But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Updates
Pastoral Candidates-July 2010
Dear Bethlehem,
Tuesday, July 6, 2010, the Council of Elders voted unanimously to recommend two men to the congregation for pastoral positions at Bethlehem.
Vince Johnson
Vince Johnson is a candidate for the position of Pastor for Outreach, North Campus Vince has been serving as a North Campus Elder and has decades of experience with local and international ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ.
- See proposed job description.
- See application questions/responses.
Jon Nowlin
Jon Nowlin is a candidate for the position of Pastor for Young Adult (Sr High) Discipleship, North Campus Jon is finishing a pastoral residency discipling the young adults at the North Campus. He has a proven track record of five years of ministry with Bethlehem families and six years at another church.
- See proposed job description.
- See application questions/responses.
A letter about the pastoral candidacies has been mailed to Bethlehem members to provide an introduction to these men and the positions for which they are being considered, prior to the congregational vote on these candidates at the All-Church Quarterly Strategy Meeting, Sunday, July 25, at 3:00pm at the Downtown Campus.
All are welcome for discussion. Members are especially urged to attend, as we will require 10% of our membership to be present in order to vote on the motions to call the two pastoral candidates.
Candidacy Weekend
We invite you to learn more about these two men before the vote through these links, or by attending one of the following Q & A sessions at the North Campus.
- Saturday Q & A With Vince Johnson (July 17) Read more.
- Sunday Q & A With Vince Johnson (July 18) Read more.
- Sunday Q & A With Jon Nowlin (July 18) Read more.
For the glory of God and the joy of all peoples,
Dan Holst, Pastor for North Campus Worship & Vision
Gil McConnell, Pastor for Child & Youth Discipleship, North
New Church Directory Photos
Sign Up to Have Your Photo Taken
Olan Mills will be taking photographs for our new church directory at the Downtown, North, and South campuses. Participating families will receive a free signature portrait and a free church directory. For security reasons, families not participating will be unable to receive a directory.
We want every person at Bethlehem to be included in our directory, so sign up for your photo session at any of the weekend services July 10-August 25, or at signup.olanmills.com, or by calling 800-866-2263. Note the special instructions that list which dates photographers will be at each campus.
Photographers will be available at your campus on these dates:
North
July 27–30, and September 23–24, 29-30, from 2:00 to 9:20pm
July 31 and September 25, from 9:30am to 5:10pm
Downtown
August 2–6, 10–12, and September 9-10, 16–17, from 2:00 to 9:20pm
August 7 and September 11, from 9:20am to 3pm
September 18, from 9:30am to 5:10pm
South
August 13 and September 2–3, 27-28 from 2:00 to 9:20pm
August 14, from 9:30am to 5:10pm
How It Works
Step 1: Before your session …
- Select a day and time that work best for you and sign up for your photo session at one of the weekend services, or at signup.olanmills.com, or by calling 800-866-2265.
- Schedule sessions with young children as early in the day as possible. Avoid wrinkles and spills by bringing your children’s outfits with you.
- Arrive 10 minutes before your appointment time to make last-minute preparations.
- Allow approximately 60 minutes for your entire session.
Step 2: During your session …
- The photographer will take poses of church members and regular attenders—those who consider Bethlehem their church home—for the directory. (All church directory photos will use a white background.)
- After the directory portrait is taken, the entire family is welcome to pose for the complimentary portrait or any additional portraits you may wish to purchase. (The complimentary portrait and any additional portraits may use the background of your choosing—white, black, or blue.)
- You will have the opportunity to choose separate poses for children, large family groups, and generational portraits in a variety of styles.
- Each member of your family will also have an individual image taken for the church database.
Step 3: After your session …
- Immediately after your sitting, you can preview your portraits on our imaging system. Choose the portrait you want included in the directory and your complimentary 8 x 10.
- Select any other portraits you want to purchase.
- Once the directory is complete, you will receive a complimentary copy.
Tips for Your Portrait Session
Clothing
Wear something that puts you in a good mood. Keep color harmony in mind when planning a group portrait. Stick with solid colors. Bold busy patterns will distract from your face. Apply the same principle to jewelry—smaller is better. Dark colors are slimming. Baggy clothes are not flattering. Be sure to wear a dark t-shirt instead of a white one under dark shirts. Since some poses will be close-ups and some will be full length, plan your entire outfit including your shoes. Adults should wear long sleeves.
