Bethel Lutheran Church
Bethel Blessings
2nd Quarter newsletter
April – May - June
2025
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” – Romans 12:4-5
Resources
Our Website: https://blcsuth.360unite.com/home
Recommended Radio Stations:
-KICD 1240 AM Spencer, IA
First English Lutheran Church Service 8:00 AM
-KSCJ 94.9FM Sioux Center, IA
The Lutheran Hour Sun 8:30 AM
-KJIA 88.9 FM Okoboji, IA
Lutheran Hour https://www.lutheranhour.org/
Lutheran Public Radio https://issuesetc.org/
Iowa District West http://www.idwlcms.org/
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod https://www.lcms.org/
Our Savior Lutheran Church – Norfolk, NE – online live worship service @ 9:00 am https://oursav.online.church/
Bethel Lutheran Church will be live streaming our worship services on our Bethel Lutheran Church Sutherland Facebook page @ 10:30 am on Sundays.
You can view the service afterwards on the Facebook account for up to 30 days before it is deleted.
From the Desk of Pastor Matthews
Greetings in the name of Jesus,
It is honestly quite crazy to think that Easter is almost upon us and we get to hear about the resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, once again. This story, for some of us, is something that is second nature to us, since we have heard it multiple times in our lives. For some though, it is still a stumbling block, as it was with the Jews in 1 Corinthians 1:22-24, “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.” Throughout the Easter season, which is the Sundays until Pentecost, let us be mindful and remember the agony our Lord and Savior went through for our sake and let us proclaim this resurrection to the world.
From Matthew 27:27-31, “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him [Jesus] and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.” Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, Jesus went to the cross, uncomplaining forth as a Lamb to be slaughtered. God the Father loved us so much, that He gave His own son to die for us. The soldiers thought they were mocking Jesus, by placing the scarlet robe on Him, but it reinforced the idea that Jesus was the True King. The one who would release His people, you and I, from the clutches of Satan, by dying on the cross for us. May God grant you the ability to share this good news with others, such as family and friends, so that the preaching of Christ crucified may no longer be a stumbling block, but realizing their need for a Savior, one who brings peace, which the world cannot.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor David H. Matthews Jr.
We made it through all the paper work and steps to become a dual parish with Zion is Paullina. Pastor David Matthews Jr. was installed on January 19, 2005.
Official Parish Acts:
Baptism of Kayleen Susie Magnussen, daughter of Evan and Noelle Magnussen on January 26, 2025.
Funeral for Norma Jean Hill, former member of Faith, Sioux Rapids, on February 24,2025.
Transfer In of Members: Pastor David Matthews, Rachel, his wife, and his daughters, Elizabeth and Ophelia.
Transfer Out of Members: Kendra Kluendar, Grant Riedemann, Gavin Riedemann, and Lee Cody due to varies reasons.
Church elevator was inspected and passed for another year. Our Adopt Mission Project for 2025 will be Noah’s Ark. We will be sending them $200 each month.
Installation of church officers for 2025 was held on
February 2, 2025.
- Dwane Riedmann has been appointed to serve as President.
- Ryan Farquhar has been appointed to serve as Vice-President.
- Don Farquhar has been appointed to serve as Treasurer.
- Bridget Sickelka has been appointed to serve as Secretary.
- Jeff Ebel, Brent Hustedt, and Jamie Sickelka have been appointed to serve as Elders.
- Chris Sickelka, Aaron Oolman, and Heath Negus have been appointed to serve as Trustees.
- Georgette Ebel has been appointed to serve as Board of Education.
- Jenny and Darin Johnson have been appointed as LYC Leaders.
- Lynn & Marilynn Horstmann, Darin Johnson, and Mark Drefke have been appointed to serve as Finance.
A new copier/printer was leased for the church office as well as a new desk chair was purchased for the church secretary.
Pastor Matthews has brought many ideas and items to the meetings.
- His office chair is broken and needs a new one.
- He has been visiting and communing our nursing home/shut in members as well as visiting with members from Zion.
- Pastor is starting a Men’s Bible Group on the third Saturday of the month called “Bible and Bacon” at 8:30am with breakfast and fellowship then at 9:00 is bible study looking at the miracles of Jesus in the book of John.
- He has started up the Sunday morning Bible Study looking at the book of Matthew.
- He has been awarded some grants to help paying his student loans. One he received from Northwest Iowa District and just has to do some continuing ed classes to receive the grant. The other one is if he puts in $1000 from his wages the synod will make it up to $4500-$6000 per year. Pastor just needs to have Don and Dwane fill out some paper work.
- Looking a different health insurance that would be more beneficial for not only pastor and his family but also the church that would be more cost efficient.
