Special Events

Our Bethlehem community enjoys gathering for many special events during the year. Here are upcoming and past events that will happen or have occurred during the year. Check back regularly for updates!

 

Upcoming Special Events

 

Pastor Mark's Retirement Celebration

Come join us on June 10 to celebrate the 40 year ministry of Pastor Mark Peterson as he retires!

• Worship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1000 W 15th Ave, Longmont CO. 8:00 and 10:15 a.m., (No RSVP is required.)
• Coffee Reception at Bethlehem Lutheran, 9:15–10:15 a.m., (No RSVP required, but appreciated).
• Afternoon celebration at the Oak Room of the Tasty Weasel, 1800 Pike Rd, Longmont, CO (Please drive around back following signs and balloons!) 1:00–4:00 p.m., with an “elegantly casual” program honoring Pastor Mark beginning at 1:45 p.m. Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served as well as a heavy appetizer buffet. (RSVP strongly appreciated.)

RSVP here or by calling the Bethlehem Lutheran office at 303-776-3290 by June 1.

 

Annual Sky Ranch Fundraiser: BBQ & Bluegrass

The time is near for the 10th Annual Sky Ranch Fundraiser: BBQ and Bluegrass! Join us for a time of fellowship, games, bluegrass music, and BBQ. This year’s fundraiser will be held on June 2, 5:30 p.m. at the Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, 4501 S. Lemay Ave., Fort Collins, CO with music featuring Jerusalem Road and Lost Sheep. Tickets are $12 for ages 5 and older or $30 per family. Please contact the Sky Ranch office with any questions at 970-493-528 or email Ally@skyranchcolorado.org.

 

 

Past Sepcial Events

Celebrating 500 Years of Reformation

• Martin Luther: The Idea That Changed the World will be shown November 5, 3:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Longmont. This feature-length documentary was filmed in historic locations across Europe and brings Luther’s story to life.

Special Congregational Meeting: Sunday, August 27, 9:00 a.m.

1) Council is asking to merge the Education and Youth/Household/Cross-Generational Ministries to become one ministry; Faith Formation. Currently these two ministries have overlap in their responsibilities, programming, and reporting. Both ministries now fall under the oversight of Deaconess Kristin Baltrum.

2) Council is also seeking approval to officially change the name of Social Action Ministry to Mission Ministry. Mission more appropriately describes the work of this ministry. The responsibilities, programming, and reporting of this ministry will not change.

3) Audit Committee:  The Council is asking for a modification of the constitution and bylaws to reduce the number of persons serving on the Audit Committee from three to two. 

4) Nominating Committee: The Council is asking for a modification of the constitution and bylaws to reduce the number of persons serving on the Nominating Committee from six to four, one of which will be an outgoing member of the Congregational Council.  

*To make a change to these ministries requires a ratification of the constitution and bylaws, notification to the congregation and a vote from the congregation. Congregational approved changes to the constitution and bylaws must also be sent by our council secretary to the synod. The changes can go into effect immediately upon notification of approval from the synod.

Documents with details of the changes:

Proposed changes to ministries

Proposed changes to Audit Committee

Proposed changes to Nominating Committee

 

 

 

Collision to Remission Racing: Some Race for Fun—Some Race for Their Lives

BLC has two FUN opportunities to watch some awesome drag-racing this summer while helping support a life-saving cause. Collison to Remission Racing was formed on the idea of having kids and families in the Junior Drag Racing arena team up with kids and families who are fighting cancer. Having a kid race a dragster in honor of a kid fighting cancer forms a special bond—a bond that can help both succeed.

To bring this vision to light, Collision to Remission Racing has partnered with One Cure based at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and Bandimere Speedway in Morrison. One Cure is a program founded on the principle that cancer affects all creatures and that treatment breakthroughs come through collaboration between scientists and doctors who are working with both people and animals. This approach is known as comparative or translational oncology. This is the core of One Cure and the guiding concept at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at the Colorado State University. Through research, comparative oncology, and sheer determination, One Cure is making a difference to both humans and animals in the fight against cancer.

To help in this cause, Bandimere Speedway has enabled us to work with the Junior Drag Racing kids, set up a HUGE vendor display, as well as host a very special race—One Cure Mayhem on the Mountain. This race has never been done before and brings the top Pro-Mod cars from across the world to Bandimere Speedway on August 4–5, 2017.

There are two ways to get involved in this fun experience. Kent Blythe and Greg Schumann, the founders of Collision to Remission Racing, are hosting an event at Bandimere Speedway, July 21, where you will be able to enjoy watching the races from the comfort of an air-conditioned suite. There are twenty-four seats available for this event, and we will be catering in food and beverages. There are also food vendors throughout the facility. All we ask in exchange is that folks visit the One Cure website and consider donating. If you choose to donate, please type DRAGSTER in the comment section so we can track our success.

We also will have many tickets available for the first-ever One Cure Mayhem on the Mountain race on August 4–5. These seats will be outside in the VIP section. Please contact Greg Schumann if you wish to attend either event. Those attending will be notified no later than July 10 for the July 21 race. We do ask that you consider how many spaces you request due to the limited availability of that event. For the August 4–5 event, we have the potential for fifty tickets or more.