Glasses
Feel free to wear your glasses if you would like to—they look natural on you to your friends and family. Olan Mills’ professional photographers know how to avoid glare on the lenses.
Hair and Makeup
Simple hairstyles and your natural makeup will work the best. If you want a haircut before your session, try to have it done at least two weeks beforehand. Apply your makeup as you would for an evening out. You may also want to limit your exposure to the sun for a few days before your photo session. Bring hair and makeup supplies with you for quick touch-ups.
Posing
See what others have done by visiting olanmillschurch.com. Be sure to check your hair, accessories, and shirt collar before your portrait is taken. Ask the photographer to check these details too.
Retouching
Olan Mills’ trained artists can touch up your professional portraits to your liking. For an additional fee, blemishes, wrinkles, and age spots can be seamlessly eliminated from your portrait.
Summer at Bethlehem
Pick up a Summer Magazine at your campus Information Booth if you have not already. Inside, read more about opportunities for growth, fellowship, training, and outreach. Below are some of the items featured in the magazine.
Wednesday Connections
Picnics
Regional "second Sunday" picnics at various locations
(Note that the South Site picnics will happen every Sunday June 20–August 8.)
Outdoor Baptisms
Wednesday, June 30: Crystal Lake Beach, Burnsville
Wednesday, July 14: Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis
Wednesday, August 4: Crystal Lake Beach, Burnsville
Summer Cycle Rides
Women’s Summer Bible Study
College Summer Growth Opportunities (Summer in the Cities--Mondays & Thursdays)
Sr High Information
Sup n’ Stuff
Jr High Information
Jr High JAM
The Bethlehem Institute (summer courses & seminars)
Courses
The Kingdom of God Is at Hand: Understanding Jesus’ Proclamation (June 3–July 8)
Jonathan Edwards: An Introduction to His Life and Thought (June 28–August 9)
Greek for the Rest of Us (July 15–August 19)
Seminars
Understanding the Book of Revelation (two seminar date options)
July 16-17, 2010: Friday evening & Saturday (North Campus)
July 23-24, 2010: Friday evening & Saturday (Downtown Campus)
Regional Sunday Summer Picnics
Monthly Picnics: General Information
Sunday, August 8
Connect with others from Bethlehem in your neighborhoods this summer by taking the church into the community! On the second Sundays in June, July, and August, we’re asking for several of you within the church to volunteer to host regional picnics in areas around the Metro.
If you would like to host a picnic in your region, please contact Jeremy Hermann, and he’ll help you get started. We’ll promote the picnics in the Star newsletter in advance.
Bethlehem Regional Picnic FAQs (for hosts and guests)
Sunday Picnics: August 8
Host: Amy Marino
Location: Elliot Park, Minneapolis
, 55404
Picnic Info:
- Held from 12:30pm to 4
- Bring your own meat and a dish to share.
- In case of rain, picnic will be canceled.
Contact for RSVP: Amy Marino, 651-231-3996
Hosts: Jeanne Loomis and Rhonda Bjurlin
Location: 7127 Clinton Ave S, Richfield
, 55423
Picnic Info:
- Held from 1pm to 4
- Bring your own meat and a dish to share.
- Rain plans TBD
Contact for RSVP: Jeanne Loomis, 612-866-5989
Hosts: Sam & Andrea Diehl
Location: River Park Pavillion
, 200 81st Ave. N.
, Brooklyn Park 55444
Picnic Info:
- Start at 1:00 pm
- Some hotdogs will be provided.
- Bring your own meat, if possible, and a dish to share.
Contact for RSVP: Sam Diehl, cell: 612-432-6514
Hosts: Keith & Mary Anderson
Location: Sanborn Park Picnic Shelter, Robbinsdale, 55422
Picnic Info:
- Held from 1pm to 4pm
- We'll provide lemonade and the grill.
- Bring your own meat and a dish to share.
Contact for RSVP: Keith Anderson, 612-751-1446
Hosts: Brian & Kristin Tabb
Location: Langford Park, 30 Langford Park, St Paul, 55108
Picnic Info:
- Held from 1pm to 4pm; bring a frisbee if you have one.
