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April 24, 2025 Announcements

Bethany in Transition
During this next phase of Bethany’s transition to a settled pastor, the Worship and Music team are meeting regularly to provide leadership in coordinating pulpit supply, pastoral care and general worship activities, as well as communicating with the church council regarding any congregational concerns. Please contact any team member if you have questions or input:  Sylvia Cauter, Chris Christensen, Linnea Chu, Kathy Dudgeon, or Lynn Nordby. 

They will also work along with the Ushers and Altar Guild to pick up tasks for worship that our pastors have done such as light candles, put out the FM supplies/info, turn on sanctuary lights, etc.  We have a list! 

Pastor Kristy Daniels has agreed to provide Pastoral Care for parishioners hospitalized in Seattle. Pastor Erin is willing to provide Pastoral Care for congregants at St. Michael’s in Silverdale. If you have a pastoral care need, please call the church office and Debbie will assist you. If Debbie is not there to take your call, leave a message or call the number provided for emergencies. 

We all need to step up our level of responsibilities and communications during this time of transition. Our congregation is full of competent, creative, conscientious people. We can do this!

Thank You from the Fellowship Team
A big thank you to all who helped with the send-off for Pastor Erin! We were glad to show her our appreciation for her time with us. The congregation donated generously to a farewell gift. Special thanks to Sylvia Cauter, Jennie Harris, Linnea Chu, Kristi Sutton, Vicki Browning, Barbara and Stephen Deines, McKenna and Allen Lang, Kathy Dudgeon, Chris and Steve Christiansen, Linda Knudson, Colleen Chupik and anyone else who helped to make this a memorable event. 

Sunday School in May
There will be no Sunday School on May 4 or May 25 (Memorial Day weekend). Mrs. Dudgeon will be here with stories, snacks and fun for the children on May 11 and May 18. 

Youth “Lock In” at Rolling Bay!
Bethany youth in grades 7-12 are invited to join the Senior Youth Fellowship (SYF) at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church this Saturday, April 26 at 5:00pm for an unforgettable night at a Youth Lock In! This event is packed with fun, fellowship, and opportunities to grow together as SYF. With games, dinner, and meaningful activities, we'll build stronger connections and have a ton of fun. Come ready for a night of laughter, reflection, and making memories that will last a lifetime. Bring your energy, your friends, and your heart—let’s make this lock-in one for the books! To register, click HERE. For questions, contact Cory Dunn at  .

Debbie Out of the Office
Debbie will be attending a family wedding next weekend and out of the office on Wednesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 1. She will be back in the office on Monday, May 5 and return any phone messages or emails when she returns. And while she isn't traveling to see her granddaughter this time, she thought you would enjoy a picture of Marin with her new Easter Bunny!

Save the Date!
Saturday, May 17 is our next fellowship event—Trivia Night! Come at 6:00pm for a potluck (no sign up required—dessert provided so please bring main dishes and salads) and form teams to take on questions of every kind. The evening will include live music by our own "Off the Grid" and our Trivia Master will be Lynn Nordby in honor his Norwegian roots on this Norwegian Independence Day. 

Amabile Spring Concert
Everyone is invited to Amabile Choir's Spring Concert, LIGHT DAWNS. There will be three performances: two evening performances this Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 pm at Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge, and one matinee performance this Saturday, April 26 at 3:00 pm at Rolling Bay Presbyterian.

The Sakai Choir Club, under the direction of Katie Gibbs, will perform with Amabile at the Saturday 3PM concert at Rolling Bay Presbyterian. The two evening concerts will feature performers from Kids In Concert, directed by Laura Milleson. The Amabile Choir is under the direction of our own Sylvia Cauter. 

Get your tickets today at amabilechoir.org/events

Vespers Service on Mother’s Day
St. Barnabas’ Schola Nova and St. Cecilia’s Compline Choir invite you to a special vespers service for Mother’s Day. Come hear the music of Biebl and Casals, plus beautiful chant. Sunday, May 11, 6:00 PM, at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.

Martha and Mary Online Auction
Join Martha and Mary‘s annual Generations of Care online auction, May 30-June 6, 2025. Caring for kids and seniors since 1891, Martha and Mary is a valued Lutheran Services partner. Bethany has pledged to provide two themed baskets for bidding and we need everyone’s help. Envelopes for donations in support of Martha and Mary are available on the table in the narthex. Please make checks out to ‘Bethany Lutheran Church’ with ‘Martha and Mary’ in the memo line. If you have questions or items you would like to donate to the auction catalog, please contact Benay Nordby, Linnea Chu, Noreen Sievertson or Kristi Sutton.

Prayers are requested: for Sylvia Cauter’s sister Mary Heinemann, who is experiencing a recurrence of cancer; for Vicki Browning as she mourns the death of her sister, Jerrilynn; for Sonja Selboe who hopes to be discharged from Martha & Mary in the next day or so. 

Altar Flowers: The altar flowers for this Sunday are provided by the Altar Guild. Please consider signing up to provide altar flowers in honor or memory of a special person or occasion. See the flower chart on the hallway bulletin board for more information.

Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Vickie Bech
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Jim Rohrscheib & Bruce McCain; Lay Reader: Noreen Sieverston; Communion Assistant: Jeff Sievertson; Hospitality Hosts: Miriam Barrenger & Alice McCain               

Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Carol Fenner
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Nancy & Harry Wetzler; Lay Reader: Claire Dasler; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Vicki Browning & Linnea Chu

April 17 Announcements

Gratitude from Pastor Erin
Dear Bethanians,

The farewell potluck on Palm Sunday was such a blessing, thank you! I was truly touched by your kind words and the very generous gift card to Chevy Chase Lodge. Thanks to you, I also will have two beautiful stoles, gifted to me by Linda Knudsen, altered to fit my frame. Linda's late husband was a Lutheran pastor, so I will wear the stoles as a reminder of my time at Bethany Lutheran Church, and also in honor of a colleague in ministry. It has been a real privilege to serve you as pastor over the last years. I've learned much about what it takes to lead an organization in transition and honestly, I've discovered that it comes down to one simple truth that we can apply in all life situations: nurturing good relationships makes a healthy community. I believe Jesus knew this to be true and he summed it up in his greatest commandment. You are an example of what it means to faithfully live into that commandment and I'll always be grateful for having walked with you during this part of your journey. Thank you. 

In Christ, Pr. Erin

Easter at Bethany
Please join us on Easter Sunday, April 20, we come together at the 10:00am service to celebrate the risen Christ.

Worship and Life at Bethany after Easter
During Bethany’s transition to a settled pastor, the Worship and Music team are meeting regularly to provide leadership in coordinating pulpit supply, pastoral care, and general worship activities, as well as communicating with the Church Council regarding any congregational concerns. As previously indicated, Pastor Kristy Daniels, of the Church of Steadfast Love at Compass Housing Alliance will lead Sunday morning worship at Bethany beginning next Sunday, April 27. For pastoral care needs, please call the church office. If Debbie is not there to take your call, leave a message or call the number provided for emergencies. Please contact any team member if you have questions or input: Sylvia Cauter, Chris Christensen, Linnea Chu, Kathy Dudgeon, or Lynn Nordby. 

Quilts and Kits on Their Way
Thank you to all who donated towards the cost of shipping the beautiful quilts and baby kits made by the Rachel Circle. The group boxed up 45 quilts and 57 baby kits which will be sent to people in need all over the world by Lutheran World Relief. A special thank you to Joe Sommerseth and Stan Wiegman who will be loading all the boxes and transporting them to Seattle

Youth Group
Bethany youth in grades 7-12 are invited to join the Senior Youth Fellowship (SYF) at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm on Sunday evenings. SYF is open and welcoming to all area youth, regardless of their church affiliation. The meetings foster connection through fellowship and fun and students deepen their faith through bible study and service projects. In addition to regular weekly meetings, there are special events scheduled like an overnight lock-in and a week-long mission trip to Spokane this summer (information is on the table in the Narthex). Cory Dunn, a BHS science teacher, leads SYF at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church and has graciously offered to answer any questions. He can be reached at  . Several students from Bethany joined Pastor Erin at SYF last week and everyone had a blast!

Youth Group Mission Trip
The Rolling Bay Spokane Mission Trip is shaping up to be something truly special—and Bethany youth are invited to join! This trip is more than just an opportunity to serve others (which is already amazing!)—it’s also about building friendships, growing in faith, and making unforgettable memories together. Cory has a key meeting with the leadership team on April 22nd, and must have final numbers by then—so he needs to know NOW if your student is going! Bethany Youth who are interested in going should apply by clicking here. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Cory at 

Let’s go make some memories! 

Amabile Spring Concert
Everyone is invited to Amabile Choir's Spring Concert, LIGHT DAWNS. There will be three performances: two evening performances on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 pm at Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge, and one matinee performance on Saturday, April 26 at 3:00 pm at Rolling Bay Presbyterian.

The Sakai Choir Club, under the direction of Katie Gibbs, will perform with Amabile at the Saturday 3PM concert at Rolling Bay Presbyterian. The two evening concerts will feature performers from Kids In Concert, directed by Laura Milleson. The Amabile Choir is under the direction of our own Sylvia Cauter.

Get your tickets today at amabilechoir.org/events

Save the Dates!!
Join Martha and Mary‘s annual Generations of Care online auction, May 30-June 6, 2025. Caring for kids and seniors since 1891, Martha and Mary is a valued Lutheran Services partner. Bethany has pledged to provide two themed baskets for bidding and we need everyone’s help. Envelopes for donations in support of Martha and Mary are available on the table in the narthex. Please make checks out to ‘Bethany Lutheran Church’ with ‘Martha and Mary’ in the memo line. If you have questions or items you would like to donate to the auction catalog, please contact Benay Nordby, Linnea Chu, Noreen Sievertson or Kristi Sutton.

Prayers are requested: for Sonja Selboe who is out of the hospital and now regaining strength at Martha and Mary in Poulsbo.

Altar Flowers: The Easter lilies which adorn our altar are provided by the Altar Guild. You are welcome to take a lily home with you after our Easter morning worship service.

Thank You to this weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Barbara Swartling & Linnea Chu
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Barbara & David Swartling; Lay Reader: Linnea Chu; Communion Assistant: Linnea Chu; Hospitality Hosts: Debbie & Andy Rimkus               

Next Weekend’s Worship Assistants:
          Altar Duty: Vickie Bech
          Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Jim Rohrscheib & Bruce McCain; Lay Reader: Noreen Sievertson; Communion Assistant: Jeff Sievertson; Hospitality Hosts: Miriam Barrenger & Alice McCain