A Word From The Pastor

Another Super Bowl Sunday is upon us, and once again, New England is favored to take home the trophy. Way over here on the opposite coast, in a small corner of the northwest, we sit wondering what it might feel like to have a team, any team in any sport, that could actually compete and have a chance of winning.

Seattle is the un-Boston. Boston has the Patriots, the Red Sox, the Celtics, the Bruins. Each has been a national champ within the past decade. Seattle has the Seahawks who backed into the playoffs last year and missed by a mile this year. We have the Mariners, who are supposedly about two seasons away from contending; but that's been the mantra for the last ten years. We did have a championship NBA team, all the way back in 79, but they were pirated away to Oklahoma City or some such godforsaken place. If Boston is the city of champions, I'm not sure what you'd want to call Seattle.

We don't amount to much if the measure of a city or a region is the win-loss column. We humbly drink our coffee and wade through our rain, and wonder what it might be like to shout "We're number one!" and actually mean it.

How do you measure worth? How do you calculate success? What is the yardstick by which cities or sports teams or people are evaluated?

We have all been critiqued. We have all been analyzed over against some measurement tool. And unless you're number one, the process can be rather painful. The boss calls you into the office to determine whether or not you are worthy of a raise. The kids hold you accountable for every unfulfilled promise you've ever made. Your spouse has his or her own system of judging your worth. And the courts can hand down a verdict on you as well.

The process of being critiqued is seldom comfortable. And when we are put up against the standards of the best, we realize there is only room for one at the top, and that position seems well above our heads.

God has a critiquing system as well. In fact, God has two such systems. One is called the Law, and it can be brutal. Jesus told his followers, "You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." Talk about setting the bar too high. Against such standards, and coming from the heart of the Almighty, being judged by God is not only uncomfortable, it's terrifying.

But God has another system; a system called the Gospel. And this is God's surprising trump. Through the lens of the Gospel, the verdict comes back and the deity announces, "You are my beloved child." This is a critique which is based not on production or statistics, but on relationship; through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are part of the family.

I'll sit down and watch the Super Bowl this weekend. I probably won't cheer for New England, but that's just because I love the underdog. I will ponder what it must feel like to have your beloved team at the top of the standings year after year. I will experience a level of frustration knowing my team has had their equipment packed away for over a month.

Yet even though I evaluate others on the basis of production, on the basis of the Law, I have been seen through the lens of love, through the Gospel, and the pronouncement of worth was spoken over me years ago at Baptism: "Walter Rice, child of God . . ." By grace, that's who I am.

Walt

Church Office Hours

Mon: Closed

Tue: 12:00-5:00 p.m.

Wed: 12:00-5:00 p.m.

Fri: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

11:00-12:00 -Closed for Lunch

For other times, please call the office to make an appointment.

Men’s Breakfast

Saturday, February 4

8:00 a.m.

Women’s Bible Study

Wednesday, February 1

10:30 a.m.

All Are Welcome

Pastor Walt has accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Church in Enumclaw. Please join us after the worship service on February 12 for a goodbye potluck lunch. Please sign up in the fireside room to bring a salad or dessert. The main dish will be Barron of Beef.

Lent

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, on February 22 and our Lenten evening soup suppers and worship will begin on Wednesday, February 29 (yes this is a leap year).

6:00 p.m. Soup Supper

7:00 p.m. Lenten Evening Worship

Please sign up to bring a soup, bread/butter or beverage.

Reminder

February 5 is Super Bowl Sunday which means the annual super bowl party at Bill & Betty Stiles’ home. The party starts at 2:00 p.m. There is still room if you want to join the fun. Talk to Betty or Brock Stiles for more information.

You Are Invited

Bertha Schiefelbein will be moving to Gig Harbor. A lunch is planned for her on February 1st at 12:00 p.m. at the State Street Deli. Come and wish Bertha goodbye. If you plan to attend, let Nora Shuler know or sign up in the fireside room, so the deli can be told how many to expect.

Volunteers Needed

Our custodian, Janie Mottet, will be away February 1–8. We will need someone to clean a couple times during the week Vacuum, mop, etc. If you can help, please let the office know. Thank you.

Mark Your Calendar!

The Property Committee will have a rummage sale fundraiser on Friday, April 20 & Saturday, April 21. Check your closets and storage cupboards for thing to donate. Items can be brought to the church during office hours. Proceeds will go to projects around the church,

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is now on Facebook.

To find us search for “Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Sedro-Woolley, WA” and “like” us.

El Camino

Each year, during the annual meeting the congregation is asked if anyone would like to give a $15 monthly donation to El Camino de Emaus. If you missed this opportunity last Sunday, the sign up sheet is available in the fireside room. Thank you for your support.