- Bring your own meat and a dish to share.
- Rain plans TBD
Contact for RSVP: Brian Tabb, 651-402-9133
Hosts: Joel & Marty Button
Location: 10890 Pawnee Ave N, Stillwater 55082
Picnic Info:
- Begins at 1pm
- Bring your own meat, a dish to share, and a swimsuit if you like.
Contact for RSVP: 651-275-0171 (home) or 612-805-6861 (cell)
Weekly South Picnics
Sundays June 20–August 8 (excluding Sunday, July 4)
Cliff Fen Park (120 E Cliff Rd, Burnsville, MN 55337)
Bring your own picnic lunch and some extra to share with guests. Other things to bring include picnic blanket, lawn chairs, change of clothes for activity. Questions? Contact Johnathon Bowers.
Our weekly picnic schedule:
- 1:00 Gathering song; elder introduction and prayer
- 1:15 Meal
- 2:00 Athletic Activities
In the event of rain, we will meet in the South Site office building (Suite 112, 501 Highway 13 E., Burnsville 55337).
Pastor John's Upcoming Leave
Dear Bethlehem family,
As you may have already heard in the sermon from March 27–28, the elders graciously approved on March 22 a leave of absence that will take me away from Bethlehem from May 1 through December 31, 2010. We thought it might be helpful to put an explanation in a letter to go along with the sermon.
I asked the elders to consider this leave because of a growing sense that my soul, my marriage, my family, and my ministry-pattern need a reality check from the Holy Spirit. On the one hand, I love my Lord, my wife, my five children and their families first and foremost; and I love my work of preaching and writing and leading Bethlehem. I hope the Lord gives me at least five more years as the pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem.
But on the other hand, I see several species of pride in my soul that, while they may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry, grieve me, and have taken a toll on my relationship with Noël and others who are dear to me. How do I apologize to you, not for a specific deed, but for ongoing character flaws, and their effects on everybody? I’ll say it now, and no doubt will say it again, I’m sorry. Since I don’t have just one deed to point to, I simply ask for a spirit of forgiveness; and I give you as much assurance as I can that I am not making peace, but war, with my own sins.
Noël and I are rock solid in our commitment to each other, and there is no whiff of unfaithfulness on either side. But, as I told the elders, “rock solid” is not always an emotionally satisfying metaphor, especially to a woman. A rock is not the best image of a woman’s tender companion. In other words, the precious garden of my home needs tending. I want to say to Noël that she is precious to me in a way that, at this point in our 41-year pilgrimage, can be said best by stepping back for a season from virtually all public commitments.
No marriage is an island. For us this is true in two senses. One is that Noël and I are known inside-out by a few friends at Bethlehem—most closely by our long-time colleagues and friends David and Karin Livingston, and then by a cluster of trusted women with Noël and men with me. We are accountable, known, counseled, and prayed for. I am deeply thankful for a gracious culture of transparency and trust among the leadership at Bethlehem.
The other way that our marriage is not an island is that its strengths and defects have consequences for others. No one in the orbit of our family and friends remains unaffected by our flaws. My prayer is that this leave will prove to be healing from the inside of my soul, through Noël’s heart, and out to our children and their families, and beyond to anyone who may have been hurt by my failures.
The difference between this leave and the sabbatical I took four years ago is that I wrote a book on that sabbatical (What Jesus Demands from the World). In 30 years, I have never let go of the passion for public productivity. In this leave, I intend to let go of all of it. No book-writing. No sermon preparation or preaching. No blogging. No Twitter. No articles. No reports. No papers. And no speaking engagements. There is one stateside exception—the weekend devoted to the Desiring God National Conference combined with the inaugural convocation of Bethlehem College and Seminary in October. Noël thought I should keep three international commitments. Our reasoning is that if she could go along, and if we plan it right, these could be very special times of refreshment together.
The elders have appointed a group to stay in touch and keep me accountable for this leave. They are David Mathis, Jon Bloom, Tom Steller, Sam Crabtree, Jon Grano, Tim Held, Tony Campagna, and Kurt Elting-Ballard. Five of these have walked with Noël and me over the last two months, helping us discern the wisdom, scope, and nature of this leave. They brought the final recommendation to the elders on March 22.
