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June 13 Announcements

Sunday School
Our last day of Sunday School will be this Sunday, June 16 when there will be a special Father’s Day project. A huge thank you to Kathy Dudgeon for leading our program. As the school year comes to an end, our Sunday school year pauses for summer break. BUT that doesn't mean that activities for youth and families stop! We are planning several “Playground and Popsicles” Sundays for our youngest members of the congregation. More information and dates coming soon!  

Transition Team Seeks Your Comments
On June 15 and 16, and again on July 13 and 14, your Transition Team will offer you the opportunity to respond to questions about the state of the Bethany Congregation. These events will take place in the Fellowship Hall after Saturday and Sunday services. The opinions, comments, ideas and suggestions that you offer will be part of the report that the Call Committee will use to call a pastor to Bethany. If you want to preview the questions and think about the replies you will make, click here here to view them.

Pastors for June 15 and 16
Pastor Hahn will be leading our 5pm Saturday service again this weekend. The 10am Sunday service will be led by Pastor Carl Hilton VanOsdall. Pr. Carl is a counselor at the Samaritan Center of Puget Sound who works with individuals and couples in his Seattle office, Poulsbo office, or online. For the last few years, Carl has been a twice-monthly preacher at Christ Church Presbyterian in Burlington, Vermont – the state from which he moved in the spring of 2022. Carl lives in Kingston with his wife, Gina. His three adult children are all in their 20s and off doing their own things in life. In his free time, Carl enjoys exploring gravel trails on two wheels or two feet, playing guitar, overseeing their (currently in process) home build, and connecting with strangers and friends alike. 

Adult Ed
Sunday, June 30, is Pride Sunday, the day we celebrate the image of God in everyone, the diversity of humanity, and reaffirm the church's commitment to equity. On Pride Sunday, join us for worship when we both call out for justice and rejoice in the beauty of our embodied selves. Following worship, we'll gather for an adult forum when we'll hear from two members of the Queer Elders group on Bainbridge Island, Ann Lovejoy and Eve Palay. Both Ann and Eve also lead a local support group for non-binary youth and their families. They'll share with us about their work and opportunities for faith communities like ours to get involved and support them. Please join us, all are welcome!

Pie Weekend
Due to popular demand—it's back.  Pie Weekend at Bethany on July 6 & 7 after the services.  Treat your friends and family to your favorite pie (or pie-related) dessert. Fruits, nuts, meringues, chiffons, crisps, crusts, crumbs, we will love it all.  No problem if there are left-overs as people can take some home for even more enjoyment. Nothing says Happy Independence Day more than home-made pie!

 

Stephen's House
We are pleased to welcome Stephen's House, also known as Bainbridge Island Special Needs Foundation, to the Bethany basement space in August! (To learn more, please click here to read the letter sent to the congregation which explains the rental agreement between the church and Stephen's house in detail.) The move-in will involve a serious clean-up of the basement. We're fortunate to have a generous Building and Grounds committee who have helped develop a plan for the clean-up and volunteered to organize work parties to get the job done! Some of the items that are no longer needed by the church and cannot be used by Stephen's House will be offered to members of the congregation on a first-come, first-serve basis. Whatever isn't claimed will be donated to Rotary Auction and other charitable organizations. Stay tuned for more details! 

Vespers Service
St. Barnabas' Schola Nova invites you to Vespers on Sunday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Please join us as we celebrate our patron saint, St. Barnabas, through contemplative prayer and music, exploring the themes of generosity and service. Schola Nova will resume Vespers on the third Sunday of the month at 6 p.m. in September with a series dedicated to female saints: St.  Hildegard of Bingen on September 22, St. Teresa of Avila on October 20, and St. Margaret of Scotland on November 17. If you are a treble singer interested in participating, please contact Music Director Sheila Bristow at 

 

Altar Flowers: The altar flowers this weekend are given by Gail and Dave Christensen in celebration of Jon’s, Lars’ and Dave’s birthdays. 

Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Kathy Dudgeon
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Lloyd Pritchett; Lay Reader: Rachel Pritchett; Hospitality Host: Jennie Harris
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Eve & Mike Curtis; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Becci Kerstetter & Miriam Barrenger               

Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
         Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
         Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Joe Sommerseth; Lay Reader: Jennie Harris; Hospitality Hosts: Veronika & Jim Rohrscheib
         Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: TBD; Lay Reader: Claire Dasler; Communion Assistant: Vicki Browning; Hospitality Hosts: Claire & Marty Dasler

 

 

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June 6 Announcements

Sunday School
Please join Mrs. Dudgeon this Sunday to explore “In the Beginning”. Our last day of Sunday School will be next Sunday, June 16 when there will be a special Father’s Day project. A huge thank you to Kathy for leading our program. While Sunday School takes a break for the summer, we will be planning for the fall and a new program year!

Baptism and Confirmation Sunday
A note of gratitude for all who made our Baptism and Confirmation Sunday so special – from volunteers to families and friends to the young people who had the courage to commit themselves to a life of faith in front of a congregation of loving people. The students who were recognized are just a sampling of the amazing young people we are blessed to have among us in Christian community. We give thanks for them, and are committed to praying for them so we hope you'll join us in nurturing their faith by being present and a source of encouragement in their lives. If you're interested in working with Pastor Erin on forming a youth group for our young people ages 7-12th grades, please be in touch with her, at  . We have several eager to join a youth group for fellowship and continued learning--and a few more interested in baptism and confirmation. We are truly blessed!

June Bible Study
The Women’s Bible Study and Book Group will meet on Monday, June 10 at 9:30am. The Men’s Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday, June 11 at 8:30am where we will continue the discussion on White Christian Nationalism begun on Sunday be Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse. Please note the new time for this Bible Study group.

 

Transition Team Seeks Your Comments
As we live in this time of change and growth, the Transition Team invites Bethanians to share comments about our current and future life together. While the Transition Team might share suggestions and comments received with the congregational council or the community, this will be done anonymously. Comments and suggestions can be emailed to . And check out the bulletin board in the fellowship hall for more transition information.

Christian Nationalism: A Threat to the Gospel and Democracy
Plan now to come to worship this Sunday, June 9 when our guest pastor will be the Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse. In addition to preaching during the service, Rev. Rouse will lead an adult forum after the service. The forum will explore the phenomena that is sweeping the country known as White Christian Nationalism and discover why it threatens both our democracy and the future of the Christian Witness in the United States. We will also unpack the myth that America was founded as a Christian nation. Rev. Rouse is the author of The World is About to Turn: Mending a Nation’s Broken Faith (2020), and A Journey Called Hope: Today’s Immigrant Stories and the American Dream (August 2024 release date).

Vespers Service
St. Barnabas' Schola Nova invites you to Vespers on Sunday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Please join us as we celebrate our patron saint, St. Barnabas, through contemplative prayer and music, exploring the themes of generosity and service. Schola Nova will resume Vespers on the third Sunday of the month at 6 p.m. in September with a series dedicated to female saints: St.  Hildegard of Bingen on September 22, St. Teresa of Avila on October 20, and St. Margaret of Scotland on November 17. If you are a treble singer interested in participating, please contact Music Director Sheila Bristow at  .

  

Altar Flowers: The altar flowers this weekend are given by Birgit and Norm Davis. 

Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Kathy Dudgeon
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Dick Coar; Lay Reader: Jennie Harris; Hospitality Host: Marlene & Al Orwiler
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Alice & Bruce McCain; Lay Reader: Benay Nordby; Communion Assistant: Vicki Browning; Hospitality Hosts: Kristi Sutton & Vicki Browning               

Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Carol Fenner
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Lloyd Pritchett; Lay Reader: Rachel Pritchett; Hospitality Host: Carol Fenner
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: TBD; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Becci Kerstetter

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