December 4 Announcements
Installation for Pastor Martin!
All are invited to come this Sunday, December 7 at 3:00pm, when Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee will be here to install Pr. Martin as Bethany’s called Pastor. Reverend Paul Eldred, the pastor at Central Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity and Pr. Martin’s son, will be preaching at the installation service. Plan now to attend this joyful and important day for the Bethany community.
Welcome Kelsey!
There is a new face in the church office. This week we welcomed Kelsey Lawrence as our new church administrator. She will be working with Debbie throughout the month of December as she transitions into the role. Her office hours will be Monday through Thursday, 9:30 to 3:30. Kelsey comes with a wealth of administrative experience and is excited to be a part of the Bethany staff.
Advent Christmas Caroling
Plan now to help bring cookies (baked with love by our Altar Guild) and carols to our homebound members on Sunday, December 21. We will head out after worship, cookies and music in hand. All are welcome to be a part of this long-time Bethany tradition. It is a great opportunity for young and old alike to bring holiday cheer to our at-home friends.
Christmas Poinsettias
The Altar Guild will be decorating the sanctuary with beautiful poinsettias again this year and welcomes your donations to help cover the cost. Please consider making a donation in honor or memory of someone special in your life. Envelopes for the special donations are available in your bulletin and on the table as you enter the sanctuary.
Our Christmas Tree
A huge thank you to Karen Selvar, of Bainbridge Island Farms and Suyematsu Family Farm for donating the Christmas tree that will grace our Sanctuary. We encourage you to visit Bainbridge Island Farms on Manzanita Road if you are looking for a live tree, a wreath or a centerpiece as a way of thanking Karen for her generous donation.
Christmas Eve Services
Bethany will have two candlelight Christmas Eve services, one at 5:00pm and one at 10:00pm. The 5:00pm service will be a bit shorter and more family oriented. It will include a special message and gift for children. The 10:00pm service will feature the Bethany choir and include the order of holy communion.
Year End Giving
2025 Year End Giving Statements will be mailed by the end of January 2026. Any donations that you would like included in your 2025 Giving Statement must be received in the office by December 29.
Senior Holiday Giving Program at Helpline House
For the Winter Holidays Helpline House is again going to offer gifts, in the form of $25 gift cards, to Bainbridge seniors (55+). As in previous years, they are asking religious communities to commit to providing some of the gift cards. We have challenged the Bethany community to donate twenty-five $25 gift cards and we aren’t quite there yet. When you are out shopping the next few weeks, please consider picking up a gift card or two.
The gift cards be from any of the following:
- Ace Hardware
- Amazon
- Eagle Harbor Book Co.
- Safeway
- Starbucks
- Town & Country
Helpline House would like to have the cards in hand by December 8th, so please drop them in the offering plates or bring them to the church office by this Sunday, December 7th. (Note: the $25 gift cards must be activated before Helpline House receives them.)
Amabile Holiday Concerts
The Amabile Choir, directed by our own Sylvia Cauter, invites everyone to their winter concerts, “In the Stillness”. There will be three concerts: Friday, December 5th at 7:30, Saturday, December 6th at 2:00pm and Saturday, December 6th at 7:30pm. The Friday evening and Saturday afternoon concerts will take place at St. Cecelia Catholic Church. The Saturday evening concert will be here at Bethany. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://amabilechoir.org/
Men's Compline Service
The Men’s Compline Choir of Bainbridge Island, an ecumenical ministry, is offering the service of Compline, or Night Prayer, the final prayer liturgy of the day. Set your heart and mind at peace with this service of prayer and reflection this Sunday, December 7, at 7:00pm and the first Sunday of every month, September through June, at St. Cecilia Church. All are welcome.
Altar Flowers: The altar flowers for this Sunday are given by the Morris Family in honor of Sue’s mom Mary and father Pr. Sam.
Thank You to this Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Kathy Dudgeon
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Lloyd Pritchett & Bruce McCain; Lay Reader: Rachel Pritchett; Communion Assistants: Rachel Pritchett & Alice McCain; Hospitality Hosts: Kristi Sutton & Vicki Browning
Next Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Vickie Bech
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Barbara & David Swartling; Lay Reader: Gail Christensen; Communion Assistants: Carol & Ron Fenner; Hospitality Host: Becci Kerstetter
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.