I asked the elders not to pay me for this leave. I don’t feel it is owed to me. I know I am causing more work for others, and I apologize to the staff for that. Not only that, others could use similar time away. Most working men and women do not have the freedom to step back like this. The elders did not agree with my request. Noël and I are profoundly grateful for this kind of affection. We will seek the Lord for how much of your financial support to give back to the church, to perhaps bear some of the load.
We have weighed seriously the impact of this leave on the church and Desiring God and Bethlehem College and Seminary. I believe God has some extraordinary things he wants to do by taking me out of the picture for eight months. My not being present will call for fresh leadership initiatives and will help the church realize more deeply God’s wisdom in establishing the plurality of elders. I praise God for the elders and the entire leadership team with whom he is allowing me to serve.
God will raise up what is needed and get glory in ways that are different than when I am there. I believe I will be able to say with Paul in Philippians 1:12, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” And may Philippians 2:12 also come true: “As you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence.”
Personally, I view these months as a kind of relaunch of what I hope will be the most humble, happy, fruitful five years of our 35 years at Bethlehem and 46 years of marriage. Would you pray with me to that end? And would you stand by your church with all your might? May God make these eight months the best Bethlehem has ever known. It would be just like God to do the greatest things when I am not there. “Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7).
I love you and promise to pray for you every day.
Pastor John
Elder Response to Pastor John's Upcoming Leave
Bethlehem family,
On behalf of the Council of Elders, we want you to know that we deeply support Pastor John and his wife, Noël, both now and in this season ahead. They have been a remarkable gift to us as a church for almost 30 years now. We are unspeakably thankful to God for their seemingly untiring ministry among us.
As John recently laid bare his heart to us, as he has done so for you today, we resonated with his transparency and humility, as well as his longings for the upcoming season. We are grateful for his broken-heartedness and his boldness. It’s not easy to have your preaching pastor away for 8 months—know that we have wrestled much with this decision. But along with John and Noël, we are hopefully expectant for the months before us.
As a Council, we’re also searching our own hearts for ways in which we may be at fault. In all our hopefulness about the rest of this year and beyond, many of us feel the weight of John’s leave, the circumstances leading up to it, and our possible part in it. Please pray for us as we search our hearts, just as we all pray for John and Noël during their time away.
Along with the Pipers, we too are thinking of the days ahead as a kind of relaunch for their final season of ministry among us. We are trusting that God will use the season ahead when they are out of public ministry for their good and for the good of our church body.
We are already at work on a preaching plan for May through December. We’ll be eager to say more about that in the coming weeks.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.—Ephesians 3:20–21
Easter Weekend Services Schedule
Easter Weekend, April 3/4
Easter Weekend Pre-Service Prayer
All are welcome to join us for prayer as we ask for God’s grace and mercy. At each campus, we will meet 45 minutes before the first worship service on Saturday and Sunday. See special Easter prayer times and locations.
Easter Worship Services
Join us this Easter weekend as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Downtown Campus, Minneapolis
Saturday, April 3, 5:30pm
Sunday, April 4, 8:00, 9:45 & 11:30am
We will offer a light breakfast Downtown at 7:30am. Read more.
North Campus, Mounds View
Saturday, April 3, 6:00pm
Sunday, April 4, 9:00 & 11:00am
We will also offer seating in Rooms D500–D505 during the 9:00am service. See indoor map.
South at Lakeville South High School (Easter only)
21135 Jacquard Ave, Lakeville MN 55044
Sunday, April 4, 11:00am
Nursery (ages 0–3) will be available at the North and Downtown campuses during Easter weekend worship services. (No nursery care in Lakeville.) No Sunday School for older children or adults on Easter. Classes resume the following Sunday.
Spanish Interpretation
Saturday, April 3, at 5:30pm and Easter, April 4, at 9:45am at the Downtown Campus, we will offer simultaneous interpretation of the sermon into Spanish (by headset, available at the Info Booth).
En el Campus en Downtown, el fin de semana del Día de la Resurrección, habrá interpretación al español el sábado a las 5:30pm y el domingo a las 9:45am.
Sign Language Interpretation
Sunday, April 4, at the 9:45am service at the Downtown Campus, sign language (ASL) interpretation will be available. For more information, contact Ami M. at 651-795-1516.
