This News page is fluid and the most often changed page on our website. It can be updated daily, so please check here each time you visit. Some items are moved around to make room for the new, so browse the bold headlines for articles you have not read.

**Volunteers  are always needed for our special events and weekly Church 'behind the scenes' activities. Please check the Volunteer page and in the Weekly announcements for your opportunity to help. Updates to the rest of the site.

TACO needs your help!  Please plan ahead and join us to help the wonderful TACO team serve those in need on Monday, 5/19. We'll meet at First Lutheran Church (downtown at 3rd and Ash) at 3:30PM. No cooking involved -- all that's needed is a friendly face and willing hands. Questions or need a ride? Call Lori Cook, 760 918-2401 (home) or 760 207-0432 (cell). Hope to see you there!  Matthew 25:3.

Women’s Spring Social.  In Honor of New Women Members.  This event will be hosted by the Bethlehem Women of the ELCA on Saturday, May 24th from 2 – 4 pm in the Multi Use Building.  There will be fun, food and fellowship as well as raffle prizes, “Getting to Know You” games and a “Free Stuff” table.  Children of all ages are welcome!  RSVP by May 20th to Pamela Dugmore @ 760-436-9241 or bp@dugmoredesignstudio.com.

April 27, 2008 Jubille news;

The Jubilee Act passes the House! Thank you to all of you who called or wrote your representatives! The house on Wednesday, April 16th voted 285-132 to nearly double the number of poor nations eligible to receive international debt forgiveness if they use the freed-up funds for purposes such as improving living conditions, democratizing their governments and combating terrorism.

Health Ministry:  Meals and Transportation.  Through the Health Ministry, we have formed a group of church members who will cook and deliver meals for parishioners and families who are recovering or in need. Also, If you can help with occasionally driving members to church services or appointments or if you know of someone in need of a meal or you wish to volunteer to occasionally make a meal, Please contact Rose Moldenhauer  rosemoldy@cox.net

P-Jama 2008 News is located here.

Bethlehem Advocacy Group (BAG)has a new name and a focused vision. The new Bethlehem Advocacy Committee (BAC) wants to acknowledge the numerous projects our church is doing both locally and abroad to fight poverty. We would like you to join our committee and join us in supporting Jubilee and the Life Straw project. Come by our table today. Just BAC it! 

Do you like Tea? Try Rooibos "RED" Tea, an excellent antioxidant source and the best Iced Tea I have ever had. Get it from our Fair Trade project here.  It's a very refreshing and good tasting drink, especially with warmer days headed our way.

The Bethlehem Lutheran Foundation (Endowment Fund) has a balance of $85,000.  Each year we hope to use the interest to fund special programs and ministries.  Members are encouraged to remember the foundation in their wills.  Some of the funds are restricted (for example, for scholarships), but most are not.  Grants have recently been approved for scholarships for our Early Childhood Centers and for the Center for Global Awareness.


Volunteers needed for Vacation Bible School,  July 7th – 11th .  We are looking for adults and middle through high school students interested in helping out with VBS.  Anyone interested please contact Kim Oswald, Director of Children’s Ministries at kdoswald@blcenc.org or by calling 760-753-1026, ext. 15. Go here to register for VBS 2008. Heartshaper's update page. 

Ten Young People and their Parents attended the Communion Class last Sunday:  Kennice Cowles, Eric Dugmore, Owen Dugmore, Erik Ensberg, Taj Goldsmith, Erin Grady, Luke Lawver, Patrick McCormick, Henry Ontiveros, and Morgan Piecukonis.  May God bless you as you celebrate this very special gift the Lord provides in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Read the first Qrtly Council report here.

Farewell Party for Pastor Gene and Grace!!!  Please join us for food, fun and fellowship in the Family Centeron Sunday, June 1 beginning at 11:45 a.m.  The suggested donation is $6.00 per adult, $3.00 per child, maximum $20.00 per family (to offset food costs).  Our theme is “German-Italian Roots.”  If you have a favorite German or Italian dish you would like to bring, or treasures from your travels that you would like to display at this event, please contact Pamela Dugmore at (760)436-9241 or bp@dugmoredesignstudio.com.  

