Received into the Family of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on December 28 at the 10:30 service will be Gabriel Christian Hall, son of Raymond & Lauren Hall.  Gabriel’s sponsors are Kenneth Hall and Melissa Hall.  We pray God will keep Gabriel in his baptismal grace until life everlasting.

It has pleased almighty God to call to Himself the soul of Lois Hecht on Thursday, December 18^th.  Lois was given Christian burial on Monday, December 22^nd at Bethlehem Lutheran.  We pray that God will comfort those who mourn her death with the hope of everlasting life.

Would you like to help Bethlehem save on mailing costs?  Do you like to receive emails?  If so, please request that you be put on our email list by calling the church office at 755-1144 or emailing churchoffice@bethlehemsaginaw.org. 

Bethlehem Perpetual Charitable Trust Fund: The Gift That Grows. If you wish to support something really dear to you or impact lives, consider a gift from $10.00 and up to our Trust Fund.  Your gift combined with others will be invested and the earnings will be used for the maintenance and improvement of our church, school, and cemetery, for student aid, for missions, and for music programs; now and in the future.  Since 1994 your Trust Fund has grown to over $440,000 and has distributed earnings of over $147,000 to support our ministry programs.

Pictorial Directory Orders – If you had your picture taken or submitted a picture, you will receive a complementary pictorial directory in 2009.  If you did not submit a photo or have your picture taken and would still like to receive a directory, you can place your order with the church office until the end of the year.  The cost is $10.00 per directory and prepayment is required.  Thank you.

Ladies – The Winter issue of the Lutheran Women’s Quarterly is available on the Welcome Center.  It is larger and better than ever.  Pick up your copy and check it out.

The January-March Portals of Prayer is available on the Welcome Center.  Suggested donation is $1.00 and may be placed in the box marked “Portals of Prayer” located under the display cases and tract rack in the Narthex.

Mary Magdalene – she isn’t who you may think she is.  Come find out what scripture really tells us about her and what she can contribute to folks in today’s world.  Our Bible Study, Unveiling Mary Magdalene, begins on Wednesday, January 7, 2009, at 7:00 pm in the church lounge.  We hope you join us in this fascinating study and story by Liz Curtis Higgs (author of the Bad Girls of the Bible books).

“Come to the Manager” Advent Devotions (pink booklet) is on the Welcome Center.  Please feel free to take a copy.  Devotions run through January 6.

Senior High Bible Study will meet every 1^st and 3^rd Sunday in the Youth Room at 9:15 a.m.  On the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays, we will meet at 6:30 p.m.  COME JOIN US!!!

We’re Looking for Campaign Team Members!  Our church is planning a spiritual growth campaign called “40 Days of Purpose” starting in September 2009.  One of the most exciting aspects of this campaign will be the opportunity to gather in small groups that will meet in homes for the six weeks of the campaign.  We are currently looking for Bethlehem members who are interested in helping to plan and organize this massive, life-changing campaign.  If you are interested in spending some time working on this project, please contact Bob or Lori Newton at 799-1248 or Pastor Korte in the church office.  We would like to have the planning teams in place by the end of December so that they can begin meeting in January 2009.

The December/January issue of “Michigan In Touch” is on the Welcome Center.  Please feel free to take a copy.

Sauerkraut, Sausage, & Roast Beef Dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday January 25, 2009, at St. Paul Lutheran School gym, 6094 West Side Saginaw Road, Bay City.  Tickets are $8.00 for adults and all takeouts and $3.50 for children 13 and under.   For more information, please call 684-1539. 

The School Christmas Program

will be on

Monday Night

January 5, 2009

at

6:30 pm Pre Service Music

by our School Band

And the program beginning at 7:00 pm