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Bethany Lutheran Church

SEPTEMBER 2019

The Bethany Blueprint The Chimes is published monthly by

Bethany Lutheran Church A Great Commission Congregation

4644 Clark Avenue Long Beach, CA 90808 (562) 421-4711 www.bethanylutheran.org

Annual Guest Composer Event - Sunday, September 22 ALL 3 Morning Worship Services “PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW” Our 2019 Guest Composer Sunday was postponed to the fall from its original spring date, due to the renovation of our sanctuary. We are thrilled that our composer was able to switch the date and join us this fall as we celebrate God’s gifts of Word and Sacrament and Song. Christian Guebert, a native of Orange County and an alumni of Concordia College Irvine, CA is our composer this year. Christian is currently a teaching fellow and PhD candidate at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He is director of music ministries at Immanuel Lutheran in Orange, CA and is also serving as an adjunct instructor at Concordia, Irvine. Christian and his twin brother Alex were our guest composers 2 years ago, and we are thrilled to be able to share in God’s gifts of music to Christian again this year. The Choir will lead in a piece Christian arranged for Pastor Kritzer’s 25th anniversary: “More Than We Can Ever Measure,” a psalm setting of Psalm 91: “Our Refuge and Our Fortress,” a beautiful hymn setting of “Christ Be My Leader” and a grand setting of the Doxology “PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW,” for Brass and Organ. The Advanced Handbell Choir will also play one or two of Christian’s arrangements.

Renaissance Celebration: Facility Dedication - Sunday, September 29

Staff: Kevin Kritzer Senior Pastor

Seth Moorman

Pastor of Family Life & Youth

Carol McDaniel Minister of Music

Karl Fink

DCE: Care Ministry

Mary Fink

School Principal

Tammy Simpson Preschool Director

Kayleigh Lopez Minister of Youth

Submit monthly articles to Aimee Coleman, ext. 20 [email protected]

The Renaissance was a period of incredible change. Our Renaissance Project has brought about some significant transformation to our campus. Facilities have been transfigured, restored and reinvigorated (yes some transformation is still ongoing); Yet, the greatest transformation for which we have prayed, and are praying, is that which takes place in us and through us. Thus, while our Renaissance Project has addressed the institutional nature of our buildings, the nature of our very beings is still an ongoing Renaissance Project.

Through the generous, sacrificial gifts of our members Bethany address our campus making it a warm and inviting place, in good working order, geared for effective ministry and great kingdom impact upon our community; yet, even more important is to make sure we become an even warmer and more inviting people, ready to work for the good God would do through us, geared for effective ministry and a great kingdom impact in our community. This goal is not a pipe dream. Our God, in Christ, is about renewal, restoration and reinvigoration. He began that work in us when He brought us from darkness to light and from death to life; when He declared sinners like us to be saints of His and formed broken vessels, like you and me, into His masterpieces. He did so, through the Cross and He shall do so through the Cross; for the Cross is our root and our fruit! If the cross is not our root, our reason for being and our very foundation we are a pointless assembly. Oh sure, we’d maybe still gather, but our base would not be set on the eternal, that which is absolutely true, dependably constant, as certain as the sun rising in the east each morn and the traffic on the 405 crawling north and south each eve. The cross is our root. It is the proof of God’s love, the validation of His mercy, the assurance of His grace and the guarantee of who we are, individually and collectively – the people of God! The cross is our root! The cross is also our fruit. Christ’s, who worked for us, is also at work in us and through us. We are living pictures of Gospel renewal, ambassadors of His loving transformation, servants who have been restored and are striving to see others restored to their God and His family. The cross is our fruit! On Sunday September 29th, at each service, we will celebrate the harvest God has worked among us, and the fruit He has borne on our campus, as we dedicate our facility to the glory of God and the continuation of His blessing at Bethany.

Our Ministry Faire/Open House will be in the Gym on September 29 from 9:00AM-12:30PM, followed by the Open House from 12:00-3:00PM. *see article on page 2

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Parish Theme & Worship Schedule The Renaissance of our sacred spaces here at Bethany is nearing completion; the Renaissance of our souls however is ever on-going this side of heaven! When we began our congregational Renaissance we committed not simply to the renewal of our property, but to the renewal of each of us personally. That is why the ultimate and greatest renewal we’ve sought through our Renaissance is the renewal that He is working in each of us and through each of us. Thus, we His restored people (“renaissance” people) seek to be agents of kingdom restoration (kingdom renaissance).

