October 16 Announcements
Welcome Pr. Martin
Pr. Martin and Shelly have arrived! Pr. Martin will be leading his first service with us this Sunday. He plans to have regular office hours Monday-Thursday. Reach out to Pr. Martin or Debbie if you would like to schedule time on his calendar. Pr. Martin’s email is
Serve the World Sunday!
Please join us this Sunday, October 19 for "Serve the World" Sunday. Pr. Martin will be blessing the new batch of quilts, baby kits and personal care kits that will be sent to needy families. After the service we will assemble school backpacks for Lutheran World Relief in the Fellowship Hall with pizza, supported by an Action Team grant from Thrivent. Please bring a salad to enjoy with a slice or two! Music will be provided by "Off the Grid" with possibly an extra singer or musician or two. We want to take this opportunity to welcome Pastor Martin and Shelly to our congregation. His formal installation will take place at a future date.
Commitment Sunday
Next Sunday, October 26, is Commitment Sunday. Soon you will receive your commitment cards in the mail. Prayerfully consider what your giving for 2026 will be, giving that goes well beyond the walls of Bethany and out into a world in need. Enter that amount on your commitment card, which also will offer an opportunity to give to Bethany's flush fund. Please bring your cards to church on Commitment Sunday to place in the offering plate. Cards after that can be brought to church or mailed to Bethany, 7968 Finch Road NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. A giant and heartfelt thank you again this year for your generosity. See you on Commitment Sunday! - The Stewardship Committee - Jim Rohrscheib, Barbara Swartling, Rachel Pritchett
Donations towards Quilt/Kit Shipping Costs
Joe Sommerseth and Stan Wigman will once again be taking the boxes of quilts and kits over to Seattle for delivery to Lutheran World Relief. You can still support Rachel Circle by making a donation to help with the shipping costs. Look for a donation envelope on the table in the narthex. Please note Rachel Circle or LWR Shipping in the memo field on a check. Any amount is welcome and all donations go to LWR to cover the shipping costs.
Nametags
Please be sure to make it a habit to wear your nametag on Sunday mornings. This will help Pr. Martin get to know our names. And it is an added bonus that it helps those of us who have a hard time remembering names! There is a “Please Make Me a Nametag” sheet for those who need a new or replacement nametag.
A Note from Debbie
A huge thank you to everyone who pitched in to keep things running smoothly during my recent vacation. And it is with a bit of sadness that I must let the Bethany community know that Andy and I will both be starting our life as retirees in January 2026. The Bethany council executive team will be meeting soon to discuss the search and hiring process for my replacement. This is a part time position. If you know someone who might be interested in applying, let council president Vicki Browning know. With much gratitude for my time as your church administrator!
Stephens House Open House and Fundraiser
Stephens House invites the Bethany community to stop by their Open House on Saturday, November 1, 3:00-6:00pm. Come meet their staff and learn more about their mission and how you might support it. The Open House serves as a fundraiser for the program. A suggested donation of $20 will be much appreciated.
Altar Flowers: The altar flowers for this Sunday are given by Luanne and Tom Croker in celebration of their parents.
Prayers are Requested: for former Bethany member Claire Lucke as she mourns the death of husband Kurt. An interment of ashes service will take place at Bethany over the Thanksgiving weekend. Details on the service will be in future announcements.
Thank You to this Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Barbara Swartling
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Tim Carlsen & Bruce McCain; Lay Reader: Gail Christensen; Communion Assistants: Carol & Ron Fenner; Hospitality Hosts: Fellowship Team Pizza Party!
Next Sunday’s Worship Assistants:
Altar Duty: Gail Christensen
Sunday 10:00am – Greeters/Ushers: Barbara & David Swartling; Lay Reader: Rachel Pritchett; Communion Assistants: Rachel Pritchett & Doug Dudgeon; Hospitality Hosts: Debbie & Andy Rimkus
Bethany is a Reconciling in Christ congregation, which is an affirmation of welcome that specifically names people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, and also expresses a commitment to racial equity.