BETHLEHEM NEWSLETTER
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 469
[email protected]
Elgin, Texas 78621
512-285-5036
http://www.bethlehem-elgin.org/
MARCH 2015
Worship Time: 10 AM
Adult Sunday School 9 AM
PASTOR DAVE’S REFLECTIONS FOR MARCH
Spring, when nature ‘springs’ to life again: it may move us to wonder at the marvels of nature,
how the world works, from the 23* tilt of the earth which gives us the seasons, to the mystery of latent life
in a seemingly dead seed as it sprouts and grows.
One of the more profound and challenging books I’ve read recently is entitled FIRE IN THE
MIND by George Johnson. It was tough going at times with all the science, especially physics and math,
not to mention the chemistry and biology. In this book Johnson shows how every culture seeks to explain
and understand the world. He begins with Santa Fe, New Mexico and the Native American tribes in the
area. Their understanding of the world and its origin involves four mountains all visible from Santa Fe. I
found their beliefs fascinating and easy to grasp. After-all, as a young child I believed the world ended at
our ‘woods’ at the west end of our farm. Eventually my world grew larger, of course, but boundaries are
important and a small world is more manageable when you are young.
Santa Fe is the home of the Santa Fe institute where several brainy scholars meet regularly to share
thoughts and theories about the origin of the universe, in particular how human beings came to be so
obsessed with finding order and seeking answers concerning the origins of our planet and life on it. So
there is lots of scientific talk which involves quantum physics and conjecture on how gravity and
electromagnetic forces combine to create a universe in which human life is possible. I don’t pretend to
understand it all, let alone Einstein’s theory of relativity which brings time into the equation.
The Bible’s simple narrative of creation in Genesis 1 begins with light, and interestingly so do
scientific conjectures about beginnings. In fact, a fellow Pastor told me that a physicist came to faith
because he saw a correlation between the Biblical creation accounts and what science has since
discovered. I see this awareness of many people’s questioning of the simple narratives of Scripture as an
adequate source for understanding nature. Often these accounts are regarded as myths and discounted as
untrue. However, we do well to consider Frederick Buechner’s definition of myth in his book,
Theological ABC’s. “The raw material of a myth, like the raw material of a dream, may be something that
actually happened once. But myths like dreams, do not tell us much about that kind of actuality. The
creation stories, Adam and Eve, the Tower of Babel, Oedipus—they do not tell us primarily about events.
They tell us about ourselves… In popular usage, a myth has come to mean a story that is not true.
Historically speaking that may well be so. Humanly speaking, a myth is a story that is always true.” (p. 65)
In closing, I share with you a few thoughts from FIRE IN THE MIND. “Astrophysicists in
the years before World War II have marveled at the ways in which the universe seems too good to be true.
Anyone who followed popular science writing has heard the litany: If its expansion rate were a little slower,
the universe would have collapsed in on itself, if it had been slightly faster, there wouldn’t have been the
leisure for structures like galaxies to form. If something called the ‘find structural constant, the square of
the charge of the electron divided by the speed of light multiplied by Planck’s constant, were about 1%
different from what it is, the universe would be unrecognizable, perhaps uninhabitable” by anything
remotely like us… “How did the knobs get set in just such a way? Why should we be so lucky? Why
against all odds, are we here, seemingly equipped with the neurological and mathematical tools to make
sense of it all?...(p.191) As Christians we may respond, “Thank you God for making such a world and
helping us to find our place in it.”
~ Blessings, Pr. Dave ~
LENTEN SERVICES
Bethlehem is not holding mid-week Lenten services. You are encouraged to
attend a service at St. Peter’s Lutheran in Elgin, New Sweden Lutheran in the
countryside outside of Manor, St Peter’s in Coupland, or another church near
you. Many have a meal prior to their service. Check with the church or the
Elgin Courier for times.
A CANDLE IN THE DARK
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
STEWARDSHIP FOR FEBRUARY
Member Offering
Non-Member
Total
-
$ 2,305.00
74.00
$ 2,379.00
Balance, 2-1-15
Feb Income
Feb Expenses
Balance, 2-24-15
-
$
998.53
2,379.00
- 2,607.76*
$
769.77
Average Att: 21
* The February electric bill was extraordinarily high.. Be sure
to check all units before departing if you are the last to leave.
