August 21 Announcements
Special Congregational Meeting
Please come to worship this Sunday, August 24, and stay after for a special congregational meeting. The purpose of the meeting will be to vote on extending a call to the Rev. Dr. Martin Eldred and to vote on the compensation package to offer Pr. Martin. The first vote will be by paper ballot in accordance with Synod regulations. If the vote is to extend a call, there will be a second vote on the compensation package we offer to Pr. Martin. We are excited to be in the final steps of this transition process!
LWR School Supply Drive Progress
Wow, leave it to Bethany folks to be generous and thoughtful! School supplies have been magically appearing in the donation tub(s )in the narthex, and we are very grateful. Because of this generosity we are getting closer to our goal of over a hundred (110?!) filled school bags. Here’s an amended list of supplies we still need:
- Notebooks (70-page spiral, one subject)
- Rulers (12 inches, with centimeters on one side)
- Scissors (children’s blunt nose)
- Ball point pens (non-gel; black or blue ink)
- Crayons (16 or 24 count)
Bethany Preschool Update
Our preschool offers three classes. The Bumblebee class for 2 1/2 3 year olds meets on Monday and Wednesday mornings. The Firefly class for 3 - 4 year olds meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The Grasshopper class for 4 - 5 year olds meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. While preschool takes a break for summer, they did have three fun weeks of summer camp with 14 children enrolled each week. They enjoyed perfect weather and lots of exciting activities.
Bethany Preschool has an opening in the Firefly Class (3 - 4 year olds). If you, or someone you know might be interested, please contact our Director, Julianne Haggerty, at
Women’s Retreat
The Women’s Retreat is only a few weeks away! We have started collecting the fee for the retreat. Please send it to the church or put it in the labeled, decorated box you will see on the table in the narthex. Please pay $200 for 2 nights and 5 meals if you can. The base fee is $190 but we are hoping to collect a little extra to help pay for those who find the fee a bit steep. Please be sure to note ‘women’s retreat’ in the memo field of your check. If you have questions contact Collen Chupik (
) or Mary Jensen (
).
Supporting Glory Godwin
Many thanks to Bethany congregation members for their generous financial and prayerful support of Glory Godwin’s graduate education in public health at George Washington University. It looks like she has reached her goal to start the program this fall. What a blessing for her and for those she will serve!
Bainbridge/North Kitsap CROP Hunger Walk-Dance, Sepember 28
The monies raised in the Bainbridge/North Kitsap CROP Hunger Walk/Dance go to Church World Service, Bainbridge’s Helpline House, and North Kitsap’s Fishline. Church World Service is a global relief agency who often works with local organizations who know the needs, the culture, and the resources in their area. For example, Church World Service partners with St. Andrew’s Refugee Services in Cairo to provide food and resources for refugees from Sudan. CWS also works with other relief organizations such as the Canadian Food Grains Bank to provide 3,000 households with four months of emergency food rations in Kenya which has been affected by years’ long drought. In Tanzania CWS provides agricultural programs that provide families and individuals with materials to start gardens and the education to help the gardens thrive.
Through CROP Walk we can support programs such as these that CWS provides around the world – Asia, the Americas, and Eastern Europe where CWS supports programs for Ukrainian refugees in Modolva. To become a CROP Hunger Walk/Dance participant or donor for Bainbridge/North Kitsap CROP Hunger Walk follow the link to the Bethany Lutheran’s CROP Hunger Walk web page: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/crophungerwalks/team/bethany-lutheran-of-bainbridge
World Premier Concert at St. Cecilia Church
On Sunday, September 21, 2025, Pacific Northwest composer Patrick Stoyanovich will present the world premiere of his St. Cecilia Requiem on Bainbridge Island. Written in honor of the patron saint of music, the work reflects a deep engagement with sacred tradition while shaped by Stoyanovich’s distinct compositional voice.
This requiem confronts tradition with a fresh perspective, renewing a centuries-old form through thoughtful innovation and emotional rigor. Vocalists Elaine Daiber and Thomas West, violinist Sophia Stoyanovich, and pianist Derek Wang will perform at St. Cecilia Parish at 3 o’clock PM.
Altar Flowers: Last week’s announcements mistakenly noted that the altar flowers were given by Luanne and Tom Croker. Last Sunday’s altar flowers were given by Kristi and Jim Sutton in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. This Sunday’s altar flowers are given by Luanne and Tom Croker in thanksgiving for their grandchildren.
Thank You to this Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Carol Fenner
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Jim Rohrscheib & Stephen Deines; Lay Reader: Barbara Deines; Communion Assistants: Barbara Deines & Linnea Chu; Hospitality Host: Kathy & Doug Dudgeon
Next Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Rachel & Lloyd Pritchett; Lay Reader: Gail Christensen; Communion Assistants: Carol & Ron Fenner; Hospitality Hosts: Becci Kerstetter & Andy Rimkus
Bethany is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, which is an affirmation of welcome that specifically names people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and also expresses a commitment to racial equity.