The attendance to the Meet and Greet event was impressive!  See the photos here. Numbers are somewhere near 200+ and that is a good sign that our communication efforts are working. So impressive that our "Call" was accepted! Read Pastor Ziehl's letter here.  The Call Committee and the Council thank everyone for their attendance both Saturday and Sunday! Good job Call Committee!

As part of Fellowship/Evangelism, BLC wants to extend our hospitality and outreach to our Sunday visitors on a regular basis. If you are interested in being a Bethlehem Greeter to meet our Sunday visitors after services, please contact Dianne Nichols at (760) 804-0129.

Bethlehem Community Early Childhood Center is proud to be one of the first programs in the Nation to earn re-accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s new, more rigorous accreditation process.  BCECC has been accredited since 1991. Gail Winterbourne and Debi Carr, Center Directors, are proud to continue to receive the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for their commitment to reaching the highest professional standards. Registration for these programs begins in March and April.

This past Sunday we WELCOMED 24 NEW MEMBERS:  Charlie and Thelma Bollinger; Ruth Bachmann and Isabella Kamrath; Ruth Anne Duncan; Chad and Liz Feiler and Lauren; Jeff and Stacie Goodwin and Sophia and Emily; Mea Hall and Hutson, Henna, and Hyla; Randy and Gina Mellott, and Samantha, Parker, and Sydney; Eric and Stephanie Wallace and Jackson.  Each is a special gift of the Holy Spirit to Bethlehem. The lunch and orientation for the new members and their sponsors followed the service.


Join us for FUN at the EMPTY BOWLS LUNCH at United Methodist Church, 3036 La Jolla Blvd. in La Jolla from 11am to 1pm Sat., 5/17.  Some of the best restaurants in La Jolla and beyond donate delicious soup and bread and local artisans donate dozens of handmade pottery bowls from which to choose.  You keep the bowl and know that your entire donation will go to TACO which has been feeding the homeless and working poor in San Diego for 33 years.  Suggested donation is $20. Call Lori Cook with questions:  918-2401,  cell: 207-0432

Last Saturday, 30 volunteers cut out 158 pair of pajamas--A NEW Record!!  Thanks to all who came.  SEWERS!!  I HAVE KITS!!  Let me know what you'd like and how many and I can leave them on my patio for pick-up on a day of your choice.  Hope to see you at the Fundraiser next Saturday from 1 to 3P in the Family Center.  Lisa Kaufman has offered to donate 20% of the proceeds to the PJ Project!!  Come and see her jewelry or buy it online at LisaKaufmanDesigns.com. Any questions, call Sherie at 760-436-6874. PJ Update page.

Vacation Bible School is July 7th – 11th.  Registration will begin May 1st through June 8th.  Forms will be available in the church entrance or on the Bethlehem website here.  The cost for VBS is $50 per child ages 3 years – 6th grade or $90 per family for 2 or more children.

If you Volunteer for Coffee service, Reader or Usher Sunday duties, then you will find your current assignment schedule here. We post these just after they are mailed to you; so if you forget your dates, please check here to print out a new copy.

David and Carla Schick have sent their March / Easter newsletter. Read it here.

Council member, Dennis Astroth handles the property maintenance task and as such, oversees the repairs and schedules work parties. If you see a needed repair item around the Church, you may email the council here and include Dennis' name in the subject line. Your request is appreciated and will be put on a repair item list. I actually tried it and it works! The letters on the dedication plaque on the patio support column have been repainted and the Narthex overhead-speakers are fixed.

Photographers Wanted. Above, you will see that we have some Easter Photos posted and on the navigation bar to the left you will find the Photos and Videos tab. These pictures and videos currently come from two church members who carry a camera and try not to flash everyone in the face. I am one of those people (webmaster) and I could use contributions from other members who, like me, are amateur picture snappers. Please visit the Volunteer instruction page for our "picture submission policy"  and let's see some more people in action around our church, groups, activities and functions!

CONCERT FOR A CURE.  Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Sunday, May 18th at 4pm. Please join Sgt Paul Beaulieu (Baritone), accompanied by Sheldon Rosenbaum,as he presents music by Gerald Finzi, Ralph Von Williams, Hugo Wolf and others to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Paul runs with Team In Training, a group dedicated to raising awareness and funds for those affected with Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma.  He will be running the San Diego Rock 'N' Roll Marathon with them on June 1st.