: FOR MEMBERS OF BETHLEHEM IT IS FREE!!

The following people have volunteered to

Sponsor a coffee hour during the month of March:

3/ 2 – Angela Pace & Margaret Molden

3/ 9 – Pam Schilling & Marj Margelowsky

3/16 – The Waldo’s & the Rohrbacher’s

3/23 – Easter Sunday

3/30 – Frank Gauger, Liz Enerson & Ellen Kabele

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS

Listed below are the Nursery Volunteers for the month of March:

3/ 2 – Kris Suckow & Marana Stone

3/ 9 – Angela Pace & Teagan Olson

3/16 – Donn Johnson & Jordan Jones

3/23 – Liz Enerson & Noalyn Martin (8:30)

Jill Barto & Amy Ryde (10:30)

3/30 – Cindy Frank & Paige Ringelstetter

* * * * * *

The Communion Assistants for the month of March are:

3/ 2 – Del Molden & Jennifer Kjorlie

3/ 9 – Jim & Kathryn Crawford

3/16 – Bob Fenske & John Denhartigh

3/23 – 6:30 -

– 8:00 – Bob Fenske & Mary Inglett

- 10:30 – Jennifer Kjorlie & Bobbie Goodman

3/30 – Carol Pulsfus & Thelma Hurd

* * * * *

GREETERS for the month of March are:

3/ 2 – Jerry & Charlotte Gilman

3/ 9 – Luke & Deb Hensler

3/16 – Ben & Deanna Ryde

3/23 (6:30)

(8:30) – Betty Levzow

(10:30) – Bobbie Goodman

3/30 – Janice Peterson

Listed below is the Altar Guild schedule for the month of March:

3/ 2 – Marie Kucksdorf

3/5 – Carol Anacker

3/ 9 – Barb Thompson

3/12 – Judy Donahue

3/16 – Barb Thompson

3/19 – Denise Derey

3/23 – Bev Johnson

3/26 – Judy Haase

3/30 – Bev Johnson

* * * * *

USHERS – The following people have volunteered to be ushers for the month of March:

3/ 2 – Jeff Johnson

3/ 9 – Jerry Gilman

3/16 – Jerry Gilman

3/23 – Jerry Gilman

3/30 – Jerry Gilman

Listed below is the Acolyte schedule for the month of March:

3/ 2 – Jordan Jones & Molly Bublitz

Runner – Ryan Kucksdorf

3/ 9 – Andrea labella & Noalyn Martin

Runner – Mariah Colburn

3/16 – BreeAnn Mueller & Matthew Peterson

Runner – Molly Bublitz

3/23(6:30) – Marana Stone

(8:30) – Paige Ringelstetter & Teagan Olson

Runner – Matthew Peterson

(10:30) – Lauren Gaffney & Leah Barto

Runner – Kyle Kjorlie

3/30 – Ryan Kucksdorf & Mariah Colburn

Runner – Andrea LaBella

Sermon Broadcast

The sermons broadcast on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. on Radio Station WPDR AM 1350 are being

sponsored this month by:

3/ 2 – Jack & Ginny Paulson

3/ 9 – Pastor Dick & Mary Inglett

3/16 – Delores Howland

3/23 – Don & Betty Levzow

3/30 – Roy Kopfhamer

Just a reminder that the $33 for the sermon broadcasts should now be sent to the church office. Please use the envelopes in the narthex marked “Sermon Broadcast”, and be sure to indicate the date of the broadcast that you are submitting payment for.

* * * * * * *

CHANCEL FLOWERS

The following people will be supplying our flowers

during the month of March:

3/30 – Bob & Cloe Rehdantz in memory of Loved

Ones.

* * * * * * *

First Communion

On Sunday, March 9, the following 5^th graders will receive their First Communion. Congratulations to Dylan Cutsforth, Joshua Horton, Austin Kjorlie, Drew Ringelstetter and Brett Thurston. Thank you to Jeff Melby for teaching these classes as our young people and their parents continue to live out

their baptismal promises.

* * * * *

Women of Bethlehem – please note! The Baraboo Conference Women of the Evangelical Church of America (WELCA) have scheduled Bethlehem women to host its Spring Conference meeting. This meeting will be here on Saturday, April 5^th. We expect 50-60 women. We will serve coffee with some sweet breads, muffins, etc. upon

their arrival before 9:00 a.m., and lunch at Noon.

We need help to do this and we hope we have many willing workers. We want to be hood hostesses! A clipboard for workers & food sign-up will be circulated during worship services this month. If you have any questions, please contact Thelma Hurd at 742-6433.

Adult Education

Chaos, Captivity, Futility and Loss –The Four

Horsemen of Depression

Have you ever wondered about the root causes of depression? Why are there some days or weeks you feel more than a little blue? During these winter doldrums and this season of Lent it seems like the perfect time to learn about depression. The class will continue March 2^nd and 9^th. We will meet in the

fellowship hall during the Sunday School Hour.