Future ideas:
- On month’s that have a 5th Sunday to have a joint church service with Zion and then a potluck afterwards. Each church would rotate on hosting. This is a good way to connect with Zion as a dual parish.
- Rotation of Pastor is the pulpit on the last Sunday of each month.
- Reorganizing some of the rooms and spaces in the church to utilize are space better. Possibility of moving pastor’s office to the larger northwest corner room in the basement that would also hold bookcases so that pastor can use all his resources. The room would also have a large table to be able to conduct meetings and bible studies in there. The room would still be functional for funerals and weddings for extra seating if needed.
- Would like to start having a some “Life Skill Events” – sometime in the summer would like to have a funeral planning session conducted with the area funeral homes – some other ideas were a painting class, crocheting class, a community garden
Voter’s Meeting
Sunday, May 4th
After the Church Service
Palm Sunday, April 13th 10:00am w/ Communion and Confirmation
Thursday, April 17th 7:00pm w/ Communion
Friday, April 18th 7:00pm – Lead by the LYC
Easter Sunrise Service, Sunday, April 20th 7:30am w/ Communion
Easter Morning Service, Sunday, April 20th 10:30am w/ Communion
Easter Breakfast will be served between the two Easter services from 8:30am-9:45am
Hosted by: Chris & Bridget Sickelka
Egg Bakes, Fruit, Cinnamon Rolls, Muffins, Other Breakfast Goodies, Juice, and Coffee
Kayleen Susie Magnussen
daughter of Evan & Noelle Magnussen
Baptitized in the family of God
January 26, 2025
Confirmation
April 13, 2025
Greta Rae Hustedt
Daughter of Brent & Becky Hustedt
Concordia League
We welcome Dwane & Judy Riedamann and Mike & Darla Negus to out group at January’s meeting. We played a word game where we were seeing how many people had the same answer to a question to get points. Everyone had some good belly laughs that night.
In February we went to eat at Sammy’s Itailian resturant in Spencer. Afterwards we attended the play “Rumors” at the Spencer Community Theater.
March’s meeting was cancelled due to a snow storm(yucky).
Our April meeting falls in the middle of Holy Week, so we are going to watch “The Passion of Christ” in the church basement with popcorn and goodies. All are invited to attend and watch this ‘heart moving’ apporitate time of year movie. It’s a eye opening tear jerker.
May will be another thrilling game night and don’t let the Sickelka’s win again.
June we are heading over to Cody’s for appetizers and snacks and christian fellowship.
Christian Outreach
“Wellness Revelation” Women’s Bible Sunday: Hosted by Tonya Oolman is on Sundays at 4:00pm. Have 7-8 attendees. Group had a charcuterie boad at the Women’s Day Out at the event center on March 15.
Friendship Sunday was February 16th with a potluck after the service that also was a Meet and Greet for Pastor and his family. We had 45 people who attended ther potluck.
“High Five”: February 28th went to the South O’Brien Elementary School and “high fived” the kids. Also brought breakfast for the teachers before school.
Pre-Lent Taco Bar: Was on Sunday, March 2nd after the church service. Served Nachos and Tacos. We had a turn out of 42 people stay for the meal. Thank you to everyone who helped.
“Bacon & Bible”: Pastor has started a men’s bible study on every third Saturday of the month. 8:30am-9:00am is breakfast and fellowship then 9:00-10:00 bible study. Starting with the first miracles of Jesus in the book of John.
Care Packages: For the year 2024 we delivered 57 care packages. Jan-Feb we delivered 6. Tonya has ordered devtional books for the college care packages that will go our the first part of April.
Live Streaming Services: Talked about with Pastor and church council members. We are going to start live streaming the service on Facebook. A new I-pad and internet booster have been bought to make this possible. Chris Sickelka has been working on getting the bugs out. Hoping to have some of the LYC members rotate on running the I-pad on Sundays.
Fellowship Room: A board with a cross and saying have been attached on the West Wall. Thank you to Oolman’s and Cody’s for completing this project.
Palm Sunday: Tonya and Connie will be giving the Sunday School lesson and helping the children with the procession of palms.
Church Dinning Room: Tonya has bought paint for the dining room using the $50 that Bethel won for the favorite tree during Sutherland’s Old Fashioned Christmas.
Life Skill Events: Christian Outreach would like to have some events for people. Examples – painting easel class, crocheting class, community garden, during the summer hosting a funeral planning event with the area funeral homes, joint Sunday worship with Zion followed by a potluck on the months that have a 5th Sunday.
The LYC has been busy with many different activities this quarter.