Ministry Faire & Open House September 29 SAVE THE DATE! We are all called to serve God’s Kingdom—learn more about the ministries at Bethany and in our community, and discover where you can serve joyfully, at Bethany’s Ministry Faire!

At the heart of our Renaissance is Jesus and His Word; this is where we find Him at work renewing and restoring us. As Jesus’ words are put into practice we find His renewing Renaissance work ever on-going in and through us.

The Ministry Faire will be held on Sunday, September 29, from 9:00am to 12:30pm, in the Gym. We hope you can attend!

Our very Blueprint lays out a pattern for personal and communal renewal. Of course, personal renewal can only come as we are connected to Christ through faith and love; and communal renewal only comes as in love we connect with each other.

Following the Faire, Bethany is hosting its Community Open House to present the wonderful works of God made to the campus during the Renaissance Project.

Thus this year as our worship focus looks to the Lord’s Renaissance of souls via the Bethany Blueprint we begin with a new “measure”: October - Connecting Deeply November - Worshipping Faithfully December - Sharing Intentionally January - Serving Passionately February - Forming Spiritually March - Giving Proportionately

Lunch will be served for both events between 12:00pm and 1:30pm.

BUT WAIT... THERE’S MORE!

The Open House will end at 3:00pm. All in the community are welcome! If you have any questions about the Ministry Faire or Open House, please contact Angie Reilly at [email protected].

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!

Midweek Spiritual Formation ReFuel and “Living Way” Starting on Wednesday October 2nd ReFuel worship and Midweek Adult Bible Study returns.

ReFuel will generally be a lay led worship gathering starting at 6:30PM and ending at 7:00PM. The service will vary from gathering to gathering but will always include singing and scripture, meditation upon God’s Word and connection with God’s people. ReFuel worship takes place on the FIRST and THIRD Wednesday of each month. Our WEEKLY Wednesday Adult Bible Study begins at 7:05PM and we will start this year studying The Revelation given to St. John. Besides our Bibles we will be using the Concordia Publishing House resource entitled: God’s Word for Today – Revelation. We will also supplement our study with material from Living Way. You can get the Living Way material directly through their website www.livingwaybiblestudy.org/order You can get copies of God’s Word for Today – Revelation through Concordia’s website www.cph.org Click on Bible Studies, then click on the God’s Word for Today link and the Revelation booklet is on page 2. If you need assistance with obtaining either set of materials please contact Pastor Kevin. LWBS is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and relies solely on freewill offerings from our classes to produce and promote the study of God's Word.

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Adult Bible Studies for September SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST—NO Adult, High School, MSG or Kids Bible Discovery

SUNDAY Morning/Afternoon:  Lessons of the Day: Every Sunday morning with John Schinnerer at 9:30AM in the School Library. This study highlights the readings/lesson of the day.

 Adult Bible Discovery: Pastor’s Class Returns! Join us



starting September 8th at 9:30AM in the Choir Room for a Spiritual Formation opportunity led by our ministry staff. The overarching theme this year will be “A Renaissance of the Heart” as we move into the second phase of the Renaissance project seeking God’s transformative power to be make known in us and through us. You don’t want to miss this!! GriefShare: Sundays at 1:00PM in the Multipurpose Room. #215. *See article on page 6 for more details.

MONDAY Evening:  Men’s Bible Study Fellowship: Men’s BSF starts meeting on Monday, September 9 from 6:55-8:30PM in the Choir Room. *See article below for more details.

WEDNESDAY Evening: *See Midweek Spiritual Formation article on page 2.