ALTAR FLOWERS FOR MARCH
Mar 1,8,15 & 22 are all OPEN
Mar 29 (Palm Sunday) - Palms given by The Carlson’s
2 – Cathy Close
16 – Sarah Krause
MARCH
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
3 – Carol Krech
19 – Nathanial Close
11 – Brandon Samuelson
30 – Amery Prinz
REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS the following who have been in nursing homes, are homebound, ill,
have been lifted up in prayer, called, or sent cards of cheer or sympathy during January. Please call
Glenda Samuelson at 281-4031 if you would like to place someone on our prayer chain. If your recovery
has progressed enough to have your name released, let us know so that we can rejoice with you.
Dietrich Kessel
Mary Ann Gustafson
Estelle Larson
Evelyn Draehn
Monte Thomas
Erin Izzo
Sympathy to the family and friends of Hazel Nelson Schiwitz who passed away this past month at age 99.
The Nelson Family lived in Lund, and Hazel was a member of Bethlehem in her early years. Sympathy
also to Sherry Moore and family upon the death of Orvis Moore’s mother in San Antonio at age 100.
Concerns continue for Donnie Snowden, John Fabac, Sue Saathoff, Merv Krause, Virginia Ayers, Rev. Ed
Schwanke, Tarrel Hamann, LaVelle Hanson, Faye Holzworth, Char Nichols, and Wanda Anderson.
WOMEN OF THE ELCA Faith Lutheran in Austin is hosting the annual Capital North / Capital South
Conference event on Saturday March 7th. All women are invited and encouraged to attend. If you are
interested, please see Carol Krech. Although registrations were due on February 25th, you can still sign
up. The fee of $12 includes lunch and will be paid by Bethlehem.
SYNOD ASSEMBLY The Synod Assembly this year will be held in McAllen, Texas, from May 1-3.
Dale Kessel will represent Bethlehem as the delegate, but others are most welcomed also. Please talk to
Dale for registration details, transportation, etc.
MEN’S BREAKFAST The monthly men’s breakfast will be held starting at 8:00 am on Saturday,
March 14th. Last month the group decided to change from Lucy’s café to El Maguey on Main Street.
El Maguey offers both Mexican and traditional American breakfasts. All men are encouraged to attend
and enjoy the fellowship of other men from New Sweden and St. Peter’s. A table will be set up for the
group, and it is pay-as-you-go (or dutch treat).
BELL CHOIR Our organist, Brenda Zimmerman, is VERY interested in
starting up our bell choir once again. Just as before, you do NOT need to
be able to read music to participate. She would love to have at least 5-6
people to get things started. If you’d like to be a part of the choir, please
speak with either Brenda or Marge. We now have this lovely new organ
along with a wonderful asset in a set of bells. Let’s bring the choir back!
CHILI SUPPER The Coupland VFD will hold their annual fundraising chili supper and
silent auction on Saturday, March 28th from 5:00 until…?.. at their facility on FM 1466 in
Coupland. EAT IN or TAKE OUT! Containers will be provided for take out orders.
The Coupland VFD responds to any and all emergency calls throughout the area. Please
show your appreciation by supporting this tasty fundraising event!
CEMETERY FUND Please remember to contribute to the cemetery fund which supports regular
maintenance and upkeep costs.
THE CHILDREN’S BIBLE IN A NUTSHELL
Judas Asparagus
A child was asked to write a book report on the entire Bible. This is amazing and should bring
tears of laughter to your eyes. Here is what was written:
In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The
Bible says, ’The Lord thy God is one,’ but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, ‘Give me
a light!’ and someone did. Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were
naked, but they weren’t embarrassed because mirrors hadn’t been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed
God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden…..Not sure what they were driven
in though, because they didn’t have cars. Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he
was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or
something. One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a
Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join
him, but they said they would have to take a rain check. After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob
was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot
roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat. Another important Bible guy is
Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the
evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh’s people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels,
and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti.
Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don’t lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet
your neighbor’s stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother. One of
Moses’ best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol
and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua came David…He got to be king by killing a giant with a
slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was
wise, but that doesn’t sound very wise to me. After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets.
One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore. There were also
some minor league prophets, but I guess we don’t have to worry about them.
After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New Testament. He was
born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me,
‘Close the door! Were you born in a barn?’ It would be nice to say, ‘As a matter of fact, I was.’) During His
life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve
opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after
him. Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But
the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn’t stick up for Jesus.
He just washed his hands instead. Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up
to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.