In January, we took down the Church Christmas tree and had a night with supper and Bible Study. We studied Abraham and what it means to be a family. We should live lives that reflect God’s character. We read the story of Jacob and Isaac. In a broken family, we should make an effort to rebuild trust. Other stories we discussed were Jacob’s 12 sons and Joseph sold as a slave. We should remain faithful. God calls us to take care of people. We talked about ways we can joyfully and faithfully reach out to our classmates.
We took in a Poverty Simulation by Love, Inc. in February. It was very eye-opening to make hard choices based on our income, situations, and responsibilities. We had 23 youth and parents attend. It was a great time of fellowship with supper before the simulation.
The LYC and their friends enjoyed a night of bowling in March. There was a lot of laughter and camaraderie among everyone.
April will continue to be a lot of involvement for our group. We are serving homemade ice cream following the Lenten service on April 2, as a fundraiser for our group’s activities. We will be carrying out the Good Friday Service. At the end of the month, we will continue our Bible Study and savor a delicious supper together.
In Sunday School, we have been busy learning the Old Testament Bible Stories. We spent a few weeks learning about Moses and how God had a plan for him since his birth, saving the Israelities from death by the Pharaoh, who wanted to kill all the young males of Jewish blood so that he could keep them in salavery. God sent 10 plagues to the Egypt and this finally presuaded Pharaoh to free the Israelities from captivity.
Mose parted the Rea Sea under God’s command and drowning the Egyptian army. The Israelities still continued to disobey God, to God made them wander the desert for 40 years before letting them enter the Promised Land.
Once in, they had to face the people of Jerico and with God’s help they brought the walls of Jerico tumbling down.
Our next adventure was the story of Jonah. Jonah disobeyed God and tired to run away, but he found God wouldn’t allow that. God had the power of the waters and a large fish shallowed Jonah. He was inside it’s belly for three days praying to God for forgivness.
Right now we are learning about David and Goliath. We’re learning that no matter how big OUR Goliath’s are that we are facing in OUR lives, God is always there to help us through.
April:
| 5 |
Beverly Durst Dylan Riedemann |
| 7 | Mark Cody |
| 8 | Elizabeth Taggart |
| 10 | Robie Schau |
| 11 |
Tyler Bailey Galen Vander Pol |
| 13 |
Arielle Wohlert Jeremy Wohlert |
| 14 | Vernice Rahbusch |
| 16 | Todd Schueder |
| 21 | Zachary Wohlert |
| 23 |
Matthew Riedemann Judy Waggoner |
| 25 | Cassandra Kruse |
| 27 | David Hansen |
| 30 | Jill Carroll |
| 2 |
Connie Cody Janice Ebel |
|
| 5 |
Amanda Litka Cody Rehder |
|
| 11 | Blaine Salzkorn | |
| 16 | Tayla Sickelka | |
| 17 | Zachary Schnack | |
| 18 | Hazel Rehder | |
| 19 |
David Matthews Daneille Nelson |
|
| 20 | Colten Huckaby | |
| 21 |
Bryce Fiddelke Ronald Jalas Jr |
|
| 24 | Judy Riedemann | |
| 25 | Chloe Hustedt | |
June:
| 2 |
Norman Nissen Karter Rohrbaugh Keaton Rohrbaugh |
| 3 | Kirk Weber |
| 5 | Mark Shriver |
| 6 | Jon Rehder |
| 7 | Willa Sickelka |
| 8 | Evelyn Jobst |
| 9 | Mary Fiddelke |
| 11 | Darin Johnson |
| 12 |
Bridget Sickelka Brittany Johannsen |
| 13 |
Lainey Jobst Brett Synder |
| 14 | Zakiah Wohler |
| 16 | Brenda Miller |
| 17 |
Jenna Lamb Aaron Tewes |
| 19 | Tim Rohrbaugh |
| 20 | Jack Farquhar |
| 21 | Alba Sievert |
| 24 |
Barb Jalas Josh Wittrock |
| 27 | Angelette Engelke |
April:
25 |
David & Bonnie Rohrs |
29 |
Heath & Nicole Nelson |
May:
4 |
Milt & Sheryl Hustedt |
6 |
Ron & Judy Waggoner |
24 |
Don & Meri Rickers |
28 |
Pastor David & Rachel Matthews |
June:
2 |
Roger & Mary Postma |
5 |
Doug & Char Sweeney |
6 |
Mark & Connie Cody |
8 |
Tim & Jonna Rohrbaugh |
17 |
Evan & Noelle Magussen |
22 |
Jamie & Denise Sickelka |
24 |
Eric & Christine Weaver |
25 |
Bryan & Vanessa Steen |
26 |
David & Teresa Hansen |
27 |
Dwane & Judy Riedemann |
30 |
Bob & Jan Oeffner |