THURSDAY Morning:  Men's Bible Study: This study meets from 6:30-7:30AM Thursdays in the Parish Lounge. *If you need to leave earlier for work, no problem! We‘re always looking for new men to join us, so as your schedule allows consider meeting with us as we

New Worship Service Jesus’ words that change and direct our personal Renaissance Jesus loves us and Jesus lives for us! Jesus died for us and Jesus rose for us! Jesus speaks to us and Jesus saved us! Jesus also CHANGES us! Jesus transforms us! That is, He works a Renaissance within each heart that holds Him, and into which He is planted as Lord and Christ. Starting in October our FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH EVENING SERVICE will focus on this change, this transformation, this Renaissance that Jesus is working in us! We will use Jesus’ own words to hear and then “digest” this Renaissance work He would do on, in and through us. Each service will focus on a “red letter” portion of Scripture in which Jesus addresses the nature of discipleship. On September 8th at 6:30PM we will have our first Sunday evening service – yes the 8th is the second Sunday of the month.

study God‘s Good Word, fellowship, & pray together. We are currently in the book of Acts!

 Women's Thursday Morning Bible Study: All women are invited to Thursday morning study. We resume October 3 with "LIfe Principles from the Women of the Bible." We meet each Thursday, 9:30-11:00AM; this year upstairs in the Youth Room. You’re invited to study the wonders in God's Word and make some great friendships. Interested or have questions, call Meg Velez (562) 426-4262. We would love to have you join us!

SATURDAY Morning:  Men’s Bible Study & Breakfast: Join us on Saturday, September 21st from 8:00 to 9:30AM in the Parish Lounge. *See article on page 6 for more details.

Another Study Opportunity:  Read the Bible in 2019! Challenge yourself to read the

entire Bible in 2019. It will take hard work and discipline, but the benefits are eternal. Just purchase The One Year Bible in a version that is easy for you to read. These books arrange the text of the Bible into 365 daily readings. Each day in The One Year Bible you will find a selection from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, a portion from the Psalms, and a selection from the book of Proverbs. Each week a study’s posted on the Bethany Blog (www.bethanylutheran.blogspot.com) to help you stay on track and communicate insights or ask questions. Need more info? Contact Pastor Seth at [email protected].

Men’s Bible Study Fellowship For the past four years, Bethany has hosted an international Bible Study, called Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). It starts up in September every year and goes to May. This year we are studying Acts. You can learn more by going to the BSF website, https://www.bsfinternational.org/. The group meets every Monday evening from 6:55PM until 8:30PM in Bethany’s Choir Room. For me, this was a life changing study; in fact, the BSF bible study impacted my Christian walk more than other Christian endeavor. If you think you would like to know more, please feel free to contact me or just show up Monday night, September 9, 2019 in the Choir Room at 6:55PM. Don Baldwin [email protected] 562.596.0489

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The Rickman Family—Ministry Update: To support the work of the Rickman Family, you may send a tax-deductible gift to: The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod P.O. Box 66861, St. Louis, MO 63166-6861

ALSO, you can send your gift to: Mission Central at 40718 Highway E-16, Mapleton, Iowa 51034 Make checks payable to The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Mark checks “Support of the Rickman Family.” Gifts can also be given securely online through the LCMS website, on my online giving page at www.lcms.org/rickman.

Diaconal formation to expand throughout Latin America as the country of Panama adds a dozen more ladies to the 100+ women already studying to serve as deaconesses in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Venezuela, and Guatemala. Deaconess Danelle Putnam helped launch the program in Panama on June 15th. The ladies came from two congregations in two parts of the country. Due to travel challenges, the remainder of the course on Diaconal Identity was taught at each congregation on Sundays after church. Pastor Brian Gauthier taught the ladies at Loma Cova, where several of the ladies Eva trained nearly a decade ago are still serving. We had the opportunity to finish teaching the ladies at the congregation in Sora, almost two hours away. Courses will continue as the ladies finish their studies over the next three years and gain more experience serving the churches of Panama.

It is such a blessing to witness how these women will go forth to serve their congregations and communities with God’s love and mercy. Please pray for these ladies as they study and serve our Lord and His people in Panama and join us in giving thanks for these workers in God’s harvest field. Please also continue to pray for the formation of pastors in Panama. Currently, there are not any men in Panama studying to be pastors, but there are still several vacant congregations. Please pray for pastors form Panama or other parts of Latin America to fill these vacancies. We are so thankful for all your prayers and for partnering with us in sharing the most important message with those in Latin America! We are thankful for each of you walking alongside us! Thank you for supporting God’s work in Latin America.

In Christ