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August 15 Announcements

Transition Discernment Circles
The Transition Team has been busy compiling and considering the responses they received to the State of Bethany survey. A synopsis of the responses was emailed to the Bethany community earlier this week and is available on the black table in the narthex. The next step is for the full congregation to listen to one another in small groups as we each respond to the summary provided. To accomplish that next step the Transition Team will be offering an opportunity to participate in listening circles before the Saturday and Sunday worship services next weekend, August 24 & 25. The Saturday, August 24 circle will begin at 3:00pm and end at 4:50pm. The Sunday, August 25 circle will begin at 8:30am and end at 9:50am. Those who typically attend Sunday morning worship are welcome to attend the Saturday afternoon circle. The Transition Team hopes everyone will attend one of the circles. This is an opportunity for the Transition Team and the congregation to listen to each other’s views on the State of the Congregation before the Transition Team completes the Bethany Ministry Site Profile. Please let the Transition Team know which circle you plan to attend by emailing Debbie ( ) or by using the sign-up sheet on the hallway bulletin board.

 

Mark Your Calendars!
Mark your calendars and plan now to attend worship on Sunday, September 8 when we celebrate Rally Day! Worship that morning will be followed by a picnic lunch. There will be entertainment, games and perhaps a surprise or two. Please note that there will be no 5pm service on Saturday, September 7 so we can all celebrate Rally Day and the beginning of a new program year together.

September Worship Assistants
With August half over, it is time to set up the September Worship Assistants Schedule for the Sunday morning services. (The Saturday schedule is all set.) The September schedule will be available on the black table in the narthex along with descriptions of the various roles. If you haven’t had an opportunity to support worship before, please consider reading the descriptions and signing up for a role that works for you.

LWR School Kit Update
Thanks to all the folks who’ve donated to our school supply drive for LWR, we are getting closer to our goal of filling book bags to send off this fall! The school kits will help children around the world be successful in school. School supply sales continue in August, and we have an ambitious goal of filling 102 bags which were sewn by Selina Johnson and Alice McCain. 102 filled bags would be an all-time record number!

Posted by the door in the Narthex, above the donation bin, is a “score card” to help you know which supplies are most needed (as of August 13). Biggest needs are: spiral notebooks, pencil sharpeners, pencils, and ink pens. We’ll do our best to keep the list updated as supplies come in, so keep checking back. 

Please take and use the supply list from the envelope on the bulletin board when shopping and donating; we can’t send school supplies that don’t follow the LWR guidelines. For more information about this project go to https://lwr.org/kits/school-kits/instructions .  Later this fall we will have a party filling the bags and sharing snacks-stay tuned for more information.

Prayer Chain
New job? New diagnosis? New living situation? New stressful life circumstances? Need prayer? We've got it covered! One of our calls as Christ-followers is to pray for one another, and as a congregation, we are committed to praying for our members and our world. One way we can do this is by using the prayer chain email which goes out to members of the congregation who have indicated their desire to be on the mailing list. 

When submitting a request, you can choose to include as much or as little information as you'd like, and trust that those who receive it will include you in their personal prayers. You may also indicate whether or not you'd like Pastor Erin to announce your particular prayer requests in worship on Saturday and Sundays for corporate prayer. (Note that not all requests are shared at worship for privacy reasons. A prayer request will only be shared in announcements and during worship if you've given your permission).

Beginning next week, the office will be sending weekly "prayer chain" emails which will include a prayer from the NW Washington Synod, as well as any congregational requests. Even if there are no congregational requests or updates to share, prayer chain recipients will still get a weekly prayer from the synod to guide their personal prayers for the week. If you have a prayer request or wish to be added to the prayer chain, please inform Debbie ( ) or Pastor Erin ( ).

 

NW Washington Synod Offerings
Did you know that in addition to the formation programs offered here at Bethany our synod provides loads of opportunities for learning together and growing our faith? If not, then please take a moment to check out the LiVE (Living into Vocational Engagement) Project's offerings by visiting their website: The LiVE Project | Ministries | Northwest Washington Synod (lutheransnw.org) There you will find a full course catalog including upcoming Fall events such as: 

Consider getting a group together, or participating on your own from home. It's sure to be an enriching experience for all. If you'd like an inside look into the courses, retreats, and cohorts LiVE is offering this year or to learn more about how LiVE can support the ministries and conversations you're already having- you're invited to their Online Open House. Join them at 7pm on either Tues, Aug 20th via this zoom link or 27th via this link. Contact Pastor Erin for more details or to let her know if you are interested in any of the offerings.

 

CROP HUNGER DANCE!
Yep, you read that right! Our community's annual effort to end hunger in our community and world isn't a walk as in years past, but a DANCE! We'll gather at Eagle Harbor Church on September 22, 2024, to participate in fun, easy-to-learn dances and songs led by the Universal Dances of Peace group. No special talent or ability is necessary--just a willingness to have some fun with your neighbors while raising money for a good cause.  

Not everything is changing, though. We're still working with Church World Services (CWS) to raise funds to provide meals, clean water, and safe homes for those who need them. A portion of the funds we raise will go to CWS and another to our local social service agencies. This year's community goal is to raise $15,000, which a generous community member has offered to match!

Registration begins at 1:30 pm and the dance begins at 2:00 pm-but you can register for team "Bethany Lutheran of Bainbridge" in advance on the CWS website by clicking here and then selecting "Join or Start a Team." Under Find an Existing Team, type "Bethany Lutheran of Bainbridge" and click on it. When you get to our team page, you'll see a familiar face-Pastor Erin who's already signed up for this year's team. Fill out your information when prompted and you'll be added to the team. You can begin your own fundraising campaign to raise money for our team, too! Take an envelope to collect the funds from neighbors and friends (on the table in the Narthex) or start a social media campaign like Pastor Erin did. The resources on the CWS website are helpful and easy-to-use. Feel free to reach out to Pastor Erin for assistance. Let's set a goal to raise $5000. Can we do it? Yes we can! GO TEAM BETHANY LUTHERAN OF BAINBRIDGE!

 

Altar Flowers: The altar flowers this weekend are given by Luanne & Tom Croker with thanks to all the Bethany community.

Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Nancy Wetzler
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Jennie Harris; Lay Reader: Jennie Harris; Hospitality Hosts: Marlene & Al Orwiler
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Eve & Mike Curtis; Lay Reader: David Swartling; Communion Assistant: Barbara Swartling; Hospitality Hosts: Miriam Barrenger & Becci Kerstetter                

Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
          Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Lloyd Pritchett; Lay Reader: Rachel Pritchett; Hospitality Hosts: Christine Lovely
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Tim Carlsen & Lynn Nordby; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Benay & Lynn Nordby

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