Headed for Yellowstone? The quilters have been making quilts for the Wyoming Girls School in Sheridan, Wyoming. We have 15 quilts that need to be delivered. If anyone is headed to Wyoming (in the Yellowstone area) in the near future and could make this delivery please call the church office at 251-8356.

VBS Partnering Opportunities! Teachers Needed: Vacation Bible School is fast approaching, August 2-6, 9am to noon, and we have many opportunities for you to share your gifts with the youth at Bethlehem. Teachers are needed in all age groups, as well as people to help decorate. “Taking Root” is this year’s theme - which is a perfect way to explore with others how God has “taken root” in your life. If you are feeling called to start building relationships with the youth at Bethlehem here is a great opportunity! Please contact Melanie for more information, 251-8356 x131. Supplies Needed: Please drop off the following items in the clear plastic bin by the SERVE board: broken crayons, 20 oz plastic pop bottles, glass canning jars.

Housing Needed: Housing is needed for a female ELCA World Hunger Appeal intern who will be staying here July 26-29 helping Bethlehem to prepare for VBS, and also during VBS week Aug. 1-6. We are so fortunate to have the creators of the “Taking Root” curriculum partnering with Bethlehem. Anyone who is interested in helping with housing, please contact Melanie in the Discipleship office, 251-8356 x131.

Shop for LWR School Kits: Back-to-School Sales have begun, now is a great time to support Lutheran World Relief (LWR)! Bethlehem will be assembling LWR School Kits in late September and we are especially in need of the following items: 150-200 pg Notebooks, 30cm Rulers, Pencil sharpeners, unsharpened pencils w/ erasers, 2.5” Erasers, Blunt-nosed Scissors, Crayon (16 or 24 count). If you would like to help with this endeavor, please take this list along as you shop the before-school sales. Place items in the box under the bulletin boards marked “LWR.” Thank you for your help.

A Mystery Mission for Gr. 5 & 6: Each Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30pm students entering grades 5 & 6 unravel a mystery mission of the week. The Summer Youth Interns are coordinating each mission and posting clues at blcmysterymission.blogspot.com All students entering grades 5 & 6 are welcome, so invite your friends!

Thrivent Builds with Habitat Needs Your Support: This year’s Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity local project is fixing up two foreclosed homes in downtown St. Cloud. Construction is planned for June through October. Lutherans must fill 50% of the work shifts at these sites in order for Habitat to receive the grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Watch for more work dates later this summer. A quick thank you to those who worked on the Thrivent Builds site on Tuesday & Wednesday, and to Mark Young for coordinating! Donations are also needed: Bethlehem has committed a minimum of $1,000 for this build. To make a donation, write a check to Bethlehem and write “Thrivent Builds” on the memo line.

VBS Digs into God’s Word Vacation Bible School: Children will learn how God takes root in our hearts and creation along with ways they can help address hunger both locally & globally! This will be a wonderful opportunity to work in Bethlehem’s Community Garden while digging into God’s word! VBS will be held August 2-6, 9am to noon. Cost is $25/child up to $50/family; scholarships are available. Extended day care (7:30-9am) is available for $20/week or $5/day. Children age 4 (by 6/1/10) through Gr. 6 are welcome to attend. Click here to download a registration form.

Bikers of BLC Roll Out: The Bikers of Bethlehem (BoB) invite all motorcycle riders (all faiths, all motorcycle makes!) to the first ride of the season on Sunday, May 23, following the 11am service which will include a blessing of the bikers! Other ride dates: June 27, July 25, August 29 & September 26. Rides cover about 100-150 miles with a stop for lunch. A donation of $5/person per ride is encouraged, it will be given to a local charity at the end of the season. Sign-up for the BoB email list please email lcobb@bethlehemlutheran.org.

Lutheran Disaster Response: To contribute to ELCA Disaster Response’s efforts in Haiti or Chile visit www.elca.org/disaster  or pick up a form at the Welcome Center. Thrivent Financial members visit www.thrivent.com/helpinghaiti or call 1-800-236-3736 x83003 to take advantage of supplemental funds.

Add Your Leadership to Bethlehem’s Boards: A number of the Boards, the groups that guide the work of the congregation, are seeking new leaders to help strengthen existing programs and dream up new ways to reach & serve the community. If you’d be interested in serving in a leadership role or have someone in mind that would make a great leader, contact LaNae at 251-8356 x107.

Book of Faith: Join folks from around the synod in reading 1 chapter of the Bible each day. Introductions with points to reflect on are posted on the synod website: http://swmnelca.org/html/Book%20of%20Faith.html

Names Matter at Bethlehem: All who regularly worship or participate at Bethlehem are invited to order reusable name tags! These high quality vinyl badges come in your choice of fastener: magnetic or clip. To order yours: stop by the table in the Square; suggested donation: $2 each. Your new name tag will be ready the next weekend!

Simply Giving is EFT for Your Offering: Simply Giving is a program which provides Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) from your checking or savings account to Bethlehem for your General Fund or Building Fund offerings. To enroll download a form HERE and return with a voided check to the church office.

Interested in Membership?: CLICK HERE to learn more about membership at Bethlehem.

Sermons are Now Podcast: Miss a sermon? Want to hear part of a great sermon again? Want to comment on something mentioned in the sermon? A blog at http://blcsermons.blogspot.com has the audio and a brief overview of each sermon posted. iTunes users can also subscribe to the podcast from the site.

Seeing STARS???  Keep your eyes open for SHOOTING STARs, BLC's new e-mail announcements with information about coming events. We hope that this is one more way to get the word out about all the good things that happen here. If you haven't received a Shooting STAR yet we likely don't have your address in our database. Please send us your e-mail address at blchurch@bethlehemlutheran.org and you can then receive the next Shooting STAR.

Use New Search Engine to Support BLC: If you search the internet, there is a simple way you can support the youth and families of Bethlehem. GoodSearch is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up through simple actions in your everyday life! Just Click HERE or go to www.goodsearch.com and enter Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Saint Cloud as the charity you want to support.