* * * * * *

Tuesday Text Study - At the Tuesday morning text study we look at the readings for the upcoming Wednesday and Sunday worship. Please make a point to join in the fellowship and learning as we

help each other prepare for worship.

* * * * * *

Lay School Completion Service – The Lay School of Ministry of our Synod held a Service of Completion for six students who have completed the two-year curriculum. The students were recognized on Saturday, February 16^th at St. James Lutheran Church in Verona with Bishop Burnside presiding. Congratulations to Janice Peterson and Dan Pulsfus on this achievement and use of their

gifts to serve Christ’s Church.

Janice M. Peterson – As a Nurse-Midwife, she plans to incorporate her Lay School learning into her health experience. She desires to provide Spiritual Holistic Health Care from a church or community

setting.

Dan Pulsfus – Dan is working toward becoming rostered as an Associate in Ministry. He is also the Chaplain of Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Lodi.

Youth Group Activities

Youth Group Invites the Congregation to a Skiing at Cascade - Friday, March 14, 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church Youth groups invite the congregation and their friends to a ski outing at Cascade Mountain Ski Resort. Cost is $20 per person for lift ticket, ski rental and a lesson for any first time skiers. Forms and cash payment (Cascade requires one check per group for group outings) must completed by March 12. You can receive the forms and make payment on Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings after worship or by

coming to the church office.

* * * * *

Middle School and High School Movie and Game Night - Bring a game and snack to

share for a movie and game night at Bethlehem Lutheran Saturday evening March 29. Will meet from 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. Friends are welcome. Pizza and Beverage will be provided. Please sign up on the youth group clip

board to help us plan.

Youth Group Meeting Report - Middle School and High School youth and their parents met for a productive meeting on February 20. We outlined some ideas for activities and service opportunities and started plans for a mission trip this summer. Here are the two options for a Youth Works summer mission trip both are a long day’s

drive away:

1. Senior High Mission Trip July 13 to Arkansas (rural, poor experience)

2. Junior/Senior High mission trip July 6 to Sisseton, South Dakota (Native American

Experience)

Cost for the trip will be no more than $100 per person. Fund raising activities will help offset the $250 Youth Works per person fee and travel

expenses.

If you are at all interested in attending the Mission Trip please come March 5^th at 6:30 p.m. to help decide when and where we will be going and plan for fund raising events. A deposit of $50 is required to hold your spot for the trip.

We will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ with a garden of flowers in the Chancel.

You may choose between Easter Lilies, Pot Mums, Tulips or Daffodils, the cost of each plant is $8.50. Flowers may be given in Memory of, or in Honor of a loved one, or simply to the Glory of God. Please be sure to indicate which type of plant you are ordering.

All orders must be received in the church office by March 5^th. The flowers may not be taken until after the 10:30am Worship Service.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lilies________ Mums_________

Tulips________ Daffodils ________

in Honor of _________________________________

in Memory of ________________________________

given by ___________________________________

Amount enclosed ($8.50 per plant) $________________

Women of the church:

The Baraboo Conference Spring Gathering will be here at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, April 5^th from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Speakers will be Amy Millard from the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage, and a lady that “graduated” from River Haven Homeless Shelter. She was a resident there for one month and received the assistance she needed to get a job and her own

residence.

Registration and coffee at 9:00am followed by devotions and program. Lunch at noon. Cost is $7.00 for attendance and lunch; or $2.00 for

only the program attendance.

Please make reservations and payment by Friday, March 21, 2008 to:

Mary Peterson

Box 73

Lodi WI 53555

Checks should be made payable to

“Baraboo Conference Treasurer”.

* * * * *

Thank you to Dennis Benson for doing the snow plowing, and Bob Rehdantz for moving the snow

back to make room for more snow!

Also to Patrick Strain for all the work he put into our Lenten Dramas.

* * * * * * *

April 27^th is the date set for the next Crop Walk. An informational meeting will be held at the Portage Episcopal church on March 27^th at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
March 2008						1
2 9:00am Worship Service 10:15am Sunday School & Adult Ed 11:15am Sunday School Teachers meeting	3	4 9:00am Quilting 11:00am WELCA 6:00pm Asset Builder Banquet	5 5:30pm Worship Service 6:30pm Lenten Supper & Youth Mission Trip meeting	6	7	8
9 9:00am Praise Team leads Worship Service 10:15am Sunday School & Adult Ed 11:15am Environment Committee	10	11 9:00am Quilting 11:00am Text Study 6:30pm Praise Team	12 5:30pm Worship Service 6:15pm Evangelism 6:30pm Lenten Supper	13	14 4:00pm Youth Skiing at Cascade Mt	15
16 9:00am Worship Service 10:15am Sunday School, Adult Education & Choir	17 6:30pm Council	18 9:00am Quilting 11:00am Text Study 6:30pm Praise Team	19 No Wednesday Worship	20 6:30pm Maundy Thursday Liturgy with Communion	21 1:00 & 5:30pm Good Friday Liturgy	22
23 6:30am Sunrise Worship 8:30 & 10:30am Festival Worship No Sunday School	24	25