Message From Pastor

A Note from Pastor Martin

Dear Bethanians,

Shelly and I want to thank everyone at Bethany for making us feel right at home! We also appreciate allowing us to take off our second Sunday here so that we could head up to Eagle River, Alaska to help celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Joy Lutheran Church, the congregation I served for 21 years. As many of you know, both Shelly and I have Pacific Northwest roots, Shelly having grown up in Anchorage and I in the Seattle area, so coming to Bethany feels like a real homecoming, especially after serving the past six years in the Washington DC suburbs of Virginia.

To share some more background on us, Shelly and I met while we were students at Pacific Lutheran University and were married on August 6, 1983 at my home congregation, Mt View Lutheran in Puyallup. Our first anniversary was spent loading up a U-Haul as we headed to Dubuque, Iowa where I attended Wartburg Seminary. Shelly was the seminary receptionist and one of the secretaries to the President, so I often introduced myself there as “Shelly’s husband” because everyone knew who she was. Our son, Paul was born the summer before my Senior year in Anchorage, where we had gone to be with Shelly’s folks. Paul’s entrance to the world was also his grandpa’s birthday, so we got to wake him up at 4:00am to wish him a happy birthday as we headed to the hospital.

I graduated from Wartburg in 1988 and we began our first call that June at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran in Stevenson, Washington, a small logging town in the Columbia Gorge. While we were there, our daughter Katrina was born in The Dalles, Oregon. The hospital was about a quarter mile from Shelly’s grandmother’s house, so once again we were able to share the event with family present. We were in Stevenson almost six years, then took a call at Hope Lutheran in Enumclaw. Following our time there, we headed north to Alaska to be with the saints at Joy Lutheran. After over two decades together, however, I felt that it was probably a good time to try something new to spark renewed energy for both pastor and congregation. My next call was at Holy Cross Lutheran in Herndon, Virginia, a suburb of the Metro DC area. For the past year or so, I served as an Interim Pastor at a small but very vibrant congregation, River of Grace in Manassas, Virginia.

Our son, Paul is an ELCA pastor at Central Lutheran in Seattle and he and husband, Ryan live in White Center. Katrina works for the State of Alaska and lives in Anchorage with her daughter, Naomi who just turn 14(!) this month. 

As for me, I’ve been a Mariners fan since 1977 and am still not over their playoff loss (or the Malcom Butler interception in Super Bowl XLIX). I remember the Sounders of 1974 and root for the new team today. I love reading, hiking, some hunting, and music. I am a classically trained vocalist and have sung a bit of opera, oratorios, and other music. Verdi, Beethoven and Mahler are my favorite go-to guys to listen to as well as Classic Rock and Blues.

We have so appreciated the warmth and friendliness with which we have been welcomed and we look forward to learning your names better (please be patient!) and getting to know you more deeply in the coming days.

In Peace,

Pastor Martin

A Message from Pr. Erin

The Lenten season began on Ash Wednesday, March 5. I hope you were able to join us for a contemplative worship service and Imposition of Ashes in the sanctuary. 

This year, the theme of our Lenten season is All We Need © and is inspired by a worship series offered by Barn Geese, an ELCA-based creative resource for pastors and congregations. Using the Revised Common Lectionary readings, we’ll explore what this season’s scripture selections reveal about our needs both personally and communally. The series will introduce us to a variety of topics like the need for sleep, change, and beauty for our contemplation. I hope you’ll join us on Sundays when our worship will be centered on the intricate tapestry of human needs–and the transformative power of Christ and community.

As in years past, an interactive prayer wall will be built along the north wall of the sanctuary for your use throughout Lent. There will be copies on the table in the Narthex of a Lenten devotional including scripture and reflective reading plus a prayer and a practice you can take up for the week. Although we will not have a mid-week Wednesday service this year, the sanctuary will be open throughout the week during office hours for quiet reflection and prayer. I hope you will find the devotional materials and quiet reflection time meaningful to your Lenten observance. 

The Lenten season will also begin to draw to a close my time with you as your Care Pastor. As you know, my contract at Bethany ended on January 31, and after discussion with the church council, we agreed to renew my contract until April 20, Easter Sunday. What that means is that I will continue to serve you, but on a half-time basis. My office hours have been reduced to two days per week and I will primarily focus on leading worship and bible study, youth activities, and pastoral care. It has been a real honor to walk with you during this season of transition at Bethany. It seems fitting that we can worship together Easter morning closing one chapter and celebrating new life to come!

In Christ,

Pastor Erin