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April 27 Announcements

Sunday School: Join us for Sunday school this week! Our lesson is grounded in John 10:1-10 when Jesus tells us he is the gate, and following him is like being shepherds who enter through him. What are some ways you follow Jesus today? Jesus says he came so people can have a full life of abundance. What does a full life of abundance look like? We'll discuss these questions and enjoy time together over yummy snacks! Everyone is welcome, please come!

Adult Education: Our Adult Education series, Journey to Bethlehem, led by Fred Truitt, concludes this Sunday in the sanctuary after worship. It's been a wonderful journey with Fred walking us through the events and characters of Holy Week. Please join us as we wrap up the series and look ahead to future studies (and don't worry if you haven't been able to join us for other sessions--the lessons are accessible no matter if you've been to each session, or this will be your first). Bring your ideas for topics you'd like to cover in future sessions. Young adults are warmly welcome and encouraged to attend! Please contact Pastor Erin with questions. 

Blessing of the Quilts & Kits: We will celebrate the work of the Rachel Circle during worship this weekend, April 29 & 30, when 83 beautiful quilts and 63 baby kits made by the Rachel Circle will be displayed for a special blessing before being sent to Lutheran World Relief. The Rachel Circle is looking for boxes to use for shipping quilts and baby kits. About fruit box size, or a bit bigger is most helpful.  They are needed by May 2. The Rachel Circle thanks everyone for their support and response to their recent requests! 

New Member Sunday: In addition to blessing quilts, we will be receiving new members this Sunday, April 30. The next newsletter will include write-ups on each of these families. New members being received include Linda Knudsen, Sandy Young, Jessica Wilson, Betty Root, Michele Whitman, Jackie Sekits, Maria Marsala, Erin, Tony & Caleb Grayson.

May IMPACT Gathering: Calling all gardeners and youth and families! Mark your calendars for our May IMPACT gathering on May 7 from 4:00-5:30 in Fellowship Hall. We have big dreams of reviving our Bethany garden to "Grow a Row" for our local food banks, which are always glad to have fresh produce to offer shoppers. On May 7, we'll be putting a plan and a schedule together to make it happen! We'll also enjoy a make-your-own-taco bar for dinner, plus popsicles for dessert. 

A wish list has "cropped" up in the Narthex (bad pun, I couldn't help it) on the Youth and Family bulletin board. Even if you can't come to the IMPACT gathering, please take a look and consider whether or not you could provide an item or service on the wish list. Questions or RSVP? Contact Pastor Erin pastorerin@bethanyofbainbridge.org/860-705-8212

May Bible Study: The Women’s Bible Study and Book Group will meet on Monday, May 8 at 9:30am. The Men’s Bible Study Group will meet on Tuesday, May 9 at 8:00am. The Rachel Circle Bible Study Group will meet Tuesday, May 9 at 10:00am. This month the group will us the devotional that is available on the table in the library. The Rachel Circle will be welcoming women from Vinland Lutheran in Poulsbo for the Bible study on May 9, followed by a luncheon. All Bible study groups meet in fellowship hall.

Amabile Spring Concert: The Amabile Choir, under the direction of Bethany’s own Sylvia Cauter, will present its 10^th anniversary concert – United in Song – at Bethany on Friday, May 5^th and Saturday, May 6^th. (Please note correction of dates from previous announcement.) Both concerts are at 7:30pm. They will also perform the concert on Saturday, May 6^th at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church with special guests Sakai Intermediate School Choirs. That performance will take place at 3:00pm. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Dana’s on Bainbridge Island or through the Amabile website: https://www.amabilechoir.org/

2023 Bob Satterwhite Memorial Scholarship: Do you know a graduating high school student who is active in a faith group and has demonstrated a commitment to the purposes of the Bainbridge Island-North Kitsap Interfaith Council (IFC). In 2007 the IFC began awarding each year a monetary scholarship to a graduating high school senior in memory of Bob Satterwhite who gave so much of his energy and time to the Interfaith Council. Seniors are nominated by their faith group and all faith groups that are members of IFC may each nominate one graduating senior. For more information on the IFC and scholarship process see the flyer on the bulletin board or contact Alice McCain at .

A Community Conversation on Homelessness: In partnership with Helpline House and the Bainbridge library, Housing Resources Bainbridge is presenting a book talk and Q&A with Gregg Colburn, co-author of the book Homelessness Is a Housing Problem. The community conversation takes place on Thursday, May 4, 7:00pm at the Bainbridge Public Library. Gregg takes a deep dive into the data and challenges everything we thought we knew about homelessness. The book is full of surprises (e.g., turns out we really can’t attribute Seattle’s homelessness problem to our relatively mild weather…) and somehow manages to offer a path forward. You can learn more about the event and register for free tickets here: https://www.housingresourcesbi.org/events/

Altar Flowers: The altar flowers this weekend are given by Birgit Davis in memory of Ruth Schönning. 

Funeral Service: The service to celebrate the life of Wayne Richmond will take place on Saturday, May 20 at 1:00pm. All are welcome to attend.

Prayers are Requested: For Joe and Barbara Michael as they recover from Covid at home; for Shirley Funk as she recovers from shoulder surgery at Martha and Mary; for Pat Sather as she continues to settle in at Fieldstone; for the family of Allen Fenner (Ron’s brother), whose funeral will be held on Saturday. 