Giving Statements

Please check your mailboxes for your 2011 giving statements.

Offering Envelopes

If you are in need offering envelopes for 2012, please let the office know and a packet will be put in your mailbox.

Financial Update

Statistics for January 2012

Average Weekly Attendance: 85

Total Jan Offering: $10,845.00

Needed to date: $1,4615.00

Plus (Minus) ($3,770.00)

Open Door Community Kitchen

(Central United Methodist Church on Polte Road)

Wednesday, February 22 at 4:00 p.m.

Please sign up in the fireside room if you wish to help.

You Are Invited

El Camino de Emaus invites you to celebrate the ordinations of Emilio Benitez and Esau Cuevas into Word and Sacrament Ministry in the ELCA on Sunday, February 12 at 4:00 p.m. at Burlington Lutheran Church in Burlington. A potluck dinner reception will follow the service

Husband and Wives

Be creative this Valentine’s Day! Looking for a new and different way to show your spouse the depth of your love and devotion? What better way than a weekend reservation to “Marriage Encounter Weekend” on March 2-4 in Federal Way. You will have plenty of time together in private to explore your feelings for each other. For more information or to apply for weekend attendance visit: www.GodLovesMarriage.org. Reservations are due by February 10th.

Concert

Come to an Evening of Music, Meditation and Prayer with John Michael Talbot.

February 15 & 16 at 6:30 p.m.

St Augustine Catholic Church,185 N. Oak Harbor Street, Oak Harbor

Generous Love Offering Requested. For more information call 360-675-2303

Spring Into Gardening Festival

A Spring into gardening Festival is set for Saturday, February 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon.
The event will include a lively discussion on herbs, feeding the hungry, community gardens and a variety of gardening goodness.
Dr. Andy Anderson will tell you about “Ten Worthy Herbs for your Garden,” and Graham Kerr will tell you how to “Upgrade every meal with herbs” Lunch will be served.

Prayers for strength and healing for:

• Marcella Urness Marion Puckett’s mother who had a stroke

• Nancy Long (Rogene Seidel’s friend)

• Jack Lewis (Kathy Stiles Step-father) who had a triple bypass surgery.

• John Wojahn, Barbara Berger (Celeste Weaver’s sister-in-law), Mabel Quisenberry, Ken Sorestad, Ian Grinstad, Jessie Grinstad, Grace Johnson, Fran Sherman (friend of Sherri Melsby), Wayne Reim (LaVonne Parker’s brother), Jennifer Watkins (Blaine & Elaine’s daughter), Nancy Wilkinson, (friend of Ginny Ramey), Rae Ramey, (Ginny Ramey’s mother in law), Ting Ting Deline, (grandaughter of Millard & Virginia Deline), John Wojahn, Peggy Jean Gray (Bill Carter’s cousin), Irene Johnson, Bill Holtcamp, Ken Thompson (friend of John Rantschler), Gerda Eastman, Sandra Hulst (Keith Hulst’s mother), Pat Jackson (Art McGee’s sister), Esther Wakeman (Scott Wakeman’s mother), Marion Hughes (Scott’s aunt), Craig Hein (Jill Bumgarner’s brother), Jerry Schreuder (friend of John Rantschler), Roy Quisenberry, Brian Tipton, (Janie Mottet’s brother-in-law), Elmer Burghart, Brian Waters (Kim Woolsey’s son-in-law), Jane Johnson, (Sherri Melsby’s sister), Jeannie Wojahn, Mike Perry, Isaac Wyckoff, Wayne Wegner, Eileen Carter (sister-in-law of Bill Carter), Kyann Flint (Joanne Hardin’s niece), Michelle Yeager, Pat Morgan, Mike Johnson (son of Gene Johnson), Karen Hansen, Robert Hanson (grandnephew of Mabel Quisenberry), Mabel Quisenberry, Kim Johnson (Linda Woodward’s daughter), Jack Wilson (JoAnn Hardin’s brother), and Jan Selvig (daughter of Grace Johnson)

Prayers for our members and friends in the military:

Jordan Provinsal (grandson of Bill & Donna Carter), Jim Devany III (grandson of Bertha Schiefelbein, Crystal Kloth-Abbott, Brian Burnett, Toby Shope, Darryl Hornbeck (Judy Rantschler’s cousin), Juan Sanchez (Morgan’s uncle), Russell Allen, and Donald Parker.
(Please contact the church office if you would like a name added or removed from the prayer

February Birthdays & Anniversaries

1 - Joshua Kelm