made its debut. Now it’s a tradition. For three days, members and
friends of Bethel gather at church and go to various community chari- ties or organizations to serve. Hon- oring the workday of most adults (as well as limitations of families and seniors), there are two shiſts, 3:30 to 6 p.m. and 6 to 8:30 p.m., with a meal in between for everyone. Tose at the late shiſt return to church for devotions. About 50 people, ages 6 to 92,
At Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn., the mission “trip” was just across town— meals for the local shelter.
that stays home A
A mission ‘trip’ By Julie B. Sevig
lthough Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn., offers opportunities for mission trips, Doreen Gud- lin knew as a mom that the trips were too far away
for her two children and beyond the family budget. But she and her husband, Bruce, wanted to be involved in
helping others in the community. Te Gudlins were new to the social missions teams at church and
listened patiently to all the trip plans. “I felt like we were really missing an important mission—serving our own community,” Doreen said. “Sure we support our community with money, but I felt we needed to reach out with service.” She approached Anjanette Bandel, one of Bethel’s pastors, and was
encouraged to proceed with her dream for a local mission “trip” and contact others with the same vision. Gudlin did just that. Just months later—in August 2011—the first Rochester Mission Trip
For more information, contact Judy Gittus at
JGittus@bethellutheran.com. 24
www.thelutheran.org
participated the first year, said Judy Gittus, a parish secretary. “We advertised this as an intergenera- tional event, and it was,” she said. Members helped at the local
food shelf, pulled buckthorn weeds at a public park, assembled pack- ages to send to the community’s military men and women, and made meals for the women’s shelter and a food distribution organiza- tion housed at Bethel. Some even made s’mores and sang hymns at a nursing home. “Each year more and more
members and friends join us on our mission ‘trip,’ ” said Gittus, adding that the price is right. For a $5 fee, families can sign up for all sessions if they want—even if they have a family of 10. “More and more members are
getting involved and feeling good about reaching out to others,” she continued. But if circumstances enable them to go beyond Roches- ter’s borders, there are still trips to Puerto Rico, Tanzania, Mexico and more.
Author bio: Sevig is a sec- tion editor of The Lutheran.
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