Thank You to this weekend's Worship Assistants:           
          Altar Duty: Linnea Chu & Alice McCain
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Charlene Selvar; Lay Reader: Rachel Pritchett: Hospitality Hosts: Marlene & Al Orwiler
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeter: Jan Thrun; Ushers: Nancy & Harry Wetzler; Lay Reader: Harry Wetzler; Communion Assistant: Vicki Browning; Hospitality Hosts: Alice McCain & Miriam Barrenger

Next weekend's Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Kathy Dudgeon
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeters/Ushers: Luanne & Tom Croker; Lay Reader: Jennie Harris: Hospitality Host: Jennie Harris
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Eve & Mike Curtis; Lay Reader: Colleen Chupik; Communion Assistant: Colleen Chupik; Hospitality Hosts: Kathy & Doug Dudgeon

April 20 Announcements

Congregational Meeting on April 23: At the request of the Affordable Housing Task Force, the Bethany Council has called a Special Meeting of the congregation following worship this Sunday, April 23.  The proposed actions to be considered by the congregation were mailed to Bethany households last week. Copies are also available in the narthex.  Those of you who attend the Saturday 5pm service are encouraged to come on April 23 for some coffee fellowship and the congregational meeting. We will need a quorum to approve the proposed items.

Sunday School: During the season of Eastertide, we talk about Jesus' resurrection and what it means to be a good disciple. This week in Sunday school, we'll talk about the disciples' encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Through the story, we learn that faith is a gift from God, often shared through stories, meals, and time spent with people in our faith community. You'll be invited to share a time when your faith was enriched or a time when you had faith in yourself to do something challenging. Join us for discussion, fellowship, crafts, and...snacks! Lessons are generally geared toward children in K-6 but are accessible to all ages, so please join us no matter your age!

Adult Education: Our Adult Education series, The Journey to Bethlehem led by Fred Truitt, will continue on April 30. This session will be the last in the series, but fret not if you've been unable to join us for previous sessions--the material is accessible whether you've been to all the sessions or just one. As we conclude this session, we hope you'll bring your ideas for future study. Join us in the sanctuary after worship on April 30! Young adults in high school are warmly welcome to come and encouraged to share ideas about what topics you'd like to see covered in Adult Education.

Blessing of the Quilts: Plan to attend worship next weekend, April 29 & 30, when the beautiful quilts made by the Rachel Circle will be displayed for a special blessing before being sent to Lutheran World Relief. You can support the work of the Rachel Circle by making a donation towards the cost of shipping the quilts. Quilt donation envelopes are available in the bulletins.

New Member Sunday: In addition to blessing quilts, we will be welcoming new members on Sunday, April 30. If you would like to be included in this new member reception, please contact Pastor Paul, .

New Women’s Group Forming: Are you a woman who is interested in getting together with other women on a regular basis for friendship and discussion? A new group for working and stay-at-home women is in the planning stages and you are welcome to join us! Although the details are still being worked out, we'll likely meet monthly, sometime mid-week after dinner and bedtime routines (for moms with little ones at home). Pastor Erin would love to get your feedback as far as topics you might be interested in discussing and/or just what your ideal women's group meeting might look like. Please contact her at   with your input and to get on the mailing list!

Amabile Spring Concert: The Amabile Choir, under the direction of Bethany’s own Sylvia Cauter, will present its 10^th anniversary concert – United in Song – at Bethany on Friday, May 7^th and Saturday, May 8^th. Both concerts are at 7:30pm. They will also perform the concert on Saturday, May 8^th at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church with special guests Sakai Intermediate School Choirs. That performance will take place at 3:00pm. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Dana’s on Bainbridge Island or through the Amabile website: https://www.amabilechoir.org/

Blood Drive at Bethany: Bloodworks Northwest will be holding a blood drive at Bethany on Friday, April 21. Appointments are available from 9:00am to 2:15pm. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit https://www.bloodworksnw.org/

A Community Conversation on Homelessness: In partnership with Helpline House and the Bainbridge library, Housing Resources Bainbridge is presenting a book talk and Q&A with Gregg Colburn, co-author of the book Homelessness Is a Housing Problem. The community conversation takes place on Thursday, May 4, 7:00pm at the Bainbridge Public Library. Gregg takes a deep dive into the data and challenges everything we thought we knew about homelessness. The book is full of surprises (e.g., turns out we really can’t attribute Seattle’s homelessness problem to our relatively mild weather…) and somehow manages to offer a path forward. You can learn more about the event and register for free tickets here: https://www.housingresourcesbi.org/events/

Altar Flowers: The altar flowers this weekend are given by Rachel and Lloyd Pritchett. 

Funeral Service: The service to celebrate the life of Wayne Richmond will take place on Saturday, May 20 at 1:00pm. All are welcome to attend.

Prayers are Requested: For Mabel Keeney who is recovering at home from outpatient surgery; for Shirley Funk as she recovers from shoulder surgery at Martha and Mary; for Pat Sather, a new resident at Fieldstone.

Thank You to this weekend's Worship Assistants:           
          Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Jim Rohrscheib; Lay Reader: Carol Fenner: Hospitality Host: Carol Fenner
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Barbara & David Swartling; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Claire & Marty Dasler 

Next weekend's Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Charlene Selvar; Lay Reader: Barbara Michael: Hospitality Hosts: Marlene & Al Orwiler
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Nancy & Harry Wetzler; Lay Reader: Harry Wetzler; Communion Assistant: Vicki Browning; Hospitality Hosts: Alice McCain & Miriam Barrenger