August 22 Announcements
Transition Discernment Circles
Thank you to everyone who signed up to attend one of the listening circles this 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. And if you didn’t get a chance to sign up but are able to attend, come to listen and let your voice be heard. Please plan to arrive on time so that we can make the most of this time together.
Guest Pastor
Our transition facilitator, Pr. David Hahn, will be presiding and preaching at both the Saturday and Sunday services this weekend.
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. Bethany will provide the main dishes and beverages. You bring a side dish/salad (last name beginning A-G), dessert (last name H-O), or fruit/veggie tray (last name P-Z). Can you help set up, serve food or clean up? See the sign-up sheets on the hallway bulletin board. 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 Labor Day around the corner, 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. We have a wonderful core group of volunteers and they are hoping some new faces join them. Please consider reading the descriptions and signing up for a role that works for you.
New Pictorial Directory Coming Soon
Have you thought how handy it would be to have an updated pictorial directory? We think so too! Becci Kerstetter has graciously volunteered to take the photos needed to make this a reality. She will be available to take your photo after worship on Rally Day, September 8, and for the next few Sundays. She will plan on being available after the 5pm service on Saturday, October 5 for the folks that find that time more convenient. Becci will set up in the office area just past the narthex. We will also take this opportunity to verify contact information and whether you want your phone number and/or email address printed in the directory. Get ready to put on your Sunday, or Saturday, best and smile for the camera.
Welcome to Women’s Book & Bible Study Group
Are you a woman who is curious about matters of Christian faith? Would you enjoy meeting monthly with a diverse group of women to discuss books related to theology, often written by contemporary authors? Maybe the Women’s Book and Bible Study/WBBS group is for you! “WBBS” meets monthly during the school year, usually at Bethany at 9:30 a.m., on the second Monday of the month. In this group faith and friendships flourish, conversations abound, and newcomers are always welcome. Coffee, tea and treats are shared at each meeting.
We will begin the year on September 9 discussing Inspired by Rachel Held Evans: “If the Bible isn’t a science book or an instruction manual, then what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she began a quest to better understand what the Bible is and how it is meant to be read. What she discovered changed her-and it will change you too.”
If you think you might enjoy WBBS, come and check us out. Meeting announcements are in the weekly church news. Or you can contact Helen Stoll (360.620.2170), Sonja Selboe (360.979.7985) or Alice McCain (360.328.0920) for more information.
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.
Check Out Living Lutheran
Did you know that the ELCA magazine Living Lutheran is now published only electronically?! And here’s some news that deserves notice! Our congregation’s own Rachel Pritchet has contributed a wonderful article to the current issue addressing the unique and moving history of three pastors at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Olympia! (Spoiler alert – two became successful synodical bishops in the ELCA!) Not only will you read a wonderful article by our own retired journalist, but you can also see a number of other thoughtful and inspiring articles about what’s happening in the ELCA! Here’s the link: Home - Living Lutheran. Enjoy, and thanks to Rachel for sharing her skills!
CROP HUNGER DANCE
This year 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.
While it is a dance instead of a walk this year, 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!
The dance will begin at 2:00 pm, with the registration table open at 1:30pm. Register now for team "Bethany Lutheran of Bainbridge" 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. The resources on the 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!
Prayers Are Requested: for Veronika Rohrscheib as she undergoes testing for some health concerns and for Jim as he supports her; for Vickie and Gary Bech’ daughter-in-law’s sister, Tricia who recently received difficult news about her cancer diagnosis; for Vicki Browning’s sister Jerrilynn who is undergoing chemotherapy. Please pray also for our Bethany members who are homebound and unable to make it to worship services. God, in your compassion, hear our prayers.
Altar Flowers: The altar flowers this weekend are given by Kristi & Jim Sutton in celebration of their wedding anniversary.
Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Lloyd Pritchett; Lay Reader: Rachel Pritchett; Hospitality Host: Christine Lovely
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Tim Carlsen & Lynn Nordby; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Benay & Lynn Nordby
Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Kathy Dudgeon
Saturday 5:00pm – Greeter/Usher: Jim Rohrscheib; Lay Reader: Gail Christensen; Hospitality Hosts: Jennie Harris
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Barbara & David Swartling; Lay Reader: Andy Rimkus; Communion Assistant: Barbara Swartling; Hospitality Hosts: Kristi Sutton & Andy Rimkus