Our blog

September 18 Announcements

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.

Help Make Bethany Flush Again
Please continue to give to our "Make Bethany Flush Again" effort. We're replenishing funds used to repair our church after septic damage from tree roots that had grown into our pipes. We have about $40,000 more to raise. An envelope will be in your bulletin this Sunday. Please write "Emergency Building Repair" in the memo line and place it in the offering plate. Thank you!

Bainbridge/North Kitsap CROP Hunger Walk-Dance Week
Next week is the week we work and celebrate the BI/NK CROP Hunger Walk/Dance.

• Monday, Sept. 22, 6 pm at Pia the Peacemaker, we gather for Prayers for a Hungry World.
• Wednesday,  Sept. 24:  Food Drive at T & C for non-perishable food for Helpline House Food Bank.
• Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 am - 2 pm  Food Drive at Bainbridge Safeway for non-perishable food for Helpline House Food Bank
• Saturday, Sept. 27, 9 – 10:30 am, Walk in the Grand Forest; meet at Mandus Olson parking lot
• Sunday, Sept. 28, 1:30 pm:  CROP Dance at EHCC

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!

To donate on-line for Bethany CROP Walk click on this link:  https://events.crophungerwalk.org/crophungerwalks/team/bethany-lutheran-of-bainbridge 

To donate by check:  on Sunday, Sept. 21 and 28, Chris Christensen and Linnea Chu can accept your checks made out to Church World Service.

October Bible Study
The Rachel Circle Bible study group will meet on Tuesday, October 7 at 10:00am in fellowship hall followed by quilting. The Women’s Book & Bible study group will meet on Monday, October 13 at 9:30am in fellowship hall. They will be discussing Dan Erlander’s Manna and Mercy.

Worship in October
We welcome back our own Rachel Pritchett who will lead worship next Sunday, October 5. Pastor Martin and Shelly are making their way across the country and hope to join us for worship on October 12. Pastor Kristy will be leading worship on the 12^th but we hope everyone will come and welcome Pastor Martin and Shelly. Pastor Martin will be celebrating his first worship service at Bethany on October 19^th.

Serve the World Sunday!
Please join us on October 19 for "Serve the World" Sunday. It will be the first day that Pastor Martin is here to preach. He will be blessing the new batch of quilts, the baby kits and personal care kits that will be sent to needy families. After the service We will assemble school backpacks for Lutheran World Relief in the Fellowship Hall with pizza supported by Thrivent. Please bring a salad to enjoy with a slice or two! Music will be provided by "Off the Grid" with possibly an extra singer or musician or two. We want to take this opportunity to welcome Pastor Martin and Shelly to our congregation. His formal installation will take place at a future date. 

Altar Flowers: The altar flowers for this Sunday are given by Noreen & Jeff Sievertson in celebration of Jeff’s birthday and their 10^th wedding anniversary.

Prayers are Requested: For former Bethany members Claire and Kurt Lucke as they face Kurt’s final days together; For the Bethany and Vinland women who will be on retreat this weekend.

Thank You to this 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             

Next Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Dave Christensen & Jim Rohrscheib; Lay Reader: Gail Christensen; Communion Assistants: Carol & Ron Fenner; Hospitality Hosts: Kristi Sutton & Vicki Browning

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.

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 65^th 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.