 

Bluegrass and BBQ: Saturday, June 3, 5:30 p.m.

Bethlehem will be hosting a special fundraiser for Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp. There will be good bluegrass music featuring our own Bethlehem Bluegrass Band and also Jerusalem Road. The BBQ will be catered by Dickies BBQ. There will be popcorn and cotton candy as well. Tickets are $15/person, $50/family, 4 and under free; tickets can be purchased at the event.

Bethlehem and First Lutheran will be providing dessert; cookies, bars, etc. Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex if you can donate some.

 

Bike to Church Day

Sunday, June 4, 8:00–11:00 a.m. Dust off that bicycle that has been hoping to get outside and ride it to church on June 4! All who ride their bikes to church will earn a chance to win a special prize! It's good for your body, good for the environment, and just plain FUN!

 

 

 

Father's Day Pancake Breakfast: Sunday, June 18!

Our combined mission team will be serving their delicious pancake breakfast from 7:15–11:45 a.m. on June 18. What a great way to honor Father's Day! Be sure to buy your tickets for this event! Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children will be available in the narthex following services on June 4 and June 11. Proceeds from this event will be used to help fund our Mission Trip to Appalachia in September.

 

 

Easter Breakfast Fundraiser for Women's 2017 Retreat

Join us on Easter Sunday between the 8:00 and 10:15 a.m. services in the Fellowship hall for a light continental breakfast hosted by members of the Women's Retreat committee—we will be serving pastries, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, juice, and coffee.

Additionally, there will be a "dessert sale" where members can buy WHOLE desserts to take home for their Easter dinner. This is not your typical bake sale with 5 brownies on a paper-plate—but a WHOLE dessert that could be served at a family dinner! Desserts will be available for purchase during the breakfast. Cost of the breakfast and desserts will be on a free-will basis with all proceeds going to support our 2017 Women's Retreat.

 

BLC E-Cycle Event on January 28

Did you get a nice new TV, laptop, or cell phone for Christmas? Are you now left wondering what to do with the old one? Maybe you have an old printer and you do not know how to get rid of it. Did you know these items are considered hazardous waste and require special handling to be disposed of properly? Well, here is your chance to get rid of these items! BLC will be hosting an E-Cycle event on January 28—we will have MeTech Recycling pick up the items for secure, responsible disassembly and recycling. There is some prep work required before the pickup so get your items to the church between January 22 through January 27 or talk to Matt James if you need alternate arrangements. There is a small charge associated with this service, and we're suggesting a $5.00 donation per item to help offset the cost.

 

March 3–5, 2017: Sr. High Ski Weekend at Winter Park

Join Bethlehem Lutheran for a super fun weekend with Trinity Lutheran Church, Christ the Servant Lutheran, First Lutheran, and Lutheran Church of Hope—for skiing or boarding or tubing in Winter Park! We will depart BLC at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 3, and caravan with the other congregations to Lord of the Valley Lutheran Church (LOTV) in Granby. We will spend the night at LOTV and on Saturday you will have the choice of skiing, boarding, or tubing. The entire group will meet up for dinner and evening fellowship. Sunday morning we will worship at LOTV and then depart for home—arriving back at BLC mid-afternoon.

 

$35: skiers/boarders (lift and rental costs will be handled at Winter Park directly).

$55: tubers (cost of the retreat plus tubing)

Please note the following for costs at Winter Park:

*Cost for Skiing/Boarding will depend on deals available that are yet to be posted; lift tickets usually range between $70-120.

**Gear rental fees will depend on what gear needs to be rented.

***Tubing cost is $20 per person.

 

Middle and Sr. High Ski and Board Day

December 30, 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.: Middle and Sr. High Ski and Board Day at Eldora Mountain. Join us for a fun day on the mountain by either skiing or snowboarding! You are welcome to sign up for a lesson, but please note that Eldora was bought by another company so things are different than last year. You may make lesson reservations ahead of time for all age groups; you may also rent gear there for your use or bring gear and hit the slopes!

 

Israel/Palestine: Beyond the Headlines

How can we act on two of the memorials recently passed at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly? Come to a workshop Saturday, October 15, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., at South Broadway Christian Church, 23 Lincoln, Denver. Learn the latest about the current situation in Israel and Palestine; hear from Palestinian Christians and others who are working for a just peace; make connections with issues of race and global social justice movements. Registration through Eventbrite: early registration (by October 10)—$20.00/Students—$15.00; after October 10—$25.00.

More information flyers:

Israel_Palestine_Discussion_flyer_1pg.pdf

Israel_Palestine_Discussion_flyer_trifold.pdf

 

Come to the Chow Hall Gala!

On Friday, October 7, at 5:30 p.m., the New Beginnings Worshipping Community, a ministry of the Rocky Mountain Synod ELCA within the Denver Women's Correctional Facility, invites you to dine, give and learn more about this vital ministry to the Jazz stylings of Second Acts. Tickets are $50 before September 30 and $60 at the door. All proceeds benefit New Beginnings whose ministry relies 100% on donations. Consider giving even if you're unable to attend.

The Chow Hall Gala will be at Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda, Denver.

Checks may be mailed to: New Beginnings c/o Our Savior's Lutheran Church, attn. Kathy, 915 E. 9th Ave., Denver, Colo., 80218.