September 11 Announcements
Rally Sunday Sundae Celebration
Please join us this Sunday, September 14th for Bethany's Rally Sunday Sundae Celebration! During the service we will be blessing student backpacks, our students and teachers/school administrators before the kids are released for their first day of Sunday School. After the service, please join us in the Fellowship Hall for games, ice cream and toppings, music, and crafts to welcome everyone back from summer travels. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Dudgeon, Sunday School Coordinator at 206-617-1264 or
.
Help Make Bethany Flush Again
As most of you know, Bethany incurred significant out-of-pocket expenses associated with the septic system issue and resulting water damage. The council recommended and the congregation approved establishing a new “Emergency Building Repair” reserve fund. We are now asking for your help to replenish our reserves. Special “Help Make Bethany Flush Again” envelopes are available on a table in the Narthex. Any amount you can give towards this effort will be greatly appreciated.
LWR School Supply Drive Progress
The generosity of Bethany folks continues! 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. There are only three items that we still need:
- Notebooks (70-page spiral, one subject)
- Rulers (12 inches, with centimeters on one side)
- Scissors (children’s blunt nose)
Women’s Retreat
The Women’s Retreat is only a couple of weeks away! If you have not yet paid 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 (
).
Pat Sather Memorial Service
The service to celebrate the life of Pat Sather will be held at Bethany on Saturday, September 27 at 1:00pm, with a reception to follow in fellowship hall. All are welcome to come and remember Pat. Please keep Pat’s daughter Ann and all her family in your prayers as they mourn Pat’s death.
Debbie Out of the Office
Debbie will be taking a long-planned extended vacation beginning September 19. She will return to the office on Monday, October 13. There will not be any regular office hours during this time. Debbie will be out of the country with limited access to email. If you need assistance while Debbie is away, please call the office and leave a voicemail. Kathy Dudgeon will be coming to the office periodically to pick up the regular mail and listen to any voicemails.
Bainbridge/North Kitsap CROP Hunger Walk-Dance, September 28
The needs are up. The funding is down. Foodbanks and food-relief organizations need our help. You can help by donating and/or walking by registering and/or donating on Bethany’s CROP Hunger Walk web page. https://events.crophungerwalk.org/crophungerwalks/team/bethany-lutheran-of-bainbridge. 75% of monies raised goes to Church World Service (or designate Lutheran World Relief in the ‘Alternate Agency’ option on the webpage), 20% goes to Helpline House, and 5% goes to North Kitsap Fishline. All these agencies have experienced an increased need for services and decreased funding. We can help.
Register as a Walker then reach out to your friends and families by email or Facebook to ask for donations. Chris Christensen will have a table in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, Sept. 14, so you can sign up to be a Walker, or she will happily accept your donations. The BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk has a matching grant of up to $20,000. Every dollar raised will be $2 going to help these agencies provide food for their clients. What a deal!
There will be a Walk for CROP Hunger Walk, Saturday, Sept. 27, 9-10:30 am; meeting at Mandus Olson parking lot of the Grand Forest
Events for Everybody Eats Week:
Monday, Sept. 22 6-7 pk – Prayers for a Hungry World at Pia the Peacekeeper, Sakai Park
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 9 am – 6 pm Food Drive at T & C, non-perishable food for Helpline House
Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 – 10:30 am, Walk for CROP Hunger Walk; and Food Drive at Bainbridge Safeway, 10am – 2 pm
Sunday, Sept. 28, 1:30 – 3 pm CROP/dance at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church
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: The altar flowers for this Sunday are given by Gail & Dave Christensen in celebration of their 65th wedding anniversary.
Thank You to this Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Barbara Swartling
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Jim Rohrscheib & Stephen Deines; Lay Reader: Barbara Deines; Communion Assistants: Carol & Ron Fenner; Hospitality Hosts: Ice Cream Social!
Next Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Nancy Wetzler
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Barbara & David Swartling; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistants: Linnea Chu & Nancy Wetzler; Hospitality Hosts: Becci Kerstetter & Karen Kushner
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.
