December 5, 2024 Announcements
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.
Advent Continues
Our Advent theme this year is "More than Words," which will offer us an opportunity to delve into the meaning of the words we associate with the Advent wreath candles we light each Sunday: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Mark your calendars, there are several special things planned throughout the season.
A huge shout out to Kathy Dudgeon for organizing our Advent Fair last Sunday. Festive snacks and crafts were enjoyed by all.
This Saturday, December 7, we will have a special "Blue Christmas" service at our usual 5:00pm worship time. A "Blue Christmas" service offers solace to those who are grieving, or for whom the Christmas season just doesn't feel like "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." The worship is contemplative in nature, and will create space for the acknowledgement of the heaviness of the season while also offering hope and healing.
Caroling to our homebound members is scheduled after worship on Sunday, December 22. Please note date change. Bethany choir members and guitar accompaniment will make this warmly appreciated seasonal tradition comfortable for those who are less confident singers. Plan now to join in bringing Christmas joy to others.
Christmas Eve services will be held at Bethany at 5:00pm (a family service) and 10:00pm (a candlelight service).
Please note there will be no Saturday night worship services on December 28.
Bible Study in December
The Women’s Book and Bible Study group will meet on Monday, December 9 at 9:30am. The Men’s Bible Study group will meet on Tuesday, December 10 at 8:30am. All Bible Study groups meet in fellowship hall.
Notes of Gratitude
We have so much to be thankful for here at Bethany – including the faithful service of volunteers who make our worship meaningful; our fellowship engaging; our building and grounds functional and beautiful; our church administration smooth; our Sunday school and family programs enriching; our pastoral care significant and sincere; and our mission and community outreach authentic. In the spirit of the season, please consider writing a word of thanks to someone whose contributions to our community life makes a difference to you. Consider thanking church council members; committees like Building and Grounds, Fellowship, Hospitality (who made our awesome name tags and took pictures for our new directory), Preschool and Bethany Cares; choir members, ushers, communion assistants, readers, Sunday school teachers/volunteers, and Finch Green leaders and board members. The possibilities are endless! Cards and pens will be available in the basket on the table in the Narthex. After you've written your note, pin it on the bulletin board in the hallway – and then stand back and marvel at the outpouring of gratitude!
Youth Group Clothes & Necessities Drive
This is the last week of the Bethany Youth clothing and cold weather necessities drive for those in our community. Helpline House has indicated that they are in need of items such as warm winter coats, socks, mittens, hats, gloves, and tents. The youth are also collecting hygiene items, small toys, and books which will go to a shelter for women and children affected by domestic violence. Please help this dedicated group of Bethany Youth finish strong by bringing donated items this weekend. Thank you for thinking of our neighbors in need!
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.
An Update on the Call Process
The Transition Team has completed its work on Parts 1 and 2 of our ministry site profile. They will be providing a report to the council and congregation soon. The Call Committee, chaired by Tim Carlsen, has begun its work on completing the remaining sections. Once the profile is complete, it will be submitted and reviewed by the Synod. The Synod will post Bethany's opening and use our profile to match potential applicants. The Synod also reviews the applications and forwards to the call committee those they believe would be a good fit. The call committee will review the applications it receives from the Synod and decide who to interview. After interviews, the call committee will make a recommendation to the council and congregation. While it is tempting to share advice or opinions about what Bethany needs in our next pastor, it is important to trust the discernment work of the Transition Team and the continuing work of the Call Committee. If you have questions about the call process, don't hesitate to reach out to Tim or council president, Lynn Nordby.
Prayers Requests
Please keep Marcy Daley in your prayers as she relocates to the Minneapolis area. Marcy’s new address will be 6455 University Ave NE #422, Fridley, MN 55432.
We hold in prayer former NWWA Synod Bishop Kirby Unti and his family following the tragic death of his wife, Kim, last week. Surround Kirby and their daughters, Briana, Carmen, Seong & Vanessa - and all who grieve - with your comfort and peace. (We give thanks for the many ways she has shared the Good News of Jesus - as a former synod vice president and church leader - and in her community work. We are grateful for her compassion, creativity, and zest for life. The synod office will share updates regarding a memorial service as information becomes available. In this time, rather than phone calls or texts, the family welcomes your notes of care via email or mail: or Rev. Kirby Unti, 4102 NE 22nd Place Renton, WA 98059)
Amabile Concerts
Amabile is proud to present their Winter 2024 program, “This Shining Night”. Their program name is drawn from a work composed by Morten Lauridsen with lyrics by poet James Rufus Agee, “Sure on this Shining Night”. The words are lovely, optimistic, and soothing - a balm for these trying times. They’ll be joined once again by the Olympic Serenade String Quartet, and will be singing a collection of gorgeous songs of the season, both sacred and secular. The concerts will be offered on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm at Bethany. A Saturday matinee concert will take place on December 7 at 2:00pm at St. Cecilia Catholic Church. Tickets are available at Dana’s on Bainbridge Island or by visiting amabilechoir.org.
Supporting Martha & Mary
Thank you to all who have already provided a gift for Martha and Mary residents. Please bring any additional gifts for Martha and Mary residents to Bethany by Sunday, December 8. If you did not pick up a tag specifying a gift but would still like to contribute, gifts that would suit all residents are nonskid slipper socks and 2025 wall calendars are much appreciated. Gifts should be unwrapped and placed in a gift bag with the tag identifying the resident. Thanks for your generosity.
2024 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 our seniors (55+). As in previous years, they are asking churches and congregations to help us spread the word and commit to providing a certain amount from each. We have challenged the Bethany community to donate twenty-five $25 gift cards and we aren’t quite there yet. As you are out shopping the next few days 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 will distribute the cards the week of December 16th, so please bring them to the church office no later than December 12th. (Note: the $25 gift cards must be activated before Helpline House receives them.)
Altar Flowers: The altar flowers this weekend are given by Sue Morris in honor of her mom, Mary Hatlestad.
Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Jennie Harris; Lay Reader: Carol Fenner; Hospitality Host: Carol Fenner
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Alice & Bruce McCain; Lay Reader: Linda Knudson; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Kristi Sutton & Vicki Browning
Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Barbara Swartling
Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Dick Coar; Lay Reader: Gail Christensen; Hospitality Host: Jim Rohrscheib
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Tim Carlson & Tony Grayson; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Miriam Barrenger & Becci Kerstetter
