Funky WindowsIt was a chaotic few months as the Bethlehem youth gathered in many and varied places while the renovation of "their" space on the third floor of West Hall was completed. While a few youth miss the old space in a sentimental way, most reactions are overwhelmingly positive to the brand new spaces. Rebecca Chapin (freshman) says, "I think the 3rd floor is amazing! A whole new learning, gathering place! Awesome! It's a warmer place to learn; also when you enjoy being somewhere, you'll always want to come back."
Alex Mundstock (junior) who served on the renovation team exclaimed, "The room is finally finished. After helping design it and after waiting for weeks ... it is finally finished." Alex's favorite place is still the Viking Room ... especially with the new appliances and the electric fireplace; and he thinks the biggest improvement is probably the whole space. "Before it was awfully crowded all around, and now there seems to be plenty of space in the Stuga and in the classrooms. The new room just makes me want to come... it is like an add-on to all of the events; large improvement."
Piling inThe new space has had an enormous impact on Nate Braun's faith formation. He has launched a mural project for one of the classrooms which stems from an Edina High School senior project requirement. The mural will be a collage of the five summer mission trip sites: New York, BWCA, Mexico, Appalachia, and a Native American Reservation. As part of the project, Nate will be overseeing student volunteers and consulting with a professional artist to learn more about paints and art materials. Mandy Licklider Basemen will be Nate's project supervisor.
30 Hour Famine Service ProjectThe new signage around church references "STUGA." Junior Siri Undlin describes that Stuga "wasn't generic like The Refuge or the Upper Room and it rolls off the tongue better than Heaven's Basement (even though that one is a good idea)." Stuga is partly a salute to the Scandinavian folk who started Bethlehem and partly our own little cabin (the literal meaning of the word) in south Minneapolis.
Viking Room MovieDirector of Senior High Ministry, Mandy Licklider Baseman adds, "Like many Minnesotans who yearn for their lake place, the youth are coming to the Stuga to refill, rejuvenate and reconnect to their inner identity. It is a place where students are given safety and comfort to explore their Christian beliefs and to learn to extend beyond themselves in mission and service."