Update on Jubilee Community Church Plant
As of March 5: See Jubilee's new Web site.
At the Quarterly Strategy Meeting (Jan 24), the congregation approved a recommendation from the elders to endorse Jubilee Community Church as a TCT Church Plant of Bethlehem Baptist Church. This includes salary support for John Erickson (full-time) and Dan Porch (half-time) from the TCT Church Planting Fund, totaling $120,000 to be disbursed monthly for the first three years.
If you have an interest in learning more about this church plant and potentially being a part of it, please consider attending one or both of the informational meetings to be held after the Saturday services on February 6 and February 13.
Jubilee Community Church Informational Meetings
Saturdays, February 6 & 13, 7:15-8:30pm
Downtown Campus, Room 114
After the Saturday evening services on Feb 6 and Feb 13, John Erickson will hold informational meetings at the Downtown Campus for anyone interested in joining him and Dan Porch in planting Jubilee Community Church (at the 16/33 Center) in the Powderhorn Neighborhood of South Minneapolis. Prayerfully consider if the Lord would lead you to join in helping establish Jubilee. For more information, contact John Erickson.
Below is a map showing the Jubilee Community Church plant location (at the 16/33 Center) in relation to Bethlehem's Downtown Campus.
John & Leslie Erickson Family Dan & Laurie Porch Family
How Is Bethlehem Helping Haiti?
Bethlehem’s Global Diaconate team is currently researching various ways of supporting relief to Haiti. Pray for wisdom for this team. We know that Steve Nelson, a long-time Bethlehem global partner who serves as a doctor with HCJB in Ecuador, is leaving January 14 with a team from the HCJB hospital to help for two weeks at a hospital in Haiti with Samaritan's Purse.
We are currently looking into ways we can assist Haiti, and we will post more details as they become available.
See Pastor Sam's January 14 blog post for more information on how we are helping Haiti.
UPDATE: See also Pastor Sam's January 20 blog post.
2009 Church & Missions Financial Update
Join us in praising God that Bethlehem's Church & Missions (C&M) financial needs were met in 2009, and pray for a strong start in 2010.
01/11/2010 Update:
Bethlehem's 2009 fiscal year ended 12/31/09. It takes several weeks to process all the remaining invoices, but we have now received more than enough to cover all anticipated 2009 C&M expenses—around $8,400,000. Be amazed (and humbled) by God's grace to us in contributions to our C&M operating budget over the past two months and in meeting Bethlehem's fiscal needs in a challenging financial year.
C&M Contributions Since Mid-October:
- Oct 17/18: $142,084 (1.9% over 2008)
- Oct 24/25: $186,958 (2.5% over 2008)
- Oct 31/Nov 1: $191,050 (2.7% over 2008)
- Nov 07/08: $144,896 (2.9% over 2008)
- Nov 14/15: $180,201 (3.2% over 2008)
- Nov 21/22: $203,386 (4.4% over 2008)
- Nov 28/29: $258,816 (6.3% over 2008)
- Dec 05/06: $280,902 (7.8% over 2008)
- Dec 12/13: $213,950 (8.5% over 2008)
- Dec 19/20: $244,581 (9.3% over 2008)
- Dec 26/27: $416,388 (10.1% over 2008)
- Dec 28 thru 31: $365,660 (9.5% through 1/11/2010)
C&M Contribution History (annual C&M giving since 2004):
- 2009 Actual C&M Giving: $8,726,065 (9.5% over 2008)
- 2008 Actual C&M Giving: $7,971,431 (10.1% over 2007)
- 2007 Actual C&M Giving: $7,242,788 (11.0% over 2006)
- 2006 Actual C&M Giving: $6,523,758 (10.3% over 2005)
- 2005 Actual C&M Giving: $5,916,015 (24.7% over 2004)
- 2004 Actual C&M Giving: $4,745,983
An up-to-date summary of both C&M and Treasuring Christ Together giving is included in every issue of the Bethlehem Star newsletter. If you have any questions regarding 2009 finances, feel free to contact Jon Grano, Lead Pastor for Operations (612-455-3467), or Paul Johnson, Financial Secretary, at 612-455- 3471.