From The Pugh...

This time of year we prepare for Reformation and Thanksgiving Worship. Times of reflecting on our Lutheran Heritage and all we are blessed with and thankful for, which for us at Bethlehem is a lot.

Reformation is a time we remember where we came from. This week I was reading the Trinity Seminary newsletter and Trinity President Rick Barger shared these words I wanted to pass on to you:

   The challenge we face together is a deeply missional one for the whole church. The question is, as one colleague puts it, “Are we collectively committed to having a robust Lutheran witness?” I want my grandchildren to be impacted by a robust Lutheran witness because:

• The primacy of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the Lutheran witness.  Christ alone brings about salvation by grace and faith alone.

• To be Lutheran is to be Jesus people. “Jesus is the messiah” is the content of our good news.  A Lutheran witness may engage in activism, but we do so as an outcome to the gospel.  “Jesus is the messiah” and the eschatology embedded in that claim is the only proclamation that can heal this deeply broken world.

• To be Lutheran means to honor the “priesthood” of all people. Everybody has a stake and is called into the church’s mission.

• To be Lutheran means that we do not exist for ourselves. We exist for the sake of the world. 

• The sacramental life of the church matters, not because Baptism and Eucharist are rituals, but because they embody the content of the gospel. 

• Finally, to be Lutheran is not about Lutheran as a noun. We get into trouble when we think of Lutheranism as a noun. Better to think of Lutheran as a verb, meaning that it is a way of living the gospel in the world.

 

Being Lutheran is who we are. It is how we think and how we act. The questions we have to wrestle with today are, “How do we continue to share being Lutheran with the world?” What are you willing to donate your time, you treasure and your talent towards?

November 13^th Pastor John Schaumburg will lead Bethlehem in a visioning process. What direction do we as members of Bethlehem see God calling us to follow in the next 3-5 years? The event will begin following worship at 10:30am. We will eat lunch together and continue into the afternoon. We will listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we answer questions and dream dreams. The entire congregation of Bethlehem is encouraged to attend. This is your time to have your voice heard. If you choose not to come then we ask you to support the decisions made by the people who make this a priority.

In preparation for this time together I leave you with these questions to ponder that Pastor Bill Rindy shared during the last Rio Salado Conference meeting:

1. Why in God’s name does Bethlehem exist?
2. What is Bethlehem being called to do for Christ’s sake?
3. What gifts has the Holy Spirit resourced Bethlehem with?

Bethlehem is not our church. Bethlehem is God’s church. Bethlehem exists to worship and serve God. We are God’s hands and feet. Join me on November 13 as we map out together the next road Christ is leading us down. Let everyone know far and wide that Bethlehem “Is a Home to Share God’s Love and Grace.” And all God’s people say…AMEN!

from the November 2016 newsletter

From the Pugh - June 2016 Newsletter

Visioning Forward…

What is God calling Bethlehem to do in the future?

Where is God calling Bethlehem to go in the future?

Who is God calling Bethlehem to serve in the future?

These are all exciting questions that need to be prayed on, thought about, and discussed as we vision Bethlehem’s mission into the future. Bethlehem is being offered a once in a ministry opportunity – the possibility to use all of the financial gifts of the people towards mission instead of using some to pay towards the mortgage.

So what can members of Bethlehem expect?

Bethlehem has signed a contract with Porchlight Homes to sell the property that once was the orchard. We are currently in escrow. The Grand Canyon Synod lawyer, Don Stevens, has looked over the purchase contract twice on behalf of Bethlehem. Porchlight Homes has 90 days, until the middle of August, to decide to go forward with the purchase or not. Provided all things go as planned the final purchase of the land signified by closing should be about this time next year. The land will be used for ½ home lots in what is called a “pocket neighborhood.”

Bethlehem members need to begin to ask themselves these questions:

   What ministries do we want Bethlehem to be remembered for?

   What ministries does our community need?

   What ministries do we currently have?

   What ministries do we want to expand on?

   What ministries do we have energy around that we want to create?

   Where is God leading Bethlehem outside our walls?

If you are interested in being part of this visioning mark your calendar right now for Sunday, November 13^th from 11:00am to 5:00pm. This meeting is strongly recommended for all council and staff members and open for all members to attend who want their voices heard in the visioning process. This meeting will decide the direction Bethlehem will take towards mission in the next five years. This vision will then be used to create a mission plan and thus direct the congregation towards the use of mission dollars in the future.

Bethlehem will be led through the visioning process by the Reverend John Schaumburg, who is blessing us with the wisdom and knowledge he has gained through his years of ministry and from serving the Grand Canyon Synod as the Director of Mission for the past several years.

Once a missional vision has been decided upon, the council will prepare a list of items they feel will further this new vision. This list will be made available to the congregation at the 2017 Annual Meeting in January. At this time additional items may be added to the list from the congregation. 

At a special congregational meeting in February or March of 2017 the congregation will vote for their top five ministry items to be funded by the proceeds of the selling of the property.  The overall top five ministry items voted on by the congregation will then be incorporated into the mission plan.

When the purchase of the land is finalized and all monies have been received, the distribution of items that will be funded by the selling of the property will have already been voted on by the congregation and the new five year mission plan can seamlessly be put into place.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this process please contact either Pastor Chon or Council President Bill Gappa as they will have the most current and up to date information.

It is an exciting time to be a member of Bethlehem!